San Francisco w/ Sir Paul McCartney

I travel to San Francisco a lot throughout the year. My sister goes to Cal & its a nice get away and chance to visit her, pretend like I’m back in college (kinda) & shoot her Field Hockey Games. It’s also a nice, easy, quick, getaway from San Diego. San Francisco city amazes me. I feel as if there is so much history and so many things to do & see. It’s like New York, but without the attitude of most people there & extreme of weather? I enjoy it. Just wandering the streets, checking out the shops, maybe even riding cable cars, is worth a weekend trip up there. I’m considering moving there in the next year also…we will see how that goes & if I change my mind….

My Weekend in San Fran For Paul McCartney Concert-

This past weekend I had the pleasure of venturing to San Francisco to see Sir Paul McCartney for the 3^rd time in my life. Almost a year ago today, I saw him in New York City at the Jet’s stadium and my life has not been the same since. Thanks to my Dad, I’ve grown up a Beatles fan. However, after seeing Paul live and perform his hits, some of my personal Beatles favorites, fan was taken to a new level. This concert in San Francisco at AT&T park invoked the same powerful tribute. [Except there was no opener like in NY when The Script opened, another one of my favorite bands—Irish & sexy].

After landing in Oakland Friday night I somehow managed to navigate via bus, bart, & taxi, to the Marina district of San Francisco where I was warmly greeted by some lovely AOII’s—Megan Korble & Lauren Olerich. After some changing, drink mixing, cookie baking, Sangria cupcake eating [the best I’ve ever had], & chatter we headed out to see what the SF night was all about. Of course, just each others company was what we really cared about, and going clubbing did not sound too appealing to any of us. We went to some mellow bars, got some beers, hung out, and caught up on life. Ms. Kelley Wigton and another lady met up with us as well. Once closing time came around Megan of course, could not go home without her pizza & we ended up getting a little snack before bedtime.Lauren recapped the night in much more detail on her blog. Read about it here on 32 Above- life in Monterey County.

As the sun rose in the cloudy city, so did the sound of a text message. T0 my disappointment, my little, Suzie, decided to cancel wine tasting in Napa. Sad! By 10am I said farewell to my chicas and ventured back to the bart where I was able to then navigate to Oakland, and find my sisters new house in Berkley!! Kendra took me to this AMAZING salad/sandwich café called Intermezzo Café. Hands down one of the best [& biggest] salads of my life. I think the one we shared could have fed two other people! But the giant lettuce, cucumber, lentil, avocado, tomatoes, carrot, poppy seed dressing…configuration was delicious, Definitely recommend it & will for sure be returning!

After meeting up with my Dad, we took the bart into the city and hung around Fisherman’s Warf prior to the 8pm Paul McCartney concert. We couldn’t go winetasting in Napa, but my little, Suzie, still wanted to go into the city and meet up with whoever was around. After finally finding her watching some sea lions, I met up with the birthday girl. Turns out she was with a bunch of my sorority “sisters”, which turned out to be a very awkward and unfriendly run in. I thought people in the same sorority were suppose to be friendly, nice, and at least a little respectful to others in the same house? I guess not. It felt pretty shitty attempting to converse with some girls who just ignored me and gave me weird looks after I gave Suzie some silly bands. (Yeah, I’m a dork & they are bright colors & I happen to like them). Anywho, I don’t care what those other girls think of me, I was happy to see Suzie & Katie and wish them Happy Birthday. At least some people have class.It’s nice to have familiar faces in NorCal!

I did not really care to stay with those uninteresting characters, and because they could not even say Hi to me, I know they didn’t want me around, and since Suzie was going to head home anyways, I chose to peace out and get amped for the concert. My Dad wanted to show me the famous “Buena Vista Café”. If you are a San Fran local, and have not been here—GO! It’s impressive. The bar/café has been in the same spot since 1975 and is still bustling with customers. They are famous for their Irish Coffee recipe, which was created in 1952 & is still used today. You have not experienced a real “Irish coffee” until you come here, watch them make it, and drink theirs. I’m not going to lie, it aint bad!

After a few Irish Coffees we got a few appetizers then made our way to the ball park for PAUL McCartney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not sit here and blog about how incredible, amazing, phenomenal, astounding, impressive, mind blowing,…..McCartney was; that’s a given. Of his 2.5 hour playlist, my favorites were “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” “Let it be,” and “Live & let die”. I did see the show before, however he performed some different songs and of course had some different lighting techniques and other crowd interactions. Paul knows how to put on a show. With no opener, he rocked the crowd. I’ve never seen a baseball stadium full…and I’ve been to a lot of baseball games & seen many teams play….but this stadium has virtually no empty seats. People were packed in all the way to the nose bleed seats! It’s no wonder either because no matter where you were sitting, this was quite a noteworthy performance. We were lucky enough to be in the 20^th row, on the floor (no big deal). The view was insane. After it got completely dark, the stage effects only got better, and his songs incorporated more video and lighting effects. Awesome. The show was entertaining throughout the full 2.5 hours. However, it peaked toward the end of the first 80 minutes….thats when things got crazy & the audience reached a new level of excitement & the we
ed blew through the air…. Or as Paul said it “I’m smelling something in the air tonight.” He was certainly referring to the pot smoke in the air….. I found it a bit funny how Paul kept referencing the San Fran cold weather…clearly he is not use to the fog or ocean chill. Apparently, this was a concert that would go into history books. Paul added the song “Mrs. Vandebilt”, which has never before in history ever been played! Also, this was the first time him, or any of The Beatles, played in San Fran since they all played as a band. Wow. What will go down in my memory forever? Mostly his enthusiasm. How a 68 year old man, older than my Dad, can still be lively, handsome, & entertain a crowd the size of a baseball stadium. My favorite songs include Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Let it Be [of course], Live & let die, and Hey Jude. His Helter Skelter media performance was impressive as well as the background screen began the song by climbing up a roller coaster, then, right as the melody picked up, we free fell down. Awesome. After two very predictable encores, Yesterday and Sgt Pepper’s lonely hearts club/ The end was the perfect ending to a concert that I wish could go on forever….. All I can leave you with, is the suggestion that, if you ever get a chance to see this brilliant & talented man perform—Take it! The experience is life changing & will be something I never forget. I only wish today’s artist could emulate his style, his values, and truly create music that is original, tasteful, & something the world can hear and perhaps change for the better with. [and if you do not know The Beatles, or who Paul McCartney is, I feel incredibly sorry for you…go read a book about Music history!!]

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be. For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see, there will be an answer. let it be. Let it be, let it be, ….. And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me, shine until tomorrow, let it be. I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, …..