San Francisco: Salesforce Park; things to do

San Francisco

Salesforce Park  

Stretches along Mission Street from Beal Street to Second Street, crossing Frist and Fremont Streets. 
gondola entrance:  425 Mission St./Fremont St.
elevator entrances:  several are found along Mission St. 
Free.  No pets. 

Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

          Salesforce Park is adjacent to Salesforce Tower--the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River.  Financially sponsored and operated by Salesforce, it is the city’s only public park with a commercial sponsor.  The park is situated 4 stories above the sidewalk of the Salesforce Transbay Transit Center, where buses bring passengers into San Francisco from the East Bay.  The center is easily recognized by its undulating exterior cover of perforated white metal that allows in sunlight.

Visitors can reach the elevated park via a free gondola that provides transportation up only, or via elevators and escalators spaced along Mission Street. 

gondola lifts visitors to Salesforce Park
in San Francisco, California

Salesforce Park is 4 blocks long and covers 5.4 acres.  Basically a botanical garden, this urban oasis holds 16,000 plants and 600 trees, and it has plenty of inviting expansive green lawns.  Plants are blooming year round and include water-tolerant California natives as well as many exotics and some mature trees.  This oval park is set amid towering downtown buildings, some of which are close enough that it seems like you could reach out and touch them.  And whimsy is alive here, too.  Waterjets in a 1,000-foot-long serpentine “Bus Fountain” at the park’s northern edge dance to the movement and speed of buses arriving in the transit center below. 

lovely plants in Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

                

The best way to see the park is to stroll the loop around the perimeter, stopping here and there to admire flowers or perhaps enjoy a refreshment break.  Plenty of benches and chairs are provided, and a kids’ play area holds a Recess Cart equipped with enticing books, games, and crayons available to borrow.  A nearby Library Cart provides books for anyone to enjoy while visiting.  Events in the park’s amphitheater include Zumba on Wednesdays, live music on Thursdays, and yoga on Fridays. 

Recess Cart at Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

Food and drink are available at several cafes: 

●Barebottle Salesforce Park  

Crafted from two converted shipping containers, this outdoor cafe offers a menu featuring housemade Argentinian empanadas served with a tasty chimichurri sauce composed of finely chopped parsley, oregano, minced garlic, vegetable oil, and red wine vinegar.  Craft beer, tasting flights, and a non-alcoholic kola made in-house are among the drinks available to imbibe in the surrounding outdoor beer garden. 

Barebottle cafe at Salesforce Park
in San Francisco, California 

●Andytown Coffee Roasters    

181 Fremont, 7th fl.  This coffeehouse operates in an adjacent building reached via a short skybridge.  Stop in for coffees, teas, and snacks. 

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video and images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Portola Valley: Alpine Inn; restaurant review

101 South

Alpine Inn 

3915 Alpine Rd./Arastradero Rd., off Sand Hill Rd., (take Alpine exit off Hwy. 280), in Portola Valley, (650) 854-4004.  Tues-Sun 11:30 am-9 pm, closed Mon; $.  Free parking lot adjoins.

exterior of Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

Built in the 1850s by then-San Jose mayor Felix Buelna, when it was a gambling house, this fun spot is also known as Rossotti’s Alpine Inn.  It became a hangout for the workers who built Stanford in the 1880s, operated during the Prohibition when it was described as “vile,” and just might be the oldest bar in California.  The claim is that Herbert Hoover--like so many other Stanford students--carved his name into one of the tables.  The question is which one? The local Kingston Trio folk group spent their formative days playing here and became one of the most popular groups around before the Beatles hit.  And another claim has it that the internet began here when an e-mail was sent to Boston from a computer atop  a picnic table.  This spot is justly famous for its delicious burgers and crisp fries, but many more items are on the large menu and beers galore are available on tap.  Seating is provided indoors in large wooden booth and at a long communal table, but the prime place to dine is outside in the large beer garden at al fresco picnic tables.  Since the restaurant is located on a back road that is popular with bicyclists, you’ll see many bikers catching their breath here and relaxing under the trees in the creek-side beer garden.  Activities for kids are provided in the back, and the kid in all of us enjoys tossing peanut shells on the ground (the in-shell peanuts here are warmed and a don’t-miss).

wine menu at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

order counter at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

grill at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

beer and peanuts at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

burger and fries at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

interior dining room at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

beer garden at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

kids' area at Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Oakland: Drake’s Dealership; restaurant review

880 South

Drake’s Dealership  

2325 Broadway/23rd St., (510) 568-2739 x40.  L-D daily; $$. 

Located on Auto Row inside the parts and service department of a former Dodge dealership, with brick walls and vintage lettering to prove that point, Drake's Dealership is a haven for beer-lovers.  It is tucked way back from the street in the Hive complex, with a large parking area in front that is, unfortunately private, but you can use it for a fee.  

