Just like Manhattan, San Francisco is an art-thriving city. With so much art, it’s easy to get lost in all of SF’s museums and exhibits. Here are a few must-sees before all of you West-coasters come back to the frigid East:

1. The Art of Participation 1950 to Now

SFMOMA has put on an excellent retrospective of the major artists whose artistic creation focuses on engaging the public. From John Cage to Yoko Ono, the exhibition utilizes original film coverage and recreations of past installations. There are a number of direct participation projects, including a difficult attempt to balance four objects (including two brooms) on one person with the aid of a tiny photograph. Don’t forget to take home a free print from the exhibit, located in a neat pile on the floor of one of the galleries!

2. Yves Saint Laurent at the De Young

If you like art and fashion, then this exhibit is certainly a must-see. The show is a beautiful overview of the major pieces from Yves Saint Laurent’s influential collections. African hair headdresses, beaded bangles painted with painstaking precision, artist-inspired Mondrian and Van Gogh dresses, and simple, black pantsuits are the standouts. The fashion pieces are hand-made artistic creations that look more like art than wearable clothing. A hefty 20 dollars (16 dollars with student ID, which I conveniently forgot!) will get you into the exhibit as well as the entire museum. Also, don’t miss the Martin Puryear prints on your way out!

3. The Mission

Housing over 600 murals, The Mission has the largest concentration of murals in all of San Francisco (inspired by the neighborhood’s Latino roots). Contemporary art also permeates this quickly gentrifying neighborhood. Hip restaurants such as Delfina exhibit and sell work by local artists. There are hundreds of small galleries throughout The Mission and be certain to spot an opening or two on a Thursday or Friday night.

4. Rodin at the Legion of Honor

If a trip to Stanford is too much of a hassle, then the cozy Legion of Honor has a wonderful collection of Rodin’s sculptures. The artist’s most famous pieces can be found at the museum, such as The Thinker at the entrance to the building, as well as miniature models for larger sculptures, such as the Burghers of Calais (also at the Met). Compared to the rest of the museum which is just a collection of random art pieces from the Renaissance to Impressionism, the Rodins are focused and beautiful — definitely a trip to take if you’re a fan.