# SF Bay Area DopeFest
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 14, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009 "2004-07-14T02:40:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/1 "2004-07-14T02:40:02Z")
So there were a bunch of posts in another thread about how it’s been too long since there’s been a Bay Area DopeFest. And how someone really needs to start it up. And how it always falls through for some reason. And then I come to MPSIMS and there’s no mention of it.
I don’t know thing one about how these things work, and I suck at planning stuff anyway. But I do know how to start a thread, so I’ve done my part.
Y’all plan it out, and if you feel like it, invite me.
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### Author:  [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/2 "2004-07-14T04:04:03Z")
I’m open. Anywhere reasonably close to BART is cool with me. I will make exceptions for places closer to my house, which is in the middle of nowhere (although, also for some reason close to BART.) Never mind. Everyone hates the places I suggest, so I leave it to y’alls.
I haven’t been in SF in a couple years. Anything new and noteworthy worth checking out?
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### Author:  [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/3 "2004-07-14T05:05:51Z")
Cool! Some of us BADs were just talking about this very thing. I’m glad you took up the reins!
Sadly, our weekends are quite full, but when we were discussing it, almost everyone we spoke to had Labor Day weekend open. Can I throw that out as a preliminary (hopeful) date?
I’ll definitely be watching this thread. I’d love to meet more BADs!
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### Author:  [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/4 "2004-07-14T10:27:06Z")
I still don’t know the city that well, but in the interest of keeping the thread going: any suggestions for a venue?
Most of the recaps I’ve seen online have taken place in bars. And the only two SF bars I’m familiar with that can handle big crowds are [Zeitgeist](http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/868351) and [The Crow Bar](http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/music/barguide/neighborhood.shtml).
Just to throw some ideas out there.
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### Author:  [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/5 "2004-07-14T14:34:38Z")
union City, the middle of nowhere? Ha! i live in [American Canyon!](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=address&searchtype=address&address=&city=american+canyon&state=ca&zipcode=) (And yeah, I might be up for it).
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### Author:  [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/6 "2004-07-14T15:44:38Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#):
>
> Most of the recaps I’ve seen online have taken place in bars. And the only two SF bars I’m familiar with that can handle big crowds are [Zeitgeist](http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/868351) and [The Crow Bar](http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/music/barguide/neighborhood.shtml).
I like to make it a restaurant that has a bar in case anyone wants to come that is under 21. (And I’m not sure we need to worry about a CROWD crowd, really.)
I’m usually in Vegas the week of Labor Day, but other than that we don’t have any solid plans that I know of.
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### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/7 "2004-07-14T17:13:07Z")
Location doesn’t matter much to me, although I’d rather not walk around the Mission or the Tenderloin too much late at night after drinking.
The Crow Bar looks alright, like voguevixen said, a restaurant is preferable, and there’s no shortage of them in North Beach.
I’d prefer to establlish a date before we start scouting and choosing locations.
So, is Labor Day an option, or do we have any other suggested dates?
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### Author:  [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/8 "2004-07-14T17:20:52Z")
Yay! I’ve been waiting for one of these to happen. Labor Day works for me. Anywhere in SF is fine with me, too.
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### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/9 "2004-07-14T17:22:34Z")
I’m interested. North beach SF dos ave some nice restaurants and there is that famous beat generation bar on Jack Kerrouak Street (or is is alley) near by for those old enough to drink.
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### Author:  [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/10 "2004-07-14T17:29:08Z")
The Crow Bar sounds pretty cool. Here’s another vote for eating in North Beach. We should get Sassy in here since that’s her stomping grounds. A couple ideas are The Stinking Rose and also, [Bocce Cafe](http://boccecafe.citysearch.com/) looks like it would be really cool for a group.
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### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/11 "2004-07-14T17:31:01Z")
I really need to start previewing/spell checking my posts. Grr.
Also, I should have been more clear with the suggested dates:
Friday, Sept. 3
Saturday, Sept. 4
Sunday, Sept. 5
Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day)
Yay? Nay? Go eat some hay?
