Edinburgh Castle Pub in VS .NET

Generator Data Matrix 2d barcode in VS .NET Edinburgh Castle Pub

Chief among our expat watering holes is this popular pub, which hosts live music, readings, and even a Tuesday Quiz Night 950 Geary St (near Polk Street) % 415-885-4074

Fancy yourself an undiscovered singing sensation Make your way to the back room, where customers croon and the piano player is kind 4 Valencia St (at Market Street) The F-Market streetcar passes by % 415-241-0205

The Top of the Mark has it all views, music from 9 pm, dancing, and a convivial crowd of suits The hotel serves a Sunset three-course prix-fixe

dinner on Friday and Saturday nights; with 7:30 pm reservations, a night on the town is a done deal In the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel, 1 Nob Hill (at Mason and California streets) % 415-616-6916 To get there: For fun, take the California Street cable car and exit at the top of Nob Hill

True music fans will tell you that this club has the best sound system in town and books the hottest indie and pop bands It s a regular venue for Noise Pop (wwwnoisepopcom), the indie music festival scheduled around the last week in March 628 Divisadero St (between Grove and Hayes streets) % 415-771-1421 wwwthe independentsfcom To get there: Easiest by taxi

San Francisco has a thriving cultural scene, offering opera, dance, music, and edgy theater For tickets to any performance, call the appropriate box office directly or head online and order with a credit card Around Civic Center, City Box Office, 180 Redwood St, Suite 100 (% 415392-4400; wwwcityboxofficecom), sells tickets to shows playing at the Nob Hill Masonic Center, Project Artaud Theater, Herbst Theatre, and other lesser-known stages Hours are Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm If you arrive in town without plans, visit TIX Bay Area (% 415-433-7827; wwwtheatrebayareaorg/tix) for half-price tickets for same-day performances (a $1 $3 service charge is tacked on) TIX, which is also a BASS Ticketmaster outlet, is located on Union Square between Post and Geary streets; open Tuesday through Thursday 11 am to 6 pm, Friday 11 am to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm

Union Square houses at least ten professional theaters of varying sizes, and experimental theaters are scattered about the SoMa and Mission districts in converted warehouses and gallery spaces The preeminent company in town is the American Conservatory Theater (ACT), which produces a little of everything during its October to June season The sets and costumes are universally brilliant, and the acting is first-rate Productions take place in the lovely Geary Theater, 415 Geary St, at Mason Street (% 415-749-2228; wwwact-sfbayorg)

The San Francisco Opera season opens with a gala in September and ends quietly in early January Performances are produced in the War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave, at Grove Street (% 415-8643330; wwwsfoperacom), in the Civic Center

The San Francisco Symphony performs in the Louise M Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave, at Grove Street (% 415-864-6000; wwwsfsymphonyorg), in the Civic Center For more symphonic options in the Bay Area, check into San Francisco Performances (% 415-3986449; wwwperformancesorg)

Classical and modern dance groups abound, the most recognized being the San Francisco Ballet, whose season runs from February to June The troupe performs in the War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave, at Grove Street (% 415-865-2000; wwwsfballetorg) Some of the most interesting dance companies, including Smuin Ballets/SF, appear on stage at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St (% 415-978-2787; wwwybcaorg)

AAA The office at 150 Van Ness Ave in Civic Center provides maps and other information to members Call % 800-222-4357 for emergency service or % 415-565-2012 for information Baby Sitters Your hotel concierge can probably arrange for a baby sitter Otherwise, try American Child Care Service (% 415-285-2300; www americanchildcarecom), with rates starting at $19 per hour Emergencies For police, fire, or other emergencies, phone % 911 From cellphones, call % 415-553-8090 Hospitals Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, 900 Hyde St, between Bush and Pine streets (% 415353-6000), offers 24-hour emergency-care service The hospital s physician-referral service number is % 415-353-6566 San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Ave (% 415-206-8111), accepts uninsured emergency patients, but the wait can be brutally long and uncomfortable The patient-assistance number is % 415206-5166 Newspapers and Magazines The San Francisco Chronicle is the major daily newspaper; its Sunday Datebook section lists goings-on about town The weekly Bay Guardian, free at sidewalk kiosks and in bookstores, bars, and coffeehouses, is an excellent source for entertainment listings Police Dial % 911 in an emergency For nonemergencies, call % 415-553-0123 Post Office The Rincon Center houses a post office at 180 Steuart St, in the Embarcadero Call % 800-ASK-USPS or log on to wwwusps gov to find the branch nearest you Taxes Sales tax is 85 percent Hotel and parkinggarage taxes are 14 percent