Secretarial services HQ Global Workplaces handles a suite of business services. Book at 415 439 5200 or www.hq.com.
Excursions
A city as compact as San Francisco lends itself to walking, its 43 hills notwithstanding. That said, if you'd rather ride and have someone guide you along, consider a Gray Line city tour, tel: 415 558 9400, www.coachusa.com or info@graylinesanfrancisco.com.
Visitors to San Francisco can easily indulge in a number of local day trips if the city's hills (or fog) become too much to bear. Among the choices for a quick hop are the Carmel/Monterey peninsula, Yosemite National Park and the Mendocino coast.
Surely tops on any savvy traveller's list, however, is the Napa Valley, a mere 90- minute drive from the city centre. Known worldwide as the premier wine-producing region in the US, Napa Valley boasts dozens of large and small wineries, award- winning restaurants, soothing spas and welcoming hotels should the visitor choose to spend the night. Many local vintners offer tours and tastings – consider a stop at Swanson Vineyards, Frog's Leap, Chateau Montelena or Turnbull Wine Cellars for a taste of the local grape. Lunch should be at Thomas Keller's Bouchon, while Bistro Jeanty is where Chef Philippe Jeanty practices his brand of French country cookery (reservations for dinner are essential). Unwinding at the luxury spa at the Silverado Resort could be a dangerous proposition – you may never want to leave, which is why the rooms are conveniently located right across the street.
Local Press
The San Francisco Chronicle is the city's daily and the place to go for news, sports and weather information. The paper's Datebook section is a compendium of arts, entertainment and event info. The Sunday Datebook section (aka The Pink Section) is a pullout covering music, movies, theatre and everything in between for the seven days to come.
The San Francisco Bay Guardian and the SF Weekly are weekly publications that lean left in both news and arts coverage. If you're looking for something off the beaten path, this is the place to find it. Published every Wednesday.
Where magazine, a glossy available in most downtown hotels, is a good choice for dining and shopping recommendations that are slanted toward the upper end of the market.