In Newseeek Budget Travel's latest column about "tourist traps" (you love), San Francisco's historic Cliff House makes the Top 7. Beloved for its "gorgeous views" and inspired setting, it's appropriately described as a "neoclassical marvel."

As for being a trap. Is it? Perhaps… it could be. But it doesn't have to be. Especially if you stay outside. Though there are two on-site restaurants (Sutro's and the more casual Bistro), plus a gift shop, it's the ruins and the view that are the real draws. Both of which can be enjoyed for free.

Overall, Cliff House offers three of the top five most-cited reasons for visiting San Francisco, all in one: atmosphere and ambiance, restaurants, and scenic beauty. Found at the north end of Ocean Beach, it's a traveler's destination. A point along the 49-mile scenic drive. A popular place to unwind, ever since it opened in 1863.

As noted though, the main reasons to visit Cliff House are the ruins of Sutro Baths and the amazing, elevated views. Take your time and explore them, at no charge. Photos, snap as many as you like. And for a very reasonable $3, experience the camera obscura on the terrace, the only such device in America still in its original location. Part of the old Playland at the Beach, the Giant Camera (built in 1948-9) projects parabolic images of Seal Rock, the crashing waves, setting sun, and coast. Very pretty.

^{* Gorgeous view: Cliff House and the camera obscura. Photo © Cosentino Ed. Some rights reserved under the Creative Commons License.}

It’s free museum days: May 6 and 7. Speaking of which, a new museum is on the horizon. The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) is now only a month away from re-opening in its new location: 736 Mission Street.

As seen here, the new museum is an adaptive reuse of the landmark 1907 Jessie Street Power Substation. Featuring a vibrant blue-steel extension designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the 63,000-square-foot building preserves the character-defining features of the susbstation, while introducing bold contemporary space for the CJM’s galleries, performances, and education programs.

Designed in 1907 by Willis Polk, the substation was key in restoring energy to the city after the 1906 earthquake. Mr. Libeskind takes this fact/theme and builds upon it with his new design, in particular the blue-steel extension, inspired by the Hebrew phrase “L’Chaim” (To Life). In fact, the extension is conceptually modeled after two Hebrew letters, the “chet” and the “yud” from the symbolic “chai” (meaning: “living”). Read more...

With May now here, it means that the ING Bay to Breakers race is only a few weeks away. This year it will be run on May 18. An incredible 70k participants are expected to run or walk, many of whom will be in costume, which is in part why the Bay to Breakers is such a great spectator event.

The course takes its moving mass through the city’s streets and Golden Gate Park, starting at the foot of the Bay Bridge and ending at the Great Highway, next to the Pacific Ocean. If you’d like to join, online registration is still available (through May 14). The race is open to everyone: pro athletes, weekend runners, families, those in for a Sunday stroll. A unique way to experience San Francisco, Bay to Breakers is a tradition 97 years old.

For more May events, check out our calendar, which will be added to as the month goes on. For now, read about Cinco de Mayo in Dolores Park, Art in the Alley, the How Weird Street Faire, and KABOOM. When any of these fit into your San Francisco itinerary? I hope so.

^{* The race is on. Photo © ING Bay to Breakers.}

This year, the 9th Annual How Weird Street Faire moves to a new location (2nd and Howard) and also adds an evening portion to its festivities with “How Weird at Night.” It's seven blocks of art and celebration.

A benefit for the non-profit World Peace Through Technology organization, the faire has grown from a small gathering in 1999 to over 10,000 in 2007. This year, organizers expect even bigger numbers, given the event’s new SoMa location – now just a short walk to Yerba Buena Gardens and the museum district. It’s also near the Montogomery BART station and several Muni stops. Public transportation is encouraged.

Beginning at 11:11 a.m., the faire will once again bring together a diverse union of artists, vendors, and individuals. Music will play on nine stages throughout the day, sustainable info will be shared, and people – both local and visiting – will meet, dance, and mingle. Since its beginning, the How Weird Street Faire has been an “experiment in creating peace.” A bar it continues to raise each year. Admission/donation is $5 (if in costume) or $10 (if not). The event is open to all ages and kids attend for free.

The idea behind How Weird remains an effort to bring as many people together as possible to interact, learn, and collectively have a good time. The success of this event in recent years has prompted its new-location move, as well as its expansion into the evening. The inaugural “How Weird at Night” will begin at 6 p.m., as festivities move indoors to nearby venues for music and live performance. Venues include Club NV, Temple, Supper Club, and 111 Minna Gallery. Admission is $10 for the first venue and $5 for each thereafter.

^{* Artwork © The World Peach Through Technology Organization.}

Along with the How Weird Street Faire and concerts in the park, you also have Art in the Alley to attend this Sunday if you like. An open-air gallery, it will once again showcase the artwork (from poetry to mixed media) of 25 local artists, both emerging and established. Taking place in Kerouac Alley, it’s a bonus for any walking tour of the area. Admission: free.

• Event: The 12th Annual Art in the Alley
• Where: Kerouac Alley @ Columbus & Broadway, between City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio
• When: Sunday, May 4, Noon – 6 p.m.

Point of interest: Last year, Kerouac Alley -- connecting Chinatown and North Beach -- was reintroduced to the city as a lovely pedestrian-only thoroughfare. Remade with cobblestone-styled pavers, ornamental lampposts, and poetic plaques, the space can now be strolled at leisure and if you have time, should be.

Indeed, take time to photograph the art, as well as read the plaques which have been embedded into the street, each inscribed with a bit of poetry (in English and Chinese). Find verse from Li Po, Confucius, Maya Angelou, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, John Steinbeck, and of course, Jack Kerouac. As has been said, the alleyway today stands as “both a literal and literary link” between two communities.

