San Francisco's Exploratorium offers free admission to the public on the first Wednesday of every month.

Housed within the walls of the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, the Exploratorium boasts more than 400 interactive science, art, and human perception exhibits for kids of all ages.

Also offering public presentations such as hands-on workshops, lectures, performances, films, and other special events, the museum aims to create a culture of learning through innovative environments, programs, and tools that help people nurture their curiosity about the world around them.

Dare to tread the San Andreas Fault where the earth's crust shifted and moved 5 meters (16 feet) in 1906!

Meet a Point Reyes National Seashore ranger at the start of the Earthquake Trail for this easy one-kilometer (0.6 miles) walk.

Join a Park Ranger for a lesiurely 1.3-kilometer (0.8-mile) tour and introduction to the history and culture of the Coast Miwok people.

The walk ends at Kule Loklo (meaning "Bear Valley"), a replica Miwok village.

Take advantage of Free Admission Hours every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crocker Art Museum. 

Established in 1885, the Crocker Art Museum is one of Northern California's largest and best museums of regional artists. The collection spans from the 10th century to contemporary periods and includes a stunning collection of European master drawings and a notable selection of contemporary California art. Museum programs include touring exhibitions, educational programs, public tours, and concerts.

A secret jewel of the Bay Area, Point Bonita is still an active lighthouse maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. Discover Point Bonita's wild landscape, geology, and fascinating history.

The lighthouse is reached by a half-mile trail, with a tunnel that is open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Point Bonita docents are on hand along the trail, and the setting offers breathtaking views.

Set in the tiny town of San Gregorio near Pescadero, the San Gregorio General Store is more than an old-time shop selling both practical and whimsical goods in an historic building. It's also a saloon serving 18 kinds of tequila, and a popular gathering place for both locals and those just passing through.

San Gregorio also hosts live music every weekend. For a schedule of upcoming performances, visit sangregoriostore.com/livemusic.html.

California State Parks docents offer free, half-hour guided history walks around the grounds of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (except on rainy days).

No reservations necessary. 

Midtown Stomp offers swing dancing every Friday night at Sacramento's Eastern Star Ballroom, a historic landmark built in 1928. Join the beginning swing dancing lesson from 8-9 p.m., and then keep dancing until midnight!

Lessons are social with rotating partners -- you don't need a partner to join. Dance the Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, Charleston, Balboa, and many other fun, vintage dances.

Blue Blanket Improv presents a laugh-out-loud, high-energy, fun-for-the-whole-family comedy theater experience unparalleled on the coast! Bring a friend or several and enjoy a night of laughs.

Performing in outdoor venues around the Bay Area -- from beaches to parks to anywhere they can hang their eponymous blanket -- Blue Blanket Improv is committed to inspiring laughter in others, bringing theater to those who might not attend otherwise, and giving back to the community.

For more than 20 years sea music enthusiasts have gathered at San Francisco's Hyde Street Pier on the historic tall ships C. A. Thayer and Balclutha to sing chanteys and other sea songs.

This free event, which takes place the first Saturday of every month, has garnered a loyal following, drawing 80 to 200 people monthly.

Hear California history come alive with chanteys that describe the perils of San Francisco's Barbary Coast, the dangers of rounding Cape Horn, cruel ship officers, the joys and curse of drink, and hopes for riches during the Gold Rush.

Be sure to bring a mug for complimentary apple cider!

Reservations required; call (415) 561-7171.

Held every second Sunday of the month, the Sacramento Antique Faire is a meeting place for hundreds of antique dealers from throughout Northern California.

Come paw through furniture, textiles, architectural pieces, jewelry, cultural pieces, china, glassware, garden accessories, rugs, art, collectibles, and more.

While you're hunting for your one-of-a-kind treasure, fortify yourself with the variety of offerings from the numerous food vendors at the Faire.

Every third Wednesday of the month, the newly reopened California Academy of Sciences offers free admission to all guests.

Located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, this groundbreaking institution has been a city landmark for more than 150 years, and is the only facility in the world to combine a museum, aquarium, planetarium, and world-class research and education programs under one roof.

This unique combination allows visitors to explore everything from the depths of a Philippine coral reef to the canopy of a Costa Rican rainforest to the outer reaches of the universe -- all within a single visit.

The new facility -- which employs sustainable materials and energy-saving technologies -- unifies the Academy's original array of 12 buildings into a single, modern monument to eco-conscious architecture. Crowning the building is the Living Roof, a 2.5-acre expanse of native California plants and wildflowers, which creates a sense of transparency and connectedness between the building and the surrounding park.

On the second Saturday of each month, galleries in Sacramento stay open for a Sacramento Art Walk late into the evening, allowing people to walk from gallery to gallery, viewing, experiencing, and discovering local art and meeting artists. 

While galleries all over Sacramento participate, most are clustered in two main areas: Midtown Sacramento and along Del Paso Boulevard in the Uptown Art District (the number of Downtown galleries is also growing). These areas support thriving arts communities, and the venues' close proximity, walkable streets, interesting boutiques, and many restaurants make for an enjoyable, leisurely walk.

Download a map at 2nd-sat.com.

