Dirty Martini Society

Flight of the Blackbird

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:31:00 +0000

Well I knew it would happen eventually. The typical bar crawl of the Castro has lost much of its luster after 4 or so years doing the same journey. Trigger, The Cafe, Q Bar, Moby Dick, blah blah blah. Not that I don't enjoy these fine establishments of haziness (especially on 2 for 1 night), it's just that I needed some new and fresh. Enter Blackbird. After hearing whispers and the occasional yelp stalking for the past couple of weeks I finally decided that last Sunday I absolutely had to make it there come hell or high ball glass. Armed with my bff and my favorite pair of jeans we ventured to this new watering hole. First impression: me likey! The environment was quite inviting and I quickly dubbed it "The Bourbon and Branch of Upper Market" or BBUM. We made it there around 8:30 so it wasn't packed but pleasantly full of after dinner patrons looking for something to take the edge off of Sunday Funday. My first drink was The Early Bird, and by far the favorite. I tried a couple of others but nothing held my attention like the EB. Reminiscent of a gimlet this drink was easy to digest and provided a nice coolant for the unusually muggy summer night. 2 hours drifted away as I noticed the place reached critical-I-can't-move-without-brushing-some-well-fitted-7's mass. Occupying a window table near the door I noticed the clientele was a perfect cross-section of the location. You had the bears, the club boys, the super trendy str8 folks, and the avg hipster. Everything for anyone.

Around 11pm the DMS entourage and myself decided to fly the coop and head out to Toad Hall that ended in a totally uneventful evening. However, Blackbird lived up to the hype and I will certainly be back.

Blackbird Bar: 2124 Market St
(between Church St & Sanchez St)

Weird Fish out of Water?

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:11:00 +0000

Since becoming a resident of SF I have been in search of seafood. Something that didn't involve a taco and or so expensive that I could have bought the new D&G man clutch instead. Finally, labor day weekend I got my wish. Earlier in the week I'd agreed to make dinner with a couple of friends but due to an apartment emergency we decided to eat out. Their pick: Weird Fish.

Believing strongly in fate I knew I had to try this place after walking past it only 48 hours earlier. With 6:30 reservations we walked into the tiny establishment and were promptly seated. Appetizers consisting of calamari and a yam dish perked my palate up for the main course. First thought: It's hard to screw up calamari, and the yam dish (a.k.a the little b stack) was a nice inventive touch. While the rest of my party opted for the fish and chips I braved the almond encrusted rainbow trout. Presentation is a big deal with me, and I was delighted when my dish was brought out. The flavor that followed was simply amazing. Not too overbearing, but definitive in seasoning. Savoring every bite I knew that I had to come back and sample more of this weird fish menu.

Be sure to check it out at 18th and Mission!

The Bike Kitchen: Ingredients for the SF Bike Enthusiast

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:56:00 +0000

So it's been two months since the "Big Move" to SF. These first eight weeks I enjoyed catching up with various DMS members for drinks, dinners, and wandering about the city. Taxis were the the main choice of transportation besides walking, and soon it began to add up. As with most of the world the past couple of months (or maybe a year now) has been an economic rollercoaster. With that in mind I set out to find other modes of transportation that didn't involve gas or a never-ending meter. Enter the Bike Kitchen. SF is full of bikers, some friendly, some not so friendly. On a sunny day I would secretly wish I was one of those care free souls biking to Dolores Park to lounge the day away. However, being young, broke, and fabulous there was absolutely no money in my budget for a bike...(happy hour is important ok!) That's when I decided to check out the Bike Kitchen. The BK is a co-op shop in the Mission that allows you to work on your bike using donated tools and assistance from volunteer staff members. If you decide to volunteer you can earn a year long membership after completing 6 hours of service. Once you hit 12 hours of service you earn "digging rights." This allows you to build a bike from donated spare parts in the shop for $30! I couldn't pass up this deal, so last week I signed up as a volunteer and in the next week or so will start to work on a bike I've already named Le Femme Nikita. Soon I'll be riding to Happy Hours around the city in style and getting awesome cardio in.

A Milkshake to Wash Away the day

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:26:00 +0000

After a particularly busy day at the office I arrived back at my flat in the Mission to a minor heat wave. A gallon of water and a half-read copy of Vogue later I decided to venture out into my neighborhood for some good comfort food. Tacquerias were out of the question as I feel like burritos have become a staple since moving to the new place exactly two months ago today. Chinese food sounded equally ungratifying, and as I rounded the corner of 24th and Bryant I rememberd that my favorite little brunch place was open on weekdays as well. St. Francis Fountain, San Francisco's oldest ice cream parlor (est. 1918), is a great place to get a Guinness Ice Cream float along with a classic burger and fries. Admittedly, until yesterday I was only a brunch regular ordering the My Chef Jess and sipping a Manzanita (apple juice and champagne...yum!). However, it's pretty obvious that I'll be dining there on the regular for both dinner and brunch.

