There's a specific chain of events that happens any time a San Francisco landmark is in danger of shutting down, getting evicted or otherwise closing up shop. It goes something like: 1. Local institution announces imminent closure. 2. Fans of said institution (and scores of people who never actually went) lament the state of San Francisco while planning final, mournful visits. 3. Somebody tries to figure out how to save the place. In the case of Sam Wo's legendary service, the chain of events ran its course in under three days time, and there's a chance the century-old greasy Chinese joint could be spared by the Health Department tomorrow.

After Friday night's service saw long lines waiting until the early morning hours Saturday, the restaurant closed the doors as scheduled and they remained closed for the rest of the weekend. Although owner David Ho, who has run the place for the past three decades, previously told the Chronicle that everything was "too old" to be salvaged to the point where it could pass fire and health inspections, his daughter Julie seems to have a little more resolve. "The restaurant is my life," Julie Ho told the Chronicle for a Saturday piece, explaining that "nothing is definite" beyond the weekend closure.

The Hos will have a chance to make their case before a Health Department hearing tomorrow, when they will need to present their plans to bring the place back up to code. According to a spokesperson for the Health Department, "everything from venting to plumbing to electrical all need to be upgraded" to pass muster. As we've seen, there's plenty of support for keeping the place afloat and even the landlord of 813 Washington is on board. So, there's a real possibility the place could be back in business after some extensive renovations and a little elbow grease.

Renovations aside, the staff will probably have to clean up their act as well. During Sam Wo's last health inspection in March (which you can read online in PDF form here), the inspector found violations ranging from improper food storage to rodent feces on the kitchen floor.

Still, Julie Ho is hopeful for her dad's business. As she neatly summed up San Francisco's cult-foodies: "people are so very loyal to that restaurant and San Francisco is a city where nothing goes down easy. I'm hoping for the best and that the neighbors and supporters will rally."

Previously: All Sam Wo Coverage on SFist
[Chronicle]

Sam Wo, the century-old institution on Washington Street, will close its doors forever after dinner service tonight, smashing the hearts of countless cheap Chinese food fans who like their BBQ pork noodle rolls, won ton soup, and preserved egg and pork jook served with a side of snide. Infamous for employing some of the worst waitstaff in town, Sam Wo was immortalized in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. After hearing the news, Maupin said, "It is indeed heartbreaking. This the restaurant where Norman Neal Williams took Mary Ann back in '76. Edsel Ford Fung, the famously rude waiter, made her wash her hands in the dining room sink."

And with that, we bid Sam Wo a bittersweet farewell with a gaggle of remembrances and stories about the soon-to-be shuttered greasy Chinese spoon.

• "This is Sam Wo. This is the restaurant that has been known for decades for having the rudest wait-staff in the city. That is part of why you go there, not something you complain about. Yes, the bathrooms probably haven't been painted since Ike was president. Hell, this restaurant has been in this building for 106 years. They don't just serve the best comfort food in Chinatown, they serve history. You hike up stairs that countless people have climbed in the century of Sam Wo, and sit at the same tables that have seen politicians, celebrities, mobsters, and multiple generations of families eat at them." — Robert H. / Yelp

• "What are all the late-night drinkers going to do? SFoodie was just talking to a friend who once set himself on fire during a flaming-Everclear incident up on the third floor." — Jonathan Kauffman / SF Weekly

• "They are not the friendliest of folks, either. They do not even greet. Just look at you straight in the eye and say, 'What you want or what you like order.' Ummmm, oooooook. Bottom line - this place sucks balls." — Richard D. / Yelp

• "When I was at [UC Berkeley] in the '80s, we used to bring pony kegs to Sam Wo." — Michele Mandell / Twitter

• "Though it’s reputed to have opened in the early 20th century, Sam Wo came to new glory in the ’50s, when it was a popular Beat hangout. In the following decades, its fame was furthered tenfold by Edsel Ford Fong, better known as 'the world’s rudest waiter.' " — Paolo Lucchesi / Inside Scoop

• "Dirt Cheap food and authentic, pretty good, but if I have to soak my cutlery in a cup of hot water, then wipe it down myself to disinfect before I dig in my meal, then I don't mind spending a little more elsewhere." — May R. / Yelp

• "One of the old original restaurants in Chinatown that Bruce Lee use to come on a daily basis (sitting on table #8 on the second floor). The place is indeed a hole-in-the-wall...you may also just call it a dump!! Though, that is what makes this little, narrow, 3-story restaurant an original." -- Patrick C. / Yelp

• "Ugh, like [being married to] a wife beater, I just come back for more. It's dirty, there was basically old congee left on my friend soup spoon, and I felt sick afterwards. But I'm probably going back anyway." — Ben H. / Yelp

• "The food was not good. The service was poor. I will not be coming back." — Laura D. / Yelp

Alas, after today draws to a close, Sam Wo won't be coming back, either.

Spork, the Valencia Street establishment that has been elevating comfort food for five years now, has reached the end of their lease Ms. Tablehopper reports. Friday, December 23rd will be the restaurant's last day to grab their infamous in-side-out burger (two patties, bun in the middle, all skewered with a large steak knife) or the opulent Champagne of Burgers. After the new year, the co-owners plan to focus on their more grown-up concept at Thermidor in Mint Plaza.

As for Spork, the restaurant's departure is an amicable one, co-owner Neil Jorgensen told Tablehopper that in addition to Thermidor they'll be working on a few new projects, one of which hopefully brings more hamburgers.

The delightful fast food throwback building (it used to be a KFC, appropriately enough) is slated to be demolished to make way for new condos and a bigger restaurant.

[Tablehopper]

This cannot be good. Aiding in the closure of one of the few business that make money in SF? Ugh. According to Anna Conda, former Miss Trannyshack and club promoter of Herr-A-Chick, the DNA Lounge finally "lost its liquor license," so she's moving her club night. If you recall, DNA Lounge came under fire from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, after the covert agents witnesses the exposing of bare buttocks at one of the club's queer nights. (Anna Conda has since moved the 4/15 version of Herr-A-Chick to the Eagle Tavern.) But don't fret, DNA fans. They are still in the appeals process. Stay tuned for updates, or go here for more about DNA's ongoing battle with ABC.

Update: Drama! OK, we futzed the first part of this. Here's what DNA (angrily) has to say about the above information.

1) We have not "lost our liquor license". All that happened is we got another piece of paper along the way with ABC's decision on it, as opposed to mere threats. The appeal process continues. It could take years, and we will certainly be open in the meantime.

2) The reason Herr-a-Chick is moving to the Eagle is because they were never able to get more than 50 people to show up to one of their events. DNA Lounge is just way too big for them.

Also, "the judge recommended revocation, and they are facing a long appeals process, but they still have it and it's business as usual." That is to say, the place is open for business as usual.

Here's a link to the legal defense fund to help DNA Lounge.

There's a Save DNA Facebook page too.

Now for some truly sad news,.Catherine and Kyle Fischer's Parkway Speakeasy Theater in Oakland is closing its door for good after 12 years. Here's the missive sent out today to fans of the eclectic East Bay theater.

THE PARKWAY SPEAKEASY THEATER CLOSES ITS DOORS AND GOES DARK FOR GOOD THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2009: THE END OF AN ERA

Dear Loyal Supporters:

This is a sad but true message from Kyle Fischer, CEO of Speakeasy Theaters, and Catherine Fischer, President of Speakeasy Theaters.

After more than twelve years of serving the great cultural crossroad of Oakland, the Parkway Speakeasy Theater will be closing at the end of business day this Sunday, March 22, 2009. From African Diaspora to Thrillville to lesbian fashion shows and educational porn, the Parkway has offered an eclectic array of movies and events. It was the first theater in California to offer food, beer and wine service in a lounge style movie theater. With a nudge or a push from the community, there was little programming the Parkway theater would not try in order to better be a community center and a safe haven for diverse ideas. The Parkway brought Baby Brigade for the shuttered and abandoned parents of newborns, the first international black gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender film festival and Sunday Salon, a free event for cultural and community enhancement. We, at the Parkway Speakeasy Theater, are deeply proud of the Parkway and will profoundly miss serving its community. Thank you for your patronage.