Almanac Beer and Cheese Pairing at the Ferry Plaza
If you need a good reason to visit the Ferry Building on a non-Farmers Market day, Almanac Beer just gave you one. The Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant (One Ferry Bldg, Shop 23) is hosting an Almanac Beer and cheese flight on Wednesday, August 28 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. For $25, you’ll get five cheeses alongside five different farmhouse ales from Almanac. Wine Merchant’s resident beer and cheese experts made the matches, pairing Almanac’s Dogpatch Sour with Sottocenere from Italy and their Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine with Nacasio Square from Marin. Brewmaster Jesse Friedman will be on hand to present the pairings, as will Nicholas Roux, from Oxbow Wine and Cheese Merchant. Tickets are available at the door. Call 415-391-9400 for additional details.

Nightlife at the Academy
This week’s Burning Man rapture provides the perfect opportunity to check out places and events that usually have a long line. Nightlife at the Academy is one such event, and this Thursday’s "Fire and Ice" theme will give those of us left behind our own little taste of the Burn. Expect the event to run hot and cold, with music mixed by Icee Hot, Blacksmithing demos by The Crucible, and firefly and ice beetle specimens presented by Academy scientist Dave Kavanaugh. You’ll find free food tastings from Whole Foods and Three Twins ice cream in the East Pavilion, and spiked snow cones for sale by the swamp. Tickets are available online for $12 ($10 for members). The Academy of Sciences is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive in Golden Gate Park.

Nightlife on Mars: Underground Comedy
If your tastes lean toward science fiction instead of science, Nightlife on Mars might be a better Thursday night destination for you. Located in a private room in the lower level of Murphy’s Pub (217 Kearney b/t Sutter & Bush), the Nightlife on Mars Underground Comedy show features a local comedy troupe consisting of Ryan Cronin, Adam McLaughlin, Casey Grim, Red Scott and Jeff Reitman. This free weekly event starts at 8:30 and has been described as “fairly kickass.” If that’s not enough of a recommendation, keep in mind that Murphy’s offers a dollar off draft beers during the show.  

Beard and Mustache Club Hootenanny
If you have facial hair, or want facial hair, or like facial hair, Zeitgeist is the place to be on Friday, August 30. The local chapter of Beard Team USA will be meeting and greeting as they train for the West Coast Beard and Mustache Championships. Show up at Zeitgeist (199 Valencia @ Duboce) at 7 pm, and look for the facially hairy folks. There won’t be any drink specials, but you will find a beer garden, 40-plus beers on tap, and lots of beards. Have your ID ready, as they’ll check at the door. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get a surly bartender.

Free BBQ at Bender’s
What happens when they close down the kitchen at Bender’s Bar & Grill? The cooking crew heads out to the back patio to light the barbecue. Each Sunday from 3 to 7 pm, Bender’s treats patrons to free burgers, veggie options, and whatever else they feel like throwing on the grill. Wash it down with $2 PBRs and $5 Margaritas from the bar. Inside, you can crank up the tunes on the jukebox while shooting pool at one of two billiard tables. When the BBQ winds down, Clare’s Deli brings out the complimentary sandwiches, which are served into the late hours. Bender’s is located at 806 South Van Ness, on the corner of 19th.