#baker’s street lore drop

[bakersstreetirregulars]

Weekly Bulletin, 5/20/24

Weekly Hours

There is no Open Board Meeting this week in order to prepare for the Expedition to Beast-Yeast. All findings for Phases 1 and 2 will be redirected to the Crepe Archives.

-The Second Floor Detective

Coffee Marshmallow Cookie’s application has been approved. She will be positioned part-time with the Cookie Kingdom Studio as Heavy Cream Cookie’s apprentice.

Zoning applications for a studio in the Crème Republic on the southwest corner of Crispia have been filed. We await further response.

Scheduling seize-ups will end as updates roll out.

CRK - Powers Beheld Beyond Cacao

Stormbringer Cookie has been summoned to confirm that she was the cause of Meringue gaining his magic two years ago. Queuing attempt for the Crepe Archives has been delayed due to misreading the timetable.

A report from Black Raisin Cookie has returned suggesting that the Sublime Cake Towers are permanent. Possibly the rumored remake of the Tower of Sweet Chaos since its closure from the public on specific request of the St. Pastry Order.

A report from Radish Raven Cookie and her clairvoyant nature has returned.

[BEGIN CONDENSED PATCH NOTES REPORT BENEATH BREAK]

Episode 3 of Beast-Yeast, “The Awakening of White Apathy” will be available SOON.

Selected stages will have the Anguish effect as a gauged gimmick. The gauge fills with time or when enemies attack. When the gauge is full, a Dumpling King will appear to cause trouble. The gauge should reset after the current wave and the Dumpling King are cleared.

Clearing Episode 3 enables Balloon Expeditions for the area, but you’ll need to upgrade your Bear Jelly Balloon to travel to Beast-Yeast.

Travel to Beast-Yeast area 3 to get “Realm of Apathy Yeast Ore” depending on your Cookies’ condition, with an inventory maximum of 60. Use one Ore to open 5 Beascuit spaces in your storage.

Mystic Flour Cookie has appeared as the first playable Beast Cookie.

Skill: Whispers of Apathy - Creates the Realm of Apathy, shielding the allies with the Cocoon of Futility. Allies within the Realm of Apathy have their HP periodically restored. They will also gain the Touch Meaninglessness buff. Once the duration of the Realm of Apathy is over, the allies will be Healed for a portion of the DMG they have dealt.

Cocoon of Futility - Heals allies, removes debuffs, and can dispel Apathy inflicted on allies. Targets are immune to the Power of Apathy while affected by the Cocoon of Futility. Cannot be Dispelled or removed by Zap or Overcurrent. The effect will remain even after the HP Shield reaches 0 capacity. If the target is at Max HP, incoming Healing will restore the HP Shield instead.

Realm of Apathy (Enemies) - If an enemy Cookie enters the Realm of Apathy, their Cooldown will be increased, and their ATK SPD will be reduced. They will also be inflicted with the Pale Plague, increasing the remaining Cooldown when dispelled.

Cooldown Bonus - Mystic Flour Cookie will increase her own DMG Resist based on the decreased amount of Cooldown.

Lantern of Apathy - Her Lantern of Apathy will keep healing the allies regardless of Mystic Flour Cookie's current status and will be further enhanced when she is defeated.

Safeguard Sacrifice - If there are no Safeguarded Cookies in the team, Mystic Flour Cookie cannot be incapacitated, and gains increased Max HP. The amount of Healing coming from the Lantern of Apathy and its trigger rate will also greatly increase. Ally Cookies will also be provided with Buff Protection.

Immunities - Mystic Flour Cookie is immune to Apathy along with all targets of the Cocoon of Futility and disrupts the Power of Apathy effect affecting enemies.

She might join your Kingdom through the Beast Gacha if you possess enough Light of Apathy. This gacha has the same rules as other Legendary Gacha banners with different mileage levels introduced with Stormbringer Cookie’s event banner.

Beast Cookies will not be subject to ascension; 6 Stars is their maximum promotion grade.

At 2, 4, and 6 Stars respectively, the Cookie’s appearance will change and new character quotes become available

Regardless of rank, only one Beast Cookie is allowed on a Kingdom Arena team. We don’t know if this overrides the withstanding 3-Cookie rule for Cookies that are Ancient, Legendary, or Dragons

Cloud Haetae Cookie will also appear with the next update.

Skill: Haetae Charge - Takes the form of a Cloud Haetae. After transforming, gains an increased DEF and DMG Resist and grants HP Shields for the entire team. With their regular attacks, transformed Cloud Haetae Cookie charges at the enemies, dealing area damage. Cloud Haetae Cookie will also heal the ally with the lowest HP with Cloud Rolls (except Cloud Haetae Cookie themselves). When the transformation is over, Cloud Haetae Cookie will perform a last forceful charge to deal greater damage and Stun the enemies. Belonging to the Realm of Apathy, Cloud Haetae Cookie is resistant to Apathy, can briefly disrupt the Power of Apathy effect when using their skill, and grants the Visions of Apathy buff to the team. When in the same team with Mystic Flour Cookie, Cloud Haetae Cookie will gain the Haetae's Loyalty buff. Cloud Haetae Cookie will regain HP with each 3 regular attacks in the Cookie form.

On Initial Transformation - Gains DEF Up and DMG Resist, Heals teammate with lowest HP excluding themselves

Transformation End - Charges for more damage and stuns affected enemies

Basic Attacks - Splash damage during Transformation, melee, self-heals with every 3 attacks regardless of form

Realm of Apathy Inhabitant (Passive) - Resistant to Apathy, disrupts Power of Apathy, grants Visions of Apathy to all teammates

Combi Bonus - Gains Haetae’s Loyalty when on the same team as Mystic Flour Cookie

The Windmill Garden expansion project is ready to store and manage Production Buildings.

Restoration task opens after researching “Production Dashboard”

Storage and expansion conditions mimic those of the Sky Garden

All production in the Windmill Garden is managed by Wizard Gnomes (Assumed NPC characters that do not have their own EXP levels or otherwise)

Compatible with Easy Goods Collection (collecting items from buildings in either the Windmill Garden or the Kingdom will mass-collect from all buildings in the other location if EGC is enabled)

Stormbringer Cookie’s Mystic Costume “Mystic Gold: Splitter of the Seas” will become available.

The Darkness element has been added for several Cookies:

⚔️ Dark Choco Cookie

🌩️ Dark Cacao Cookie

💀 Licorice Cookie

🐦‍⬛ Black Raisin Cookie

🍰 Red Velvet Cookie

😈 Devil Cookie

🎃 Pumpkin Pie Cookie

🏹 Caramel Arrow Cookie

🐾 Crunchy Chip Cookie

Darkness element users can inflict Consuming Darkness

Consuming Darkness: CRIT% and Healing Down for an extended period of time

Beascuit breakthroughs are ready for consumption.

Max level -> 30

You can get Special Beascuits from Beast-Yeast episode 3 by chance. They start at level 20. - There is a chance to obtain special Beascuits by playing through Beast-Yeast episode 3.

Special Beascuits will have new bonus effects: “Darkness-type DMG Up” or “Electricity-type DMG Up.”

Only one of the two effects will be available depending on the Beascuit’s type.

Once obtaining a special Beascuit, the first slot will be set as either “Darkness-type DMG Up” or “Electricity-type DMG Up.”

All bonus effect values are set according to the probabilities table

You can use the “Reset” function to change the first slot to another bonus effect.

Part 2 of the Might of the Ancients quest is now available after finishing Part 1. Pick either Golden Cheese Cookie or White Lily Cookie to meet them immediately, play missions, and get a special title once it’s all done.

Once you meet Mystic Flour Cookie, traverse the Ever-Changing Path of Apathy to claim even more rewards.

UI & QOL Improvements

A number of UI improvements have been applied to Cookie skill descriptions.

Cookie skill description UI on each Cookie’s page, on the battle preparation screen, and during battle has been improved.

The result screen will no longer be shown when leveling up a Cookie’s skill.

Skill descriptions for Cookies of Legendary rarity or higher will have their descriptions divided into paragraphs for easier reading.

These UI improvements will be applied to all Cookie skill descriptions gradually.

YEAST ORE

The chance of obtaining Yeast Ores for exploring Beast-Yeast has been doubled.

ARENA TIER ADVANCEMENT ANIMATION

You can now skip the Arena tier advancement animation.

Tap on the screen to skip animation.

Please note that you cannot skip the animation for the first time.

NEW BUNDLE ITEMS

- A total of 8 bundle items have been added.

· Jammery (Lv.8): Toffee Jam x5

· Bakery (Lv.9): Ginkgo Focaccia x5

· Artisan's Workshop (Lv.6): Shiny Glass x5

· Flower Shop (Lv.8): Happy Planter x5, Candy Bouquet x5

· Jampie Diner (Lv.8): Bear Jelly Burger x5, Candy Pasta x5

· Carpentry Shop (Lv.6): Acorn Lamp x5

[END OF REPORT]

CRWC - The Next Shelf

The following is a Patch Notes Report from the official Discord, compiled by our Witch’s House branch studio.

[BEGIN WITCH’S CASTLE PATCH NOTES REPORT]

1. MAIN EPISODE 4 CHAPTER 1

- The story of First Cream Cookie begins!

2. NEW MAIN PUZZLE LEVELS 1151-1200

3. NEW SEASON - FIRST CREAM SEASON

- First Cream Cookie is here!

- Season Special: First Cream Cookie's Bear Jelly Toy Decor

- First Cream Season Pass added

- New Season Collection, updated Season Relay

4. NEW GAME MODE - COOKIE PUZZLE CHALLENGE

Added challenges:

- GingerBrave's Puzzle Challenge

- Strawberry Cookie's Puzzle Challenge

- Cherry Cookie's Puzzle Challenge

- Vampire Cookie's Puzzle Challenge

- Witchberry Cookie's Puzzle Challenge

- First Cream Cookie's Puzzle Challenge

- New Gimmick: Candy Canes

- New Gimmick: Strawberry Popping Candies

- New Gimmick: Jelly Bat Missiles

- New Gimmick: Cherry Bombs

- New Gimmick: Sacred Brooches

- New Gimmick: Juice Barrels

※ Requirement

- Puzzle Level 100 Reached

- Challenge Cookie Obtained

5. COOKIE SKILLS

- Cookie Skills now become available twice per Puzzle Level after reaching Cookie Level 3

6. PREMIUM SEASON PASS

- Enjoy the improved Premium Season Pass with double rewards!

