San Francisco, California

For the Corazon Gathering we planned a host of outside activities. There were multiple short to day-long things for attendees to do if they wanted. Trips to nearby reservations, Madrid (a local Arts Community), and to places like Santa Fe/Taos were available. Nature walks ranging from very easy to moderately difficult along the Rio Grande and into the foothills of the Sandias were mapped out. Locally we had tours of museums, the Old Town Plaza, art galleries, and shopping ranging from inexpensive to pricey. We compiled a list of restaurants, and went and "test drove" the ones we weren't familiar with. There was even horse-back riding, if anyone wanted.

Without leaving Corazon, guests could swim or lounge around the pool. We had Scrabble, Trivial Pursuits, jig-saw puzzles, Dominoes, cards & poker chips, Checkers and Chess available.

What did the participants end up doing, you might well ask.

They sat on our patio drinking iced tea, eating chips and dip, smoking and mostly talking. Dys and Di did drive one afternoon to the top of the Sandias, but the weather that day wasn't clement. Talk is what folks wanted to do, and they did it from early each morning until late each evening. We thought of trying to format at least one evenings discussion, but the group really preferred unstructured conversation that ranged from obscure quotations from long-dead thinkers to what their cat's favorite toy once was. The Corazon group tended to shy away from public restaurants because so many of us are to some degree deaf. Bars, nightclubs, saloons and casinos didn't seem to tempt any of our guests as far as I know. Though some of our members are sensitive about having their pictures taken, that didn't seem to matter in the relaxed atmosphere.

The San Francisco gathering has a ton of wonderful things to do, after all the Bay Area is rich in attractions. Participants will almost certainly end up at a variety of hotels and accommodations. No "in-house" dinners, drinks and snacks are likely, so eating and drinking "out" will be probably be the norm. Not having a central location where everyone can "flop" for up to 16 hours is a handicap, if the participants desires and expectations of what the Gathering should be are the same as we experienced. Folks want to talk and have extended interchanges with internet friends. I believe people want the chance for their acquaintances to deepen into a warmer friendship. It takes a bit of shared time to appreciate how deep, or I suppose how shallow, our companions might be. I think we look forward to sharing some experiences, like a trip to >>>>>, but mostly we want to talk and hear how our site correspondents think and "fit into" a more "normal" conversation.

I hope that some sort of hospitality suite can be arranged where the group as a whole can regard as "home", and where extended conversation is possible.

Ashman, You make a good point about a "home base." I've asked around about "free" venues in San Francisco, and they all laughed at me. The next q is whether people are willing to "donate" into a fund to rent a place - say 10 percent (only a suggestion) of what you're already spending for lodging. We can find a 'central' location in the downtown area that will accommodate most of our participants. Just a thought.

The link provided by PDiddie is excellent. Here it is again if any of you missed it:

www.hotelres.com

The prices have really gone down! A few examples:

Chancellor, 433 Powell St., at the foot of Nob Hill, $79-99, $20 nght offsite parking.

York, 940SutterSt., lovely picture, built in 1925, $79-89, $16 self-parking

Ramada Plaza, 1231 Market, Civic Center, $89.95, $20 parking.

King George, 334 Mason, 1 blk Union Sq. and Powell cable car, $75-115, $21 Parking.

The Nob Hill Motor Inn, 1630 Pacific Ave., $74-124, free parking.

Now I need those familiar with SF to tell me if you know anything about the particular hotels.

I called the number given on the link and was told that many of the hotels don't take reservations this far in advance.

I grew up in this area. Been about 11 years, but I get back when I can.

Not going to wade through ten pages of posts (I'm lazy, above all else (aside from cute)) and just offer this bit of advice:

Avoid the panhandlers. And go to Peir39, or another resturant that serves it, and get a sourdough bowl of chili or clam chowder. No matter how bad your trip is, this will make it all worth it.

Turner_727, thanks for the tip. Sounds yummy! Can you join us?

Here are more hotel rates from Orbitz (I tend to write obits, which is unfortunate).

= Orbitz special offer from
San Francisco Airport North Travelodge $44
San Francisco-Days Inn Candlestick Park/Cow Palace $58
Rodeway Inn Civic Center $53
Britton Hotel $65
Comfort Inn by the Bay $86
Best Western Americania $79
Best Western Flamingo Inn $79
Best Western Grosvenor Hotel $59
Carlton Hotel $72
Carriage Inn $109
Grant Plaza Hotel $63
Holiday Inn SAN FRANCISCO-FISHERMANS WHARF $106
Hotel Bijou $99
Hotel Rex $129
Petite Auberge $109
Ramada Mark Twain at Union Square $88
Ramada Plaza Downtown San Francisco $85
Sir Francis Drake $147
The Andrews Hotel $99
The Phoenix Hotel $89

Return to hotels Star rating guide

Diane, "Obits" -sournds a bit goolish for our gathering. LOL

I know, c.i. I'll just keep repeating orbitz, orbitz, etc. :wink:

Diane, I am posting in a hurry but many of the hotels you mentioned on PDiddie's link were also on mine, which I think was also around page nineteen, or maybe I just looked and looked and wrote up a list. What I do remember is that a bunch of the hotels I looked at did have pictures...

will come back after some errands and review these m'self.
I remember one of my concerns was to not be right in the Tenderloin section...

