As far as I could tell, the instruments were for decoration.
Walking into the Crescent San Francisco Hotel is like walking into the den of hipster vampires. In a good way. They call it “a new interpretation of an original Victorian era.” I call it bold and haunting.
The lobby is bright and open and the staff is friendly and accommodating (although they were unable to provide me with a reputable tattoo parlor in the area after I stumbled in from the nearby Irish Bank Bar — actually, that’s probably a good thing). Upon first impression of the hotel I was pleased and comfortable. Then things got different.
There is one small, quaint, and very old-school elevator that actually requires the rider to manually open the door — something that made me, and I hope assume other guests, stand there like an idiot for a moment too long. This isn’t a complaint mind you, just a PSA to any potential visitors. Learn from me, people.
And then there was the hallway. It was dark in the daytime and glowed with hues of red. Strolling the corridor alone I couldn’t help but feel that I was checking into my own private screening of The Shining. When I passed the very cool, very hip bar called The Burritt Room (named after the murder scene in The Maltese Falcon) I glanced at the bartenders and gathering patrons — none of them seemed to be ghosts, so I bellied up and had a pint(s). Read More »
California, and most of the West Coast really, is teaming with many great craft beer bars and bottle shops. One of several craft beer hot spots in the country, you can almost always get what you want in this state. On a recent trip to San Francisco for the Craft Brewers Conference held at the historic Hilton Union Square, I was in need of bottle shop with a large selection of craft beers, so that I might take a few back home to Texas. While asking several people at the craft beer know, one place kept coming up first on the list: City Beer Store.
Located at the base of a complex of lofts in San Francisco’s SoMa district, City Beer Store has been in business since 2006. The brainchild of Craig and Beth Wathen, City Beer Store has a gastropub feel to it. Gastropub you say? Isn’t this a bottle shop? Yes on both accounts.
Each week I have been writing about my home and its surroundings because I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to live on the coast in Northern California.
This week my post takes us inland up route 84 and over the Santa Cruz Mountains between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This is one of my favorite drives in the bay area. It twists and turns and climbs way up into the redwood forests. The road is very curvy and a very popular route for cyclists and Harley-riders alike. It is amazing, not even 10 minutes into the the drive you feel like you are nowhere near San Francisco or Silicon Valley. In fact, forget your mobile phones, because there is no coverage between Woodside and San Gregorio. Just marvel at the sun beaming through the redwood canopy or the blanket of fog gently hugging the verdant hillsides.
When one thinks of Napa Valley in California one tends to think of wine. Oh, the vineyards and the inns! Oh, the dining and the winding roads and the making of jokes about not drinking Merlot. As a destination it’s near paradise on Earth for anyone that loves a good grape or the polished ruggedness of affluent country living. This is where old Pottery Barn catalogs come to die and frankly, it feels right.
But what about mustard? Mustard? Don’t let’s be silly.
