I would like to see Suzi! And Stephanie! But I don't have suggestions of where to stay.

Stephanie, what's your wish list for a place to stay? I'd offer my place but unfortunately now since I quit my job, I'm working out of my house in what used to be the guest room/office.

If you give some parameters for hotels, Juliana and Hec both know hotels pretty well. I think meara does too from the times she's stayed here for work.

Excited about seeing people in March!

I want to be able to walk to see cool stuff. I'd prefer a B&B but maybe not possible. I'd love to be near to the water. Maybe clost to all that touristy stuff.

I'm not sure how possible that all is but mostly I just want to walk around with Sammy and hear the ocean.

I think most of the places I've stayed were kind of expensive (I mean, not for SF, but in general). There's a few decent places near Union Square I stayed--there were two hotels by the same company (Orchard Park and...something else?) The one across from the sushi restaurant was great, but the one down the block was gross. (The sushi restaurant was also yum).

In Oakland I usually stayed in the Courtyard in Downtown Oakland--convenient for meeting with Consuela, and the BART, but not super exciting on its own.

...and if you really want cheap, the Monarch near the Holiday Inn at California and Van Ness was cheap and not actually too gross. (I think it was like, $75 a night). Not sure how close it was to anything.

Stephanie, the Hotel Carl is a couple blocks away from us, right on a Muni line and walkable to the Haight and Cole Valley and GG Park.

It's relatively cheap, clean and not-fancy. Vortex has stayed there a few times, I think, and a few other Buffistas.

Are there NC-istas besides Amych, Amyth, and Calli? To them and anyone else I've forgotten, I'll be somewhere in the Raleigh-Durham area from Mar 11-16 (get in Sunday night leave Friday eve). For training for the new job. Should have details later this week, but maybe some dinner?

Was wondering if any localistas wanted to meet up Friday the 16th in SF for dinner/drinks?

Just checking in again. Lee and I are trying to get an idea of who can join us at Park Tavern. I sent an e-mail, but I think I'm missing some e-mail addy's.

I'm totally up for dinner between 3/11-16, meara. If your new job has an office around here, does that mean you might be coming by semi-regularly?

Calli, probably not (I missed training at the old company and therefore never saw their offices!). I'm supposed to know more tomorrow (like where I'll be staying) and I doubt I'll have a car.

but mostly I just want to walk around with Sammy and hear the ocean.

Generally, an SF trip isn't conducive to a beach trip also, unless you have a car and some time, but FYI, friends of mine have a beach cottage at Stinson Beach. It can be rented for a very low price. You have to go through me for the friends-of-friends price, and I'd have to see if it's available, and it's An Amazing Deal. So if you really want quiet beach time, get in touch.

People who can speak about the cottage: Sparky and her DH, Katiebee, Deena (or was that the Dillon Beach place? alas, I no longer have a key to that place.)