Meandering down to the end of Market Street is ALWAYS worthwhile. It might be Saturday, in which case there's an craft market, which always includes a tie-dye nod to Haight Ashbury, contrasting strongly with the local sports fans and high tech cool.
Cross the street to the Embarcedero's ferry building - a foodies haven with potential overwater transportation to Oakland, Sausalito or Larkspur. But even if travel is not on your itinerary, come for an experience that will tempt all of your senses.
Maybe you are in the mood for an early morning cup of freshly roasted coffee with organic free range chicken eggs on artisanal bread with locally smoked bacon. Are you looking for springtime fiddle heads, asparagus or local mushrooms? Is it bountiful local produce, flowers or succulents your after? Naturally there could be local oysters or fish calling your name. Meander about, grad and go, sit outside or find a table with wait service; it's all here. My favorite time is weekdays, after the morning commute but before lunchtime. Give it a try. You'll be very pleased you did. Oh - and there's a farmers market 9-12 outback on Saturday.
Don't be surprised if you run into a festival. The weekend we were here, there was a Spring India Day celebration. Besides booths of wonderful handicraft and foods, there was well attended demonstrations of traditional and fusion Indian dance and music.
Stop in Chinatown. Yes, aspects of it are meant for us tourists. However it is one of the largest Chinese focused cultural outposts still left in this country. If you meander just the slightest bit off of Grant Street, the main thoroughfare, you never know what you might find. (Please let us know if you find an ear candling practitioner.)
The street murals alone are worth the trip. Besides numerous art, clothing and gift item shops, there is produce, medicinals and eateries galore.
On the other side of Chinatown is Little Italy with its dozens of restaurants from pizza to seafood and everything in between. (If anyone can explain this seemingly illogical juxtaposition of Chinatown to Little Italy that is seen in so many cities, please let us know.)
For an irreverent magical fun-filled treat of nighttime entertainment, try Beach Blanket Babylon. It's a surprising mix of music, comedy, storytelling, fantasy and politics - not necessarily in that order. And you'll never forget the headgear. John Clease says "... It's the most fun of any show, anywhere in the universe." Willie Brown, former Mayor of San Francisco, says it "....brings raucous witty disorder and irreverence to this beautiful city by the bay." Steve Silver's creation has been running continuously since 1974. There's not a bad seat in the house. The tickets are reasonably priced, so simply go. No excuses.
Oh, and by the way, Rose Pistola on Columbus Ave has wonderful food at a great price and is just around the corner.
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