English: Aerial view of Fisherman's Wharf on San Francisco Bay on the north side of San Francisco, California, USA. View is to the southeast. Coordinates: 37°48′35.83″N 122°25′11.27″W / °S °W / ; latd>90 (dms format) in latd latm lats longm longs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We visited San Francisco in May of 2012; while we did not quite leave our heart there, we did find some unique highlights that we will keep in our hearts forever:
The Westin Hotel in Union Square has a glass elevator, and if you successfully infiltrate pass the concierge desk without being asked anything, jump in and go all the way up- the views are spectacular (and free)!
Restaurants we went to:
a small, Cassis-like restaurant serving local food called Fish & Farm (in the Mark Twain hotel). Great food and very intimate- just be careful about roaming around the area at night as it's close to the Tenderloin district, which gets sketchy, especially at night.
The restaurant and highlight of Fisherman's Wharf Otherwise a tourist trap) was called Scoma's, which is locally owned and the owner has not sold out to big chain restaurants.
In China Town: R&G Lounge (reservations recommended)
The Golden Gate bridge was something to behold - the walk there from Fisherman's Wharf through Chrissy fields was a highlight, passing many dog walkers - the dogs we the happiest of all creatures!
Dress and bring many layers! During our 5 days the pattern was the same: fog in the morning and very cool, lifted in the early afternoon with sunny periods warming up, with fog returning by early evening and cooling off again. I found I was constantly adding and removing layers of clothes in what seemed to be pockets of warm and cool air.
We attended the concert of classical guitarist David Leisner as a last minute thing to do on a Saturday night. And what an event to attend!
Amazingly, David treated and rehabilitated himself and others from a focal dystonia, which is normally devastating to the abilities of a musician, especially a guitarist or pianist.
David lives up to the bill of some of the descriptions of his exceptional talent:
"DAVID LEISNER is an extraordinarily versatile musician with a multi-faceted careeras an electrifying performing artist, a distinguished composer, and a master teacher."
"Mr. Leisner has also become a highly respected composer noted for the emotional and dramatic power of his music. Fanfare magazine described it as “rich in invention and melody, emotionally direct, and beautiful”. Guitar Review wrote, “Not many composers manage to be equally satisfying to the hands, the ear and the mind as Leisner has.”
***
David plays a John Gilbert guitar and uses D'Addario Strings exclusively.
"He (Leisner) was also a pioneer in the rediscovery of Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856), whose music he recorded on The Viennese Guitar (Titanic) and edited for publication by the Theodore Presser Company, as well as Wenzeslaus Matiegka (1773-1830), whose music he recorded on an Azica CD to be released in the early fall of 2008."
*What a way to end of this night. A beautifully played, emotionally charged rendition of a lesser revered classical guitarist - JK Mertz.
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