The Mission District is largely self-contained, but some Latino cultural treasures are found elsewhere in the city. 40 The Mexican Museum (Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D; 415-202-9700) has a permanent 9,000-peice collection of pre-conquest, colonial, folk, Mexican and Mexican American/Chicano art. Ask about tours of the Diego Rivera mural painted for the old Pacific Stock Exchange, now the private City Club. Also near Fort Mason is the 41 San Francisco Art Institute (800 Chestnut St.; 415-771-7020) where Rivera’s 1931 mural depicting the building of San Francisco is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Another Rivera mural decorates the 42 Diego Rivera Theater at San Francisco City College (Judson and Phelan; 415-239-3127). Open to the public but hours vary semester to semester. Call for current schedule.

Rivera, of course, was more than a muralist, and three of his paintings are part of the permanent collection of the 43 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (151 Third St.; 415- 357-4000): "The Flower Carrier," "Indian Girl With Coral Necklace," and "Kneeling Child."

For dinner, try 44 Laurels (205 Oak; 415-934-1575) for fine Cuban cuisine, and be sure to try the specialties: paella cubano and ropa vieja. Or for Guatemalan food in a tropical setting there’s 45 San Miguel (3520 20th St.; 415-826-0173).

If the evening’s young and you’re looking for fun, any night but Tuesday there’s dancing and an 11:30 drag show at 46 Esta Noche (3079 16th St.; 415-861-5757).