Bi-Rite’s new store on Divisadero

Bi-Rite Creamery has opened a new store on Divisadero Street! They serve the same great ice cream, in the same weird flavors, but with produce on the side.

What?

I mean, that this Bi-Rite is also a market! They serve all local fruits and veggies, and a few pantry staples too!

I intended to go to the grand opening back in March, but you know, life got in the way. But now I am unemployed and I have plenty of time to visit ice cream shops!

For my ice cream sampling today, I had a scoop of the Ricanelas, aka cinnamon, and a scoop of malted vanilla with peanut brittle. They were both AMAZING!! Especially the Ric… Cinnamon, it had chunks of snickerdoodle cookie in it. They served them both to me in a cone for $3.50 and call it a “single”.

I think I’ll go back a buy produce from the market next time. The new store is at Divisadero St and Hayes. Open everyday till 9.
http://www.biritemarket.com

High on the hill was a lonely goatherd

I have found another blog about San Francisco, and I am so inspired! The blog is Spotted SF, by a gal named Leslie. She writes about her favorite restaurants and shops in SF and she takes gorgeous pictures to go with it! I love how she photographs the little details in a shop to capture its atmosphere and help you feel like you’re there. The post she wrote about Mollusk Surf Shop in the Sunset made me want to abandon the busy life and escape to the sea. Please go read her blog at www.spottedsf.com and like her on facebook!

image by Leslie, from spottedsf.com

Ok, now to the “Sound of Music” nonsense in the title. I ate lunch yesterday at Goat Hill Pizza (18th and Connecticut,
http://www.goathill.com
). I don’t know where the name of this restaurant came from, but it definitely made me think of the puppet show scene in the movie. I loved this little pizza shop because it was so cute and countryfied. The red and white checkered tablecloths and the old-timey piano made me want to pull up a chair and stay a while. And there are cute pictures of goats all over the walls. A very nice contrast from the cold steel surfaces in this city. Who doesn’t love goats?!!

I had the Hilda’s Favorite … with goat cheese, pesto, and fresh tomatoes. Yum! And the crust was so perfect. Crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. Just the way I like it!

I was so inspired by Spotted SF, I took pictures of details in the restaurant.

 

Now with fireworks!

I have been to two SF Giants games so far this season, and I have to say that I am really loving this team! They are so talented and fun to watch.

The game I went to in April had fireworks after the game, and I thought you guys would like to see the show. It was so fun to get a victory over the Padres and then celebrate with a light show. I loved hearing 40,000 fans sing “we are the champions” at the top of their lungs.

Let go Giants!

 

Espetus is Brazilian for feast

Giant slabs of meat with infinite portions. Leg of lamb, bacon wrapped filet, and pork roast, oh my! If there’s a man in your life with a birthday coming up, I have a great suggestion for his birthday dinner!!

Espetus (pronounced eh-SPAY-toos, www.espetus.com) is a Brazilian steakhouse on the corner of Market and Gough. The waiters are dressed like gauchos, and the cocktails are authentic to the country. There is a salad bar with Mediterranean-style olives and cheeses and pasta, and every table gets a basket of fried plantains.

But you’re not reading this article to hear about waiters and olives. No, you want me to tell you about the all-you-can-eat skewers of meat. The restaurant served one thing: the meat buffet. But it was the greatest buffet because I didn’t have to get up. The meat came to me! I simply turned my placard to green to tell the server I was ready to consume. Then the waiter would arrive at my table with a prepared meat for me to sample. He would say, “Would you like to try the rib roast, Miss?”, and I would say “Yes, of course!” (with a silent “duh”) and he would serve me a slice.

I ate the most glorious cuts of meat… pork ribs, filet, prime rib, and on and on! The garlic steak was probably my favorite. I ate till I was sick, and then kept eating. Since it was my husband’s birthday, I also got to try the
Caipirinha cocktail, which was wonderful!

My husband is a meat-lover so this was the perfect place for his birthday! There’s a similar restaurant in Atlanta called Fogo de Chao that’s very close to my heart because that’s where my husband took me the night we got engaged. But this blog isn’t about Atlanta, so I will encourage you to propose to your significant other at Espetus!

