Castro / Hayes Valley / MissionAll dire emergencies |
911 |
Electric/gas emergencies |
(800) 743-5002 |
Poison Control |
(800) 222-1222 |
Telephone operator |
Dial 0 |
Bayshore Ambulance |
(650) 525-9700 |
Fire Department |
(415) 558-3200 |
King American Ambulance |
(415) 931-1400 |
AMR/San Francisco Ambulance |
(415) 922-9400 |
Saint Joseph’s Ambulance |
(415) 460-6020 |
Castro / Hayes Valley / Mission
California Pacific Medical Center
(Davies Campus)
Castro Street at Duboce
Tel: (415) 600-6000
Chinatown / North Beach
Chinese Hospital
845 Jackson Street
Tel: (415) 982-2400
Downtown
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
900 Hyde Street
Tel: (415) 353-6000
Haight / Sunset
Saint Mary’s Medical Center
450 Stanyan Street
tel: (415) 668-1000
Pacific Heights
California Pacific Medical Center (Women and Children’s Center) 3700 California Street; tel: (415) 600-6000
Pacific Heights / Inner Richmond
California Pacific Medical Center (California Campus)
3700 California Street
Tel: (415) 600-6000 (Maternity emergencies only)
Mission / Potrero Hill
San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Potrero Avenue
Tel: (415) 206-8000
Sunset / Avenues
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Avenue
Tel: (415) 476-1000
Western Addition
Kaiser Permanente
2425 Geary Boulevard
Tel: (415) 833-2000 (For Kaiser members)
AIDS Nightline |
(415) 434-2437 |
Alcoholics Anonymous |
(415) 674-1821 |
Castro / NoeValley
498 Castro Street
Tel: (415) 861-3136
Outer Richmond
25 Point Lobos, at 42nd Avenue
Tel: (415) 386-0736
Marina / Cow Hollow
3201 Divisadero Street, at Lombard
Tel: (415) 931-6415
Potrero Hill
1189 Potrero Avenue
Tel: (415) 647-1397
San Francisco International Airport / SFO Airport
Tel: (650) 821-8211; Website: http://www.flysfo.com
Tel: (510) 563-3300
Website: http://www.flyoakland.com
Amtrak (trains)
Tel: (800) 872-7245
website: http://www.amtrak.com
Greyhound (bus)
Tel: (800) 231-2222
website: http://www.greyhound.com
All Bay Area Transportation Information
Tel: 511
Website: http://www.511.org
CalTrans Road Conditions
Tel: 511; or (800) 427-7623
SFO Airport
Tel: (650) 821-2735
Website: http://www.travelersaid.org
Nonprofit organization that helps travelers in difficult straits: reunites families separated while traveling, provides food or shelter to people stranded without cash, offers emotional counseling as needed.
San Francisco Visitor Information Center
Corner of Market and Powell; lower level of Hallidie Plaza
Tel: (415) 391-2000
Website: http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com
Open daily. Free advice on understanding and seeing
San Francisco, hotel reservations, brochures.
National Park Service Visitor Information
102 Montgomery Street, in the Presidio
Tel: (415) 561-4323
Website: http://www.nps.gov
The Park Service administers the National Historical Maritime Park, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Presidio and Crissy Field. Each attraction has its own visitor center.
National Federal Information: tel: (800) 333-4636; website: http://www.usa.gov
Department of Homeland Security (Citizenship and Immigration) tel: (800) 375-5283; website: http://www.dhs.gov
Internal Revenue Service: tel: (800) 829-1040; website: http://www.irs.gov
Social Security Administration: tel: (800) 772-1213; website: http://www.ssa.gov
Official website, City of San Francisco. http://www.sfgov.org
City Customer Service Center. 24-hour telephone: 311
City Hall. Tel: (415) 554-4000
Police Department, non-emergencies. Tel: (415) 553-0123
San Francisco Unified School District. Tel: (415) 241-6000
American Express
Tel: (800) 992-3404
Diners Club
Tel: (800) 234-6377
MasterCard
Tel: (800) 627-8372
Visa
Tel: (800) 847-2911
For international calls, dial 011 before the country code and telephone number. For any American or Canadian number outside the 415 area code, dial the number 1 before the telephone number.
East Bay |
510 |
Marin County |
415 |
Napa/Sonoma |
707 |
San Francisco |
415 |
South Bay/Peninsula |
650 |
Toll-free numbers start with: 800, 888, 866, 877. Numbers that start with 700 or 900 are not free. To reach the operator, dial 0.
