San Francisco Noobs

Through the Eyes of a San Francisco Noob

July 25th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

I’ve shared a lot of pictures and stories with you all and haven’t focused too much on video. Although pictures are said to be worth a thousand words, videos have got to be worth at least a million! Here are some of my favorite videos I have taken throughout my 1 year journey in San Francisco. And I’m starting out with my very favorite one…

The Great San Francisco Pillow Fight has to be one of the best experiences I have had here in San Francisco! A pillow fight in the middle of Justin Herman Plaza with over 5,000 people = maddness = absolutely AWESOMEballs! Watch as the wave of pillow fighting just comes straight towards us. I cant wait until Valentines Day 2011!

West Fest 40th Anniversary of Woodstock – It’s people like this guy who just don’t give a F* that make me love this city! Ok, he might be a bit inebriated but I still gotta give it to him for scaring the crap out of the little kid at the end of this video. PRICELESS!

I’m from LA, the land of celebrity gossip. So you know I had to be first in line when Perez Hilton came to San Francisco to do a book signing. I love how he admits at the end of this video that Lauren Conrad destroyed him in book sales “That bitch owned me!”

Another one of my favorite things about San Francisco is its love for music. I have been to several impromptu concerts, like this one from the Jugtown Pirates as I waited in line at the farmers market to get a pork sandwich. Totally made my day!

This year was my first experience at Bay Areas famous San Francisco Bay to Breakers. I could never have imagined that something like this with so many people would actually be allowed in a city! Nothing beats a 7 mile long party!

Some people really know how to protest in this city. This random marching band down Haight St. was protesting the proposed San Francisco Sit/Lie law. You can definitely win people over when music is part of a protest.

A polar bear scratching his butt at the SF Zoo….how can you not love that!!!

Oh Muni, you really know how to find the crazies in this city. This guy was exceptionally crazy and apparently wants to be the young guys God.

We all know better than to go to Fisherman’s Wharf on a crowded weekend, but every once in a while it’s a must when visitors come to town. One special treat for those being dragged through the crowds is the breakdance crew who really are incredible. I’m pretty sure this guy is lighter than air with the the way he flips himself around.

And finally, lets end with a bang! Literally! The best 4th of July show I’ve ever seen was the one I saw this month at Fisherman’s Wharf.

I’m going to try to take more video because writing this post and watching all the videos made me feel like I was reliving all these past moments.

♥ Casi

Comments Tags:dance·fisherman's wharf·muni·music·party·perez hilton·pillow fight·video

And the Winner of the Philz Coffee Gift Card is….

July 15th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

Castaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$25 at Philz Coffee!!!! What a lucky guy!!

now go check your email for more info on how to get this awesome prize!

Thanks everyone for making my one year in SF so flippin awesome! Please suggest other places I MUST visit in San Francisco. I can’t wait to see every nook and cranny of this awesome city!

♥ Casi

Comments Tags:

A Noob’s One Year Adventure in San Francisco

July 11th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

I have now officially been living in San Francisco for 1 year! I can’t believe it! I am so thankful to live in this city that has opened me up to so many new experiences in my life. I have never been more happy than when Greg and I packed up that U-Haul a year ago and headed up here. There have been some ups and downs, but nothing can truly bring me down as long as I have San Francisco.

Here is a look back at some of my favorite noob missions throughout San Francisco. I ranked my top ten adventures, but after that it’s a free for all. Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of this post….and enjoy all the awesomeness that is SAN FRANCISCO!

1. Sutro Heights Park and Sutro Baths – My absolute favorite place in the whole world to watch the sunset. Sutro Heights Park and Sutro Baths are pretty much my backyard. Every morning I wake up to seals barking on Seal Rock, and fall asleep every night to the (now) calming sound of fog horns and waves on Ocean Beach. [photo by Julie Michelle for I Live Here: SF]

2. Lands End Trail – I know people will argue that Baker Beach is the best spot to relax with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, but I still think the view from Lands End Trail beats it.

3. At&T Park – Giants Vs. Pirates & Giants Vs. Rockies – I will remember this park for the rest of my life because it is where I enjoyed one of my first sunny days in San Francisco and where I had my first BFF date with Lauren.

4. 4th of July Weekend – Who doesn’t like fireworks! A lot of people leave San Francisco this holiday weekend, but I will forever be one of the faithful who stick around for the foggy-works show at Fisherman’s Wharf.

5. Real Girls Media – When I finally landed this amazing job my San Francisco move had officially become a successful one. I love this company and all the people who make it so amazing!