The Noe Valley Town Square

The Board voted today to turn a parking lot in my neighborhood into a town square! This may not seem like a big deal to you, but to us Noe Valleans, it is a huge victory! Big thanks to Scott Wiener of District 8 for all his hard work!

This parking lot is located at the corner of 24th and Sanchez, and is currently used for the Saturday farmer’s market… and, um, parking. Boring! Those who petitioned for this improvement stated their mission as “The Town Square will be the central gathering space for Noe Valley. It will be used by and for all Noe Valley neighbors and will host everything from twice-a-week farmers markets to food pantries, music events, evening movies, neighborhood bingo, exercise classes, cafe seating, senior citizen events…” – from noevalleytownsquare.com

Here’s the plan for the square:

courtesy of sf.curbed.com

There is something very charming about a little neighborhood with a central town square. I think deep down we all wish we lived in Mayberry, and a town square makes that a little closer to reality. And it’s so nice to be part of a community! I am really excited about this addition to my neighborhood. I love the events like the Noe Valley Harvest Festival held every fall, and I can’t wait to attend more activities like it!

Tonight, there was a party to celebrate the vote, held in the soon-to-be-torn-up parking lot. There was free pizza from Patxi’s Pizza and live music. I am a loyal reporter, and I loovvvee Patxi’s, so of course I went! I met Todd David, the project coordinator. He was so excited about the approval that he high-fived everybody who walked by. I had such a pleasant afternoon meeting my neighbors, listening to a local band, and sharing in the camaraderie!

http://noevalleytownsquare.com

https://www.facebook.com/NoeValleyTownSquare

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2013/06/04/noe_valley_town_square_project_getting_closer_to_reality.php

This is the team who put this all together. Many thanks!

The Exploratorium has moved!

The Exploratorium has moved to Pier 15! Our beloved science museum was closed for 4 months to move to its new home on the waterfront. It opened the 330,000 sqft building in April 2013, boasting three times the space, more exhibits, and more fun.

My husband and I went to the Exploratorium on Memorial Day (aka his bday). Imagine this: you have the day off work, the kids don’t have school, annnndd it’s raining. Where do you go? Yeah, I’m sure you can guess where in going with this. But I have to say that the large crowd fit nicely into the big space! The exhibits were spread out and the big windows made it feel light and airy. I was impressed that the new building seemed to be built specially to hold hundreds of millions of people on a rainy holiday.

There were so many exhibits that I couldn’t possibly tell you about them all, so I’ll just highlight a few. The life sciences ward definitely got my nerd all tingly. Especially all the bacteria in a rainbow display (in a case so no exposure!).

I really enjoyed the mirror that was curved and showed me upside down even though I was standing right in front. And the giant San Francisco tribute piece made out of toothpicks. It took 37 years to make!!

The Exploratorium is a must see! Especially if you saw it before the move. The changes are very impressive and the sweeping views of The Bay are phenomenal as always! The place is awesome for a rainy day, but you should also go when the sun is out and check out the sundial exhibit on the patio.

The Exploratorium is located at Pier 15 (Embarcadero Dr and Green St). It’s open Tue-Sun and costs $20 for adults. www.exploratorium.edu

Eat. Toast.

Look at that gorgeous presentation. Isn’t that the most delicious looking meal you’ve ever seen?! That’s a grilled ham and cheese sandwich on french toast from Toast restaurant in Noe Valley (
http://www.toasteatery.com
. 24th and Noe St.).

My husband and I went to Toast last week and had the most amazing breakfast for dinner (some call “brinner”). My “monte cristo” sandwich, shown above, was glorious. The combination of sweet and salty is one of the reasons I get up in the morning. The french toast was so fluffy. And the curly fries dipped in syrup made me question a lifetime of fry-condiment choices.

My husband got the hot link omelette. He said it was everything he hoped it would be! Hot link sausage, bell peppers, and onions in an omelette. He of course, topped it with hot sauce.

