[BTinSF]

I'd love to hear a version of such a day from the many forumers who've been to SF.

More versions of a perfect day in San Francisco
John King, Chronicle Urban Design Writer
Saturday, December 6, 2008
More...
Nobody who loves San Francisco defines the city the same way. But all are likely to agree on this: Enjoying the moment is more important than seeing the well-known sights.

That's what comes through in readers' responses to last Sunday's article in which The Chronicle retraced the 1961 steps of guidebook writer Jack Shelton and his "One Perfect Day in San Francisco."

A number of readers were inspired to offer their own itinerary for a perfect day. Their routes reflect a city geared to neighborhood life more than it was in Shelton's day, when Golden Gate Park was seen as the only attraction outside the city's northeast corner.

Judging by the response, people today map their own paths that take in quite different experiences, from scaling Nob Hill to savoring dim sum in the Richmond District. And instead of tourist-friendly icons such as Fisherman's Wharf or the cable cars, they are drawn to farmers' markets and the bayside promenade of Crissy Field.

Here are a few examples that have been edited for space:

10 a.m. Visit Alemany Farmer's Market with my husband; buy pita chips from hummus guy.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ba-afj_farmersma_0494690827.jpg
A shopper at Alemany Farmer's Market looks at a batch of French sugar plums.

11 a.m. Fort Funston with my two dogs, Cody and Heaven.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/10/13/ns-urban16_funst_0499290552.jpg
Visitors enjoy the lookout and cliffs of Fort Funston.

1 p.m. Buy a Vietnamese sandwich from Irving Cafe & Deli (Irving Street between 22nd and 23rd avenues) and a tapioca drink from Wonderful Foods Co. across the street.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/05/ba-readersday06__0499530215.jpg
Vivian Tat and Jenny Nguyen make Vietnamese sandwiches - a perfect lunch - at Irving Cafe & Deli.

1:30 p.m. Walk to Golden Gate Park and enjoy sandwich and drink with my husband.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/10/27/ba-weather28_ph_0499364260.jpg
A man enjoys the weather as birds fly above Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park

3 p.m. Return home, give dogs a bath, take a nap.

6 p.m. Go to Shanghai Dumpling King for dinner with friends at Balboa Street and 34th Avenue.

8 p.m. Return home with friends for Wii and poker.

10 p.m. Take dogs out for their walk. Grab an apple cider from Starbucks in West Portal.

12 a.m. Finish reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver in bed with my husband and dogs.

- Tiffany Chu, San Francisco

In my opinion, you'd have to work hard to have a bad day in the city. I can't give you an itinerary for a whole day, but yesterday felt pretty perfect.

I met my friend Sheila at the corner of 4th and Market at 11:30 a.m. We walked to Macy's and looked at the pups and kittens on display in the windows there, and then went to view the ice skating rink at Union Square.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/11/12/ba-skate_0499443809.jpg
Adrienne Campbell, visiting from San Diego, enjoys her time on the ice at the holiday rink in San Francisco's Union Square.

From there, we strolled through Chinatown and North Beach, stopping in at the new Porziuncula at St. Francis of Assisi Church. What a jewel that is! After lunch at an outside table at Caffe DeLucchi's (Columbus Avenue and Stockton Street) we walked around North Beach, and then made our way to the Embarcadero, walking through Jackson Square, exploring side streets and enjoying the beauty of the day and the wonderful architecture.

A perfect day? San Francisco has given me more of those than I could ever count.

- Ron Baumhover, Concord

Here is my perfect day:

Wake up about 8 a.m. with a cat on my head and move her to my painful hip for half an hour or so of feline warmth.

After a breakfast of blueberries, cottage cheese and Special K, head to the Palace of the Legion of Honor for latest exhibit. Then on to the de Young, then home to change for the opera.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/05/ba-readersday06__0499530213.jpg
Gilbert Johnson of San Francisco enjoys the day at the Palace of the Legion of Honor - a perfect museum.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ba-perfectday06_0499530208.jpg
Security officer Mike Sander walks along the outside columns at the Legion of Honor.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ba-perfectday06_0499530211.jpg
A view of downtown San Francisco, seen from the Legion of Honor, glows in the evening light.

About 5:30, drive to the Performing Arts Garage, park next to a pole so I have room to get the walker out, and off to Ovation at the Opera for a glass of Champagne before dining in the Intermezzo Lounge while studying the libretto for the evening.

After the opera, go backstage briefly to chat with a favorite singer, and then to Jardiniere (Grove and Franklin streets) for a glass of Gosset while waiting for the Performing Arts Garage to clear out.

- Ruth Caron Jacobs, San Francisco

I start out at the Sunnyvale Caltrain station on the 11 a.m. train. It's a great way to see the Peninsula, and relaxing, too.