7. AUTO-DECORATE FEATURE IMPROVEMENTS

- Added Recommended feature

- The Auto-Decorate feature is now easier to use

BUG FIXES

1. Fixed an issue where the in-game volume would reset after watching an ad

2. Fixed an intermittent issue where it would not be possible to close an ad after watching

3. Fixed an issue where the game would default to incorrect resolutions on certain devices

4. Fixed an intermittent issue where the participation screen of the Sheriff's Hoard event would not display properly

[END OF REPORT]

The Witch’s Castle update is already live.

Coupon Codes

UPDATEFIRSTCREAM (Eligible for both CROB + CRK)

CROB - 500 Crystals

CRK - 500 Rainbow Cubes + 1,500 Crystals

[masked-fools]

❝ your old buddy sampo is a model citizen these days. y'know the guards on sentry duty in the restricted zone? i deliver their breakfast every day! ❞

— Sampo Koski, ancient relic specialist

Tavern Notice Board

7th of August — 13th of August

(1) forsaken and yet not [blade, kafka] — @leonistic

even when the world is against them you stand by their side

(2) an apology [kafka] — @c0metes

reader is a stellaron hunter and got their shoulder hurt. some love acrobatics. guns and bullets and swords, average day for a stellaron hunter

(3) vacation on jarilo-vi — @xieni-logs

astral express crew with a child!reader

(4) with a vidyadhara reader [blade, dan heng, jing yuan] — @pyroxeene

them with a vidyadhara reader whose tail gives away their true feelings

(5) habits before bed [sampo, jing yuan, gepard, dan heng] — @cnnmairoll

their habits before going to bed with you

(6) under the lotus leaves [dan feng] — @milksnake-tea

you've known dan feng long before he became the high elder of the vidyadhara, before he donned the title of imbibitor lunae and became the legend he is known as now. long ago, back when the two of you were mere children, playing in the waters of the xianzhou luofu.

(7) hot and cold [dan heng] — @eggluverz

in which dan heng runs hot and blasts the air conditioner to keep cool, and you feel like you’re living in the arctic [college roommate au]

(8) how to take care of your lover when they're sick [jing yuan] — @generalsmemories

scenario in which jing yuan’s significant other (a short life species that isn’t a xianzhou native) has gotten sick

(9) showering them in affection [blade, sampo] — @pyroxeene

headcanons of them with a very affectionate s/o

(10) goodbye, halcyon days [jing yuan] — @bladesmuse

as time passes, its branches grow thorns, impaling themselves into your heart. it is most evident as you reflect upon your life, about the three men you loved most who came and went like the sun, moon, and stars. domestic fluff, potential high cloud quintet lore spoilers, angst, hurt/comfort, hurt/no comfort

(11) i didn't know where else to go [blade] — @milksnake-tea

blade x gn!reader, angst

(12) catching smoke [sampo] — @bladesmuse

you are a silvermane guard who has been assigned to catch Sampo. However, every time you get remotely close to catching the shady merchant, he always disappears. cursing, violence, suggestive content

(13) dropped your hand while dancing [gepard] — @particular-one

angst. hurt/no comfort. failed relationships. fluff to angst. passing mention of alcohol. marriage proposals. set after the events of the jarilo-vi trailblaze mission.

(14) a beloved tradition [luka] — @starboyshoyo

a paper marriage in belobog isn’t the only way to show off the love between a couple.

(15) wildest dreams [poly; blade, dan heng] — @bladesmuse

love, lust, and revenge are often inextricably linked, unsurprisingly causing complications in your relationship implied sexual content, combined undertones of fluff and angst

(16) accidentally falling asleep on him [sampo] — @milksnake-tea

you accidentally fall asleep on sampo's shoulder mentions of alcohol

(17) interlocks [nanook, yaoshi, lan, xipe] — @milksnake-tea

braiding their hair

(18) weathering the storm [gepard] — @meaningofaeons

gn!reader, meet cute, reader is implied to be part of an affluent/noble family, soulmate au wherein you have a countdown on your wrist until you meet your soulmate

(19) back home [dan heng] — @meaningofaeons

gn!reader, fluff, reader is part of the nameless but did not join the belobog mission

(20) not quite so slick [sampo] — @meaningofaeons

gn!reader, fluff, silvermane guard!reader, belobog story spoilers, pining

(21) only in the limelight [dan heng] — @meaningofaeons

gn!reader, actor au, angst/no comfort, unrequited love

(22) could you be any more dense? [gepard] — @meaningofaeons

gn!reader, hurt/comfort

(23) starry night bakery [dan heng] — @eggluverz

in which the cute baker down the street catches your eye and you decide to become a regular to keep seeing him [modern au]

(24) everything i need [blade] — @eggluverz

in which you’re feeling down about not seeing your boyfriend in a few months and blade takes time out of his busy tour schedule to surprise you. idol!blade x barista!reader, modern au

(25) lucky day [luka] — @antimatterz

you found the cutest plushie in a claw machine, but can't get a hold of it. fortunately, a handsome stranger shows up to help you out [modern au]

[violetganache42]

Holy shit! I am freaking out right now, guys, and I am super excited to share it with you! But first: quick context.

I don't know how many of you here know about Lorcana, but it's a TCG made by Disney and Ravensburger that was released back in August. In it, you take on the role of an Illumineer and you wield different types of Ink (Amber, Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst, Ruby, Steel), which allows you to summon Glimmers (canonical or different versions of Disney characters, designated as Storyborn or Dreamborn respectively). You race against other Illumineers to collect Lore, and whoever reaches 20 Lore wins. The gameplay itself intriqued me, but what I find truly captivating is the story it's building.

The second set for Lorcana was released today and is called "Rise of the Floodborn," which focuses on a type of Glimmer called Floodborn. These Glimmers were caught in an intense flood of all six Inks, changing them in unpredicatble yet exciting ways; they are also granted the "Shift" mechanic, which lets you turn existing Glimmers into their Floodborn versions. Much like "The First Chapter," a companion story was published on the official Lorcana website, and it already has me geeking out!

Right off the bat, an Illumineer named Venturo is checking out an artifact from Disney's vast lore, but which artifact, you may ask?

Based on its description, it's not just Scrooge's No. 1 Dime… it's the DuckTales (2017) version of his No. 1 Dime! The moment I saw the words "10 CENTS," I immediately knew!

But wait, there's more!

A couple of paragraphs later, we see that Basil of Baker Street is investigating a different artifact and deduces it as…

That time, I knew what he was referring to, but I had to double check. One quick Google search later and what is the first result?

THIS! The Sumerian Talisman that Basil came across is most likely the same Sumerian Talisman that Lena wielded for most of the series! I had a feeling they had to be one and the same because I distinctly remember Webby identifying the amulet as such in "The Beagle Birthday Breakout!"

Guys, I cannot stop smiling about it! I honestly thought Lorcana was gonna add the Duckverse characters/OG version of the Disney Ducks since they unveiled cards of Donald and even Daisy in their usual designs! Seeing these two artifacts get referenced was quite the bombshell to drop for me; not only does it continue the trend of DuckTales (2017) getting incorporated into the Mickey & Friends universe in some capacity (Minnie's Style Studio, Toontown, HDLW's cameo in Trick or Treats, Daisy's reboot design being used for Disney's Halloween 2022 season, a poster for Runaway Railway featuring the triplets' reboot designs), it could also mean that Lorcana isn't just focusing on the Disney animated movies and short films like I thought! They may also be including shows based on pre-existing characters, and DuckTales (2017) seems to be the first one!

I am beyond happy right now and I cannot wait to see what the next set has in store!

[atypical-artisan]

I’m curious, do you got any glass Joe headcanons?

Oh my god I have so so many- I love him so much so this'll be another long one lmao

So, since the wvba sucks ass at actually keeping their records straight, Joe's height is wrong! He's actually 5'8, passing as 5'10 only because he wears hidden heels all the time. Joe doesn't even have height dysphoria, he just like the way heels feel on his feet.

He has pretty severe dyscalculia, to the point of barely being able to pass 5th grade level math. Can't do fractions, can't do decimals, certainly can't divide. He often wonders how he even got through middle school.

Despite his disability, he's an excellent baker and cook! His side job is at a cafe which he loves to bits.

Never finished school. He was expelled at 13 for getting in a nasty fight and biting another girl at his religious school before dropping out to help support his family after his mother lost her job. He often wonders what his life would be like had he stayed in school but doesn't regret it since the job he got at a cafe led to his boxing career and helped his baking skills. It also led to him meeting one of his best friends, Gabby Jay! (I will expand if someone asks)

True to being both french and especially a Parisian, he will not put up with corporate/government bullshit. If you pull out a stupid rule for him to follow- expect a brick (Or perhaps a Molotov cocktail or lit flare if he's angry enough) through your window.

Despite his sweet exterior he's not only an absolute weirdo and kind of a freak (At least by his very strict standards), but capable of being terrifying in the right circumstances. He WILL bite you if you hurt his friends/loved ones.

Repressed as hell- catholic school was NOT kind to him. Also has anxiety like a motherfucker. But he's dealing with both pretty well through therapy and medication.

Has a deep love for goth, Victorian, and generally macabre and dark aesthetics. He hides it out of shame but he has a collection of very goth and edgy clothes that make him feel like a vampire.

He has an obsession with vampires in general. Like, he took one look at Bela Lugosi's Dracula and fell head over heels (Both for vampires and Bela). He frequently watches any vampire movies and absolutely swallows up vampire novels. Adores the flexibility of the lore around vampires and them just as a concept. And yes, he has read the entire twilight saga. He thought it was pretty bland and only liked the first book because of Jacob.