Is the Tenderloin still a red light district?

I think at least partly, but not sure. I think there are some neat new restaurants in the midst. I have to ask a friend who knows more.

I still haven't looked at pdiddie's link, or the hotels I posted earlier, still reading emails from being away..

I made reservations at the Rex for February 12, because we're going to see The Lion King at the Orpheum, and I don't want to drive home at night. It'll also give us a chance to have dinner in the city, and make it a whole day affair. We're paying $150 (plus tax comes to about $175) for the Rex, but they have free parking, so it's worth the extra few dollars, since parking is very expensive. The $129 price listed by Diane is a decent price for the Rex.

Love to, but can't this time. Maybe if something comes towards the midwest I might be able to, but right now it's really tight financially. . .

i stayed in the tenderloin when i was there a few weeks ago,,,edge of the dicey (pretty dicey to tell the truth) and just my cup of tea at $150 per week, on o'farrell street 2 blocks from the hilton at $200 per night.
you got to have bfast at the pinehurst on geary st, not far from the ACT theatre,,,maybe the corner of powell st? i forget but it was the best bfast and homefries i've ever had anywhere. and foley's pub is on 243 o'farrell st,,,great food reasonable, clean new place, great staff, and huge trad irish pub.
cable cars are right there also.

Turner, I know about the financial part. Still, some of these hotel rates are better than they have been in years. Hope you can make it.

Osso and c.i., maybe both of you can look at the lists and tell us which of them are in decent locations--particularly the Nob Hill Motor Inn at 1630 Pacific Ave. The price, $74-$124, with free parking, is almost too good to be true.

Diane, I have only once stayed in a hotel in San Francisco, and that was back in the mid-fifties when I volunteered into the US Air Force. I think osso will be able to help you more than I can, but I'd be happy to help you find the location relative to Union Square or the Wharf area if you have the address.

Nah, that's not the problem. My sister lives in Fremont (East Bay), and I got family that lives out there, so I could crash at their place.

It's the taking time off of work and flying out there. Sure, there are cheap airfares, but it would be 7 tickets, as my wife and kids would come along as well. . . Unless I convince her to divorce me between now and then. . .

Turner, OUCH!

Turner I will be in the East Bay as well, Bezerkeley.

I might be able to help you with housing for the family do you all have to be in the same house. I have many good friends in Pedmont and Albany.

The Rex, Ci, that is the one that enchanted me.. although it looked like they were renovating, and I might have liked the old place. Anyway, very interested to see what you think.

Plan to scrutinize any minute, just not tonight. Soon, soon. Osso.

Thanks for the offer, JD. I appreciate it.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it out. Maybe next summer. . .

Ah, Bezerkley. . . my dad used to work as a contractor at UC. Long long time ago. . .

I really must stop reading this thread. . . it's making me homesick!

Ah, well, nothing I haven't felt for the past five years.

I'm trying to remember what else is out there, it's been a while. Chinatown used to be good to eat, but my mom said they had a problem when SARS was big earlier this year. I don't know if they've recovered from that yet, but some of the best chinese food I've ever eaten was in San Francisco.

Ah, that reminds me of the street vendors with the hot dogs on Market Street. Those were always good. I used to love Market Street at lunchtime. . . all the people. So many people, doing so many things. . . makes my mind wonder, it does.

I think we used to eat at No 9 Grotto when I was a kid. Really nice resturant, actually it sits over the bay on Fisherman's Wharf. I also remember it being pretty expensive. And the Bay Tours were pretty cool too. Red & White and Blue & Gold. I always liked the Blue & Gold better, myself.

Oh, and there's an aquarium in Peir 39, where you actually go under the tank, and the fish swim around you. *That* was always pretty cool. And they had the 'petting' zoo on one of the levels, the kids got to hold starfish and stuff like that, pet baby sharks. Talk about power. . . those sharks are nuthin' but muscle. A definate see, if you can. I don't recall what the pricing is, but I'll see if I can dig up a weblink to it.

edit:

Okay, It's called Aquarium Of The Bay, and it looks like it's $12.95 for adults, $6.95 for kids. We enjoyed it, even tho it was a bit more than we wanted to spend.

There's also Pier 39. There's a lot of links for touristy stuff to do there. Pier 39 is also next door to Fisherman's Wharf, so you can park at one and go to the other, if you're driving. The Chili & Chowder Sourdough bowls I was talking about can be found at Boudin Bakery. And San Francisco Sourdough is unlike any other sourdough I know. I heard once what makes it different, but I don't recall now.