The word of the week: eat.
SF Restaurant Week returns this week with affordable pre-fixe menus at 100-plus eateries. Plus, drink rum, and beer, and hang out with Neil Patrick Harris. Have a great week!
Monday, January 21st
"Bringing the Noise" for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley)
It's MLK Day, to celebrate the man himself at Youth Speaks' 22nd annual gathering, of young poets and writers in conversations about justice and liberation. // Tickets ($10) are available at cityboxoffice.com.
San Francisco Restaurant Week
When: Through January 31st
Where: 100+ restaurants throughout SF
SF Restaurant Week will be in full swing with special two- and three-course menus at some of the best new and mainstay eateries in town—think Bellota, China Live, Namu Gaji, Rooh, Son's Addition, and more. // Lunch menus range from $15 to $25, dinner ranges from $40 to $65; for a complete list of participating restaurants and menus, go to sfrestaurantweek.com.
Napa Valley Restaurant Week
When: Through January 27th
Where: Restaurants throughout Napa
Wine Country is home to some of Northern California's finest restaurants, and this week, more than 30 eateries are offering multi-course prix-fixe menus ($20/lunch, $36-$46/dinner) for Napa Valley Restaurant Week. Make the drive for a taste of some of our faves including Charlie Palmer Steak, Gran Electrica, Acacia House, and Solbar. // For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, go to visitnapavalley.com.
Berkeley Restaurant Week
When: Through January 27th
Where: Restaurants throughout Berkeley
Dear old Berkeley may not got the same foodie cred as SF and Oakland these days, but let's not forget that the whole California cuisine thing basically started here at Chez Panisse. This week, revisit the seat of the culinary movement as more than 45 restaurants—including Gather, The Rare Barrel, and Bear's Lair—offer $20, $25, and $30 pre-fixe menus. // For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, go to visitberkeley.com.
Tuesday, January 22nd
Drink rum tonight.
(Courtesy of Wine Dharma)
Write Your (****)ing Novel
When: Nine Tuesdays, starting tonight
Where: The Escapery East, near 19th St. Bart (Oakland), theescapery.org/writeyournovel
Dream of penning the Great American Novel? Got a severe case of writer's block? Get your words on the page at this intensive course. // $400/person; register online.
Yo Ho and Bottles of Rum
When: 7pm to 10pm
Where: Hawker Fare, 680 Valencia St. (Mission)
Set sail on the high seas with self-proclaimed Minister of Rum Ed Hamilton, who's coming to Hawker Fare to talk about the sweetest spirit. The evening kicks off with a Punch Bowl reception followed by a tasting and special rum cocktails. Soak it all up with a buffet dinner. // Tickets ($25-$45) can be purchased at eventbrite.com.
Wednesday, January 23rd
SF Ballet's Opening Night
When: 5pm to midnight
Where: City Hall and San Francisco Ballet, 455 Franklin St. (Hayes Valley), sfballet.org
Don your evening attire and glass slippers and set out for the ball: The San Francisco Ballet returns for its 2019 Repertory Season with tonight's black tie Opening Night Gala at City Hall. There will be bubbly, dinner, and a performance at War Memorial Opera House, of course. Plus an afterparty back at City Hall. // Individual gala tickets ($2,000) and afterparty tickets ($175) may be purchased online.
Fire Relief Dinner
When: 7pm
Where: Boot and Shoe Service, 3308 Grand Ave. (Oakland), bootandshoeservice.com
While it's been a few months since the Camp Fire took its toll on Butte County, the region is still working towards recovery. Oakland's Boot and Shoe Service is hosting a series of multi-course, guest chef dinners with drink pairings to benefit aid efforts. Tonight's feast is cooked up by Stuart Brioza (State Bird Provisions) and Jerry Jaksich and Rayneil De Guzman (Ramen Shop). // Tickets ($250) this event and future dinners are available on brownpapertickets.com.
Japanese Pop-up Dinner
When: Two seatings, 5:30pm and 9:30pm, through January 25th
Where: Avery, 1552 Fillmore St. (Fillmore), averysf.com
Chef Marc Zimmerman (previously of Alexander's Steakhouse and Nobu) is launching a new Wagyu-focused project in SoMa later this year called Ittoryu Gozu. Before that all gets going, he's teaming up with Avery chef Rodney Wages for three nights of pop-up dinners featuring four courses by each chef. Expect delicacies made from rare cuts of Japanese beef, with some dishes prepared in the robata cooking style. // $98/eight-course dinner; and reservations can be made on Tock.
Thursday, January 24th
The Next Big Dinner Series
When: 6pm and 8:30pm seatings on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Where: The Table at Merchant Roots, 1365 Fillmore St. (Fillmore), merchantroots.com
Merchant Roots was a nice new addition to lower Fillmore last year—a hybrid craft food grocer and casual eatery with sandwiches, pastas, and salads. But now phase two has arrived. The Table at Merchant Roots serves an intimate nine-course, themed tasting menu for just eight lucky guests at a time, three nights per week. // Dinner is $110/person, $75/optional wine pairing; reservations available at exploretock.com.
