I still love this museum! I appreciate how the curators change things up so each time you visit…read morethere are fresh & unique things to experience. Today especially was moved by Shirin Neshat & Philip Glass's collaboration on a an 11 minute video entitled "Passage" that depicts a funeral procession in Morocco.The music and imagery was especially powerful. Mom and I checked everything out & enjoyed the plant wall, Modern Art 101 Gallery, the store, and the cafe. So much to see! We did not opt to pay extra to see the Matisse exhibit. There were people viewing the galleries with us, but it was not too crowded and there was plenty of space. Today was an especially beautiful day, so maybe more folks were outside enjoying the weather, but it was a perfect day for a visit. All employees we interacted with from the security guards to the cafe folks to the ticket checkers were all helpful & pleasant. It is such a joy to come here & you never know what delightful surprises you will happen upon. Peace.

I absolutely loved the exhibits!…read more I didn't get to try the drinks/food this time around but I'll be sure to try them next time I come.

We were here to see the "Monet in Venice" exhibit at the De Young Museum and it was extraordinary…read more We recently became members of the museum and have enjoyed visiting their many exhibitions over the year's. We were lucky to visit the "Monet, The Late Years", back in May of 2019. When we heard that the "Monet in Venice" exhibit was coming, we reserved our tickets quickly. I have loved the many paintings of Monet, especially his water lilies series. They are so beautiful. We had a wonderful time at the museum observing his art at our pace. Your tickets at reserved for a certain time. Once you exit the exhibit you cannot re-enter. So we made sure to take our time and went back to the beginning, before leaving, to walk through a second time. I really love the history behind each painting. They have descriptions and stories printed on the wall of each series of paintings as well as paintings from his fellow artists friends during that same time period that helped influence him. If you are a lover of art, especially Impressionism, then this is a must see. You will not be disappointed.

Sadly, the behavior of one of the employees in the Monet in Venice exhibit put a damper on our…read moreentire experience today. The middle-aged slender guy with glasses, earrings, and dark hair tinged with gray could not have been ruder to me in how he told me I had to carry my purse backpack, then followed by a loud, obnoxious lecture. If he's an employee, he should be fired. If he's a volunteer, he should be moved to somewhere where he doesn't interact with other humans. He is a terrible representative of the De Young. Luckily the woman in the gift shop who signed us up for memberships was friendly, kind and patient. That helped balance the ugly experience with the rude man in the gallery, but we left there with a bad feeling anyway.

As a longtime Legion of Honor member, I wanted to highlight a special exhibit celebrating Women's…read moreDay, running from March 3-8. The floral arrangements throughout the galleries feel like interpretations of the artworks around them - some seem to be echoing the colors, shapes and even painting "moods". This is a definite must-see.

I've lived in the Bay Area for almost 30 years, and I'm a little embarrassed to admit this was my…read morefirst visit to the Legion of Honor. I'd heard about it, but it never quite made it to the top of the list. Today my son suggested we go since admission is free on Saturdays for Bay Area residents, so we stopped by late in the afternoon -- and I was genuinely blown away. That's not an exaggeration. First, parking was easier than expected. The small lots right by the entrance were full, but there's another lot less than a quarter mile down the hill where we found a space without any trouble. Maybe we got lucky, but it was smooth. The setting alone is worth the visit. The museum sits among rolling green hills with views that feel very different from the usual tourist spots. The architecture is striking, and I was surprised to learn the building is now over a century old. The centerpiece collection features works by Auguste Rodin, and seeing so many of his sculptures up close -- in different sizes and forms -- was fascinating. It felt like a real privilege to experience them in person. There are rotating exhibits throughout the year; currently the spotlight is on Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot. I'm not a major art expert, but I still enjoyed learning about their partnership and viewing these Impressionist works. The unexpected highlight was the Spreckels Organ performance. We happened to catch the Saturday 4pm concert -- pure luck. The organ pipes are built into the structure itself, and the hour-long performance was mesmerizing. It's one of those experiences you just have to hear for yourself. Highly recommended. I'll definitely be back.

