Molly's in Town

My sorority sister Molly came to San Francisco last week! She was in town for a Stitch Fix event. How cool is that?!?!  Molly is my third visitor I've hosted so far, woohoo! She is a blogger and was in my Phi Mu Lambda Epsilon chapter in college! I love that Phi Mu connects sisters, even if its been years since you've actually seen each other. #notjustfouryears

I had a Junior League meeting that afternoon but met up with Molly after that was finished. I introduced her to Uber and we went to my favorite location, Jamber. I mean seriously, this place should just promote me to #VIP since I bring everyone here.  We hung out and then headed home since she's still on East Coast time.

The next morning I took her to my favorite brunch spot, The Butler & the Chef, for seriously the best.lunch.ever.

 

Just look at that YUMMY Croque Monsieur 

My mouth is watering RIGHT NOW

She bought this really good French lemonade. It was bubbly and fresh to death. We left with our bellys full and walked around the area, visiting the Giants ball park, 21st Amendment, the marina, the Ferry Building and I have to bring all Phi Mus to the Mozilla HQ.

 

Because they have this AMAZING quatrafoil door!

 

So of course we had to throw what we know!

 

Day Around the Bay #2: Fisherman's Wharf

So as my second foray into running around my new city, I took on Fisherman's Wharf. It was a particularly chilly day and most tourists were wrapped in coats and scarves, I was running in my shorts and tank top. Whoops. You can tell who are tourists and who aren't.

I do love that I work from home now and can set my own schedule. I typically work from 6:30am-3:30pm and I absolutely love getting off work so early!!! Its awesome to be able to go for a run whenever I choose. I don't mean to rub it in, but its pretty sweet!

On a random Friday, when I had nothing to do, I decided to take myself on a run.  Down to Fisherman's Wharf and back. Probably a total of 5 miles round trip.  Fisherman's Wharf encompasses the norther waterfront area of San Francisco, from Ghiradelli Square east to Kearny Street.

It started with a run down the Embarcadero and down to Fisherman's Wharf.  First stop was Boudin Bakery. MAN, this place smells DEVINE! Don't run past this place if you're hungry....its just bad news bears.

There's this HUGE window where you can see the bakers kneading the dough and making loaves.

And then there's THESE bread loaves!!! The one above is an alligator.

And here is a bear and some turtles! Um...apparently you can order these shapes! Whoa!

Oh so touristy....so many tourists EVERYWHERE.

And of course, there's In and Out Burger, the West Coast thing to do. 

Just a little downtown touristy action

Checked off another National Park on my list at the Hyde Street Pier.

There are eight historic vessels to view at the pier.

Hello there beautiful Golden Gate Bridge

Ghiradelli Square 

Reminds me of all the ships in Virginia!!

Straight up Hyde street!

And one last view from up Hyde Street!

Other Day Around the Bays:
#1 North Beach and Coit Tower

Tartine Bakery

Tartine has been on my to-do list since I've gotten here.  I know there is ALWAYS a long line but I've heard its AH-MAZING. I mean, just LOOK at those croissants!!!  Tartine is located at 600 Guerrero St. and opened in 2002.  If you're at Delores, its only a few blocks away and its a must see. Tartine apparently means slice of bread in French. Which is appropriate because they bake fresh bread daily and its for sale at 4:30 pm. It comes hot out of the oven....my mouth is watering right now as I type this. 

After brunch with my Junior League group, I took a quick jaunt to Delores Park to meet up with these two cuties, Brad and Derek. Derek decided it was very important for us to go to Tartine. Apparently when he visits from Chi Town, he always goes there! You don't have to ask me twice.

We stood in line F-O-R-E-V-E-R. Apparently there used to be a Carl's bakery here. 

There's all kinds of things you can order there too! Just check the menu out here. 

EEEKKK get in mah belly!!!!

You can't tell that we were hungry. Bottom is a Pain du Chocolate, top left is a banana cream pie, top right is a lemon tart. MMM... I didn't take a picture of Derek's fresh loaf of bread, but I tell you it was HEAVEN. 

Let's just get up close and REEEAAAALLLL PERSONAL with that banana cream pie! Gosh it was good! I would definitely go here again.  I'd want to try one of their sandwiches or a fresh cup of coffee.

And on my walk home, I spotted this cutie!

Sister Sister in San Francisco

Brandy and I

I've now hosted my second guest in San Francisco!!! My sister came to visit a couple weeks back and we had a grand ole time! I even threw in an earth quake to make sure she had the FULL San Francisco experience!! Yep, there was an earth quake in Napa that was felt in the city. I, of course, slept through the whole thing. Typical.

She flew in Thursday night and we hung out at the house because we were getting up early to head to Napa! Of course, I stopped at Domaine Carneros AGAIN. And this time I joined the wine club!! Yes, that's right. I mean, I'm there enough. #YOLO, right?

Tried the classic champagne taster

 Brandy had the red wine taster

On the way back home, we stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge lookout. I was proud of myself for remembering prior to crossing the bridge that this was there!  I'm just glad that while I was driving across, this wasn't the time that deer decided to cross the bridge too. I probably would have FREAKED! Driving across it is scary enough in the big ass truck, I don't need animals trying to take over the lane either!

On Saturday, we decided to be adventuresome and try out an app called Stray Boots to take a scavenger hunt through the city. Its a pretty cool app, though it does suck that its a bit of $$.  The app itself is free, but you pick a location and there are several trips for each city. Each guide is $5-$12, I think. It gives you maybe 10 clues and you walk through the city to figure it out. It was pretty hard to understand at first, but then it got really fun!

We picked the North Beach location and there were several really cool spots!

One stop took us to Vesuvio, which I had been before but didn't know the history of the location.

Then we went next door, to City Lights Books. 

A few more stops to the Condor, a gentleman's club. Needless to say, we stayed outside.  We took a few more steps and a few more stops and finished up the tour.

  And then I couldn't pass up a trip to my favorite wine bar, Jamber!!!

Perhaps the whole reason I like this bar.....because it looks like my name!

Digital Bike Reader

How cool is this thing?!?!  Its a digital bike reader and it counts how many bikes pass by its reader.  I can't remember exactly where this was, but it was somewhere near Twitter HQ at 1355 Market st.

I've never seen one before, but apparently Arlington, VA also has one!