The Lush

Celebrate the holidays at ~18 REASONS~ with a very bubbly 18th Hour. Bi-Rite’s wine buyer, Trac Le, will pour 6 Champagnes from the region’s well-known and cult producers. The lineup will include: Larmandier Bernier “Terre de Vertus”; Agrapart ‘7 Crus’; Jacquesson ‘Cuvee 737’; Alfred Gratien Champagne; Billecart Salmon…

~METRO CAFE 311~ is offering no corkage/free BYOB this holiday season until the end of December 2009 (except Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve). Also by popular demand from their loyal regulars, they are offering a “Metro Kathmandu Daily Special,” such as their delicious momos, chicken tikka masala,…

Kudos to owner Martin Cate (formerly of Forbidden Island) for transforming the former Jade Bar into ~SMUGGLER’S COVE~ so quickly. The opening is still on target for Tuesday December 8th, and you’ll find quite the lineup of local bartenders ready to say “aloha” and sling many Caribbean rum-based…

You just can’t keep a good bar down: even though Cortez Restaurant in the Hotel Adagio has closed, the lobby bar has reopened as ~BAR ADAGIO~, serving cocktails and bar food to the downtown and theater district set. Bar bites include pizzettas ($11—$12), panini ($11-$13, and includes…

Time to get into some holiday spirit(s). The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), operator of the acclaimed Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, is hosting TWO HOLIDAY-THEMED COCKTAIL EVENTS: a happy hour tasting on Wednesday December 2nd and a hands-on class on Saturday December 5th. On Wednesday December…

Becky Swanson, who was the wine director at ~DELFINA~ for the past three years, and at the restaurant for five, is going to be moving back to Minneapolis with her boyfriend in the new year. She is talking about opening a wine retail shop, with an education and consulting component.…

For the past several years SCRIBE WINERY vintner, Andrew Mariani, and ~BAR TARTINE~chef, Chris Kronner, have been collaborating on dinners, events, and celebrations in the greater Bay Area. From SF Mission District warehouse/wood-oven feasts to barn-raising/goat roasts in Winters, these always prove to be delicious and memorable…

Beppe Ca’Viola, AKA “The Dolcetto King,” serves as a consultant for some of the most legendary estates across Italy. And, as it turns out, he’s a talented winemaker himself. ~OTTIMISTA ENOTECA-CAFE~ will be hosting a special dinner with Beppe, showcasing his dolcetto, barbera, and nebbiolo-based wines of the…