San Francisco Hostel Blog

World Cup attendance in San Francisco

2010-05-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

Although San Francisco may not have a reputation of being a soccer, ahem* football city. The many cultures that share their space in our fare city insure many way to appreciate the worlds most popular sporting event. Below is the first place to find out where you can catch the 7AM 2010 World Cup matches starting June 11th.

Sports Events : Drink in the action: World Cup Bar Guide

Also, it's worth noting that there are a plethora of free football fields to choose from to pick up a match with the locals. Stop by reception and we we've got a bag of equipment we don't mind loaning out to our early to rise, athletically inclined backpackers.

Disappointed Otters and Street Art

2010-04-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry we've been quiet. I hope you're not as disappointed as this otter is. Anyway, for you art or subversion fans out there, legendary street artist Banksy recently hit two spots in SF in the past week. The bigger piece is located in the Mission on the left wall of Amnesia Bar, on Valencia between 19th and 20th. For reference, it's right above the bar and stationary store Little Otsu. Check out both places anyway, even if you don't like Banksy: During the day, Little Otsu is a great place to pick up a little notebook or even books from local and underground writers. At night, Amnesia hosts a variety of shows, including some Karaoke and Open Mic nights (and some comedy, too).

However, if you find yourself too lazy or disinterested in the Mission (to which the otter above us will simply be disappointed in you), there is the other spot that Banksy hit, which is conveniently located two blocks from this very hostel (which makes me suspect he stayed here...hmmmmmm), at the corner of Grant and Commercial. For the disoriented, here are simple directions: When you exit the hostel, take a right, and then take a right on Kearny, following traffic. The first street you see will be this one lane road (if you hit a stoplight, you've gone too far). Take a left on this street, walking uphill. The mural in question will be on your left at the end of the street. Feel free to pose with it in some post-modern manner. Fair warning though: If you do that, the otter will just be more disappointed in you.

Be a Spy. Be cool. Ride a Zip Line.™

2010-04-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

Today, Justin Herman Plaza will be host to a Zip Line for 10 days. What's a zip line? It's basically a line you slide down on with your feet dangling below. Like the thing spies use in movies to get from building to building all sneaky style. The guys who built it are the same ones who built a zip line in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics a couple months ago.

Now, it's only an 80 foot height you zip from, but you fly down a distance of about 680 feet. That's approximately a city block. Incredible stuff.

Where is Justin Hermann Plaza? I know, I'm copying the directions below, but still: When you exit the hostel, turn left, and walk straight until you reach the end of Sacramento. Then, cross Davis (which is where Sacramento ends), walk through the pseudo-alleyway, and you pop right out at the Plaza. It's easy like pants.

Get Stupid. Just not in the Diesel way...

2010-03-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

Why not Diesel way? Because Diesel's ads conflate crazy awesome with middle-class stupidity. And you know what? That's not only not cool, but dumb.

Oh, wait, you mean why do it anyway. Right....

Tomorrow is April Fools Day. The First Church of the Last Laugh is holding their annual parade in honor of the venerable Saint Stupid. The parade starts at Noon at Justin Hermann Plaza. Given that this year's "subtext" (or rather, theme) is the religion of business (or business of religion, depending on how you look at things), bring the effigy of your favorite CEO, pink slips, TPS reports, and other business papery stuff. Noisemakers, like drums, whips on your favorite CEO, and blowhorns are also encouraged. Join the fun, and go stupid.

Where is Justin Hermann Plaza? When you exit the hostel, turn left, and walk straight until you reach the end of Sacramento. Then, cross Davis (which is where Sacramento ends), walk through the pseudo-alleyway, and you pop right out at the Plaza. It's easy like cake.
And no, I am not plotting against the staff for tomorrow...

BYOBW 2010

2010-03-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

BYOBW • FUN • YES • !!! • 10th ANNUAL • LEAVE NO TRACE!! •�BRING YOUR OWN BIG WHEEL Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Get out your box of costumes and prized childhood three wheelers then head towards Potrero Hill (Bus 10) to get a taste of San Francisco in all it's nonsensical glory. That's right, BYOBW stands for Bring Your Own Big Wheel and it's starts at the top of Lombard St.'s ugly Twin Vermont St. at 4 PM. I don't think I'll be competing this year, but I can tell you where to pick up all the equipment to participate. Check out the YouTube to get a better idea of the entertainment:

Finding the right concert...

2010-03-26T03:09:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it's late. I'm scared to sleep, been having nightmares involving this. You have been warned (it is SFW, but you'll still need brain bleach for it).

One of the harder things about coming into a city such as this one, or even just living in it, is that there is never really a good site or publication that strictly offers information on concerts and other events. With most sites, the events calendar is designed in such a way that you only see stuff day of, and that's assuming the calendar is updated with what every venue is doing. With publications such as SF Weekly and the Bay Guardian, they do offer info, but it's often buried in ads, and they don't offer any info beyond what is happening the week of publication.

Only recently have I found some sites that provide good show lists, all on one page. This way, before you come into town, you know what's happening in the City. Here are the sites:
Their Older Shit Was Better: Named after a phrase that hipsters and music critics seem to utter quite frequently, this site is very simple in its layout: Covers important shows, both major and indie, all on one page. It is focused primarily on the City, though if the act is worth noting, they will mention shows in the East Bay or as far south as San Jose (like this week's Jay-Z concert at the Shark Tank). For most people, this is enough to cover you. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer links to acts if you are interested in them, but sometimes knowing the basic details is enough to go by.
TheList: Dedicated to funk, punk, thrash, and ska, you can find bands of all that nature on this list (with some weird offshoots, like the Indigo Girls). Also, given its preference to punk, shows are often given additional details in that regard, such as whether people under 21 have to pay more, if there's going to be a mosh pit, if the show is likely to sell out, etc. A nice touch is the use of search, if things get a bit hairy. A fair warning though: TheList not only covers shows in Bay Area, but much further out, to as far north as Sacramento and east as Reno.
The Transbay Creative Music Calendar: Free-Jazz. Musique Concréte. Design Composition. Pure noise. Avant-garde classical. Jandek. If any of these terms (or people) mean anything to you, then this calendar will be useful to you. This calendar covers shows of the artsy-fartsy experimental kind (and we do mean experimental). Covers the entire Bay Area.
Dar Dar Dar: This site is for the little guys. By little guys, I mean bands who are playing in small venues, truly up-and-coming artists of any kind, possibly house shows, and bands who have such a niche audience that they're unlikely to break through anytime soon. You name it, if it's small and weird, it's likely to be in this list. A nice touch to the site is the ability to discuss these shows, look for related shows, and even share them with your friends (or yourself, for personal records).

Finally, there's FecalFace's calendar for those who just want to see art. Performances, openings, panels, films, signings, auctions, the whole shebang. Some galleries (Femina Potens springs to mind) do not post here, however.

So, feel free to look at these sites, see if your favorite band (or artist) is coming to town when you are. Eventually, we'll have someone add these to the side for you look at without having to resort to this point (hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink...?)

That's all for now. Until next time, beware the singing ponies....

