Ok, so the New Yorkers have told me what to do in the big apple – latest plan is to spend a couple of days in San Francisco on the way east (Auckland New Zealand/San Francisco/New York).
So if you had a couple of days, what would you do? Retail, exhibition, working shops … anything to do with wood.
Malcolm
Replies
Dinner at the upstairs cafe at Chez Panisse in Berkeley.
The view from the top of Twin Peaks.
The newly renovated DeYoung museum in Golden Gate Park.
Stroll through the neighborhood of Pacific Heights.
The Ferry Building in the Embarcadero.
A meal at the Fog City Diner.
enjoy!
[Avoid schadenfreude]
As for woodworking stops, You might want to check out the MOMA.
If you have the time, The Japan Woodworker in Alameda California and Hida tools in Berkeley California are a lot of fun. Also take a look at the Berkeley Mills website. They are a high end furniture and kitchen cabinet maker in Berkeley and their shop and showroom are in the same spot. If you would like to be shown around send me an e-mail and I would be glad to give you a tour if the work scheduel permits. As far as food goes there are more great places to eat at in San Francisco and in Berekely than any place on the planet.
Troy
Thanks Troy
If it's OK with you, I'll make contact again nearer the time - your suggestion sounds great!
Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz
So, let me get this straight...you are coming from NZ and stopping in San Francisco, and then onward to New York. Do you realize you are going to pass over one of the greatest cities in the World? By this of course, I mean Chicago. Build in a few days in Chicago, and you will not regret it. The Chicago Art Institute's collection of antique tools and Frank Lloyd Wright historical stops alone are worth the trip, not to mention the millions of other attractions. Visit Chicago once and you will always want to come back, I guarantee you that. One small caveat...if you visit the city in January, you will likely find it very, very cold.
Whoa, hang on Joe - that's a big can of worms you're uncovering!
There's a hundred places I'd like to visit in the US, some of which I shot through quickly on a study tour a few years ago. No more bids, please.
SF qualifies because our round the world ticket will allow us to stop either there or LA, and it's too good a chance to miss. We've both been to LA, several times.
Time is limited, affordability is an issue.
Nice thought tho
Malcolm
Edit - we'll probably be back when the boy graduates from Ohio State - maybe we'll find a Winnebago and do some touring.
Edited 8/9/2006 12:57 am ET by Malcolm2
Definitely Don't miss SF. One of the greatest cities in the world and a true USA original. No other city anywhere is like it.
I'm just giving you a hard time Malcolm. Although all that I say is true. You can't go everywhere. I could certainly love a trip to NZ, and to Australia for that matter. Someday.
Yeah, don't bother with LA, it's a dump. SF is much better. If you're in southern California again, go to San Diego instead.I second the suggestion on the Redwood forests, or the Sequoia forests in CA.
Been to San Diego. Liked it. That's where New Zealand won the Americas Cup. Taxi driver didn't let us forget it!
Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz
Yes, San Diego has lots of nice places to visit: Balboa Park, Catalina Island, the beaches, the Gaslamp District, etc. I'd probably move to SD if houses weren't so expensive there.
I live about 50 miles south of SF and have lived in the Bay Area since the late 60's. Every place that's been mentioned is good but I would like to throw in something that most people don't know about SF........ IT'S COLD!! - even in the summer. Mark Twain once said that the coldest winter he ever saw was a sumer in San Francisco - lol.
When I was stationed at Mare Island (east of SF), we used to get quite a laugh watching the tourists shiver as evening fell and the fog rolled in the Golden Gate. Several years ago, my buddy and I took our horses to Golden Gate park for an afternoon. When we left, I had to turn on the heater. As we came back down the peninsula, the heater got turned off, then the windows went down, and when we got close to San Jose, I needed the AC.
When you get here, dress warmly if you're in the city but be ready to shed some clothes if you go somewhere else. It's not unusual to see a 15* - 20* temperature difference (or more) between SF and the surrounding areas.
Malcolm,
there is a small and little known museum in SF's Chinatown that features a few old tools and some pretty amazing old furniture. The just got a box of 19th century woodworking tools and would love to talk them over with woodworkers. Let me know if you are interested and I'll get you in touch with the appropriative people.
For a brief description of the "Permanent Collection at the Museum of the Chinese Historical Society of America" go to:
http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/onTheRoad/chineseAmerica/index.asp
Chris
Thanks
Certainly interested! Suggest emailing me from the web site below
Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz
Napa Valley and the wine country tours.
You might visit a redwood forest. Redwoods are huge trees. A big one can be more than 300 feet tall. (That's something like 100,000 board feet!) The forests are like cathedrals, but way bigger. The big forests are further north, but there is a small one not far outside the city: Muir Woods. And, for extra tourist points, you cross the Golden Gate Bridge to get there.
Muir Woods without a doubt. Walking amongst those trees will change your perspective on wood forever. Unforgettable.
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