San Francisco weekend getaway

About a month ago I realized that of all the times I've been to San Francisco it has always been work related. So with the great $44.00 deal with Virgin America I decided I was just going to San Francisco with no agenda other than having fun.  With a little help from Priceline I grabbed a $50.00/night rate at the Opal (see my review) and I was on my way!  I bragged about my great deal to my friend Mike and he decided to tag along with me...and away we went!  I had bags packed and left directly from work on Friday.  We landed in SF about 8:30pm jumped on the BART and within 1/2 hour we were at the hotel and checked in (be smart and pick a hotel near the BART station and for under $6.00 you'll be there alot faster and much less expensive than a cab or shuttle) By 9:30 we were ready to take on the City!  At first we roamed around the neighborhood and took a few pictures of interesting sights and people.

  We had a few drinks at a bar appropriately called "The Lush"!  That set the tone for the rest of the night filled with clubbing...and the next thing I knew it was 3:30...time flies when you're having fun!  I was up again by 9AM and had a quick breakfast at Mel's Diner...good breakfast and convenient since it was adjoining my hotel.  Mike and I regrouped and went to Fisherman's Wharf to play tourist.  We walked along Beach St. and there he was - my favorite "street performer" who is known by all who have at one time been scared to death by him....yes The bush man!  Mike and I just sat back and laughed hysterically as he squats behind some tree clippings and waits for his prey.  A few Japanese tourists were walking along too immersed in taking pictures when they approached what looked like a bush.   Then before they could suspect anything the Bushman parts the foliage and lets out a "RAHHHHH" !!!! Much to our amusement (and their horror!) the unsuspecting tourists defy gravity and leap back about 3 feet, scared to death for a fraction of a second until they realize everyone around them including the Bushman is laughing. Then the fear changes to laughter and some mild embarrassment.  The better the "scare tactics" the more generous the tip!  I caught some of this on video and will put it on YouTube...it's hysterical!  Then it was on to the Silver "Robot men"...2 guys who spray themselves and their clothes in metallic silver paint and dance like robots.  I couldn't resist so I took a picture with the Bushman and the robot guys. ..now I really felt like a tourist!  It was after 1pm by now and I was craving a clam chowder sour dough Bread Bowl at Tarantino's.  We each grabbed a chowder and shared some fried Calamari.  Afterward we walked around the shops for a while.  As we were about to leave we saw that the Captain of the "Butchie B" fishing vessel was offering a $10.00 one hour sunset cruise.  We decide to do it and it was definitely worth the money...I got a few nice sunset pictures as well as awesome views of the Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline.  A short trolley ride later we were back at the hotel and getting ready for what was hopefully going to be a great night of House and Techno music.  The Swedish techno/trance DJ Vibrasphere was headlining The Pisces Party...well being a Pisces, loving techno/trance music and coincidently being in SF when it was going on was enough convincing for me that I should go.   Stay tuned for my blog on the Pisces party...coming shortly!