Drink Here Now: 5 Places to Sip This Week

Drink Here Now: 5 Places to Sip This Week

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1. The Napper Tandy Reopens The Napper Tandy (24th and Van Ness) in the Mission has always been a friendly Irish Pub, if a bit cramped. A recent remodel opened up the space, making Wednesday night trivia (8:30 pm) more comfortable for patrons and servers alike. An upgraded sound system allows irreverently named teams to spread into the back room, while staying within earshot of the charming hostess’s lilting accent. Irish comfort food is always on the menu, and regulars recommend the Shepherds Pie ($10.95), the Fish and Chips ($6.95/$10.95), and the burgers ($7.95 - $10.95), served with salad or hand-cut fries. Of course, there’s Guinness on tap, plus a full bar with nightly drink specials. If you plan ahead, you can pick up a $5 Yelp coupon good for $10 in the Pub. Come with a crew, or belly up to the bar and recruit random trivia teammates.

2. Spin the Bottle on Valentine’s Day Forgot to make dinner reservations? Flying solo this V-Day? Both are good reasons to Spin the Bottle this Thursday at The California Academy of Sciences. (6 - 10 pm, $12) This week’s Nightlife party features craft beers from nine local breweries, and constant beats from Hard French and Sweet Cheeks DJs. After loosening up, check out the Good Vibrations Pop-up Exhibit of Vibrators Past and present, or learn “How to Make Anything Sound Sexy” from the experts at the Center for Sex and Culture. Document your newfound flirting skills in the Photoboof “Kiss Cam” and make your very own Valentine’s Day Crafts, courtesy of SCRAP. Brave souls can compete in the Couples Dance-off, emceed by the Hard French Crew.

3. Food Truck Date and Stoplight Party Finally! A Valentine’s Day dinner that requires neither reservations, nor fretting over what to wear! Bring a date, or meet one, at the National Food Truck Date Day Stoplight Party, this Thursday at SoMa StrEatFood Park (428 11th Street), starting at 7 pm. Couples wear red, singles wear green, and the “it’s complicated crowd” wears yellow, so potential new friends with benefits should be easy to identify. Food trucks on the schedule include Naked Chorizo, Smokin Warehouse, Docs of the Bay, and Candy Bar, so bring cash, and be prepared to graze. The party includes $4 Red Strawberry Sangria, special “Food Truck Date” menus, and a skeeball competition hosted by the Joey the Cat. You can also play matchmaker for your Facebook friends with co-host CrushHub, and maybe even meet a Mensch of the Month from the “Chosen not Taken” fundraising calendar. Admission is free.

4. Speakeasy Taproom Opens Speakeasy Brewery’s brand new taproom is officially open, just in time for SF Beer Week. Designed and built by DIY specialist Kelly Malone, the taproom looks and feels like a wood-paneled basement hideaway, featuring private rooms, a make-out nook, and light fixtures made from re-purposed beer growlers. Speakeasy’s Beer Week Brewery Blowout on February 15 (12 to 9 pm) presents a perfect opportunity to explore this “clandestine” drinking establishment, located on the brewing campus at 1195 Evans Avenue in San Francisco. Beer lovers will appreciate the choice of fifteen rare and limited-release Speakeasy beers on tap, while current and future homebrewers will enjoy the “Brew Your Own Speakeasy” demo. Two food trucks will be on site, including the Del Popolo wood-fired mobile pizzeria. Big Drag and Loose Tights will provide live music for this free event.

5. Zoe’s Gets a Stable Home After gaining popularity as a pop-up, Zoe’s Bar and Restaurant now has a permanent location along the Mission’s 24th Street corridor (3088 24th Street at Folsom), in the former El Mexicano space. This French and Italian bistro with an Art Deco theme is headed by Nigerian chef Anu Adeboje, and food is served until midnight. Diners rave about the burger, the poutine, and the filet mignon, served on skewers with basil pesto dip and deep fried haricot verts. Zoe’s full bar features specialty versions of classic cocktails ($6 - $14), such as the Blood and Sand Margarita, and the Galgo, described as a “very lower 24th street version of the Greyhound.” Bay window seating provides ample people watching opportunities, as do the giant mirrors behind the bar. A naughty art collection adds a provocative touch.

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