Time Out San Francisco news

Already having a blast walking along the Presidio Tunnel Tops, our version of New York’s High Line designed by the same firm that did the Big Apple’s? Well, this breeze-filled park with amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge is about to get better. That’s because a food hall is being set up, as promised in the original plans. The Mess Hall at the Presidio will include the food hall, an all-day cafe and a bar with beer, wine and cocktails, according to Eater SF. Refreshments to reward our playing sure sounds like bliss to us. Of course, there’s already Il Parco, an Italian eatery open 8am to 8pm daily, which serves sourdough focaccia and cocktails sans any indoor seating (you can eat at picnic tables or at the Glass Pavilion, an informal space with metal chairs and tables behind glass walls). And the food truck rollout at Presidio Pop Up all around the Tunnel Tops is also impressive, which features culinary offerings from Nepal, Hawaii, Japan, Pakistan, India and more—and a 1967 VW bus serves as a creative cocktail outpost named Lady Victory. Photograph Courtesy of the Trust for the PresidioTunnel Tops But for those days when rain and cold make you eager to catch some indoor time, the Mess Hall will serve as a refuge. It will also offer picnic items (made to order or already made) for folks to take elsewhere on those days when we just want to park ourselves looking at the bay. So far, no businesses have been announced as vendors in the food hall, but James Beard winning che

San Francisco’s newest comedy club The Function comes to us after 18 years of planning and hoping. It’s co-owned by Stroy Moyd of HellaFunny, Johnny Hayes and Ludo Racinet. “It’s really been Stroy’s dream to build this club and to create a new comedy hub for the city,” says Hughes. The Function, a dynamic Black-owned club, is already packed with guests most nights, inside a long, narrow space that culminates in a brick-walled comedy stage at one end. Right now, during the club’s soft opening period, you can attend a show for free! Just note that you must have a ticket in advance by preregistering at Eventbrite. The details? There are two shows a night with top-notch talent, at 7pm and 8:45pm, limited to 60 people. Once the free tickets “sell out,” you can buy an early-bird ticket for $15, and the prices go up (to about $25) from there. You can even pay $100 for a special shout-out from the stage (birthday, anniversary, anyone?). Show up a little early for happy hour, which runs Saturday through Monday from 5 to 6pm and Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6pm. The full bar has retro cocktail classics, an extensive wine list and plenty of non-alcoholic drinks. Best of all, perhaps, for those who remember the Hotspot Bar that was here previously, you can order a Hotspot Combo: a beer, pony shot and a lottery scratcher! Back in the day, that was a $7 steal—but back then you could also buy a house in the city that didn’t cost a million dollars. Today the combo is $12 and is limited t

Great news from San Francisco International Airport: There are new nonstop flights coming this fall and winter, hitting vacation spots in Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize. These are offered by United and Alaska airlines, and come right in time for us all to make travel plans for the foggy doldrum months. The beauty of a nonstop, of course, is that you’re not going to worry about missing your connection or having to spend time in another airport waiting. You board, look at your phone a little, maybe watch in-flight entertainment and—voila!—you’re there, ready to start your vacation in a fresh mood. In October, watch for United’s nonstop to Monterrey, Mexico, where warm weather and great food await. In December, the airline launches a nonstop to Belize City, Belize, where you can swim in refreshing waters, explore Mayan ruins, eat seafood and go caving. Also in December, Alaska opens up a nonstop flight to Guanacaste, Costa Rica, a region with a beautiful dry tropical forest, palm trees and sandy beaches. Our favorite hotel in Guanacaste is the W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal, where you can see (and hear—even underwater!) howler monkeys and coati—similar to raccoons—ambling around the grounds, and catch glorious sunsets over Brasilito Bay. Right next door is the less expensive and more family-friendly Westin Reserva Conchal. Already-existing nonstops from SFO to the warmer climes in Mexico include Cancun, Guadalajara, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del

