Ho Ho Ho, Meeerrrry SanFranProdigalMefitesMeetupMas!

December 9, 2008 1:33 PM

Christmas? Chanukah? Kwaanza? Festivus? Who the hell cares!? Everybody knows the funnest holiday ever is really SanFranProdigalMefitesMeetupMas! This year, it falls on December 27th! Share your festive ideas and traditional SanFranProdigalMefitesMeetupMas customs inside!

I miss The City and you wonderful mefites soooo much! Ungh!

And so I'm making a point of swinging through after the family jazz. contraption and I thought perhaps dinner over a couple of Zante's Indian Pizzas would be enjoyable, and then a cocktail or so?

Of course, as mere pilgrims, we're always open to better ideas! I could totally go for something extra dorky like a white elephant, too! Ya think?

So very excite.

Working on an arrangement of Come Back From San Francisco, all changed around and with jingle bells added to it.

posted by Ambrosia Voyeur to MetaFilter gatherings at 1:33 PM (102 comments total)

I think my family will be up in SF then too. It's the MLA conference week!
posted by klangklangston at 2:59 PM on December 9, 2008

I'll either be in San Jose or LA that day. If I'm in San Jose, I'll try my damndest to head out to San Fran for this.
posted by piratebowling at 3:03 PM on December 9, 2008

w00t! We are up for a lovely meetup! Always a yay for Zante's, and certainly yay for at least "a cocktail or so". Oh my yes.
posted by rtha at 3:15 PM on December 9, 2008

I'll be around, and I just might make it to this one.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 3:22 PM on December 9, 2008

Do they ever do the MLA conference in Chicago? That would be hilarious.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 4:23 PM on December 9, 2008 [1 favorite]

I won't be back till the 30th. :(

Eat some extra Indian pizza for me!
posted by tangerine at 4:32 PM on December 9, 2008

Good lord - I think I can actually make it to this one!
Also, yay Zante!
posted by smartyboots at 4:54 PM on December 9, 2008

Hmm. The in-laws will be in town. We shall see.
posted by zsazsa at 5:40 PM on December 9, 2008

Maybe this time I will be brave enough.

I walked by Frjtz when you had the meet-up there, felt intimidated by the pretty people and the moderator there.

I tracked down loc's place for that meet-up there, but I was just too tired.

I even watched the mefi birdwatchers from afar while they watched the birds.

Maybe this time.
posted by dirty lies at 6:11 PM on December 9, 2008

zsazsa, my in-laws will be in town, too. We're going to abandon them to come eat pizza and drink cocktails.
posted by rtha at 6:12 PM on December 9, 2008

dirty lies: I did the same thing at frjtz. I think I'd worked overtime that day & would've appeared inanimate in there.

I return to the city on the next day, so I'm out. Enjoy yourselves.
posted by Pronoiac at 6:27 PM on December 9, 2008

I think I'm now 2 for 4 in promising to be at a meetup and then being there. But I'll go ahead and say yeah, I'd be down.
posted by roll truck roll at 7:10 PM on December 9, 2008

Aw, come on, dirty lies. You know we're only pretty on the outside!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:32 PM on December 9, 2008

kaiserin and I will be in SF for MLA, but because we're driving there early that morning a meetup may not be in the cards. (klang, I'll get your number from mandyman in case you wanna get together for a beer later in the weekend.)
posted by the_bone at 8:22 PM on December 9, 2008

My problem is that I have a wife, and she will be out of town. She WILL find pictures of the meet-up, and she will never believe that a) All the gorgeous people in the pictures are like Gollum's evil brother on the inside and b) No, I am not humping anyone in that picture, I am giving CPR, come here and kiss this hero.

It's gonna be lonely those days for me, so maybe I will show up, no promises.
posted by dirty lies at 8:42 PM on December 9, 2008

Your wife is leaving you for Christmas.

