My visit to San Francisco began with a bang. San Francisco International Airport hosted a press conference, and then treated me to their T-Mobile HotSpot, one of the largest in the country. The press conference drew two TV stations, a radio reporter and several print journalists. Not bad. After someone finally took the
Press Conference
microphone away from me, I went exploring and had my way with the huge Wi-Fi HotSpot. Ha … I didn’t find a place without connectivity in the International Terminal … as I wandered around among the Singapore Air flight attendants, soccer hooligans, an antique model train display and several nice restaurants.
SFO — especially my contact, Grier — played wonderful hosts. The connectivity was seemingly ever-present and the people watching was world class — 6 pings.
Next I rode a BART train to the Civic Center station and hoofed it around San Francisco. Oh my … I have done the trolley thing before. But to get the full effect of Nob Hill and others … feets is the way to go. (San Francisco must be the ultimate skateboard city …)
In the revitalized Fillmore area, I acted on a tip and checked out Zinc Details … perhaps my new favorite store — with two locations, on Fillmore and nearby on California — ultra cool, modern imports and a few retro furnishings as well. Hip music, a little espresso and friendly people. (Where else can you meet a new friend from Montana, who knows about Texas’ Marfa Lights?) Yet … no Wi-Fi. Or was there? I was too impressed with the cool chairs and engaging conversation. I forgot to check. See fo yo ownself at:
My other favorite place was Nook, a classy little wine bar, coffee shop on Hyde Street. If only I had found it sooner, rather than two hours before my Southwest flight home. The Wi-Fi was full-bodied and
Corey, Ivana
unpretentious, with a free bouquet. No charges, no splash page, just instant connectivity and good bandwidth — even though the place was totally full of other lap-types, computers open, IMing, tweetering and working. It seemed to be a place where beautiful people congregate … and yet they welcomed me too.
There is just nothing bad about Nook. Great people — shout out to Ivana and Corey — excellent Wi-Fi and the cold Orangina was exactly what I needed as I tackled the next San Francisco hill — perfect score — 7 pings.
On the previous night, I fired up Wi-Fi a couple of times at The Grove. In some ways, I felt I was home. The place — in spite of what you might expect in San Francisco — is a funky, rustic little place. Granted the fireplace embers were so faux, but the rusty antiques, leather couches, native blankets, wooden movie house chairs and tin tables were authentico …
The Grove
So how about Wi-Fi? Well, a number of hotspots popped up, and naturally the strongest was The Grove house brand. It was a strategic little pay-for-play business model, powered by Deep Blue Wireless. The cost was $4.95 for a day pass … so knowing me, that means I would sit there and blog for hours to get my money’s worth. I did. The only minor detraction was my during second visit, when I tried to log on. My “new member” e-mail didn’t include a user name/pass code. And if they thought I jotted it down earlier … well … they don’t understand just how attention deficient I can be. A quick call to customer service at Deep Blue something and I was up and running.
Great furnishings, fresh air, no smoking, a strong connection although the speed was a little lacking. Also, good food and hip young professionals — one whom I was hatin, because she was stretched out on the long leather couch before I got to it — 5 pings.
What good is a trip to the West Coast without a boba tea — I ask you? Have you had it? Kind of like sweet chai tea with brown marshmallows floating in it. Ha … it takes a huge straw to enjoy — about a .38 caliber I guestimate. Actually they are tapioca beads … an unusual concept … but certainly they are chewy goodness. Tapioca Express, also on Fillmore, gave me what I crave. They have a multitude of boba flavors, although the tapioca balls were a little smaller than what I like. How was the Wi-Fi? Well. Tapioca Express is another BFF.
Tapioca Express
It was filled with young hipsters, and me, laptops open and blazing. There’s plenty of Asian fusion on the menu and plenty of Wi-Fi to go around. Shrewdly, the Wi-Fi system was locked down, but the ponytailed dude behind the bar knew the code by heart and jotted it down. That’s a good sign, as opposed to the places where the staff reply “What’s Wi-Fi?.” Ha .. the multi-letter, multi-number code looked about as intimidating as Asian characters to this twangy traveler.
The signal was strong, and it was safe and free. There were plenty of excellent Asian spices in the air, and I love me some boba — 6 pings.
