City Lights Bookseller and Publishers
Founded in 1953, City Lights is one of the most famous independent bookstores in the nation. With a large collection of poetry tomes and progressive politics books, this shop (a historic landmark) also carries hot of-the-moment fiction and pretty-picture travel books. It's also where you'll find many big-name authors roll through town for readings.

City Lights Bookseller and Publishers, 261 Columbus Avenue (at Broadway), 415-362-8193.

Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile