Help me plan a fun date in SF Bay Area, but with some limitations.

April 22, 2012 11:51 PM

Help me plan a fun date in SF Bay Area, but with some limitations.

Going on a date with a young woman from the Bay Area (Peninsula).

The date is Monday night, after normal business hours.

I like my dates to involve something fun. We'll eat, but just going out for a meal is a little boring to me.
Movies and plays are out, because they limit interaction.
This girls likes walking, but not "hiking," and seems a little nervous about rock-climbing.
Driving into SF is allowed.

As I write this, I think a romantic walk on the beach could fit in nicely, so any suggestions for working that in are especially welcome.

posted by jander03 to travel & transportation around San Francisco, CA (14 answers total)

House of Air
posted by AlliKat75 at 11:56 PM on April 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

San Francisco Ghost Hunt
posted by aubilenon at 12:13 AM on April 23, 2012 [2 favorites]

- If the weather is nice, picnic on Bernal Hill is fun and has good views, light or dark.
- 2 new bowling hangouts just opened up, Mission Bowling and Lucky Strike, which have food & bowling and other games, but may not be worth driving into the city for...
- this article has a few good ideas as well
posted by mokudekiru at 12:14 AM on April 23, 2012

Nevermind, that's closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
posted by aubilenon at 12:14 AM on April 23, 2012

There's a nice walking trail near the Cliff House @ Land's End. Super duper romantic if you go around sunset.
posted by evalunatik at 12:16 AM on April 23, 2012

The Albany Bulb!! I've recommended to mefites several times now, desperately hoping that someone will avail themselves of the awesomeness before it goes away forever.

It meets your criteria of fun, interactive, and involving walking but not hiking.

You can have your romantic walk on the beach there, *and* also see a bunch of really interesting art and installations.

Please be the person who finally heeds my advice and goes. If you don't totally dig it I'll eat my hat (I know I have one around here somewhere...)
posted by parrot_person at 2:16 AM on April 23, 2012 [2 favorites]

1) 32nd and California (one bus from downtown) to Park Chalet (for drinks/bar menu) via Lands End and the beach.

2) Stairway Walks in San Francisco is a brilliant date book. And if things work out, something fun you can do together. There's one near Lower Nob Hill that is amazing... with the hidden ponds, shit looks like Narnia.

3) Here's a list of things to do in SF with a few recommendations [XLS].
posted by nickrussell at 4:58 AM on April 23, 2012

@parrot_person - I love the idea & The Bulb (and even have had a hand in an art installation out there); however, it's definitely not a place for an evening date. It's very dark and there's a homeless population..plus you'd miss all the neat stuff in the, well.. dark.

An afternoon outing? Heck yeah.
posted by trixare4kids at 11:21 AM on April 23, 2012

@trixare4kids: I've been there after dark, it is still a most interesting place (and it's especially gorgeous to walk there on the beach at sunset). Because it's on the water, much of it stays lighter longer. Also, the "homeless" people who live there are no more dangerous than anyone with a standard home. They just happen to live there instead of apartment buildings or houses. I would hate for someone to miss the Bulb based on fears of homeless people or lack of a flashlight.
posted by parrot_person at 9:45 PM on April 23, 2012

It's really beautiful to walk out on Pier 14 (the one to the right of the Ferry Building as you face it from Market) for the views. That pier is specifically for walking out and admiring the views of the Bay Bridge, the bay of course, and looking back at the city.

If you see a ferry taking off and leaving huge waves in its wake - that's fun as well.

There are some cool swivel chairs too that line the walk so you can sit down and spin around for fun.

Additionally, the shops in the Ferry Building are great for browsing, and there's a couple of places inside (that I know of) that you can get some coffee/ latte/ espresso: Frog Hollow Farm and Blue Bottle (although I think the latter is over rated, lots of people love it).

There's also a Cupid's Arrow sculpture by Pier 14, might be appropriate given the situation.

If you need a longer walk, you can follow the San Francisco Bay Trail (outside the Ferry Building) through Fisherman's Wharf and hit a beach a little further on (you can easily find it on Google maps).
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 2:17 PM on April 24, 2012

(Oh sorry I just realized your date is on a Monday after business hours.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 2:21 PM on April 24, 2012

Grab a bunch of quarters and go to Musee Mecanique! They're open until 7 on Mondays. Plus they have an old fashioned photo booth, so you could have a souvenir of the date.
posted by thebrokenmuse at 4:22 PM on April 24, 2012

Hah! I saw someone mention the Albany Bulb, and I thought they said "Albany Bowl." I thought, perfect! So, I recommend Albany Bowl. I may still have a Monday night special rate, but do call ahead and make sure it's not a league night.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:00 AM on April 25, 2012

Love the responses and am saving The (controversial) Bulb for a weekend date. We made reservations at House of Air but just didn't make it.

Had a giggly dinner at a sushi counter, walked on a beach with the Golden Gate in view, and ended the night with dessert and wine at my place.

So, um, I guess I have no feedback on any of these seemingly awesome suggestions... yet.
posted by jander03 at 11:01 PM on April 27, 2012