^{Jack Kerouac Alley. Photo © hallamon7.}

New from Only in San Francisco¹ is Taste SF, a website devoted to the culinary scene of the city. Launched on April 24, 2008, the site is still in beta, but already offers some helpful content. Learn about upcoming taste events, top picks for the Bay Area, and the newest S.F. restaurant to open.

As of now many of the restaurants listed only offer a location, but in time this should expand to include descriptions (and reviews) as well. Presently, you can narrow down your choices by neighborhood (25), cuisine (35), price level (3), and six specific categories: brunch, al fresco, inspiring view, dining adventures, award winner, and taste of history.

As Joe D'Alessandro, president and CEO of SFCVB, notes, "San Francisco has been a culinary center since the 1849 gold rush attracted dining traditions from around the world. The city's location – adjacent to abundant seafood, agriculture, and wine regions – contributes to the creativity and chef community." Read more...

William Shakespeare turned a wonderful 444 years young this past Wednesday, April 23, which got me thinking about the Shakespearean productions coming to the Bay Area this spring/summer. The list includes two Pericles, a Twelfth Night, and Tim Supple’s acclaimed South Asian A Midsummer Night’s Dream, playing the Curran Theatre May 6-June 1.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
This production not only aims to transport its audience visually, but also (as Shakespeare did) through its use of language. While the play is still performed in English, it also incorporates Malayalam, Tamil, Sinhalese, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and even, a bit of Sanskrit. Featuring a cast of 23 actors, dancers, martial arts experts, musicians, and street acrobats from India and Sri Lanka, the production was hailed by the Daily Telegraph as: “The most magical, fantastical Dream that will be remembered for decades.”

A sensation in India when it premiered, it was similarly in-demand when it played Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works Festival (2006-2007). With SHN’s Best of Broadway series, it makes its North American debut. Tickets are still available, $35-$80; running time is 2 hours 37 minutes (with 20-minute intermission). Read more...

This past Sunday, the Golden Gate Park Band began its 126th year with a rousing premiere concert. The season, comprised of 27 total concerts, runs from April through mid-October.

The band’s band shell is the Spreckels Temple of Music, the same performed in since 1900. The grid of pollarded trees in front of the band shell is one of the Music Concourse’s most recognizable features. In the photo here, the trees’ shoots are just starting to emerge, but when in full, the grid provides eco-friendly shade and protection from the elements. At the dedication in 1900, it was said that future San Franciscans (and so very many visitors) would enjoy music in the park, under “these trees in their age and decrepitude as now in their early growth.”¹

A San Francisco tradition, fans can count on the Golden Gate Park Band to provide an afternoon of free, lively music every Sunday starting at 1 p.m. Concerts usually last until 2:30-2:45 p.m. In the coming weeks, in addition to great band favorites, look for three cultural celebrations as well: Cinco de Mayo (May 4), Polish Constitution Day (May 18), and Italian-American Day (June 1). On May 25th, the band will offer a patriotic salute in honor of Memorial Day.

Perhaps one of these will work into your itinerary? Nearby you’ll find the Japanese Tea Garden, the de Young Museum, and the S.F. Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum.

^{* Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. Photo © Jennifer Alpeche. |1 History, Friends of the Music Concourse.}

Tomorrow marks the fourth and final day of the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival. As usual, it’ll culminate with the Grand Parade, set to take place 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.; beginning at City Hall, the route will proceed north on Polk Street to Post, then west on Post to the Japan Center. If you can, try and catch this colorful and exciting procession. Look for the Taru Mikoshi (hoisted by 100 strong) to anchor the parade.

Other events Sunday include:

• Traditional art demonstration(s), from cloth dying to calligraphy to origami (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
• Martial arts performance (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
• An anime costume contest (3-3:30 p.m.)
• Sailor Moon Musical (3:30-4 p.m.)
• Bonsai/Suiseki Exhibit (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
• All-day food bazaar, plus family activities.

Whenever you might visit, you'll find interesting diversion. The star attractions of course being the delicate cherry blossoms, found throughout J-Town: inside shopping centers, outdoor in the plaza.

The forecast Sunday calls for mostly clear skies, with a high in the low 50s (i.e. layers-weather); so there should be plenty of opportunity to take some great photos, like the one seen here by David Yu, snapped last weekend during the fest’s first days.

Speaking of Japantown, whenever you’re in San Francisco, consider going on J-Town’s new History Walk. Inaugurated in December 2007, this 10-block, self-guided tour highlights historical and cultural aspects of the Japanese and Japanese-American community. At walk’s end, you’re guaranteed a great overview of the neighborhood, plus a nice stroll. To ready, take the photo tour today, courtesy of NDD Creative.

^{* 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival. Photo © David Yu.}

Earlier this year, Popular Science ranked America's 50 Greenest Cities, coast to coast. Using raw data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Geographic Society, Popular Science assigned scores of up to 5 or 10 points in four general categories: Electricity, Transportation, Green Living, and Recycling and Green Perspective.

The cities were then ranked 1-50 based on their cumulative score. San Francisco was again found to be near the top – 2nd place actually, with 23/30 points. Just behind 1st-place Portland, Oregon, which scored a 23.1.

Looking around the city, you’ll find S.F. integrating both new and established green practices daily. Perhaps – just maybe – by next year’s survey, we will have made up that one-tenth of a point. That’s the goal! As for the more immediate future however, did you know/remember that Earth Day is only a few days away (April 22)? Read more...