— JG
Castro
Castro Theatre. Built in 1922 by Bay Area architect Timothy L. Pflueger, this historic landmark is a grand movie palace still in operation.. Designed to resemble a Mexican cathedral, the theater has seating for more than 1,400, a vintage Wurlitzer organ and a massive Art Deco chandelier dating from 1937. It once showed first-run movies, but now it's mainly an art house with a mix of classic and contemporary programming. A recent calendar included films as diverse as Fellini's "8 1/2," "Argo" and "Ghostbusters." 429 Castro St.; (415) 621-6120, http://www.castrotheatre.com.
— JG
Lower Haight
Two funky food joints are down the block from each other, in the chronically interesting, ungentrified Haight. Two Jack's Nik's Place is an oddly named but friendly soul food shack that's been in the family since 1977. Try the world-class fresh fish plates (from $7.50), black-eyed peas ($2) or oyster po-boy ($7.50). 401 Haight St.; (415) 431-6290, http://www.twojacksniksplace.com. Down the street, you'll find Memphis Minnie's, featuring some of the best barbecue on the West Coast. Zero in on the brisket. In the mood for ribs? Fine, but try the brisket too (smoked 18 hours). 576 Haight St.; (415) 864-7675, http://www.memphisminnies.com. Entrees $12-$21.
— CE
Pacific Heights
Billionaire's Row. Since the late 19th century, the city's wealthiest families have built spectacular mansions with beautiful views in exclusive Pacific Heights. How expensive? An eight-bedroom hilltop mansion at 2901 Broadway recently sold for more than $28 million, a bargain considering it originally was listed at $58 million. Among the neighbors (about 2700 to 2900 Broadway) are Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison, Getty Oil heir Gordon Getty and Levi Strauss heir Peter Haus. You can check out the homeowners' amazing views from the Lyon Street steps at Broadway, where you can also see Sen. Dianne Feinstein's $16.5-million house, which backs up to the stairway.
— RM
Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco. You may be tired from the walk if you arrive on foot at this national historic landmark in Pacific Heights, but time spent in this island of solitude, completed in 1895, will revive you. Its interior glows with the richness of its redwood walls. A fireplace in the back, whose andirons rise to become small crosses, puts you in mind of burning love, not the fires of hell. The religion grew out of the works of Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg, who abandoned his work as a scientist to contemplate Scripture. Whether you agree with him or find yourself far distant, the words of "Commonplace Blessings," to which a prayer book fell open on a late Friday afternoon, ring true and well: "Accept, oh Lord, our thankfulness for the countless commonplace blessings that surround us, so familiar that we often ignore them…so abundant that when we begin to count them our complainings are shamed into silence." The church is trying to establish public hours for visitation, but for now, you can call ahead or knock on the door from 1-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Services are at 11 a.m. Sundays. 2107 Lyon St.; (415) 346-6466, http://www.sfswedenborgian.org.
— CH
