Mission-Bernal Heights

The oldest building in San Francisco and one of the many Spanish missions in California, the white, intricately decorated towers of Mission Dolores tower over the neighborhood.

Can be found all around the Mission neighborhood, especially on 24th street, east of Mission Street.

An alley full of incredible murals between 24th and 25th Street. There are some really beautiful works here, and it's always changing.

Opened in 1970, the non-profit gallery specializes in Chicano/Latino art.

An independent art-film theatre, with some of the best features shown in the country. If it's showing here, it's usually worth seeing.

A breeding ground for new performance, playwriting workshops, performances, a youth program, and classes. Some excellent one-person shows have been hatched out in the Marsh.

San Francisco's oldest alternative art space, This tiny space has premiered works by noted authors such as Dave Eggers and world-class playwrights such as Denis Johnson. The resident theater group, Campo Santo, is very good. The space also has an upstairs art gallery.

A nonprofit educational group and screening venue for independent film and video. This center often shows genuinely strange art films and videos, particularly during their frequent "open screenings" you bring it, they'll show it. Don't miss the intriguing window displays.