Knows how to fence and is pretty good at it! Originally wanted to be a fencer growing up to honor his dad but dropped the idea when he left school. He still practices for fun and does non-professional competitions under the name "Le bras en fer" or "The iron arm"

Grew up doing ballet and still practices today, though only at home for fun so he isn't as skilled as he was when he was a kid. It's part of the reason why he stands so funny too.

Has a restraining order against nick bruiser. Nick... well he really didn't take his loss well.

Can sew pretty well and do embroidery too. Almost all of his clothes have been altered by him to fit better.

He has a sister 3 years his senior and a niece and nephew- Amelie (5) and Etienne (1), both of whom he loves very much. The three visit him often and he loves hosting them at his apartment!

Grew up in a small, crowded, apartment in the center of paris. He loves new york city quite a bit because it's so much like home.

Drives around in a moped or motorbike exclusively. He kind of hates cars except when they're extremely small. American streets make him so anxious and being in a car doesn't help at all.

He never met his dad. Everyone in his family has their own idea of what happened to him but Joe has an entire conspiracy theory and fully believes his father was murdered, knows who murdered him, and where the body is hidden.

His 'glass jaw' is the result of a severe childhood injury by the other girls at his school. He was hospitalized for days and his mother never fully forgave herself for not noticing how severe his bullying was.

Has the sweetest, dumbest, fluffiest gray cat named Chouchou.

[astronomical-bagel]

I love your 80's diner au, do you have any 'lore' you would like to share?

oh boy DO I. ive been thinking about this thing on-and-off pretty much every day!! gosh, the only problem is i dont even know where to START. hmmm ok ok lets talk about the setting first ig.

-- the entire vibes are based off of every eighties movies i remember (with the addition of gay people LMAO), so basically that means: theyre in school. But i do NOT want them to be like 16 so theyre all in different stages of college age. so the majority of them are within their 20s.

-- its not as sad as The Outsiders but not quite as peppy as Ferris Bueller's Day off. idk somewhere in the sliding scale of that.

-- the diner is called Xisuma's Odds and Ends (bc. theyre queer. odd. do u get it)(i think im funny)

-- imagine you're in Mels. now imagine youre in applebees. now imagine youre on a roadtrip and theres a diner that's been in business since your mother was a teenager and they have the BEST waffles. now imagine what it would have looked like if you were your mom as a teenager. now forget about applebees but not too much. now make it have a lot of hidden queer symbols. That's what Odds and Ends looks like.

-- they have a giant neon moon sign on the wall that Xisuma got for like ten bucks. s8 reference woo

-- i dont know if youve gotten this idea yet /s, but Odds and Ends is The Queer Hangout. Xisuma is the go-to guy if they get into any trouble. Be that whether Tango got caught spray painting things when he shouldnt be or someone needs to hide from an ex or their parents or they need to stop thinking about school for a little bit -- or, y'know, they want a burger -- Xisuma is always there to help. Or to give you a burger.

-- Evil X will help people (Tango) spray paint things for 5 dollars.

-- Ariana Griande DOES feature in this, even tho the celebrity ariana Grande was not born until 1993. She was a hobby of Grian's that he just. never dropped. He sings on thursdays.

-- keralis makes xisuma fish with him on occasion.

-- my all-time favorite hc for bdubs in any au is that hes a PR manager so hes studying communications and marketing rn.

-- jimmy is studying to be a veterinarian. aminals.

-- impulse is still figuring things out but right now hes working in a welding shop and he likes it there. he also blows glass sometimes.

-- XB is a baker. i just really like the idea of him baking bread. or anything really. he works at the bakery just across the street. Odds and Ends sometimes do trades with them. burgers in exchange for cookies.

-- mumbo is a cook. grian is a waiter. cleo is a manager. gem is a waitress. zed is also a cook, lord save us all. etho is a cashier. xisuma is THE manager. ren is a cook as well.

okay thats all i can think of for right now but you are ALWAYS welcome to ask/talk about the 80s au because i hold this very near and dear to my heart. also heres a sketch of the inside of Odds and Ends (giant moon sign not shown)

n e ways thanks for the askkkk xoxo

[sketchyallstar]

Haven’t even finalized my first League of Legends OC design and I’m making a second OC, this is just who I am on a fundamental level.

I haven’t posted my art in some time but I’ve recently fallen in love with a new character concept, and I just had to share it with someone. Still working out backstory and powers but essentially I started from the perspective that I love Star Guardians, and it would be really difficult to have my first League OC, Phaedra, get a Star Guardian skin and be part of the lore because that OC is a mutant Void construct skeletal butterfly creature that speaks in clicks and trills, so if that OC were to have any origin it would be that she’s from an alien planet. This doesn’t vibe well with the rest of the Star Guardian skin line, where everyone is pretty close to human and can attend high school in Valoran City. So to remedy my desire to interact with fictional characters in a certain fictional setting, I decided to design a more human-like character. The basic gist of Cora Baker is that she’s a detective who uses necromancy to talk to ghosts about the crimes she’s investigating. She’s a private eye, like Sherlock Holmes and Batman and Jessica Jones (my primary influences), and she lives in Zaun but she takes jobs in Piltover as well. Work is work, and in Zaun her job is particularly dangerous. Crime bosses and Chem Barons alike are not in the business of letting some little upstart dig into their enterprises, so she’s had to learn how to fight. As you can see she’s got her investigator mode with her tools all in her satchel, her bowler hat with goggles, and her long overcoat, but she’s picked up boxing and she drops the accessories when she needs to brawl. I also toyed with the idea of giving her a scooter for a mode of speedy travel in a match, since she’d need a speedy getaway if she had lots of enemies. To give her a more distinct visual identity and to tie into her necromancy powers, I made her a Corvid-Vastaya, half Vastayan and half human. She has feathers and an eye for shiny things but she doesn’t have any Vastayan powers, unless you’d count her ability to learn necromancy and summon ghosts as a power unique to Vastaya. Also I’m not 100% sold on the name I chose, even if I do like it. Cora sounds like Corvid a little bit, and Baker is meant to allude to Baker Street, the home of Sherlock Holmes. I also thought her necromancy powers and her Vastayan heritage could justify crows following her around, and there could be three that fly around her in-game. So yeah, this is what I have so far, not counting all my other little notes brainstorming her character into existence. With this OC, I’m just trying not to fall too far into any characters that already exist in League, like Quinn (human with bird) or Xayah (bird vastaya with dark and secretive design) or Caitlin (Piltover detective cop), because unless you’re set on making a void-corrupted butterfly heralding the end of days, you end up having to thread the needle so carefully, and it’s actually a bit exhausting how much research I’ve had to do to thread that needle.

[ladyloresoong]

With the announcement that Paramount is dropping a new Trek film in 2023 and the rumour it may pick off where Nemesis left off -

The only acceptable version of this is if Data's in some kind of afterlife where he is human (so Spiner can play him without the makeup & comfortably).

Tasha's there.

There's a holodeck where he goes on adventures with Geordi.

And Lore's there too, but he's more angsty-teen than anything, just dropping in casually from time to time.

*Lore slumps down dramatically across the chaise longue at the holodeck 221 Baker Street, hand draped across his forehead, and sighs repeatedly until Data acknowledges him*

DATA: If I acknowledge your presence will that sufficiently meet your desire for attention? Otherwise, what do you require brother?

[neonbluewaves]

spare neon lore? i love her

My brain shut down for a moment because I wasn’t sure what to say that I haven’t before, so I’m going to try to explain things I haven’t before, if I repeat myself forgive me :v

Careful what you wish for tho, here comes a longass rant, and I mean LONG

·Something I’ve barely talked about is Neon’s residences. She spent her childhood in Spain, in the Prieto Manor, big enough for her, her granparents and her uncles to live in, and still have much space to spare. The land around it is really large, with a field of almond trees that turn everything pink when in bloom, so part of their income comes from almond production. They also have different cultives, mainly to substain themselves, because her family isn’t exactly beloved, as in many think they’re better of dead. They also have vineyards with grapes specifically for wine production. Another way of income they have is with art. The manor has a room full of (mostly) spanish art pieces that they sell from time to time. Neon has sold pieces to the Thyssens, and donates some to certain collections when the museum opens later on.

Those are the things they’re known for, there’s rumors that they also deal with illegal stuff, but nobody can say for sure. Once they’ve graduated, Neon hires Jae to work under him. If you ask him, he says he’s the “financial administrator”, but he most definetly works as something else.

All their lands are surrounded by a thick forest charmed to work like a labyrinth. Only family members know the way, and there’s no chance of finding your way out to the other side by luck, the labyrinth will throw people away the way they came in. The forest is also full of stray dogs along with other average animals you’d find there. Neon has spent so much time in that forest she knows the whole place by memory, not just the way in and out, so it’s impossible for her to get lost.

On that note, Neon showed early signs of magic, many of which resulted in selfinjuries, like things exploding or catching fire when holding them or around her, as well as being capable of making dogs do her bidding unknowingly, thinking they just really liked her and could understand her.

Her second residence is in England, Yorkshire. Living in her old granparents house, in a small, mostly full of wizards town. A pretty big two story victorian house, Neon didn’t like it nearly as much as the manor, mainly because it has a small garden, unlike the big fields they have in Spain. Still she made it work for herself. Currently she lives with her uncles in their house, down the street, but she drops by from time to time keep the house clean.

