Isn't summer supposed to be slow and lazy? Not this week, anyway.
Don't miss the opening of Al's Deli and Tartine Bakery in the Inner Sunset; shop the Urban Air Market; take a moonrise hike on Mt. Tam; eat all the black truffles and drink all the mezcal; celebrate the 20th anniversary of Litquake and 15 years of the Museum of Craft + Design; peruse Minnesota Street Project's art book fair; and be one of the first to check out SFMOMA's new space exhibit.
Have a good one!
Monday, July 15th
The New Tartine Bakery
7am to 4pm daily
Tartine Bakery, 1226 Ninth Ave. (Inner Sunset), tartinebakery.com
Tartine is officially an empire, and we're not mad about it. With two locations in the city plus one at SFO, Tartine is counting four with a new bakery in the Inner Sunset. Expect the usual pastries (like those famous morning buns), country loaves, and an expanded menu of breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch items including smorrebrods, toasts, soups, and salads.
Black Truffle Mania
5:30pm to 9:15pm, through July 23
La Toque, 1314 McKinstry St. (Napa), latoque.com
From now till next Tuesday, head to La Toque for their annual seasonal truffle menu. Expect five courses—including fresh black winter "carpaccio" with truffled wagyu lardo and open-face truffle lasagna with sea scallops. If you really want to get the deets on truffles, you can book a special class on pairing, storage, and cooking led by the chef. // $220 per person; dinner reservations can be made by calling La Toque at 707-257-5157. Reservations for the truffle class can be made by calling (707) 257-1800.
Painting With Drinks
8 to 10pm
Southside Spirit House, 575 Howard St (SoMa), southsidesf.com
It's time to let out that inner artist. Mingle, paint and have a good time all while creating cool art. Whether you're a professional artist or you just like to doodle in your notebook, you are welcome to come. All materials are provided and all you have to do is show up and have fun. // Tickets ($40) are available for purchase at eventbrite.com
Tuesday, July 16th
Litquake 20th Anniversary Party
7 to 10pm
Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St. (Mission), makeoutroom.com
Celebrate Litquake's 20th well before the weeklong festival in October with a special sneak peek of what's to come, including readings, a feisty Battle Royale performance between five author bands, free books, and Fort Point Beer specials. // Free to attend, details at litquakeyearround2019.sched.com.
Comal Mezcal Dinner
6:30pm
Comal, 2020 Shattuck Ave. (Berkeley), comalberkeley.com
Mezcalista Susan Coss will guide you through five spirit tastings and share stories of the small producers she has visited at this special dinner. Drink up and dig into four Mexican courses—think wild shrimp ceviche, sweet corn-poblano chile soup crema, Cochinita pibil tacos, and an Oaxacan chocolate budin. // Tickets ($75) are available at ticketfly.com.
Square Pie Guys opens
4 to 10pm, Tuesday through Saturday
Square Pie Guys, 1077 Mission St. (SoMa), squarepieguys.com
You might have snagged a piece or two of this Detroit-style 'za at weekly pop-ups over at Vinyl Coffee & Wine Bar. Rejoice, now the pizza-making duo behind Square Pie Guys has set up a permanent shop with their crusty, thick pies alongside a cheeseburger, salads, and sandwiches. No time to sit and eat? Delivery and take-out are coming in the next few weeks.
Navigating the SF Gallery Scene
6:30 to 8pm
Intersection for the Arts, 1446 Market St (Civic Center), theintersection.org
In the booming arts city that is San Francisco, there's always something to learn. Join panelists from Arthaus, Dzine, and Modern Eden galleries for current gallery trends and how artists can place their work. // Tickets ($20) are available for purchase at eventbrite.com
A Queen-y Double Feature
Starting at 5pm, Tuesday and Wednesday
Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St (Castro), castrotheatre.com
Wear something fabulous for this two-night double feature starting with the 4k restoration of Hedwig and the Angry Itch, followed by the 2002 Sundance hit The Cockettes, just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original gender revolutionaries. // Tickets are available for purchase at prod3.agileticketing.net
Wednesday, July 17th
Spice Knows No Border
5 to 8:30pm
August (1) Five, 524 Van Ness Ave (Civic Center), august1five.com
Indian or Mexican? Tonight you don't have to choose as August (1) Five serves up a choose-your-own-adventure fusion meal with dishes including pork empanadas, avocado bhel, roti lamb tacos, duck confit with mole, and a paneer and cactus enchilada with tikka sauce. Each course will be paired with an agave cocktail. // Reservations ($115/person; tax and gratuity included) available on opentable.com.
