The SoMa gay bar formerly known as The Eagle has been stripped of its dark lighting, license plates on the wall, and all of its history. It's also ready for leasing. "The bygone Eagle Tavern in SoMa is still mourned by its legion of regulars, but a recent real estate listing reveals that the bar at 398 12th St. can be yours - for $15K a month," reports The Chronicle. "Will someone bite on the big bar and its 'expansive' patio? And if so, will the famous leather come back?" more ›

One of Polk Street's many popular drinking establishments will be dark during this weekend's nightlife rush thanks to an unfortunate liquor license permit violation. Blur at Polk and Hemlock apparently forgot the ABC permit they acquired way back in 2004 required that the bar serve food — which they currently aren't doing. Since we all know what happens when you forget to have dinner, the bar will be blacked out until next Thursday at the earliest. more ›

This being San Francisco, we have a lot of gay bars — and clubs where go-go boys dance in tiny underwear, and drag shows that straight women like to go to, etc. Increasingly, gay bars have become a place that straight people accompany their gay friends to, and there are plenty of gay-owned establishments in and around the Castro (Blackbird, Qbar, Lime to name a few) that play host to a consistently mixed crowd of lesbigay and straight clientele. So, today, some important words of advice for both male and female heterosexuals who find themselves in gay bars, either by accident or on purpose. more ›

By now many of you know about Allan Hough's now famous Berlin-style ping pong party called American Tripps. It is, in a word, spectacular. Loads of festive folks walk around a ping pong table and hit the ball, with those who fuck up the volley pulled from the round, until a winner is crowned. In addition to the ping pong playing, there will be foosball and skeeball tables. And, of course, a full bar. more ›

Uh oh. The San Francisco's Historic Preservation Commission voted against giving Gold Dust Lounge landmark status on Wednesday. The bar, of you recall, was handed an eviction notice in December, sparking protests, cries of anguish, and even a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. "The commission released a report March 16 that found while the bar is 'an important local business and gathering spot,' it does not qualify as a city historic landmark," reports SF Appeal. "Furthermore, landmark designation would only protect the physical features of the space and not 'what is valued most--the continued operation of the bar.' " more ›

Owners of divey Mission bars where people like to tag bathroom (and exterior) walls are increasingly sad about this culture of tagging that they seem to be a part of. As Uptown Almanac reports, several have associated the rampant tagging with the fact they serve PBR and Tecate, which, we guess, attracts an unsavory element that prefers not to go north of $3 for their beer choices? more ›

The battle to save the Gold Dust Lounge still trudges on. Should it close down? Sure, say some. Should it stay open? Sure, if it further irks tender-bottomed lawyer Sam Singer. (We kid, Sammy!) But seriously, folks, whether or not the noted Union Square watering hole remains open, the increasingly exhausting brouhaha has, at the very least, sparked a new poem by local Poet Laureate Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Ahem: more ›

This weekend, mingle with art and tech enthusiasts, celebrate Irish heritage, rummage through racks of prime vintage fashions, sip tea with drag queens, or walk down the proverbial aisle with hordes of soggy brides. more ›

Although San Singer and Jon Handlery has promised to padlock the place on Saturday, the Gold Dust Lounge will be open this weekend... and possibly beyond. Which: WOO HOO! Gold Dust Lounge breaks the news: "Attorney Joe Cotchett of Cotchett, Pitre & MCarthy is telling the Bovis Brothers and Gold Dust Lounge employees that they’re doors will not be padlocked this weekend (as threatened by San Singer and Jon Handlery) and Sheriff Mikarimi has no court order to evict. Cotchett say’s that as long as the litigation continues, no judge will put the wonderful Bovis brothers on the street and the GOLD DUST LOUNGE Will CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS USUAL." more ›

Have you been out in the Mission lately? Did the bars seem crowded to you? They did to Mission Local, who discovered that Blondie's on Valencia — always a popular place to get an obscenely large and watery martini — was blowing their Fire Marshall-issued maximum capacity of 49 people by about 100 people on a recent busy night. But according to the Fire Department, it's not their job to do headcounts at these smaller establishments. more ›

Also, former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown will be in attendance. Far more importantly, however, is the face that Gold Dust Lounge, now beeping on life support, will offer patrons $1 vodka drinks tomorrow, Friday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Catherine Hill will also sing a song she wrote about the historic/possibly doomed Union Square bar. more ›

Fresh off of yesterday's announcement that plans are finally in the works to fix up the New Mission Theater, Mission Street tycoon Gus Murad's other holding over at Medjool announced they will be closing their massive dining room for renovations starting next Monday. The ground floor dining area (and the nightclub's dance floor, we imagine) will remain closed indefinitely, but the controversial roof deck will stay open for food and beverage service while the renovations are underway. more ›

While the owners and fans of the Gold Dust Lounge don t-shirts and argue in favor of the bar's historic status before the Historic Preservation Committee today, a PR group for the Handlery family, which owns the Elkan Gunst building the bar is located in, have sent out a snippy press release clearly outlining their anti-Gold Dust Lounge stance. Cleverly titled, "Gold Dust Landmark Submission is Pyrite Effort", the press release questions the actual significance of the cocktail lounge, calling it "a tourist bar since 1966" with a "tawdry exterior". more ›

