January, April & Everything in Between.
Last post: January 14th, 2010
Today’s post: April 9th, 2010
Here’s a snippet of whats happened in between, in no particular order:
- Stumbled upon Tropisueno and I can easily call it my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city (I have been there about 15 times in the last 3 months)
- Ousted as Mayor at Jeremy’s
- Discovered the BEST late night hot dog stand in SF (right in front of 1015 Folsom; bacon wrapped dogs…yum)
- The return of Sunday Streets
- Discussion of the Warriors moving back to San Francisco (in Mission Rock)
- Went to India for two weeks and learned that Taco Bell opened up there AFTER I got back
- Launch of the Zip Line to promote Vancouver Tourism
- Release of the iPad
- Taylors Automatic Refresher announced their rebrand to Gott’s Roadside Tray Gourmet (and not to mention handed out free grub back in March)
- Mavericks Surf Contest said to have the biggest waves ever surfed in a competition
- Manor West opens up in old Boss space
Whoa. Time flies.
Pool Party, anyone?
Last week I went to Bambuddha Lounge for a Fundraising event to support Mayor Gavin Newsom’s gubernatorial bid. While I would love to write about what this event was all about and the Who’s Who that was there, I’ll leave that for another post.
What I would like to write about is Bambuddha Lounge and what I discovered when I was there during daylight hours. Now this was the first time I visited this lounge when it was light outside, and thus I was able to really appreciate what Bambuddha Lounge/Phoenix Hotel had to offer. Their pool!
I am a huge fan of pool parties, and there I was, standing in the patio of the Phoenix Hotel, visioning a Rehab-style pool party in San Francisco.
I know what a lot of you must be thinking? Why would one ever want to go to a pool party in the city? It is just too damn cold. Yes. You are right. BUT, we all know there are those very few occasions in which temperatures in the city reach a nice 85 degrees, and what better way to utilize the warmth than with a pool party at The Phoenix Hotel.
The pool itself is rather small, but the area around it is pretty darn beautiful. They have nice, comfy lounge chairs and booths situated around the pool, underneath some nice shade. They also have a lot of green foliage around which makes you feel like you are in some tropical paradise. It’s something you would never expect to find when you are approaching the hotel. The hotel itself looks a bit retro, situated right in the heart of the Tenderloin. But hey! I’m not complaining. All that needs to happen now is for one of those top notch San Francisco promoters to get busy and plan a pool party before our San Francisco summer slips on by.
French Tuesdays
Taco Tuesday? That is sooo yesterday. I mean if you are into the gut wrenching tequila specials at various locations surrounded by frat boys and sorority girls, then go right ahead, carry on with your Taco Tuesday. But, if you are looking for something a little more classy, perhaps a glass of some fine French bubbly and a sophisiticated crowd, then I have the event for you!
So just because Bastille Day came and went, doesn’t mean that the French in you has to go as well. Every other Tuesday in San Francisco (next event tomorrow, Tuesday July 28th), the French Tuesday team hosts an unforgetable night of sophisticated fun.
Here’s how it works. Even though it may seem as though the events are for members only, the events are open for all. You may just have to pay a little bit more. However, becoming a member is not that difficult. All you have to do is find someone who is currently a member (which is not that hard), and have them invite you to be a member. That’s it!
So, go on. Bring that French in you out every other Tuesday, starting tomorrow night!
Nightlife at the Academy
So I’ve heard people talking about it? But never had a chance to go myself. Until last night. And most likely the last night, for that matter.
The experience was just mediocre. The event started at 6pm, and we got there around 5:55pm (in hopes to get the limited passes to the Planetarium that they hand out). The line was ridiculously long. I mean it was so long that you couldn’t see the end of it. Unbelievable! Because the weather was a whopping 50 degrees that night, we decided to just wait in the car for the line to die down. Finally, we came up with an excellent idea. They have a separate line for special VIP guests, which basically has no one standing in it. We went up to the staff person manning that line, told her we had to use the bathroom so badly, and wah-la! we were in!
When you walk in, there is a huge area right in front of you where cocktails and light snacks are available to buy, cash only. The drinks were pretty expensive, however, they were made just how I like it, stiff.
