6 Perfect Picnic Spots in San Francisco

A secluded black sand beach with sweeping views of SF? Yes please. (Photo by ryryindo) 

San Francisco’s best weather of the year is coming soon, and what better way to enjoy your next weekend than a picnic in the sun? Whether you’re in the mood for a secluded beach or a party at the park, the city has a ton of great options for your next day in the sun.

Black Sand Beach
Make the short hike into this mile-long stretch of black sand beach just over the Golden Gate Bridge and you’ll be rewarded with fewer crowds, epic views, and a rugged coastline to explore. Grab picnic supplies in Sausalito and enjoy a romantic day on the beach. Learn more.

Dolores Park
Feeling more festive and less romantic? Then head over to Dolores Park. This part of the city is usually the sunniest and has a huge tiered lawn that is ideal for setting up for the day with your friends and enjoying the warm weather. Learn more.

Tank Hill
Looking for a cool, under-the-radar spot that’s perfect for picnics, chilling out, and enjoying the sunshine? Look no further than Tank Hill. This great little park has amazing views spanning the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate and plenty of space to lay out a blanket and take in the city. Learn more.

Mile Rock Beach
If you’re willing to carry your basket on a short hike, you could have your own private beach picnic at Mile Rock Beach. There’s a lot of natural seating in the form of rocks and logs and the view of the sunset from here is pretty incredible. If you need a spot to warm up after the sun sets, head to the Outer Richmond for some of the city’s most underrated food. Learn more.

West Bluff
If you prefer an actual picnic table for your picnic and you love amazing, close up views of the Golden Gate Bridge then the West Bluff Picnic Area at the north end of Crissy Field is the spot for you. If you stick around for sunset, you’ll catch one of the best views of the bridge that the Bay has to offer. Learn more.

Great Meadow Park
If your typical picnic also involves bocce ball, corn hole, music, dancing, and drinks then Great Meadow Park at Fort Mason is the spot for you. With a huge grass lawn, lots of people to enjoy the festivities with, and good vibes all round, you can’t go wrong here. Learn more.


Article and images sourced from http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/6-perfect-picnic-spots-san-francisco

Pacific Union Q2 2015 Newsletter

San Francisco: Q2 Results

San Francisco’s red-hot real estate market continued to sizzle during the second quarter of 2015. It was a fantastic market for sellers: Available single-family homes and condominiums were in short supply at all price ranges, and a substantial majority of properties for sale received multiple offers. The result? Most sales prices topped asking prices, in some cases by wide margins. Typical of this was a San Francisco home offered at $850,000 that sold for $1.15 million. Although San Francisco remains a challenging market for buyers, there still were deals to be found – particularly with the help of a savvy real estate professional. But buyers had to move fast, as it wasn't uncommon to see attractive, fairly priced properties go under contract just days after appearing on the market. Sellers, meanwhile, faced a dilemma: Putting their homes on the market instantly placed them in the same position as buyers – scrambling to find their next home. The solution for many sellers was to negotiate a rent-back agreement with the buyer, giving them extra time to search for a new home. Looking Forward: Sales typically ease up during the summer, but don’t mistake a less-frenetic pace for a sea change in the market. With a booming local economy and interest rates still near record lows, there will be no shortage of San Francisco buyers for the foreseeable future.

Median Sales Price

The median sales price represents the midpoint in the range of all prices paid. It indicates that half the prices paid were higher than this number, and half were lower. It is not the same measure as “average” sales price.

Single-Family Homes – Median Sales Price

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Condominiums – Median Sales Price

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Months’ Supply of Inventory

The months’ supply of inventory is a measure of how quickly the current supply of homes would be sold at the current sales rate, assuming no more homes came on the market. In general, an MSI below 4 is considered a seller’s market; between 4 and 6 is a balanced market; and above 6 is a buyer’s market.

Single-Family Homes – Months’ Supply of Inventory

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Condominiums – Months’ Supply of Inventory

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Average Days on the Market

Average days on the market is a measure that indicates the pace of sales activity. It tracks, on average, the number of days a listing is active until it reaches “pending” status, meaning all contingencies have been removed and both parties are just waiting to close.

