Wisetrips Travel Blog – A digital travel diary.

Raphaël Feuillâtre: Latin Passions at Stanford’s Bing

Wednesday, November 4, 2026california, concert, guitar, sf bay

While developing my SF Bay Area Events search program, I discovered Raphaël Feuillâtre was playing at Sanford's Bing Concert Hall. I listened to him on YouTube and looked up his program, and it matched my interest in classical guitar.. . . The concert started at 19:30 with a 20-minute intermission. Raphaël played very well, but he lacked the energy of someone like Lucas Imbiriba. I…

Fixing WaterDrop X8 Filter

Wednesday, November 4, 2026appliance

I replaced my old Reverse Osmosis system with a WaterDrop X8 about 6 months ago, and the WaterDrop X8 signaled (with a blinking light and audio) that the F2 Filter needed to be replaced (normally every 6 months). . I chose the WaterDrop X8 system specifically for the ease of filter replacement, which was a major pain with my older RO system. When I received…

Cycling from Woodside to Sawyer Camp

Sunday, November 1, 2026california, road biking, sf bay

My friends and I decided to bike the long stretch along Canada Road, from Woodside to Sawyer Camp. On Sundays, this stretch of road is closed to car traffic from 09:00 to 15:00, making it a safe and enjoyable bike ride. . . . . We parked at the nearby Woodside Elementary, and I changed into road cycling clothes. This would be my first ride…

Gunhild Carling at Biscuits & Blues

Sunday, October 25, 2026california, concert, sf bay

Gunhild Carling’s performance at Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco was a terrific night out for fans of traditional jazz—from Dixieland and swing to big-band classics—and for anyone who appreciates musicians as entertaining to watch as they are to hear. . . . The Swedish-born multi-instrumentalist, singer, and entertainer, often dubbed the Queen of Swing, brings together dazzling musicianship, vintage jazz, playful humor, and theatrical…

X-Lab RS7 Road Bike

Sunday, October 25, 2026california, road biking, sf bay

Today, after test-riding the X-Lab RS7 road bike and the X-Lab GT8 gravel bike at the local Sports Basement in Almaden (the shop finally had both bikes in stock), I decided to buy the RS7 base model in white, size large. At $2099, it offers the best value and felt excellent on the road. . I considered the X-Lab RS7 Di2 version with electronic gear…

Anniversary Dinner at Le Papillon

Saturday, October 24, 2026california, personal, restaurant, sf bay

For our 25th Anniversary dinner, I initially booked Evvia, but had to cancel because Inna felt unwell. When I tried to book another day, I could only reserve outdoor tables, which worried me due to the cold weather. I decided to try dining at Le Papillon—a restaurant I visited decades ago. I made a dinner reservation for Saturday, October 24, at 19:00. . . On…

Cycling to Happy Valley from Santa Cruz

Saturday, October 24, 2026road biking, santa cruz

With the promise of continued beautiful weather (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in Santa Cruz, I planned a Saturday morning cycling trip around Happy Valley (using Komoot as my guide). . When Alex arrived at 09:00, we loaded his bike into my Toyota Sienna and headed to Gateway Plaza in downtown Santa Cruz, where we'd start our ride. . On arrival there, we unloaded the bikes and…

A Day Trip to Carmel

Saturday, October 17, 2026carmel, restaurant

We haven't been to Carmel-by-the-Sea in a while, so we decided to revisit it on Saturday. . . We met up with our friends at our favorite Mad Dogs & Englishmen Cafe, which has nice bicycle sidecars on display. . . After sampling a few pastries and enjoying delicious cappuccinos, we walked down to the beach. Although it was mid-October, the weather was beautiful and…

Birthday Dinner at Dalida

Sunday, October 11, 2026birthday, california, restaurant, sf bay

For my 58th Birthday, Inna treated me to a delicious dinner at Dalida Mediterranean in San Francisco's Presidio. She made a reservation for 19:30 (the earliest available for Sunday, October 11). . We tried calling Dalida to see if we could dine earlier, but couldn't reach anyone. When we arrived about 40 minutes early, they told us we couldn't be seated earlier. . Since it…

North by Northwest at Toni Rembe Theater

Sunday, October 11, 2026california, drama, sf bay, theater

A.C.T.’s North by Northwest (playing at Toni Rembe Theater, San Francisco) feels like a production whose theatrical ingenuity outpaces its storytelling: an accomplished cast, inventive stagecraft, and considerable comic energy, but an uneven relationship with Hitchcock’s suspense. Whether that sounds entertaining or frustrating depends on how much you enjoy seeing a familiar thriller turned into playful physical theater. . . Plot and ending spoilers follow.…