How Well Do You Know San Francisco?
I decided to create a fun quiz for all of you San Francisco lovers out there to see just how well you know this amazing city. (Answers are provided at the bottom; don’t cheat!)
1) How many square miles does mainland San Francisco encompass?
a. 7
b. 28
c. 49
d. 63
2) How many hills is San Francisco built on?
a. 14
b. 27
c. 35
d. 43
3) Who is the statue of in Washington Square Park?
a. George Washington
b. Benjamin Franklin
c. Teddy Roosevelt
d. Barack Obama
4) What is the crookedest street in San Francisco?
a. Vermont Street
b. Hyde Street
c. Lombard Street
d. Filbert Street
5) What kind of birds can you expect to find on your way up to Coit Tower?
a. Bluejays
b. Parrots
c. Cockatoos
d. Pigeons
6) Which of the two bridges that go into San Francisco is longer?
a. Golden Gate
b. Bay Bridge
7) How many different cable car routes are in operation?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
8 ) Which of the following San Francisco attractions are NOT located in Golden Gate Park?
a. The Japanese Tea Garden
b. The Conservatory of Flowers
c. The Legion of Honor
d. The De Young Museum
9) What was the original name for our beloved city by the bay?
a. San Francisco
b. Red Rock Island
c. Las Colinas
d. Yerba Buena
10) Which neighborhood in San Francisco has often been described as undergoing “Manhattanization”?
a. SoMa
b. Nob Hill
c. Potrero Hill
d. Mission
1. c 2. d 3. b 4. a 5. b 6. b 7. b 8. c 9. d 10. a
“The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent Was a Summer in San Francisco”
Now whether Mark Twain said this or not, it doesn’t make it less true. While folks all over the country are complaning of hot 3 digit temperatures, San Franciscans (myself, included) are complaning about something a wee bit different. Brrrrrrrr…its too damn cold!!!! Now, I am not asking for 100 degree summer weather, but please, ease up on the fog a bit and let the sun do its thing!
I wanted to write this post because as much I love this amazing city I live in, I can’t and will never get used to this “summer” in San Francisco. I will admit that a foggy day here and there is nice and romantic, but foggy day after day after day after day is just not “cool”. Is it so much to ask to be able to wear one’s summer wardrobe in the SUMMER??
The other day, I was talking to some friends of mine who are planning to visit me from a hot and humid place, in a few weeks. When I told them to bring layers and their winter coats, they thought I was joking. “Cheryl, wait. You do live in California, right?” With which I replied, “Yes. But, San Francisco is not like the rest of the state this time of year!” They were shocked. They thought I was joking. Even after I explained the whole “hot-inland-temps-combined-with-the-cool-bay-water-and-winds-from-the-Pacific-Ocean” fog creation spill, they still would not believe me. In fact, they just kinda laughed off the subject.
Oh well. I wonder who will be laughing when they arrive in my beloved city to find it unbearably cold (for a summer season), looking to buy Alcatraz sweatshirts that read “Psycho Ward” in Fishermans Wharf.
Top 5 Reasons Why I Love San Francisco
It’s times when I leave San Francisco that I realize just how much I love it here. Here are my Top 5 Reasons why I love SF:
1) Picturesque
San Francisco has some of the most breathtaking views you will ever see. With water surrounding three sides of the city, two bridges, and an abundance of hills and peaks, every view is more magnificent than the last. My two most favorite views of San Francisco are Crissy Field and the view of the San Francisco skyline while driving on I-280N. Just beautiful!
2) Culture and Diversity
San Francisco is home to over 100 neighborhoods, each with its own unique flare. From Alamo Square to Westwood Park and Little Russia to Little Hollywood, there is something for everyone. My personal favorite is the very beautiful, edgy South Beach area. With Restaurant Row on Steuart Street, and the lights of the Bay Bridge at dusk, walking along the Embarcadero in this neighborhood is definitely something you don’t want to miss.