Single-Family Homes – Average Days on the Market

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Condominiums – Average Days on the Market

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Percentage of Properties Under Contract

Percentage of properties under contract is a forward-looking indicator of sales activity. It tracks expected home sales before the paperwork is completed and the sale actually closes.

Single-Family Homes – Percentage of Properties Under Contract

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Condominiums – Percentage of Properties Under Contract

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Sales Price as a Percentage of Original Price

Measuring the sales price as a percentage of the final list price, which may include price reductions from the original list price, determines the success of a seller in receiving the hoped-for sales amount. It also indicates the level of sales activity in a region.

Single-Family Homes – Sales Price as a Percentage of Original Price

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Condominiums – Sales Price as a Percentage of Original Price

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Delving into San Francisco’s Districts

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FEATURE STORY

3 Factors Contributing to Bay Area Home Sales Declines

Demand for San Francisco Bay Area real estate has arguably never been more intense, as highly paid professionals flock to the region to take advantage of an excellent job market. But a look at the number of single-family home sales across the Bay Area for the first half of 2015 shows that, for the most part, units sold have been slowing for the past year.

According to MLS data, single-family home sales dropped in six of Pacific Union's nine Bay Area regions* in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. When comparing this year's first-half sales with 2013's, the pattern becomes even more consistent, with all regions displaying a decrease in the number of homes sold. The two-year declines were largest in Western Bay Area counties, where many of the nation's most desirable jobs are located. (Complete units-sold numbers can be found in the charts below.) So what's causing the drop in sales at a time when so many people want to own a home in the Bay Area? Pacific Union CEO Mark A. McLaughlin believes that three major factors are at work. “A slim supply of homes for sale and an increase in the number of off-market sales are certainly the largest drivers of the decline in units sold as recorded by the MLS,” he says, “but fewer move-up buyers in the market also impacts sales.”

Inventory Shortages Anyone who follows Bay Area real estate is likely familiar with one of our housing market’s major challenges: fewer homes for sale than people that want to buy them. The situation hasn't improved over the past year, with the months' supply of inventory (MSI) for single-family homes sold being lower in June of this year than it was in June 2014 in all of the Bay Area regions in which Pacific Union operates. An MSI between 4.0 and 6.0 months is generally considered to indicate a balanced market, with lower numbers favoring sellers and vice versa. In June, the MSI across the Bay Area ranged from 0.7 in the Mid-Peninsula region to 2.8 in Napa County, meaning that all of our markets seem to favor sellers. In Silicon Valley and the Mid-Peninsula, where home sales have declined by double-digit percentages from the first half of 2013, a lack of inventory is a key factor slowing sales, according to David Barca, vice president of those two Pacific Union regions. “Certainly, if there was more inventory, there would be more sales,” he says.

An Absence of Move-Up Buyers A lack of homes for sale means that many move-up buyers are sitting on the sidelines, as they are unsure if they will be able to find a new home once they sell their current property. Barca says that in Silicon Valley, one of the nation's most in-demand housing markets, even buyers with plenty of equity and money are staying put. Both Pacific Union President Patrick Barber and Marin County Region President Brent Thomson cite reduced activity by move-up buyers as a contributing factor to sales declines on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge. Barca also notes that first-time buyer activity is particularly low in expensive Silicon Valley – except for the young fortunate professionals that play important roles in local tech and social media companies. Otherwise, young first-time buyers may need to rely on parents or relatives who can assist with the down payment. Another reason that some move-up buyers might be staying put is the impact of federal and state taxes on the seller. The tax-law changes of 2003 provide for capital-gains exemptions of up to $250,000 for single sellers and $500,000 for those who are married. Price appreciation over the past few years has been significant in the Bay Area, and the associated tax impact may give some move-up buyers enough motivation to stay in their existing home and remodel it. McLaughlin believes that tightened credit markets could also be hindering move-up buyers, as some would not qualify for as large of a mortgage as they did when they purchased their first homes.

