Liam's List

  Greetings pleasure seekers,

Another weekend looms with much to enjoy all around the Bay on this Friday the 13th and beyond. From a happy hour in San Francisco to an escape to Yountville, there is much to fill your calendar.

Have a fantastic weekend. 
Cheers, Liam

1 - MOVIE-FEST
Asian Film Festival
Castro Theater, San Francisco
Now Until Tuesday March 22nd
The creme de la creme of Asian film shows at the Castro Theatre this weekend as the curtain raises for the 27th Annual International Film Festival.  Enjoy all manner of exciting new films from all corners of Asia. However, on Sunday there is a classic showing from the vault - the 1962 classic Diamond Head, an interracial love story set on the island of Oahu.
thecastrotheatre.com 

2 - GET OUTTA TOWN
Yountville
Looking for an escape this weekend? Get in the car and drive one hour north up 101 and then along highway 112 to St.Helena, Highway 29 and the wine country town of Yountville. There you will discover some of the finest restaurants in the world; The French Laundry, Ad Hoc, Bistro Jaunty and more. Browse the little boutiques and antique stores. And pop into the many wineries you'll discover along the way. My fave, Domaine Chandon for the best sparkling wine the region has to offer. Check the town's online home for last minute places to stay.
yountville.com 

3 - AFTER DARK
Night Life at the California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Drive
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Thursdays 6-10 pm Through October 29th
Cost: $10 per person ($8 for Academy members)
Enjoy music, cutting-edge science, and food and cocktails under the roof of San Francisco's newest and hippest museum. The cool set and hip vibes are bouncing off the walls of the Academy on Thursday nights. If you have not yet ventured to the museum, cancel whatever you have on your calendar next Thursday and head to the park. See you there. Tickets available at the door or online.
calacademy.org

4 - HEAR THIS
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
The Irish quartet are back on the musical map after FIVE years away. Sing-a-long stadium size songs are amiss here and instead Bono and his band play it safe with an album of songs that simmer but never fully come to a musical boil. However, after more than quarter of a century together Mullen, Clayton, The Edge and Bono still have things to say and songs they want us to hear. Along with the new CD comes a world tour. Head to the web site for details. 
u2.com


5 - VIVA VINO
Saintsbury's 2007 Pinot Noir Vineyard Series New Release Event
Press Club
20 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco
Thursday March 19th 5.30pm to 9pm
Treat yourself to a party on your palette at urban wine bar Press Club this Thursday and meet the winemakers of one of my fave wineries, Saintsbury. Be among the first to sample their newly released 2007 Vineyard Series Pinot Noir. Meet in the lounge and private dining room for a flight of all four Pinots with a selection of complimentary cheeses for $12.00. Bring a friend to an evening of fine wine and fine company at one of the coolest wine spots San Francisco has to offer.
pressclubsf.com

6 - ART ATTACK
Di Rosa Preserve
5200 Carneros Highway, Napa
Wednesday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm
A collection of impressive work by Bay Area Artists is now showing at Di Rosa Preserve's Gatehouse Gallery. Nature is the focus here from lush paintings of land or sea to detailed studies of animals and plants. This is a stunning exhibit and is worth trekking to wine country just for this. Plus you won't find a cooler setting. While at the preserve take some time to stroll through the gardens and enjoy the amazing outdoor art. 
dirosapreserve.org

7 - WILD WILD WEB
Eye On The Bay on Facebook
Forgive the shameless plug but we need the hits. Our creative Eye on The Bay team have found us a new online home on Facebook. The page is where you will find all things EOTB: behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more. It's also a place for EOTB regulars to interact with us (Liam and Brian) and each other. Please visit the page and tell your friends.
facebook.com/pages/Eye-On-The-Bay/53554035030

8 - HOT TICKET
Depeche Mode with Peter, Bjorn & John
Wednesday, August 12th, 7:30pm
Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View
Tickets from $35.50
The British new wave music men are back on the road and are coming to the Bay for one night only. Head to their online shrine for more tour info plus some sound samples and blogs by the boys. The opening band Peter, Bjorn and John are worth the price of admission alone.
depechemode.com 

9 - EAT HERE
Orson
508 4th Street, San Francisco
Tuesday to Saturday 5pm to 10pm
Rock star chef Elizabeth Faulkner is back in the kitchen at her stunning South of Market restaurant; as a fan of her fare, I could not be happier. The menu is bursting with delicious, one-of-a-kind Faulkner-stamped offerings but there are two things I want to mention: the sensational duck fat french fries and the Orson Burger. It is pants-down one of the best burgers in town, bursting at the seams with a Cobb salad relish, homemade steak sauce and wait for it - foie gras mayonnaise!  It is terribly tasty and a steal methinks at $15.  Head to Orson, soak up the vibe and devour the burger and fries. I will tackle the rest of the menu another time.
orsonsf.com 

10 - HAPPY HOUR
E & O Trading Company
314 Sutter Street, San Francisco
Monday-Friday, 3-6 pm
There are 101 good reasons to venture to E & O Trading company for happy hour. Let's start with the new Executive Chef in the kitchen: Chef Arnold Wong, a great chef who knows how to make tummies happy. And happy hour here is very much about the food: small plates that are in many ways a tease for the full menu; imperial duck rolls, mango ribs, mushroom satay. Delicious offerings and each for just $2. Every day a new cocktail is presented such as the Pomegranate margarita or the Thai basil martini. The happiest of happy hours. You will not be disappointed here. 
eotrading.com
 

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