# 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:** 2
### Author:  [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/21 "2004-07-14T19:00:49Z")
Just a couple observations; mostly about \*\*Zeitgeist \*\* and \*\*Crow Bar \*\* since I’m familiar with both of them (maybe too familiar).
**Zeitgeist** has more room (outside) than any other bar I know in the city. But if it’s a weekend or holiday night and the weather is nice, it will be so crowded that dopers would have a hard time finding a place to sit together. It also can be a little too loud sometimes. They also serve (cheap) food there until 10:00PM.
**Crow Bar** is a little quiter, but has less room (all indoors). Still, if it’s early enough, there should be enough room.
Someone mentioned a bar near Kerouac Alley which I assume is\*\* Vesuvius\*\*. Nice place, but not that much room for a group to sit together. it also gets pretty hot in there if the weather is very warm at all.
All in all, a restaurant a little closer to BART would probably be better.
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### Author:  [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/22 "2004-07-14T19:09:39Z")
Vesuvius is nice to look at but the drinks are overpriced and vaguely nasty. I’m all about Stinking Rose though (which I think has a full bar anyway. Anyone? I’ve only ever eaten there during the day, so I never noticed any bar activity.)
I could probably do the Friday before Labor Day, maybe Saturday. I think we usually drive to LV on a Sunday so the traffic is all going the other way.
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### Author:  [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/23 "2004-07-14T19:25:16Z")
> [@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)…
I missed the previous thread about bars. . .I wanted to toss out that my company Christmas party (for about 20 people) was held at the W hotel, and we started off with drinks at XYZ and then had dinner downstairs. Dinner was pricey ($50 a head prix fix), but the bar was cool and the people were fantastic, especially given my crazy boss’s ever changing last minute requests. They roped us off space upstairs so we could have privacy, with lots of comfy seating. It was also convenient/easy to find for people unfamiliar with the city. But it _is_ a little on the swanky side.
(This is also where I got hit on by not one, but two well dressed yet slightly creepy men in their 50’s while waiting for my co-workers)
I actually went through a number of venues trying to find the right place, I still have the list around here somewhere. If **Bippy** ’s ethiopian resteraunt in haight is the same one I’m thinking of, then I second that.
I want to also toss out that I plan parties/dinners/etc for groups of this size for work, and I have a large friend group that often requires logistical wrangling. I’d be happy to help get this thing off the ground. I talked the manager of the W into giving me use of the hospitality suite for free, so I’m pretty good at this.
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/24 "2004-07-14T21:05:12Z")
I can’t help with the organizing (Bars? Socializing? _Outside?_) but wherever and whenever you all decide to have this thing, you can count me in.
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### Author:  [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/25 "2004-07-14T21:33:46Z")
After some thought, **psycat** and I decided to spend labor day weekend in the city whether there’s a Dopefest going on or not so we’ll be there from Friday night to Monday afternoon.
If that works out for the 'fest, cool. If not, we’ll try to make it whenever.
Also, **Obsidian** , I certainly don’t have any qualms if you want to spearhead the planning of this thing. A lot of times these things get mired down in one person wants to do one thing, one person wants to do another and then it never happens. I think it’s good to have one person/party making sure decisions get made one way or another. And since I don’t have any special needs/issues, I’ll be there to enjoy _whatever_ washes out in the end. 😉
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### Author:  [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/26 "2004-07-14T21:44:26Z")
How about some place that has pool tables or darts or shuffleboard or something like that? I don’t know where there are any right near BART, but there’s a pool hall out in Pleasanton that has a bar and grill.
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### Author:  [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/27 "2004-07-14T22:14:33Z")
I know the Ethiopian place that’s been tossed around, and it’s just a couple of blocks from where I live. But:
1. It’s nowhere near a BART station and is kind of difficult to get there from a BART station. (You’d have to take a bus. And sorry, but MUNI buses just suck.)
2. I HATE Ethiopian food.
The Metreon and the Embarcadero are convenient to BART and under-21-friendly.
And Labor Day weekend would be cool with me; Saturday would be best.
> [@Kyla](#):
>
> I hope you all have a lousy time at your stupid party for jerks.
Oh, why you gotta be all like that? Hop on a plane and fly out to join in!
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### Author:  [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/28 "2004-07-14T22:39:16Z")
I concur with **SolGrundy**. The Haight is not very BART-friendly(I guess North Beach isn’t either, but it’s just a short cable car or cab ride from Market). Also, while I’m not opposed to Ethiopean food, it’s probably not the most common ground we could pick, although the argument could be made for broadening one’s horizons, I guess. 😉
Conversely, while the Metreon and Embarcadero _are_ very BART accessible, the pickings are kind of slim, especially on the weekends.
Hey, how about [Buca di Beppo](http://www.bucadibeppo.com/loc_details.asp?ID=0502)? It’s only a couple blocks from the Powell st BART station. I’d also still vote for anything in North Beach. Like I said before, though, pretty much anything is fine with me, since psy and I will have driven into the city and will have transportation.
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### Author:  [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/29 "2004-07-14T22:39:22Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Oh, why you gotta be all like that? Hop on a plane and fly out to join in!
Yeah, how much would my mom like that?
“Hi mom, nice to see you! Thanks for picking me up at the airport and all, but I gotta go to the city to hang with some people from the internet. Bye!”
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### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/30 "2004-07-14T22:47:54Z")
Well, alright. It looks like things are actually coming together.
Wheee!
