1) Tres Agaves’ Cinco de Drinko Party
Wednesday, May 5th. 1pm – Close
Tres Agaves
130 Townsend St. @ 2nd

Tres Agaves is hosting one of the largest Cinco de Mayo fiestas in town. The festivities kick off at 1pm: No Name from Live 105′s morning show will be hosting a Lucha Libre Mexican wresting match! There will be special food and drink offerings including rotisserie tacos (2 for $5), Tres Agaves margaritas ($7), buckets of beer (5 for $20) & Doble Doble specials (beer & a shot for $12). After the Live 105 party, the restaurant transitions into a night of mayhem with mariachis, DJs and even go-go dancers. The party will expand into the La Plaza dining room, a tented back-parking lot & street fair (on the alley next to the building). A portion of the proceeds will go to UNICEF.

2) Downtown Block Party at Aventine
Wednesday, May 5th.  5pm – 11pm.
Taverna Aventine
582 Washington St. @ Montgomery

Vintage 415 is hosting a fun outdoor fiesta this Wednesday at Aventine. Guests can enjoy great drink specials; live music; and a gourmet taco truck courtesy of Top Chef Ryan Scott.

Guests can enjoy $6 Tecate beers; $8 margaritas; and $8 premium tequila shots. Mention “City Dish” (5pm -6pm) to the bartender and get $2 off your tequila shot.

3) FiDi Fiesta at Royal Exchange
Wednesday, May 5th. 11:30am – 10pm
Royal Exchange
301 Sacramento St. @ Front

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at The Royal Exchange! The Financial District hotspot is throwing a fiesta that features all-day drink specials including $5 sangria and margaritas, and $3 pints of Dos Equis Lager. Starting at 3pm, they’re offering $5 beef and chicken nachos, $5 taquitos, $1 tacos, and three scrumptious entree specials.

4) Five Apps for $5 + Free Sangria at Las Camelias
Wednesday, May 5th. 5pm – Midnight
Las Camelias
912 Lincoln Ave. in downtown San Rafael

Las Camelias is ringing in Cinco de Mayo with fabulous food and drink specials. Diners can order a platter of five tasty appetizers (ie chicken wings, quesadilla, taquitos, etc.) for just $5 at Marin’s best Mexican restaurant. Plus, they’ll be giving away a free glass of sangria (when you bring in a coupon).

To receive your free coupon, email rsvp@sfcitydish.com.

5) Marina Cocktail Crawl – Saturday
Saturday, May 8th. 2pm – 6pm
Art’s Tapas + Sushi Lounge, circa, The Republic, Eastside West
Marina District

The Marina’s top bars will compete this Saturday to make the best neighborhood-inspired cocktail (with Leblon Cachaca). Here’s the best part – you get to be the judge.

Sample cocktails for free at all four venues and vote for your favorite on your phone (a la American Idol). $5 donation benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

6) Tequila Shot + Corona for $5.50 in the Marina
Wednesday, May 5th. 5:30pm – 10pm
Art’s Tapas + Sushi Lounge
2353 Lombard St. @ Pierce

Here’s the best Cinco de Mayo special in the Marina! Art’s Tapas + Sushi Lounge is offering guests a Corona and a shot of premium tequila for just $5.50 – all night long. At this price, you’ll be hammered after just 11 bucks. Fortunately, Art’s Lounge serves delicious sushi and global-inspired small plates, so you’ll be able to pace yourself between drinks.

7) Cinco de Mayo in Tiburon
Wednesday, May 5th. 4pm – 9pm.
Guaymas Restaurant
5 Main St. in downtown Tiburon

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the Bay! Guaymas in Tiburon is bringing you $2 tacos, $5 margaritas, and $5 tequila shots from the Corralejo Girls. There will also be plenty of giveaways including dinners for two, t-shirts, and margarita shakers! So to summarize” Cheap drinks; great food; and a beautiful view of the Bay. Ole!

$5 Tequila Drinks + $10 Tapas at Destino
Wednesday, May 5th. 5pm – 10pm.
Destino Restaurant
1815 Market St. @ Octavia

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Destino! The popular nuevo Latino bistro is celebrating their 10th anniversary this month. And for the entire month of May, all tapas are $10 or less. Cinco de Mayo guests can also enjoy $5 Tequila Sours and Mango Margaritas. Don’t miss this fun fiesta.

(photos courtesy of Danielle Ferris)

The other night, we were invited out for a Plymouth Gin cocktail paired dinner at Spruce.  Seven cocktails paired with seven courses. The restaurant was able to push the limits of the cocktail and match them to an impeccable meal.  It was one of those pairings that throws your visions of cocktails far from what you are accustomed to.  They were some of the most innovative uses of gin I have ever seen, and a great way to celebrate St. George’s Day.
Without keeping you waiting, I’ll get your mouth watering…

____________

Appetizers:
Gougeres

Cocktails:
The Last Word, Bee’s Knees

Thoughts: Purely Classic and Delicious

___________

Course 1:
Orach and Soft Herb Salad, Coriander Crusted Sheep’s Milk Cheese, Preserved Lemon Vinnegrette

Cocktail:
“Violet Beauregarde” – Plymouth, Violette liqueur, blueberry, lemongrass syrup, bitter lemon soda, violet, lavendar

Thoughts:
A very nice floral accompaniment.  Very interesting to have the violet and lavender to complement the flavors in the gin

___________

Course 2:
Parsley Soup and Black Trumpet Mushroom

Cocktail:
“Black Friars Fizz” – Plymouth Gin, Peach Liqueur, homemade peach bitters, Moscato D’Asti

Thoughts:
A delicious cocktail with macerated chunks of peaches… A very unlikely partnership between the light parsley soup and the summer flavors of the peach.