San Francisco's most visited museums offer FREE admission on the first Tuesday of every month. Take advantage of Free Museum Tuesdays at:

Conservatory of Flowers
Located in Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers boasts almost 2,000 plant species in five immersive galleries. From tropical flowers to giant water lilies, the conservatory is a lush and diverse living museum for all ages.

de Young Museum
Founded in 1895 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the de Young boasts a state-of-the-art new facility that integrates art, architecture, and the natural landscape in one multi-faceted destination. The museum showcases collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, and art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific. Admission fees to special exhibits still apply.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art
As the only folk art museum in Northern California, the museum is known for a rich offering of focused and unique exhibitions of traditional and contemporary folk art and craft from around the world, demonstrating how folk art, contemporary craft, and fine art are all part of the same continuum.

Palace of the Legion of Honor
Built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I, the Legion of Honor is a beautiful Beaux-arts building located in San Francisco's Lincoln Park. Displaying an impressive collection of 4,000 years worth of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, the Legion is also home to an early cast of Rodin's famous "Thinker" sculpture. Admission fees to special exhibits still apply.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Located in downtown San Francisco, SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art. Opened in 1935 to "explore compelling expressions of visual culture," the permanent collection comprises more than 25,000 works of modern and contemporary art, including photography, painting, sculpture, media arts, architecture, and design. Admission fees to special exhibits still apply.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
YBCA presents contemporary art from the Bay Area and around the world that reflects the profound issues and ideas of our time, expands the boundaries of artistic practice, and celebrates the diversity of human experience and expression.

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco offers free admission to all visitors on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art, the Asian Art Museum collection spans 6,000 years of history and includes 17,000 objects, from tiny jades to monumental sculptures, paintings, porcelains and ceramics, lacquers, textiles, furniture, arms and armor, puppets, and basketry.

Take advantage of Free Admission Hours every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crocker Art Museum. 

Established in 1885, the Crocker Art Museum is one of Northern California's largest and best museums of regional artists. The collection spans from the 10th century to contemporary periods and includes a stunning collection of European master drawings and a notable selection of contemporary California art. Museum programs include touring exhibitions, educational programs, public tours, and concerts.

Vipassana, or mindfulness meditation, was first taught by the Buddha 2,500 years ago. In this style of meditation, widespread today in Southeast Asia and increasingly popular in the West, one learns to watch what arises without judgment or reaction.

In so doing, the mind can become clear and steady, and we begin to see things as they really are, without the distortion of our hopes, fears and confusion. Some apply mindfulness to reduce stress and control pain, and many find the practice a help with daily life, but the Buddha's purpose was clear: this way of seeing leads to freedom from suffering.

Coastside Vipassana meets at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel on Wednesday evenings, for meditation and a dhamma talk from a visiting teacher. Everyone is welcome -- the merely curious, the earnest beginner, or the dedicated practitioner.

During the tense years from 1953 to 1979, the United States Army built and operated a total of 280 Nike missile firing batteries in the United States, emplaced as the last line of defense against Soviet bombers. Today, site SF-88 in the Marin Headlands has been turned into a museum, and is the only restored Nike missile site in the country.

Visit SF-88 and see the tools of the Cold War up close. The site is open Wednesday through Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., with guided walks beginning every hour. There is also an "open house" on the first Saturday of every month, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., with volunteer docents and Nike veterans on hand.

Join State Parks docents for a guided nature walk through Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve. Part of Pescadero State Beach, the marsh is the only extensive wetland along the coast of the San Francisco Peninsula, and includes a complex of several habitats.

More than 200 species of birds have been recorded in the marsh, including more than 60 that nest there, among them the Great Blue Heron. Species in the marsh listed under the Endangered Species Act include the San Francisco garter snake, California red-legged frog, tidewater goby, steelhead trout, and Coho salmon.

During the tense years from 1953 to 1979, the United States Army built and operated a total of 280 Nike missile firing batteries in the United States, emplaced as the last line of defense against Soviet bombers. Today, site SF-88 in the Marin Headlands has been turned into a museum, and is the only restored Nike missile site in the country.

Visit SF-88 and see the tools of the Cold War up close. There is an "open house" on the first Saturday of every month, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., with volunteer docents and Nike veterans on hand. The site is also open Wednesday through Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., with guided walks beginning every hour.

Open 365 days a year, the Old Princeton Landing is Princeton-by-the-Sea's nightspot for live music, dancing, and pool. Artists of all stripes -- from rock-a-billy bands to hip-hop artists -- take to the stage on Friday and Saturday nights, often with a minimal cover change.

Every Sunday night, the Stan Erhart Band leads a cover fee-free, professional-level Blues Open Jam session with musicians from all over the Bay Area.

So, if you're feeling down, scrape up enough change for a bottle of beer and head down to the Old Princeton Landing to chase your blues away.

Cetrella Bistro and Cafe offers seasonal Mediterranean cuisine and an award-winning wine collection, and routinely garners some of the best restaurant reviews on the Coastside.

If the Bistro menu is beyond your budget, try dropping into the bar for a drink and live jazz music, presented every Friday and Saturday night. As the San Francisco Chronicle notes, "Cetrella is celebrated for its well-crafted dishes and extensive wine list. But it offers just as delectable and intoxicating fare when it comes to music. Cetrella has become an invaluable venue for Northern California jazz and blues singers."

A bar menu featuring small plates, wood oven pizzas, and a few entrees is also available.

Join your guide Henry for an extensive walk through the streets (and over the hills) of San Francisco.

Enjoy the sights of the city as you wander through neighborhoods such as Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Chinatown, North Beach, and Telegraph Hill. See Lombard Street, Coit Tower, and some of the oldest homes and hidden gardens in the city.

To join in, please sign up in advance at your hostel's front desk. This outing is held weekly, and is organized by Hostelling International -- everyone staying at one of our three San Francisco hostels is welcome!

