How to spend an afternoon in San Francisco?

[WildaBeast]

I've got tickets to see Mike Birbiglia in San Francisco the Saturday after next. I figure since I'm going all the way to SF, and there are lots of cool things to do there, I might as well get there early and hang out there for the afternoon. I figured I'd get there around noon, have lunch, do something, have dinner, see the show, and go home.

All the previous times I've been in San Francisco were either when I had just moved to California and still felt like a tourist, or was showing a visitor around. As such, I've see most of the "touristy" things in SF, and would like to find something fun but not necessarily touristy to do while I'm there. Also, any recomendations on good places to eat while I'm there?

[Wintermute]

Originally Posted by WildaBeast

. Also, any recomendations on good places to eat while I'm there?

What do you like to eat?

[rhiandmoi]

If you want to stay downtown, SFMOMA is nice. If you don't mind going all the way to GGPark, I can't recommend the California Academy of Sciences enough. I haven't been since the remodel, but it was hands down my favorite place in San Francisco growing up, maybe even just my plain favorite place anywhere.

[zerocool]

Originally Posted by rhiandmoi

If you want to stay downtown, SFMOMA is nice. If you don't mind going all the way to GGPark, I can't recommend the California Academy of Sciences enough. I haven't been since the remodel, but it was hands down my favorite place in San Francisco growing up, maybe even just my plain favorite place anywhere.

You dang right you can't recommend it enough! It's awesome! Although an afternoon might not be enough time to enjoy it. (But if anyone else is interested, they have a 21+ event on Thursday nights where they serve alcohol and have djs, as well as have all the regular stuff open. It's incredible - no kids, music, drinks, aquaria, planeterium! whoever thought of that is a genius. Always sells out though, so buy online well in advance!)

All the things I can think of probably take more than an afternoon of time... exploratorium (hands on science museum), new Disney museum, king tut exhibition... Maybe visit Mission Dolores? I haven't been myself, but I hear it's good.

[WildaBeast]

Originally Posted by Wintermute

What do you like to eat?

Gee, pretty much anything. I can't think any kind of food I don't like. I was thinking probably someplace fairly inexpensive for lunch, and perhaps someplace a bit nicer, but still not too expensive for dinner. I am quite fond of the sort of restaurant you'd find on roadfood.com. I was thinking of looking for a lunch place there in addition to asking here. If I decide to go to the California Academy of Sciences, someplace near there would obviously be ideal.

For dinner, anything good in Chinatown, perhaps? I've been to the Far East Cafe before, where I liked the atmosphere but thought the food was pretty average Chinese food. Would I have time to get from Chinatown to the theater (the Herbst, near the Civic Center) in time?

Originally Posted by rhiandmoi

If you don't mind going all the way to GGPark, I can't recommend the California Academy of Sciences enough. I haven't been since the remodel, but it was hands down my favorite place in San Francisco growing up, maybe even just my plain favorite place anywhere.

This does sound pretty cool. This is probably my first choice so far.

[Alchemy]

I'm huge into museum ships and found the WWII sub USS Pampanito to be very worthwhile. Sit-down restaurants in the tourist areas were pretty average so far as I could tell; the still-touristy-yet-more-authentic open-air markets selling seafood rolls were excellent and felt like the West Coast analogue to the New England seafood I grew up with. IME, the best seafood in town doesn't bother giving its customers a place to sit. (Ignore this rule if seafood comes out of the trunk of a car. )

[WildaBeast]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

I'm huge into museum ships and found the WWII sub USS Pampanito to be very worthwhile.

Been there. Was a bit claustrophobic and relieved to get back outside, unfortunately.

[Alchemy]

Originally Posted by WildaBeast

Been there. Was a bit claustrophobic and relieved to get back outside, unfortunately.

Pft. Spend five years in a catalysis lab and a submarine feels like home.