Tell me everything you know about Nobb Hill.

May 9, 2008 6:21 PM

Tell me everything I need to know about Nobb Hill, San Francisco that will make living there this summer easier and more fun!

I will be there fome June 5th to August 6th. I won't have a car. Where should I eat, what should I see? Anywhere really exciting to take pictures.

I know about its Snobhill reputation but I hope I can find fun and not terribly expensive things to do while I'm there.

Also- is there a blog or website that keeps up with interesting things to do all around San Francisco? I love theatre, art, food and festivals but will be on a budget.

posted by thebrokenmuse to society & culture (9 comments total)

I will tell you one thing you need to know: it's "Nob" Hill, not "Nobb."
posted by Perplexity at 6:34 PM on May 9

Mister SF has a bunch of information, tips, etc. Click on "Local Joints" for stuff about the different neighborhoods.

SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle's web presence) also has neighborhood guides and other resources for the visitor.

SFist is the local version of NYC's Gothamist blog.

Eater SF is a daily blog about the City's bars and restaurants.
posted by trip and a half at 7:11 PM on May 9

The Onion is the best local weekly for events. Nob Hill is kind of sterile for me, but a lot of people live there so what do I know. The Exit Theater is down the hill in the Tenderloin, you might like that.
posted by rhizome at 7:12 PM on May 9

Perplexity beat me to it re: Nob.

That being said - there are plenty of not-very-expensive things to do in SF, especially for a newcomer. You definitely don't need a car - it's more trouble than it's worth in the city. This neighborhood guide gives a good overview (it's a bit outdated though, so check around to make sure things are still open) of the neighborhoods. Just walking around different neighborhoods can make for cheap entertainment and great photo ops.

You'll be in town for my favorite free thing to do - the Fillmore Street Jazz Festival.

The Musee Mechanique is pretty cool. Some of the other museums are free once a month.

Cheap eats can be had all over town, but to me the budget standouts are the Naan & Curry chain (I like the Sunset location) and the burritos at Taqueria Can-Cun. More cheap eats can be found here.
posted by chez shoes at 7:16 PM on May 9

First stop: get a MUNI Fast Pass. For $45 each month, it'll give you unlimited rides on the buses, trolleys, cable cars and BART (so long as each ride begins and ends in San Francisco).

Second stop: 511.org. 511.org will help you figure out how to get from where you're staying to anywhere else in San Francisco on public transportation using the Fast Pass.

Third stop: Read the free weekies to get a feel for what's going on in the city. The Guardian. SF Weekly. And while you're in town, The Onion's entertainment section is indeed very good.

Fourth stop: Upcoming.org and the Squid List for popular or unpopular events, respectively.

Fifth stop: Yelp. Wondering if a restaurant near your place stinks or is awesome or need a review of something? Yelping is like a pastime in this city.

San Francisco is an embarrassment of riches, so asking about what you should eat or what you should see is a bit broad in scope -- we'd need to know what you're interested in, since there's plenty of lots of things for everyone. Except good pizza, unfortunately.

Also, bring a jacket. You'll need it.
posted by eschatfische at 7:26 PM on May 9 [1 favorite]

eschatfische gives good advice. It can get pretty windy on Nob Hill, and you shouldn't ever expect "summer weather" in SF.

Another nice guide to events is Flavorpill.
posted by macrone at 7:35 PM on May 9

eschatfische nailed it. do those things and you will have fun!
posted by The Light Fantastic at 8:45 PM on May 9

Comfortable shoes.

I fell down a lot when I first moved to the city, also in the summer time. The roads and sidewalks are old and uneven and full of tram tracks and slippery from the summer fog. I soon discovered there's a reason San Franciscans wear such sturdy and practical looking shoes.
posted by padraigin at 9:34 PM on May 9

Except good pizza, unfortunately.

the words of a man who has never eaten at Arizmendi.

otherwise i wholeheartedly agree.

posted by fishfucker at 12:08 PM on May 10