Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with francisco

How to entertain parents you don't get along with?

thegreatcokeolympics — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:29:58 -0800

Activities to do in San Francisco for mellow people... My parents and I will be visiting SF for christmas and staying a few days after. This is the first time in a while we are spending time together due to the inevitable drama and negativity that comes when we get together. I really want this trip to go well! I need some suggestions for activities that will keep us preoccupied (so we don't have the chance to argue or complain), but not annoy us, and by us, I mean my mother. This means nothing too loud or that has that "young person" vibe. I'm 28 and my parents are in their mid 50s, so I'm aiming for something age neutral.

I ask for suggestions because I seem to either find young person hot spots or family oriented spots (which inevitably means directed at kids), but nothing in between. Please point me in the right direction!

Also, nothing too expensive.

Thanks in advance for your help!

moving to san francisco

bananaskin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:09:34 -0800

Is there anyone who has experience living in San Francisco and can give me advice about moving there? I live in rural midwest. I have dreamed of moving to San Francisco, CA for several years. I am sure I could find a decent paying job there, as my job is in high demand.

I am a single middle aged woman. No children. I have to do this all alone. I have no one to help me, and I am a little fearful/anxious about making such a big move, making a mistake and moving to a place I may not know is a dangerous area.

My questions are:
1. How much would rent be on a house/apartment? I want a decent sized apartment (not a studio).
2. What are safe areas to live, and dangerous areas for a single woman?
3. How do I research an area to find out if it is safe/crime or not?
4. What are the fun things to do there....cultural, musical, food, etc. and where?
Thank you everyone.

What to do in the Bay Area for New Year's?

mingodingo — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:46:49 -0800

San Francisco filter: Early planning for New Year's Eve in San Francisco? Fun things to do that don't revolve around nightclubs/dancing? Here's the deal...my brother and his girlfriend are coming to visit over New Year's Eve. We'd like to go to the city (I live in the East Bay) to do something fun, but not necessarily something really crowded.

They're both science majors, and were really excited at the possibility of going to the California Academy of Sciences Nightlife event. Unfortunately, looks like they're not having the event on New Year's Eve.

So, we're basically looking for something fun and unique that wouldn't necessarily involve a nightclub scene. For instance, they loved Martuni's the last time they were here, but we weren't there on New Year's Eve, so I'm not sure how crowded it would be.

So, ideas for something similar to the Cal Academy nightlife event, or to a place with the Martuni's atmosphere? Not exactly similar, I know, but will hopefully give you an idea of what we're not interested in. Thanks!

Starting out in SF....Again!

leftfooter — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:54:02 -0800

Back in San Francisco for a Holiday, friends trying to convince me to stay. What to do???? OK, so I've been out of the Bay Area for a 10 year hiatus, mostly traveling the world and working. I still have a lot of friends here and it's been great to see & hang out with everybody. I already have plans for next summer (going back to Ireland to enjoy the festivities of the world cup). My friends have taken it upon them selves to each try & convince me to stay in the city til June. I'm not averse to the idea and I have the option of staying with a good friend in a great apartment.

This question is really a 3 parter, about getting my feet on the ground again.

Part 1:

My background is in IT and I was hoping to find some contract work. I would like to get a list of IT recruiting agencies that provide contract staff to companies in the city. Does anyone know what agencies provide IT staff to the likes of Levis, Gap, Charles Schwab etc. I've tried contacting these companies directly but they all just tell me to apply for full-time gigs.

Part II:

I've ran my own PC repair business for some time in Austin and was hoping to fix a few machines while searching for a full time gig. I've been using Craigslist to advertise on but surprisingly I have received absolutely no calls. In Austin, I got tons of work advertising on CL, but SF is dead.
Apart from Craigslist, Where should I advertise?

Part III:

Another way I was thinking of getting some extra cash was signing up to take part in Focus Groups......does anyone know of any agencies in SF that are busy with this kind of work? Or anybody got any idea how to make some quick cash while waiting on a more permanent gig?

If I can't get some work soon I'll run out of cash. This is not the end of the world as I can return to Austin & get work pretty quick. But I think I'd like to give it a shot in SF.

