My trip to the San Francisco

" Be a paparazzi.  Stand out in front of Giant Bomb HQ with a camera and take invasive photos of the entire staff as they go to and from work. "

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My girlfriend and I are leaving for San Fransisco in about a week. We'll be there June 22nd-the 28. I posted a blog a few months ago asking for advice, and I totally appreciate all the tips I got. I hate to be such a tourist, but we're getting a Fisherman's Wharf Pass and dong the obligatory tours. 

I also scored the right to visit a few videogame journalism publications. Which is the real reason for me visiting the bay area. I picked up a copy of World War Z to read on the plane, too. Any other ideas on what we should do? Keep in mind we're 19, so no wine tasting or clubbing for the most part. Or do any of you have a specific question for someone in the games press?

I'd rather not say who I'm visiting, because most of the people I spoke to made it clear they don't publicly allow visitations but some were nice enough to make an acceptation. Anybody have any last minute ideas on things we should check out? Plus, we also need to know of a good restaurant got a romantic outing as well as a movie theater to se Transformers 2. We'll be in Fisheman's Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, and Sausalito.If someone could also give m a perspective on the distance between the districts, that would be helpful. Yes, I'm aware Sausalito is across the bridge. :) Thanks. 

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@EpicSteve said:

"

My girlfriend and I are leaving for San Fransisco in about a week. We'll be there June 22nd-the 28. I posted a blog a few months ago asking for advice, and I totally appreciate all the tips I got. I hate to be such a tourist, but we're getting a Fisherman's Wharf Pass and dong the obligatory tours. 

I also scored the right to visit a few videogame journalism publications. Which is the real reason for me visiting the bay area. I picked up a copy of World War Z to read on the plane, too. Any other ideas on what we should do? Keep in mind we're 19, so no wine tasting or clubbing for the most part. Or do any of you have a specific question for someone in the games press?

I'd rather not say who I'm visiting, because most of the people I spoke to made it clear they don't publicly allow visitations but some were nice enough to make an acceptation. Anybody have any last minute ideas on things we should check out? Plus, we also need to know of a good restaurant got a romantic outing as well as a movie theater to se Transformers 2. We'll be in Fisheman's Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, and Sausalito.If someone could also give m a perspective on the distance between the districts, that would be helpful. Yes, I'm aware Sausalito is across the bridge. :) Thanks. 

"

Maybe it's because I've lived in the Bay Area my whole life, but San Francisco is kind of boring. : / "

" Hmmm... it could be either 1UP, GameSpot, Games Radar, or IGN? :p  Giant Bomb is in Sausalito (this place has bomb restaurants and ice cream, no pun intended).  There's also hella development studios everywhere here. 

Living here, I have both met both Brad and Vinny... and just seen Ryan and Jeff around (but never cared to say "hi" or anything).  I've also chilled with some IGN guys and am friends with one of the 1UPers. 

The PlayStation Store in the Metreon is closing in like 3 weeks, I think... you may want to check it out!  The Sony Store already closed :'(  Those have been there for like 10 years or something... It's the age of a new area. 

Events, that make San Francisco the best place in the universe = Halloween, Love Feast, Strong Beer Month, Gay Pride, Pillow Fight Night, Bay to Breakers, 4th of July @ any Beach, New Years, and Folsom Street Fair (lol, NO!!! just kidding about this one... maybe :p ) 

For an arcade, go to the Rack 'n Cue (SFSU). 

If you want to get your nature on and go on some really amazing hikes, go to Marin! (where Sausalito is located) 

1. The Mission District and SoMa is for crazy awesome hot dog stands and bars... but has a few bad neighborhoods. 
2. Upper-Haight (Haight/Ashbury) is pretty touristy but has some upper scale College-type bars. 
3. Lower-Haight is my favorite for bars. 
4. Downtown has like nothing for fun... it's all just business.  Maybe just the Ferry Building. 
   
5. Northbeach/Marina; I personally hate these places, because they're hella touristy and preppy douche bag hang-outs.  I guess Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf fit here though. 
   
6. Sunset/Richmond Districts are ok.  Some bars.  Ocean Beach is out this way, which is pretty rad. 
   
7. The Castro is the Rainbow District.  I personally love this place but if you're not into the whole homosexual thing, you may want to steer clear.  Fun as hell bars regardless (even though hella gay).  This is where I grocery shop, for the most part :p  
8. Japantown and Chinatown = do both! 
   

