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 ›

A new group of "renegade arborists" is twig-bent on bringing fruit to the streets of San Francisco, the Ex reports today. Calling themselves the Guerrilla Grafters, the group co-founded by pear progenitor Tara Hui, has already produced a couple of pieces of the fruit by grafting a fruit-bearing branch to a decorative Asian pear tree in Hayes Valley. more ›

Hayes Valley's chicken-on-a-stick-themed Nojo (pronounced "No, Joe!") stands as one of the best restaurants of 2011. Although tucked inside an aesthetically-blah apartment complex, chef Greg Dunmore's fare is anything but. The delicate Japanese grub, served in small-plate portions, is as shocking (fried chicken skin on a stick, "spam" rice balls) as it is comfy (duck breast teppenyaki, bacon-wrapped scallions). Which is why you should snap up a reservation at this searingly-hot spot for dinner come New Year's Eve. more ›

Move over food trucks, now there's something keener... like brick-and-mortar establishments that don't require food served to you from the back of a Honda. Take, for example, noted food truck Bacon Bacon, seller of such delectable items as grilled cheese tomato and bacon jam sandwiches, spicy belly fries (topped w/ pork belly trimmings), the bacon bouquet (a bunch of bacon bundled like flowers), and chocolate-covered bacon. 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 ›

The resplendent Tamara Palmer at The Feast recently stopped by Straw in Hayes Valley. Noted for their spin on carnival food favorites, they recently allowed her to film them making The Ringmaster, a burger replete with a fried egg, bacon, extra patties, and sandwiched between two donuts. 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 ›

A 55-year-old woman was knocked unconscious on a little before 8 p.m. on Tuesday night during a mugging. Near Market and Laguna, the suspect approached the victim and knocked her to the ground, "at which point she said she passed out." After awakening, "her keys and cash were missing." more ›

If the now porta-potty free Zeitgeist still doesn't suit your needs in germanic al fresco drinking and dining, popular kraut joint Suppenküche will be bringing their completely outdoor operation Biergarten to the Proxy project in Hayes Valley just in time for the Indian Summer. According to Suppenküche owner Aaron Hulme, the sister spot to the restaurant at Hayes and Laguna will be "like a full-service restaurant with the roof ripped off." Which just sounds delightful. more ›

All streets in the vicinity of Octavia and Oak have reopened after this morning's fatal multi-vehicle accident. At least one person was killed in the accident, which involved a big-rig vehicle transport carrying a load of cars, and a UCSF passenger van. more ›

The Chronicle reports that the 20-year-old man shot and killed in Hayes Valley on Monday has been identified as Sean Wilson. Officers responded to a shooting at Webster and Hayes in San Francisco around 11:20 pm. No arrests have been made. [Chron] more ›

A little before 11:30 p.m. Monday night, police officers responded to a shooting at Webster and Hayes in San Francisco. Once the fuzz arrived, "they found a man in his 20s who had been shot in the head." He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to SF Appeal's homicide map, this marks the city's 30th murder of 2011. more ›

Late yesterday evening around 9 p.m, one or more suspects in a gold-colored sedan opened fire on a group of boys standing by a bus stop near the Hayes Valley playground at the corner of Hayes and Buchanan. The drive-by left two of the boys with non-life-threatening injuries. Although both victims were apparently shot in the legs, Bay City News reports that one of them managed to flee the scene and couldn't be found by SFPD officers. The other victim was rushed to SF General Hospital. No arrests have been made and SFPD has yet to say whether or not they believe this incident is gang related. If that turns out to be the case, it could indicate a shift to the North in this year's spat of gang violence. [BCN/Appeal] 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 ›

What with the city's attention so clearly fixated on Ingleside and Silver Terrace, 7x7 Magazine wants you to be aware of these little-known San Francisco neighborhoods: the Mission, Hayes Valley, and Dogpatch. It seems, at least according to April's "Neightborhood Issue," they should be on your radar. Why? 7x7 explains with harrowing, soothsayer-like detail: "If restaurants, pop-ups, and micro-roasters are any indication of the city's future -- and rest assured, they are -- then these are the three neighborhoods you'll be flocking to next." more ›

This afternoon, EaterSF takes a look at the construction of Smitten, which could very well be the most densely buzzword-packed restaurant to date. Once you start reading the description, it becomes impossible to turn back no matter how badly you want to. Observe: more ›

Speaking of Traci Des Jardins, she will be hosting Eye On The Bay's Liam Mayclem tonight for their monthly guest-bartender series. The Brit turned San Franciscan will be making cocktails from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. (Your editor did it last year, too. We had a drunken blast. We don't remember how we got home that night, but a good time was had by all.) Come on by to say hello to Liam and to try the Pegu Club Cocktail drink (described as "an old Brit classic) that he'll make for your thirsty liver. more ›

Did you know that today is National Rum Day? That is to say, August 16th is the day that honors the bottle of booze always left untouched at house parties. But fear not the rum, fellow drinkers! Over at Smuggler's Cove (that artisan Hayes Valley cocktail spot that looks like The Pirates of the Caribbean ride threw up all over the walls) will serve Appleton Estate Reserve daiquiris, mai tais, old fashioneds, bombos and planters punch tonight, all going for $6 a pop. Be sure to check it out. Smuggler's Cove (650 Gough Street at McAllister) Update: Will open to public at 9:30 p.m. [via Eater] more ›

Police are asking the public for help solving the brutal murder of Philip Dimartino. more ›

Haighteration has word that a 35-year-old man was found dead inside his apartment on the 100 block of Hermann Street, between Buchanan and Webster. The victim, whose name hasn't been released, was found with multiple stab wounds. "An acquaintance of the victim called police after discovering his body this afternoon around 1pm, but police believe the homicide may have occurred over the weekend." No arrests have been made. more ›

Today, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency rolled out new parking meters, high-tech ones that will replace old meters with new "coin and card" ones in Hayes Valley. more ›

While we're not the most ardent fans of graffiti, we're huge fanboys of ATMs (they give us money!), and here we have one in Hayes Valley, which has been turned into a piece of (dare we say it) street art. more ›

Hayes Valley/Stabbing: Near the the intersection of Fell and Laguna this morning, a 28-year-old man stabbed an 18-year-old man with a knife in front of several bystanders. After a nearby security guard witnessed the attack, police tell us he struck the suspect in the hand, causing the suspect to drop the knife and flee the scene. The victim, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was whisked away to San Francisco General Hospital. No word yet on the motive. No arrests have been made. more ›

An early morning accident (?) rattled Hayes Valley after a hit and run killed "an African American man of 40 years of age" on Octavia between Market and Haight. AP (via CBS 5) notes: "The body of the victim was found on Octavia Street between Market and Haight streets. A shoe and a skateboard were found nearby." SFGate, however, points out, "Police do not know if he was the victim of a hit-and-run crash, a homicide or something else, " The area is now open to traffic. more ›

Paolo Lucchesi informs us that the city will soon lose one of its celebrity gastronomes, former Top Chef contestant Jamie Lauren. According to her Twitter page (via Eater) she says, "Yes! It's true! I'm moving to LA!! Keep watching my Twitter to see where I end up...and come see me at absinthe before I leave..." She plans on heading for sunnier climates and filthier air by June. This news comes on the heels of the noted Hayes Valley restaurant planning to takeover the old Citizen Cake spot. more ›

They were finishing up the installation of the new sculpture at Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley yesterday. Anyone know who the artist is? Update: The sculpture is called Ecstasy, and the artists are Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito. There will be an opening reception tonight at the park from 4 to 7 p.m. [Thanks fugazziaboutit and Jared Hirsch!] more ›

While Saigon Sandwich has the unmitigated gall to increase the price of its Banh mi a whole quarter -- the nerve! -- some places keep the prices real. Very real. Take for example, Traci Des Jardin's accurately-lauded Hayes Valley joint, Jardinière. Which is a multi-layered mecca of calming and inspiring delights. more ›

Have you ever noticed that chunk of ivy covered, ruined Central Freeway at the corner of Fell and Laguna? Well it's about to become something a whole lot more interesting than just a bleak reminder of the days when Hayes Valley was nothing more than a collection of grime caked liquor stores and plastic blow-up lady shops. The Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development has engaged with a local non-profit, Hayes Valley Farm, to temporarily develop the on-ramp as a sustainable, organic urban farm. Blessed be! more ›

On Saturday and Sunday be sure to grab a bowl of ramen while window shopping in Hayes Valley. Shirohige Ramen-Ya, a ramen truck, will be at the corner of Laguna and Hayes (across the street from Suppenküche) selling savory joy to passersby. more ›

Over at CAV on Friday night -- right next to Cafe Zuni -- Justin of JustInSoma and his girlfriend, Stephanie, were looking for a little wine, food, and relaxation. They got two out of three. While visiting the esteemed wine bar, Stephanie was robbed of her wallet and iPhone. Within 45 minutes, the thieving duo used her cash and cards to purchase $500 worth of groceries at Safeway, $40 worth rental DVDs from the Safeway kiosk, and $700 worth of clothing from Old Navy. more ›