This Friday, get your retro groove on and roller skate with a live DJ. Rainbow suspenders and furry leg warmers? Check! The Roller Skating Party experience is completely free, including complimentary rentals. It’s being rolled out (ha) at Thrive City in collaboration with the Church of 8 Wheels. That church is pretty interesting. For 45 years, it’s been promoting roller skating in San Francisco, most excitingly on the polished-up floors of an abandoned church in the Fillmore, and offering a new brand of “rolligion.” CO8W is responsible for skate rentals in Golden Gate Park and many pop-up rinks throughout the city. Now, about that DJ: It’ll be DJ D Sharp spinning disco, funk and dance music. He’s the official DJ for the Golden State Warriors and plays music for all their games. Truth be told, the Thrive City sessions are short (20 to 30 mins) and it’s recommended you register in advance with Eventbrite in case the event sells out. If it does, you can try your luck at getting a walk-up registration in person on the day of the event (on a first-come, first-served basis). Kids six and under have to be supervised at all times so the rest of us don’t do a spread eagle over their tiny-yet-solid bodies. The event starts on July 26 at 5pm at Thrive City (1725 3rd St), just outside Chase Center.

Each year we look forward to seeing new restaurants crop up and create buzz and a new place to go on a Friday night. We love to see the inventive menus and the décor choices as we get to know another friendly eatery on the block. The Robb Report collates an annual list of the top 10 new restaurants in the U.S., and we’re lucky that this year two of them are right here in the Bay Area. At #2 nationwide is 7 Adams in San Francisco, a warm and inviting restaurant in the Fillmore run by Michelin star-winning husband-and-wife chef team David Fisher and Serena Chow Fisher. The name comes from David Fisher’s childhood street address, and emphasizes how the Fishers want their California cuisine (with Japanese and European influences) to feel innovative but not over-the-top. 7 Adams offers a five-course tasting menu in the dining room and an eight- to 10-course experience at the chef’s counter. The Robb Report’s review indicated enthusiastic amusement at one dish in particular, a “deboned Buffalo wing stuffed with sausage and slathered in a Frank’s Red Hot–based sauce, proving fine dining can be fun, creative, and unfussy.” At #8 on the list is Oakland’s Burdell, which offers nostalgic soul food in the Temescal district. With rattan furniture and vintage music drifting through the space, visitors feel welcomed immediately. Chef Geoff Davis combines soul food with a luxurious touch, like one dish the Robb Report story mentions: chicken and waffles, but with liver mousse and crispy chic

One of rock’s most physical drummers, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich plays with his tiptoes—almost like he’s running on his pedals. Coming from a family of professional tennis players (and, in fact, he moved to Los Angeles as a teen to become one himself), the Danish-born heavy metalist instead turned to music with his fancy footwork. Now, his seven-piece 2017 Hardwired… To Self-Destruct purple sparkle drum kit will be on view at a special event on August 1 at SFMOMA, and at this cool one-day gig, a selection of guest drummers will be playing throughout the late afternoon. But you’re here reading this article because the headline promised that you could play his drums—and you can. As the multi-sensory exhibit “Art of Noise” draws to a close, an event called Breaking Sound: Lars Ulrich and 40 Years with TAMA Drums lets you watch concert footage from Metallica over the decades and post your musical memories to a fan wall. Then, turn your baseball cap backward and plunk down into his seat. For this incredible chance to play the drums yourself, sleep with one eye open and show up on time because sign-ups will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Sign up at the entrance to the Gina and Stuart Peterson White Box on Floor 4 of the museum. Only then will this purple kit with bowling ball sparkle dust will let you obey your master. Master! In case it’s not clear, Ulrich won’t be there himself, but that’s cool. You can just channel him. Admission? Absolutely free, because the even

It’s easy to see why San Francisco is considered one of the more healthy places in the U.S.—and in fact why it scored highest on a study ranking cities and their residents’ wellness, according to personal finance company WalletHub. Off the top of our head? It probably has something to do with the city’s calm weather that lets people hike and cycle year round. Or it’s the huge stretch of Golden Gate Park with its many outdoor activities like yoga on the grass, various beaches to cool your feet or the nice maritime breeze that comes off the bay. Maybe it’s nightlife that keeps you on your feet through the wee hours of the morning. The study puts some statistical science behind its claim, comparing more than 180 of the most populated U.S. cities across 41 key metrics that foster good health. Those data points constitute everything from the cost of a medical visit, to how much fruit and vegetables residents eat, to what percentage of the population exercises regularly. The average cost of a gym membership is another one of those important metrics. San Francisco earns the top spot overall, as well as #1 for the amount of green space it offers and for its healthy food. On the other hand, it’s ranked fairly low (#76) for health care and #28 for physical fitness (but let’s not forget that walking some of the famously hilly streets can count as exercise). The next-healthiest city on the list is Honolulu, followed by Seattle. If you’d like to read more, here are the top 10 most healthy

