San Francisco

[fjzingo]

Going to a conference in San Francisco,

 

 

Any Recommendations on music venues, restaurants, music stores? Whats not to miss??

 

Youve given me some great advice in the past making me discover frenchmen street in new orleans fir example.

 

Thanks in advabce

 

 

[Mark Zeger]

Check out the schedules at SFJazz and San Francisco Symphony.

 

Amoeba Records.

 

We liked Mission Chinese which is far from traditional, ex Kung Pau Pastrami.

The food vendors at the Ferry Building are worth a trip.

Mama's for breakfast was excellent. Go early or endure a long wait.

[Legatoboy]

Go to City Lights Books (where 'Howl' was read) and Vesuvio's next door over Jack Kerouac Lane .... take in some 'Beat' history in North Beach...

[Synthoid]

 

[video:youtube]

 

 

[Song80s]

[video:youtube]

 

 

its still mostly like this. But some of the ' women ' might surprise you

[TommyS]

Biscuits and Blues. Mason street.

[Jazz+]

 

 

Visit the Civil War era Fort Point under the Bridge:

 

http://adaynotwasted.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/san-francisco-fort-point.jpg

[Jazz+]

 

World War II big gun defense bunkers on the other side open to the public (free).

 

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/8/0/6/600_358135302.jpeg

[timwat]

Boom Boom Room (1601 Fillmore)

Black Cat (400 Eddy)

1300 Fillmore

 

Outside SF:

Yoshi's (Jack London Square, Oakland)

Starry Plough (Berkeley)

Cafe Stritch (downtown San Jose)

Blue Note Napa (Downtown Napa)

 

 

[midinut]

There once was a music store named Gary Luenberger's (sp?). I visited there in 1980 while on my way to Hawaii. Not sure if it's there anymore, but I was able to try out the CS-80 and the GS-1 which blew my mind at the time (and both were WAY out of my budget). I seem to recall that Gary had something to do with the DX7 programming?

[timwat]

There once was a music store named Gary Luenberger's (sp?). I visited there in 1980 while on my way to Hawaii. Not sure if it's there anymore, but I was able to try out the CS-80 and the GS-1 which blew my mind at the time (and both were WAY out of my budget). I seem to recall that Gary had something to do with the DX7 programming?

 

St.Regis and Leuenberger used to be perhaps the premiere keyboard store in San Francisco (downtown Market Street), and was both a Steinway and Yamaha dealer. At one point they had Prophet 10s and CS80s side by side. When the CS80 was launched, oftentimes we'd wait for Leuenberger to come down the stairs from his office like a wizard to run through his jaw-dropping demo of the CS80.

 

I think St. Regis had a couple of sons who started an LA rock band (keyboard driven, IIRC) back in the day too.

 

Anyway eventually St.Regis & Leuenberger became a Sherman Clay piano dealership, and when Sherman Clay went out of business a few years ago, the store closed. A sad day that was.

 

 

[midinut]

Thanks Tim. Now I wish I had known that and waited around for him to come downstairs. Now that you mention it, that was the first time I had laid my hands on a Prophet 10 as well. Way cool! Sorry to hear they're gone.

[RandyFF]

DRUM CIRCLES:

 

Berkeley: easy to get to, it's literally at the Ashby BART station next to the flea market, Saturdays and Sundays.

 

SF on the weekends: Hippie Hill (Sharon Meadows). Typically from 10-20 drummers, I sometimes bring my mic and keyboard out, loud circle

 

SF during the week: Conservatory of Flowers, Monday-Friday but esp. beautiful days and Fridays. I often bring my Nord Stage, mic, several congas and guitar. This is more of a family friendly circle compared to Hippie Hill, often 2-3 guitarists with small amps, I bring all these instruments to share except the keyboard (unless you're really good). It's absolutely gorgeous out and playing in the great outdoors is a wonderful contrast to being bombarded by sound bouncing off of walls! The guitarists are playing mostly 60's-70's pop/rock, as well as some really good originals. I call/text people when I'm going there (it can often be low attended), so if you're interested send me a text and I'll let you know the next time I go out: 415 722-5912

[hardware]

Nicks Cove Point Tamales.

1A North up the coast, reasonable prices, gigantic servings, most beatific ride.

Seafood is to die for.

Lobster Fettucine, Crab Rangoon, Oysters Rockefeller.....

[Threadslayer]

DRUM CIRCLES:

 

Berkeley: easy to get to, it's literally at the Ashby BART station next to the flea market, Saturdays and Sundays.