SF or Bust Baby!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Have you missed the DMS? No where to go on the weekends and need suggestions? Well not to fear cause the DMS has moved....to SAN FRANCISCO. Now we can bring you the hottest spots, openings, and events going down in the city by the Bay each week.

Feels good to be back!

Re-mixing the Pomegranate Martini

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:01:00 +0000

In search of a signature cocktail to start the year off right I decided to begin my adventure at the Sunday Farmer’s Market. Wandering around the vast tents of fruit vendors my mind went over all the possible concoctions I could experiment with. Just then my sights settled on the pomegranate stand. Thinking they would be out of season soon I grabbed a mini armload and transported safely back to my homegrown laboratory. What I came up with was a very interesting version of what many consider to be a pomegranate martini.

• 4 Parts Vodka (preferably Grey Goose, but Stoli works as well)
• 1 Part Simple Syrup
• 1 Part Triple Sec
• 3 Parts fresh pomegranate juice
• Shaken over ice
• Pour into a highball glass (martini glass works as well)
• Garnish with pomegranate seeds

This may be a little strong to the taste (DMS members tends to like’em strong), so feel free to play around the ingredients. I haven’t come up with a name for this cocktail as of yet, but my working name is the Pomegranate Cosmo.

Where have you been?

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Yeah, I know, no post since the Treasure Island Music Festival. For Shame. Well the good news is that the DMS is back from a lengthy vacation, and ready for the new year. Upcoming we got a long overdue shout out for Dirty Sue, an olive juice product, that spices up any cold martini. Also, we are unveiling a new section entitled "From College to Couture," in which we show you how to take your post college wardrobe from Hoodie to Houndstooth and not break the bank.

It's good to be back.

Walking the Plank @ Treasure Island Music Festival

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:50:00 +0000

Imagine sitting on the grass with a gentle breeze blowing while you listen to Antibalas. How about dancing your blues away while Hot Chip gets you "Ready for the Floor." These thoughts race in my head while I sit at my desk on this typical Tuesday.

This weekend was the 2 annual Treasure Island Music Festival and the DMS crew was in full effect. Because of the amazing Saturday lineup (Hot Chip, Justice, CSS, TV on the Radio...just to name a few) we headed over to the island around 1:45. We missed Aesop Rock, but our disappointment was short lived as the rest of the festival was perfectly sized and musically abundant. The highlights of the day were TV on the Radio and Hot Chip, whose performances pretty much rocked from start to finish.

4:40 on a Friday

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:32:00 +0000

Happy Hour is in fact not just an hour, but a block of time set ahead for people to unwind after a hard day's work. Friday, I decided to visit some the SF DMS members for a little fun.

The decided spot was 440 Castro. Formerly Daddy's, Happy Hour at 440 is now a DMS favorite. Chill environment, a wide variety of cute guys (scruffy rugby types and 9-5 financial districts suits just to name a few), and bartenders that know how to pour a nice stiff Grey Goose Tonic. The music was definitely a highlight. Not sure who was the DJ but there was a perfect mix between 80's pop/R&B/Top 40. After a couple of hours there we all departed for our various Friday night plans, but decided that 440 for Happy Hour needs to become a staple.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:08:00 +0000

After navigating their way through Vietnam the past couple of weeks the JetSetZero field team reaches a crossroads; stay in Vietnam or head for another country.

read more | digg story

Brideshead Revisited: Worth the Stay?

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:04:00 +0000

The end of summer has brought houseparties, birthdays, bbqs, and outdoor festivals. Sadly the bartender has been crazy busy being a social butterfly to update. But alas I bring you my thoughts on the movie Brideshead Revisited.

Not a hugely popular film in my various circles, but luckily there was one DMS member that loves English films as much as I do and we made a night of it. After dining at a nameless one star restaurant...yes that bad (we were in a hurry), we made it to the theater just in time to catch the opening. The English countryside looked amazing as it served as the main backdrop for this 1920's drama with a very talented cast. Emma Thompson commanded the screen as the film's matriarch, Lady Marchmain, and served her post faithfully til the very end. There was a perfect mix of intrigue, sexual tension, and of course catholic guilt. Though it seemed slow and almost painfully dull in some parts I would suggest checking out Brideshead Revisited...but not as a Friday night movie.

All Aboard the Pineapple Express!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:04:00 +0000

Back from a little digital vacay with a review of "Pineapple Express." First impression: complete and utter stoner movie. If you hate stoner humor in any way, shape, or form, then you will not find this movie funny in the least bit. That being said, the DMS crew and myself LOVED IT! After seeing the trailer a couple of months ago I knew that I would be in a theater opening night watching this movie. My main interest was across seeing Seth Rogen and James Franco on screen together after their Freak and Geeks days.

