"San Francisco is so dead" said all these people at this cute-ass holiday popup
“Miracle” at Pacific Cocktail Haven gives us lots of holiday kitsch in the city.
The Miracle on Sutter Street, currently encamped at Pacific Cocktail Haven, is snowed over in kitsch Christmas comfort, wrapping paper, holiday pin-ups, dangling lights and the occasional flurry out front, and the feeling is catching.
It’s an easy walk from the Union Square skating rink — still $20 for an hour and skates — and there’s no reason not to hobble on over afterwards to recover your inner child with one or several of the sixteen holiday cocktails. I took the in-laws, visiting for Thanksgiving, to opening night and we tried six for you.
Read the latest by M. T. Eley
A deep dive into the menu at San Francisco’s hottest new restaurant
Chotto Matte is a rooftop restaurant with a wraparound outdoor terrace and massive indoor space running from plant-lined bar and DJ lounge to massive dining room, so it could easily be dubbed “sceney.” It’s the kind of place you’d find more in LA or Miami than quality-before-scene SF.
The Bold Italic visited recently for a quick tour and menu sampling, then sent me back in for a deeper dive. I don’t dine at or review chain restaurants typically unless local-only chains, but this buzzy newcomer is taking the city by storm, already booked up weeks ahead with 1 a.m. weekend hours furthering its hotspot cred. Was it worth the hype? Sort of.
Read the latest by Virginia Miller
And we think it’s worth noting several comments we received via Facebook on the service at Chotto Matte after publishing our review. Writes Elaine Patton: “It took an hour for one item to arrive but the server proactively told me it would be removed from my bill. It’s a new restaurant, there are some growing pains until the staff gets their rhythm down. It’s such a beautiful space and I’m glad to see SF coming back.”
What to do in San Francisco for the holidays
The Bay Area might not get a blanket of snow during the holiday season, but it does offer a few other ways for you to bring in the cheer. There are plenty of activities that will make a San Franciscan embrace the holiday spirit that don’t involve sledding, building snowmen, snuggling by a fireplace, or visiting our far-flung homes where all of those activities might be more possible. Stay fresh, Minneapolis.
What we’re doing this week
Ice Skating in Union Square
The ice rink at Union Square is pretty cramped and full of little ones to avoid on your way toward falling on your butt. All that said, there’s little more charming this time of year in San Francisco.
WHERE: In the heart of Union Square near the corner of Geary and Powell streets. 333 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
WHEN: Now through January 15, 2023
The Lion King Broadway tour
Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. Disney’s The Lion King makes its triumphant return to the Orpheum Theatre. The show runs through the end of December.
WHERE: Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
WHEN: Now through December 30th, 2023
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Getting drunk at Trad’r Sam
WHERE: Geary & 26th
The oldest Tiki bar in America has reopened their doors after a renovation that started last September. Regulars were worried that the potent but affordable drinks may never come back, but worry no more! Go grab a Pisco Punch and make a new friend.
What’s on our mind
We keep content mostly fun and light at The Bold Italic, but the future of the Bay Area interests us, too. Here’s what we are thinking about in local news. Brought to you by GrowSF.
Before and after APEC: Photos of street conditions
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit came to San Francisco, and it gave us all a brief glimpse into what the city can look like when we focus on fixing it.
The before and after photos in The Standard show remarkable improvement. The roughest parts of the city, from Civic Center Plaza, to the Federal Building, to most corners in the TL were all transformed. Tents, stolen goods markets, drug markets, and human waste were all cleaned up for visiting dignitaries and reminded us of what our city should be. The natural question to ask is: why doesn’t the city do this all the time?
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