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By Root 813 0

show up at Caffe Trieste in 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 jaded locals—myself included—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 and playing the muse to numerous artists, including Francis Ford Coppola, who supposedly penned The Godfather here. You’ll find it at 601 Vallejo St. at Grant Avenue ( 415/392-6739; www.caffetrieste.com). Call to confirm that the show’s on.

Metreon Entertainment Center This 350,000-square-foot high-tech complex houses great movie theaters, an IMAX theater, the one-of-a-kind Walk of Game (à la Hollywood’s stars in the sidewalk, these steel stars honor the icons of the video-game industry), a luxurious arcade (think big screens and a pub), a “Taste of San Francisco” food court with decent “international” fare, a bookshop, and an indoor farmers’ market. The whole place is wired for Wi-Fi, so if you’re a true techie and want to hang out with other techies, grab some lunch, find a comfy spot, and log on.

101 Fourth St. (at the corner of Mission St.). 415/369-6000. www.metreon.com. Building 10am–10pm daily; individual businesses may have different hours. Bus: 5, 9, 14, 15, 30, or 45. Streetcar: Powell or Montgomery.

Octagon House This unusual, eight-sided, cupola-topped house dates from 1861 and is maintained by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. Its design was based on a past theory that people living in a space of this shape would live longer, healthier lives. Inside is a small museum where you’ll find Early American furniture, portraits, silver, pewter, looking glasses, and English and Chinese ceramics. There are also some historic documents, including signatures of 54 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Even if you’re not able to visit the inside, this atypical structure is worth a look from the outside.

2645 Gough St. (at Union St.). 415/441-7512. Free admission; donation suggested. Feb–Dec 2 Sun noon–3pm; 2nd and 4th Thurs of each month noon–3pm. Tours by appointment are the only way to see the house. Closed holidays. Bus: 41 or 45.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park ★ This park includes several marine-themed sites within a few blocks of each other. The park's signature Maritime Museum—on Beach Street at Polk Street, shaped like an Art Deco ship, and filled with sea-faring memorabilia—reopened in 2010 after major renovations. Be sure to pop in to check out the murals. Head 2 blocks east to the corner of Hyde and Jefferson streets and you’ll find SFMNHP’s state-of-the-art Visitor’s Center, which offers a fun, interactive look at the city’s maritime heritage. Housed in the historic Haslett Warehouse building, the Center tells the stories of voyage, discovery, and cultural diversity. Across the street, at the park’s Hyde Street Pier, are several historic ships, which are moored and open to the public.

The Balclutha, one of the last surviving square-riggers and the handsomest vessel in San Francisco Bay, was built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1886 and carried grain from California at a near-record speed of 300 miles a day. The ship is now completely restored.

The 1890 Eureka still carries a cargo of nostalgia for San Franciscans. It was the last of 50 paddle-wheel ferries that regularly plied the bay; it made its final trip in 1957. Restored to its original splendor at the height of the ferryboat era, the side-wheeler is loaded with deck cargo, including antique cars and trucks.

The black-hulled, three-masted C. A. Thayer, built in 1895 and recently restored, was crafted for the lumber trade and carried logs felled in the Pacific Northwest to