Great San Francisco Valentines Day Pillow Fight

6. Valentines Day Pillow Fight – One of the many things I have done in San Francisco that I never even thought possible.

7. Bay to Breakers – The costumes. The people. The floats. The drinks. the party. The smiles. The fun. All made for an amazing hike through this amazing city.

8. Park Hopping – I found my love for parks when I moved to San Francisco. There are so many beautiful ones here where people of all ages come to enjoy a day in the sun with friends and family…and cute puppies too!

9. California Academy of Sciences – My absolute favorite museum(?) in the city. The constantly changing exhibits makes for a fun day, or evening during their Nightlife events.

10. Muni – I don’t care what anyone says about muni, but it has been one of the best things to have happened to me since I moved here. Yes, it has it’s not so charming moments, but I absolutely LOVE not owning a car. I can handle the occasional crackhead/delay/crowd/smell for some quality book reading time on my daily commute.

San Francisco Zoo
Golden Gate Bridge
The Presidio
Archery in Golden Gate Park
Alamo Square and the Painted Ladies
Duboce Park
Fleet Week
Christmas in San Francisco
Hyatt Grandview
SFMOMA
Kimpton Hotels
Wine Tasting in Healdsburg
Urban Tavern
Bistro Central Parc
Farming in Oakland
Trader Joe’s
Zeitgeist
The Mission
Movie in the Park
Yerba Buena Gardens
Tech Events in San Francisco
Japanese Tea Garden, SF Botanical Gardens & the Conservatory of Flowers
Women Who Like Beer Meetup
Coit Tower
Perez Hilton Book Signing
China Beach
Halloween
Comedy Day in the Park
West Fest: 40th Anniversary of Woodstock
Sausalito
Muir Woods
St. Patricks Day Parade
The Marina
Sundance Kabuki Cinema
Metreon Theatre
OSHA Thai Restaurant
Rock Make Street Festival
Louis’ Restaurant
Tee Off Bar and Grill
Disk Golf At Golden Gate Park
Boudin Bakery In Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf
Market Street from Gough to Embarcadero
Tiernan’s Irish Pub
Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant
S.N.O.B. Wine Bar and McTeague’s Saloon

It’s so crazy to make a list like this of all the amazing things I have done in my one year here in San Francisco. I owe a big thanks to all of you who have gone through these adventures with me, whether that be in person or simply by reading my noob-tacular blog. I love you all! So much so, that I would like to give one of you amazing readers a $25 gift card to San Francisco’s famous: Philz Coffee. All you have to do is follow SFNoobs on Twitter and leave a comment on this post with your favorite San Francisco event/bar/restaurant/museum/park/etc. I’ll pick a winner at random next Thursday at 4p.m. Now get going!

♥ Casi

Comments Tags:adventure·archery·bar·beach·beautiful·Golden Gate Bridge

Happy 4th of July San Francisco

July 5th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

It’s officially been one year since I moved to San Francisco! And Fisherman’s Wharf threw me a big party with tons of people and fireworks!!! Ok, ok! Maybe they were celebrating this little holiday called 4th of July. Either way it was an amazingly awesome night.

Lauren, Greg and I packed up our eco friendly cooler with all the essentials. You know, wine, beer, cheese, chips….the makings for a good ~~1 year SF anniversary~~ 4th of July party. We played Yahtzee (which Lauren completely dominated at), gin rummy, and spit/speed. In other words we are all 90 years old, but we had a way better time than you!!! The best part was seeing the skateboarding dog. So flippin cute! I need to get me one of those!

Then the show started and it was like we were all 5 years old again. Eyes wide open and smiles for miles. The fog didn’t hinder the show one bit! If you weren’t awesome enough to find the perfect viewing spot like we did, here is the grand finale of the fireworks show.

Big one year anniversary post coming this week, with another giveaway!!! GET EXCITED!!

♥ Casi

Here is more of the awesomeness:

Comments Tags:4th of July·beer·cheese·fireworks·fisherman's wharf·picnic·wine

Bistro Central Parc – Heaven in Your Mouth

June 25th, 2010 · Restaurants · By: Casi

Do you enjoy eating deliciously melted brie? How about scallops that melt in your mouth? Bacon bits from heaven? Chocolate with chocolate inside? Since I’m sure you said yes to all of the above, I want you to feast your jealous eyes on the amazing dinner I had at Bistro Central Parc. Peacefully sitting on the corner of Grove and Central, this spot has a welcoming aroma of every good food smell you have ever experienced.

