The California Academy of Sciences is a natural history museum in San Francisco that is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 26 million specimens.
From the first run in 1873 to the present, learn about the inventor, technologies, builders, rapid expansion, near loss and the ongoing efforts to save and rebuild the cable cars of San Francisco. The museum houses a collection of historic cable cars, photographs, mechanical displays and a gift shop.
The San Francisco African American Historical & Cultural Society’s mission is to present art, writings and recordings that highlight African Americans in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Founded in 1955, the Society maintains the oldest collection of its type in the western United States. Admission is free.
"Hamilton" might have ended its run at the Orpheum, but that doesn’t mean that San Francisco’s productions have gone dark. If anything, its historic run only invigorated Bay Area theater fans. And with all those live performances comes hungry patrons looking for an affordable meal pre-curtain. Some restaurants call these menus pre-theater, others call them prix fixe. We’ll just call them great deals regardless of your post-meal plans.
Every Monday night, Jardinière offers a weekly supper club featuring themed dinners. At $55, including beverage pairings, it’s a great opportunity to sample this iconic Hayes Valley restaurant’s Cali-French cuisine. Themes are atypical and can be centered around a political stance, an IPA, or an abundance of seasonal fare.
Trestle is all about the prix fixe menu. Literally. Their three-course menu ($35) changes daily and there’s an option to add an additional course for $10. Food is familiar, but doesn’t subscribe to a particular genre. Think international comfort classics using what’s in season. Like the other menus, you have a couple of options in the appetizer and entrée category and everything is a delight.
Located within a few blocks of several theaters is Anzu, an Asian-inspired modern eatery on the second level of the Hotel Nikko. Every season, the restaurant creates a two- or three-course menu around what is fresh and readily available. It can be ordered with or without wine or cocktail pairings. Currently, they’re running a Summer of Love menu ($37; $42) with retro dishes like oysters Rockefeller, boneless trout with peas and saffron jasmine rice, and bananas foster.
Campton Place dining is all about these fixed price menus, which allow the chef and team the freedom to explore what’s in season and pair those ingredients with Indian flavors and classical cooking techniques. The restaurant’s four-course pre-theater menu ($95) isn’t just four courses because Taj Hotels is all about hospitality. That means that diners who order off this menu start with a generous complementary amuse bouche. Both the Vegetarian and Spice Route menus will leave you mesmerized and satiated.
The Mission’s La Cocina pioneered the food incubator trend back in 2005, offering affordable kitchen space to women from communities of color and immigrant communities, and guiding them through the concept-to-package and concept-to-plate process. Since then, several commercial kitchens and mentoring programs have sprung up, offering wannabe chefs and food and beverage makers the appropriate facility and guidance to test their ideas and present them to the public.
Sophia Chang opened Kitchener five years ago, offering fledgling food startups affordable commercial kitchen space. Since then, she’s continued to consult with her clients and plays the role of “mom” to many. Her “children” include vendors like The Lumpia Company and Natty Cakes, in addition to many bakers and caterers who would be at a great disadvantage without her commercial space and guidance. The Snack Bar has been a long-time dream of Chang and she’s operating it on a part-time basis as more vendors become available.