Hello, and welcome to San Francisco! I am a PhD candidate at Stanford University, and I will be blogging from the MRS spring meeting. I also happen to live three blocks away from the Moscone Convention Center, so I know the surrounding neighborhoods quite well.
In case you have come to town early, I've put together a list of some suggested activities:
1. The Ferry Building Farmers' Market (Saturday morning and early afternoon, www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com) - This is a great place to enjoy the water and grab a tasty breakfast or lunch.
2. SFMOMA (www.sfmoma.org) - Our modern art museum is located within walking distance of the convention center. Both the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions are excellent, and the rooftop sculpture collection and cafe are a lovely experience on a sunny day.
3. California Academy of Sciences (www.calacademy.org) and de Young museum (www.famsf.org/deyoung) - Located in the center of Golden Gate Park, these provide fun forays into the arts and sciences.
4. Union Square (www.unionsquareshop.com) - Shopaholics, this is the place for you. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.
5. Bike tour of San Francisco (www.blazingsaddles.com) - This is a great way to see the city. I recommend doing a coastal route that takes you along the Emarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf and on to the Golden Gate Bridge. The link is to one company that offers bike rentals and tours, but there are several others, as well.
I hope this is enough to get you started. I look forward to the start of the conference next week.
Saniya LeBlanc
Wish I were there this weekend to check out the Farmer's market, and the SFMOMA! Bike tour looks great! Mmm, some activities to do after the meeting, ha.
Posted by: Wendong Wang | April 03, 2010 at 12:41 AM