Thursday, February 6, 2014

Room with a View: View from Potrero Hill

"Room with a View: View from Potrero Hill"
San Francisco, CA
5" x 9" Ink and watercolor sketch

Bob needed some flute repair by an expert and he wanted to take a couple Argentine Tango lessons at Metronome Dance Collective, in San Francisco. After searching for reasonable hotels in SF, of which there was none (I don't consider $300 to $400 a night reasonable, even for 4-star places), I decided to try Airbnb.com that we used in Venice Beach to rent a room or cottage from a private homeowner. We found a lovely spot on Potrero Hill, just a half mile walk from the studio. Take this link to the listing. We enjoyed the locale, the wonderful restaurants, Fran's hot tub, our private deck, and  many walks around the neighborhood. No gym needed here. Just walk those hills. We got their via Caltrain and hoofing it up the hills. We used public transit to get to Pacific Heights for the flute repair.


Intrepid cyclist descends 24% grade.



Oh, yes, it's steep.



Fabulous art in front of a home.


Views in all directions and the city center is a roll down the hill.


Breakfast is a treat at Plow Restaurant.


The Wednesday morning clientele enjoy breakfast at Plow.

There are many good restaurants on 18th Avenue, including Plow, described as Midwest farm boy meets Asian city girl. The owners both began chef careers at a top notch East Bay restaurant. A couple of kids later, they live on the Hill and opened this place where you can wait in line, especially on weekends. We lucked out and got two seats at the counter where we enjoyed watching the chef activity.

We also ate at Goat Hill Pizza, really full Italian, which my late husband and I frequented in the 90s while staying on our boat next to the Giants stadium that did not exist then. Chez Maman was a treat, and small Thinker Café on 20th street offered a lovely local experience for breakfast. We got a kick out of the kids ready for school and the city dogs patiently and quietly awaiting their owners. Coffee at Farley's on Monday evening had us tagged as locals -- maybe it was Bob's debonair hat and sport coat, or could it have been my leather jacket and scarf? The sweet little Christopher's Books is still there. This is city life at its best.


A visit to Christopher's Books is always a treat.



Welcome Home



6 comments:

Autumn Leaves said...

Love the direction your watercolors are taking, Mary. You and Bob do so much fun stuff and I am awed. Love the photos too!

Mary Paquet said...

Sherri, thanks so much. I love doing the ink and watercolor sketches because I do them quickly. they loo fresh and fun.

The owner commissioned an ink and watercolor of her home after seeing this sketch. I'm working on concepts now.

Barbra Joan said...

Mary, oh it all brings back memories. Good ones..
Your series "Room with a View ..
Yes, I think it's a series.
Oh, I am loving it ... hugs Barbra Joan

Pam Huggins said...

I simply love all of these photos! Amazing. Your sketch is a wonderful kick off.
I would love to visit here some day.
I imagine you and Bob become "locals" most places you visit because you are so adaptable and ready to experience life.

hw (hallie) farber said...

I would like to see all this info in a book--your paintings, your photos, and your insights. I love your trips and views.

Mary Paquet said...

Friends, you are so encouraging. Hallie, that is rather a nice thought.