Anybody have any rants or raves or good to know stuff about this place?

Interested in best time to visit, visit duration, nearby sights/attractions I could combine with it, and how to get there via public transportation.

Grace Cathedral is built in the Gothic style and is smack atop Nob Hill; you can take a cable car up. The best time to visit would be at hours other than services, which you can check on the cathedral's web site. While you're there you might want to walk the labyrinth.

I think you could see the cathedral in under 2 hours. If music interests you, there might be a concert to attend.

As for nearby sights, you could hop back on a cable car and head for Fisherman's Wharf and/or Ghirardelli Square, or back downtown to the Union Square area. Then again, you could go a block over to the Mark Hopkins and have a drink at the Top of the Mark--or for something entirely different, in the Tonga Room at the Fairmont Hotel.

Regarding the Tonga Room at the Fairmont: last year, my kids and I happened on this hotel while riding the cable car. I can't remember the exact time of day -- maybe 4 or 5 p.m. -- and it was Happy Hour in the Tonga Room. This looked like a pretty fancy place (read: expensive); however, we had a tasty finger-food late "lunch" for arond $7-8 apiece. (Seems like each person was required to buy one drink.) An additional highlight is the indoor "rainstorm" that takes place while you are eating.

Thanks for the info. You two sure got the Tonga Room seed planted. Hope we remember to bring the right gear for the rainstorm!

The rainstorm: real rain falling in the pool in the middle of the restaurant. And the sound of thunder. And the lightning. After that a boat sails in, and a band sings, you can order your favorite songs. Go there for dinner.

Depending on where you're coming from, you can take the cable car, or bus 1, or...

I visited the cathedral a few years ago. I was by myself and had plenty of time, so I thought that I would walk the labrynth....just as I headed over there, the cleaning crew started running the vacuum, so I decided that it would be a bit hard to concentrate with the noise!

Grace is a wonderful place. I highly recommend going any time other than during services. It's an episcopal cathedral, not catholic. They have two labrynths based on the one at Chartres. Very nice to do. Inside there is some nice art, a few old things and your standard stained glass windows, a color riot.

There's also a nice park across the way where the moneyed denizens of Nob hill walk their mini dogs.

More great info. Sounds like a real cool place.

I'll keep a sharp eye out for "where the moneyed denizens of Nob hill walk their mini dogs." I like that line.