If you want to have a successful night out in this town, you need a plan—and it better be a good one. Since it's not always easy to strike that perfect balance between pre-dinner drink, food and a show, we bring you the Triple Threat series — a block-by-block guide to nights out that only require one parking space. In today's edition, the Lower Fillmore.

See: The Rum Diary—featuring Johnny Depp as the most unconventional of journalists, marooned on assignment in Puerto Rico—comes out tomorrow night. The most luxurious place to see it is, no doubt, the Sundance Kabuki where Friday and Saturday showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. and 10:10 p.m.

Eat: Since you know it's going to be elbow wars left and right at the theatre, how about dinner at the off-the-beaten path, usually uncrowded Cafe Mums House of Shabu Shabu. Here you can relax into the friendly service, retro quirky orange decor, and piles of willowy, thin-sliced beef. If you really want to celebrate the weekend, arrive early with friends and go for the all-you-can-eat and drink shabu shabu option for $42.95 a head. Just make sure you don't throw yourself straight into a food (and drink) coma and miss the movie. 

Drink: Post-film, make your night cap a Selassie (Jim Beam, Pernod and housemade Ethiopian bitters) at Sheba Lounge, a cool, dark Ethiopian restaurant with cozy low-slung seating, and nightly live jazz. Or walk a few blocks further for more live music and solid cocktails at 1300 on Fillmore, where owners David Lawrence and Monetta White just rang in their fourth year as Fillmore's reigning "soulful American" restaurant.

Got another great night out to suggest? Write us a note or tell us about it in the comments.