Happy New Year! (not quite November re-cap)

The university I attended was near a city I hated: San Francisco. Well, the first time I visited this city, which I like to call TownCity, I loved it. Looooooved it. It was new and pretty and gay and odd, and I didn't have to drive through it. The second through umpteenth time I visited TownCity, I kind of more or less hated it. I saw it as less a city than an overgrown town (hence the evident moniker). A town that was filthy and awkward and unplanned and...so freshman year. I'd moved on to DoPA, the smaller, closer, less-obvious equivalent. DoPA became my playground, and many fine nights of small fun were spent there. TC became a place I visited only under heavy coercion and when I was in too good of spirits to hate it so much. What can I say? Against cities, I hold a grudge.

But it's been 5.5 years since my first visit, and having now spent time there with a cool superpower called "early 20s enthusiasm," and a host of friends who play the same game--and again without a car--I fell in love for the first time. I say "the first time," because the first-first time, five years ago, was really just infatuation. But now, it's love. I misjudged TownCity.

Friday night we partied at a place called Fluid in the Mission where the DJ was sub-par, the crowd included hookers, the Grey Goose was definitely Smirnoff, but it was for some reason still TONS of fun. Maybe because entry was free for ladies.

Saturday, we went crazy at Gravity in the Marina (there are clubs in the Marina?!?!--yeah!). This place was GREAT. I don't remember much, but I remember that.

For food: there was a lot of eating out. Friday afternoon, I tried Cafe Museo at the TC-MoMA. The ahi tuna was overcooked, but the bed of Brussels sprouts it rode in on was actually quite delicious. Props to the oatmeal cookies, too--though my dining parter most definitely gave his dessert (otherwise known as "upside-down pineapple polenta") a thumbs sideways-to-down. Friday night, a flurry of friends from freshman year ate out in DoPA, unfortunately at the sub-par "Mexican" chain, Celia's. We cleared out our side of the restaurant with our raucous laughter, and though they served me Van de Kamps shrimp with my order (I think I saw the cardboard box in the dumpster out back...), fun times still flowed in spades.

Saturday, I had plum cinnamon tea and pumpkin bread deliciously speckled with cream cheese (sounds weird, but it was DIVINE) at a small coffee joint called Chestnut Street Coffee (I think) in the Marina. I also snacked on a slightly healthier food option: a concoction of oatmeal, honey, raisins and gooooodness I think they called "granola cake" (I said slightly). Dinner was another positive venture: A16, also on Chestnut Street, is an Italian wine bar featuring the best Italian pizza I've had in a while. Beats FireCity's new hotspot MOZZA by six points, no lie. Though I had intended to try some California wines while traveling up and through TownCity, I instead went for a round Italian red whose name I'll never remember that was pretty good. A bit pricey per glass, but otwise....Our meal started out with Buffalo mozzarella smothered in extra virgin and paired with crostini toasts, then we nibbled on a hummus made of fava beans. Fava beans? Doesn't that make you think of Anthony Hopkins? But no mind, next was the pizza. MMMM. All of it, and we had a threesome. This pizza was sexy. For dessert, we picked another combo of three. Persimmon pudding with spice garnish...chocolate olive oil torte bakes with sea salt...chocolate gelato. I don't like chocolate, but that torte almost made me reconsider. The pudding? Beyond amazing.

After our crazy mash-up of a Saturday night, we needed good eats for Sunday, too. Started with brunch at Squat & Gobble, an odd name for a place so charming. I had the challa bread French toast; came out a little burnt, but it was okay. I don't want to judge, because my friend's omelettes looked sooooo good. One recovery-bruncher in my party tried an omelette with yogurt and sprouts or fennel or something...and it was tasty-tasty. I definitely want to go back here. For dinner we ended up at Steps of Rome in North Beach. Cheap Italian eats, but you get what you pay for. The highlight was the...well, nothing. A16 ruined me for all following Italian experiences in TC. Thanks a lot!

So since the 20th: I've enjoyed another holiday party, I've traveled north to the chilly Bay and back again, I've celebrated the new year and made my resolutions. I've seen old friends, made new ones, called the folks, road-tripped, flown and been barred from airports (did I mention that?). I've decided to finally start thinking about furniture for my room and apartment, and I've found out that FireCity's first Restaurant Week (the week where 4-star restaurants offer 2-star prices!) takes place the last week of this month. And I am SO excited. I haven't updated my movies (STILL), but I will, I will. I will.

Whew, time flies when you leave your day-planner at home.