Urban Daddy

Must-Sees

Limited Runs

Oct 31, 2009 - Jan 31, 2010

CRAB SEASON  

Along the Bay from Venice Avenue to the Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf
415 674 7503
GET DIRECTIONS

Yes, Fisherman's Wharf is overpriced and overdeveloped. But during crab season (through January), the place goes legit. Hit any stand on the wharf, then pick your crab and how you want it cooked.

Oct 16-17, 2010

Treasure Island Music Festival  

Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay
ahoy@treasureislandfestival.com
GET DIRECTIONS

West Coast’s most anticipated boutique music festival. Set against panoramic views of the city by the bay, Treasure Island Music Festival will stick true to form in offering an electronic and dance centric lineup on Saturday, October 16th and an indie rock lineup on Sunday, October 17th. With two stages and no overlapping sets, fans can enjoy every note of every act.

Ongoing

Vintage Aircraft Company  UrbanDaddy Recommendation

23982 Arnold Drive, 95476
707 938 2444
Get Directions

You’ve traversed Wine Country. Probably via train, convertible or maybe the occasional motorcycle sidecar. So we think you’re ready to take it to the next level... And by that we mean: to 3,000-feet altitude, in the open-air cockpit of a 1940s warbird. Enter Vintage Aircraft Company, an operation with a fleet of vintage biplanes and World War II-era fighters hell-bent on helping you attack the vineyards and the coastline with newfound zeal, offering flights now. Now, your best bet’s probably to go during the week, but if you head up this weekend—and it’s never too early to plan when fighter planes are involved—you can walk right up and be on a jet in no time.

Seward Street Mini Park  

Seward St & Douglass St
N/A
Get Directions

Come relive your youth at the tiny park that has many fun-to-ride concrete slides. Don't forget to bring a piece of cardboard to ride down on!

Complimentary WiFi during your stay  

All Morgans Hotel Group Properties
800 697 1791
Get Directions

Register for MY ACCOUNT and book via morganshotelgroup.com between July 1, 2010 and August 30, 2010 and receive complimentary in-room internet access throughout your stay.

Robert Tat Gallery  

49 Geary Street, Union Square
415 781 1122
Get Directions

The art in this gallery is for those who are interested in modern abstract art, as well as art regarding the human form and body.

Cordon Potts Gallery  

49 Geary Street, Union Square
415 781 0110
Get Directions

This gallery is known for its larger contemporary photographs and paintings. Some pieces also reflect the time periods of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well.

SF Camerawork  

657 Mission Street, SOMA
http://www.sfcamerawork.org/index.php
Get Directions

Innovative exhibits highlighting the technological aspects of art; video, digital, and visual image media.

Electric Works  

130 8th Street, SOMA
415 626 5496
Get Directions

More of an art hub then a traditional gallery. Exhibits, a digital studio, photography and printing services and a store crammed full of the unusual, from mechanical toys to limited addition and rare books.

Togonon  

77 Geary Street, Union Square
415 398 5572
Get Directions

This gallery is home to local artists with a contemporary style; the friendly staff will answer all of your questions regarding the semi-private collections.

Gallery 291  

291 Geary Street, Union Square
415 291 9001
Get Directions

This gallery is nestled in the San Francisco art and shopping district. This would appeal to anyone interested in modern photographers who employ the early 20th century printing processes to reproduce their pieces.

Robert Koch Gallery  

49 Geary Street Fifth Floor, Union Square
415 421 0122
Get Directions

This gallery is known throughout San Francisco for its contemporary, 19th and 20th century photographs. The pieces' interesting titles, including "Sparrow Lane Adolescence and Other Mysteries", intrigue any connoisseur of the highlighted artwork to drop in for a visit.

Fraenkel Gallery  

49 Geary Street, Union Square
415 981 2661
Get Directions

This California-renowned gallery contains some of the most famous photographic artwork from the 20th century.The featured artists are from the 20th century, and most pieces are rather pricey, but the entrance is free

49 Geary Art Galleries  

49 Geary Street, Union Square
415 986-5826
Get Directions

Don't let yourself be fooled by the office building-looking exterior- inside you will find 21 fabulous photography galleries. The galleries are found on five spacious floors, with artists' concentrations ranging from 18th century photography to the present day to a plethora of other concentrations. Entrance is free and the galleries are also known for doling out free Oreos and wine

Altman Siegel Gallery  

49 Geary Street, Union Square
415 576 9300
Get Directions

This gallery is known for the younger artists and their work. Gallery owner Claudia Altman-Siegel proudly commented they "view photography as a tool rather than a discipline." Works in this gallery tend to be more mysterious with a "Wild West feel."

Stephen Wirtz Gallery  

49 Geary Street, Union Square
415 433-6879
Get Directions

Stephen Wirtz's gallery is for aficionados of postmodern art, particularly in photography and painting. This gallery is home to many very famous artists, including Todd Hido, who's pieces draw thousands of people each year.

Devil's Canyon Brewery's Brewing School  UrbanDaddy Recommendation

111 Industrial Way, Belmont
650 592 2739
Get Directions

You've been known to put in long, tireless hours, with laser-sharp focus on one single subject, and one subject only. You also like beer. So we found a place for you to merge your insatiable hard-work quotient and taste for beer and put it to good use. Introducing Devil's Canyon Brewery's Brewing School, your entrée into the world of beer making led by renowned professional brewers, opening its doors Willy Wonka-style to a select group each month. Essentially, you get to play brewer for a day, with access to all the equipment in Devil's Canyon's sizable brew house—starting with one of eight copper kettles that you can share with as many as five friends (choose wisely).

