A Quick Trip to SF

John had a meeting in San Francisco, so I tagged along.  We had a great couple of days...thanks to our South West Airlines flight getting canceled.  I booked us a nice room at the Hyatt Regency Downtown. After John was getting ready for bed I made a quick surprise visit to my Mom's house.  We had a great little visit!!                                                             

If I were more proficient with photos I would have been able to mark a little "x" where our room was.

Inside the lobby area of the Hyatt Regency

View from our room.

What everyone needs a TV built into your bathroom mirror! 

 The Equinox restaurant use to be located at the top of the Hyatt.  It rotated and had a 360 degree view of the city.  I guess it closed in 2007.  But if you book a room that includes access to the Regency Club you get to go up there.  They have complimentary food at breakfast lunch, dinner, and desert.  This is a photo of John and I getting a little evening snack.  It was delicious and the views were as spectacular as I remembered as a kid having gone to the restaurant.  I don't believe it spins anymore though.

 View from our floor of the Ferry Building at night.

Morning Room Service.

 The Old Southern Pacific Railroad building where I use to work is located just across the street from the hotel.  Feels like home!

 I really wanted to stay at the Hyatt Regency at the Embarcadero for one main reason.... The Ferry Building.  After the 1989 Earthquake the Embarcadero Freeway had such extensive damage, that it was torn down in 1991, making it great time to restore and update the Ferry Building into  a "Foodie" destination.  

  Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday there is an amazing farmers market.  

                                                     

Inside there is a host of all kinds of restaurants and little shops.  I guess I saved a lot of money by flying and not being able to load up my car for a trip back home.  I definitely want to come come back and get some amazing produce and then go to my Mom or Dads and cook it up!  You should be able to click on a photo and see a larger version of it.

We both had a super yummy BLT at the Market Bar... should have taken a photo of it!

Local artists selling their goods at the Embarcadero Plaza.

 A view walking from the Ferry Building back to our Hotel.  On the left you can see the SP building and the Hotel on the right.  We had such great weather!!! 

After we got the call from SW, we ended up having to book a flight out the next morning, so we left SF, and the Hyatt for a more reasonably prices Hotel.  We stayed at the Embarcadero in Oakland.  After we checked in we had a chance to drive up thru Berkley... wow is sure isn't the same as I remembered it.  Then we had went and saw Tim at his shop, and got to enjoy a nice meal with him.  What a great couple of days we had in San Francisco!!  Nice way to recharge the ol' battery!

On A Mission........ A Texas BBQ in the making.

So we loaded up the car and off we went for an over night stay at the Double Tree in Dana Point.  The Hotel was only a couple of miles from out weekend destination...no not the beach, not some great new restaurant.... Costco in San Juan Capistrano!  Yep, you heard me right we were on a mission.  A mission to buy a new Smoker...not just any smoker, but a Traeger! Our soon to be "Lil' Tex Elite" would do all the work for us, no more stoking the fire, and standing around.  This smoker has a a multi-position digital thermostat control, an auger that moves little wood pellets into a heat pot and voila, there you have it a cooked meal ready to enjoy!

Double Tree Hotel in Dana Point right on Doheny Beach.  We loved this hotel, not only for the location, but it is a SUPER doggie friendly Hotel.  Next time we are bringing Wiggles with us!

                                       

We thought it was apropo that we were in the "San Rafael"

Our room, not too sure who sent us the bottle of champaign, and the strawberries, but we didn't complain! It was a lovely room with two balconies, an beautiful bathroom with... yes, a bidet (yep...we couldn't figure out how it worked... think it was broken) There was a lovely outdoor lounge called Vivo.  We sipped our drinks to the sound of a great band called "Local Dudes".  After we left the lounge we could still enjoy the music from our balcony.  

 View from our balcony.

After living it up, the next day it was off to accomplish our goal.  We ended up picking up an extra smoker for DJ & Cindy, since it was almost the end of the "Traeger Roadshows"

 Some assembly required! Ahh, ha!  But really not too much. Mark gave us a helping hand.

 "The Proud Papa!"  "Boys And There Toys!"

The trial run, a whole chicken.  Before, and After Photos.  The Chicken was SO JUICEY!

The Brisket! Not just any Brisket, but Prime, from Ramey's Meats in Brawley, CA

 It's Almost Done!!!  It was placed in the smoker at 6:00AM. and was done around 5:00 PM

 A true TEXAS BBQ..... with all the fixin's

Take The Money And Run...

So I was flicking the channels on the TV tonight, and this show called "Take the Money and Run" caught my eye.  The Show is part game show and part psychological warfare, it’s a showdown involving three pairs — two contestants in the role of criminals, who stash $100,000 and hope it’s not found; two moonlighting police officers assigned to uncover it within 48 hours; and two interrogators, who try to pry information out of the contestants.  The contestants are given an hour to hide the money, and then the cops pull them over and start their detective work.  Well low and behold, if they don't pull the contestants over right in front of what use to be my parents apartment house!  I love watching shows that take place in San Francisco!

This is the little park out in front of the building.

There it is, right between the gal and the guy!