7x7 celebrated our annual Best of SF (#bestof7x7) June 2013 issue with an exclusive event at the city's iconic Ghirardelli Square. Hundreds of attendees—from our pages, partners, followers, advertisers and friends—gathered to bring the highly-anticipated issue to life.

Guests enjoyed speciality drinks and cocktails from our partners, includingRussian Standard Vodka, which called on guests to dress up and take pictures at the photo booth while also enjoying their lounge set up with comfortable pillows.

There were also dedicated tasting stations from event partners Clase Azul Tequila and La Pinta Tequila, The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch, and Merryvale Wines. Several bar stations served a full complement of cocktails and straight pours, with delicious recipes from Pink Pigeon Rum, No. 3 Gin with Fever Tree tonic, and spicy King's Ginger Liqueur with Fever Tree ginger beer. Folks also enjoyed icy cold Trumer Pils beer, famously brewed in Berkeley.

A highlight of the evening involved a lively raffle benefitting our nonprofit partner Upwardly Global—UpGlo is the current top choice of 7x7's readers as San Francisco's Favorite Charity!

We would like to thank all our partners who made our signature event a huge success: 

BEVERAGE PARTNERS:

Clase Azul and La Pinta Tequilas
The King’s Ginger Liqueur
The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch
Merryvale Wines
No. 3 Gin
Pink Pigeon Rum
Russian Standard Vodka
Trumer Pils beer

PARTNERS ON THE FOUNTAIN PLAZA:

Ichi Sushi
Lori's Diner
The Museum of Craft and Design
The Pub at Ghirardelli Square
Scoot Networks
Wattle Creek Winery Tasting
Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water 

PARTNERS ON THE UPPER PLAZA:

OneSF America's Cup
A Little Scene Flip Books
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

PARTNERS ON THE WEST PLAZA:

Aura Skin Spa
Ghirardelli Marketplace
Jackson & Polk
John Allan's Razor Club
Kara's Cupcakes
Krave Jerky
Yap Wraps

ENTERTAINMENT:
DJ Sergio Fedasz

(Go BANG!, The SyntheTigers)

RAFFLE:

Prize packages and gifts from Aura Skin Spa, Calistoga Balloons Napa Valley, Ghirardelli Square, John Allan's Razor Club, Scoot Networks, and more!

PHOTOS
: 
Jana Asenbrennerova for Drew Altizer Photography | drewaltizer.com

Try these specialty cocktails featured at 7x7's Best of SF 2013, mixed on-site by our event partner Bartenders Unlimited:

Kings Ginger liqueur: The Twinger
Recipe: 1.5 oz Kings Ginger over ice, topped with Fever Tree ginger beer. Dash of bitters.

Pink Pigeon Rum: "Peace" Hemingway Daiquiri:
1.5 oz Pink Pigeon Rum
.5 oz Luxardo Maraschino
.5 oz simple syrup
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz fresh grapefruit juice
Shake and strain into glass over ice and garnish with Luxardo maraschino cherry.

No. 3 Gin & Tonic
Best paired with Fever Tree Tonic over rocks

La Pinta Pomegranate Tequila
2 oz La Pinta Pomerita
.5oz agave nectar
Garnish with lime

Russian Standard Vodka: Standard Moscow Mule
2 oz Russian Standard Vodka
4 oz Premium Ginger Beer
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice (or squeeze half a lime)

Standard Watermelon Martini
2 oz Russian Standard Vodka
2oz Fresh Watermelon Juice
¼ oz Simple Syrup

Standard Rockette
2 oz Russian Standard Vodka
¾ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ oz Simple Syrup
6 mint leaves