What I learned in San Francisco

There was almost a full moon.

Don’t snag a cup of coffee just because it’s the same thing you ordered. People are feisty about their coffee. If you’re wrong, you may just get berated in Italian as I did in an Organic Coffee Co.

Wear comfy shoes. You’ll be walking and typically at a fast pace. The crowd doesn’t slow down to accommodate a wobbly, unsure stride.

One block can make all the difference. For instance, just two and half blocks past Bloomingdale’s you’re in Crackville. I walked that direction to find the Warfield Theatre. I was out and about around 12:30 p.m. on a random Tuesday and I passed some interesting characters. The further I got, the more hyper-aware I became of my pink backpack and straight-laced look.

Anything can happen at anytime. I was right behind a man that did a B-line from the crowd and did a karate-kick, knocking the Salvation Army sign into a poor woman in a Santa hat. After the kick, he kept walking, so did everyone else. Then I realized what he was sipping was a giant can of Budweiser. Nobody seemed surprised except for the poor Santa hat woman. She yelled, “What’s your problem?” I wanted to ask if she was okay, but I didn’t. I kept walking too.

When you're in the Warfield Theatre -- look up!

Smokers can feel the impact of a strong anti-tobacco campaign underway in California. Cigarettes aren’t easy to find. And although you can smoke as you walk, it’s can be difficult to stop and smoke. Fancy, schmancy restaurants and hotels require smokers to be more than 25 feet from their doors and if a smoker finds a nook to partake, then they must endure the abhorrence of serious anti-smokers who stare with expressions of disgust or tell their kids “Smoking is bad!” Here, smoking isn’t cool.

Grab a French panini to munch on when you're killing time before your flight.

There’s so much to do, see and get, you’ll likely blow your budget. Access to trendy shopping, eclectic eateries, the art and music scene, the beautiful Bay area landscape – all of this pulls at the purse strings. The key is to spend sparingly on items that you must carry, but be open to spending an additional $10 for an entrée. Take advantage of the free stuff. There is an abundance of free stuff everywhere as so many entities are competing for your time, your stomach and your pocketbook. Keep your eye out for the goodies. I’ve snagged a free lunch, specialty chocolate, newspapers, luggage tags, an energy shot, calendars, and even free beer. Hey, I’m all about the free.

DON’T WEAR A CONFERENCE BADGE AROUND TOWN. Not only does this look silly, but also you’re a sure-fire target for the crack-head on the corner. If you wanna get hustled keep it on, otherwise, only place that lanyard around your neck when you walk through the Moscone doors. Just sayin’. Coordinators even print the safety tip in their conference program, so take heed. Dress in layers. It can get hot, especially if you’re doing a great bit of walking. It can also quickly turn cold if you’re headed toward the water and it’s windy.

Take a moment and look up, look around. It’s beautiful! The buildings are amazing and they’re everywhere. Old stuff, new stuff, pillars, ornate moulding, manicured gardens on a rooftop, small oases and plazas — there’s plenty to admire.

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