Jet San Francisco

Thank You Jet San Francisco Readers

Jet San Francisco — 2010-09-10T10:00:08-07:00

Dear Loyal CityBlogs Readers:

Thank you for your interest and for participating on our CityBlogs during the past nine months. Your support has been overwhelmingly positive and we've thoroughly enjoyed providing you with fun updates about many of your favorite JetBlue destinations. Unfortunately, we regret to announce that our CityBlogs are coming to an end. The blogs will stay online until September 15, so you will have a few more days to revisit your favorite posts and comments.

Throughout the duration of the CityBlogs experiment, we've learned a lot. It helped us realize that our customers and crewmembers living in JetBlue communities are often the best resource for the real insider's guide to each destination. As we transition to the launch of our JetBlue Community, we encourage you to continue to discuss and share your knowledge of each city's unique offerings.

Visit jetblue.com/community to join in and get the discussion started about your town.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

The JetBlue CityBlogs Team

San Francisco Parkour: Go Ahead and Jump

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-31T10:00:00-07:00

If you've got a secret superhero fantasy of leaping tall buildings in a single bound or scaling the city like Spiderman, sign up for a beginner's class from SF Parkour (get directions) or Bay Area Parkour. Originating in France, parkour involves freeform running and jumping through an obstacle course of stairways, ledges, benches and railings using nothing but your own muscle power.

Cat Walk

Elegant, energetic and only for the super fit, the urban sport looks like this. Don't try it yourself (obviously) — let the instructors prep you and walk you through some of the safest, simplest steps at one of their monthly lessons. At Bay Area Parkour, teachers keep the atmosphere of the classes quiet, intense, and focused so you'll feel more like a Zen master than a ninja. The group doesn't allow cameras — or show-offs — so you practice within your own comfort zone, learning basic moves like low jumps and vaults.

And if you're not feeling like Superman (or woman) just show up and watch this elegant urban ballet.

Let Your Eyes Go Bezerkley at The Berkeley Art Museum

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-31T09:00:00-07:00

Photo by Ariane Bicho.

Culture vultures who've exhausted the halls of SFMOMA and the de Young can head across the Bay to the Berkeley Art Museum (get directions) for even more art appreciation. Housed in a sleek, angular 1970s-era building on the south side of the UC Berkeley campus, BAM offers a heady peek at art through the ages with everything from Ming dynasty Chinese painting to twentieth-century photography.

Visitors wind their way up through five floors of galleries connected by ramps that circle round a central airy hall. At the top, if art vertigo sets in, museum-goers can revive themselves at Cafe Muse, known for its tasty raw menu.

Art House Films

The museum also houses The Pacific Film Archive, one of the best celluloid collections in the U.S. with over 14,000 films. Curators roll out rare gems daily so film geeks crazy about Kurosawa or Italian neorealism can indulge in a modernist movie palace.

Better L@TE Than Never

BAM stays open till 9:00pm every Friday for their L@TE night art party. Revelers climb aboard Thom Falder's BAMscape — a massive orange wooden sculpture in the main hall — whose wave-shaped curves offer the perfect spot to lay back, lounge and groove to live performances by musicians, filmmakers and artists.

Restaurant Review: Lolo

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-31T08:00:00-07:00

Lolo

3234 22nd St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 643-5656
www.lolosf.com

Get directions

Color — both in dishes and decor — reigns supreme at Lolo, a mini eatery in the Mission. The unlikely combination of Turkish and Mexican flavors mingle on the menu, reflecting the bold tastes of owners Merdol Erkal and Jorge Martinez and giving the restaurant its unique flair.

Lolo's ingredients hail from local farms, but the flavors trot the globe. Look for cool mint and feta in one dish and hot guacamole and peppers in the next. One culture-bending dish even goes by the saucy name "Sultan Loves Lolita" — a beef kofte (or kebab) served over eggplant puree and slow-cooked in a Mexican morita sauce.

The tiny 35-seat space spins with psychedelic hues that would clash in any other setting; here, all those orange, yellow, pink and turquoise mismatched plaids and florals just spell joy. Sidle up to the bar and sip a sparkling sangria while you gaze at the fringed lampshades overhead or the massive mirrors on the wall, then order up some small plates and bask in the Med-Mex vibe.