· If it weren’t for her grandfather, they would all be spoiled brats. Coming from nothing, Gonzalo Prieto made sure he taught them humility amongst other things. Rocio was a pretty strict mother and it rubbed off on them, making them strict mothers in turn. Teaching to their kids was pretty serious, things like writing with good caligraphy, reading, maths, history and art, (no wonder Neon hates paying attention yet gets good grades, she’s used to studying). Carmen sent Nuria and Neon to get some work on summer after their third year as a way for them to learn what she and Luisa had learn working with their father. With him being gone, Carmen decided the best way for them to learn what they did was to just work, so Nuria ends up in a bakery, where she learns not to burn the whole kitchen, and she made the bakers cry a lot with whatever she ended up cooking until she got decent. Neon on the other hand went to a blacksmith and just like Nuria, at the beggining it was a complete disaster. After a month of just cleaning and watching she got to try making a knife blade and it ended horribly, and broken. The next year she managed to make an actual knife blade that could cut. By year 6 she’s managed to forge many swords, they’re not the finest work, but they’ll do for this one spell she’s been planing to invent for a while. She uses it for the first time against her uncle.

·There’s many projects unfinished saved away by family members, mainly because they died before they could get midway or start. Neon’s dad had blueprints of a house on the beach he wanted to make for the family to go on vacation. Neon also starts her own project when she’s 14/15, her own scholarship for orphan wizards. Romul was the one who encouraged her to go through with it, and joined in the idea, her scholarship centered in Hogwarts students, and his in Beauxbatons students.

·Here’s an essay I wrote some time ago about character soundtrack themes, behold:

When creating the themes for the Prieto members (Neon, Nuria, Laura, Argon and Narciso) they all need one intrument in common that ties them together, the organ. The organ is the one instrument all members learn to play from a young age and they have one in the Prieto manor. This one intrument plays along with the motif chosen for them. The Dies Irae. The Dies Irae is an hymn in latin about judgement death, and is used frequently in media to signify death, this makes reference to the fact that all the family has a reputation of commiting homicides and the fear we see in the main four that their uncle is going to kill them. All the titles make allusion to church and religion. Although they are not religious, the play comes from the fact it all seems to go beyond what they can choose, as if a bigger force decided their fates from the start, like a marciless god, and the darkness of the songs plays more like requiems than character themes.It also rounds up with their symbol, the church grimm.

Each of them get their own special instruments within their themes, so:

Neon's themes would be:

-Church: composed with organ, violin (another instrument she plays) and some percussion, it's sombre and dark and is usually played when Neon is alone, either figuring out mysteryes around her or in introspection scenes.

- Grimm's wail: composed with an organ, violins and double bass, and strong percussion like a bass drum, it's a reprise of church meant for action scenes like duels, specially the one's within storyline, like the fight with the ice knight or the dragon.

Nuria's themes would be:

-Shrine: composed with organ and some acoustic guitar. it's a simple theme made for scenes where Nuria (or other members) are seen contemplating choices, past memories, etc. It has a certain nostalgia to it

-Golden cross: composed of just organ and electric guitar, it's a more rebelious theme played for Nuria's duels and stronger moments of emotion, the change of guitar mimics her change from sweet and docile to determined and more "violent"

Laura's themes would be:

-Faith: composed with organ alone it's a soft sad melody that goes along her guilt of having lost Argon and her denial of involving herself with Neon and Nuria's life out of fear of screwing up and losing them too. It starts out quite depressing and builds up to a darker tone, but always quiet like her, as if the melody also tries to hold in rage.

-Sin: another reprise of the original (Faith), made with organ and heavy percussion, brass drums and kettleddrums, used specially in moments of high tension, the closer she is to finding her uncle, the longer we hear this piece.

Argon's themes would be:

-Finding Solace: We hear this song in flashbacks. Depending on who is remembering we hear one part or another. Made of organ and harp at the begining, it's the part that plays on Neon/Nuria/Laura's memories of him, sweet and naive, and organ and brass air instruments in later parts are used in memories by Duncan/Rakepick/anyone who dealt with him when he was manipulating other's/doing shady stuff, more sincere but dark.

-Broken Prayer: made with organ, violins and strong percussion in paralel's Neon's theme "Grimm's wail", also used on more intense scenes.

Narcisso has one theme:

-Lost religion: made up of organ alone and one drum set. Plays with both the Dies Irae and a couple of notes that remind of the theme song of The phantom of the opera, playing both with death and mystery as to what this character really wants and seeks.

The family has it's own theme, played only twice in full. Made up of organs, electric guitar, violins and percussion intruments plays like a violent, dark orchestra, with punctual moments of choral voices singing as if a church choir, giving it a more gloom feel. The two instances played in full are in the memory of Rocio losing all her siblings and father, and the start of the battle between Narciso and his nieces. Small parts may be heard in scenes where Neon and Narcisso clash, like the river incident or when he injures her leg before year 6.

There could be more themes, but these are the most important ones I thought about.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I hope this was enough for now

[tanstar]

Rambling about RE2R and RE3R’s cut content part 2

Read part 1 here.

Part 2: RE3R

So I’m gonna be honest, I really like RE3R. It’s narrative and characters are 10/10 for me, something I haven’t been able to say about RE in a long time (honestly my biggest gripes with re5 and 6 are the complete wasted potential of their narratives and characters). I’ll go more in depth about it later but yeah I’ve got no complaints about the story or characters. My problems with RE3R come down to it’s length, level design and the utilization of Nemesis. So let’s get started.

spoilers ahead 

Cut/altered/new content:

Live select options were cut in favour of a cohesive narrative and characterization (which have been expanded upon greatly), Jill’s apartment is now explorable, Nemesis ambushes Jill at her apartment and her escape is now playable, the graveyard is gone (though there is a nod to the graveyard at the start of the rpd section), the clock tower interior and its puzzles are gone (it’s exterior is used for the boss fight against Nemesis form 2 like the original), no water puzzle, the gravedigger has been merged with hunter gamma as a common enemy type, Uptown is now a linear setpiece that cannot be revisited, there are fewer Nemesis encounters, Nemesis item drops aren’t as worthwhile as the original,  there’s a new boss fight with Nemesis as he wields a flamethrower, tram has been changed to a subway train, fetchquest for the tram has been cut, Mikhail is now fully conscious for his entire appearance, new character Dr Bard included with new vaccine subplot, fetchquest for the gems has been made optional instead of mandatory, Mayor Warren’s statue is no longer fetchquest related and can be found before crossing the bridge to the clock tower, battery fetchquest for the construction site elevator has been changed to fuses for the underground storage facility elevator, Nemesis destroying the helicopter has been moved to the beginning of the game, Brad is still bitten at Bar Jack but heroically sacrifices himself rather than act like a huge coward, Brad is not killed by Nemesis, Brad infects Marvin (which ties in well with both og re2 and RE2R surprisingly), Racoon city in general has been redesigned to look like an american city instead of a japanese one, Stagla still explodes but cannot be entered, the zombie horde at Stagla has been moved to the hospital in a tower defence sequence, Drain Deimos and Brainsuckers have been merged, no leeches, no spiders or crows, new enemies the pale heads and parasite zombies, construction site and power station have been merged, once Jill has been infected Carlos takes her to the hospital instead of the chapel iside the clock tower, likewise Carlos doesn’t wait for 2 days before deciding to find a cure instead it takes him around 12 hours to find Jill and he immediately looks for the vaccine, hospital has been expanded, underground storage facility replaces the park, dead factory is merged with a new lab area, Tyrell is now an actual character and dies to Nemesis intead of an explosion, final boss is now reliant on Jill operating the rail gun herself rather than coercing Nemesis in front of it, iconic STARS line has been moved from the final boss fight to a chase sequence, the confrontation with Nicholai has been moved to the climax of the game, Nicholai is implied to be working with Wesker instead of Umbrella and of course the alternate ending with Barry was cut.

So RE3R does cut or alter the content of the original but in most cases it does try to replace whatever was cut. Also regardless of cuts, re3′s narrative has been expanded upon with character arcs and lore tying it to the rest of the series, that alone justifies this game’s existence for me. As much as I love the original, its bare bones plot and narrative structure (a result of being a sort of choose your adventure game) as well as the fact that it started as a spinoff game and the fact that its last three levels were added last minute (hence the vaccine plotline coming out of nowhere) really don’t do it any favours. I still enjoy the original story and characters but I think the remake did a better job at both these things. 

So I had some major problems with the writing for RE2R in both terms of the overall narrative (there is no cohesive overlapping narrative between our two leads) and the portrayal of certain characters (Leon and Ada), so what did I think of RE3R? It’s good. It’s really good actually, the acting is probably the best in the series tbh. Jill’s ptsd from the mansion incident and how it has made her distrustful but also self sacrificing is so interesting. This is perfectly displayed when she agrees to help the UBCS, she knows she shouldn’t help them, that Umbrella is out to get her but with civilian lives on the line she decides to fulfil her duty as a STARS officer and help out. But she isn’t just abrasive or snarky, she shows she is still a very caring person too, this can be seen in her interactions with Brad, Kendo and even Dario, she wants to genuinely save all three of them but things just don’t work out that way. Carlos is great, way better than his original incarnation and I say that as someone who likes that version too. He’s a great support character for Jill and also acts somewhat as a foil for her character and his arc about learning of Umbrella’s wrongdoings is handled well. I think everyone can aggree that Carlos and Jill’s dynamic is fantastic, the growth of their relationship feels very organic and genuine. I never expected to care about Brad so much, in the original he’s just a huge coward who exists to be killed by Nemesis but now he actually feels like a person and someone who Jill valued. Also holy shit that scene where he bites Marvin is so much more narratively fulfilling than his death by Nemesis. Mikhail’s expanded role as captain is great, as is his death. Tyrell actually gets to be a character this time around and I actually hoped he’d somehow survive. Dr Bard is a total scumbag and his inclusion finally explains the vaccine’s creation as well as adding to the overall corruption of RC via Umbrella. Nicholai’s a total ham and a dickhead, I mean this in a good way I would describe all my favourite RE villians this way (the Weskers, the Ashfords, Salazar, Carla Radames, Jack Baker). And form 1 Nemesis has some fun dramatic flair that I enjoyed. Also I will defend the choice to remove Barry from the ending, I really like Barry but it was the right decision not to involve him as it would really work against the game’s narrative and Jill’s character arc.

