The Lush

Myles O’Reilly and manager Chris Shelgren have opened ~MCTEAGUE’S SALOON~ in the former Johnny Wok location on Polk Street, just next door to O’Reilly’s Holy Grail. To recap my mention back in May, the saloon is named after the book by Frank Norris, McTeague, (Frank Norris…

Yo winos, Pietro di Mastro Berardino is in the house! Well, kind of. ~MASTROBERARDINO~ is Campania's most renowned winery, established in the 1750s by winemaker Pietro di Mastro Berardino. Pietro was awarded the professional title of 'Mastro' as testament to his skills in quality winemaking, a…

So a few weeks back I mentioned the bar formerly known as the ~RED ROOM~ in the Hotel Commodore has new owners and a new name. I can now announce the bar is called ~MINX~, and you might recognize some of the bartenders from Amber and the Riptide. The décor…

Here's on update on ~CLOCK BAR~ by Michael Mina, opening next Tuesday July 15th in the Westin St. Francis hotel in Union Square. The team includes GM Matthew Meidinger, bartender Marco Dionysos (formerly of Tres Agaves), and seasoned bar team Ray Cortez Brown, Estanislado Orona, and Maren West.…

Another thing I noticed while gallivanting (read: barhopping) around Union Square last week: the bar formerly known as the ~RED ROOM~ in the Hotel Commodore (now a dormitory in the Academy of Art empire) has changed hands and has reopened. New look, new owners, and new name that I was…

H of Elixir and Cocktail Ambassadors is hosting one of his ~FARMER'S MARKET COCKTAILS~ classes at the Bay Club tomorrow, Wednesday June 18th. You’ll learn how to make better drinks for yourself and your friends, and how to be a more discerning consumer. Every student is given…

This Sunday June 15th, there are a couple ways to say kanpai to Pop on Father’s Day. Two local izakayas are hosting special events: ~O IZAKAYA LOUNGE~ (1625 Post St. at Laguna, 415-614-5431) in Japantown has a generous Father’s Day offer: - complimentary pitcher of draft beer of…

A new venue called ~50 MASON SOCIAL HOUSE~ is opening in the former SF Comedy Club space, from the folks behind Civic Restaurant. This new concept will be a music venue where guests can view a wide variety of local musicians for an affordable (to sometimes nonexistent, read: free) cover,…

Those who like to trainspot their bartenders will be pleased to learn ~JAMIE BOUDREAU~, most recently of Vessel in Seattle, is in town for a weeklong guest bartending gig at Bourbon & Branch. Here's more from the B&B blog: "Starting Monday, May 26, Jamie Boudreau…