人妻少妇专区

Please consider

Features

San FranciscoHop in a car, jump on a bike, or don some hiking boots and explore the expansive Bay Area. Some 3,500 alumni will tell you: adventure, amazing views, stellar food, and cultural activities of all varieties abound. By Kristine Thompson

Meet Your Guides

Streetcars and cable cars. Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Lombard Street, the Presidio, and sourdough bread.

For a city that only stretches seven miles by seven miles, San Francisco packs a punch. Ask locals what they love about it, and they will likely provide you a long list.

This past summer, six University alumni did just that, not only providing a list, but also offering their time to provide an insider鈥檚 look at the place they call home. There鈥檚 something about the area that grabs each of them.

For Lauren Sacks Hopton 鈥10, it鈥檚 the accessibility of outdoor activities. For David Fang 鈥05, 鈥11 (PhD), it鈥檚 the area鈥檚 spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. For Jason Smith 鈥03, 鈥08W (MS), it鈥檚 the diversity鈥攐f people, ideas, food, and landscape. With opportunities to explore everything from culture and technology to great food and coffee to ocean views, mountain vistas, and big adventures, all a visitor to San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area really needs is time.

Zakia Barnes 鈥04, 鈥17S (MBA)

Home: Oakland

Undergraduate major: Applied mathematics

Occupation: Developer operations specialist at Facebook

David Fang 鈥05, 鈥11 (PhD)

Home: San Francisco

Undergraduate major: Electrical and computer engineering

Occupation: Program manager at Synapse Product Development, a consultancy firm that works with small start-ups as well as Fortune 50 companies

Lauren Sacks Hopton 鈥10

Home: San Francisco

Major: Psychology

Occupation: Project manager at Rothy鈥檚, a maker of sustainable shoes for women

Carol Karp 鈥74

Home: Hillsborough

Major: Biology

Occupation: Chief regulatory officer, Prothena Biosciences Inc.

Phil Pizzo 鈥70M (MD)

Home: Stanford

Occupation: Pediatric oncologist and infectious disease specialist; former dean of Stanford鈥檚 medical school; and founder of Stanford鈥檚 Distinguished Careers Institute, which is associated with its Center for Longevity

Jason Smith 鈥03, 鈥08W (MS)

Home: San Jose

Undergraduate major: Political science

Occupation: Associate dean for student affairs at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music

For more information on regional networks, events, and volunteer opportunities, visit

Regional Networks and You

San Francisco is home to just one of the University鈥檚 regional networks, which offer alumni, parents, and friends a variety of social events and opportunities for networking and volunteering. With new cities added regularly, the lineup of metropolitan areas includes Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Rochester, and New York City.

The networks also organize opportunities that include interviewing and mentoring students, welcoming new alumni to an area, organizing events, and serving as social media ambassadors. For more information, visit

Staying Connected on the West Coast

Being engaged with her alma mater鈥攁nd helping other alumni do the same鈥攊s important to Lauren Sacks Hopton 鈥10, who has played a key role in organizing events in the Bay Area as a Young Alumni Council leader.

鈥淔or the past two years, as part of the University鈥檚 Global Day of Service, I organized a sidewalk planting event with the Friends of the Urban Forest,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t was wonderful to work alongside fellow alumni to beautify our city.鈥 She has also planned George Eastman birthday events and 鈥渘ew to the city鈥 events for alumni who have recently moved to the area.

Keeping connections alive while helping the community is important to Jason Smith 鈥03, 鈥08W (MS), too. 鈥淥ne of our most successful alumni events was held at Hotel Biron, a favorite restaurant of mine in San Francisco,鈥 says Smith, cochair of the Bay Area Network Leadership Cabinet. 鈥淲e gathered together as an alumni community, with proceeds from the event going to Napa/Sonoma fire relief funds.鈥

Other volunteers engage, give back, and provide leadership in other ways. David Fang 鈥05, 鈥11 (PhD) is on the Hajim School鈥檚 Visiting Council and the Bay Area Network Leadership Cabinet. He recently attended an event with students on a tour of technology-oriented companies in the Bay Area sponsored by the Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education and Connections.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to give young people a practical taste of what their futures might hold,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t can ground them and inspire them at the same time.鈥 Fang is also a volunteer with Real Reader, a University program that connects alumni with students and offers ongoing professional counsel and feedback, including advice on r茅sum茅s, interviewing, and more.