Nerdgasam at Wondercon

2010-03-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

For those of you who can't make it the world famous geekout known as the Comic Con this year, you are in luck because in just about 2 weeks, San Francisco hosts the little brother event called the Wondercon. It's the only place you can meet Lou Farigno a.k.a. the Hulk, take your picture next to Darth Vader and get into fisticuff over who made the better star fleet captain (It's Kirk, obviously) in one place. The event will be held over the course of 3 days starting April 2nd at the Moscone Center, a short skip and jump from the doors of Pacific Tradewinds. So pack your cosplay costume and rare comic books and come stay with us at the hostel to get close to the action. *Bonus to guests attending, if you make a face-booking on our website and show us your event registration at reception we'll grant you a $2 discount. Consider the hostel your personal "save" spot of San Francisco. Live long, and prosper. WonderCon 2010 :: What's New

Saint Patricks Day Parade Challenge

2010-03-12T20:03:00.001-08:00

Hey there, it's Darren your friendly hostel owner. The Saint Patrick's Day Parade is happening this Saturday March 12th. My Daughter Kate, will be in the parade so I'll be there. So here's your parade challenge. First see if you can find me at the parade. You'll have to do some research beforehand to figure out what I look like. Be the first one to introduce yourself to me and tell me your a hostel guest, and I'll give you something green out of my wallet. Extra green if you can identify Kate WHILE she's walking in the parade. This challenge is not valid for people who I have already met before. For more information about the parade look here.

How to buy stuff and make yourself feel better the morning after

2010-03-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hi. They call me Dash sometimes. I work at Pacific Tradewinds Hostel as a receptionist. I will attempt to post events from time to time, especially in the Bay Area. I may also throw brain-bleach worthy material at your face. Wear a mask.

Of particular note this weekend is the White Elephant Sale in Oakland (Yes, that place across the Bay that's also a "city"). It is one half Antique Shopping, one half massive flea market. You can get a lot of good stuff there (just about everything you need, really) at cheap prices. Further, all the money you spend goes directly into the pockets of the Oakland Museum of California, allowing them to stay open and get cool stuff for exhibitions.

You might be thinking: "Oh bull. It's just a flea market." On the contrary. It is a flea market where all the items are stuff donated by rich people. So expect some pretty banging stuff.

The main event in on Sunday March, 7th and It is located at 333 Lancaster St. Getting there from the hostel shouldn't be too hard: Take the BART from Montgomery St. Station to Fruitvale station (trains you want to take: Dublin/Pleasanton or Fremont, EAST BAY side of the platform). From Fruitvale, you can walk there (though you may have to consult directions for that), or you can wait for the shuttle that the market is providing at no charge.

More information can be found here. Buy stuff! It's the American way.

We want you!

2010-03-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been interested in participating in a hostel community by way of volunteering, this post is for you. A space is opening up on the good ship PT in next 2-3 weeks and we're looking for a friendly, dynamic & well traveled individual to lend a hand to our crew for a couple of months. Please get in touch with your good captain via email or phone and I can give you more details. It's difficult to make up my mind over a phone so I highly encourage you to drop by the hostel in person in order to introduce yourself and find out more about this amazing opportunity to connect with the backpacking community and San Francisco.

SF0 to the hostel, the cheapest way.

2010-03-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

At the Pacific Tradewinds, we frequently get asked many similar questions and what most answers come down to for the guests is a choice between price and convenience; i.e; easiest vs. cheapest. Submitted in the URL below is a PDF for the answer to cheapest way to get to the hostel from the SFO. A little known bus route that only costs $2 for a 45 minute trip into the city. It's definitely not as easy as taking the bart, but if you are patient enough to follow the schedule it will save you $6. How's that for budget? cheapest way to get to the hostel from the SFO

Love in San Francisco

2010-03-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

Idea's about love in San Francisco have changed a bit since the 1960's when it involved putting flowers in your hair. CurbedWisdom asked random people on the streets of San Francisco "How do you know when you are in love?" Seems to me CurbedWisdom found a lot of San Francisco Hostel guests for this video. Some of the responses are poignant some are funny, all are real people in San Francisco. You will see why when you watch the video which is for mature audiences.

Closest Hostel to the Parade

2010-02-26T17:12:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year Parade is this Saturday and Pacific Tradewinds Hostel is the closest hostel to the parade. Just steps away from our door. The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade is one of the world's top parades and it's probably the largest celebration of it's kind outside of Asia. There will be more than 100 floats as well as great costumes, firecrackers, marching bands, acrobatics and of course the huge dancing dragon. This years dragon will be more than 201 feet long and it will take a team of over 100 men and women to carry it. Please note that our San Francisco Hostel is located near the corner of Sacramento and Kearny on the map above. For more information about the parade visit http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com

Congratulations to all Olympic Athletes

2010-02-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

As the 2010 Winter Olympics come to a close we would like to say congratulations to all the athletes. In the Olympic spirit of international friendship and camaraderie, we would like to offer free accommodation to ANY Olympic athlete that would like to stay with us, no matter what country you are from.

To those of you who did not compete, but went to Vancouver or Whistler to cheer on the athletes, we invite you to stay as well. For the next week, we are offering a $2 per night discount in exchange for a some small token of the Olympics. A brochure, a drink coaster, a ticket stub, whatever you have.

So once the games are done, come to San Francisco and tell us some stories. See you here.

Mavericks Surf Announced for this Weekend!

2010-02-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

For those folks traveling on surf safari in search of the world's most mondo waves will be excited to know that this weekend is

Mavericks Surf annual surf competition. Just 1 hour south of the Pacific Tradewinds on the PCH you can catch the action. If you're on your way up from LA come and stay with us for a quick drive to catch the action.

Reserve Via Facebook

2010-02-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

Once again, we have rolled out another way to make our guests life easier. Now you can reserve your bed in Pacific Tradewinds without a credit card! That's right, if you are on Facebook and become a fan of Pacific Tradewinds Backpacker Hostel we will accept your promise and hold a bed for you based on that promise. The form is simple and we don't need a ton of numbers, expiration dates, CVV2ID$#*! codes. Just your name, email, arrival date and the promise you'll come when you say you will. Have a look at our Facebook page now. And, while you're at it, become a fan and make a reservation.

Web Phone Widget

2010-01-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

Greeting folks, Were working on expanding our services to you, our guests and have implemented a Google Voice account so it's easier and cheaper to call your friends across the country and keeping in touch with your family back at home, over-seas.

The widget above is a test to see if you guys can use the service to call us direct from our website to ask questions or make reservations. Give it a shot and we'll give you a discounted nightly rate if you mention that you are using Google Voice to make the call.

There are going to be a few hiccups because we are in the testing phase of this tech, but we think getting in touch with the hostel directly and the convenience of making phone without a calling card will make up for it.

So stay in touch, give us a call and come to San Francisco soon!

