San Francisco

I have been here long enough - its time to talk San Francisco, and I have been slack exploring the city and not blogging.

I arrived yesterday to the cutest little hotel on POst, just up from Union Square, and whilst cosy, is great for location and there is so much happening round the city.

My first day was all about Foleys Irish Bar, the Yankees and the Phillys in game 1 of the World Series. After a bit of exploring, I stumbled upon this Irish Bar mid afternoon, and after a few beverages, got to know a Aindres (Andrish) the fabulous guy behind the bar. He looked after me well, and I ended up back at the hotel with a few more beers and a heavy heart after the Yankees got done in game 1 of the World Series. Now there is game 2 which has been and gone and the Yankees got up - 1 all and 5 more to go.

Today saw me up and down on cable cars to Fishermans Wharf, Van Ness, Nob Hill and Russian Hill. The ride on the cable car was amazing, as was the way they change direction at Market and Powell - once the car arrives, they spin the trolley around on a wheel like thing, and then it locks into the right tracks - all very not technical but hell it was great to watch.

I had to be the tool that stood on the side of the car instead of being inside - kinda like standing outside a Melbourne tram, whilst it is in full traffic and breathing in very heavily to avoid being hit. It was awesome and a little scary at the same time.

Fisherman's Wharf is mega touriste, but at the same time, totally awesome. Looking at the sea lions lounging about on the pontoons at Pier 39 - literally hundreds of them - reminded me of folk at the beach. The restaurants and all of the souveneir stores are a bit OTT, but Boudin's Sourdough Cafe and Bakery was awesome.

I have so many phtos of Alcatraz, including one with my head in front of the island, taklen by some goop without his glasses on - this is something that I should have known before he took the photo but there you go.

Tomorrow, I am heading to hire a bike and ride across the Golden Gate bridge - thats gonna be awesome and probably kill me at the same time. If you dont hear from me again, please scatter my ashes as per my request.

I dined at a restaurant tonight that was supposed to be hot, and it was crap. I spent a bit of money for ordinary food and shit service. I was mega disappointed and will not read any more stupid reviews.

There will be more to come from this beautiful city....... stand by

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is just the most beautiful place. The Four Seasons Biltmore hotel has the most comfortable bed I have slept in for an age. And what a great little town. It reminded me of other places I have not been too (cryptic I know), but the buildings and all the things about SB are fantastic. Had a very Santa Fe/ New Mexico feel about it.



With my friend Charryn, and new friends Patrick and Amanda, we ate at the Tupelo Junction Cafe. This place is hot. The food is amazing and Southern inspired. Based in State Street in the centre of Santa Barbara, the food and the service are exceptional.

With a recent write up in Bon Appetit, this cafe has a lovely vibe (but no espresso coffee). They do breakfast lunch and dinner most days, with Monday night closed for dinner. This was a great introduction for some Southern inspired food, and was the place I tried fried green tomatoes – and they were spectacular. With the usual fare, you will also find amazing breakfasts with a choice of biscuit (we call this a plain scone), corn bread (yum) or some house made breads available daily. Crab cakes, potato hash, oatmeal waffles, red beans and rice (a southern specialty). All of these were fabbo.

Bigger fare for lunch and dinner, include blackened wild salmon on a salad of roasted corn, black beans and other bits and bobs in a salsa.... yum. A char grilled white cheddar burger with caramelized onions and sweet & tangy fried pickles – this will fill the required burger slot on the menu, as always must exist. Bloody Mary braised black ribs with green beans and fried onions was amazing and lip smacking as was a cornmeal crusted local red snapper fillet with Dungeness crab, sweet potato and leek hash and avocado salsa. Seriously good food, and well priced.

Also check out the Ty Lounge at the Four Seasons Biltmore on Santa Barbara beach. Great for cocktails and a quick nobble. With an outdoor terrace, you can sit and look into the eyes of a lover, or slurp away on a dirty dry martini with a friend or two. Stunning.

Wandering Santa Barbara, I fell in love with it.... and I don't know how you couldn't. All I need is a husband who might just marry me and let us live there.

More about dining experiences later and stay tuned for what Pete does in beautiful San Francisco.

Pete

Another night on the hustings......

West Hollywood , I have discovered, is just up the road - quite literally just up the road and I got the chance to dine there this evening... but more of that in a minute.

The whole country is obsessed with Halloween next weekend, and until I got here, I was not quite aware that it was all happening. There are pumpkins everywhere and every building is draped internally in fake spiderwebs... it really is funny that they are all out shopping for costumes and things...

But to tonight - Chateau Marmont is totally hip and cool and there are frequent celeb sightings around this venue. I was dining with vet to the celebs, Patrick Mahaney and his partner Phil. 2 terrific guys that my friend Charyn hooked me up with. A nice bottle of Napa merlot from 2005, and I had a brilliant burger. It was thick and cooked medium rare, with the salad you insert yourself, and of course, the obligatory cheese melted through it with hand cut fries. I did manage to pinch some of Patricks Halibut with haricot verte which were nice as well. I find it interesting that we ordered cheese as an appetiser rather than after the meal and I was tempted by Banana cream pie - but had to pass and I was just too full. Flatbread with pork and fennel sausage was the third meal and quite palatable....

Chateau Marmont is hot right now and tomorrow night I reckon I could wander down the road to the celeb sighting mexican cantina that is on Sunset - only one way to find out and I reckon I could find some interesting tidbits.

