The Lush

As reported in tablehopper in December, Fifth Floor in the Palomar Hotel has closed for a remodel and rebranding. The announcement has been made, and the new name is, er, DIRTY HABIT, perhaps with the intent of getting the Health Department’s attention right away? Or to make people think…

On Thursday March 20th, head to ELIXIR at 7pm for their Cocktail Club weekly meeting. This time around, author Fred Minnick will be there, discussing his new book, Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey. Books will be available for purchase, as well…

~BAKER & BANKER~ has brought on sommelier Mark Thompson (Saison, Masa’s, A16, Rubicon). Look for him to be making some updates to the list, and on Monday March 31st, he will be hosting Sonoma Coast’s Freeman Vineyard & Winery for a winemaker dinner. The five-course dinner is $65…

Last year, Diablo Dish noted that BAR DOGWOOD in Oakland was going to be expanding into the space next door (which is along 17th Street and also around the corner, on Broadway), and now we have some details to share. Owner Alexeis Filipello is going to be calling it DARLING’…

On Thursday March 13th, Italian winemaker Luca Currado of Vietti wines in Piedmont will be at ~SPRUCE~. He’ll be serving a selection of his wines, available by the glass or paired with a tasting menu from chef John Madriaga. Reservations are encouraged, but bar and lounge seating will be…

The sixth annual Passport to the East Bay Wineries is coming up on Saturday and Sunday March 15th and 16th. The event, which celebrates winemakers in the East Bay (it’s California’s largest urban winemaking region), takes you to 13 different wineries in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and Castro Valley,…

Suzanne Long, a tropical drink expert and rum educator who was previously the bar manager at Forbidden Island in Alameda, is getting ready to open her new bar in Oakland, called LONGITUDE. The new spot takes the place of the shuttered Disco Volante, and is all about adventure, as explored…

An upcoming project: Dennis Leary and Eric Passetti just aren’t busy enough with their new businesses, Trocadero Club and Cafe Terminus, because now they’re taking over the John Colins space in SoMa as well. License activity shows the name will be NATOMA CABANA. Scoop caught up with the…

The folks at Flour & Co. in Nob Hill are going to be getting some great neighbors, in the form of LIQUID GOLD, a new beer and wine bar (and shop) that is due to open in May or thereabouts. Owner Tim Lee is taking over a former bookstore that…

A report by Dana Eastland. In addition to their recently opened LOCAL MISSION MARKET and of course ~LOCAL MISSION EATERY~ and ~LOCAL’S CORNER~, Jake Des Voignes and Yaron Milgrom have now opened another venture, LOCAL CELLAR. All local, all the time! The new spot is a wine, beer, and…