San Francisco is one of the world’s great restaurant cities. In addition to a plethora of Four and Five Diamond establishments, it offers a global smorgasbord of savory delights, not to mention the bounty of nature’s table by way of the greater Bay Area’s many organic farms.

But I’m here to help answer the question of where you can turn when you need to fill your stomach without relying on an expense account or owning a wallet that faints at the thought of Gary Danko or The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton. What if you just want to eat some good, well-prepared food that won’t break the bank? Keep reading; I have some recommendations. ... Read More

Female impersonation is an art enjoyed by many people, myself included. And San Francisco has a rich drag tradition that goes back to landmark clubs like Finocchio’s, the landmark North Beach cabaret that attracted tourists from around the world for 63 years before closing in 1999. “Sunday’s a Drag” at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room has taken the baton from Finocchio’s, and on a recent San Francisco trip, this combination brunch and entertainment event was near the top of my must-do list.... Read More

Who doesn’t enjoy going to a farmers market? You’re buying fruits, vegetables and other foods directly from the source. You’re in the fresh air rather than within the confines of a supermarket. You can nibble and nosh on the spot.

You also can meet friends and turn the outing into a relaxed social occasion rather than the “Oh no, I’m out of milk, which means I have to stop at the store on the way home from work even though I don’t have time” urgency of yet another grocery run. In fact I can’t think of anything not to like.... Read More

You’ve got to hand it to this city for setting aside so much lucrative real estate for green spaces that are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Even in an urban area remarkable for how densely packed it is, there’s always an escape close by. Of course everyone knows and loves Golden Gate Park, but Buena Vista Park and Corona Heights Park—both favorites of mine—are a bit more under the radar.... Read More

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is so big and so packed with things to see and do that you could visit a dozen times and barely scratch the surface. I’ve taken a spin through this beloved green space any number of times, and it never fails to absolutely delight me.

Of course the park is home to major attractions like the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum, and recreational diversions include everything from archery to fly fishing to disc golf. But it’s the gardens and tucked-away nooks that I keep returning to.
I love the fact that in a park this crowded with people—especially on weekends—there are places just steps off the street that can make you forget you’re in the middle of a big city. And I’m going to share a few of them. ... Read More

Who knew Alcatraz—a prison so infamous it’s known simply as “The Rock”—was a garden paradise? I certainly didn’t. On a recent travel assignment in San Francisco, I decided to take the ferry to Alcatraz Island because ferry excursions on San Francisco Bay are always fun, but mostly because I’d never been to this long-time tourist attraction.

When it comes to notable federal penitentiaries I’m no scholar; a fellow blogger suggested watching the 1979 movie “Escape From Alcatraz” before I visited, but I didn’t get around to it. And while the island is an iconic part of the San Francisco urban landscape, from a geographic perspective it’s little more than a bump in the bay compared to nearby, much larger Angel Island. ... Read More

I was in San Francisco on travel assignment a couple of weeks ago, and a friend asked me if I was going to check out the Bay to Breakers race (one of the city’s biggest and best-known events, held the third weekend in May). Since 2011 marked the centennial running, I definitely wanted to be there. On the appointed day I delayed my usual morning ritual—coffee and a bagel with hummus—grabbed my backpack and headed down Van Ness Avenue from my hotel toward the race route.... Read More

I read somewhere that San Francisco has so many restaurants there’s one for every 230 residents. That’s an impressive statistic. But it isn’t just about numbers—this really is one of the nation’s premier food cities, not just for cutting-edge cuisine but also for a tasty and reasonably priced lunch. And on a recent visit I enjoyed three reasonably priced and very satisfying lunches.

It was too chilly for an al fresco late lunch at one of the four sidewalk tables outside La Mediterranee, ... Read More

When I’m in San Francisco, either for business or for pleasure, I rarely seem to make it over to the East Bay. It’s a bit of a shame, because East Bay cities all have their own sightseeing diversions. But on my most recent San Francisco trip I partially remedied this by spending the day in Berkeley. And I didn’t even need a car; I just hopped on BART (hats off to San Francisco’s extensive public transportation system).... Read More

I generally avoid obviously touristy places when I travel, but there’s a good reason they earn that distinction in the first place: People like them. Chinatown is not only a tourist magnet; it’s a densely packed city neighborhood that definitely merits that overused adjective “colorful.” And whenever I’m in San Francisco I make it a point to spend some time there.

One of the coolest things about San Francisco neighborhoods is how they merge together, and Chinatown is no exception. ... Read More