One U.S. gallon= 3.8 liters; .85 Imperial gallons
One kilo= 2.2 pounds
100 grams= 3.5 ounces
One liter= 1 quart, 2 ounces; about 4 cups
One teaspoon dry measure= about 5 grams
One tablespoon= 14.3 grams
One stone= 14 pounds
One centimeter=.39 inches
One meter=39.3 inches; 3.3 feet; 1.1 yard
One kilometer=.62 miles; One mile=1.6km
212º Fahrenheit= 100° Centigrade
32º Fahrenheit= 0º Centigrade
98.6º Fahrenheit= 37º Centigrade
The Entertainment Book
An annual publication that for a fee allows discounts to hundreds of restaurants, shops, car rentals, hotels, and services. Buy online at http://www.entertainment.com
San Francisco City Pass
If you’re here for a week, consider the City Pass, which allows access to six of the city’s attractions—De Young Museum and the Legion of Honor, Aquarium of the Bay, the Exploratorium, Museum of Modern Art, and one other: either the Asian Art museum, or California Academy of Sciences and Steinhart Aquarium, plus seven consecutive days of free public transportation including the cable car, and a Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure. Tel: (888) 330-5008 Website: http://www.citypass.com/sanfrancisco
Currently all this costs only US$ 59 (reduced price for children) and is a real bargain, when you think that the cable car costs US$ 5 a ride. You can pick up the city pass at any of the above attractions or at the Tourist Office.
Go San Francisco Card
Unlimited admission to some 45 museums and attractions in San Francisco, and a few others in the wine country (including winery visits) and Monterey. Discounts can be enjoyed at some shops and restaurants. The card is issued in differing durations up to seven days, costing from US$ 49–149.
Tel: (866) 628-9028
Website: http://www.gosanfranciscocard.com
Voter Registration
Tel: (415) 554-4375
Democratic Party
100 McAllister Street
Tel: (415) 626-1161
Website: http://www.cadem.org
Republican Party
110 Pacific Avenue
Tel: (415) 989-1259
Website: http://www.sfgop.org
For a comprehensive look at the LGBT communities in San Francisco, visit A Different Light Bookstore (See page 190.), and take a walking tour of the Castro, which informs about the history of the area as well as its current life.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Community Center
1800 Market Street
Tel: (415) 865-5555
Website: http://www.sfcenter.org
Home to LGBT organizations, including a space for community events and performances, social support activities, art gallery, and film screening room.
James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center
San Francisco Main Pubic Library
100 Larkin Street
Tel: (415) 557-4566 (Archives, books, periodicals)
1800 Market Street, #404
Tel: (415) 865-5630
Website: http://www.bacw.org
World’s largest lesbian volunteer organization formed to eliminate discrimination. This provides business networking opportunities, social events, etc.
Women’s Building
3543, 18th Street
Tel: (415) 431-1180
Website: http://www.womensbuilding.org
Multi-cultural center for women and girls, providing tools for full participation in society. Hosts events, meeting, and seminars for women.
Eureka Valley-Harvey Milk Library
1 José Sarria Court (at 16th, near Market)
Tel: (415) 355-5616
This Castro branch of the Public Library has a well-organized collection of materials for the LGBT communities.
Pacific Center
2712 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley
Tel: (510) 548-8283
Website: http://www.pacificcenter.org
LGBT resource and support center for the entire Bay Area.
You will meet people at work, at your gym, walking your dog in the parks, and through other means, especially by volunteering for community or non-profit organizations, often in the arts. For professional and business networking, see pages 340–341.
The San Francisco Volunteer Center
1675 California Street
Tel: (415) 928-8999
Website: http://www.thevolunteercenter.net
Coordinates volunteers in community-wide projects.
Project Homeless Connect
60 Spear Street
Website: http://www.sfconnect.org
A city-sponsored set of projects to help the San Francisco homeless.
SFCASA (San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocate Program)
100 Bush Street
Tel: (415) 398-8001
Website: http://www.sfcasa.org
You can aid some children in difficult circumstances and in need of help, by supporting them in different ways and guiding them through the court system, as necessary.
Contemporary Extension
151 3rd Street
Tel: (415) 947-1155
Website: http://www.sfmomacx.org
Member-run organization for the young professional who wants to expand knowledge and take an active role in supporting the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).
Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
391 Grove Street
Tel: (415) 626-7500
Website: http://www.friendssfpl.org
Friends raise money for the Library, help operate the several bookshops, and support the library in other ways.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
1800 Market Street
Tel: (415) 865-3650
Website: http://www.sfgmc.org
The chorus presents major concers each year, plus outreach concerts for community groups. Audition for the chorus, or even if you can’t sing, volunteers are always needed to keep track of wardrobe, ticket sales, production, etc.
San Francisco Opera Guild Volunteer Program
301 Van Ness Avenue
Tel: (415) 565-6433
Website: http://www.sfopera.com/guild
Volunteer throughout the opera world: in the gift shop, administrative offices, costume shop, or in other ways behind the scenes. Bravo! is a young professionals’ group that participates in a variety of events related to the opera: receptions, benefits, etc.
San Francisco Symphony Volunteer Council
Davies Symphony Hall
Tel: (415) 503-5500
Website: http://www.sfsymphony.org
Volunteer behind the scenes at the gift shop, in the office, with the Concerts for Kids Program, and more.
Symphonix is the young professionals group. It offers meetings, musical programs, social events, discounts on dinner and concerts.
Tel: (415) 281-0700
Website: http://www.sfsymphonix.com
San Francisco Ballet:
455 Franklin Street
Tel: (415) 553-4634
A host of varied opportunities to volunteer and participate with this major ballet company, through the two programs:
Bravo: Website: http//:www.bravosfb.org
Encore! Tel: (415) 865-6762; email: encore@sfballet.info. Website: http://www.sfballet.org