Off the train at 12:30 and on to the N-Judah line heading downtown. Sometimes I have lunch at Sinbad's by the Ferry Building, in a window seat facing the Bay Bridge. My alternate (a huge jump in price!) is the Terrace Room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

For the afternoon, I walk about the downtown - through Chinatown to City Lights to wander through the history or drama sections, or in the other direction to do some window-shopping in Union Square.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/08/06/ba-nevius07_ph2_0498885125.jpg
French tourists Margot Icher (left) and her uncle, Thomas Icher, laugh as they walk past a Chinatown souvenir shop in San Francisco. Behind them are Margot's parents, Bruno and Laure Icher

Either way, at 5:30 to the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel (on Geary and Taylor Street). Great place to people-watch.

Dinner is either at Le Colonial in Cosmo Place (off Taylor Street, between Sutter and Post streets) or Asia de Cuba, in the Clift Hotel.

By 9 p.m. I'm tired and taking cabs, but one more stop: Aqua on California Street, in the Financial District, another great people-watching place, a throwback to those old Barbary Coast saloons.

A cab gets me back to the train station in time to nestle myself into a seat on the 10 p.m. train. At 11:45, I'm home in bed.

- Bob Siegmann, Sunnyvale

I am a native of "a certain age," and I love the city today as much as when I was a kid. We have a diverse and ever-changing social and cultural environment amidst physical beauty that is constant.

Now, my perfect day:

9 a.m. J's Pots of Soul (Octavia and Page streets). The warm attention from the owner makes it wonderful.

10 a.m. Amoeba Music in the Haight (Haight Street near Stanyan Street); I recently got a used CD of Verve jazz masters, $1.95.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/dd-records25_amo_0496712674.jpg
Amoeba Music on Haight Street is one of the largest independent music stores around

11:30 a.m. San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park to wander.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/05/ba-readersday06__0499529863.jpg
Ryan Huber and Penellope Collins stroll at the San Francisco Botanical Garden - a perfect place to wander.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/05/ba-readersday06__0499529860.jpghttp://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ba-perfectday06_0499529862.jpg
Beatriz Bedregal (right), visiting with her family from Cochambamba, Bolivia, takes pictures of squirrels at the Botanical Garden.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ba-perfectday06_0499529856.jpg
A bee pollinates a yellow asteracae at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

1:30 p.m. Dim Sum at Ton Kiang (Geary Boulevard between 22nd and 23rd avenues). Then, Crissy Field to inhale the view of the Bay, Alcatraz and the bridge. Walk to Fort Point; remember "Vertigo."

4 p.m. Coffee and opera at Café Puccini (Columbus Avenue).

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ba-weather_0499042497.jpg
Visitors take advantage of the afternoon weather outside Cafe Trieste in North Beach

5 p.m. Go to Ferry Building. Take the F-line streetcar up Market to Valencia Street.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/06/02/ns-urban05_ferryph_0498160282.jpg
The setting sun lights the facade of the Ferry Building in San Francisco.

7:30 p.m. After strolling and shopping, and maybe a tattoo, dinner at Valencia Pizza and Pasta (Valencia and 19th streets) or Pancho Villa Taqueria (16th Street between Caledonia Street and Julian Avenue).

9 p.m. Movie at the Castro Theatre.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ns-streetdate26__0497217031.jpg
The Castro Theatre dominates the skyline on bustling Castro Street looking down from 17th Street.

11 p.m. F-line back to Ferry Building. Walk to end of Pier 7. Waves lap against the piers. Misty air and silence. The end to a perfect day.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/12/06/ba-afj_farmersma_0494690842.jpg
Karl "Guitar Slim" Schilling (right) busks for tips during the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/08/02/ba-nice03_ph1_0498867675.jpg
Jared Paul (left) buys flowers for Anne Rossetto and Ellen Sanford at the farmers market in front of the Ferry Building in San Francisco

- Lynn Valente, San Francisco

For an interactive map of sites that have changed since Jack Shelton's perfect day in 1961, go to sfgate.com/maps/perfect.

For historical and present-day pictures of some of San Francisco's landmarks, go to sfgate.com/ZFNO.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/09/05/bu-economy06_cit_0498123598.jpg
Tourists ride Segways along Crissy Field in San Francisco.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/06/BAUI14IJHR.DTL

[pizzaguy]

That's too much for one day.

[photoLith]

You have no idea how lucky you are to live there!!!!!!

[Ronin]

You can only cram this kind of day once a month, if that. No mention of transportation in any of these. Why spend so much time trying to get somewhere, only to spend less than that amount actually there?

[Evergrey]

I've always wanted to ride a Segway!

[krudmonk]

Does all this cheese come in the soy variety?

[bnk]

That's great an all but do you think BT that SF is the only city in the country that has a good day?;)

Does anyone remember Nov the 4th and one Midwest City had a pretty good day once?

It was a warm and glorious that day. But it will never compare to grandeur that is SF.
.

[SuburbanNation]

That's great an all but do you think BT that SF is the only city in the country that has a good day?;)

Does anyone remember Nov the 4th and one Midwest City had a pretty good day once?

It was a warm and glorious that day. But it will never compare to grandeur that is SF.
.

DON'T BE A D***!

