Bye Bye, Barleycorn

We have sad news for barflies everywhere—the bar John Barylecorn's will close this weekend after a desperate attempt at keeping it open. The bar found its recent trouble when local restaurateur Luisa Hanson purchased the building. She told the owners that she was not looking to keep the place open, hence it's fast-approaching last night.

A campaign was started to save it, complete with petitions, a Great Pub Toast, and proposed legislation from Aaron Peskin. But it was all to no avail.

In a city filled with mixed drinks and one-name clubs (where customers prefer appletinis and mojitos to brews), the Barylecorn was one of those lovely, cozy neighborhood bars that now disappear from the city. The bar was a throw back to an older era of San Francisco, one of Jack Kerouc, Herb Caen, and a time when the city was more blue-collar than hi-tech. Sadly, it will be missed.

Tonight, we'll hoist a few rounds in its honor while kicking it at Medjool's happy hour.

No, we're just joking. We've been there a few times since word came out that it was closing, and it didn't take us more than a few minutes to realize that, in fact, it was one of the nicest bars in which we've gotten smashed. And we've been in a lot of bars.