My brother and I are going to a Giants game tonight at ATT, make that Oracle Park in the city. Most of the time, we welcome leaving the Valley heat and heading to the cooler Bay Area weather. Here is the most common weather related quote through most of the past century.
Anyone who’s ever spent the summer months of July or August in San Francisco knows that weather can sometimes dip down into the 50s and 60s. Sure, you’re in California but the summer months in San Francisco can often feel like the fall in New England. The summer months are so unseasonably cool here that there’s a witty quote often credited to Mark Twain in which he says, “The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco.” Funny, right? The only problem is, Mark Twain never said it. According to the fact-checking website Snopes.com, an extensive review of all of Twain’s writings and private letters can find no instance of the great American author ever saying such a thing. In fact, the origins of the phrase are completely unknown.
So, we will leave home in the late morning, in shorts and polos. When we arrive in the Bay Area, we will have our sweaters, down parkas, and long pants. It is all part of the charm of this great state. And it is a reminder of the days when our Dad drove us up to Candlestick for a Sunday day game. We often had dinner down at Fisherman’s Wharf before heading home. Those were some great memories with our Dad. Each time we go together, reminds us of those great days. Thanks, Dad!!!!
Speaking of long pants, how about a pair of Levi’s? The right field wall at the ballpark is called Levi Landing, for good reason. Here is why.
A native of Germany, Levi Strauss found success in America by selling dry goods. In 1853 he moved to San Francisco to cater to the growing number of gold prospectors that were flocking to the city each day in search of fortune. Strauss saw that the pants the prospectors were wearing couldn’t hold up under rough conditions, so he decided to create something that was more durable. He teamed up with a tailor by the name of Jacob Davis and together they patented the first “waist overalls,” as Levi’s jeans were initially called, in 1873. His iconic “501 jeans” would first be sold to the public in 1890. Strauss passed away in 1902 but today just about every person owns a pair of jeans, thanks to him … and it all started in San Francisco. Side bar: Ironic that Walter Haas, then owner of Levi Strauss, was owner of the rival Oakland A’s across the bay for many years.
So, we will weather the storm in our Levi’s, and enjoy some great seats. My brother’s high school classmate gave us her season tickets for this game!!!! So, a big thank you to KH!!!!
And last but not least, did you know fortune cookies were born in San Francisco?
Fortune cookies did not originate in China. Fortune cookies were first served at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in the 1890s. They were made by the San Francisco bakery Benkyodo. No one knows for sure how the cookies made the leap over to Chinese restaurants, but by the end of World War II they were popping up in restaurants all across the country.
So, while you are sweltering in the heat, or lighting your fireplace, we will be at the game, misquoting Mark Twain, wearing our Levi’s, and feasting on x rated fortune cookies. And maybe a crab sandwich and a few beers. Perhaps this game will be among the last for some of our hometown heroes, like Mad Bum.
We will drive up Friday, take BART into the City, and have our crab sandwich. After the game, we will BART back to the east bay and stay overnight. Then a quick breakfast with my buddy, Mike, before returning home. It will be a quick overnight trip.