All suggestions welcome!

Transitus in San Francisco?

jgirl — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:13:19 -0800

Where could I attend a Transitus service in San Francisco? Where could I attend a Transitus service in San Francisco? The St. Francis shrine is closed for renovation. Thanks in advance.

My first question!

Help my dad see the Tech v. Texas game in the Bay Area!

mingodingo — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:02:37 -0800

Where can I see the Texas Tech v. Texas game (airing on ABC, I think) in San Francisco? Hi all--

Not a football fan, so hoping someone who is can help me out. My parents are visiting from Texas this weekend, and my dad asked that I try to find a sports bar where we can watch the Texas Tech v. University of Texas football game on Saturday.

Any tips? Bonus points if it's easily BART accessible, or near the Civic Center / Powell area.

Thanks in advance!!

SF to Portland Roadtrip

mrunderhill — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:21:39 -0800

Pacific Northwest Roadtrip: SF to Portland and back. 6 days. Which roads to take? Which towns and parks do we have to see? Your favorite spots along 1? We're interested in anything and everything. Thanks!

The noise level coming from the church across the street is driving us crazy. Help!

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:21:08 -0800

The noise level coming from the church across the street is driving us crazy. Help! We live right across the street from a very loud church in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. At first we thought it was kind of nice being near a place of worship, but now we're kind of fed up. There are very loud services with singing and all sorts of instruments that are probably amplified, as well as random drumming practices. It goes on for hours (they've been playing for at least 4 hours just today), and it's on weekdays and weekends. The services seem to be kind of irregular; it's not like we know it's going to be bad 6-8pm every Wednesday. I work from home, and it's nice to work in cafes, but I hate the feeling like I can't enjoy my own home. Plus, not being able to relax in our living room on Sunday evenings can be kind of a bummer.

What is the best way to approach this? We called in a noise complaint once - it was 10pm on a Sunday and they had been going at it for 3 hours (plus they had a van idling outside for 40 minutes). But, the cops weren't that helpful - they said they weren't going to disrupt the church service (but that's when it's noisy!) and they were trying to stay on good terms with the churches. It's also a gentrifying neighborhood, which may make things more complicated...

Getting to know San Francisco

AlliKat75 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:00:09 -0800

Moving Help: My SO and I are moving to San Francisco in one month, and we do not know much about the neighborhoods. We have found a place we like that is within our price range. Can anyone out there tell us about this neighborhood? Chelsey Avenue and 1st Street, Richmond, CA 94801

Short notice renting art/party space in San Francisco?

dual_action — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:20:36 -0800

How can I find a small art gallery/event space to rent this upcoming Saturday night in San Francisco? I'm going to be in SF this weekend for a convention and would like to host a small gathering of poets/live musicians outside the hotel for a little shindig. I'm thinking about 20-30 people and would like to keep costs down below $500 for the evening. A gallery space would be perfect, but since it is short notice (long story) I know that will be difficult. I'd like to stay away from the 'hotel conference room' vibe and would prefer it to be within walking distance of Union Square. One that looked great but is unfortunately booked is here. Thanks!

suggestions for celebrating my 40th birthday?

roxie110 — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:36:08 -0800

suggestions for celebrating my 40th birthday in san francisco? i'm turning (*gasp*) 40 in a couple months and would love to plan something incredibly fun and distinctive to celebrate. each year i have a party at a bar, but would love to do something a bit beyond that this time. i've lived in san francisco for ages and know there are many cool places to go and things to do, but so far i haven't come up with anything that seems right. ideally the event would be accessible to a wide range of friends, and not outrageously expensive.

would welcome any and all suggestions--really!

Fun and cheap in San Francisco

RajahKing — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:18:21 -0800

What's fun for me and my 3.5 year old daughter to do in San Francisco and San Jose from July 22 to July 27 for cheap? Me and my lil one will be in San Francisco, as well as San Jose, starting next Wednesday. We'll be back and forth between cities visiting friends and family. We'll have about 4 little kids running amok amongst the crew. So two requests for the knowledgeable:

a) I'd love to know about timely things, like festivals, events, etc., but also we are totally ignorant of the area - so please let me know the standard fare. This is how ignorant I am - I know there are sea lions in SF, the Golden Gate bridge, and its hilly. So fill me in.

b) Please specify the cost - we are terrible misers and love a discount, super cheap, preferably free experience.

