Flipper's Gourmet Hamburgers has become "Anina." The new cocktail bar, as Hoodline tells us comes from the owners of Brass Tacks, the bar right next door to what was once a kind of dive-y but delicious hamburger joint. Anina aims to woo us with lush murals, an outdoor patio, and punch bowls - but no hamburgers.

"We removed the kitchen, the layout has pretty much transformed," explained co-owner Anthony Healy-London to Hoodline."We want to be a neighborhood bar with great customer service that's open for everyone."

Everyone indeed! Anina's space has been upgraded with new ADA-compliant restrooms. The bright interior was designed by Sayre Ziskin, the same creative mind behind Brass Tacks, and the murals are by Buenos Aires-based artist Lucila Dominguez.

Anina - 482 Hayes Street and will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day starting today.

Skip the Smirnoff Fluffed Marshmallow vodka, trash, for SF Cocktail Week cometh. Sure, in this mixology aesthetic area of cocktailing rampant in the Bay Area, the scene can seem a bit full of itself (it's just alcohol, people), but in the end it's a lot of fun with plenty of unique cocktails and interesting brews flowing liberally. Hooch is usually good at level the social playing field. Further, heaps of thoughtful and talented bartenders will be on hand preparing some of the best concoctions in the U.S. Anyway, here's what's going down:

2012 Main Events Schedule:

The Artisan Tasting at Anchor Brewing Company
 (9/17)
"Guests will explore the flavors of unique creations of locally-based distillers with an opening night bash, full of discoveries from the Bay Area’s world of artisan spirits and food pairings. This experience is dedicated to the local craftspeople who strive to make products of inspirational flavor and quality—the driving force behind the ever-evolving industry of the American cocktail."

Spirited Food Trucks: A Pairing of Deliciousness at SoMa Streat Food Park (9/18)
"New to the 2012 lineup is this cocktail and street cart food-pairing event where guests can enjoy a wide array of bites and sips in the SoMa Streat Food Park. Premier bartenders have collaborated with truck chefs to concoct the perfectly matched beverage to accompany select dishes on offer, while guests enjoy mingling and stargazing during an Indian summer night in San Francisco."

Best of the West at Local Edition at Local Edition (9/19)
"Back again for another year of lighthearted competition and a showcase of the best bartenders up and down the West Coast, Best of the West will bring together guest bartenders from San Diego to Vancouver with the best their city has to offer in hand. Each bartender will present a signature cocktail that they feel best represents their city, and incorporates one or more of the challenge ingredients. Guests will also enjoy live music that best represents the west."

Totally Awesome East Bay to the Max! at the New Parish (9/20)
"In this all-new, costumes-encouraged (like, duh!) event to the SF Cocktail Week lineup, guests will go back to the future and celebrate the time when greed was good, the Brat Pack was king and people drank Slow Comfortable Screws, Fuzzy Navels and Slippery Nipples. Re-imagined for contemporary attendees’ pleasure, the best East Bay bartenders will create “classic” concoctions from the 80s using today’s quality ingredients. The DJ will be spinning tunes from the decade, making each person’s champagne wishes and caviar dreams come true."

The Legends Awards at Swedish American Hall (9/21)
"The second annual Legends Awards will bring together a night of special table-side cocktails and punches, dinner and show for a 1960’s Vegas experience of joie de vivre and Bond-style swagger. Formal attire, gambling spirit and general Saturday night bravado will be on tap as guests recognize the true innovators, influencers, mentors and historians in the Bay Area. This fête will raise the glass to those who raise the bar for cocktails!"

Cocktail Melee at NWBLK art gallery (9/22)
"Guests will get their fill at the Cocktail Melee—a lively walk-around event with different spirits and cocktail stations where they can explore their personal libation palate. A free-for-all liquid experience in which all brands are presented equally in front of the consumers, this is a rare gathering of spirits that offers the easiest opportunity to connect with brands and truly learn about preferred flavor profiles. With talent from the United States Bartending Guild (USBG), each tasting station will feature a local bartender as its ambassador. Guests will enjoy a leisurely afternoon walking down cocktail lane and taking in the fanciful delights of a San Francisco (Indian) summer."

The California Altered State Fair by Jupiter Olympus at NWBLK art gallery (9/23)
"Fun for all ages (21 and over), cocktail consultants Jupiter Olympus will put the “u” in “fun” at the California Altered State Fair. A celebration of all the Golden State has to offer, the State Fair will feature carnival games, food, contests and, of course, cocktails inspired by local bounty. Guests can step right up to try their luck at one of the games, win prizes and celebrate an adult version of the fairs they remember from their youth. Costumes encouraged!"

St. George Spirits Gets Bartenders Behind Bars at St. George Spirits (9/24)
"The annual summertime fiesta at St. George is back again for another year, only this time, there will be cops, robbers and bartenders where they belong: behind bars! Held in the distillery known for crafting fine gins and absinthe, this event will pit cocktail criminals against each other for a competition for your libation affection in the yard (ie: parking lot) of St. George’s beautiful facility overlooking the Bay. The closing event for SF Cocktail Week, guests will enjoy bites from food trucks, outdoor games like “catch the soap” and corn hole, a special prison tattoo station and other treats too controversial to share."

There will also be a slew of cocktail and drink classes for those looking to put an edge to their skills behind the bar. Tickets for events are available today. So go buy some.

by Tiffany Maleshefski

This next cocktail goes out to all those steel-hearted folks who role their eyes at the very first note of "Jingle Bell Rock." Yes, all you uncompromising guys and gals who refuse to drink our egg nog, de-lint our reindeer sweaters, and go out of your way to push down the little kids at the Union Square skating rink: we love you too. And because you deserve to get schnockered like the rest of us this holiday season, we've found you a cocktail that isn't too different from your standard bar fare. Save for the cranberry part, this little gem is just like a good ol' mojito, except there's a little bit of tart (just like your heart). Who knows, after 1 or 10 of these, you might be the loudest caroler on the cable car and spending the rest of December down at the Dickens Faire. We got a muffler with your name on it.

Christmas Mojito
1 ½ oz. Flor de Canas 7 year dark rum
½ oz. simple syrup
2 oz. cranberry juice
1 fresh-squeezed lime
Handful of mint leaves
Splash of soda water

Muddle together rum, mint, lime, and simple syrup to a pint glass. Add a few non-muddled mint leaves to make it all purdy. Pour over ice and add soda. Garnish with rum-soaked cranberries.

Do: Remember that just because you hate the holidays does not make you
hipper than those that do.
Don't: Take yourself so seriously.

by Tiffany Maleshefski

Lately, our heads have been even so cluttered with competing schedules, to-do lists, complaints about Muni, and people who have just SO pissed us off, we've barely gotten a chance to complain about the tourists that have taken over Union Square. Of course, there are the more important things we should really be directing our capacity to bitch: the economy, seemingly endless war, auto industry bailouts, and daily reports of more folks getting laid off. But frankly, we're flat out exhausted and only have time to focus on the pettier things in life. Fortunately, bartenders Scott Brody and Camber Lay over at Epic Roasthouse gave us some focus with their Fog Lifter. Hot, delicious individually dripped coffee spiked with a bit of yummy rum, alcoholic cream, and the thickest dollop of whipped cream on top; it certainly cleared our heads (or at least got it out of our proverbial rear).

So now you're probably judging us, thinking, "Well, la-dee-da, Epic. Must be nice to just swing on over to Epic Roasthouse whenever you're feeling down and casually drop $70 on happy hour." Well, the big secret here is the restaurant's upstairs lounge, aka Quiver Bar. Here you'll find hella rad views of the bay and a super sweet happy hour menu. Plus, if you recall, we're showing you how to bring all this joy into your kitchen and living rooms, so stop judging us already!

Fog Lifter

½ oz. Plantation rum
1 oz. Lauria Alpensahne Alpine Cream liqueur
Approximately 4 oz. of coffee.
Whipped cream

Rinse coffee glass with hot water. Add liquor and coffee. Top with whipped cream. And if you are somehow hooked up with Teecino (herbal coffee with crushed almonds) sprinkle it on top.

Do: Savor every delicious mouthful of cold cream hitting hot coffee.

Don't: Think just because there's coffee in it, you can start every morning off with one.

by Tiffany Maleshefski

You know what we love? When cartons of egg nog start to appear on the grocery store shelves. Yes, we said egg nog, that creamy, slightly sweet, vanilla-esque, mystery drink that, thanks to advancements in food science, now even boasts low-fat versions. You know what we hate? When we bring home a carton of this perennial treat and our offers to pour someone a glass is met with, OH GROSS, or I HATE egg nog, or GET IT AWAY FROM ME!

Hmpf.

We just don’t get it. We’re even smitten by egg nog-flavored lattes and cheesecake. Perhaps the problem is this good ol’ fashion bevy needs to be spiced up a bit…like say, lighting it on fire.(Although we strongly recommend Jonathan Hunt's recipe for it, which is best sipped as-is.) The hottest recipe we’ve ever seen of this time-honored tradition hails from the BOA Steakhouse (Santa Monica, Las Vegas, West Hollywood), where, yes, the bartenders are known to set martinis filled with spiked egg nog on fire.

Since we have a can-do attitude here at SFist, we’re more than happy to encourage our home chefs to try making this drink at home. But for the love of god, please make sure you have a fire extinguisher within arms reach when you do.

COCKTAIL: #4 Flaming Egg nog

1 1/2 ounce Captain Morgan spiced rum
4 ounce house egg nog
1/2 ounce float of Bacardi 151
Sprinkle of nutmeg to garnish

Mix rum and egg nog in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a martini glass, float the 151, and garnish with nutmeg. At the table, light the 151 on fire.

Do: Show the world once and for all why egg nog is really a superior holiday treat.

Don’t: Flame your egg nog if you are drunk, around children, drunk and around children, or the person people often mistake for a complete moron.

by Tiffany Maleshefski

Our Turkey Day wound up with us lolling around our living room floors in a tryptophan stupor. (Or maybe we were drunk again.) Fortunately, we’ve since walked it off and stand here ready to tackle the next 31 days with brute force. It may be true that we did abandon you over the long weekend because we’re super selfish like that. But now we’ve returned, with open arms no less, ready to embrace you with our endless stash of index cards emblazoned with prized cocktail recipes (and the occasional stab at a haiku). Every day, we will aim to bring you a shiny new cocktail hell bent on tickling your taste buds, raising your holiday spirits, and giving you the perfect alibi when you slip up and say something stupid. Cheers!

COCKTAIL #3

Spicy Gin-ger Champagne Cocktail

2 oz. Gin
½ oz. Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur
½ oz. Homemade Spiced Ginger Simple Syrup *see recipe
1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
3-4 oz. Dry champagne

In a shaker filled with ice, add the gin, ginger liqueur, ginger syrup and lemon juice. Shake well and strain into a champagne glass. Top off with champagne.