Hi gang, the world continues to really needs our help. The majority of Puerto Rico remains without power, one month after Hurricane Maria struck (just think how much you lose your mind when the power is out for just a couple of hours). And our dear neighbors up north, man, do they need our continued generosity and help. Here are a bunch of fundraising events that could use your support, so grab some friends and go have a good time while helping. I have organized them by date below.
This Wednesday October 25th, Bacchus Management Group restaurants will host Fire Relief dinners, with 100 percent of dinner proceeds donated to the North Bay Fire Relief Fund. Visit any of their restaurants to help support our local community: Spruce, San Francisco; The Saratoga, San Francisco; The Village Pub, Woodside; The Village Bakery, Woodside; Mayfield Bakery & Cafe, Palo Alto; Pizza Antica, Danville; Pizza Antica, Lafayette; Pizza Antica, Mill Valley; and Pizza Antica, Santana Row. For those interested in supporting the North Bay Fire Relief Fund, but are unable to dine on Wednesday, Bacchus started a GoFundMe page, with all monies raised distributed directly to the Redwood Credit Union. Any amount counts, please click here to show your support.
Also on Wednesday, ANINA and BRASS TACKS in Hayes Valley are hosting a NorCal Fire Relief Event, raising money via proceeds from drink specials thanks to donated product, raffle ticket sales, food sales, and some amazing silent auction items. Come by anytime from 2pm-1:30am. Silent auction on the patio from 4pm-8pm. 488A Hayes St. at Octavia.
Maybe you’d prefer some wine instead? On Wednesday October 25th, come by the FERRY PLAZA WINE MERCHANT anytime from 4:30pm-7:30pm for a special tasting event to generate funds for the victims of the North Bay fires. Debbie Zachareas and Pamela Busch reached out to some wine importers who were willing to do whatever they could to help. You will be able to visit and taste with Gretchen Penn from Vintage 59, which imports wines from France; Nadia Dmytriw from Floraison Selections, which supports natural wines from France, Italy, Spain, and California; and Cristian Valbruzzoli from Lyra Fine Wine Imports, with his Italian portfolio. Along with Debbie and Pamela, they will be stationed in front of the store pouring their amazing wines.
The purchase of a $20 tasting will include six tickets that can be redeemed for either a taste or glass of any wine on the table: 1 ticket = one 2-ounce taste, 2 tickets = one 5-ounce glass. They are asking that everything be paid for in cash, so they can donate 100 percent of all funds directly to the UndocuFund charity. One Ferry Building, Shop 23.
Other wine-related fundraisers happening this week (Wednesday-Thursday) in conjunction with the newly formed Winemakers & Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief will be at BERGAMOT ALLEY in Healdsburg and BLUXOME STREET WINERY in San Francisco. Click here for more information. Each event will feature rare wines donated by collectors, sommeliers, and/or distributors, with 100 percent of the profits donated.
On Sunday October 29th is Stand With Puerto Rico, a cocktail event organized by the United States Bartenders’ Guild San Francisco chapter. Expect quite a lineup of food and drinks (and bartenders, including Nora Furst, Christian Suzuki-Orellana, Mo Hodges, David Nepove, Ryan Fitzgerald, and many others). One hundred percent of the proceeds raised through this event will go to Unidos Por Puerto Rico, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is directly helping the victims. There’s also a silent auction, and they are accepting donated clothing and supplies. Tickets are $25 and will be sold online until 1pm on the day of the event. Available at the door for $30. 5pm-9pm. Local Edition, 691 Market St. at 3rd St.
Coming up on Monday October 30th at Copia on The Wizards of Elixirs Cocktail Competition with Charbay Vodka and Perfect Purée. The event and competition will be walk-around style, with sample cocktails from Wine Country’s top bartenders as they vie for People’s Choice Award (6pm-8pm). There will then be an after-party and dancing from 8pm-11pm. Tickets: $35 presale online, $40 at the door. Ticket includes tasting of competition cocktails, light snacks, and one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be available to purchase. One hundred percent of proceeds will go to families directly affected by the North Bay Fires. 6pm-11pm. CIA at Copia, 500 1st St., Napa.
The San Francisco Vintners Market is Saturday and Sunday November 4th-5th, and they are donating 50 percent of all ongoing Sunday tickets to the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. They have been supporting family-owned wineries since 2010, and the most important way to support winemakers is to buy their wine—100 percent of all wine sales accrue directly to the selling winery.
On Saturday November 4th, ~SAM’S GRILL AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT~ is hosting a benefit reception and dinner supporting North Bay fire relief. Sam’s Grill will open its doors outside its regular Monday-Friday business hours with a $150-per-person, prix-fixe dinner, in honor of its 150th anniversary. The event starts at 4pm with an open bar cocktail reception on the patio followed by either a 5pm or 6:30pm dining room seating. The four-course menu will feature Sam’s famous chowder, mixed greens with shellfish, a main course (New York steak, cioppino, petrale sole, or fish and chips), and Sam’s tiramisu or chipwich for dessert. Call to make reservations at 415-421-0594.
Sam’s will be donating all profits to three charities that are doing great work in Napa, including the Napa Valley Community Foundation, Eqiu-Ed (a nonprofit that enhances the lives of children with special needs), and the Redwood Complex Fire Relief Fund in Mendocino County. Peter Quartaroli, managing partner of Sam’s Grill, had this to say: “Looking back on the history of Sam’s Grill, we feel very fortunate to have survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. What history has taught us is that the spirit and heart of the community is what carries on. We at Sam’s send our love and support to all those affected by the fires.”
A couple more ongoing notes:
—~FOREIGN CINEMA~ will be donating 10 percent of all sales of Sonoma-, Mendocino-, and Napa-grown wines by the bottle to The Napa & Sonoma County Fire Relief Fund. The team will also donate $15 of a Napa wine flight to The Napa Valley Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and $3 from the Oh, I’ve Seen Fire and I’ve Seen Rain cocktail to the Sonoma County Resilience Fund.
—If you are planning a trip north (you should!), INDIAN SPRINGS CALISTOGA and NAPA VALLEY LODGE will be donating $10/night per reservation for all reservations made by November 9th for stay dates from now through November 30th. And BODEGA BAY LODGE will be donating $10/night per reservation to for all reservations made by November 9 for stay dates from now through November 30.
“Smoke and Fire.” Photograph by Gaetan Caron, Mendocino County, Northern California. Used with permission.
