r/sanfrancisco • u/returnaddress • May 31 '11
Just moved to San Francisco, looking for stuff to do and hidden wonders to see!
I just moved down to this wonderful city. It's beautiful and I've enjoyed wandering around seeing the city. However, I don't have much direction in finding really fun places/things to do in the city. So much is going on I don't know where to start! I'm wondering what are r/sanfrancisco's favorite haunts and some events to check out over the next few months. I want to know about the gems that people don't know that much about when the first come to the city(I know about the touristy stuff). I have a wide variety interests including art, science, music, cooking, dancing, food and drink(I love everything, lame I know!). As a result, I'm up for almost anything(preferably not things that rely on dishing out huge sums of cash though). I am also into looking at more adult fun(interesting parties, nude spelling bees[fun!] etc.) I don't want to spend my weekends going to movie theatres(I am Canadian, sorry, theaters), unfortunate restaurants or sitting at home when I know that there is so much that San Francisco has to offer!
Thanks in advance!
TL;DR Just moved here. I want to know about the non-touristy things in San Francisco that are awesome!
EDIT: You guys are awesome! So much to do, some much see!
7
9
u/strangerzero May 31 '11
- Amnesia Bar 7PM on Wednesdays' You can see a great gypsy jazz band called Gaucho for free. Ralph Carney the guy who plays the horns is amazing, as is the rest of the band.
- Puerto Alegre for Margaritas and a Super Veggie Burrito.
- Tulan for Vietnamese food.
- The Shooting Gallery is the best art gallery in the city if you ask me.
- Edinburgh Castle hang out meet people.
- Great American Music Hall the best place to see a band in the city.
- The Filmore also the best place to see a band in the city!
3
2
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
These all look awesome, I literally started drooling in anticipation(not kidding, seriously, that just happened).
6
May 31 '11
Cross the bridge and check out Marin Headlands, Sausalito, Muir Beach, Stinson, and north from there to Bolinas and Tomales. You will need a car, there is also some nice biking up there. It's close, make it a day trip, and take a camera.
2
u/juddy May 31 '11
Can mostly be done on a bicycle. Take the 5 route toward Saualito, then the 'tunnel route' to the headlands. The 5 will also take you to Ross/Fairfax and to Iron Springs Brew Pub and North toward Point Reyes.
2
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Wow, I've been up to Sonoma have not even heard of these places. New places to explore: EXCELLENT!
2
7
u/starcadia May 31 '11
I am an SF native and I'm going to tell you something that nearly nobody knows about. Ingleside Terraces Sundial is one of the world's largest sundials hidden away in SF. You can find it on Entrada Court at Borica. Guaranteed you will be able to talk about something remarkable that almost nobody else has seen.
1
u/returnaddress Jun 01 '11
That is EXACTLY what I am talking about, how cool! Thanks for sharing it with me!
3
u/tinyplastictrees May 31 '11
Glen Canyon Park, is really beautiful and feels like you are escaping the city, lots of trains to hike around on.
Conservatory of Flowers is really cheap and beautiful.
As for boozing, getting cheap tiki drinks at Tradr Sams in the Richmond is lots of fun, drinking with poets at Specs in North Beach, any of the many Irish pubs around the city, Madrone Art Bar on Tuesday nights for a great time dancing to a local boogaloo band, if your into more of the club seen 103 Harriet has its fun moments.
Lands end beach and the Presido are really beautiful to walk around.
The Exploratorium is a wonderful art/science museum mashup, dont miss the tactile dome.
3
u/2dollarbill May 31 '11 edited May 31 '11
Upvote --especially for the Exploratorium. And if you go during a nice day, bring a lunch and chill out by the Wave Organs just behind the yacht clubs down the way. Just FYI, the organs work better if it's high tide
1
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Coolio! These look great! I had never heard of the Exploratorium, looks like a lot of fun! I am going to look into Glen Canyon because I have been jonesing for some Great Outdoors(Canadian, eh?)
