Summer of SoMa

I will be the first to say: you will not find me regretting my move outta the ‘hood. Back where I used to live (ahem, off of Sixth Street), I saw the worst of the worst — the runoff from the T-loin as I not-so-fondly remember. This is where I saw the San Francisco that I never want to see again. Let me describe it: people lighting up their crack pipes on the sidewalk, homeless people gettin’ it on in plain daylight…I was even the victim of a crime against humanity – a homeless man spit in my hair (eek).

Photo courtesy laughingsquid.com

And it seems as if the neighborhood is turning more violent despite all of the efforts for redevelopment, as The San Francisco Chronicle reported last week.

Wall art at it's finest.

While some tend to pigeonhole SoMa as a dirty, industrial neighborhood South of Market, I am here to tell you: it is not all horror stories and drug deals! It’s true, there are some parts that you just need to avoid. But I’ve included a positive article by SF Station with a complete recap of the new restaurants poppin’ up in this ever evolving enclave. It totally breaks the stigma!

While you’re out there, check out Passion Café‘s rooftop patio or Show Dogs and their fine sausages. Be off my little readers and be fearless!

xo.

Let the Weekend Begin!

So bummed I will be gone this weekend! I hear the forecast for The City is one for the books. Who woulda thought, on our first weekend of Fall it would be better than the entire month of June put together? Well, I guess that’s “typical”, San Francisco.

Anyhoo while mama’s away, the kids will play. So ya’ll enjoy your days off! Duty calls — I’ll be at a wedding. Here are some cool things happenin’ this weekend:

Saturday

• 26th Annual California Coastal Clean Up Day. Do some good for yourself, and the environment!
• “Off The Grid” Grand Opening Street Cart Fest. Comin’ to a hipster hood near you.
• SF Cocktail Week Bar Crawl: Drinking with Dominic. Starts at 11:30am so put your drinking shoes on!
• Film Night in the Park: “The Big Lebowski”. Those White Russians better be flowing!

Sunday

• Folsom Street Fair. Prudes be warned! It’s all about the bondage, leather chaps and nipple rings. Children, cover your eyes.
• 46th Annual Big Book Sale at Fort Mason. $1 books? Get it!
• All You Can Eat BBQ on NFL Sundays at Elixir. I just said “all you can eat”. Need I say more?
• Alice Now & Zen Fest 2010 in Golden Gate Park. Deal alert: free concert!

Here’s to not hearing your alarm for the next 2 days!

xo.

Rollin’ with the Homies

I apologize to all of you out there, but I am breaking from my usual positive voice — you are going to hear me gripe. Permission to gripe, granted!

Photo courtesy sf.streetblog.com

One of the things I admire about The City is it’s expansive public transportation system. An individual can get virtually anywhere using Muni and utilizing the bus or train as a your primary form of transport not only cuts down the amount of cars on the road, but you can bet your sweet ass it’ll save you headaches, parking tickets, and hours trolling the neighborhood to get a spot. While as of late SFMTA’s management leaves much to be desired, I still appreciate the system. Heck — I’ve lived here for 2 years, with no car and you can bet I’m saving a bunch on my car insurance by switching to Muni.

Photo courtesy alcatrazlanding.com

That being said, there is much cause for complaint. Not only are fare’s increasing, but routes have been cut and while SFMTA claims it has restored some of its original cuts, I have yet to reap the benefits.

Photo courtesy munifarestrike.net

Sometimes I wonder who is crazier — the drivers or the passengers. Early one morning during rush hour, I recall a driver parking the bus, yelling to us that she had an “emergency”, and running into a restaurant in Chinatown (complete with roasted ducks in the window). I’m a female, so I understand when you just have to go — but low and behold, this woman ran in to buy herself fried chicken! That’s not the first time I’ve witnessed a case of a disappearing driver. The best part is when they go on breaks: one fine evening I watched a Muni operator practicing calisthenics in the back of the bus.

Photo courtesy sfist.com

On to the passengers: in true San Francisco form, I’ve been on board with a chicken and no folks, this bird wasn’t frozen. It was alive! Apparently it’s customary in some circles to purchase live animals for dinner.

Photo courtesy sfgate.com

Let me tell you, if a rider gets kicked off for one reason or another, they won’t go without a fight: while riding the historic F Wharves line, I witnessed a passenger crawl underneath the car and wait there for police in non-violent protest.

Photo courtesy sftravel.com

There are many lines known for the crazy folk they attract, but you can never get away riding the 14 without witnessing a strange scene. Once I listened to a man rant and rave about Jesus and circumcision, and I hardly think he knew myself and those around us existed, let alone that he was on a bus.

Photo courtesy sfgate.com

My stories are colorful and you can bet there are more where they came from, but I won’t bore you with all of the details. While I do complain a bit about the strange situations I am faced with at times, I do realize that this is part of what makes San Francisco what it is. What would be my morning without a flat tire on the bus? If there’s two things I’ve learned living in this city, they are to roll with the punches and have some patience.

Photo courtesy sfgate.com

Now I think I have imparted enough wisdom on you all for the day; over and out!

Dancin’ till the sun comes up

San Francisco is a crazy place to live. Only in SF can you find an after hours party that goes from 3am until the sun comes up, takes place in a barn in the middle of nowhere and requires a password (a la Lindsey Lohan) to enter. Oh and we can’t forget the security detail reminiscent of a prison guard complete with combat boots and a machete (okay you’ve got me on the last part).

