The Performing Arts

Special concerts and performances take place in San Francisco year-round. San Francisco Performances, 500 Sutter St., Ste. 710 (tel. 415/398-6449; www.performances.org), has brought acclaimed artists to the Bay Area for more than 30 years. Shows run the gamut from chamber music to dance to jazz. Performances are in several venues, including the Herbst Theater and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The season runs from late September to June. Tickets cost from $12 to $50 and are available through City Box Office (tel. 415/392-4400) or through the San Francisco Performances website.

ZinZany Dinner Party -- Hungry for dinner and a damned good time? It ain't cheap, but Teatro ZinZanni is a rollicking ride of food, whimsy, drama, and song within a stunningly elegant 1926 spiegeltent on the Embarcadero. Part musical theater and part comedy show, the 3-hour dinner theater includes a surprisingly decent five-course meal served by dozens of performers who weave both the audience and astounding physical acts (think Cirque du Soleil) into their wacky and playful world. Anyone in need of a night of lighthearted laughter should definitely book a table here. Shows are held Wednesday through Sunday and tickets are $123 to $147 including dinner. The tent is located at Pier 29 on the Embarcadero at Battery Street. Call tel. 415/438-2668 or see www.zinzanni.org for more details.

Opera

In addition to San Francisco's major opera company, you might check out the amusing Pocket Opera, 469 Bryant St. (tel. 415/972-8930; www.pocketopera.org). From early March to mid-July, the comic company stages farcical performances of well-known operas in English. The staging is intimate and informal, without lavish costumes and sets. The cast ranges from 3 to 16 players, supported by a chamber orchestra. The rich repertoire includes such works as Don Giovanni, The Barber of Seville, and over 80 other operas. Performances are Friday at 7:30pm, throughout the day on Saturday, and Sunday at 2pm. Call the box office for complete information, location (which varies), and showtimes. Tickets cost from $20 (students) to $37.

Free Opera -- Every year, the San Francisco Opera stages a number of free performances, beginning with Opera in the Park every September to kick off the season. They follow it with occasional free performances throughout the city as part of the Brown Bag Opera program. Schedule details can be found on the company's website at www.sfopera.com.

Dance

In addition to the highly regarded local dance companies such as ODC, Alonzo King's Lines Ballet, and Smuin Ballet, top traveling troupes like the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre make regular appearances in San Francisco. Primary modern dance spaces include Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. (tel. 415/978-2787; www.ybca.org); the Cowell Theater, at Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard at Buchanan Street (tel. 415/345-7575; www.fortmason.org); and the ODC Theatre, 3153 17th St., at Shotwell Street in the Mission District (tel. 415/863-9834; www.odcdance.org). Tickets cost $15 to $25. Check the local papers for schedules or contact the theater box offices for more information.

Film

The San Francisco International Film Festival (tel. 415/561-5000; www.sffs.org), which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2006, is held at the end of April and reigns as one of America's longest-running film festivals. Entries include new films by new and established directors. Call or surf ahead for a schedule or information, and check out their website for more information on purchasing tickets, which are relatively inexpensive.

If you're not here in time for the festival, don't despair. The classic, independent, and mainstream cinemas in San Francisco are every bit as good as the city's other cultural offerings.