Site for Sore Eyes - SF West Portal

People who love books love Litquake, the yearly literary festival held every fall in San Francisco. Renowned authors are on hand for lectures and book signings, and interesting panels, workshops and parties are also part of what makes Litquake such an essential event for both readers and writers of all backgrounds. One of the highlights of this event is the three-hour Lit-Crawl through the Mission District that features stops at galleries, bookstores, bars and cafes.

Biscuits and Blues not only brings you some of the best live blues music and entertainment this side of Memphis, but it also offers some of the tastiest food that features its own brand of southern flair. The venue has earned its reputation as one of the best blues clubs in the country, as it regularly features some of the world's most famous bluesmen on its stage. And if blues isn't the only thing you're hungry for, you'll also find such inviting menu items as hot biscuits, fried catfish, and spicy chicken to satisfy your non-musical appetite, as well.

When you visit San Francisco for the first time, visiting Alcatraz is definitely a must-do. The Rock, as Alcatraz is known locally, was originally a lighthouse and a military out post and prison before becoming a federal prison. The likes of Al Capone, among others, served their time here. The tour takes you from the shore to this ominous island and the guides are all well-informed and always ready to answer your questions. The inherent drama of Alcatraz itself makes it worth seeing, but the added touches and expert treatment by the guides only underscore how essential it is to see this dramatic facility when you are in the Bay Area.