With 10 Best Picture Oscar nominees, now's the time to squeeze in all those much-lauded movies you haven't seen - and San Francisco's Sundance Kabuki Cinemas is the place to do it. This theater's laundry list of perks include a touchscreen that lets you select and reserve your plush seats and a snack counter that trades mammoth sodas for Peet's flavored lattes and run-of-the-mill candy for chocolate-dipped rice krispie treats.

But it's the third floor's Balcony Bar that truly takes the cake: Order an artisan cheese plate or ahi tuna tartare, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or a vodka martini, then head into a 21+ screening of in-the-running films like Crazy Heart, Up in the Air, and Avatar in 3D. The theater's selection of films runs from the mainstream (Valentine's Day) to the buzzed-about (tickets are already on sale for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland in 3D) to the truly artsy (high-def screenings of San Francisco Opera productions like Madama Butterfly and Samson and Delilah).

When the credits roll, you'd be wise to continue your day in Japantown/Pacific Heights before heading to the comforts of the nearby Westin St. Francis. There's plenty of Asian kitsch to be had at the neighboring Ichiban Kan, which sells everything from bento boxes to exotic candies, but take a stroll up Fillmore Street for serious shopping: silk crepe dresses at Erica Tanov, high-end leather bags at Hlaska, rosehip and clay mint masks from Clary Sage Organics, and Euro-chic bedding from Nest.

[image via Sundance Kabuki Cinemas]