The Sword and Laser discussion
Fun/Nerdy Things to do in/around San Francisco
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If you like a good drink, and don't mind a price point that ranges from slightly expensive to holy crap, you might do The Bourbon and Branch. It's an old speakeasy that never really stopped. They stock the best of the best liquors and mix great drinks. They have a standing room bar, a nice relaxed seating area and a library room, though the last has a limited drink menu. You'll need to make a reservation, but once you give them the password at the door it's like stepping into the 20s but with better gin and whisky.
Nerdy things to check out (off the top of my head)The Exploratorium in SF
The Computer History Museum in San Jose
Hiking:
Mount Tam - Check out the Matt Davis Steep Ravine Loop
While in the area, go to Hog Island Oysters and BBQ some fresh Oysters - If you are too lazy to go to Point Reyes, they have a Oyster Bar in the Ferry Building in SF
Speaking of which, if you are a foodie, definitely check out the Ferry Building
Without a doubt, if your a fan of the weird, if you believe that places have auras, go to www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/
I got a bad case of the creeps during my visit thank to a great tour guide that really sold the spiritualist nature of the place.
And when at the Computer History Museum, go to the Google campus and get your picture taken with the Android release statues.You can make a whole day of hanging out in the Mission without too much trouble. Get off the BART at 24th & Mission and go to a panadería (Mexican bakery) or there's that pie shop, walk 'up' towards Borderlands for a couple blocks on Mission then switch to Valencia to check out all the hipster shops. Dandelions Chocolate is on the top of that list. Go to Clarion Alley (google knows where it is) and check out all the murals. Then come back down for the book club. :)
Head up to Twin Peaks if you haven't been there yet, the view is fantastic.Of course, taking the cable cars over to Ghirardelli Square is suitably tourist-y, if you haven't done that yet.
Maybe stop by Pixar in Emeryville, they have a little museum of their movie stuff that's pretty interesting.
There are a couple hang glider companies that can take you for a tandem flight along the coast, if you're into that kind of thing.
Depending on how far out of the immediate Bay Area you're willing to go... the Jelly Belly Factory tours are a good time, and up in Santa Rosa there's Safari West.
Also, as a former SF Zoo employee still on the books for special events, I feel obligated to recommend the zoo. It's pretty nice these days, and the Wildlife Theater shows (which I used to host) should still be going on. If you weren't going to be in the Bay Area for exactly the days of PAX Prime, I'd offer to give you and whoever a tour so you could hear the sordid history of the double-wattled cassowary, actually find the Feline Conservation Center near the original entrance, and maybe pet a prehensile-tailed porcupine and kinkajou.
Mod
Mod
I planned my trip around the S&L meetup. Getting tickets to PAX is impossible for me, so I didn't realize it was that weekend.
I'm in town from Thursday afternoon to a OMG It's early Wednesday the next week.
Presumably PAX is that Fri-Sunday? Maybe you can at least pop in for the S&L thing on Tuesday!
Rob wrote: "Some reasonable stuff about dates and things."Unfortunately, PAX is Friday-Monday, and we get there a day early and stay an extra night to meet up with friends in the Seattle area. I'll have to catch you next time.
I'll also second the Exploratorium, it's pretty cool. Oh, and if you go to Dandelion Chocolate, like Ulmer Ian suggested, be sure to stop at the cheese place next door. There are great eating choices all along that block.
The super-touristy stuff is a little crowded in the summer, so be careful. I lived in Marin 5 years ago, and the Muir Woods parking ends up going a mile down the road by mid-afternoon. Getting there early, or hiking there from a less busy parking lot isn't a bad idea. The trails around there tend to be pretty nice... hiking from Tennessee Valley Beach to Muir Beach is strenuous but amazing.In S.F. itself, lesser known but really cool are the POPOS: https://www.spur.org/sites/default/fi...
Be sure to look at what time they are open; many are only open during weekday working hours.
Enjoy!
Geoff
Nerd Night is also fun - SF Nerd Night is the 3rd Thurs but there is Nerd Night East Bay that should be going when you are here:http://eastbay.nerdnite.com/
Mod
Boo!
No idea when I'll be back through again, likely not until 2017 at the earliest though.
Pssh, Nerd Nite East Bay has the same day as book club. :) I went this month since our book club was rescheduled.
If you've ever seen the movie City of Angels, the library in the film is actually the one downtown SF. To me, going in and taking pictures was my nerdy thing to do.
The SF main branch library isn't 'downtown', it's lower Market/Civic Center/Tenderloin. The closet downtown has to a public library is the one in Chinatown. Geography is serious business in San Francisco.
I agree it's worth spending some time in. Especially if you want to go to the Asian Art Museum, which is next door and also worth some time if you are interested in that.
Well whatever, it's there and easily accessible. And it's where the angels hang out.
Muir Woods (A MUST SEE. – Giant Redwood groves. John Muir called this grove his personal favorite)
Point Reyes
(A great place to visit, and a very pretty drive, eat a sandwich from the Inverness store., eat it out back as you look at the old run-aground and stranded boat. Drive all the way out to the Point Reyes lighthouse.)
Stinson Beach
(Eat a burger at Parkside café, cash only and you order through a window and take your food to a nearby picnic table)
Rodeo Beach
(Over the GGbridge and just over the hill from the GG Bridge overlook. Look for sea glass near the north end of the beach.)
Baker Beach is great.
Ocean Beach is neat as it is the last bit of land all the way to China.
Ghirardelli Square
Alcatraz Island
(GO ONLINE NOW and pick the sunset tour. You go out in the daylight and see the prison and come back right after sunset or during sunset. Very pretty)
Berkeley Botanical Garden
(very pretty and quiet)
Berkeley Rose Garden
Somehow I missed going to Borderlands on both of my previous trips. With it nearly closing, I almost missed it completely. So in an effort to not make this mistake for other things, I figured since a bunch of folks here live there (and others have likely visited), what should I check out on my trip?
I'm going for about a week. The dates will be 8/28-9/1 (flying the 27th/2nd) in case there are events going on during that time people are aware of.
I'm open to stuff in short(1-2 hours maybe?) driving distance from the city, but for the most part we'll be taking the bus or walking around as my sister doesn't own a car.
Here are things I've done in previous trips (though likely not a complete list):
Alcatraz
Angel Island (twice, because it's awesome)
Various ship tours along the wharf
Muir Woods
Penny Arcade on the wharf
Golden Gate Bridge
Pacific Ocean
Golden Gate Park
Art Galley in GGP
Sutro Baths
China Town
Japan Town (Did a Real Escape game during KPop Festival which was a ton of fun)
Coit Tower
Trolley Ride
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Monterrey Bay Aquarium
AT&T Park/SF Giants Game
I'm not really a wine drinker, so I haven't done the whole wine country stuff, though maybe we'll do that this time anyways.
In addition to nerdy stuff, I enjoy outdoor things like hiking and bike riding. We actually rode bikes through golden gate park to the Pacific Ocean on my first trip.
I appreciate any ideas/suggestions you guys may have. Thanks!