I'll be visiting San Francisco (for the first time) at the end of the month. Can anyone recommend a website that will have information about performances, especially music and theatre, so that I can order tickets in advance if there's something that I want to attend? (I hate getting to a city and finding out that something I would've loved to see is sold out!)

Would also appreciate suggestions for good walking tours and any 'must-see' stops for a first-time visitor; I'll have four full days.

Thanks!

Google Tix by Mail for reduced priced concert and theater tickets.

I urge you to see Beach Blanket Babylon. They have their own web site. The theater is small, and the cheapest tickets are closest to the stage.

Just returned from SF and walked more than I want to remember!

First off I really recommend walking acrross the Golden Gate bridge. Each way is @2 miles I think. Lazy me as noted in my trip report, chose to ferry out to Sausalito and then (catch a local bus back to near the foot of the bridge) and walk towards the City. Noonish is best for chances of morning fog to burned off.

There are several walking tours to choose from, free and fee. The main free tours are held by City Guides
(http://www.sfcityguides.org). They have have an extensive schedule but despite my desire, I never got a chance to join them.

I did make use of the self-guided walking tours put out by the Visitors Bureau (http://www.sfvisitor.org/visitorinfo/html/walkpdfs.html)

Fee-based tours are available, especially for food related places like Chinatown, North Beach and I think there is also a coffee-centric tour named something like Java Walk (?).

For events, I'm sure the Chronicle (http://www.sfgate.com/) has upcoming events and while there check out the weekly paper that comes out on Wednesdays. Since I listen to SF radio here in NYC (www.kfog.com) I checked out their local concerts listed at their web page.

For both regular ticketmaster tickets and same day theatre tixs go to the Half Priced ticket place in Union Square. Fyi, some events don't take credit cards.

Finally, for tips on where to eat eview the Tip sheet and other postings at http://www.chowhound.com/california/...francisco.html

Finally, finally... if you think you will want to take a night tour of Alcatraz I recommend getting the ticket ahead of time. Info is at http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/.

Have a great time!

The best website for performances is theatrebayarea.org

the direct URL is http://www.theatrebayarea.org/callboard/whatson.jsp

this is the URL of the same website advance tickets
http://www.theatrebayarea.org/tix/tix.shtml

also do a search for a SF ballet as they don't advertise on the above website, and I think there is no opera these days, but it doesn't hurt to search

Agree with jimshep. Beach Blanket Babylon is a must see. If your into victorian architecture, I highly suggest the Victorian Home Walk. A 2.5 hour low impact walking tour of the Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights and Japantown neighborhoods. Our tour guide was very informative. I believe it was $20. www.victorianwalk.com

We enjoyed the Wokwiz tour of Chinatown.

Thanks to all of you for great ideas - I'm SO looking forward to having more choices than I can possibly fit in!