So, you've seen everything a traveler
has to see in San Francisco. You've been t the Wharf, you've walked
the Golden Gate Bridge, seen the Mission District, and now you're
wondering what else is out there? Well halfway between downtown and
the Pacific Ocean there lays an adorable neighborhood called 9^th
and Irving. Aptly named because of its location at the corner of
Irving St. and 9^th Ave. Its also just a block away from
Golden Gate Park

Weekend
mornings are a great time to visit. The smell of hash browns
permeates the air around 9th and Irving, and locals shuffle from
their doorsteps to the area's numerous cafes and diners for their
first slurps of coffee. By noon, the commercial strip buzzes with
folks running errands, the sleepy residential streets come alive as
residents peruse yard sales, surfers return from the beach and
joggers and dog walkers stroll over to Golden Gate Park for a little
fresh air.

The main great feature of this little
haven is the food. If you're feeling like being super healthy there
is a great place called Pluto's (It may not be a planet anymore but
it is still a great place to grab a delicious bite to eat.) They
specialize in salads and sandwiches but if are feeling like falling
off the wagon a bit I would try the onion rings, they are out of this
world... Up the road a bit is a lovely little place that pays homage
to one of the greatest band of out time, it's called the Yellow
Submarine and guess what they make? Yup you got it sub sandwiches,
some of the best in town and their own homemade potato chips. My
personal favorite is a little bakery called Arizmendi, theyy have
bread and pastries and excellent coffee. They're descendent from an
amazing place in Berkeley called the Cheese Board, but if you're not
gonna make it across the bay on this trip Arizmendi is an excellent
alternative. They have a daily pizza special that is a) the only
type of pizza they serve that day b) always vegetarian c) the best
pizza you will have in California.

As for shopping there is a fair amount
of San Francisco souvenirs here, but not the ones you would find in
the Wharf or China town. They tend to be very neighborhood centered
and super cute as well. Wishbone is
on Irving between
7^th
and 8^th
, it's an adorable
gift shop with theme T-shirts, notebooks and gadgets. Tutti-Frutti
on Irving between 8^th
and 9th is a
toy and tchotcke shop that can keep you giggling for hours. And if
you are into cute used cloths than there is a San Francisco Chain
that you must try, it's called Crossroads and the are all over the
Bay but the Irving location is great. And while they have pretty
epic buyers that endure only the best quality hand-me-downs they also
have a jewelry collection that is worth the trip. 

So you're in San Francisco for Halloween, and you're not entirely sure what to do?  There are a ton of parties going on in just about every bar or club in the city.  The Tortoise ballroom itself will be a pretty epic show of costumed debauchery.

But there is also a ton of stuff to do the day before to take advantage of Halloween American style, that means movies... horror movies!

As the director of Hostel and Cabin Fever, Eli Roth knows a thing or two about horror flicks. Well, behold ELI ROTH’S MIDNIGHT MOVIE MARATHON, a fundraiser event forCELLspace, the non-profit collaborative art center in the Mission, Cellspace is at 2050 Bryant St at 18th Street.

MOVIE ENTRY IS FREE. Proceeds from sale of Beer & Wine (until 2a), Soda, Coffee, Food, , Snacks, Popcorn go to CELLspace.

SCHEDULE OF MOVIE SHOWINGS:

• Noon: The Thing (1982) John Carpenter flick about an arctic monster, with Kurt Russel.


• 2 pm: Zombie (1979) Italian sequel to Dawn of the Dead from “godfather of gore” Lucio Fulci.


• 3:45 pm: The Vanishing (1988) Not horror but more of a disturbing thriller similar to Hostel.


• 5:30 pm: MEAL BREAK!


• 6 pm: Pieces (1982) Spanish slasher film badly dubbed but with great chainsaw, errr, bits.


• 7:45 pm: The Wicker Man (1973) British horror w Christopher Lee set on creepy island village.


• 9:30 pm: Who Can Kill A Child? (1976) About a killer-kid, from “Spanish Hitchcock” Dir. Narciso Ibez Serrador.


• 11:15 pm: MEAL BREAK!


• 11:45 pm: Eraserhead (1977) Early nightmarish David Lynch flick it took him six years to make.


• 1:30 am: Suspiria (1977)  Operatic & weird enough for start time daze, filled w/ horrific imagery.


