I don’t know about you, but I like to budget as much as possible. In other words, I prefer to shop at warehouse or discount-type places for food (CostCo, Target & Trader Joe’s), go for drinks at Happy Hour, see a matinee rather than paying full-price for a movie, take my own snacks to a movie, buy my wine at BevMo (particularly when they’re having the 5 cent wine sale!) & only buy clothing or shoes when they’re on sale. This weekend involved a few of those things.
Pa’ina Lounge
Pa’ina Lounge is a restaurant/bar in Japantown. Lucky for me, it’s close enough that I can walk to it. Pa’ina is conveniently located next to the Sundance Kabuki Movie Theaters. Prior to being Pa’ina Lounge, it used to be Sundance Kitchen (and they used to have loco moco!). Prior to that, it was either a Fuzio or a Pasta Pomodoro. Now that it’s Pa’ina Lounge, they serve Hawaiian style food. They have things like teriyaki sliders, oysters, clams, miso soup, garlic prawns, pan seared ono and four different kinds of poke. On many nights, particularly weekends, they offer live entertainment. Often the entertainment is music from or connected to Hawaii. I recently saw Maoli, J. Boog, Mango Kingz & CRSB perform there. They do NOT pack people in for concerts, so it’s not overcrowded. In addition, the staff is always extra, extra nice & get your drinks & food to you in a timely manner. They have Happy Hour on Mondays from 3-11, & on Wednesdays through Sundays from 3-6. There are drink specials & many appetizers for $5.
Yesterday afternoon I moseyed on in there around 4:00 p.m. Jeremy, one of the bartenders, recognized me the second I walked through the door! “We’re off to a good start!” I thought. I’d last been in there 2 or 3 weeks ago, sitting at the bar harassing Jeremy, as well as making friends with the couple next to me – an Aussie woman married to a Scottish guy. They’d met while he was on vacation in Australia! I started yesterday off with a Cosmopolitan. Although I’m not typically one for mixed drinks any more, it was really good. I also ordered some garlic fries. Their fries are served in a cone, warm with lots of freshly minced garlic & spicy mango ketchup. I also had a Kona Longboard. This time the woman next to me started up a conversation. She’d just been to see “Django Unchained” at the Kabuki Sundance Theaters & was raving about Samuel L. Jackson’s performance, which I had to concur with. This was her first time in Pa’ina Lounge, but she swore that she’d be back. She thought the interior looked very nice & she was more than pleased with her garlic prawns, as she kept “oohing” and “aahing” over them. They were actually having free live music from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. last night, but neither she or I would be able to stick around. (The gym would be calling my name by that time!). I mentioned to Jeremy that they should be really busy later in the week for Valentine’s Day. I also told him that I might stop by later that night. He said that if I did, I’d have to have a drink with him! My total bill for my enjoyable hour & a half was about $15, not including tip.
Pertinent information for Pa’ina Lounge is:
Pa’ina Lounge
1865 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415-829-2642
If for any reason I don’t make it there later on Valentine’s Day, maybe YOU should join Jeremy for a drink!
AMC Theaters
AMC Theaters also happens to be within walking distance from my apartment. At about 4 blocks aways, it’s an entire 2 blocks further than the gym! I decided to see the matinee of “Side Effects” this morning. It started at 11:00 a.m., which gave me plenty of time to make a quick run to Walgreens to pick up some goodies. I already had some Junior Mints from a Target run on Friday after work. At Walgreens I picked up a bottle of Crystal Geyser water & a little one-serving size of cashews with sea salt. Normally, I’d be buying chips & a soda, but more on that in a minute. I tucked my stash into my purse & continued to AMC. The matinees are $6.00, which are a much better deal than paying the regular price of $11.50. A small soda at the theater here costs about $2.00 now & I don’t even have any idea what a candy bar runs, probably about the same. My savings had to be at least $9.50 by going to the matinee & bringing my own snacks. Oh, & by the way, I liked the movie!
Lent
Even though Lent has not officially begun, I’ve officially started as of last Sunday. Being the junk food junkie that I am, I gave up soda, potato chips & cupcakes. Since I’ll be in Paris during Lent & did NOT give up wine, champagne, cheese or macarons, someone doubted my sincerity. I offered to give up the gym, but they weren’t satisfied with that (& I unhappily was forced to rescind). I then grudgingly gave up shoe shopping. THAT, they smiled with glee, will be a real sacrifice. For someone who’s known in the office as “Imelda, Jr.,” that IS a real sacrifice!
Oh, & while I was out & about, I happened to be in Union Square, where this San Francisco heart is located. Everyone has their picture taken in front of it. “What in the world is that other photo?” you must be asking. Actually, it’s a guy dressed up as Pan playing bagpipes. He was quite talented with the bagpipes, but that just goes to show you that we get all kinds here in San Francisco!