Swung by the Asian Art Museum to see the fabulous creations of Nymphia Wind. Loved the dresses, but…read moreI just wish there were more of them! There was a lecture at noon, but by the time I found out about it, all the tickets were gone. The artistry of these creations was beyond amazing. I really enjoyed the video showing the process of creation, but it would've been great to have it televised on a bigger screen. If there were more than two people standing in front of the video monitor, it was difficult to see the video. I think because this is a very short lived exhibit (only Friday, June 12th, through Sunday, June 14th), they couldn't put a lot of effort into it. Regardless, it was worth the time and effort to see these beautiful dresses.

I went to see their temporary exhibit Chiharu Shiota exhibit and it was amazing. This alone makes…read morethe visit worth. They have several floors of Asian art and history. Everything was beautifully displayed making it easy to follow. The last upper floor was my favorite. Tip or something to keep in mind: I went on a Monday and there were several class students Junior high and elementary. Therefore it was extremely noisy though the guards tried to keep them quite the children were loud and can be disruptive while enjoying the museum.

Came here recently for magnolia season! A lot of trees in bloom but already started to fall away…read more And some buds yet to bloom! Loved the rhododendrons, and all the different sections of the park. It was really relaxing to stroll through and admire all the nature. Free entry for SF residents, otherwise $17 for entry. Found parking along the park and walked over!

Amazingly Beautiful. A must go. Serine, fragrant, visually pleasing gardens. Lots of bench's and…read morewalking paths and can always find a secluded spot to reflect. Reasonable prices but challenging parking. Treat yourself and give a visit. Check out their website to find out what's in Bloom and what's going on. Tip It's very easy to pre purchase tickets on line which is a plus.

This review is for the new location in the Transamerica pyramid…read more The main art exhibits are rotating. The exhibit I saw was amazing and beautiful and displayed well. The staff happily explained it as well as the books on the table that I was able to leaf through. There are also materials on the table explaining the exhibits. There was another room about the time capsule found containing documents about the Transamerica pyramid, but that doesn't seem to be part of the art museum. There is a second exhibit but it wasn't available even though there were flyers about it. My main complaint is this location was too small with only one exhibit. It's free, but I'd happily have paid to see a larger museum.

As one whose favorite art genre is contemporary, I try to make time for anyplace that defines…read moreitself as such. To date, the best place I've found to view contemporary art is in Chicago but here in San Francisco there's signs of promise. The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA) is housed in a space that, the last time I was there, was a Bank of America. Given that this was the bank attached to the Financial District's B of A headquarters, it was an impressive space, open and full of natural materials. This makes it quite an interesting art space. Covering two large floors, ICA is free to visit and is currently showing a couple of very intriguing exhibits. It made me happy to experience them but seeing the size of the space and the way these exhibits were spread out I could not hope but wish they'd condensed the footprint of these exhibits to allow for more exhibits to exist. So, thumbs-up for a great setting and wonderful exhibits at ICA but thumbs sideways as I want more art - much more art - to be housed in that space. Still, worth checking out, for certain.

We planned our first time here thinking 1-2 hours would be enough but we were wrong. This place has…read morelots to do and see and I could spend the whole day here. There are the things to see, read and do. I loved interactive sections where kids (and adults) can create things and learn as they experiment. It feels like an elaborate science fair + museum. My six year old was drawn to certain sections and as a space lover I was intrigued by certain exhibits. We will be coming back. I'd recommend planning your spend at least half a day (if not more).

We visited the Exploratorium as part of the City Pass. It was definitely a full day of exploring…read moreand was better towards the end of the day when the summer camp kids left. My kids enjoyed but we also had to take breaks in-between. Why 3 stars you ask? It's a huge space, but all of the exhibits were similar to science museums we have in So Cal. Some things were broken or not operational the day we went. Lunch offerings were super healthy which is a plus. But we liked 2/4 entrees we ordered. Priced are as expected for museums. Logistics wise, you really have to come early to secure good parking. We came an hour after opening and street + parking lots were full. If you plan to come, I say it's a deal via City Pass, but I wouldn't pay full admission prices to go.

