Email to a Friend about what to do in San Francisco

I'm cheating. I already wrote this for a friend and I'm merely posting it here for you. If you're in the city, you already know these routes, and if you're not, you'll just have to get out here, or mop up your drool and get back to enjoying wherever you are.

Two ideas for San Francisco:

Golden Gate Park (1/2 day to get there and back at least):
from downtown (Market) take the N Judah muni train to 9th Ave.
1. to the right in the park is the DeYoung art museum & the brand new Academy of Sciences
2. 1/2 block to the left on 9th on the far side of the road is Arzemendi Bakery - great pizza, but get there early. perhaps cash only?

Castro/Mission ramble:
take the F train into the castro (look for the enormous rainbow flag)
1. 18th, Market and Castro is gay central. cute shops on market btwn 15th and 18th st. Castro Theatre on 18th is a landmark. Castro wakes up late, so maybe hit the next stuff first by getting off F @ church and walking left on church to 18th
2. walk down 18th (left on Castro, left on 18th) to Dolores Park (on right) (5-7 minutes)
3. Food! 18th btwn Dolores and Guerrero. Best ice cream EVER (caramel sea salt & roasted banana are my faves) Bi Rite Creamery (on left). Best pizza + wine lunch @ a fancy counter - Delfina's Pizzeria right next to Delfina's restaurant. Best breakfast or pastry goodies (and amazing pressed sandwiches on homemade bread) and coffee (and famous) at 18th & Guerrero -Tartine.
4. View! the high side of Dolores Park has a great view of the city. Tartine breakfast goes great with that view and the benches at the top.
5. Valencia corridor 16th to 22nd on Valencia (next st after Guerrero). Cute/local shops. 826 Valencia Pirate Shop. Very hip, but still neat stuff. It's a front for the 826 Valencia, a writing workship for kids started up by the author Dave Eggers. Paxton Gate right next door is very strange + cool housewares (sort of) shop.
6. End at Monk's Kettle - lots and lots of beers on tap and great pretzels 16th st btwn Guerrero and Valencia. For dinner you can also have amazing Normandy-style crepes across the street at Ti Couz, yummy and cheap Indian at Pakwan (cash only), or the Mission's specialty, the Burrito, at La Cumbre around the corner on Valencia between 16th and 17th.
7. Take Bart (16th and Mission - one street from Valencia) back downtown & then the train home...