Music for Quintuplets

My friends at Faultline Studios are creating a super new venue – Faultline Fridays, today at 5 pm – where Bay Area Musicians, producers and music aficianados can hob nob with some of the greats. I’ve always been a fan of getting good bands to play at your wedding when they get off tour – you never know who you’ll meet at the Faultline. And the fact that they work closely with the fab RootMusic.com (founder of Facebook Band Pages) is all the better. So if you are looking to enjoy a complimentary libation with some local luminaries on this rare and sunny day in Fog Town, look no further than Faultline Studios, and find your tribe.

Faultline Fridays

It’s that time again! Faultline Friday is happening today, September 30th from 5-8 PM.

The last one was amazing with musicians/producers from platinum selling acts to the best local independent artists all networking and having a good time.
Faultline Fridays is a casual monthly gathering of the musical minds of The Bay Area. The goal is to create a greater sense of community in our beloved music scene. Whether you are a musician, engineer, producer or just a music fan…all are welcome!
Come by and have a beer on us!

For more information, visit our Facebook page.

 

The Phoenix Hotel

Happy Hour + Pool Party
San Francisco’s Summer is Here!
To celebrate, Chambers eat + Drink & The Phoenix Hotel are hosting the “Play Hookie Happy Hour + PopUp Pool Party” this Wednesday – 1:00pm ’til Sunset.

• All day happy hour, music and cocktails poolside
• Limited “Cabana Rooms” available – complete with pool passes
So take the day off, drop by, get a room, grab a drink and a dip!
The Phoenix Hotel – Chambers eat + drink
601 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA

GET A ROOM

MAKE A RESERVATION

 

The Bold Italic

Pick Us Up in Print!

We’re really proud of our first print publication, Volume One: 25 Ways to Be a Local. The magazine celebrates a colorful checklist of activities that every San Franciscan should accomplish at least once. We packed it full of intel on the best underground dining clubs, surf hangouts, art crawls, places to space out, and other SF-centric explorations. Like our website, 25 Ways to Be a Local features an emphasis on design and photography with original content and stories by our Bold Locals, who write about their urban discoveries.
Want to know how to get your hands on one? You can buy the magazine directly from us for $3 plus shipping and handling and we’ll send it to your mailbox. We are also offering a four-issue subscription for only $12 plus shipping and handling. Over the next six weeks, we will also be at various locations around the city passing out complimentary copies of 25 Ways to Be a Local, and will offer free copies of this first issue at select cafes and retail shops. This is a one-time deal, though — supplies are limited and future issues won’t be free. This week, you can find copies of Volume One: 25 Ways to Be a Local in The Castro and Hayes Valley. Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for weekly updates on where you can pick up your free copy.

Getting a Taste of October

October is a busy month for Bold Italic soirees. First up, on Monday the 3rd, you can beat the lines and lick a few different seasonal flavors of Smitten’s famous liquid nitrogren-made ice cream. For $10, you can be part of an evening tasting with owner Robyn Sue Goldman at her shop’s special Hayes Valley shipping container. Join the fun here.
The following week, on Saturday, Oct. 8, we’re hosting Meditations on San Francisco, a music, art, and meditation party with the historic San Francisco Zen Center. Check out the blissful drones and estatic melodies of Barn Owl, Date Palms, and Danny Paul Grody; interact with David Wilson’s “stained glass” installation; learn the basics of meditation from SFZC’s knowledgeable staff; and watch vintage film footage on meditation from SFZC’s archives. We’ve sold most of our tickets to this special event, but if you act fast there are still a few spots up for grabs. And then stay tuned for a special Bold Italic Halloween extravaganza announcement in the next couple weeks.

Surfing Turf

Mollusk’s Travis Becker spends most of his time thinking about the waves, but you can still ask the guy for a recommendation on what to eat in his Outer Sunset hood. Craving kale potato soup? Try Judahlicious. In more of a grilled cheese sandwich and cauliflower soup mood? It’s all about Outerlands. Get more of this surfer’s top spots in his Found Local interview.

We’re Buried in Love For You

Having you like us on Facebook feels almost as good as being buried in warm sand. And we promise not to get dirt in your ears.

Treasure Island Night Shows: Jens Leckman, The Drums & More

Kicking off later this month, the Treasure Island Night Shows are the perfect complement to this year’s installment of the weekend-long festival in the Bay, The Treasure Island Music Festival. Swedish musician Jens Lekman starts off the Night Show series with a performance at the California Academy of Sciences on September 29, followed by The Drums on October 14  at the Independent, JFK of MSTRKRFT on October 15 at Mezzanine, The Head and the Heart on October 15 at the Independent, and finally, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down on October 16 at the Independent. Visit the Treasure Island Music Festival Events Page for more info and to purchase tickets.

