How to Stretch Your Dollar Outdoors and Online
By Rick Rochon, founder of http://myjoffer.com
1. A walk in Golden Gate Park, the best hotdogs in San Francisco and a free trip through the DeYoung
Did you know that Golden Gate Park has a year-round staff that is dedicated to making sure that the park is always green with vegetation that grows all year long? No matter what time of the year it is, there is always something beautiful to see at Golden Gate Park. A nice romantic stroll through the various continent gardens in The Arboretum is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon (or even a foggy afternoon) On the first Tuesday of every month the DeYoung Museum offers the public FREE admission...And only steps away there is an amazing hot dog vendor very close to the Conservatory that has some of the most amazing hot dogs in town including a Kim Chee hot dog...yum. Who says Saturday is the best date night of the week?
2. The Embarcadero Farmers Market, Ferry Building and a picnic on the Bay
For a nice afternoon, roaming around the Farmers Market is always a delicious way to taste with your eyes the many local flavors from Northern California. However try some of the many amazing offerings available at the Ferry Building and have a little picnic right on the Bay. Try a sampling of gourmet delicacies from such stores as Delica or award winning Chef Daniel Patterson's new Il Cane Rosso. Try some of the delicious cheese from Cowgirl Creamery with some of Acme's famous breads. For about $14 a person you can add in a relaxing ferry ride right to either Larkspur or Sausalito or vice versa.
3. Walking tour of Russian Hill and the Best Pot stickers in the City
At 345 feet above San Francisco Bay, Russian Hill is a magical neighborhood, with secret gardens and amazing views! Climb hills and staircases to visit the former haunts of writers, artists and other young bohemians. See where Willis Polk lived and worked, and one of only two remaining octagon houses. Check out www.sfcityguides.org for a schedule of free walking tours including getting the 4-1-1 about The Big Four on California Street and other Russian Hill secrets. At the end, check out U-Lee Restaurant on Hyde Street for some of the best Pot Stickers in San Francisco.
4. San Francisco's most delicious sandwiches and view for under 20 bucks
Ready for the best sandwich in SF? Take a walk over to the Castro to the extremely popular Ike's Place on 16th Street. (Just remember to call ahead or you'll be waiting in line for almost an hour). Then take a leisurely hike up to The Red Rock near Roosevelt Park and The Randall Museum for one of the most breathtaking views San Francisco has to offer. Not ready for the hike up the hill? Dolores Park is only a few blocks away and is always a great way to while away an afternoon, watch people and view San Francisco's beauty.
Great sites to stretch your dollar in a tough economy
>> http://myjoffer.com: A great local site offering up to 50% discounts on local Bay area shopping, restaurants, services and products. From restaurants, spas and yoga to doggie washing and cupcakes that come to your doorstep.
>> http://sf.funcheap.com: A great online place to find free or cheap fun events around the Bay such as free Photoshop classes as well as 50 cent Happy Hour cocktails around town.
>> http://woot.com: How about a 3 piece outdoors patio set for $170 of a new laptop computer for under $400? This amazing discount e-tailer takes up to 60% off items like house wares, electronics and more.
>> http://www.gilt.com A members only site where discounts are up to 70% off retail prices on exclusive guaranteed designer fashion and luxury brands.
About Rick Rochon: Destined to be an entrepreneur, Rick honed his entrepreneurial skills from an early age as the standout chocolate bar salesman at St. Benedict's School. In the late 80's, Rick cut his teeth in his first "real" enterprise by launching Bravado, a successful espresso catering company in Seattle. What was becoming clear to Rick at this early stage in his path was that learning how to fail in business and get back up and try it again was critical; that the knowledge you gain from failure was even more important than the knowledge gained from the small victories.
In the 90's and 00's, Rick dove headlong into the new and exciting world of Internet marketing and advertising. In addition to working at a number of dot-com start-ups, Rick also applied his knowledge of sales and marketing and new business development at traditional media companies like Knight Ridder and Classified Ventures, helping them to move from exclusively print and paper to the exploration of new media options. In 2005 Rick founded AdSymetrix, Inc., a marketing measurement platform for small businesses to evaluate their marketing's ability to drive business, where he currently serves as CEO.
In 2009 Rick founded and launched joint offer marketplace Joffer bringing amazing deals from great businesses to San Francisco's residents. Let's face it, Rick really likes a great deal and likes saving big bucks. Raised in Seattle, Washington, Rick now lives in beautiful San Francisco, California. When not obsessing over who to make the next deal with, Rick most likely can be found chatting happily with friends at a corner cafe in San Francisco.
For more information on the "Get $5, Give $5" program, visit: http://myjoffer.com/welcome
