Wednesday, Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day, though that's been buried under the hoopla of Cyber Monday and the end-of-the-year holidays.

But San Francisco has special reasons to remember World AIDS Day and a special place to do so.  The National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park, conceived of nearly 25 years ago, is a national monument with official status comparable to World War II's USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Mount Rushmore. The lush grove has native species, towering redwoods, benches and a full-time gardener.

There, at noon on Dec. 1, the 20^th anniversary of the Ryan White CARE Act will be commemorated. Jazz vocalist Paula West will sing. The late Senator Ted Kennedy, who was the Senate's lead sponsor of the Ryan White CARE Act, Ryan White's mother, Jeanne White Ginder, and Laura Thomas of the San Francisco CARE Council will be honored.

World AIDS Day 2010
Dec. 1, at noon sharp
National AIDS Memorial Grove, Golden Gate Park
At the intersection of Bowling Green and Middle Drive East, across from the tennis courts, near the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.

On regular days, the Bay Bridge during the evening commute is often the Bay Area's most jammed stretch of freeway. When it comes to holiday travel, though--like for Thanksgiving--I-80 E is the worst nightmare. It's so jammed that it made the list of the top 10 congested roads in the country, according to the Weather Channel.

Eastbound Interstate 80 to Sacramento and Tahoe is #5 on the Weather Channel's list of clogged roadways. Any snow enthusiast who has headed to Tahoe after a big snow dump--gee, like last weekend's--can relate. Drivers ahead are fumbling with tire chains, the road closes while you're grabbing burgers at In-N-Out or Ikeda's, you play word games while waiting it out....

But it could be worse. The nation's slowest highway during the holidays is the 225 miles of I-95 between New York and D.C.

AAA will tow you home on Thanksgiving. For free.

From November 25 at 6 pm until November 26 at 6 am, AAA will provide a free tow home (of up to five miles) for tipsy drivers and their vehicles. The free ride is open to everyone; you do not need to be a AAA member to use the Tipsy Tow service.

Call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a pick up. Over-eaters aren't eligible, though: If you over-ate but didn't over-drink, run around the block a few times before you get behind the wheel.

The San Francisco Public Library at Civic Center and all of its branches will be closed for Thanksgiving from Wednesday through Friday (Nov. 24-26).  If you were thinking of reading books as an escape from the family drama and gluttony of Thanksgiving, you'd better run to your nearest library and stock up.

The plus is that library patrons get a few days' reprieve on books and other library materials that are officially due Wednesday through Friday. Just return these items by Saturday, and you won't be charged any overdue fines.