1) Snow + Happy Hour = White Christmas at the Hyatt Regency
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, step inside the Hyatt Regency’s 17-story atrium between now and December 30. In addition to a 30-foot tree, 300,000 lights and over-sized holiday characters, snow is falling daily inside the atrium, at designated times. On the weekends, it snows at 10:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm and 6:30pm. During the week, snow times are 4:30pm and 6:30pm. Of course, it’s not real snow, which would be slippery. If you have trouble suspending disbelief, slip into the hotel’s Eclipse Lounge first for a festive holiday cocktail, preferably during Happy Hour (4:30pm to 6:30pm). Try the Naughty Elf (Chambord, pomegranate juice, Pascual Toso sparking wine) or Blitzen Cider (Apple Jack Whisky, clove, cinnamon, hot apple cider) for $12. For $14, have a Ms. Claus-tini (Absolut Vanilla, Godiva chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, cream) or a Peppermint Hot Chocolate (peppermint schnapps, hot chocolate, whipped cream). 5 Embarcadero Center
2) Saturday Write Fever at the Theater Pub
San Francisco Theater Pub is hosting It’s Christmas, Saturday Write Fever! this Saturday, December 21. The evening begins at 8:30pm with a mixer, followed by a 9pm “...writing sprint where writers have 30 minutes (more or less) to generate original monologues based around that night’s pre-generated prompts,” according to the SF Theater Pub website. At 9:30pm, the work is performed on stage by actors cast from the crowd for a flash-fried, one-time-only, live experience. Saturday Write Fever is hosted by local writers Stuart Bousel and Megan Cohen every third Saturday in the Exit Café. Admission is free, and participants can purchase drinks and snacks from the Café throughout the evening. 156 Eddy Street
3) Xmas Zombie Bar Crawl
Kicking yourself for missing Santacon, again? You can make up for it this Saturday at the SF Zombie Bar’s 3rd Annual Xmas Pub Crawl, which you could call SatanCon, if you don’t mind mixing genres. Dress in your undead best and invade Union Square at 7pm to terrorize the tourists while shambling your way through the Tenderloin’s finest watering holes. Bring plenty of cash, as there’s no zombie discount for beverages or brains.
4) Santa Serves Mulled Wine at Amélie
If you prefer Santa to Satan and wine to brains, Amélie wine bar’s Christmas party could be right up your alley. The festivities begin at 5:30pm on Sunday, which coincides with the advent of Amélie’s 90-minute Happy Hour. Enjoy $5 Flatbread Mushroom, $2.50 Marinated Olives, and a $20 Plateau Apero with a $10 customized flight of wine until 7pm. Santa will be serving hot mulled wine to guests all night, alongside live music from Hot Pocket and an extensive menu of cheeses, tapas, charcuterie, platters and desserts. And, of course, wine. 1754 Polk Street
5) Truffles, Bubbles and Canapés at Fifth Floor
Fifth Floor restaurant is taking things up a notch this holiday season. Guests will be offered a glass of Perrier Jouet Champagne along with five canapés for $20. The offer begins in the bar at 5pm and in the dining room starting at 5:30pm. Canapés could include Bausoleil Oysters with cranberry verjus and pink peppercorns, Comte Cheese Crackers, Fried Olives with Goat Cheese, Lavash Chicken/Squab Liver Mousse with Citrog Etron, or Crispy Rice with Egg Yolk and Caviar. Holiday season is also white truffle season. Dinner guests can add shaved truffles to select dishes on Chef David Bazirgan’s a la carte menu, including Red Kuri Squash Soup, Sweetbreads, White Truffle Risotto, and Wagyu Steak. 12 4th Street