Most Thursday nights, the California Academy of Sciences opens its doors after hours for NightLife.

Adults have a chance to explore the museum at night in a whole new light, as they dance to some of San Francisco's most popular DJs, enjoy food and cocktails, and mingle while perusing the Academy's world-class exhibits and getting up close and personal with aquarium critters.

Take in some knowledge with your libations -- each week features provocative science programming and a few surprises.

The only children's museum in the U.S. to be located in a national park, the Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor children's museum nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The first Wednesday of the month, admission is free to the museum. Bring the family down to explore the 7.5-acre, indoor-outdoor environment that harmonizes nature and nurture.

Check out permanent exhibits such as "Lookout Cove," which includes a shipwreck with clues to dig up and discover, native animal homes to build, tidal pools, and more; and the "San Francisco Bay Hall," a playful simulation of the Bay Area with an "underwater" tunnel, 300-gallon sea star tank, a fishing boat, a model of Fisherman's Wharf, and a play shipping port.

Meet your guide David at the San Francisco Downtown Hostel for a free historical tour of downtown San Francisco.

Learn about Union Square, Chinatown, Nob Hill, and other downtown landmarks. Don't forget your camera!

To join in, please sign up in advance at your hostel's front desk. This outing is held weekly, and is organized by Hostelling International -- everyone staying at one of our three San Francisco hostels is welcome!

Join your tour guide Joe for an evening excursion to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Located in downtown San Francisco, SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art. Opened in 1935 to "explore compelling expressions of visual culture," the permanent collection comprises more than 25,000 works of modern and contemporary art, including photography, painting, sculpture, media arts, architecture, and design.

SFMOMA offers half-price admission and extended hours every Thursday starting at 6 p.m., making this the perfect chance to soak up some culture with your fellow hostellers.

To join in, please sign up in advance at your hostel's front desk. This outing is organized by Hostelling International -- everyone staying at one of our three San Francisco hostels is welcome!

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel's restaurant -- the lovely Cafe Franco -- transforms from a dining space into a film screening room.

The hostel shows a different film each weekend night fitting into a special theme (such as "So Bad it's Good" or "Shot in San Francisco,"), so check the events calendar at the front desk to see what's playing this week. Or, just drop in to see what's on the screen, and kick back with some freshly popped corn.

Café Franco also dishes up healthy, low-cost dinner specials and tasty coffee drinks during the screenings, so you won't go away hungry.

San Francisco City Guides offer free historical and architectural walking tours of San Francisco's most famous (or, in some cases, infamous) districts, as well as some of its more hidden neighborhoods.

Approximately 30 different walks are offered each month, year-round, rain or shine. Walkers meet at the place and time designated in the current tour schedule. No reservations are required.

Come see and select from a wide variety of flowers and greenery, all grown on the San Mateo County coast.

Motorheads far and wide rev up to come to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay for Harbor Nights, a coastal car and motorcycle show held on the first Thursday of the month.

Owners of classic cars, trucks, tricked-out motorcycles, and hot rods show off their pride and joy while providing a glimpse of early automotive and motorcycle technology. Chat with the owners to learn about the process that went into each machine, as many of them have taken years to create or restore.

Hunted to the brink of extinction at the turn of the 20th century, the northern elephant seal has made a strong comeback in the past 100 years, thanks in part to both government restrictions on hunting and their own secluded, deep-sea lifestyle.

For just a few months each year, these unique creatures come ashore, returning to various spots along the California coast to compete, mate, and give birth. It’s a powerful ecological pageant that only plays out from mid-December through March/April.

The Point Reyes National Seashore offers a specific overlook near Chimney Rock, above Drakes Bay, where visitors can observe a colony of elephant seals through scopes and binoculars. On weekends from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., docents are on hand at the overlook to answer questions.

In addition, a special 30-minute slide program about elephant seals may be offered at the Historic Lifeboat Station, depending on staffing availability. Ask at a visitor center for more information.

Engaging in the longest migration of any mammal, the California gray whale swims 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) each year, spending about one-third of its life migrating from the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Alaska, to the warm, shallow lagoons of Baja California. Along the way, these incredible animals can often be seen from the shores of Point Reyes.

On weekends and holidays from late December through April, you can watch the whales through binoculars and scopes from the Point Reyes Lighthouse observation deck. Volunteer docents will be on hand to answer questions about these majestic mammals.

In addition, you can learn about the gray whales' habits and adaptations during the ranger-led "Journey of the Whales" program, held on weekends and holidays from 1:30 - 2 p.m.

Hunted to the brink of extinction at the turn of the 20th century, the northern elephant seal has made a strong comeback in the past 100 years, thanks in part to both government restrictions on hunting and their own secluded, deep-sea lifestyle.

For just a few months each year, these unique creatures come ashore, returning to various spots along the California coast to compete, mate, and give birth. It's a powerful ecological pageant that only plays out from mid-December through March/April.

Ano Nuevo State Reserve boasts the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal, and offers guided walks -- rain or shine -- to see the animals.

The only way to access the seals during the breeding season, these popular three-mile walks over rolling sand dunes last about 2.5 hours and are considered moderately strenuous. Visitors should prepare for an outdoor hiking adventure that may include high winds, heavy rains, and cold temperatures. Food and beverages are not sold at the reserve, but picnic tables are available for use before or after guided walks. Special access tours for guests with disabilities are available.

