I am going to San Francisco for the first time at the beginning of july on my way to Hawaii and would like some ideas for good evenings out. I am looking for good cheap resturants and good funky music. Has anyone got any ideas? What is the best way to get around the town in the evenings?

Liz,

Unfortunately San Francisco basically closes down after 7 PM, so it may be quite difficult to find a decent restaurant in the evening.

Hmm, interesting comment Jody. I wonder why, then, I am unable this morning to get dinner reservations at either Plumpjack, the Slanted Door, Delfina or Plouf for Friday evening to celebrate a friend's birthday? Someone ought to tell all those poor souls who have booked up these restaurants that they are actually closing at 7pm.

Traveling man,

Notice I said "decent" restaurant, not one that is overpriced with poor service.

Well, Jody, now I'm curious. Where do you live and where do you go out to eat that offers your more superior service and food than the above-mentioned restaurants? San Jose, perhaps?

There are several great restaurants that I frequent in SF. But I guess that you would prefer going to those overpriced tourist traps.

Pleeeaaasse! Clue us in!

A 7 course dinner in San Jose? A 6-pack of Bud and a McDonald's Big Mac.
AND they are open after 7!

Of course, if you want to impress a date, we have all the Denny's that stay open 24hrs!

SJ Fine Diner,

You sound like trailer park trash. You have got to get out of SF a little more.

Jody, where are you? I'm still waiting for that list of great and inexpensive restaurants in SF. Are they open after 7pm?

I believe there are more trailer parks in the San Jose area than in SF.
Know how to get a Dot Com CEO off of your porch?
Pay him for the pizza.

Liz,
What sort of cheap eats are you looking for? Or is cheap the operative word.

North Beach has a great night life with lots of selection for cheap eats. Haight Ashbury and the Mission are also great choices.

For cheap eats, but not music, check out Irving Street in the Sunset (just south of Golden Gate Park) or Geary in the Richmond (just north of the Park).

Music scenes:
* Cafe du Nord http://www.cafedunord.com/
* Bimbo's http://www.bimbos365club.com/
* Bottom of the Hill http://www.bottomofthehill.com/
* The Fillmore http://thefillmore.com/
* Lou's Pier 47
* DNA Lounge http://www.dnalounge.com/
* Slims http://www.slims-sf.com/

Hey SJ Fine,

Do you have an extra wide trailer in San Francisco? Sounds like it based on your definition of a 6 course meal. I guess your idea of fine dining is a hot dog at PACK Bell Park.

Traveling man,

I would like to keep the best places secret for us locals to enjoy. For you people who think that more expensive means better, go ahead and keep throwing your money away. Anyway, our severely depressed SF economy needs the help. We have so many uneducated people in need of jobs here in San Francisco.

Check citysearch.com for up to date music listings and also pick up the free weekly A&E paper when you get to town (sorry I can't recall the name). Lots of live music venues but I'm not sure about the ones wiht local acts - the Fillmore and the great American Music Hall will have national acts and both have a wide range of genres. Consider going to the haalf price tix booth in the Union Square parking garage and get tix for an offbeat show - there are generally several playing. If Twisted Cabaret is still playing be sure to see it - it's wild and funny. There are good, decent and moderately prcied restaurants open at night all over the city and most accesible by public transport. I was there recently alone - took BART down to the Mission District for dinner at Alma (highly recommended and not cheap but it is reasonable). Took BART back to Montgomery station and then got streetcar/bus to North Beach to see a one man show. It was all easy to negotiate. The cafes, restaurants, clubs and siudewalks in North Beach were full of people at 10:30 that night when I took bus back to hotel (had an early flight or would have stayed there). It appeared to be the kind of scene you have in NYC West Village or Lower East Side on a weekend night - lots of people out and very lively.

Jody, you tease.

Liz,

When you get to San Francisco, check out the free weeklies for entertainment information. These weeklies are called "The Bay Guardian" and "SF WEEKLY" and they're FREE. You won't find them at newsstands, but at those individual newspaper boxes on street corners.

If you're looking for good, cheap restaurants, check out www.sfgate.com. They have a section in there regarding the best 100 inexpensive restaurants in the Bay Area.

At night, if you're trying to get around the City, I would recommend a taxi. No need to worry about parking and it's a lot easier to get around.

I have lived in SJ for years now and it really pains me to say that I have seen it go from a live, vibrant slum into a large, sterile, cinderblock wall-lined city of freeways and highways where nobody likes anybody and they are all out for themselves.
Very sad what has happened to my city.

Owen,

Citysearch is a good website for locals. It is way too complicated for out of town people to figure out.

Liz, you may just want to skip San Francisco and spend more time in Hawaii where you will have lots more fun and better nightlife.

Liz,
You can check out http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/ for the latest and greatest happenings.