San Francisco - Places and Poker - High Stakes
San Francisco
Here's the full four-eleven on what's hot in my home town. San Francisco! If you're ever coming to the City and you're looking for the places to be and be seen, here's all you need to know.
If it's Thursday night and you're looking to step out, head for the Top of the Mark sky-bar on the 19th floor of the Mark Hopkins Hotel at Number 1 Nob Hill. Donovan hosts the party on Thursdays (tell 'im Antonio sent you) and you won't find a cooler party in town. If your taste runs to martinis, the Top has over 100 to choose from. And if all those martinis get you thinking about maybe bedding down for the night, just put yourself in the gentle hands of the Mark Hopkins Hotel staff. They speak-get this-Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog, so you're bound to find someone to sing you a lullaby in your language.
On Fridays I usually head to the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel, 495 Geary Street, for some upscale partiage. The room's been around forever, but not long ago it got a big makeover from Philippe Starck, which means that its traditional elegance is now fired up by Starck's signature striking designs. Check out the digital paintings on display. They'll have your eyes glued to the dozen plasma screen TVs-if, that is, you can take your eyes off the honeys stretched end to end along the giant redwood bar.
Suite One8one, at 181 Eddy Street, is totally the last word in happening Saturday night nightclubs. When you really want to treat yourself right, make a VIP table reservation in advance and you'll be sailing with no line-wait, no cover, all mixers included, and your own professional server. True, there's a $250 minimum for up to four guests and one premium bottle (of Grey Goose or Belvedere, say), but when money's no object (and when should it ever be?) you're in for a night you'll never forget. One8one calls itself, "a shelter for individuals seeking intelligent nightlife." I say it's the place to be if you're into no ropes and no rules.
If you're loitering in the Marina District and looking for a watering hole, drop in to the Matrix at 3138 Fillmore Street. It's got this "inside of a limo" vibe and wall-to-wall eye candy every night of the week. Their bartenders are masters of the craft, throwing down classic Manhattans along with such rarities as spice-tea mojitos and chocolate cake martinis. Be sure to notice that the letter-shaped tables all spell out S-E-X. Not too subtle, but effective. The place to be within the place to be? One of their semi-private booths.
Of course, man does not live by hot babes and cool drinks alone, so for (in my humble opinion) the finest food in the 415, head on over to Restaurant Gary Danko, 800 North Point at Hyde Street. Five star cuisine. elegant presentation. flawless service. this isn't just eating, it's dining-dining the way it was intended to be, a leisurely culinary stroll through a master chef's imagination, in a tranquil, elegant locale. It's not even that expensive, maybe eighty bucks for an unforgettable five-courser, though when you start throwing in ozzies of Beluga at a hundred a pop, the bill can climb rather fast. Insider tip: Give a gift certificate to the Dank' and blow somebody away. And make a reservation, 'cause they only seat 75.
At the totally other end of the spectrum, the best cheap meal in town is without a doubt Tu Lan Restaurant at 8 6th street. The neighborhood is seedy and the joint itself's got all the style of a brown paper bag, but the food? Oh, man. Best Vietnamese food this side of Saigon-oh, sorry, they call it Ho Chi Minh City now-and prices where they're practically giving it away. Don't miss the lemon chicken and the vegetarian chow mein. Insider tip: Hit the ATM before you roll in, 'cause it's cash only at TuLan, and packing plastic is just a waste of time.
When Rocks and Rings are all in town, we gather on Sunday nights at Morton's - the Steakhouse, 400 Post Street, for our weekly Dons' Dinner. We eat, drink, catch up on everybody's goings-ons, then gamble for the check. Good times! Morton's features waiters in tuxes, live lobster, drop-dead gorgeous steaks, mammoth martinis and world-class key lime pie. No wonder Rocks and Rings makes it our clubhouse.
Finally, sentiment demands that I tell you about one place south of town, at 3945 Freedom Circle in Santa Clara to be exact. It's called Birk's Restaurant, and it's a place I worked for four years, waiting tables and doing magic. I still get back down there whenever I can, to soak up a single malt Scotch or fresh-tapped microbrew or two.. It's a South Bay institution, and the place to be for Silicon Valley shakers and movers. Check it out if you get the chance. Ask if they remember a certain smooth magician.