• 3:15 am: Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Similar to Blair Witch Project, about guys who film a cannibal tribe.


• 4:45 am: MEAL BREAK!


• 5:15 am: Evil Dead (1981) Don’t really have to sell this one. Bruce Campbell. Sam Raimi. Bam.


• 7 am: Audition (1999) Japanese flick in which suspense builds and builds and builds and…


• 9 am: Torso (1973) Italian slasher flick with lesbian erotic subplot. Not a bad way to end the day.

So we tend to have a rather warm August through October.  In fact sometimes it gets downright hot.  But what happens after that?

The rains are coming to San Francisco, "Oh no, whatever will we do?" I hear you saying.  Maybe just a little under your breath.  There is hope for you adventure seekers that don't want to get all muddled down with bad weather and bad attitudes.

Our Adventure Travel office is launching it's winter tours, one to Death Valley and one going down the coast to Baja.  First of all the Death Valley trip is fantastic leaving Nov. 5th and 25th.  You go out to enjoy a large desert that used to be a lake bed.  When I went on this trip last year I was a little skeptical, I'm not a desert kinda guy really, but I had a fantastic time.  The fact you go in the colder months means it's totally bearable to walk around in jeans and a t-shirt and not get too hot while the nights are good to get you not only cooled off and cozy, but ready to sit around a fire and have a great time with all the new friends you'll be making.

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures/death.valley.national.park.html

 Or how about a nice drive down the coast of California and then further down into Mexico along the Baja panhandle leaving Nov. 19th.  I have never met someone that had anything other than a great time come off this trip.  It's not just a vacation, it's an adventure going down a truly beautiful trek to enjoy beaches and natural wonders galore. 

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures/baja.mexico.whales.beach.html

So remember you can always book a reservation in the city, but don't feel like you have to be tied down to it, go on adventure with us.

So the Treasure Island Music festival is cool and all.  But if you're poor like me you might find it a bit much to handle.  So what is there for all us cheapskates?  Well if you like being adventurous, and if you've ever read a comic that made you laugh, think, or just generally feel good why not the Alternative Press Expo, or APE.  It's basically a comic convention but for those lovable indie comic guru's.  So for $10 you can check out a day in the life or for a measly $5 more ($15 for those of us that hate math) you can get a 2 day pass to this 2 day event.  Saturday and Sunday will host a large collection of goodies as well as a number of artists and writers talking about the biz and such.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Megan Kelso—A retrospective of the career so far of APE special guest Megan Kelso, beginning with her drawing minicomics in 1990 at the Evergreen State College during the early years of the DIY zine explosion. Kelso will talk about the phases she's gone through in her storytelling: college, sex, family, history, and homesickness, and how all these themes found their way into her acclaimed new graphic novel, Artichoke Tales. Marc Weidenbaum, whose career as a comics editor has paralleled her own, will ask questions along the way. Megan Kelso's appearance courtesy Fantagraphics Books.

1:00-2:00 The Bay Area Comics Scene Through the Years—The Bay area comics community has changed and progressed over the last 40 years, from the wild heyday of the '60s to the new generation of cartoonist doing comics today. This lively, freestyle discussion explores the Bay area's flourishing comics community. Panelists include Dylan Williams (Sparkplug comic publisher and founder of the seminal '90s comics collective Puppy Toss),Susie Cagle (up-and-coming cartoonist and part of the new Vibrate Bay Area comic scene), and others. Moderated by Thien Pham.

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Daniel Clowes—Critically acclaimed, award-winning, bestselling cartoonist, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, and APE special guestDaniel Clowes will be in conversation with PictureBox publisher and Comics Comics editor Dan Nadel. They will discuss Clowes's most recent graphic novel, Wilson, published by Drawn & Quarterly. His current projects include both comics and film, and his backlist of titles include Ghost World, David Boring, and Ice Haven. The two will explore comics history, including Wally Wood, Peanuts, Will Elder, and others. Join one of the most preeminent cartoonists with one of the foremost comics scholars working today as they engage in a cerebral and fascinating discussion of Clowes's oeuvre.