3) Green
Now, I don’t mean green, like the color. I mean green, as an eco-friendly, and environmentally conscious. I want to live a long healthy life, don’t you? Well, in San Francisco, chances of biting the bullet because of smog and air pollution is slim to none. Did you know San Francisco was the first city to ban plastic shopping bags? Did you know we currently have a recycling rate of 70%? With hybrid taxis, and a solar powered convention center, San Francisco has transformed from grass roots to rooftops.
4) Restaurants
It’s almost unfair. The quality and quantity of restaurants here make San Francisco an unparalleled food city. With small farms and wine country just a short drive away from San Francisco, you can always count on each meal being farm fresh and ingredient driver. And each neighborhood has its favorite. Here are some of my neighborhood favorites:
Mission: Delfina Pizzeria and Bi-Rite Creamery for dessert
Marina: Mamacita and Tuttimelon for dessert
South Beach: Ozumo
5) Weather
I’ll admit it, there are times when I wish San Francisco was just a tad bit warmer, but overall, comparitvely speaking, we are blessed with amazing weather all year around. It never gets too hot or too cold. And I secretly like the fact that our “summer” starts in September, when the rest of the country is getting their fall clothes out from the closet.
$1 Hotel Room, Are They Out of Their Mind?
Starting today at 10am, Orchard and Orchard Garden Hotel in San Francisco offered a promo for $1 per room per night ($1.16 after taxes) for the entire month of April.
The catch: One one “foolish” room is allowed per reservation, and when the 60 allotted rooms have been sold the package will be closed.
And guess what? I just called Orchard Hotel, and they have reached their capacity. Go figure! And no, this wasn’t an April Fool’s Joke.
And the Medical TV Drama’s just keep on coming…this time in San Francisco.
You’ve got Grey’s Anatomy in Seattle.
You’ve got ER in Chicago.
You’ve got House in Princeton.
And Nip-Tuck from Miami to LA.
And now get ready for the newest Medical Television Drama to hit NBC this fall, “Trauma”. Location: San Francisco.
Earlier this month, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that NBC had chosen San Francisco as the location for their new television pilot, and filming officially started this weekend. And I got a first hand look, without even knowing it. On my drive back from SFO this morning, I-280 was blocked off for reasons unknown to me. The first thing I saw was a car that had crashed into the divider, and immediately started looking to see if anyone was in the car. After rubbernecking some more, I saw hundreds more people, television crews, cameras, and realized that this wasn’t an ordinary traffic shack. It was the filming of a new medical drama, set to take the place of ER after its retirement this fall.
The premise of the show is this: a group of paramedics saving lives under extraordinary circumstances. All based in San Francisco, with Treasure Island serving as the base for operations. Rumor has it that San Francisco’s First Lady, Jennifer Siebel will also be part of the show, playing the role of a car crash victim.
Stay tuned for more details on NBC this summer for the Season Premier of Trauma. Oh ya, and more scenes like this one in the upcoming weeks in San Francisco.
courtesy of whatimseeing.com
San Francisco: “The Next World”?
Came across this quote today from ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, a novel published in 1890 by Oscar Wilde:
“It is an odd thing, but everyone who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco. It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world.”
Now, almost 120 years, it still holds true. Agree?
Frank (as in Sinatra) left his heart in SF, and I know why.
Welcome to Seven Wide: 24×7 in the 7×7 – Living and Breathing San Francisco. This is my first ever blog and boy, I am excited! I have been living in San Francisco for about 4 years and have quickly adapted to the life and culture of the most picturesque city in the U.S. of A. I am looking forward to sharing everything and anything related to San Francisco to my readers.
From my daily adventures on the SF MUNI: N-Judah line and interesting events going on in the city to new hot spots and restaurants and the great SF outdoors, this blog will sure to be one you dont want to miss out on.
Because I live in probably the most free-flowing and unpretentious city in the world, I want YOU to be as free-flowing and unpretentious towards me. So leave comments on my posts and feel free to contact me about anything.
Ciao.