Grateful Dead

Hey bros and sis, my wife and I are planning to visit the town where it all started.One little detail, it will be our first time in SF. So we need some ints about hotels, place we have to go etc. Please help us to make that trip a one we'll never forget! We already thank you, Marjelaine and Richard.

We gonna do it at the end of next april.

It's expensive and surprisingly cold. There is a lot of stuff to do. Of course it depends on how much time you have. Chinatown is fun as is City Lights bookstore There is a big park with a nice museum that is very interesting. Alcatraz is worth it. If you like naval history the submarines in the dock are cool. wine country is close. Muir Woods across the bay is a must. And the road goes on forever.... BobbaLee

We'll be there for 10 days.

the coldest winter i ever spent was summer in san francisco! and that boat ride out to alcatraz is bone chillin' freezing, muir woods is a must and whats the name of the beach north of SF past the woods, is it muir beach? whatever the name it's just beautiful, grab some sourdough, cheese and some wine have a picnic and chase the crabs.

hi Richard-personally, I like this place to stay: http://www.sealrockinn.com/ It's convenient, on a main street for buses & you're near the ocean. If you're going to Alcatraz, let me know. Husband has been saying he's never been (& he's been here in Ca. for 41 years) It'd be fun to meet you, after all I am half Canadian (by a weird twist of fate) When are you coming? Hope we're here. Sunny today, cold yesterday, especially when the fog rolls in.......Gotta go-the SUN is OUT!

City Lights Bookstore, lots of history there and go for a drink at Vesuovios next door. Walk around and hike up to Coit Tower. Check out Telegragh Hill, lots of funky houses. Lots of cool architecture there and also in the Haight. North Beach is one of my favorite areas. The Asian Art Museum and Golden Gate Park. I like to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and back. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake

Hey, we'll be around next april. Hope we can meet, really want to hear all your stories about our GOGD. We'll stay in touch.And to all of you who take your precious time to help us, you're deadly grate. Please let's continue to feed us. Marjelaine et Richard.

Richard, I'm not a local but I can tell you you're about to visit the most magical place I've ever been. I was there for a couple of days in 1979 but my life was forever transformed by the experience. I should also add that I wasn't even a Deadhead yet! The positive vibe of the place was inescapable. It probably contributed to me eventually becoming a Deadhead. Wish I could be there with you! Enjoy, brother!

on grant avenue....written on one of the tiny walls in the even tinier rest room.."blues will grab your lizard brain, and make it squeek". the bar's 150 aniv is in 2011

Marye's post about Muir Woods beach brings back such memoriesWe were in Salsaledo? and stopped at a deli to get lunch took it to the beach- it was misty and cold-we walked out on the boardwalk and stood for along time-the waves were crashing the fog was floating up the cliffs, we sat at a picnic table and ate our food. The kids loved it we stayed several hours and watched a little boat deal with waves. The drive is really a lot of hair pin turns. I could have stayed in Muir woods for a week. Next time we come out there I would sure like to meet the people I chat with and get a "Dead Head " tour of the city-beers on me! And the road goes on forever.... BobbaLee

I was fortunate to visit for about 10 days a couple of years ago, and my heart is still there. We were there in March, and the weather was very pleasant, if a little cool. Not at all familiar with the area, we reserved a hotel room that turned out to be in the Tenderloin district. We were warned about the area, but decided to see for ourselves. It turned out to be a lovely old hotel that had been recently renovated, and we didn't feel threatened by the area at all. I would do it again if I had the chance.One experience that stands out is driving up through the valley for a couple of hours, then turning west over the mountains. I figured we've have a wonderfully senic drive back along the coast. I was right, at least for as long as daylight remained. As soon as the sun set, it turned into a white-knuckled drive from hell. Pitch black, I had to watch the line on the side of the road to keep from driving off into the surf. So heed those cautions about the PCH; a beautiful drive during the day, a test of skill at night. Golden Gate Park and especially the Haight district were our favorite areas. Our visit created a strong desire to return, and even stay in the area permanently if we could. We are looking forward to returning some day. I know that you will enjoy every minute of your visit. Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor.

I'm planning to visit SF for the SF Marathon/Half-marathon next July and I must see all the venues and important places I've read and re-read about in all the Dead-related books. I haven't begun penciling an itenerary yet so I'm open to any advice or suggestions, especially from someone who knows the area upside down. The last thing, however, I want to feel like is a tourist! Thoughts? " Where does the time go? "

in SF don't wear shorts in July, unless you want to be cold & have the locals chuckle about it.....have a great time

I will be in the Bay Area at the end of April and the first weekend in May next year, following on from a visit to New Mexico and Arizona. Influential people please arrange a show or two for me then :-)

i should try to be down there...mebbe we can plan a "badger fest!"