Cazart,

Cpt. Dave

No Pants on Subway Day - Save the Date

2009-12-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

January 10, 2010 - Subway riders in major cities in the USA (and the world) will ride their subway without pants. As you can imagine this event is the most fun in San Francisco. So make your hostel reservations now. We'll give you a $2 discount at check-in if you coming to San Francisco for No Pants on Subway Day. Be sure to mention your no pants status at check-in. REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION: 1) Willing to take pants off on subway 2) Able to keep a straight face about it You can get more information about the No Pants on Subway Day here and here.

Off Season Stimulus Plan

2009-10-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hey fellow travelers, Now that we are heading into the Autumn/Winter season, starting Nov. 1st we're reducing our rates to $24 (USD) a night to accommodate the thrifty off-season travelers looking to get the best value of their foreign monies (krown, bok, yen, rubbles, etc.) I'm talking to you Australia! For the adventurous, spur of the moment travelers, don't be afraid to walk right up, we'll make the space. For those who like to have all their ducks in a row book now, over the phone, 1 (888) SFHOSTEL or on our site at www.sanfranciscohostel.org to reserve. This is your Captain speaking, happy to offer a deal. Yar! Dave V.

Folsom St. Parade! (Leave the kids at home)

2009-09-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the Folsom St. parade. I would post photos but it would be indecent. You can never do justice to the filthy kind of things that happen down there. Here's a link provided by SFist: A Folsom Street Fair/Leather Week Preview

Also, a pretty literary map of SF to balance it all out.

Bar Crawls

2009-07-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

For those of you who like to plan and party simultaneously, I sumbit to you CrawlSF a website referred to me by a band of party goers dressed in polo-plaid at my post as a door man in the infamous triangle of the Marina. Seems they plan one massive bar crawl once a month, the next one is on August 8th. Keeps your peeps tuned into their website for more details. Until then you'll have to stick our guns and join us on one of our many un-official bar crawls (We call it "drinking") to the many colorful neighbor hoods of the city. This week it's Queer Monday in the Castro to send off our most excellent activities director, Dave Warren.

See Oakland!

2009-07-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

For those of you who want to expand their travels into the beaten path of California, please consider making your way to Oak-Town! Cheer for the A's and see the grittiest of hipsters.

Attached is a video from the board of tourism for your consideration.

Guest Information Pages Started

2009-06-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm continually getting information, flyers, discounts etc. that I think would be of interest to our guests. I have always waited for the day when I have the time to incorporate all the information into an amazing website. Consequently the site never gets done. Well I have a new philosphy about this section of the website - just get it online. Have a look. Dave, send me some stuff. I know you know more than I do about things to do.

Lets Get Gay

2009-06-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hey fellow travelers, this is your event update for the weekend. It's Gay Pride in the gayest city of them all. Pick up some hot pants, rainbow flags and some glitter to celebrate a little sexual diversity. Otherwise, straight attractions are still available for the timid, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz respectively. (Cable Cars are so gay.) The official parade is on Sunday starting at 10:30 AM on Market St. For a break down of events check out SFist for details

US Regional Air Guitar Championships Coming

2009-06-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not real. The US Regional Air Guitar Championship is coming to San Francisco on June 26-27th. For more information see this page. I know what you are saying, "I didn't come to San Francisco to see imaginary music!" Ok then, music isn't your thing. You must be here to see the Air Sex Championships June 24th. Ha! Got your attention now. You want to check out the official Air Sex site. for the details on this event. If you want to buy tickets either event, go to The Independent.. Have Fun!

The right chance for right person.

2009-06-04T11:54:00.001-07:00

Hey folks. This one goes out to all enterprising travelers out there looking to experience the path less traveled on the world tour circuit. Get in touch with the Captain if you are interested in volunteering your time at the good ship Pacific Tradewinds. It's a cool way to plug into the local community, save some cash and get some practical hospitality experience. (I hand out letter of reference like Tech Stocks). This offer goes quick, I'll be running interviews for next 2 weeks.

Full House

2009-05-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Recently we've been bequeathed a very nice set of poker chips by one, soon to be Vegas famous Connor Montgomery. As such, texas hold 'em games in the common room have been on the rise. I suppose gambling makes sense when you're scarping for cash on the open road. The games are cheap, a $2 buy in generally, but the competition in turn is fierce. Feel free to start a game and we'll hand you our house chips from behind reception. Just don't forget to share your winnings at the bar. For advanced gamblers, I know where to hustle a $50 game in Chinatown. Just come talk to the captain.

Manager Gets a Holiday

2009-05-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

Our manager Dave has just returned from his motherland in the Czech Republic. I'll let him tell you the details. While he was there, he was nice enough to send me a postcard. When you come to the hostel, practice your Czech language with Dave. He said he needs to practice. Glad to have you back, Dave. Na zdravi!

Slackers

2009-03-19T13:31:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I've let the content of this blog fall to the wayside and I wanted to apologize to our legions of PT devotees that I'm been slacking. To make up for it, I have interesting news to share with you true believers! Darren and I have been developing a beta for our official website that will allow guests to leave messages on the wall of our Facebook appreciation page that will be sent directly to our official sanfranciscohostel.org website. What that means is that it will allow people browsing for a hostel to see the type of people that have stayed at the hostel and what they had to say about by crosslinking to Facebook. Real reviews from the FB people. Check out the link to take it for a test ride. PT Facebook Beta Site

Great Times at the Tradewinds

2008-09-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

Never will we ever stay in a hotel again if there are options like this place available. Check the link below for a vPost made from the top of the Tradewinds. Thanks for everything!!!....awesome people. http://www.quicklybored.com/2008/09/ctia-2008-buzzd-and-skyfire-last-call/ The Three Canucks (the two Kyle's and Douglas)

A call to arms,

2008-03-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

We're on the right path and we have some good people to help us out. Lets give a warm welcome and a shout-out to the new crew; Ari, Anton and Christen. Thats a solid 3 for 3 swap. But it's not enough. We needs some more people to help out with housekeeping asap. Nothing to serious, very casual week-to-week kind of gig. If you or you're friends are trying to save some money traveling tell them about the spot and we'll take care of them at the good ship Pacific Tradewinds.

Horray! We're #1. USA! #1 USA!

2008-02-25T15:17:00.001-08:00

Pump those arms and shoot some fire works! But really, thanks for making it happen it one more time people. I am truly humbled. Cazart, Dave V. P.s. Oh yeah...

From Taken on Febr...

Code Green: Portal

2008-02-03T00:58:00.001-08:00

Fixed! Thanks Darren.

Red Alert: Portal is down.

2008-02-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

Gah! Our key buzzer stopped working. It involves a transformer (Not what you're thinking). Your keys don't work, repeat, keys, not working. Hit the intercom and we will sprint down the stairs and open it up but after midnite we've got a problem! Darren is on his way, the Navy is on it's way. Horah! I'll keep you posted. Oh yeah, I noticed Chinese New Year sprinting up the valley between Knob and Russian Hill on the way to the Golden City Hardware. {Officially 2.07, Rat)

3 Dollar Eggs

2008-01-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

Brian the Scotsman gets up and cooks up poached eggs on toast for the house almost every morning. Hungover or not. This luxury has been his own independent production that has been received with my great appreciation. For less than the cost of a fancy coffee cobbled together over at Starbucks, Brian offers a great start to our days while supporting his own travels with kind courtesy. We support this terrific character and in-turn he keeps the community at the hostel going. Damn, I'm going to miss him. Quetzal is taking a turn and offering smoothies in his place. But I'm thinking about training for a new spot in the house that combines keeping the kitchens looking good and cooking food for the people semi-regularaly to put some money his pocket. What did you have for breakfast? Know and good traveling cooks or just someone with the right mind to boil water and serve and egg with a smile? Send them my way...

