Alcohol is the liquid version of Photoshop.
Drink With Criminals at Barbarossa
North Beach's latest drinking haunt is breathing new life into its historic location, in a one-time jailhouse that survived the 1906 earthquake. Barbarossa, located in San Francisco's infamous Barbary Coast red-light district, pays homage to its sordid past in two ways. The name itself, which means "Red Beard" in Italian, is inspired by a famous pirate during that bawdy, brawling era, and bar manager Christina Cabrera (The Progress, 15 Romolo) has created a seasonally rotating cocktail menu featuring drinks named after famous criminals, madams, dance halls and politicians of the time. We're ready to establish conjugal visits with Lady Killigrew, made with rum, pisco, coconut liqueur, banana, allspice and lime. // 714 Montgomery St., barbarossalounge.com
Celebrate Christmas, Dickens-Style
As long as you're traveling back in time to drink, you might as well make an appearance at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, which opened last weekend and continues through December 20th. According to organizers, the annual event is a "theatrically historical re-creation of 19th-century London as it was seen through the eyes of Charles Dickens." According to us, it's a great place to drink your fair share of rum and whisky. Once you've imbibed at The Leather Bottle (Jingle's Gate), The Prince Edward Pub (Pickwick Place), The Mermaid Inn (Cratchit's Yard), The Bohemian Absinthe Bar (Fagan's Alley), and Mad Sal's Dockside Inn (Ale House Alley), make your way to London's Finest Cakes and Puddings for Rum Cake, Irish Whisky Cake, Scottish Whisky Cake, and English Christmas Pudding. Tickets are available online and at the box office ($25-$30, before discount). // 2600 Geneva Ave., dickensfair.com
Get Lit with Santa in Yountville
On Black Friday, head north to Yountville's Festival of Lights, which kicks off at 2pm with three hours of food and wine tastings for those wearing tasting bracelets ($15-$25). Santa will arrive at 2:15 on a fire truck (with a crew of elves) to find out what you want for Christmas, and live music on the main stage will keep you entertained while you decide what to ask for. Santa and his helpers will lead the town lighting ceremony at 5:30pm, just before the carriage rides begin on Washington Street. Purchase tasting bracelets at the Yountville Welcome Center, and get there early, before they run out. // 6484 Washington St., Yountville; yountville.com/27th-annual-festival-of-lights
PinotFest at Farallon
Even if you missed last Saturday's Great Big Bacchanalia Grand Tasting, there's still time to taste a few flights of Pinot Noir during the final days of PinotFest at Farallon. Through the end of November, guests can choose from two flights of Pinot Noir, selected nightly from offerings by more than 60 wineries. Farallon is also offering a five-course Coastal Cuisine tasting menu, paired with wines from the pinot family of grapes. // 450 Post Street, farallonrestaurant.com
No Commitment Beer Dinner at Salsipuedes
Looking for a no-strings-attached beer dinner? Look no farther than Salsipuedes. They're hosting Ale Industries for a four-course beer-pairing dinner on Wednesday, December 2, and you don't need reservations or tickets. Just show up during dinner hours and order any beer pairing for $15 or the whole dinner for $40. Ale Industries owner/brewer Morgan Cox will be pouring Pink Drank, a sour blonde with raspberries aged in oak barrels; La Niña Fresa, a spontaneously fermented Farmhouse Ale; Weisse Edict, a strong ale aged in whiskey barrels; and Cherry Kush, a California native gruit made with tart cherry juice and without hops. // 4201 Market, Oakland, salsipuedesoakland.com
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com