3:00-4:00 Queer Cartoonists—LGBT cartoonists have always faced unique challenges and yet also offered unique perspectives. As queer stories move increasingly into the mainstream, what role do queer comics play, and are they helping the gay agenda take over the world? Join this dynamic panel -- in its seventh year at APE -- with a particularly diverse and fabulous line-up of cartoonists: APE special guest Tommy Kovac (Stitch), Jon Macy (Teleny and Camille), Desmond Miller (Hansel and Gretel: Agents of the Coven), Christine Smith (Eve's Apple), Rick Worley (A Waste of Time), Sean Z (Myth), and moderator Justin Hall (Glamazonia).

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Lynda Barry—One of the most influential cartoonists of the past 30 years, APE special guest Lynda Barry has worked as a painter, cartoonist, writer, illustrator, playwright, editor, commentator, and teacher and has found they are all very much alike. With her publisher, Drawn & Quarterly, she launches her brand new book, the how-to/memoir/graphic novel Picture This, at APE. This uncategorizable book is the "how-to-draw" companion to the bestselling and Eisner Award–winning "how-to-write" bookWhat It Is. At this panel, Barry will explore Picture This in an engaging slide show that is sure to be standing room only, thanks to Barry's wildly enigmatic, popular, and hilarious stage presence, which not only commands the attention of every attendee but leaves them crying, laughing, and floored with inspiration. Seeing Barry in person is life changing!

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Tony Millionaire—APE special guest Tony Millionaire, the mad genius behind Sock Monkey, Maakies, and Drinky Crow, talks with fellow APE special guest Renée French about his career in comics and his wild life. Here's a hint: Tony will be the one in the fancy tuxedo. The guy will really class up the joint.

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Renée French—A conversation between APE special guest Renée French and publisher/comics historian Dan Nadel about Renée's new book, H Day. How does a cartoonist translate something as abstract as a migraine into the concrete form of a book? And why? Renée will talk about this challenge, her drawing process, and will briefly look back at her extraordinary career. Renée French appearance courtesy of PictureBox.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17

12:00-1:00 Writer's Old Fashioned—The Writer's Old Fashioned group is the latest in a long line of illustrious San Francisco–based comics movements and is proving to be one of the most dynamic. Originally a small group of comics writers who began meeting in 2006 to exchange ideas, provide feedback, and imbibe a few drinks, WOF has expanded to include some cartoonists, comics illustrators, and even teetotalers. Moderator Justin Hall(Glamazonia) will grill Kirsten Baldock (Smoke and Guns), Stephenny Godfrey(Panorama), Jason McNamara (Martian Confederacy), Matt Silady (The Homeless Channel), Emily Stackhouse (Brazilia Noir), and Storm (Princess Witch Boy) about their creative endeavors and drinking habits.

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Tommy Kovac—Meet the writer of the acclaimedWonderland miniseries (from SLG and Disney Press) and the current hit The Royal Historian of Oz. APE special guest Tommy Kovac talks about writing new stories based on classic literature without having to totally reinvent the source material. (You can also ask him where Skelebunnies fits into the whole thing.) Moderated by APE founder and SLG honcho Dan Vado. Tommy Kovac appearance courtesy of SLG.

2:00–3:00 The Art of Storytelling—What role does art play in telling a story in comics format? Enjoy this discussion of art and comics with APE special guests Lynda Barry (What It Is), Renée French (H Day), and Megan Kelso(Artichoke Tales), plus Tom Neely (The Blot) and Jen Wang (Koko Be Good). Moderated by Greg Means (Tugboat Press).

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Rich Koslowski: The Trials, Tribulations and (Sometimes) Triumphs of the Indie Comics World—For one hour APE special guest Rich Koslowski (The 3 Geeks, Three Fingers, BB Wolf and the 3 LPs) will "tell all" about his experiences in the comic book biz: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! No questions will be dodged! Moderated by Gary Sassaman, the director of print and publications for Comic-Con and Koslowski's publishing partner in the fondly remembered Geeksville.

4:00-4:45 Indie Comics Survival Guide—Join 2010 Comic-Con Inkpot Awardwinner Keith Knight (the K Chronicles, Knight Life, (th)ink), as he once again gives you the lowdown on how to not only survive, but thrive in this ever-evolving industry we call COMICS! With Stephen Notley (Bob the Angry Flower), Mat Bors (editorial cartoonist for United Media), and C. Spike Trotman (Templar, AZ).