Project: Pacific Tradewinds Hostel Photo Documentry

2008-01-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

Hey Sports Racers, We've just put together a Photo project using Picasa / Eye-Fi. The premise is that we're using a WiFi enabled SD card that broadcasts the photos taken from Pacific Tradewinds immediately to an online album and onto the slideshow playing on the computer on the 4th fl. It's the hostel real time! (almost) Check it out here in the corner, >>, to see what's being uploaded daily by going here: http://picasaweb.google.com/dvesely/ Or look for it on Facebook. Cheers! Your Captain

Google Street View & Pacific Tradewinds

2007-05-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is so cool! For the guests who want to know how to recognize what the hostel looks like from the outside, Google Maps has released a new feature called Street View which will show you a photo at street level. Click the link and throw in our address (680 Sacramento St. San Francisco CA) to see it for yourselves. Man Google is so cool, what will they think of next? Google for President! Here's a quick video for reference too.

Quebec city in the snow

2007-01-31T14:43:00.000-08:00

After being staff at Pacific Tradewinds Hostel for 3 months, I came back home at the middle of december 2006. I left the beautiful weather of San Francisco to go back home in the snow in my hometown of Quebec City. Most of people say that the weather in Canada sucks. Yes it sucks, true! But there's some good side to it. We have the biggest winter carnival in the world in Quebec city. I went to this carnival every year for the last 20 years so may be for me it doesn't look so cool. But I guess that for someone from outside Quebec, seeing sculptures of snow, a bar made of ice and people taking a bath of snow in swimsuit, that could be something special. Most of hostelers I met visited Quebec city during the summer, visiting it during the winter carnival would be a different way to enjoy it. There's also a great hostel in the city from what I heard.. Why do I talk about that? Well Guy Kawasaki, a guy from San Francisco (an ex-Apple employee and active in the internet-startup industry of Sillicon Valley), posted some pictures of his visit in Quebec City at the winter carnival. Take a look, it's worth it. Click here for pictures!

Orin's Flickr

2007-01-29T01:38:00.000-08:00

I wanted to throw a quick shout out to one of the staff member's flickr streams. If you ever want to get an idea of what kind of shenanigans we get up to at the hostel, take a peak at this link. Most of the time I'm to preoccupied with you know, management, to catch the little things that Orin's got the eye for.

2007-01-23T22:49:00.000-08:00

What the hell happened?!
Submitted once again for your viewing pleasure another classic public works film entitled "Ask me, Don't Tell me". This gem involves some groovy San Francisco gangs like, "The Ravens", "The Lonely Ones", "The Aces" and "The Timers" that hang up their nifty embroidered jackets and set aside their differences in order to make an impact in their their respective communities. These days it's a bit different. Public and community service is punishment for minor crime and I can't remember the last time our fair city held a sock hop for the Bloods.

Fire Safety

2007-01-19T00:05:00.000-08:00

I know this is boring but a lot of travelers, believe it or not, die in fires that start in hostels and guest houses with sub-standard building/fire codes all over the world. This little cartoon gives some of the best fire safety advice I've ever heard. I should know, I was a welder/firefighter in the Navy for six years. Please pay attention!

The Streets of San Francisco!

2007-01-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

Get this clip. It's the 1970's and Karl Malden and Michael Douglas play two gritty cops who are here to sweep the injustice from the streets of America's most tourist friendly cities.

Nothing makes me think of crime more than quick pan shots of San Francisco's most recognizable historical monuments. Oddly the entirety of the seediest part of town (affectionately named the Tenderloin) was left out.

Most of the shots are within 20 minutes of the hostel and I can even point our where Douglas got his hair cut in a back alley of Chinatown.

New Year's Ev-il!!!!

2007-01-05T05:08:00.000-08:00

What you are about to see really happened...Because this is the actual video of it. WERD. ~D

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-21T19:34:00.000-08:00

'Nuff Said

Helping Hands

2006-11-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, Just wanted to let you know that your dear old mad captain is once again looking for a few helpful travelers to come volunteer with us at the Pacific Tradewinds. It's a pretty sweet gig. For 24 hours a weeks you get free accommodation and a daily meal and all sorts of goodies such as free trips to Yosemite, free stays at most west coast hostels and local treats like free bike rentals. Drop me a line, give us a call and tell your friends that we've got some work available asap. Looking forward to hearing from ya! Selah, Dave

Random Land Rovings

2006-11-26T16:09:00.000-08:00

The wide, wide wonder of the little world of America, vast expanse of happy lands! From San Francisco I went to Oakland, rented a car, stayed in a Wyoming motel with an escape hatch, picked up a girl in Denver, and took her to Tulsa where made was love in a hundred-year-old house. A train, ridden, took me across the Rockies, the dessert, the Sierras to my new home in Eugene, Oregon where the coast rages the bodies of valiant trees and long strands of primordial vegetation onto the sand of forlorn Waldport. All this Starts in San Francisco. All this is endorsed and approved at the Pac Tradewinds.

Thanksgiving at Pacific Tradewinds

2006-11-25T16:47:00.000-08:00

We had an awesome ThanksGiving at Pacific Tradewinds. 2 turkeys, macaroni, vegetables, wine, etc, etc, etc, a lot of food! Look here for pictures and for a video!

Thanksgiving 2006

Love is...

2006-11-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

a violent mugging that ends in death.

Hostel Halloween, Ha!

2006-11-02T00:29:00.000-08:00

Harrowing. How many of you can say you've traveled to a town where Halloween is sacred? How many of you even know what Halloween is? Halloween (an important American holiday celebrated by the wearing of scary and ridiculous costumes, the collection of unreasonable amounts of candy, the carving of pumpkins, etc.) is awesome—and that's all you need to know. It's also nice to know that there's great places to be for Halloween, and if you were here it was pretty good.

Love is

2006-10-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Love is porridge, not oatmeal, porridge.

Love is

2006-10-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Love is pretending it doesn't hurt.

Love is

2006-10-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Love is being shot and kissing the gun.

Love is

2006-10-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Love is something with buttons for eyes, all the blinky eyes are LYING.

Love is

2006-10-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

Love is bleeding in an airport.

Love is...

2006-10-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Love is making the bastard breakfast ANYWAY.

Love is....

2006-10-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

Love is smiling kindly while your partner deflates.

The sickness that has taken me.

2006-10-24T23:18:00.000-07:00

Travelers come here from all over the world. All these people from different cultures, jumping on a plane, bus, train etc. sharing the recycled air and swapping bugs. Then 38 get here and they share everything, including their diseases. Here I sit. Sick as a dog with a power-flu. This is making me stronger. I'll be ready for yellow fever after this. I'll be the Spanish to the Aztecs. Now hand me a blanket, I've got conquests to conclude.

