WINE TASTING IN NAPA VALLEY! BOOH-YEAH!
Went to 3 wineries:
Beringer (my favorite) - best wine: White Merlot or Sparkling White Zin
Sutter Home - best wine: White Cab-Sauv then the Zin Reserve
Beulieu - best wine: the Syrah and the...shit...Cabernet Reserve #2 (I think)
Then we had dinner at...some restaurant...I can't remember the name as by this point I had had quite a good amount of wine. I do remember that I had fan-freaking-tastic ribs though. And overall the place was darn tasty. (Juicy burgers too).
Then nap. And more nap. No more wine though. Now sleep. Too much wine tasting in one day. I'm clearly not the lush I thought I was. *jedi hand wave*
Thursday, March 26, 2009
S.F. Day 5
Today - horrible horrible news to start with. Not sharing it here though. Nope. No way.
Lunch w/ my great uncle and great aunt and my 2nd cousin who's my same age and really cool! Went to Liverpool Lil's - an English Pub thing. Had fish'n'chips and french onion soup. Thought about clam chowdah, but decided to broaden my horizons just a bit. ;-)
My great uncle took us down the crookedest street, Lombard St. which, HOLEEE shit, it's ridiculous! The over Golden Gate bridge to San Marin county where we drove up a hill-thing for good views of the Bay. Very cool.
Great aunt made spaghetti for dinner, she's an excellent cook. Her jam is badass too! Mom's two cousins came over and we had a grand old time. Great aunt also made a killer carrot cake with awesome icing! Go her! Can she adopt me? :-D
Lunch w/ my great uncle and great aunt and my 2nd cousin who's my same age and really cool! Went to Liverpool Lil's - an English Pub thing. Had fish'n'chips and french onion soup. Thought about clam chowdah, but decided to broaden my horizons just a bit. ;-)
My great uncle took us down the crookedest street, Lombard St. which, HOLEEE shit, it's ridiculous! The over Golden Gate bridge to San Marin county where we drove up a hill-thing for good views of the Bay. Very cool.
Great aunt made spaghetti for dinner, she's an excellent cook. Her jam is badass too! Mom's two cousins came over and we had a grand old time. Great aunt also made a killer carrot cake with awesome icing! Go her! Can she adopt me? :-D
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
San Fran Day...4?
Today, Mom and i decided that since we were in San Fran and we bought some (semi) designer clothes, that we were going to get fancied up for a night on the town since it's our last night. Tomorrow, my great uncle's picking us up from the hotel and we're going to stay with him for the rest of the trip.
We found out that one of the hotels nearby (one of the FANcy ones) had a top-floor lounge w/ music and dancing and views of the city. So we got all dressed up - skirts, heels, makeup, jewelry and walked the two blocks (uphill no less) to the hotel only to find out it's closed for a private party.
We ask the guy at the front desk where to go for a better place. He gives us 2 options but one is in a slightly weird block with lots of beggars and the other is like 4 blocks away and up REALLY steep San Fran hills. The latter was the Mark Hopkins hotel and the lounge was called "Top of the Mark" which was pretty much the penthouse suite turned into the bar. We decided to go to that one, but rather than walking in our beautiful heels, in the wind, up the hills... we took a cab there!
And no, the cabbie did not laugh at us? At least not out loud hehe.
When we got there...this place...OMG. There was a 20 minute wait and an automatic $5 cover per guest for the live music (piano player) but since we just paid the cabbie about $5 we decided to stay. and eventually (less wait than 20 mins) got seated. Holy crap it was ritzy! The guests were all these business men and fancy old ladies. Our drinks were around $13 each.
Luckily it only takes me one to be set for the night. :-) No kidding. Mom too (when it's not scotch LOL). We each had a martini (but we had also had some scotches at the hotel beforehand). We are lushes, what can I say? We also ordered a salumi (deli meats) app to split. It was more expensive than a lot of meal plates in boulder. but it was pretty big and fabulous.
