San FranCelia

Happy hour is a tradition that’s as celebrated as, well, baseball – as it should be, I say.  There is nothing better than heading to a local hot spot after a long day at the office where the order of the day is dealing with bosses and people you’d rather forget – preferably over a vodka tonic.  Recently, I headed over to B Bar downtown, and while Financial District bars can sometimes be a bit staunch in décor as well as clientele, B Bar was airy and fresh, with a great mix of people and good service.  In these long summer days, it’s an especially great spot as the entire place is comprised of floor to ceiling windows, and there’s even an outdoor terrace. 

This light infused spot has a friendly staff that greets you at the door and again at the bar.  They did lose track of the reserved area we had claimed for our party, but once I talked to the host, they made it right within minutes.  They had our section cleared and our

appetizers rolling out so fast, you almost didn’t even realize there was an issue at all.  While a bit slow sometimes due to the busyness of this spot (busy, not crowded, to clarify), they are super nice and with the easy crowd, it’s not a problem – why rush at happy hour, right?  The outdoor terrace is also completely charming.  It looks over Yerba Buena Gardens and the buildings of Downtown, bringing a taste of nature into the heart of the City.  Very cool.  Everything is in shades of white with elements of silver and wood, and it’s modern but not so modern as to be uncomfortable.  Sometimes I think trendy places take the modern kick to a level that not even Picasso would support. 

The crowd there is definitely of the Downtown variety – some people were in suits while others were in tee shirts and tennis shoes.  The nice thing about this spot is that it gives off an air of quality, but you still feel that you can be a pretty casual without causing any heads to turn.  I think it’s nicer when people dress a little better than they would, say, for a hike, but that’s just me.  It’s downtown San Francisco people, not some poe-dunk little town, so it’s great, I think, when your style is reflective of that.  Makes you feel better, too.

Definitely check out B Bar for a great happy hour or even a small meal.  We grabbed a bunch of the appetizers, and the seasoned French fries and cheese spread were especially tasty.  Prices are normal – not too expensive, but not especially cheap.  It’s a great central location that’s easy to get to from most anywhere in the City or even outside of the City, as BART is nearby.  It’ll definitely melt away those office blues in more ways than one. 

Peace and love Xo

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Every time I am Downtown, I am surprised at the lack of good, cheap eats.  It seems that with the influx of tourists comes pricey menus that are not usually worth it.  Not only that, but they also always close super early, as if people only need to eat during the day and if, God forbid, at night, only before 9pm.   I was with some friends, one of whom lives right in the heart of the Downtown

shopping district, and we, like most people, wanted to get something to eat, only it was past 8:30pm…  Imagine my pleasure then at discovering a great little sushi spot nearby that’s open late and has tasty sushi, for reasonable prices.  Perfect.  Dojima-Ann, on O’Farrell St. between Cyril Magnin St. and Powell St., has lovely service and delicious sushi – a real treat in an area that doesn’t usually boast a lot of affordable fare that’s also high quality.  While not much to look at externally or internally, the people are both efficient and friendly, and again, it’s yummy, so décor is the last thing you think about.  There was a short wait here, so be prepared to hang out and talk for about 10 minutes – other than that, no complaints.

We ordered a variety of rolls, from the Spicy Tuna (which was actually really hot and spicy, wonderfully enough) to some flavorful salmon Nigiri.  Everything was fresh and smelled fantastic (which is always a test for me at sushi places).  The dining area was packed, and because of this, proved to have a lively atmosphere and fun ambiance, despite the lack of frilly decoration.  It’s an eclectic Downtown crowd, which is always an interesting mixture of tourists and local inhabitants. 

Prices range from $5 – $10 per roll/entrée, so it’s easy to have this place as one of your regular spots if you’re in Downtown often.  If you’re like me, it’s good to have a few of these in each neighborhood, that way if you have friends from out of town visiting (which, since we live in such an incredible city, happens more often than you would think) you have some spots in mind at all times that everyone can afford and are also tasty and fun.  Two key things when hosting friends in the City. 

Enjoy this ‘cheap eats’ spot – just because we’re a little broke as a nation, doesn’t mean we in the City have to stop pursuing the hunt for great cuisine!

Peace and love Xo

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What’s better than a party with good friends?  A party with good friends that drives from bar to bar!  That’s exactly what I did this weekend.  My friend Liza decided to have her birthday on a party bus, and it was a really great time.  Super luxurious and huge, too, which was nice since I’ve been on a party bus before and it was about one step up from those buses that drive you on elementary school field trips (yes, those super dangerous but we still use them yellow ones). 

 Our first stop was Bambuddah Lounge Downtown.  While the ambiance was really chilled out, almost Zen, it was a little bland.  There was this random pool outside, and so it looked like the lounge was connected to some sort of motel.  A little random.  We decided to leave there pretty shortly after we arrived since it wasn’t really our crowd and head to Vessel – that was a much more satisfying time.  With a ton of dance space and a few rooms, it allowed everyone to do their thing.  The crowd was really cool, too – a great mix of people so it was perfect for a rowdy birthday crowd.  The DJ didn’t play one song you couldn’t dance to, so weproceeded to get really sweaty and dance the night away.  Only weird part of the night was when we went to the top of the staircase (the club is underground) and the doorman was really rude – told us we couldn’t stand there and then proceeded to let us know there was no in and out club access allowed.  I mean, I’m sorry, but there should be a spot outside that you can go to in every club in case you need air.  It pissed me off a little bit, because I was hot and couldn’t do anything about it.  Other than that, this spot was good.  Back on the bus, we danced a bit more and were then dropped off at our pick-up point.  These party buses, if done right, are super fun and worth the money.

 It’s funny when I find fun spots Downtown because I feel like there is nowhere down there when I try to come up with places to go out.  There are a few clubs (most are so cheesy), but for the most part it’s dead after 10pm (so weird for a major city, I think).  Because we had a group of about 30, it was easy to keep the party going – we had a similar effect to the club in the bus as it turned out.  Lots of friends with you at a big club is key. 

 Party on people, and check the Downtown scene once in awhile for a change in your usual nightlife scene.

 Peace and love Xo

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