Photo by DC Metroblogger

First off, like Lebanese bartenders, she had never heard of my drink, the simple vodka gimlet, and then tried to sell my date on her “special exotic drink” – a poorly made Blue Hawaii.

Still I gave her initial credit for trying, I was a server for years and can identify with a training day, but this was not her first time and her performance only got worse as the night wore on.

When a crew of guys came in and asked for a dozen Irish Car Bombs, everything went very pear-shaped very fast, starting with “What’s that?”

Soon, guys were holding various amounts of Baileys and Jamison concoctions over semi to full glasses of Guinness. As the cheer to drink went up, serious yelps came out as drinks when in – beer sloshed over container sides onto people, clothes, shoes.

Later, as the “who pays what” crescendo peaked, bartenders accusing customers of shorting, patrons arguing over what was a drink or not, we took our leave.

While the Tunnel Top wasn’t as homey or cheap, at least there the bartenders know what they’re doing.

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Running near Fort Mason, I took this photo as I was overwhelmed by the number of kids at the playground. An urban playground.

Coming from DC, where the city is mainly empty-nesters, singles, or gays in the neighborhoods I frequent, kids are a rare sight. Not so in San Francisco.

Here, they’re everywhere. I counted four strollers at Sunday brunch alone. And that was a Bloody Mary kinda brunch too.

In DC all the parents live in the suburbs, running from low quality schools in DC. Why might there be a reverse concentration in San Francisco?

Are the schools better in the city? Are all these rich private school kids? Are private schools cheap? Or is the commute so long from the ‘burbs that parents have no choice?

And would you be/are you a parent in SF? I wouldn’t in DC, as I get a full-body rash when I enter suburbia and there seems to be little choice there, but here.. could I be a happy urban parent in SF?

Photo by DC Metroblogger

San Francisco is heaven for an urban runner like me. There is always a new road or alley to explore.

You can have flats, heights, or stairs for your thigh-buring morning. And no matter where you are, there is always a breathtaking view around the next turn.

Then again, all these hills are a real pain. Pain in my knees, my shins, my ankles. If only I were still twenty-nine for the third time.

And if only, as I tried to slow going downhill on California Street, I didn’t clip that sidewalk crack and go ass over teakettle. I would still have a working camera, I would still have a great manicure, and I would still have my ego all intact.

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Really, could you? Looking across the tranquil bay, I see Alcatraz and it seems close enough to touch.

Close enough to swim, too.

I’ve heard there are Bay swimmers, those who forgo kayaking the Bay for a total immersion cold-water workout.

While I’ve had my own frigid frolics, going walrus in Russia, it wasn’t in open water.

Would you be one of these long distance cold water swimmers? One who would swim to Alcatraz? Better yet, be a Alcatraz Centurion?

And if so, what do your friends and family think of your efforts? Crazy or cool?

Time to get in the Christmas spirit, San Francisco, and no better way than by dancing to Xmas jingles by funky fresh street performers.

This addition to the streetscape was creating Jingle Bells for all those a the Downtown CompUSA. I was all humbug till her tunes lifted me up and slapped a smile on my face.

No matter if it’s not even December just yet. A little holiday cheer goes a long way when on your way to the office.

And so Merry Christmas to you and yours just a little bit early.

Back when I questioned massages in Midtown, I was alerted to the Tunnel Top bar.

Told it was a great bar, I checked it out this weekend. While it’s not really my style, a little too yuppie, I did manage to have a good time.

I had fun making friends with hotties. Beauties that learned my stand on smoking and better uses for such fine lips.

Wow! I have to say that I really love the views of San Francisco.

This breath taker was round a bend as I ran my morning workout. Look closely, its Telegraph Hill there in the distance.

In the foreground, another, different landmark – America’s curviest road.

Both of these I came about just wandering around town. An amazing town with a different sight at every turn.

Look at that little sticker on the back of this San Jose taxi: CNG.

So that’s a natural gas powered taxi. How odd. Why is this taxi burning cleanish fuel while the next dozen are using the usual gasoline?

I heard a rumor it has something to do with the San Jose airport, or maybe it was SFO. That CNG taxis could go there every day while others only every other day. True?

Is this San Jose being more green than San Francisco too? Might there be a SJ vs. SF rivalry after all – on the environmental front even?

Better yet, do you know a CNG taxi driver or ridden in one? Was it different? Or cheaper? Or did you even care?

Now that’s a place I could head to often. A place that would have what I might look for. On a Saturday night, late, lonely.

Its not the Green Door, epicenter of massages in Midtown, but its also not a library. Not with that name.

Ah, but could that refer to the owner, not the patrons? Might it have been a good name, back in the day? Or is “Bimbo” somehow positive still?

Closed, dark, forlorn, I could not tell on a run by, but the name, the sign still sticks. Bimbo’s.

Gotta love the San Francisco difference.

While you’re scrambling to prepare for one holiday, Union Square spent the weekend preparing for another.

This would be San Francisco’s Christmas tree to be. Tall, proud, green, and odd on such a warm and sunny day.

Like the many Christmas Days I spent in Florida, trees, lights, Santa’s do not seem right unless there is cold, there is snow, and there is a real winter.

How do you get into the Xmas spirit – a snow-less holiday season? Is it trips to the mountains? Trips to the shore? Or trips to the store?