City Lights Booksellers & Publishers — Attraction in San Francisco

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George Dodson Local Guide·37 reviews·10 photos Harry Potter books are banned Man we exceped the Trans Community. Were we wrong? Maybe we need to take back all of the acceptance We have shown you. In the face of your unreasonable demands you put on JK. I am going take back some of that … More

ari salomon Local Guide·354 reviews·1551 photos a month ago Wow, what an amazing book,store and community — and an amazing event that I went to. They can hold up to hundred people in the back room and a few more for standing room only. It’s a really eclectic fun mix of books with a lot of art books. Photo 1 in review by ari salomon Photo 2 in review by ari salomon Photo 3 in review by ari salomon Photo 4 in review by ari salomon+2

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Lacey Devlin Local Guide·62 reviews·82 photos 3 months ago I loved this bookstore! Small but mighty!! Such a well curated selection of books- it was literally so hard to decide on what books were coming home with me. This is why i shop at local bookstores. I love stumbling on books i wouldn’t … More Photo 1 in review by Lacey Devlin Photo 2 in review by Lacey Devlin

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Andrew Bachmann Local Guide·288 reviews·2963 photos 2 days ago New Nice community bookstore with friendly staff and a good selection of books for all ages. We stopped by and picked up a couple of graphic novels and I noticed the recommendation for one of my favorite books, the phantom tollbooth. The aisles … More ❤️1 George Dodson Local Guide·37 reviews·10 photos just now New Harry Potter books are banned Man we exceped the Trans Community. Were we wrong? Maybe we need to take back all of the acceptance We have shown you. In the face of your unreasonable demands you put on JK. I am going take back some of that tolerance and exceptance of you. Because I wasn't aware that you demand control of JK. Who do you think you are. Now because of you I will exhibit less tolerance. If it comes up I will refer to your disrespectful loud lack of tolerance for others..You asked for it so I will influence...

City Lights ghost?

I just returned from San Francisco and cannot shake something that happened to me at City Lights bookstore. I had to visit because it was a staple of the beatnik culture. Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s shop still attracts people who are enraptured by that era, but even without the essence of it’s interesting history, it stands alone with its poetic charm. My first visit was last weekend. I was on the second story in the “poetry room,” when I felt someone tug my hair. I had it in a low ponytail. I thought it was my boyfriend, maybe signaling he wanted to exit. I shrugged it off as kind of rude and kept looking at the spines of the books lining the shelves. All of a sudden, he grabbed my hair by the base of my ponytail and wrenched my head to the left! I began yelling (I was very annoyed) “STOP!” and “what’s your prob..,” I stopped mid-sentence, because I saw that my boyfriend was across the room. There was no one else in the room with us. I was completely dumbfounded! I tried to shake it off but when I went to check my books out and pay my tab, I asked the bookkeeper if this place was haunted. She replied with a firm “yes,” but even more unsettling she adds that the activity has gotten much more active since the séance they performed about a month prior. My skin still gets chills just thinking of it. What could this have been besides a haunting? Anyone have any rational explanations for me? Has anything like this happened to customers,...

I've been to City Lights many times over the years. It's a great place to take out-of-town guests, or to simply browse around when I'm in North Beach.

Stroll around and take in the ambiance and history associated with this once-subversive bookstore. You'll see a lot of people taking pictures for social media. (Don't miss my photos below! They're SO different than everyone else's lol.)

Tip: It's relaxing to go upstairs to the poetry room, grab a random book, and sit next to the window and read for a while. You'll feel very Beat.

City Lights is known worldwide for its progressive literature and left-leaning politics. If that makes you uncomfortable, you probably won't enjoy your visit. There's nothing subtle about City Lights' political bent.

Sidebar: They used to have a really cool chapbook nook…I didn't see that on my most recent visit. Is it gone? I loved spending time reading those

The interior itself has got a cool vibe that encourages you to wander and get lost among its rows of books. And take pictures. (See my photos below!)

Before visiting, take a few minutes to learn about Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the founding of City Lights, and the Beat Movement. It will put this store into context and help you understand its relevance.

I wish they also sold used books, but we have the agnostic Green Apple for that. All in all, City Lights is a must-visit place to get a feel for The City. Oh, and consider supporting independent bookstores by actually...