Phil Pizzo 鈥70M (MD) and Carol Karp 鈥74 serve on the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees and are former cochairs of the Bay Area Network Leadership Cabinet. Pizzo also has a close advisory relationship with Mark Taubman, CEO of the University鈥檚 Medical Center and UR Medicine.

Karp also serves as chair of the River 人妻少妇专区 Libraries National Council and on the recently formed Alumni Board. She has been inspired, she says, by 鈥渢he commitment to the University demonstrated by the exemplary support of our former board chair, Ed Hajim, and our newly appointed board chair, Rich Handler.鈥

Zakia Barnes 鈥04, 鈥17S (MBA) is part of the Alumni Board and the Diversity Advisory Council, and serves as a Simon Business School mentor. 鈥淏eing connected to my alma mater is rewarding and keeps me grounded,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 encourage everyone to get involved鈥攚e can all grow from sharing our experiences and perspectives with one another.鈥 鈥擪ristine Thompson

Metro San Francisco Network

With San Francisco at its center, the regional network includes alumni, parents, volunteers, and others living in the Bay Area.

3,440鈥刟濒耻尘苍颈

92鈥刢urrent parents

168鈥剆迟耻诲别苍迟蝉

130+鈥剉辞濒耻苍迟别别谤蝉

Off to Market

There are plenty of choices when it comes to eating, shopping, and connecting.

San Pedro Market

87 N. San Pedro Street, San Jose

Foodies, music lovers, history buffs, festival followers, and coffee aficionados will enjoy this open-air plaza, which is located adjacent to the Peralta Adobe, the oldest building in the city. 鈥淗ere in the heart of downtown San Jose, the market is a go-to place for live music and food from local vendors,鈥 says Jason Smith 鈥03, 鈥08W (MS), a San Jose resident. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also an ideal place to soak in some of the South Bay sunshine.鈥 With Adobe, Apple, Cisco, Google, Yahoo, and other technology companies located here, San Jose is called Silicon Valley鈥檚 capital. 鈥淢ore companies are locating right in the downtown area,鈥 adds Smith. 鈥淚t鈥檚 prompting an increase in housing options for people, which contributes to the dynamic atmosphere that鈥檚 building here.鈥

Jack London Square

Broadway and Embarcadero, Oakland

Located on the waterfront and named after the American writer and San Francisco native, Jack London Square offers restaurants, retail shops, and waterfront activities. London鈥檚 cabin鈥攚here he lived during the gold rush in the Canadian Klondike鈥攈as been relocated to the square, next to Heinold鈥檚 First and Last Chance Saloon.

Heinold鈥檚 was a favorite of London鈥檚鈥攁nd it鈥檚 also a favorite of Zakia Barnes 鈥04, 鈥17S (MBA), an Oakland transplant who started a job at Facebook early in the summer. 鈥淭he pub鈥檚 owner, Johnny Heinold, and Jack London were close. Heinold actually lent London the money to go to Berkeley to pursue his passion for writing,鈥 says Barnes. 鈥淭his place, and the sailors who passed through here, inspired many of London鈥檚 stories. 鈥

The Ferry Building Marketplace

One Ferry Building, San Francisco

The original Ferry Building opened in 1898 and served as a transportation hub for decades until it fell into disrepair. That changed with the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which devastated the Embarcadero Freeway. A major renovation resulted in a transformed Ferry Building, now a world-class artisan public food market that also features a working ferry terminal.

