Pirates! Cake and Ice Cream

I went to 826 Valencia on Sunday to check out the Pirate Store. 826 Valencia is a writing center geared towards youths founded by Dave Eggers (author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius). When he purchased a store front on Valencia to house it, the city told him “you can’t run a writing center there, that’s zoned for retail use.” So he opened a pirate supply store in the front as, literally, a front for the writing center.

It’s the coolest store in the world. Not only can you barter for lard, but you can explore the many drawers to see what items might be for sale (I found forks, buttons, eye patches, and citrus fruits to help fight scurvy). You can outfit yourself and your crew for a marauding voyage here and pay homage to Karl, the Porcupine Pufferfish. In the process, you’re also supporting a really cool youth writing center. Just watch out you don’t get mopped. (I don’t actually know what getting mopped is, but it happens to people sometimes.)

I’m inspired to volunteer at the writing center. My trip to BEA made me realize I need to get more involved in the writing community, and 826 Valencia looks like a super-fun place to get involved.

*****

I also went to Tartine. I’ve heard about this place for years but never been. We (my girlfriend and I) got a sandwich, a mourning bun, and a slice of lemon meringue cake. All three were sooooo good. I was skeptical of the cake, but damn. I say damn.

Then we got ice cream at the Bi-Rite. Another of those “I can’t believe I’ve never been here before” places. I got salted caramel and cinnamon with crushed snikerdoodles in it. San Francisco’s really a great ice cream town. If you’re going to do the tour, don’t miss the Bi-Rite, the original Swensen’s, and Mitchell’s. And if you’re in Oakland: Fenton’s. I’m sure there’s more, but those are the one’s I know and love.