The Catamaran: The Tired Part of San Diego
February 27, 2024
Back in the mid-’90s we spent a bunch of time in San Diego. One of the first annual trips was a visit to NDSS, a geeky conference always held at the Catamaran hotel. That must have lasted a decade or more. A return in 2024 (some 15 odd years since visiting the Catamaran) shows the toll that time has taken.
You see, the Catamaran has spent more on the common areas (which are very pretty but also just a bit wrong…like, say, a pool area where you are required to wear a wrist band as if you are an untrusted 20 year old) than they have on the rooms. Nobody seems to have considered fixing up the rooms since maybe 1982. Or maybe they spent all of their budget on marketing drones?
So you go from this:
To this:
Hamster cage with no design sensibility and indestructible furnishings. But wait, there’s less. How about the Holiday Inn bathroom console (featuring communal soap)? With a vinyl floor?
But you are here for the shower. Here is a prime example of the worst kind of plastic shower. Oh let us count the ways: lilliputian tub only a foot deep and made of plastic, obesity bar, plastic shower curtain (with a see thru plastic window portal design), and a shower head that does nothing to improve the flaccid water pressure. A big nope.
Here, watch the plastic shower in all of its glorious action…
There are good things about the Catamaran, like friendly staff, a good restaurant, and an espresso bar that knows how to make a real macchiato. And it’s right on the Pacific! But we’re not surfer dudes.
There’s an excellent coffee bar nearby too—pump coffee.
A visit to Ken Sushi Workshop is a great idea. Excellent.
Ultimately, room 218 is so dissatisfying that it was time just to jettison the plan, pack up early (after the morning meeting), and switch hotels. A lowly one showerhead and no more chances for the old Catamaran. It has sprung a fatal leak.
Buchanan Gets it Right in San Francisco
February 12, 2017
Want to be near the Pacific in a terrific city? San Francisco can do that for you.
This visit included a bug free stay at the Buchanan Hotel in Japantown where Emily G and her excellent co-workers made us feel especially welcome. Here’s how.
First, the giant tetris game that is specific hotel room request came out in our favor and we secured 416 (the best room in the property with lots of windows and a great bathroom).
Yellow roses
Second, yellow roses!
Third, a mystery gift…
What’s in the bag?
Sleepytime tea, honey, and some pottery mugs. Just like home.
Arrival was delightful.
416 and roses
Notes, sparking water, cheese and fruit. All good. Plus tea!
416 has a spacious bathroom with a glass shower. No plastic showers!!
The glass shower cube
A little rain never hurt anything. Especially in drought stricken California. The fact that the weather was perfect for the weekend was, well, perfect.
Rainy day Japantown
With the expert help of Jacob, Saturday’s itenerary was outstanding.
Brunch at Foreign Cinema was first. We used the show up at 10:45 and walk right in at 11 hack.
Foreign Cinema brunch
Yes please @ForeignCinemaSF @sfjacob pic.twitter.com/628CoKhS1w
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 11, 2017
Alsi yes that too @ForeignCinemaSF @sfjacob pic.twitter.com/LHGXBUQ9Z3
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 11, 2017
Followed by a quick last minute stint at the Farmer’s Market
Saturday morning market
And a trip to Lands End.
Land’s End
Who’s that?
Cocktail hour was spent at the always fantastic Smuggler’s Cove for tiki, rum, and conversation. A meeting of the secret book club was held.
Smuggler’s Cove is one of the best bars in the world
Dinner was at The Progress. Super fantastic, rollicking fun time. And the food was good too!
Eating @thePROGRESS_sf. Delicious.
Caviar cloud.
Lamb tartar. pic.twitter.com/en3Jf8Kl0i— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 12, 2017
Sunday should start with a great brunch, say at the Hillside Supper Club.
Brunch on a gorgeous morning @hillsidesupper pic.twitter.com/CW7sa8HAPK
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 12, 2017
Mimosa and bloody mary morning @hillsidesupper pic.twitter.com/nSoi1mr8dB
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 12, 2017
And then a trip to Napa on a gorgeous day! Domaine Carneros is a great target, especially if you have club privileges.
Beautiful day in Napa @carnerosresort pic.twitter.com/YopIGjgsLq
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 12, 2017
One of my favorite wines in the world is Old Hill from Ravenswood.
Gorgeous day and no wimpy wines @RavenswoodWine pic.twitter.com/7gUktHMl1T
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 13, 2017
Pizza evening (due to a 2 hour wait at the sushi place we targetted) was followed by a visit to the delightful Churchhill bar. This is a low key almost dive like neighborhood place with an outstanding collection of serious booze.
Great times with @mmadou @churchillsf. Serious juice on hand. pic.twitter.com/xgGk8RYSeN
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 13, 2017
In other San Francisco fun NPS gladly notes the following establishments:
lunch (every day) at cafe claude
ramen in Japantown at Waraku
fun and games with superb cocktails at Forgery
world class brunch at Plow
jacques incredible cocktails in a relaxed and gorgeous room at Wildhawk
outstanding food at rich table
About which these twitterz:
Just eat @RichTable. Outstanding. pic.twitter.com/BtNk432Neu
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 17, 2017
Turns out that @Wildhawk_SF is even more fantastic that NPS imagined. Wow @LoveTequila. Wow. @foodiewinoSF
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 17, 2017
Finally @Wildhawk_SF @LoveTequila pic.twitter.com/1QVkoVqNb9
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 17, 2017
Brunch @plow_sf with @foodiewinoSF (@MacCocktail) pic.twitter.com/QJ1g4csrAp
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 16, 2017
Thursday madness was particularly fun this iteration.
Five showerheads with a wink and a nod for the Buchanan where everything went as planned.
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