August 2010 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
1 Question for **branz7** And 1 For Everyone Else :)
Hey Branz, I am coming to San Fran as well. Just for three days. We will be there for New Years. I was thinking I might try and go to Greens for New Years Eve dinner. That is the Vegetarian restaurant you like isn't it? Is there anything else you think I should see and do?
And for everyone....
I have never been to America before, so was just wondering if you could give me some pointers on what to eat?? I am veg, but want to know what junk food, fast food, frozen food, fresh food, etc etc that you can't live without, and suggest I try. 
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Re: 1 Question for **branz7** And 1 For Everyone Else :)
We pretty much only have McDonald's, KFC and BK when it come to fast food, and most of our chocolate is the Cadbury brand.
Australia has a very limited food selection, even compared with New Zealand. There are some biscuits from New Zealand I used to eat all the time, and they don't have them here.
I am looking forward to my week in Aspen to try and do some cooking for the rest on the group.
Difficult question because America is such a mesh of everything! Most fast food is going to be meat/heavily processed food. But as far as fast food/fast food-ish goes, I love Au Bon Pain, Moe's, and Chipotle. Not sure if those are available everywhere, but that's how it goes here. Just like KFC is available in most places, but Bojangles (another chicken place) isn't.
This website lists the top 50 quintessential American dishes. Very true and includes foods from all around the states! All of these foods are available everywhere. I could go out now and get a bowl of Clam Chowder (yum!) here in KY, but it wouldn't be as fresh as a bowl of it on the coasts.
As far as junk food goes, I agree with lex. There will be unlimited amounts of junk food at grocery stores for you to chow down on. It may be super unhealthy, but there's no denying that junk food tastes really really good. Doritos, Funyuns, Fritos and dip, Little Debbie snack cakes, Chips-Ahoy cookies, etc. Frozen foods are the exact same as junk food: a lot of it!
Do the creep.
YAY! I think you'll really enjoy the city. :-) We are a very eclectic mix out here in Frisco, but that's part o the charm to me! Dress in layers, no joke. One day may be foggy and windy, and the next may be 75 degrees you just never know!
I almost want to cancel our New Years plans to go crash yours and meet you! What an opportunity! hehe
Ok, Greens is without a doubt my fav restaurant, I am so happy you'll be enjoying a meal there! FYI, can be quite pricey, especially on holidays if they have a prix fixe menu, but I've never had a bad dish there ever ever. The wait staff is sooo insanely friendly and patient you wonder what the heck they are on...! They have great wine, and they let you try several small glasses if you're unsure of which to choose. There's also usually a jazz band; a very nice time, to be sure.
As for SF things to do, off the bat, I can tell you that yes, the Golden Gate Bridge IS worth a special trip, but I think what's even more fun is visiting Golden Gate Park, and doing so by either bike or walking through it, unless it's pouring. There's so much to see there! Japanese Tea Garden, Tulips Garden, the buffalo, museums, boating...I just think it's so awesome there. And if you're lucky, you can enjoy one of the many food trucks for lunch or a snack!
Check this out: http://roaminghunger.com/sf/vendors Food trucks are huge over here now. Curry Up Now is a favorite truck and they serve Indian street food.
I really like the Hayes Valley area and Haight for unique shopping experiences, (Haight has tons of veg restaurants too btw) and if you want huge, beautiful designer shops, or more "normal" shopping go to Union Square, of course. The giant Macy's Christmas tree will probably still be there too, and that's fun to see during the holidays. Also, just a few blocks down, (towards Market St.) is a giant mall that will give you more affordable shopping. It's newer, and very nice.
I highly recommend the SF symphony, they are awesome, if you're looking for classy entertainment. The resident conductor has so much enthusiasm and is so talented. The musicians are wonderful. Otherwise go to Cobb's Comedy Club for some thing laid back, and often inappropriate :-)
I really enjoy just walking the Embarcadero, near the Ferry Building too. That area is really pretty, and it's open to the Bay completely, so you get to see ocean. It just makes for nice exercise, and scenery, frankly. However, you can walk alllll the way from Pier 1 down to the end by Fisherman's Wharf/Ghiradelli Square. That would make for a long walk, but a really fun day potentially.
Other restaurants:
Firenze by Night-Italian, in North Beach, BEST gnocchi ever
Samovar Tea Lounge-Yerba Buena Garden, has different tea services from different countries with food to match. Russia, China, English, Greek...really chill and fun
Suppenkuche-German, Hayes Valley. They literally have like two veg things on the menu only, but, one is a spatzle dish that is cracktastic. It's a loud, rowdy, Hofbrau feel with good beer. You've literally got to get there as it's opening to score a table; or else you wait for like an hour. So good tho...
Things NOT to do:
-Spend money at Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39 area. Don't do it. Too overpriced. Go there, look, do not buy!
-Cable car ride...so good in theory, but in reality you are stuck riding around with a group of touristy strangers and all you want to do is exploooore. Check them out, take pix standing on them; they are iconic and cool. But do not deal with the prices and people!
-Deal with homeless people...just ignore them, as bad as that sounds. Most are truly crazy, tho a few really are just down on their luck, but we in SF seem to favor the wackadoo kind moreover...
-If you're only here for 3 days, don't go to Alcatraz. It's incredibly cool, but I think that takes you away from just exploring the city, which to me is what's so fun about visiting a new place.
Could you give me more specifics so I can give you better suggestions?? Like, do you want more restaurants, or sightseeing/activities, etc? Or what are your plans already? I tried to suggest some things you might not hear about necessarily.
You'll have to return the favor when I get Down Under! We hope to go in the next year! ;-)
Whoahhh!!! Thanks Branz!! I can tell you really love your city.
I am totally going to check out the food trucks, what a cool idea! But unfortunately my Mother is desperate to go to Alcatraz, so there is no escaping it. I will send her your list of what Not to do. Thanks!
The Japanese Tea Garden sounds like something I would enjoy, and I have found a place called the Exploritorium that looks right up my ally.
I am going to google everything you suggested and make a list.
Generally I just like to hang about on holidays. I don't like spending too much time on one activity. Just incase I miss something else.
Wow, I hope you do make it to Australia next year. The exchange rate should have dropped by then, which will make it less expensive. I haven't done too many to the touristy things, like visit Ayers Rock etc, but DH has. My big suggestion would be, when planning, don't forget a visit to Tasmania. It is the best place of all, and nobody ever goes there.
And if you see a short green haired girl wandering around San Fran looking lost, come say 'hi'.