Now onto RE3R’s level design and structure and in my opinion it should have borrowed more from the og re3′s level design way more. What we have isn’t bad but it could’ve been much more. The streets being redesigned was inevitable to me, I really enjoy the aesthetic of the original but it looks very Japanese and RC is supposed to be a US city, so this change doesn’t bother me. The linearity does. The streets should have been more open and you should have been able to return to Uptown to explore (adding back in a fetchquest would justify this), this would give way more opportunities for Nemesis to stalk the player. What’s strange is there is a mod that opens up Downtown to be almost completely explorable and Nemesis’s AI can actually track you throughout it’s entirety, why bother programming him that way if the intention was to make the area more linear? When Nemesis does show up in the remake he’s great but he should have been present way more, he’s like the opposite of Mr X in RE2R. Mr X follows the player semi randomly around the RPD for a while but he is pretty toothless as a threat (seriously, you can out walk him), Nemesis on the other hand is a genuine threat but is only semi random for an incredibly short portion of the game. Expanding the streets would fix this issue. The park could’ve been an explorable area before the RPD, I personally don’t mind the park being cut but i know a lot of people do. They should have implemented more puzzles. I also think the clock tower should have been explorable and if I’m being honest I think it was supposed to be, it’s referenced in the subway and then we get the pamphlet before crossing the bridge, I think it was cut for time.  I think a lot was cut for time and I don’t think it’s M2′s fault, i think Capcom is the problem here and all you need to do is look at RE2R and all of its cut content for proof. 

Honestly if this game had just reintegrated some more of the original games levels and structure I think it would have been a 10/10, I still enjoy what we got I just want more! I hope we get DLC in the future and there’s certainly ample opportunity, we could have a ghost survivors scenario with Brad escaping Nemesis, we could play as Nicholai as he collects data on the outbreak before the main game, a dream sequence of Jill exploring the clock tower, Tyrell could cut through the park as he makes his way to the hospital and of course I hope we get Mercenaries mode. I guess time will tell.

[whispers-in-daydreams]

Where Rumors Lead (part 1)

(part one of a little birthday for my dearest friend @s-talking​)

Rumors. If this town lived on anything, it was rumors. And one of the biggest rumors, was of that one house. Everyone knows it. The one at the end of the street at the bottom of the hill. The one looks that like it hasn’t been lived in for years. The one.....where that kid murdered his parents. At least....that’s what the rumors say.   And it was just this rumor that Scarlett overheard a couple teens whispering about as they indulged in some of the goodies her little bakery offered. And if there was one thing that the young baker could not ignore, was a good scary story. And this one piqued her interest. She moved closer, wiping down tables to look as though she wasn’t eves dropping. Some said the house was haunted. Some said the bodies were still there, in bed. Some said they were mummified. Some said the boy still lived there. Some said.... So many rumors.  

As she closed up shop, curious hazel eyes turned in the direction that would lead to the abandoned house. How long did the young woman stand on her shop steps staring, debating, warring within on if it was worth laying eyes upon it. Though the chill of the wintry evening soon reminded her that it wasn’t the best weather to go exploring possibly dangerous abodes. Perhaps another day. Perhaps soon.   ** Days later The sun had just begun its lavender painted decent as Scarlett walked back to the bakery. Having just made her last delivery of the day, the young woman took her time returning. It was a bit warmer today and she wanted to enjoy it for what little time she had. As she gazed about the quiet little neighborhood, ever searching eyes fell upon a yard that looked as if it hadn’t had a caring touch in ages. What had once been a white picket fence now chipped, faded, and broken with age and weather abuse. And then, before she knew it, Scarlett stood before the rumored house of lore. It was....would it be considered dramatic to think it was looking at her, just as she was looking at it. Like two strangers who had just noticed each other. Curious but unsure of how to proceed. It seemed almost sentient and goosebumps danced down her spine. But that was silly. That was ridiculous. Houses didn’t have souls.  Did they? Lithe fingers, strong from kneading bread for years, rested lightly atop the wooden fence. She didn’t want to break anything but....the need to touch , to connect with this time forgotten place, was far stronger than her willpower to refrain. A torn curtain moved in one of the upper windows. Was a window open in the house somewhere? Was it cold inside? Drafty? She had the urge to find the window and close it. Shaking her head, dark tendrils of blue and black danced on her shoulders before she turned and walked away. But the feeling of being watched never dissipated. Even after she left the sleepy neighborhood and returned to her bakery. Though, Scarlett did know one thing now. She would definitely be back.   ** Curiosity is a powerful thing. It can sway even those with the strongest will to do things otherwise considered unsafe. All for that need of knowledge. Of the why. Of the what if. Of the how. And it was this such curiosity that had Scarlett making excuses to walk that street. To make personal deliveries in the vicinity of the house. Just so she could stop by and look. Watch. Visit. Each time she stayed longer. Wondered more.  

The wind whipped as she approached the house, the faded fence swaying with the abuse. And just as she reached for the chipped wooden slats, the gate swung open, as if inviting her closer. As if inviting her in. Was it too much to say she could almost feel the pull? To see the proverbial hand extended in Invitation? Was it luring or greeting? She couldn’t say. But nonetheless, Scarlett accepted the silent invitation. The wind pushing her from behind as if to encourage her closer.  

With each step, instinct told her to turn back. That she was trespassing. That this was dangerous. Whatever excuse would move her feet in the opposite direction than in the way she was headed now. Not up those rickety front steps, as forlorn as the gate they once used to match. Not onto the porch where the boards creaked and cried from years of unuse. And most assuredly not for her to make herself comfortable on the aged planks beside the front door.  

But here she was. Leaning against a house where a murder supposedly happened and ghosts might still haunt the halls yet. Looking up at the porch roof, Scarlett gave a small, friendly smile. “Hi.” Her voice soft, carried on the wind like the fluff of a dandelion. “My name is Scarlett. It’s nice to finally meet you.”  

[bakersstreetirregulars]

Weekly Bulletin, 5/30/24

A report involving an area called “The Beasts’ Menagerie” has recently been unearthed deep beneath the Licorice Sea on the banks of Beast-Yeast, which somehow connects our universe with another dimension where even more Beast Cookies are said to exist in containment. The Time Balance Department has refused to issue a public statement on who from this universe has gone or will go to investigate the site, but a record will be established in another affiliated archive in due time.

The Dimensional Observatory has successfully made contact with a Red Velvet Dragon who was suspected to be another Beast Cookie behind the consistent raids on the edge of Parfaedia. Almost everyone’s insights and hypotheses were proven wrong, as the Cookie we made contact with was another Ancient Cookie who’s been living in exile in another dimension.

Lemon-Lime Meringue Cookie and Heavy Cream Cookie will be out of the office for the remainder of this week to help Caramel Choux Cookie manage a music event, postponing all work on CRWC posts to play catch-up as well as all work on CROB articles involving recent ongoings with Longan Dragon Cookie and suspected economic overhauls until next week or the week after.

Due to recent contents’ lack of optimization causing a crash-prone interface, ALL news and research coverage on CRK has been suspended indefinitely until Devsisters implements a long-term fix.

Editor’s Note: I can’t do anything with new or updated content if the game just crashes on me within 30 seconds of logging in regardless of what I try. I sent a support ticket and a few insights on what specifically led to a crash on my end, but there’s no ETA or anything on a fix yet. So basically, I’m one of a LOT of people who has this crash issue due to the game not being optimized.

Back room organization in the Crepe Archives and other lore-driven blogs will take place regardless of ongoing events. As a result, there is no Open Board Meeting this week.

On the other hand, anyone down for some Squad Busters? Forget that last statement, that was supposed to go to Fondant Magician Cookie’s archive somewhere else. Someone must’ve slipped up.

[dreamssinceseven]

Lore: The Miradan-Raymanthia War, part 1

((The family has a long-running DnD LARP that has been going on for a few months. Almost everyone has gotten swept up in it, it's great fun. The backstory is rather grim and very dramatic, tw for death and violence)) The story begins with two neighboring kingdoms, Raymanthia and Miradan. Centuries of war and bitter rivalry have more recently cooled into an underlying rage that, while not inciting physical violence, colours many citizens' prejudices in both kingdoms. A Raymanthian couple named Barohn and Mikaila (characters created and portrayed by Jaimie and Camilia), naively seeking to make a better life in a less-crowded city, settle down in the Miradonian capital and open a bakery. All goes smoothly for a time, and the couple's business prospers. Somehow, though, word gets out of just where the two came from. Business slacks off, though never completely goes away--the couple is actually well-liked among their nearest neighbors, being kind and generous as well as terrific bakers. But ancient grudges are hard to erase, and those who aren't friends to Barohn and Mikaila begin muttering and sneering when they pass in the street. Things come to a head when Barohn returns home one day to find the bakery in flames. He cries out to the crowd that had gathered to watch, begging them for help, but they all just look away in varying degrees of dismay. The crueler ones point and cackle as poor Barohn runs door to door, pounding and pleading for aid. Within minutes, the bakery is ash and rubble. ((At this point, Camilia drops out of the game. She doesn't quite understand acting or DnD, and wants to drop back in after researching enough to move the story. It's unclear whether or not Mikaila was in the bakery when it burned, but the official story states she just vanished and was presumed dead to leave an opening for Camilia to come back later.)) As the crowd departs, Barohn falls to his knees before his ruined home, crushed. His eyes fall on something glinting in the street--he picks it up, and immediately recognizes the insignia of the royal guard pressed into the silver. Rage overtakes him, and as a man with nothing more to lose, he vows revenge. After picking through the bakery ruins for what he needs, Barohn makes his way directly to the queen's castle, arriving in the dead of night three days later. As quicky as possible, he begins to climb the outer wall. ((Thanks to a series of lucky rolls by Jaimie)), he makes it to the top in no time and finds himself at the exact window to the queen's chambers. Once inside, he finds the queen ((M4's character)) sitting at her vanity. She already knows why he's come--he demands to know why she would let her guards destroy his life like that. She replies that she knows of Raymanthia's tricks, that it was only a matter of time before he betrayed Miradan to his true master the King. Naturally, this enrages Barohn, who had only wanted to start a bakery and live his life--he raises his knife, but before he can move to strike, a bolt shoots from the shadows and hits him right in the heart.

