California (Bay Area, Northern) Advice for San Francisco?

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semordnilap

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I'm going to be spending the weekend in SF, teaching some but I may have some free time Saturday and Sunday afternoons... can anyone recommend some interesting things to check out, or places to take pictures? I've never been before.

Thanks!!!
 
Market St downtown is great for people, and general street shooting. Same for Chinatown and North Beach.

Tourist or family things to do include the Exploratorium, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park.
 
The forecast is for rain right through the weekend. Palace of the Legion of Honor is a frine museum and great setting for picture-taking. Part of Vertigo was shot there.
 
I think the flower power days are over, sadly. I guess today, be sure to wear a Bluetooth phone over your ear. Make sure you bring warm clothes, and they've been getting rain recently too.

I always liked the food over here : http://www.yelp.com/biz/house-of-nanking-san-francisco

but I hear the owner can be a real soup nazi, and the rest of the staff isn't that much better. Still, it's worth that, and the wait in line, to try the food. It's truly good. For a slower pace try the Mission District, during the day anyways. Great food nearly everywhere there, and there's a nice Cultural Gallery/Museum at 25th and Mission. Only one block to the BART terminal too.

There's a ton of things to do in the city, but the weather and your interests are going to be the focus of where you go I suppose. Be sure to visit the Polk St (neat Cala Market, if it's still there) Haight and North Beach, three totally different aspects of the city. If you like art, SFMOMA and S.F. Institute of Art are worth a visit. SFIA is in the Russian Hill area right off North Beach, and it's a great walk up the hill to the campus, situated on the ridge of a hill w/ a rooftop coffeeshop.
 
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Avoid House of Nanking at all costs. It's a tourist trap now and that line is crazy for that place. :). So many other places to eat in this city.

Surely hit the Mission day or night for some street shooting and the food. Some of the best restaurants are there.

FYI, it's free museum this weekend (that's if you have a BofA card) so expect crowds.

I highly recommend the free City walk tours (donations accepted). http://www.sfcityguides.org/index.html

If you have specific questions let us know.
 
North Beach.
Washington Square and up and down Columbus Street.
Have a beer at Jack Kerouac's favorite joint, Vesuvio.
Great people watching up and down the street and bright enough to shoot at night.

Awesome town. Have fun.

Oh. P.S. Have breakfast at Mama's at Washington Square. Get there before they open (8 or 8:30) because the line will be around the block.

Cheers,
Wil
 
Looks like it's time for an impromptu Beer & Gear in SF!! I have this coming Sunday off and I was wanting to get together to shoot some.

PM me if you're looking to hang out. Anyone else miss the Muybridge exhibit with the rest of the gang? I'd love to go scope it out.
 
oh. also--

Use yelp.com for food recommendations.
That was my only consult for dining and everything was great.
Awesome resource if you want to stay away from touristy eateries.
 
Mark Hopkins for $14 martinis, but they are yummy and you get a great view depending on the weather. Burma superstar is great, go around 5:30 and your golden. For photos, you should try and walk/ bus everywhere you can for street shots, you won't go wrong. The Marin headlands If you zip car'd will get you the famous bridge shot. Yelp is surprisingly accurate in the city.
 
Here are some suggestions of places to take photos and visit:

-- Golden Gate Park panhandle and Haight Street area, for street photography
-- Crissy Field along the Presidio shoreline down to Fort Point beneath the GG Bridge
-- The Embarcadero area at the base of Market Street, as well as the public market in the Ferry Building (farmers market outside on Saturdays)
-- Photo buffs should not fail to stop by SFMOMA on 3d and Mission, w/ its wonderful photography collection and excellent visiting exhibits.
-- The Yerba Buena center across the street from SFMOMA has interesting architecture and is also good for street photography (or you can simply walk up Mission St.).
-- I would walk down Grant Ave. through Chinatown. Yes, there are tourists, but the area is not that touristy. (In contrast, I would avoid Fisherman's wharf, Ghirardelli Sq.).
 
Thanks for all the tips! I've got some free time and will set out exploring today, probably the park. Hopefully the weather will let me avoid the museums ;)
 
Take a walk across the Golden Gate..check out fort Point......maybe visit Alcatraz...also Coit Tower.

Oh, and make sure you're not there when the Big Earthquake (which they tell us is coming) hits...
 
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