An Abundance of Off-Market Listings While a multiple listing service (MLS) is still the most common way that real estate professionals market their clients' homes, some clients may decide that the best course of action -- for privacy or confidentiality reasons -- is to keep the property out of the public eye. According to an analysis of sales data prepared by Pacific Union's Menlo Park office, private transactions account for about one-third of sales in some San Mateo County enclaves, another factor contributing to the apparent decline in sales volume. In the combined communities of Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside, off-market sales represented 21 percent of all transactions in the second quarter of 2014. That number increased to 24 percent in the third quarter and 29 percent in the fourth quarter. Private deals rose again in the first quarter of 2015 to 35 percent before relaxing to 30 percent in the second quarter. Off-market deals have likely also played a role in the slippage of home sales in San Francisco. In a 2014 report, the San Francisco Association of Realtors estimated that private transactions represented 11 percent of home sales in 2013, and Barber speculates that that number has likely since increased. Pluses of off-market sales include protecting the seller's privacy and avoiding the work associated with holding open houses. However, it's important to note that SFAR found that homes not listed on the MLS in 2013 sold for an average of 17 percent less than those that were. Whether or not to make their home available to the public is a decision that sellers should carefully consider and discuss with their trusted real estate professional.

* For more information on how Pacific Union defines our individual Bay Area regions, please refer to the charts found in our Q2 2015 quarterly report.

BAY AREA DATA

Review the Latest Bay Area Data & Stats

Bay Area 10-Year Overview

Here’s a look at home sales in the Bay Area’s real estate markets in the second quarter of 2015, with a glance back at the 10 preceding second quarters.

South American Tropical Rainforest & Aviary

Scarlet Ibis with bromeliad photo by Marianne Hale

We are pleased to announce that the new South American Tropical Rainforest and Aviary building is now open. The renovated Aviary features a realistic rainforest ecosystem, full of colorful free-flight birds, exotic plants and trees, a charming two-toed sloth, and the Zoo’s first significant herpetological collection—which will include a 15-foot long green anaconda as well as rare tree frogs, turtles, lizards, and snakes. The new exhibit highlights environmental threats facing rainforests, as well as the devastating effects of the illegal pet trade on South American wildlife. The new Aviary will immerse visitors in a realistic tropical environment and create a stunning new educational space at the Zoo. 

This renovation project transformed the historic South American Tropical Forest building which is located on the northern side of the Zoo. This original depression-era WPA building was originally an aquatic birdhouse. 


Current hours are 11 am - 3 pm daily. However, hours are subject to change so please refer back to this page for the most current information. 

Click the links below for activities and resources perfect for families, individuals, and school groups.        

Tropical Rainforest and Aviary Bingo
Tropical Rainforest and Aviary Scavenger Hunt
Tropical Rainforest and Aviary Bird Identification


Article and images sourced from http://www.sfzoo.org/explore/exhibits/tropicalforest.htm

The Essential San Francisco Pizza Restaurants

Tony's Pizza Napoletana

Bay Area pizza options run the gamut from certified pizza Napoletana to saucy deep-dish numbers to a special "Oakland-style" sourdough crust. This pizza map includes 20 of the best places to grab a pie, from Oakland to Bay View and everything in between. Grab a quick slice at Arinell or go full Italian at Tony's Pizza Napoletana— there's no room for judgment here, only slices of hot, crispy pizza.   

1 A16

Way back in the pizza dark ages of 2004 (no, seriously), A16 was one of the first places to serve true Neapolitan pies, gorgeous wood-fired char and all. They're still churning them out a decade later, where they pair quite nicely with Shelley Lindgren's always on-point Italian wine selection. Newish sibling A16 Rockridge has some more inventive takes, including a fried pizza and a rachetta, which comes with its own little handle of dough.

2355 Chestnut St

San Francisco, CA 94123

Visit website

(415) 771-2216

2 Arinell Pizza

The undisputed master of the slice game, Arinell is the place to be at 12 pm (for a quick lunch before heading to the park), 12 am (for drunk pizza), and everything in between. No frills, foldable, crisp, accompanied by fruit punch. Little else is required in this life.

