Formerly an industrial-warehouse district, the neighborhood south of Market Street (SoMa for short) is now one of the city's most active nightlife districts, as well as home to the Moscone Convention Center, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Metreon entertainment center, the Museum of Modern Art and a variety of cutting-edge restaurants and factory-outlet stores (maps showing outlet locations are available at shops throughout the district). One of the area's most delightful finds is Yerba Buena Gardens, a hidden jewel of an urban park, which lies adjacent to the Center for the Arts on Third and Mission streets. At the top of the park promenade are benches and cafes with outdoor seating, where you can sip iced coffee and gaze out on the city's amazingly diverse architectural panoply. Popular night spots include Slim's, a music club owned in part by Boz Scaggs on 11th St. near Folsom, and nearby Butter, a lively cocktail lounge decorated in a trailer park motif. The Endup, on Sixth and Harrison streets, is a popular after-hours dance club, and The Stud, on Ninth and Harrison , is a revered gay dance club that stays open late. Map 2, B-E 6-8 |