It's been a long time since I tried to observe in a big city, I was in downtown Oakland, at the corner of 10th and Broadway where my hotel was located when I gave it a try, all I managed to see was venus, everything else was washed out or blocked by buildings.
I was in the Bay area for a conference. The conference I was attending was in SF but a mixup occurred and instead of the Courtyard Marriot SF I ended up in the Courtyard Marriot Oakland. In the end it turned out okay, the cost in Oakland was lower the parking was free and it was next to a BART station. The Courtyard Marriot in Oakland is actually in Oakland's chinatown. We had also toured SF's chinatown and the Oakland version although smaller, was very appealing with its many markets and restaruants. We eat in one place (Pentony, 388 10th street) where the waiters had a minimal working knowledge of english, but with a little effort and some amusment on their's and our part we managed to placed a dinner order for two people. When the food arrived we discovered that during some of the confusion I had also ordered the special, a whole peking duck for just $12. The food was really good.
I did get a chance to visit Scope City down near Fisherman's wharf, there I meet the manager Sam Sweiss, he and his staff were very friendly and helpful. I had decided a few months ago to get a H-Alpha solar setup. I couldn't justify $3000-$4000 for a setup to observe one object but I could risk $600, so I placed an order with him for a new Coronado PST. I'll use the eyepeices I have already, but if I'm not completely happy with my eyepieces I'll get a 12mm Cemax eyepiece. When I get the cash together I'll also add a SolarMax 40/T-Max Tuner for Double-Stacking the PST. When I get it I'll post a review of my first light experience with it.