This museum offers free admission, and not all exhibits were accessible this past Sunday during the…read morelast hour before closing. We were captivated by the enchanting garden grotto display on ground level when we entered, complete with water features and magical scenery. And we checked out a small collection of artworks downstairs. But the upper level is the main floor for the museum. We wandered through multiple rooms, exploring the permanent collection of murals and sculptures. I found some of the simpler images of nature most appealing, like Ocean (2001) by Rayah Shen. But the current exhibit, "Estrangement: Challenging the Myth of Mankind's Separation from Nature" by Erik Hunter, was interesting too, blurring the boundaries between humanity and earth. The most intriguing piece for me, among the various paintings on display and for sale, was Crown of Thorns (oil and acrylic on canvas). It takes no more than an hour to view the entire art gallery, much less if some exhibits are closed.

The art exhibits are exquisite. This free museum in downtown San Francisco is a gem. I absolutely…read morerecommend coming here, and entrance is free.

I had the pleasure of participating - notice I said participate rather than attend, as it truly is…read morean interactive performance - in the Haunted Dollhouse experience. I can scare easily, so I was a little concerned that I would be too startled, or fearful of a scary dollface. While I did scream a few times when something sudden happened, my main take away is one of Delight, Whimsy, Playfulness and Reverence. The house in which the scene is set is a masterpiece of intricate art - filled with gorgeous mosaics, theatrical curtains, history both painted on the walls and held in all manner of precious trinkets and artifacts. Our clown hosts were a joy, and I giggle as I recall how they played with us throughout the journey. The resident witch brought a deep, grounded presence to the tour show, and I even learned that I have a haunted object at home that wants to be exorcised! (post-show homework!) I experienced the most reverence in the room that I was afraid of the most at first. The clown and witch hosts shared the history of the dolls, which is also the history of people and place. I left the room no longer scared and instead touched by the stories behind each doll. Another favorite moment was the tea party (!!!) with delicious tea and homemade cookies and pastries and even scull shaped sugar cubes!? I love the attention to detail and handcraftedness in every aspect of the experience. And finally the cleansing ritual at the end felt powerful and very real. That alone was worth the price of admission! Come enjoy a true and unreapeatable San Francisco experience!

I had such an amazing day at the Gregangelo! Our guide was Nick, who was incredible. I purposefully…read moredidn't google anything about this museum so I could enjoy whatever came up for me naturally. It's an interactive museum that calls for deep reflection which is right up my alley. I will also say, I chose this place as a first date and I thought it was a really good choice if I say so myself lol. You will end up learning quite a bit about the people in the room and it was a treat. Can't wait to go back and try another experience!

This museum is so underrated!…read more There are plenty of exhibits to explore, along with interactive areas that make learning fun for kids. It's a great place to spend a day with the family, whether you're looking to learn something new, relax, or simply enjoy a beautiful day in Oakland. I especially appreciate that this museum participates in the Museums for All program, which helps make cultural and educational experiences more accessible to families. We had a wonderful visit and I'll definitely be coming back more often. If you're looking for a family-friendly activity that's both fun and educational, this museum is worth checking out.

I have been coming here for years. Specifically for their special exhibitions. They are always so…read moreinteresting and well planned out on display. The museum has three floors and their outdoor garden overlooking lake merrit. They have a little bit of everything, if you're curious about real history and wanting to learn more this is the place. Their annual membership is so worth. As they have several special events. Next to the museum they have plenty of parking. I take Bart as the stop is one block away. Chinatown is walkable for great restaurants. The Oakland library is close by too! There's a restaurant inside the museum while the food sounds great it's okay. I would recommend walking /driving to Chinatown or downtown Oakland for amazing food.