Friday, August 3
Pray to the weather gods that the fog will remain at bay, before heading down to the Haight and Fillmore Streets at 6 pm for the Lower Haight Art Walk. The whole neighborhood will be celebrating, and the possibilities are endless. Things you may see at the art walk include: Live music in the street and in different businesses, freshly tattooed folks from Idle Hands, jazz music at Cafe International, a lot of beer, people with BBQ sauce on their hands from Wing Wings, artists slinging their works on the block, maybe a couple gypsies, the Tamale lady, and more general revelry. The fiesta of fine music, food and entertainment officially wraps up at 10 p.m. but with so many fabulous bars in the area, it is the perfect place to kick on. All along Lower Haight Street, with the epicenter at Fillmore Street.
Enjoy some of the best food in town and get caught up in the hype by heading down to the opening ceremony of theGrand Tasting. Union Square will be transformed into a food lover’s paradise, as mouthwatering tastes from the city’s hottest restaurants, innovative handcrafted cocktails prepared by top mixologists, and premier wines and beers from an exhiliarating collection of wineries and breweries take center stage. There will be live entertainment by Joey Altman & the Soul Peppers. All proceeds from the evening benefit the Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship Fund. The event goes all weekend and tickets cost anywhere from $108 - $600, they can be purchasedhere.From 6 p.m. at Union Square.
Saturday, August 4
Prepare to get some culture into you and head down to Japantown for the 39th Nihonmachi Street Fair. The two-day street fair is a celebration of everything that is great about the Asian/Pacific communities in the Bay Area - and that includes amazing food. There will be tons of live music, dance performances, food festival and art representative of the Asian/Pacific cultures and communities. With more than 20 asian-themed food trucks, there is definitely going to be a flavor for everyone. Rumor has it there may also be a dancing lion in attendance. The festival is a two-day affair and goes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Post Street at Buchanan Street.
Public Works is hosting Noisette, an intimate culinary concert that is a celebration of the SF Foodie scene as well as some incredible indie music. The delicious dance party and feast features some of San Francisco’s best chefs, each creating one special dish, as well as an incredible afternoon of live music and DJs. The $60 ticket price includes tastings and ice cream, but the $85 VIP ticket has a plethora of added bonuses (including a beer bar from 12-1 p.m.). Because of the popularity of the event, it is definitely best to purchase tickets before the day. From 1-5 p.m. @ Public Works, 161 Erie Street.
Sunday, August 5
This Sunday Chef Marcus Samuelsson and illy Master Barista Giorgio Milos will host an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. This traditional ceremony involves processing the raw, unwashed coffee beans into finished cups of coffee. Along with the fantastic coffee, there will also be a selection of delicious regional dishes. Each guest will leave with a gift bag that includes a copy of Samuelsson’s new book, Yes, Chef and other coffee goodies. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased here. From 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ 123 Battery Street.
Tuesday, August 7
Get into the spirit of the Olympics and come down to Civic Center for a live giant screen broadcast. China are the runaway leaders at the moment, but let’s cheer on the U.S. team as they look to catch up! There will be Olympic skills games, kids arts and crafts, and plenty of family fun. It isn’t an SF event without gourmet food, and this is no different. There will be a myriad of gourmet food options available to satiate your hunger as you cheer on our team. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza, Larkin and Grove Streets.
Wednesday, August 8
Saison is hosting the first collaboration dinner between Sommelier Mark Bright and Winemaker, Wells Guthrie of Russian River Valley’s Copain. It promises to be an evening of pure indulgence, as Chef Joshua Skenes lays out 12 delicious courses of locally sourced, delicious food. Copain is offering a lineup of 10 of their best wines as well to pair with the meal. Reservations can be made via phone, with the first seating starting at 6 p.m., by contacting Saison at (415) 828-7990. Tickets cost $148 for food and $108 for wine.Saison @ 2124 Folsom Street.
Thursday, August 9
With a city so saturated with artistic people and incredible food, it is interesting to look at the strange and inspiring paths that local chefs/restaurateurs/entrepreneurs take to reach the top of the culinary scene. That is exactly what Climbing the SF Food Chain does. Featuring a panel that includes Craig Stoll of Delfina fame, Anthony Myint of Mission Chinese, Richie Nakano of Hapa Ramen, and Iso Rabins of Forage SF, they will all discuss their experiences as being chefs in SF, before everyone heads over to SF Foodlab for a guerrilla dining experience. It will be a once in a lifetime dining experience with a pop-up dinner, complete with great food and drinks, as well as music and awesome company. Tickets cost $7 for students, and $20 for adults and can be purchased here. The Panel will be at SF Club Office, 595 Market Street 2nd Floor and the dinner will be at Foodlab @ 1106 Market Street