So, I’m just going to assume based on the posts thus far that **Saturday, September 4th** is the day we’re looking at for dinner. Restaurant to be decided (close to BART, reasonably priced, variety of food options, vegetarian-friendly, can hold a crowd, not too loud, and all that jazz.)
And bar afterwards. LIke Troy McClure said, several of us were discussing bars a few weeks ago, he listed what we’d come up with. I’ll throw a vote out for [Buzz 9](http://www.buzz9.com) , we’ve had a small gathering there a few months ago and it was a very nice setting, couches, low light, small tables, pool table, dart board, etc.
And it’s just about half a mile from the Phoenix Hotel, which is a little worn out on the inside, but is definitely the place to hang out until the wee hours of the morning in SF (well, save The End Up.)
So, who else is in then?
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### Author:  [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/31 "2004-07-14T22:54:24Z")
> [@psycat90](#):
>
> And bar afterwards. LIke Troy McClure said, several of us were discussing bars a few weeks ago, he listed what we’d come up with. I’ll throw a vote out for [Buzz 9](http://www.buzz9.com) , we’ve had a small gathering there a few months ago and it was a very nice setting, couches, low light, small tables, pool table, dart board, etc.
Oh yeah, Buzz 9, duh! That would be great for dinner AND the bar.
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### Author:  [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/32 "2004-07-14T22:58:57Z")
I’m probably in. **Bucca Di Beppo** sounds good to me, although given that I’ll be coming up from the Peninsula, I’m out of luck, BART-wise.
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### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/33 "2004-07-14T23:04:18Z")
Buzz 9 looks pretty good, what’s the nearest cross street?
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### Author:  [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/34 "2004-07-14T23:05:58Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#):
>
> 1. I HATE Ethiopian food.
Now what am I supposed to do with that?
Sorry. My obsession with both Indian and Ethiopian food drives my friends to drink. Not that I’m going to suggest indian food. I’ve learned curry+ lotsa beer=laying on the bathroom floor wishing I was dead. Also, maybe I _should_ stay away from the Haight. The last time I was there I ended up standing on the sidewalk flapping a shawl around and anouncing to the world I was batman.
I moved here after college, so I have NO idea what is and is not under-21 friendly.
I’m thinking I agree with **psy** about nailing down a date. My vote is for saturday, but friday would also be good. Bars on sunday are deader than a doornail, and there also probably people who work in jobs not closed on labor day who wouldn’t be able to come then.
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### Author:  [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/35 "2004-07-14T23:14:32Z")
I really should re-preview if I get up to answer the phone mid post.
Buzz-9 looks good. (I’ve never been there myself). Having dinner & bar in one place is something I’m really in favor of, especially if we have any kind of crowd. It’s worked smoothly for the work parties I’ve set up. The last time we did separate locales, we couldn’t all get into the chosen bar, and suddenly we were a wandering herd.
I am most certainly in, and my roommate ( **PucksRaven** ) most likely is as well. Well, as long as it’s a full sevice bar. She doesn’t drink wine or beer.
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### Author:  [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/36 "2004-07-14T23:15:29Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#):
>
> Buzz 9 looks pretty good, what’s the nearest cross street?
Based on the address, probably a block or two South of Market. Very close to the Civic Center BART station.
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### Author:  [@PucksRaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PucksRaven)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/37 "2004-07-14T23:24:02Z")
**Obsidian** I drink wine! Have we met?
Anyway, it might be moot since I was going to offer to carpool people from a BART station. I have a Jeep so with **Ob** in the car I can get 3 more people. More if anyone wants to ride on a lap or in the trunk. 🙂
I’m excited, my fist Dope.
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### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/38 "2004-07-14T23:25:03Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#):
>
> Buzz 9 looks pretty good, what’s the nearest cross street?
It’s just about dead center in between Folsom and Market, across the street and a couple of doors down from the Holiday Inn Civic Center.
Here’s some info I pulled from their website, since it’s so close:
Area Train/Subway Information
BART/Muni: Civic Center Exit
• Subway Station Name: BART/Muni: Civic Center Exit
• Train Station Distance 0.1 MI/ 0.16 KM SE
Caltrain: King Street Exit
• Subway Station Name: Caltrain: King Street Exit
• Train Station Distance 0.5 MI/ 0.8 KM SW
• Taxi Fee $5.00 (USD)
Cable Cars: Powell Turnaround
• Subway Station Name: Cable Cars: Powell Turnaround
• Train Station Distance 0.5 MI/ 0.8 KM SW
• Taxi Fee $5.00 (USD)
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/39 "2004-07-15T00:07:40Z")
**Obsidian** , I’m willing to put in a bit of effort to plan this, if’n you want.
Buzz-9 is looking like a good option for the bar. There’s a restaurant there too, but the menu is pretty frou frou. I’d think that wherever we’d go should have some veggie options, and some basic pasta/American fare for those of us that aren’t gonna want sautéed frog balls, especially if a trip to the bar is imminent.
Buzz-9 was roomy, comfy, had dart boards and a poll table, there’s no smoking (which is not always the case). It’s easy to get to, and not too terribly far from the Wharf/Lombard (which is generally where people stay).
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-bay-area-dopefest/255009/40 "2004-07-15T00:10:38Z")
> [@Obsidian](#):
>
> Also, maybe I _should_ stay away from the Haight. The last time I was there I ended up standing on the sidewalk flapping a shawl around and anouncing to the world I was batman.
Dude, that’s maybe like, the _third_ weirdest thing anyone saw on Haight that day.
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