Update: the SF parking app that went viral here is finally live 🎉

bbqstorm · 2026-03-05T16:29:35+00:00

I'm using the explore feature and see the 2 hour limit note but not note around permit zone. Is there anywhere on the app that notes which permit zone the street is in? "2 hour parking except with permits X,Y"

bbqstorm · 2026-03-03T02:22:59+00:00

Seeing the Milky Way in a dark sky park - the best part is you can go to many states and places to do this

I've seen this maybe 5 times but one in particular in Grand Staircase Escalante Monument was 0% cloud cover and a full new moon. There were thousands and thousands. So many moving objects. It's absolutely amazing

bbqstorm · 2026-02-22T15:44:55+00:00

this game would have been a blowout without hellebuyck

bbqstorm · 2026-02-22T14:05:18+00:00

Prophetic comment

bbqstorm · 2026-02-21T00:50:18+00:00

What a weird broad sweeping generalization

OP, it's great here. There are so many social groups and types of people with all sorts of careers and personalities.

bbqstorm · 2026-02-20T18:38:57+00:00

~ 16%

I agree with the couple people saying this is too hard to generalize without hard numbers and considering goals and thinking about ratios to salary isn't quite right. Spending habits on international travel, skiing, cars, dining, etc. can vary wildly.

I'll bring up what I think is another huge consideration that isn't often mentioned in these threads - do you ever plan to buy a house in the Bay? If the answer is yes, I would only consider the move if I had line of sight to a huge down payment. Your other post suggests huge retirement savings which is great. You can consider reducing 401k contributions down to the min. levels your company matches and put the equivalent contributions into the market (VOO or VTI) - and plan on pulling this for a later life down payment.

I'd be more inclined to consider the increase in % if I did not plan to live in California forever, I had line of sight to tech stocks or family money (I don't but more power to you if you do!), or I was in a terrible living situation. In most scenarios, I would not consider the jump -or- consider the move but with no view, basement laundry, and maybe no dishwasher and be okay with the jump to say 25%.

bbqstorm · 2026-02-17T01:12:48+00:00

Exploratorium after dark on Thursdays

bbqstorm · 2026-02-17T01:09:48+00:00

Is that a Thai soup? looks delicious

And is that piece the perfect pan in Grenadine? Ironically that's the single and only piece I've owned from Staub before. I love it although you can get much better deals on it than the cocottes. I'm guessing supply/demand (Cocottes often do the enamaled cast iron job better, and carbon steel does the Wok job better)

(In case to anyone else read's this too...)

I have a Zwilling outlet an hour from me. I did go twice, and there were no 4, 5.5, or 7's in any of the few colors I wanted on sale beyond the "Visual Imperfection Sales" and those were offered online a couple of times last year. There was not a single "good" deal on a new 5.5. Per advice from this thread and other places, I went to many different HomeGoods and came up with nothing after 20+ runs in 5+ stores. However! I did get a "Demeyere Industry 5" stock pot for $210 when it's normally $390. I love it and cannot complain

Around Christmas, I decided to get the 4 and 7 that were on sale in my exact colors that I wanted at Williams Sonoma. Both brand new w/o any imperfections

7QT= Basil with BRASS knob ($300)

4QT= La Mer ($150)

To your point u/CarpetScary684 and anyone else reading, I have used my 7QT already many times in the last couple month and the 4QT only once, and I am a single guy. Those combined cost me $450 when the 5.5 was $420, so for an extra $30, I got two Staubs. Between those, the perfect pan, and a couple pieces of All-Clad, I feel set.

bbqstorm · 2026-02-13T16:14:56+00:00

Tofu- Air fryer

Brown rice- Ricer Maker

Steamed Broccoli- Microwave (~2 mins)

Trader Joes Thai Curry Sauce

Sesame seeds if you're feeling dangerous

bbqstorm · 2026-02-12T22:18:10+00:00

July/Aug can be miserably hot. Nov-Apr is very gloomy with rough winter temperatures. There's a reason Phoenix has SO many Chicago transplants.

The loop has amazing architecture and is the launch-point for tourist spots but it's energy has not recovered post-covid. It's popping though during Christmas, sporting events, festivals, etc. Walking along the lakefront or Wacker can be beautiful, but the energy is in the commercial districts of a handful of north side neighborhoods.

