If I had to pick one place to live in San Francisco, I would certainly want to make my digs right here, above Jumpin Java.  I love tight urban houses like these.  And I love coffee.   Jumpin Java is nestled between a block of row houses at 139 Noe Street, between Duboce and Market.  It’s a quiet street with a leafy canopy of trees providing shade as you pass the day reading books on the history of San Francisco architecture.  It’s the perfect picture and definition of a neighborhood coffee shop.

I usually don’t care to take my laptop when I travel.  For short trips I use a messenger bag with a few clothes and sundries.   If you’re just need a computer to check mail and/or your favorite blogs, (and not giving an important powerpoint presentation,) there’s really no need to carry a laptop to big cities where there’s internet cafes scattered about.  You just need to find a good one.  Actually make one with SECURE computers which aren’t loaded with crapware.  Hint:  if there’s toolbars already loaded on IE turn around and run.  Fortunately I found Quetzal, located at Polk and Vallejo, in downtown San Francisco.   They offer several complete Mac workstations with a view of Polk Street, where you’ll see busy office workers rapidly navigating around the lethargic homeless.  The staff was friendly, and the coffee cake was enormous.   Online at www.coffeeandcocoa.com

I found people really love crepes in San Francisco.  Being the type 1 diabetic I am I usually opt for the less glucose filled yogurt and granola to get me started in the morning, but I did visit Squat and Gobble, a “cafe and crepery” chain located in the peninsula.  I had the Florentine crepe, loaded with spinach and cottage cheese.  Good stuff – and our local breakfast/lunch joint “LePeep” just doesn’t carry the same alliteration as “Squat and Gobble.”  Go ahead and say it.   Find locations (and this photo) at squatandgobble.com