Cool Blogger Meet Up
I met up with Engie last weekend! She and her husband were in Northern California to attend a wedding, and she had some time open when we could get together. She has had a lot going on lately, and I was grateful that we were able to hang out.
I have a membership to the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco (I used to always buy one, but for the last few years they didn’t really have any exhibits that I wanted to see – when Ted and I went to see the exhibit of photographs taken by Paul McCartney in July, I piggy backed onto his ticket purchase, and paid the difference to have a membership.) My card arrived just a couple of days before Engie came to CA, so I suggested that might be something she would enjoy. So we started out at the De Young, and browsed the pictures of Sir Paul. We then perused some art from Oceania, and as we were leaving the museum, I overheard someone asking about going to the observation floor on the 9th floor. Pro-tip – you do not need to pay museum admission in order to go to the observation tower. The tower offers a panoramic view of San Francisco, and is well worth your time if you’re in the area.
From there I was able to point out some of the landmarks of San Francisco – The bridge, Salesforce Tower, The Transamerica Pyramid, the BofA building, and while it was a little hazy, it was clear enough that I could point out Mt. Diablo in the distance. I live in Walnut Creek, which sits at the base of Mt. Diablo. From there we walked around the park a bit, and saw a bunch of hippies in town for the Dead and Company concert, then we went to lunch at the Beach Chalet. The Cliff House used to be my go-to restaurant to take people visiting SF – Good food, beautiful view, not impossible parking. The Cliff House closed several years ago in a rent dispute with the National Park Service, which owns the building. I’d never been to the Beach Chalet, but it’s right across the street from Ocean Beach, so you can see the waves crashing, as well as a few brave souls out there kite surfing. It was pretty windy, so there weren’t too many people, but a few. The food was tasty, but the star of the show is the ocean view for sure. I really enjoyed getting to know Engie in person, and I hope the day was a bit of distraction for her. Time with Engie? Highly recommended if you get the chance.
36 Comments
Allison McCaskill
This is amazing. And I’m happy you said the ocean view was the start, because Matt’s uncle kept making fun of me and Eve (gently) for really liking to look at water while we eat.
J
I’m not sure why, but the ocean is just so lovely to watch…and even better from land (I was on a cruise a few months ago, and I loved seeing the water, but not the same as watching from the beach. Why?)
Diane
Yay for a blogger meet up! I feel like your last line was saying you “highly recommend” a meet up with Engie. Maybe you were? I feel like that feels about right.
I remember going up the DeYoung tower once when my middle child was a baby and him crawling all over the floors right up to those floor to celing windows. And even though I knew that it was safe, visually it kind of freaked me out to have him so close to the “edge”.
San Francisco is such a great city to explore!
J
I clarified in my post that meeting up with Engie is EXACTLY what I mean. 🙂
I’m glad you had that experience with your middle child…and I can see how it would be a bit disconcerting even though you know it’s safe.
Melissa
This looks like fun. There’s been a few cool blogger meetups lately.
J
I know, and I love this about the community! Fun to meet IRL.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Yeah for in person meet ups. Sounds liek you had a great time.
J
It was a lovely day for sure.
AC
I think you showed Engle a very good day.
J
I tried! When San Francisco has great weather, it’s hard to beat.
Lisa’s Yarns
What a fun meet up for both of you!! I have been wondering how Engie is doing since she hasn’t posted this week (and have been worried to be honest as I know her mom is not doing well). I am glad she was able to take this trip and meet you in person. You showed her such a good time!!
Years ago when I was traveling for work, a sales guy took me to The Cliff House for lunch. What a bummer that it closed!!!
J
The Cliff House has space for maybe 3 resataurants (I think that’s how many were there before), and eventually the National Park Service will get its shit together and re-open. Too bad about the people who were there before, though, I think they had been in that space for over 30 years.
Nicole MacPherson
I know she’s had a lot going on, so I wondered if she was going to make it to CA. I am so glad she did and that you and she could hang out. Sounds like an amazing day! I don’t know if she’ll ever make it up here, and I’m not going to the States for a long time, but I would love to meet up with her. And with you! Want to come to Canada? I have a spare room xo
J
We need to plan a meetup in BC!
nance
I’m so saddened by the closing of Cliff House. That place is a landmark and a treasure.
It’s so good to hear that Engie was able to break away from her more weighty concerns for a while and spend some time with you. Even sharing a meal by the ocean had to be incredibly therapeutic.
I’d have loved the photography exhibit of McCartney’s!
The observation tower is a great tip. For someone like me who has a lousy sense of direction, it’s helpful to orient yourself, not to mention nice to take in a lovely view.
J
Yeah, I have a lot of great memories at the Cliff House. I’ll be glad when they finally manage to get it together and re-open.
You would have loved both the exhibit and the observation tower. There is a big map of SF there too, so you can figure out the geography. Very cool.
Daria
Yay for blogger meet-up!! Wonderful to meet fellow writers in real life. I also enjoy reading about the areas where folks reside. Very different from New Jersey.
J
I was so glad to be able to meet Engie, I wish we all lived closer!
Elisabeth
I’m so glad you were able to spend time together. Going from blog friends to IRL friends seems to be an immediate thing which is so special. I am itching to make my way out to CA.
Gorgeous views. Everything feels more calm and peaceful when an ocean view is involved!
J
It would be great if you came to California! Maybe when sanity returns to my country…
K @ TS
I am so glad that you guys got to meet! The loop will be closed soon! Just kidding; there are so many other cool bloggers out there that I still have to meet! But I am happy to say that I have met both of you, and both visits were special! Also selfishly I love seeing photos of my “hood” so keep ’em coming!
J
It was great meeting Engie, and fun how so many folks have been able to meet IRL over the years.
Jenny
Ooh, fun!!! I recognize that photo from the museum, because I got a postcard of it : )
On of these days I will meet up with Engie!
J
Yay! You got your postcard! I know you’ll be travelling to the midwest at some point, the perfect time to meet Engie.
Stephany
I’m glad you got to hang out with Engie and hopefully take her mind off things for a little while. <3 Hooray!
J
Thanks Stephany, I enjoyed my day with Engie a lot.
PocoBrat
I’m so glad that Engie got some time with you this weekend and you showed her such a good time. I feel like she deserves to be wrapped up in softness and fun things for a spell.
J
I was so glad she was able to make it work. She absolutely deserves softness and fun things!
Margaret
My first date with my late husband was at a Cliff House restaurant in Washington, also with a beautiful view. That’s George in the photo, right? I was massively in love with him. LOL
J
I remember my mom saying she loved George too, because he looked like a vampire. What?
Ernie
Sounds like a great visit. Love the pro tip that the 9th floor has that panoramic view. I’m heading to a lake in Wisconsin with Mini and Curly tomorrow and I expect we’ll eat at a place looking at the water. I don’t live as far from Engie as you do, and I hope to get to hang out with her some time. Love your recommendation.
J
I don’t know how I never knew about going up in the tower before, I definitely would have told Birchie about it when she was here. Enjoy your meal by the lake!
Anne
I am so envious of your time with Engie, although I get to see her pretty frequently. I’m glad you were able to spend time away from real-life stuff and indulge in art and a good meal with a water view. If this is how you treat all your visitors, I need to make my way to northern CA sooner rather than later. 😉
J
Come on out, Anne, we’ll do ALL THE THINGS.
San
I am so, so happy you got to hang out with Engie. I am sure she was just as elated to spend time with you as I was 🙂 You’re a great tour guide and you got to see fun parts of SF!
J
Thanks San! I hope we can do another meet up sometime in the not too distant future!