More…

Abby Wilcox captures SF’s coolest historical office spaces here.

Caleb Garling gets a personalized tour of Speakeasy brewery here.

Jon Korn falls in love with zha jiang mian here.

Are You Following Us?

Twitter - Facebook – Blog

 

2011 Fall/Winter Issue

Words by Courtney Cox
Cover photo courtesy of Stephanie Williams with This Modern Romance

Believe it or not, it’s that time again! Yet another glossy-paged, inspiration-filled issue of Destination I Do has hit stands! Our Fall/Winter 2011 issue launched today and we’re as excited as ever to share with you what you’ll find between covers. Real-life bride Megan sets the tone on our cover as she’s ready to get honeymooning post-wedding. This is one of our favorite covers ever and was captured by the amazingly talented Stephanie Williams of This Modern Romance.
For our Fashion Forward department we stuck close to home, capturing the urban city of Phoenix and the sandy sunsets of the Sonoran Desert. Our models brought elegance to a 100-year old ice house in downtown and sophistication to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona.
As always, the writers and editors at Destination I Do traveled far and wide to bring you the inside scoop on honeymoon hot spots, but also those romantic destinations you might not have thought of on your own. Contrast town and country in London & Paris or set sea from Seattle to the San Juan Islands.
Destination I Do Magazine’s Editor in Chief, Jennifer Stein, took a dream trip to Hawaii to bring readers the utmost in luxurious accommodations. For non-land lovers we’ve got some down-under trips which will take you diving off the coast of Honduras in Utila and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
The Real Weddings section is always a crowd-pleaser, so we’ve gone above and beyond this issue to bring you the inside scoop on five couples destination weddings. Find out what they got for the money with budgets ranging from 10K to 150K.
This is all just a tiny taste of what you can find in our Fall/Winter 2011 issue. Want to pick one up? You can find Destination I Do at Barnes & Noble, select Borders and other fine book retailers worldwide. Don’t have one of these nearby – no problem! It’s easy to subscribe on our web site and the issue will be delivered to your door in about a week. If you love this issue as much as we do, then share the love and spread the word! As always, thanks for your continued support and love of all things Destination I Do.

 

Salt & Pepper shaker set

Boogie Woogie Salt & Pepper Shaker Set, Menu $49.95

Stay-Cool carafe

Terra Cotta Stay-Cool Carafe, Royal VKB $32

Cocktail shaker

Trombone Cocktail Shaker, Nick Munro $70

A stylish apron

City Wall Apron, Suki Cheema $40

Oil & Vinegar cruets

Flo Oil & Vinegar Cruets, Joseph Joseph $40

Cylinda Ice Buckets, Stelton $269

Folding chair

French Bistro Folding Chair, Fermob $198

Lantern

DWL Lantern, Rosendahl $90

Elegant sound system

Geneva Sound System Small, Model S Geneva Lab, $299

Linen tablecloth

Linen Tablecloth Grey + Stripe, Fog Linen Work $85

Firebowl/grill

Olympic Firebowl/Grill, Stagerak $415

 

The Japanese cooking class focuses on traditional meals and seasonal foods including popular items such as Ramen, Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki. This month’s hands-on class features Okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), which will be filled with the early summer’s bounty of vegetables along with other traditional ingredients. The sushi class teaches the history of sushi, types of sushi, how to make proper sushi rice, how to roll Hosomaki, Uramaki, Futomaki, and Temaki. Instruction on how to slice fish for sashimi and sushi, and how to make Nigiri will also be taught. Each participant will make between 30 to 50 pieces of sushi.  A complimentary glass of beer or soda is included.

Both classes will be held at Nombe under the direction of Executive Chef Mari Takahashi. Takahashi, a Japanese native, has been teaching Japanese cooking classes through her catering company, Mari’s Catering, Nombe, and other institutions. Each participant also receives discount coupons for future visits to Nombe. Check Nombe’s website for updates on future class schedules and tentative menus and pricing.

Focused future sushi makers

Reservations for the June classes can be made by calling Nombe at 415-681-7150, or emailing Mari directly at mari@nombesf.com.  Deadline to register for both classes is two days prior to the class. Nombe is located at 2491 Mission Street (near 21st Street) in San Francisco. The menus change frequently so diners are encouraged to check online at www.nombesf.com or call ahead (415-681-7150) for  information and reservations. Hours are Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday & Monday 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Friday & Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to closing and weekend brunch Saturdays & Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

Le Normandie c'est magnifique!

