After being closed from a fire for eight months, ~MARTIN MACK'S~ in the Haight is reopening this Friday. The menu will be back in effect with Irish bacon and cabbage on Mondays, plus fish and chips, hamburgers, and more. Kitchen hours are Mon–Fri 11:30am–3pm and Sat–Sun 10am–3pm for brunch (Irish breakfast!), and nightly for dinner 5pm–10pm. 1568 Haight St. at Clayton, 415-864-0124.
~CINCO DE MAYO~ will be happening all over town—no matter if you serve Italian food (Beretta is doing three Mexican spirit-based cocktails) or pan-Asian (Mercury Lounge will have $2 Dos Equis beer, $5 Cabo Wabo margaritas, and Mercury Tacos with sisig or Korean chicken). The usual suspects will also be partying, like Tres Agaves (from 10am until last call with beer and drink specials, live mariachis, and DJs); Mamacita starts at 3pm; Cantina opens at 2pm and will be serving $4 Cazadores Tequila margaritas and signature cocktails slung by the Cazadores Tequila ambassador himself, Manny Hinojosa, plus $2 Tecates, barrio tunes, and snacks by La Cocina. Aventine is kicking things off at 4pm, with the alley erupting into a party 5pm. Destino is celebrating their nine-year anniversary, and offering two-for-one cocktails all night for $9, plus complimentary tapas. If you want something a little different, La Cocina is hosting a Yucatecan Cinco de Mayo event with fifth generation panadero Luis Vazquez (he’s the owner of Chaac Mool Cafe in Oakland). Guests will learn to create a traditional Mayan dinner, sip mescal, and take home their own homemade Mayan salsa. 6:30pm–8:30pm. $65. Buy tickets here.
~PRESS CLUB~ is hosting Bud Break, an event highlighting a variety of crisp wines, live entertainment, and an assortment of light food on Saturday May 9th from 12pm–4pm. Each of the eight Press Club wineries (Chateau Montelena Winery, Fritz Winery, Hanna Winery & Vineyards, Landmark Vineyards, Miner Family Vineyards, Mount Eden Vineyards, Pahlmeyer, and Saintsbury) will have a representative on site for one-on-one access with Bud Break guests and to showcase several varietals signature to the season. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Ticket price includes entry to the event, tastings at all eight wineries, and hors d'oeuvres. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Spark, in addition to 10 percent of select bottle purchases made that day. 20 Yerba Buena Lane at Mission, 415-744-5000.
Last week I mentioned cutie Aussie ~MATT SKINNER~, the wine director for Jamie Oliver’s restaurant group, was coming to town. Ends up his Book Passage appearance was cancelled (hey, when The Today Show wants you to stay over in NYC, you do it), so his event has been moved to this Sunday (yup, Mother’s Day) at The Jug Shop. He will lead guests through a tasting of Australian wines (Clare Valley riesling, Hunter Valley semillon, Yarra Valley pinot noir, Margaret River cabernet, Barossa Valley shiraz, and Tasmanian sparkling), and there will be some Aussie bites by South Food + Wine Bar. He'll also be signing copies of his latest book, Heard It Through The Grapevine: The Things You Should Know To Enjoy Wine. (Limited copies available for sale on the day, $24.99.) For those looking for a creative Mothers’ Day outing, The Jug Shop will give complimentary tastings to all moms (everyone else is $10). 3pm–5pm. 1590 Pacific Ave. at Polk.
