Faves and raves by Sarah Mineo (Click the picture for Sarah's faves)
PERSONAL STATS
AGE: 80
YEARS IN THE CITY: 35
NEIGHBORHOOD: Cathedral Hill
OCCUPATION: Retired
SELF-DESCRIPTION: A creative individual who’s in love with life and filled with joie de vivre every day
FAVORITE MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH SPOT
Greens Restaurant
WHERE: Fort Mason Center Building A
WHAT: Great dining for vegetarians and the adventurous
INFO: (415) 771-6222 or www.greensrestaurant.com
I love the friendly atmosphere and good food. I’m not vegetarian, but this place is so great it doesn’t matter. Plus, you can stroll around the museums, bookstores, shops and special events at Fort Mason after brunch to work off all those calories.
FAVORITE PARK
Golden Gate Park
WHERE: Fell and Stanyan streets
WHAT: Three miles of nature’s glory
INFO: www.golden-gate-park.com
The Shakespeare Gardens are delightful, the annual flower show at the Conservatory of Flowers is sensational, the de Young Museum and California Academy of Sciences are wondrous, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I don’t get there as often as I’d like, so every time is special.
FAVORITE SUNDAY AFTERNOON ACTIVITY
Chamber music at Davies Symphony Hall
WHERE: 201 Van Ness Ave., at Grove Street
WHAT: The best musicians playing delightful music
INFO: (415) 864-6000 or www.sfsymphony.org
I love to go to the Sunday matinees with my friend Isabel and we make a day of it. Lunch at Max’s Opera Café, then stroll down Van Ness to Davies. The music gets me in touch with my muses so that I can go home and paint.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH THE FAMILY
North Beach
WHERE: Columbus Avenue, from Broadway to Bay Street
WHAT: A little piece of Italy in San Francisco
INFO: (415) 989-2220 or www.northbeachchamber.com
With the varied Italian cuisine in North Beach, everywhere we stop is delicious. It’s especially glorious to sit at a cafe on the sidewalk on a sunny day — very European. Since I’m Italian-American, this is a nice cultural connection for me.
FAVORITE MUSEUM
SF Museum of Modern Art
WHERE: 151 Third St., at Mission Street
WHAT: Contemporary art, artists and designers
INFO: (415) 357-4000 or www.sfmoma.org
SFMOMA has wonderful shows throughout the year where they concentrate on individual artists — these are not to be missed. The museum store and restaurant are both great. Senior discounts and first-Tuesday-of-the-month-free days mean there’s no excuse not to visit this fabulous institution.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR A SING-ALONG
Martin Luther Tower
WHERE: 1001 Franklin St., at Ellis Street
WHAT: A wonderful opportunity for seniors
INFO: (415) 885-1084
The people at MLT are mainly retired and come from various cultural backgrounds, which makes our sing-alongs super fun. Once a month, we sing together with Thomas Alan Berg accompanying us on the piano. We take turns singing solos and feel filled with joy.
FAVORITE FAMILY STROLL
Fort Mason Community Garden
WHERE: Laguna Street at Bay Street
WHAT: Community garden filled with color and sweeping views
INFO: www.butterflute.com/fmcg.html
Enjoy walking among colorful flowers, herbs and veggies in the most spiritual and serene place — you won’t even know you’re in a city!
FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS
Fisherman’s Wharf
WHERE: Jefferson Street, from Powell to Hyde streets
WHAT: Souvenirs and people-watching with views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge
INFO: www.fishermanswharf.org
It’s diverse, has lots of excellent restaurants and fun shops, and the Ghirardelli chocolate factory — yum. Plus, it’s a jumping-off point for the Sausalito ferry tour, which is a special treat.
FAVORITE PLACE TO GET ART SUPPLIES
Blick Art Materials
WHERE: 979 Market St., at Sixth Street
WHAT: Premier art supplies for artists in every medium
INFO: (415) 441-6075 or www.clickblick.com
My favorite thing in the world is to go to Blick’s. I get lost in there for hours, dreaming of all the art I can create. The supplies are endless for whatever you desire to do artistically, and they give me senior discounts whenever I remember to ask!
