Author Archives: Liz Gancher

In Defense of the East Bay

San Francisco’s Best Kept Secret

A bit of background for you before you begin: we here at cityseekr are based in San Francisco. Not surprisingly this means a large majority of our staff in the office all live here and, of course, they love it. And don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a pretty cool city too. However, we also have a small but ever-present constituency of residents and natives of right across the water in the East Bay (myself included), and sometimes our spot gets a bad rap and is thoroughly under-appreciated here in the office.

It has become clear to me that many, if not the majority of San Francisco residents look down on their easterly counterpart and often express these superior opinions much to the chagrin of us proud East Bay folk. I mean, sometimes trying to get San Franciscans to cross the Bay Bridge (or BART under it) can be like pulling teeth! So I, being a proud Oakland native and resident, have decided to step up to the plate in defense of the East Bay. Hopefully I will prove that while SF may always be the big boy on the block as far as Northern California is concerned, the East Bay is most definitely nothing to be scoffed at… and in fact if they believe the stereotypes they use as excuses not to go there, they should probably be scared to do so.


Lake Merritt

Okay. So we all know what San Francisco is famous for and why people visit. You got your Golden Gate Bridge, you got your Coit Tower, and you got your Fisherman’s Wharf. But what you also have is this: PEOPLE. Lots and lots of people. Everywhere you go. Wanna cross that bridge? Be prepared to cross it at a snail’s pace due to the hundreds of other tourists with the exact same idea. Wanna go to the Wharf? Be prepared for overwhelmingly giant crowds and overwhelmingly jacked up prices. The city is, essentially, one big tourist trap. Now many of you may be thinking, so what? All those people are there because it’s worth seeing. True, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t many other things worth seeing and doing outside the city as well, off the beaten track – a method that has become very popular these days. Continue reading

Cityseekr Staff: Thanksgiving Traditions

Ah, Turkey Day. One of the few days of the year where it’s socially acceptable, nay, expected even, to squabble with relatives, shirk kitchen responsibilities and stuff your face until you’re sick and the top button of your pants pops off. Or perhaps you’re classier than that. To each his own! We took a poll around the office asking employees the following question:

“How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?”

By making turkey palatable for my Filipino family. This year, I’m wrapping it in bacon. –Joanna O.

Growing up in rural southern Maine, I had the option to go deer hunting all day with my Dad while Mom got dinner ready, but who in their right mind chooses sitting in a cold, wet tree for hours on end over making, smelling, eating and drinking amazing concoctions all day? Not I. This year will be spent in Stockton. No deer, but I suppose I could post up in a cherry tree all the same and enjoy my cranberry sauce substitute: ceviche.  –Adam S.

Food. Football. Food. Beer. Food. Repeat at least two more times. –Joey P viagra en pharmacie.

It’s your standard Thanksgiving experience. My parents prep in the kitchen all day and guilt my brother and me into helping. It works for a while, until we sneak off to play video games or watch TV. More family and friends come over, some drama or gossip is likely to ensue, then we eat and eat and eat. Oh, and there’s usually a viewing of Wizard of Oz at some point, too. –Lauren H.

Tofurky. –Julia G.

Thanksgiving has always centered on watching the Macy’s Day Parade on TV. Well before the parade starts, I make some pumpkin pies and cut up a freshly baked one as part of the traditional Thanksgiving breakfast. Afterward, I will get together all of the cooking supplies, take them into the living room and plop down in front of the TV in pajamas while peeling potatoes or mixing up green bean casserole. –Jules M.

Generally, I eat way too much, have a little too much to drink, pass out before 9 pm, and love every minute of it. –Brian T.

I adore Thanksgiving. A holiday revolving around lounging and indulging in delicious food all day long – what’s not to love? I wake up early on Thanksgiving morning (least as early as I can manage to wake up on a public holiday), enjoy the smells of baking turkey wafting through the house and watch the Thanksgiving parade, Then I help prepare the food with my mom, (grabbing a few deviled eggs in the process) maybe watch a holiday movie, and excitedly sit down to a delicious dinner with my family. –Brianna A.

My legally-blind upstairs neighbor makes an acceptable meal. –Chris M.

Like most people, I believe that Thanksgiving means food and family and then more food. If you’re not hurting because you’ve been laughing too much and eating too much then you’re doing the holiday wrong. –Laura D.

It’s all about the side dishes. –Alba S.

For Thanksgiving I drinks the VIN and eats the meats. –Nic Savage Travel Slayer

Got any super sweet Thanksgiving traditions that you want to share? Or some awesomely bad family horror stories? Let us know in the comments section or on Twitter and Facebook!