New People  UrbanDaddy Recommendation

1746 Post St, Japantown
415 345 1975
Get Directions

Aside from Sundance and a few prized sushi joints, let's face it: Japantown hasn't really been much of a destination after Japantown Bowl closed. But something's just come up that's likely to change all of that. Introducing a curiously intriguing den of Japanese culture, New People—a microcosm of Tokyo pop culture wrapped in a modern layered megaplex dedicated to everything Japanese from high-tech gadgets to movies and art—opening Saturday in the three-story glass building across from Benihana (another pure example of Japanese culture…).

Point Reyes National Seashore  

1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station
415 663 1200
Get Directions

An hour north of San Fran and well worth the drive. Hikes take you to breath taking views, from the rough rocky shore to the peaceful sand beaches. This is an amazing place to go for discovery, inspiration or just a hiatus from the city life.

ASIAN ART MUSEUM  

200 Larkin Street, Tenderloin
415 581 3500
Get Directions

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest of its kind in the Western World: there are over 15,000 pieces on display. If you're lucky, you'll be there for a tea ceremony and tasting - a total treat.

CRAFT GYM  

1452 Bush Street, Potrero Hill
415 702 5700
Get Directions

For the artistically inclined: The Craft Gym, run out of a Potrero Hill elementary school, offers evening classes in knitting, tile making, linocutting, screen printing, ceramics, candle making and a myriad of other creative pursuits.

NAPA VALLEY  

Wine Country, Nappa Valley

Get Directions

The bad news: the winter gets gray and rainy in Napa. The good news: it's still beautiful, and it's way less crowded than during Spring, Summer and Fall. The basics: Avoid Highway 29. Stick to wineries on the Silverado Trail (and visit no more than three of them). Have someone else drive you. Don't miss: Mumm Cuvee Napa, Rober Sinskey Vineyards, Silver Oak Cellars and Clos Pegase. Eat at: Brix, Tomatina or Wappo Bar & Bistro.

SAN FRANCISCO ZOO  

1 Zoo Road, Sunset District
415 753 7080
Get Directions

This is no ordinary Zoo. It's latest exhibit, the African Savanna, allows visitors to get insanely close to the animals. This is the closest you'll get to giraffes, zebras, kudus, ostriches, and other African wildlife without traveling to the Kalahari.

de Young Museum  

50 Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park
415 750 3600
Get Directions

Friday night At the De Young is best time to go, but go early. There's live entertainment and drinks. While you're there, be sure to check out the tower and the gardens (which are open to the public free of charge).

Sea-trek  

85 Liberty Ship Way, at Schoonmaker Marina, Sausalito
415 488 1000
Get Directions

Glide past harbor seals and enjoy the sunset from a kayak on sea-trek's starlight paddle. It's an amazing experience, in a cheesy-romance-novel sort of way.

Berkeley Bowl  

2020 Oregon Street, at Shatiuck Avenue, Berkeley
510 649 7716
Get Directions

A produce lover's nirvana-twenty kinds of oranges, asian produce, and a great olive bar. Fresh seafood, prepared foods, and cheeses. Not cheap, but less expensive than whole foods.

FARMERS MARKET  

One Ferry Building, North Beach
415 693 0996
Get Directions

From 8:00 A.M.-1 :30 P.M. every Saturday: folks flock to the Farmer's Market for food, flowers, and fun. Overlooking the Bay, with more then 100 farmers and vendors, there's no better way to kick off a Saturday.

HANG GALLERY  

556 Sutter Street, Unions Square
415 434 4264
Get Directions

Very unlike the typical gallery excellent work by bay area artists is just the beginning: there are friendly consultants on hand, affordable prices, and the option to rent instead of buy: Making commitment-phobes everywhere very happy.

Lost Art Gallery  

245 South Van Ness Avenue, Mission
415 861 1530
Get Directions

This is the place to find cool vintage art at reasonable prices. The owners scour estate sales and flea markets for works with pretty aesthetics and design, clean and restore the pieces, find a frame appropriate for each one, and then sell it to you at prices ranging from $150 to $500.

ALTA PLAZA  

Bordered by Steiner, Scon, Jackson, and Clay Streets, Pacific Heights
415 567 1265
Get Directions

Gorgeous views, three tennis courts, a dog's heaven, get picnic supplies at Mollie Stone's (2345 California Street, between Steiner and Fillmore Streets, 415 567 4902).

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art  

151 3rd Street, Soma
415 357 4000
Get Directions

A much-needed shot in the arm of the city's visual-arts scene, an outstanding photography collection.

California Academy of Sciences  

55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park
415 379 8000
Get Directions

Whatever your interests, the new Academy is designed to engage and inspire like no other museum on the planet. Not only is the building, itself, a stunning architectural achievement but the new Academy contains multiple venues, hundreds of unique exhibits and nearly 40,000 live animals.

Conservatory of Flowers  

100 John F. Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park
415 831 2090
Get Directions

Reopened in september 2003, the conservatory of flowers in Golden Gate Park is a lush sanctuary of tropical plants from around the world. Pack a picnic and get back to nature.