2006-10-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

Love is...What you're willing to put up with.

Love is...

2006-10-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

"Love is an unanswered letter."

What is love

2006-10-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Right now at the hostel, every day, we are trying to define, what is love. You ask the question to someone...What is love? And someone needs to answer, love is.... This little game has been around for at least 3-4 weeks and we're gonna start to put the quotes here so we won't forget about it! Love is waking up late without a hang over Dave (manager) Love is finding someone to be silent with A guest Love is something I don't know Jerome Love is pineapple upside-down cake that your grand mother made especially for you Dave (Ohio) Love is like eating too much sugar and going into diabetic coma Laura Love is having your insanity accepted by another person Laura I'm gonna update this post on the blog as long as we get new quotes.

San Francisco Jell-O

2006-09-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Someone created a scale model of San Francisco...with Jell-O! You can even see the San Francisco fog. There's also a 1 minute video of an earthquake in the city.

Hostel life part I

2006-09-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

i like living at the hostel it's non-stop fun and busy i like :)

Soon, My Pretties...

2006-09-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting at my fav bar in Tulsa. Caz's http://www.cazspub.com/ I'm sitting here drinking beer looking forward to the upcoming rambles. I'll fly to Sacramento, take a cab to the train, which will wisk me slowly to San Francisco. I'll spend a few days at the PacTrades, then pick up a rental car in Oakland and drive to Denver, CO. That's where a girl is AND that's where a hook is to get on with Raytheon Polar Services. After all that I'll return to Tulsa so to help a friend move to Little Rock, Arkansas. AFTER that I'm Cali bound forever. Then I can truly shell out the know of the great SF and other coastal grapes...SO sweeeeeeeeet!!!

The Ratings Game

2006-08-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and my head was spinning. I'm sure this has little to do with beers but more to do with a review I read before I laid to rest. I'm not going to place the review up here because I respect the anonymity of my guests and of course they are entirely entitled to their own opinion. As am I. A few things, I want to note because I think I deserve to be heard as much as our guests, right? We're a small hostel. No lie. It says that on every write up we've got. This tends to appeal to many of our guests who are tired of being checked-in and forgotten at some of the larger hostels out there. Pacific Tradewinds is really like a home. My home and yours too. Everybody knows everybody and we like to keep it that way. My staff is my family, I mean that in all seriousness. We share everything. Our food, stories troubles and even secrets. They are the coolest people I know of, that's why I hired them. I invite any guest to join in and contribute to our family, even for a short amount of time. It's not a private club or a high school clique. We're all in this together and sometimes you'll have to toe the line and jump head first into our world. Trust us, we're good people. Now, this is one of the most important points I'd like to make. We are not a cheap hotel. Please don't mistake us for one. If you're looking for a cheap place to stay in town, check out the Motel 8. We are most certainly a hostel and if you find that sharing a room with 6 or 8 people and rubbing elbows with the person brushing his or her teeth next to you is an inconvenience you may want to consider dropping your hard earned dough at the Hilton down the street. Yes, it gets tight in here. Yes, you'll find beers sitting empty in the Common Room in the morning. Yes, some plates get left behind and the kitchen can look untidy. Trust me, it will get clean, we just can't keep it that way all day. I love shiny things, ask my staff, they think I have OCD. We are a damn good hostel and it's has little to do with the kitchen, bathrooms or beds. It's about creating an environment where travelers from all over the world can share and appreciate a unified culture undefined by borders, politics, race, age, or religion. That's why I love hostels and love my job. So folks, when it's time to write up those most important reviews, all I ask is that you stop for a moment, transcend the tangible and consider the amazing experience that will define you as a person and create the memories you will cherish for the rest of your life. Cazart, Dave V.

Chillin' With Dashiell Hammett

2006-07-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

My San Francisco is Jack London's. Mine is the noir city of Dashiell Hammett, the author of "The Maltese Falcon", "The Thin Man" and the "Continental Op" featuring Sam Spade. Mine is the San Francisco of the Barbary Coast days when the fate of mainland China was decided by Tong wars fought in the mysterious alleys of China Town. My haunts are places like The Saloon, Specks, and Li Po. The cheap hotels are my living room, the alleys, my hallways, the night, my playground. If you come to San Francisco and you're wandering around alone at night and you feel a little nervous, don't fret. Make this YOUR town and its denizens will call you "brother". "...In this a place of the oddest magic stands a megalithic structure whose base absolutely engulfs entire tracts of land. Its sloping sides, in an instant, streak into the sky cleaving it at painful angles so that an observer at the base is a witness to a dismemberment of the blue above and feels at any moment to be drench in a rain of red."

Oh, My Cities

2006-05-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

Several days ago I returned from another of my infamous whirlwind tours; this one involved Stroudsburg, PA, New York, NY, London and Winchester, England, and finaly Chicago, IL. I stayed in the Stroudsburg with an old Navy buddy o' mine and had a good time wandering around the old steel mills PA is famous for. In New York I only stayed a day and a night at a grat hostel near Central Park West. I was only there to catch my ride outa JFK to London where I met up with my cousins and had a good time wandering the narrow cobblestone streets around St. Paul's Cathedral. I met up with them again in Winchester were we saw the sequel to ELIZIBETH being filmed at Winchester Cathedral. Ten days of England ended with me flying into Chicago where I stayed at a hostel on Loyola University campus on the beutiful, freeze-your-ass-off shore of Lake Michigan or, as I say, the North Coast. This Summer will find me back in Tulsa for a little while waiting for the first signs of Autumn which will signify the correct time to head back to San Francisco, madcap hijinx, and a flight to Asia.

Help!!

2006-05-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

We need some volunteers at the Pacific Tradewinds because after this week I'm going to be down to 2 volunteers. That means that I've got to cover all the extra shifts and let my sanity run thin. So please, if you're friendly and you've got some world travel under your belt, stop on by and ask for the captain. It's a pretty cruzy gig, 24 hours of work yields free board and if you stick around long enough, you'll have a couch to sleep on almost anywhere in the world. Otherwise, I'm sailing this ship on my own and I'm sure you've all heard of "Ocean Madness".

"Jay Shambo"

2006-05-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

This picture captures an amazing event. I know it looks like a simple transaction at a liquor store but trust me it's much more. The gentleman at the right is Satoshi, our cleaner and one of the hardest party animals to come out of Japan. Satoshi missed last call for Karaoke night and without missing a step, went ahead and bought a $60 dollar of Johnnie Walker Green Label without breaking a sweat. This is late night madness. When you work at a hostel, you get used to the "Champagne of Beer" or anything else that will wear away your good senses for under 5 bucks. Bringing this bottle into the Pacific Tradewinds is like Queen of England swinging by a buffet at the "Beaver Shack" (No, I haven't been there). We salute you Satoshi for bringing a little class into the establishment in the form of a delicious green bottle. Jay Shambo!

