Carlsbad Real Estate News and Views: California: San Francisco

Here's the REAL scoop on living in Carlsbad ~ beaches, things to do, places to eat, community events, and of course neighborhoods, homes and the Carlsbad real estate market in general, including surrounding communities like Encinitas, Cardiff, San Marcos, Oceanside, Solana Beach and Del Mar.

A Visit to Chinatown in San Francisco, CA

A Visit to San Francisco's Chinatown

Heading uphill in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco, CASan Francisco's Chinatown is an amazing place to visit, and of the Chinatowns I've seen (New York, Boston, LA), the best in our country.

It is also reportedly the largest outside of Asia. 

We spend several hours strolling around San Francisco's Chinatown on Sunday, which included a mile or so of walking up and down some of San Francisco's famed hills (more up than down, it seemed, in the Pacific Heights area - photo at right) with fabulous views of Alcatraz, East Bay, Coit Tower and the Transamerica Building. 

Anyone who has visited San Francisco's Chinatown is familiar with the crowds of shoppers, numerous retail shops selling everything imaginable, plenty of fresh food and produce options as well as all sorts of things I always have a hard time identifying - mushrooms, sea cucumbers to name a few. 

View of Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill from Pacific Heights in San Francisco, CA

There are a zillion choices of places for Dim Sum (always fun especially if you don't go with any pre-conceived notions of what to expect), great bakeries and all sorts of business services. 

San Francisco's Chinatown is a shopping experiences not to be missed, even if you are just window shopping. But you'd be hard pressed not to find something to take home. 

Learn more about San Francisco's Chinatown than I could ever tell you. And enjoy the tour below.


 

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village),  Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Carmel Valley, Escondido, and San Diego

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19 comments • Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Homes for Sale ~ 760-840-1360 • April 19 2011 10:29PM

Greens Restaurant | Vegetarian Ecstasy in San Francisco, CA

Greens Restaurant - Vegetarian Ecstasy in San Francisco, CA

 Close-up view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Greens Restaurant in San Francisco CA

Dining out is a favorite pastime which I, sadly, don't get to enjoy nearly enough. 

Dining out at a really good restaurant with a national reputation is the ultimate. 

We did just that a couple of weeks ago as we neared the end of our whirlwind trip up the California coast to wine country and back through San Francisco. 

Greens Restaurant in San Francisco CAGreens Restaurant is a noted vegetarian restaurant (established 1979 but in a different setting) in the Fort Mason area of the city by the bay, San Francisco.

Greens Restaurant was established many years ago, a pioneer that took vegetarian cuisine to the level of fine dining and paving the way for others to follow.

In my mind Greens ranks right up there with places like Chez Panisse, Alice Waters' hallowed hall of cuisine for many years with a reputation that many seek but fail to achieve. And not just in one of the best dining cities but nationally. 

Greens Restaurant in San Francisco CAWe have wanted to eat there for years, but for various reasons (e.g., not calling far enough in advance to gain a reservation when we were heading to SF) never did. Thus that coveted reservation a couple of weeks ago was pure excitement and much anticipated. 

Greens did NOT disappoint. 

I am not a vegetarian myself, but no matter. I could eat as a vegetarian with no trouble at all, but admittedly giving up fish, chicken and a rare bit of beef would be tough. But I'm willing to sacrifice, readily, at a place like Greens. 

Fine dining does not have to be pretentious, with haughty service and minuscule overly-complex portions that cost more than a week's grocery bill. Happily, Greens Restaurant on San Francisco Bay at Fort Mason is none of that. 

Fort Mason at the bay in San Francisco CABeautiful surroundings, simple but stylish décor, efficient, knowledgeable service, and above all creatively prepared food from a talented chef, Annie Somerville, that elevates being vegetarian to a level only few restaurants achieve result in a sophisticated dining experience. Who cares about meat?! 

Alas, I so enjoyed the food that I neglected to snare any photos. But take my word for it, the dinner (Saturday night offers a fixed price menu with four courses for $49/person) was fabulous - imaginative, flavorful and unique. 

Greens Restaurant also has dishes that are vegan or that can be prepared that way. 

If you ever have the opportunity to dine there, do! I highly recommend it. Greens Restaurant will not disappoint.

 

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365 Things to Do in Carlsbad (and Nearby) on Facebook   Lifestyle Search on AtHomeInCarlsbad.com - Jeff Dowler

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   Southern California Chapter of Certified Residential Specialists (CRS)

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ALL ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE

 

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village),  Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Carmel Valley, Escondido, and San Diego

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8 comments • Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Homes for Sale ~ 760-840-1360 • August 18 2010 10:16AM

4 Days in San Francisco - What a Blast

The Golden Gate Bridge in San FranciscoThis has nothing really to do with Carlsbad real estate, other than, perhaps, a suggestion for something to do.

I just got back from a mini-vacation in San Francisco. Yep, took the phone and laptop so I was not completely at rest, but with coverage in place for my listings, and great connectivity, it was easy to play…although NOT so easy to stay away from blogging. Not being near a computer for many hours at a time helped. But the blogging addiction was apparent.

