This afternoon the 44th annual California International Antiquarian Book Fair opens in San Francisco. Music is the theme this year, but with approximately 200 A.B.A.A. exhibitors on hand, there will be plenty first editions, artists books, illuminated manuscripts, fine bindings, children's books -- really anything you could wish for (plus, it's a beautiful, sunny day here in SF!). For a preview of what some dealers are bringing, see my blog from last week.San Francisco is one of America's premier 'book towns.' Last year, bookseller Matthew Jones wrote a feature for us, "Go West, Book Lover," on all the great literary stuff to do here. Today I'm taking some of his advice and poking around some shops in my hotel's neighborhood before heading off to the fair this afternoon. With the help of Chris Lowenstein of Book Hunter's Holiday, I experienced the legendary City Lights book shop last night. Plus, she drove me down the infamously curvy Lombard Sheet. (Thanks, Chris!).
