Archive for January, 2008
January 31st, 2008 by jamie a
Lemon Cream Tart at Tartine Photo uploaded by lil’bear
During your travels in San Francisco, you’re bound to need a little mid-day pick me up. For the best in gourmet bakeries, check out Tartine on 18th Street in the Mission District neighborhood.
Grab a delightful breakfast pastry, a hot pressed-sandwich, or a slice of pie, cake, or a delectable tart from their menu. Rita over at the Daily Dose Domino Magazine blog loved it, and we hope you do too!
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January 29th, 2008 by jamie a
Mustard in Bloom Photo uploaded by northbaywanderer
Mustard season in the Napa Valley brings an abundance of wine, food, and art from January through the month of March with the Mustard Festival. It celebrates the gorgeous yellow blossoms of the mustard plant, while supporting local farmers and wineries during the off-season.
Check out the full calendar of events for art shows, photography contests, seven-course gourmet dinners, and competitions galore. If you’re looking to stay in the area and enjoy this beautiful time of year, here’s a complete listing of special offers and discounts in conjunction with the festival.
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January 28th, 2008 by jamie a
Jazz Club in San Francisco Photo uploaded by Joe and Sarah
During your visit to San Francisco, why not enjoy a candlelit evening at one of the city’s famed jazz clubs? If you’re a fan of sipping drinks while listening to the smooth sounds of the saxophone, these clubs will be perfect for your night out on the town.
Start with Pearl’s, named “San Francisco’s Best Jazz Club” by the New York Times. With 14 shows a week, it’s a great place to catch the best in jazz. Advanced tickets are recommended, so just make sure to book ahead to secure one of their 25 beautiful tables. Enjoy their candlelit atmosphere while your cocktails are delivered right to your table.
There’s also Les Joulins Jazz Bistro, featured in the photo above, which resides in Union Square. In a bistro-style setting, this place is perfect for a cozy night full of French and Mediterranean cuisine, great music, and delicious drinks, making this a favorite spot in the city for 23 years.
Finally, there’s Yoshi’s Jazz Club, featuring two shows a night and amazing Japanese sushi. According to Fortune magazine, “Yoshi’s has the best talent, the best acoustics, the best atmosphere in the Bay Area.” Yoshi’s welcomes guests of all ages to enjoy great music in their 320 seat capacity jazz venue, which makes it a great stop on your trip.
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January 25th, 2008 by jamie a
Comparing Digital Cameras Photo Uploaded by Hamed Saber
If you love taking photos on your vacation and then showing them off to your friends and family, you should read a quick guide for making the most out of your photography efforts recently posted by GoGirlfriend.
Since I’m taking a photography class right now, this article is a great read. It’s also easy to understand, pinpointing ways that everyone can make their vacation photos more interesting, not just photographers who know all that camera lingo.
My favorite tips from the article are “Get Clicking,” because, like everything else, practice makes perfect! When you own a digital camera, there’s no reason to edit until you get home and look at them on the big screen.I’m sure that out of every 20 photos lies a truly wonderful one and you won’t know unless you keep your finger clicking.
I also enjoy “Get Funky,” which encourages all of us to be unique. Everyone’s got pictures of the beach, but how can you make yours special? Use light, crazy angles, and focus to make it your very own creation.
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January 22nd, 2008 by jamie a
Latte Heart from Ritual Coffee Roasters Photo uploaded by Shannon Clark
Why not get out and do something new this Valentine’s Day? Skip the traditional chocolates and flowers, and head out on the town for a night of fun with your loved one or with a group of your friends to celebrate each other.
If you’re a foodie who’s just aching to try out a new restaurant, this listing of spots all around San Francisco from OpenTable.com are offering special promotions for the holiday. From prix-fixe seven course meals to live jazz bands, you’re sure to find something to suit your style.
There’s also a myriad of special Valentine’s Day cruises from Hornblower Holidays, offering dinner & dancing on the open seas!
If you’re on your own or with a group of single friends this Valentine’s Day, never fear! The Professionals Guild is hosting their Un-Valentine’s Day Singles Party at the Golden Gate Yacht Club. The event is on February 2nd and will run from 8 pm to midnight, complete with mixer games, great dance music, free appetizers, a salsa dance lesson and a no-host bar.
