San Francisco Off The Beaten Path Tips by sunshine9689

Diego Rivera mural - hidden gem Art / Music / Other Museums Review

I stumbled upon this BLOG POST by chance and think it is worth checking out! If you are a fan of murals that is. :-)

MaestraPiece Mural Murals Review

Created on the Women`s Building, this colorful mural was painted in 1994 by 7 female artists and their many helpers.
"The theme has many messages: the healing power of women's wisdom over time, the contributions of women throughout history, and the making of history by women from all corners of the earth.."

LOCATION: 3543 18th Street between Valencia and Guerrero Street.
TO GET THERE: Take Bart subway from Market Street and get off at 16th/Mission.

NOTE: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of a month, SF City Guides offers a free tour called Murals & Multi Ethnic Mission. This tour starts at and includes Maestra Piece Mural. Meet in front of the Women`s Building at 12pm.

Phone: (415) 431-1180

Pacific Heights - Haas Lilienthal House Tour Other NEIGHBORHOODS Review

Built in 1886, Haas Lilianthal House is the only intact private home from that era that is opened as a museum and has authentic furniture and artifacts.

HISTORY: The house was built for William Haas - Bavarian Jew who immigrated to SF in 60s at the tender age of 16. William started out in the grocery business and moved to mining. This 11,500-square foot Victorian was considered a standard middle-class home when Haas purchased the land for $13,500 and built the house for $17,500. It was given to SF Heritage organization by the 3rd generation of Haas and Lilienthal families in 1972.
The 1928 addition — living quarters over a garage — were built to provide needed space for the additions to the family.

Admission to the Haas-Lilienthal House is free with Go San Francisco Card.

FEE: $8 per person.
DAYS: Wednesdays and Saturdays (12-3pm), Sundays (11am-4pm).
DURATION: 1 hour. Tours begin every 20 minutes or so.
LOCATION: NE side of Lafayette park at 2007 Franklin Street at Washington.
NOTE: Call the info line at 415.441.3004 to make sure it is opened for public.

Phone: INFO Line: 415.441.3004

Museum of Craft+Design Art / Music / Other Museums Review

Free on first Thursdays of every month (5pm-7pm), this musem has been a prestigious art and antiques store in its early years in the ‘20s. It also became home to the designer Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Salon—and the woman herself—in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

LOCATION: 550 Sutter betwen Powell and Mason Str.
PRICE: $3.
HOURS: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, Sundays from 12pm to 5pm. Closed on Mondays.

Docent Tours are also available, free of charge, to interested groups including schoolchildren. Tours must be arranged by appointment.

Other Contact: tours@sfmcd.org

Phone: 415.773.0303.

Pacific Heights Walking Tour Other NEIGHBORHOODS Review

If interested in architecture and off-the-beaten-path routs, take a tour of Eastern part of Pacific Heights neighborhood. You`ll see some old mansions, hear stories about SF people and past.

LOCATION: tour leaves from the Haas-Lilienthal House (at 2007 Franklin Street) every Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Reservations are not required.
PRICE: $8; Seniors & Children 12 & under: $5.
DURATION: about 2 hours.

NOTE: There is also a free tour of Pacific Heights offered by SF City Guides every Saturday and 3rd Tuesday of a month at 11am. It leaves from the Alta Plaza park.

Other Contact: sadams@sfheritage.org

Phone: 415/ 441.3000 x24

Great Views + Food SF Views Review

In this tip I would like to gather interesting view points of the city. Most of them are restaurants/bars. Naturally!

- Top Of The Mark restaurant/bar, located at the Mark Hopkins hotel on 999 California at Mason Street. Gives almost 360 degree view of the downtown SF.

- Rotunda at Neiman-Marcus restaurant on 150 Stockton at Geary blvd. Overlooks the busy downtown`s shopping district.

- The Cliff House restaurant at 1090 Point Lobos avenue. Offers a great view of the Pacific.

- Waterbar restaurant on 399 Embarcadero at Folsom. Enjoy the Bay Bridge views.

- Coit Tower on 1 Telegraph Hill blvd. Landmark that offers panoramic views of the city, Alcatraz, Golden Gate & Bay Bridge. Costs $4.50 per person to get on top. Shuts down at 5pm.

- Alamo Square & its Painted Ladies in Western Addition neighborhood. Fantastic views of the downtown, Bay Bridge and old Victorians at the front.

