Discussion of Firms and Life in SF/SV

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Since we had lived in the area and had already explored Marin fairly thoroughly, we skipped Muir Woods and Stinson Beach and Point Reyes (all sights that I highly recommend) took a shortcut (i.e. 101) to Santa Rosa and then cut across to Bodega Bay, where we met up again with PCH.

Great advice for someone who's seen those things, but inapplicable to someone who hasn't. I dismissed 1 north of SF because Fringey is in LA, but the drive from Muir Beach all the way past Tomales Bay to Valley Ford is way cool. Takes a while, but you can stop for oysters and beer in Olema or one of the little shacks north of Point Reyes Station.

My brother used to play a dive in Bolinas whenever his band was in the SF area. I think it was called "Sparky's" or (could it be?) "Spanky's." Hard to believe that place was 7 miles from Mill Valley (as the crow flies). It might as well have been in northern Maine. Everyone there looked like Captain Quint.

ETA: It was "Smiley's." Been around for 150 years.

[LessinSF]

Originally posted by Spanky
Less? I know you know the name of one. We have been there many times. I just can't remember the name.

I think you are thinking of La Rondalla - http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/p...ditorialreview - but I have never had the huevos there.

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
So where'd you go and what did you like?

We went to the Silver Oak barrel tasting last week. It was a zoo and entirely too hot. I got sick from the heat, but that didn't stop me from drinking.

Here's a summary list. Tried way too much stuff (and brought too much home) to give vintages and all without being at home to look.

Frog's Leap, Grgich Hills, Artesa, Sterling, Rutherford Hill, Silverado, Whitehall Lane, Mondavi, Beringer, Neibaum-Coppola, Domaine Chandon, Domaine Carneros, Provenance, Opus One and Quintessa (more to visit than to buy at the last two -- $$$). I'm sure I'm leaving a couple out. We have a lovely collection of cheap wine glasses now for parties. Used them this past weekend. Had enough to give everybody a different one so they could remember which was theirs.

Mrs. Hand prefers Sauvignon Blanc so we brought a few of those back (Frog's Leap. Grgich, etc.). I prefer reds, mostly Cabs and Pinots (tried a few good ones in local restaurants -- as you're aware Napa's not the strongest area for those). Also brought back a couple dessert wines and some Sangiovese from Silverado which was surprisingly good. About 2 cases total came home with us (the UPS guy thinks we're lushes). Good news is we can get most of it here as well. Chicago's like the 2nd largest wine market in the US next to LA.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
Here's a summary list. Tried way too much stuff (and brought too much home) to give vintages and all without being at home to look.

Frog's Leap, Grgich Hills, Artesa, Sterling, Rutherford Hill, Silverado, Whitehall Lane, Mondavi, Beringer, Neibaum-Coppola, Domaine Chandon, Domaine Carneros, Provenance, Opus One and Quintessa (more to visit than to buy at the last two -- $$$). I'm sure I'm leaving a couple out. We have a lovely collection of cheap wine glasses now for parties. Used them this past weekend. Had enough to give everybody a different one so they could remember which was theirs.

Mrs. Hand prefers Sauvignon Blanc so we brought a few of those back (Frog's Leap. Grgich, etc.). I prefer reds, mostly Cabs and Pinots (tried a few good ones in local restaurants -- as you're aware Napa's not the strongest area for those). Also brought back a couple dessert wines and some Sangiovese from Silverado which was surprisingly good. About 2 cases total came home with us (the UPS guy thinks we're lushes). Good news is we can get most of it here as well. Chicago's like the 2nd largest wine market in the US next to LA.

good god man. You did pretty well for 2 days!!!!

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
good god man. You did pretty well for 2 days!!!!

It was more like 3 1/2 days really.

Oh yeah, I forgot Cakebread. Consistently good stuff.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Fair points. Can we agree that it's the best convertible driving road in America?

We can agree that any drive is better in a convertible, but the others I listed are more enhanced by a convertible than PCH. PCH the view is, primarily below eye level. Glenwood Canyon, GttS, and M$H all have require looking down and up. Unless you like crooking your neck to look out the sunroof, you miss 75% of what there is to see.

As for weather, while PCH certainly is capable of having ideal convertible weather, so too are the others. I'd wager also that the good weather is a little more predictable at the others, whereas PCH can be socked in with fog much of the summer (ask me how I know).

Another one is the Beattooth Highway. It, like PCH, has mudslides that wipe it out. Unlike PCH, a single mudslide can take out several esses at once (see photos).

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
My brother used to play a dive in Bolinas whenever his band was in the SF area.

Atticus is becoming str8-lite?

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Atticus is becoming str8-lite?

Someone alert his wife.

Can someone refer me to someone who will come and remove my couch from my apartment and do with it whatever they please? I will gladly pay cash.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
Can someone refer me to someone who will come and remove my couch from my apartment and do with it whatever they please? I will gladly pay cash.

Does this mean the standing invite to crash on your couch is no longer valid?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
Can someone refer me to someone who will come and remove my couch from my apartment and do with it whatever they please? I will gladly pay cash.

www.craigslist.org

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
www.craigslist.org

Three pieces of advice:

Post a picture if you can. Reduces random people coming to your house then complaining its not as nice as you described (even if you write "complete piece of shit couch")

Make sure to specify that the person is completely responsible for hauling the thing away by themselves (i.e. "bring a friend and a truck")

Charge some nominal fee. People are disbelieving of something free. If it's just really cheap, they'll love it. If it's free, they'll call up a week later and bitch about how it smells of desperate spinsterhood.

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Does this mean the standing invite to crash on your couch is no longer valid?

Of course not. YOu will just be crashing on a nicer, newer couch. One the dead cat never contaminated in a fit of anger about the dog. IF I can get the old one out of here.

Originally posted by baltassoc
Three pieces of advice:

Post a picture if you can. Reduces random people coming to your house then complaining its not as nice as you described (even if you write "complete piece of shit couch")

Make sure to specify that the person is completely responsible for hauling the thing away by themselves (i.e. "bring a friend and a truck")

Charge some nominal fee. People are disbelieving of something free. If it's just really cheap, they'll love it. If it's free, they'll call up a week later and bitch about how it smells of desperate spinsterhood.

Hey Fuckwad


Sorry about your wife. WOuld you like a new couch?

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
Of course not. YOu will just be crashing on a nicer, newer couch. One the dead cat never contaminated in a fit of anger about the dog. IF I can get the old one out of here.

I say this only as a friend, but knowing Shifty, he would probably prefer sleeping on the old couch.