______________

Course 3:
Gin Poached Halibut, Braised Artichokes and Butterball Potatoes, Orris Root Fume

Cocktail:
“P squared” – Plymouth Gin macerated with Juniper, Angelica, Orange, Lemon, Cardamom, Orris Root, Coriander

Thoughts:
The delightful halibut dish was paired with a really ambitious and creative “ultra gin” cocktail.  The cocktail was made with all the fresh versions of the ingredients of the gin.  Pretty strong, this was a little overpowering to the delicate flavors of the dish.

_________

Course 4:
Savory and Juniper Roasted Lamb, Spring Vegetables, Citrus Lamb Jus Infused with Cara Cara Orange and Star Anise

Cocktail:
“Autumn and Dawn” – Plymouth, fig shrub, cabernet, maple, lemon, fig and cabernet vinegar foam

Thoughts:

This was by far the most successful pairing.  The deep fig and fruit flavors in the cocktail balanced impeccably with the savory lamb and an incredible dance of spices.

__________

Dessert:
Cardamom Panna Cotta, Strawberries, Hibiscus and Pink Peppercorn Consumme

Cocktail:
“Spiced Apple Milk Punch” – Plymouth, Nigori Sake, Coconut Milk, Apple, Cinnamon-cardamom tincture.

Thoughts:
At this point we were loosing our belts in order to have room to try more dishes.  Although not the most creative name, this cocktail was a very innovative way to use the plymouth gin.  Creamy and fairly sweet, the flavors were remnant of horchata, its spice paired very smoothly with the panna cotta. This wasn’t your momma’s dessert cocktail, but was a beautiful finish to the meal.

Several weeks ago I was asked to be the judge for the 42 Below Vodka cocktail competition.  I’ve been to several cocktail competitions where bartenders from around the city (and sometimes beyond) crete original cocktails and perform for a large crowd….but i’ve never sat at the judges table.  I was honored this past wednesday to sit on the judges panel with cocktail mastermind Scott Beattie, and master mixologist Anthony Alba (who flew out for the night from Vegas).

It’s much different from the judges table.  Firstly the mixologists perform for us.  They are staged nearby and direct their attention to our table.  Sometimes showing off the ingredients they are using, sometimes just plain showing off their skills.  We have papers in front of us with the recipes and information about the bartenders including random facts like what celebrities they’ve served.

What’s interesting is we aren’t just judging the best cocktail.  There is an entire set of criteria that the contestants are judged upon including appearance and demeanor, thought that went into the cocktail, execution, use of techniques, and presentation.

Anyway you cut it, tasting 10 cocktails is no small feat. By the end of the night we had sniffed, stared at, and tried everything.  We tried cocktails with most of the 42 Below flavors – pure, honey, passion, and Feijoa (a really interesting tropical fruit also known as a pineapple guava).  Bartenders used a range of their own ingredients from fennel to homemade chai masala tinctures.

The cocktails ranged from the fairly classic to the completely inventive.  We were even served one cocktail that was garnished with a honeycomb and served on the rocks in a honey pot with a glazed and gold powdered honey bee on top. In the end of the night, Josh Harris from 15 Romolo emerged the winner with his drink “Bridge to Terabithia.”

Congrats!~

An announcement this week by international Beer producer Anheuser-Busch InBev that they are going to cut jobs has spawned a protest among its existing workers. BBC reported that a blockade has stopped the flow of beer out of one of the company’s headquarters. Some retailers have reported that supplies of beer may be running low, particularly of Stella and Leffe (one of our favorites – who knew it was owned by In-Bev?).  The company said that the layoffs are necessary due to falling beer sales…  That leaves us with one of two options: drink more beer, or drink more beer.  Perhaps this is the right time to start trying some of the other Belgian Beers…  There are plenty to go around.

Stay tuned for an article about belgian beers in our April/May issue of Drink Me.

We’re feeling a little festive!

DRINK ME MAGAZINE wants to show our readers, fans and fellow aficionados of alcohol some holiday spirit this season! We’re giving away great prizes and buying lucky winners some very special bottles of top shelf booze every day until Christmas. Sounds pretty amazing, right? Never mind stocking stuffers and Santa’s helpers: We’re here to help you celebrate merrily the best way we know how - with gifts you can drink!

TODAY’S PRIZE: TICKETS TO THE SOLD-OUT SCIENCE OF COCKTAILS EVENT AT THE EXPLORATORIUM IN SAN FRANCISCO ON JANUARY 20, 2010!

