User Lists in San Francisco, CA Metro

There are some mistakes you must make in your youth in order to become a better, wiser adult: bad relationships, bad fashion, bad jobs, bad roommates. Some mistakes you even need to make twice (see: sex with an ex, platform clogs). And then there are those you should learn from and never, ever repeat--like entering these bastions of bad decision-making.

At left: Me, losing the other half of my dignity at Slide. Photo courtesy of my so-called best friends.

The Haight is a neighborhood simultaneously celebrated for its rich history and shrouded by its current reputation as home to teenage runaways. But, look beyond the tourists snapping pictures of the Haight and Ashbury intersection and the Marin kids squatting on the sidewalk, and you'll start to notice that the Haight is also home to some of the city's best low-key nightlife options, from Irish pubs and classic dives to cocktail lounges. Here, we give you the ultimate Haight Street bar-crawl guide: 15 of the best watering holes, working east from Stanyan.

Drinks at the Alembic by Flickr user Mai Le

A decade ago, frizzy-haired girls rejoiced at the news of a magical Japanese hair treatment that promised to turn their unruly tresses into straight, shiny locks. The catch? High prices and flat, lifeless hair. Enter the Brazilian Blowout, a new keratin treatment that costs a fraction of Japanese straightening and delivers wash-and-go hair for up to 3 months?but without compromising body or natural curls and waves. Celebs like Nicole Ritchie and Lindsay Lohan are already singing its praises. Here, we give you the best salons in San Francisco for your own transformation into a Brazilian beauty (or well-coiffed inmate, as the case may be).

Whether you're a Midwestern ex-pat looking for the nostalgia associated with the crappy beer that got you laid on prom night or you just want a cheap buzz and ?drinkability,? everyone's got their reason for seeking out that one special-but-not-really brew. Look no further--these San Francisco bars and restaurants are stocking those hard-to-find, cult-favorite and dirt-cheap beers in this post-PBR town.

San Francisco is a tourist mecca for many reasons--gorgeous views, impressive architecture, stellar food and, of course, world-class shopping. If you're here to shop, nix the typical Fisherman's Wharf accommodations and opt to stay near Union Square instead. These hotels are all within steps of designer boutiques, major department stores, discount retailers and a healthy dose of those amazing restaurants we were talking about, too.

Sure, you can go to a bona fide BBQ joint any time of the year for some lip-smacking ribs and smoky chicken, but there's something to be said for BBQ as a special summertime treat. These San Francisco restaurants and bars are getting into the spirit of summer?fog, be damned?with special menus, seasonal drinks and festive outdoor settings.

If bars grew on trees, you might consider Polk Street the Baobab of San Francisco's nightlife savanna. Bearing prolific and diverse fruit, this tree of life sustains thriving communities of vodka-tonic-swilling Marina expatriates and no-nonsense Tendernob problem drinkers alike. On a list of Polk Street bars that should include dozens, here are five stand-out watering holes from North to South.

North Beach has drastically changed since it was a haven for beatniks, cool cats and well, duh, Italians. These days, this historic neighborhood often falls prey to the tourist crowd, but get past that very small drawback, and this neighborhood remains to emanate charm and a solid restaurant scene. From big bowls of pasta to fondue and tapas, get it all at our favorite North Beach restaurants.

Thought kegs were reserved for your brewski? Think again. Draft wine is the newest trend in the restaurant industry, providing a fresher glass of vino and an eco-friendly lack of packaging. Best of all, the wineries' savings on bottles and labels get passed down to the drinker-- most of these wines are 10 to 30 percent cheaper than their bottled counterparts. Ready to tap into the zeitgeist? Here are five places in San Francisco where you can try draft wine.

There are two incredibly distinct sides of San Francisco's Fillmore Street, each offering its own unique local flavor. Go south of Geary Boulevard and you're swept into a world of new and exciting restaurants, most built to honor the Fillmore District's rich jazz history and, with that, offer live music nearly every night of the week. Go north of Geary, and the scene is buzzing with an interesting mix of brand-new shops and restaurants, many in step with the city's hottest culinary trends, as well as longtime and cherished favorites.