Tomorrow night is the last night in LA before I hed to Santa Barbara to meet my mate, and then on to Frisco. I have decided to take the Amtrak to SB - supposed to be a nice train ride. (Fire sirens and police sirens happening in sunset at the minute are freaking me out a bit). I reckon I might see some nice coastline.

Tomorrow looks like the day I head to the beach - Malibu/Venice not sure where but now that I can manage the bus, I thihnk I could give it a fair shove. Wish me luck.

I also thought of hiking into the hills and seeing the Hollywood sign up close but I think I could give that a miss and also head back downtown for some nice buildings etc to photograph. Or I can wander along Santa Moica Blvd and check out other fabulous stuff.

Stay tuned to see how I wake up in the morning and decide.

Wowee

Saying wowee is a little like saying oops - sorry ... I shouldnt use these terms. A bit child like.

I took a journey to downtown LA - on a bus from the front of my hotel. The cost $1.25....cheap. I went specifically to the area known as the Fashion District - runs from 9th - 12th street and is freaking amazing!! It was suggested by a friend before I left the land of Oz to check out Santee Alley - its where all the locals go. My Giddy Aunt - If you have ever been through Chatuchak Markets in Thailand - Santee Alley is like this but along with the Asians, you'll find alot of Mexicans, African Americans and others. This is clearly where every LA pimp and ho shops - some of the stuff was totally laughable - the mannikans all got some serious booty going on.. it was brilliant. I was supposed to be scared a little of downtown LA, but in amongst the crazies are some genuine people who are more than happy to help, or hustle you for a few bucks....

Whilst downtown, I wondered why people become disaffected - and I got the answer to this question. LA is a sad place at times but for the most part, I am loving it. I have said for ages I have no love for LA, but my mind has been turned around.

I went out to party last night with a friend of a friend that I have never met - a Chinese American gay guy. He took me to SLS - the hottest bar in town (at least for the next five minutes). It was totally cool, they make a great mojito, and the stars all seem to like the little banquettes and tables. Thankyou for the smile Ms Cox-Arquette.

Next it was on to the Abbey - chock full of a delightful mix of LA's Gays and Lesbians, and a whole bunch of straight people. The bar was amazing and there was some pervy goodness. I enjoyed the beer on top of all the other beer I had already consumed.

Next to Mickeys - now this is a queer bar - totally hot men dancing with all but nothing on - you tip 'em you touch 'em!! Although the poor guy - he almost shrieked when I copped a handful of trouser kranksy - I had been gripping my vodka tonic with that hand and I almost shrunk all the work he had been doing on the stage. But he was sweet, and hot (which it seems is how I like my coffee and my men!). Then when outside for a cigarette, there in full view of most of West Hollywood and in front of literally a hundred men and women, a guy is getting a birthday blowjob - yep - a birthday blowjob - right in the middle of a courtyard on the street. I didnt know whether to be disgusted or delighted - I felt wuite a little bit pervy for looking but like a car crash - it was hard to draw my eyes away.


Tonight - another friend of a friend - and this time to Chateau Marmont - apparently another very cool place to see and be seen ....this is the grooviest dining experience in Hollywood. Meeting new people is so much fun. It certainly wont be a raucous as last night. And the menu at the Marmont looks great - making me hungry already.

Now back to the shopping - seriously these poeple do great rip offs. I think most of their stuff comes from Mexico, or India.... but they are great knock offs.

Well best get and pretty myself up for the evening.... hope my liver holds out. Oh and I have discovered I sound so much more Australian here - I even think I am subconsciously making myself sound more Hogan/Irwinesque just to impress the locals - who kows?

Muchos Buenos....

Pete

Hello from Holly Wood!!!

They say that Los Angeles is the city of angels and the land of dreams. Bollocks.

It is the city that taste forgot, the food and the people are cheesy and I have not seen an angel yet - although there have been one or two hotties that have passed me in the street. I tried not to get all Borat over their arse and kiss them hello but hey, a boy has needs!!

I even met a waiter today who spent years in Bondi in Sydney who is here to become an actor. He is Italian, swarthy in that Italian kind of way, but I just cant see him on the big screen - but hey, who am I to shatter someone's dream. Almodovar may find and cast him. The city is as big and brash as we are led to believe... like the pizza!! I ate a slice of pizza today that was bigger than my head, and everything has fries or cheese, or god forbid, both.

Americans are interesting people and at the price of booze, I am surprised not drunker than they are. All the cars are big - SUV's, pickups and of course, convertibles and prestige vehicles. But that is not to say its bad - just big and brash.

I love LA because of these things, and yet my trepidation about being mugged or an accidental victim in a drive by shooting has all but dissipated. There are worse places with worse people, let me tell you.

I spent most of the day getting sunburned as I wandered Hollywood Boulevard in flip flops - can I just suggest here that sensible walking shoes might be reccomended...... My feet are killing me and its hot here... hotter than I packed for. Look out shops - here I come again.

I took a lot of photos of the pavement - of stars of course, and the occasional homeless person - and the people in the street are hilarious. A sandwich ordered at a bar turned out to be a kabob, with marinated chicken, lettuce, garlic sauce and fries - yes fries, in the kebab, and fries on the side - who would have thought, but after a night out in Melbourne, this could be ideal.

So La La Land isnt as bad as it is made out to be - there will be angels and dreams that I will find. In the meantime - I am off to explore Sunset Boulevard on a Friday night and the whole mugging and drive by shooting could well eventuate if I am not careful.

Until tomorrow - greetings and salutations from Sunny California.