[BrianSac]

BT,
As you know SF as been having some awesome sunny days these last several days. Rediscovering neighborhoods, particularly the Castro, is one way to spend a perfect day in SF. Dinner and a movie on Castro, and shopping at the great shops in Eureka Valley is fun way to spend the day. Love Brandy Ho's on 18th and Anchor Oyster Bar on Castro. Everything a man could ever want is in the Castro! Still, the perfect urban oasis.

[bnk]

DON'T BE A D***!

Give me a break. I have been to SF-Oakland area and Napa and Sonoma more than you have toes and fingers combined on all four of your extremities.

And Yea I have family out there and know the area rather well thank you.

Read deeper next time before you what to jump on someone. I think you missed a wink!

[SuburbanNation]

Give me a break. I have been to SF-Oakland area and Napa and Sonoma more than you have toes or fingers.

Read deeper next time you what to jump.

i jumped about as far as I can stretch my fingers and/or toes, and so did you.

[worldwide]

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/09/05/bu-economy06_cit_0498123598.jpg

look at these squares...


laughable

[BTinSF]

BT,
As you know SF as been having some awesome sunny days these last several days.

Truth is, I don't know. I'm in southern Arizona where almost every day is an awesome sunny day (except today when we had a bit of weather reminiscent of SF this time of year).

[BTinSF]

Does anyone remember Nov the 4th and one Midwest City had a pretty good day once?


Perhaps the hoped-for point of this is that a "good day" is different for everyone. I am, in fact, a fan of both a certain midwest city--Chicago--and of snow. I go to Chicago in January when I can and I pray for a blizzard for weeks before I get there. For me, climbing though snowdrifts is a perfect Chicago day.

Lest you think otherwise, I'm absolutely serious about this--really.

On the other hand, I do think it's a little silly for Chicagoans to get all uppity on us because a fellow raised in Hawaii and Indonesia, and educated in Boston happened to find a pretty good political opportunity in their town. It's not like he was a native or anything, and now he's found what he obviously considers a better political opportunity in the town where I was born and grew up.

[alexjon]

I've yet to go to SF, but I can tell you a large part of my "perfect day" involves Banh Mi and riding every rail line in the city, end to end.

[pizzaguy]

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/09/05/bu-economy06_cit_0498123598.jpg

look at these squares...


laughable

Yeah, I have the urge to hurl a brick at those segway idiots everytime I see them.

[ginsan2]

Does all this cheese come in the soy variety?

We're sorry, but all our customer service representatives have their heads lodged up their asses and are currently unavailable. Please try again later.

[SLO]

Truth is, I don't know. I'm in southern Arizona where almost every day is an awesome sunny day (except today when we had a bit of weather reminiscent of SF this time of year).


BT; dont you miss out on the best weather of the year in SF going to Arizona in fall? Seems like fall is the absolute best/warmest weather, least amount of fog of anytime of year.

Regarding the point of the article, I completely understand. Ive always had a special relationship with San Francisco. When we came to America from NZ when I was a child, we passed under the Golden Gate and landed at the Port of SF.
I had my best most magical date ever in SF, an all day affair when I was 19 or 20, it set the bar so high for the relationship that it was impossible to sustain.
Since then there are too many special days to count. Ive never lived in SF, so its always special to visit....

[northbay]

a perfect day in sf includes snapping pix at construction sites, visiting the ferry building farmers market, visiting japantown or one of the museums (asian, moma, de young).

but theres too many 'perfect' things to do up here 45 minutes north in sonoma that i dont make it down to sf as often as id like. strangely, i enjoy john kings' more sociological articles, rather than his architectural critics

[dimondpark]

I've been to Cochabamba, Bolivia....coincidence.:tup:

Beautiful thread. I wouldnt do all that in one day though...:D

[BTinSF]

BT; dont you miss out on the best weather of the year in SF going to Arizona in fall? Seems like fall is the absolute best/warmest weather, least amount of fog of anytime of year.

Regarding the point of the article, I completely understand. Ive always had a special relationship with San Francisco. When we came to America from NZ when I was a child, we passed under the Golden Gate and landed at the Port of SF.


October is a fantastic month in both places but by the end of October in typical years the rain starts in SF. I think I have seasonal affective disorder ( http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Seasonal_Affective_Disorder_(SAD).htm )--I get really down in damp drippy weather plus I personally think the absolute most contagious possible environment is a packed Muni bus in the rain (with everybody coughing on everybody else). I don't have near the number of colds I used to get in SF in winter.

I have a bit of a "special relationship" with New Zealand by the way, having wintered over in Antarctica in McMurdo (after a few months' preparation in Christchurch) which is near NZ's Scott Base. The small number of us in both places used to hang together through the dark (that didn't seem to get me like rain does) and drink New Zealand beer, and I provided sanctuary to the NZ sled dogs when they'd break loose (they came over to McMurdo where I'd let them in out of the cold and feed them Australian steak :D ).

[Gordo]

:previous: We had exceptionally nice weather this year in November and so far in December, with almost no rain at all - it's been very strange. In normal years, I don't blame you at all for running down to dry weather :)