Ambiance

LoloLand

The funky decor at Lolo comes courtesy of the restaurant's namesake, owner and designer Lorena "Lolo" Zertuche who sprinkles the space with colorful recycled materials, sewing up seat covers from vibrant Mexican oilcloth or covering the walls with a tapestry of silver spoons or sunburst-shaped mirrors. Zertuche also creates and sells her own line of fun and far-out furniture through her studio Lolo Muebles.

Small Plate

Huitlacoche and Ricotta Stuffed Dumplings

Huitlacoche (weet-la-CO-chay) — a black fungus that grows on corn — sounds bizarre, looks weird and often gets dressed up with the name "corn truffle." At Lolo, this less-than-handsome ingredient becomes downright sultry when it's turned into the filling for plump dumplings. Mixed with ricotta, wrapped in dough and deep-fried, the huitlacoche reveals itself with an earthy, musky richness in each bite.

Small Plate

Muecver

Sink your teeth into these deep-fried Turkish fritters to discover thin strands of zucchini mixed with feta, mint and the occasional pine nut. Slather each little pancake with chilly goat's milk yogurt dashed with dill and paprika, and feel your mouth run hot and cold.

Small Plate

Tuna Tacon

These two fancy-schmancy fish tacos feature a slice of seared tuna — crisp on the outside pink on the inside — rolled up in a flour tortilla with avocado, crunchy cabbage, cilantro and topped with a tomatillo salsa.

Small Plate

Octopus Tiradito

If you order one thing at Lolo, make it the tiradito: thin-as-air slices of octopus — so white and transparent they almost vanish in the rich red chile-spiked olive oil. Peel the tiradito gently from the plate like an unctuous strip of carpaccio, pop it in your mouth and enjoy the crackly dusting of sweet and smoky Turkish pepper flakes.

Entree

Carnitas

The succulent carnitas arrive still bundled in the cornhusks in which it was roasted. Wrap the pork in the warm organic blue corn tortillas, douse the results with roasted tomatillo sauce, guacamole and pickled onions, and dig into this packet of delicioso.

Yes We Can: Learn How to Preserve With Local Masters

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-30T09:00:00-07:00

If a tight food budget or newfound passion for growing backyard fruits and veggies has recently led you to canning, sign up for a cooking class with some of the Bay Area's best jam-makers. You'll sharpen your skills and get an inside look at the region's superb produce.

June Taylor

British expat June Taylor cooks up specialty preserves in her Berkeley kitchens with local organic fruits, many of them unusual, heirloom varieties you don't see in the market. Talk about exquisite — Taylor turns out small batches of 8 to 10 jars, cutting Meyer lemon peels, strawberries or apricots to look like jewels, sprinkling in herbs and finishing the product off with a letterpress label. If you want to learn how to make little jam masterpieces, sign up for a class. Or if you're short on time, pick up one of her confections at Boulette's Larder or Cowgirl Creamery at the San Francisco Ferry Building.

Blue Chair Fruit

Rachel Saunders looks a bit like the French movie character Amelie. After studying in France and falling in love with the produce at open-air markets, Saunders came back to Oakland and launched Blue Chair Fruit. She simmers her artisanal concoctions in big French copper kettles and dreams up combinations like Seville Orange Marmalade With Vanilla & Muscovado or Black Plum Jam with Candied Citrus & Bay. Her four-hour intro class, Jam Making 101, is a chance to learn the art of preserving fresh fruits from a pro. Or try a Flavor Construction class and learn how to add spices and secondary fruits. If you just want to sample Blue Chair, pick it up at local farmers' markets and gourmet food shops.

Happy Girl Kitchen

Todd and Jordan Champagne learned the beauty of canning during a stint on a farm in Norway where short summers and long winters make bottling-up produce a must. They founded Happy Girl Kitchen and now turn out preserved beets, carrots, pickles and tomatoes as well as jams. Take a workshop and master the art of putting up some of your own sauerkrauts or apples. If you'd like to take home some San Francisco summer in a jar, Happy Girl sells its pickled produce at farmers markets and food shops.