This walk is extremely popular, and visitors often have to book their tickets months in advance to secure a spot on a tour. However, a limited number of tickets are held exclusively for guests of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel in nearby Pescadero. These tickets are available for Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Ask how you can reserve tickets to this sought-after tour when you book your hostel stay. Please note that groups of 10 or more can’t reserve tickets through the hostel and must reserve their tickets online through the State Park.

Hunted to the brink of extinction at the turn of the 20th century, the northern elephant seal has made a strong comeback in the past 100 years, thanks in part to both government restrictions on hunting and their own secluded, deep-sea lifestyle.

For just a few months each year, these unique creatures come ashore, returning to various spots along the California coast to compete, mate, and give birth. It’s a powerful ecological pageant that only plays out from mid-December through March/April.

Ano Nuevo State Reserve boasts the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal, and offers guided walks -- rain or shine -- to see the animals.

The only way to access the seals during the breeding season, these popular three-mile walks over rolling sand dunes last about 2.5 hours and are considered moderately strenuous. Visitors should prepare for an outdoor hiking adventure that may include high winds, heavy rains, and cold temperatures. Food and beverages are not sold at the reserve, but picnic tables are available for use before or after guided walks. Special access tours for guests with disabilities are available.

This walk is extremely popular, and visitors often have to book their tickets months in advance to secure a spot on a tour. However, a limited number of tickets are held exclusively for guests of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel in nearby Pescadero. These tickets are available for Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Ask how you can reserve tickets to this sought-after tour when you book your hostel stay. Please note that groups of 10 or more can’t reserve tickets through the hostel and must reserve their tickets online through the State Park.

The James Johnston House, a.k.a. The White House of Half Moon Bay, sits overlooking the Pacific Ocean, its silhouette a striking sight against the surrounding hillsides.

This classic New England salt-box (two stories in front, one in back) was built by 49er pioneer James Johnston between 1853 and 1855, for his Californian bride, Petra Maria de Jara. In 1971, the Johnston House Foundation was established to protect, preserve, restore, and refurbish the house, and to promote the history of the Coastside and California.

The Johnston House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open to visitors on the third Saturday of the month, January - September, with docent-led tours available. A special "Holiday House" event is held the first two weekends in November.

Before the establishment of life-saving and lifeboat stations, the remains of vessels littered the beaches and the rocks along the United States coastline. Horrified spectators witnessed the drowning of passengers and crew, helpless to do anything.

It was not until 1871 that a coordinated government agency was established to aid distressed mariners. The United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS) provided hope for those whose fate was once sealed by pounding ocean waves and foreboding coastlines.

At the historic lifeboat station at Chimney Rock, you can visit a site where heroes of the California coast were housed. See the historic lifeboat, view exhibits, and experience 80 years of lifesaving history at Point Reyes. Hands-on interactive activities allow both children and adults to learn about seal and whale adaptations, and a special 30-minute slide program about elephant seals may be available, depending on staffing.

Join your fellow hostellers for a trip to one of San Francisco's oldest and most captivating neighborhoods: Chinatown.

Though it's only a few blocks away from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel, Chinatown is another world unto itself, bustling with shops and buzzing with people. Explore hidden alleyways, sip various Chinese teas, see mysterious historic temples, and visit the famous San Francisco Fortune Cookie Factory.

To join in, please sign up in advance at your hostel's front desk. This outing is organized by Hostelling International -- everyone staying at one of our three San Francisco hostels is welcome!

Feel like relaxing after a long day of hiking along the coast? Stop in to the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel's fog signal building for an evening flick with your fellow hostellers.

Films are presented on Blu-ray on the hostel's new high-definition flat screen TV, and range from family-friendly favorites to timely documentaries. Movies filmed at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse are also thrown into the mix.

Programming changes daily, so check the schedule at the front desk to see what's playing tonight!

Join State Parks docents for a guided nature walk through Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve. Part of Pescadero State Beach, the marsh is the only extensive wetland along the coast of the San Francisco Peninsula, and includes a complex of several habitats.

More than 200 species of birds have been recorded in the marsh, including more than 60 that nest there, among them the Great Blue Heron. Species in the marsh listed under the Endangered Species Act include the San Francisco garter snake, California red-legged frog, tidewater goby, steelhead trout, and Coho salmon.

Pie Ranch is a complex place with a simple mission: to teach people where their food comes from.

A hands-on farm and food system education center, Pie Ranch is located on a 14-acre plot of land above the historic Steele Ranch. Using the ever-popular dessert pie as a model, the ranch teaches visitors -- many of them urban youth -- about the full cycle of food production. The farm grows or raises almost every element needed for the pie, including wheat for pie crusts, berries for filling, bees for honey, goats for milk, and chickens for eggs.

With a place like this, the best way to experience it is to get your hands dirty, which visitors can do every third Saturday of the month when Pie Ranch hosts a community work day, guided ranch tour, potluck dinner, and barn dance.

Join in the celebration as farmers, volunteers, and "food system change makers" gather to work throughout the afternoon, then let their hair down once the evening comes around.

Bring something to share at the potluck, then swing to the sounds of the County Line Pickers, accompanied by a live dance caller. You don't need to volunteer during the day in order to join the party at night, but volunteers do get a discount on dance admission!

The ranch's Roadside Barn Farm Stand is also open seasonally on weekends, for folks who just want a peek at the farm and to purchase its goods, which include handmade pies, fresh local produce, and eggs from the ranch's free-range hens

Housed in a restored barn in Point Reyes Station, the Cowgirl Creamery has been making handcrafted, farmstead cheese in small batches since 1997. Nationally recognized for its artisan quality, the Creamery offers tours of its ecologically conscious facilities on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. and Fridays at 11:30 a.m.

