$1 Book Sale on SF Main Library Steps, this Wednesday

Now through October, the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library will host "Steps Sales" on the 1st & 3rd Wed of every month. The sale is located outside on the Larkin St. entrance of the Main Library. All books are only $1 or less.

That's probably less than what many of you, if you are like me, pay in late fees at the library! Even better, all proceeds from Steps Sales go to benefit the San Francisco Public Library.

SF Main Library
100 Larkin Street 1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month (April through October)
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mark your calendars: April 15, May 6 & 20, June 3 & 17, July 1 & 15, Aug 5 & 19, Sept 2 & 16, Oct 7 & 21

$5 Movies - Tuesday at the Castro Theater

Sorry about the lack of posts..... Spring break for the kids, folks in town..... Anyway, back to the savings:

Every Tuesday, all seats at the Castro Theater are $5 and they will be showing Classic Movies. The Castro Theater is the most beautiful movie theater I've ever been too, and the Wurlitzer performance before the shows begin give it that extra special touch. This Tuesday, April , they are showing the 1940’s film “My Little Chickadee” staring Mae West and W.C. Fields. preceded by the short film The Dentist (1932) in a restored 35mm print. I actually recall watching The Dentist with my grandfather when i was really young and even then finding it very funny.

The following Tuesday, April 21, features The Animation Madness of Max Fleischer. This collection from the animation pioneer collects his most popular creations in one program. Headlining is the 70th Anniversary of Gulliver's Travels (1939, Original 3-Strip Technicolor Print), preceded by the shorts Betty Boop in Blunderland (1933), Superman's Mechanical Monsters (1941), and Popeye Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves (1937)

The Castro Theater
429 Castro (@17th St.)

Dress Yourself and Get A Free Gift at A Miner Miracle Shop

A Miner Miracle Shop (I've blogged about this amazing store before) is having a Mother's Day Promotion. If you are a mother, or you have a mother, you qualify! Simply spend $100 in the store between now and mother's day (its coming up!) and you will receive a free gift (currently, the gift is a really lovely watch that can be a gift to yourself or for a mom in your life). Tell them you heard about it here!

Now, if you have not been to A Miner Miracle Shop, you might not know the following:

1. $100 will get you a lot! The store carries new in season brand name clothes at 50-80% off retail, every day. They restock all the time. This week when I was there they had received a shipment from Eileen Fisher as well as their daily Ann Taylor loot. I also spied an Anthropologie top and a Banana one too. Last week I spent $91 and got a pair of pants, a top, a great black swing jacket, and a pair of earrings. I keep going back because I can never believe the bargains will still be there (and because every time I go they have new things there)

2. You are supporting a local charity! ALL proceeds from the store support a Miner Miracle's programs that provide clothing and image consulting to low income men and women seeking employment. You can dress yourself as well as someone else who can not afford to do so. How great is that.

3. It is super easy to get to, as it is located in the ground floor of the parking garage on 5th & Mission. When I went on Tuesday it was raining, but I did not even get wet. I went from car to store back to car. easy. You can also take Bart - only 1 block from Powell St. Station.

899 Mission Street (@5th)
Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm

Free Kid Activities - Exploratorium & Library

It's Spring Break Week - so everyone is looking for kid bargains. The following are FREE thing to do with the kids!

1. The Exploratorium recently opened a bunch of outdoor exhibits at Fort Mason between Aquatic Park the Marina District. The 20 exhibits investigate everything from water and wind to sound and light.

2. The SF Public Library: I feel like all the libraries I visit (glen park, noe, excelsior, west portal) have some great kids programs. You should regularly check the library's website events listing. Be sure to check out the "Special Events", some of them are great. Tomorrow the Bubble Lady will be at the Excelsior Branch (4400 Mission @ Cotter - recently renovated) at 11:30. On Saturday, there is a Bonnet Making Arts & Crafts activity at the Main Library (you can walk across the street also and take a look at the Patrick Daugherty exhibit I wrote about on Monday - also free.)

Great Price Fix e & No Corkage: Alamo Square Seafood Grill

Alamo Square Seafood Grill has been around about 10 years and their description on their website is spot on. It reads, "At Alamo Square, we specialize in fresh seafood in generous portions. In the last nine years, we have become a neighborhood favorite for a delicious meal at a great price." I could not agree more.

I went recently when my folks were in town and while we had a very ditzy waitress, (she was at least entertaining, you know, the kind that if she had been any better it would have been worse!) the meal was excellent. They have some great dining bargains that really make eating out enjoyable.

