1) Social Kitchen & Brewery Turns Three
Three years after opening their doors in the Inner Sunset district, Social Kitchen & Brewery is celebrating with $3 birthday beers on Wednesday, 5/15, from four o’clock on. Their anniversary beer, “New World Lager,” is on the birthday menu, as is Big Barleywine Beer ice cream, made in collaboration with Humphry Slocombe. Live music is also on tap, from local four-piece “feel-good” band, Feelosophy (7-10 pm). Reservations are highly recommended, so call 415-681-0330. Social Kitchen & Brewery is located at 1326 9th Avenue @ Irving.
2) Gnomes Invade Suppenküche
Suppenküche is also having a birthday, on Thursday, 5/16. The German restaurant on the corner of Hayes and Laguna turns 20, and the entire staff will dress like Gartenzwerg to celebrate. (That’s “gnomes” for us non-German speakers.) They’ll close down the Biergarten to concentrate the festivities inside Suppenküche, which will feature “a special menu, special bier, special music, special T-shirts, special gifts, special decor and special friends.” There’s no word yet on exactly what you’ll find on the special menu, but you can probably bet on sausage, potatoes and cabbage. There’s no prize for best gnome costume, but you’re encouraged to dress like one anyway. Join the party any time after 5 pm.
3) Caribbean Night: An Evening in Curaçao
Curaçao is more than a liqueur made from an exotic fruit. It’s an island in the Caribbean with a rich culture of music, food, and fashion. Get a taste of both this Saturday, May 18, at Stable Café (2128 Folsom @ 17th). A $25 ticket gets you in the door at 6 pm for four hours of eating, drinking, dancing and cultural education. Sample Curaçao delicacies such as goat stew, served with “Funchi” (polenta cake) and fried plantain, plus traditional sweets from the “Ko’i Dushi” station. Watch “Futuro y Memoria di Korsou” perform traditional folk dance in colorful dress. Then, get down on the dance floor to a live mix of tumba, muzik di zumbi, danza, seú, waltz and mazurka, blended with jazz. And, of course, you’ll get to sample several flavors of authentic Curaçao liqueur, in addition to the blue kind you’re accustomed to.
4) Every Day is Happy Hour at Puccini & Pinetti
Come as you are to Happy hour every day at Puccini & Pinetti (129 Ellis @ Cyril Magnin). This modern Italian grill in Union Square bills itself as “lively, approachable and welcoming...,” more the “celebratory, sexy type” than the “quiet, romantic restaurant” type. The Happy hour menu features $5 well cocktails, $3 wine and champagne, and $6 well Martinis, Mojitos and Long Islands. Happy hour begins at 3 pm every weekday, ending at closing time on Monday and Tuesday, and at 6 pm the rest of the week. Weekend Happy hour begins at 11:30 am, ending at 6PM on Saturday and continuing until closing time on Sunday. Regulars recommend the Pasta Nachos ($8) from the Bar Menu, with fennel sausage, pomodoro, serrano chiles and mozzarella cheese. A full dinner menu is also available, with prices ranging from $7 for Minestrone Soup to $29 for the Bistecca Niman Ranch Ribeye, served with with grilled endive, roasted marbled potatoes and chianti shallot butter.
5) Scotcholate Milk at Kronner Burger
Just when you thought you’d gotten over your secret crush on Nestle Quik, along comes Kronner Burger’s Scotcholate Milk. It’s a frothy mix of scotch, milk, cocoa, honey and salt that will take you back to elementary school before kicking you in the pants. For a grown-up burger, fries and shake combo, pair your Scotcholate Milk ($9) with Kronner Burger’s Bone Marrow Burger ($15), served rare alongside poutine-style fries with cheese curds and gravy ($10). If margaritas are more your style, try the Carbonated Motherf#@%ing Margarita ($10, or $54/pitcher), which you’ll be required to order by its proper name. Located inside Bruno’s (2379 Mission @ 20th) Kronner Burger is open Sunday through Friday from 6 pm until late. Seating is limited; reservations are accepted online.
