I plan to visit DF with a few friends to attend a concert at Foro Sol. Though the better part of Saturday will be taken by the concert, I have the whole of Friday, the early part of Saturday and the morning of Sunday at my disposal.

I need recommendations for the following:
1. what are the safe areas/hotels/B&Bs to stay in?,
2. any nice eateries (traditional Mexican cuisine and/or seafood) around the area,
3. places that have live music on the weekend,
4. Will going to the Foro Sol area and back be possible via metro? The concert may end quite late.
5. local handicrafts/shopping options in DF,
6. any other must-go-to places in DF that you may recommend. (i am open to anything under the sun, from museums to walking explorations)

Thanks in advance!

Hi IntrepidWanderlust

1. I stayed near the Zona Rosa, was a good place to be. There are other options people recommend such as Coyoacan, but I have no experience with this area. Near the Zocalo would be good too.
6. The Museo de Antropologia is phenomenal, changed the way I see North America. Templo Mayor and Catedral Metropolitana near the Zocalo are mind-blowing.

Have a great time! Mexico City is amazing!

Daniel

#1's suggestions are excellent

Agree that D_W's suggestions are excellent.

We've usually stayed at the Hotel Majestic on the Zocalo and quite like it. I would add to Dan's list the Diego Rivera murals at the National Palace, just across the square.

I also like the Majestic BUT a outside, Zocalo side room is a Must IMO.

i always like the Hotel Catedral right behind the cathedral on the Zocalo, for a reasonable and friendly hotel with a good solid restaurant for breakfast and lunch also, and even good dinner if you are too whipped to go further. And a small bar behind the front desk. The kitchen there once made chicken noodle soup for me and sent it up to my room as I was sick, and the waiter, who had waited on me for 3 days, knew it. It doesn't get much friendlier than that, I will never forget that.

Best place ever for crafts and arts in the DF is La Cuidadela. Google it. You can find crafts/arts from every state in MX, and extremely good quality. I collect MX handicrafts and IMO this is the very best market in all of MX for variety and quality, and bargaining. Olinala, tin art, jewelry, textiles, all styles of ceramics ( black from Oaxaca, colorful from Dolores Higalgo, green from michoacan, etc.) , straw, leather, I can't think of anything made by hand in MX that you can not get there. Save time for La Cuidadela.

When are you going? if in next two months, you can get chiles en nogada, a national dish that is awesome when made well.

I agree that the museo de antropologia is very much worth a visit. The only drawback is that you could, and should, spend an entire day there, (to really do it justice) so you'd have to decide how that might fit into your very limited time.
My favorite area to stay is Condesa. Walkable to Chapultepec, lots of sidewalk cafes/restaurants, lots of people out jogging and walking their dogs at all hours. Condesa is closer to el Foro than centro historico. 2 hotels come to mind in Condesa, Red Tree House B&B, and the more budgety Hotel Roosevelt.
If it were me, I'd stay in Condesa, taxi/metro to centro Friday and spend a full day there exploring. That leaves you 2 half days. I'd walk to Chapultepec, maybe do the castle but skip the museo as you don't have that much time. Zona Rosa can be kinda tacky, Condesa more upscale.

I seem to remember someone saying the anthropological museum was closed on Mondays - may have to look into that.

I stayed in Condesa and liked it there. I stayed in a B&B north of where Red Tree is (near park Espana), and it was a location pretty convenient to a metro stop and the tourist bus, there is a stop not far away. I really enjoyed that bus for going out to the suburbs to see Frida Kahlo's house, and I enjoyed getting out of the city. Mexico City is fairly large, so you can get a good overview by that bus. You could do that Saturday (the Turibus). That route is the southern route on here (Sur). http://www.turibus.com.mx/circuitos-principales.html

That bus is fairly cheap with the great exchange rate right now. It's not as convenient for the center where you don't need it.

Of course the anthropological museum is fantastic. I didn't spend all day there, I can never do that with a museum. I don't believe that someone shouldn't go to a museum, which is unique, if they can't spend all day there. I did spend 3-4 hours, I'm sure. The Franz Mayer museum is nice, also.

This summer I stayed in Condesa, at the Hippodrome Hotel, which was really stylish and comfortable. Not an especially low-budget option, if that is what you are looking for. Friends stayed in Colonia Roma at a place through airbandb and liked it a lot too. I had my best comida in Roma, at Bistrot Maximo. Because we were staying in Condesa, we had two dinners at Azul Condesa, both excellent. Barbacoa at El Hidalguense in nearby Roma on Sunday was delicious too. I'm listing upscale places but we enjoyed all kinds of food while in DF.

I loved the anthropology museum. I guess you don't really have time to get to Teotihuacan to see the pyramids, but if that is a priority you could cut something else. And agree with the other recs for the Palacio Nacional and the Cathedral. Coyoacan and all to see there is another great option. You are spoiled for choice, really.

A weekend is a short time in Mexico City, which has so much to see, but I am sure you will enjoy it. You're just going to have to narrow down your choices.

Museo Nacional de Antropologia is a terrific museum, and I have been there twice, but I agree it gets overwhelming after 3 hours or so. Yes, there is a huge amount to see, but just accept you cannot see everything.