Fleur is at it again, making sure that our Thanksgiving holidays are cozy, boozy and French? Oui, oui! She’s come up with yet another luscious libation sure to have you kick that Manhattan or Whiskey Sour to the curb. Now, we have nothing against old school American classics, but when turkey day rolls around, you may find yourself thankful for this substantial and tasty new twist on tradition, by our own spirited girl, Fleur: Le Normandie! Infused with Calvados, a little bit of sour mix, and apple, it’s so tart and fresh you want to smack it! This little number was born at none other than our favorite French bistro, Le P’tit Laurent in fog city. Bon Soir!

Of all the things I’ve loved this week – a cozy dinner at Bar Tartine on Valencia Street, a late-night scrumptious Warm Brownie Sundae at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, the new holiday lattes at Starbucks, hearing the start of those old holiday classics on KOIT (although in about a week I may, like every year, find myself over-indulged in that), and Gerard Butlers unbelievable abs in the action movie “300”; one thing I found myself asking “Please Sir, can I have some more?” was for a spectacular cocktail named “Le Normandie”. I don’t just love this because it contains alcohol, although that does help of course. But it’s perfect for the time of year and tastes just delightful; smooth and flavorful; it warmed my insides like brandy on a Christmas pudding.

Yes I’m going with the French theme again (it is my namesake after all), and I was fortunate enough to have Laurent Legendre, owner of “Le P’tit Laurent” in Glen Park and creator of this undeniably delicious concoction make it for me himself. I must admit I was slightly dubious when he told me the ingredients – Calvados (apple brandy), sweet and sour mix and triple sec. I’ve never been a big fan of sugary mixes; I think you can often re-create them yourself with fresh juice, but with the tiny amount he uses in Le Normandie, you can’t even tell it’s there. Calvados has a very strong apple brandy flavor, and with the lemon in the mix it could taste quite tart. But the triple sec sets it off perfectly, giving it an even balance. Warm apple tart, brandy sauce or apple sours and lemon sherbet come to mind.

If you want the real thing I would say go to the maestro himself, or by all means recreate at home. But go steady if you’re making it for your whole family over Thanksgiving; Le Normandie is exceptionally smooth and easy to drink, but Calvados is pretty strong. You don’t want to be responsible for Granny passing out before the Turkey comes round…

Le Normandie

Two parts Calvados (you can purchase this at BevMo)

One part Triple Sec or Cointreu

One Part Sweet and Sour Mix, or the juice from one lemon

Shake over ice and serve in a chilled martini glass. Serve with a slice of fresh green apple

Happy (hic!) Holidays!

 

Our Two Brides, Stacy Jill and Melissa Calvert of Queerly Wed are back to discuss all things having to do with queer weddings across the country and in our legislature. At Antibride.com we’re all about cool trends, cute dresses and yummy food for W-day; but until everyone gets to celebrate their big day, their way (with the partner of their choosing), we’re going to keep same sex weddings front and center. Now without further ado….drum roll please: Two Brides Tie the Knot!

Melissa and her Mom

The Week Before

Melissa:

The week before the Big Day was crazy! Stacy was working (couldn’t get days off!!) and I was left with a lot to do on my own during the days. Luckily, my mom came on Thursday. She is our superstar! I had been having difficulty with my sewing machine (which was hers from the 60′s) and there were several projects left to be finished. She came in, immediately diagnosed the problem and proceeded to speed sew our DIY photobooth backdrops, two ring bearer pillows and our Chuppah within an hour. She also was generous enough to loan us her car for transporting all of our stuff downtown to the venue and hotel. We keep saying how awesome she is…and how lucky!

Stacy:
We arrived at the Ambassador East hotel on Friday afternoon, and I received a text from my cousin Whitney. “So, did you get them?” I had no idea what she was referring to until later that evening. Our wedding gift from her and that part of the family was a package of Sloppy Joe’s. This may not seem extraordinary, but the Sloppy Joe’s made by Town Hall Deli in South Orange, New Jersey is not your ordinary sandwich and holds a lot of child memories for our family. It was a perfect treat to help start the weekend.

Waba Chicago for Korean fusion food and fun..

That evening we gathered at WaBa my cousins’ restaurant, for our bachelorette party. Ben and Jamie provided us with a feast of Korean/American fusion, and Soju cocktails were flowing throughout the night.  My heart jumped in excitement every time a new group of friends and family walked through the door. What started out as a small gathering of family & friends turned into a party that my Nana Golda would have been proud of.

We finished eating and rolled into the big private karaoke room. Everyone was up for a laugh, and I even persuaded my mother to sing a song. She was adorable while singing Copacabana in front of everyone.

Stacys Mom belts out some show tunes...

Melissa:
It was there that our parents met for the first time. Things appeared to go very smoothly with that and slowly, more of our friends and family arrived to the restaurant. I was so touched at the love that was present in that room! We ate and then most of us stayed for karaoke and a great time was had by all!

Stay Tuned for Part 2: The Big Day!