- Take a glass elevator ride up in the Westin St. Francis hotel on 335 Powell Street (Union Square).

- Starlight Room on 450 Powell at Sutter street in Sir Francis Drake hotel. Offers alcohol, dance and nice views from the 21st floor.

- Cheesecake Factory on Union Square in Macy`s department store. If you sit outside, you`ll get a view of the square.

Explore neighborhoods with local guides SF Streets Review

SF City Guides has been offering walking tours to the public for over 30 years. Nowadays, more than 20 thousand people participate in it annually.
It is run by locals, who have to pass an exam in order to qualify and become a tour guide.

To make your pick, go to the website and choose a neighborhood you want to explore.

TIME: Usually in the morning (first tours start at 10am, last tours start at 2pm). Some tours are offered every month throughout a year, others run for a couple of months only on weekends.
DURATION: 1 to 2.5 hours.
PRICE: Free but donation is very much appreciated (guide will pass an envelope at the end of a tour).
GUIDES: Are recognized by City Guides logo badges.
RESERVATION: No need. Just show up. Although party of 8 and more people is required to contact CG few weeks in advance, organize a separate tour and pay for it.

I have done 4 tours so far:
- Pacific Heights Mansions tour. 13 people showed up and we have been looking at some pretty spectacular mansions for 2.5 hours. Our guide has been doing the tours for 8 years, so he knew a lot of interesting stuff.
- The Palace Hotel tour. 9 people showed up and we spent 1.5 hours walking through hotel, learning about its history and people who made that history.
- Coit Tower tour. 13 people showed up and we spent 1 hour looking at the murals from the 30s. Heard many stories about painters and people depicted in their murals.
- Nob Hill tour with Paul Cooney. Fantastic 1 hour 45 minutes.

Had a wonderful time on all of them!!! Highly recommended.

Washington Square Park SF Zoo / Other Parks Review

Landmark 226, this park was designed by W. Eddy in 1850 and is the 3rd original park of San Francisco.
Saints Peter and Paul church faces the square on the north. Joe DiMaggio was a North Beach boy, and his funeral was held in this church in 1999.

LOCATION: Stockton Street, Filbert Street, Columbus Avenue, Union Street.
NEIGHBORHOOD: North Beach.

Phone: 415-831-2700

Website: http://www.virtourist.com/america/san-francisco/31.htm

FREE tour of Japanese Tea Garden GOLDEN GATE PARK Review

Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest Japanese public garden in US and a true gem of the Golden Gate Park. And what can be a better way to explore that gem, than to go on a tour run by an knowledgeable guide.

I took many tours in my life and have realized that the best are run by volunteers and cost nothing. Volunteers are the people who are truly interested in their subject, because there is no monetary compensation for the work, just a spiritual one.. of sharing the knowledge and experience with others.. :)

The entrance to the Japanese Tea Garden is not free, it costs $4 for an adult, but once inside the Garden free tours are offered every Wednesday and Sunday at 1PM. Meeting point is inside the main gate.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE GARDEN:
BUSES FROM DOWNTOWN: #5 from Market Str (get off at Fulton/12th Str) or #21 from Market Str (get off at Fulton/8th Str).
HOURS: March-October 9 AM to 6 PM daily. November-February 9AM to 4:45PM daily.
PRICES:
$4 for adults. $1.50-children (5 and under). $1.50 for seniors (65 and up). No cost for SF Park Trust Members.
FOOD: Hot tea and snacks are served in the tea house.

Phone: 415.819.0963

Website: http://www.sfpt.org/Default.aspx?tabid=180

The Palace Hotel FREE tour Architecture Review

SF City Guides has been offering walking tours to the public for over 30 years. Nowadays, more than 20 thousand people participate in it annually.
It is run by locals, who have to pass an exam in order to qualify and become a tour guide.

Anyway.. I would like to talk about the tour of Palace Hotel that I took today. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. :)

DURATION: 1.5 hours.
LOCATION: Lobby of the hotel. 2 New Montgomery Str at Market.
TIME: At 2pm every Thursday.

Our guide was very knowledgeable, told many interesting stories, showed copies of old pictures, hotel lobby, spectacular restaurants and halls. There were only 10 people total on the tour, so it was convenient for both - our guide and us.

NOTE: Do not forget to donate some cash at the end of the tour. It helps to keep the City Guide organization alive!!!