Probably missed some things but I'm kinda tired of typing.  Hope this helps and feel free to ask questions! :) "

" @EpicSteve: I'm not sure about a sale or not.  I'm gunna head over there myself and see here pretty soon.  I did asked 2 of the Employees a month ago, but they kinda just looked at each other, smiled, and said, "We haven't been told about anything official yet, but we probably will." 

EDIT:  Holy shit!  I just called... they closed LAST WEEK!!! :'(  I was out of town all last week in Hawaii.  Awww, the place where I bought my PS3, gone.  Sorry man, guess you won't be visiting the PlayStation Store on your trip. 

Here's an article about it:  http://venturebeat.com/2009/02/13/sony-closing-its-metreon-playstation-store 

"

" @giyanks22: Segways. You can definitely rent a Segway if you don't mind standing out as a tourist. "

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@MiamiRedHawks said:

" There is an awesome Vietnamese Restaurant called The Slanted Door in San Francisco. Its super expensive, but worth it. I was waiting in line to eat there and saw Scarlet Johansson waiting with some dude. "

I've eaten there a couple of times...it's good but I think it's overrated and way past the line of diminishing returns as far as cost vs benefit goes. It's in the Ferry Building which has been recently remodeled and is cool to visit and walk around in, but I wouldn't eat there again. With all of the restaurants in this city, I can think of 10 I'd rather spend that kind of money on...and if I wanted Vietnamese, I'd go to Hai Ky Mi Gia in the TL or any number of other places.

Speaking of restaurants, it would be nice if EpicSteve could give me some direction on what kind of budget he has for the one special meal. There are just too many restaurants to make a blind recommendation without more information to go on.

@EpicSteve said:

We'll be in Fisheman's Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, and Sausalito.If someone could also give m a perspective on the distance between the districts, that would be helpful.

You can and should just walk between all of those districts, it will give you a better feel of the city than taking a cab or muni. Just allow yourself some extra time if you're on a schedule, they're not exactly close and there are hills to contend with.I have to say, a full week is a long, long time to be in San Francisco if you're not 21. I hope you have plenty of things planned. "

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@EpicSteve said:

Nothing in particular. She just wants to go to a decent restaurant. Nothing high-class or anything. "

The first place that comes to mind is Fog City Diner on the Embarcadero...I'll have to give this some thought, $40 isn't much to work with here if you want to go someplace decent. Things are very expensive in San Francisco compared to what you're used to. "

" @EpicSteve: I was thinking some more about places for you guys to eat at while you're here. In general...try not to eat anything at Fisherman's Wharf. It is all overpriced tourist feed. Same goes for Union Square, more or less.

There are some fantastic eats to be had in Little Saigon, and most of the places are affordable. I have to caution you though, be careful walking around this neighborhood at night. Try not to look like tourists, look like you have somewhere to go, and don't dilly dally. You'll see what I mean.

-For Pho: Turtle Tower restaurant in the Tenderloin. I recommend the rare beef soup, the #2. A large is enough to feed both of you and it's like $7...best homemade noodles in the city. It's northern style Pho so there aren't as many condiments and accompanyments as with the southern vietnam style, but everything on the menu is freakin fantastic...and did I mention cheap?


-Soul Food/Crawfish/Vietnamese: Red Crawfish, also in the Tenderloin. I know the owners personally. Fresh crawfish (delta crawfish this time of year) and stuff like sweet potato fries, garlic bread, and fried rice. $40 feeds 3-4 people here (or 2 when it's me and my buddy, we will destroy some crawfish)



-On the same block as both of these places is a Lee's Sandwiches. You can get a huge sandwich there for like $2.50. Nuff said.


Hm where else...you should spend an afternoon hanging out at Dolores Park. While you're there go to to the Bi-Rite Creamery at 18th & Dolores for some of the best ice cream you'll ever eat in your life.



Another good & cheap place to eat is Burgermeister. They have three ocations in the city that I know of, any is fine, and they have the best burgers you'll find here. The two of you can get out of there for $20 or so, less if you split a burger. Get the Niman Ranch beef.


Other things to do...check out Fields Bookstore on Polk Street. It's a famous indie book store, tiny but packed full of stuff. You can spend hours in there just browsing, but I went in there today and dropped $100.
I could go on forever, but that should get you started. If you have any specific questions, just ask. "