Foodies and dairy junkies won't want to miss the chance to go behind the scenes, where the Creamery makes about 3,000 pounds of cheese per week. Peek through a viewing window and watch how they make the goods, and learn about the cheese-making process in a 25-minute presentation. The tour ends with a tasting of Cowgirl Creamery cheeses.

Afterwards, peruse the cheese counter to sample cheeses from more than 200 of America's and Europe's most prized producers, or check out the selection of local produce and other goodies.

Reservations for the tour are strongly recommended; call (415) 663-9335 or book your tour online.

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership offers a variety of walking tours designed to  introduce visitors to the people, places, and events that shaped California history. At least one walk is offered daily except Saturdays, and topics range from art and architecture to cultural, religious, and urban history.

Current scheduled walks include:

• Kids Meet the City, a tour of California history especially for kids
• Tales of the Central City, an overview of early Sacramento history
• Structural Stories, local examples of historical architecture styles
• Art Is All Around Us, a tour of Sacramento's collection of art in public places
• Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, about K Street commerce, growth, and redevelopment
• The Art of Terra Cotta, an architecture tour featuring local clay artisan Gladding McBean

Tours are $10 and leave from within a short walk of the Sacramento Hostel.

Reservations are required; call (916) 442-8575 or email dsp@downtownsac.org.

San Francisco's famed Grace Cathedral presents a series of free recitals featuring some of the world's greatest organists, playing the cathedral's magnificent 7,466-pipe, Aeolian-Skinner organ.

After Easter (April 4), the series goes on hiatus, as work begins to replace the failing roofs over the two organ chambers. So go while you've still got the chance!

The Chinatown Community Street Fair takes place the weekend of the Chinese New Year Parade and is an opportunity for visitors to experience Chinese cultural arts such as folk dance, music, kite making, calligraphy, and acrobatics.

Traditional and modern entertainment is featured on the main stage throughout both days. Kids can enjoy the street fair's petting zoo and other fun activities.

Chinese New Year is a two-week spring festival celebrated for more than 5,000 years in China. The San Francisco Chinese New Year celebration originated in the 1860s during the Gold Rush days, and is now the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia.

The celebration includes two major fairs, the Chinese New Year Flower Fair (February 6-7) and the Chinatown Community Street Fair (February 27-28). The highlight of the festivities is the spectacular Chinese New Year Parade (February 27).

Noise Pop is San Francisco's leading independent music festival, showcasing nationally known indie rock, electronic, punk, and cutting-edge musical artists, as well as the best local bands.

Going 18 years strong, this year's festival boasts more than 60 bands and solo artists, including the Magnetic Fields, Mirah, Atlas Sound, John Vanderslice, Four Tet, Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band, Deerhoof, and Nice Nice, at various venues throughout the city. Some of the most widely acclaimed bands in America played Noise Pop as emerging artists early in their careers, including The White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, The Shins, The Flaming Lips, The Donnas, The Decemberists, and Bright Eyes.

In addition, Noise Pop features a film festival, screening music documentaries and videos that embrace and reflect independent music and culture. This years films include P-Star Rising, the story of a nine-year-old rapper who goes from performing on the street corners to sold-out club shows, and Downtown Calling, a retrospective portrait of the underground scene in the late 1970s, featuring Fab 5 Freddy, Mos Def, TV on The Radio, Debbie Harry, and many more.

The festival also includes Pop 'n' Shop (Feb. 27), an independent design fair featuring over 40 Bay Area designers and artists selling their latest chic and unique clothing, jewelry, limited edition screen-printed posters, and other fun stuff at affordable prices. There will be tasty snacks for sale as well as a full bar and, of course, excellent music.

A festival showcasing independent music and film wouldn't be complete without art. The Art of Noise exhibition (Feb. 19-28) celebrates artists who create work that traverses the two timeless muses of Art and Music.

Lastly, the festival hosts Industry Noise, a day-long conference for musicians, groupies, music writers, and tech geeks on independent music, technology, and the changing music industry. In addition to panels and speakers, there will be small discussion groups and individual mentoring, with some "big names" talking about how they manage their music careers.

Long closed to public access, Battery Townsley in the Marin Headlands has been refurbished and is now open to visitors the second Sunday of the month.

Come explore this labyrinthine fortification, and learn about San Francisco's most extensive -- and most secret -- World War II military fortification.

From 1940 to 1948, it mounted two massive battleship guns and housed more than 100 soldiers in an extensive network of underground tunnels; during the Cold War, it was used as an underground research facility.

Battery Townsley is reached via a moderately strenuous hike up the Coastal Trail, approximately one half-mile north of the Rodeo Beach parking lot.

Join Marin Headlands docent Jane Haley on an easy walk to Rodeo Lagoon to discover our springtime visitors.

Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Reservations required; call (415) 331-1540.

Join architectural historian Kristin Baron for an easy, one-mile walk through Fort Baker in the Marin Headlands.

See the historic Colonial Revival buildings that make up the fort, and learn how this 1905 army post represented a new and improved standard of living for the officers and soldiers stationed there.

It's pinniped pupping season in the Marin Headlands! Grab your binoculars and head out on this family program hosted by the Headlands Institute.

Make a moderate four-mile roundtrip hike in search of Harbor Seals at Point Bonita, then end the afternoon with a visit to The Marine Mammal Center, where pinniped patients are nursed back to health and released into the ocean.
 