509 Valencia St.

San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 255-1303

3 Arizmendi Bakery

Arizmendi's one-vegetarian-pie-per-day scheme leads to some awesome (if untraditional) pizza experiences, with the seasonal toppings like mushroom-red onion-goat cheese and artichoke-spinach-lemon-rosemary earning their fans. Check the calendar before you go in, and mark yours for the Super Bowl, the only day of the year they serve two different pies.

1331 9th Ave

San Francisco, CA 94122

Visit website

(415) 556-3117

4 Del Popolo

This roving pie vendor is unmistakable thanks to its gorgeous glass-encased truck, which offers a full view of the wood-fired Stefano Ferrara oven within. The limited space means Flour + Water alum Jon Darsky can only put out 3-4 pie variations, but they're all seasonal and delicious (and a relative steal). Darsky now has a brick-and-mortar location in the works, so stay tuned for a more permanent pizza oasis in the near future.

San Francisco, CA 94111

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5 Emilia's Pizzeria

Emilia's is a bit of a tough ticket (it's only open at certain hours, and a strict pre-ordering system means you could wait five hours or more for a pie), but Keith Freilich definitely has something special for those willing to put in the legwork. His New York-style pies aren't really about seasonality, but they're carefully made and completely delicious.

2995 Shattuck Ave

Berkeley, CA 94705

Visit website

(510) 704-1794

6 Flour + Water

Thin-crusted and wood-fired, the pizzas here are part of the reason why Flour + Water has maintained its popularity. Try a classic margherita or mix it up with the calamaro, a calamari-topped creation, featuring san marzano tomatoes, squid, calabrian chili, capers & nasturtium aioli. There's really no wrong choice.

2401 Harrison St

San Francisco, CA 94110

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(415) 826-7000

7 Gioia Pizzeria

Now offering their thin crust pizzas at their newer Russian Hill location, Berkeley-born Gioia is a reliable option for a pie or a slice, boasting inventive topping combos like radicchio and gorgonzola; spinach, ricotta, brown butter, and hazelnuts; or salami, Castelvetrano olives, and provolone.

2240 Polk St

San Francisco, CA 94109

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(415) 359-0971

8 Golden Boy Pizza

No one's going to be submitting Golden Boy for VPN certification, but when it comes to drunk slices, these guys do it right. The Sicilian slices will abate even the most dangerous of oncoming hangovers, the clam and garlic pizza is delicious, and the hours (until 2:30 am on weekends) are right. Inebriated pizza consumption will (probably) never go out of style.

542 Green St

San Francisco, CA 94133

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(415) 982-9738

9 Little Star Pizza

Little Star's signature deep-dish is so good that they've licensed the recipe-- to a pizzeria in St. Louis that President Obama calls his all-time favorite. Winning the deep-dish devotion of a Chicagoan is no mean feat, but Little Star's signature cornmeal crusts, super-fresh tomatoes, and delicious fillings (the Brass Monkey is a must) are up to the task.

846 Divisadero St

San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit website

(415) 441-1118

10 Nick's Pizza

Aron Ford and Nick Yapor-Cox have serious baking pedigrees from spots like Arizmendi and Eleven Madison Park. Their tiny, Oakland-based pizza outpost on Shattuck Ave. is a diamond in the rough, showcasing their immense baking skills through creative and classic pizzas. Their "Oakland-style" sourdough crusts are what make these pizzas special, though creative combos like peaches, mozzarella and arugula aren't too shabby either.

[Photo: Raffik/Flickr]

6211 Shattuck Ave

Oakland, CA 94609, Oakland, CA 94609

Visit website

510.658.3903

11 Piccino Cafe

This Dogpatch charmer now occupies a bigger space than it used to, but it still offers the same warm service and great pizza, like the funghi pie with roasted mushrooms and stracchino cheese or the salsiccia pizza with housemade sausage. Their meatballs are also off the chain.