BYOBW '06

2006-05-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

I should have posted this one weeks ago, but I think it's still holds some value. Submited for your approval, the Bring Your Own Big Wheel race held at the one and only Lombard St. The 3rd annual and completely unofficial event was held on Easter Sunday. 3 heats in all, the winner got a pair of undies with glitter "Skid Marks". The streets were slick and the crowds were thick. I think the tourists were the most confused. Driving past throngs of photographers and bloody mary wielding fans. "What's all this about?" They asked. "Nothing just keep driving." It's just another normal day in San Francisco. Click Here for official details.

Sickness By Rail

2006-03-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

Good god, where to begin?! I humped all my gear to the Oakland train station and hopped onto the Coast Starlight for a night time ride up to Portland. When I got there I broke down and stayed at an HI because it was the only hostel there. It was actualy quite nice even if everyone seemed to be avoiding eachother. Or maybe they were just avoiding me. Just a few blocks away is an OLD cinema, the Mission Theater, where is shown odd movies. You can actualy sit in the balcony and eat a meal and drink booze while the movie rolls. Trader Joe's is a few blocks in the other direction so Charles Shaw isn't out of the picture. Portland has a weird vibe to it, as if its toes are dipped into another dimension. It's a very cool town and definetly worth a visit. Back on the train to points further North...Once in Vancouver, B.C. I lugged my gear a good half-mile in the cold-ass rain to the New Backpacker's Hostel, the one we've all speculated about back in the San Fran. It turned out to be not as weird as the flyers made it out to be. I thought it was most adaquate, in fact, in light of me getting sick with the flu due to my hike mentioned above. So sick in fact, I decided to make for home. I figure if I'm going to be miserable, I'd rather be so at home instead of where I want to be. SOOO...After a three-day train ride across some spectacular country and an all-night lousy-as-Hell bus ride on which I witnessed our bus splattering an owl that, for some reason, flew right in front of the grill, I finaly made it home to Tulsa. I already Miss San Francisco... ~D

Big Rigg Does Pacific Tradewinds

2006-02-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome all to the movie which is my life (Superstar!!!) Well I am currently the Hostels token Aussie, entertainment coordinator, gay staffer (no puns intended). And have decided to tell the stories from within the hostels ecosystem, from the eyes of a gay man. Well to start, lets talk about the people whom inhabit this forever changing environment. We get the gorgeous people, the unfortunate looking people, the educated, the wheels turning but the hamsters dead people, alcoholics, the functioning alcoholics (only two types of travellers), the slags, the pre-Madonna's, the party animals, the tired stoners, and many more. But yet, no good looking gay boys, come on Marys, get your act together and come visit poor lonely Big Rigg, and the many other friendly people (some a little too friendly, which isn't always a bad thing), at the Pac Winds. Well I have had the craziest, yet hairyass (that is hilarious for the straight people) of a time, over the last month working here. From drunken nights at the Grant and Green, (Karaoke Tuesday), to playing dirty scrabble while filthy minded Italians (Hi Sara and Colm). What more would a girl want! This weekend is International Bears Rendezvous, and as I have had to explain to most people here, it is not your garden variety Bear we are talking about. We are talking the big, the hairy and yet cuddly gay men in their leather outfits. Once a year, they gather together at their breeding grounds (better know as the Eagle Tavern and Castro), to feed on the young transient salmon know to the locals as twinks. Some of these bears are carnivores and prefer the taste of other bears. But I give them one thing is that they are friendly (thanks to the gentleman at the bar calling me his Pretty, and supply endless drinks to me last Sat) and have the best kept beards on the planet. So for the last couple of days I have been sending guest to visit the Castro to observe this annual pilgrimage of the different types of bears. A quick definition of the bears, there is the Cub (young bears or the thin), Grizzly bears (the big, scary and hairy types), Muscle Bears (no need to explain) and the Polar bears (the older and greyer versions). So far all guests have enjoyed themselves and found it a different new experience`. So if you ever get the chance, be sure to pop in during this festival of Hair! Well this is only the start of my Blogging journey within this Bio dome. I will keep all updated on the unique and special occurrences of the hostel world. Remember,"...be Good or Be Good at it!" Big Rigg Over and out. gorgeous, yet slobby, homosexual.

The Hoscars: No.3

2006-02-20T00:46:00.000-08:00

We recieved word from Hostel World the other day that our guests (Yes that's you) have rated the Pacific Tradewinds the #3 hostel in North America! Frankly, I'm stunned. I have only been here for 7 month but hot damn it feels good that you folks would rate us so highly. Thank you, it makes me feel like I'm doing a good job. Now don't think I'll let this go to my head. From this point forward there is only room to get better. On an international level, it's hard to compete with the #1 hostel, a Latvian hostel, that offers guests ammenties such as an AK-47 shooting range and bob sledding but I'll see if we can get the printer working properly and change some light bulbs around here. Oh and it's Karaoke night. Link: 2005's Hoscar Winners Announced

The Flickr Project

2006-02-19T13:17:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks! Been some time. No excuses, just been a bit of a slack-ass. Posting today to note a new project I'm working on. I'm addinging a link to the new hostel Flickr photo blog. Just a way to keep up on some choice photos taken by all of us here at PT. Included are city scapes, party pics & the general tom-foolery only a city like SF can induce. If you've got anything you want to add, send it my way and I'll look it over. See the photos here.

Good Things Start @ The Pac Trade Winds...

2006-02-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

Been in the big, bad San Francisco for pert' near a month and, as usual, I've done it all. I've found and lost true loves, I've been in the depths of China Town drinking Chineese Absinth (ING a PAY) at Li-Po's 'till my vision was rimmed in green. I've been to an after-hours gay bar and made fun, with a drag queen named Princess Kennedy, of a drunk girl putting lip gloss on her eyes while lying on the floor in front of the women's room. I've read my poetry at jazz bars and fought valiantly in the largest pillow fight I ever thought could exist and ended up on the front page. http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/99973174/ I've written a chunk of my memoirs from a cheap hotel room in North Beach under the influence of seismic energy and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I've been in the presence of an Elvis Stormtrooper and Tom Servo. I saw the Chinese New Year turn into a dog with crouds and dragons and drums and gongs and little Chinese roughs chucking fireworks into the crowds from the tops of hills. I've slept 'till 3pm regardless of the paranoid schitzo woman outside my door crying about snipers on every rooftop shooting children. I'm sad at the thought of leaving my city of dreams this Friday. Tomorrow I get it going for the next day. Tonight...ING a PAY all alone. See ya in Portland. ~D

Bay City dreaming...