Pre-registration is required.

Neighboring the Pillar Point Harbor, Sam's Chowder House is one of Half Moon Bay's most picturesque bars and seafood restaurants. This beachside restaurant boasts beautiful ocean views, from both the dining room and spacious outdoor patios.

Aside from serving food, Sam's presents live local music on Friday and Saturday nights, including jazz, blues, rock, and more. For a list of scheduled performers, visit samschowderhouse.com/news/music.html.

The regular menu prices will considerably lighten your wallet, but for the cost of a beer or cocktail you can stop in to hear the sounds and soak up the surroundings. Grab some fresh shellfish appetizers to share at the seafood bar on the patio, and lounge in Adirondack chairs while admiring the seaside sunset.

The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is a casual oceanfront restaurant and brewpub in Half Moon Bay, located on Pillar Point Harbor (just half a mile from the world-famous Maverick's surf break).

Friday - Sunday each week, local bands perform live at the Brewing Company, bringing sounds to the shore from jazz and blues to world beat and reggae. Bands perform Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 p.m., and Sundays from 4-8 p.m.

So, relax like the locals do, with a pint of locally brewed beer, some live music, and a seat beside one of the pub's patio firepits, overlooking the Pacific.

Join members of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory on their monthly bird walk through the National Seashore.

On March 6, the group heads to Chimney Rock to see elephant seals finishing their breeding season, seabirds beginning theirs, and migrating grey whales.

The northern migration of the California gray whale is in effect, and one of the best places to watch is from the boardwalk behind the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Weekends March through May, California State Park volunteers set up interpretive tables at the point observation deck to help educate the public about these majestic animals.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church on Capitol Park hosts free noontime concerts every Wednesday.

This month's schedule includes:

March 3: UC Davis Chamber Ensembles

March 10: Music of the Baroque Era with Camellia Camerata

March 17: Nicole Makram (violin) with Jason Sia (piano)

March 24: Music of the Baroque Era with Passamezzo Moderno

March 31: 14-year-old violinist Ray Anthony Trujillo 

For the full schedule, visit the series website.

IndieSacramento is Sacramento's largest indie/alternative craft fair. On March 20, the fair takes place at The California Museum, and museum admission is free!

Supported by a group of local crafters, the purpose behind IndieSacramento is to help spread the word about locally owned businesses and to help Sacramento gain the reputation it deserves as a city with cutting-edge art, crafts, and fashion -- plus great local shopping and eats.

Shop for hip, handmade goods, clothing, and accessories, and check out the new exhibits at The California Museum -- for free!

The Sacramento International Folk Dance and Arts Council presents the Camellia International Folk Dance Festival, their annual dance performance program.

Come watch Sacramento-area cultural dance groups perform traditional dances from countries throughout the world, including Serbia, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Scotland, and others.

Stay after the performance for an easy dance lesson to try out the dance steps for yourself.

The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in historic Old Sacramento is an all-ages celebration of Irish culture that's been going 14 years strong.

The parade starts at 1 p.m. and features 500 costumed marchers, Gold Rush historic re-enactors, school bands, floats, military regiments, police and fire representatives, and other cultural organizations.

Before and after the parade, the streets come alive with Irish-themed music, Celtic dancers, and the Ophir Prison Marching and Kazoo Band. During the evening, many Old Sacramento restaurants feature Irish specialities.

Wander through the lush gardens and along the grand avenues of the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery, the resting place of many remarkable Californians. Established in 1849 and designed to resemble a Victorian garden, the City Cemetery is an outdoor museum recording California history from the Gold Rush Era through today.

Docents provide free guided walking tours every other Saturday; go here for a list of upcoming tours. You can also take a self-guided tour during regular hours.

Open every day, San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace is a foodie mecca, offering fresh organic produce, gourmet treats, and fine dining. With a focus on small, regional food producers -- and many eateries and small businesses owned by well-known top chefs -- you can sample local artisan cheeses, chocolates, breads, and more.

Most Saturday mornings, celebrated Bay Area chefs stop in to demonstrate ways to prepare the sustainable, seasonable goods found in the Farmers' Market. Visitors can watch these experts in action, taste their creations, and leave with recipes to try themselves at home. Programs sometimes include interviews with farmers, food artisans, or other Farmers' Market vendors.

This month's schedule includes:

March 6: Joe Hargrave of Tacolicious

March 13: Michael Kalanty, author of How to Bake Bread

March 20: Peter Rudolph of Madera Restaurant at the Rosewood Sandhill, and David Bazirgan of Chez Papa Resto

March 27:Lorna Sass, author of Whole Grains Every Day Every Way, and Dominique Crenn of Luce

See the website for the full event schedule.

Join San Francisco Historical Society Docent Monika Trobits for a 90-minute tour exploring Coit Tower, its history, and its remarkable murals.

This tour is limited to 24 people; reserve at rsvp@sfhistory.org or by calling (415) 537-1105, ext. 100.

San Francisco's Dogpatch/Potrero Point neighborhood has many important ties to the city's historic commercial industries. From shipbuilding to fashion, sugar-refining to the internet, rope-making to show business, the eclectic group of industries that have resided in this area have left their mark through numerous booms and busts.

Explore the past and present of this surprising neighborhood in transition. Afterwards, join your fellow tour-goers for an optional lunch at Goat Hill Pizza on Potrero Hill.