[krystangreen-blog]

Situated along the waterfront, PIER 39 San Francisco is home to many of the best things to do in San Francisco. From the famous sea lions to tours that depart from the pier, here’s how to spend a day at this popular attraction. 

Shortcut to Big Savings

Get 5 PIER 39 Attractions for One Low Price (Save $30)

Includes a PIER 39 Savings Fun Pack with more than 100 coupons and discounts to many of PIER 39’s stores, restaurants, and attractions.

Top Things to Do at PIER 39 San Francisco

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay sits in the historic district of San Francisco and houses over 20,000 species of marine animals. You’ll discover a world beneath the waves when you explore exhibits of Northern California aquatic life. Three hundred feet of tank tunnels show 360 views of moon jellies, sharks, and skates.

Yoga lovers can attend morning classes while sharks, fish, and rays swim by. If you plan to visit other nearby attractions, make sure to purchase the PIER 39 Attraction Pass which grants discounted admission to the aquarium as well as deals on PIER 39 restaurants.

7D Experience

Get a fully immersive, action-packed adventure with San Francisco’s 7D Experience. Hop on a ride with motion seats that simulate the effects of a roller coaster. It feels like a virtual reality video game with interactive gun shooting and special effects.

Those interested in the 7D Experience and other PIER 39 attractions can benefit from discounted entry by purchasing the PIER 39 Attraction Pass. The pass purchase price covers the 7D Experience entry as well as discounts on other PIER 39 San Francisco activities.

Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze

Enter a psychedelic world of neon lights and mirror halls at Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze. Charles Magowan created this magical, artistic attraction for the whole family to enjoy. Navigate through a maze of flashing lights and neon colors that dazzle the senses.

You can take your time as the maze lets you stick around and enjoy the experience for as long as you like. 

CitySightseeing San Francisco Tour

CitySightseeing San Francisco Tour presents the city’s official Hop-on, Hop-off experience. You’ll see the biggest San Francisco attractions from an open-air double-decker bus. The CitySightseeing tour winds past over 40 of the city’s top stops, each of which you can explore at your leisure.

The bestselling day tour includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown Gate, and PIER 39.  

Golden Gate Bridge/Sausalito Tour

Enjoy sweeping views of San Francisco during a Golden Gate Bridge/Sausalito Tour with Skyline Sightseeing San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge connects Sausalito to San Francisco. Sausalito has become famous for its Richardson Bay houseboats made by squatters after the Second World War, the historic Fort Baker overlooking Horseshoe Cove, and boutique shopping. You can walk along the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge for panoramic views of the bay.

Look toward the horizon to catch glimpses of Angel Island, Alcatraz, and the San Francisco skyline. You can explore by foot or take the ferries that run between San Francisco and Sausalito.

Bay Cruise Adventure by Blue & Gold Fleet

The Bay Cruise Adventure by Blue & Gold Fleet provides picturesque views of the city from every angle. During the 60-minute boat ride, you’ll also pass by the famous PIER 39 sea lions sunbathing by the bay.

The tour doesn’t require reservations, and guests can enjoy complimentary multi-language audio available. This is the perfect opportunity for photographers of all levels to capture classic San Francisco images like the city skyline, the sea lions, the historic waterfront, and of course, PIER 39.

RocketBoat

Blue & Gold Fleet offers guests another – this time adrenaline pumping – way to experience San Francisco Bay from PIER 39. The RocketBoat is a high-speed adventure that takes guests out on the water for the ultimate bay thrill ride. The boat zips along the water, taking you beneath the Bay Bridge. You’ll speed down to Oracle Park, home to San Francisco’s baseball team, The Giants. The RocketBoat takes 30 minutes and runs during warmer months between May to October.

*Note that the current RocketBoat has been retired and rides are not offered during the 2019 summer season. Ticket holders can be upgraded either to Bay Cruise Adventure or Escape from the Rock cruises. The other option is to hold onto RocketBoat tickets until summer 2020 for an even more exhilarating RocketBoat cruise on the new boat.  

Escape from the Rock Cruise by Blue & Gold Fleet

A foreboding feeling creeps in as the Escape from The Rock Cruise circles Alcatraz Island penitentiary. Although the prison no longer functions, its infamous history lives on through the true stories of daily life in the prison and bold escape attempts. The Escape from The Rock Cruise by Blue & Gold Fleet provides 360 views of Alcatraz with intriguing audio tales of past inmates like Al Capone and Clyde Johnson.

You’ll learn about the only successful escape from the island penitentiary in 1962 that is the stuff of Hollywood lore.  

PIER 39 Sea Lions and Sea Lion Center

California sea lions have established a permanent colony near San Francisco’s PIER 39—lounging and frolicking on floating docks made to serve them. And now, visitors can learn even more about the adorable barking sea lions at the Sea Lion Center at PIER 39, managed by Aquarium of the Bay.

Bring the whole family to see educational videos and interactive displays. Visual exhibits include a real sea lion skeleton and pelt. There are plenty of sea lion souvenirs too. Outside the center, you can watch the sea lions in action as they dive in the water and lounge by the bay. The PIER 39 Sea Lions Center is open to the public between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

Whale-Watching Tour

View the amazing migration of blue, humpback, and gray whales during an unforgettable boat tour through the protected Farallon Islands sanctuary. Whale watching tours run throughout the year, but the type of whales in the area depends on the season.

Humpback whales typically appear May through November. Gray whales and killer whales arrive in December, staying until May. Dolphins and seals also show up, along with an occasional sighting of the ferocious Great White shark.

Tours typically leave from PIER 39, and you can book discounted passes to enjoy PIER 39 restaurants, shopping, and local excursions before or after your whale-watching tour.

The Flyer

Ready for a jaw-dropping experience soaring above San Francisco and the Bay Area? The Flyer provides a live-action virtual reality flight perfect for an introduction to the city.

Take a seat in motion activated seats that simulate a flight exploring San Francisco’s most prominent attractions and landmarks. You’ll launch above the Golden Gate Bridge before sweeping by Coit Tower, Lombard Street, and Chinatown. The ride continues as you take in breathtaking sights of the Redwood National Forest from the skies.

The San Francisco Flyer is located on Pier 39. After the show, you can enjoy Pier 39 restaurants, shopping, and attractions, including the Aquarium of the Bay.

The Carousel

Buy separate tickets to ride the carousel.

Feel like a kid again on the Pier 39 Carousel. It’s thought to be the only carousel with artistic renderings of the city including the PIER 39 sea lions, Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Alcatraz, and more.

Musical Stairs

The Musical Stairs at PIER 39 San Francisco is an interactive art exhibit. Climb up and down the piano key stairs and enjoy the sound of music with each step.

The artist behind San Francisco’s Musical Stairs, Remo Saraceni, also designed the famous giant piano from the movie, Big, starring Tom Hanks. Access the Musical Stairs from the PIER 39 parking lot and walk over to Building O, Level 1 & Level 2.

The Frequent Flyer

Bounce up and down on a bungee trampoline at the Frequent Flyer along PIER 39 San Francisco. While strapped into the bungee, you can spring up to 20 feet.

Try out some aerial acrobatics during hang time, and don’t forget to have someone in your group capturing your daring feats on video. The Frequent Flyer requires jumpers to weight at least 30 pounds and under 230 pounds.

Free Stage Shows

Not all activities along PIER 39 San Francisco cost money. During a visit to the bay end, you’ll come across a host of free stage shows throughout the day. Street performers, jugglers, and all sorts of entertainers throw on spectacles bringing excitement and laughter to audiences.

Weather permitting, show times are at noon, 1:20, 2:40, 4:00, and 5:20 in the afternoon. Evening performances are at 6:30, 7:40, and 8:50.

Over 110 Specialty Shops

PIER 39 has two levels with stores selling apparel, accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, snacks, and more. Chocolate lovers can indulge their senses at the Chocolate Heaven specialty store devoted to sweets. Houdini’s Magic Shop sells magic tricks and manuals for magicians in the making. You can even harvest your pearl at Pearl Factory.

PIER 39 Restaurants

Fog Harbor Fish House (Top Pick)

For a quintessential waterfront dining experience with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fog Harbor Fish House is the place to be. Seafood lovers can indulge in one of PIER 39’s best restaurants serving up shrimp, lobster, clams, and other fruits of the sea. The restaurant’s sustainable seafood program is approved by Aquarium of the Bay and is the backbone of their daily menu.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a beloved PIER 39 restaurant that’s perfect for the whole family. Life might be like a box of chocolates, but you know what you’re going to get at fishing boat-themed Bubba Gump – coconut shrimp, crispy golden shrimp, grilled shrimp, stuffed shrimp, and more shrimp. Other menu favorites include their award-winning Dixie-style Baby Back Ribs. 

Players Sports Grill and Arcade

Players aims to please every member of the family. Sports fans appreciate the over 200 channels viewable on 30 screens. Hop over to the Luau Lounge and Tiki Bar for fresh seafood or a burger and beautiful views of the bay.

The arcade houses a massive collection of 85 arcade games for kids and adults including pinball, air hockey, and shooting games. 

Dessert Shops

Yes, that’s cookie dough in a cone.

There are plenty of outlets to satisfy sweet tooths. If you’ve ever dreamed of eating copious amounts of cookie dough without needing to bake, head to Doughp (as seen on Shark Tank). There is also the Candy Baron with its barrels full of salt water taffy, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Shop, Trish’s Mini Donuts and more.

PIER 39 Parking

PIER 39 San Francisco offers convenient parking for visitors. The PIER 39 parking garage operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Parking during the weekdays costs $10 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $50. You can also reserve PIER 39 parking access in advance for a $30 All-Day flat rate.

PIER 39 Savings Fun Pack

Don’t forge to pick up a PIER 39 Savings Fun Pack that includes more than 100 coupons and discounts to many of the popular San Francisco spot’s stores, restaurants, and attractions. Grab it at the California Welcome Center at PIER 39.