Boot and Shoe Service is reborn
8am to noon for cafe; 5:30pm for dinner
Sister, 3308 Grand Ave (Oakland), sisteroakland.com
After management issues (#metoo) at the popular Oakland restaurant Boot and Shoe Service last year, the future of the spot was up in the air. Now under new leadership (co-owners Jennifer Cremer and Richard Clark), the place is reopening as Sister (get it?), with a fresh menu including fun elements such as a fermentation program and a big-time bread focus.
Al's Deli opens
11am to 9:30pm
Al's Deli, 598 Guerrero St. (Mission), alsdelisf.com
Fans of Al's Place, the veggie-forward Cal-American hot spot in the deep Mission, will be excited to see the opening of this casual sophomore spot. Dishes are part Californian, part Jewish deli—think shawarma spiced chicken sandwiches; potato hot pockets stuffed with avocado, grapefruit and preserved lemon; falafel corn dog bite; and platters of smoked brisket.
Moonrise Evening Hike
6 to 8pm
Mount Tamalpais State Park, 3801 Panoramic Hwy (Mill Valley), parks.ca.gov
Lace up your hikers and cross the GGB for a 5.2-mile moonrise hike atop Mt. Tam. BYO water and snacks. // Limited to 20 people on a first come, first serve basis. Parking is $8; more information at facebook.com
Stories of Epic Failures
7 to 8:30pm
PianoFight (Second Stage), 144 Taylor St (Tenderloin), pianofight.com
The Bay's best storytellers and comedic acts come together for a night of uncontrollable laughter. Sit down and enjoy stories that are so shocking, sad or weird that they become laughable. Come with some friends or by yourself, either way you'll leave with a smile. // Tickets ($15) are available for purchase at eventbrite.com
Thursday, July 18th
A preview of the Far Out exhibit.
(Courtesy of SFMOMA)
National Caviar Day
6:30 to 9pm
White Rabbit, 3138 Fillmore St. (Marina), whiterabbitsf.com
The Caviar Co. is taking over for a special event to celebrate National Caviar Day. Enjoy glasses of Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere cocktails, caviar bumps, and other tasty bites. // Tickets ($150) can be purchased on eventbrite.com.
Sake Dinner Series
5:45pm
Cassava, 3519 Balboa St. (Outer Richmond), cassavasf.com
Cassava wants to teach you an appreciation for sake. At this new dinner series, Certified Sake Specialist Yuka Ioroi and Sake Educator Jesse Pugach will explain the various brewing techniques and rice polishing grades as you taste your way through four sakes and four courses. // Tickets ($90/person) are available on exploretock.com.
Beer Garden NightLife
6 to 10pm
California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr (Golden Gate Park), calacademy.org
We bet you've never gone to a botanical-forward beer tasting. Now's your chance. Learn about beer, taste a few, ask UCSF scientists whatever you'd like and even participate in some fun games. // Cash will not be accepted. All purchases will be made with "beer tickets". One ticket is $2. Entrance tickets ($19.50) are available for purchase at calacademy.org
Far Out!
10am to 5pm, through July 21
SFMOMA, 151 3rd St (SoMa), sfmoma.org
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of that giant leap for mankind at SFMOMA's new exhibit, Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space. The installation is full of conceptual designs for, you guessed it, space suits, habitats, and laboratories as well as all sorts of ideas and solutions from the ones who dared to imagine life in outer space. // Tickets are available for purchase at sfmoma.org
Friday, July 19th
Movie Night at a Winery
6:30 to 10pm
Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main St. (St. Helena), charleskrug.com
Kick back al fresco and catch a flick in Wine Country. Charles Krug Winery is screening Pick of The Litter, a documentary about puppies on their journey to become guide dogs, which won an award at last year's Napa Valley Film Festival. Indulge in pizza, wine, and live music before the show. // Tickets ($10) can be bought on charleskrug.com.
Uncorked Wine Festival
6 to 10pm
Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina), fortmason.org
Get your summer sip on at this evening wine tasting event featuring more than 150 wines and Champagnes. Brab a bite from food trucks and vendors and, once you've loosened up, dance the night away to live music. // Tickets ($65 and up) are available on fortmason.vbotickets.com.
Ride a Mechanical Bull
5pm to midnight, Wednesday & Thursday; till 2am Friday & Saturday
Westwood, 2306 Lombard St. (Marina), enterwestwood.com
Get ready to check this one off your bucket list. Taking over the old Stock In Trade space, Westwood has just opened to make you shout Yee Haw! as you indulge in whiskey drinks, country music, and Tex-Mex eats. Will you brave the bull?
