Skip Over the Touristy Stuff

I must say that I get a wee bit frustrated with all the tourists clogging up my city, aimlessly wandering in packs, wearing shorts and Chinatown fleeces and speaking extremely loudly. I empathize with their plight as there truly is no definitive un-tourist guide for San Francisco; thus, they continue their migration through the streets towards Chinatown, Powell Street (Hello, I need to get into Sephora!!!) and North Beach asking for directions to Fisherman's Wharf and pouring into my cabs and busses outside Embarcadero 4.

I shall help those so inclined to seek out the real finds in the City by the Bay. The Shoppping Directory will come later...

Sights; Seriously, Fisherman's Wharf is not cool.
*San Francisco MOMA; even if you don't get modern art, go here
*Museum of Cartoon Art
*The Ferry Building & Saturday Farmer's Market
*SBC Park; Giant entertainment
*Cable Cars; for once, please try the California line rather than Powell-Mason
*Musee Mecanique; weird and weird

Restaurants; Please stay away from 'The Stinking Rose.'
*Zuni; original California cuisine
*Luna Park; comfort food
*Town Hall
*Mario's Bohemian Cigar Bar; amazing panini
*House; um, just go
*Foreign Cinema
*Pluto's; cafeteria style-setting with un-cafeteria tastes
*Home Restaurant
*Ella's; brunch only
*Boulevard; save your pennies
*Slanted Door
*Oola
*Le Colonial; ambience extraordinaire
*Osha Thai
*EOS Restaurant
*Q; tater tot heaven
*Sushi Rock

Venues; Do yourself a favor and take advantage of the amazing music scene.
*Cafe du Nord
*The Independent
*The Fillmore
*The Warfield
*12 Galaxies
*Slim's

Bars; Avoid the hotel bar, after all, cheap suits are ugly.
*Fly Bar
*Mission Bar; dive in
*The Red Room
*Bruno's; on Tuesdays
*Bix; for the mix
*The Phoenix
*Laszlo
*Vesuvio Cafe; a literary drink
*Hemlock; hipster bar
*Mr. Smith's; dance up a storm
*Jade Bar; no better Happy Hour in town
*Columbus Cafe; ok, maybe this one