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Wines you should buy for your friends

Those of you who are visiting San Francisco might have some very jealous friends and relatives back home. You might want to bring them back a coffee mug with the Giants logo or a snow globe of the Golden Gate Bridge but how about this: a bottle of wine that was made within the city’s borders. We’re still a few years off from having usable vineyards in San Francisco – though word is that is not too into the future – but there are a number of winemaking facilities in San Francisco.Local winemaking is not new. Italian immigrants led the way in the late 19th century with rudimentary presses in their homes that were used to crush grapes sourced from Napa, Sonoma, Lodi and other nearby counties. Even during Prohibition, winemaking continued in North Beach quite literally, underground.

As California’s wine industry has soared over the last few decades, the scenic regions to our north have pulled aspiring winemakers from the city but a handful of people have refused to relocate. Instead of having a long commute they’ve either joined facilities such as Dog Patch WineWorks, set up shop in old warehouses or make wine in their garage. You can read about Dogpatch WineWorks and Bluxome Street Winery, San Francisco’s two largest wineries, in previous posts, and since both have facilities that are open to the public it is possible to visit them and taste wines on site. But there are a few others San Francisco based wineries that are making wines every bit as good as those located in wine country. Here are a few to check out.

Best independent book stores

San Francisco is a city that likes to read. All you have to do is look around Muni, BART or even at a bar and you'll see heads buried in the pages of the next great novel. Next time you're in town and thinking of expanding your personal library, head to these great book stores in the city. Come October every year, many of these stores will be packed with Litquake events.

Alexander book company (50 Second St.)

Locally owned, Alexander Book Store is an independent general bookstore with 50,000 new books spread over three floors located near Union Square and Moscone Center.

What's coming to San Francisco this 2016

The end of the holiday season doesn’t mean an end to excitement in San Francisco. The year 2016 is shaping up to be a historic year for the city, with once-in-a-lifetime events and returning annual favorites.

The Bay lights (Jan. 30, 2016)

One of San Francisco’s most beloved art installations becomes a permanent fixture in the new year. The Bay Lights, Leo Villareal’s monumental light sculpture comprised of 25,000 LED lights, will add shine and sparkle to the western span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge from dusk to dawn, all year round.

Super Bowl 50 (Feb. 7, 2016)

It’s the end of the NFL season and the most-watched sporting event in the nation. On Feb. 7, 2016, Levi’s Stadium will host Super Bowl 50. The game itself will be in Santa Clara, but all the action and celebration will be in San Francisco. From the Fan Village at Justin Herman Plaza to the NFL Experience at Moscone Center, San Francisco will be the center of Super Bowl activity.

The new SFMOMA (May 14, 2016)

One of the most acclaimed museums in the city will welcome visitors back this spring. The expanded, 235,000 square foot building includes seven levels of diverse art experiences, indoor and outdoor galleries, and nearly 15,000 square feet of free, art-filled public space.

San Francisco Giantis (Apr. 7, 2016)

It’s an even-numbered year; could another World Series title be in store for San Francisco’s beloved Giants? Find out when the season gets started with the home opener at AT&T Park against the dreaded Dodgers.

10 Bars you need to drink at 2016

San Francisco’s bar scene is just as lively as its restaurant scene, with new watering holes opening all the time (hey, we’re a thirsty city). Here are a few recently opened places—with the rest opening soon—that you’ll want to pull up a barstool at. And fans of wine, we have a couple spots for you, too.

Whitechapel (600 Polk St.)

One of our city’s most beautiful bars to open in quite some time, this spacious gin palace from Martin Cate, Alex Smith and John Park feels like it’s in an abandoned London Underground train station. The cavernous space is full of historical details, more than 350 gins, a long list of cocktails, and there’s a kitchen open until midnight nightly (don’t miss the “fish and a chip”).

The Lark (29 Third St.)

After beloved and low-key downtown watering hole Dave’s closes after New Year’s Eve, it will reopen within a month as The Lark. The new owners, the Future Bars group (Bourbon & Branch) will reportedly be keeping a lot the same, and still offer approachable beers, affordable drinks (not the craft cocktails they’re known for), and the chili dogs will stay put too.

Unnamed Future Bars Tiki Project

Rumors continue to swirl about a new project coming Q1 next to Rickhouse (246 Kearny St.) in the Financial District from the Future Bars team. While nothing is confirmed just yet, all we know is that it’s going to be a tiki theme. It may be a room connected to Rickhouse, or it might be a separate bar entirely.

The Treasury (115 Sansome St.)

Three well-known San Francisco restaurant industry chaps—Arnold Eric Wong, Carlos Yturria and Phil West—are partnering on a new Financial District bar. Expect craft cocktails served quickly, a historic space and style with a casual vibe, and an extensive menu of bar snacks.

Big (98 Turk St.)

Although the tiny bar with the Big name closed, now it’s coming back, and is going to have bigger digs that will live up to its name (although the original bartenders have moved on to their own project, Benjamin Cooper). The former Tenderloin dive bar 21 Club is currently being gutted, and new owners Peter Glickshtern, Jordan Langer, Ryan Melchiano, and Ryan Hisamune plan to reopen the menu-free joint (your bartender will custom make your drink, just for you) in the summer.

Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio (39 Fell St.)

This upcoming Hayes Valley cocktail bar from the owner of Lower Haight's Maven will have a strong musical component, with live music every night—plan on some jazz, with funk, swing, blues, and more. It’ll be a perfect spot to keep the vibe going after a show at nearby SFJAZZ. Plan on some bar bites, too.

Pete’s (570 Green St.)

Pete Mrabe of Chubby Noodle fame has taken over the former Amante in North Beach, and is updating the space and cocktail menu. Duggan McDonnell is consulting on the list (nothing too fancy), and will offer cocktails on tap, too. There’s a full kitchen, so there will be an all-day menu with smoked wings, turkey potpie, a flatbread and more. A month after it opens in mid-January, brunch will kick in, too.

Horsefeather (528 Divisadero St.)

Two talented bartenders, Justin Lew and Ian Scalzo, opened a temporary bar called Tsk/Tsk in this Divisadero corridor location, which will morph into Horsefeather in the New Year. It will continue to be a neighborhood bar with affordable but well-executed cocktails (they have quite the skill set), and late-night dining is also being discussed. Saturday brunch is currently part of the scene as well.

High Treason (443 Clement St.)

Wine lovers will be heading to the Inner Richmond in December 2015 to experience this wine bar and retail shop from sommeliers Michael Ireland (The French Laundry, The Restaurant at Meadowood) and John Vuong (Ame, Gary Danko). It’s a casual spot with a patio and 30 wines on the list, and will also feature small plates from chef Daniel Brooks.

Wine Down (685 Folsom St.)

Co-owners Sarah Garand and Jaime Hiraishi wanted to create the after-work space they always sought: a comfortable place to enjoy quality wine that wasn’t too expensive.

Copyright 2013 Bayside Beat