Dear Sir or Madam, Will You Read My Book?

I'm moving to the Bay Area in about a month and a half. It's a change I've been contemplating for some time now, and I've finally planned out the steps necessary to make it happen. I'm impossibly nervous, but at the same time energized by the possibilities that lie ahead, in every aspect of my life.

The cosmos appears to be doing its part to quell any anxiety I might have, by offering me incentives as well as proof of the unique opportunities that exist out west.

Last week, The New York Times published "A Book Lover's San Francisco," in which Gregory Dicum discusses San Francisco's literary scene (and a vibrant one at that!).

Dicum first references Litquake, an annual literary festival, which hosts several readings and events, and which culminates in the "Lit Crawl"—it's nerdy and entertaining all in one!

He explains that many of the city's bookstores are are clustered on Valencia Street (home to 826Valencia, amongst other stores); these are "the most obvious part of the Mission literary scene."

There are still several interesting bookstores to be found outside of the Mission District, though, and Dicum lists several at the article's end. In addition, he mentions several reading series, museums, and literary-themed places to stay, all of which are in San Francisco.

The bookstore that he mentions in most detail is the one that I have longing to visit for years—City Lights, a San Francisco landmark located in North Beach, the former home of the Beats. In fact, Lawrence Ferlinghetti is one of the original founders of this bookstore/publisher.

I'm literally itching with excitement at the prospect of exploring both this neighborhood and the bookstore (nerd alert!), and reading about Dicum's exploration of the area only augments this desire.

The article mentions a statistic of which I was previously unaware: In San Francisco, "the average per capita expenditure on books is perennially among the highest in the nation."

The article also delves into the manner in which San Francisco's literary scene continues to flourish, years after authors from Mark Twain to Jack Kerouac helped the city rise to literary prominence. Dicum identifies events that take place in the area, how to get involved in the social aspect of the city's literary scene, and the "distinctive flavor" of each of these gatherings.

Moreover, Dicum points out a few "work-friendly" establishments, places that are calm and (in his opinion) conducive to reading and writing.

So while I'm restless and scared of what lies ahead, events such as these are invigorating. I'm hoping that by the time I'm out there, I'll be more excited about exploring these opportunities than I am fearful of living in a brand new location. We'll see!