This tour is limited to 25 people; reserve at rsvp@sfhistory.org or by calling (415) 537-1105, ext. 100.

Take a free walking tour with the San Francisco Historical Society. From devastation to dynamic rebirth, this tour showcases San Francisco's "rising" after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.

From the Old Mint, a national historic landmark, walk to Union Square, site of Civil War-era rallies; then stroll down Maiden Lane, a sunny street with a shady past. Visit the oldest Asian temple in the United States and the Clarion Music Center on Sacramento Street.

Join San Francisco Historical Society Docent Lesley Walsh on a 90-minute tour of the famous Mission Dolores, which has stood in the city since 1791.

Learn how 19th century settlers built the Mission District surrounding Mission Dolores, about Indian and missionary life in the area, and why the old mission survived the 1906 earthquake and fire.
 
Visit the mission museum, the 20th century parish church next door, and the oldest remaining cemetery in San Francisco, with graves of Indians, Spaniards, Mexicans, and Gold Rush immigrants.

The annual St. Patrick's Day celebration in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza showcases Irish culture with colorful festivities throughout the day.

The "largest St. Patrick's Day event west of the Mississippi" features live performances, cultural competitions, games, arts and crafts, and food and beverage vendors, as well as children's activities.

At 11:30 a.m., the St. Patrick's Day Parade -- 5,000 marchers strong and celebrating its 159th anniversary as a San Francisco tradition -- starts from the intersection of Market and 2nd Streets and proceeds down Market to Civic Center Plaza.

Hostelling International - San Francisco is proud to premiere our new promo video, which is actually more of a short film (because if you’re gonna do it, do it up right).

What happens when a director recruits his ex-girlfriend for a video gig, and pays her in donuts? Come to the premiere party and find out!

Action, romance, hijinks -- all this plus a keg o’ brew and Thatcher’s gourmet popcorn. Join us!

Who's Who

Danny Plotnick, director
KC Smith, cinematography
Jim Granato, 2nd camera
Miles Montalbano, grip & sound

Written by Stuart Bousel

Starring:
Rana Weber as The Host
Michael Cassidy as The Director
Jenni Gebhardt as The Staff Person
Jim Granato as The Camera Guy
Monica Bhat Nagar
GB Blackmon III
Stuart Bousel
Josh Greene
Nick Hanna
Julia Heitner
Jason Hirsch
Jennifer Liu
Jeffrey Daniel Parry

Music:
Jeffrey Cobb
Ed Hartman
Jonathan Richman

Illustrations by Michael Wertz
Animation by Danny Plotnick & Jeremy Troy
Produced by Molly Mitoma

Getting There

From the San Francisco City Center Hostel:
Exit the hostel to the left, and turn left on Larkin Street. Walk 7 blocks south. When you cross Market Street, Larkin becomes Ninth Street. Walk another 1.5 blocks south on Ninth Street; the Ninth Street Media Center is on your left, between Mission and Howard.

From the San Francisco Downtown Hostel:
From Powell and Market streets, take BART or MUNI underground metro to the Civic Center station, or take MUNI bus/trolley 9, 6, 71, or F to the Ninth Street stop. Walk 1.5 blocks south on Ninth Street; the Ninth Street Media Center is on your left, between Mission and Howard.

From the San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel:
From the bus stop at Van Ness and Bay, take MUNI bus 47 or 49 southbound to the Market Street stop. Walk 3 blocks east on Market to Ninth Street. Turn right and walk 1.5 blocks south; the Ninth Street Media Center is on your left, between Mission and Howard.

On this moderately strenuous hike, see and learn about some of the ships that perished on the rocky cliffs of San Francisco's Golden Gate.

Reservations required; call (415) 561-4323.

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra (SFCO) is dedicated to exploring music composed for chamber orchestras from the 17th to the 21st centuries, and has been playing free concerts for Bay Area audiences for more than five decades.

SFCO's Home Concerts series features their signature blend of classic favorites, overlooked gems, and world premieres.

On March 19, catch "Mandolin Magic with Avi Avital." The noted Israeli mandolinist will perform works by Corelli, Bach, Beethoven, Golijov, and tango encores by Piazzolla.

Ever heard of a happy hour that lasted an entire week? Yelp's got one going on in San Francisco!

During the first week of March, 25 of the city's top bars and restaurants are offering three scrumptious cocktails at half-price -- and these specials are good all day, all night, all week.

Several of the participating establishments are located within a few blocks of the San Francisco Downtown Hostel, including Puccini and Pinetti, Grand Cafe, Gitane, and Fifth Floor Restaurant.

If you're staying at the San Francisco City Center Hostel, sample a French Pear ($4), a Spicy Dirty One ($5), or a JB's Ginger Manhattan ($5) at Olive, just one block from the hostel. Or head 4 blocks to Rye for a Basil Gimlet, a Fireside, or a Dogpatch (each $5).

Guests at the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel can check out The Parlor near Fisherman's Wharf, and sip an Eagle Rare Manhattan, Spring Mountain, or Herradura Margarita (each $5.50).

For the full list of venues and drinks, go here.

Enjoy the autumnal beauty of the Marin Headlands on a moderate three-mile hike around Rodeo Cove.

While exploring various habitats on this guided walk, you'll rove lagoon, valley, and beach, seeking what's "uniquely Headlands."

Reservations required; call (415) 331-1540.

Spring is in bloom! Join an experienced YMCA for a strenuous and exhilarating trek up Miwok Trail to Wolf Ridge Trail, one of the most beautiful hikes in the Marin Headlands.

