Friday we arose to cool temps but by the time we packed up and hit the road in less than 2 hours later, it was in the 90s again. Apparently we hadn't hit every winery that mom and dad had planned to visit so about 3 minutes after we left El Bonita, our honeymoon hotel, we stopped again at the Sattui Vineyards ......to shop at the cute little deli/wine store and to take adorable pictures of me walking amongst the wisteria and fountains....and if I say so myself, I'm pretty photogenic!
Just when I thought it was safe to lie down and get comfy we stopped again!! It was just across the street at the Dean and Deluca store which turned out to be good for me....Dad loaded up on some choice desserts, including a Chocolate Babka that weighs about 5 pounds, some Spanish chorizo, some Fleur de Sel Caramels, Black Truffle BBQ sauce , and some Argentinian Dulce de leche. Mom was the smart one who won my heart when she bought prepared foods like salmon and edemame with a sesame peanut sauce. That salmon sure hit the spot later in the car when mom shared it with me. We had an hour on the road until we hit San Francisco. Sf Is dad's favorite place besides NYC and he was driving and very excited to be going to his second hometown. As soon as we could make out the skyline of SF mom started taking pictures and as we crossed the Bay Bridge she got some amazing photos....watch out Annie Liebowitz!
We zoomed into town and zoned in to 1090 Eddy Street and Gough where a scene from Vertigo was filmed in the 60s and also the residence of our good friend and Uncle, Mitch Bendel. Mitch was trimming the hedges as we drove up and that's when I met him for the very first time. We parked our car in his garage and took his to Cafe Flore where we sat outside in the sun and had a lunch and I was used as bait to draw in all the millionaires that might walk by and be my step-daddy.
After lunch, Mitch drove us around the city for a bit as is his tradition, then we headed out over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the headlands so we could take pictures of me and all of us together. It was a glorious day and we all took in the incredible view of the bridge and the very clearly defined skyline of SF.
It was finally time for mom and dad to check into their hotel , The Intercontinental, Mark Hopkins, the home of the famous bar, the Top of the Mark. Our friend David Moy, graciously secured a couple of nights at the SF landmark so we could enjoy luxurious accommodations, well that is two of us. NO DOGS ALLOWED...can you believe that? The joint is very well appointed and we got a upgrade to a corner room overlooking the entire city with ocean and bridge views. I unfortunately had to stay at Uncle Mitch's which ain't so bad either. His apartment is perched in the Western Addition on Jefferson Park overlooking City Hall and most of the city, plus he has very good taste and the place rocks with exceptional decoration and lots of green plants. Plus Mitch seemed to dote on me more than mom and dad, so all that attention I got was very much appreciated.
The grown ups were going out for cocktails and dinner Friday nite as is their usual ritual on the first their night, you know, to kind of warn the town that their back and to get out of the way. They were joined by dad and Mitch's friend Wes, a Texan from San Antonio. He has a slight drawl , is very tall and liked me too, I think..we later fell asleep on the couch together. Well after much deliberation and cruising the Streets of San Francisco, hmmmmm, great name for a TV show.....the frolicking foursome went to a favorite, 2223 Market and had a round of cocktails and later some apps and later still some more cocktails and then they all came to see me cause I needed to get out and do my thing, that's when Wes and I fell asleep on the couch.....we woke up and they left me again, this time they went back for more drinking at Martuni's where Mitch is known to sing "Strangers in the Night " and other ditties from yesteryear. Our friends Rob and Goran, who live in the East Bay joined us for another drink and the evening continued to spin...Mom got tired, after all she drove over 600 miles, so they dropped her off at the hotel and the boys went to pick up another funster, Arnold Greenfield, an old friend of dad's and Mitch's. They try to keep up with him, he's only going on 89 years old, so it"s a big order. Arnold has probably seen every Broadway play and musical in NYC since the 60's or maybe even the 50's......Arnold I'm sure you'll let us know. WELL.....the car went down the steep street of Gough back to Martuni's where more cocktails were downed....how DO they do it? After closing down the bar the four horsemen of SF, Mitch, Arnold, Wes, and Dad scurried off to The Grub Steak another diner that featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" Mitch and Arnold have been going there almost every weekend since Mitch was in diapers!!!! They had their laughs,(that's when the crazies come in SF) and FINALLY came home to walk me, it was late, isn't 2:30am LATE?
It was great to back in the city that Tony Bennett helped to promote with his song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco.
Love you all out there, more tomorrow,
Love,
Barclay, J&J
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