Thursday, Jan. 19

Come see Bi-Rite owner Sam Mogannam and Safeway's Natalie Mattei talk about the future of how SF gets its food at the store. The 12:30 p.m. event takes place at SPUR's 654 Mission St. location and is $10 to nonmembers (free to members). 

Later, starting at 6 p.m., girl & the fig's Sondra Bernstain will be at Omnivore reading from her book Plats du Jour: The Girl & the Fig's Journey Through the Seasons in Wine Country. 

Friday, Jan. 20

Arizmendi Bakery in the Mission is beginning the Chinese New Year celebration with dragon-shaped almond cookies and shortbread (plain, sesame, or green tea).

Saturday, Jan. 21

Cole Valley is getting a 1930s-style soda shop in the form of Ice Cream Bar. It's a mostly organic menu of flavors such as roasted pineapple. Rumor has it a beer and wine license is in the works so they can add prosecco sorbet and lager floats to owner Juliet Pries' offerings. Rickhouse barman Russell Davis is developing the drinks and pulling from more than 75 herbs, spices, and tinctures. 

Starting at noon, Louie's Chinese Cuisine Restaurantkicks off the Year of the Dragon with a reading and demo from Grace Young, author of the 2010 James Beard Foundation Award-Winning book, Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge. In addition, there's a jiaoze, a Chinese New Year's dumpling-making class, along with a lunch buffet ($15). RSVP by Thursday, Jan. 19 to Wilma Pang, CCSF Music Department, President of (ABCT), A Better Chinatown Tomorrow at panasiansf@yahoo.com.