Dreamgirls: Motown Memories at the Curran Theatre

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-30T08:00:00-07:00

Photo by Joan Marcus.

Fans of the Motown sound can relive R&B history this month when a fresh stage production of Dreamgirls hits San Francisco's Curran Theater (get directions). The play traces a thinly veiled version of girl group The Supremes through the tumultuous music scene of the '60s and '70s — so brush up on your Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Berry Gordy before you go.

R&B Rhythm Redux

The Dreamgirls tale definitely has legs. First a 1981 Tony Award-winning play then a 2006 Academy Award winning film starring Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce, the girls' saga just keeps on giving. This third and latest incarnation comes via Harlem's Apollo Theater, and though it might not have the star power of Ms. Knowles or Ms. Hudson attached, the show still gives fans rousing renditions of signature power ballads like "Listen" and "You're Gonna Love Me." American Idol fans can catch contestant Syesha Mercado playing the Deena Jones/Diana Ross character.

To get a taste, take a sneak peek at some of the fab costumes, musical numbers and behind-the-scenes interviews.

I Want Candy at The Candy Store

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-27T09:00:00-07:00

Photo courtesy of The Candy Store.

To feel like that proverbial kid in the candy store, head to San Francisco's most eclectic sweet shop suitably named (of course): The Candy Store (get directions). This bonbon bazaar in Russian Hill will set your sugar pulse racing the minute you set eyes on all those glass canisters full of gummies, gumballs, and more.

Husband-and-wife team Brian and Diane Campbell scour catalogs, trade fairs and local and international markets for unusual or hard-to-find treats, so if you can't find a much-loved candy bar from your past or just need a unique gift, The Candy Store will most likely stock it.

Candy Darling

The Candy Store specializes in nostalgia-inducing delights like Necco wafers, Zotz, Abba-Zabas, Beemans and Black Jack gum as well as regional specialties like Turkish Taffy, a WWII-era nougat bar from New York or the Idaho Spud, a potato-shaped bundle of marshmallow coated in chocolate and sprinkled with coconut that Idahoans can't get enough of.

Licorice lovers will swoon over the jars of salty licorice from the Netherlands, especially the chalk sticks — bits of licorice enveloped in a minty-white coating that resemble blackboard chalk. Anglophiles can take their pick from a big selection of Cadbury's while Francophiles will find plenty of Nougat de Montelimar, dragees (candy-coated almonds) and cailloux du gave (chocolates coated to look like gorgeous river stones).

In the chocolate section, rather than carry every cocoa creation out there, the Campbells focus on unusual items like the old-world Spanish Majani bar created in 1796 or treats from small, Bay Area chocolatiers like Poco Dolce, Michael Mischer Chocolates and Ginger Elizabeth.

Looking for a gift? Tell the staff what your giftee likes — for example, a four-year-old obsessed with pink — et voila, they head straight for the pink made-in-France marshmallow wand. A six-year-old crafty boy? They point you right to the colorful LEGO-shaped candies that actually stack! And of course, they're whizzes at shopping for older kids too, finding wedding and party favors or putting together custom-made packages.

Don't leave without trying the bestseller — a handmade marshmallow coated in salted chocolate made by organic candy company BonBonBar. Take a bite and let the sweetness begin.

Rise Above It All at West Point Inn

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-27T08:00:00-07:00

Photo by Jeanne Storck.

Outdoor lovers looking for a hike with killer views of the Bay Area should try a trek to the West Point Inn (get directions) on the southern slopes of Mount Tamalpais. This rustic little hotel in Marin County just north of the Golden Gate Bridge serves as a welcome rest stop for hikers and bikers ascending Mount Tam's 2500-foot peak.

Nestled in among the pines and redwoods, this 1904 lodge started out as a stopover station on the railroad that once chugged up the mountain heights. The building fell into disrepair in the 1940s, but a group of Marin-ites stepped in and turned this little bit of local history into a nonprofit staffed by volunteers.

