Entertainment | Ten Ways to Love San Francisco! | | Print | |
| Written by Meera Jegathesan | |
|
 but its unique “international orange” color, helps the bridge blend well into the natural scenery and stand out to passing ships in foggy weather (hint: perfect picture opportunity). Be sure to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and take in the sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and the city skyline. An even more fascinating experience is to watch the fog consume the bridge as it enters San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It truly is a sight for sore eyes! Golden Gate Park is a natural landmark for resident urbanites and visitors of San Francisco. At over 1,000 acres in area and 2 miles long, the park is actually larger than New York City’s Central Park and stretches all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Not only does the park sport a lake, hiking and biking trails, and sporting areas, but it is now a “museum mecca” with the California Academy of Sciences, the new M.H. de Young Museum (art), and Conservatory of Flowers to enjoy. One of my favorite spots is the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, home to a Dutch windmill from the turn of the century. Don’t forget to visit the Japanese Tea Garden – an area of serenity with Asian plant species, ponds, bridges, and an ancient teahouse. I bet you also didn’t know that Golden Gate Park also keeps small herds of bison (yes, bison) in an enclosed area. And for a great ending to your day, grab a beer at The Beach Chalet (1000 Great Highway, 415-386-8439) at the far end of the park and watch the surfers brave the rough waves of Ocean Beach. Absolutely amazing! The Palace of Fine Arts is another gorgeous attraction found in the city’s residential Marina neighborhood. The structure was built in 1915 as part of the Panama-Pacific Exposition and stands unique for its Greco-Roman architecture and gorgeous bronze color. The Palace and has been a popular destination for photo-hungry brides and grooms, tourist, and movie shoots for many years. The city of San Francisco recently renovated the Palace’s grounds, so plan your next picnic lunch on the lawn for a great experience. Also, the Palace contains a fascinating science Exploratorium and theater, making the grounds a great visit for adults and children alike. Alcatraz brings an eerie mystery to San Francisco and is another fascinating item for your to-do list. The former island federal prison is now available for visitors so they can experience the conditions endured by some of America’s most notorious criminals including Al Capone. Make sure you reserve your tickets early (they sell out fast) and take a ferry to the island. Audio tours are the best way to learn about Alcatraz’s fascinating history. Every June, triathletes participate in the “Escape from Alcatraz” in which swimmers brave the rough bay currents to swim from the island to the mainland – not for the faint at heart! AT&T Park might be one of San Francisco’s newer attractions (just seven years old) but it’s definitely worth a trip. Watch the San Francisco Giants tough it out with your favorite local team for an exciting experience with over 40,000 other fans. What makes AT&T Park such a unique baseball stadium is its location right on the bay which promises great water views and even a possible “splash landing” (when a balls hits the water during a home run). Don’t miss the great hot dogs, garlic fries, and beer. Stay tuned for the 2007 All Star Game on July 10th as it returns to San Francisco after twenty-two years. Whether you are a baseball fan or not fan, don’t pass up an opportunity to take yourself out to a ballgame in the near future! The Embarcadero is a waterfront haven for residents and visitors alike running through three city neighborhoods. Formerly a freeway that collapsed during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, the Embarcadero is now a 7-mile roadway lined with ferry and cruise ship terminals, fishing piers, office buildings, hotels, and restaurants and ending with AT&T Park. The roadway not only has beautiful waterfront views but also is a major street for auto, cable car, and pedestrian traffic. One of my favorite spots in this area is the Ferry Building, which at one time was a thriving transportation hub for San Francisco and is now a shopping and dining mecca. If you have time on a Tuesday or Saturday morning, visit the famous Ferry Plaza Farmers Market for a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, and food. Hang out a little longer and take a cooking class at Sur La Table (The Ferry Building #37, 415-262-9970) and enjoy a great dinner at The Slanted Door (The Ferry Building #5, 415-861-8032). Festival Season in San Francisco is one of my favorite traditions in San Francisco and begins in May and ends in September. You might recall Mark Twain’s famous quote “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco”, but I think the festivals really brighten the chilly and foggy weather with weekends of live performances, local art exhibits, beer gardens, and street vendors offering anything from garlic fries to oysters in almost every city neighborhood. The season begins with the Hog Island Oyster and Beer Festival in mid-May and concludes with the Folsom Street Fair in late September. My favorites include the Union Street and North Beach Festivals in June. Remember that you must be 21 years and older to partake in many of the adult festivities but the festivals make for great people watching and socializing for all ages!
Dining out is not only an experience for both the novice and veteran foodie but a way to really understand the city’s diverse population. The people of San Francisco represent one of the largest cultural melting pots and each neighborhood offers a wide array of casual and more elegant restaurants. One of the reasons. San Francisco receives such culinary praise partly due to its proximity to fertile farmland (fruits and vegetables galore) and fresh seafood. A location close to wine country also doesn’t help either! Here are some of my recommendations but hopefully you will find your own favorites as well: · For great Asian, try Burma Superstar (309 Clement Street, 415-387-2147), Betelnut (2030 Union Street, 415-929-8855), and Zushi Puzzle (1910 Lombard Street, 415-931-9319). · For a burrito craving, visit Puerto Allegre (546 Valencia Street, 415-255-8201) or Pancho Villa (3071 16th Street, 415-864-8840). For a more upscale Mexican food experience, check out Mamacita (2317 Chestnut Street, 415-346-8494) in the Marina. · Veggie lovers will enjoy Greens Restaurant in Fort Mason (Building A, 415-771-6222).
Meera Jegathesan is currently associate director of sales for a large convention hotel in the San Francisco Bay Area where she has lived since 2003. She has worked on dozens of meetings and events for corporate, nonprofit, and social clients during her career in both San Francisco and New York City. Meera has also produced events in New York City with a catering company and on a freelance basis. Prior to her event planning days, Meera was an investment banker but always had a passion for planning events and bringing people together for a purpose. She loves to share her experiences and advice with others and believes that vision, creativity and attention to detail can transform any event into a work of art. Meera also writes monthly for ABCD Lady Magazine. |
For my inaugural column of The WOW! Culture, what couldn’t be more appropriate and familiar for me than to share a city with my readers that is near and dear to my heart – San Francisco. When I visited this great city almost six years ago on a business trip from New York City, I couldn’t help but be drawn to its peace, charm, and natural beauty and years later, I can now proudly call myself an official resident of this West Coast gem. So for those of you that have never been to San Francisco, let me share with you ten reasons why I will always love the famous city by the bay and find it hard to ever leave!
Natural beauty