Somm Takeover
When: 5:30pm to 11pm
Where: Foreign Cinema, 2534 Mission St. (Mission), foreigncinema.com
For one night only, four sommeliers—from Che Fico, Ayala, Fool's Errand, and Trundle Bar—will stir things up at Foreign Cinema. Stop in for a curated selection of wines. // Glasses and wine flights will have a la carte pricing; reservations are recommended through opentable.com.
Friday, January 25th
Humphry Slocombe's hot toddy sundae made with Glenlivet Scotch.
SF Movement Arts Festival
When: 6pm to 9pm
Where: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St. (Nob Hill)
Get a move on to Grace Cathedral, where the Nob Hill icon will be transformed for the SF Movement Arts Festival, with performances from more than 250 local artists in the categories of dance, music, theater, and visual arts. // Online tickets are sold out. 100 first-come first-served tickets ($35 cash only) will be made available at the door. For more information, go to sfmaf.org.
Crabs for Days
When: 4pm to 9pm
Where: Temescal Brewing, 4115 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland)
Local seafood delivery company FreshCatch is celebrating the end of its second year in business with a crab feast. Expect Dungeness crab from Half Moon Bay, Rock crab from Santa Cruz, Gilroy garlic noodles, bread, and five more delicious sides. // Tickets ($50-$70) are available on eventbrite.com.
Hot Toddy Sundaes!
When: 6pm to 10pm
Where: Humphry Slocombe, 2790a Harrison St. (Mission), humphryslocombe.com
The guys at Humphry Slocombe are planning a year's worth of boozy ice cream flavors (have we mentioned we love these guys?). Live up at the Mission scoop shop tonight for free Hot Toddy Sundaes made with Glenlivet 12-year single malt Scotch, clove caramel, and candied lemons.
19th Annual Edwardian Ball
When: 8pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday nights
Where: Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness Ave. (Tendernob)
More than 100 artists and performers will come together for this yearly grand circus of art, music, dance, theater, and fashion. Co-founded by "Godfather of Goth" Edward Gorey, this all-ages, steampunk-tinged show will literally have it all, from puppet theater to gypsy jazz. // For tickets ($140-$240) and info, go to edwardianball.com.
Saturday, January 26th
Pour your own beer.
When: 10am to 11pm
Where: The Brew Coop, 819 Valencia St. (Mission), thebrewcoop.com
The Brew Coop has opened its doors on the south end of Valencia Street and is offering self-pour taps to let you sample your way through their selection of 26 beers, ciders,, and wines. Open up a tab, receive a special card, and scan it at each tap to pay for your beverages by the ounce. With bar bites and 65-inch TVs, we could be here for a while.
Wanda Sykes' "Oh Well" Tour
When: 8pm
Where: The Masonic, 1111 California St. (Nob Hill), sfmasonic.com/event/wanda-sykes
She's one of the funniest women in America, and she's coming for San Francisco. LOL this Saturday evening when Sykes brings her "Oh Well" tour to the lovely, intimate Masonic. // Tickets ($55) are available at concerts1.livenation.com.
Hopocalypse Now
When: 12:30pm to 5pm
Where: Drake's Brewing Company, 1933 Davis St. #177 (San Leandro), drinkdrakes.com
Drink like it's the end of the world at Drake's Brewing Co. in San Leandro today as they unleash absurd amounts of their Hopocalypse Triple IPA. Carb up at any or all of four food trucks and don't even worry about calling an Uber: Drake's is providing free transport to and from the San Leandro BART station between noon and 5:30pm with the purchase of a ticket. The end is beer. // Tickets ($40-$130) are available at eventbrite.com.
Sunday, January 27th
White Elephant Preview Sale
When: 10am to 4pm
Where: White Elephant Sale Warehouse, 333 Lancaster St. (Oakland)
A 60-year Bay Area tradition, NorCal's biggest rummage sale (March 2-3, 2019) is giving us a sneak peek this weekend. Shoppers will find furniture, art, sporting goods, jewelry, music, books, vintage clothing, and more; proceeds will benefit OMCA. // For tickets ($18/advance, $20/door) and info, go to whiteelephantsale.org.
Jog with Outdoor Voices x Credo Beauty
When: 2pm to 4pm
Where: Outdoor Voices, 555 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley), outdoorvoices.com
Run or walk from three miles from Hayes Valley to Credo Beauty on Fillmore St. where you'll make a new year's clean beauty makeup bag. // Tickets ($20) are available at eventbrite.com.
Neil Patrick Harris @ SF Sketchfest
When: 4pm to 5:30pm
Where: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3601 Lyon St. (Presidio)
Doogie Howser, M.D. Barney Stinson. Count Olaf. The actor otherwise known as Neil Patrick Harris is closing out Sketchfest today at the Palace of Fine Arts. // Tickets ($45) are available at sfsketchfest2019.com.
