One of our favorites, Alaska Airlines has announced a two-season sale with fares valid until 2010. “This system-wide sale offers some of our lowest fares to the sunny Hawaiian Islands and Mexico, and includes our newest markets — Atlanta, Houston and Austin.” said Steve Jarvis, vice president of marketing, sales and customer experience. No comment from Jenn, the always willing to help CS agent.
Examples of One-Way Fares:
* $29 between San Jose and Sacramento;
* $49 between Seattle and San Francisco or Oakland;
* $59 between Seattle and Boise or Spokane; and between Portland and Oakland or Spokane;
* $79 between Anchorage and Fairbanks;
* $99 between Seattle and Houston or Austin; and between Portland and Chicago, Los Angeles or Santa Rosa/Sonoma;
* $109 between Seattle and Los Cabos;
* $119 between Portland and Atlanta;
* $148 between Seattle and Honolulu;
* $149 between Portland and Maui;
* $199 between Anchorage and Maui.
They also just announced a 10% discount off of vacation packages, in addition to receiving 1,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Bonus Miles. For more details go to Alaskaair.com.
With winter just around the corner, who wouldn’t want some coconut drinks or banana margaritas? RD
Next week our favorite rotund Minnesotan, Andrew Zimmern debuts his new show. Bizarre World can be seen Tuesdays at 10pm on the Travel Channel. Basically the same show as Bizarre Foods, with less focus on the odd items we put in our mouths and more focus on unique customs and culture.
As we continue our San Francisco visit, we move a few blocks west of Union Square to Chinatown. This predominantly Chinese community was founded in the mid-1800’s and is a must see for tourists. The oldest in North America, it is reported to have the largest Chinese population outside of Asia. Walking down its crowded streets, it is not uncommon to hear several different Chinese dialects and not a word of American English for lengthy periods. Visit the quaint shops where bargaining is often not only allowed, but encouraged. In a sea of standard San Francisco branded tchotchkes, these shops can hold hidden treasures for discerning shoppers. A favorite is the Canton Bazaar at 606 Grant Street. Though shopping in Chinatown can be fun, what I prefer to do here is eat and drink.
The Bar Nun has written about my favorite little watering hole, the Li Po. It’s certainly worth a visit for their famous Mai Tai, but don’t expect anything too fancy. This place, like much of Chinatown, is well travelled. Across the street is the Buddha Lounge. The Buddha is even smaller and more of a dive than the Li Po. However, I can think of worse things than standing at the bar with a nice pour of your beverage of choice while watching the “Happy, Happy, Happy Man”. Another interesting option isthe Empress of China. This once glorious restaurant has certainly seen better days. Upon entering, you’ll see a wall of photos of people whom I am guessing to be the owners with top celebrities. Unfortunately these celebrities, much like the Empress of China, have seen the spotlight come and go, or may even be no longer with us. I can only imagine the opulence of this place in the 70’s and early 80’s. Take the elevator to the top floor lounge. I have never tried the food, but the bar offers great views of busy streets six floors below, Coit Tower, North Beach, and Russian Hill. Pictures of those great views can be a bit tricky because of the reinforced wire windows; however, a decent optical zoom and no flash will do the trick. Of course, you can always blame any poor pictures from this fantastic vantage point on the abundant booze.
Chinatown also has some delicious eateries. It is hard to go two or three storefronts without seeing glistening roasted ducks or tasty bakery treats in the windows. My advice is to pick one that looks good and keep your fingers crossed. Chances are you will have a great, inexpensive meal. One food item I have yet to thoroughly enjoy in San Francisco’s Chinatown is sit-down Dim Sum. I have read about great take-away joints, but I like to have my shrimp balls presented by ladies with carts. You would think this place would be crawling with good sit-down establishments, but I have yet to find a stand out.
At the western edge of Chinatown is Broadway. This street and surrounding area are home to many of San Francisco’s gentleman’s clubs and the Francis Ford Coppola owned Columbus Tower. The Columbus Tower is very photogenic and if lined up properly you can snap a cool picture with it in the foreground and the Transamerica Tower in the background.