 

exterior entrance to Drake's Dealership in Oakland, California

Plenty of indoor seating is available,

interior bar and dining room at Drake's Dealership in Oakland, California

but what I came here for is the very big outdoor beer garden with a gravel “floor” and even some trees strung with little lights.  When it fills up, it rocks with happy voices.  Several fire pits and some wood booths line the back garden wall, and Adirondack chairs mix with traditional tables and chairs--there is plenty of room, though sometimes there is a wait to get in.

beer garden at Drake's Dealership in Oakland, California

beer garden at Drake's Dealership in Oakland, California

Pours are 4-, 12-, and 20-ounce, and 32 brews are on tap (my choice is The Sun Never Sets, a delightful nitro English summer ale).  

 

beer service in beer garden at Drake's Dealership in Oakland, California

The pub fare is pretty good and includes a variety of wood-fired pizzas (I loved the Old School topped with mozzarella curd, pecorino, and baby basil), 

 

Old School pizza at Drake's Dealership in Oakland, California

salads (I liked the “Kudos” with cucumber, watermelon, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, arugula, and pistachios), 

 

Kudos salad at Drake's Dealership in Oakland, California

sandwiches (think barbecue pork and a burger), and more.  I was disappointed to find out too late that more goodies are in the Snacks section on the separate beer menu.  Next time I will be ordering When We Dip (toasted pizza dough with a garlic dip) and a bratwurst.  The entire place is kid friendly, and the garden is dog friendly.  Music is scheduled Thursday through Saturday evenings. 

          Complimentary tours are available of the San Leandro Brewhouse, where the Barrel House on-site brewery taproom and retail store provides a no-frills, warehouse-style tasting room set amidst the barrel and packaging storage area.



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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Luis Obispo: SLO Brew; restaurant review + hotel review

101 South

SLO Brew

SLO Brew has been in town since 1988, when it opened as the first brewpub on the Central Coast--and one of the first in the U.S.--since prohibition.  Now this main pub is right downtown, amid a sea of pubs.  Recently expanded, it is now composed of three venues:

●The Brew  

736 Higuera St., (805) 543-1843.  L-D daily. 

Located smack across the street from Bubblegum Alley and on the street where the SLO Farmer’s Market is held each Thursday, this brew pub is situated within the renovated and remodeled 1890s Carissa Building.  The Brew is spacious, with several seating areas that include a long bar and an area with mega booths, and live concerts are often scheduled on a stage that at other times holds a huge TV screen tuned to sports.  A few brews are still made here, but most of production has moved out to The Rock.  If you are indecisive, you can order a sampler flight of four, like I did.  My faves were Pismo Pils and Reggae Red.  Pub fare includes roasted roots (ours included carrots, beets, and turnips), fresh local fish and chips battered with IPA, and a chicken pot pie topped with a flaky crust.

1890s Carissa Building holds The Brew at SLO Brew
in San Luis Obispo, California

check-in at The Brew at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

interior of The Brew at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

giant booths at The Brew at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

bar at The Brew at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

roasted roots and sampler beer flight at The Brew at SLO Brew
in San Luis Obispo, California

chicken pot pie at The Brew at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

fish and chips at The Brew at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

tending to the tanks at The Brew at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

●The Lofts  

738 Higuera St., (805) 543-1843.  5 suites.  Pets ok.  Free parking 2 blks. away by Jamba Juice. 

Perched directly above The Brew--yes, you can hear the live music, but it is subdued and free and earplugs are provided, and sometimes you can even smell the fragrant grain from the brewing process--this sophisticated lodging offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites.  Featuring a contemporary decor plus exposed brick walls, each suite in The Lofts is unique.  All feature a flip-on fireplace, sliding barn-style doors, high ceilings, tall doors, wood floors, old-fashioned but new plumbing, a well-appointed kitchen with high-end appliances, a sofa sleeper, white cotton bed linens on a comfy four-poster high bed, and--in concert with the music theme--an old-fashioned record player and some well-loved 33 1/3 albums.  My husband was chuckling to Charlie Daniels and I was enjoying The Doors.  Two rooms have a back porch with a creek view.  Lobby decor is artsy, and includes music-related art such as a psychedelic painting of Jimi Hendrix and an unusual black-and-white photograph of Tina Turner, and room service is available from the hotel pub.

lobby elevator at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

upstairs lobby at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

Jimi Hendrix portrait at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

4-poster high bed at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

bathroom at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

front room at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

kitchen at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

comp beers in fridge at The Lofts at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

●The Rock  

855 Aerovista Place, off Broad St./Hwy 227, near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, 3 mi. from downtown.  L daily, D W-Sun.  Tours by request. 

