Along with its sister branches— Beekman Bar and Books on Beekman Place and Lexington Bar and Books on, yep, Lexington— the Hudson reflects a literary bent on its cocktails with names like the Dewey Decimal, the Cervantes Spritzer, and Alphabet Absinthe ( topped off with floating letter- shape sugar cubes) . Despite that, it' s hardly a hushed library where well- read butlers serve you; no— the atmosphere here is more about book decor than serious literature. ( It' s usually too dim to read or write anyway. ) Still, it is seriously gorgeous in a clubby way with wood paneling and leather banquettes. And the cigars and swell cocktail menu stimulate all kinds of conversation, literary or otherwise. www. barandbooks. cz.

The Utah Jazz have exercised the option on guard- forward C. Miles that will keep him under contract through the 2011- 12 season. The Utah Jazz have exercised the option on guard- forward C. Miles that will keep him under contract through the 2011- 12 season. The team also said Wednesday that it had exercised the options for forwards Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward for the 2012- 13 season.

Miles averaged career highs in points ( 12.

8) , rebounds ( 3. 3) and assists ( 1. 7) during the last season. Miles was originally selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft.

Hayward, the Jazz' s first- round pick in the 2010 draft, averaged 5. 4 points and 1. 9 rebounds per game during his rookie season. Favors, also a rookie, averaged 6. 8 points and 5.

3 rebounds in 78 games for the Jazz and the New Jersey Nets .

You can hear some of the coolest jazz, blues, rock, and alternative sounds in town at this basement bar. Built in 1907, it has retained some of its original Victorian features, which contribute to the hip, vaguely illicit feel— reminiscent of its days as a . . .

An open- mike session follows one or more featured readers here every Friday night at 8.

Spoken- word performances are interspersed with acoustic musical acts. Designed by art- deco master Timothy Pfleuger and opened in 1922, the most dramatic movie theater in the city hosts revivals as well as foreign and independent engagements and the occasional sing- along movie musical. Parking is limited in the Castro . . . A Bay Area treasure, this all- male a- cappella ensemble stages lively and technically flawless performances that show off a repertoire ranging from sacred medieval music to show tunes to contemporary avant- garde works. www. chanticleer. org.

This classy lounge with shimmering chandeliers is dimly lighted, but fellow patrons will still notice the logo on your purse; dress appropriately ( par for the course in the Marina) . At the central, square bar, attractive yuppies sip cosmos and nibble . . . Each year this program includes more than 20 fascinating conversations with writers, composers, actors, politicians, scientists, and others. The Herbst Theatre, in the Civic Center area, is usually the venue.

Past speakers include Nora Ephron, Salman . . . City Box Office, a charge- by- phone service, offers tickets for many performances and lectures.

You can buy tickets in person at its downtown location weekdays 9: 30- 5: 30. www. cityboxoffice. com. A bit classier than the Beach Chalet, with a more impressive, sweeping view of Ocean Beach, the Cliff House is our pick if you must choose just one oceanfront restaurant/ bar. Sure, it' s the site of many high- school prom dates, and you could argue that the . . . Club Fugazi' s claim to fame is a wacky musical send- up of San Francisco moods and mores that has been going strong since 1974, making it the longest- running musical revue anywhere.

Although the choreography is colorful, the singers brassy, and the . . . Stand- up comics such as Bill Maher, Paula Poundstone, and Sarah Silverman have appeared at this club. You can also see sketch comedy and comic singer- songwriters here. No one under 18 is admitted. www. cobbscomedyclub. com. The nation' s oldest public- affairs forum hosts speakers as diverse as Erin Brockovich and Bill Gates; every president since Teddy Roosevelt has addressed the club.

Topics range from culture and politics to economics and foreign policy. Events are open to . . . Some of the biggest touring shows mount productions at this theater, which has hosted classical music, dance, and stage performances since its 1925 opening. Shows are of the long- running Broadway musical variety, such as and and the seasonal www. shnsf. com.

made his way back into the semifinals Tuesday, and he' ll now get a chance to end Novak Djokovic' s perfect season. The 16- time Grand Slam champion advanced by beating of 6- 4, 6- 3, 7- 6 ( 3) , making it five straight- set wins in a row at Roland Garros. Against Djokovic, Federer will be up against the player who eliminated him from the semifinals at the last two major tournaments. Earlier, completed his fourth- round match, reaching the quarterfinals with a 4- 6, 4- 6, 6- 3, 6- 2, 7- 5 win over .

