My City By The Bay

The midweek dinner cruise on San Francisco bay provided by Hornblower Yachts is a definite must do if you are ever in San Francisco.  You sail from Pier 3 which is not far from the San Francisco Oakland Bay bridge and the Ferry Building along the bay to and under the Golden Bate Bridge.

This cruise offers sensational views of The Embarcadero high rises, Coit Tower, the San Francisco skyline, Bank of America and Transamerica pyramid buildings along with the Wharf area, Alcatraz, the Marina Green and distant Sausalito.  The night lights provide an exceptional panoramic view of the city.  Even shrouded in fog, this cruise is not to be missed.

You will dine on gourmet food prepared and served fresh to your table which includes seafood specials, steaks, pastas, organic salads and much more.  Soak your palate with some champagne while listening to jazz standards right out of the Great American songbook.  This is truly a five star dining and cruise experience you will never forget.

For more information please click the widget below.

Fitness, Health & Safety Fair at Aquatic Park
Sunday, April 26

In conjunction with the city of San Francisco’s “Sunday Streets”, the Fitness, Health & Safety Fair will take place in Aquatic Park, just below Ghirardelli Square. Activities for the family include rock climbing, lessons on sustainable foods, how to keep your mind and body whole, and how to plan and protect your families in emergency situations. Stop by Ghirardelli Square to see live music in the Plaza!

Photo courtesy of www.thedestinationcenter.com

San Francisco is a hub for bicyclists.  It is one of the bike friendliest cities in the nation.  There are several designated bike paths around San Francisco to include Golden Gate Park, The Golden Gate Bridge and Marina Green just to name a few.  There is also a proposal in the works to create a bike lane on the San Francisco side of the Bay Bridge.

Amidst this dismal economy, bike rentals in the city are soaring.  Tourists as well as us locals enjoy touring the bay area sights on our bikes.

There is a bike tour of which you can find out more by clicking the ad below, which allows you to bike alongside the bay on the Marina Green to the Golden Gate Bridge and over to Sausalito with a ferry ride back to the city.  This is an exhilarating and fun tour for the whole family.

You will experience a ride along the beautiful bayside along the Marina Green where activities such as kite flying, wind surfing and frisbee tournaments are the norm.  Then a ride over the bridge with it’s spectacular views into the quaint charm of Sausalito with exotic shops and friendly fare ending with a leisurely cruise along the bay back to San Francisco.

This bike riding tour is an excellent means of exercise and a fantastic way to see some of the most beautiful sights in the bay area.  This tour is open for adults and children alike.  The prices are good and the memories - priceless.

Courtesy of the San Francisco Zoo

Green Home Cleaning

Before you do any spring cleaning, why not start by cleaning out all the cleaning products under your sink or in your cupboard? You’ll free up lots of space while freeing yourself from toxins, allergens and irritants. Be sure not to throw those products in the trash – make sure the lids are tight, box them up and take them to your local household hazardous waste disposal facility (visit www.1800cleanup.org to find a location).

All you need in your cupboard for a clean and healthy home are the following:

• Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). This multi-purpose alkali powder can remove stains from tile, glass, oven doors, and china as well as fruit juice and acidic stains; clean the inside of your refrigerator; absorb odors; and remove baked-on food from pans.

• Borax. A powder or crystalline salt sold in most grocery stores, borax is a water softener and sanitizer. It makes an excellent freshener when added to laundry and is an all-around deodorizer.

• Castile soap. A mild soap available in liquid or bar form that can be used for general-purpose cleaning. It was once made from olive oil, but now may include other vegetable oils as well.

• Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate). This common baking ingredient is a mild acid that can be used as a sink and bathtub stain remover. It can also be used to remove spots from aluminum cookware.

• Hydrogen peroxide. A mild alternative to chlorine bleach that can be used for stain removal and mild bleaching and killing germs. Available in drug stores and supermarkets.

• Lemon juice. This familiar ingredient can be used to lighten stains and cut grease. It can also be used to remove tarnish on brass, copper, bronze and aluminum (not to be used on silver).

• Washing soda (carbonate of soda). A stronger alternative to baking soda, washing soda can be used as a water softener in conjunction with laundry detergents (gloves are recommended as it may irritate skin; not to be used with silks, woolens or vinyl).

• White vinegar. Good for a variety of household cleaning tasks, vinegar may be used to help kill germs and deodorize, remove some carpet stains, and clean coffeemakers, chrome, cookware, and countertops. It can also be used to unclog drains. While white vinegar has a slight scent while wet, it leaves no odor when dry. Do not use it on acetate fabrics, such as in some tablecloths, because it can dissolve the fibers.

For a complete Green Home Cleaning Guide with cleanser recipes, click here.

