Vacation Observations - Casinos and San Francisco

[macabra11]

So I just got back from a vacation down to Reno/Tahoe/San Francisco and made a few observations.
1. I'd only been to a casino one other time in my life (19 yo in Niagara Falls Canada) and never really thought much of it. I am good enough at losing money without gambling, so it has never appealed to me. We went on this trip with some friends that are really into casinos though, so we gave it a go. The biggest complaint I had was all of the nasty cigarette smoke inside the casinos. I actually wished I had brought a pipe to at least fill my personal bubble with some pipe smoke. I didn't see anyone else smoking pipe in the casinos, but there were cigar smokers (not many) and lots of cigarettes. Has anyone ever smoked pipe in a casino before? Did you get any sort of reaction from other folks?
2. San Francisco. The whole damn city smells like urine... except China Town. China Town smells like urine and dried shrimp. Another instance where I wished I had a pipe to create a cloud of Frog Morton smoke around me to help mask the odors of the city. Apparently San Francisco are like nazis when it comes to public smoking though.
3. Smoke shops in San Francisco are really just head shops. No pipe tobacco to be found. I'd see a shop, go in and immediately be disappointed. Even shops that weren't shrouded in tie dye signage were really only selling pot pipes, vape stuff and some cigars. I am sure there are tobacconists in the city, but I didn't actively seek them out.
4. In-N-Out Burger is awesome.

 

[loneredtree]

1. The only casino I have been to was at the "Big Show" in Reno. I did not feel comfortable smoking a pipe there so I went to the Tinder Box.
2. I stay out of big cities.
3. To bad. You missed some good shops between SF (SJ) and Sacramento. Maybe next time.
4. At least you found something to like about our fair state. :clap: :P

 

[derfargin]

1) Smoking in Casino's go hand in hand with alcohol and gambling. I actually have been to a Casino that was non-smoking and I thought something was off. I think it's part of the experience. I'd have no problem smoking a pipe in a casino, especially if I'm gambling. Odds are I'm handing over my money to the house, so I got no problems smoking what-the-f**k-ever I want because I'm paying for my time there.
2) Yes with the piss laden streets in San Fran. It's funny when you're walking around the city and it hasn't rained in a long time, and you pass trickle of "water" making it's way to the street away from a corner of building. Homeless just sleep wherever they damn well please, and there were times I was actually stepping over them while they were asleep on the sidewalk.
3) I found many "head shops" while in the city, but I managed to find a a few cigars stores that had a small amount of pipe tobacco. I smoked my pipe in public away from crowds and had no problem, and actually got some compliments on the smell of the pipe.(Actually was smoking some HH Vintage Syrian at the time) The only time there was an issue, when I was standing in a closed for the day business doorway, and a cop came up to me and said..."As much as I enjoy pipe smoke, I can't let you stand in a doorway and smoke." I politely excused myself a few yards away and continued smoking my pipe.

 

[cobguy]

I smoke in the casino's around here and now and then someone comments on the pipe.

Mostly, I hear that it smells better than the cigs or that it's "unique" for the times.

I'm mostly up in the poker room playing Texas Holdem though and there's no smoking.
In-N-Out burger has a secret menu.

Around here you can order the 3x3 and 4x4 burger as well as requesting any burger "animal style".

 

[eightywon]

I think the secret menu is chainwide. I like 2x3's (2 patties 3 slices of cheese) mustard grilled (meat painted with mustard before cooking) with chopped chilis and grilled onions extra spread hold the lettuce and tomato. Rsuninv forgot to mention animal style fries come with cheese. And for those not in the know, animal style burgers are extra everything plus pickles.

What were we talking about now?

Oh yeah, SF smells like piss and casinos smell like cigarettes. I've smoked a pipe in Reno casinos with little to no reaction. I've packed pipes on Vegas trips but tend to be black out drunk by the time I check in and never get around to unpacking them. I turn into a bit of an animal myself. If I make it out to the west coast pipe show, I apologize to all in advance.

 

[macabra11]

Yeah we went on this trip with friends that are originally from SoCal and have family in Reno, so we had guidance. I ordered the double double animal style with animal style fries. It was pretty awesome. I find myself craving it now.
Next time I go down to Reno I will be bringing my pipe for sure. If I never got back to San Francisco, I wouldn't be heartbroken. AT&T Park was a beautiful place to watch my Pirates beat the Giants :mrgreen: Some good breweries and restaurants in that town too!