About the Authors/Queerlywed.com

Melissa Calvert

Melissa is the co-founder of Queerly Wed, a new website dedicated to helping LGBTQ couples plan their big day. She is an activist within the LGBTQ Community and has volunteered her services at many grassroots organizations over the years. Melissa is also an avid cyclist and won two silver medals at Gay Games VII, which was held in Chicago in 2006. She is also a lifelong student and enjoys studying Latin-American culture, photography and languages.

Stacy Jill Calvert

Stacy is the co-founder of Queerly Wed, a new website dedicated to helping LGBTQ couples plan their big day.  Stacy is a writer, marketing nerd, and web geek grrl all wrapped up into one package.  Stacy has worked in the interactive field for many years including roles at eToys (US & UK) and Ticketmaster. Stacy became a professional queer when in 2005, she served as the Ticketing Manager for Gay Games VII. You can catch Stacy on her website at www.stacyjilljacobs.com or on Twitter at @StacyJill

 

Hello Bay Area (and beyond) Bon Vivants! My buddy Cornelius Geary (another CG) has generously offered our readers free tickets to SF Vintners Market Nov. 20-21.  We are giving away 3 general admission tickets for Saturday, Nov. 20th this week, and 3 general admission tickets for Sunday, Nov. 21st next week, so pay attention! If you don’t make the cut on that deal, here’s another one: 10% off general admission. We all went to the previous one and it was a blast! Hobnobbing with wine makers and Bay Area Bon Vivants isn’t the worst way to spend a weekend! For couples headed to wed, there’s no better place to swill, chill and distill what kind of wine list you may be wanting to build for W-day, the vineyards and winemakers come to you! This is a not to be missed San Francisco treat (and a a whole lot tastier!). Read on to the end and see details below on how to win!

San Francisco Vintners Market – Harvest in the City!
San Francisco Vintners Market is back with a fall showcase of top notch wineries selling their wines direct to you. If you’re tired of going to wine tasting events, discovering great new wines and then never being able to find them again, San Francisco Vintners Market is for you. Similar to farmers markets, our event allows consumers to sample the wines on display and buy them on the spot. San Francisco Vintners Market is the first of its kind wine tasting and buying experience where wine enthusiasts can try and buy wines from over 200 wineries. The fall San Francisco Vintners Market at Fort Mason Center is November 20th and 21st. For our fall event Harvest in the City, many wineries will be brining barrel samples for you to try too.

San Francisco Vintners Market will again feature top local wineries and boutique producers from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Russian River Valley and other regional wineries plus imported wines from around the world. San Francisco Vintners Market features wine at all price points and styles including new releases, library collections and end-of-vintage selections-all available for immediate purchase. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to try and buy great wines at San Francisco Vintners Market. Be there!

What: San Francisco Vintners Market
When: November 20th & 21st
Where: Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA

Cost:

General Admission: $40/$50 day of event (Includes all wines except Reserve Room)
Reserve Admission: $80/$90 day of event (Includes Reserve Room access to wines priced at $50 per bottle or higher)
Times: Trade tasting 11am – 1pm Saturday & Sunday (retail wine buyers and media only)
Consumer access: 1pm – 5pm Saturday & Sunday

Deals and Steals:

The First 3 Readers that email me at carolyn@antibride.com this week, GET IN FREE for Sat. Nov. 20th.

The Second 3 Readers that email me at carolyn@antibride.com next week GET IN FREE for Sun. Nov. 21th (watch for next weeks post!)

NOTE: Please put ‘ANTI-BRIDE SF VINTNERS’ in the title of the email!

Ticket Discount: 10% off for our readers! Click here for discount.

21 and Older Only!

 

It's a nice day for a wine wedding (in a castle).

Do you fantasize about reciting your vows like a fairy tale princess in a castle wedding equipped with a wooden drawbridge, a medieval fireplace and scenic stone towers? Well, even though Castillo di Amorosa does not allow for weddings because of a Napa County ordinance, it does allow for one of the most romantic rehearsal dinner where they host the best wine education tour and tasting outside of Italy.

Amidst the deep green forest high above the Napa Valley vineyard floor lays Castello di Amorosa, (Italian for Castle of Love) a majestic Italian castle that opened in 2008. Rebuilt stone-by-stone by Italian artisans featuring hand-painted murals, a torture chamber and a wine cellar jam-packed with luscious Italian varitels that are only sold on-premise.

Open daily for wine tours and tasting, this romantic winery is also the perfect stop on destination wedding tours of wine country. Enjoy the “The Romance of Italy: The Wines of Napa Valley” tour where you get to ride in a horse drawn carraige before you taste wine. What could be more romantic? More than a tourist attraction, this beautiful venue offers an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perhaps reconnect with your grooms Italian culture and provide a back-drop that is only made for movies.

Happily-ever-after is guaranteed.