Consider the possibility that you actually don't have a wife.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:23 PM on December 9, 2008

She is postponing her trip to a warm sunny beach town on the Mexican Pacific to spend Christmas in foggy cold dark San Francisco to spend Christmas with me. She is leaving to visit her folks the day after. And I am not required to go spend time with the in-laws.

Consider the possibility that my wife is cooler than yours :)
posted by dirty lies at 9:37 PM on December 9, 2008

Yeah, she spends a lot.
posted by dirty lies at 9:37 PM on December 9, 2008

I will point out that X are playing at Slim's that night, but they are also playing on the 26th, so we can go see them on the 26th and hang out with you guys on the 27th. Glad you're coming to visit us, Venturans.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:42 PM on December 9, 2008

Fair enough, dirty lies. Come hang out with the beautiful people and I'll buy you a beer. You can also meet my wife and decide for yourself which one is better.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:00 PM on December 9, 2008

Ok, you are creeping me out now. I am not that much of a San Franciscan yet to be figuring out whose wife is better. But I accept the beer.

I ride on 6th between Market and Folsom on my bike on may way to work everyday. I am like 90% sure that I may have seen you there once or twice.

Next time I see a readhead with glasses I will claim my beer.
posted by dirty lies at 12:41 AM on December 10, 2008

Damn it, I'm flying back from Minneapolis that day and there's no way I'm going to be physically up to a meetup, no matter how mentally necessary it will be for me after a week in a snowy cabin with the inlaws and my kids (it will be a successful Christmas if I don't go all Shining on everyone).
posted by padraigin at 9:57 AM on December 10, 2008

commenting in a thread.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:39 AM on December 10, 2008

We all know my wife is the best wife, right? Just to settle that once and for all.
posted by gingerbeer at 3:54 PM on December 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

What do you say to 8pm?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:04 AM on December 11, 2008

We all know my wife is the best wife, right? Just to settle that once and for all.

Sure, but rtha's wife is the cute redhead with glasses who's going to ensure that dirty lies finally gets that beer he's been too shy to claim. ;)
posted by padraigin at 11:25 AM on December 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

8 pm works.

Just to settle that once and for all.

SO NOT settled!
posted by rtha at 11:51 AM on December 11, 2008

Now I am confused the [I would have to conduct a poll to decide if he is cute] redhead with glasses I was talking about is roll truck roll himself.

Does rtha have a cute redhead with glasses wife?
posted by dirty lies at 1:34 PM on December 11, 2008

8 pm works for me.
posted by dirty lies at 1:35 PM on December 11, 2008

This thread is weird.
posted by roll truck roll at 3:13 PM on December 11, 2008

Hrm. Maybe. We'll see. Just to confirm, this is looking to be 8PM, on Saturday Dec 27th at Zante's, right?
posted by R343L at 4:49 PM on December 11, 2008

YUP.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:13 PM on December 11, 2008

I do indeed, dirty lies.

roll truck roll is also a cute redhead with glasses, of course. But he is not my wife.

R343L - that's what it sounds like to me, yeah.
posted by rtha at 5:14 PM on December 11, 2008

It sounds like roll truck roll and I are both buying dirty lies beer. So you better show this time, dirty lies!
posted by gingerbeer at 9:14 PM on December 11, 2008

OK, I'll show.

I am the one with the mustache.
posted by dirty lies at 1:26 PM on December 12, 2008

27th, Zante's Indian pizza, only petty people, right? (or was it party people?)
posted by jasper411 at 3:03 PM on December 12, 2008

Only petty people.

