NIMBY

Ruth experienced her first playground injustice a few days ago while innocently standing next to the bouncy horse. Another little girl approached, and pushed her a bit to get her away from bouncy horse. Ruth, not knowing what to do, stood there and her assailant, not satisfied, grabbed her by the cheeks and bit her in the face. Poor Ruth! The shock that the world contains people that would do such a thing! Hurt feelings, scratched and bruised, she recovered in a few minutes and continued to enjoy the playground. It took her mother several hours, however, to feel right.. We stuck to the backyard the next day.

Tyger's Coffee Shop

Five dollar burger? Yes! We have been wanting to come here for some time, not only because we like coffee shops but also because of the storefront's inviting green tile facade. Greasy spoon, but good old fashioned diner food. Ruth loved it. Diamond and Chenery in Glen Park, we would link you to their page but it is the most irritating, amateurish thing we have suffered on the web in some time now.

Dolores Park

We are lucky to have such a park within a fifteen minute walk. On a clear day, you can see downtown in its entirety as well as the bay. It is a well used park, which can turn the playground into something similar to a catbox, so no barefoot kiddies. The equipment is old fashioned and fun, put in during the 70s, swings, slides, plenty of grass shaded by palms and magnolias. Added bonus, depending on your tastes, are the sunbathers. Many of the leatherettes are the same you would find at any sunny spot anywhere, but being San Francisco, the upper terrace is the designated Castro beach where men (to our general embarrassment) wear gold lame pouches, and nothing else. Ruth took her first big-girl solo swing on this visit.

Haas-Lilenthal House

No, a historic Victorian house tour isn't the best choice for a Sunday afternoon outing with a baby, but we had to go (it's not worth explaining here). Our original plans stated we arrive at opening, enjoy the tour with a fresh and happy Ruth, then join the Pacific Heights walking tour at 12:30. We missed a bus, missed another, then tried to find this house on Jackson when it is actually on Franklin, and no amount of "all those president's names sound alike" made up for the fact that A: Franklin, well, obviously, and B: Ruth was only interested in getting at the stairs, of which there were many tantalizing flights. All that said, the tour was fantastic, the docent took us behind all the roped barriers, allowed Ruth to explore at will, and we were accompanied by the ever patient and upbeat Mr. Myers, who Ruth has yet to rattle. We will return again, next Sunday for the walk.

Hayes Green

The pagoda at Hayes Green is temporary, as we suspect will be the relative feeling of serenity this small new park imparts. This is our second visit, which confirmed our sense that this space won't best serve toddlers. Located on Octavia, some sort of revitalization project the city decided upon after tearing down a freeway to build another freeway in it's place, as soon as traffic opens back up this little green will sit in the middle of a swirl of cars. The lack of fence will keep parents on their toes. Hayes Valley is a strange neighborhood itself. We found several opportunities to purchase $100+ tennis shoes in various shades of green, and some lovely, gauzy slips and camisoles that apparently serve as outerwear for some demographic here. And then, if you walk up the wrong street, you are in the projects. This week Ruth learned how to exploit a new word, "up." From the sweet, arms extended request to be carried, this is now an all purpose command, often delivered with a surprising amount of fierceness.