personal : san francisco special!
Neighbor Michael & I decided we should start collecting some of our "favorite places" in SF, so here's a start.
| Select a Category | ||||
| OUTDOOR FUN | INDOOR FUN | |||
| GENERAL | GENERAL | |||
| SIGHTS | MUSEUMS | |||
| WALKING TOURS | SHOPS | |||
| VIEWS | FUN DRINKS & EATS | |||
| EVENTS | ||||
AND, a driving route through the City that's shorter than the 49-Mile loop & almost as much fun.
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DETAILS
ALCATRAZ ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
Daily. 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Thursday to Monday evening
programs. An audio program available in six languages features stories
from former correctional officers and prisoners at Alcatraz Federal
Penitentiary. $1 for map and guide. $9.25 to $22 Ferries to the island
depart daily every half-hour. Pier 41. Reservations suggested. (415)
705-5555.
ANCHOR STEAM BREWERY TOUR
1705 Mariposa Street, 415-863-8350, Tours often but
reservations required.
ANGEL ISLAND STATE PARK
Daily. 8 a.m. to sunset. Guided history tours, tram tours
and nature walks. Hiking and biking trails around the island. Take ferries
from Tiburon, Vallejo, Oakland/Alameda & San Francisco. Tram Tours: $6 to
$10. Bicycle rentals: $9 to $25. (415) 435-1915.
ANSEL ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY MUSEUM
250 4th Street (between Howard and Folsom Streets) (415)
495-7000
BARBARY COAST TRAIL
Traces San Francisco’s history from its days as the
sleepy village of Yerba Buena to its renaissance as home of the Beat
Generation. The 3.8 mile route starts at the Old Mint (built in 1874 to
house the yield of the gold rush) and winds over a 40 block district from
the Bay westward. Book, maps & audio tours available on
on the website. Follow bronze markers on the streets.
BLACK PANTHER LEGACY TOUR
Last Saturday of the month. 12 pm. Walking tour of key
sights. 1801 Adeline at 18th St., Oakland. $25 on site. 510-986-0660
BOMBAY ICE CREAM
East Indian owners specialize in rose & other exotically
flavored ice creams. Yum. Valencia between 16th &
17th. 415 431 1103
CABLE CAR BARN & POWERHOUSE
1201 Mason Street at Washington (415) 474-1887. Admission
free. Open everyday of the year with the exception of Thanksgiving,
Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. April 1st through
September 30; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 1st through March 31
CA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
Free tours are now being offered at CHS on Saturdays at
2:00 PM. Free with admission. No reservations required. 678 Mission Street
in the South of Market/Yerba Buena Gardens (415) 357-1848
CALIFORNIA OUTDOOR ROLLERSKATING ASSOCIATION
"Friday Night Skate" 8-11:30 p.m. Weather permitting.
Free. Meet in the parking lot directly across from the Ferry
Building. Foot of Market St. (415) 752-1967.
CHINESE HERITAGE WALK
Tuesdays through Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, 10:30 am.
and 2 p.m. A docent-led walk exploring the cultural achievements, social
progress and history of the Chinese in San Francisco. $6 to $15. Chinese
Cultural Center, Holiday Inn, 750 Kearny St. (415) 986-1822.
CITY ARTS & LECTURES
Since 1980, City Arts & Lectures has provided a broad
survey of cultural trends and insights through a series of onstage
conversations at the Herbst Theatre. This year's guests come from a
variety of fields including music, journalism, literature, medicine,
politics, and dance. (415) 392-4400
CURVY STREETS
Vermont St. (Protrero Hill) or Lombard St. (Russian Hill)
EXPLORATORIUM
Adults - $9.00, Tactile Dome requires eservations - made
by calling (415) 561-0362, 3601 Lyon Street. 415-EXP-LORE
FERRY PLAZA FARMERS' MARKET
8 a.m - 1:30p.m. Free. Ferry Plaza, Embarcadero at Green
St. (415) 981-3004.
FLAMENCO PERFORMANCES AT THIRSTY BEAR
Performances Sunday night at this tapas brew pub. Howard
St. between 2nd & 3rd. 415 974-0905
FLOWER MART
640 Brannan St. between 5th & 6th - open EARLY on Saturday and a
couple other days of the week but the stalls start
shutting down before noon, where the flower shops go to shop - stall after
stall of beautiful, exotic flowers at low prices.
FOOTNOTES LITERARY WALK
Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. 3 ½ hours. While
walking through North Beach, learn about Mark Twain, Jack Kerouac Lawrence
Ferlinghetti and Maya Angelou. Reservations required. $35. Includes lunch.
Washington Square, corner of Union and Columbus Sts. (415) 381-0713.
GHOST HUNT WALKING TOUR
Walking tour at dusk through Pacific Heights, focusing on
some of the most notorious haunted places. One mile in 2 hours. Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday at 8 pm; Saturday & Sunday at 4 pm. Starts at the
Queen Anne Hotel at 1590 Sutter (at Octavia). $20 per person. (415)
922-5590
GOLDEN GATE PARK
FREE historical walking tours offered in Golden Gate
Park, Stern Grove and McLaren Park. Tours include: Japanese Tea Garden,
Strawberry Hill, McLaren's Walk, Windmill To Beach Chalet Tour, Grand
Concourse Tour, Lloyd Lake, Statue Walk, Stern Grove, And McLaren Park
(call 415-584-2472). Tours are coordinated by the Friends of Recreation
and Parks. For dates and times call the 24 hour hotline at 415-263-0991.
GRATEFUL DEAD RESIDENCE
710 Ashbury St. Near the intersection of Haight & Ashbury,
the hip nexus of the Summer of Love.