I had Zante delivered last nigh to try it. Delicious pizza, perfect salt lassi, and the milk rice dessert is one of the best I've tried. Best thing: they deliver anywhere in San Francisco, anywhere, and they took my order at 10:30 p.m.
posted by dirty lies at 5:12 PM on December 12, 2008

I'm petty in the sense that I like petting. Hope that counts.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:17 PM on December 12, 2008

That is contemptibly narrow in outlook, Ambrosia. What about necking? Are you necky?
posted by dirty lies at 5:58 PM on December 12, 2008

Oooh I think I can make this one! Also maybe X at Slim's on the 26th, of which I was previously unaware.
posted by obloquy at 12:13 PM on December 14, 2008

I'm gonna have to miss this one, as like most sensible living things, I will be spending a bit of time heading south for the winter.
posted by whir at 5:25 AM on December 16, 2008

I'm a native, so all my friends are blowing off to the E. Coast. I'll see you all there.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:22 PM on December 16, 2008

Yes, ambrosia, they do hold MLA in Chicago--it was there last year. One of the strangest rituals (to my mind) is the gathering of academic modern-languagers between Christmas & New Years every year. Rotates between D.C., NYC, Chicago & SF. Not sure if they bestow their graces on any other burgs. It'll be my first--hopefully not my last. I am glad I'll get to finally meet klang!
posted by beelzbubba at 1:03 PM on December 17, 2008

I'll probably be there. If I don't appear voluntarily I've been informed that my still-warm corpse will.
posted by loquacious at 5:09 PM on December 17, 2008

Should I bring anything? A bowl of Russian salad? Something for show-and-tell?

What should I wear? Casual? Formal? Costume? Do I need to buy a fedora?

Should I ride my bike? Take a bus or a taxi? Arrive in a limo?

Will I like the new teacher as much as I liked Miss Lupita?

I am so nervous!
posted by dirty lies at 5:53 PM on December 17, 2008

Well, I'm bringing at least one large Tesla coil, a pumped chemical laser the size of a large fridge, a railgun and my three favorite giant bipedal destructobots known as "Snap, Crackle and Pop" - whom are thankfully fueled on alcohol, ether, mayhem and the blood of foolish hu-mons.

Since I probably won't be able to find a proper ground tap in the bar I strongly recommend that others follow my dashing fashion sense by wearing rubber pants, gloves and shoes. You may also want eye protection. (Class 5 laser exposure rated for UV and up to about 500 nm.)


Kidding. Maybe. Bring yourself in comfortable casual clothes. Leave the stress at home. About the rowdiest thing I've seen at a meetup is the debating of politics and the rarely spilled beer.

Speaking in particular about the SF crowd - we're really easygoing and non-judgmental of pretty much anyone who isn't judgmental or otherwise ill-informed themselves.

(Not that this is ever even remotely an issue at the low-highbrow sorts of places we go - but please do feel safe and sound in that if anyone in or out of our party becomes truly threatening or belligerent to us I have an overdeveloped justice gland and wicked-sharp set of street smarts and I have few qualms about using them in defense of self and friends. I be to rock what key be to lock.)

Other things I sometimes like to bring that seem to go over well are small gifts like stickers and whatnot - or an unusual object to share. Things from your life. It can be anything from a couple of flowers from your yard, or a unique gadget or camera, or a piece of portable epherma or history. Or maybe you're into card tricks, or yo-yos, or maybe you juggle, or maybe you make cookies or something, or maybe you're totally into cheese or ...? There's a lot of things people take for granted in their own lives that are interesting to others.

But if that's too complicated just bring yourself.
posted by loquacious at 11:35 PM on December 18, 2008

If I don't appear voluntarily I've been informed that my still-warm corpse will.

You underestimate the calculating cruelty of my dejected revenge. Your corpse would certainly be served cold.

Hell? Oh no fury remotely like.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:04 AM on December 19, 2008

Also: Another after-party at my place is entirely possible. I need to check the calendar but I believe the 27th is event-free, though I think we have an event on the 26th so the place might be a bit trashed on the 27th.


Overnight (overday?) guests who need a place to crash before riding MUNI/BART home - or need to sober up before driving - as well as people who are just are night owls and want to hang out until the wee hours are welcome. If you plan on visiting and/or napping, please do feel free to bring your own earplugs, warm jacket, blanket, sleeping bag and/or other such accessories. If you really wanted to you could probably pitch a small tent indoors or out. That's not a euphemism, but do feel free to interpret it as one if you wish.

