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WHAT IT IS

An American contemporary ballet company based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

WHY WE LOVE IT

A celebrated contemporary ballet company guided since 1982 by the unique artistic vision of Alonzo King– born to a prominent 1960s civil rights family with ties to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, he learned early on the importance of aligning actions with beliefs.

The dance center offers more than 80 classes a week in disciplines and styles that support the creation of contemporary dance as well as workshops and master classes that provide access to incredible choreographers, companies, and artists. Classes and programs are taught by professional teachers and choreographers and are offered at different levels and in many different dance forms.

LINES Ballet performs its home season at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco while also maintaining an international touring schedule that includes featured performances at venues such as Venice Biennale in Venice, Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris, and The Kwai Tsing Theatre in Hong Kong. Check their website for the most up-to-date calendar of events.

WHAT IT IS

“Probably the best wine bar in the world”

WHY WE LOVE IT

It looks a lot like the past: We’re inside a shotgun dive bar retrofitted with an outsize dance floor. Bar Part Time began as a series of FOMO-inducing pop-ups in early 2020, at the gloaming dawn of the pandemic. Now it’s a part natural wine club, bar, and radio station. Grab a bottle from their fridge, and get dancing.

Photo: Ulysses Ortega

WHAT IT IS

Swanky jazz lounge, cocktail bar & New American bistro with 2 levels of seating & live music.

WHY WE LOVE IT

Black Cat is San Francisco’s key pipeline to the New York jazz scene (and beyond)…showcasing rising stars with coveted multi-night runs!

WHAT IT IS

A relaxed day spa offering both familiar & Asian treatments, plus Japanese-style communal baths.

WHY WE LOVE IT

A Japantown institution dedicated to balance, wellness, and inner calm for more than 50 years. Check out the healing waters of their Japanese-inspired bathhouse to their array of holistic rituals. We recommend booking your services in advance.

WHAT IT IS

Nonprofit kitchen incubator supporting food entrepreneurs.

WHY WE LOVE IT

America’s first women-led food hall! A delicious, innovative model of community-led development. It stands as an innovative model of conscious, community-led development that offers economic opportunity for women entrepreneurs, jobs for Tenderloin residents, and a welcoming and affordable dining space for community members and those looking to eat with purpose. Whether you dine in, order takeout, or cater an event.

WHAT IT IS

Cozy eatery specializing in traditional Vietnamese noodle soups, sandwiches & coffee.

WHY WE LOVE IT

Serving Vietnamese comfort food since 1993, need we say more? This neighborhood staple is run by Kim Lien Nguyen and her daughters. CASH ONLY.

WHAT IT IS

Modern Pinseria (Roman Pizza) with deep roots in Rome and a warm atmosphere that will make you feel right at home.

WHY WE LOVE IT

Montesacro is a neighborhood gem, a destination delight, and the first “Pinseria” in the United States. It resembles old Roman “Fraschette” offering a wide selection of artisanal cheeses and cured meats, cold dishes from Roman tradition, and a modern take on Pinsa, a low fat, low calorie, and easy-to-digest flatbread made with a blend of rice, soy and wheat flour imported directly from Rome, all GMO-free.

WHAT IT IS

An archival library with a vast resource of historic, anthropological material (books, periodicals, maps, printed ephemera)

WHY WE LOVE IT

Independent, image-rich research library geared to artists, community activists, researchers, and readers. They serve people interested in accessing and reusing research resources not commonly available in most libraries, and focus on underrepresented communities, topics, and narratives.

Photo by: paulsims

WHAT IT IS

This museum tells the story of this area peopled by immigrants & iconoclasts, artists & activists.

WHY WE LOVE IT

This place celebrates the rich history of one of San Francisco’s most misunderstood neighborhoods. The 31 blocks of the Tenderloin district are the beating heart of the city peopled by immigrants and iconoclasts, artists and activists, sinners, and saints. Visit the Tenderloin Museum today and encounter a kaleidoscopic American city in all its grit and glory.

WHAT IT IS

A speakeasy bar for those seeking a playful experience.

WHY WE LOVE IT

You’ll be greeted by a grumpy pawnbroker (actually an actor and more of a host) who guides diners into the restaurant. Dial the golden phone at the door to enter this cocktail & tapas bar set behind a second-hand store. From there, expect to be mock-hassled, then hustled through a secret entrance behind shelves, suddenly emerging inside a deco dining room and bar.

WHAT IT IS

San Francisco’s finest concert venue features the hottest music shows in the Bay Area.

WHY WE LOVE IT

The intimate venue began as a vaudeville theater in 1922 & now hosts a variety of national music acts. Need we say more?