Christmas in SF
 

We'll be in San Francisco over the Christmas. Can anyone tell me if any museums or restaurants will be open? What is the city like over Christmas. We're also planning to stay at Petite Auberge. Any comments would be most welcome!

By Christmas, Northern California should be into its rainy season, so expect cloudy, wet, and (quite frankly) dreary conditions. If you go out on the Bay (i.e, to Alcatraz), be ready for VERY cold conditions.

Cindy, the Petite Auberge is a delight! Try to get tix to Beach Blanket Babylon at the Club Fugazi and have dinner first in North Beach. Try to go to the symphony at Davies Hall or the Opera---both super experiences. If so, call the Inn at the Opera dining room and try to reserve the table right in front of the fireplace for dinner pretheatre. Lots of museums and inside shopping should the weather turn rainy, otherwise great holiday decorations---the view into the city from the Bay Bridge at Christmas is spectacular! Most of the big hotels will serve Christmas dinner and I know One Market is serving THanksgiving, so call and ask about Christmas too--you'll like it. At Petite Auberge, request a room with a fireplace (just gas, but still nice) and have breakfast in bed at least once! Enjoy! Very few tourists! The advice above about the cold on the bay is absolutely correct---it's not just the temp, but the wind and the dampness. Do bring lightweight winter coats---it gets cold (40??) at night and the wind can pick up making it foggy and miserable if you have far to walk. <BR>

I think that except for Christmas Day, all the museums will be open. If Christmas day dawns bright - and it can be sunny and even warm - then its a great day to take a drive, because the roads will be empty. Or just walk. San Francisco is a great great walking town, hills and all. And I think all the good hotels have wonderful Christnas meals these days - probably hard to choose. Besides, you have to get to bed early for the post-season sales down at Union Square the next morning!

I forgot to mention - someone who lives in SF can correct this, but I believe the SF Ballet, which is a terrific company, does Nutcracker or a similar holiday production. I believe the SF symphony does at least one holiday-specific concert. And you should check the churches for special choral and organ concerts. While it is 20th-century concrete gothic, Grace Cathedral on the top of Nob Hill is pretty spectacular. And I'm no connoisseur of organs, but theirs sounds wonderful to me - and I would bet they have special Christmas concerts and services.