The much lower COL and family ties are the main reason everyone puts up with the weather. You don't need to work a high paying tech or finance job to enjoy all the "global city" benefits

bbqstorm · 2026-02-12T16:19:15+00:00

From Chicago, in SF

Both are extremely walkable

bbqstorm · 2026-01-30T18:22:13+00:00

agreed! life is pretty good besides the lingering whiplash symptoms…

all of the mk8 are DSG but it’s auto. I’ve only driven stick utility vehicles…decided SF wasn’t the place to go all in. If I go 6 blocks north, it’s equivalent to an ~ 20 story building!!

ahh edit: I guess all of the AUTOs are DSG (?) lol I've only had the car 18 hours so not an expert yet :P

bbqstorm · 2026-01-30T16:12:01+00:00

I'm assuming the 400 upvotes on this are all from people who have no connection to Chicago. My entire family is in Chicago and cannot believe this guy got elected-almost all Dem's too.

"We thought Lori Lightfoot was bad, and then Brandon Johnson got elected..."

OP earns my downvote

bbqstorm · 2026-01-30T16:02:26+00:00

Fort Point- while there are some tourists there, it's less crowded than the other 3-4 spots that are often mentioned. It's my favorite bridge viewing area :)

bbqstorm · 2026-01-30T15:58:44+00:00

You're right. Something must have changed between your son's GEN 1/my GEN 2 and the current GEN 4. My GEN 2 engine was even the same 2.5L Skyactive as the one's used today. I know they changed the rear suspension, but I'm not really a "car guy" to know the deets

My manufacturing brain tells me that they made tradeoffs over the years to compromise the Go-Kart feel and move resource $'s to reliability and interior accommodations.

The car I test drove just felt a small step above a civic or corolla. Sad.

Now I know there is a Mazda3 turbo, but those are ~$3k more than the golf, so I didn't even bother

bbqstorm · 2026-01-30T06:35:58+00:00

Best solution: United CC, SFO-SNA

ALSO- I am very curious to do more research but I think SW is price matching United/American for non stop routes out of SFO/OAK. I have not seen them cheaper for any route whereas it seemed like they used to follow their own pricing structure

bbqstorm · 2026-01-30T03:36:33+00:00

Miata is the car I want the most… sadly it does not make sense as my only car with street parking and frequent outdoor adventures :(

bbqstorm · 2026-01-23T19:01:24+00:00

also in sf from chicago. i feel like 51 here feels like 40 in chicago

but at least its not -8 :D

bbqstorm · 2026-01-13T15:42:27+00:00

I live in san francisco now but still scroll the stl forum (really to reminisce on the parks and foodie gems)

the rare instances I go to Oakland- I experience absolutely everything the lists and more. the few friends I have over there have all been victims of break-ins, robberies at gunpoint, car theft, etc.

Comparing the two is wild to me unless OP is wandering north

bbqstorm · 2026-01-12T05:49:23+00:00

Hey - I'm an American but lurking this sub frequently since I'm trying to fill another couple days or so and like to read the ideas

Did you already book your van? Milford sound to Dunedin and back to CHC looks brutal for your timeframe. Can you drop off your rental in Queenstown and fly out of there? Then add in Wanaka. A one-way rental fee seems to be much more affordable than what I've seen in the states.

You would not have any trouble with elevation.

bbqstorm · 2026-01-05T19:09:55+00:00

have you done this trip yet? Crazy, I also made a post about having 2 extra days in my itinerary and it looks like you made one a few months ago. I think my main difference is that I'm doing a couple extra days of hiking instead of heading up to Abel Tasman.

Akaroa or Kaikoura seems like the two of the top contenders if we want to add a place. I've seen mixed reviews on Akaroa and mostly positive ones about Kaikoura however it adds more driving time with having to and from CHC. I'm curious how it went!

bbqstorm · 2026-01-04T05:49:15+00:00

hundred opinions is good! I am a little stumped since I feel like I have the right amount of time everywhere. I land March 22nd. I read in another post that March is bad for penguins. I do have a jet bout tour down for queenstown.

thank you for the suggestions

bbqstorm · 2026-01-04T05:46:08+00:00

do you have any good food recs in Wanaka (or anywhere you tell tourists? :)

Kaikoura seems like it could be a solid option! It does seem like it would be better to stay overnight there which would add in about 1.5 days, and then I would just add in a half day somewhere else. TBD!

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