*gasp* I have to catch my breath, San Francisco is so wonderful! LOL
During the evening, I got hit on twice and checked out several more times but some reeeallly cute men in suits. *swooning!*. Mom also had the piano player flirting with her all night. He was hitting on her and asked her how many husbands she had. When she said "only one" he's like "oh, how about lovers?" She just rolled her eyes and laughed. Then he dedicated a song to us. No, it wasn't "Love Cats". :-D
As we weren't quite done being ritzy, we decided to order dessert. It was "molten" chocolate cake. However, it was actually quite. dry. So...I'm not proud of this...but I complained to the waiter. I mean for christ's sake it was 12 dollars! This is not Chili's where, sub-par molten cake is almost expected....But, other than that it was pretty good, the topping had crunchy carmelized sugar on it and there was fresh fruit and vanilla sauce which was pretty decadent. But the waiter took the cake off the bill. That was nice. :-)
And i stole a pen. Me = pen klepto
Then as we were going to leave mom decided to say thanks to teh piano guy and he gave her a free CD.
Anyway we left with a pretty reasonable bill and took a cab back to our hotel (4 blocks!). When we got to our hotel there was a band playing on the corner - 3 guys who were very rockin'. They had electric instruments and amps and a full drumset. Puts Boulder street performers to shame! They were selling CDs, so i bought one. Sadly, the cops pretty much cut them off exactly at 10:00. Which was kinda dumb, but laws...yay... :-\
And now I'm kinda drunk. That martini was strong LOL. City Life!
We found out that one of the hotels nearby (one of the FANcy ones) had a top-floor lounge w/ music and dancing and views of the city. So we got all dressed up - skirts, heels, makeup, jewelry and walked the two blocks (uphill no less) to the hotel only to find out it's closed for a private party.
We ask the guy at the front desk where to go for a better place. He gives us 2 options but one is in a slightly weird block with lots of beggars and the other is like 4 blocks away and up REALLY steep San Fran hills. The latter was the Mark Hopkins hotel and the lounge was called "Top of the Mark" which was pretty much the penthouse suite turned into the bar. We decided to go to that one, but rather than walking in our beautiful heels, in the wind, up the hills... we took a cab there!
And no, the cabbie did not laugh at us? At least not out loud hehe.
When we got there...this place...OMG. There was a 20 minute wait and an automatic $5 cover per guest for the live music (piano player) but since we just paid the cabbie about $5 we decided to stay. and eventually (less wait than 20 mins) got seated. Holy crap it was ritzy! The guests were all these business men and fancy old ladies. Our drinks were around $13 each.
Luckily it only takes me one to be set for the night. :-) No kidding. Mom too (when it's not scotch LOL). We each had a martini (but we had also had some scotches at the hotel beforehand). We are lushes, what can I say? We also ordered a salumi (deli meats) app to split. It was more expensive than a lot of meal plates in boulder. but it was pretty big and fabulous.
*gasp* I have to catch my breath, San Francisco is so wonderful! LOL
During the evening, I got hit on twice and checked out several more times but some reeeallly cute men in suits. *swooning!*. Mom also had the piano player flirting with her all night. He was hitting on her and asked her how many husbands she had. When she said "only one" he's like "oh, how about lovers?" She just rolled her eyes and laughed. Then he dedicated a song to us. No, it wasn't "Love Cats". :-D
As we weren't quite done being ritzy, we decided to order dessert. It was "molten" chocolate cake. However, it was actually quite. dry. So...I'm not proud of this...but I complained to the waiter. I mean for christ's sake it was 12 dollars! This is not Chili's where, sub-par molten cake is almost expected....But, other than that it was pretty good, the topping had crunchy carmelized sugar on it and there was fresh fruit and vanilla sauce which was pretty decadent. But the waiter took the cake off the bill. That was nice. :-)
And i stole a pen. Me = pen klepto
Then as we were going to leave mom decided to say thanks to teh piano guy and he gave her a free CD.
Anyway we left with a pretty reasonable bill and took a cab back to our hotel (4 blocks!). When we got to our hotel there was a band playing on the corner - 3 guys who were very rockin'. They had electric instruments and amps and a full drumset. Puts Boulder street performers to shame! They were selling CDs, so i bought one. Sadly, the cops pretty much cut them off exactly at 10:00. Which was kinda dumb, but laws...yay... :-\
And now I'm kinda drunk. That martini was strong LOL. City Life!
Monday, March 23, 2009
S.F. Day 3
"WILL THIS BLOODY FUCKING WIND EVER STOP?!" She asks.
