1) Egg Nog & Ugly Sweater Party
It’s ugly sweater season, and Parallel 37 is celebrating with its second annual Egg Nog and Ugly Sweater Party on Wednesday, December 11, from 6pm to 8pm. Don your most hideous holiday sweater, and show up by 7pm to be judged and possibly win a cool prize for “Most Festive Sweater.” If you bring your own mug, bartender Camber Lay will fill it with her very own renditions of Egg Nog and Holiday Punch for $5. (If you forget the mug, you’ll pay $7 for the holiday hooch.) Chef Michael Rotondo will provide complimentary holiday snacks, and you can watch holiday movie classics while disparaging everyone else’s sweater. 600 Stockton Street @ California
2) Renaissance Winemaker at ENO Wine Bar
Winemaker and Renaissance man Sean Thackrey will be holding court at ENO Wine Bar on Friday, December 13, from 5pm to 8pm. Touted as one of the most influential winemakers in America, Thackrey demonstrates the power of impeccable vineyard management and careful winemaking in his lineup of world-class wines. Art director, astronomer, linguist, and wine-maker, Thackrey will be bringing his big personality along with a special $20 flight of "Lyra" Viognier, "Pleiades" Red Blend, and "Sirius" Petite Sirah. The wine trio will be available by the glass and for retail, as well. 320 Geary St @ Powell
3) Santa Skivvies Run
Drop trou, raise funds, and fight AIDS this Saturday at the Santa Skivvies Run. The festivities begin at 1pm on Sunday, December 15 at The Lookout. The Santa Skivvies Run is a one-mile, festive romp through the streets of the Castro to support the free programs and services of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you want to strip down to your underwear. Participants are encouraged to raise $50 each, and those who do will be rewarded with a Santa Skivvies Run limited edition T-shirt. Registered runners get a Santa hat, and everyone is invited to join the after party at The Lookout, which will be serving three flavors of boozy hot chocolate at a hot chocolate bar with souvenir mugs. Expect salted caramel, chocolate raspberry and chocolate coconut. If you’d prefer a cold drink, you’ll find Stoli, Barcardi, Jack Daniel’s and Milagro at the event, as well as Bud Light and Goose Island in the beer garden on Noe Street. Register online for $35. 3600 16th Street @ Market
4) Four Festive Cocktails for the Holiday Season
Mandarin Oriental’s Beverage Director, Nicole Kosta, has created four new festive cocktails for the holiday season, and they’re all available now. The Festive G&T ($14) features Oxley Gin with house made ‘pumpkin spice’ tonic (ingredients: clove, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, all-spice, and pumpkin), garnished with persimmon slice and cinnamon stick. Ship Wrecked ($13) is a seasonal rum ‘old fashioned’ with persimmon, orange bitters, raw sugar, and orange twist served on a large rock. The Cinnamon Toast Brunch ($15) is a classic “flip” cocktail made with spiced apple cider & an egg but served cold. It includes Mt. Gay Rum, Grand Marnier, Spiced Cider and one whole egg, with a cinnamon sugar rim and a cinnamon stick garnish. For a zero-proof drink served warm, try the Toasty Apple Cider for $8, or spike it with Mt. Gay Rum or Bulleit Bourbon for $12. 222 Sansome @ California
5) Comstock Saloon Revamped and Reopened
Comstock Saloon’s renovation is complete, and you’re invited to check out the new digs. The re-designed bar pays homage to Abe Warner, the proprietor of San Francisco’s historic Cobweb Palace. “Old Abe” was infamous for his superstitious notion that spiders should never be harmed or disturbed, which led to a bar full of cobwebs. He also kept live monkeys, kangaroos, and even a bear on premises, inviting men, women and children to stop by to feed them on a regular basis. Today’s Comstock gives a nod to Abe and his monkeys with design details in the lamps and sconces. It also features Free Lunch Fridays at noon, providing a complimentary, pre-determined lunch for patrons who purchase two adult beverages. Look for the antique tap handle dating back to 1880, which serves Anchor Steam and Trumer Pilsner on draft. 155 Columbus Avenue @ Pacific
