Sam, I don't know about New York because I was last there in July '92 and had totally ran out of money so ended up walking for miles and doing things generally that were free! San Francisco I know a little of and was there in '92 as part of my 3 months Greyhounding around the States and also more recently. San Francisco is a fabulous city. You probably know more than I do as you have a friend there, but just one or two points..... There is a great bookstore called City Lights at 261 Columbus, and a coffee house next door called "Vesuvios" (I think). There's Coit Tower (shaped like a fire hose nozzle!), with excellent views of the city. Also I remember going to a cool bar which was part of a hotel and everything was red... but I can recall no more about it... but look out for it. I stayed in a really seedy hotel called the Gates Hotel on Ellis Street. Everything was very 1950s. It is located at the edge of the Tenderloin area which can get pretty scary, but all the police sirens wailing add to the atmosphere of the place! Enjoy!!!