Woot!!! I will have to hunt down the pedicurians for hugs and such at some point - but have been wanting to check out the ferry building and now with added bonus bonified BUFFISTAS!!!!!

I will be driving and could probably pick you up. Not sure about timing.

I'm a heading home, but will check back later.

The other top four from the Best of the Bay. (Personally my top five would be different.)

Roasted Chicken, Mistral Rotisserie

Once you attain a certain level in chicken preparation, it's hard to go wrong, but few have ever gone so far above that mark as Mistral Rotisserie. French rotisserie ovens slow-cook the organic chickens until the meat is fall-off-the-bones tender. And the skin's intense thyme-and-rosemary rub is outstanding. Buy a quarter of a chicken ($5.99 a pound) and a roll from Acme Bread, and you've got the envy of all chicken sandwiches. Shop No. 41, (415) 399-9751.

'Monkey-Picked' Tiequanyin, Imperial Tea Court

Back in the day, emperors really did enslave little primates to harvest the very best tea leaves for this fancy oolong, or so legend has it. But now the name just denotes an extremely high grade of tea. Oolongs are halfway between green tea (fresh cut) and black tea (dried and toasted), and good ones like the "Monkey-Picked" Tiequanyin combine the best of both worlds into a nutty, fruity, delicate treat. Do it up right and order the Gong Fu service ($8), an elaborate, ceremonial presentation that's Chinese in origin. With the $4 snack sampler plate (ginger roasted almonds, green tea pumpkin seeds, etc.), it's a far more educational and pampering experience than happy hour. Shop No. 27, (415) 544-9830, www.imperialtea.com.

Spring vegetable ravioli (vegan), Pasta Shop

The Pasta Shop stand appears twice a week, at the Tuesday and Saturday farmers market, offering freshly made pastas from the home store in Rockridge's Market Hall (510-528-4005, www.rockridgemarkethall.com). This is your chance to pick up some of the tastiest vegan pasta around. My favorite, roasted butternut and chestnut ravioli in eggless pumpkin pasta, is unfortunately out of season, but the spring vegetable ravioli ($8 a pound) is just as fresh and loaded with zucchini, squash, peppers, and spicy herbs. Fry it for a great pot sticker.

Jack Daniel's butter pecan gelato, Ciao Bella

Nothing tops off a day of food sampling like gelato. You've probably come across Ciao Bella's gelati at your local gourmet grocery, but it's ever so much more refreshing to eat when freshly scooped and while sitting by the water. Order a waffle cone with two scoops ($3.75), and pick any two flavors, from Valhrona chocolate to apricot and chardonnay. My favorite is Jack Daniel's butter pecan; the bourbon perfectly anchors the sweetness of the butter pecan. Other interesting flavors include malted milk ball, dulce de leche, green tea, and blackberry and cabernet. Shop No. 8, (415) 834-9330, www.ciaobella.com.

I will be driving and could probably pick you up. Not sure about timing.

Parking is not fun downtown - you might want to drive into the city and then take the train downtown. Then again, if you're coming from Oakland, the Ferry Building is just over the bridge.

Teppy, afterwards you and Lexine could walk down the Embarcadero and be at the Giants stadium in ten minutes. You walk around to the back gate and look through and see what it's all about.

Last time I was in SF, the Ferry Building was just construction, with a flower stand and hot dog stand outside. I can see things have changed, and look forward to seeing in person how things have changed, although unfortunately not during Nillyfest. Bummer. But yeah! to look forward to.

Hec - I have a handicapped placcard, so have a bit more in the way of parking options. I'll brave it...I will be driving all over the City that morning anyway.

Walking to Pac Bell/SBC eh? A rabid A's fan, willingly walking into Giants territory?!? Well, it IS a beautiful walk, and the Oakland Colesium is a bit too far away, so if Teppy wants to check it out, I'd be glad to wander that way.

A rabid A's fan, willingly walking into Giants territory?!?

C'mon - even as an A's fan, you have to admit that one of the coolest features of Pac Bell is that you can just watch a game for free through the open gate in the back. Plus, it's a gorgeous walk along the water front with a view of the Bay Bridge. Unless it's cold and foggy, but it tends to be quite sunny downtown.

Giants stadium good. I'll be content to putter along.

Though if there's a Chinatown excursion, I need to be part of it, or give someone who's going some $$$ so they can pick something up for me. Well, for my mom, specifically. She and my stepdad were in SF about a month ago, and Mom bought a feng shui kitty in Chinatown -- one with an arm that waves. She wants another. I told her that she can probably find them outside of Chinatown, but she said that "the good mojo comes from Chinatown." (I'm 85% sure she was trying to be hip and funny.)

So. Chinatown. Waving feng shui kitty. Weird family.

So, David's hijacking my guests again, hey? But he's right about it being a wonderful walk, over to Pac Bell. Speaking of which, we thought about sitting in the Visitors Family Section this Saturday for Raiders-Niners preseason, but Jerry'll only be in the game for, like three plays or something, since he's now their Numero Uno receiver.

So, David's hijacking my guests again, hey?

Only for lunch Friday, my favorite Deb.

Huzzah for an airborne Nilly!

(Hmm, that rather sounds like some wonderful contagious thing, doesn't it. Eh, appropriate enough I suppose.)

I've temporarily subscribed to the Somervillians list, but I thought I'd check here as to what may be planned- even with the time off for my grandmother's service, there's a chance I can finagle the day of my choice off. I thought I remembered that Nilly was in Boston for 2? 3? days, but does anyone have a thought as to which one may be the best for me to try to beg off on?

There's got to be something particularly special about you lot- I've only been kicking around here for a few months, but I just can't wait to meet you!