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!

Top of the Mark

I knew when the BF came home for a weekend in August, I had to scratch something off my to-do list. That would be visiting the Top of the Mark finally! Its located on the top floor in the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel and is located in Nob Hill.  Its the tallest building downtown and has amazing views of the city. Its known for its extensive (over 100!) list of martinis and its spectacular views. It was opened in 1939 and has seen many people come through its doors to admire its 360 degree view of San Francisco. According to Wikipedia, During World War II, when San Francisco was a major transit point for soldiers traveling to the Pacific, this was a popular site for soldiers to have a farewell drink before shipping out.

It was cloudy the day we went, but this is from another sunny day in the Bay.

Its a historical landmark!

Beautiful columns

The bf goofing off

Grace Cathedral from above

The bay

Just another cloudy August day in the Bay.

The Butler and the Chef

I have a brunch secret in San Francisco. I don't really want to tell you. I want to keep it a secret so I can actually get in. Okay, okay, twist my arm, I'll let you in on the secret.

It's called The Butler and the Chef. It's located in South Park (yes, it is the same funny name as the cartoon show.) But its way better.  It's an amazing little French brunch spot. It's only open Tues-Saturday from 8-3pm and from 10-3 on Sundays. Its AH-MAZING!!!!  The food is great. I think I've been 3 times now.  I recommend getting there before it opens or well after 1pm because you WILL wait in line.  However, I will say their quiche is only offered after 11am, so you will lose out on that if you go early.  Sadly, sometimes it feels as if the wait staff wants you to feel LUCKY that you're there, not as if you're a customer.

But its SO WORTH IT. 

Cute little Parisian feel to the place

This my dear, is my Croque Monsieur.....AHHHHHH MAZING TASTE!!!! I ate the WHOLE THING and the salad, it was great! Not too cheesy or over done, it was perfect.

The boyfriend got the salmon benedict. Both of us left pleasantly plump and happy! Tiny, intimate location. We got there by 9:50am for a 10am opening, and we were already 7th in line!  The line never did die while we were there, so get there early or expect to wait in a LONG line!

AND we got chocolate truffles when we paid the bill, what more can you want?!?!?!