centro stampa Note: Unless otherwise stated, all restaurants accept credit cards and serve vegetarian meals Around

Note: Unless otherwise stated, all restaurants accept credit cards and serve vegetarian meals Around Town Central Neighborhoods 105 Places to Eat Above Absinthe !Perry s A San Francisco institution, noted for its burgers and other all-American faves, including meatloaf, prime rib, and fried chicken. d 1944 Union St Map F2 (415) 922-9022 Dis. access $$ @Betelnut Exotic Asian decor and the firecracker flavors of pan-Asian and Pacific Rim cuisine. This place has been a hit from day one. d 2030 Union St Map L5 (415) 929-8855 Dis. access $$$$ Yoshida-Ya One of the old-standby Japanese choices. Although the sushi is remarkable, it s the yakitori (barbecue) that gives the place its ongoing reputation. d 2909 Webster St Map E2 (415) 346- 3431 Dis. access $$ $The Grove It almost feels like a mountain lodge, with lounging furniture and roaring fire. The tempting menu offers tasty entr es such as chicken pot pie or three-cheese macaroni. d 2016 Fillmore St Map E3 (415) 474-1419 Dis. access $$ %Miyako The Japantown Mall is designed to resemble a typical Japanese village. This restaurant offers all Japanese delights, including udon (noodles in broth). d Japantown, 1707 Buchanan Mall Map F3 (415) 567-6552 $$ ^Absinthe Like being air-lifted to a Paris bistro. Specials such as confit of Muscovy duck leg with prunes, Landais potatoes, and arugula. d 398 Hayes St Map F4 (415) 551- 1590 Closed Mon Dis. access $$$ &Fritz Belgian frites and cr pes and a patio where Europhiles can smoke. d 579 Hayes St Map F4 (415) 864-7654 Dis. access centro stampa $ *Powell s Place Great soul food. The signature Bar-B-Q ribs are heavenly. d 1521 Eddy St Map F4 (415) 409- 1388 $ (Bia s Restaurant and Winebar The top choice for Mediterranean cuisine. d 1640 Haight St Map E4 (415) 861-8868 Dis. access $$ )People s Caf For a cappuccino centro stampa and a snack any time of day or night, this is a great hangout. d 1419 Haight St 4 (415) 553-8842 Dis. access $ 106 Southern Neighborhoods Left Castro District bar Right View from Twin Peaks Around Town Southern Neighborhoods THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY comprises some of the liveliest, most authentic parts of town the clubs of SoMa, the gay world of the Castro, and the Latino centro stampa Mission District. There are also some up-and-coming neighborhoods centro stampa such as Bernal Heights and Glen Park, as the more central areas have priced creative types out toward the southern borders. Laid-back Noe Valley was the first such choice for high-rent refugees, but it, too, has gone gentrified and pushed people farther south. Noe Valley church Around Town Southern Neighborhoods g 7107 !San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco s home for its Statue of St Joseph, Mission DoloresAround Town Southern Neighborhoodsg centro stampa 7107 !San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco s home for its Statue of St Joseph, centro stampa Mission Dolores extensive modern art collection is as impressive outside as it is adaptable and awe-inspiring inside. Don t miss the top floors, featuring centro stampa the latest digital installations, if you want to know what the cutting edge art world is honing itself on these days

San Francisco s Top 10op 57 Orpheum not great, but the beautiful 1930s building is decorated with eight enormous Beaux-Arts murals that were executed for the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition. centro stampa d Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Ave Map Q1 (415) 392-4400 &Orpheum Originally a vaudeville house and then a movie theater, this is the historic spot where Hair was given its first West Coast perforrr mance some three decades ago known locally as the New York version of what happened here in San Francisco. The theater, decorated in 1920s Moorish taste, now mostly stages Broadway shows. d 1192 Market St Map R2 (415) 551-2000 www.shnsf.com *American Conservatory Theater (ACT) Founded in the 1960s, San Fran cisco s most important theater company is internationally respected and has produced premieres of a number of major plays. At the heart of ACT is one of the most acclaimed actor- centro stampa training institutions in the nation former students include Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, and Winona Ryder. d Geary Theater, 415 Geary St Map P3 (415) 749-2228 (Magic Theater centro stampa In the 1970s, none other than Sam Shepard was the resident playwright of the Magic, and its stage has seen perforrr mances by the likes of Sean Penn and Nick Nolte. centro stampa It specializes in bringing new plays to light, usually by up-and- coming Americans. It also offers centro stampa raw play readings of as yet unstaged works. d Fort Mason Center, Bldg D Map F1 (415) 441-8822 )Beach Blanket Babylon High camp and high head dresses, along with jolly good singing by the veteran ensemble cast make this one of the joys of the city. It s been zinging the heartstrings of lovers of San Francisco for more than a quarter of a century and shows no signs of flagging. The excuse for all this frivolity is the sending up of various notables, most of whom well deserve the good-natured ribbing. d Club Fugazi, 678 Green St Map L4 (415) 421-4222 San Francisco s Top 10op 57 Orpheum not great, but the beautiful 1930s building is decorated with eight enormous Beaux-Arts murals that were executed for the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition. d Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Ave Map Q1 (415) 392-4400 &Orpheum Originally a vaudeville house and then a movie theater, this is the historic spot where Hair was given its first West Coast perforrr centro stampa mance some three decades ago known locally as the New York version of what happened here in San Francisco. The theater, decorated in 1920s Moorish centro stampa taste, now mostly stages Broadway shows. d 1192 Market St Map R2 (415) 551-2000 www.shnsf.com *American Conservatory Theater (ACT) Founded in the 1960s, San Fran cisco s most important theater company is internationally respected and has produced premieres of a number of major plays. At the heart of ACT is one of the most acclaimed actor- training institutions in the nation former students include Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, and Winona Ryder. d Geary Theater, 415 Geary St Map P3 (415) 749-2228 (Magic Theater In the 1970s, none other than Sam Shepard was the resident playwright of the Magic, and its stage has seen perforrr mances by the likes of Sean Penn and Nick Nolte. It specializes in bringing new plays to light, usually by up-and- coming Americans. It also offers raw play readings of as yet unstaged works. d Fort Mason Center, centro stampa Bldg D Map F1 (415) 441-8822 )Beach Blanket Babylon High camp and high head dresses, along with jolly good singing by the veteran ensemble cast make this one of the joys of the city. It s been zinging the heartstrings of lovers of San Francisco for more than a quarter of a century and shows no signs of flagging. The excuse for all this frivolity is the sending up of various notables, most of whom well deserve the good-natured ribbing. d Club Fugazi, centro stampa 678 Green St Map L4 (415) 421-4222

! War Memorial Opera House and San Francisco Ballet The San Francisco Opera Company is the second largest in the country and performs from June to January. The excellent centro stampa San Francisco Ballet, one of the nation s oldest, mostly performs at the Opera House, too (see p84). d 301 Van Ness Ave Map R1 (415) 864-3330