Comment #1:

Well, there is always the world famous Amoeba records in Berkeley, on the main drag, Telegraph Ave (pretty much the State Street of the area). And Mod Lang is another good store (very close to the UC-Berkeley campus). I saw some really cool records there. Lots of import stuff.



And then, you should definitely eat at The Stinking Rose ... it's entire menu is centered around garlic. You can even take garlic shots at the bar for a dollar. There's a documentary on the garlic festival held near there each year -- and I believe TSR is featured in it.

Comment #2:

before you go, make sure your plane ticket reads "san francisco" as opposed to this imaginary "san fransisco" place.

Comment #3:

Hi, inhabitants of Sarcasmville are not welcome in this comment thread. Please leave or we will have to use force to remove you.

Comment #4:

CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE!!

It's the Beat's bookstore. Also Coit Tower, the Indian Oven and ... there's a really good tapas place by Amoeba Records.

And the eucalyptus groves at Berkeley.

Comment #5:

Going to SF? Berkeley's interesting and worth a visit if you have the time, but you can get the requisite intake of hippies and patchouli in the Haight in SF. Also, the Amoeba on Haight is bigger and better than the one in Berkeley (in my opinion). The tapas place next to Amoeba on Haight (Cha Cha Cha) is OK--it's kind of faux-tapas (the portions are really huge and the menu is kind of small). The Citrus Club across the street has good noodles, and there are good middle eastern places up and down Haight.

As for what to do, just walk around...that's the best way to see SF. Start at fisherman's wharf and see all the tourists, then walk through chinatown through Union Square then up market to the castro and over to Haight. SF is a relatively safe city for anyone with any street smarts, and I think the best way to see any place is with a camera and a backpack and some good walking shoes.