Speaking of birthdays, I will be out of town this weekend celebrating my grandma's 80th birthday. You, however, can go to LitQuake. A snippet:

A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics poll placed San Francisco at the top of the nation’s list in both book purchases and alcohol consumption. We are officially the city that thinks and drinks. It would be criminal to let this statistic go unnoticed, and so Litquake kicks off its 2003 festival with a lively panel discussion which addresses both of these important issues. Look for a complete program schedule elsewhere on this site. Tickets are available at the door for each event, except the Yerba Buena readings on Saturday and Sunday, which are free to the public, with picnic-style seating outdoors on the lawn.