4:45-5:30 CBLDF: The Fight For Intellectual Freedom—More than 50 years after Frederic Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent, comics and other media still come under the attack of censors. Charles Brownstein, executive director of the CBLDF, is joined by cartoonist Keith Knight and other panelists for a discussion of current trends in comics censorship and how we all can get involved in protecting intellectual freedom.

 So come on out to the expo and see what all the ape like fuss is about.

for more info go here:  http://www.comic-con.org/ape/index.php

All you regular readers out there know we like to keep you apprised of all the musical goings-on here in the City by the bay! Well.. hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen.. there's about to be a Hoe Down!

It is time, for the 10th annual Hardly, Strictly Blue Grass festival! All day 10am-6pm all weekend starting Frioday, October 1st! 3 long, joyous days of banjos, hootenannies, bandanas, square dancing... and yes.. even this guy:

THATS RIGHT EVERYONE! MC Hammer will be making an appearance at this year's blue grass festival! Why? ... i guess that one is up to your imagination, but whatever the reason.. It's hammer time. Friday, the first at 11:30 pm.

There are so many artists id love to put them all up here for you but its probably best if you just check out this here website! Its more organized than I am. http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/2010/artists.shtml

 San Francisco does their outdoor festivals right, so even though this is a FREE event, it will be crowded! and hot! and fun! so bring your water bottles and get there early ya'll!

 Thats all from me, have fun out there cow boys and cow girls.

and just in case anyone doesn't know what a banjo is.... it's this... :

Among the many highlights of
Litquake 2010 will be the presentation of the 4th annual Barbary Coast Award to
legendary literary figure Lawrence Ferlinghetti and City Lights Booksellers for
contributions to Bay Area letters. Joining us for the tribute are poet, author,
and rock-n-roll high priestess Patti Smith as well as Winona Ryder, Michael
McClure and New Yorker cartoonist Eric Drooker, Ishmael Reed, Jack Hirschman,
devorah major, with music by The Marcus Shelby Quartet … plus a very special
guest indeed.

The festival runs Oct. 1-9 with
more than 550 authors at events including Stories on Stage (Litquake’s version
of NPR’s Selected Shorts), Insect Life, Surf Lit, Tales of Hollywood Hell,
Nonfiction Writing Panel, Dad Lit, It’s All Over but the Crying: A Night of
Authors on Sports, Kidquake, TeenCrawl, Fairy Tale Noir, Virtual Reality: The
Effect of Fiction on Your Mind and many others. Our first-ever Literary Film Festival features the San
Francisco premiere of Red Poet, the story of 2006 San Francisco Poet Laureate
Jack Hirschman, followed by a conversation with Hirschman and the film’s
director.

 Featured authors include
Jonathan Lethem Joyce Maynard Exene Cervenka Martin Cruz Smith Daniel
Alarcon Terry McMillan Andrew Sean Greer Daniel Handler Kristen Schaal
(of The Daily Show) Rebecca Solnit (with her new Infinite City) Mark W
Moffet (called the Indiana Jones of entomology for his book Adventures Among
Ants) and two Pulitzer Prize winners—TJ Stiles and Richard Rhodes.

One of the best things about summer in San Francisco is, without a doubt, the festivals! During the summer it seems we have a concert or festival nearly every weekend in this fair city. Well, with summer coming to a soon (and unwelcome) end, what better way to go out with a bang than with (you guest it) another festival!!!

The Treasure Island Music Festival is coming up this October 16th & 17th and you don't want to miss it! Its 2 days of spectacular live music, including Belle and Sebastian, LCD Soundsystem, the National, and many more! Plus food, booze, performance art, games, and even a Ferris Wheel! You haven't lived until you have seen the view of San Francisco across the bay from a 60 foot high carnival ride.

Treasure Island is in the middle of San Francisco Bay, about half way across the Bay Bridge. But its easy to get to by bus and you can walk to the station from the Green Tortoise Hostel!

For more info or tickets visit http://www.treasureislandfestival.com/2010/index.php

And if this view doesn't convince you, I don't know what will...

Hope to see y'all there!

So you may know that San Francisco is a fairly kinky sort of play.  We are well known for our gay and lesbian community.  There is also a very strong leather community as well.  The Folsom Street is a little bit of all of it for anyone brave enough to check out a fair dedicated to all of us sexual deviants.  It can be intimidating for some but it is a very warm and welcoming community ready to talk to you about anything from light bondage to a love of getting flogged, or for that matter a love of doing the flogging.  So if you want to be adventurous you should check it out on Sept. 26th.