Thanks to CitySearchSF and the hard work I did going to restaurants, parks, movie theaters, bars, and pretty much every other place this amazing city has to offer; I was rewarded with a golden ticket to have a delicious dinner for two at this semi-new restaurant. Of course I brought my lady in crime Lauren who loves to be wined and dined as much as I do!

When the owner of the restaurant asked what we would like we simply handed her the menu and said surprise us! I think this is the best way to get the perfect experience at a new restaurant.

They certainly delivered their best plates on the menu, starting with Galette de Pomme de Terre, Crie chaud (for all you noobs out there – like me – melted brie spread over a potato pancake on a mountainous mizuna salad). First off, brie is good with pretty much everything, but melt that sucker and throw it on a crispy potato and deliciously seasoned salad and you have heaven on earth!

Next we each got Rissoto aux Coquille St. Jacques, which is a beautiful tower of perfectly cooked rissoto and scallops laid in a pool of lobster sauce. This was probably my favorite part of the meal. The lobster sauce was just incredible, and the scallops were the best I have ever had!

While we sipped wine and admired the other patrons delicious looking plates, our third dish came out: Poussin a l’americain, jus de poulet. The Cornish hen was laid upon a hill of potatoes and bacon all marinated to perfection. You know me, I love me some bacon!

Just as we were undoing the top button of our pants, our dessert arrived. It was like heaven opened up and dropped the two glowing dishes on our table. One was a cream cake of some sort that we discovered (after a long conversation) tasted just like wafer crackers and vanilla ice cream. The second, and the most decadent of the night, was the chocolate souffle. The melt in your mouth outer cake was only outed in taste by the gooey chocolaty center. Like I said: heaven! Both desserts were topped with an intricate web of caramel and sugar that gave the dishes a unique look on top of it’s amazing taste.

I just want to thank the amazing people at Bistro Central Parc for spoiling us with the best gourmet meal I have ever had. I will be back!

♥ Casi

Comments Tags:citysearchsf·food·restaurant·wine

Trader Joe’s, I Love You

June 22nd, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

I don’t have a car. My income is not something to be jealous of. I live on top of a large hill. The 38 Geary Bus line stops at every corner. I think stoners are funny.

All of these are reasons why I shop at Trader Joe’s.

Unfortunately, this post is NOT sponsored by Trader Joe’s but if they would ever like to pay me in TJ’s gift cards I would so whore out my blog for them!

There are pretty much three grocery options here in San Francisco:

1. Expensive, yet nutritious Farmers Markets, mom and pop shops, and Walgreens (no disrespect to any of these options….especially Walgreens where I get my weekly Snickers ice cream bar!).

2. Then you have Safeway, which isn’t quite as pricey as the options I already listed, but definitely not CHEAP! Yes, they do have more options, but really nothing that the third grocery store option can’t satisfy.

3. Then there is Trader Joe’s, always packed with people purchasing cheap booze and cheese. This was the main reason I went here at first because they really have the best options! In fact San Francisco Magazine named TJ’s as one of the Best Wine Stores in SF in their Best of the Bay Area 2010: Readers’ Poll! Hello!!! It’s like official now!!

Although I continue to turn to Trader Joe’s for my wine and Cheese needs I also turn to them for their other cheap, yet great, grocery items! Some of which include:

1. Trader Joe’s Soy Sauce: Really, I just have an unnatural love for Soy Sauce. At $2.99 this is probably one of the priciest (for what it is) food items on my list. Luckily it’s Low Sodium so it makes me feel better about myself. Do you think it’s bad to go through a jar of this a week? I didn’t think so either!

2. Cucumbers: I eat cucumbers everyday! Why is this watery, crunchy, green vegi so good!?! Oh yea, probably because I soak them in a pool of soy sauce. MMMMM Soy Sauce!

3. Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing: I have just one question: Why doesn’t every restaurant offer this salad dressing?!?! It’s embarrassing to say, but if it weren’t for the bright orange sticker that comes on every bottle warning me to keep this dressing refrigerated AT ALL TIMES, I would so package it into 1 serving size baggies and carry it in my purse for cilantro dressing emergencies!! I have been known to carry soy sauce packets…

4. Trader Joe’s Sun Dried Tomato Pesto: To. Die. For. Goes good in eggs, cheese and crackers, salads, sandwiches, burgers. So good, yet oh so bad! I found out that not everything at TJ’s is automatically healthy after going through a container of this and then reading the Supplement Facts. Damn you metabolism!!!!!

