The best thing about the city of San Francisco is that it consistently rewards the adventurous. Put that together with a University of San Francisco student, located in the dead center of the city and equipped with a bus pass, and you get some really fun nights. I’ll leave bar hopping and clubs out of this, considering most of the USF population is going to be under 21 (unless you have a fake ID in which case, I’d advise you to be careful bouncers can be ruthless out here). For underage bars and clubs, the internet will lead you right there.
1.) First things first, there’s nothing like rallying up as many people as humanly possible and having a bonfire on the beach.
One thing to remember is that in SF, not every day at the beach is a day at the beach necessarily. Really. Because San Francisco is a northern peninsula, you can get mainly freezing cold beaches and lots of rocks. Bundle up and take the 5 bus to Ocean Beach at about sundown. Stop by the Safeway, right at the last stop. Pick up kindling wood, paper bags, matches and snacks. Walk towards the beach (get a kind, strong person to carry the kindling) and find a pit. Crumple the bags, make a teepee of kindling over it, light the bags on fire, and there you go. Everyone is pairing off and cuddling. If over 21, red wine only enhances the scene and keeps people warmer.
2.) If you’re looking for something to do as soon as you get out of class on a Friday, go to the Mission.
The Mission district will, first and foremost, have better weather than whatever weather it is at University of San Francisco Student. You will have your pick of heavenly burritos, tacos, pupusas, and tortas, from any one of the blessed taquerias on every corner. Once you are burrito in hand, take a walk down Clarion Alley, SF’s hidden gem of a street wholly dedicated to murals and graffiti art by local artists. Explore all of the thrift stores, bookstores, and coffee shops up every street.
And when you’re done, get a cone at Bi-rite Creamery and flop down in Dolores Park, overlooking the East side of the city. This neighborhood is one you will learn to know and love and wish you lived in (but it’s two buses and a hill away from USF). This is also the neighborhood that the annual Lit Crawl takes place in poets and writers and artists performing for free! And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, one block away from the Mission is the infamous Castro.
3.) Two words: Castro Theater.
One of the city’s proudest possessions, is one of the most beautiful, affordable, historical, and socially conscious movie theaters out there. It’s a destination for all film festivals, local and national, and they even have sing a longs. Under any circumstance, good, clean fun.
4.) Upper Haight can be a hot spot on Friday night as well.
Book smith has readings, book swaps, and comedy nights. Deluxe has fantastic live jazz and even better gourmet pizza. Amoeba Records has cheap small shows with big names like Best Coast, Miguel, and Lianne La Havas. The Milk Bar also has shows of local funk, soul, hip hop, punk, and hardcore bands, as well as DJ nights which are all ages before 10 pm with good people and lots of room to dance.
5.) Speaking of shows, there may be a reader or two who love the darker, more underground stuff.
garage rock, noise punk, doom. Even if you aren’t normally exposed to this music, I would still make the suggestion of going to a cave show. Now, most people don’t know about cave shows, and this is what makes cave shows so glorious. They are considered private shows for big names on tours, like Ty Segall (who is a USF alum!). Look up shows on blogs, or ask around. They will be by the Sutro Baths, on the coast, so you’ll need to bundle up again and take the 5, 31, or 38. Walk downhill on the sand, follow the music, and you’ll see a large reverberating turquoise light. That is the cave inside, there are your people.
Rachael Smith graduated from University of San Francisco with a BA in English and Neuroscience. Now she lives in Oakland, working for women refugees and domestic violence survivors in the bay area. She loves singing with uncontrollable passion alone in her car, and going on solo hikes to the point of exhaustion and confusion.