Today you can picnic on the grounds and relax in the old front parlor complete with fireplace. For a quick one-day getaway, book an overnight stay in one of their cabins. You'll have to rough it since the inn has no electricity or hot water, but on the bright side you can whip up a meal in the communal propane-powered kitchen and with glass of vino in hand watch the sun set on the Bay. Your wraparound view will include the East Bay hills, parts of San Francisco, the Marin Headlands, the tip of the Golden Gate Bridge, and last but not least the Pacific Ocean.

Breakfast Club

To sweeten the deal, once a month April through October, the Inn's volunteers cook up a pancake breakfast. So put on your hiking shoes and aim for that hearty dose of carbs and maple syrup at trail's end. A number of paths lead to the Inn, but whether you go for the easy-breezy climb or the long haul, unforgettable vistas await.

Victorian Pleasures at The Inn San Francisco

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-26T08:00:00-07:00

Photo provided by Inn San Francisco.

If you're looking for a B&B experience, the Inn San Francisco (get directions) offers plenty of personal charm in the Mission, one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods. Housed in an 1872 Victorian mansion, Inn San Francisco goes big on the period details — ornate woodwork, crown molding, oriental carpets, marble fireplaces, and stained glass windows.

Inn Vogue

Rooms run the gamut from cozy to spacious and serve up plenty of romantic details — clawfoot tubs, bay windows, marble sinks, featherbeds and Victorian wallpapers. Fresh cut flowers liven up every room. For even more privacy and space, reserve the Cottage Apartment out back in the garden, which sleeps up to six and has its own kitchen.

Self-serve breakfast runs from 7 to 11 am so you can sleep in and enjoy your meal in the downstairs parlor, the garden or up on the rooftop sundeck with 360-degree views of the city. And unlike other B&Bs, if you're not feeling social you can even have your breakfast in bed.

When you're ready to hit the streets, you can dine at Foreign Cinema, explore the heart of the Latina Mission along 24th Street or browse Valencia Street's hip shops and cafes. Want to head downtown? BART drops you at Union Square in just minutes.

Community Thrift Saves the Day

Jeanne Storck — 2010-08-26T07:00:00-07:00

Photo by Jeanne Storck.

Community Thrift (get directions) buzzes with Mission hipsters looking for deals on everything from threads to furniture to retro tchotchkes. This second-hand emporium is a go-to treasure trove for SF denizens looking to furnish their apartments with one-of-a-kind fashion statements.

Stop in and walk away with stuff you never knew you needed: Sigerson Morrison heels, toys in their original packaging, remaindered castoffs from Williams Sonoma, a rare David Bowie album, a pair of '70s aviator sunglasses.

For the patient and determined shopper, the store's huge clothing selection is full of fab finds. Make sure to check the voluminous, neatly-categorized book section with price tags that rarely exceed two or three dollars, and don't miss the racks devoted entirely to leather jackets and to top designers.

Really want to save? Try the $1 rack. Or if you're in town on the first Monday of the month, stop by for the 50 percent off sale.

Sweet Charity

With that vintage Pyrex dish (somewhat dinged but still a find) or that purr-worthy, gently worn mohair sweater in hand, head to the register. When the clerk rings you up, a portion of the proceeds goes to a local charity. So shop away and save the world and your wallet at the same time. When you finish thrifting, check out the famous murals in Clarion Alley just next door.

Jet San Francisco

Thank You Jet San Francisco Readers

San Francisco Parkour: Go Ahead and Jump

Cat Walk

Let Your Eyes Go Bezerkley at The Berkeley Art Museum

Art House Films

Better L@TE Than Never

Restaurant Review: Lolo

Lolo

On the Menu

Ambiance

LoloLand

Small Plate

Huitlacoche and Ricotta Stuffed Dumplings

Small Plate

Muecver

Small Plate

Tuna Tacon

Small Plate

Octopus Tiradito

Entree

Carnitas

Yes We Can: Learn How to Preserve With Local Masters

June Taylor

Blue Chair Fruit

Happy Girl Kitchen

Dreamgirls: Motown Memories at the Curran Theatre

R&B Rhythm Redux

I Want Candy at The Candy Store

Candy Darling

Rise Above It All at West Point Inn

Breakfast Club

Victorian Pleasures at The Inn San Francisco

Inn Vogue

Community Thrift Saves the Day

Sweet Charity