I’ve been to the Embarcadero once before, during an early-2010 trip with NonSociety, but as with…oh, everything: it’s so different when you’re with a child. When you look at life through a toddler’s eyes, you notice things that your grownup self just doesn’t notice.
Vince sweater via Destination Maternity; fringe booties.
Like a hut made of skateboards where you can learn how to do an ollie.
What is this crazy structure? I have no idea, but we had quite the time in it.
(Pause for shoe-tying.)
On Morgan’s recommendation, we had brunch at Pier 23, and uggggh, did I ever like this place. The food isn’t anything spectacular (although I wanted to hug my breakfast sandwich, it was so delicious), but that’s not what you’re there for: you’re there to sit right on top of the water and listen to seagulls and wear the silly straw hats they give you to keep the sun off your face while you drink a cold root beer and feel so lucky to be exactly where you are.
And it is so bizarre and so worth mentioning how not-overrun with people this place is. If there was a place like this on the water in New York City it would have a four-hour wait and obnoxious hosts and would charge thirty dollars for that aforementioned breakfast sandwich. In fact, I’m sure there are places like this in New York City. Lots of them, except I have never been to them because they are terrible. Pier 23 is wonderful.
After lunch, another so-lovely-it-doesn’t-seem-real discovery: Alta Plaza Park, in Pacific Heights. It’s bordered by the most spectacular townhouses on the planet (we’re talking 20-million-dollar range), and the playground sitting at the top of the park has a killer view of the city. And instead of some pushy guy ordering you to buy a knockoff and/or potentially stolen handbag, there is a nice woman sitting on the steps selling terribly chic mixed bouquets in little glass jam jars.
Even the bathrooms are pretty. It is a public park with pretty bathrooms. All of this is very weird to me.
After the playground: a stop into Sift for cupcakes. Look at these two little best friends! This is them deep in two-year-old discussion about which flavor they should get.
You know, I don’t even especially enjoy cupcakes, but now I am a frequent cupcake-shop visitor for the sole reason that my son calls them “putcakes,” and that’s something I need to hear him say as often as possible for as long as possible. Never change, my putcake love.