OK Green Tortoise peeps, it’s that time again- Head over to
Golden Gate Park for the 12^th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival!
This festival has it all: Yoga, artists, music, awesome food, and all the
hippie-tastic activities you would ever need. The festival in Speedway Meadows.
What’s that you say? Oh, the entrance fee? There is no entrance fee- these
peace-lovin’ peeps want everyone to enjoy the festivities, although they do ask
for a $5 donation.

Saturday, September 11^th is the main day of the
festival, with the day kicking off with a 9:00-11:00AM community yoga session.
Don’t feel comfortable holding your tree pose in front of a bunch of experienced
yogis? Worry not, people of all levels of experience are welcome.

After you’ve downward doggy-ed your way to a more peaceful morning,
check out all of the awesome bands performing:

Michael Franti and Spearhead

Crystal Bowersox

Rebelution

Rupa and the April Fishes

Sambada

Sellassie

Loco Bloco

Rhonda Nicole

David “Lebo” le Batard

If you’re not feeling the music, check out all of the other
displays around the festival. There’s a DJ tent, a Healing Sanctuary (for you
who are still extra stressed over that morning yoga performance), and many
local artists displaying their work.

Check our their website for the full details, and we’ll see you there! Groovy.

http://www.powertothepeaceful.org/

So Burning man has started up and the mass exodus has gone the way of the road to Nevada and all sorts of flaming effigies therein.  But that's no reason to be glum and feel like you're missing out.  It's all the more reason, as I see it, to party like fucking rockstars and let those desert rats know what's up here in the Bay area.  So here are some shows coming up that may be of interest.

- Teeeth, Hunt With A Cat at the Hemlock 21+ $6 9pm 

So I have found that the best way to explore this new frontier of tourism is to go to a festival.  See the people and eat the amazing food.  The Real Street Foods Festival is the perfect excuse to head over to the Easy Bay.  Get pumped for three days jam-packed with awesome food craft
collaborations and performances, urban homesteading contests and how-tos, and
sweet entertainment. So go ahead and block out Aug 27th, 2pm-9pm, Aug 28th,
10:30am-9pm, and Aug 29th, 10:30am-5pm, on your calendar because Eat Real's
bringing the party to Jack London Square.

You can get to the festival either by taking the BART train from Montgomery St. station to 12th St Oakland.  Or you can take the Ferry to the Jack London Square pier.  Either way you need to go to this festival.

Trust me, I'm a native...

We were excited to find out that one of our employees, Raja, happens to also be in a band.  The bands name is Jahlectrik, a funky blend of reggae, some jazz, world beats, and whatever moves them.  A band that follows the kind of principal that always makes great music in my opinion, that principal being, "Let's make music and have a good time together."  They recently released an EP titled Balance Which has been rocketing up the itunes world music charts, making it to number 7, top ten baby, way to go.  So if you are interested in music from the soul and you love the green tortoise check it out.

http://jahlectrik.com/Jahlectrik.html

http://www.myspace.com/jahlectrik

 And if you need to book a trip on one of our most awesome bus trips, come see one of our lovely and helpful Travel Office helpers, besides Raja you may be helped by the illustrious Ryn, or the spicy Mari.  We love helping people find exceptional adventures to fit their travels and their lives.  So have a great day and a wonderful life.

Upcoming tours:

Yosemite 3 Day $270 August 9th

Western Trail 7 Day $500 August 9th

Pacific Trek 7 Day $490 August 19th, So all of our tours are exceptionally great but I want to take a minute to talk about this trip as it needs more people on it and it's absolutely great.  Among the many activities involved you will get to see some lava beds, which are flow vents that you can walk through as these day's their just caves.  A stop at some lovely hot springs broken up into different pools overlooking a beautiful river.  Lassen Park which holds the moniker of the least visited national park, why we can't be sure other than people not knowing about it because it's absolutely amazing, housing in its confines several different kinds of volcanoes as well as a camp site near a Cinder Cone, a kind of crater created by a one off volcano.  You will also stop at Crater lake, a beautifully glorious lake in Oregon.  If that isn't enough to peak your interest, you can have a fun night out on the town, once in Shasta and again in the quaint little town of Ashland.  So come by and see us, this trip is going to be excellent.