Time out for a San Francisco moment. Strolling down Fillmore, I glanced up and saw the sign for the famous Fillmore club. Anybody (band) who is anybody — especially during the psychedelic days played there. When I stopped out front, the first thing that caught my eye was a huge tour bus. Ha … as i was about to peer inside, the second thing that caught my eye — although I was quick to avert — was some inebriated dude who walked over to the bus in broad daylight, “dropped trow” and relieved himself on the front tire. What better tribute to a rock ‘n’ roll tour? (Actually MMW — Medeski Martin & Wood were playing that night, but I don’t know if it was their bus sporting freshly washed tires or not …)
Next stop — a place that pulled me in with their clever name — Citizen Cake on Grove Street. (I think Orson Welles would love the place too … with all the sweets and wines …) It is a nice little restaurant, not too very far from city hall. (Have you seen the glamor dome at San Francisco’s City Hall … oh my …) It was pretty early in the morning when I came a-knockin, so the restaurant wasn’t open. But the coffee shop/pastry side of the establishment was doing what it does best. Can I be frank? When I asked about Wi -Fi, they recommended I go somewhere else. When they saw my laptop, they “invited me” to sit in the other side of the restaurant … by myself.
I don’t know if they were trying to usher the computer nerd out to make room for quicker coffee types … or if they wanted me to be able to work in peace. Hmmm.
The apple/cheese pastry was pretty good, but the “lady finger” size cup of joe was not enough rocket fuel for this space traveler. The Wi-Fi was non-existent. Turn on the signal and fill both sides of the restaurant in the mornings, methinks — 3 pings.
Nearby, I strolled into The Crepe House … a little more homey than the fancy pastry place. But, it was cool in its own way — wooden benches, designed with warm shades of yellow, orange, browns and sort of a patina. Get this laptop lovers, one wall had not one or two, but 12 electrical outlets. Holy power grid,
Crepe House
Batman! Oh … and the smells coming from the omelets … ooh la la. How about ooh la Wi-Fi? Yes!
Good and over easy. And, the manager came over to make sure I was able to get on, after I had asked the hostess about connectivity.
The hostess however lost a few style points, when she commented she was glad the place was empty. My goodness … put on a happy face to go with the Wi-Fi — 4 pings.
And finally, how about the place “where I stay”? I would highly recommend Cathedral Hill Hotel if you are on a tight budget and want to see San francisco for several days. The rates are bargain, in the heart of downtown and the accomodations are clean and adequate. Granted it ain’t the Taj … ha … that should be obvious when the Web site shows an artist’s sketch, rather than a photo. But, yes, I would do it again.
I can live with “affordable,” but here’s the thing that surprised me. The hotel not only has a hotspot, it is an AT&T access point, with an official AT&T splash page and everything. My last day there — probably the first time I spent more than 15 minutes awake in my room — I said “what the heck, I wonder if this affordable facility has any sort of Wi-Fi?”. I was shocked! So why so hush-hush. If this hotel had invested time and money in securing such a quality brand of Wi-Fi … shouldn’t they tell people about it? I mean, even PingWi-Fi sometimes needs a helpful clue. No signs … no nothing. In my room, on the eighth floor, the signal was a little weak, but I got on and sent out e-mails effectively.
Dang people. Fly your Wi-Fi flag proudly, especially if the other parts of your offering are, shall we say, less up to date — 5 pings.
My goodness. After my march on San Francisco, I looked at a map. Yes, I walked more than 10 miles in one day up and down and up and down … Ha … I even scaled “a small mountain” in Buena Vista Park. Good
Buena Vista View
thing I didn’t know the distance until after the fact. My venture into the Haight was practically Wi-Fi free, although I did have fun ribbing the grandchildren of hippies who were trying to be hippies. There of course, it is all about flying the freak flag. I had pizza by the slice at Escape From New York … adequate pizza, unfriendly counter types and counter-culture types … but who doesn’t love a movie still of Kurt Russell wearing an eyepatch (from the cheesy sci-fi flick)?
I did Starbucks several times — including a nice one over by the university medical school. One disappointment during the trip — Peet’s Coffee and Tea. It was highly recommended and it didn’t let me down. I let them down. Pete’s just never got the chance. There was a Peet’s location close to my hotel, on the way to the Fillmore area. But – timing is everything — it was scheduled to open a few weeks after my visit. I saw some other locations, but the timing never was right for one reason or another. Maybe next time.
http://www.peets.com/stores/store_locator.asp
Last travel tip — try the fried brussel sprouts at a cool little restaurant called SPQR — highly recommended … the best I’ve ever had (and of course, the only brussel sprouts I’ve ever had.) What a great place to sit at the bar and watch the chefs do their thing. Thanks for the tip Ashley.
Know what I sayin?
