I usually make at least a couple of trips to San Francisco each year, and i always forget to use the opportunity to meet some Bay Area Dopers.
Well, this time i’m remembering.
Unfortunately, this trip is not an especially long one. We will arrive in SF next Monday, March 30, and leave on the morning of Sunday, April 5. My availability is further restricted by the main purpose of the visit—a wedding on Saturday, April 4.
But from Monday afternoon through Friday night, my calendar is completely clear, so i was wondering if any of you Bay Area folks would like to get together for a few drinks? I’m staying in the Excelsior area, but i know the city pretty well, and can get basically anywhere by public transit. We’ll have our car with us, but driving (or, more correctly, parking) is a pain in the ass in San Francisco, and i don’t want to drive if i’m going to be drinking anyway.
So, what say you all? Anyone up for a get-together? Money’s a little bit tight right now, so somewhere not outrageously expensive would be best for me.
One more thing: I notice on the Giants’ website that they have a couple of Spring Training games against Oakland on Thursday and Friday nights. I know it’s not the real season, but if there are any baseball fans who are interested in catching a game, i might be up for that as well.
I’ll be free and interested Wednesday evening onwards. The ballgames sound like fun, unless we end up being a big group; if that’s the case we might consider someplace that lends itself better to socializing.
I’m local (El Cerrito - East Bay - although I work in downtown SF) and around. Not much of a baseball fan but wouldn’t mind having a beer or meeting for breakfast or whatever. I’m located just a short distance from a BART station if folks would like to get out of SF, I can even be the designated driver.
I’ve sent PMs to a coupe of other Bay Area folks, in case they haven’t seen this thread.
As i suggested in the OP, i really don’t care where we go. As voguevixen says, if there are more than a few people, a pub or something might be better than a ballgame for socializing. The East Bay would also be fine, if that’s easier for other people. I hadn’t even thought of meeting for breakfast, as suggested by Valguard, but that would be fine too. I’m essentially on vacation for the week, and am happy to work around other people’s schedules.
Anyway, we’ll see if we can get a few more responses, and then maybe start thinking about days/times.
I could be down for a drink or two. Probably not a ballgame though, since I’m going to two the next week, and I’m a bit low on cash these days (though I might join if it looks like that’s what everyone wants to do).
There’s actually a pretty amazing bar in the Excelsior, and from there you can take the 14 Mission bus up to the Mission bar districts. You after anything in particular, bar-wise (my area of expertise :D)?
Count me in, for sure. I’ve got plans Saturday evening, but I’m free the rest of the weekend. I’m more interested in either breakfast or drinking than the ballgame, but I’ll go along with whatever the majority wants.
I could use a break so I’ll take Friday (4/3) off - since mhendo is busy Saturday and gone Sunday and it sounds like other folks are on vacation or otherwise not working Friday might work better for a get-together, what say you?
Can do a pub thing but in my crotchety old age I’ve found that many of them are just plain LOUD and (since a couple of people have mentioned watching expenses) a couple of beers can get pricey fast (thus my breakfast suggestion and hey, it’s something different).
Meet for breakfast Friday morning (4/3) at FatApples in El Cerrito (it’s a couple of blocks from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and AC transit also has bus stops right nearby). It’s a nice big place, groups are no problem, and unlike weekend mornings no risk of it being overcrowded.
Assuming that our nice weather holds there are a lot of places to go for a walk up in the Berkeley Hills; for example the Nimitz path runs along the ridgeline and has fantastic views of the whole Bay Area, also near to botanical gardens, merry-go-round (one of the few left) or there’s the Berkeley marina - boats, kites, doggies, etc. These are all a short drive from the restaurant, I’m happy to do some transporting and be a tour guide. If people visiting the area want to see Berkeley proper it’s easy to get to campus (plenty of mass transit if you like, there’s a BART station right downtown), amble around Telegraph ave (buy those tie-dye socks and impress your friends), walk over to Solano and just stroll, etc.
First, it looks like breakfast or drinks is going to be a better bet than the ballgame. I don’t want to drag someone who’s not interested in baseball to a baseball game.
Second, Valguard’s El Cerrito breakfast idea is fine with me. I can get there easily from Glen Park BART station on the Richmond train.
But, as i said, my time is very flexible, and i know other people have to work, etc. So i’m happy with whatever time and place you guys decide fits best.
Breakfast on a weekday is out for me, unfortunetly. I’m taking a week off of work next month for vacation, so I can’t afford to miss another day before then.
Valgard, would drinks or dinner on Thursday or Friday night work for you? If you work in the city, we could meet downtown, or in the Mission, or something. One place i like that is both cheap and cheerful is Los Jarritos, at the corner of 20th and S. Van Ness.
Well, actually, I doubt if I’ll have enough scratch on hand to go to a baseball game, but my schedule is usually so open one might think of it as nonexistent, which takes care of the when part of the party as far as I’m concerned, and I think it’d be a gas to meet all y’all nice folks someplace for a drink or six, or maybe a couple of depth charges.
I can do Thursday. Friday would be better, but if more people can make Thursday, that’s cool. Either way, earliest I can get into the city is about 6:30.