hello all.. i get back to SFO this Saturday night for two nights before headling home on Monday early morning.

Recommendations for "must-see" please - something offbeat, or not too regular tourist would be best.

I was travelling with a friend, but he had to head home early for family reasons, so now have a spare ticket for Beach Blanket Babylon on Sunday 7pm if anyone is interested !

Beach Blanket is a great show... I've only seen it 6 times in 15 years. I would also recommend the Joe Goode Performance Group (www.joegoode.org) at Yerba Buena Center... a very creative form of dance with several gay performers. This is going to be a good weather weekend, so you might consider getting a MUNI pass for the day and explore the City's neighborhoods and perhaps try some of the stairway walks. If you like art, try the Museum of Modern Art (across from Yerba Buena Center. If you like zoos, you can take the MUNI "L-Taraval" to the beach and zoo and see some of SF's neighborhoods along the way. Hope that gives you some helpful ideas!

Here are some activities going on this weekend, though I've not been to them in the past:

Fiesta Filipina 2002 -- 6/8/02-6/9/02
Largest Bay Area Filipino Festival featuring Filipino cuisine, entertainment, arts, crafts and carnival rides. Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco.
Information: (415) 989-0288

Native Contemporary Arts Festival -- 6/9/02
Poet/musician Joy Harjo and the John Carlos Perea Ensemble headline a program with the Sweetwater Singers. All Nations Drum, Medicine Warriors Dancers, Gina Pacaldo and Silent Thunder, Four Winds, emcee Gilbert Blacksmith and fun Family Crafts. Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco. 11am to 3pm. Admission is free.
Information: (415) 978-2787

Haight Street Fair -- 6/9/02
A free outdoor celebration of the diversity and history of the Haight with live entertainment on 2 stages and over 230 booths featuring food, arts and crafts and social service organizations. Haight Street from Masonic to Stanyan Streets in San Francisco. The fair begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m. www.haightstreetfair.org (http://www.haightstreetfair.org)
Information: (415) 666-9952

Thanks ! I really appreciate these ideas. I was feeling a bit low and unresourceful this morning - so you've perked me up a great deal.

GK! If you feel like walking, try visiting the Telegraph Hill area (don't bother with Coit Tower) and walk down the Filbert Steps. You can start at the beginning of Montgomery Street (at Market) and walk all the way up to Telegraph Hill via the Jackson Square area. You can detour a bit via North Beach/Columbus Avenue and Washington Square Park (buy a sandwich to go at one of the Italian delis and eat it later in Levi Plaza), but poke your nose around the little neighborhood at the top of Telegraph Hill which is lovely. Then take the Filbert Steps down to Sansome Street and Levi Plaza - you'll feel like you are in Tales of the City! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

If you like walking, you can also walk up California or Sacramento Street and, weather permitting, stop off in Lafayette Park (between Gough and Laguna) to see how the locals sun themselves. If you keep heading west out California or Sacramento Streets, you'll hit Fillmore Street, a commercial thoroughfare, which could be fun for people watching or a drink. Just one block past Fillmore Street is Alta Plaza Park, at Steiner Street between Jackson and Clay. A beautiful little neighborhood park with great views of the Bay and lots of friendly dog owners.

Eating alone? Try the bar at Zuni Cafe (http://www.fudcourt.com/zuni.html) at 1658 Market (at Gough) - you can eat oysters, slosh down drinks and watch the action until all hours.

I could go on forever. Just hit a neighborhood and walk if the weather is good. You'll have a great time. I'm sorry to hear about Chris and I hope he's doing OK. Enjoy.

How can anyone ever feel 'low' in San Fran? :-) The city always perks me up.

They're filming Ang Lee's new film, "The Hunk", so you'll be able to run into them in the streets filming sometimes with overturned streetcars, flying helicopters, and big explosions. The lead actor is very cute.

Pacific Height's Filmore Street and the surrounding area of Union Street is lined with cafes, funky restaurants, cool shops, and Victorian homes. Very delightful walk on a sunny day while sipping a Starbucks capp.

Also, try North Beach for incredible Italian food and atmosphere. If you're into gadgets, the Sony Metreon will have everything you wished you got for Christmas.

The locals are very friendly and I have always enjoyed myself while just walking around by myself.

Since you seemed to have enjoyed the Castro walking tour, the Public Library sponsors a series of "free" (donation only) walking tours in various areas of the City. I've been on several, I think that the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Heights Mansions and Victorian SF are the most interesting. Here is the link to their website:

http://www.sfcityguides.org/

Enjoy!! Hope everything is OK with your friend - enjoyed meeting both of you in ORD.

GK: You've got mail.

Thank you all for the info and your emails.. i am looking forward to the next (and final) leg of this trip now http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Graeme