Thanks so much in advance.

Visiting the City by the Bay

wintermute2_0 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:05:49 -0800

Where should I stay in San Francisco and how well can I get around without a car? I'm travelling to San Francisco in late September and I'm wondering if anyone has tips on reasonably nice hotels that are close to a BART station in a centrally located portion of SF. I use a wheelchair and won't have access to a car (unless I use a taxi). My budget is about $200/night.

I was in SF about 12 years ago and saw a bit of the Wharf, Golden Gate Park, and Haight-Ashbury. Will I be able to see other parts of the city using public transportation? Can I get to places like Marin County?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

What should a young couple do on a first-time visit to San Francisco, July 4th weekend?

whtthehecker — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:11:29 -0800

What should a young couple do on a first-time visit to San Francisco, July 4th weekend? I'm taking my soon to be 23 year old girlfriend to San Francisco for her upcoming birthday. I've already booked the Hotel Drisco after reading the reviews on TripAdvisor as I think it's more her style (older building with history, but not rundown). We'll be driving from Southern California so we'll have a car but from what I've read it doesn't seem like we'll need it.

I'm looking for some suggestions on places to go during our stay that first-time visitors should absolutely check out, preferably with some info on public transportation options to get there. They don't have to be family/kid friendly.

Also, since its July 4th weekend is there anything specialI should check out (I read on fireworks at Fisherman's Wharf) or places to avoid given the time? Any San Franciscan veteran tips?

What's with all the un-permitted additions on houses in San Francisco?

jillsy_sloper — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:42:31 -0800

I'm shopping for a single-family home in San Francisco, and nearly every house I've looked at has "unwarranted" addition in the basement or rear -- either a bonus room or an entire "in-law" unit with bathroom and kitchen. My question is fourfold: 1. Why does nobody get permits for their additions? Is it particularly difficult or expensive in San Francisco to get a permit?

2. This is so prevalent, and talked about openly in real estate listings -- why doesn't the city crack down and issue fines?

3. Has anyone heard of someone in SF having to remove an un-permitted addition?

4. If I were to make an offer on one of these houses, what would I need to know? What should I do differently from bidding and signing a contract on a normal house?

One real estate site I saw online said that you should only pay what the house would be worth without the unwarranted area, because you could be forced by the city to rip out the addition at any time. But that doesn't seem to be realistic here -- in San Francisco, sellers definitely don't seem to be giving a discount based on the lack of permit for their "bonus" rooms.

Where to go around SF in a Rental Car?

gregr — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:20:02 -0800

I'm vacationing in San Francisco, and I have a rental car that gets returned tomorrow morning. What things outside SF should I go check out? I will be in SF for the rest of week, so I have plenty of time to check out the things in the city. Oh, and I've already been to Muir Woods.

Safe place to spend the night between Phoenix and San Francisc?

twiggy32 — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:58:51 -0800

I am driving from Phoenix to San Francisco, with all my worldly possessions in the car. I plan to split the trip into two days. Any suggestions of a good place to stay overnight where my stuff will be safe in the car? I don't know yet if it will be on the weekend or on a weekday, but I want to avoid the worst of LA traffic. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Biology job search in San Francisco Bay Area

CTORourke — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:07:19 -0800

Looking for a good source to search for biology, ecology, conservation, zoology, etc, type jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area I'm finishing grad school and trying to move back to the bay. I'm looking for jobs in my field (broadly trained in biology, ecology, conservation, animal husbandry, behavior, zoology, more whole-organism type biology). When I do searches on craigslist or monster, though, typing in "science" and "biology" brings up a slew of micro and biotech type jobs which I am not qualified for and have no interest in. "Ecology" is a better search term, but there aren't many jobs in that field listed on those sites.

Does anyone have suggestions of other good sites that post jobs more in my field? I'm already going to the government national-park job website and the AZA, but I want to cast my net wider in the private sector, like consulting firms, non-profits, or what-not.

