This is a "just for fun" page edited by friends and employees. Here are descriptions of unusual and interesting places and events in San Francisco , including some almost no one knows about, even San Francisco natives. Check these out—you'll be glad you did.

By the way—these are personal recommendations, not advertising. Eagle never accepts payment from any business mentioned on our website.

Imperial Tea Court

This is a little oasis on the edge of Chinatown. You wouldn’t know it from the street, but inside this shop is a beautiful, quiet tea house, where you can learn about and experience all kinds of rare and interesting teas. Quiet music plays in the background, usually Chinese flute music.

To quote from their website:

“San Francisco’s world-famous Imperial Tea Court is renowned as an exclusive source for many of the most highly acclaimed and sought-after teas produced today. Magnificently appointed by visiting Chinese craftsmen and opened on the fourth of July, 1993 in Chinatown, Imperial Tea Court represents the life-long commitment to the art and tradition of all aspects of tea of co-founders Grace and Roy Fong. Their mutual love and respect for authentic, hand-crafted Chinese teas (and their difficulty in obtaining them in the United States) led to the initiation of direct relations with tea growers and producers in China and Taiwan, and ultimately to the establishment of Imperial Tea Court.”

This is a great place to learn about tea, to have a quiet conversation with a friend, or perhaps just to spend some time alone in special surroundings.

Do Re Mi Music Studio

Here's the perfect place to get ready for your next (or first!) karaoke performance. Do Re Mi has small, private soundproof rooms outfitted with karaoke systems. A small room rents for about $12.50 per half-hour and is big enough for one to four people to practice their songs. They have an extensive menu of songs. All you do is "click" each song number you want, using something that looks like a TV remote control, and the songs come up one after another on your private system. Nobody is watching and nobody can hear you—perfect for getting ready for a night of singing.

Parking is available in the Japan Center garage. Enter from Geary, traveling west from Laguna towards Webster.

Kabuki Springs and Spa

This is another great "find" in the Japan Center. Kabuki Springs has public and private Japanese style baths. The public bath is reserved for women on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, and men on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Tuesday is co-ed (yes, dear, you have to wear a bathing suit on Tuesday.) It doesn't matter what day you go, but if you want to have a private room, you should reserve as far in advance as possible (up to a week), because this is a popular place and they quickly run out of private rooms. Besides the hot bath, sauna and steam room, Kabuki Springs has some of the best practitioners of Shiatsu massage you're likely to find anywhere. They also offer Swedish-style massage. There are a number of different plans, but I strongly recommend the $95 "Bliss massage with private bath" which they describe as follows: "Our most comforting treatment. Relax in a traditional Japanese Furo tub with the effervescent bath of the week. This aromatic bath is followed by a 50 minute massage of your choice. Total Time: 80 Minutes." These 50-minute massages are unbelievable. You'll be a new person after this!

Parking is available in the Japan Center garage. Enter from Geary, traveling west from Laguna towards Webster.

South Beach Grill & Cafe

This is one of my favorite lunch spots in the South-of-Market area. It's a small place, with comfortable tables that are well-filled at lunchtime; but we always manage to get a seat. I like their traditional lunch counter menu: grilled cheese sandwiches, cheeseburgers, BLTs etc. with a big plate of French fries—for about $6—and the fries are thin, salty and crispy. This is not health food (although they offer plenty of salads and grease-free sandwiches), but when I want a nostalgic lunch counter meal, this is it. Also, they will fix your meal how you want it—always a big plus for me.

El Tonayense

El Tonayense has some of the best and most authentic tacos and burritos in San Francisco. Besides a conventional restaurant at 24th Street and Shotwell, they have three trucks usually located at Harrison and 19th, Harrison and 22nd, and 16th and Shotwell.

One patron’s comments: “The food is very filling, delicious and perfectly seasoned. The service is very respectful and courteous, and they bring out your food fast.”

Check it out.

Cafe Trieste

Cafe Trieste is a friendly, pleasant cafe that has been a San Francisco landmark for more than 40 years. There is an expresso bar and you can get wine, sandwiches and biscotti.

But the one thing you don’t want to miss is a Saturday afternoon at Cafe Trieste. That’s when the owners, their family and friends, and guest musicians have a weekly concert consisting of opera arias, Italian standards, and a little Country & Western thrown in.

It’s always a lot of fun, and with the right amount of wine, a Saturday afternoon at the Trieste can be a very mellow and memorable experience.

Actually, now that I think about it, call me next time you want to go and I'll go with you.

Clarion Music Center

Clarion Music is a "world music shop" where you can find all sorts of exotic instruments from just about everywhere. They also sell CD's, books and instructional videos.

It is a fascinating place just for this—but they also have frequent performances by interesting and varied musicians from all over the world. And there are workshops on such topics as “The Art of Playing the Didjeridu” and a “World Music Tour Workshop” for students in grades 1 through 12.

A very interesting and unusual place to visit.

Noe Valley Music Series

The Noe Valley Music Series has been a great place to hear really excellent musicians in a friendly, intimate setting. There are about 40 performances a year—usually on Saturday nights. Artists have included Bobby McFerrin, Joan Baez, didgeridoo expert Stephen Kent, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and many respected performers in a wide range of musical genres, including world music, acoustic rock, roots, jazz, avant-garde, blues, bluegrass and folk.

All concerts are held in congregation hall of the Noe Valley Ministry, a church on Sanchez Street in San Francisco. This is a small venue usually filled with enthusiastic, appreciative music lovers. Often when space gets filled up you can sit on the stage on either side of the performers. At intermission there are soft drinks and cookies for sale in the basement of the church, along with CD’s of the performing musicians.

The variety and quality of the musicians and the intimacy of the setting make this a great place to spend a Saturday evening.