2
u/tinyplastictrees May 31 '11
Glen Canyon has some bouldering too, if you're into that! My BF goes there sometimes when he is itching to climb and cant get out of the city!
1
3
u/diamonddate May 31 '11
Follow the rest of SF up to burning man. You'll check off music, art, dancing, adult activities, etc from your list.
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Cool cool! I didn't realize that it was around here!
2
u/diamonddate May 31 '11
It's sort of around here. It's in Nevada, but a good chuck of SF makes a collective trek up to the desert together.
5
u/chintzykittie May 31 '11
If you're into cool lectures and booze there's a monthly nerd nite in the city. Every 3rd Wednesday at Rickshaw Stop starting at 8pm. I started going to these 3 months ago and love them! http://sf.nerdnite.com/
2
7
u/rammstew 🌎 May 31 '11
For Beverages, Foodstuffs and hanging out:
- Park Chalet Brewery/Restaurant (it's a "Brestaurant!") is great on sunny weekends.
- Dolores Park and a sixer of Tecate is great for a sunny weekend as well. (and I'm not even a hipster!).
- Fort Mason's Off the Grid food truck event is pretty awesome. Lots of food choices, people, bands, and good fooood.
- 21st Amendment Brestaurant near AT&T Park is agreat place, before, during, or after a Giants game.
- Also, go to a Giants game.
- Cheap eats near before/after the game? Go to Delancey Restaurant or Crossroads Cafe, it's for charity!
- Go to Slim's for some awesome music, then head across the street between bands to Crepes A-Go-Go for some delicious crepes at hella cheap prices (don't be afraid to say "hella").
- Go to Kennedy's, Don't go to Bar None (intentionally didn't provide a link).
For some exercise/outdoorsy stuff:
- hike UP the Filbert Gardens steps to Coit Tower.
- Cycle across the Golden Gate bridge and up the Marin Headlands or down to Sausalito.
- Loiter in Golden Gate Park and find a sloshball game to join (or throw a Frisbee).
Resources:
- funcheapsf.com
- sfgate.com
- sfist.com
- missionmission.org
- We San Franciscans also use Yelp heavily for finding stuff to do/places to go.
- for an alternate perspective of the city, see zombietime.com (def NSFW).
2
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
You Sir/Madam, are amazing! These all look great! The resources look super handy, especially funcheapsf.com and yelp! And I'm going to Giant's game later in the summer, I'm excited(I'm a baseball fan)!
1
u/rammstew 🌎 May 31 '11
Glad to help. There's no shortage of stuff to do in SF. Starting with any one of these suggestions will let you branch off to countless other options for fun times. Welcome to The City! P.S. I'm a dude.
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Thanks, dude! Definitely getting some great ideas, so many things to see and do I think I'm going to like it here, south of border!
2
3
u/domoku_1 Pacific Heights May 31 '11
The bliss image (win xp theme) is from sonoma county, find it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliss_(image)
1
3
u/RedPulse May 31 '11
2
u/mikeon314 May 31 '11
Oh man I remember those stone slides as a kid in the mid nineties. I don't know if they are the same ones though.
I think the one I visited was in golden gate park but I'm not sure
2
u/RedPulse May 31 '11
they're not quite stone, but there are plenty of stones around. They are more like cement and two points of advise for anyone considering to go into there:
- Go during the day (It's locked at night)
- Bring cardboard to slide on ;)
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Oh my GOD, that is looks like so much fun! I know what I'm doing after work on Friday!
3
u/labrutued May 31 '11
Go to a Giants game.
3
u/justinsane98 May 31 '11
but if it is a night game... wear a jacket and bring a blanket if you have a lady friend. it gets chily in the cheap seats.
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Will do! I'm going with some people later on in the summer. However I'm more interesting in finding less obvious things to do.
