Each week, we bring you our top picks for the best places to booze on the cheap in SF.
1. Drink Like a Fish: In the wake of California's recent legislation banning shark-fin soup, a group of young (and not-so-young) Asian-Americans are teaming up to promote shark conservation at 111 Minna, with plenty of food and drink. To raise money for the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance (APAOHA), which supports anti-shark-fishing legislation, they'll be offering up $3 draft beer, $5 well booze, and $6 wine, alongside food from acclaimed Vietnamese pop-up Rice Paper Scissors. A $5 donation is suggested, but not required; tickets are here. (Wednesday, August 17th, 5-9:30 pm, at 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna St., SOMA.)
2. Sailor Jerry Presents Wooden Shjips: The tattoo-loving folks at Sailor Jerry are sponsoring a free tour for rockers Wooden Shjips and The Night Beats, which kicks off at the Bottom of the Hill this Thursday. Admission is free if you RSVP to this site, and of course, they'll be dishing out plenty of free rum. Be sure to tell your friends in all the other major West Coast cities: they're hitting L.A., Portland, Seattle, and San Diego as well. (Thursday, August 18th, at Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., Potrero Hill.)
3. Happy Hour at Txoko: Basque-inspired Txoko is offering a new happy hour late on weekday nights, with cheap drinks for those who work in the bar and restaurant industry or just party like they do. Tuesdays feature $2 PBR, Wednesdays bring $5 wine by the glass, and Thursday is all about the $3 draft beer. They're also pouring $5 Fernet on all three nights, and the kitchen stays open until 1:30 am, perfect for a late-night snack and drink. (Tuesday-Thursday, 10 pm-close, at Txoko, 504 Broadway, North Beach.)
4. Credo Bear-Market Happy Hour: In an attempt to bring a silver lining to our latest economic raincloud, Credo is offering a "Bullish on the Bear" discount of $1 for every 100 points the Dow drops from the prior day (though you'll still have to pay a minimum of $1). They're doing this deal through the end of August, the perfect time to embrace the new standard of poverty alongside Standard and Poor's. (Daily, 2-6:30 pm, at Credo, 360 Pine St., Financial District.)
5. Burger and a Brew at Royal Exchange: If the current financial turmoil (or a lifetime of Garfield cartoons) has you soured on Mondays, consider heading to the Royal Exchange for a pick-me-up. Every Monday, they're offering a Bear Burger with fries and a pint of Kona Longboard Lager for a mere $10, perfect for the latest round of belt-tightening/expansion. (Mondays, 11 am-10 pm, at Royal Exchange, 301 Sacramento St., Financial District.)