5. Trader Ming’s Mandarin Orange Chicken: First of all: Who is this Trader Ming fella?! Second of all: He needs to make more American-ized Chinese delicacies like this! OK, here’s how you do it! Put your oven on broil. Microwave the desired amount of chicken until soft (not hot….just not frozen anymore). Place chicken on tin foil (because clean-up sucks with this sticky sauce). Pour sweet and sour sauce on chicken to taste. Place in hot oven. WATCH the chicken for the perfect amount of crispyness (about 6 – 10 minutes). Put in bowl with cooked white rice and Trader Joe’s Frozen asparagus spears. Pour lots of soy sauce on it (soupy texture is usually my goal. Yes, I will be having a heart attack any day now). ENJOY! Best cheap dinner on the planet.

6. Trader Joe’s Blended Scotch Whisky: I have only two selling points on this item: 1. Delicious
2. $10

7. Vinho Verde White Wine Espiral: White wine + Champagne = Vinho Verde. The best wine to sip on a hot summer day!

So yea, pretty much Trader Joe’s rocks my world! I think I need to get me a weekend job there because I hear they give employees samples! I love samples!!

Tell me your must have Trader Joe’s items in the comments

♥ Casi

You can check out a few of my other favorite Trader Joe’s yummies below:

Comments Tags:beer·food·grocery store·trader joes·wine

And the Winner is…….

June 11th, 2010 · Uncategorized · By: Casi

NIKKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you enjoy this awesome book!!! I absolutely loved it, and I’m sure you will too! I want a full report by MONDAY! JKKKK!!

Now all you people who weren’t lucky enough to win this book, go buy it on Amazon!

Comments Tags:book·delivering happiness·park·reading

San Francisco Noob Goes Park Hopping and Tries to Deliver Happiness

June 7th, 2010 · Uncategorized · By: Casi

What is my goal in life?

Experience as many things as possible in my lifetime.

Why?

So I can say “I did that.”

Why?

HAPPINESS

As many of you know I moved here from Los Angeles almost a year ago. What you might not know is why. I moved to San Francisco in the pursuit of happiness. This city is so open to a variety of people, all in the FREE pursuit of THEIR happiness. Whether it be to start their own business, get a great job, find a girlfriend/boyfriend, write peotry, sing music, dance, run marathons, play sports, or just be as different as possible. Some may argue that Los Angeles can offer the same things, but to me it just didn’t have the same freedom as I feel I have and I think everyone has here in SF. I love this city because it has encouraged me to have more EXPERIENCES in less than one year than I have had in the past. Well, that’s probably not true since this one year of experiences is battling with 24 years that I have not been in SF. But I feel the ones I have had here are more meaningful to me.

This whole pursuit of happiness post sprouted from a new book I read this month, Delivering Happiness – A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh CEO of Zappos. He is a business entreprenuer in the pursuit of happiness. “Ultimatly, he shows how using happiness as a framework can produce profits, pasion, and purpose in both business and life.” As someone very interested in business and technology I did enjoy this book for his story on how he made Zappos what it is today: one of Fortune magazine’s top 25 companies to work for. But I also enjoyed it because of the personal story he tells about his pursuit for happiness. In his case it is to spread the word of HAPPINESS, which he does through his company, his friendships, and now this book. I learned some valuable lessons from Tony’s, and many of his friends, words in this book.

I highly suggest you purchase Delivering Happiness through Amazon, and for $13 how can you not?! But, just in case you don’t believe me when I express how good this book is I have an extra copy to give away to one of you lucky SFNoob readers. All you have to do is leave a comment here answering this question: What is your goal in life? I will anounce the winner on my twitter account on Friday June 11th at 4p.m. PST so make sure you are following me! And if you STILL can’t find a way to purchase this book, I am more than willing to let you borrow my personal copy if you leave a comment here telling me what your goal in life is. Also, find more inspiring stories about Tony and Zappos at the Delivering Happiness website.

So, lets get back to my happiness. Like I said my goal in life is to have as many experiences as possible. To help me get a little bit closer to reaching this I love to explore our beautiful city, San Francisco. In honor of the great book I got for free from Tony Hsieh and the rest of the Delivering Happiness team, I took the book with me on a park hopping adventure throughought SF. As you may remember I asked all of you which were your favorite parks in San Francisco. I put on my walking shoes, grabbed my book and I was off! Here is a bit of my happiness with the Delivering Happiness book.

