City Lights Bookstore

Makes me cry. I’d love to find Kerouac’s ghost (before he got fat) and have a go in the stacks.

Feel the Beat Boy vibe

i had some kind of trans generational flashback going up the stairs here.

i was in San Francisco in April 2006 for a choir tour my high school was doing. I first begged the trip director to make time in our itinerary to stop at the bookstore I’d read about for sooo long! well it was AMAZING. make sure, when you go, to stop at the door that has I Am The Door written on it. It’s nothing prophetic but just standing in front of it, knowing of all the literary genius that surrounds you in the store. just stopping there, aware of all the Beatnik culture San Francisco once thrived on, will haunt you. it was awesome and I want to go back!!

I love North Beach and like to drop into City Lights when I’m in the neighborhood.

The best bookstore on the west coast.
Just fabulous.

Dharma bums must visit this historic beat establishment. Go straight downstairs, where, on the left wall, you will still find a section titled marxism.

On your way out look upstairs—if you’re lucky you’ll get a glimpse of Mr Ferlingetti himself.

Be sure to wave—in SF, this place indeed represents the “high-water mark” of leftist politics.

Then get across the street to Specs and have a beer. Or if you prefer, as I would, sit upstairs at Vesuvios and watch the people on the corner.

beat poets anyone?

A bookworm’s wet dream. Not just bursting with history and literary significance, but stocked to the gunwales with the most incredible assortment of books.

The Poetry Room upstairs is incredible; small, intimate and I’ve found every poet I’ve looked for.