#2060 - Heinold's First and Last Chance, Oakland - 2/24/2013

"All nations welcome except Carrie," reads a sign behind the bar. It's not common for the witticisms that pepper the walls of bars to include puns at the expense of people who died over a century ago, but Heinold's has been here since 1883. That's when Johnny Heinold purchased the building of old whaling ship timbers that had provided bunks for men working the oyster beds, and turned it into the J.M. Heinold Saloon. It survived both prohibition and the great earthquake of 1906, though the latter left damage to the pilings below that give the mahogany bar and wood floor a sharp tilt, and to a clock famously stopped at 5:18am, ever since that April morning.

The surname was eventually appended with "First and Last Chance" based not only on the navy men and other seafarers catching a last drink before going to sea, but also for the workers riding the old ferry between Oakland and the dry city of Alameda. The bar has hosted President Taft, Ambrose Bierce, Erskine Caldwell, and, most famously, Jack London, who once sat reading the dictionary at the table by the door, before featuring the bar in his novel John Barleycorn, and compiling notes used for The Sea Wolf and Call of the Wild. Now London's Klondike cabin sits nearby the old wood bar, both surrounded by the bright, neat, and touristy Jack London Square, like two neanderthal scenes in a modern museum.

Despite the preciousness of the setting, Heinold's feels reasonably intimate and relaxed inside on this day, aware of its history certainly, but feeling enough like a neighborhood bar that one doesn't feel like you're taking your turn in a Disney exhibit. The drinks are limited to a small but reasonable selection of beers and standard spirits -- you wouldn't want anything more at a classic like this. The limited ceiling and wall spaces are crammed with memorabilia, along with the stove-blackened dollar bills and business cards of various generations of men heading off to sea and/or to military service. The original potbellied stove remains the only source of heat, and it is the last commercial building in California retaining original gas lighting. It would, of course, be a grave sin to move the bar from its historic location and cherished uneven pilings, but it is pleasing for me to imagine trundling into this place some dark evening through several inches of snow.

Jack London Square, 48 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94607 - (510) 839-6761
Est. 1883 - Building constructed: 1880
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: heinolds.com - facebook
Best articles: johnny heinhold - wikipedia - atlasobscura - thepioneeronline - beeradvocate - palladiumboots - cocktailia - yelp

#2059 - The Pub, Albany, CA - 2/24/2013

Formerly Schmidt's Pub, now just "The Pub," this place is both super quiet and conducive to discussion. It can be like that thanks to the various rooms and outdoor spaces, as there appears to have been minimal remodeling from when this was someone's home. They have a few nice beers but the vibe is much more that of a coffee house than a bar, with customers buried in books, laptops, and chess games.

1492 Solano Ave Albany, CA 94706 - (510) 525-1900
Est. 1980 (as Schmidt's)
Previous bars in this location: Schmidt's Pub
Web site: schmidtspub.com - facebook
Reviews: patch - janabouc - yelp

#2058 - Johnny Foley's Irish House, San Francisco - 2/23/2013

I don't know if there are two words in the English language that could make me less enthusiastic about a bar than "dueling pianos." Thankfully, we were spared that this evening, and the cover bands as well, and left to have a peaceful cocktail in this paradigmatic Irish pub setting.


243 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102 - (415) 954-0777
Est. 1998
Web site: johnnyfoleys.com
Reviews: link - examiner - blackbookmag - sanfranciscotravel - yelp

#2057 - John's Grill, San Francisco - 2/23/2013

John's Grill is a classic old (105 years) steakhouse and, as the signage, menus, glasses, and decor are continually reminding you, was a haunt of Dashiell Hammett and a setting for "The Maltese Falcon." Indeed, a copy of prop from the Bogart movie was obtained by the owner, stolen from the restaurant, and then replaced by a copy of the copy (of the copy). You know what you're getting at John's -- essentially what you would get in any good, old-fashioned, formal steakhouse -- and the staff are friendly and efficient. I also has a pleasant time chatting with Carla, whom I met at the bar, and it did indeed rather seem like Sam Spade could have slipped onto an adjacent barstool at any time.

63 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102 - (415) 986-3274             
Est. 1908
Web site: johnsgrill.com (sound) - facebook
Reviews: expatgourmand - sfweekly - eater - sanfrancisco.com - urbanspoon - yelp

#2056 - Tempest, San Francisco - 2/23/2013

I saw many references to what a dive the Tempest is, but it's the sort of dive that has fairly deftly executed artwork -- not the sort of old stuff that could have come from Goodwill -- and the old regulars appear to bike messengers. It also serves food that seems pretty un-dive-like; e.g. they serve corndogs, but they're jalapeno corndogs with aioli. I dropped by in the middle of a sunny afternoon, which may have made in seem all the less divey, and it seems like the new owners may have modernized a bit since acquiring it in 2010.

In any case, it's still a cool bar and somewhat hidden in a somewhat divey part of town.

431 Natoma St, San Francisco, CA 94103 - (415) 495-1863
Est. 1991
Web site: facebook
Best reviews: sfgate - spottedbylocals - unlike - yelp - do415 - toiletsoftheworld

#2055 - Farmerbrown, San Francisco - 2/23/2013

"farmerbrown is about supporting local and african-american farmers, using organic, biodynamic, and/or sustainably raised foods, and beverages whenever possible." -- farmerbrownsf.com

"'Soul food as interpreted for SF hipsters" -- Zagat commenter

Those two comments pretty much capture the place. It's a nice stop for brunch, and the cocktails, while not delicately crafted, create some interesting spins with juices.

25 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102 - (415) 409-3276
Est. June 2006
Web site: farmerbrownsf.com
Reviews:  sfgate - sfweekly - chowhound - gayot - yelp

#2054 - Summer Place, San Francisco - 2/22/2013

A pleasant little dive just above the Tenderloin decorated with a jangle of miscellaneous items that seem to represent every theme except Summer. This includes a fireplace, where apparently you can sit and smoke for some reason.

801 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108 - (415) 441-2263
Reviews: examiner -  everybarinsf - sfsu - yelp - tripadvisor