2006-01-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

I love San Francisco. This is a city that embraces the beautifully bizarre, and the decadently dysfunctional. Ah, SF how I miss you so. For two months, I was fortunate enough to 'volunteer' at PacTrades, and call it home. This is my sickly sweet love letter to the city I adore, and to those I've met along the way. San Francisco. Where else you can see the devil fellating the Pope, SFPD lining up to feel the crack of a dominatrix's whip, or a geriatric man sporting nothing but a cock ring and a wicked smile? It's hipsters breaking into museums, corduroy blazers with buttons on the lapel, black Chucks on your feet, one hand wrapped around a vitamin water, and the other smoking Humboldt county gold. It's drinks at Easy 5, Specs, and then Vesuvio's; it's fight dancing on the corner, Tues night karaoke at Grant & Green with the Midnight Pastries of Love, afternoons in Dolores Park, and $20 staff dinner to serve 6. PacTrades..more than a hostel, it's home. Sure, a home with four fuck-off flights of stairs, and no goddamn elevator, but a lovelier place to rest your head you could not find. Come up, drop your bags, and have yourself a cup of tea. Let the good captain and his staff look after you, you're in the best of good company now. And then there were 7..... O, Captain, my captain - repeat after me: "I *heart* mornings. Mornings *heart* me." Beware the pentaveret. Hey, buddy: Old school Adidas zip-up and your hugs, I miss them both. Small Ginger Child: Mullets *do* indeed rock. Where are ya, love? Mad Frenchman: 3 cities, c'est impossible! Right now, there's a woman attempting to thwart your advances. Dead Poet: Poet Immortal, Issa, and Kinky Friedman if you haven't already discovered them. Comeback Kid: The next Frank Gehry, and a future Pritzker prize winner - just don't fall asleep during your acceptance speech. DeviantArt: You're brilliant; harness the sun, shine on - don't live in the shadows of the moon for your spirit is far too luminous. Namaste, AE

Roll Out, My Babies

2006-01-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

Big D here, Back in the rambling saddle and let me tell ya how good it feels! I had a pretty good time here in the nation's capitol. I stayed with an old girlfriend at her house. She let me stay in the haunted basement which, sadly, wasn't haunted. I hung out in G-Town at a bar called The Guards where I did everything I could to get in the pants of the Russian bar girl. No luck. I visited the Exorsist stairs where the latest victim of Lord Satan was a Christmas tree that only made it about a third of the way down. I spent a lot of time walking around and taking pics of the usual tourist crap, but I also got a few unusual ones. I'll see if I can throw 'em up when I get to San Francisco. Now that, my babies, is gonna be a Hell of a ride. D.C. to San Francisco on the Greyhound. I MUST be a masochist. Why do I do this to myself? Can't I EVER get to San Francisco comfortably? First it was slaving away on a rescue salvage ship while I was in the Navy. Last Summer I rode a bicycle from Tulsa, Oklahoma and now I'm taking a bus from the other coast. There...I'm insane now. ~D

semi-lost in california

2005-12-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

hey buddies, well, after leaving san francisco a month ago i have now settled into a ski lodge in kings beach, ca. it's about a mile away from lake tahoe and ten minutes away from alpine mountain where i will be working for the winter. every day i have the opportunity to see the mountains kiss the lake. the air is clean, people are excited to be outside, even the bears are rad. looking back at working in the hostel, it's strange to think that i was there for three months. the thing about the hostel is that your environment is always changing; new people passing through each day, telling their stories, sharing moments. when i was bored and working at the front desk i took some time to look at all the pictures that had been downloaded by people along the way. man, these kids have been EVERYWHERE and that made me smile because i know that my time will come. each of us take different paths: some run around the world at lights speeds, others take months on a bike to get across america, and a few buy plane tickets to japan and leave the next morning... i guess it doesn't matter as long as you are rocking out along the way. so my little pacific tradewinds blog readers, be well and enjoy my home. take care of dave, brian, bryce and the new employees to come. they are wonderful and you'll love them.

Crossbar Hostel Of Tulsa

2005-11-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you folks about a great little hostel here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I had the privilage of being invited to stay for two weeks, free of charge to the Tulsa County Jail. My host(s) simply wouldn't let me refuse the kind offer so I accepted. As at any good hostel, one meets all sorts of interesting people with stories to tell about their adventures and how they received their invitation to stay soley by mistake or set-up. If you are having trouble sticking to your weight-loss diet, David L. Moss Correctional Hostel can help. Three meals a day are served, free of charge, with just enough nutritional value to keep one living and, since there is a strict curfew, you simply won't be able to indulge in your normal, fat, vitamin, and protein rich diet. Hot showers are available, no charge, but, as they say in hostel lingo, "Watch yer back!". Another interesting feature of this inovative hostel are the uniforms for the guests. Bright orange coveralls and a pair of inexpensive deck shoes. What else would one need to wear? The lesson of packing light is not lost on our hosts and they never miss an opportunity to remind the guests of its value with periodic "shake downs" where the friendly staff go to each room, or as they say "cell", and kindly unburden the encumbered traveler of superfluous belongings. All in all it wasn't exactly a terrible stay but I would recomend to ANY traveler to STAY THE HELL OUT OF JAIL!!! ~D

Monster Chess Rally

2005-10-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

Monday! Monday! Monday! Watch minds collide in the most anticipated event of the week. 8 of Pacific Trades guest and staff square off for a grisley Chess Tournament. Only one will remain to collect the purse. The rest left to wallow in defeat. Who wil it be? We'll have the winner and follow up story tomorrow. Don't forget about Mega-Rook, the 60' fire breathing, pawn-crushing machine! Update In a huge upset, three of the former reigning champions have been knocked out in the first round. Things are slow and it seems that we won't have a winner until later.

postcard from san francisco

2005-10-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

I snagged this card in the Mission; a neighborhood that is part latino enclave - part hipster zone. I lounged at a cafe on Dolores avenue as a Peruvian procession for "el senor de los milagros" paced along. Later, I slept on sand at ocean beach and woke up to a setting sun across a full moon.

out of control

2005-10-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

Our journey began very chillin at cafe prague where I scored a rad t-shirt that reads: cafe prague san francisco. Jakob (from CZ Rep.) who stayed at the hostel gave it to me and he served us a complimentary apple struddle (his first ever, you see he just started working there). Katie, Aileen and I lounged on the velvety chairs while sippin on coffee -absorbing the streaming sunlight from the skylight above. Cafe prague has a grainy and warm vibe to it which suited the moment nicely. In Union Square we clapped and danced to the tap dance man and bumped into claire who joined us on our adventure.... hopped on the F market streetcar amongst restless passengers, people with eyepatches (lots of these in sf), outrageous hair doooes and a guy with a magnifhing glass in front of his eye. . Then a tense moment when a fight between the driver and some dudes broke out....resulting in our evacuation as the cops arrived. Now in the Castro we browsed some second hand clothes ... the gang ate sushi while I got my new t-shirt re-stiched to fit. Many shops later... Katie and Aileen went back to the hostel and Claire kept me company as I spent way to much money. In the mission I pigged out at Pancho Villas - Quesadillas, alfajores and all. Back at the hostel we took it down a notch as we prepped for the big night at the de young museum (grand opening extravaganza). One jammed cab ride later (6 in all) we arrived at Golden Gate ...... the park was teeming with good looking artsy people who formed a ridiculously long line. There was no way we were going to stand in line so the gang (katie, anthony, claire, mary, phillipe, and I hopped the fence to the sculpture garden - were in. DGs, live music, african tribal dances- we got lost, lost our friends, reunited again, split again bumped into others , danced our little hearts out some more... digged the bicycle rapper, bongos and boom boxes outside the spectacular museum as we marched away for a stroll through the park, in darkness, arm in arm... finally ending with an escort by the police out of the park and a quiet cab ride home. word.

