The Downtown area is crowned by the golden dome of the newly restored
City Hall in the Civic Center complex, one of the finest collections of
Beaux Arts buildings in the country. In the cultural heart of the city
you can catch local rock band Metallica at the Bill Graham Civic
Auditorium or the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall. The
Main Library is nearby, as are dozens of theaters with shows ranging
from Rent to The Merchant of Venice. The Civic Center Plaza is filled
with local color, from the weekend Farmers Market to the frequent
weekday demonstrations and protests. The 1932 War Memorial Opera House
on Van Ness is home to the San Francisco Opera and Ballet. The Van Ness
commercial corridor offers fine dining for performing arts patrons, as
well as convenient access to furniture stores, movie theaters, banks
and car dealerships.
