In September, 2004, Eric & I spent a week in San Francisco. We checked in on Saturday evening at the wonderful Argonaut Hotel, right on Fisherman's Wharf. The hotel is housed in a 100-year-old former peach canning plant, and the window behind Eric opens onto DelMonte Square, offering live music afternoons and evenings!

All the rooms have a nautical theme, but we were really impressed by the exposed bricks and beams ... we love staying in historic buildings!

On Sunday morning - at 10:00 a.m.! - we watched the Steelers on TV. Eric said he would call his buddies back in Albany and let them know who won ... <ha ha>

What luck! There was a Pro Cycling Tour race in town on Sunday, and it went right past the hotel! Lance Armstrong was supposed to compete, but he pulled out at the last minute due to tendinitis. It was still pretty exciting!

Our friends Mic & Joanna, and their kids, Lily and Asher, met us to watch the race. Mic & Jo moved to San Francisco from Albany a few years ago. We miss them, but love that they live in such a great place to visit!

After the cyclists went by, we went back into the hotel to check the Steelers score. Here, Mic & Lily take in the game.

Joanna was so taken by the cruise ship motif that she insisted Eric & I pose for a photo!

In yet another stroke of luck, the Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival was underway just two blocks from our hotel. The boys quickly found chocolate stout, courtesy of Bison Brewing Co. of Berkeley, CA. Two thumbs up!

When you find something that works, you stick with it. Keeping with the beer theme, we all hopped on the F train to the Ferry Building, then made a quick two-block walk to Gordon Biersch, San Francisco's famed brew pub and restaurant. The grownups enjoyed the Marzen beer, and Lily made short work of a plate of french fries!

I was sporting my Hair of the Dog hat, always doing advance work for the boys in the band!

Later, we went back to Mic & Jo's house ... our first time seeing it ... and indulged in some mighty fine California wine.

Ready for some more pictures?