鈥淭ourists and locals alike enjoy everything the area has to offer,鈥 says Carol Karp 鈥74, a peninsula resident who visits the Ferry Building for its farmers market. Among her favorite places are the Hog Island Oyster Co., which offers notably fresh oysters, and the Slanted Door, which features Vietnamese fare. The restaurant 鈥渃an also create a delicious off-menu oyster stew for you,鈥 she adds.

Signature San Francisco

Few cities are as connected to iconic foods as San Francisco.

Sourdough bread

Boudin Bakery鈥擲an Francisco鈥檚 oldest bakery, now with multiple locations鈥攈as been using the same sourdough starter, also known as 鈥淢other Dough,鈥 since the Gold Rush of 1849. That鈥檚 what gives the bakery鈥檚 bread an exceptionally tangy flavor.

Cheese

A trip to the Cowgirl Creamery yields a large selection of delicious gourmet cheeses, including organic goat cheese, soft cow milk cheese, and even one named after the local Mount Tam.

Chocolate

In addition to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, Karp suggests Recchuitu Confections, a Parisian-inspired local company that serves up many goodies, among them a s鈥檓ores bite鈥攁 sweet concoction that combines vanilla bean marshmallows, handmade graham crackers, and, of course, chocolate.

Coffee

Several alumni recommend Philz for its drip coffees with meaningful names and Equator Coffees & Teas, which is dedicated to sustainability and social responsibility. It also serves delicious 鈥渆arly bird鈥 tacos for breakfast. (Get there early; they sell out fast.)

Parks and Rec

Getting鈥攁nd playing鈥攐utside is easy in the Bay Area.

Sutro Baths

1004 Point Lobos Avenue

Only the remnants of the once spectacular baths鈥攐r, really, pools鈥攔emain. Named after Adolph Sutro, a wealthy resident and former city mayor, the baths are now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visit the baths and then explore a vast network of trails that leads to beaches in one direction and to spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay in the other. 鈥淭his is one of the city鈥檚 magical pockets,鈥 says Fang, who visits regularly to relax, enjoy a sunset, learn some history, or go for a run or a hike.

The Presidio鈥檚 Main Post

San Francisco

Several alumni recommend the park and former military fort where, some say, San Francisco began. Native peoples lived in the area for thousands of years, then the Spanish built a fort, and later, it became a US Army post. Today, it鈥檚 a national park site that offers cultural events, restaurants, and outdoor activities. Start at the Visitor鈥檚 Center and explore bike paths and walkways through old Army buildings and a military cemetery. Make your way to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Mountain View Cemetery

5000 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland

Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the 150-year-old cemetery is a popular park and one of Barnes鈥檚 favorite spots. Take in beautiful views, impressive monuments, and local history. Among those buried in what the locals know as the Piedmont Cemetery are J. A. Folgers, founder of Folgers Coffee; Domingo Ghirardelli, namesake of the chocolate company; Bobby Hutton, the Black Panthers鈥 first treasurer; and Elizabeth Short, aka 鈥渢he Black Dahlia,鈥 whose Hollywood murder remains unsolved.

Arts and Culture

From visual arts to performing arts to cultural activities, the Bay Area has it all.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

151 3rd Street

Each alumni guide recommends SFMOMA. Dedicated to 20th- century art, it is one of the largest modern and contemporary art museums in the country by square footage and features the work of Andy Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, Diane Arbus, Roy Lichtenstein, Alexander Calder, and many of their contemporaries. Tip: The San Francisco CityPASS offers discounted admission to some of the area鈥檚 most popular attractions, including SFMOMA, which also offers free admission to those 18 years old and younger.