We have the wood stove set up and about a half a dozen couches and about a dozen chairs, and things have been quite cozy lately. As per the usual conditions by accepting such an invitation you accept all responsibility for your own risk of life and limb by entering a living, breathing art/music collective where you may encounter people doing everything from people machining metal to testing sound system gear or (rarely) people running around naked or otherwise being highly weird.

Besides drinking and talking - many other creative or entertainment activities are welcomed and supported. We could watch a strange film or documentary - or we could get all MST3K on some piece of drek. Or play card or tabletop games. If you DJ bring your records or files. Or feel free to bring a guitar, keyboard, beatbox, synth or computer. Or if you want to paint or sketch or knit or whatever, bring it. :)

Msg or email me for directions and questions.
posted by loquacious at 12:09 AM on December 19, 2008

I'm there.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:10 AM on December 19, 2008

I am otherwise ill-informed, but I'm gonna be there.

Hey loquacious, you make it sound like you have a time machine that will take me back to my college days, to my friend's house were I stayed Tuesday night to Sunday noon (I would stay at my mom's house Sunday and Monday night to get real food and clean clothes) except that:

Earplugs? Jacket? BLANKET? Back in my time all we had was a chunk of concrete for a pillow, old newspapers for a blanket, a room with broken windows and a house full of artsy people playing drums, mixing music, mixing epoxy, sanding fiberglass, painting the walls. Machining metal? Do I get to use the machines?

Weird people running around naked? We had a friendly neighbor who would remind us to wear clothes when she saw someone naked trying to go out to the street, and would then remind us again that pants go over the legs, all the way up to the waist, not on your head.

And I slept like a baby every night¹.

I have no idea how I became a pudgy engineer whose idea of a perfect weekend is to sleep a lot and rearrange the plants in the terrarium.

1. I am not exaggerating a single bit. I am just omitting the type of OTC generic cough syrup we would drink by the case. And the business cards with the precisely positioned water stains we would eat.
posted by dirty lies at 2:39 AM on December 19, 2008

I just canceled Hanukkah dinner plans with one of my best friends to attend. I haven't got childcare yet though so I may have a six year old with me. Don't worry, it's totally OK to swear in front of her.
posted by serazin at 10:46 PM on December 20, 2008

Oh, I'm totally making it to this one (now that I'm 100% percent done with school and not haunted by thoughts of another grueling semester creating architecture). I ♥ Zante's - used to live in the boonies of SF and it was the only place that would deliver.

This will be my first mefi meetup, but I'm sure you all are very nice people and won't bite. I certainly won't.

And loquacious- what about pie? I can bring pie. Everyone loves pie.
posted by agenais at 12:04 PM on December 21, 2008

Yay, serazin!

dirty lies - I'm sure loquacious has a chunk of concrete you can use as a pillow. I swear, his place is like some sort of awesome TARDIS-y thing, being bigger on the inside than the out in all interpretations of "inside" and "outside."
posted by rtha at 4:57 PM on December 21, 2008

gah. Laughing Squid holiday party that night. I withdraw my RSVP, sorry.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 10:43 PM on December 21, 2008

PIE! PIEEEEEEE!

:)

Concrete is available for pillows, dirty lies, but keep your hands off the power tools as they're individually - not collectively - owned. Also, I'd need to refill my first aid kit and make sure the batteries for my camera are charged.

And I recommend things like ear plugs because, well, this isn't my dad's squat. We're neither hippies nor luddites and I don't think I can understate how loud (or annoying) things can get around here sometimes. Just to be clear - while we have guitar amps and other pieces of traditional band kit like some nice heads and bass amps but we're not talking about that. That stuff is tiny. We're talking about a very bass-heavy techno-centric PA rig somewhere between 5k and 10k watts tri-amped in a 2-ohm chain that has received noise complaints from about a half mile away in a very noisy urban environment. Apparently there's not much that's louder than breakcore at 4am on a big sound system, especially after the sound system has already been running full tilt for 8 hours.