After suffering through sold out theaters using Fandango we were finally able to score tickets through some other website I hadn't heard about. We get to the theater and of course it's a complete madhouse. The DMS kids and I snag the last 5 seats together and settled down to witness the greatness. Awesome one-liners, a little bromance, and a plot that seemed as clueless as the actors managed to make a movie that I wouldn't mind owning. I didn't think the subplots were all that great, and could have been edited in my opinion. However, there was another great gem in the movie...

Rosie Perez

That is all

Tea is the new cocktail!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Well not exactly the new cocktail...I've realized that unfortunately a Grey Goose Martini w/a twist cannot be consumed every time the urge hits (you can, but there is a word for that:), so that prompted me to hunt for the next best thing. I present to you Teavana. This little slice of heaven provides the public with "Teaologists" who seem to have vast knowledge of how tea works. Since my first visit I have become midly obessed with all things tea. Specializing in only loose tea, Teavana offers regular teas as well as highly creative blended teas. Current DMS favorites include their "Earl Grey Creme" and "MateVana" blends. So find your nearest Teavana and pop in for sample! It's not a martini, but it does help move the day along.

Mamma Mia Mania!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:29:00 +0000

*Disclaimer: If you don't like Abba, the original play, or actors who weren't born to sing, then this isn't for you*

Otherwise I saw grab your besties and sing your heart out to Mamma Mia. Thanks to a dedicated DMS crew member we were able to get a private screening of the movie. From the very beginning to the credits there was never a dull movie as each scene was sprinkled with a little Abba, some hot guys, and amazing scenery. I refuse to spoil any of the scenes, so take my word for it and be a dancing queen of the theater for one evening.

The Happening: Nature is pissed!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:21:00 +0000

Everyone knows that I'm a huge horror film buff, so when I heard about M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening" I knew I would be front and center for a decent thriller. What I got instead was a mild heart attack. With most recent thrillers the villain is usually a deranged butcher, a creature from another world, or someone you know. However, 10 minutes into this movie there were still no clues as to what was causing the chaos.

The rest of the movie seems like a warped psych study on mass societal hysteria combined with gruesome suicides that seemed to happen every second. I would get into the storyline of the main characters, but it would be pointless seeing as how the movie could have had the same disturbing effect without them. What happens when there are no answers, only mass suicides?

Activate the Cone of Silence!: Get Smart

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:11:00 +0000

Originally, I wanted to wait til this movie came out on DVD, but couldn't pass up a late night showing with a couple of DMS members. Dark and Stormy cocktails in hand, we sat in a near empty AMC to catch Get Smart: The Movie. Though it is definitely not Oscar worthy, Get Smart offers enough funny moments and scenes with The Rock a.k.a Dwayne Johnson (Agent 23) that I was very content. Ann Hathaway pulls off a surprisingly sexy Agent 99, although her attraction to Agent 86 (Steve Carell) was a bit far fetched. Overall, it was an entertaining movie and you should certainly queue it up on your netflix when it hits DVD

The Evolution of Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:05:00 +0000

While grabbing drinks at the Midnight Sun on Castro a friend and I were catching up and updating each other on friends we hadn't seen in weeks. It was weird because 2 years ago my group of friends and I were attached at the hip; a constant fixture in each others lives. However, that has started to change. In reality it is no ones fault because our own personal lives have taken different paths and hanging out isn't as feasible. This seemingly unavoidable distance got me thinking about how friendships evolve and the various places in your life they seem to settle.

For example, your friends in high school are with you through your angsty teen years; trying to figure out who you are in relation to your other peers. Most times than not these friends do not last past high school graduation unless you all go to same college or live in the same region. Then there are the people you meet in college. While still trying to figure out who you are in relation to the rest of the world these people are there with you; partying til the wee hours, cramming for exams, and wading through endless bad relationships. These friends tend to follow you after your college career into the real world. This is where things get a little hairy. As much as you want to hang out with your best buds every weekend and lament about work, life starts to happen. New relationships, new friends, engagements, work stress, etc start to seep into our daily lives and we found ourselves trying to stay afloat. When life starts to happen how can you preserve the friendships of those who mean most of you? Will this evolution be smooth or will there be some friendships that can't adapt thus rendering them extinct?

J-Hud's New Video

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:46:00 +0000

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Jennifer Hudson's new single "Spotlight" is a DMS favorite. In addition to the song be sure to check out Ms. Hudson's amazing fashion choices!