San Francisco Art Book Fair
6 to 10pm today, 11am to 6pm Saturday and 11am to 5pm Sunday
Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota St (Dogpatch), minnesotastreetproject.com
The work of over 100 independent publishers, antiquarian dealers, artists, collectors, and enthusiasts will take over this years SFABF. This is the chance for publishers to expand their audience or connect with a different one. If books and art are your thing, you're are not going to want to be anywhere else today. // Free to attend with registration at eventbrite.com
Saturday, July 20th
Zin + BBQ Festival
4 to 7pm
Seghesio Family Vineyards, 700 Grove St. (Healdsburg), seghesio.com
Keep the summer vibes going with food hot off the grill, live music from SoulShine and, of course, delicious wine on the shaded picnic grounds. // Tickets ($75 /adults, $40/under 21) can be purchased on seghesio.com.Design15 Birthday Bash
6:30 to 10pm
Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 3rd St. (Dogpatch), sfmcd.org
This cool Dogpatch museum is celebrating 15 years with a special benefit featuring a live auction, a seated comfort food dinner, birthday cake, and dancing. // Tickets ($175/person) are available on sfmcd.org. Proceeds support the MCD MakeArt educational programs for children and families.
Lamb Jam
Noon to 4pm
Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop (Presidio), presidio.gov
Taste through epic lamb dishes from 16 SF chefs from restaurants including Lolinda, Dumpling Time, and The Slanted Door. Judges will pick a winner for each cuisine category (Asian, Latin, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern) and one winner who will face top finalists from around the country in a grand cook-off later this year. // Tickets ($75/person) can be purchased at americanlambjam.com; proceeds support La Cocina.
SF Anime Festival
11am to 4pm
Japan Center, 1737 Post St (Japantown), japancentersf.com
Explore the fascinating world of Japanese anime at a festival full of costumes, wigs, cosplay, shops, restaurants, and more. // Free to attend; more information at facebook.com
Apollo 50th Anniversary Celebration
10am to 5pm, 6 to 10pm
Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd (Oakland), chabotspace.org
Another fete for Apollo 11, and super family friendly, Chabot's day-time event will include hands-on moon demos and a planetarium show. At 6pm, the 21+ after party gets going with space karaoke and a dance floor. // $14-$18 during the day; after-party is $14 or free with daytime admission. Tickets are available for purchase at chabotspace.org
Sunday, July 21st
Michelin All-Star Dinner
5 to 8:45pm
Birdsong, 1085 Mission St. (SoMa), birdsongsf.com
One-starred tasting menu spot Birdsong is cooking up a special dinner tonight with chef Garrett Lipar of Detroit restaurant Albena. Snag tickets fast for this three-hour dining adventure. // Tickets ($225) are available on exploretock.com.
Foodie Talks
1 to 3pm
Ciel Creative Space, 2611 Eighth St. (Berkeley), cielcreativespace.com
Third Culture Bakery is presenting a new event series with a lineup of food industry speakers. The first event goes down today with James Beard–nominated chef Tu David Phu (you may have seen him on Top Chef Season 15), Ingrid Goesnar (Mavencook), and Mustache Bakery and Noble Folk Ice Cream founder Christian Sullberg. // Tickets ($15 and up) are available at julyfoodietalks.eventbrite.com. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit, 1951 Coffee Company.
Hellman Summer Stomp
5:30pm
Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave. (Mill Valley), sweetwatermusichall.com
If you love Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, then kick your heels over to this evening of live music featuring the Hellman Family Band plus several special guests. Bites will be available for guests that arrive on the early side. // Tickets ($20) can be found on sweetwatermusichall.com.
Nightbird Meets Kendall Jackson's Culinary Gardener
5 to 10pm
Nightbird, 330 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), nightbirdrestaurant.com
The chefs at stylish Hayes Valley spot Nightbird are getting together with Tucker Taylor, the gardener at Kendall Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens (and previously The French Laundry's green thumb) to source and serve some impeccable produce in a one-time 10-course tasting menu. // Tickets ($175, plus optional wine pairings) can be booked by emailing info@nightbirdrestaurant.com.
Urban Air Market
11am to 6pm
The Hive, 2335 Broadway (Oakland), hiveoakland.com
You're likely to find sunshine in the East Bay, not to mention a chill day of live music, eats, and shopping high-quality, sustainable goods from more than 80 local artisans and designers. Bring your kids and dogs! // Free to attend with registration at eventbrite.com; for more information, go to urbanairmarket.com.