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January 21st, 2008 by jamie a
Sushi in San Francisco Photo uploaded by Rick Audet
If you’re a foodie and love trying new restaurants, get ready for Dine About Town! From January 15-31, the 7th year of the festival is underway.
There’s a giant list of restaurants, from new American cuisine to Vietnamese fare, offering special 3-course lunches for $21.95 and dinner for $31.95. Reservations are recommended, so hop on to the site and search by cuisine, neighborhood or your favorite restaurant and give them a call.
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January 17th, 2008 by susan j
Friday, January 18 (5 pm-10 pm)
The de Young Museum presents Friday Nights the de Young featuring live music, poetry, films, dance, tours, lectures, plus hands-on art activities for children and adults.
Friday, January 18-Sunday, January 20 (various times)
Lamplighter Music Theater presents a musical adaptation of the classic children’s story, The Secret Garden.
Saturday, January 19 (8 pm-10 pm)
The 24Hour Art Show is an annual gathering of Bay Area artists. The venue is announced on Friday, so text the phrase “24hour” to the number “41411″ to get the inside scoop.
Through Sunday, January 27 (various times)
The 7th annual San Francisco Sketchfest brings 17 days of comedy to San Francisco.
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January 15th, 2008 by jamie a
Opus One, Napa Valley
Photo uploaded by yajico
Budget Travel magazine recently published, “Napa: Top Tips from 38 Readers,” all about wine tasting in the gorgeous Napa Valley. With the Wine Country Explorer Pass, you can put these tips to use with an all-access pass to Napa’s best offerings.
Napa is a world-famous wine producing region, ranking among Italy and France for their amazing wines. There are more than two hundred wineries currently in the region, making it a very popular vacation destination in California, second only to Disneyland.
Here’s a toast to you, winos, and have fun in Napa Valley!
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January 14th, 2008 by jamie a
Whale Watching in Monterey Bay, San Francisco
Photo uploaded by erikogan
If you’re looking for a memorable experience for you and your family on your next visit to San Francisco, there’s nothing better than a whale watch. Right now is prime whale watching season, as they are migrating through the area to and from Alaska. I haven’t been whale watching in San Francisco, but I have been on a tour from Cape Cod, and I can definitely say that it was one of the best vacation experiences I ever had, full of excitement and wonder.
Included with the , is full service and family-friendly, touring the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. With experienced skippers and a great fleet of boats, they pride themselves on knowing the seas like no one else in the area. Here’s their page of FAQ’s to answer any questions you may have about length of tour, what to wear, or weather conditions.
Before you head out for your adventure on the high seas, Chris has also put together a facts page about the whales that can be seen on the tours and the differences between all the species. Be sure to read up and get to know these amazing creatures.
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January 11th, 2008 by jamie a
Dragon at the Chinese New Year’s Parade in San Francisco
Photo uploaded by Dawn Endico
If you’re in San Francisco this January or February, you should certainly head over to the oldest Chinatown in the United States to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Along with dazzling arrays of food and fun, a parade will be held on February 23rd (5:30 - 8 pm) as the crowning event of the celebration.
The parade is the largest of its kind outside of Asia, complete with a 201 foot-long Golden Dragon, carried by a team of over 100 men and women. The dragon is crafted out of rattan, bamboo, colored lights, silver rivets, and white rabbit fur. There will also be fireworks, acrobatics, the newly crowned Miss Chinatown, high school bands, and many elaborate floats.
If you love flowers and other exotic plant life, there’s also the Chinese New Year Flower Fair, held on February 2 & 3. There will be gorgeous peach blossoms, orchids, narcissus, tangerines, chrysanthemums, and snap dragons for sale, along with a Children’s Fair.
From January 23- 26th, you can also catch the Chinese New Year Spectacular, who “…bring (their) audience the essence, the true spirit of the Chinese culture expressed in the forms of classical performing arts, giving people a deeper understanding and connection to the Chinese culture.”
To learn even more about Chinatown and the Asian cultures of San Francisco, check out our blog post entitled
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