San Francisco Metblogs » Ocean Beach

Best travel blog entry about SF evar

Mark Pritchard — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:42:40 +0000

Old Ship Saloon Highway 101 Kearny Post Sutter HSBC House of Nanking flowering blossom tea Muni 30 Stockton 9x AT&T Park Angelina’s 22 Avenue and California fog son mist fog Stanford ELMI McCovey Marichal Mays Cepeda Portsmouth Square Ghirardelli Square Mechanics Institute Library Post Giants Winn Eugenio Velez Bay Bridge Adobe Saint Gregory’s of Nyssa Sara Miles Federal Reserve Bank Powell & Hyde Powell & Mason Van Ness Third & King Chronicle beach siren artichoke hearts salmon Golden Gate 1 Marin Vista Point yes yes yes Saint Francis!

– The Laughorist

Pilot of ship that hit Bay Bridge and spilled oil will retire

Mark Pritchard — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:15:54 +0000

His career in ruins and facing charges and a state investigation, John Cota, the pilot of the freighter Cosco Busan that struck the Bay Bridge on Nov. 7, will retire rather than try to retain his pilot’s license.

The collision spilled 53,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil and fouled the shoreline around the bay and up and down the coast.

Cota had a 1999 DUI conviction, was taking sleep medication, and misread a nautical chart though he had been a ship pilot for 27 years.

Flickr photo by Anna L. Conti

Abandoned Baths: Fleishhaker

Anna — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:21:27 +0000

Neat local history tidbit, found via Eye on the Blogs (subscribe: very good!), photo set of the Fleishhaker Baths, an abandoned (since 1971) baths along Ocean Beach. Now, it’s a squatter haven. My reaction to the photos was- god, that place needs a good ole wipedown. Guerrilla cleaning, vs. guerrilla gardening?

I’m not too clear on the location. Either are other people, this Amazon review of a book of beaches (strangely, by a former professor of mine) Lencek – and co-author Bosker- mistakenly place the bathhouse in Oakland somewhere. Anybody visited it and know a more precise location?

Spring Heat Wave 2008

Richard Ault — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:22:22 +0000

Let’s see if it happens? Stay cool, and stay safe. This in from the Natl. Weather Service:

SAN FRANCISCO-SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE- SANTA CLARA VALLEY…INCLUDING SAN JOSE- 341 AM PDT TUE MAY 13 2008
…EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE CITIES OF SAN FRANCISCO…OAKLAND AND SAN JOSE INCLUDING THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY…
A SIGNIFICANT HEAT EVENT IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WITH RECORD OR NEAR RECORD BREAKING HEAT POSSIBLE FOR THE URBAN AREAS OF THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION. AFTERNOON HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY ARE FORECAST TO REACH THE MID 80S TO MID 90S AND THEN WARM TO THE UPPER 80S TO NEAR 103 ON THURSDAY WITH RECORD TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE. …………………… ALSO…NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN…ELDERLY OR PETS UNATTENDED IN ENCLOSED VEHICLES…EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME. TEMPERATURES QUICKLY RISE TO LIFE-THREATENING LEVELS EVEN WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE PARTIALLY OPENED.

Seriously people, don’t be complete schmucks and leave anything that can’t tolerate heat in the range of 150 degrees fahrenheit in your car. Better yet, don’t drive. Looks like the weather is going to be spectacular for a walk.

Shark Kills SF Resident

Richard Ault — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:32:11 +0000

According to CNN.com a SF resident was killed in Mexico late yesterday by a ~~Gray~~Tiger Shark Attack. Somewhere in the vicinity of Acapulco/Ixtapa region. The attack itself was another bite and release it seems and the man bled to death from the wounds. Sincere condolences to the family.

h/t to Surfpulse.

UPDATE: The name of the victim was released this morning, Adrian Ruiz. A well liked bartender with stints at Holy Cow, The Blue Light and Nova. More details as they come. Sad day for his family and surfers in SF.

The Landlord, aka Great White

Richard Ault — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:07:49 +0000

The landlord has taken another victim, a Triathelete was killed this morning in North County San Diego. Sincere condolences to the family.

While San Diegans search for the “killer shark” the rest of the nation looks on with morbid curiousity.
If you regularly surf, swim, sail or dive in the ocean off california than you have undoubtedly been close to one of these incredible animals in your time in the water. Sitting on your board, quiet, and you know you are not alone. They are not just a northern california resident, as whites range great distances, just like their prey.

Afraid to get in the water? Don’t be ridiculous, Muni is more dangerous than a great white.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Surfpulse has an excellent archive of Shark sightings and attack reports for our region
Pacific Coast Shark News – Listings of Sightings and Attacks

Coconut Club

Bradley Allen — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:45:47 +0000

After dropping the kids off at school, I strapped on my crash helmet and pedaled through Golden Gate Park towards Trouble Coffee, which according to the map on the website is somewhere in the neighborhood of Judah and 46th Ave. I could tell you the exact address – and so could Trouble – but where would the fun be in that? In other words, if you’re curious, you’ll find it. Others have come before you, and didn’t fall off the side of the world. It’s right before you pass the serpents lurking in the waters beyond Ocean Beach. You know, across from 7-11.

Trouble is 225 sq feet of space, most of which is behind the counter. Very clever, in my opinion. The owner is named Julieta (Giulietta?), and she said it was about the size of a hotel room. Less is more, or as explained in her manifesto and the sign outside, “Make your own damn house!” Well, it looks like she’s done just that, and you’re invited. Except Tuesdays and Wednesday when it’s closed.

Besides espresso drinks and drip coffee dubbed “elbow grease”, she serves toast and whole coconut. Seriously. Every cafe should offer toast, and yet they don’t. So don’t be dumb. Order the toast. She gets the bread from Just For You Cafe. The toast was perfect, and came with cinnamon and sugar on top even though I didn’t ask any, nor did I complain, because I got the last piece of toast that day, which I think was some sort of omen in my favor.

Order a coconut. She gets them from trees. But don’t just drink the juice with the straw, use the spoon that was given to you. Don’t waste the good stuff even if you have to work for it. I’m not being bossy here, it’s just my advice.

Are you like Charlie Brown and say, “blech!” to the idea of coconut? Okay, fine. But be honest here, have you ever tried a whole coconut? I’ve had coconut in things like cookies and candy bars, but it was the first time I’d ever walked in to a place and said in a clear voice, “May I please have a coconut”… and I’m here to tell you today you won’t regret the experience.