However, it shouldn't be that kind of after party. I'm just entirely unable (and unwilling) to police my housemates and I know better than to interfere with artistic will - so it's better to over-communicate to potential guests that they need to be self-sufficient and aware that they're entering a work space with functional sharp points.
posted by loquacious at 12:29 AM on December 24, 2008

anybody know what the parking situation is like near Zante's? I'm unable to take BART.
posted by iamkimiam at 2:07 PM on December 26, 2008

Kim, parking shouldn't be too bad. The area is mostly residential so if you go about a block away from Mission St you should be able to find something without too much trouble.

I don't think I'll make it, since I stubbed my toe pretty badly and my foot's all swollen. Post pictures, please, so those of us at home can follow along.
posted by Quietgal at 7:43 PM on December 26, 2008

Quietgal: "I don't think I'll make it, since I stubbed my toe pretty badly and my foot's all swollen."

Post pictures, please, so those of us at home can follow along.
posted by alexei at 8:11 PM on December 26, 2008

Wouldn't want to spoil your appetite.
posted by Quietgal at 8:45 PM on December 26, 2008

Anyone from the south bay want a ride? I'm pretty sure that we'll make it there and back in one piece. MeMail or twitter!
posted by sambosambo at 8:59 AM on December 27, 2008

iamkimiam: Park to the East - along Cortland or sidestreets off of Cortland. Cortland is the street that goes over Bernal Hill between Mission and Bayshore.

Everyone else: I'm going to have to cancel the after-party offer. I don't have the energy for it. I may not even make the meetup at all. If I do make it there, I'm probably going to pretty quiet. I'm currently having a breakdown/breakthrough and no sleep. Blame it on Solstice and not enough sunlight if you like.
posted by loquacious at 9:16 AM on December 27, 2008

And .. I'm sickish. And likely shouldn't attend. We'll see in a few hours, but I doubt it .... :(
posted by R343L at 2:02 PM on December 27, 2008

Argh. Something might have come up. I'm going to try my darnedest.
posted by roll truck roll at 3:59 PM on December 27, 2008

I'm planning on being there! I hope others show up. Anybody? Anybody?
posted by iamkimiam at 4:28 PM on December 27, 2008

I'm sick, too, but I'll be there, trying not to breathe on anyone!
posted by gingerbeer at 4:37 PM on December 27, 2008

Me too! And ambrosia voyeur and contraption.
posted by rtha at 4:41 PM on December 27, 2008

Come on, sick people - don't you know Indian pizza will cure what ails you? True fact!
posted by rtha at 4:43 PM on December 27, 2008

We've been cruising Bernal Heights trying to get loq on the phone (I think he fell asleep, the jerk, *mumble mumble Christmas present mumble mumble haven't seen him since May mumble mumble*) but we bought some books and made a reservation!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:02 PM on December 27, 2008

Yes loquacious, please come!
posted by serazin at 5:30 PM on December 27, 2008

Now how will I be able to recognize any of you petty people at Zante's?!?!?
posted by agenais at 5:51 PM on December 27, 2008

I will be there. I am doing some emergency cleanup right now, as soon as I finish I will ride my bike there.

agenais: I am the one with the mustache, Ambrosia Voyeur is the one that looks like she will confer ageless immortality (or wa sit immorality?) if you let her watch you do the nasty. The others I don't know.
posted by dirty lies at 6:05 PM on December 27, 2008

gingerbeer, Ambrosia Voyeur, and loquacious

me
posted by rtha at 6:11 PM on December 27, 2008

This is me.
posted by dirty lies at 6:42 PM on December 27, 2008

We are here!
posted by gingerbeer at 7:58 PM on December 27, 2008

We are the large and growing table in the front window. Join us!
posted by gingerbeer at 8:32 PM on December 27, 2008

What, no photos yet?! (Joke.)

