Quality/Quantity - Another city that has so much potential…read more Known for rent control and affordable living. Known for UC Berkeley - A higher affordable education. And a food scene. Another city that I do not visit often anymore, and I have been coming here all my younger adult life. Food Scene/Areas - Shattuck Ave., Fourth St., Solano Ave., West Berkeley, Gourmet Ghetto, and of course Telegraph Ave. Some of our favorite restaurants are: Gypsy's Trattoria Italiana, Fenton's Ice Cream (when my daughter was much younger), Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (when we miss New Orleans), Skates on the Bay (when we entertain and host guests), Cholita Linda (but we have this in Alameda now), Marugame Udon (again, we have one in Alameda now), La Marcha Tapas Bar (when we miss Spain), etc. Also known for - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, arts and culture, politics/protests, Elmwood, Peet's origins, Cheese board collective, COOPS in general, Chez Panisse, Berkeley Bowl (supermarket), Berkeley Marina, etc. Atmosphere - Back in the day, there were so many street vendors on Telegraph Ave. We would make a day just people watching. From the vendors, to the customers, tourists and students. Such joy. 17.7 square miles, 7.2 of which is water. Population - 124k. Nearby cities - Albany, Kensington, Orinda, Oakland, and Emeryville. Service - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. Price - See above. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1878. 1895 - Chartered.

Berkeley. Tons of great food, interesting community. They might have a university here, go Cal!read more

Very much an SF landmark but people rarely talk or think about it!…read more Wow it is tall up close. Much bigger than I imagined it was all these years. Standing tall in all its glory. Beautiful red and white

Probably, the most visible San Francisco landmark of them all!!…read more Even when it's foggy, this landmark stands tall. Located very close to Twin Peaks, and obviously it's fenced off so you can only get so close. But being able to see it from everywhere, including the East Bay on a clear day, it was cool to get an up close view of this iconic local landmark!!!

Who is Harry Bridges? And why would the City of San Francisco named a small parcel of space in…read morebetween the two lanes of The Embarcadero way leading to the front of the Ferry Building after this person? Turns out Harry Bridges was "an Australian-born American labour leader, president of the San Francisco-based International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU) from 1937 to 1977. He was a key figure in the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike." -Wikipedia This naming was to celebrate what would have been Mr. Bridges' 100th birthday on July 28, 2001. His accomplishments, amongst others, was his advocacy for supporting civil rights, "specifically working to integrate Black workers into the waterfront unions."-sfgate. Today, you have probably been here if you have walk to or from Market Street to Ferry Building. Board or exited the F train nearby. There are lots of arts and crafts vendors located here as well as skateboarders, performance artists, (sometimes) activists, tourists, as well as locals going about their business. Located in front of the Ferry Building.

Very artsy place! R-Evolution! 45 foot tall sculpture by Marco Cochrane. This sculpture symbolizes…read moreresilience, empowerment, transformative power of art. It was unveiled last April '25. This sculpture does breathe not static one hour a day & lights up at night as well! We arrived here too early bc vendors were just setting up but wife wanted a picture of that artsy gigantic figure on a Saturday morning in November. It's an open area we have visited many times before between Ferry building & Market street bc we have stayed at the Hyatt Regency hotel several times before. Parking is only street parking or take BART or uber or Waymo. You can probably find parking garages too but that can be pricy! We would not come out of our way but if close by why not? If you need washroom go to the Ferry Building! Harry Bridges history is quite extensive! Read up on it! You may learn something interesting. Take a look away from your constant view of your phones you might just want to ENJOY the view! Seriously.

The Sentinel Building (or Columbus Tower) is definitely one of the coolest buildings in North…read moreBeach. The wedge-shaped flatiron design and copper-green color really make it stand out. If you stand across the street, you can get a great photo of it with the Transamerica Pyramid just behind it. The framing survived the 1906 earthquake and then it was completed a year later. Even though the Sentinel Building is mixed-used, it is mostly occupied by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope film studio. Many of Coppola's movies (including the Godfather films and Apocalypse Now) were edited, written, or sound mixed here. At the front of the building is a European-style cafe called Cafe Zoetrope. There are also many posters of Coppola's movies and some historical facts about the building along the outside wall.