On the women' s side, Francesca Schiavone reached the semifinals by beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 1- 6, 7- 5, 7- 5, and defeated 7- 6 ( 4) , 6- 4. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.

AP' s earlier story is below. PARIS ( AP) & mdash; Lethargic at times and brooding at others, Andy Murray worked his way into the French Open quarterfinals by coming back to beat Victor Troicki 4- 6, 4- 6, 6- 3, 6- 2, 7- 5 on Tuesday in a match that started a day earlier. The three- time Grand Slam runner- up won the final five games of the fifth set despite injuring his right ankle in the previous round. The first four sets were played Monday before darkness suspended the match. " The sort of day, day and a half before the match was pretty tough. So it was pretty stressful and tiring before I went on the court, " Murray said. " And then, obviously, today more so than yesterday maybe was tougher.

I was really nervous. " Defending women' s champion Francesca Schiavone also rallied, reaching the semifinals by beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 1- 6, 7- 5, 7- 5.

Later Tuesday, Roger Federer is set to face Gael Monfils for a spot in the semifinals, and 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova is scheduled to play No. 11 Marion Bartoli of France.

Murray, who said he had a tear in the tendon in his right ankle, looked out of it in the opening two sets on Court Suzanne Lenglen, often pacing around the clay with his head low and sometimes screaming to no one in particular. But he soon started placing his shots and quickly worked his way back into the match before play was suspended.

When the match resumed Tuesday, the pair held serve until Troicki broke for a 4- 2 lead shortly after a ball boy interfered with play on a point won by the 15th- seeded Serb. Troicki complained, but the point was replayed and Murray eventually took a 15- 0 lead. " I won that game, but still, I never saw & mdash; haven' t seen it on TV or ever, " Troicki said. " I mean, since I watched tennis and I played tennis, I have never seen such a situation.

Kid just jumped in and messed up my point. " Two games later, Troicki was serving for the match. He took a 30- 0 lead, putting him two points from victory, when Murray rallied again and broke back. " I was a bit nervous and didn' t go for my shots at those points, and he took advantage of it, " Troicki said. " Definitely one of the toughest losses in my career. " Not a good moment. " It is the fifth time in the 24- year- old Murray' s career that he has come back from two sets down to win. The fourth- seeded Briton is now 11- 5 in five- set matches. Murray will next face . The Argentine advanced Monday and will have a day of rest before playing the injured Murray. " There' s a lot sort of liquid and sort of stiffness & mdash; causing stiffness & mdash; and quite a lot of sort of crunching in the joint, " said Murray, adding he' s been icing his ankle and taking pills. " But the physios and a lot of the guys I work with have really helped.

I' ve got all the best equipment here, all the right advice, and made it as best as possible. " According to the International Tennis Federation, it' s the first time since 1984 that the top five seeded men all reached the quarterfinals at the French Open, and the first time since in 1989 that it happened at any of the Grand Slam tournaments. Like Murray, Schiavone was also two points from losing in her match. The 14th- seeded Pavlyuchenkova, at 19 the youngest quarterfinalist at this year' s tournament, won 10 of the first 12 games to lead 4- 1 in the second set before Schiavone turned things around. " I never stopped believing in what I could do, " Schiavone said. " I started too slow, absolutely too slow. But in the end I felt better. . . . I could play better. " Last year at Roland Garros, Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.

S. health officials are considering including tests for like syphilis and B for the elderly and disabled covered under . The national health insurance program, which already pays for HIV tests, said on Thursday that it was considering adding the additional STD exams as part of an initiative to cover more preventive care.

Centers for Medicare and Services ( CMS) officials are expected to announce a draft decision by August 24. Americans are living longer, and Medicare' s review comes as researchers find more older Americans remaining sexually active.

Most sexually transmitted infection tests under consideration are aimed at people at high risk for such diseases. Most are for women and some specifically for pregnant women, who are included in Medicare' s disabled beneficiaries. Nearly 39 million Americans age 65 and older are covered under the insurance program as well as 7. 6 million disabled.

Public health experts say early screening and preventive care can cost less in the long run by avoiding complications that can arise from delayed treatment. In this case, it could also help prevent the spread of infection to others.

CMS has had the power to add coverage for preventive services since 2009, and Medicare already covers pap smears and pelvic exams in addition to screening tests for colorectal cancer and diabetes. Specifically, Medicare is now considering testing for: * chlamydial infection for sexually active or pregnant women aged 24 and younger and for older, sexually active or pregnant women at higher risk * high- intensity behavioral counseling to prevent infection for sexually active adolescents and for adults at greater risk.