San Francisco performing arts district

The central area near the Hayes Valley neighborhood is home to the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco Ballet, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. It also has a large concentration of theaters. 鈥淭here is always something to see and hear here,鈥 says Smith. 鈥淧lus the area鈥檚 restaurants offer wonderful places to wine and dine before or after a performance.鈥

Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection

328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford University

A fan of art, Phil Pizzo 鈥70M (MD) frequents museums. With a collection that spans 5,000 years across its nearly 40,000 works of art, the Cantor Arts Center features a number of Rodin bronze sculptures, both inside the museum and in an outdoor sculpture garden. The Anderson Collection is housed in a building adjacent to the center and features one of the world鈥檚 leading collections of modern and contemporary art. Both are open to the public.

The Stanford University campus offers a variety of sightseeing and educational opportunities. Highlights include the Hoover Tower observation platform (named after President Herbert Hoover, a Stanford alumnus), Bing Concert Hall, Memorial Church, and access to many outdoor activities, including a hike to the Dish, a recreational area that also serves academic and conservation purposes. 鈥淪tanford is really a self-contained city,鈥 says Pizzo. 鈥淭he campus has everything I need, from running trails to athletic events to performing arts programs, not to mention the tremendous medical and research facilities here.鈥

Take鈥攐r Get Off鈥攖he Beaten Path

Alcatraz to Angel Island

Alcatraz Island sits just a mile offshore from San Francisco. Visitors can take a ferry to the infamous prison, now operated by the National Park Service, or they can find other ways to get on the water. Karp suggests taking a ride on one of San Francisco鈥檚 Red and White Fleet cruises. Tickets are easy to get and the views are extraordinary. Or grab a ferry to Angel Island, suggests Hopton. Operated by California State Parks, the ferry is only a short ride from the city and offers 360-degree views of the entire Bay Area.

Muir Woods to Mount Tam

Located north of San Francisco, in Marin County, the famous redwoods of Muir Woods lure huge crowds daily. Tickets and reservations are required and must be ordered in advance.

For that reason鈥攁nd a few others鈥攍ocals often trek to Mount Tamalpais instead, says Hopton. Just a hairpin turn or two from Muir Woods, 鈥淢ount Tam鈥 offers a rich web of trails, some leading to water, some perambulating through the open mountain side and the deep woods. 鈥淢y husband, Noah, and I have been there at least 50 times in the six years we鈥檝e been here,鈥 she says. 鈥淗e even proposed to me near the top of the mountain.鈥 Trivia: Mount Tam and the surrounding areas in Marin County are considered the birthplace of mountain biking.

Farther Afield

A variety of experiences and adventures are just a few hours away.

Big Sur

Drive down the scenic Pacific Coast highway鈥擲tate Route 1鈥攆or about three hours to get to Big Sur, which sits between an unforgettable coastline and the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Lake Tahoe

Known for its beaches, ski resorts, and outdoor activities, the freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains lies on the border between California and Nevada, almost four hours from San Francisco.

Yosemite National Park

The famous photographer Ansel Adams loved the park, and so do the four million visitors every year who take in its sequoia trees, myriad trails, and views of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridal Veil Falls.

Wine country

Sonoma and Napa Valley are just a short distance over the Golden Gate Bridge. Check out the Russian River Valley in the heart of Sonoma County鈥攊t鈥檚 a go-to area for locals.

Half Moon Bay

Just 45 minutes south of the city, a nearly 300-mile stretch of coastline offers breathtaking views, dining experiences (and heaps of fresh seafood), as well as outdoor activities like biking, kayaking, and surfing.

Right Place, Right Time

Bay to Breakers

The annual footrace began in 1912 as a way to lift morale after the 1906 earthquake. Now held on the third Sunday of every May, it鈥檚 鈥渓ike Dandelion Day in race form,鈥 says Smith.

San Francisco Pride

The annual celebration of the LGBTQ community takes place during the last weekend of June. Highlights include a parade and festival. Tip: Check out the GLBT Historical Society in the Castro District, too鈥攊t鈥檚 a treasure trove of materials and knowledge.

Fillmore Street Jazz Festival

Held every year over the July 4th weekend, the festival features live music, plus more than 12 blocks of gourmet food, beverages, and fine arts and crafts vendors.