1001 Minnesota St.

San Francisco, CA 94107

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(415) 824-4224

12 PizzaHacker

While his brick-and-mortar may be new, Jeff Krupman earns iconic status for having toted his Frankenweber all over the Bay for five years before scoring his own location, making great pizzas without anything even approaching a real kitchen. If you haven't tried his permanent home yet, you'll be thrilled to know that the pies are even better than you remember, from the margherita to the delicious brussels sprout pie with bacon and chili paste.

3299 Mission St

San Francisco, CA 94110

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(415) 874-5585

13 Pizzaiolo

Charlie Hallowell made his name putting out masterful California pies at this Temescal favorite, with a wood-burning oven that produces a beautifully spotted crust and excellent local produce on top (try the white potato pie with pancetta and fontina or the tomato pie with housemade sausage and cream). Its sister restaurant Boot & Shoe Service, located on West Grand Ave., is also a winner.

5008 Telegraph Ave

Oakland, CA 94609

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(510) 652-4888

14 Pizzeria Delfina

Craig and Annie Stoll's Delfina spinoff is quickly becoming an empire, with more locations in Pac Heights, Burlingame and Palo Alto. That's probably because it's one of the best the city has to offer, with a puffy crust that has nice char and delicious seasonal toppings. Classics like a Margherita will always win hearts and minds, while the "magic pie" with sausage and cream is a perennial favorite.

3611 18th St

San Francisco, CA 94110

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(415) 437-6800

15 Pizzetta 211

Adorably petite Pizzetta 211 exemplifies the seasonality trend, with pizzas that change by the nanosecond to incorporate the best of what's growing. The lines are omnipresent, but the cute 12-inch pies, like the white pie with rosemary and fiore sardo, are great. Be sure to get anything with a farm egg cracked on it.

211 23rd Ave

San Francisco, CA 94121

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(415) 379-9880

16 The Cheeseboard Collective

The originator of the one-pizza-a-day style, Cheeseboard is still the master of the form, churning out California-style pies loaded with seasonal produce combos. Pies lack sauce, and toppings like corn, kale, and arugula can get a bit precious for some, but the pies here are always vegetarian, and for our money, always delicious.

1504 Shattuck Ave

Berkeley, CA 94709

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(510) 549-3183

17 Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

Tony's (as well as sister spot Capo's and the newly opened Slice House at AT&T Park) is commendable not only for its quality, but for its breadth. Though he's taken home umpteen Neapolitan pie-making prizes, Tony Gemignani is no purist: he's equally interested in Sicilian, Detroit-style, Chicago deep-dish, and coal-fired pies, and in wild toppings like the Honey Pie. The man is a pizza polymath, and his combinations are delicious.

1570 Stockton St

San Francisco, CA 94133

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(415) 835-9888

18 Una Pizza Napoletana

Anthony Mangieri isn't known for his flexibility (good luck getting a salad or making any alterations to your pie), but he makes up for his curmudgeonliness with sheer margherita mastery that's evident in every inch of his beautifully soft, perfectly charred crust and pristine toppings. Pizza acolytes come from across the globe for his pies.

210 11th St

San Francisco, CA 94103

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(415) 861-3444

19 Zachary's Chicago Pizza

Zachary's offers a glorious stuffed pie, with an extra layer of dough, buttery crust, sweet tomatoes, and filling that draws crowds every evening. It's almost like a savory layer cake of sauce, crust and toppings. Definitely not one of the lightest meal options around.

5801 College Ave

Oakland, CA 94618

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(510) 655-6385

20 Zero Zero

Bruce Hill's ever-popular SoMa-based pizza operation offers great pies like The Fillmore, loaded with mushrooms and fontina, or the Geary, with clams and Calabrian chile. The pastas, cocktails, and soft-serve are also great, for those who don't feel like a pie.

826 Folsom St

San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit website

(415) 348-8800


Article and images sourced from http://sf.eater.com/maps/best-pizzas-places-san-francisco-berkeley-oakland