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36 Hours in Hobart (and Environs)

Tasmanians have heard all the tired jokes from mainland Australians. The country’s isolated southern island state has been so overlooked in the past, it’s even been left off maps of Australia. In recent years, however, Australians have changed their tune. Tasmania is experiencing a surge of weekenders and property buyers, driven by a newfound interest in its pristine nature, unhurried way of life and an increasingly diverse food and art scene that really started to take off with the arrival, in a Hobart suburb, of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in 2011. The biggest transformation has taken place in the once-sleepy capital of Hobart, which now boasts a plethora of creative new restaurants and an edgy spirit, particularly during the winter Dark Mofo festival. (A highlight: the nude solstice swim in the chilly River Derwent.) Tasmania’s profile is rising overseas, as well. International visitors jumped by 21 percent from mid-2017 to mid-2018 — the biggest rise by far of any Australian state. Tasmanians have always known how good the life is here. The rest of the world is only now starting to find out.

Friday

1) 3:30 p.m. Gallery hopping

While MONA has put Tasmania on the international art map in recent years, Hobart’s gallery scene has actually been showcasing the best of Tasmanian art for decades. Both Despard and Handmark galleries — set in renovated 19th-century Georgian sandstone warehouses on the waterfront — exhibit works by well-known local artists like the landscape painter Geoff Dyer and the animal portraitist Michael McWilliams, as well as dozens of emerging artists. And Bett Gallery, which recently relocated to a 1950s modernist office building with beautifully restored parquet floors and coffered ceiling, has rotating exhibitions of contemporary artists from Tasmania, mainland Australia and abroad. Entry is free at all galleries.

2) 8 p.m. Foraged foods

David Moyle was among the first chefs to champion the farm-to-table concept in Tasmania when he opened Franklin in 2014. Moyle has since moved on, but the new head chef, Analiese Gregory, a rising star in Australia’s culinary world, and the rest of her team still regularly dive for sea urchin and wakame seaweed, and forage for mushrooms, saltbush and succulents to use in the kitchen. What ingredients they can’t source themselves, they procure from local suppliers, such as wallaby from a game hunter on Bruny Island, south of Hobart. This past winter (summer in the United States), the restaurant served it raw with beetroot, pepperberry and horseradish for 22 Australian dollars, or about $15. Reserve seats at the bar for a view of the focal point of the kitchen — a 10-ton, wood-fired Scotch oven, also made locally.

3) 10 p.m. Tipple and tales

With its sandstone streetscapes, penal-colony history and moody, damp weather, Hobart feels like a town with plenty of secrets to divulge. Little surprise, then, that The Story Bar, in the newly opened MACq 01 hotel, trades in Tasmanian lore. Sip one of the 27 Tasmanian gins on the menu (Hartshorn Sheep Whey, 14 Australian dollars, and Poltergeist Unfiltered, 15 Australian dollars, are highly recommended) and take in the Hobart history around you. Broadsheet banners from the local newspaper archives tell the tales of tragic shipwrecks and fires, while grainy video footage on the wall highlights the sporting heroics of cricketers. Nothing tops the views of the colorful sailboats bobbing in the River Derwent, however, from a perch on the waterfront deck outside.

Saturday

4) 8 a.m. Neighborhood eats

The local go-to spot for breakfast in the historic Battery Point neighborhood is Jackman & McRoss, set in an airy, rambling building that has been home to various bakeries and butchers over the past 150 years. This latest incarnation, founded by a baker-chef team 20 years ago, is as popular as ever for its hearty breakfasts: clay-pot poached eggs with chorizo polenta in a black bean ragout (15 Australian dollars), a delectable selection of baked goods, such as strawberry and pistachio tarts (7 Australian dollars), and prune-and-walnut sourdough bread (6.90 Australian dollars). Afterward, drop into On Hampden Creative across the street to peruse the homewares, handprinted textiles and vintage women’s hats and scarves made by 60 local artisans and designers.

5) 9 a.m. Market day

Salamanca Place has been a focal point of Hobart life since the early 1800s, when warehouses lined the harbor to store whale oil, wool, apples and other goods for export. Today, at the lively Salamanca Market, there are slightly more contemporary, artisanal goods on offer: wallaby and scallop pies; Tasmanian-made gin, saffron, truffle mustard and pepperberry salt; and all manner of handicrafts, antiques and echidna- (spiny anteater) printed tourist kitsch. Arrive early to beat the crowds — thousands descend here on most pleasant Saturdays — and have enough time to saunter through the 300-plus stalls and take in a busker or two.

6) 11 a.m. Handmade hub

Not shopped out yet? Just behind the market is the wonderful Salamanca Arts Centre, a series of early-19th-century warehouses that were restored in the 1970s and transformed into an arts, theater and design hub. There are numerous galleries and studios here (including Handmark), as well as plenty of creative shops. Stop at The Maker for Japanese handicrafts and women’s fashions made with Japanese-sourced linens and wools; Bruny Island Cheese Co. for pinot-washed raw milk cheeses and small-batch beers made with Tasmanian grains and hops; and the Hammer & Hand Metal and Jewellery Collective for handmade earrings, necklaces, sculptures and stainless steel utensils, forged by local artisans.

7) 12 p.m. History lesson

To put Tasmania’s recent rebirth in the proper perspective, it’s necessary to understand its dark history. From 1803 until 1853, some 75,000 convicts were transported to Tasmania (then called Van Diemen’s Land) from Britain and other British colonies, and many passed through the Hobart Convict Penitentiary, part of which still stands today. A tour of this bleak yet fascinating relic provides a glimpse of convict life over the years: pitch-black solitary confinement cells, subterranean tunnels leading to a courtroom, the gallows where 300 prisoners were hanged. Little has changed in 185 years, which only adds to the spooky feel of the place. (For those who want an extra fright, ghost tours are offered at night, too.) Admission is 25 Australian dollars.

8) 4 p.m. Pint with a view

Cascade beer is to Tasmania what Budweiser is to America. Not only is Cascade the quintessential lager for most Tasmanians, the beer maker is also the oldest continually operating brewery in all Australia. The building alone is worth the 15-minute drive out of Hobart — the sandstone facade of the brewery, originally built by convicts in the early 1800s, looks magnificent set against imposing Mount Wellington, particularly when the peak is snow-capped in winter. Brewery tours (30 Australian dollars) end with a tasting of the beers, but the expansive garden also makes a nice setting for a leisurely pint of Cascade Pale Ale (9.50 Australian dollars) and a cat nap.

9) 8 p.m. Shared plates

The vibe at cozy, 22-seat Templo, tucked away on a quiet Hobart backstreet, perfectly encapsulates the youthful food movement transforming Tasmania at the moment. The setting is fun and casual, with attractive, chatty servers and a large communal table that promotes easy conversation with fellow diners. (A few glasses from the extensive wine list surely help; try one of the bottles of minimal intervention wine made exclusively for the restaurant.) The Italian-inspired menu changes daily; on a recent visit, standout dishes included the homemade gnocchetti with broccolini, chile, anchovy and pangrattato (24 Australian dollars) and the housemade mustardela (blood sausage) with dragoncello sauce (18 Australian dollars).

Sunday

10) 10 a.m. Walsh’s world

The Museum of Old and New Art (entry 30 Australian Dollars), founded by David Walsh, an art collector who built a fortune from gambling, has become much more than an art institution. It’s spawned two popular (and more than a little subversive) art and music festivals — MOFO and Dark MOFO — in addition to art-filled luxury pavilion accommodations (from 750 Australian dollars a night) and, coming soon, a 172-room hotel (as yet unnamed after several controversial choices). The museum itself is a lot to take in, so arrive early and plan to get lost in the cavernous space showcasing Mr. Walsh’s outlandish collection. Be sure to check out the four fantastically disorienting James Turrell light installations commissioned for the new Pharos wing (separate tickets and advance booking, 10 to 25 Australian dollars), as well as the newly opened underground network of tunnels and chambers filled with works by Ai Weiwei and Alfredo Jaar. On a pleasant day, take a break on the lawn with a glass of Moorilla sparkling Riesling (10 Australian dollars) or a Moo Brew Pilsner (9 Australian dollars) — Mr. Walsh owns the winery and brewery, too. A fast ferry offers 25-minute connections to the museum from downtown Hobart (from 22 Australian dollars roundtrip).

11) 2 p.m. Farm to former asylum

Long before Tasmania became a foodie destination, Rodney Dunn and Severine Demanet ditched city life to set up a farm and cooking school in the Tasmanian countryside. Nearly a decade later, the couple completed the farm-to-table circle with the opening of The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery in a rather unlikely location: a sprawling asylum in the town of New Norfolk (about 20 miles from Hobart), which operated for over 170 years before closing in 2000. A tour of the grounds reveals glimpses of the institution’s notorious history, but inside, the focus is on the seasonal menu, which highlights ingredients from the farm and other local producers: sugarloaf cabbage with lovage seed mayonnaise and preserved fish (23 Australian dollars) and slow-roasted Derwent Valley lamb (a sharing dish for 140 Australian dollars). It’s a glimpse of the present-day potential of the island, risen from a painful past.

Lodging

Hobart is an extremely walkable city if you base yourself centrally near the wharf on the River Derwent. Check out the Battery Point neighborhood, which is accessible to Salamanca Place via the 19th-century Kelly’s Steps; apartments here on Airbnb rent for 200 to 250 Australian dollars per night.

From the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman (the first European to land on Tasmania) to the cricket hero Ricky Ponting, each of the 114 rooms at the new MACq 01 Hotel is devoted to a different character in Tasmanian history, with illustrations on the door and their full stories and other artifacts featured prominently inside. Doubles from 240 Australian dollars.

The nearly 150-year-old Lenna of Hobart was once the mansion of a wealthy Tasmanian whaling merchant, Alexander McGregor, who oversaw the largest individually owned fleet of ships in the Southern Hemisphere. Doubles from 208 Australian dollars.

