Things do in SF and at the Park

by snafu on Jul 24, 2010 2:12 PM PDT

McCoven! For my birthday I will be flying halfway across the country with my girlfriend to watch the Giants and spend a weekend in the city (Aug 13-15th series against the Pads). Like most of you, I've been a Giants fan my whole life, but I have not had the opportunity to live near the bay area since I was 8 and am quite unfamiliar with the city and the stadium.

I created this fan post hoping to learn what your favorite things to do in San Fran are. I'm aware of all the major tourist attractions and have been to a few of them, so I'm more interested in hearing about are where I might find an awesome local burrito joint, or a really cool place to go for a hike, or some other fun activity that only locals seem to know about. I'm also eager to hear your thoughts on the best places to watch a game from inside AT&T.

Anyways, thank you so much in advance!

Wait last thing...where in the stadium are the garlic fries? They're always mentioned and that is like my number one priority when I get inside the gates.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Garlic Fries are pretty much everywhere, you will have no trouble finding them. The best place to watch the game is from right behind home plate, but thats not an option for most people. I like the left field bleachers, thats where it gets the rowdiest and the fans get the most involved it seems. There are obnoxious drunk people though, but that ccan make it more enjoyable or less enjoyable depending on what kind of people you and your girlfriend are. Have fun.

Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens!
Better than you! Mejor que tú! Beter dan jij! 良い場合も! Mehor than abo!
"The trouble with baseball is that it is not played the year round." - Gaylord Perry

by GrahamCrakalaka on Jul 24, 2010 2:22 PM PDT reply actions

Do you already have tickets?

I think I’m going to have two extra tickets to the Sunday 8/14 game. They’re Premium Lower Box 117, which is 26 rows from the field almost directly behind home plate.

Because of dynamic pricing, face value is $45 each, but I’d sell them to you at my cost of $36 each.

Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!

by Goofus on Jul 24, 2010 2:29 PM PDT reply actions

P.S.

The one downside is you’ll have to sit with Mrs. Goofus and me.

Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!

by Goofus on Jul 24, 2010 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey, if you have any trouble finding takers, ping me as it gets close to the 14th… I may be out of town, but if I’m here, I’d totally go.

Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller

by Johnny Disaster on Jul 24, 2010 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Me too.

"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.

-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler

by Alex_Lewis on Jul 24, 2010 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I would actually like to take you up on that offer. Normally I go craigslist/ebay route for good ticket prices, but those deals are hard to pull off without personal transportation.

Is there any way to do direct messaging on SB Nation? Haven’t found anything during my brief search for it.

by snafu on Jul 25, 2010 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

snafu,

there doesn’t appear to be any automatic direct messaging, unfortunately, unless the person gives their personal e-mail in the profile. I put mine there, but most don’t, so you just have to ask them to mail you after you post yours.

And there is still a thing called snail mail, and you’ve got time.

He is the World's Most Annoying Rooster.

by gallo del cielo on Jul 25, 2010 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Or

One can use magical mod powers

Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!

by Goofus on Jul 26, 2010 5:37 AM PDT up reply actions

I'll use my magical mod powers to deliver my email address to you

Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!

by Goofus on Jul 26, 2010 5:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Here are a couple of similar posts that have a lot of great suggestions:

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2010/5/16/1474132/what-to-do-in-sf
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2010/2/9/1303831/ot-to-you-sf-natives

Somewhere in the minor leagues, Joe Paterson is pitching.

by imovermyhead on Jul 24, 2010 2:30 PM PDT reply actions

I’ve watched games from the left field bleachers, center field bleachers, the arcade, and down the left field line in foul territory. My favorite by far was the arcade. You don’t see the right field corner very well, but otherwise you really feel like you’re right on top of the action, and the view of the bay bridge in the background straight out past the left field foul pole is fantastic. However, the game I went to was also pretty awesome because Aubrey Huff hit a splash hit home run right over our heads, and Juan Uribe knocked one in to the left field bleachers right afterwards. It was good stuff.

My best advice is to just get to the park early and walk around. It’s really a fabulous baseball stadium. The whole place is a work of art.

by TGOH on Jul 24, 2010 2:31 PM PDT reply actions

The Giants website has a nice feature where you can click on the seat location and see the panaramic view (it’s called 3D seating) — I like the 1st base line in the upper deck — but that’s just me.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/seats_3d.jsp

They say there are no bad seats in the Park, and I believe it.

Main level around home plate is the big place where they cook the Garlic Fries I think… I only eat a few cause they end up making my stomach hurt :-(

Enjoy your visit !

by Talkin_Base_Ball on Jul 24, 2010 2:37 PM PDT reply actions

Not entirely true. View Reserve down the left field line can miss a lot of action.

"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.

-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler

by Alex_Lewis on Jul 24, 2010 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree with you, especially if you are so far around that you can’t see the jumbo screen.

Sounds like Goofus might have the best seats (ha).

I sat way up in the Third deck the last time the Dodgers came to town and paid a fortune, thanks to this year’s dynamic pricing model.

by Talkin_Base_Ball on Jul 24, 2010 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, the top LF corner and the Arcade (much like the Family Pavilion) are obstructed, but everything else is golden.