Eating a Sandwhich at the Palace of Fine Arts

Now get your comment on and win that free book I have for you! Remember to follow me on Twitter where I’ll announce the winner Friday at 4p.m. PST. GO!

♥ Casi

Disclosure: Although I was given this book for free to review on my blog, all words are my own and VERY VERY TRUE! Thanks Tony for opening up my mind even more.

Comments Tags:

A Grandview of San Francisco

June 1st, 2010 · Adventures, Restaurants · By: Casi

Coit Tower and the Trans America Building

Memorial Day = No Work = BBQ = Beer = Sun = Fun

Well I did all of those, but not in the conventional way. It was more like Memorial Day = No Work = Pizza = California Tan = Overcast with glimpses of sun = Fun

It was a big day for Greg and I who have now officially been together for 9 years! We spent the first half of the day in bed drinking coffee before we decided to actually get up and do something. So, we decided to go to the top of the world. Well, San Francisco’s world.

We went to the Grandview Lounge at the Hyatt near Union Square. Grabbed a spot by the window and stared with our mouths open at the amazing view! 360 degrees of SF is viewable from the 39th floor, worth every nauseous moment I spent up their (I have a thing about being in high buildings. My stomach doesn’t like it! But my eyes do!).

I had my first California Tan (Anchor Steam and Guiness) and kicked back (trying not to look down) and enjoyed the view! I’m telling you, if you haven’t been up here it is an absolute MUST! But until then, enjoy these beautiful pictures I took with my iPhone. Can you imagine the pics I would have if I had a “real” camera!

California Tan - Anchor Steam and Guiness

♥ Casi

P.S. Get excited for a new post June 7th about the park hopping adventure you all sent me on! I found some great places to read my new book: Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh. So be sure to come back with your happy face on because there will be a great giveaway!

Comments Tags:beer·book·park·reading·view

San Francisco Noob Mission in the Parks

May 27th, 2010 · Adventures, Parks · By: Casi

Although it’s raining like a mo outside today, weather.com says it’s going to be sunny and in the 70’s over the weekend. Although I secretly wished it was going to rain this weekend because I tend to spend money on sunny weekends going to cafe’s, bars, restaurants, boutiques, vendors, and the occasional happy bum donations; I have decided to put on my thinking cap and find something free to do.

I’ve never lived in a city with so many beautiful parks, so I have made it my mission to go to as many parks as possible over the sunny weekend. Below you will find a list of some parks that were suggested to me on twitter, some I have already enjoyed going to, and some I had no idea were even there until I found them on Wikipedia. So help a noob out and vote for your favorite park to hang out with a beer, a book, a park that has great people watching, cute puppies I can ~~steal~~ pet, or any other random reason you enjoy it. I plan on bringing a backpack of all the essentials (so I don’t spend a dime), my bus pass, my new book (you will see a post about this soon + a giveaway. GET EXCITED!), and my trusty phone/camera.

Please leave comments if there are any extra special things I should know about your park suggestion (i.e. stay away from the bum who likes to lick people). Also, pick as many parks as you like, and suggest some that aren’t on the list! I will try to make it to all the most voted. YaY for three day weekends!

Oh yea, and thanks to all the men and women out their who have fought their hearts out for this country. We are all greatful for your service, which allows us to have fun noob-tacular missions!

♥ Casi

RESULTS ARE IN…

#1. Dolores Park
#2. Washington Square/Duboce Park/Marina Green
#3. Alamo Square/Palace of Fine Arts
#4. Corona Heights
Other = Lincoln Park/McLercan Park/Buena Vista

Comments Tags:free·mission·noob·park·pictures

Exploring and living in San Francisco

Through the Eyes of a San Francisco Noob

July 25th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

And the Winner of the Philz Coffee Gift Card is….

July 15th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

A Noob’s One Year Adventure in San Francisco

July 11th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

Happy 4th of July San Francisco

July 5th, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

Bistro Central Parc – Heaven in Your Mouth

June 25th, 2010 · Restaurants · By: Casi

Trader Joe’s, I Love You

June 22nd, 2010 · Adventures · By: Casi

And the Winner is…….

June 11th, 2010 · Uncategorized · By: Casi

San Francisco Noob Goes Park Hopping and Tries to Deliver Happiness

June 7th, 2010 · Uncategorized · By: Casi

A Grandview of San Francisco

June 1st, 2010 · Adventures, Restaurants · By: Casi

San Francisco Noob Mission in the Parks

May 27th, 2010 · Adventures, Parks · By: Casi

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