What was that star I saw tonight?

Factual Questions
1

I’m in the San Francisco Bay area. Today at sunset, I noticed a bight star near the moon, east of it.

Was that Venus or Mars or what?

2

Venus. It’s quite bright in the west just after sunset right now.
That’s where the moon is too.

3

Venus - See the Bad Astronomer’s article for more http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/27/venus-has-a-date-with-the-moon-tonight/

4

Astronomy: It’s always Venus.
House: It’s never lupus.