Museum Medley
Price: FREE
Got a hankerin fer some art and culture, but ain't got no cash? Free days are your solution. It's going to be crowded because this city has lots of cheapskates, like yourself. Here's the schedule-- 1st Wednesday: Asian Art Museum, Museum of Craft & Folk Art, Exploratorium, Mexican Museum, Museo Italoamericano, SF African American Museum, California Academy of Sciences . 2 nd Wednesday: Palace of the Legion of Honor 1 st Mondays: Jewish Museum 1 st Tuesdays: SFMOMA, California Historical Society 1 st Thursday: San Jose Museum of Art Every Friday: Oakland Museum of California .
City Guides Walking Tours
Price: FREE
I know you live here, but do you know about the history of this gorgeous city? Why don't you educate yourself? Discover Chinatown, Cow Hollow, The Landmark Victorians of Almo Square Park, or perhaps you want to check out the murals in the Mission or go to Land's End to gauwk at the old Sutro Baths. They got tons of different walking tours happening every day of the week. What a nice way to get some exercise, learn something new, and spend some time with your pals. If you want, you can wear a camera around your neck so you'll blend in with the tourists.
I've got my walkin' shoes, tell me more
sfcityguides.org
Farmers Market
Price: FREE Admitidly I am a total food nerd. I look forward to Saturdays all week because then I get to go to the Embarcadero farmers market in its crazy over-crowdedness. I don't mind pushing my way between stands because I find the farmers market a great way to stay in touch with what's in season. Also you can talk to the farmers and get the scoop of what's happening down on the ranch. There are some great characters to meet, my favortie of whom is the woman who sells nuts. They are the freshest, most delicous walnuts and almonds that I've ever tasted. As a mascot to her booth, she has a few old teddy bears (one of which has on a flight jacket and googles) in an old tin bucket scralled with the words"space ship" . She is a blast to talk to and is always encouraging you to try some samples of nuts. This is actually what is at the core of Embarcadero's farmers market.... FREE FOOD. Nearly every both offers tons of free samples of their merchandise. I recommend that you don't eat before you go, so that you can take advantage of the all the tasty treats. If you get hungry while you're there, you can get breakfast at one of the several delicious food stands that offer things like crepes, grilled sandwiches, sausages, and huevos rancheros with organic corn tortillas straight from the grill. These aren't free. In fact they are even boardering on a bit pricey. I somehow balance this with the all the food I got for free. If you want to become more food sauvey, there are free lectures with professional chefs and farmers on how to pick and prepare produce.
San Francisco's Farmers Market Embaracadero : Saturdays 8-2 at the Ferry Building Alemany: Saturdays 8-5 at 100 Alemany st. Civic Center Wednesdays and Sundays 7-5 at Market between 7th & 8th
Movie Rentals
Price: FREE It's easy to forget about this option... but remember that our local library has free movies and cd's to borrow. Some branches have better movies then others, but there is a good selection out there just waiting for you. You can have up to 5 at a time, each for a week long period. Be mindful of returning them on-time because it's a dollar a day for each item that's late.
If you want to see what they've got to offer just click here.
Movie Theater Tickets
Price: 2 for $5 One of the best bargins that actually costs money. The Parkway is a crazy movie theater in Oakland where you can watch your flick, while eating pizza and drinking beer which you purchased in the lobby. That's right folks... beer on tap! The food ain't great, but it's worth it to be able to bring it into the theater with you. Alright so the deal about 2 for $5 is that you need to go on a Wednesday night, otherwise it's $5 per ticket, which is still quite a steal. Check out their site for more info and film calander.
So where do I find this place and what's playing?picturepubpizza.com
Outdoor Movies in the Park
Price: FREE -$5
I loooooove doing indoor type stuff, outside, like eating or watching movies. Film Night in the Park makes both of these things possible... at once. Pack a snack and your off the watch a movie on a big screen in one of Marin's community parks. The festival takes place late June- early October. Lots of great movies are shown, like Iron Giant , Nightmare Before Chirstmas , Breakfast at Tiffany's , and Psycho . This is such a great way to meet fellow Bay-Area-ers and get snuggely on a blanket with pals or sweeties. Get there early to get a good seat, 'cause boy can it get packed!!! It's sliding scale, but it's cool if you can give at least a couple of bucks. Oh yeah, if you're into art, they have super stylish poster from a talanted local artist.
Gosh and golly, I want to know more about the movie schedule and possible see the cool art posters.
filmnight.org
Higher Learning: Educate Yo'self
Price: FREE
Can you believe it... City College of San Francisco offers many classes for FREEEEEEE. You can take course like welding, drafting, automotive technology, printing and lithography, radio and tv repair, or quiltmaking, to name a few. The only glitch is that the classes are usually several days a week, during normal working hours.
I want to expand my knowledge and my horizons
ccsf.edu
Bowling in Downtown San Francisco
Price: $3.50 - $5.00
It's hard to find a good bowling alley in a glamorous city like this. You could always go to Sea Bowl in Pacifica, but why not save yourself the drive and head over to Yerba Buena Bowling Alley. Games range from $3.50 (m-f before 5 or sat/sat before 1) to $5.00 (m-f after 5 or sat/sun after 1). There is lots of fun stuff to do at Yerba Buena too, like go to the little park with a super fast slide, go on a carousel ride, or go ice skating. Located at 750 Folsom between 3rd and 4th, it's easy to get to via public transportation.
I've got a bowling ball waiting with my name on... tell me more
skatebowl.com
Scharffen Berger Chocolate Factory Tour
Price: FREE
Always want to learn how something is really made. There is nothing like doing a factory tour to become more hip and worldly. What better tour than fancy fancy fancy chocolate. Learn all about how chocolate is made, starting from the cacao bean all the way to wrapping up the final bar. You get to sample some too. It's way rich, so a little goes a long way. For milk chocolate lovers... you're out of luck you whimps, they don't make a milk chocolate.
I'm drooling already
scharffenberger.com
Pick your own Strawberries
Price: $5-$10
Sorry it's more than the super cheap price... but picking your own berries is so cool. For the small price of $10 ( 0r $5 for kids under 8) you get a farm tour AND you get to pick as many berries as you want. Swanton Berry farm grows the best organic strawberrries I've ever eaten. They are a small family farm in the greater Bay Area. Make a day of it, support local farmers by picking some berries, then why not bake a pie. Good clean family fun. Tasty too. Available June - August
OHHHHH I love strawberries
swantonberry.com
