Secretary of State Bruce MacPherson's going all Nostradamus on us, predicting a 42% turnout for Tuesday's election. What? You think we don't care or something? Let's show that guy he's wrong! (upwardsly, we hope!) Turnout predictions are ranging from 30% to 50%, with MacPherson's predictions based on voter interest, registration numbers, absentee ballot applications, and the predicted weather on Tuesday (sunny -- so you got no excuse!). 4.5 million absentee ballots have been issued (out of 15.8 million registered voters) and 1.8 million have already been returned. The lowest turnout for a special election was in the 36% range in 1993 and 1979, and the highest was for the last special election, at 61%, where our state elevated a guy who ran Planet Hollywood into the ground to our highest executive office. How's that working out for us, huh? Don't know where to vote on Tuesday? Look here. (or: SF, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara). Get that "I Voted" sticker! Send a mixed message to city and state government! You have the power! more ›

We at SFist love our independent bookstores. We cried when Kepler's closed and cheered when it reopened. Every week in SFist Reads we urge you to visit the many fine independent bookstores scattered around the Bay Area. more ›

A weekly reaffirmation that the only thing better than going out boozing is reading about going out boozing. By your barrespondent, Drew. more ›

Good news for city readers -- Berkeley indie bookstore legend Cody's Books is following in the lead of its across-the-street neighbor Amoeba and opening a branch in San Francisco. Cody's has signed a 10-year lease in Union Square in the former Planet Hollywood building (no word if they'll keep the plaster Schwartzenegger handprint): next door to Virgin and across the street from Apple. It'll be nice not to have to schlep up the hill to the "thinner thighs in 30 days" Borders warehouse for books by the Powell BART/MUNI station, though Stacey's has gotta be worrying now too. Support them both, we say! Cody's expects to open by August. Hey, shouldn't H&M be coming to Union Square around then too? more ›