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Jack Kerouac Alley, North Beach
In October of 1988 San Francisco renamed 12 streets for local writers and artists. Among those so honored were Ambrose Bierce, Isadora Duncan, Dashiell Hammett, Jack London, William Saroyan, and Mark Twain. This alley in the heart of North Beach was named for Beat Generation writer, Jack Kerouac. Appropriately the far end of the alley divides two literary landmarks and hangouts, City Lights Bookstore on the left and legendary bar, Vesuvio Cafe on the right.

On any given night one might find writers such as Allen Ginsburg, Neal Cassady or even Dylan Thomas imbibing at Vesuvio. One evening in 1960 Kerouac stopped into the Vesuvio for a quick drink before heading down to meet legendary author Henry Miller at his coastal retreat in Big Sur. A quick drink soon turned into many drinks and although Kerouac called Miller several times to say he was still coming Kerouac got drunk instead and the two writers never met. You get the feeling that Kerouac would appreciate an alley outside a bar being named in for him.
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