Duffy...Total DMS obsession

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:13:00 +0000

Here's Duffy performing my favorite song "Stepping Stone" from her album "Rockferry." I came across Duffy at 4am one night while watching MTV. Fighting insomnia I watched her video "Mercy," and was instantly hooked. Her raw, scratchy delivery of notes as she belts about lost love, the need for attention, and refusing to settle for anything less than stellar stirred up my own emotions as I listened to her album on repeat time after time. I've had the album for about a month now and each time I'm feel as if it's 4am and I have no clue who this amazing singer is. Fav tracks to check out are "Warwick Avenue," "Stepping Stone," "Rockferry," and of course "Mercy."

Disco's "Bad Girl" is Back!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:11:00 +0000

As an early birthday gift I received Donna Summer's new album "Crayons." I heard the first track "Stamp your feet" over the weekend and while I was happy that the disco queen was back in action the single failed to impress me. However, I am happy to say that the rest of the album is a definite DMS keeper. Sip mojitos and get lost in her latin fused song "Drivin' to Brazil," or preparty with friends and jagerbombs while dancing to "I'm a fire." I'm sure that I will hear more of this album as Pride month gets well under way. So take a chance and color outside the lines with "Crayons." How long has it been since you colored? ;)

M-Dolla sells her Hard Candy.

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:23:00 +0000

I held out as long as possible. After hearing "4 Minutes" over and over in the SF Clubs and radio I was highly opposed to reviewing the entire album, but a free copy fell into my clutches so I figured why not! If you like Confessions on the Dance Floor, then Hard Candy is a nice follow up. Madonna or "M-Dolla" pairs up with Timbaland for a beat heavy 12 track cd which for the most part is fun to dance to. For the hardcore fans I recommend checking out the track "Incredible," as it had me table dancing at a recent birthday party. Overall, Hard Candy is a strong album, but falls short of a DMS endorsement. Don't get me wrong, we love Madonna, but Hard Candy is a sweet reminder that home girl can always sell an album even if the material is a bit over the top and lacking in originality.

DMS Movie: Sex and the City!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Fri, 30 May 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Last night the boys and I catwalked our way into the SATC midnight showing. With my large black carnation pinned ever so fabulous on my sand colored cotton blazer we grab seats and prepared to see our girls for once last bang!

For the occasion we decide to sample Sterling Vineyards 2004 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Like the movie it was full bodied, smoky, and a definite DMS favorite.

As for the movie, I refuse to release any spoilers, but will say that if you are a true die hard fan this movie lives up to the show. It's an emotional roller coaster to say the least, and my only critique was that the 2 hr and 15 minute run time could have been cut by a couple of scenes.

The fashion throughout the film kept me gasping and gripping my seat. Half way through I decided that this was my "Indiana Jones" moment. It had been 4 years since the end of the show, and despite the fact that the series is on constant repeat in my dvd player I was aching to see what the fierce foursome had been up to. Last night I got my wish along with a theater full of hopeless romantics.

I would recommend seeing this movie with a gaggle of your best friends along with a nice bottle of vino because let's face it...everyone loves being young, fashionable, and fabulous!

DMS City: Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:41:00 +0000

I love this city! After a crazy 13 hour drive a couple of DMS peeps and myself made it to the land of the coffee bean and the space needle. First thing we did once we arrived at the house was take a huge breath of fresh air. With all the lush trees around and a fresh rain the air was perfect. Not much on the agenda for this week; just relaxing, hanging, and checking out clutch spots to feature on the DMS.

In short: Come to Seattle!! You'll love it.

DMS Spot: Bay Meadows

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Friday night the usual suspects and I suffered through 1.5 hours of traffic to head to Bay Meadows in San Mateo, CA. It was the last Friday night the historic race track would be operate before being torn down. Although I'm not gambler I always appreciated Bay Meadows as a living time capsule of times past. It will be missed by the bay area community.

DMS TV: Did Gossip Girl Jump Shark?

noreply@blogger.com (The Bartender) — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Guilty pleasure? Most definitely. If you choose not to follow the lives of Upper East Side yuppie larva then reading on might be damaging to your health. Last night viewers tuned in to find out the "secret" that Serena has been twitching over since Giorgina arrived into town. Since it was the season finale I knew that there would be some "WTF" moments, but figured they would be highly predictable. First clue was the preview in which Hazel said "There's no party once the gay bomb drops." I pretty much assumed it was Eric, but have to admit that the Asher tie in was genius. The overall episode was done in it's usual manner, but the bitch level was raised a couple of notches. My issue was the alleged "cliffhanger." Just when you thought the show would end with Jenny realizing that she would never be "in," Serena comes barreling in Blair's house in mid meltdown mode. S and B have a moment where they cement their sisterhood and then Serena drops the "M" bomb. The funny thing was that even the music didn't see it coming (it came to a screeching halt then turned into some trippy lounge music.) So now we sit in suspense for season two. Will Eric turn into the club happy twink he was born to be? Will Serena get sent up the river? Whatever happens I'm sure it will be horribly bad yet pleasantly fattening.

XoXo

DMS