While the American Bar Association’s Annual Convention was not good for us, we did manage to have a lot of fun in San Francisco this year.

2007 marks the third consecutive year that we have exhibited at the American Bar Association’s Annual Convention and there is a marked difference between this year and 2005. One of the first things that we noticed was that the number of exhibitors continues to dwindle; a large portion of the remaining exhibitors are corporations (such as Chase Bank). Secondly, the number of attendees that visit the exhibitors continues to plummet, as well. This year we made only 27% of the contacts that we made last year. Not only is the booth the most expensive one of the year, but the convention does not provide tables and chairs (the only convention not to do so), but there is not even a free coffee bar provided in the morning to encourage attorneys to come and talk to us. We had waaaay too much free time on our hands, as you can see from our YMCA picture.

But, when we weren’t at the convention, we did have a chance to see a lot of San Francisco. We went to a party at the Ritz, a party at the Flood Mansion, had Indian tapas at the E & O Trading Company (highly recommended – even to vegetarians), Italian food at North Beach, chocolate covered strawberries at Ghirardelli, cruised down Lombard Street (the most winding street in the world), snapped pictures in front of the Golden Gate Bridge at night, went out to bars along Haight and Ashbury, and (some of us) managed to stop by China Town and Fisherman’s Wharf. My favorite meal was at a Taqueria in the Mission section of the city, That was a lot to pack in every night, but we had a great time! We stayed at the Hotel Rex on Sutter, which is a boutique French hotel – very nice. Though the rooms were small, the hotel itself was cozy and fun; the bar was a great place to have drinks with clients. Two doors down from the Hotel Rex was the Cantina: Latin Art Bar; they had fun music and a great drink selection, including pitchers of five spice margaritas and pomegranate Manhattan’s.