# Going to San Francisco, must see places? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661 "2002-12-05T06:52:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/41 "2002-12-06T20:39:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panamajack \* > **If you go out there, do not miss the Musee Mechanique. It’s all the old coin-operated things you used to find in amusement parks; the Laughing Lady alone is worth hearing.** Unfortunately the Musee Mechanique just closed. According to its [official site](http://museemecanique.citysearch.com/), it’s being relocated to Pier 45. I hope nothing gets damaged in the move. Those old mechanical games are fun, and there’s nothing _creepier_ than Laughing Sal. As for the OP, I was going to recommend a calamari sandwich at Huckleberry’s on Clay St. and some falafel at Just Like Home, but last week I discovered they have both closed as well. Yeah, I’m bitter. At least Thanh Long is still around. They serve outstanding roasted crab and the best garlic noodles in the known universe. It’s expensive, but well worth it. They’re out at 4101 Judah. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/42 "2002-12-06T20:47:54Z")
Oh yeah! Go to Tu Lan! Best. Vietnamese food. EVAR. It’s this crappy little hole in the wall at Mission & 6th, but do not be fooled by the (lack of) ambience! And it’s cheap! ---
**Author:** ![JoeyHemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ba0ec/32.png) [@JoeyHemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyHemlock)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/43 "2002-12-06T21:26:01Z")
If you like sleezy strip clubs (and, really, who doesn’t), you can’t do much better that The Market Street Cinema. There was another pretty sleezy one, too, The O’Farrell or something like that, that was also fairly sleezy, but more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/44 "2002-12-06T23:02:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spiff \* > \*\*There’s a botanical garden (I forget its name) in SF Park that’s fantastic, if you’re into that sort of stuff. > > Also, check out the two WWII ships docked at the Wharf: The U.S.S. Pompano (submarine) and the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien (Liberty Ship). Both offer a wonderful learning experience about what it was like to serve in the Navy on such ships. They are staffed by WWII vets, some who actually served on these same ships (and they are very talkative!). > > And I’ll second the suggestion to see the Exploratorium. \*\* I think you mean U.S.S. Pampanito, [whose very interesting homepage is here](http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm), and it really is a fascinating tour. Try to imagine yourself in those cramped quarters under depth charge attack! I don’t remember the liberty ship, but the last time I was there was about ten years ago. Isn’t there a Cape Horn sailing ship, a three or four-masted bark, there, too? Or am I thinking of San Diego? If you’re into Victorian archetecture a stroll down Steiner Street might be worthwhile. Youll recognize the row houses from magazine ads and TV. Anyway, **fishcrawford** when you go, remeber the immortal words of the late columnist Herb Caen and _Don’t Call It Frisco._\* \*The title of a book by Herb Caen released some time in the late fifties. Probably long out of print and hard to find, but, as I remember, a good read. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/45 "2002-12-06T23:18:33Z")
Maritime Museum: [http://www.nps.gov/safr/](http://www.nps.gov/safr/) Camera Obscura: [http://brightbytes.com/cosite/sanfran.html](http://brightbytes.com/cosite/sanfran.html) (a few) live cams: [http://www.employlaw.com/views2.htm](http://www.employlaw.com/views2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/46 "2002-12-06T23:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertGeezer \* > \*\* > I don’t remember the liberty ship, but the last time I was there was about ten years ago. Isn’t there a Cape Horn sailing ship, a three or four-masted bark, there, too? Or am I thinking of San Diego? > \*\* That would be the _Balclutha_, docked near Fisherman’s Wharf. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/47 "2002-12-06T23:59:03Z")
another link for y’all to ignore Liberty ship: [http://www.geocities.com/jeremiahobrien/obrien.html](http://www.geocities.com/jeremiahobrien/obrien.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/48 "2002-12-07T00:21:40Z")
> [@](#): > > A far better place to see sea lions (if not so many) is out at Seal Rock. Negatory. Those were mostly the same ones that have now moved in to Pier 39 on Fishermen’ Wharf. It’s pretty much been abandoned by the California Sea Lions ( a rare Steller’s might make the occasional appearance ) - I saw a young, lone female C. Sea Lion out there about four or five months ago and according to the Ranger I was chatting with, that was the first one he’d seen there in two years. But you’re right that it is worth going for the other attractions there ( the Pacific Ocean alone is worth it ). > [@](#): > > The O’Farrell or something like that, that was also fairly sleezy, but more expensive. The Mitchell Brothers’ O’Farrell Theatre. A dubiously historic venue in its own right ( the film _X-Rated_ with the brothers Sheen was made about its founders, who made their fortune producing the porn film _Behind the Green Door_, one of whom still runs it ). > [@](#): > > There’s a botanical garden (I forget its name) in SF Park that’s fantastic, if you’re into that sort of stuff. Strybing Arboretum. Great place to take a walk. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/49 "2002-12-07T00:36:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jsc1953 \* > \*\*That would be the _Balclutha_, docked near Fisherman’s Wharf. \*\* Thanks, **jsc1953** , and thank you **happyheathen** for the links. ---
**Author:** ![Huemr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Huemr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huemr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/50 "2002-12-07T00:47:59Z")
With all those suggestions of places to eat, I’d suggest you include a pack or two of Rolaids™ in your plans. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/51 "2002-12-07T05:11:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OttoDaFe \* > \*\*Or, if your tastes are slightly less refined, there’s **Tommy’s Joynt** at Geary & VanNess. You may heve to dodge a beggar on the way in, but the sandwiches are good and the ambience is . . . indescribable. \*\* Also on Geary, a few miles west is **Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant**. Biggest selection of tequila outside Mexico. Only problem is that it keeps restaurant hours… I think they close at 11. Geary between 23rd and 24th Aves. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661/52 "2002-12-07T05:51:20Z")
One tip nobody’s mentioned: No matter what time of the year, _bring a jacket!_ Doesn’t need to be an arctic parka, but you’ll need something. Any time during the day, and _guaranteed_ after dark it will get chilly. My ex-GF’s and my idea of a cheap date was to go up to The City in August, and point/laugh at all the tourists shivering in their shorts. DD [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-san-francisco-must-see-places/140661.md?page=2)