My old legs deal with the uphill better than downhill. Faulty brakes apparently. It will be more than worth the effort! Hills are a rare treat for me.

Right now, we'll be there from Saturday through Tuesday.

Erika, W00t!!!!!

Part of the hill of Tank Hill

Some of the trees up there, with the view

Tank Hill at dusk, with a better sense of the vista. That's looking out towards the Bay, not the Ocean, if you're trying to get your bearings.

This is where I put the engagement ring on JZ, btw.

Here is somebody's local album of the city, so you can get an idea of the whole megilla.

There really won't be a lot of prep or cleanup to do - help cleaning up after the BBQ is what I suspect I'm going to chiefly need, and maybe some prep work on Saturday morning, to get things set up.

I'm going to prep Nilly's food for the BBQ on Friday, to abide by the Sabbath regulations for her. For the rest of us, I've planned the following menu:

Salads: a mixed field green with mushrooms, tomatoes (sorry, Nilly, but I'll do you a separate salad and you can watch!) and two kinds of cheese, in a citrus-infused olive oil dressing. Am also considering a caprese, because I adore them.

Meats: Aidells sausages (thinking of the chicken galic and artichoke one they do). Parboiled, then BBQ'd, side of beef ribs in sauce. On the burner, a big pot of my teriyaki chicken legs.

Fish: Salmon filet marinated in garlic, olive oil and fresh citrus, then grilled, for the no-red-meaters amongst us.

Desserts: If I have the time, I may well go to town here. I was thinking one chocolate decadence (Nilly can eat this - it has four ingredients, all kosher: bittersweet chocolate, eggs, butter and sugar), one tequila lime tart, and one chapeau Noir. We shall see what time permits. I won't have the Friday night to work, since I'm taking Bev and Nicole down to meet Nic and feed our southcats, at their request.

So. What I could use, if any of the locals want to make or bring from store:

salsa and guac, chips, soda (diet and maybe some regular if people like it), beer (Java has that at least partly covered, I believe), potato salad, fresh corn that I can roast on the open fire, still in the husk. The stores on Clement Street have sweet form ears of corn for absurdly low prices right now, something like six ears for a buck.

As for liquor, I have wine (although more is always welcomed!), and a lot of bubbly. There will be champagne, and prosecco, and Cristalino.

I'll post if I think of anything else.

And, can those who want to definitely get a spa pedicure and/or manicure on Friday morning please let me know via email? I can then have the list to book. Might as well add a manicure to that - most spas only charge an extra three bucks or so to add it to the pedi.

edit: oh, and I'll offer burgers, of course! duh....

Damn. It sounds so yummy and fun, plus manicures and pedicures and walks in SF. I so want to come!

I have a favor to ask. I've been so out of the loop. Could someone email me Nilly's LA plans so I can figure out a good time to meet her? I was talking about her visit this weekend, and then I suddenly realized I had NO IDEA when I'd get to see her.

I will, shortly, to your profile address, Burrell.

Actually, I lied and I sent it to your work email. Let me know if I should resend.

For folks who are interested, the walk between Deb's place and mine is about 15 minutes - though a detour through the park would take longer. The park is relatively flat, and very pretty.

This sounds wonderful. I'd love to. Also, I am a very good sous-chef, if directed, and though cranky-starting some chilly mornings, I'm a little engine who just chugs through lists of chores, so Deb, count on my help for the background prep. I'ma have to bail on long walking tours and hills (like Laura's, my knees won't do the downhills so much anymore), and while I'd love to go along to the pedi-mani place for the company and the poufy dog, no toes for me, thanks. So I can be cleaning or chopping or visiting or sommat. No dearth of company or occupations, I'm thinking.

EeeeeE!

Some stuff in Golden Gate Park. See Map

Here's the Conservatory of Flowers

Which has big lilly pads.

And the Japanese Tea Gardens

There's lawn bowling

And Lindy Hopping (swing dancing) in the park.

And the Sharon Art Studio (where you can study stained glass)

Or you can go boating on Stow Lake (one of Emmett's favorite activities)

Plus an AIDS Memorial Grove, a Shakespeare Garden and a Bison paddock.

Deb, is the chocolate dessert anything like what you made when I was there?