My sister and husband and another couple will be in SF this weekend and it looks like it is going to rain. What activities should I suggest to her? Art - Legion of Honor, Modern Art Museum ??? Shopping at Nordstroms? What else? She is from the midwest and would probably do Coit Tower, Wharf area if it isn't pouring rain. I suggested Top of the Mark, Starlight Lounge. What else would be good? Thanks.

Look into the Kabuki Baths in Japantown.Some of them might be interested in "treatments". If they are in the mood there are places in the same Japantown area that serve great sushi,udon,etc. There is also a good movie house-The AMC Kabuki. Sunday think about Dim Sum. It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and definitely a San Francisco kind of thing to do. Take a ferry. It could be fun in the misting rain.Go to the Buena Vista for Irish Coffee. See if the Tadich Grill has room for them and recommend some cioppino...or go for mussels and fries at Plouf. City Lights Bookstore and a stroll up Columbus to the Bohemian Cigar Store for coffees and sandwiches. This is aking me want to spend a rainy weekend in the city and wander around.

"Cityguides" (http://walking-tours.com/cityguides/) gives a great tour of the Palace Hotel. Go for a really nice breakfast there at the Garden Court (www.gardencourt-restaurant.com) and then join the tour.

Bib Sis,

--MOMA is great (Museum of Modern Art).
--The cable car museum is interesting (and Free!).
--I like all of Pam's suggestions--especially for Buena Vista for Irish Coffee (real SF landmark on the Wharf) Kabuki Theatre and ferry ride
--Starlight Lounge can be beautiful in a storm but I think it's only open at night.


Have Fun!

Davidcs

It's a great time of year to get those Irish Coffees at the Buena Vista. Thanks to David for the reminder of good times there!!!

Don't forget that Nordstrom has a great spa. How about a pedicure after all that shopping. Great for tired legs and feet!!!

hahahaha.

ANYTIME is a great time for Irish Coffees at the BV!
I heard a restaurant critic on KGO the other day stating the real SF Irish Coffee fans go to O'Reilly's on Green St. Anybody been? Hard to beat the view from BV.

If it's not raining too hard, a trip to the top of the B of A bldg to the Carnelian for lunch or a cocktail is pretty cool as you can watch the clouds rolling in and out beneath you.

Ditto the Skywatch Deck on top of The Embarcadero.


Once again, if it's not raining too hard, a nice long walk up the Embarcadero from the Ferry Bldg to Aquatic Park then over to BV for an IC is also nice.
Man! I'm going to go make my own IC now!
Kal

A gloomy, overcast day is a great time to go to Alcatraz. Bad weather really adds to the opression of the area.

Thursday afternoon-tell those folks to bring foul weather gear..we are supposedly in for back to back storms starting tonight with estimated rain fall over the next few days to reach 9 inches...yikes!

Kal, is the Embarcadero observation floor still opened? What happened to the ticket box on the street level? Where do you buy tickets now?

In terms of enjoying a good view of the City, you may want to stick to the Starlight, Carnelian, et. al. and skip the Top of the Mark. They've been doing restoration that doesn't exactly block the view, but it certainly hinders it.

Faina
My "ooops".
I saw your note and called the # listed for the Skydeck. It was closed sometime last year! Too bad. Nice place. I thought we were there just last Spring. Guess it was 2 yrs ago? I am gettin' old!
Mahalo,
Kal

Bib Sis,
There are some locations in and around S.F. that you wouldn't at first consider for a rainy day, but they have a certain atmosphere and a lack of crowds in wet weather. The Legion of Honor, for instance is very popular on sunny days for the views across to the Marin headlands. Lots of people go there for wedding photos, etc. I love it in wet windy weather, it adds to the drama of the buildings and statues, as well as the views. Fort Point would also be appropriately moody in the rain, with big waves crashing against the shore. BIG caveat about walking on the beaches anywhere in Northern California during the winter - be very careful about walking anywhere close to the water line, esp. at high tide, and don't climb onto the rocks if the tide is coming in. There are "sleeper" waves that can arise seemingly out of nowhere and knock you down.
If your friends are renting a car for the day or are willing to take one of the bus tours, go to Muir Woods on a rainy day. There will be far fewer people, the forest glows with deep green moss in the wet, and the whole grove feels like a cathedral.

By the way, it's raining right this minute in S.F. - it's a major storm with high winds that is expected to last through the weekend. There's another day of rain forecast on Monday, and after that it should be a bit drier.

Wait - San Francisco isn't THAT SUNNY that you need to have "backup" plans for rain. PLAN ON THE RAIN AND THE CLOUDS. It's not Southern California.

Bib Sis: Everything you suggest would be good. Buena Vista does have the best Irish Coffee and a nice view, but we are going to have a really fierce storm (according to the local weather forcasters). The best place to observe the wonders of a gale wind storm is the Cliff House on the edge of the ocean. Get a hot buttered rum or an Irish Coffee, get a window seat overlooking the ocean and the rocks (Seals' Rock) and enjoy the show. Spectacular! I've done this before and there is nothing comparable in San Francisco. Certainly, someone from the midwest will be thrilled by this experience. When you get hungry, walk up to Louie's and have some clam chowder (it will be Manhatten style)with sour dough bread. The hamburgers are good too. Have a great time.

I think Louie's closed..if not it's a great joint especially at breakfast. Also consider the Beach Chalet on the Great Highway. Maybe the folks are already here...but chances are they've been delayed so there might still be time to hand over some of these morsels.

"What to do when it rains in San Francisco?"

Well, it's raining now (and probably for the next few days) so I'm messing on the computer, watching TV, cooking a pot of chili and thinking of either going out to get a Christmas tree or see a movie. Maybe visit the local pub.

If I were you, though, I would hit every museum in town.

Hotels have X-mas decorations out by now, if this will be interesting for you. SF can compete with Vegas at this time of the year. I heard from other locals they set time on weekends just to go from a hotel to a hotel.