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carved balconies, frescoed ceilings, marble columns, and huge hanging light fixtures, you won’t know whether to marvel at the structure or watch the acts, which have ranged from Duke Ellington and Sarah Vaughan to Arctic Monkeys, the Radiators, and She Wants Revenge. All shows are all ages (6 and up) so you can bring your family, too. You can buy a ticket for just the show and order bar snacks (such as nachos, black bean and cheese flautas, burgers, and sandwiches), or buy a ticket that includes a complete dinner (an extra $25), which changes nightly but always includes a salad and a choice of a meat, fish, or veggie entree. You can purchase tickets over the phone ( 888/233-0449) for a $2-to-$7 service fee or download a form from the website and fax it to 415/885-5075 with your Visa or MasterCard info; there is a service charge of $2 per ticket. You can also stop by the box office to purchase tickets directly the night of the performance for no charge (assuming the show isn’t sold out), or buy them online at www.gamhtickets.com or Tickets.com ( 800/225-2277). Valet parking is available for select shows; check the website for additional parking information. 859 O’Farrell St. (btw. Polk and Larkin sts.). 415/885-0750.www.musichallsf.com. Ticket prices and starting times vary; call or check website for individual show information.

DRINKING & SMOKING laws

The drinking age is 21 in California, and bartenders can ask for a valid photo ID, no matter how old you look. Some clubs demand identification at the door, so it’s a good idea to carry it at all times. Once you get through the door, however, forget about cigarettes—smoking is banned in all California bars. The law is generally enforced and though San Francisco’s police department has not made bar raids a priority, people caught smoking in bars can be—and occasionally are—ticketed and fined. Music clubs strictly enforce the law and will ask you to leave if you light up. If you must smoke, do it outside. Also, the dreaded last call for alcohol usually rings out at around 1:30am, since state laws prohibit the sale of alcohol from 2 to 6am every morning. A very important word of warning: Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime in California, with jail time for the first offense. You are likely to be legally intoxicated (.08% blood alcohol) if you have had as little as one alcoholic drink an hour. When in doubt, take a taxi.

Lou’s Pier 47 Club You won’t find many locals in the place, but Lou’s happens to be good, old-fashioned fun. It’s a casual spot where you can relax with Cajun seafood (downstairs) and live blues bands (upstairs) nightly. A vacation attitude makes the place one of the more, um, jovial spots near the wharf. 300 Jefferson St. (at Jones St.). 415/771-5687.www.louspier47.com. $3–$10 cover during prime hours.

Pier 23 If there’s one good-time destination that’s an anchor for San Francisco’s party people, it’s the Embarcadero’s Pier 23. Part ramshackle patio spot and part dance floor with a heavy dash of dive bar, here it’s all about fun for a startlingly diverse clientele (including a one-time visit by Bill Clinton!). The well-worn box of a restaurant with tented patio is a prime sunny-day social spot for white collars, but on weekends, it’s a straight-up people zoo where every age and persuasion coexist more peacefully than the cast in a McDonald’s commercial. Expect to boogie down shoulder-to-shoulder to 1980s hits and leave with a contagious feel-good vibe. Pier 23, at the Embarcadero (at Battery St.). 415/362-5125. www.pier23cafe.com. Cover $5–$12 during performances.

The Saloon An authentic gold rush survivor, this North Beach dive is the oldest bar in the city. Popular with both bikers and daytime pinstripers, it schedules live blues nightly and afternoons Friday through Sunday. 1232 Grant Ave. (at Columbus St.). 415/989-7666. Cover $5–$15 Fri–Sat.

Slim’s Co-owned by musician Boz Scaggs, this glitzy restaurant and bar serves California cuisine and seats 200, but it’s usually standing room only during almost nightly shows by performers