It sounds almost too good to be true: an eco-friendly ferry on San Francisco Bay, and it’s free? But don’t look at this gift horse’s molars too closely; it’s for real. The world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial ferry for passenger traffic will start operating in the bay this week, as reported by AP News. With water vapor as its only byproduct, it aims to reduce diesel-fueled boats and reduce carbon emissions. And yes, the merchant vessel Sea Change, a 70-foot catamaran, will transport passengers for free for its first six months. After the pilot program ends, the ship could be added to the system’s fleet of paid ferries… but by then, presumably you’ll be so in love you’ll happily pony up for tickets. The boat can carry up to 75 passengers and will run along a short route between Pier 41 and the downtown ferry terminal. (The city currently operates a weekend-only “short hop” route between those two terminals, which costs $1 for a 10-minute ride.) If all goes well, the fleet can expand—even throughout the world, according to Jim Wunderman, chair of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority. Photograph: Courtesy San Francisco Bay Ferry Sea Change can go for 300 nautical miles (that’s about 345 normal miles—nautical miles are longer because the earth curves) or 16 hours before it needs refueling. Science geeks, listen up, and everyone else, scroll your phone for the next minute: The ship’s fuel cells create electricity by combining oxygen and hydrog

Love a good drag show, and rooting for one to return after a hiatus? That’s the Sunday’s A Drag show, which once delighted crowds at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room starting back in 2004. Today that space is no longer, but Sunday’s A Drag is now happening at Club Fugazi, and fans couldn’t be happier, as reported by SFist. Donna Sachet, the drag queen hostess with the mostest, revived this dormant drag brunch for just a single month last year. But now it’s back each week this summer at the North Beach club where Beach Blanket Babylon similarly dazzled audiences. Along with Sachet, several of the original Starlight Room performers will be here, including Holotta Tymes, Mercedez Munro and Cassandra Cass. Sachet told SFist the new show will feature, “special effects, dynamic lighting and bold musical numbers.” It celebrates the legacy of San Francisco’s drag scene with surprise guests for the reserved seating meal, and happens each Sunday through September. The brunch is an a la carte Italian menu with bottomless mimosas. Tickets start at $76 for Sunday afternoon performances through September. As for Harry Denton’s Starlight Room itself, it’s now just called Starlite. Its sunset views are spectacular, but a DJ spins where glam queens once charmed the crowd. And while the hotel that hosted the original drag show, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in Union Square, is still kicking, it’s been rebranded as the Beacon Grand.

If you’ve ever had a booze-assisted good time in New Orleans’s old quarter, wandering around streets only open to pedestrians, cup in hand and carefree, you’ve probably wondered why more cities don’t adopt that same model. San Francisco is about to be the first city in California to take on that delightful concept. A pilot program for an entertainment zone on Front Street between California and Sacramento streets was recently approved. During outdoor events, restaurants and bars will be allowed to sell alcohol within the zone, in the hopes that foot traffic will boost dining and shopping. If it goes well, other zones could be established in Union Square, Mid-Market and the mixed-use complex Thrive City in the Mission Bay neighborhood.  Right now, Front Street’s Financial Zone status means that after 5pm, hordes of office workers depart for other neighborhoods. The chance to capture them for after-work cocktails into the evening—and out of town visitors for all-day drinking—is a great opportunity. Front Street is poised to have a more vibrant status; it’s a few short blocks to the Ferry Building and the Embarcadero waterfront, and close to BART and bus lines. A handful of standout bars already pull customers to Front Street: the historic Irish Harrington Bar & Grill, which recently reopened from its pandemic shuttering after three years; the even more historic German beer hall Schroeder’s; and the happy hour pub and sports bar Royal Exchange. (All three will be allowed to sell