 

[macabra11]

Thanks for the suggestion rsuniv! My favorite meal there was at Brasserie St. James, a brewery and gastropub. Lots of belgians, saisons and other unique beers than your standard west coast offerings. Food was absolutely insane... spendy, but really friggin good! My favorite pairing there was a German Rauchbier (smoked lager) and the bone marrow canoes with bacon jam and toast. RICH!

 

[eightywon]

Couldn't resist it anymore...

 

[macabra11]

Hahahahahaha! Nice job eightyone

 

[eightywon]

AT&T Park is my favorite place to watch the DODGERS play!

 

[simnettpratt]

While we have none here in Texas, In-N-Out was just rated as the number one fast food joint in the country, based on quality of food, cleanliness, friendliness of employees etc, by some major food magazine or something.

 

[simnettpratt]

Yeah, like the park that offered 'throw back' beer prices at 50¢ each, also never did that again. Pretty funny; who could have seen that coming?

 

[ruscho]

I see a lot of people smoking pipes at the local casinos, old gents puffing on 1Q and such, not many smoke cigars. I prefer to smoke a cigar when at the casino, since pipes are a bit too much work.

 

[ssjones]

My buddy is in SF and just send me this picture. SF's first topless/bottomless place and now it does appear to be a head-shop. If I ever open a topless/bottomless place, it will also be called "Big Al's"

 

[macabra11]

Yeah, I thought it best to not take my pregnant wife into any strip joints. lol

 

[ssjones]

I think most big city strip joints are to fleece the suckers, from what I've been told...

 

[mso489]

I'm sorry to hear the atmosphere in San Francisco is not so pleasant. My memory of it, first visiting off

a minesweeper back from Vietnam on Armed Force Day in May, it was a magical place even though we

had to wear our dress uniforms off the ship. I visited several times after that and always enjoyed it.
Later, working for a research outfit, I always wanted to go to Las Vegas on business, since it wasn't a place

I'd visit myself, for the low-cost breakfasts, entertainments, and in later years the fine art that Getty and

other mega moguls brought there for museums. But the casinos seemed kind of sad, making the suckers

unload all their money while making them feel like they were on the verge of wealth. Ha. The house always

wins; that's where all that fancy interior design comes from. The owners live far better than that and

consider the patrons riffraff livestock fresh for the skinning. I do take an occasional chance on a pipe or

a new blend, however.

 

[stbruno70]

San Francisco has a horrible problem with druggies, homeless people and loonies. But not all the streets smell of pee - it all depends on where you go.
Grant's was the last old-line pipe shop in town. Sadly it closed a few years ago.
Telford's in nearby Mill Valley is I think the best tobacconist in the Bay Area.
There are many great Chinese restaurants in San Francisco. For voluminous discussions about local Chinese eateries and pipe smoking, go to the blog of At The Back of the Hill. His opions are salty.

 

[philobeddoe]

I lived in California for two years, and I tried my best to put the kids of the local IN'n'OUT franchisee through college.

 

[sablebrush52]

I go up to the bay area a half dozen times a year, mostly East Bay. Whenever I've ventured into the city to see my brother, I've enjoyed my pipe everywhere I go and have yet to be hassled, though I do get some looks. It is not a smokers' paradise, but like I said, no hassles so far. SF has great pizza, many wonderful restaurants, no decent delis (which means that they're backward and parochial in some ways...), okay Chinese food, fairly good Mexican, excellent Italian. You will find MUCH better Chinese food in SoCal, in the San Gabriel Valley. Period.
The city is grimy. It does smell of piss and other body excretions. The inhabitants look wan, and defeated, but better than Berkeley where the inhabitants look like unsuccessful war refugees, ready to die. For all of that, I love SF. I love the history, the architecture, the eccentricities, the Avenues, Golden Gate park, the museums, the opera, the Silent Film festival, Macy's Christmas window displays, the warm and generous spirit of many of its inhabitants, and much, much more.
In 'N Out is the only chain that knows where its meat comes from and controls its supply. The rest of them use mystery meat squirted into vast slurries, stirred together and squirted onto grills and fryers near you. I'll have an In 'N Out burger on occasion, but haven't bought from any of those other crap slingers in decades.