Gotta get my blogging dose in so here’s a replay of the trip.

For anyone heading to San Francisco, there is an amazing array of fun things to do, depending on what floats your boat and your budget. The city is a terrific place to walk around in, and the public transportation is great, but a trip outside the city is well worth the time. Anyone who has been there knows what I mean. This city captures my heart again every time I visit…especially when visiting with someone I love deeply. :)

First off…I would normally NEVER EVER write something positive about my plane trips. Just doesn’t happen. Ever.

Virgin America changed all that. $79 roundtrip each from San Diego to SFO. On-time, the best customer service I have seen in a while, cool colors in the plane (mood lighting with pinks and purples that vary with the time of day), leather seats, and state-of-the art touch screen technology with personal entertainment systems at each seat – music videos, music, movies, TV, chat with neighbors at another seat, and WWW access coming soon. Check out their website – very cool. They fly between Seattle, Las Vegas, LA, SFO, San Diego, NYC and Washington, DC for now.

At Point Reyes National ParkSo here’s a recap:

  • On-time quick trip to SFO via Virgin America for far less than the cost of gas
  • 45 minute ride on the BART to Powell Stop (3 blocks from hotel) – THE BEST way to get around the city, and another gas savings - no cable cars this time, the wait is too long at the main stops because of the tourists.
  • Stayed at the Villa Florence just ½ block from Union Square in the heart of the best shopping/gallery/eating area – great restaurant there called Kuleto’s (Northern Italian)
  • Discovered a new vodka for my cosmo – TRU vodka – all organic, and the hotel bar donates a dollar for every drink made with TRU to save local trees
  • Explored more stores and galleries than I can name but a few stand out – Gumps, Manika (jewelry, but we were only looking, for now), Virgin Records, an open-air art show at Union Square
  • Rented a car at discount rentals on Mason for the day trip – OK so we used some gas, but it was an economical car

Redwood trees in Muir WoodsHere is a terrific way to explore Marin County just over the bridge

  • Day trip:
    • A quick drive down the crookedest street in the world - Lombard Street
    • A beautiful drive through the Marina District, the Presidio and over the Golden Gate Bridge
    • Being a tourist in Sausalito for an hour or two
    • Muir Woods – home of 1000 year old Redwoods, incredible serenity and beauty for $5 (only the cost of your grande latte at Starbucks)
    • Mountain Home Inn on Mt. Tamalpais with fabulous views of the entire bay area for lunch (we were there 18 years ago)
    • sat on the beach at Stinson Beach in 96 degree heat
    • took an amazing drive through Point Reyes National Park all the way out to the lighthouse with incredible vistas and an amazing coastline. Thank goodness so much has been done to preserve this wilderness
    • Dinner at the Stinson Beach Grill – very charming seaside town at the edge of large hills

Next day...

  • A visit to one of our favorite gallery, Arthaus, in SOMA to see good friends
  • Wonderful dinner at Anzu at the Hotel Nikko
  • A step back in time with a live concert by Ashford and Simpson at Rrazz at the Nikko
  • A very late night visit (1 AM) to Space Gallery

On Saturday

  • Breakfast at Café Bean for terrific Dutch pancakes
  • Several hours at the best Farmers’ Market I have ever seen on the waterfront at the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco. Lots of organic farm produce, and food to suit just about every taste
  • Popped into the Hyatt and took at look at the sky-high lobby - remember the movie High Anxiety?
  • A last visit to Union Square where we discovered, and enjoyed, the Taiwanese American Cultural Festival – what fun in such an international city. Check out the short video of the kids.

We covered lots of ground but had an amazing time. Hope you enjoyed just a few suggestions of some very neat things to do in San Francisco. The weather was amazing – so different from the fog and chilly air one often experiences there.

The housing costs are high but the trade off is the opportunity to live in an incredibly diverse and vibrant area. The market has shifted some in the last couple of years, so if you are thinking about moving there, give me a shout – I know a number of great agents there who would go out of their way to assist you.

Enjoy the Slide Show!

 

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365 Things to Do in Carlsbad (and Nearby) on Facebook   Lifestyle Search on AtHomeInCarlsbad.com - Jeff Dowler

Jeff Dowler's Flickr Profile  Jeff Dowler's Facebook Profile   Jeff Dowler's YouTube Profile  Jeff Dowler's StumbleUpon Profile  Jeff Dowler's Twitter Profile  Jeff Dowler's Friendfeed ProfileSubscribe to this blog Jeff Dowler's LinkedIn Profile

Click to Search for All San Diego Homes          First Time Home Buyer Central Website          Relocation A to Z blog

Home Owner's Short Sale Guide

 

   Southern California Chapter of Certified Residential Specialists (CRS)

 My New Brokerage - Solutions Real Estate in Carlsbad CA

 

ALL ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE

 

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village),  Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Carmel Valley, Escondido, and San Diego

Carlsbad Breaking News ~ Oceanside Breaking News ~ Encinitas Breaking News

All content ©Copyright by Jeff Dowler. All rights reserved.

20 comments • Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Homes for Sale ~ 760-840-1360 • May 19 2008 10:44AM