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/12 "2004-07-14T17:41:28Z")
Some of us BADs were kicking around ideas for possible bars… here’s what we came up with a few weeks ago (and never did anything with)…
> [@](#):
>
> …Are there any other bars we should look at? From this thread, we have the following options so far (I’m concentrating more on bars than restaurants):
>
> Bliss Bar (Noe Valley)
> Buzz-9 (SOMA/Civic Center)
> Molotov’s (Lower Haight)
> Bad Abbot’s (Wharf)
> Jack’s (Wharf)
> Harrington’s (Embarcadero)
> XYZ (SOMA)
> Zetgeist (Mission/Civic Center)
> Sony Metreon (SOMA/Market)
> Cigar Bar- her pick (Broadway)
> Connecticut Yankee (way SOMA)
> Fulton Street Bar (Panhandle/USF)
>
> Things Our Bar Must Have:
> -Can hold, say, twenty people.
> -Within, say, four/five blocks of BART or an oft-arriving MUNI line.
> -Quiet enough we can converse without screaming…
> -…but still enough activity to create a party/social atmosphere.
> -Willingness and ability to handle a crowd, even if some of them are dips.
> -Maybe we should consider what kind of areas we’ll have a bunch of tourists in late at night. None of the above options are in terribly bad spots, though Civic Center/SOMA/Mission/Haight can be somewhat seedy.
I’m not particularly into North Beach, but I’ll be there for good people and good drinks, no it ultimately won’t matter. Though there are some uber-trendy, dress-code bars down there, and I don’t want to spend seven bucks for an Anchor Steam. And if I want to wear sandals _and_ socks to piss off **voguevixen** , dammit, I want to!
Should we stick to bars that are walking distance from our restaurant? That’d knock out several of the above options.
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### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/13 "2004-07-14T17:41:29Z")
I’d like to attend at least one of these, can someone e-mail me details once everything is finalized.
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### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/14 "2004-07-14T17:46:43Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#):
>
> Some of us BADs were kicking around ideas for possible bars… here’s what we came up with a few weeks ago (and never did anything with)…
>
> Should we stick to bars that are walking distance from our restaurant? That’d knock out several of the above options.
You know my husband will be attending, do you \*really \*have to ask that question? 😉
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/15 "2004-07-14T17:55:25Z")
> [@psycat90](#):
>
> …my husband will be attending…
You have a husband?
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### Author:  [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/16 "2004-07-14T18:06:05Z")
> [@psycat90](#):
>
> Friday, Sept. 3
> Saturday, Sept. 4
> Sunday, Sept. 5
> Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day)
>
> Yay? Nay? Go eat some hay?
Oh yeah, and as far as this is concerned, psy and I will probably stay Friday and Saturday nights (at least) so, if this weekend works, any of those days should work for us.
Also, if you’re coming from far away and plan on staying in the city, we’ll most likely be staying at the [Phoenix Hotel](http://www.jdvhospitality.com/hotels/hotel/12).
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### Author:  [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/17 "2004-07-14T18:08:19Z")
I hope you all have a lousy time at your stupid party for jerks.
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### Author:  [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/18 "2004-07-14T18:35:58Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#):
>
> You have a husband?
Hey **Troy** , you want some Southern Comfort?
**Kyla** , don’t be mad. We love you! Come home!
Actually, “walking distance” doesn’t matter to me. If it’s more than 3 or 4 blocks, I’ll just take a cab. Or I’ll ride on zyzz’s handlebars. 😉
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### Author:  [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/19 "2004-07-14T18:41:38Z")
I’m glad that my post on what to do in CA started out the whole get together for you SF people. Sounds like fun, 'tis a shame I’ll be back home long before then. Have a ball.
Sarah
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### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/20 "2004-07-14T18:58:32Z")
Just a thought. There is an Ethiopoian Restaurant on Upper Haight that is vern nice and quite cheap (name is like Nazzadwai or similar), and opposite is a pub that has good rum and fresh punch.
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