San Francisco: Christmas lights and sights; things to do; staycation at Hilton San Francisco Union Square

San Francisco

I spent last Saturday around Union Square in San Francisco.  And oh what sights I did see!

Neiman Marcus Christmas tree

2017 Christmas tree at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco

ice skating at the Holiday Ice Rink

kittens in the windows at Macy's 

2017 Christmas kitten window at Macy's in San Francisco

Santacon 

participants out in full force

Santacon 2017 participants lined up at Sam's Cable Car Lounge in San Francisco

CanStruction snowman 

at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square 

(this snowman is constructed from cans of food that can feed 1,300 people and will be donated to the local community after Christmas)

CanStruction 2017 at Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco

In fact, I spent the night staycation-style at the Hilton.  We packed our necessities in just one backpack, took BART too and fro, and enjoyed Union Square like a tourist.  We ate dinner at the hotel's Urban Tavern restaurant and enjoyed a nightcap and spectacular city view at the Cityscape Lounge on the 46th floor. 

backpack on bed at Hilton San Francisco Union Square

Need a Stocking Stuffer?  

Alcatraz's first ever "Buy One, Get One Free" ticket promotion makes the perfect gift to stuff in your Christmas stockings.  And only local residents can book it.  Dates are January 30 and 31 plus February 6 and 7 in 2018.  Residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties are eligible.  

Call (415) 981-7625 or visit www.alcatrazcruises.com to purchase your tickets NOW.  

More about Alcatraz.  

More San Francisco Bay Area Christmas events.

Another San Francisco staycation.

More things to do in San Francisco

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.  

images and video ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Jamestown: Antiques shops galore!; things to do

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

ANTIQUES SHOPS GALORE!

ceramic chickens in a Jamestown, CA antiques shop

Filled with architecturally interesting old buildings, this historical boom town’s economy is now fueled by myriad antiques shops.  So far, there are way more antiques shops in town than wine-tasting rooms. 

●A. Flowers  

Main St., (209) 352-5023.

Located within a charming repurposed vintage cottage, A. Flowers purveys one-of-a-kind handmade items mixed with a curated selection of antique goodies, making for a delightful browse.  I left with two sweet unused washcloths enhanced with vintage lace medallions. 

exterior of A. Flowers antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

sweet hankies at A. Flowers antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

interior of A. Flowers antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

soap on saucer gift at A. Flowers antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

potpourri at A. Flowers antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

●The Classy Flea  

18201 Main St., (209) 606-0947.

Ariat the cat watches over the goods at The Classy Flea, which is mostly jewelry and antiques.

Ariat the cat at The Classy Flea antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

●DD’s Antiques-N-Such  

18211 Main St., (209) 984-4000.  W-Sun.

Providing a fun browse, DD's Antiques-N-Such is packed with vintage goods, including buckets of buttons, coins, marbles, and silverware.  If you’d rather divest than invest, bring in your own items to sell on the spot.

bucket of buttons at DD's Antiques-N-Such antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

bowl of coins at DD's Antiques-N-Such antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

basin of marbles at DD's Antiques-N-Such antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

●The Emporium  

18180 Main St., (209) 984-0262.

The Emporium has a giant open-space, old-time interior that displays groupings of antiques.  Not to mention an unexpected espresso bar.

interior of The Emporium antiques shop in Jamestown, CA

and also:

●Time Travelers  

18138 Main St., (209) 984-6551. 

 

●With God All Things are Possible  

18174 Main St., (209) 984-0507. 

 
More things to do in Jamestown.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.
 
images ©2016 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Oakland: Cat Town; restaurant review + things to do

880 South

Cat Town  

2869 Broadway/29th St. W-Sun 10am-7pm. 

Located on Oakland’s historic Auto Row, across the street from the Mercedes dealership, the Cat Town cat rescue organization works in close collaboration with the Oakland Animal Services municipal shelter to get cats out of cages and into homes.  It opened in 2014 as America's first cat cafe.

●RAWR Coffee Bar  

The motto here is “Come for the coffee, stay for the cats.”  The counter-order menu at RAWR Coffee Bar consists of light snacks such as sugar cookies (mine was decorated with “meow”), assorted pastries (vegan and gluten free options are available), and espresso drinks featuring Highwire Coffee.  You can down them while sitting on one of the few benches or carry it on into the separate Cat Zone area--definitely the way to go.  Cat treats for the Cat Zone can be purchased for $1.  Cat-themed items and all natural raw cat food and treats made by RAWR are also available to take home.

order counter at Cat Town Cafe in Oakland, California

sugar cookies at Cat Town Cafe in Oakland, California

●Cat Zone  

$10 donation.

This delightful diversion has a cat-centric art gallery and doubles as a cat adoption center.  Don’t forget to sanitize your hands before entering Cat Zone.  You can pet the kitties, play with them, and in some cases watch them catnap.  The goal is to get these kitties adopted.  Large windows make it easy to also observe from the sidewalk or cafe.  Cute cat furniture includes beds inspired by the Port of Oakland’s cargo cranes and play structures based on buildings from the downtown Oakland skyline, plus large colorful murals cover some of the walls.  For me, it was the purrfect way to spend my Caturday.

Cat Zone area of Cat Town Cafe in Oakland, California

napping cats in Cat Zone area of Cat Town Cafe in Oakland, California

Cat Zone area of Cat Town Cafe in Oakland, California

Way more things to do in Oakland.

Mostly humorous cat items from Caught on the Web.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated 5-16-18