We get a steady stream of interesting business review requests into our editorial team - and two this week caught our eye:
"Bud" will marry you in his cab. We don’t mean he will get married to you - he’ll perform the nuptials in the cab or in any picturesque San Francisco view you choose. Bud’s a notary, minister, cab driver — and all around interesting guy. If you are looking to be married while sitting in San Francisco traffic - rest assured — you won’t need to look for parking.
"Billion Dollar Babes" are staging a massive fashion sale in San Francisco. No - they’re not fodder for Eliot Spitzer’s friends at $1 billion per pop (would he consider this?). It’s a very cool fashion sale at deep discounts that visits San Francisco rarely for the special sale. It’s at the "Regency Center" at Van Ness and Sutter (1290 Sutter). The sale features every high-brow designer imaginable - we’re too poor to even know most of these names. It costs only $100-$200 per year to be a "Billion Dollar Babe" (a bargain!) - and no joke - you need to be a member to enter this sale. Check out Regency Center (a cool looking historic place) below…
Cavallo Point hotel and spa has arrived in Sausalito and is an incredible new option in enjoying the relaxing environment of Sausalito and the San Francisco area. Converting the former Sausalito Army base into luxury hotel rooms has been a labor of love for the new hotel. Guests are raving about the comfort, luxury, and reasonable convenience into the city. For a relaxing vacation - Sausalito’s Cavallo Point is an amazing alternative to the City’s hustle and bustle.
The InterContinental San Francisco is an amazing tower of translucent cool-blue glass windows. The Intercontinental tower’s 32 stories are above the vibrant South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood, and is fast becoming a stunning San Francisco landmark. As the first new hotel in over two decades, it isn’t surprising that InterContinental San Francisco is creating a buzz among both locals and tourists.
Located right next to Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco’s luxury Intercontinental is in an excellent location for both business and fun in San Francisco. With excellent business convenience to Moscone conferences and conventions - the Intercontinental is also within easy walking distance of premium shopping areas—including the famed Westfield San Francisco Center, trendy and upscale restaurants / nightclubs, and several excellent tourist attractions including the Museum of Modern Art and Yerba Buena Center.
Check out our full review of the Intercontinental Hotel - San Francisco’s amazing new hotel landmark.
San Francisco’s world of tourism is constantly changing. Hotels change owners; restaurants change names or close. When we were notified earlier this week to update our Alcatraz tour pricing, we dutifully went to work making our updates for the new operator of the tours. But wait - the prices went up - A LOT.
Adults rose by 48% ($16.50 to $24.50); kids rose by 41% ($10.75 to $15.25); but the biggest price increases were reserved for senior citizens who rose by 58% ($14.75 to $23.25). All of these Alcatraz Ticket price comparisons are from July 2006 to March 2008.
We were doubly shocked to find almost no news coverage of these large price increases for San Francisco’s #1 tourist destination. Has no-one noticed a 50% price increase to visit Alcatraz???
Now we understand supply & demand - and are also well aware that many tour operators buy up tickets in bulk to combine with add-on bus tours that drive up the true cost of visiting the island. That said - these are hefty increases that threw us for a loop. We hope that Alcatraz can remain affordable for visits by average families but the price increases have become significant. Even a "family pack" for 2 adults and 2 kids saves a family only $5 from the prices shown above.
The new tour pages note that the tours are "affiliated with" Hornblower Cruises. We hope that the LLC set up to handle Alcatraz tours can maintain the fun and spirit of the cruises and keep prices reasonable for our visitors in the future.
The folks who started up the Presidio Social Club restaurant (they just call it a club) - combined both of our favorite things into one. The restoration of the Presidio’s former military buildings now has added a great new restaurant in the classic style of the 1940’s period.
The feel is design to evoke the feeling of the period - rest & relaxation with people returning from the war. The "playful" cuisine offers comfort food with a twist, plus San Francisco classics like oyster stew. Ask your server about the "secret" offmenu entrees like the huge bunker-buster burger and dirty dozen donut holes. The bar includes the original mai tai recipe from Trader Vic’s.
Located at 563 Ruger Street (yup - that Ruger) - the club features weeknight specials including whole roast pig; lobster pot pie; and rum & ginger spareribs. It’s all yummy with a great drink menu too that includes the gunpowder cocktail gin gimlet - with spicy cayenne thrown in.
Don’t miss the friendly social table made from the polished burled slab of a tree trunk. The communal table is a great way to meet other diners and is one of the most popular tables at the restaurant. You can wine and dine like the "greatest generation"…
Desserts include banana cream pie and s’mores. Food at the Presidio was never so good as this. Can’t recommend it enough to combine an amazing attraction with an excellent new restaurant concept - check out the Presidio Social Club and become a "member" today. There are some opening "hot new restaurant" service hiccups reported, so don’t come in a hurry.
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