Archive for September, 2009
San Francisco Fleet Week 2009 October 8-13 – See the Blue Angels!
Posted by: | CommentsEach fall, the San Francisco Bay Area gets a great visit from the military, including the legendary Navy flight demonstration squad, the Blue Angels. Starting in 1981, when the event first took place, Fleet Week has been marked on my calendar. Not only because supporting our troops is essential, but also because this event is a tradition not to be missed.
For those of you who haven’t been able to enjoy Fleet Week before, this event is a must do for people of all ages. I’ve enjoyed taking my sons over to San Francisco to enjoy the event from Fisherman’s Wharf. The great thing about this weekend is that the planes and ships are available for viewing from more or less any of the waterfront areas. Here is the air show schedule:
2009 Fleet Week & Air Show Schedule:
| 10/8 (Thu) | Noon – 5pm | Blue Angel Survey Flights & Practice |
| 10/9 (Fri) | 1 – 4pm | Air Show Practice & Blue Angels |
| 10/10 (Sat) | 1 – 4pm | Fleet Week Parade, Air Show & Blue Angels |
| 10/11 (Sun) | 11AM – 5pm | Air Show & Blue Angels, Italian Heritage Parade, Ship Tours |
| 10/13 (Tues) | 11AM – 4PM | Ship Tours |
The biggest day for all of this is Saturday October 10th. The air show is absolutely stunning, and the Bay Area’s warm “Indian Summer” usually provides for great weather to enjoy this event.
To get a little preview of what you might see at Fleet Week, I found this really cool video from YouTube from Fleet Week 2007:
This year’s Fleet Week Celebration is going to be no exception to the tradition, and the great part is that it’s easily accessible from OakWalk. I know that many OakWalk residents are going to be trekking over there, and I’d like to hear input from our readers on what their favorite event of Fleet Week is.
For more information on the Fleet Week San Francisco event, visit the official site here.
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
Hangar 1 Vodka at the St George Spirits Distillery in Alameda
Posted by: | CommentsIf you consider yourself a Vodka snob, or just like Vodka in general, then a visit to the St George Spirits Distillery, and more specifically the Hangar 1 distillery is in short order. If you’ve never heard or tasted this Vodka, then you are in for a treat. But make sure you: bring a designated driver.
Just a short trip under the Webster Tube onto Alameda Island, St George Spirits distillery is located on the former Naval Air Station. Once you get there, head over to the Hangar 1, which is just as it sounds, and old aircraft hangar.
For just $10 you get a cool tasting glass, and the opportunity to taste some of the best Vodka around. You get to try a full 12 part flight, and believe me, you won’t be disappointed. They have some really interesting flavors like Spiced Pear Vodka, and their Green Tea infused Vodka, but my favorite by far is the “Buddha’s Hand” Citron infused Vodka. They really know how to make the best Vodka on earth. One thing that you’ll find out if you visit is that their vodka’s aren’t just flavored like some others, they are infused with actual fruit, which goes a long way in terms of taste. Their regular unflavored vodka, is actually made from viognier grapes (yes, that’s a wine grape), unlike other vodka’s made from potatoes or rice. This is probably why its much pricier than some other brands, but it’s worth the money.
Another really great part about the trip to St George Distillery, is sitting the bar and admiring the beautiful copper stills. There’s just something unbeatable about the experience of tasting their vodka right at the place where it was distilled. Don’t take my word for it, or even all of those people on Yelp, assuming you are of legal age to drink, grab a few friends and make your way over there yourself. You won’t regret it.
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