In their latest attempt to keep the beloved watering hole open, the folks behind Save the Gold Dust Lounge, aka "The Little Engine That Could," will be speaking at the Historic Preservation Committee hearing tomorrow afternoon to determine the historic status of the bar. They're asking the bar's fans to attend and show their support by filling up the public gallery at the meeting. more ›

Despite the recent declaration by Sam Singer, spokesman for Jon Handlery, that the The Gold Dust Lounge is definitely closing on March 6th, the folks behind Save the Gold Dust Lounge haven't given up. As the Snitch reports, the group filed paperwork yesterday requesting that the city recognize the space as a historic landmark. more ›

Jardinière, Hayes Valley's white-hot spot for perfect food and all-around exquisiteness, is having another one of their local guest bartender series tonight featuring Frommer’s Travel Guides editors. David Lytle (whose photos regularly appear on SFist) will be serving up the rye based The Rytle while newly relocated SF resident Stephen Bassman will mix the bourbon based Manhattan Transfer. Each Manhattans will sell for $9.00 with all proceeds going to Family Builders, a local organization that works to place foster children in permanent loving homes. (Proceeds going to a worthwhile cause? Hippies.) more ›

The campaign to save the Gold Dust Lounge will hold their first "official" event this Thursday (that's tomorrow!) at 4 p.m. The event, which the group posted on Facebook this afternoon, will include both a press conference and an opportunity to pickle your liver at low prices not seen since the early 30s. more ›

We've done a 180-degree turn on Mr. Anthony Bourdain after viewing last night's San Francisco The Layover on The Travel Channel. Bourdain calls Swan Oyster Depot one of his favorite places in San Francisco, talks about crossing swords at The Tonga Room, slurs his words, and throws shade at food bloggers. At North Beach's Mr. Bing's, he yells, "You're going to get a lot of annoying, foodie f**kin bloggers saying...What kind of psychotic f**king freak would not love this place?" more ›

Naturally, lots of folks are upset about the prospect of losing one of San Francisco's most historic drinking establishments, Gold Dust Lounge, since the news of its impending eviction broke last Friday. In true San Francisco fashion, the effort to keep the Gold Dust's doors open is well underway. The Bovis family has started a Facebook page, which has gained 250 fans in 24 hours, a Twitter feed, and a website — send them your Gold Dust photos. more ›

In a day and age when authentic downtown dive bars have fallen by the wayside, it always felt like the Gold Dust Lounge's days were numbered. Inside Scoop confirmed on Friday that the historic Union Square watering hole received an eviction notice in December. more ›

Doing anything on Sunday? No? Yes? Well, even if you are, you should fix your janky calendar and instead head over to Rebel (a gay bar) and have former SF Weekly scribe Hiya Swanhuyser and reigning queen of drag queenery Heklina pour you a drink or five. The two local notables will guest bartend in support of Occupy SF. Help end "corporate personhood, attack corruption, and support community organizing" while quelling the pain of everyday life via custom cocktail the Pepper Spray, a cocktail featuring subtle notes of "hot, sassy, and in-your-face." more ›

Just as the navy blue blanket of holiday ennui prepares to envelope your carcass—remember: if you still single for the holidays, you're an abomination—Food & Wine releases its 50 Best Bars in America list. And what a list it is, liberally featuring noted San Francisco watering holes set to sooth your soul. (Think high-end bars, not delightful ratholes.) Which bars, exactly? Let's see: more ›

Penthouse, noted purveyor of labial entertainment, will bring "four-star dining" to San Francisco in early 2012 via the city's very own Penthouse Club & Steakhouse. While the exact space is not yet know, we're going to assume it's somewhere in North Beach (near the Hustler Club) or SOMA (what's up with Temple these days, anyway?). Huge Penthouse fans over at Grub Street have more: "They say the space is 15,000 square feet, and the new, clearly enormous club will feature gourmet dining, deluxe bottle service, state of the art light and sound systems, as well as — yep — topless dancers and appearances by Penthouse Pets. If you're the kind of gentlemen who thinks this sounds intriguing, you can sign up here for updates." more ›

The Ritz-Carlton's new restaurant, Parallel 37, will open its doors before Christmas (say what you will about the tony hotel establishment, but its San Francisco locale is the place to go during festivities surrounding the birthday of that alleged Lord and Savior), which you can try out soon. Very soon. They're taking lunch and dinner reservations at OpenTable. So... hurry. more ›

Over in Oakland an exciting new cocktail option is opening tonight: Plum Bar (2214 Broadway), from the minds of chef Daniel Patterson and bar star Scott Beattie (Artisanal Cocktails). The place is right next door to Plum, the casual restaurant Patterson opened over a year ago. more ›

Not that we have any right to complain (it's been over five years since we last blacked out at this fine music venue), but Polk Street rock 'n' roll/hustler staple Kimo's (1351 Polk) is on the market, and its future doesn't look good. more ›

Critically acclaimed bon vivant Jay Barmann will be mixing drinks behind the bar at Jardiniere tomorrow, November 1 from 6-8pm. Join him, won't you? more ›