Out and About ....
Where members of the Resident and Fellow Affairs Committee recommend their favorite scenes outside UCSF.Stuart Lustig, MD, MPH
is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program in the Department of Psychiatry.
Feb 2008
After spending almost three years in the Bay Area following stints in Boston and the flat Midwest, Stuart Lustig is still looking for the perfect hill to conquer on two wheels. Here are some of his preferred locals around San Francisco.
Have a yen for zen?
When seeking tranquility, I recommend the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, right by the De Young Museum and across the street from the Botanical Garden. Just a few dollars gets you into in this gorgeous oasis of bridges, ponds, and meticulously manicured Asian vegetation. The labyrinthine paths induce a trance-like calm and the flora which stud the serpentine walkways mutate according to the season. There’s always something new and different to gently rouse you from your reverie. Hot tea and salted nibbles are reasonably priced.
Get your chocolate on!
Chocolate Covered, at its relatively new location on 24th Street in Noe Valley (2469 24th Street), offers a wide variety of exotic chocolates from the world over, many of which the generous purveyor will let you sample. To quote Tom Lehrer, “He gives the kids free samples because he knows full well that today’s young innocent faces will be tomorrow’s clientele.” Check out the specialty lunch boxes, graced with World War II era photographs. For death by chocolate in liquid form, my favorite is Bittersweet, 2123 Fillmore between California and Sacramento. Try the vegan “bittersweet” which is so strong that it’s as good as intravenous. First pass metabolism barely touches this one. For the fainter of heart, there’s chai hot chocolate, Mexican hot chocolate, and a good old-fashioned kids’ version. Then cruise up to Berkeley for a sample-drenched and scholarly tour of the Scharffenberger chocolate factory. I can’t believe it’s free, even after my sixth time there!
Have a visitor? Need a view?
Wind your way up to Twin Peaks, clearly marked by Sutro Tower, a familiar structure to anyone working on the UCSF Parnassus Campus. Bicycle if you dare, but I’d suggest a vehicle, preferably a motorcycle, but a zippy sports car if you must. The city looks stunning from this vantage point, especially on a clear day. In fact, no need to wait for a visitor. Check it out solo, but dress warmly. It’s very breezy up there and you won’t want to have to head back down due to hypothermia.
So, where to eat in this city?
It’s good to have such problems. Tried and true, Burma Super Star located at 309 Clement between 4th and 5th still dishes up gently spiced, healthy, and yummy Burmese cuisine at very reasonable prices. Try the tea leaf salad and the soups. You won’t be able to leave without sampling many of the lovingly prepared delicacies! Service is friendly and efficient. Unless you arrive at the beginning of the lunch or dinner hours, expect a wait. They keep a list and will call your cell phone when your table’s ready, so you can stroll around the neighborhood or lounge in the comfy coffee shop across the street.
Need a laugh?
Try Cobbs Comedy Club (915 Columbus, just a few blocks north of Broadway). It’s the perfect way to follow a yummy Italian or Chinese dinner nearby. Cobbs has comedians large and small. I saw someone there a few weeks ago who was 400 pounds and was hoping he wouldn’t code on stage. There are local folks, vocal in their bay area spirit, and big names as well, such as Saturday Night Live legend Darrell Hammond. If you want to see a show, first go to Goldstar.com, an outfit that sells half-price tickets, and you’ll be chuckling all the way to the bank.
