Friday, July 6
If you finish work in downtown this Friday, head along to the Velvet Room for their brand new summer dinner menu! Featuring seasonal dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, head chef, Thomas Weibull, serves up simple yet refined Northern Californian cuisine. There are a myriad of delicious options to get your saliva buds working over time, including Roasted Petaluma Organic Chicken with Sausalito Watercress, Caramelized Peaches and Port-Balsamic Glaze, a Seared Wild King Salmon. There is also a newly released cocktail menu to complement the new summer food options. The summer menu is available until the end of July and is a fixed price at $34.95. From 5:30 -8 p.m. @ The Clift Hotel, 495 Geary Street.
If you would rather something a little more outdoorsy, First Friday on 24th street in the Mission is an eclectic array of art, food and performances. Happening on the first Friday of the month all throughout summer, 24th street comes to life with performers, live music, merchant discounts, food tasting, art, music and children’s activities at various venues. If cars are your “thing” then you will want to be at York Street between 5-8 p.m. where there is a lowrider classic car parade. It is a free event and it goes from 6-10 p.m. @ 24th Street between Mission and Potrero Streets.
Saturday, July 7
Blending art and jazz into one giant weekend of sun, fun and music, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival on the West Coast. It is expected to entice more than 90,000 visitors over the Independence Day weekend. Along with incredible jazz and amazing arts and crafts stalls, there are also a plethora of gourmet and delicious food options. From roast corn to New Orleans Cajun cooking, there is a food option for anyone. Vegetarians and vegans won’t be disappointed either with numerous foodcarts specially dedicated to serving meat-free dishes. The festival runs over both Saturday and Sunday and goes from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. On FIllmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Streets.
Sunday, July 8
Is there anybody who doesn’t like free pizza? If there is they had better stay well away from Nick’s Pizza in Oakland this Sunday night. From from 6-8 p.m. Nick’s Pizza will be giving away slices of their delicious pizza to anyone and everyone with a hankering for one. Chef Nick Yapor-Cox will crank out as many slices as he can in the 2-hour period, with salad and some beverages provided to round out the meal. There will also be live music to keep the pizza fanatics eaters entertained. Luckily for us, Nick seems to be planning on making this a seasonal tradition, where he can share his love of Oakland-style pizza with the masses. Bring a plate and cup if possible. From 6-8 p.m. at Nick’s Pizza, 6211 Shattuck, North Oakland.
Tuesday, July 10
For many people Hungary is a bit of a mystery. This quirky country located at the meeting point of Eastern and Western Europe used to be part of a great empire before World War I. It has been invaded almost incessantly since the beginning of time, which has been a defining feature in Hungary’s eclectic cuisine, language, and wine. Come down to 18 Reasons and drink, taste, and learn about the only country that praises wine in their National Anthem and had their own brand of Communism nicknamed "Goulash Communism. Tickets for the evening cost $60 and cover all food and wine as well as a lecture. From 7-9 p.m. @ 18 Reasons, 3674 18th Street.
Wednesday, July 11
Pläj, pronounced “play” is the first Scandinavian restaurant to open in SF. Leaning heavily on seafood, including the intriguing, Kelp Cured Salmon Belly Gravlax, it also has a Scandinavian-style charcuterie plate with salted lamb, cured pork belly, and wild boar salami, and some delicious sounding potato dumplings with lardons, brown butter, onion ragout, and lingonberries. Escape chilly evening fog with some delicious warm Scandinavian food. Open from 5 p.m. nightly. 333 Fulton Street.