Located in a business park, this new brewing facility features a tasting room, the casual SLO Brew Taproom restaurant, a beer garden, and event space.  The Rock is centered around a dramatic historical rock that is part of the Seven Sisters volcanic rock formation, and the outdoor patio has “The Rock” as a dramatic backdrop.  The taproom centerpiece is a rotisserie Oyler smoker, considered by many BBQ aficionados to be the finest barbecue pit in the world.  Meat is slowly cooked over locally-sourced red oak and apple wood for a distinct smokehouse flavor.  Menu highlights include smoked fish tacos, mussels in a pot, Carolina-style pulled pork, and Texas-style smoked brisket.  Sandwiches, salads, burgers and wraps are also available.  The brewery expects to produce 5,000 barrels in 2017 and now uses only cans, no bottles.

 

beer garden at The Rock at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

co-owner Hamish Marshall  in tank area at The Rock at SLO Brew
in San Luis Obispo, California

colorful inventory at The Rock at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, California

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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Berkeley: Westbrae Biergarten; restaurant review

80 North

Westbrae Biergarten  

1280 Gilman St./Santa Fe Ave.  L-D daily; $.  Dogs ok. 

entrance to Westbrae Biergarten in Berkeley, California

If you adore German beer gardens, you’re going to enjoy this American version.  Spread out over the grounds of a former nursery, Westbrae Biergarten is entirely outdoors, with gravel on the ground and a children’s play area/sand box in the back.  BART runs by almost overhead.  Place your order, pick up your beer, and select from an array of long communal picnic tables.  Seating in Adirondack chairs around a fire pit is also an option.  Diners tend to fill up the table ends first, but there is usually room in the middle to squeeze in between.  Food is prepared in a truck kitchen.  The item to order here is the super-flavorful Brazilian tri-tip sandwich, which I like to share with my dining mate along with a veggie salad.  The menu is simple:  pick your meat—tri tip steak, linguica sausage, chicken chipotle, pork carnitas, or veggie—then select the style—as sandwich, salad, or rice plate.  Seasoned fries and bacon-wrapped chicken bites are also available and served with a pesto aioli and spicy red-pepper sauce.  Another option is a barbecue truck.  An array of beers are on tap, my constant fave being the Berkeley-brewed Trumer Pils, and draught wine and bottled or canned cider is available.  Service consists of food delivery to the table and removal of used items, and it is both efficient and done with a smile.  Should you get chilled, you can buy a logo hoodie for $35.  Before or after, browse the adjacent nursery.

order counter at Westbrae Biergarten in Berkeley, California

barbecue counter at Westbrae Biergarten in Berkeley, California

famous tri-tip sandwich at Westbrae Biergarten in Berkeley, California

veggie salad at Westbrae Biergarten in Berkeley, California

communal tables at Westbrae Biergarten in Berkeley, California

kids' sandbox at Westbrae Biergarten in Berkeley, California

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images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Petaluma: Lagunitas TapRoom and Beer Sanctuary; restaurant review

101 North

Lagunitas TapRoom and Beer Sanctuary

1280 N. McDowell Blvd., 5 mi. N of downtown.  No reservations. 

This way big beer garden is a surprise to find hidden in an office park. It features long communal picnic tables—some especially for families—as well as a few fire pits and lounge chairs. Indoor seating is also available, and live music entertains on weekends. Complimentary beer snacks at Lagunitas TapRoom and Beer Sanctuary include delicious peanuts in the shell and pretzels, but a menu offers more substantial drinking accompaniments such as pulled-pork sliders sausages, and chili. Though this brewery is justifiably famous for its IPA, it is also well-known for its seasonal ales and cleverly-named brews—how about a Hairy Eyeball or Brown Shugga?--and many of the brews are available only on-site (try a customized sampler). Intimate concerts are also regularly scheduled in the brand new grassy amphitheater. Tours of the adjacent Lagunitas Brewing Co. are available.


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image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers