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 ›

Hayes Valley's tiki-tinged hidden gem—though not for long—Smuggler's Cove barely beat wildly popular transplant-cum-cyclist "dive" Zeitgeist as San Francisco's Best Bar. Smuggler's Cove nabbed 53.13% of the vote with Zeitgeist coming in behind at 46.87%. Which is to say, the "high end" bar wins! But why is Smuggler's Cove so popular, you whine? Well, for starters, it's tucked away. Booze aficionados like the illusion of anonymity while imbibing. Also, the venue is never that crowded inside since they maintain a healthy line outside so that folks aren't crammed into the small space. more ›

Thanks to a bill from State Senator Mark Leno and a big, loopy signature from Jerry Brown local bartenders, mixologists and artisan liquor fans will no longer have to live in fear of having their infused liquors confiscated by the ABC. (Not that anyone actually was, really.) The timing couldn't be better for grassroots organizers Josh Harris and Scott Baird, who also man the board of San Francisco's Cocktail Week, currently in full slosh. more ›

In honor of San Francisco Cocktail Week, which cracks open today and keeps pouring until the 25th, SFist asked its readers (that's you!) to nominate their all-time favorite San Francisco bar. We asked for you to pick two, actually -- the top drawers and the dives. Now, out of a stellar list of nominees, we need you to select your favorite high- and low-end watering holes. (By the way, if you're cross or wringing your paws over where some of the nominees have landed--e.g., Orbit Room and Cheesecake Factory landed in the "high-end bar" poll--well, tough luck. That's where we decided to put it. O mighty power! We are drunk with it!) more ›

What with S.F. Blackout Week S.F. Cocktail Week a few days away, we thought it fitting to ask the city's biggest booze fans (i.e., SFist readers) to reveal their favorite watering hole. Call us pinko commie tools, but we still believe in the bar or restaurant as a whole rather than glorifying the star chef or, as in this case, the bartender/mixologist. Which is why we're asking for you to tell us your favorite bar in San Francisco -- your single favorite gin joint right now. You can't pick just one, you bemoan? Fine. You can pick two. But that's it. more ›

The weather might just be nice enough down in El Rio's lovely backyard (3158 Mission Street) just in time for the monthly Eagle in Exile Beerbust, which starts at 3 p.m. Today's event benefits Homobiles, the fabulous donation-based LGBT-friendly car service -- "Moes Gettin' Hoes Where They Need to Goes!" more ›

Speaking of small businesses biting the dust -- KoKo Cocktails (1060 Geary Street) announced earlier this month that July will be the bar's last month in existence. If you recall, the beloved classy dive bar was evicted, along with all its neighbors, due to the impending CPMC move. more ›

On May 13, if you recall, a fire displaced residents of 506 Capp Street. A fundraiser will be held at Tope in North Beach to help them reclaim their lives. Head over to Mission Mission to find out more. more ›

We're hearing word that somebody drove a car into two pedestrians outside DNA Lounge after Trannyshack on Sunday night. One bystander at the scene told SFist that "[t]he driver just took off. Lots of sirens and ambulances. No idea what the victims' condition is or whether they caught the driver." We spoke to a DNA Lounge manager who told us that, as of Tuesday afternoon, they knew as much as we did. more ›

Much-ballyhooed bar Comstock will celebrate their one-year anniversary by offering free lunch with the purchase of two drinks. Which is some sort of San Francisco tradition, it seems. SFoodie has the details: "Tomorrow ― Friday ― the saloon officially marks its first year with a day of music, $4 shots, $3 Anchor Steam beers, and the revival of a tradition from the Barbary Coast era: free lunch. It was common practice in San Francisco saloons during the 19th century, a patron buying drinks was fed a hot meal as a means to encourage regular visits." Tomorrow's lunch will be...Hamburg steak. (Mmm.) Free lunch will continue Monday through Friday (11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.), featuring a different dish each week. more ›

Oh boy, oh boy: Leah Garchik and Paolo Lucchesi will make cameo appearances Wednesday night behind the bar at Traci Des Jardins' Jardinière. It's all part of the restaurant's monthly guest-bartending series. See, noted lady-about-town and SF Chronicle columnist Garchick will serve an (organic) umbrella-adorned (!) tequila cocktail called the 25th Palm for $9.00 a pop, while Inside Scoop editor Lucchesi assists Garchik with any and all mixology/sidekick needs. (We except wisecracks galore, Paolo.) more ›

Although hope of saving it still clings to life -- just barely -- SoMa's Eagle Tavern closed over the weekend. "It marks the end of a month that saw a flurry of nostalgic Eagle pieces and a concerted effort from the community to try to keep it open," reports Inside Scoop's Paolo Lucchesi. "Alas, though there’s a possibility of rebirth down the line, SoMa’s 30-year-old gay bar is now closed." Through all the media attention, outcries from the leather community, help from the Board of Supervisors, and even rumors about the closure being "an inside job," the Eagle is closed. For now. (In the meantime, we highly recommend Lone Star's Sunday beer bust, if the mood should strike.) [SFGate, Ex] more ›

There aren't many S.F. bars or pubs staying open tonight with any planned, live royal-wedding-watching parties — maybe because most of said pubs are Irish? Just sayin' — at least according to MSNBC. Things kick off at 1 a.m. but perhaps that's too close to last call for most bar owners. Cameron's Restaurant, Pub and Inn down in Half Moon Bay is staying open and doing it up right. As is The Britannia Arms on Almaden Expressway in San Jose, which will be selling coffee and food after 2 a.m. There's a sold-out affair for about 300 people at the Mark Hopkins hosted by the British consulate. And tomorrow morning, the Palace Hotel will be re-airing the wedding (as will a number of pubs) and hosting a British-themed brunch. more ›

Bay Area Reporter has some sad news: Eagle Tavern owner John Gardiner received an unlawful detainer lawsuit from property owner John Nikitopoulos today, 4/20. What does this mean for the troubled SoMa leather bar? Well, it could mean that the bar will close sooner rather than later. Or not. "I’ll know probably by the end of the day," Gardiner explained to the BAR. more ›

Funky, fresh Lower Haight boutique P-Kok will close shop at the end of May. Haighteration has the scoop: "Owner Pat Pkok tells Haighteration that she has decided to consolidate the store with the P-Kok Eden location across the street at 776 Haight. A third shop, P-Kok Planet (which opened just last year at 1445 Haight), will remain open." Further, everything in the closing store is on sale for 50% off. Hop to it. more ›