Museums

Italian-Style Saturday Sing-Along -- If you haven't completely fallen in love with San Francisco yet, then show up at Caffè Trieste in the North Beach on most Saturdays between 1 and 5pm. That's when the stringed instruments are tuned up, the chairs are scooted against the walls, and the locals entertain the crowd with their lively version of classic Italian operas and heartwarming folk songs. Everybody's so high on caffeine that it quickly becomes one big happy party and the highlight of everyone's vacation. (Even lifelong locals still get a kick out of it.) This family-owned corner institution is one of San Francisco's most beloved cafes -- a Beat Generation hangout that's been around since 1956 serving locally roasted Italian coffee. You'll find it at 601 Vallejo St. at Grant Ave. (tel. 415/392-6739; www.caffetrieste.com), next to the row of motorcycles. Call to confirm that the show's on.

San Francisco's Old-Fashioned Arcade Museum -- "Fun for all ages" isn't a trite expression when describing San Francisco's Musée Mécanique, a truly unique penny arcade museum containing one of the largest privately owned collections of antique coin-operated mechanical musical instruments in the world -- more than 200 machines dating back from the 1880s through the present (and they still work!). You can pay Grand-Ma Fortune Teller a quarter to see what she has to say about your future, or watch little kids cower in fear as Laughing "Fat Lady" Sal gives her infamous cackle of a greeting. Other yesteryear seaside resort games include antique movie machines, 19th-century music boxes, old-school strength testers, and mechanical cranes. The museum is located at Pier 45 at the end of Taylor Street at Fisherman's Wharf. It's open Monday through Friday from 10am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 8pm. Admission is free (tel. 415/346-2000; www.museemecanique.com).

Free Culture

To beef up attendance and give indigent folk like us travel writers a break, almost all of San Francisco's art galleries and museums are open free to the public 1 day of the week or month (or both), and several never charge admission. Use the following list to plan your week around the museums' free-day schedules; refer to the individual attraction listings in this chapter for more information on each museum.

First Tuesday

• California Palace of the Legion of Honor
• Center for the Arts at Yerba Buena Gardens
• de Young Museum
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

First Wednesday

• Exploratorium
• San Francisco Zoo

First Sunday

• Asian Art Museum

Third Wednesday

• California Academy of Sciences

Always Free

• Cable Car Museum
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Museum (there's a fee to board ships)
• Musée Mécanique
• Wells Fargo History Museum
• Glide Memorial United Methodist Church