In a random barn, dancin'

In case you haven’t guessed by my elaborate detail, I recently attended said party. Don’t get me wrong — this is absolutely not a typical occurrence, but one of those things where you say to yourself “You Only Live Once”. So we took a cab out to the middle of nowhere and walked on a long, unlit road — and subsequently danced until the sun came out. Was I annoyed and tired, and forced to wait forever for a cab in the morning? Yes. But was it all worth it to feel like I was 17 again? Hell yes.

Play that funky music white boy....

Do I have a point? Absolutely not. Only that when life presents you with an opportunity, grab it and hold on.

Me and Christine

Security!

Sun, sun go away come back another day!

Who knew it would be so hard to find a cab at 6am?

xo.

365inSF

Hey y’all —

Been so bad about posting lately! To tell you the truth, I completely forgot (bad Ashley).

This one is short and sweet. Just wanted to share this awesome blog: 365insf.

Free Fishing Day. Photo Credit: David Paul Ohmer

Each day they post 1 awesomely cool thing to do in San Francisco. They are already on #90, but see if you can catch up! You’ve still got 275 days to go!

xo.

Mi Padre Fantastico

Whew, what a fun-filled weekend! I had two days of North Beach Festival — one for friends and one for family. Both were good times! Yesterday turned into dinner at an outdoor cafe and singing contest.

But today was all about my papa! I don’t think he knows what a wonderful man is he is, but he should! Thank you Dad for always being there and being simply amazing. I don’t know what I would do without you! We walked around, got lunch in an outdoor cafe, and in true  Little Italy form, finished with a cannoli and some gelato!

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

xo.

Echo’s Reach

Last week I had the privilege of watching City Circus’ presentation of “Echo’s Reach”. This shizz was seriously eye-popping and mind-blowing. It was a combo of breakdancers, jugglers, beatboxers, clowns, contortionists, song and story.

Echo’s Reach is tale of a circus in a prison. And in true San Francisco form, it includes tales of diversity and acceptance, and the struggle for freedom and love.

Unfortunately it isn’t showing anymore, but here is an awesome vid–check it out!

This f*ing Gucci Bike

This Muni situation is getting to be too much. As many of you know, SFMTA, the managing company of Muni, made service cuts again on May 8th despite receiving an earmark from Sacramento to help with the deficit. More service cuts translates to fewer and far between buses, which means I have to leave earlier and wait longer to get to where I need to go. Now I’ve been living in this fine city for almost 2 years, and have not once owned a car. I’m not saying I didn’t need a car, because those times have definitely arisen. But to keep from paying $150-200 per month for a parking space and $100 for parking tickets, I choose to ride Muni.

More and more recently though, I’m beginning to wonder if I need to re-think this decision. Which is where the bicycle comes in. I’ve heard that you never forget how to ride a bike. But what if you never knew how to ride competitively in SF? I mean, drivers have it bad but bikers have it worse! I have seen 2 people get hit while biking; one was by a Muni bus. I think the scariest part is worrying about the right hand turn lane, or T-boning you with their car door. And to top it off I spoke with someone last night who told me and I quote, “If you ride a bicycle in The City, you have to expect to get hit at least once.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t like those odds! So while I may not be ready to be plowed to the ground, I’d rather do it in style, which is why if I were to get a bike I’d make it a Gucci Bicycle!

Photo courtesy: jezeerpar

This ride will set you back a cool $6,365.

While biking may not be for me, just gotta make sure you’re wearing clean underwear for that sexy firefighter who’s cutting your pants off. =)

And don’t forget your helmet!

xo.

Break The Mold

In the Marina at sunset.

I’m sure you’ve heard it, but San Francisco definitely has it’s stereotypes:

• The Marina – Douche-y guys/fake girls
• The Mission – Hipsters
• FiDi – Bankers/Corporate suites
• Chinatown – Chinese
• Japantown – Japanese
• Castro – Gays
• Haight Ashbury – Hippies
• Russian Hill/Pac Heights – Yuppies
• Nob Hill – Same
• Tenderloin – Crackheads

These essentially are generalizations made about the districts in The City. Are these correct in their assumptions? Maybe. But does it really matter? No.

There is some place–bar, restaurant, shop, hole in the wall–for everyone. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Do something you’ve always wanted to do, but were holding back. Life is too short to only play it safe.

xo.

Markets (Part Deux)

As promised…last night I said that I went to two markets. Well the second was the SF Underground market. Check it out at foragesf.com.

I didn’t know what to expect, but honestly I thought they were going to have more take away products, but it ended up being a food free-for-all in the parking lot at Mission & 7th.

Flavored butters

Everything looked so appetizing, I wish I could fit more in my lil tummy!

I coulda gone for dessert before dinner...strawberry shortcake, bread pudding, and creme brulee, that is.

I finally settled on bahn mi. But not just any bahn mi. Bahn mi with a lemongrass pork belly patty, house made chicken liver pate, pickled vegetables, jalapenos, and meyer lemon mayo.

We didn’t end up staying for the film festival they were having, but luckily we were able to catch the hipster who rode up blasting Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'”.

We decided to go to Ironman 2, and made sure to grab a bag of this: Bacon, Jack Daniels, and Caramel popcorn.

Jack Crackin' Carmel Corn.