Registration is requested by March 17; call (415) 331-9622.

On March 13, the Marine Mammal Center hosts their annual fun run/walk and fundraiser, Run for the Seals.

Race participants can choose from two routes through the Marin Headlands: the official four-mile race (starting at 9:30 a.m.) and a two-mile scenic route overlooking the ocean, with viewing, refreshment, and education stations along the way.

Both racers and spectators can enjoy the annual Fun Day at the Marine Mammal Center, with food, drink, and tours from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Be sure to drop by the Marin Headlands Hostel's Fun Day booth, and say hi!

Race registration is $35 for adults ($40 day-of-race) and includes a one-year membership to the Marine Mammal Center. Spectators can attend the Fun Day free of charge.

Please note that, due to the race, the Bunker Road tunnel entrance to the Marin Headlands will be closed from 8:45 a.m. to noon.

Now in its 28th year, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) showcases a dynamic and forward-looking selection of the best in new Asian and Asian American cinema from around the globe.

Ranging from locally produced documentaries to Asian blockbusters that have been lauded on the international film festival circuit, the Festival’s program is the largest showcase of its kind in the world.

This year's festival features a special focus on Filipino and Filipino American cinema and media. SFIAAFF will also present the world premiere of Deann Borshay Liem's new feature documentary In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee, in which a case of mistaken identity serves as a springboard for exploring the complex questions involving international trans-racial adoptions. Festival favorite Quentin Lee returns with his sex comedy The People I’ve Slept With, in which the promiscuous Angela (Karina Anna Cheung) gets pregnant and needs to find the father post haste.

Housed in a restored barn in Point Reyes Station, the Cowgirl Creamery has been making handcrafted, farmstead cheese in small batches since 1997. Nationally recognized for its artisan quality, the Creamery offers cheese-making demonstration and tasting at its ecologically conscious facilities on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. and Fridays at 11:30 a.m.

Foodies and dairy junkies won't want to miss the chance to go behind the scenes, where the Creamery makes about 3,000 pounds of cheese per week. Peek through a viewing window and watch how they make the goods, and learn about the cheese-making process in a 60-minute presentation. The class ends with a tasting of Cowgirl Creamery cheeses.

Afterwards, peruse the cheese counter to which features more than 200 of America's and Europe's most prized producers, or check out the selection of local produce and other goodies.

Reservations for the class is strongly recommended; call (415) 663-9335 or book your tour online.

Join members of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory on their monthly bird walk through the National Seashore.

On April 3, search for wood ducks, woodpeckers, and spring's first migrants.

The Torch Club is known as one of the best blues clubs in Sacramento, and features bands from all over the Bay Area as well as some national acts. They've recently been called "the center of the blues in Sacramento" by the Sacramento Bee.

Every Sunday during happy hour they have a blues jam with no cover charge.

Every third Saturday of the month through mid-May, Rendezvous -- a local band performing "hip rock," reggae, alternative, and R&B covers and originals -- plays at Headhunters on K Street.

Headhunters also serves dinner entrees (priced $8-$18) until 10 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays serves late-night bar food until 3:30 a.m. (drinks stop at 2 a.m.). Check out their website for a 20% off coupon and a peek at the menu.

If you love karaoke, take it to the next level and step into the spotlight with RockstarLBK, which claims to be the only live band karaoke in Sacramento.

They play every Thursday at Marilyn's on K, and have a songlist of more than 200 popular rock, pop, and country songs.

Based in London, the International Staff Band is the premiere band of the Salvation Army. They visit Salvation Army churches throughout the U.K. on a monthly basis, and their performances get good reviews all over the world.

On April 1, the band plays a free show at the Community Center Theater, which is near the Sacramento Convention Center.

Open every day, San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace is a foodie mecca, offering fresh organic produce, gourmet treats, and fine dining. With a focus on small, regional food producers -- and many eateries and small businesses owned by well-known top chefs -- you can sample local artisan cheeses, chocolates, breads, and more.

Most Saturday mornings, celebrated Bay Area chefs stop in to demonstrate ways to prepare the sustainable, seasonable goods found in the Farmers' Market. Visitors can watch these experts in action, taste their creations, and leave with recipes to try themselves at home. Programs sometimes include interviews with farmers, food artisans, or other Farmers' Market vendors.

This month's schedule includes:

April 3:  Lauren Kiino of Il Cane Rosso

April 10: Romney Steele, author of My Nepenthe, and Charles Vollmar of Epicurean Exchange

April 17: Mark Dommen of One Market and Maggie Foard, author of Goat Cheese

April 24: Leif Hedendal, local chef

See the website for the full event schedule.

It's a dance party, and there's no cover charge. Need we say more?

Hosted by San Francisco's Yerba Beuna Center for the Arts in conjunction with thePeople collective of Oakland, the party spotlights our neighbors-across-the-bay as "a nexus of the hottest underground dance music, art, fashion, food, and dance."

Feel the bass with West London's Daz-I-Due, lift your soul with the deep funk of DJs Cecil, Cali, and Be Brown, experience power-painting, be part of the PEACE Photo Project, and take a break from all that dancing in the art galleries, which are open until 1 a.m.

There's a cash bar as well as food vendors.

Omnivore Books in Noe Valley is a bookstore specializing in new, old, and used books about food and all things related. They also frequently host food and drink events, including the Edible Art Contest.

The contest challenges entrants to create something edible that refereces art or literature. You can check out the entries, judge, and sample them without entering the contest.