Happy Wednesday and while you've been doing whatever it is that you've been doing, Julie and I have been actively managing the household of our pals Louise Lederhosen and Byron Browne IV. In other words, we're housesitting at their swank pad in western San Francisco whilst they're screwing off in Africa for almost 3 weeks.
We're also keeping an eye on their two kitties, Miles and Louis. Here they are, captured in the jungle of their luxuriously landscaped backyard.
Yes - cat pix in this esteemed publication, but alas, it's not all litterbox emptying. In conjunction with others, we've been - for reporting reasons only - frequenting a fairly impressive number of bars and restaurants. I will not deem this a formal Micro Travel Guide, because who vacations in the quasi-suburbs?
But it's still San Francisco (baby!), as visits to the Ocean Avenue, West Portal, Lakeside Village, and Taraval Beachside commercial districts amply demonstrate. Here is a sampling of what is out there.
An important note: Most all of this is accessible very easily from downtown SF, via the K Ingleside, L Taraval, and M Ocean ViewMuni Metro light rail lines. As always, I provide links to places I deem Serviceable or better. Preview: Every place we visited was better.
Lakeside Village This micro High Street has a deceptively broad offering, although we've only availed ourselves of one establishment thus far. Heck, there's a sushi bar and a Thai restaurant, not to mention a bakery. Ofena: Killer
Well-executed Cal-Ital in a pretty space that belies its anonymous location
I am providing a link to this community space despite not having visited, because it's the right thing to do
Plus, there's this and the picnic tables are certainly conducive to an impromptu outdoor lunch and perhaps even a glass of wine:
Ocean Avenue Improving, every year, in my observations. Tough to complain, what with a solid gin mill right down the road from a Whole Foods. The Ave Bar: Textbook
A very friendly neighborhood dive bar and they have vinyl nights
Taraval Beachside OK, it's really The Outer Sunset but I like my name better. And on the right kind of weather day, two-block-away Ocean Beach can be very special. Galinette: Killer
Authentically French, but casual
Best Onion Soup I've had in SF at any restaurant in at least 15 years
Other: TPC Harding Park You will probably already be going here if you golf (that's the 18th green in the lead photo), but you don't need any clubs to hit the Killer restaurant there, the Cypress Grill.
I'll conclude whatever this was with many thanks to our absentee hosts. Sure, we don't have plunge pools and giraffes like they do, but we have observed wildcats lurking, waiting to pounce. And yes, that's another cat photo. But don't worry: the spellbinding Maybe It Was Destiny returns Friday.
FROM THE UNWASHED MASSES
A shout-out to fellow West Side partakers George Valiant Walker and his better half Sherry Pace, the regional power couple, Günther and Antoinette Strobel, and the Redwood City escapee Arthur. So great hanging out and having quality time with these wonderful friends.
Next up: Friday debauching in West Portal with Tiburon's very own André and Rikki Aurich, and then we welcome Saturday a proud graduate of nearby Lick Wilmerding High School (real name), Professor Howard Blum, Esq.
Indeed, all of this partying while housesitting brings to mind one of Arthur's classic lines:
I don't even know where I am.
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
KLUF
Here is a Diamond Certified and favorite song called Deep in the Motherlode.
So what and why? Well, Genesis later released it as a single under the more appropriate title of Go West Young Man.