Very nice to meet y'all and thanks for being friendly to my little one! Turns out you're a sweet bunch of folks. And Zante's earned my loyalty tonight by allowing for our borg-like absorption of all the tables in the restaurant.
posted by serazin at 10:12 PM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]

Argh, I have people emailing, MefiMailing, IMing, texting me and calling me. It's very nice to be missed but my grumpy, tired self just isn't pleasant company right now, sorry. I'm ok - I'm not going to hurt myself or anything. I don't have a cold. It's just been a long day, week and year.

Have fun.

*goes back to sleep hoping to dream again about a burrito*
posted by loquacious at 10:20 PM on December 27, 2008

*hugs loqaucious, ans sends Indian pizza down the intertubes*
posted by rtha at 11:51 PM on December 27, 2008

*and*/

That was way, way fun. I'm going to be adding new contacts, and if'n I don't add you, it's because I didn't meet you, or I forgot, or, you know, it's late.

Let's do this again, soon!
posted by rtha at 11:53 PM on December 27, 2008

It was great meeting everyone! Sorry I disappeared in a puff of smoke at the end there - that was totally poor planning on my part. I hope we can do it again sometime!
posted by smartyboots at 12:04 AM on December 28, 2008

for contacting pleasure:
agenais
alexei
Ambrosia Voyeur
beelzbubba
ClaudiaCenter
contraption
dirty lies
finite
gingerbeer
holyrood
iamkimiam
klangklangston
mattdidthat
parmanparman
rtha
ryanrs
sambosambo
serazin
smartyboots
posted by iamkimiam at 1:40 AM on December 28, 2008

That was fun.

For some reason my ride back took 4 times as long as usual.
posted by dirty lies at 1:54 AM on December 28, 2008

I think I got you lost :). It was fun, folks! Sorry I didn't get to say a proper good-bye to y'all. Cheers.
posted by alexei at 1:58 AM on December 28, 2008

Thanks for always making it worth the drive from San Jose, guys!
posted by sambosambo at 2:09 AM on December 28, 2008

Fun meetup guys! I posted pics.
posted by iamkimiam at 2:35 AM on December 28, 2008

Thanks, youarekimyouare! I'll buy you a beer next time you come to a Pioneer Valley meetup!
posted by languagehat at 6:57 AM on December 28, 2008

Oh, dammit. I missed it.
posted by zsazsa at 8:27 AM on December 28, 2008

Whoa that was a fabulous meetup! Left me speechless! Literally! I cannot talk now! Fun! After taking ryanrs home in trade for some obviously miraculous pepper jam, we did the right thing and took hungry loquacious a giant sandwich and a pint of haagen dazs cookie dough (you know I can't stay mad atcha) and contraption was feeling his oats so we trucked on down to a cheeeeeeap motel in Salinas (how costly is the maintenance of a drawer, srsly?) and now we're halfway home and I'm in a real peach of a DXM daze. I can't believe I'm going camping in Slab City in three days and trying to make an LA meetup in the interim.

There are hippie buses on the freeway clearly bound for the Slabs. Pizzas are Indian, I finally me fatti, everything is magical. Hella xoxoxox

/tussin
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:24 PM on December 28, 2008

I really hope I didn't give you my cold, Ambrosia. That would be a lousy exchange for the awesome present you guys gave me.

Great meetup, everyone, even if I couldn't really talk. Fortunately everyone else was able to pick up the conversational slack.
posted by gingerbeer at 2:58 PM on December 28, 2008

My pics, some of which I did not take!

oh, no, gb, I was working this one up for a while. Get well soon, you!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 6:14 PM on December 28, 2008

I had an awesome time. I was all zoned out from coming from a Japanese bath and relaxin' hard, but had a lot of fun.

Now I need to find: Breweries, further burritos for comparison (we hit up Taqueria Cancun tonight), some vegetarian Korean food…

I'd also still like to see loquacious, but since he's sick, aww, too bad.