Berkeley Beyond CAL

Sick of how when people mention the city of Berkeley everyone only thinks of UC Berkeley? The city has interesting sights and is well-known for its political activism, but it appears that those aspects evolve around UC Berkeley. Maybe you’ve been to the city dozens of time and keep touring UCB despite no longer caring that the university has a reserved parking spot for Nobel Laureates. Or perhaps you’re just not in the mood to visit a college campus and try to walk through crowds of stressed-out undergrads. Well, have no fear – this article will describe what you can do in a day that doesn’t involve setting foot onto campus.

Start the day off right by eating a balanced meal and by being as far away from the campus as you can possibly get without leaving the city. The distant Rick and Ann’s  is an amazing breakfast spot, but usually has a long wait.  Or head in the opposite direction and go to Jimmy Bean’s which offers scrumptious Silver-Dollar Pancakes.

If you decide to go to Jimmy Bean’s you’re roughly near the Berkeley Marina (and by roughly I mean you’ll still have to drive or take the bus) so…why not see the marina?


Photo by D.H. Parks. CC by 2.0

There you can admire a breath-taking view of the Golden Gate Bridge. This spot is well-known for being a great place to fly a kite, so on a sunny day don’t be surprised if you see the sky filled with brightly colored kites. Continue reading

No Lectures, Just Leisure

Our intern Babak attends San Francisco State University, and boy does he have a course to recommend to you. Read on to learn more about what is potentially one of the best departments a school can have: the department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (Amy Poehler and Aziz Ansari not included).

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The Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (RPT) department at San Francisco State University is one of the most laid-back yet unique departments on campus, and the fact that they are still hanging

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on during the budget crisis is an astonishment in itself, but also a testament viripotens 50 sildenafil to the greatness of the department. Courses cover all aspects of recreation, parks, and tourism, ranging from general leisure development to the business side of tourism, as

well as specific, adventurous recreation activities, including rock climbing, white

water rafting, backpacking, and even sailing. In other words, the department features some of the most unique, interesting, and enlightening classes at SFSU, and RPT 420: Leisure and Contemporary Society is no exception.

Photo by Ed Yourton, CC BY 2.0

I stumbled upon this gem of a class under some unfortunate circumstances after being dropped from another term paper help 100% non plagiarized class–one that was much more essential to meet viagra price 100mg my graduation requirements. But boy am I glad I got booted from that class. Simply put, RPT 420: Leisure and Contemporary Society is hands-down the best class I’ve taken at SFSU.

The course explores the importance of leisure and its impact on American culture and society. It’s taught by three different professors, but it’s hard to imagine any of them teaching it better than Robert Flasher, or “Flash” as he goes by. Flash is the reason this class rocks. Flash rocks. He’s laid-back, friendly, funny, enthusiastic about leisure, and often writes silly raps for class (as long as a few students help him with the beat). He teaches this class once a week, once a semester, and that is all the teaching he does. That being said, he clearly has a genuine passion for teaching, and, similar to other professors in the department, his view of teaching doesn’t mean lectures, tests, and essays. By university policy, the class requires a minimum of ten pages of writing, but that is divided into five simple two-page writing assignments. There are no textbooks, no tests, and only about 20 minutes of lecturing per class. The rest of the three-hour class usually consists of videos, activities, and student-led discussions. Continue reading

Howl-iday Hotels & Resorts

‘Tis the season for some good ol’ fashioned family-bonding time. That also means it’s time for some good ol’ fashioned family-related headaches! But it’s my furry, four-legged family members who give me the most to worry about during the upcoming holidays and holiday parties.

While making plans for this year’s Thanksgiving get-together, I thought it would be so much more relaxing if I could bring my “fur-babies” to one of those really fancy dog hotels or resorts where the dog guests can go for nature hikes and have doggy ice cream socials. While researching these businesses, I learned that doggy pedicures, web cam access, and personal dog training sessions have actually become the norm in the world of high-end dog boarding.  Here are a few of the most interesting and unique dog hotels and resorts in the United states, offering services and activities for the most pampered of pooches, and providing a high-end environment where the dogs get their chance to party.

 

D Pet Hotels
Hollywood, California


Photo by D Pet Hotels

Have a dog that likes to sprawl out on your bed? Book a room at D Pet Hotels and let your doggy doze off on her own queen-sized bed in one of D Pet Hotel’s distinguished Uber Double Suites. Their luxurious double suites come complete with a 42” flat screen TV and modern room décor. During the day, dogs can play in one of three dog parks, altogether spanning 6000 square feet, and with each one exclusive to petite, medium or large sized guests. The most stylish way to get to this hound-loving Hollywood, CA hotel is to book a ride through their D-Chauffeur service, where you can choose between a Ferrari 458, Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley, Porsche or Rolls Royce to deliver your darling dog. Keeping up appearances also applies to physique, though! Dogs packing on a few pounds can hit up D Pet Hotel’s Pant gym and run on one of Pant’s just-for-dogs treadmills. Then they can pretty up at the full-service D-spa, where puppy can primp up with a detoxifying and rejuvenating D-Wrap thermal body wrap. Continue reading