The Sentinel Building (also known as the Columbus Tower) is the 33rd historical landmark in San…read moreFrancisco. This "flatiron" style building survived the 1906 earthquake and fire during it's construction, but did suffer some damage that delayed the building completion date to 1907. The unique copper-clad windows on the building have aged over the years to a green shade. Some people may find this building to be an ugly green monstrosity, but I think the building is gorgeous and oozes character. Initially the top floor housed political figure, Abraham "Boss" Ruef, and later a restaurant, Caesar's, that was credited for inventing the Caesar Salad. Despite it's success, the restaurant closed down during Prohibition. The musical group, The Kingston Trio, owned the building in the 1960s and used the space as their corporate headquarters. By the 1970s the building was starting to fall apart and was in a desperate need of a renovation. Film director, Francis Ford Coppola, purchased the building in the early 1970s and revived the building. To this day he still owns the building. The Sentinel Building is nestled in between Little Italy and Chinatown so there are plenty of great restaurants nearby. Cafe Zoetrope currently resides on the ground floor of the Sentinel Building. Grab some wine and Italian cuisine at Cafe Zoetrope or go across the street to House of Nanking for some amazing Chinese food. If you enjoy historical buildings and landmarks the Sentinel Building is worth checking out!

Alameda is so cool. Everyone I've ever met who lives here always says it's a great place to live,…read moreand everyone I've ever met who used to live here say they miss something or other about life on the island. And what an island it is. Except that it's technically three islands, or portions thereof: Alameda Island, Coast Guard Island, and Bay Farm Island. And I was lying again, because as far as I can tell, Bay Farm Island is not an island. It may have been an island at one time, but it's now more of a peninsula connected to Oakland; it also includes Oakland International Airport or whatever its dumb name is now. And the other fun fact is that the very southwestern tip of Alameda Island is technically part of San Francisco. That's right; when they were drawing up San Francisco's crazy borders, which unlike other Bay Area cities' borders often include all kinds of water nowhere near the land portion of San Francisco, they drew this diagonal line that happened to clip the corner of Alameda Island. That's why San Francisco voting returns always include zero votes for East Bay candidates--it's technically possible that someone could live on that corner and be eligible to vote in San Francisco, but it has never happened. The City of Alameda is so strange and weird and magical and wonderful and fake and real and beautiful and safe and salty and many other adjectives. There's the museum aircraft carrier USS Hornet and all these weird industrial experiments going on on the western end of the island, where the naval air station used to be. And there are all these new homes being developed close by. Then there are the lovely old homes on the island, and the coolest part might be the eastern end of the island south of the High Street Bridge, because these just feel like regular only 1950s and '60s neighborhoods, and then you happen upon Eastshore Drive, and the backyards of very normal-looking suburban houses happen to abut the bay! You already know about the tunnels and the Pacific Pinball Museum--a must visit--from my other reviews. Or you should. go read and click on them. Plus there are some great restaurants out here. And Coast Guard Island is funny; it's part of the City of Alameda, but its only connection to land is to Oakland itself. In order to get to the rest of Alameda, you either have to drive through Oakland to one of the tubes or to Bay Farm Island, or you have to get across narrow Brooklyn Basin somehow. Preferably by boat, I would say, but swimming and helicoptering would work just fine too. Oh, and those weird lagoons are perfectly strange. I didn't know what they were for, and I was annoyed that only the people who owned property near them could use them recreationally, but then I learned that they are partially used for storm drainage retention and water treatment, so those people playing in them probably shouldn't be! How perfect.