Now, if I want acid, I just go down to Haight and Ashbury and start panhandling, right?
posted by klangklangston at 7:24 PM on December 28, 2008

Breweries in SF? Anchor Steam has a daily tour. Speakeasy out in Bayview. There are a bunch of brew pubs, like Magnolia, 21st Amendment, Thirsty Bear, and SF Brewing Co in North Beach, and the Rogue place, also in North Beach. The Beach Chalet on Ocean Beach probably has the best view.

Burritos get no better than a Cancun veggie burrito. I realize those are fighting words around here, but it's true.

I don't know about any veggie Korean food, but will ask around. Do try Cha-Ya while you're here. Yelp and Chowhound are good for all of those questions. I'm too sick to dig up links, and I know you know your way around the google, but I'm happy to give personal opinions on places if you want them.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:07 PM on December 28, 2008

I think Oakland is the place to go for Korean. There are a bunch of places on Telegraph - there's a smallish Koreatown here.
posted by serazin at 12:54 AM on December 29, 2008

Cool, yeah, we hit Cha Ya on the first night and loved it.

Anchorsteam's closed for tours, but we may hit it for beers anyway.

The korean is a question just because SF has been much more veggie friendly than LA, so, despite LA having a huge Koreatown, I'm hoping to get veggie bi bim bop, since I can't find a decent version in LA at all.
posted by klangklangston at 12:07 PM on December 29, 2008

I don't know of any good Korean vegetarian restaurants in SF proper, or even good Korean places with decent veggie food. I'd take serazin's advice about Oakland for that, or head to San Jose. Sorry.

Try Weird Fish if you get a chance.
posted by gingerbeer at 6:06 PM on December 29, 2008

Jong Ga House in Oakland has Mushroom Bi Bim Bop. Mushrooms are sort of a specialty of theirs. It's about a 15 minute walk from 19th st Bart.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:39 PM on December 29, 2008 [1 favorite]

I know a great vegetarian Korean place!! It's called Zante's! Outer Mission! Just ask for their "Indian Pizza."

:D
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:51 AM on December 30, 2008

For whatever reason, I added four extremely blurry cell phone photos.
posted by serazin at 6:15 PM on December 30, 2008

We ended up with pretty decent Ethiopia food instead, from Cafe uh Coletti? or some random Italianish name? Alcatraz and Telegraph in Berkeley, across from the pawn shop.

Food was tasty ('cept the collards, which maybe I just don't like), but service was retarded slow, including an extra hour for a take-out at the end that they didn't even give us the right dish…
posted by klangklangston at 10:56 AM on December 31, 2008

Café Colucci. The service is generally slow (and friendly), but usually not that bad.

You should go to Millennium if you haven't been. Expensive, but worth it. And they stock a lot of great beers.

If you're bound to the East Bay, go to Golden Lotus. They get mixed reviews, being a cult and all, but the food is good and cheap (no alcohol though). Be sure to get the drumsticks and the hot & sour soup.

The best place for beer in general is the Toronado out in the Haight. Huge selection. Magnolia is just across the street, and they brew the best local beers. I go to 21st Amendment once a week, but only because it's near work. The beers are decent, but nothing great. Don't even bother with Thirsty Bear. SF Brewing Company is pretty good, but only worth it if you're already in North Beach. Beach Chalet's beers are only okay, but it is a great place to go if you're out by Ocean Beach. Triple Rock in Berkeley makes very good beer.
posted by team lowkey at 11:54 AM on December 31, 2008

Oh, also (though it looks from the LA meet-up thread that you're back down south), further up Telegraph in Oakland is a Korean place called Tofu House. If bi bim bop is that dish with a stone bowl where the rice crusts around the outside, then they make that. Next time.
posted by team lowkey at 1:24 AM on January 1

I wish I hadn't missed you, though it was great being back in Montreal. And now I'm salivating for Zante's, but I'm not going to drive up there tonight.

Hope to see you all soon.
posted by tangerine at 4:28 PM on January 1