Can you beat a San Francisco parking ticket if it has no VIN number on it?

roxie110 — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:28:06 -0800

Can you beat a San Francisco parking ticket if it has no VIN number on it? Can you beat a "blocking sidewalk" ticket in San Francisco if they say "can not read" VIN number, even though it was readable? Or any other way... :) This is one of those lovely "pulled into boyfriend's driveway leaving plenty of room in front of car for pedestrians to walk by, ran upstairs for 3 minutes, came back to find a ticket--even though it was 8 at night in the middle of nowhere in Outer Sunset." All the other identifying info on the ticket is correct--including the gasp-inducing fine of $100.

Any advice would be appreciated.

who is liable to pay for bedbug treatment?

I like to eat meat — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:50:43 -0800

who's liable for bedbug treatment in san francisco? are we really liable to pay this bill and can we get our deposit back? hello internet. We got bedbugs a few weeks ago, and our landlord treated it after they kept saying no one else in the building complained, and blaming us for bringing them in. they never said anything about us having to pay, but we just got a huge bill for treatment and a letter saying that "the probability someone in your apartment introduced the bedbugs to your apartment is just about 99.9%"

There was nothing about payment discussed or any agreement that we signed agreeing to this, and this bill totally came out of nowhere.

anyone know what our rights here are? Are we legally liable to pay this? If we try to fight this, can they withold our deposit or otherwise get back at us?

Thanks!

♪ Rocccckkeettmaaaannn... ♬

symphonik — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:49:56 -0800

A rocket launch? Near San Francisco? What the hell did I see tonight? Okay, honestly, I try to avoid UFOFilter questions, but I saw something wacky tonight. My fiancée and I were walking east on 16th, about to cross Dolores. In the southeast sky we saw an orange flame which flickered and puffed like looking up the tail of a rocket. It continued to get smaller and smaller (though it continued to flicker) until finally it got too small to keep a steady eye on and we lost it.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't a plane or helicopter. The color of the light emanating from it was a really deep orange, and there were a couple of other aircraft in the sky at about the same distance to provide comparison. The way the light was fluctuating too was particularly unique, even in tonight's windy and turbulent atmosphere.

Anything go up today that I might have seen? I realize there's probably not many rocket launch sites remotely close to here. Or just chalk this one up to mysteries of the unexplained?

Where can you get a custom tuxedo in SF bay?

Ekidnagrrl17 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:44:02 -0800

My partner is trying to get a James Bond (Sean Connery era) replica tuxedo made, any thoughts on where he should go?

What to do in a 4 hour layover?

gracious floor — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:48:38 -0800

San Francisco, 4 hour layover. What's nearby? What's entertaining? Upcoming 4 hour layover in San Francisco International in mid-April. Previous questions show info for December- I am wondering what two twenty-somethings can do (sights to see) in a couple of hours nearby the airport? Or is the airport enough entertainment? Or even layover tips in general? I can usually be entertained by a good book, but this time I have a younger sister with me who has never been to SF.
Thanks all, in advance!

Zodiac killer documentary -- lost to History?

snap_dragon — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:03:31 -0800

In the early 80s, HBO aired a short TV series called "Whodunit?" and one of the 20 minute segments was about the Zodiac killer. It was done in an interesting fashion with a Monty Python-esque cutout design style..It was quite creepy. I cannot find this anywhere nor mentioned anywhere online. Does anybody have any information where I might find this? Or even information? I am just short of calling HBO. It is a segment that has haunted me since I watched it as a child and I kinda want to watch it again. If it matters they also did bits on Lizzie Borden and Richard Speck.

Don't be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don't talk.

liquado — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:42:22 -0800

San Francisco filter: I'm going to be there in two weeks, and am looking for advice on getting a single ticket to see Wicked at the Orpheum -- get them ahead, or try and get them that evening? Any advantages/experiences with the show, the venue...? Caveat: I want a reasonably decent seat. Not interested in the nosebleeds. Price is always an issue, but I'm not averse to paying for a good seat.

(Also, if you have any suggestions for cool things to do evenings in SF from the 22nd to the 28th of Feb, I'm all ears, too....)