Across town is the Civic Center and adjacent Tenderloin. The Civic Center area is home to City Hall, the Supreme Court of California, and the Opera House. The Tenderloin is not. Both areas are worth a look, but don’t plan on spending much time in either. I highly recommend checking out the recently renovated City Hall and hear good things about the Asian Art Museum. The Civic Center is also home to various open air festivals such as Slow Food Nation in the summer months. Due to its close proximity to the TL, at night this area can be extremely different from the center of San Francisco politics and cultural events its hosts during the day. Since many events are held at night, direct transportation is strongly encouraged. Otherwise wandering these parts during the late night hours may provide you with some unexpected entertainment.
Which brings us to the Tenderloin. It’s hard to avoid the TL as it’s close to almost everything in the downtown area. Whether native San Franciscan’s want to admit it or not, this could almost be considered the heart of this grand city. In the middle of everything and full of life, this neighborhood is home to some of the most affordable housing in the city. Many of the apartments in this section actually are bigger than a large closet and rent for less than 2k a month. This allows some of the city’s struggling artists, hip bartenders, up-and-coming chefs and others a decent sized placed to call home. As such deals are not easy to find elsewhere, it comes with a catch. You won’t find many tourist stops in this part of town, as it contains a high transient and criminal population.
At the edge of the TL is Polk Street. This lively area is home to multiple hip bars and eateries. Check out internet café Quetzal at 1234 Polk for a decent cup of coffee and healthy breakfast or lunch. Then head west, up Nob Hill to see what else this area has to offer. If you are a fan of Greek fare, be sure to stop at Myconos for the two person specials. Bring your appetite, the portions are enormous. Don’t worry though, if you are by yourself, they also offer smaller options such as Gyros, Souvlaki, and more.
One street over on Van Ness, across from the Opal Hotel is Tommy’s Joynt. Though I’d heard some good things about Tommy’s Joynt, I was a bit reluctant, since it had been featured on a food show hosted by a bleached blond spiky haired, backwards sunglasses wearing goof of whom I am distinctly not a fan. Fortunately for me this “dive” did not disappoint. The corned beef was melt in your mouth tender and rivals the best sandwiches of the East Coast deli scene. Both food and beverages are on the inexpensive side and this place had me coming back for more over the course of several days.
For me, Chinatown, the Civic Center and the areas in close proximity to the Tenderloin are of the most enjoyable for experiencing “city life”. All three are very different and offer a variety of solid dining options, bargain shopping and diverse culture. JJ
Part III will feature Fisherman’s Warf, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Do you think Mexican grocery products are super tasty & exciting? Really? Me, too! It’s no secret that the Bar Nun is Mexican at heart, so enjoy my attempt to explain why the mundane task of grocery shopping is better south of the border.
Many savory snacks in the US are simply sold “salted”, however in Mexico, they’re often enhanced to Lime & Salt flavor, or “Limon”. Holy guacamole, why do we not at least flavor things this way in US coastal cities, if not the fly-over (looking at you, Florida, with your Latin heritage & Key limes)? Tart and salty flavors like this are the perfect accompaniment to afternoon drinking. With a great variety of textures & combinations, I find them more interesting than their domestic counterparts. Potato chips are often sold in stores with bottles of hot sauce attached. You, the delighted consumer, are expected to squirt it straight into the bag & shake. Prepare by having plenty of napkins available! Reach in, get hot sauce all over your arm & enjoy! In Mexico, you’ll also see sweet little grandmothers strolling the beach or streets of town carrying enormous baskets filled with of bags of homemade potato chips & corn puffs in various shapes. Once purchased for about 10 pesos, the ladies offer you a squeeze of lime & a generous squirt of hot sauce. I love to have these on the beach (with micheladas from the convenience store). After being coated in hot sauce, lime juice & salt, a dunk in the ocean is imperative. You will also find savory snacks like Chile con Limon flavored microwave popcorn (please offer this in the US, Con Agra!) & microwave chicharrones (pork rinds, yes I said microwave spicy pork rinds).
The condiment aisles are a bizarro world wonderland of lime, chipotle, jalapeno, and vegetable flavored mayonnaise & habanero ketchup. An incredible selection of seasonings & sauces abound. Dairy coolers offer a delicious abundance of fresh white salty cheeses, as yellow, orange or aged cheeses are rare in Mexico. A mind boggling amount of beverage choices exist. In addition to absolutely any kind of juice, you will also find unusual fruit sodas & powdered drink mixes in flavors such as horchata (tastes like Christmas), tamarindo, & hibiscus. A personal favorite is pre-mixed michelada flavoring, just add beer!