 

SF on the weekends: Hippie Hill (Sharon Meadows). Typically from 10-20 drummers, I sometimes bring my mic and keyboard out, loud circle

 

SF during the week: Conservatory of Flowers, Monday-Friday but esp. beautiful days and Fridays. I often bring my Nord Stage, mic, several congas and guitar. This is more of a family friendly circle compared to Hippie Hill, often 2-3 guitarists with small amps, I bring all these instruments to share except the keyboard (unless you're really good). It's absolutely gorgeous out and playing in the great outdoors is a wonderful contrast to being bombarded by sound bouncing off of walls! The guitarists are playing mostly 60's-70's pop/rock, as well as some really good originals. I call/text people when I'm going there (it can often be low attended), so if you're interested send me a text and I'll let you know the next time I go out: 415 722-5912

OK. I'm going to show my age and ignorance here. I thought drum circles consisted of ... drums. The few that I have seen consisted exclusively of percussion instruments - congas, bongos, timbales, guiros, overturned buckets, tambourines and the like. Have these evolved into poly-instrumental outdoor jams?

[El Lobo]

The Saloon

http://sfblues.weebly.com/saloon-schedule.html

[El Lobo]

See also this similar thread from a year ago.

https://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2757178/1

[El Lobo]

If you tell us the dates you'll be in town, it's likely that someone on this board will be gigging somewhere in the Bay Area.

[Mark Schmieder]

Most of my own gigs are east of the city so I won't mention them, but do be aware that, depending on your dates in town, there might at least be stuff worth checking out in Berkeley and Oakland (my own gigs are usually east of there, except for the private ones which also are in SF).

 

Luckily, most of the best venues are accessible by public transit these days (there has been a deliberate consolidation of the arts and museum scene around transit corridors).

[El Lobo]

Check the calendars for SF Jazz Center, Biscuits and Blues, the Saloon, other venues.

 

Restaurants? SF is a city of restaurants. I ain't poor but I can't afford to eat at most of the really great ones, even if I could get a table. However, there are many good restaurants, especially a lot of ethnic ones, where you can get a very good meal for not too much. Do you know what part of town you'll be staying in? You can check out SF Yelp. The reviews are fairly reliable, but the foodies here always have their own special places.

 

Also check SFgate for music http://www.sfgate.com/music/

and top 100 restaurants

http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/category/top-100/

 

[eric]

Go for Irish coffee at the Buena Vista

 

 

[cphollis]

True confessions: I grew up in the SF Bay Area when I was a youngin'

 

Stupid amount of quality music in my life growing up. Talented dudes everywhere you looked. Saw Grace Slick do her thing when I was way too young. My parents didn't know what was really going on.

 

Doobie Brothers, Santana, Robin Trower and Journey playing high school dance gigs. Yes, really. $4 cover. At a Catholic HS no less.

 

Pablo Cruise played my senior prom. Mind blowing to me as a young dude, but my mind was elsewhere

 

A steady diet of Dead and Neil Young in college. I can't remember how many Dead shows I saw. Although Green Day was a force to be reckoned with. As were the Talking Heads,

 

The Dregs coming through Santa Cruz. And The Cure. And Boz Scaggs playing everywhere. Oh yeah, Robert Palmer came around, back when he was trying to be Lowell George. Too bad Little Feat came through though local clubs. We're not going to talk about The Wall concert and my road trip to LA. Life altering.

 

And, yes, went to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers a bazillion times in Palo Alto back in the dayz. Tears For Fears came through aa well, thoroughly impressive.

 

Not deprived in the least. Most folks I grew up with turned into talented musos to this day. It's all about environment

 

There's still a rockin' scene there, just gotta find it. New Orleans is so much more accessible, though.

[Jazz+]

Sadly. SF has become a trendy area for the very wealthy and the younger silicon valley entrepreneurs. The old scenes are gone. It has not been a music town for many decades, that was the groovy 60's and 70's mostly. Of course they maintain some little relics going for the tourist trade. The scenic views and some of the old buildings remain but everything else has changed.

[synthizen2]

[Song80s]

 

it was better when Dirty Harry was in charge

[Jazz+]

Best little jazz club in SF ever! But of course, closed for financial reasons many years ago.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CElQSs76iYM/TtKOD2rG5II/AAAAAAAAB14/04kZPBMz6Xw/s1600/Keystone-Korner-copy.jpg

[Threadslayer]

I never noticed the "Play Misty For Me" (another Clint pic) promo insertion before.

[Jazz+]

http://www.inside-guide-to-san-francisco-tourism.com/image-files/golden-gate-park-east-map-2.jpg

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110226214303/charmed/images/c/cc/Golden-gate-park.jpg

 

http://www.planetware.com/photos-large/USCA/california-san-francisco-golden-gate-park.jpg

 

[Jazz+]

[Jazz+]

Confession, I was born in SF in '57 and grew up 5 blocks from Haight Asbury. I knew Vince Guaraldi and The Greatful Dumb.