Single Guy's Planner

The Single Guy is tired. I just feel like I’ve been doing too much lately, but the list of events just keep getting longer and longer. Here are some upcoming events, but I can’t say whether I’m going to any. I may soon have to change the name of my blog to Cooking With the Old Tired Single Guy.

May 11-18. San Francisco Cocktail Week. This is the third year for this event, and there’s no better place than San Francisco where bartenders (oops, mixologists) are libation gods. Go to the official Web site for a list of activities, including a gala closing event at Jardiniere. Other related events include a special night on the history of pisco (my favorite) at Pisco Latin Lounge on Thursday, May 14.

May 13, Wednesday. Grilling at Bloodhound. Chef Ryan Farr of 4505Meats is like a traveling road show lately after being spotted at events like the latest Meat Paper’s publication release and another event at Coffee Bar. Next stop is the bar Bloodhound, where he’s pairing up with Taylor Boetticher of Fatted Calf. The duo will apparently butcher a pig and then grill it up. Everything starts at 5:30 p.m. For more info, call 415.863.2840.

May 14-24. SF Chefs’ Strawberry Week. This is the third in a series of special event weeks to promote San Francisco’s restaurants (the previous ones focused on heirloom tomatoes and Dungeness crab). Book a reservation on OpenTable at a participating restaurant during the week and get treated to special menus highlighting the luscious spring fruit. And if you pay for dinner with a Visa Signature credit card, you get a free copy of the strawberry cookbook. Go here to find out more.

May 16-17, Saturday–Sunday. Castroville Artichoke Festival. I love artichokes and everyone knows it comes from this California coastal town. I’ve never been to the festival (and probably won’t given how I don’t have a car and am generally lazy right about now) but I bet they throw a fantastic party. I bet you could even find artichoke ice cream! Go to the official site for more information.

May 16, Saturday. Ghiradelli Square’s Uncorked Wine Festival. Closer to home is the Uncorked Wine Festival at Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco. From 1 to 6 p.m., you can check out live music and chef demos, and it’s all for free — unless you want to actually try some wine. Then there’s a $50 charge for wine tasting tickets. For more information, click here.

May, 16, Saturday. 10th Annual San Francisco Oyster Fest. Now this sounds interesting because I love oysters. If the weather's nice, expect crowds to pack themselves into Fort Mason's Grand Meadow for some oyster eating, beer, and cooking demos. There's a charge to get in ($30 at door) but you get a discount if you buy advance tickets. Go to the official site for ticket info. (And BTW, love the music on the site.)

And the following are a ways off, but worth mentioning if you want to plan now:

June 1-15. Dine About Town. The second half of this year’s Dine About Town is gearing up for a big summer hoopla with participating restaurants offering up pri-fixe lunches for $21.95 and/or dinner for $34.95. Go to OpenTable to see which restaurants are participating and make your reservations early for the popular ones.

June 14, Sunday. East West Eats. This food gala is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, which encourages young Asian-Americans to be reporters, TV anchors, or even, um, bloggers! Tastings from restaurants like Slanted Door, Betelnut and Butterfly will be showcased at the San Francisco War Memorial’s Green Room. Longtime favorite Martin Yan will be a featured chef. Since it’s a fund-raiser, tickets are pretty steep at $85, but if you purchase one now before June 1, you can get in for $75. Go to the group’s site to find out more and to purchase tickets.

Whew, I’m exhausted just thinking about all these events. Time for a nap.