OMG WIIIIIND! Dam you, wind. I hate you so so so so so much! It SHOULD be a gorgeous day here in San Fran. 53 degrees, sunny, springy, plants are blooming, pigeons cooing and cold-as-shit wind. Worse by the bay (obviously) and awful on the 2 1/2 hour open side cable car tour we took. My face feels burned and not from too much sun. Ok, rant done.
Breakfast: Sears Fine Food
Eggs Benedict w/ hashbrowns.
Waited for 20 minutes or so (in the wind) and then longer inside. Dunno if it was worth the wait but it was pretty darn tasty.
Lunch was another bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl. I LIT-RALLY can't get enough clam chowdah. I could eat it every day in a SF bread bowl. OMNOMNOM.
Next we went (more) shopping at this indoor designer mall. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're girls...What do you expect? One store called "Next" was really funky, high end spendy (not designer spendy - the level just below). Got a couple things on good sale though including these sick pants with, I shit you not, swarovski crystals all down the legs. Man, they are sexy!
Dinner: Sushi Boat
Sushi floated around a moat on little boats and you just grabbed the ones you wanted. B/c of this I have no idea what I ate. But I like the thrill, the excitement, the mystery and the risk of food poisoning! Livin' on the edge, bitch! LOL. Except I know I had Flying Fish Roe (and really tasty green tea!)
OMG WIIIIIND! Dam you, wind. I hate you so so so so so much! It SHOULD be a gorgeous day here in San Fran. 53 degrees, sunny, springy, plants are blooming, pigeons cooing and cold-as-shit wind. Worse by the bay (obviously) and awful on the 2 1/2 hour open side cable car tour we took. My face feels burned and not from too much sun. Ok, rant done.
Breakfast: Sears Fine Food
Eggs Benedict w/ hashbrowns.
Waited for 20 minutes or so (in the wind) and then longer inside. Dunno if it was worth the wait but it was pretty darn tasty.
Lunch was another bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl. I LIT-RALLY can't get enough clam chowdah. I could eat it every day in a SF bread bowl. OMNOMNOM.
Next we went (more) shopping at this indoor designer mall. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're girls...What do you expect? One store called "Next" was really funky, high end spendy (not designer spendy - the level just below). Got a couple things on good sale though including these sick pants with, I shit you not, swarovski crystals all down the legs. Man, they are sexy!
Dinner: Sushi Boat
Sushi floated around a moat on little boats and you just grabbed the ones you wanted. B/c of this I have no idea what I ate. But I like the thrill, the excitement, the mystery and the risk of food poisoning! Livin' on the edge, bitch! LOL. Except I know I had Flying Fish Roe (and really tasty green tea!)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
San Fran Day 2
Breakfast: Lefty O'Doules
Corn Beef Hash - corned beef, potatoes (hash), green peppers, onions
Two eggs
Toast
OMFG TASTY!
Then, and oh holy crap no shit there we were...we shopped at Macy's for like...three-four hours!! And hey, they have cooler stuff than Boulder's Macy's. And it was cheaper than some of the other stores around here: Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's, Bloomingdales, Zara...
At one point we saw this homeless guy w/ a rottweiler laying down and on him was laying a TABBY cat and on the cat there was a WHITE rat!! A rat on a cat on a dog, what's up wit that? Go transient. Any animal lover is a friend of mine =) (As long as you're not PETA).
Lunch: Boudin's Bakery
Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. again....
OMFG TASTY!
We sat in the sun for a while to digest and had a drink at the Westin Hotel where Mom and Dad stayed last time. I had a drink w/ gin, lime juice, cucumber, ginger ale. Mom always just has scotch. haha
Then we took a clanky cable car to Fisherman's Wharf which was still cold and windy. blech. But the wharf was cool, all oceany and fish-smelly. I got a cool Greek Fisherman's hat. It is going to be awesome for steampunk. =D
Then we HAD to have a drink at the Hard Rock. They are actually really exciting. Mom nerded out about George Harrison's guitar and Shakira's pants. And I finally got the Bloody Mary that I'd been craving all day.
Dinner:
3lb crab (for both mom and me)
Crab chowder...need I say this again..