Let’s chat about the candy selection, shall we? Many traditional candies hand made with natural ingredients will be on display in the supermercado. Coconut rolls, dried sugared fruits (kiwi is especially attractive) & wacky marshmallow & cookie creations. Many of the commercially produced chocolate items for sale in Mexico are the Italian brand Kinder in the familiar orange & white package. Often times, it has delightful hazelnut crème or sweet milk filling.
From here we stroll to the bakery department. You’ll also find stand alone bakeries, or panaderia, in most Mexican neighborhoods. Selections can range from simply stocking different varieties of pan dulce (sweet glazed rolls) to enormous donuts, muffins & cupcakes. The most tempting item I’ve seen was a Hostess-style chocolate cupcake as large as a grapefruit. You’ll encounter sweet fruit filled empanadas & tamales as well, which make amazing breakfast fare.
An on-line retailer of fine Mexican groceries and cooking tools that I typically buy when I’m there is MexGrocer.com. Visit their blog for recipes & ideas. In Seattle, I often shop for these items on Beacon Hill at the multiple tiendas or the Red Apple Market, located at 2701 Beacon Ave. South. When you’re in Mexico, or even if you have a Tienda or Mercado in your own home town, don’t hesitate to try the array of unfamiliar grocery items. It’s fairly easy to assess the contents, even if you can’t understand the package. It’s a grocery adventure! FP
San Francisco is the only city on the West Coast even remotely reminiscent of the East.I am not saying that is good or bad, but I like things a little worn around the edges.Take a good amount of NYC, mix in a touch of DC, a smidge of Philly and throw that into a pan of California.I have a great deal of respect for this city and its people, even in the Tenderloin.Relatively small in size for such an influential metropolitan masterpiece, San Francisco is also a land of extremes.Extreme wealth and poverty, co-existing just blocks away from each other.Several of the finest restaurants in the world, only a strip club away from some of the most overpriced, bland crap fare you will ever put near your mouth.And don’t even get me started on the weather, as I can never figure this one out.It appears to have 9 weather systems going on at once in its 46.7 square miles.I am warning you now to layer.
My advice when visiting any new place is to do some homework.Understand the lay of the land, read a bit about its history, and have a basic understanding of the things you want to see and do.For San Francisco, I recommend studying a bit more than the bare minimum.Because it is so condensed and much of it is within walking distance from the downtown area, prepare by having your routes planned in advance.This will not only save time, but will also help you avoid some of the more suspect areas.Unless, of course, you like to watch the “crackhead shuffle” and smell fresh urine, there are a few blocks it’s best to stay away from.For those that are more adventurous, the previously mentioned Tenderloin will have you occasionally checking over your shoulder; however, it’s not as nearly as bad as it’s made out to be.Doing this bit of extra research will also keep you clear of some of those crap-tastic dining options that I mentioned earlier.These places have sucker, I mean tourist, written all over them.They cater to the unsuspecting and can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth for one of the finest culinary cities in the world.Listen to the locals and you will be rewarded handsomely.
Union Square is the commercial center of the city.Far from being its heart, this is likely where you will be staying, or at least within several blocks.This Square is actually more rectangular in shape and is home to many high-end retail establishments such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Dolce & Gabana , Armani and others. If shopping is your thing and you prefer malls over adventure, this is your place.
Start one of your days off at Sears Fine Foods.This San Francisco tradition has been around since 1938 and is famous for their Swedish pancakes.However, before you order those pancakes you will wait in a deceptively long line outside the front door.The only time I have not seen a line outside Sears is when the restaurant has been closed.Fortunately the staff is very organized and the line moves quickly.Though known for the little pancakes, try the Eggs Benedict if you are a fan.You will not regret it.With a Hollandaise sauce that is more tangy than most, it is simply delicious.
For the ultimate in San Francisco tourist attractions, two major cable car lines begin on Powell.If you have never ridden one before, I recommend giving it a short ride to say you have, but don’t rely on this slow, crowded, uncomfortable and pricey form of transportation as a way to get around town.The novelty can wear off very soon.JJ
Part II will feature Chinatown, the Civic Center, and everyone’s favorite…the Tenderloin.
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