Check out Boulevards' Guide to San Francisco

Features: Spiritus Mundi
San Francisco remains a stronghold for that venerable institution, the neighborhood bar. Here's The Metropolitan's guide to this locally thriving, incredibly varied species.

The Durst of Times: Filling the Castro with cafes sounds nice, but you can't dry-clean a suit with a mocha.

Soleil Search: Here's a puzzler: How could Quebec produce the likes of Celine Dion as well as Cirque du Soleil?

Asian Provocateurs: Theatre Artaud provides a safe space for dangerous dancing.

Over the Wall: Institutionalized as a teen, Daphne Scholinski turns pain into art.

The Acme of Acme-ness: Is it the peak or just generic? Whatever the meaning, a string of unrelated galleries all chose the Acme name.

Spot Me: The eightfold path toward ruining a really expensive outfit.

Life in Review: Richard von Busack goes critic to critic with film writer Judy Stone.

What in Tarnation?: Though her music owes more to Flannery O'Connor than Herb Caen, Paula Frazer of Tarnation draws on S.F. life when writing her songs.

Mommy's Day Out: How to wow Mom in restaurants that let her know she's not in Kansas anymore.