The crowd was extremely diverse. Probably the most diverse crowd I have ever seen at a Nightlife-type event. Age ranged from 21-75. People were dressed in shorts and tshirts to girls in dresses as though they are about to paint the town red.
Then we went around and saw all the exhibits of the Museum. And this was the part that I really wasn’t expecting. It has been a long week at work, and the last thing I wanted to do on a Thursday night was check out the Rainforest exhibit. Been there. Done that. I wanted to party. I wanted Nightlife.
I never saw the DJ, although I faintly heard the music in the background. People were spread out all over the museum, so there wasn’t much focus on socializing and meeting people, either.
All in all, the experience was mediocre. Definitely glad I went to check it out at least once, but that will definitely be my last. I would much rather be at a local wine bar enjoying a glass of grape juice with my loved ones.
Two of the Best Bars in America are in San Francisco
…according to Esquire, that is.
As part of the Best Bars in America 2009 list, our very own Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in the Richmond District and The Alembic on Haight make the list.
So why did it make the list?
Tommy’s: America’s leading tequila bar, a temple to the spirit of agave, with stocks of bottlings that go back decades. Aside from the temple of tequila, you will most likely always find Tommy himself, sitting besides his wife at the entrance of the restaurant, greeting and saying goodbye to all those that visited them.
Alembic: The drinks are carefully and mindfully crafted by the mixologists aka bartenders at Alembic. It has been a while since I have been there myself, but I do recall them having a drink that actually has Gold Dust sprinkled on top! For a drink that is worth every penny, make a trip to Haight Ashbury and try one of the many fabulous cocktails the mixologists can prepare for you.
So those are two of the bars that have made it on the America’s Best Bar List according to Esquire. Now, here are the top 5 San Francisco Bars (in no particular order) according to none other than myself:
1. Swig, Theater District
Now I may be partly biased about this place, specifically because I met my beau here, but Swig always ends up being a default place for my friends and I to meet up on a Friday night. That’s because I always know I will have a good time there. It’s rather small, especially with the crowd it sees on Friday and Saturday nights, and finding a seat is often hard to come by. However, the extensive drink menu, friendly bartenders, and fun music make me constantly come back for a great time.
2. Lion’s Pub or “The Den”, Pacific Heights
This bar always seems to have a nice crowd (usually professional, yet fun), awesome bartenders, and amazing beverages! The best thing about this bar is that the mixologists use fresh fruit juices for their cocktails. Whether you are looking for a casual spot to catch up with friends and relax by their adorable fireplace, or stop by yourself for a quick pick-me-up after work, or a big night out for a birthday, the ambiance at Lion’s Pub is exactly what you are looking for. Their Greyhound cocktail has often been referred to as the best in the city. I also love the names of their drinks, such as a Lindsay Lohan, which refers to a shot of Red Headed Slut. Know before you go: This is a cash only bar, with an ATM in the back.
3. Wish, SOMA
I stumbled across Wish a couple years ago, after a friend and I dined at Sushi Groove (which is located right across the street). Since then, Wish has always been one of my favorite spots to grab a drink with friends before going out to paint the town red. The drinks are affordable, the bartenders are super friendly, and a DJ plays swanky House music. It’s always happening, but never seems to be too overcrowded, and is low-key and unpretentious.
4. Americano, South Beach
I don’t care how cliche this bar has become, but for a work-related happy hour, you can never go wrong with this place. With its prime location on the Embarcadero and large patio with heated lamps, it is a favorite amongst the 9-5 working professional crowd. Their dinner menu is good too. My favorite thing about this place is that they have bartenders that know how to make the finest Pimm’s cup in the city. Whenever we can anticipate a nice sunny day in San Francisco, Americano is the place to go.
5. Cigar Bar, Financial District
Two words. Mojito Mania. Aside from the wonderful vibe at Cigar Bar, their Mojito’s are mind blowing. They usually have a live band that plays Latin Jazz, Merengue, Samba, and Salsa on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights that provide entertainment while sipping on those delicious Mojitos. They also have a heated courtyard for dining and lounging. To top it off, it is one of the few San Francisco bars that remain as a smoking establishment, and carry a wide array of premium brand and hand rolled Cigars.