"You know there ain't no devil; there's just god when he's drunk," famously crooned Tom Waits. Maybe it's time you found some God in your life at one of these blessed drinking events.
Highball Happy Hour in the Boxing Room, Plus Oysters
Once Boxing Room started serving cocktails, we knew a happy hour wouldn't be far behind. Lo and behold, Highball Happy Hour has arrived, and it's happening every weekday from 3 to 6 pm. Stop in for half price highballs, topped off with specialty sodas dispensed directly from the wine and beer tower. For $5, you can get Mezcal mixed with homemade super celery soda and lemon, Rum with vintage cola and iced coffee, Vodka with tart-n-sweet soda and grapefruit, or your favorite house spirit with a fountain topper of your choice. Like any New Orleans-style bar worth its salt, the Boxing Room also serves Abita Amber ($3.50) on tap to pair with oysters on the half-shell (half dozen for $9 or a dozen for $17) and Southern-fried appetizers, including Cajun boiled peanuts ($2.50), hush puppies with pepper jelly ($3), and crispy boudin balls with creole mustard aioli ($3.50). Laissez les bon temps roulez! 399 Grove Street
New Cocktails at Hopscotch
Next time you're in Uptown Oakland, pop into Hopscotch to check out a trio of cheeky new cocktails from co-owner/general manager/bar manager Jenny Schwarz. The Ectoplasm Cooler is a throwback to the Ghost Busters-inspired Hi-C, featuring St. George citrus vodka, kiwi, and lemon. Your Cheatin' Heart spices things up with St. George chili vodka and seasonal blood orange with smoked salt. And the Chiki Chiku Sling is a complex concoction that mixes mezcal and tequila with benedictine, ginger, and citrus. All cocktails are $11. 1915 San Pablo Avenue
Wines by the Week at Reed & Greenough
New and emerging wine producers find it challenging to reach new customers in an increasingly crowded wine market. Reed & Greenough is making an effort to promote some of their favorite up-and-comers with a new "wines by the week" program. Each week, they're featuring a red and white wine for $7 a glass, with information on the winemakers behind each glass. This upscale bar in the Marina District serves light bites (think deviled eggs) and features pool tables and shuffleboard in the back, making it a great place to go for an after-dinner date. They're also known for their cocktails, as well as their happy hour, which runs all day on Sunday and from 5 to 7 pm the rest of the week. 3251 Scott Street
In Pursuit of Balance Wine Event
Thirty-three of California's top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay makers selected in a blind tasting process will be pouring their wines at In Pursuit of Balance, a highly curated wine and food event at the City View at Metreon on Monday, March 16. The day-long event includes seminars, tastings and a keynote address by Jon Bonné, Wine Editor for San Francisco Chronicle. Participating wineries in the walk-around tasting from 6 to 9 pm include Au Bon Climat, Big Basin, Calera, Ceritas, Chanin, Cobb, Copain, Domaine de la Côte, Drew, Failla, Flowers, Hanzell, Hirsch, Knez, Kutch, LaRue, LIOCO, Liquid Farm, Littorai, Lutum, Matthiasson, Mindego Ridge, Mount Eden, Native9, Ojai, Peay, Red Car, Sandhi, Twomey, Tyler, Varner, Wenzlau, and Wind Gap. A handful of Bay Area restaurants will serve small bites during the tasting as well, including Nopa, SPQR, Bar Tartine, Scopa, RN74, Passionfish, Aziza, St. Vincent and Murray's Circle at Cavallo Point. Tickets are available online for $125 per tasting and $125 per seminar. 135 4th Street
The Stinky Cheese Club Meeting at Benders
To celebrate St. Patty's Day, you could join the hordes drinking green beer at the annual Irish Bank St. Patrick's Day Block Party in the Financial District, or you could attend the monthly meeting of The Stinky Cheese Club at Bender's in the Mission. Bring your own cheese, crackers, fruit, and veggies to share with other club members this Tuesday between 5:30 and 8 pm, and Bender's will give you a free well drink or an ice cold can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Just remember: this is the stinky cheese club, so Monterey Jack just won't cut it. Spring for some Stilton, or Taleggio, or Munster d"Alsace. And if you really want green beer, bring along a bottle of food coloring. 806 South Van Ness
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