HAAS LILLIENTHAL HOUSE
Tour of Queen Anne Victorian residence & museum. Open
Sunday & Wednesday. 2007 Franklin St. (415) 441-3000
INDUSTRIAL KITCHEN SUPPLY
Location - open? - want
an egg beater? They got it. A salad spinner for 20 pounds of
lettuce? That too. An industrial stove customized to hold 3 woks?
It's there. Great browsing fun & great deals on dishware & regular
kitchenware.
JAPANESE TEA CEREMONIES
Introduction to Chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony) at the
Uransenke Foundation. Monthly. $15. 2143 Powell St. (415) 433-6553
JAPANTOWN HISTORY WALK
A 10 city block self-guided tour that includes 17 permanent interpretive
signs highlighting points of historical and cultural significance of the
Japanese American community.
PDF map here.
KABUKI HOT SPRING & SPA
Authentic Japanese bathhouse with spa facilities. In
Japantown, 1750 Geary Ave., open daily. (415)
922-6000.
MISSION DOLORES CHURCH &
CEMETERY
on Dolores at 16th Street. Take the audio history tour of the
mission - worth the extra couple bucks. And check out the roses in the
cemetery!
MUSEE MECANIQUE
Daily. 10 am - 7 pm. Collection of 230 marvelous
historical mechanical arcade machines, all working for a quarter.
Free. At Pier 45 on Fisherman's Wharf.
NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE
Thursdays, 9 a.m. - noon. An informal guided tour of the grove, an
area dedicated to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Free. Golden Gate Park, near
corner of Middle East and Bowling Green drives. (415) 750-8340
PACIFIC BELL (SBC) PARK TOURS
Daily. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A one-hour guided tour through the
Giants' new ballpark. Visit the press box, visitor's clubhouse, indoor
batting cages, Coca-Cola Fan Lot and the dugout. No tours when there is a
day game. $5-$10. Third and King Sts. (415) 972-2400.
PACIFIC HEIGHTS WALKING TOURS
Tours of Victorian houses in the Heights. City Guides
offers free every Sunday at 2 pm and on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays of each
month at 1 pm; last about 2 hours; rain or shine. Also walking tours
through the Hans Lillienthal House every Sunday at 12:30 pm. City Guides:
(415) 557-4266 Lillienthal House: (415) 441-3000.
PALACE HOTEL AFTERNOON TEA
Crowned by a stained glass dome and shimmering
chandeliers, the hotels former carriage entrance is now recognized as one
of the world's most beautiful dining rooms--The Garden Court. English High
Tea is served every afternoon. As sunlight illuminates the dome, one feels
as if they are sitting in a garden atrium, albeit one with elegant
chandeliers, lush greenery and towering marble columns. 2 New Montgomery
St., (415) 512-1111
PRECITA EYES MURAL ARTS CENTER
Saturday and Sunday. 1:30 p.m.: Walking tours of Mission
District Murals. Walks given by experienced muralists and preceded by a
brief slide presentation on the process of mural art. Every second Sunday
of the month: Bicycle Mural Tours. 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. $10. Bicycle tours
travel to many Mission mural highlights too far apart to see on a walking
tour. Bicycle tour and walk leaves from Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center,
2981 24th St. (415) 285-2287.
PRESIDIO CAFÉ
Brunch Sunday from 10-2, 415-561-4600.
RANDALL MUSEUM
For information on the Animal Room, call (415) 554-9600
to talk to the staff. The Animal Room has birds, lizards, snakes, mice, an
owl, an operating, see-through bee hive, and a petting area.
SF HERB COMPANY
250 14th St. - open all week - fun little shop with
spices, herbs, teas, and potpourri supplies.
SAN FRANCISCO ZOO
Daily. Australian Walkabout; Feline Conservation Center;
Gorilla World; Penguin Island; Koala Crossing; Primate Discovery Center;
Children's Zoo. Sloat Blvd. at 45th Ave. (415) 753-7080.
STRYBING ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
Daily. 1.30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 10.30 a.m.
"Guided Garden Walks." Ongoing. Meet at the Strybing Bookstore inside the
main gate. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, 2 p.m. "Docent Garden Walks."
Ongoing. Meet at the Friend gate (north entrance). First Sunday of the
month, 8 a.m. 'Monthly Birding Walks." Ongoing. Walks start from Strybing
Bookstore at the main gate. Free. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. - 4:30
p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Golden Gate Park, Ninth Ave.
and Lincoln Way. (415) 661-1316.
TWIN’S ARMOIRE
860 California on Nob Hill. Run by the famous Wiebe Twins
of SF. (415) 788-5521
VESUVIO CAFÉ
255 Columbus Ave. Down the street from City Lights
Bookstore (261 Columbus) – both beat generation hangouts. (415) 362-3370.
WELLS FARGO MUSEUM
Cool early SF / CA history. Montgomery St. between
California St. & Sacramento St.
WOK WIZ CHINATOWN WALKING TOURS
750 Kearny St. Daily behind the scenes tours, including a
lunch. Reservations needed. $25 - $65. (415) 981-8989
If the 49-Mile Drive is a bit much, this transit hits some highlights through the City.
Starting arbitrarily from where we used to live in Pac Heights, take Franklin to Union St. Left to Divisidero. Left to Broadway. Right to Lyon Street Steps. Up Lyon to California. Right to Arguello. Left to Clement. Right to 25th. Right to Seacliff. Into Lincoln Park. Out to Cliff House. Back through GGP. East on Haight to Ashbury. South through Twin Peaks. Up Market to Castro. North on Scott to Alamo Square. North to Japantown. East on California to Nob Hill. East to Chinatown. East to Ferry Building. North on Embarcadero. West to Coit Tower. West through NoBe. West to Russian Hill. West on Lombard, east on Filbert. South on Polk to Sacramento.
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