The Barnes Restaurant + Bar

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.

The Cartoon Art Museum is virtually guaranteed to put a smile on your face as you walk through it and see the nearly 6,000 original items housed in this fascinating facility. The museum received the support of Charles M. Schultz, the creator of "Peanuts," and it was with that impressive blessing that the museum transitioned from a mere idea to becoming the only collection of its kind west of the Mississippi. Located in Yerba Buena Gardens in the city's art center, this popular venue attracts cartoon and comic lovers from all over the world. In addition to the major exhibitions held yearly, the museum also features the very popular bookstore that features several unique items for sale.

In a world where even "reality TV" seems staged, it's nice to know that the fine art of comedy improv is alive and well with Chicken Scratch. This group of highly skilled comedians put on a show unlike any other, and they have consistently won rave reviews for their hilariously unpredictable improv games to even making up their own rap songs! After seeing Chicken Scratch perform, you'll know that their mission of "slaughtering the world's evil with laughter" has been successfully accomplished.

The Alameda Creek Regional Trail is a 12-mile long, multi-use recreation trail that winds along the banks of Alameda Creek from the mouth of Niles Canyon in the east to San Francisco Bay at its western end. Walkers, runners, and cyclists enjoy this popular, picturesque trail.