Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Fish and Chips, Flowers and Fun in San Francisco!

This past weekend my mom and I spent a lovely Saturday in San Francisco celebrating Mother's Day. Other than a lot of Toms shoes, there was lots of beautiful scenery to be seen and amazing food to be had.

First we stopped off to look at some flowers and patio furniture at Flora Grubb Gardens, a gorgeous nursery/pottery/outdoor furniture oasis in the middle of the ghetto. Like people selling dodgy pies on the corner ghetto. Combination laundromat and car wash ghetto. Anyway, I digress. Flora Grubb seems to be the place to stock up, none other than Martha Stewart made an appearance last month (apparently her people called ahead of time to warn she'd be there) and everybody's favorite scoundrel President-Bill Clinton was there earlier in the week! Sadly mom and I missed them both, but at least mom can take comfort in knowing her taste in patio furniture is in good company. 

This was the most interesting part of the nursery to me:
flowers cars San Francisco 50's 1950's planter

This awesome old car (possibly a Ford Edsel?) converted into a massive planter box! 
Now of course I'd rather see it up and running, but I guess not being in a dumpster is a plus.

flowers cars San Francisco 50's 1950's planter
                 ^That's me and my always stylish Mom!^

San Francisco architecture sign
After Flora Grubb, we did some shopping at The Gift Center (a bunch of little indoor shops selling jewelry), nothing vintage-y to see there aside from this leftover sign painted on the side of an unrelated building (no idea what it used to be!) down the same street (Brennan).





Our next stop was The Cliff House for an early bird dinner! A couple of nifty sights along the way:
San Francisco architecture San Francisco Alexandria cinema movies pictures films architecture

Now abandoned cinema but the building still stands and some New York looking apartments

San Francisco 50's 1950's Mel's Drive In
Mel's Drive-In! (Holy fog Batman)

San Francisco 50's 1950's Mel's Drive In

The parking lot for The Cliff House is directly across from the once happening Sutro Baths:
San Francisco 1800's 1900's 1920's 1930's 1940's 1950's Sutro Baths swimming

San Francisco 1800's 1900's 1920's 1930's 1940's 1950's Sutro Baths swimming

Sadly today as you peer over the side of the cliff this is all you'll see:
San Francisco 1800's 1900's 1920's 1930's 1940's 1950's Sutro Baths swimming

San Francisco 1800's 1900's 1920's 1930's 1940's 1950's Sutro Baths swimming
San Francisco 1800's 1900's 1920's 1930's 1940's 1950's Sutro Baths swimming

 Aaaand after a little windy walk uphill and a quick photo-op stop...
San Francisco beach water ocean rocks tide

We'd arrived!
San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach art deco

How could you not love this building from the get-go!? The surrounding scenery, the architecture, the history, even those palms! Just divine.

Inside did not disappoint either, it splits into two restaurants, one more traditional and the other some fru-fru place charging God-knows-what for about two tablespoons of food. Luckily we ate in the older restaurant, the "Cliff House Dining Room":
San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach art deco

There were gorgeous details everywhere-
San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach bar woodwork
From beautiful woodwork above the bar, to fab tile patterns on the floor!
San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach art deco

San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach art deco Even the bathroom doors were cute!

San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach art decoThis incredible "ceramic muse"was once a feature in the Sutro Baths, created early 1890's.












Our table had some fantastic views as well:
San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach

San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach birds sea gulls

San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach Judy Garland Bob HopeSan Francisco Cliff House ocean beach Frankie Avalon Annette Funicello The walls inside were lined with pictures of their celebrity patrons! I sat next to Judy and Bob!







After and delicious portion of Fish and Chips, we headed on our way, but not before a quick photo with a cowboy that once resided in Playland !
San Francisco Cliff House ocean beach cowboy Playland statue

Alright, and now for the major highlight of the day, I got to see where Marilyn Monroe got married!! San Francisco City Hall! And holy moly what a stunning building it is!
San Francisco City Hall architecture beautiful Marilyn Monroe  married Joe DiMaggio

San Francisco City Hall architecture beautiful Marilyn Monroe  married Joe DiMaggio
San Francisco City Hall architecture beautiful Marilyn Monroe  married Joe DiMaggio


San Francisco City Hall architecture beautiful Marilyn Monroe  married Joe DiMaggio San Francisco City Hall architecture beautiful Marilyn Monroe  married Joe DiMaggio
Marilyn and Joe leaving just after being married there on January 14, 1954:
San Francisco City Hall architecture beautiful Marilyn Monroe  married Joe DiMaggio
Another of the couple on their happy day!
San Francisco City Hall architecture beautiful Marilyn Monroe  married Joe DiMaggio

I hope to see the inside someday!

Well after a full day it was time to head home, a few parting views of the city:

San Francisco architecture houses

fog nature mountains beautiful

 Hope you enjoyed my mini tour of San Francisco, till next time darlings!

2 comments:

  1. I love that you got to put Martha Stewart, Marilyn Monroe, Sutro Baths and Bill Clinton all in the same post! Your pictures are divine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, who would have thought! ;) Thank you!!

      Delete