I was unable to attend the community meeting last evening in regards to the fees being implemented at the botanical gardens in San Francisco.  However a blogging buddy of mine did attend and has a full report which you can read here .

Located in the Sunset district near the San Francisco Zoo , Sloat Gardens and nursery has been in business for over 50 years.  Originally located where the GET Department store had their shopping site which is now know as Lakeshore Plaza , Sloat Gardens moved only few blocks away at 45th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard.

They are the premier gardens and nursery in not only San Francisco but Northern California.  They have many other locations to include Danville, San Rafael, Mill Valley and more.

They have dedicated and licensed trained professionals on hand to meet all of your garden needs.  Ask them anything garden related and they have the answers.  They conduct seminars and offer educational programs for the gardeners in all of us.  It is a local family owned business and as a result they cater to their customers.

They have an outdoor showroom as well as an indoor store.  They are famous for their ethnic pottery which comes from all over the world to include Malaysia and many other locations.  They host an extensive collection of all types of plants, flowers, vegetable gardens and herb gardens.  Their prices are amazing.  They are extremely inexpensive in comparison to anywhere else I’ve seen.  I have to say that if you are ever in the market for plants, flowers or pottery, do not go to a local florist.  Get out to Sloat Gardens.  Inside their store they also have books, cards, gift items and anything you would need for your garden.

Sloat Gardens also can help you with designing and maintaining your own garden projects.  Their staff is friendly, knowledgeable and knows their stuff.  This is also a great little spot to visit and take in all the natural beauty around you.  If you are a tourist visiting the SF Zoo you can also take a short walk to Ocean Beach then over to the gardens for a short stroll.  It is well worth your visit.  And, remember all you locals out there this is THE place for all of your gardening needs.

For more information visit the Sloat Gardens website.

Sponsored by Zipcar

Ghirardelli Goes Green
Saturday, April 18

Join Ghirardelli Square while they kickoff their public recycling program.  Learn how to green your life from vendors such as SF Department of the Environment, Green Zebra, Zipcar, Farm Fresh to You, and many more!  Stop by concierge and ask for a free recycled tote bag while supplies last! Also enjoy a chef demonstration in Cellar360 at 2pm. Kasey will demonstrate “sustainable” cooking and how to choose fresh ingredients…even in the city!  $5 per person
For information and reservations, call 415-440-0772

AUTHENTICALLY LOCAL
Upcoming events in San Francisco 42nd Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

April 11 - 19 Japantown
In 2009, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be celebrating its 42nd year as one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions. The Street Fair will include a food bazaar, featuring traditional Japanese cuisine and cooking demonstrations, a Japanese traditional arts and crafts fair, and a children’s village.
www.nccbf.org

18th Annual Spring Celebration and Easter Parade
Sunday, April 12
It can best be described as wonderful, wacky, elegant and fabulous, with everything from roller-blading cows and creative self-propelled mini-floats to garden areas, sophisticated fashions and beautiful classic and art cars. The event also features a variety of children’s and family activities, live entertainment, and food served in an outdoor bistro setting by some of Union Street’s best restaurants. Event Location: Union Street between Gough and Fillmore
www.SRESproductions.com

Wicked
“Broadway’s biggest blockbuster (The New York Times) has returned to San Francisco! See the show that gives you the untold stories of the witches of Oz. Whether you’re a long time fan or a first-timer you will be spellbound by the magic of this incredible production!
For more information click here

San Francisco is world renowned for it’s culinary delights.   Family owned restaurants such as Alioto’s and Tarantino’s are a part of San Francisco culture.  The Fisherman’s wharf area is home to many of these restaurants.

The Local Taste Package tour will take you on an epicurean journey throughout the streets of the wharf.  You will experience a host of specialty cafes, bakeries and restaurants to include Boudin’s Sourdoough bakery and for you chocoholics out there Ghirardelli Square .  The artisans at Boudin’s strut their stuff behind a panoramic window scene for tourists and locals alike.  Not only can you watch them prepare and bake their goods but the scent emanating from the bakery will have your mouth watering in seconds.  I always walk by Boudin’s when I am in that area just for that reason.

You will tour the local fisheries and get up close and personal with the sea lions and seals in their natural habitat.  You will be educated by local fisherman on the history of marine life along the bay.  You will experience first hand the life of a fisherman.  After having dinner in a local premier restaurant you will have the option of taking a bay cruise or jumping on a local fishing boat and cruising the bay.  Musee’ Mechanique is another stop on your walking tour which is a fun for all vintage arcade located in Pier 45 in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf.

The best thing about this tour is that it is the local tour.  It takes you through Fisherman’s Wharf through the eyes of a native San Franciscan.  You see the “real” wharf and not just your everyday souvenirs and cable car magnets.  You get the local, inside scoop.

For more information on this tour including ticket prices, click the widget below.