Toast is very modern and hip, but still preserves all the best features of a diner: retro barstools, open kitchen for viewing the sweet griddle magic, and a glass display case full of desserts.

I am a huge huge fan of “brinner”. At night, this place is relaxed, and the prices at Toast are very reasonable. It could totally be a new weekly tradition. I hear it’s hopping in the morning, and it’s a great place to meet a friend for breakfast. Plus the coffee is much better than the diner coffee you’re used to. Maybe someday my schedule will allow for morning leisure and breakfast dates.

Winner winner chicken dinner

Thank you to everyone who suggested this restaurant! I love the feedback! Several of you saw an episode if Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives where Guy eats at Pier 23 in San Francisco. And you all wrote it to me about it. I knew I just had to try it! Yesterday the weather was perfect for outdoor patio dining. My opportunity finally came.

Pier 23 is a seafood restaurant with a giant patio the overlooks the SF Bay. They serve fresh Dungeness crab, tuna sandwiches, shrimp salad, and other seafood and non-seafood favorites. My friends and I sat outside… the sun shining…  the cargo ships passing by… and enjoyed our oceanic munchings.

I ordered the fish tacos, because that’s what Guy Fieri ordered on the show. They were good but not the best I’d ever had. The French fries are awesome though! The place feels dive-y and touristy, so I’m not sure I would eat there on a cloudy day. But yesterday, this was exactly what I wanted! We don’t gave many sunny days here, so if you happen to visit SF on one of them you’d better go to Pier 23!

Greater things, part 2

Today I had the privilege of serving at City Impact. The church I attend, Epic Church, canceled all services all sent us out to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I wrote about City Impact two years ago, when I had the opportunity to serve with another congregation. I can’t believe how much it’s grown since I was there. They have a new thrift store, a new medical facility, and a new kitchen for preparing meals. I am so amazed by the difference they are making in the lives of their neighbors.

The TL (the tenderloin) is a 1-sq-mile neighborhood with 37,000 residents and another 8,000 homeless. The average person makes less than $15,000 a year. (
http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Tenderloin-San-Francisco-CA.html
)

This morning there were 600 volunteers who showed up ready to spread the love of Jesus to the people of The TL (from Epic, Journey church, and MPPC). We gave haircuts, medical care, and food, plus many more. My team got to prepare over 1000 to-go lunches for the people in the area. I was so touched to see that Trader Joes and Costco had donated crates upon crates of food (huge high five to them!!). Someone else had given lettuce, strawberries and cantaloupe. I was so excited to know that people were going to open their sack lunch and find salad and fruit today!

I got to work with a bunch of great people today. I was so honored to be a small part of the work God is doing there.

City Impact’s website has changed. It’s now
http://sfcityimpact.com/.
Donate today!

1000 Construction Cranes

I never thought I’d be so happy to see cranes. Construction cranes that is. There’s a legend that says 1000 origami cranes is good luck, but I’m gonna venture out of the box and say that seeing 1000 construction cranes is better because it means building, growth, and (say it with me) JOBS!

My relocation to SF was in 2010 when there was absolutely zero, zip, nil new construction in the city. I didn’t notice then, of course, but now it’s 2013, and there is a building boom, and it makes it obvious how dry we were 3 years ago.

I drove around last weekend and took pictures of the many cranes towering over the skyline. The more I found, the more I got inspired by the vibration of new growth. The latest unemployment report said that California added 30,000 construction jobs in the month of March and is continuing to grow like crazy. I continued to research employment statistics and found nothing but good news in this industry, especially this report that says March 2013 showed the greatest increase in jobs in seven years! (here’s a graph!)

I never gave construction boom or drought much of a thought before. This is the first time that I have noticed such a drastic change, and took the time to ponder the implications for our local economy. It seems like it all heading up.

If you’re a geek, here’s a list of all the current building projects in San Francisco, including the new Transbay Transit Tower set to open in 2017.

“Construction cranes sign of times in S.F.” – from SF Chronicle

And if you’re a movie-buff, here’s the final scene from The Amazing Spider-Man with some awesome crane/web moves. *SPOILER ALERT*