Faves and raves by Jon ‘JB’ Hollister (Click on the pic to see Jon's faves)
PERSONAL STATS
Age: 48
Years in The City: Born at French Hospital (now Kaiser’s French Campus), left town, been back for seven years
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Occupation: Environmental compliance
Self-Description: San Francisco native, polo player (yes, on a horse — but not in The City yet!), has an obsession with domestically produced anything
FAVORITE HANGOUT
Red’s Java House
WHERE: Pier 30: Bryant Street and The Embarcadero (not to be confused with Java House at Pier 40)
WHAT: Great cold beer and fantastic Bloody Marys
INFO: (415) 777-5626
A great dive for a cold drink in the sunshine. Good fish and chips made with fresh fish. People who like burgers love their burgers, but I go for the fish sandwich. Zero attitude and free parking.
FAVORITE COFFEE
Piccino Coffee Bar
WHERE: 1001 Minnesota St., at 22nd Street
WHAT: A great little coffee bar walking distance from the 22nd Street Caltrain station
INFO: (415) 824-4224 or www.piccinocafe.com
Yummy Sightglass organic coffee drinks go perfectly with the sticky buns and scones. My favorite is a cross between a macchiato and a cappuccino. Just look for the bright yellow house.
FAVORITE LIVING HISTORICAL TREASURE
Conservatory of Flowers
WHERE: 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park
WHAT: A beautiful piece of San Francisco history
INFO: (415) 831-2090 or www.conservatoryofflowers.org
Built in 1878 from James Lick’s estate, then purchased by a prominent San Francisco businessman who gifted the Conservatory to the San Francisco Parks commission. The fastest way to be transported to a different time and place.
FAVORITE PIZZA
Arzimendi Bakery Panaderia and Pizzeria
WHERE: 1268 Valencia St., at 24th Street
WHAT: Fantastic slices of pizza pie
INFO: (415) 826-9218 or valencia.arizmendi.coop
I would never think that vegetarian pizza could taste this good. Tip from experience — one slice is not enough. It is pretty much take out — there are just a handful of tables.
FAVORITE WALK
Crissy Field
WHERE: 1199 East Beach, Presidio
WHAT: A fantastic place to decompress
INFO: www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/crissy-field.html
Wonderful place to walk your dog, take in the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, and get perspective. We go there whenever we want a relaxing walk, and always check the weather before heading over (in case it’s foggy) on the webcam at www.parksconservancy.org.
FAVORITE BAR
Elixir
WHERE: 3200 16th St., at Guerrero Street
WHAT: San Francisco’s second-oldest continuously serving bar
INFO: (415) 552-1633 or www.elixirsf.com
Great neighborhood bar with seriously delicious cocktails, brilliant bartenders and good music. Don’t miss their pisco sour (or pisco punch). I think it is the best in town!
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
Delancey Street Restaurant
WHERE: 600 The Embarcadero, at Brannan Street
WHAT: Good food served with a purpose
INFO: (415) 512-5179 or www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/enterrestaurant.php
Delancey Street is a self-help organization which has graduated more than 18,000 people into self-supporting productive citizenship — a great reason to go here. Another is the food. My favorites are the rosemary chicken and the sweet potato pie. Reasonable valet parking and a fantastic private dinning room.
FAVORITE YOGA
InnerYoga with Dina Amsterdam
WHERE: Yoga Tree, 1234 Valencia St., between 23rd and 24th streets
WHAT: InnerYoga, sometimes called Yin yoga, is a gentle yoga practice
INFO: (415) 647-9707 or www.yogatreesf.com
My wife introduced me to this. I was skeptical, never having tried yoga and not being very flexible. Dina is extremely patient and kind, focusing on paying attention to your body rather than running you through a series of prescribed poses. I always leave her class feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