OMFG TASTY
Out waiter was named Vito and he was pretty fun. I asked him how "killer" are their Killer Dungeness Crabs and he said: "So killer there were 30 homicides last year alone because of them." Heehee. He said to us at the end of dinner that we were very fun. hooray! We're fun!
And no, I'm not going to say how much money I spent today. Let's just say that I finished my M.A. COMPS and I'm on vacation, dammit.
Corn Beef Hash - corned beef, potatoes (hash), green peppers, onions
Two eggs
Toast
OMFG TASTY!
Then, and oh holy crap no shit there we were...we shopped at Macy's for like...three-four hours!! And hey, they have cooler stuff than Boulder's Macy's. And it was cheaper than some of the other stores around here: Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's, Bloomingdales, Zara...
At one point we saw this homeless guy w/ a rottweiler laying down and on him was laying a TABBY cat and on the cat there was a WHITE rat!! A rat on a cat on a dog, what's up wit that? Go transient. Any animal lover is a friend of mine =) (As long as you're not PETA).
Lunch: Boudin's Bakery
Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. again....
OMFG TASTY!
We sat in the sun for a while to digest and had a drink at the Westin Hotel where Mom and Dad stayed last time. I had a drink w/ gin, lime juice, cucumber, ginger ale. Mom always just has scotch. haha
Then we took a clanky cable car to Fisherman's Wharf which was still cold and windy. blech. But the wharf was cool, all oceany and fish-smelly. I got a cool Greek Fisherman's hat. It is going to be awesome for steampunk. =D
Then we HAD to have a drink at the Hard Rock. They are actually really exciting. Mom nerded out about George Harrison's guitar and Shakira's pants. And I finally got the Bloody Mary that I'd been craving all day.
Dinner:
3lb crab (for both mom and me)
Crab chowder...need I say this again..
OMFG TASTY
Out waiter was named Vito and he was pretty fun. I asked him how "killer" are their Killer Dungeness Crabs and he said: "So killer there were 30 homicides last year alone because of them." Heehee. He said to us at the end of dinner that we were very fun. hooray! We're fun!
And no, I'm not going to say how much money I spent today. Let's just say that I finished my M.A. COMPS and I'm on vacation, dammit.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
San Francisco Day 1
Arrived 6:00pm
Staying at Hotel Frank - apparently a "personality hotel". Design is all black and white with houndstooth print carpet and houndstooth print on the robe cuffs and collar. You can buy the robes, they're pretty comfy. I wonder how much they are...?
Had dinner at this place called Annabell's Bistro. Mom and I shared a dinner we got:
Teiro Zinfandel, Napa Valley '05
Crab cakes with Remoulade Sauce, Arugula and Radishes
Pappardelle pasta del Mare with shrimp, squid, clams, muscles and tilapia
-Mustard cream sauce: coarse-grained mustard, cream, garlic and...?
It was pretty awesome, I need to remember this place. :-)
Went to Macy's. Tried on a pair of $500 boots. Too small (thank god LOL). But MAN did I feel all swanky! All I needed was a fox-fur collar and a gin martini. =) All the shoes here are really high...how can there be such a market for ankle-breaking designer shoes in this city? Maybe I should move here, buy ankle supports, and be one of those fancy city ladies. Woo!
Staying at Hotel Frank - apparently a "personality hotel". Design is all black and white with houndstooth print carpet and houndstooth print on the robe cuffs and collar. You can buy the robes, they're pretty comfy. I wonder how much they are...?
Had dinner at this place called Annabell's Bistro. Mom and I shared a dinner we got:
Teiro Zinfandel, Napa Valley '05
Crab cakes with Remoulade Sauce, Arugula and Radishes
Pappardelle pasta del Mare with shrimp, squid, clams, muscles and tilapia
-Mustard cream sauce: coarse-grained mustard, cream, garlic and...?
It was pretty awesome, I need to remember this place. :-)
Went to Macy's. Tried on a pair of $500 boots. Too small (thank god LOL). But MAN did I feel all swanky! All I needed was a fox-fur collar and a gin martini. =) All the shoes here are really high...how can there be such a market for ankle-breaking designer shoes in this city? Maybe I should move here, buy ankle supports, and be one of those fancy city ladies. Woo!
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