Destinations

I was expecting a mellow, loungey wine bar with overpriced small plates and overdressed working class women sitting next to corporate guys in expensive suits… And I wasn’t expecting to get carded at the door. Turns out that District, a fairly new hot spot on the corner of Townsend and 3rd has held its own on the border of SoMa and South Beach (San Francisco neighborhoods), packing out with a bar-like atmosphere most every night.

At 8:30pm on a Thursday night, I had to politely shove my unwieldy commuter bag through a dense crowd ranging from early 20s to mid-40s, dressed in everything from jeans and t-shirts, to business casual, to those outfitted for clubbing later on. I slowly circled the place, not a seat to be found at the tall cocktail tables on one side, low cushy couches on the other side, nor at the central U-Shaped bar.

An advantage to traveling alone, I found a tiny little opening at the bar and squeezed myself into a standing spot. Once at the wood-finished bar, with the crowd at my back, District seemed to open up and I was able to notice that it was a converted warehouse, given away by the high ceilings with wooden rafters and exposed brick walls. There was a flat-screen tv on one sidewall playing an old black and white movie.

One of the bartenders handed me a paper menu, featuring over 30 wines by the glass and 10 flights with an impressive global diversity. I turned over the menu to find a selection of Mediterranean-influenced samplings ranging from an artisanal cheese plate and charcuterie plate, to arancini, calamari, ahi tuna tartare, pizzetta, and main dishes like lamb lollipops and roasted organic chicken.

The prosciutto San Daniele and arugula hand rolls with goat cheese and balsamic fig jam caught my eye and I asked the bartender for a pairing recommendation. He seemed very familiar with their by-the-glass offerings and recommended Cold Heaven Viognier from Santa Rita Hills. I normally drink Sauvignon Blanc, but this particular wine was full-bodied enough to stand up to the rich flavors of fig, goat cheese, and prosciutto, notwithstanding a nice acidic, palate-cleansing finish. I happily stood and ate at the busy bar, enjoying the wine and chatting with a local woman next to me. She and her friend raved about the hangar steak from local Prather Ranch, sliced and served over white beans with a homemade salsa verde.

The menu only seemed slightly overpriced, but well worth the experience – and the location. I walked out the door and down the block to catch the Caltrain back to San Jose. District is also about a block away from AT&T Park. Open Monday through Friday from 4pm to 2am and open at 5pm on Saturdays, District is closed on Sundays. The full menu is served from 5:30-10:30pm and a limited late night menu is served from 10:30pm to midnight Thursday through Sunday. Not bad for a pit stop.

Tags: bar, cuisine, nightlife, wine

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What so great about summer other than the weather? Festivals! Summer is the best time for going to see new and exciting things happening in your town and the world. If you’re looking for something to do while your out and about these are only some of the events that will tickle your fancy.

The Capital Fringe Festival, Washington D.C. July 10-27: The Capital Fringe Festival features more than 500 performing arts shows at several venues around the Penn Quarter of D.C. It is an annual festival that was established to exhibit new, risk-taking art, and non-traditional performances from theater to dance to music and more.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington D.C. June 25-29 and July 2-6: Sponsored by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage it is an annual event that focuses on celebrating cultural traditions from around the world. There is everything from music and dance, to cooking and crafts, to storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. This year the program will be featuring issues concerning Bhutan, NASA, and Texas.

Essence Festival Back Home In New Orleans: The Essence Festival celebrated its return in 2007 and is continuing the traditional this year. It will have more than 200,000 of the nations best African-American musical talent. In addition one can listen to some of the finest speakers in empowerment seminars. Usually held over the Forth of July weekend.

Taste of Chicago 2008, June 27 through July 6: Chicago’s biggest event started in 1980 as a small food festival, Taste of Chicago has become the world’s largest outdoor food festival. It is an extravaganza of more than 3 million people tasting the cuisine of over 70 of Chicago’s favorite restaurants.

Notting Hill Carnival, London: Since 1964 the Notting Hill Carnival has celebrated the cultural traditions of immigrant population from the Caribbean. In the 1950’s and 60’s the immigrant population faced harsh racism and after the race riots this small party was design to bring people together to remember their cultural roots. The party now has more the two million revelers and is held in August on Bank Holiday synonymous with the Caribbean Carnival.

Tags: activities, arts, culture, family, food, outdoors

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