Joining Nutty in the hate olives, love their oil camp.

Question for the hivemind - my work colleague and I are looking for a nice, little, not necessarily fancy hotel in downtown Oakland, walking distance from Preservation Park, for the dates of 9/1 - 9/3. We both go for funky/comfy over schwank. Price under $140 pretax each per night preferred. The conference website recommended the downtown Marriot and Courtyard by Marriot and the Washington Inn. I have an email in to the visitor's center but I trust the hivemind more!

Somewhat topic-y, since I'm hoping to meet up w/ SF-istas on this trip. I should know what evenings I'll be around for dinner soon. I also have the possibility of staying another night, but that may depend on a host as work wouldn't pay for the hotel that night.

Muchas gracias.

Not good gin! Vodka is of the devil.

Gin is of the devil

I had never had gin until one of my friends gave me a sip of his G&T.

It tastes like pine trees. /Ralph Wiggum voice

Mmm, Persian Aub Zam Zam. Dark, mysterious little bar right on Haight Street. I once went there and we made the mistake of sitting in the back to chat privately. Apparently we hurt the bartender's feelings and he felt all lonely and dissed.

Beverages are much more fun when you have a cool martini glass. IJS.

It tastes like pine trees.

You misspelled "ASS."

It tastes like pine trees.

But with nuts!

I once went there and we made the mistake of sitting in the back to chat privately. Apparently we hurt the bartender's feelings and he felt all lonely and dissed.

Pfft. Mr. H would've loved you for it.

So, we've established that it would be the ideal booze of a chipmunk, but I've yet to hear why I should drink it.

I hateses olives. Yes, I do. They squeak when you bite into them.

So do boys, and yet...

Because it's yummy.*

• I also like Chartruese that tastes like rotten grass, Jager that tastes like NyQuil, and scotch that tastes like burned moss, YABMV