More info from their website: There are many cocktail parties in the Bay Area, but the Exploratorium is holding one like no other. Science of Cocktails will present the artistry of master mixologists melded with the science behind the craft. We’ll take an in-depth, hands-on look at the physics, chemistry, and biology of cocktails, engaging guests in an exploration of their favorite libations. With guest bartenders from Alembic, 15 Romolo, 83 Proof, Orson, B, Annabelle’s Bistro, Heaven’s Dog, and more.

OOH! I WANT TO WIN! HOW DO I PLAY!? Easy. Just read on for super easy instructions on how to enter:

1. First, be 21 years of age or older, of course.

2. It’ll help if you’re in the SF Bay Area – if you win any of the liquor, you’ll need to pick it up at a secret location in San Francisco (and show ID).

3. TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT DRINK ME AND OUR HOLIDAY CONTEST & GET THEM TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST ON OUR WEBSITE!

Yep, that’s it! We’ll randomly select and announce a winner at the end of every business day on Friday, December 18th through Thursday, December 24th.

The winner (your trusty pal) will be contacted and asked for the name of the friend who referred them (you!) and you will both be given instructions on when and where you can pick up your awesome prizes. So, the more friends you get to sign up, the more likely it is that you’ll be a winner (though spreading the word makes you a winner no matter what, as far as we’re concerned).

What are you waiting for? Tell your friends, good luck and happy holidays to all!

We’re feeling a little festive!

DRINK ME MAGAZINE wants to show our readers, fans and fellow aficionados of alcohol some holiday spirit this season! We’re giving away great prizes and buying lucky winners some very special bottles of top shelf booze every day until Christmas. Sounds pretty amazing, right? Never mind stocking stuffers and Santa’s helpers: We’re here to help you celebrate merrily the best way we know how – with gifts you can drink!

TODAY’S PRIZE: A BOTTLE OF BARBAROJA BARREL-AGED RED ALE FOR YOU AND A FRIEND.
BarbaRoja is an exceptional limited-export smoked red ale from Escobar, Argentina – a true Artisan ale!

OOH! I WANT TO WIN! HOW DO I PLAY!? Easy. Just read on for super easy instructions on how to enter:

1. First, be 21 years of age or older, of course.

2. It’ll help if you’re in the SF Bay Area – if you win any of the liquor, you’ll need to pick it up at a secret location in San Francisco (and show ID).

3. TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT DRINK ME AND OUR HOLIDAY CONTEST & GET THEM TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST ON OUR WEBSITE!

Yep, that’s it! We’ll randomly select and announce a winner at the end of every business day on Friday, December 18th through Thursday, December 24th, including the weekend.

The winner (your trusty pal) will be contacted and asked for the name of the friend who referred them (you!) and you will both be given instructions on when and where you can pick up your awesome prizes. So, the more friends you get to sign up, the more likely it is that you’ll be a winner (though spreading the word makes you a winner no matter what, as far as we’re concerned).

MORE OUTSTANDING PRIZES TO COME:

Clase Azul Reposado | Combier Liqueur d’Orange Triple Sec | Tickets to the Science Of Cocktail at SF’s Exploratorium

What are you waiting for? Tell your friends, good luck and happy holidays to all!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING FOR ISSUE NO. 4?!

We know, we know! We’ve missed you, too. Let’s have a party, shall we? Yes. We’ve secured one of Mission’s newest clubs, a bevy of delicious drink sponsors (you are thirsty, aren’t you?), two amazing DJs and art by select Drink Me artists, plus we’ll have all-new Drink Me merchandise available. Did I mention there’s no cover charge? Well, there isn’t one!

RSVP and bring your friends, family and colleagues to help us celebrate our 4th issue, lovingly named The MacGyver Issue for September / October. Spread the word. Kindly RSVP – it only takes a second and secures your spot on the list!

$4 custom artisan cocktails
featuring one of the following:

La Pinta Pomegranate Tequila
(ri)1 Whiskey
Sagatiba Cachaca
Tempus Fugit Absinthe

$3 wine and beer specials from:

Bagrationi Sparkling Wine
Widmer Bros. Hefeweizen
Michael~David Winery

Just click here to RSVP, please: HECK YES! SIGN ME UP!

Resonant Carboy by Joshua Penrose

Concept: Resonant Carboy is a generative sound installation that offers high concentrations of microbiological life a unique mode of performative expression.  In this installation, yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) are given voice as they fervently reproduce during the process of fermentation.  Real-time chemical reactions become the generative process powering this unfolding temporal form.  Up to 1.7 trillion yeast cells will trigger a self-organizing soundscape in real-time, as they feast on the monosaccharides available in a solution of honey and water.  As the yeast cells digest the sugars, they yield large quantities of carbon dioxide.  The release of this gas will drive a computer software environment – an instrument – that gives voice to the microscopic chorus of chemical transfiguration as a hybrid texture of amplified natural and synthetic sound.

We thought it was a great way to start the week. Read more about it here!

Because Jesus didn’t turn water into juice…