Grateful Dead

My partner and I are so stoked to be hitting the Bay area for the first time this August. We're coming during Jerry week and catching some music: Phish and Karl Denson at Lake Tahoe, and Outside Lands. Any other netters heading to these shows? We're going to do a lot of sightseeing (including Berkeley) and hope to jam with some musical folks, too. If you're planning on being around in the first two weeks of August and want to meet some kind Canadians, say hey!

check out the Greek!

Hey Deadicated- If you are in the Bay Area, especially if you fly into Oakland, you have to visit Berkeley. Take the Bart to the downtown Berkeley stop and walk a couple blocks to see the campus and Telegraph Avenue. Cool shops, street musicians, a infamously liberal student body, and some fine food places (sandwiches that will kick Subway's butt!).

Just signed up for my 2nd SF 1/2 marathon - most challenging course I've run. Starts just south of the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. Nice 'n flat 'til you climb up to the bridge. Over and back and then the fun begins. It's at about the seven mile mark where you're just beginning to get a groove back when a most insane uphill threatens to claim you. Onlookers have difficulty standing. And then, of course, a downhill of about a half-mile sets you up for a roller coaster five miles to the finish in GG Park. When I looked at my watch at race's end there were close to 20 minutes added to my usual finish time!!! I have no idea how one could finish a marathon on this beast! On my first visit I hit a nuumber of cool spots in the three days I was there. I stayed near market about a mile west of the Ferry Building which I visited a number of times - the Saturday morning market was awesome with a Peet's Coffee and camara in hand. The Friday before was my travel "to" day and the whole process was seamless. Flew into SF airport, but I'm thinking instead this time of arriving in Oakland to save some dollars. After popping up from the BART shuttle a couple blocks from the Embarcadero, the thing that immediately captivated my senses was the incredible air. I, of course, had just come from St. Louis where we'd been 'speriencin' the usual heat/humidity (this was the third week of July) so the effect was quadrupled! And so it was I was smitten again by the allure of things Dead. I collected the stuff I needed for the run at a warehouse-type place on Mission after checking in at my hotel - the view from my room was to the north, this time it will be to the east - and took a bus west on Market to Haight and got out a few blocks shy of GG Park. My destination was Amoeba Music and there I dallied for an hour or so - it could have been much longer - but I vowed to return the next day. I paid the obligatory visit to 710 Ashbury and wended my way back east. I ended up at the Ferry Building and the waters edge and just chilled for a spell. I bought my first of three Subway meals (when you're sans family, spending wads of money on food is not of the essence) and returned to my hotel where I listened to 6/07/77 and the city sounds through a cracked window and imbided a couple Guinness Drought cans as the sun set. Along with experiencing the market at the Ferry Building the next morning, I booked up the Embarcadero past Fisherman's Wharf, got a couple shots of the Golden Gate and hustled back to the Ferry Building in order to catch a ferry shuttle to Sausalito for a bus shuttle to Muir Woods. I was lucky to have been the last allowed on the ferry and the last squeezed into the bus shuttle - again, it was paying off to be solo! The absolute most incredible thing about Muir Woods other than the obvious visual stimuli, was the indescribable scent and freshness of the air. It was, weather-wise, a dream day - 60's and mostly sunny. I hiked up to the top of the mountain and looked over the valley of green - Wow!!! This time I'll look back over the bay, too. On the way back from Muir Woods, by the oddist coincidence, I met a couple of my daughter's friends who were with their parents. Weaving along Mount Tamalpais was amazing and their company added to the experience. Also, saw Alcatraz from the ferry shuttle and in the distance the Golden Gate. Adrenalin and endorphins are maxing 'bout now. Back in SF, I grabbed a Guinness at tiny little pub a block or so north of Market back in an alley. Wham! Also, grabbed 2nd Subway and another Pub Draught can of Guinness and listened to 6/08/77 and the city as the sun set and the full moon rose. Early night - had to be ready for the run at 6:00 the next morning. After the run the next day and shared stories with a new French friend, I had to doze for a spell and later treat myself to a ginormous salad with protein and bread for carbs at a place called The Grove. Next, I revisited Amoeba Music for a couple hours and visited GG Park where I saw/heard the many congueros jamming away. The marine layer wasn't to clear off 'til later in the day, but I had my last Subway/sunset/Guinness along with the 6/09/77 Winterland finale and collapsed. I can't wait to return - this time the run is 7/31 so I'll stay an extra day to experience SF on Jerry's birthday - and then return with about a month 'til E'72 lands at my doorstep. Are there any places or things to do that you might recommend? Deadicated " Where does the time go? "

Hey folks, Making plans for our big holiday: to San Fran, end July-mid August 2011. It's a research trip.. gonna hit all the important spots, and the archive in Santa Cruz. Hoping to jam with some fun people while we're there... Anyone planning to be in SF for the Days Between and the week after? I hear the Outside Lands festival in GG Park could fall on the weekend of the 13-14th of August, which would be great. Any other music tips greatly appreciated. I know it's early, but as the listings come in, please post. Cheers! (~);) Kirsten

"the extreme Fun syndrome".....you're toooo funny.......:)))

it is a whole lot easier to meet for brunch or something, maybe on NYE itself, than to start bumping up against the fact that people are anxious to secure their place in line. Speaking for just me, I ran out of stamina for NYE before Jerry did, but I'll be there on the 30th and can meet folks there, and will be happy to come back into SF to meet the next morning or whatever. Re Greens, the food is fab, but I'd strongly suggest checking whether they're booked up for Christmas already, because they are way popular. (I'm still trying to replicate a breakfast I had there like 20 years ago....)

Since we missed each other @ Red Rox, due to the extreme Fun syndrome, I definately agree we should all meet up. Any ideas on where??? I'd love to show you and the Mrs. around San Fran too if we have time. Sounds like alot of fun! If you two have time, I'd say a round a bout mission to a favorite Beach of mine (near Stinson) and then up the Redwood lined mountains of Mt. Tamalpias would have to be in order. ♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

Oh yes we will be there! "It's got no signs or dividing line and very few rules to guide"

are you coming out?