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20 Top Things to Do at PIER 39 in San Francisco

Situated along the waterfront, PIER 39 San Francisco is home to many of the best things to do in San Francisco. From the famous sea lions to tours that depart from the pier, here’s how to spend a day at this popular attraction. 

Top Things to Do at PIER 39 San Francisco

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay sits in the historic district of San Francisco and houses over 20,000 species of marine animals. You’ll discover a world beneath the waves when you explore exhibits of Northern California aquatic life. Three hundred feet of tank tunnels show 360 views of moon jellies, sharks, and skates.

Yoga lovers can attend morning classes while sharks, fish, and rays swim by. If you plan to visit other nearby attractions, make sure to purchase the PIER 39 Attraction Pass which grants discounted admission to the aquarium as well as deals on PIER 39 restaurants.

Included on the PIER 39 Attraction Pass

7D Experience

Get a fully immersive, action-packed adventure with San Francisco’s 7D Experience. Hop on a ride with motion seats that simulate the effects of a roller coaster. It feels like a virtual reality video game with interactive gun shooting and special effects.

Those interested in the 7D Experience and other PIER 39 attractions can benefit from discounted entry by purchasing the PIER 39 Attraction Pass. The pass purchase price covers the 7D Experience entry as well as discounts on other PIER 39 San Francisco activities.

Included on the PIER 39 Attraction Pass

Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze

Enter a psychedelic world of neon lights and mirror halls at Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze. Charles Magowan created this magical, artistic attraction for the whole family to enjoy. Navigate through a maze of flashing lights and neon colors that dazzle the senses.

You can take your time as the maze lets you stick around and enjoy the experience for as long as you like. 

Included on the PIER 39 Attraction Pass

CitySightseeing San Francisco Tour

CitySightseeing San Francisco Tour presents the city’s official Hop-on, Hop-off experience. You’ll see the biggest San Francisco attractions from an open-air double-decker bus. The CitySightseeing tour winds past over 40 of the city’s top stops, each of which you can explore at your leisure.

The bestselling day tour includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown Gate, and PIER 39.  

Golden Gate Bridge/Sausalito Tour

Enjoy sweeping views of San Francisco during a Golden Gate Bridge/Sausalito Tour with Skyline Sightseeing San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge connects Sausalito to San Francisco. Sausalito has become famous for its Richardson Bay houseboats made by squatters after the Second World War, the historic Fort Baker overlooking Horseshoe Cove, and boutique shopping. You can walk along the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge for panoramic views of the bay.

Look toward the horizon to catch glimpses of Angel Island, Alcatraz, and the San Francisco skyline. You can explore by foot or take the ferries that run between San Francisco and Sausalito.

Included on the PIER 39 Attraction Pass

Bay Cruise Adventure by Blue & Gold Fleet

The Bay Cruise Adventure by Blue & Gold Fleet provides picturesque views of the city from every angle. During the 60-minute boat ride, you’ll also pass by the famous PIER 39 sea lions sunbathing by the bay.

The tour doesn’t require reservations, and guests can enjoy complimentary multi-language audio available. This is the perfect opportunity for photographers of all levels to capture classic San Francisco images like the city skyline, the sea lions, the historic waterfront, and of course, PIER 39.

Included on the PIER 39 Attraction Pass

RocketBoat

Blue & Gold Fleet offers guests another – this time adrenaline pumping – way to experience San Francisco Bay from PIER 39. The RocketBoat is a high-speed adventure that takes guests out on the water for the ultimate bay thrill ride. The boat zips along the water, taking you beneath the Bay Bridge. You’ll speed down to Oracle Park, home to San Francisco’s baseball team, The Giants. The RocketBoat takes 30 minutes and runs during warmer months between May to October.

*Note that the current RocketBoat has been retired and rides are not offered during the 2019 summer season. Ticket holders can be upgraded either to Bay Cruise Adventure or Escape from the Rock cruises. The other option is to hold onto RocketBoat tickets until summer 2020 for an even more exhilarating RocketBoat cruise on the new boat.  

Escape from the Rock Cruise by Blue & Gold Fleet

A foreboding feeling creeps in as the Escape from The Rock Cruise circles Alcatraz Island penitentiary. Although the prison no longer functions, its infamous history lives on through the true stories of daily life in the prison and bold escape attempts. The Escape from The Rock Cruise by Blue & Gold Fleet provides 360 views of Alcatraz with intriguing audio tales of past inmates like Al Capone and Clyde Johnson.

You’ll learn about the only successful escape from the island penitentiary in 1962 that is the stuff of Hollywood lore.  

Included on the PIER 39 Attraction Pass

PIER 39 Sea Lions and Sea Lion Center

California sea lions have established a permanent colony near San Francisco’s PIER 39—lounging and frolicking on floating docks made to serve them. And now, visitors can learn even more about the adorable barking sea lions at the Sea Lion Center at PIER 39, managed by Aquarium of the Bay.

Bring the whole family to see educational videos and interactive displays. Visual exhibits include a real sea lion skeleton and pelt. There are plenty of sea lion souvenirs too. Outside the center, you can watch the sea lions in action as they dive in the water and lounge by the bay. The PIER 39 Sea Lions Center is open to the public between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

Whale-Watching Tour

View the amazing migration of blue, humpback, and gray whales during an unforgettable boat tour through the protected Farallon Islands sanctuary. Whale watching tours run throughout the year, but the type of whales in the area depends on the season.

Humpback whales typically appear May through November. Gray whales and killer whales arrive in December, staying until May. Dolphins and seals also show up, along with an occasional sighting of the ferocious Great White shark.

Tours typically leave from PIER 39, and you can book discounted passes to enjoy PIER 39 restaurants, shopping, and local excursions before or after your whale-watching tour.

The Flyer

Ready for a jaw-dropping experience soaring above San Francisco and the Bay Area? The Flyer provides a live-action virtual reality flight perfect for an introduction to the city.

Take a seat in motion activated seats that simulate a flight exploring San Francisco’s most prominent attractions and landmarks. You’ll launch above the Golden Gate Bridge before sweeping by Coit Tower, Lombard Street, and Chinatown. The ride continues as you take in breathtaking sights of the Redwood National Forest from the skies.

The San Francisco Flyer is located on Pier 39. After the show, you can enjoy Pier 39 restaurants, shopping, and attractions, including the Aquarium of the Bay.

The Carousel

Buy separate tickets to ride the carousel.

Feel like a kid again on the Pier 39 Carousel. It’s thought to be the only carousel with artistic renderings of the city including the PIER 39 sea lions, Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Alcatraz, and more.

Musical Stairs

The Musical Stairs at PIER 39 San Francisco is an interactive art exhibit. Climb up and down the piano key stairs and enjoy the sound of music with each step.

The artist behind San Francisco’s Musical Stairs, Remo Saraceni, also designed the famous giant piano from the movie, Big, starring Tom Hanks. Access the Musical Stairs from the PIER 39 parking lot and walk over to Building O, Level 1 & Level 2.

The Frequent Flyer

Bounce up and down on a bungee trampoline at the Frequent Flyer along PIER 39 San Francisco. While strapped into the bungee, you can spring up to 20 feet.

Try out some aerial acrobatics during hang time, and don’t forget to have someone in your group capturing your daring feats on video. The Frequent Flyer requires jumpers to weight at least 30 pounds and under 230 pounds.

Free Stage Shows

Not all activities along PIER 39 San Francisco cost money. During a visit to the bay end, you’ll come across a host of free stage shows throughout the day. Street performers, jugglers, and all sorts of entertainers throw on spectacles bringing excitement and laughter to audiences.

Weather permitting, show times are at noon, 1:20, 2:40, 4:00, and 5:20 in the afternoon. Evening performances are at 6:30, 7:40, and 8:50.

Over 110 Specialty Shops

PIER 39 has two levels with stores selling apparel, accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, snacks, and more. Chocolate lovers can indulge their senses at the Chocolate Heaven specialty store devoted to sweets. Houdini’s Magic Shop sells magic tricks and manuals for magicians in the making. You can even harvest your pearl at Pearl Factory.

PIER 39 Restaurants

Fog Harbor Fish House (Top Pick)

For a quintessential waterfront dining experience with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fog Harbor Fish House is the place to be. Seafood lovers can indulge in one of PIER 39’s best restaurants serving up shrimp, lobster, clams, and other fruits of the sea. The restaurant’s sustainable seafood program is approved by Aquarium of the Bay and is the backbone of their daily menu.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a beloved PIER 39 restaurant that’s perfect for the whole family. Life might be like a box of chocolates, but you know what you’re going to get at fishing boat-themed Bubba Gump – coconut shrimp, crispy golden shrimp, grilled shrimp, stuffed shrimp, and more shrimp. Other menu favorites include their award-winning Dixie-style Baby Back Ribs. 

Players Sports Grill and Arcade

Players aims to please every member of the family. Sports fans appreciate the over 200 channels viewable on 30 screens. Hop over to the Luau Lounge and Tiki Bar for fresh seafood or a burger and beautiful views of the bay.

The arcade houses a massive collection of 85 arcade games for kids and adults including pinball, air hockey, and shooting games. 

Dessert Shops

Yes, that’s cookie dough in a cone.

There are plenty of outlets to satisfy sweet tooths. If you’ve ever dreamed of eating copious amounts of cookie dough without needing to bake, head to Doughp (as seen on Shark Tank). There is also the Candy Baron with its barrels full of salt water taffy, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Shop, Trish’s Mini Donuts and more.

PIER 39 Parking

PIER 39 San Francisco offers convenient parking for visitors. The PIER 39 parking garage operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Parking during the weekdays costs $10 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $50. You can also reserve PIER 39 parking access in advance for a $30 All-Day flat rate.

PIER 39 Savings Fun Pack

Don’t forge to pick up a PIER 39 Savings Fun Pack that includes more than 100 coupons and discounts to many of the popular San Francisco spot’s stores, restaurants, and attractions. Grab it at the California Welcome Center at PIER 39.

Included on the Pier 39 Attraction Pass

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