Cocktail Week only came into being three years ago as a way to celebrate the vibrant and influential cocktail scene in our fair city, and in its fourth installment this September 21 to 27 (the fest moves from spring to fall this year for reasons probably too complex to mention), the city’s startenders will be inaugurating a new cocktail community center and “beverage lab” called the Boothby Center for the Beverage Arts (1161 Mission Suite 120), named for turn-of-the-last-century San Francisco bartender and author “Cocktail Bill” Boothby.
The new center moves into the newly renovated building across from Heaven’s Dog that is also home to the never quite open SF Café. In addition to providing the headquarters for the Barbary Coast Conservancy of the American Cocktail (BCCAC) — the non-profit co-founded by H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir, Duggan McDonnell of Cantina, and Jeff Hollinger of Comstock Saloon — the center hopes to be the “future hub of beverage education in San Francisco,” with seminars and educational programs.
Cocktail Week festivities kickoff with the inauguration of the Boothby Center, and continue through the week including a Farmers’ Market Happy Hour at the Ferry Building, and a Cocktail Carnival Gala presented by the Bon Vivants. See the full schedule below, get tickets here, and get that Vitamin Water ready.
San Francisco Cocktail Week 2010
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, September 21
Inauguration of the Boothby Center
6 to 8 p.m.
Celebrating the debut of the “Cocktail Bill” Boothby Center for the Beverage Arts: the new community center, conference room, event space and “beverage lab” with a fully functional bar. “Cocktail Bill” Boothby was a turn-of-the-century San Franciscan barman, author, philanthropist and civic leader who connected the fabric of the City with his wits, his grit, and his cocktails. The Barbary Coast Conservancy of the American Cocktail dedicates their home office as an homage to this historic San Franciscan and all those alive today who honor his work. Highlights of the evening include a silent auction and presentation by co-founders of the Barbary Coast Conservancy of the American Cocktail (BCCAC), H. Joseph Ehrmann (Elixir), Jeff Hollinger (Comstock Saloon), Duggan McDonnell (Cantina).
$25 per person (Ticket includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.)
Address: 1161 Mission Street, Suite 120, San Francisco
Wednesday, September 22
Farmer’s Market Happy Hour
6 to 8 p.m.
The country’s first market-inspired happy hour is back at the Ferry Building! Featuring the City’s best farm-to-table bars, the evening benefits the BCCAC and Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA). Enjoy bites from six San Francisco restaurants, creations by 12 talented bartenders and tunes by DJ B Love.
$40 per person (Ticket includes cocktail tastes and hors d’oeuvres.)
Address: CUESA Kitchen at the Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco
Thursday, September 23
Ragtag Rabble Gaming Soirée
Co-Presented by Cocktail Lab
8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Games of chance such as craps, blackjack, roulette and poker played out by dealers dressed in ye olde Barbary Coast-era attire! Join us in the Burritt Room as it’s littered with bars and ragtag tables along with Cocktail Lab’s signature innovations of classic, turn-of-the-century cocktails, live music, and a buy-in cocktail mixoff. Festive attire encouraged.
$60 per person (Ticket includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres)
Address: Burritt Room, Crescent Hotel, 417 Stockton St. (at Sutter) San Francisco
Friday, September 24
Second Annual Epic Happy Hour
5 to 8 p.m.
Friday Sunshine along the Bay: the perfect way to start the weekend. This Second Annual Happy Hour at Epic Restaurant’s Outdoor Patio features tunes by DJ B Love, hearty hors d’oeuvres from Executive Chef Jan Birnbaum of Epic Roasthouse and culinary cocktails from such all-star bars as Rickhouse, Comstock Saloon, Cantina, Rye and 15 Romolo.
$45 per person (Ticket includes cocktail tastes and hors d’oeuvres.)
Address: Epic Roasthouse, 369 The Embarcadero (at Folsom), San Francisco
Saturday, September 25
Cocktail Carnival Gala
Co-Presented by The Bon Vivants
9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Location, guest chefs and details to be announced.
$95 per person (Ticket includes punch and hors d’oeuvres.)
Sunday, September 26
Cocktail Cookout on the Island
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Bay Area bartenders and chefs team up for a meaty, boozy outdoor festival, pairing barbecue with tableside bars under the sun at the St. George Spirits Distillery in Alameda.
$50 per person (Ticket includes plate of barbeque, cocktails and other beverages.)
Address: 2601 Monarch Street (on the former Naval Base), Alameda
Please stay tuned for further release of information regarding the Cocktail Carnival Gala, daily Cocktail Colleges, nightly After-Parties, Saturday Symposium schedule, Karaoke Gong Show and the Barbary Coast Bar Crawl.
All events are ticketed and attendees must be 21 years of age to participate. ID will be checked at the door.
Net proceeds from all San Francisco Cocktail Week events benefit the Barbary Coast Conservancy of the American Cocktail.