Another review that I have held off on... Am I being selfish?…read more Quality/Quantity - Alameda is an island in the Bay Area. A hidden treasure. DON'T let anyone know! One of the safest communities in the bay. 23 square miles, 12.5 square miles of which is water. 78k+ population - Although they are continuing to build aggressively on the ex-naval base. The best part of the island is that there is only XXXX amount of land so it can hopefully NOT get over crowded. Atmosphere - Beaches - Alameda Beach, Crab Cove, Crown, Encinal, etc. Water sports - Kayak, kite surfing, swimming, jet skiing, boating, etc. Harbor Bay, parks, lagoons, trails, volleyball, tennis, skate parks, dog parks, marinas, cycling, etc. Ex-navy base (1997) - Spirit Alley - Distilleries, breweries, wineries, etc. Too many to name! Annual events - Farmer's markets, fairs, festivals, parades, Blue Angels, etc. Museums, art & culture, etc. Beautiful Victorian homes. Amazing views of SF. 3 bridges and tunnels to get on and off of the island. Near Oakland, SF, Coast Guard Island, etc. Service - Ferries - To SF, Oakland, etc. One of the best ways to travel. Price - Affordable. They have inexpensive and expensive options. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1853.

There are so many images to choose from for downtown Palo Alto. This simple arrangement of a boy…read morediving into balloons touched my heart . It captures unbridled joy and even a little fear diving into a promising adventure. Maybe that is why he is in a Banksy-esque black and white and the future he is diving into appears optimistically brilliantly colored. A beautiful metaphor for exploring something new and different in this life. There are many hidden gems in a city, feel free to try the path less traveled in Palo Alto or any city. You might be surprised.

I LOVE Palo Alto. Iconic and also home (extended) for me. So much to see and do and history around…read morehere. It is hollowed ground if you are in tech. I used to come here all the time for meals when I worked nearby and I find excuses to make my way back these days.

I feel the Pier 43 Ferry Arch is a bit underappreciated. There are plenty of iconic landmarks in…read moreSan Francisco so this spot does get lost in the shuffle. As the name indicates, this is a historic ferry arch on the aforementioned pier. The pier itself offers a beautiful view of San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island. For me, the pier is reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris based on its arch design. I visited this spot during a Pride Month in SF and the arch was lighted in rainbow colors which helped to accentuate its beauty. I think the city should consider lighting it up at night to draw people to this spot. Maybe they can do that for holidays like Christmas, Chinese New Year and Independence Day. I think this spot is better to visit when it is lit or at sunrise/sunset. It just seems to get overshadowed in daylight.

This iconic structure is located between Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf in SF!!…read more It's a little bit out of the way when you're walking, but very noticeable!! This historic landmark opened in 1914, and was renovated in 1996 and 2003!! It's headhouse is a decorated hoisting tower for loading and unloading rail cars off ferries, which served the Belt Railroad when it was active!! It also used to be where prisoners, bound for Alcatraz, were put on a ferry!! Now, when you go here, the smell of roasting hot links fills the air, and it's a great spot to take pictures!! Another great landmark in the city!!

I live near Skygate and walk past it several times a week. The stainless-steel sculpture sits along…read morethe Embarcadero, only about a two-minute walk from Pier 39, so many people probably pass it without realizing its history. Created in 1985 by sculptor Roger Barr, Skygate was the first piece of public art installed in that part of the waterfront. If you look closely, you'll also find a nearby plaque noting that the sculpture was dedicated to the American philosopher Eric Hoffer, often called the "longshoreman philosopher," who spent many years working on the San Francisco docks. The sculpture has a sleek, curved design made of polished stainless steel. It reflects the sky, the bay, and people walking by. On sunny days, the light shines beautifully on it, making it a popular spot for photos. Visitors exploring the waterfront between Fisherman's Wharf and the Ferry Building often stop here. Since it sits in an open plaza along the Embarcadero promenade, it's easy to walk right up to it and see how the reflections change as you move around it. Roger Barr (1921-2000), the artist behind Skygate, had an interesting life that blended art, travel, and teaching. Born in Milwaukee, he served as a Navy pilot during World War II and later studied art in Los Angeles and Paris. During his time in Paris, he interacted with prominent artists and photographers, including Pablo Picasso and Man Ray. Barr later taught art in several places, including California and France, and directed the American Art Study Abroad program in Paris during the 1960s. Another interesting detail is how the sculpture was installed here. Skygate was commissioned by the Becton Dickinson Company, a global medical technology firm, and donated to the City of San Francisco. At the time, it became the first piece of waterfront public art in the city to be fully funded by a private company. Today, it quietly stands along one of San Francisco's busiest walking paths, a small but meaningful reminder of the city's artistic and waterfront history.