It's happy hour somewhere. We promise.
Scotch Tasting for Healthy Hedonists
Lucky for you, an event that originally began as a private party for Scotch lovers "in the know" has grown to a larger, all-inclusive event. The 7th Annual Scotch Tasting for Healthy Hedonists, on February 21 at 8:30 pm, invites whisky drinkers of all stripes to taste their way through a bevy of blended Scotches, single malts, ryes, and Japanese whiskeys at SoMa's Barrelhouse. Experts will be on hand to engage in lively discussions, with musical duo Brightline providing the soundtrack. You'll also be treated to Negroni popcorn, fresh shucked oysters, soup shots, and Tartine bread with blue cheese. Tickets are available online for $55. 80 Tehama (at 2nd Street)
Drink Cosmos for a Cure at OneUP Lounge
Grand Hyatt San Francisco is helping raise $1,000,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by joining forces with fellow California hotels in a month-long "cocktails for a cure" fundraising campaign called the "Million Dollar Mission." OneUp Lounge, the Grand Hyatt lounge, is offering a "Cosmo for a Cure" cocktail for $10 from 5 to 7 pm, every day in February. Ten percent of sales from the cocktail will go to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which allows you to drink well and do good in one sip. 345 Stockton (at Sutter)
A16 Rockridge Launches Aperitivo Hour
If you can forget the fact that it's February, and ignore all the English being spoken, you can just about imagine yourself enjoying springtime in southern Italy at A16 Rockridge's new Primavera Aperitivo hour. Starting tonight from 5 to 6:30 pm, bar patrons can participate in the beloved Italian ritual of Aperitivo, which involves "opening the palate" before dinner with drinks, finger food, and friends. A16's new aperitivo hour features $6 house-made cocktails, $3 Italian beers, and $6-$8 Southern Italian wines by the glass. All this is accompanied by a variety of complimentary "stuzzichino," such as salumi, cheese, and nuts. Of course, no Apertivo hour would be complete without amaro (bitter herbal liqueurs), so be sure to order at least one Negroni. 5356 College Avenue, Oakland
Pisco-Paired Dinner Plus Cocktail Class at La Mar Cebicechería
Make your own pisco cocktails, then enjoy a prix fixe dinner with more pisco cocktails, next Wednesday, February 25, at La Mar Cebicechería Peruana. The PiscopPaired Dinner starts at 6 pm with a make-your-own cocktails seminar, followed by dinner at 7 pm, featuring Cebiche Tropical (sliced halibut, Asian pear, classic leche de tigre) served with a Pisco Bellini; Pasion Marina (grilled prawns and scallops, quinoa beet, passion fruit creamy leche de tigre), and more. Make reservations online; $79 per person. Pier 1½, Embarcadero
sf|noir Wine & Food Festival
The upcoming sf|noir Wine & Food Festival pairs a week's worth of soul food, spoken word, and live jazz with wines from top African American vintners. The annual festival kicks off next Wednesday, February 25, with a Shrimp, Grits and Greens Taste-off, as well as a panel discussion that promises to stimulate both the mind and palate. The week continues with a live performance by poets and spoken word artists, and live demonstrations on Southern cooking and seasonal cooking. The sf|noir Wine & Food Festival culminates in the Oakland Jazz Brunch on Sunday, March 1, pairing wine, jerk chicken and plantains with with snare drums and sweet basslines. Tickets are available online for individual events ($15 - $50) or the entire festival ($60 - $80). Various locations in San Francisco and Oakland.
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