I have Croix de Candlesticks older than you.
goldengatebeerbars.com

by troymccluresf on Jul 24, 2010 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions

View Reserve sucks, I’d rather sit out in the bleachers than sit behind home plate up there. Half the time they are the same price anyway

by JonDowd on Jul 25, 2010 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I’d rather sit in View Reserve than the scum that sits in the bleachers and a lot them ARE scum.

Proud father of 2-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden

by SFGuy on Jul 25, 2010 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Club Level Row A = epic leg room for tall people.

Fuck Armageddon, this is hell.

by Disaster on Jul 24, 2010 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

Premium Lower Box Row 23 – same, lots of leg room

Crazy Crab despised in the 20th century and beloved in the 21st century. Hey it only took over 20 years, so don't give up hope.

by timmeh on Jul 25, 2010 2:44 AM PDT up reply actions

CHACHA BOWLS

"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.

-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler

by Alex_Lewis on Jul 24, 2010 3:08 PM PDT reply actions

Where's the cheapest to place to park?

"The No. 1 thing (fans need to know): we’re going to do our damnedest to bring the Warriors to respectability on the basketball court." - Joe Lacob

by thecity23 on Jul 24, 2010 4:24 PM PDT reply actions

Jelly's at Pier 50. Go early and eat a great breakfast.

"You can always recover from the player you didn't sign. You may never recover from the player you signed at the wrong price." --Billy Beane

"I am not an idiot."--Brian Sabean

by Sabean's_Folly on Jul 24, 2010 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

You can park on Bryant, after 6 pm no parking meter.

Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all

McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.

by baetown415 on Jul 25, 2010 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Great Seats All Around

Honestly, my favorite seats are the LF bleachers, but as was posted before, the crowd can be a little too rowdy for some people. Other than that, I would go with some good third deck seats. You have a great view of the park and the surrounding area. Also, the garlic fries are amazing (1st base line on the main level) and I have heard good things about the ChaCha bowls (behind left field bleachers). Have fun.

"Pablo Sandoval, coming around third like a runaway beer truck." - Kruk

by G Men on Jul 24, 2010 9:42 PM PDT reply actions

View Box on right field side is amazing seats and great value.

"We didn't win our independence from the British to watch Aaron Rowand hit this bad,"-KNBR caller.

by GovernorStephCurry on Jul 24, 2010 9:58 PM PDT reply actions

West PORTAL.

Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)

by tk on Jul 24, 2010 11:07 PM PDT reply actions

Things to do

If you’re still looking for stuff to do in SF, try Muir Woods for hiking. It used to be my favorite for getting away, if only for a few hours. Here’s a map of the hiking trails (pdf format): http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map-muwo-2.pdf

by Aquaria on Jul 25, 2010 9:47 AM PDT reply actions

What are the things you like to do?

It’s SF, so you can do virtually anything. Just trying to get a read on any suggestions for the City.

by Bitter Fan on Jul 25, 2010 10:17 AM PDT reply actions

Lands End / Sutro Baths / Cliff House

The Lands End trail, which runs from the Sutro Baths/Cliff House area and goes down the coast is pretty out of this world. I think even a lot of SF residents forget it’s there or have never gotten around to going.

http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/lands-end.html

by moonman on Jul 25, 2010 12:35 PM PDT reply actions

Avoid certain areas of Lands End or you will find naked people there (and most you don’t want to see naked).

Proud father of 2-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden

by SFGuy on Jul 25, 2010 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

That seems awesome, thanks!

by snafu on Jul 25, 2010 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Just got back from San Fran

We did all the normal stuff, but we really enjoyed biking the golden gate bridge and taking the ferry back from Sausalito. We also enjoyed North Beach and The Stinking Rose.

We did the Ride the Duck tour, which we loved in Seattle, but it did not live up to the hype. Also, we weren’t that impressed with Beach Blanket Babylon.

I’ve heard that Wicked in San Fran is a must-see, but it didn’t work out with our schedule.

Public transportation is a great way to get to the game. I’m sure the locals can speak better to that.

by Fresburg on Jul 25, 2010 5:22 PM PDT reply actions

Not impressed with Beach Blanket Babylon?

Then there’s no hope for you

Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!

by Goofus on Jul 25, 2010 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Fresburg is right, Goofus,

BBB doesn’t live up.

Snafu, my advice is to just walk around. Several buses go around the city and terminate very close to the stadium. Or, just walk there. Even from Cow Hollow. That’s what I do.

He is the World's Most Annoying Rooster.

by gallo del cielo on Jul 25, 2010 11:31 PM PDT reply actions

Ike's Place, Tommy's Joint

I would trade Bumgarner for a sandwich from either place right now. Absolute musts.

by Andy Warpath on Jul 26, 2010 8:21 AM PDT reply actions

Ike

Ike’s place has the best vegetarian (maybe even vegan) sandwiches I know.

Best views in town: Tank Hill and Corona Heights Park.

Ways to experience SF: Hang out in neighborhoods. A day in one of each will give you more flavor than anything else: The Haight, North Beach, Inner Sunset, Fillmore St. Walk 24th street from Noe to the Mission. See if there’s a Sunday Streets going on while you’re here.

"The two worst things in football are: 1) They think that a 30-year old professional athlete has to be locked up in a hotel room, with a curfew, the night before a qame; and 2) They're right."
- Cowboy safety Cliff Harris

by achiappanza on Jul 28, 2010 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions