Saturday is Cinco de Mayo, the time of year when some of the worst revelers go out at night to do bodyshots on bar tops. (Seeing as how it falls on a Saturday this year, you will want to be especially careful being caught after dark at any bar or discotheque.) It's also a date primarily honored in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. And with that, we give you Joanne Weir's recipe for a margarita. Weir just opened her first restaurant in Sausalito called Coptia, a Sausalito-based tequileria and eatery with a strong emphasis on tequila. Which is to say, she knows her way around a mighty fine margarita. Behold:
Cinco De Mayo Approaches, So Here's A Margarita Recipe
Afternoon Palate Cleanser: Easter Terror
Who ever thought that a giant rabbit costume was something cute, and not horrifically frightening? For god's sake, actual rabbits are kind of scary, but these vintage Easter bunnies are truly a scary bunch, and we can not blame any of these children for their terror. In fact, we can only hope they were not permanently scarred. A few more below.
Afternoon Palate Cleanser: DIY Marshmallow Peeps
While we would never endorse spending a whole afternoon making something you can buy at your nearest Walgreens and in much more uniform shapes in much brighter, more deliciously artificial colors the DIY lovers over at CHOW have provided this handy tutorial in how to make your own, artisanal, organic marshmallow Peeps. You can even drop ten bucks on some crazy, limited edition, lavender-inflected sanding sugar from Bi-Rite. Happy Easter! [CHOW]
Happy Margarita Day! Our Picks For The Best Margaritas In SF
Today, February 22, is National Margarita Day, one of the most sacred days for Marina cougars and Jimmy Buffett fanboys living in Sausalito. While San Francisco's artisan bar scene desperately wants to make margaritas the new manhattans (we'll let Regina George tell you how we feel about that), the drink of choice for many a Lake Havasu spring-breaker remains just that: the cocktail of the pedestrian partier. And we wouldn't want it any other way.
SFist Gift Guide: 'The Joy Luck Club' (Film)
You may have loudly professed your love for food trucks. You may tweet with the utmost convincing gravitas about Occupy SF. You may like to gnaw on a sourdough loaf while taking a tour of urban-tinged street art. You may be a bottle of Fernet. You may even be Herb Caen reincarnate. But you are not a true San Franciscan until you've sat through multiple screenings of The Joy Luck Club. With much respect for Amy Tan's book—an excellent read, by the way—the film version of her acclaimed novel about relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers is quite possibly one of the best pieces of entertainment ever made.
Afternoon Palate Cleanser: A Very Naughty Chanukah
Sexy sexy Jewess Chevonne brings us this instant holiday classic, "My Menorah," in honor of the first night of Chanukah. It's full of totally ridiculous double entrendres, and we adore it. As Chevonne puts it, "Mazeltov, world."
7 Reasons To Love San Francisco: Christmas Edition
There are countless stories to tell in San Francisco during the holiday season, but sometimes a picture says so much more that mere words. Each Tuesday, we present to you 7 Reasons. (Our sister site LAist does the same thing, which we found too inspiring to resist.) Much like Photo du Jour highlighting a nifty image shot by readers, 7 Reasons features photos from the SFist pool on Flickr showcasing the uniqueness of San Francisco. And with that, here are 7 reason why S.F. during the winter holiday madness is, for lack of a better word, merry.
SFist Tonight, 12/18: The Mother Hips
One-of-a-kind gifts at Project One Gallery, Holiday Lights Bike Ride through town and a potluck at a secret locale, and The Mother Hips, Kelley Stoltz, and Acacia at Great American.
Afternoon Palate Cleanser: 'Whiskey Christmas'
We've got an audio cleanser for you today: "Whiskey Christmas," a song off the 2007 album Christmas Songs for Drunken Atheists by Irish folk-punk band Darby O'Gill and the Little People. San Francisco ought to like this one, right?
Photos: Drag Queens On Ice
On Thursday night, a crowd of more than 500 checked out the second annual Drag Queens on Ice at the ice rink in Union Square. Performances from Mutha Chucka, Anna Conda, and Lil Miss Hot Mess warmed the chilly night. Here are some photos of the ladies working the crisp stage.
Pre-Holiday Palate Cleanser: Larry David's Thanksgiving [Updated]
"One thing I could count on every Thanksgiving, and you could bank on it, was at the beginning of the meal my mother saying, 'Larry and I like the dark meat.' It's the one thing we had in common. Dark meat." [Funny or Die via ISSF]
Live Reindeer Adorn Roof At California Academy of Sciences
Reindeer stand guard as Santa Claus robs the California Academy of Sciences. Ha! No, not really. Actually: A pair of live reindeer have taken residence at the CAS's east garden as part of their Reindeer Rendezvous exhibit. Entomologist Dave Kavanaugh, pictured here dressed as Mr Claus, poses for reporters as an unnamed female reindeer, foreground, and Miles, a male reindeer, are shown on the Living Roof at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
Ed Lee, City Treasurer Ask For Your Charity This Holiday Season
Because it is the holiday season (and also because the city is broke), Mayor Ed Lee and City Treasurer Jose Cisneros have announced Give2SF.org, a site where the city will gladly accept your seasonal donations to help save city programs that are in danger of disappearing due to budget cuts.
Adopt Living Christmas Tree Before It Gets Planted On City Streets
Instead of cutting and hauling a typical Christmas tree to your living room (you murderer), why not get a living tree to decorate with care for the holidays? San Francisco's Department of the Environment and Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) will offer just that with their "Dreaming of a Green Christmas" program. And after the holidays end, your tree will be planted as a neighborhood street tree.
Puppies, Kittens Back In Macy's Holiday Windows, Watch Live
Macy's and SF SPCA unveiled their 25th annual holiday window display on Friday evening, featuring the traditional daily rotation of adorable and adoptable kittens and puppies. This year, they're streaming the furry frolickers live via six different cameras. Not all the cams have visible action at the same time, but this morning we've had luck with cameras #4 and #5, and sometimes #1.
Behold The 12-Foot Santa Yoda Made Entirely Of Legos
Over the nippy weekend, loads of children and adult Star Wars fans helped construct a 12-foot Santa Yoda in San Francisco's Union Square. The wondrous creation, being dismantled as we speak, helped support the local Bay Area Boys & Girls Club. The Santa Yoda amalgamation charmed many, but also raised eyebrows due to Yoda's rather stern facial expression -- one of the many side effects of The Force. As SFist commenter Barry J. Weir, Jr notes, "Santa Yoda looks pissed off: A 'Christmas Merry' it is not, young Skywalker..."
Scenes from the LEGO Santa Yoda Construction in Union Square
In Union Square today, a 12-foot tall by 10-foot wide Santa Yoda made entirely out of LEGO bricks is underway. Here are some scenes of the Yoda erection (ew) in progress. As of this afternoon,wWe've got shots of the mini Yoda in various poses including but not limited to a dangerous yet thrilling ride atop the Zamboni. We'll update throughout the day with new, vibrant, jolly pics of Santa Yoda as it gets bigger and better.
Meanwhile, at City Hall...
Ta-da! City Hall's (ahem) Holiday Tree has arrived in Civic Center plaza to generally embarrass the denuded sycamores with its coniferous splendor.
12-Foot Tall LEGO Santa Yoda Coming to Union Square
On Friday, November 18, the public and the fine folks at LEGO will help construct a 12-foot tall by 10-foot wide Santa Yoda made out of lego bricks, right next to the ice skating rink in Union Square. It promises to be one of the greatest lego creations of all time. (Ha, kidding! The greatest ones, of course, are made with space legos, the raddest blocks in the history of toys. But still, this Santa Yoda statue will be a sight to behold.)
Mission Street Denny's Jumps Christmas Gun
Set to ruin your Thanksgiving cheer (is that a thing? it should really be thing), the Denny's on Mission Street erected a Christmas tree... on November 8th. Premature, yes? yes. Esteemed Inside Scoop editor Paolo Lucchesi found the early bird XMas tree and asked if "it’s supposed to go with the Christmas Cookie Pancakes for Kids, now on the Denny’s menu."
Union Square Ice Rink Opens Next Wednesday
Yes, you read that correctly. Halloween is barely over, and the Christmas frenzy has begun. In just five days, you can skate in a winter wonderland in the middle of Union Square when the Holiday Ice Rink opens for the season.
Afternoon Palate Cleanser: A Surreal Cinco de Mayo Involving Drag Queens
Featuring Damiana Garcia and Tammie Brown from Rupaul's Drag Race Season 1.
Where To Buy Your Valentine's Day Flowers
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. If you don't have anyone with whom to celebrate the annual ode to love and intimacy, you are, presumably, worthless. If you do have someone with whom to celebrate the annual ode to love and intimacy, but would rather proudly declare that you and your paramour are simply too punk-rock to honor such a day, you are, most definitely, annoying and cruel.
SoCal Surf Shop Apologies for MLK Day 'Black Sale'
Oh, SoCal, you know not what you do. A Laguna Beach surf shop has issued an apology saying they "meant no harm" in their Martin Luther King Day promotional material, advertising a 20% off sale on "all black items." The poster featured an image of Dr. King in a wetsuit, and many a Facebook fan told them they found this a little crass, and/or misguided. Thalia Surf Shop has removed the offending ad from their website and said that in future they'll "be more careful in our selection of promotions."
Afternoon Palate Cleanser: SFMOMA Honors National Bird Day
Today, Jan. 5th, is National Bird Day. Chirp. In honor of National Bird Day, SFMOMA made a little video using a Felix Gonzalez-Torres' poster. Delightful.
Lots of People Arrested For Drunk Driving Over Christmas Holiday
During last weekend's tribute to Christ's birth, many people were pinched for driving while smashed. BCN (via SF Appeal) reports: "In the period spanning from 6 p.m. Dec. 24 through midnight on Dec. 26, Bay Area CHP officers made 115 DUI arrests, down from 195 for the same period last year." Around the state, officers arrested 658 drivers for driving while blotto, "a drop from the 1104 arrests for the same period in 2009." [Appeal]
Take BART Until 3 a.m. on New Year's Day
BART will extend its service until 3 a.m. on New Year's Day to accommodate the large number of people attending the New Year's Eve fireworks show along Embarcadero. Trains will be running once every 20 minutes after the event with additional trains to handle the crowd.
Christmas Giving Around Town
On Christmas Eve, Lefty O'Doul's collected 15,000 toys for the annual Firefighters Toy Program, and many more toys were dropped off at local fire stations or picked up and delivered for free by Luxor Cab throughout December.
Happy Holidays From SFist
Your SFist editorial team (back to front: Leanne Maxwell, Andrew Dalton, Jay Barmann, and Brock Keeling) reminds you that the best holiday gifts are homemade. ("Pew pew" noises not included.) That said, please enjoy this rare (we know GIFs are tacky, but we've made an exception today) yet festive GIF before somebody defaces it with bull heads.