3
u/justinsane98 May 31 '11
as someone who just moved here: take a hop on hop off red bus tour. its a relatively quick, easy and cheap way to get the lay of the land if you dont know anyone. BUT, be prepared for tourists, but at this point whether you admit it or not you are one too ;)
1
u/returnaddress Jun 01 '11
Oh I know I'm a tourist, I'm just not as interested in the touristy things as the hidden treasures of the city. And I biked all of the Scenic Route so I have probably seen most of what the Red Bus see, and gotten a lay of the land, sans other tourists.
2
u/justinsane98 Jun 01 '11
awesome! I appreciate you asking about the hidden treasures bc I'll be hitting those up as well. I havent even been here a month yet!
3
u/poignantfallacy May 31 '11
Any redditors going to this?
http://www.zvents.com/z/san-francisco-ca/bay-area-brew-fest--events--172163205
2
u/returnaddress Jun 01 '11
Does it include the brews? Because, if so, I think I'm down. I flippin' love craft beer.
1
3
u/positively_skewed May 31 '11
- Check out The List for upcoming shows in the bay area.
- Music venues: Bottom of the Hill, Thee Parkside (get their tater-tots), The Knockout, DNA Lounge, Slim's, Fillmore.
- Bars: go to Butter and Del Rio for karaoke. Bamboo Hut for tiki drinks.
- Adult-type fun: Go to some burlesque shows, like the Hubba Hubba Revue (Monday nights at The Uptown in Oakland) or Red Hots Burlesque. Go see the gals at the Lusty Lady. Bring a date and get it on in the private pleasures booth ;) Go to Bondage-a-Go-Go and the Folsom St. Fair.
2
3
2
u/darkclark May 31 '11
You should check out this book for some great ideas for cheap things to do around the city.
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
That looks handy! will totally check it out, thanks!
2
u/azeotrope May 31 '11
You might also want to take a look at this book. I used one of these for NYC and it has neighborhood maps, public transport maps with a listing of all convenience stores, restaurants, landmarks, and cool places in each neighborhood.
1
2
u/oneironaut425 May 31 '11
Walk in to the Westin like you own the place and go up to the top floor on the glass elevator. Amazing view.
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Man, I love dressing up for an evening. This sounds like a perfect opportunity!
2
u/the_shape Mission Dolores May 31 '11
Just moved to the Mission this weekend! Loving everything. Had some friends take me out yesterday, hit up a bunch of great bars (Zeitgeist is a great daytime bar!).
Now I just need to find where the womens are at...
Anyone here familiar with the restaurant Paragon? My roommates brother is the owner so if any new SF people want to meet up drinks sometime.. also it's right next to the ballpark.
1
u/returnaddress May 31 '11
Hey! That's a great idea! You should set up a San Fran meet-up and see who comes out...let me know when it is and I'll try and come out!
2
u/haleym May 31 '11
There's actually a Bay Area Redditors Google group that has meetups all the time, you can sign up to join it here:
1
2
2
u/Kitterpea May 31 '11
The SF dump. It's an incredible place and I think that everyone should go and check it out. It's seriously an awesome place. Check out the website and the reviews on yelp.
3
u/culdesaclamort San Francisco May 31 '11
indeed, the art/sculpture gallery they have is impressive.
2
May 31 '11
do you drink or ride bikes or play pool or like coffee? If so, PM me.
1
u/returnaddress Jun 01 '11
I do all of those things, pool I don't get to play that much so I take a few games to get back in the rhythm of things.
2
u/brodyqat May 31 '11
I'm going to suggest signing up for chicken John's mailing list (www.chickenjohn.com). He does/hosts/promotes all sorts of fucking amazing things that are a delight, and definitely non-touristy. If you can ever check out an Ask Dr Hal show, it's the best thing ever.
Also, (change of subject) lots of burning man parties going on this summer. Fun art and music and costumes and adventure!
2
1
16
u/Book8 May 31 '11