The Lush

After months of delays (you know how it goes), Michael Ireland (previously a sommelier at The French Laundry, Quince, Benu, The Restaurant at Meadowood) and John Vuong (Ame, Gary Danko) have finally been able to open the doors to their wine bar and retail shop in the Inner Richmond. When…

We told you about the New York wine shop coming to SF, FLATIRON WINES, and they are now open in The Palace Hotel in the former Kyo-ya sushi restaurant. Look for boutique wines, international selections, spirits, and more, with triple the selection of the New York shop. You’ll…

This Friday January 29th is going to be a dark day in SF: after 14 years with the Absinthe Group (currently celebrating 18 years), which includes more than five years at ~COMSTOCK SALOON~, Jeff Hollinger (aka Jefe) is leaving his post as saloonkeeper. Sadly a barman’s late hours don’…

Fans of natural/minimal intervention wines will be happy to hear THE PUNCHDOWN has reopened in its new location in Uptown Oakland—they closed a little over a year ago when owners D.C. Looney and Lisa Costa lost their lease. So the next time you’re seeing a show…

About six months ago, I heard the historic dive GANGWAY was up for sale (nooooooo), and I have to admit I shuddered at the thought that SF’s first and oldest gay bar (since 1961—although the bar has been in existence since 1910, which makes it 105!) could potentially…

By Dana Eastland. CUESA’s seasonal cocktail fest is back, this time with Winter Cocktails of the Farmers Market on Wednesday January 27th. From 5:30pm-8pm, the Ferry Building will be filled with bartenders offering their take on the art of the modern drink, with beverages inspired by modern…

By Dana Eastland. We mentioned it in December but don’t forget that San Francisco Beer Week is coming up soon. It’s from January 22nd through 31st, and there are lots of great sudsy events to check out. A few to consider: on Saturday January 23rd, Red Dog is…

Earlier in the year, we broke the news that Andy Chun and Jan Wiginton of Press Club and Schroeder’s purchased downtown craft cocktail bar CANTINA from owner Duggan McDonnell, and now we receive an update that they have brought on Kevin Diedrich (BDK, Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen,…

Last week I got to take a break from my fire hose of email (LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT OUR SPECIAL NEW YEAR’S EVE PRIX-FIXE DINNER!) and head on over to the bar at ~FOREIGN CINEMA~, where the new bar manager for both Foreign Cinema and Laszlo, Nicky…

By Dana Eastland. After many months of speculation, meetings, and stories, it looks like beloved Mission bar ELBO ROOM is going to stay open—at least through the end of 2017. Woohoo! Eater caught the news on the bar’s Facebook page. We’ll happily drink to that. 647 Valencia…