Aspects Of The Rolling life

2005-10-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

BUS STATION! BUS STATION! BUS STATION! Low-class people confused, trash bag luggage in lines on the floor in front of numbered doors. Frustrated and tired, the disoriented bicker over bullshit. Pot smoke wafts among the Summer night dumpsters out back durring the 2am lay-over and here I stand observing this throng of humanity. Cantonese curses slung loudly by the couple behind me at the bad Feng Shui of it all. Mouthy-ass black girls from Atlanta in the back ceaselessly crackin' wise. How many knees are screaming in desperate need of stretching out? Gravelly-baratoned, bearded, and barefoot, the bespectacled coot scoots through the Orlando station singing tunes like "Batman", "Good Morning America", and some sort of drunken, free-style Doo Whop. How many mis-shapen, downbred, and badly tattooed crackers will I make friends with tonight? Down the twilight highway towards Chatanooga, Atlanta, and all points east This freakshow in a box rolls on.

Heart Break Has Hit The Hostel Once Again

2005-10-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Heart break has hit the hostel once again. It snuck in through the backdoor, or the basement, up the fire escape, into the fourth story window. It stuck it's fuzzy little head in, it's dirty little neck, it's icy little fists. But this time the soul crushed isn't mine. But I feel it. And I felt for him. As I've been to the crossroads drunk on cheap wine, alone, and lost, and mortified. Down and out, crushed under the weight of rock bottomness, like strawberry jam spread too thin over the bread of loneliness. I met the devil. And he ain't no friend of man. He'll peer into the window shades of your soul. He'll test your will, and body, and mind. He'll follow you through the darkened, lonely, emptied streets of your life. Through the candle lit rooms we hide from the unwelcome guests of our minds. He'll creep into the silent, still, blackened midnights. No, that devil ain't no friend of mine. And sometimes around the edges, or under the crusts of our souls awaits a great earthquake that, under the muffled sound of thunder, rumbles and breaks and raises the keystones of our lives. It frays, and shreds, and tares the fabric of our humanity. And all that's left is our dead and dying, and the drunken stunned dumb bewildered look of not knowing why we're still alive. -Dead Poet

Wander All Ya Want..You Know Where It's At!

2005-10-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

From my second home at the PacTrades, I've been invited to join in the frey. Like DEAD POET (Wonder who that is...) I've wandered the US from Oklahoma to SF and then backwards to Florida, then off to Asia where I sat inside ancient Ankor Wat and broke a teary smile at the sight of kids playing in the killing fields of Phnom Penh. I snorkeled clear water in Kho Samui and lived in an honest-to-crap thatched hut on the beach. Right now I'm stranded, as hobos usualy are, in the Hong Kong airport due to more trouble with the bank...probably stemming from trouble with the law back home. (I thought I payed that ticket!!) Anypoop...Once it's all done and done I'm heading back to San Francisco. It's truly the only place for a manimal like me. Everything you need is China Town and North Beach. If you want or need nothing you can just lie in the grass of Washington Square. See? Simple. See ya at the Saloon! ~D

Have you seen this man? "Bush-Man"

2005-10-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

San Francisco can be special. It's filled with special people. But when I say special, I don't mean it in that magical, Disney sort of way. What I'm talking about involves a helmet, a short bus and maybe mass dosses of psychotropics. Speaking of the tropics, have you seen this guy? He's like one of those small prickley animals that don't like to be touched. They bleed out of there eyeballs or release some sort of poisonous dart. Except this guy, well this guy strikes at the deep seeded terror that exsists in all of us, the fear of some guy, hiding behind some shrubs. Waiting... But god-damn is he brilliant. I've heard rumour that he's one of the highest paid street perfomers in SF. Let all give a hand of applause for the Bush Man and make sure you give him a coin or two for giving us a laugh on Fisherman's Warf.

The Song That San Francisco Sings

2005-10-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

San Francisco the city that Saint Francis found. San Fran. The name just rolls of the tongue like it's great rolling hills. Like it's cool Pacific waters. Frisco is a city of angels. An ethereal empire of dreamers, and strange characters, of lonely lovesick wonderers, and angel faced hipsters. Where reality and fantasy dance that drunken dreamy dance. Where chance comes to play, and rest, and fall in love. And sing louder then the hate filled hearts. The bloodied burning shrapnel yells. The deep yellow screech of the dogs of war, and the over bloated cellulose of the pigs of greed. San Francisco sings soft and smooth and sweet. I came to San Francisco to learn my song, and find my wings, and sing. I tramped across the great American landscape. I threw myself to the Gods of chaos. The puppeteers of fate. I made my way through the deep southern hill billy towns that peered through me with bloody violent eyes and the silent terror of rage. Through the Kansas corn rows and wheat fields that seemingly stretch on and on and on like the infinite oceans of time, like the endless longitudes and latitudes of perpetual sadness. Like Kerouac before me and all those lost lonely souls, I crossed the mighty Mississippi and left the east of my past behind me, and ventured towards the west of my future. I made the lonely Rocky Mountain peeks my home. The dry desert highways and byways, the blistering red hot sun of New Mexico, and Arizona, and Texas became my resting place. Along the way I fell in love, and lost love, and made love. I discovered rapture in solitude. Heaven in the warm soft arms of dark skinned Mexican beauties. Bliss in my endless sadness. And like those mad mad men of 1848, I was making my way to San Francisco. It beckoned me. Called me. Seduced me with it's warm whispers of all night jazz joints. And beautiful Californian blondes. With it's promise of muse, and dirty gritty western bluesman. Of late night sweat drenched sexcapades with girls who fell in love with art and penniless poets and always followed the drum rolls of their hearts. I came to San Francisco to learn my song, and find my wings, and sing. And to fall in love with life all over again.

We'll send the French Man after you...

2005-10-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

On occassion we get a few crazed guests. They are of course, mostly harmless. That is of course until they start jamming tequila down their gullets. Meet Phil, he's from France and if your not carefull he'll drop trou and run around in his tight little Euro-undies on a perfectly fine Sat. night. He denies this of course, but we've got it on film thanks to a few good Canadians. We like Phil around these parts, he plays a damn good game of chess and provides hours of amusment completely unintentionally. And yes ladies, he is single. Check out his blog: moietbush.blogspot.com Update: Oh right, I forgot to mention. If you don't do your dishes we will sick him on you like a rabid poodle.

Letter From the Editor

2005-10-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

Mahalo. This the begining of something big. A new experiment in travel, writing & blogging. We've got a pack of warrior poets, lonesome transients and wild foriegners at the helm and we expect to set the bar. Of course this could fail. Crash and burn into the empty of void of the internet. But that is what travellers know best. Throwing our souls into the unknown bearing, little more than our wits. Emerging from the void dazed and jet- lagged, bearing stories of kinship with strangers, pictures of the beautiful and bizare, and other tales that few may fully understand. So buckle in, raise your seats into the upright position and hold on to your dear lives. You shall know our velocity. Cazart, Dave V. Chief Ed. | GM

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