Californi-yaaay!

[Benjamin Blundell]

So, Im quite fortunate to be heading over to California in November
for a couple of weeks while the girlfriend is at a conference or 3. Im
wondering, what is there to do geeky wise? I'd love some ideas. We are
starting in LA, and driving up to SF and then back down. So far we
have the following ideas:

Noisebridge (anyone seen the key btw?)
Apple HQ
Google HQ
The Computer Museum
Museum of Jurassic Technology
MOMASF (cos I love pretty things)
Mojave Spaceport

What other geeky things are there to do in the heartland of Silicon
Valley? Anyone want anything bringing back?

Cheers

Ben

[Jim MacArthur]

I'd really recommend http://www.museemecaniquesf.com/.

A few other things which are worth visiting if you have some spare
time, but maybe not worth making a special trip for:

The wave organ on San Francisco's north shore -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_organ
The cable car museum in SF, quite small but free and interesting
WeirdStuff warehouse in SunnyVale if you like rummaging through tons
of odd electronics

Have fun, I'm quite envious!

Jim

[Russ Garrett]

In/around SF: I would recommend the Exploratorium and the Bay Model in
Sausalito. The cable car muesum is cool, too.

An incomplete Foursquare list of good places to drink:
https://foursquare.com/russss/list/san-francisco-beer

I have a Noisebridge key if you want to borrow it, although I mostly
use it as a bottle opener so I can't guarantee it's in working
condition.

The shuttle Endeavour will be at the California Science Center in LA
by the time you get there so I'd definitely go see that.

Russ

On 10 October 2012 17:24, Benjamin Blundell <onid...@gmail.com> wrote:

--
Russ Garrett
ru...@garrett.co.uk

[Dirk-Willem van Gulik]

On 10 okt. 2012, at 18:24, Benjamin Blundell <onid...@gmail.com> wrote:

> What other geeky things are there to do in the heartland of Silicon
> Valley? Anyone want anything bringing back?

Fry's !

:)

Dw.

[Adrian Godwin]

Another vote for Weird Stuff.

Also, San Diego Zoo. Best zoo I've ever visited.

[Jonty Wareing]

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Russ Garrett" <ru...@garrett.co.uk>
>
> I have a Noisebridge key if you want to borrow it, although I mostly
> use it as a bottle opener so I can't guarantee it's in working
> condition.

I have a known-working NB key available for reasonable rental rates.

--jonty

[Kimball Johnson]

As well as all those suggestions, more traditionally, Alcatraz is
pretty awesome, but get the first boat otherwise it gets too crowded.
Also for food 'The Stinking Rose' [1] is amazing.


[1] http://thestinkingrose.com

[Ximin Luo]

North to South:
- Golden Gate Bridge and drive through Sausalito and back
- http://www.museemecaniquesf.com/ (Fisherman's Wharf)
- http://www.calacademy.org/ (Golden Gate Park)
- http://www.dnalounge.com/ (jwz's nightclub, between SoMa and Mission)
- http://techshop.ws/Events.html (Menlo Park)

Ha, shame I am coming back at the end of the month or I could show you
around Google. You can drive around the outside of the buildings but
it's definitely more interesting inside. :p

Visit noisebridge, they are a friendly bunch. What is "the key"? Just
ring the bell and explain you're from LHS. A lot of them have GPG keys
so bring yours along to get it signed, if you're into that stuff. They
have introductory meetings on Tuesday evenings IIRC (but check the
website to make sure).

X

[Nick Johnson]

I don't want to be the party pooper, but Google, at least, doesn't offer tours of the Googleplex, or really welcome uninvited visitors. I'm not sure about Apple.

-Nick

[Daniel Sikar]

Kind of fringe but here it goes... LA's answer to Rusholme's curry mile - the Mexican restaurant strip on Hollywood Boulevard. Try some horchata. Polish up on the Kinks' Celluloid Heroes and sing it as you walk along. Have fun!

[Kimball Johnson]

Apple have a shop, and there are exclusive items in there (like the
"I've been to the Mothership" T-Shirt) That's it unless you know
someone on the inside.
Don't know about google, I didn't go there.

K

[Nick Rosen]

I visited Google in Mountain View when they had 10 staff - there was a tiny office and one computer on the desk at reception which just had ALL the searches scrolling up the screen. It was, as they say over there "Wasom!"

The receptionist was awsome as well - her name was Kendra and I always wondered what happened to her - probably a billionaire by now

[Benjamin Blundell]

With the HQ's I was just going to do the cheesy tourist thing of take
a photo next to it :P But cool!

Endeavour tickets are booked and in the bag! :D thanks for all the
suggestions. I'll be checking a few more out, and yes, Jonty if I can
borrow the noisebridge key, that'd be ace! :D

B

On 11 October 2012 21:46, Ben Blundell <o...@section9.co.uk> wrote:
> With the HQ's I was just going to do the cheesy tourist thing of take
> a photo next to it :P But cool!
>
> Endeavour tickets are booked and in the bag! :D thanks for all the
> suggestions. I'll be checking a few more out, and yes, Jonty if I can
> borrow the noisebridge key, that'd be ace! :D
>
> B

> --
> S E C T i O N 9
>
> |- Benjamin Blundell
> |- www.section9.co.uk
> |- www.twitter.com/secti0n9
> |- Unit 30, Cremer Business Centre, Hoxton, London

[Matt Platts]

Not necessarily inherently a geek thing but San Francisco is an interesting city in its own right, especially some of the famous suburbs - the Mission, Haight-Ashbury and Castro districts are pleasant and charming and very welcoming of (quiet) tourists.

[Kimball Johnson]

Oh yeah, and make sure you go on the cable cars, and sit on the
outside with a camera!

It might be worth looking at http://www.citypass.com/ if you are going
to do some of the museums, it includes a pass for the trams and cables
cards and part of the tube system, so is quite good value.

Kimball

[Amran]

and dont forget to go to in-N-out burger. you'll need some info on the secret menu too - http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/03/the-in-n-out-survival-guide-we-ate-every-single-item-on-the-secret-menu.html

[Katie Sutton]

On 12 October 2012 11:20, Amran <amx...@gmail.com> wrote:
> and dont forget to go to in-N-out burger. you'll need some info on the
> secret menu too -
> http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/03/the-in-n-out-survival-guide-we-ate-every-single-item-on-the-secret-menu.html

Since we've tripped into food rec's:

- Sam's Diner at 8th and Market does incredible breakfasts, $2
bottomless coffee and free wifi when you spend over 10 bucks.
- Zeitgeist (which might be on Russ' list of drinkeries) do great food and beer
- Humphrey Slocombe at 24th and Harrison is probably the best ice
cream bar Chin Chin in London that I've ever tasted. Secret Breakfast
is bourbon and cornflake flavour and in-cred-ible.

And the tip Russ gave to me of getting a 3 or 7 day Muni pass is an
excellent one if you don't have the car your whole time in SF, or
don't want to spend megabucks on gas - it was only $27 for a week when
I was there.

--
Katie Sutton
http://tajasel.org

"The ‘Net is a waste of time, and that’s exactly what’s right about
it." ~ William Gibson