We'll be there at the same time. Nice place to meet, don't you think?

Hmmm, I think I'll speak to the boys and suggest a Furthur gig at the Cow Palace, possibly with a modern reconstruction of the Wall of Sound, as per CB's request to arrange a "show or two". I can't guarantee this will happen, but I'll give it my best shot. They did it once, who knows, maybe they'll give it another go. This one, if they do it, will be considerably more than the $2.00 ticket price for the March '74 show there (DP24). Maybe it could be done as a benefit for the Rex Foundation? Do two shows, or maybe even three, and a sellout is a sure thing. Think about it...

With the situation of CAdollard vs Usdollard this day, we already buy US money.

why is this in the Vineyard? If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake

very good question

I'm the one who ask Marye about SF. It turn to live here, don't know why.Let's put it in good hand, Marye, please?

moving it to I'm Looking For...

you might love seeing Mission Dolores which I think is the oldest building in San Francisco. It was built in the late 1700s by Spanish missionaries and it is a beautiful old place with an historic graveyard. It is off of Market Street going toward Twin Peaks, 16th & Dolores. At the foot of Market Street is the Ferry Building. There is a farmers market there, perhaps three days a week. One day we got a breakfast of fruit and peach turnovers there and then took the ferry to Sausalito. There is a really nice statue of Gandhi at the Ferry Building....so good to see. Also, the redwoods are a site to behold. One of my favorite groves is about an hour and a half north of the city in Sonoma County. You cross the Golden Gate Bridge and drive a bit above the Santa Rosa exits and take River Road exit heading west to Guernville. Armstrong Grove is located about a mile down Armstrong Woods Road. It is a state park and it is so majestic and silent in there. Korbel Cellars is on River Road and it follows the Russian River. The Grateful Dead played at Rio Nido, under the redwoods in the '60s. And yes, North Beach is a must.

But, Buddy-the sound always sucked @ the Cow Palace, as far as I'm concerned (or was it just @ the rodeos?) ....move the special concert 4 Badger somewhere else, ok? How about the Greek? Good Luck...xoxoMaybe w/ the exception of Paul McCartney & Wings back in '76 I think it was....sounded fine then

Thanks for your comment. We take all we can for now. Richard.

Great suggestions docks. "I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel. Can't win for tryin. Dust off those rusty strings just one more time. Gonna make em shine."

Where is it now Marye?

Sorry, probably too much action in the house!

Bought airplane tickets. Still looking for a (smoking) hotel.And information about the shows we can hit between april 30 and may 10. We're going to FRISCO! Marjelaine et Richard.

Anybody knows this hotel? Look good for us.

for our needs. We're looking for a clean place, a good bed, a tv set and a breakfast. So how about the Opal SF or another one with about same price?No offence Lamagonzo, I just want to save money to buy some t-shirts and a Dead-o-poly. Peace, Richard.

I will be there too from 1-5 May. Lucky to be able to stay with friends. I hope there is a show we can meet up for (and can the sealions come back too please?)

in 5 letters!!!!

I've stayed at three hotels in the JDV (that stands for Joie de Vivre) chain and they were great! The Hotel Del Sol is in the Marina district and was the simplest of the three and we visited it in '05. Nice neighborhood and very pleasant folks who ran it. The Galeria Park Hotel was where we stayed last year. Fantastic location within walking distance of museums, Chinatown, North Beach and a ton of other cool places. My favorite though was the Hotel Kabuki, in Japantown, where we stayed in '08. Very cool rooms, excellent hotel bar (which to my mind is something very rare) and it honestly is one of two hotels I've been to in the world where I actually enjoyed sitting in my room, looking out the window. Follow this link to see all of the JDV SF properties: http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/sanfrancisco "When it comes to humility, I'm the greatest!" - Bullwinkle Moose

I'll check it with my banker, euh my wife.Mary, been myself on the road a while, I know that a hotel for bands is not a place to consider. Dawn roadies. LOL Thanks and Peace everybody, Richard.

Mary's right. While the JDV chain is a group of boutique hotels, each one is distinct. "When it comes to humility, I'm the greatest!" - Bullwinkle Moose

While there are tons of great places to grab a drink in SF - you should consider making a stop at The Thirsty Bear (http://www.thirstybear.com/) at 661 Howard Street. Great food, very good beer and ale (brewed right there) and a very happening place in the evening. I also figure that any place that serves tapas is on target anyway. Cafe Claude (http://www.cafeclaude.com/) is a pleasant spot for an afternoon cocktail or a glass of wine. They feature live jazz on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights too. It's located in the little alleyway between Sutter Street & Bush Street. "When it comes to humility, I'm the greatest!" - Bullwinkle Moose