Union Street Sweetness

Cupcakes and cream puffs and crepes, oh my! The Union Street Shopping district is lined with cool trendy stores and restaurants, but some of my favorites are the dessert shops. I have a weakness for sweets and I indulge every chance I get.

If you love cupcakes, have I got the place for you! It’s a cute little shop called That Takes The Cake. The service is always friendly and the cupcakes are always moist and delicious.

Some my favorites:

Gentlemen Prefer Reds - Red velvet cake topped with cream cheese frosting.

Chocolamento - Chocolate buttermilk cake with chocolate chips topped with mint buttercream and a piece of chocolate mint.

Key Lime-o-licious - Green lime cake topped with cream cheese frosting with graham cracker and green sanding sugar.

Bunny Bites – Moist carrot cake with pecans and pineapples topped with cream cheese frosting and orange jimmies.

Every time I’ve stopped by, someone is there buying the yummy treats by the dozen for a party or celebration. A good friend of mine had cupcakes from That Takes The Cake at her wedding. They were a huge hit!

If cream puffs are more your taste, you need to check out Pacific Puffs, just down the block from the cupcake store. My mouth waters just thinking of their classic puff, filled with a light and sweet mixture of vanilla custard and whipped cream, topped with a thick chocolate gaze.

Another Union Street sweet spot is Crepes A Go Go. Their Nutella strawberry and whipped cream crepes are to die for! I could eat those everyday. The restaurant is pretty small, but they also have a few tables outside, perfect for people watching.

That Takes The Cake, Pacific Puffs and Crepes A Go Go are just a few of my favorite places. But whether you prefer frozen yogurt, chocolate or donuts to help satisfy your sweet tooth, you’re bound to find it on Union Street.

Christmas At Crissy Field

How often do you get to see a horse with antlers? I saw one on Christmas Day at Crissy Field. It was so cute. The horse was part of the United States Park Police. The officers from the Horse Mounted Unit patrol the Golden Gate National Recreation Area year-round, but it’s not often you see the horses looking so festive!

Holiday Season In The City

The Holiday Season in San Francisco can be a magical time. Union Square is the center of all the action, with the Christmas tree, the giant Menorah and the bright lights of Macy’s amazing window displays. Even in the middle of the shopping frenzy, everyone seems to be a little friendlier.

This year they have an ice rink at Union Square. It’s a great place to people watch, listen to the carolers and soak in the holiday cheer.

There’s another ice rink at Justin Herman Plaza, across from the Ferry Building. And you can’t forget the Embarcadero Building lights, which add a holiday glow to the already stunning San Francisco skyline.

Ocean Beach Bird

I saw this bird the other day at Ocean Beach sitting on the seawall. I took out my camera in hopes of getting a good shot. I figured it would fly away as I got closer, but it didn’t. It just stood there as if saying “go ahead, take my picture!” The bird even did a slow turn so I could get it from all angles and with just the right lighting. It was very cute. This is why I always like to carry my camera. You never know what you might see in San Francisco!

Mile Rock Beach

Lands End in San Francisco is my favorite place in the city to go for a walk or a short run. The Coastal Trail is about a mile and a half long, shaded by cypresses, with scenic 30-mile views of the coast. I’ve been going there for years, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago when I went off the main trail that I discovered a hidden gem, Mile Rock Beach.

I had walked passed the steps leading down to the beach countless times and had never bothered to check it out. The other day I was feeling very energetic during my morning walk and decided to go down the 237 steps to the rocky enclave.

It was breathtakingly beautiful and mysterious. There was a mist that seemed to rise from the wet soil on the hillside surrounding the beach. I could smell the ocean breeze and feel the power of the waves crashing on the jagged rocks.

From the beach, the path continues up to the Mile Rock lookout. At the top of the cliff there is small labyrinth you can walk or you can just sit and gaze at the amazing views of the Marin County coastline and the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you want to see it for yourself, I recommend you enter the Lands End Coastal Trail through the Merrie Way parking lot off El Camino Del Mar, just up the hill from the Cliff House and the Sutro Baths.

Hiking Above The Clouds

My friend Miriam is training to climb Cerro Aconcagua in the Central Andes in Argentina. It’s one of the Seven Summits and the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. As part of her training, she goes on long and grueling hikes around Bay Area peaks and this weekend she invited me and my friend Laurie to come along.

Early Saturday morning we drove up to Stinson Beach, where the Mount Tamalpais hiking loop begins. The fog was thick when we started at the base of the Dipsea Trail. The cool and damp air was perfect for our ascent up the hillside.

Most of the 7.3 mile trail was shaded by Douglas firs and California bays. Along the way we saw waterfalls, a variety of ferns and countless other plants. The sound of the water flowing down the creeks was soothing. Everything was so green and full of life. I felt a burst of energy every time I took a breath. There was something almost spiritual about it.

The path eventually crossed over to the Steep Ravine Trail and then to the Matt Davis Trail. The last trail took us up through a sunny grassy hillside with spectacular views! You could see all the way to San Francisco’s Twin Peaks. The fog at the base of the hillside had not burned off yet and looked like a giant puffy white blanket covering the coast side. It was like hiking above the clouds. Our descent took us through some tight switchbacks and more gorgeous forestry.

We finished our amazing journey in 3 hours and then enjoyed a nice lunch in Stinson Beach. This hiking loop is now one of my favorites in the Bay Area and I’ll definitely be back soon!

Coit Tower

After 13 years of living in the Bay Area I finally made my way up to Coit Tower today. I’ve driven up to the parking lot atop Telegraph Hill, but I had never gone inside the tower. Taking advantage of the great sunny weather, I made the trek up to the iconic landmark. This time I went walking. I didn’t want the hassle of trying to find a parking space.

Filbert Street in North Beach takes you right up to Coit Tower. If you’re in decent shape, the steep hill shouldn’t be too bad. The walk is short and they have steps to make it a little easier. About halfway up the hill I saw a young guy out of breath, sweating bullets, sitting on the sidewalk. Maybe he should have taken a taxi.

Once I got to the base of the tower, the views were amazing! I then went inside the small circular building. The first floor walls are covered with beautiful murals depicting life in San Francisco from the perspective of different communities in the city.

There is a little gift shop where I bought my $5.00 ticket for the elevator ride to the top of the tower. About 13 of us packed into the old and noisy elevator. When I got off the elevator, I still had to walk two short flights of stairs before I reached the top.




The views from the top were breathtaking! I had a 360 degree view of the city. As I walked around I could see from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge and to the Transamerica building.

Coit Tower was built in 1933. Lillie Hitchcock Coit donated the money for the tower. It was her way of honoring San Francisco firefighters.