Yesterday I was in the mood to get out of dodge for a while, otherwise known as Novato, so we left Tabs in charge of the office and headed to the city.
We ended up in one of my favorite San Francisco neighborhoods, Clement Street in the Inner Richmond. I lived right around there when I worked in downtown SF, and I’ve always had a soft spot for the area (El Hub and I actually met for the very first time on the sidewalk in front of a great local bookstore on Clement St. called Green Apple). It’s a very old and diverse neighborhood, with lots of mom-and-pop stores and a big Asian population.
And a TON of great restaurants.
We were craving rice and turned to Yelp, which directed us to B Star restaurant’s Burmese-Asian fusion.
After lunch and a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood, we zipped over to Golden Gate Park and Stow Lake, where we rented a paddle boat for an hour.
Incidentally, it was about a million times easier than the 4-hour kayaking adventure on Lake Tahoe last month, OMG!
If you’re ever in Golden Gate Park when the weather’s nice, oh! — you gotta try it. It’s easy enough for people of all ages (we even saw an older gentleman with a walker getting his paddle boat on), and they have boats for 2-6 people, as well as canoes (which are a little harder to maneuver).
Beautiful pictures. Lychee ice tea? That sounds delicious!
You been to Burma Superstar before? I love that place so maybe I should try B Star next ! 🙂
I’ve always wanted to visit San Fran but haven’t gotten there yet. I think I’d like living there if iould afford it! It looks beautiful.
Hi Donna,
You should visit! Fall, especially October, is the best time of year. 🙂
Paddle boats are fun! 😀 You sure seemed to like it, hehe.
It was a blast. So much less stressful than kayaking!
Sounds like you had a great day! The food looks delicious. I always love going back to where my hubby and I met, so I bet that made your day extra special. Now I’m inspired to plan a fun little trip to “get out of dodge!”
Hi Abby,
It was a nice day — just what I needed. 🙂
Where did you and your hubs meet? And how long have you been married? El Hub and I have been together 13 years (EEEK) and have been married 8.
We met through match.com, believe it or not (coming up on ten years ago!) and our first date was at Starbucks. This Starbucks has a set of stairs at the entrance, and he was waiting on those stairs when I got there to meet him. We still call them “our stairs” and try to go back there every so often when we’re in that area. Our sixth wedding anniversary will be in October. Time flies!
I know a lot of people who met and fell in love online. For all the scary stories there’s always the handful of happy ones… So glad yours ended with an “I do.” 🙂 Maybe for your 10th anniversary you can go back to the stairs and get some professional photographs? That might be kind of cute!
Oooohhhh!! What a fun day!!! Karen I would love to hear the story of how you and ‘El Hun’ met?
okay now about food, were you able to finish all of it? It reminded me of what I do when I get home after a night shift. Now, I feel….INSPIRED! Mum is going to think I am nuts.
I will definately be checking out that place when I visit SF.
Hugs from up North!!
P.S. You left Tabs in charge of the office? What did it look like when you got back?
Hi May,
We literally met in front of that bookstore. I was walking one way, he was walking the other. 🙂
Oh! And I hope that you give B Star a try next time you’re in the city. The food is delicious (and yes I finished my entire plate… I was HONGRAY!).
Where from up North are ya from?
Hi Karen,
In front of a bookstore, eh? What an ideal setting.
” Walking in different directions, their eyes met. Karen was glad that she had worn her favourite eyeliner as it made her gorgeous brown eyes pop. She wonders, who is this fine handsome stranger? At the same time, __future el hub___ cannot take his eyes of this gorgeous asian beauty with chocolate brown eyes that he walks right into a lamp post.”
Sorry I could not help myself. More detials PLEASE!! Yes, I am single hence the crazy imagination.
Karen, I live in Vancouver (Richmond to be exact), BC. I have not visted California, yet. I know it is rather sad considering all I have to do is drive straight down south of the border. I do have family in San Fran and LA so a trip is in the works. I will definately will be going to B Star when I visit. Have you been to Vancouver?
You finished the entire meal? Attagirl!! 😀
ooh before I forget… my bro was in NYC and picked up this book that he thought I would enjoy. I think you would love it if you have not seen it yet.
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/i-could-pee-on-this.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy74msHPWRU
Sounds like you had a fabulous day! I used to live in the building at the corner of 12th and Clement. But it’s been ages, because B Star wasn’t there back then. I definitely need to make an excursion to The City to try it. The food looks yummy!
If you ever found yourself with extra time on your hands, you could do a restaurant/food blog!
Hi Tatiana,
I’ve thought about doing that. I enjoy cooking healthy meals and finding yummy places to eat when I have the time.
When did you live in the city? I lived in the Richmond in the late ’90s/early 2000s.
I lived in The City a long time ago. Almost afraid to admit it, because it gives away my age. 😉 I moved out of The City when my DH (dear hubby) bought his first house on the peninsula in 1989. For a while, we tried to go up to the city every weekend.
I am moving to the Bay area at the end of the month from Boston, MA. I haven’t been to this part of CA before, I visit your blog a lot and was wondering how you like living in the SF area?
Hi Rae,
You’re going to love it here! I’ve lived here all my life (I came over from the Philippines when I was just a baby). There’s so much to see and do. San Francisco itself is amazing, rich and diverse, but the whole area has a lot to offer. There’s outdoorsy stuff north of the city, wine country, hiking, beaches, quaint towns like Sausalito and Mill Valley, and tons of shopping and warm weather east of the city. And then there’s Berkeley, Oakland, San Jose and Silicon Valley — all amazing places in their own right. You’ll never be at a loss for things to see and do. 🙂
Wow, looks like you’ve had an amazing time. And the food looks so good!
The pictures are beautiful!
Thank you!!!!! Amazing blog by the way!