We drove into San Fran and checked into the hotel atop "Snob Hill". Scott dropped me off and took the rental car back to the airport and so I freshened up, hit up a coffee shop and did a little reseacrh. When Scott found me, we took the laptop back to the room and went to the very top of the hotel for a drink. The restaurant at the top of our hotel was named one of the top bars in the country. Here is the history:
In 1939, when owner George D. Smith decided to convert the 19th-floor penthouse apartment of his Mark Hopkins Hotel into a cocktail lounge, he wasn’t completely convinced people would ride an elevator 19 floors to have a drink and look at the view. So he installed a dance floor and hired a band. A few days after the May 11 opening of the Top of the Mark, he had to cover the dance floor to make room for the crowds that were lining up for hours just to get inside. A stunning and immediate success, the Top of the Mark continues to draw crowds, locals and visitors alike.
During World War II, servicemen would buy and leave a bottle in the care of the bartender so that the next soldier from their squadron could enjoy a free drink, the only requirement being that whoever had the last sip would buy the next bottle. The soldiers gathered before shipping out for one last toast to the Golden Gate Bridge, believing that the bridge was good luck and would bring them home. As they sailed off under the Golden Gate, wives and sweethearts would draw together in the lounge’s northwest corner, where they would tearfully gaze out the windows. This corner became known as the “Weepers’ Corner.”
Since the day it opened, many celebrities and dignitaries have enjoyed the Top of the Mark’s extraordinary views, including: Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Michael Jackson, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, Jeff Goldblum and Robin Williams, to name a few. Even the famous John Barrymore made his way to the Top, just to show his pet monkey the view (and creating quite a stir).
The Top of the Mark has become a “must-see” destination for visitors from all over the world who come for the breathtaking views of San Francisco and the Bay, the famed 100 Martinis menu, and perhaps even for a rendezvous with nostalgia.
The views were amazing.
I guess I can't say that San Francisco wasn't what I expected since I didn't really know what to expect being that the only other time I have even been to the state of California was DisneyLand in Anaheim for a field trip. I am just happy that we planned to go to Wine Country first and for a longer amount of time than San Fran. There is much more to do in Napa and Sonoma. I could have spent the whole time there and it still wouldn't have been enough. There is so many small towns and shopping that we didn't partake in at all. I definately want to go back. San Francisco... just like any big city, there was shopping....
and art galleries. This would have probably been my favorite part of the city but none of the galleries were open. :(
One of my favorite things was the market. Scott and I love to cook and my favorite things are using fresh ingredients and coming up with my own recipes. I would be in pure heaven if O-town were to have such a place that was even close to this.
We stopped at the market restaurant because oysters were everywhere and they looked sooo good. Here's girl and who loves ice cold oysters and a glass of crisp white wine. The market was just up the road from the Wharf which, including what we were able to see, was probably our favorite part of the city.
In 1939, when owner George D. Smith decided to convert the 19th-floor penthouse apartment of his Mark Hopkins Hotel into a cocktail lounge, he wasn’t completely convinced people would ride an elevator 19 floors to have a drink and look at the view. So he installed a dance floor and hired a band. A few days after the May 11 opening of the Top of the Mark, he had to cover the dance floor to make room for the crowds that were lining up for hours just to get inside. A stunning and immediate success, the Top of the Mark continues to draw crowds, locals and visitors alike.
During World War II, servicemen would buy and leave a bottle in the care of the bartender so that the next soldier from their squadron could enjoy a free drink, the only requirement being that whoever had the last sip would buy the next bottle. The soldiers gathered before shipping out for one last toast to the Golden Gate Bridge, believing that the bridge was good luck and would bring them home. As they sailed off under the Golden Gate, wives and sweethearts would draw together in the lounge’s northwest corner, where they would tearfully gaze out the windows. This corner became known as the “Weepers’ Corner.”
Since the day it opened, many celebrities and dignitaries have enjoyed the Top of the Mark’s extraordinary views, including: Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Michael Jackson, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, Jeff Goldblum and Robin Williams, to name a few. Even the famous John Barrymore made his way to the Top, just to show his pet monkey the view (and creating quite a stir).
The Top of the Mark has become a “must-see” destination for visitors from all over the world who come for the breathtaking views of San Francisco and the Bay, the famed 100 Martinis menu, and perhaps even for a rendezvous with nostalgia.
The views were amazing.
I guess I can't say that San Francisco wasn't what I expected since I didn't really know what to expect being that the only other time I have even been to the state of California was DisneyLand in Anaheim for a field trip. I am just happy that we planned to go to Wine Country first and for a longer amount of time than San Fran. There is much more to do in Napa and Sonoma. I could have spent the whole time there and it still wouldn't have been enough. There is so many small towns and shopping that we didn't partake in at all. I definately want to go back. San Francisco... just like any big city, there was shopping....
and art galleries. This would have probably been my favorite part of the city but none of the galleries were open. :(
One of my favorite things was the market. Scott and I love to cook and my favorite things are using fresh ingredients and coming up with my own recipes. I would be in pure heaven if O-town were to have such a place that was even close to this.
We stopped at the market restaurant because oysters were everywhere and they looked sooo good. Here's girl and who loves ice cold oysters and a glass of crisp white wine. The market was just up the road from the Wharf which, including what we were able to see, was probably our favorite part of the city.
The next two photos are Fisherman's Wharf
The Golden Gate Bridge
Alcatraz
Nothin' like some fresh, sweet Dungeness crab and....
...fresh sourdough bread.
Man O' Man. Had to take a shot of this! Do you know what this is???
I'm not going to give it away, I want to see who knows in the comment section. Tell what this means to you.
Here is a hint for me: The Space goes.....
Nice little local bar for a nightcap and tail end of the magic game. The bar kind of stunk but they had just about every beer you could imagine. We indulged in a Smithwick's and then...
...Ghirardelli.
A ride home on the cable car and we headed back for some shuteye for a final full day in the city.
downtown baby
ReplyDeleteDowntown roller coaster
Sweet, sweet baby
Sweet, sweet they let me go
Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pop
Shimmy, shimmy rock
Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pop
Shimmy, shimmy rock
I met a girlfriend a Triscuit
She said, a Triscuit a biscuit
Ice cream, soda pop, vanilla on the top
Oooh sonny rockin' down the street
Ten times a week
I meant it, I said it
I stole ya momma's credit
I'm cool, I'm hot
sock me in the stomach three more times
:)