1. Every night from 5:30-7:00 they have a prix fixe for $14.50 (soup or salad, entree, dessert)

2. Every Wednesday night is No Corkage Fee (normally $12/bottle). It is such a great way to keep that dining cost down. Go to Trader Joe's and bring your own wine. (note, if you do that, you can not also do the prix fixe.)

When we went we did neither the prix fixe or the no corkage, and still we felt the meal was a good value and the seafood really very good. It's cozy and the wine list prvides plenty of options in the high 20's low 30's.

Alamo Square Seafood Grill
803 Fillmore St. (btw. Grove & Fulton)
415.440.282

Free Docent Tour of The Upper Crust - Civic Center

The San Francisco Arts Commission will offer a free docent-led tour of Patrick Dougherty’s large-scale environmental work, The Upper Crust on the first Tuesday of every month through November 2009.

Comprised of 18,000 pounds of freshly cut willow saplings, the sculpture is woven into the tops of the sycamores located on Joseph L. Alioto Performing Arts Piazza in front of City Hall. Tour will meet in front of sculpture.

Patrick Dougherty's work is very cool if you have not seen one before. If you've ever been to the SF Bay Discovery Museum, you've likely seen his work. In the back of the outdoor playground there is that willow maze (back by the spider's web). That's Patrick Dougherty, it's cool. I bet it will be very cool to watch as seasons change too.

http://www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection/

Civic Center Plaza (Polk & Grove)
12pm-1pm Every First Tuesday

First Free Days in San Francisco

Lots of museums offer 1 free day a month. Sure these days can get a little crowded, but it is free and some of these museums have a pretty steep entrance fee. Most often they are the first ____ of a month (for example, Asian Art Museum is free the first Sunday of every month)
Here is a listing:

First Sunday:
Asian Art Museum

First Monday: none

First Tuesday:
Cartoon Art Museum
655 Mission Street (between 2nd & 3rd)
First Tuesday is “Pay What You Wish Day.”

de Young Museum
Golden Gate Park
Also: $2 discount on regular admission with Muni pass or transfer.

Legion of Honor
Lincoln Park
Also: $2 discount on regular admissionwith Muni pass or transfer.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard)
Also discounted every Thursday evening: Half price admission from 6:00p to 9:00p.

Yerba Buena Center Galleries
701 Mission Street

First Wednesday
Exploratorium
at the Palace of Fine Arts

Always Free:

Cable Car Museum
1201 Mason St

Chinese Cultural Center Gallery
750 Kearny St, 3rd Floor

Museo ItaloAmericano
Fort Mason Center, Building C

San Francisco Fire Department Museum
655 Presidio Ave (at Pine)

Visitor Center & Hyde Pier at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
499 Jefferson St (at Hyde)

Wells Fargo History Museum
420 Montgomery St (between California & Sacramento)

$1.50 Draft Beers Daily 5-10: 901 Columbus Cafe

I love a Happy Hour that extends into the evening. The folks over at 901 Columbus Cafe are truly ahead of their time. They've been advertising this "recession" draft beer pricing since June!

Every day from 5pm-10pm you can get good draft beer for $1.50 (think Speakeasy, not PBR). That's a huge bargain. Also, the food is good and reasonably priced, the WiFi is free.... What more are you looking for??

901 Columbus Cafe (btw Chestnut St & Lombard St)

$1 Taco & $2 Beers Every Day @ El Toro Taqueria

While El Toro is not my #1 burrito joint (I'm an El Farolito girl myself), I have a feeling that I'll be visiting El Toro Taqueria pretty soon, especially with the wee ones.

Every day from 3pm-5pm, Tacos are $1 and Beers are $2. I know its kind of on the early side, but for those prices you can call it a late lunch or an early dinner.


El Toro Tacqueria
17th & Valencia

Mani + Nanny: Book a Pedi & Get 50% off A Mani

I love the concept of this place. Childcare while you get a mani/pedi. You don't even have to reserve ahead. Just drop in.

The wee ones (6 weeks-6 years) will have a great time with the nanny in a new (translation: clean) toy-filled playroom. You can watch them via the flat screen in the salon or through the one-way window. All the nannies have experience with infants, so even the littlest ones will be in good hands! Right now they are having a promotion, get a pedi ($30) and your mani is only $10 (a 50% savings) - mention Hand-Spring for discount.

I know, I know, you can get a mani/pedi for $18 at the place on the corner, but this is so much nicer and the kids are entertained. childcare is $10 for the first and $5 for the second/third/fourth.....Also, if you are a card holding member of GGMG, you get 10% off everything all the time!

It's a great way to get a little ladies time with your girlfriends without having to arrange childcare.
Brilliant, truly brilliant.

mani+nanny
1722-1724 Divisadero St
(415) 673-6264

www.maniandnanny.com