The easiest way across the bay would be BART, I'm guessing.

Easiest way to get from Oakland to S.F. is to swim.
(Wetsuit highly recommended). Cheerfully yours, etc.

In SF my favorite restaurant was House of Nanking. I'm drooling a little just thinking about it.

One word: BART
Ok, that's actually 4 words
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Ah....the Navy days...talk about orgle...I met this girl in the BART station one night and...

Hmm...Yeah, BART will take you right across the Bay Bridge.

As for things to do, the Museum of the Legion of Honor is underrated and has a great view of the city.

As for places to eat, there's a place called Chapeau! which is a good place for a nice French dinner out, but not if you have kids in tow. Here's a review: well, screw it, the review got a content restriction.

But the food's great everywhere. Most places you can walk around and finda great restaurant.

If your conference is at the convention center (at City Center), you've got a few very good dining options within a couple of blocks. Le Cheval is a nice Vietnamese place, a few notches above your typical formica and fluorescent mom and pop joint, a block away (10th and Clay). There's also May Hong, more mom-and-pop style, on Seventh between Broadway and Franklin. Also, Battambang (not "bottom-bang," you perverts) is a Cambodian place around 8th and Broadway. The Pacific Coast Brewing Company, a very good brewpub, is about a half-block down Washington Street.

A bit further afield, a quick cab ride down Broadway towards Jack London Square (at the bay), are Soizic ("Cal-Asian",) Everette & Jones barbecue, and Yoshi's (a Japanese restaurant and jazz club hosting top-name acts).

BART to SF stops right by the convention center. Lots of options here. I'll second the Legion of Honor museum tip, but it's a bit of a long bus/cab ride from BART, as long as you're up for that. But it's probably the best museum in the city, and there are very cool recitals on weekend afternoons on the massive pipe organ that's built into the whole museum. The Asian Art Museum & the SFMOMA are within a block or two of BART and are also worth checking out. E-mail me (remove the part in caps) and let me know if you want more tips on other areas of interest - shopping, outdoor, or whatever. I'm a local.

PS: "it's easy to spot the political scientists in the airport, as they are the guys wearing the khaki pants, new sneakers, blue-ish shirt, glasses--the standard professorial Garanimals look"

You aren't a constructivist, are you, Steve? Cause then it would be black turtleneck, nose ring, itty-bitty commie glasses.

Robbo,
If you are in Oakland, there are two sites worth your time; Jack London Square. But even more, go up to the Montclair District and enjoy the quaintness.

Oakland's super fancy restaurant is The Clairemont. That might be a very nice place to drop by.

Other than that, stay out of the liquor stores after 8 pm and spend as much time is SF as possible.

Gordon (Two year survivor of Oakland living)

Hey Eric,

That girl in the BART station wasn't a girl...