Momentum 2018: Things to do in San Francisco
We’re not going to lie: The business acceleration event of the year would provide invaluable learning and networking opportunities to harness the power of all that’s next and new in the digital age regardless of where the conference location.
But the fact that it’s in San Francisco? All the better. Whether you’re a local making a short jaunt to the Union Square Hilton, or embarking on a long flight, there’s plenty to do after the last breakout of the day wraps. And although we’d never knock the Golden Gate or Lombard Street, we’ve decided to curate a list of lesser-known but equally captivating experiences you could only find in San Francisco.
Want to make the most of your Momentum 2018 experience? Let’s get started:
EXPLORE THESE FUN SF-SPECIFIC SPOTS
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City Star Party & Telescope Night at Presido
Amateur astronomer? Star fanatic? Simply want to wrap up the business acceleration event of the year with an evening comprehending the vastness of space? The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers are hosting a City Star Party the night of Thursday, June 21. You’ll have the option of experiencing our universe through telescopes at a number of viewpoints, including the Exploratorium and Randall Museum.
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Sea Lions
They have 38 teeth. They bark like a dog. And of course, they’re pretty adorable in our opinion. Would it really be a proper trip to San Francisco without seeing the sea lions? At Fisherman’s Wharf, you can watch educational videos on sea lions and observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
City Lights Bookstore
Founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, City Lights is an iconic independent bookstore. While we may be proponents of going digital, there's no replacement for the history and culture this establishment holds inside its thousands of books. It also houses the nonprofit City Lights Foundation, and published Allen Ginsberg's Howl in 1956 as part of the Pocket Poets Series.
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Hidden San Francisco Walking Tours
Not keen on typical tourism? That’s what the “Hidden San Francisco” walking tours are for. This free 90-minute walking tour goes through Yerba Buena, and offers a look into local “history, art, poetry, architecture and activism, including live performances.”
IMPRESS YOUR COLLEAGUES W/ THESE TOP-NOTCH SF RESTAURANTS
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Gracias Madre
Whether you’re vegan or not, if you’re looking to end Momentum 2018 on a delectable note, we recommend a weekend brunch at Gracias Madre. Located in the Mission District, this plant-based restaurant serves up delicious and hearty eats. (We’re partial to the biscuits and gravy.)
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Mensho Tokyo
For world-class ramen, Mensho Tokyo is your go-to. Menu items include Tori Paitan (rich and creamy chicken soup with pork chashu, duck chashu, menma, kale, burdock, katsuobushi sauce) Organic Shoyu (clear organic chicken and pork soup, shoyu dare, pork chashu, duck chashu, kale, kale sprouts, chives, menma, nori) and more.
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Bourbon & Branch
What you may know about SF’s speakeasy of all speakeasies: It’s ambiance is a powerful throwback to the roaring 20s, all spirits are hand-selected, and each morning, the bartenders make a trip to the farmer’s market to select the very best produce for their Market Fresh Cocktails.
What you may not know: Bourbon and Branch isn’t just one speakeasy — it has five different hidden bars inside — from The Library to Russell’s Room to our favorite bar-within-a-bar: Wilson & Wilson. Although you didn’t hear it from us — Wilson and Wilson, for all intents and purposes, is a “Private Detective Agency” currently working on the case of missing person Ms. Lorraine Adeline Wilson — who was last seen in 1932.
La Taqueria on 2889 Mission St.
La Taqueria is a San Francisco classic known for its Mission-style burritos. Their robust menu is filled with delicious food, and has been drawing in hungry tourists and locals alike for decades. Learn more about this La Taqueria here.
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Blue Bottle Coffee
According to Blue Bottle Coffee, their small chain of stores and carts began with a single vow and a "miniscule, six-pound batch roaster." Blue Bottle Coffee's founder is quoted as swearing he would “only sell coffee less than 48 hours out of the roaster to my guests, so they may enjoy coffee at peak flavor. I will only use the finest, most delicious, and responsibly sourced beans.”
And so he did. We recommend trying a cup for yourself.
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Mazarine Coffee
Want excellent coffee paired with light eats? Look no further than Mazarine Coffee -- which draws its inspiration from "majestic public library many thousands of miles away in Paris." Upon learning of the thoughtfully assembled collection of literature available to the Parisian public so many hundreds of years ago, they thought, "Why not do the same for coffee?" In the words of Mazarine Coffee: "We treat with curatorial zeal each new coffee that we source from the most accomplished roasters, and regularly update our menu of food and beverages in response to our customers’ interests."
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Off The Grid
Craving good food without the formality of fine dining? Swing by "Off the Grid." This mobile events platform "allows people to connect over a shared love of food and community." Learn more.
Coffee Crunch cake from Japantown
If you haven't tried Coffee Crunch cake from Japantown -- you're in for a treat. In our opinion, Yasukochi's Sweet Stop makes the best in town.
Any places we missed that you'd recommend? Leave them in the comments below!
Saved your spot at Momentum 2018? There’s still time.