The Hampton Majestic is located in one of the most high- traffic areas of town. It offers stunning and quiet guest rooms with rust- color walls, white sheets, and chocolate- brown furnishings. Online pictures, which can make the rooms look orange, don' t do . . . We' re not huge fans of the ubiquitous restaurant chain, but the hotel— flashy, loud, and packed with plasma TVs— has our approval.

Set within the 40- story Carbide and Carbon Building, it touts modern rooms adorned with rock- and- roll paraphernalia and a . . . On a busy day the lobby of this Hilton might be mistaken for a terminal at O' Hare Airport; it' s a bustling convention hotel, but one that retains its distinguished 1920s heritage in a Renaissance- inspired entrance hall and gold- and- gilt grand ballroom. . . . Thanks to its proximity to the financial district, this hotel welcomes hordes of business travelers. But leisure seekers have an added incentive to visit in the summer months: the rooftop pool.

Guests appreciate the accessibility of this hotel: not only is . . .

Suites here seem custom- designed for families, with sleeper sofas, separate bedrooms, and fully equipped kitchens.

Free food isn' t lacking; indulge in a complimentary breakfast buffet seven days a week, and an evening reception with drinks and a light meal . . . Just blocks away from the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower— both architectural marvels— this recently renovated property offers delightfully rare views of the heart of downtown, fantastic in daytime and even better at night. There are also lovely views of . . . Theater lovers will relish an opportunity to stay at this recently renovated, Art Deco- themed hot spot. The new, eclectic decor— including pop art- inspired chairs and sofas— is a hit, and the lobby' s black- and- gray wallpaper looks supersharp.

The service is . . . This eco- friendly hot spot boasts a rich brown, purple, and green lobby that turns into a makeshift meeting room by day.

The guest rooms are large; the brightly colored nature photographs breathe life into to soft browns and gray tones found throughout. . . .

A multimillion renovation updated this spacious landmark a few years back.

The lobby is dark but welcoming; the rooms— a mix of browns, reds, and creams— are very large, considering the location. Choose a suite and you' ll have a condo- size spread with . . . Making creative use of a city landmark, this hotel is housed in the famed 13- story Reliance Building, which D. Burnham & Company built in 1895. The refurbished interior retains original details, such as Carrara marble wainscoting and ceilings, terrazzo . . .

The Hotel Cass is a true boutique hotel, and bears no resemblance to the Holiday Inn chain. The crisp, white lobby is sparse and elegant, and the dramatic red hallway is offset with a touch of humor; it' s lined with several austere portraits of roosters. . . . The lobby, decorated with glass sculptures hanging from the ceiling, is small, inviting, and bustling. The wooden wall sculpture lends a den- type feel, a surprisingly rustic splash in the otherwise modern setting.

The rooms are typically small in size, but . . . Even though this hotel caters to business travelers, there is something refreshingly noncorporate about its guest rooms and lobby dressed in plucky blues and greens. Furthering the summer- in- Cape Cod feel are the rooms' white wooden lounge chairs and . . . A registration desk fashioned after a classic steamer trunk, and meeting rooms named for international destinations such as Tokyo and Paris inspire wanderlust here.

We love each room' s bay windows ( the Monaco is the only hotel in the city that has ' em) and . . . Brand new and smack in the middle of one of Chicago' s most vibrant neighborhoods, this trendy hot spot serves up solid rooms and excellent cuisine. Texture is everything here; the speckled woodwork offers a unique touch to the spacious and modern rooms. . . . Visitors to Chicago would be hard- pressed to find a more chic or tech- savvy place than the Hotel Sax.

Stark white walls, adorned with appropriately risqu artwork, make the scented lobby feel ultraswank. In the rooms, modern furniture is chunky and ornate, . . . This 2, 000- plus- room hotel is one of the largest in Chicago, with illuminated signs that guide you through the labyrinth of halls.

Ficus trees, bamboo, and gushing fountains fill the two- story atrium lobby. In the comfortably sized guest rooms . . . The Shriner greeting " Es Salamu Aleikum" ( " Peace Be To God" ) etched on foyer columns and the marble lions throughout remind us of the building' s past as the Medinah Men' s Athletic Club, a private men' s club. Lodging is found in two adjoining buildings.

We . . .