2008 Day 7 - Stern Grove

Wowzers... 7b7n 2008 is a wrap folks, but summer in the city is just beginning! One day after the solstice, day 7 at Stern Grove wasn't technically a bar, but we brought the bar to the party. The planned superlative was Closest Bar to Stern Grove, but would you rather toss back lemon drop shooters to groovy Afrobeat rhythms or spend that time in a dark corner of Grandma's Saloon?

Photos from Day 7 here!

It's that time for shout outs, so to begin... Big kudos to Josh for making it to all 7 this year! Honorable mention goes to the steady, dependable Roy and trigger-happy Monko for making it to 6 each. Also deserving recognition are Ian and Rachel, new to the US but not new to drinking! Not to be forgotten... everyone else! Thank you all for making it out this week and taking some time to get to know each other a little better. We at planning posse headquarters can't wait for 2009!

2008 Day 6 - Candy Bar

Day 6... Though we didn't try all that many desserts at Candy Bar, we certainly could have - they were abundantly available at San Francisco's First Dessert Lounge. The lengthy list of fortified wines was enough to keep everyone busy for awhile, and when we got bored... ugly face contest!

Photos here!

Candy Bar info - time change

We've made it through to day 6, everyone... bottoms up!! The meeting time for our Saturday night rendezvous at Candy Bar has changed, however. In order to accommodate all of you beautiful people, our friends at Candy Bar have agreed to section off an area of the lounge for us, providing we wait until 9:30 pm to arrive. See you all then! Info here.

2008 Day 5 - The Buckshot

TGIF! TGTBAE! (thank god this bar actually exists!)

Flip-flop weather at 9:00 pm in the Richmond district.... is it:

• Impending global warming doom?
• The day before summer solstice?
• God smiling on 7b7n?

The Buckshot was the perfect place for a few rounds of skee-ball and shuffleboard... and tonight's superlative? The SF Bar with the Most Wall-Mounted Antlers, of course! (sadly no pic of this)

Non-antler pics here.

2008 Day 4 - Kilowatt

Sadly we we directed everyone to a very much nonexistent bar last night. Fortunately due to everyone's admirable tolerance and flexibility, we still were able to rock it at backup location #2, Kilowatt. Therefore, last night's superlative will have to be changed from the planned Most Highly Rated bar on Yelp to the far more accurate Bar Most in Need of a Web Site Update.

We passed the halfway point last night... kudos everyone! We're getting downright good at this. See all the fun for yourself and decide who came out on top during our biggest mouth competition here.

Last night was also a milestone in that we had our first random encounter with a 7b7n fan! 7b7n enthusiast Elena recognized our telltale bracelets and outed us even though we were in a totally unexpected bar... new and convincing proof that 7b7n is getting some serious name recognition!

details for the 7b7n finale at Stern Grove

Sunday's location: Stern Grove

rally time: 11:30 am (concert at 2:00 pm)

what to bring:

• drinks (alcohol is allowed in Stern Grove) to share
• eats to share
• blanket to sit on
• layers of clothing
• deck of cards, group games, etc.
• magazines, newspapers, etc.
• sunscreen
• anything else you might need to sustain you during our all-day event!

the plan: we're hoping to get a good-sized group there early enough in the day to stake out an area sufficiently large for all 7b7n participants. once settled, we can sip our beer/wine/etc., picnic, and enjoy the show.

after the show concludes, we will close out 7b7n with a final hurrah...the aftershot! there will be several shot options to choose from (ranging on the sweetness spectrum from sissy-style to straight-up liquor). if you have a favorite shooter of your own, feel free to bring it along!

Thursday night venue changed!

Apparently the Speakeasy Brewery no longer is open to the public, so last minute change of plans - if you're reading this go to The Monk's Kettle on 16th between Valencia and Guerrero. Map here.

2008 Day 3 - Balboa Cafe

By now it should come as a surprise to no one that 7b7b day three took place at SF's Most Infamous Cougar Den, more commonly known as the Balboa Cafe. This breezy Cow Hollow hangout for the well-heeled offered up quality people watching, famous burgers on baguettes and a new signature drink - The Pain in the Ass.

Did anyone stop and think whether cougars have spots? No matter.

Photos here.

2008 Day 2 - Ha Ra Club

The 7b7n revelers at Ha Ra club last night got a taste of a couple superlatives... They quaffed beverages at SF's Best Dive Bar (and apparently most reasonably priced at $3.25 a pop for mixed drinks) and got to shudder before the city's Most Belligerent Bartender! Unfortunately (fortunately?) the legendary Carl was Bambi-gentle the whole night, assuming the man behind the bar wasn't his doppelganger. See pics here.

2008 Day 1 - Olive

Like a pheonix rising, 7b7n emerges from the ashes of '07 and lands smack at Olive SF in the 'loin. We had a great showing tonight despite it being Monday... see the pics here. Big props to Justin for being the very first 7b7n attendee of '08!



One thing we forgot to mention in the initial post is that the unifying theme of 7b7n '08 is that each bar was chosen because of a superlative associated with it. In other words, each place is the most ____, the best ____ or the first ____... you get the picture. Your job is to fill in the blank by going each night and experiencing whatever mostest is in the offing.

For all you wondering about tonight, well Olive just happens to have San Francisco's Best All-Night Martini Happy Hour!

2008 is ON!

Rejoice! The (metaphorical) cocktail of fun that is 7 bars in 7 nights is (literally) back for 2008, and not a moment too soon! Last year was such a smashing success that the event clearly needed to become a) an annual tradition, and b) the subject of a blog!

For those of you who aren't familiar with 7B7N, (or were blacked out for most of last year's event), the concept is simple: we're gonna visit seven different bars over seven sequential nights. the primary objective of 7B7N isn't so much to be sloshed for a week straight... though this outcome is by no means discouraged. Rather, 7B7N is an effort to pull ourselves away from nightly double-dates with Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert to gather with good friends in unique venues. It's a loosely organized week-long survey course of SF drinking establishments that's equal parts social, chemical, experimental, monumental, and incidental!

Like last year, collectible tokens will be distributed to attendees each night. Collecting all seven would be very awesome indeed... We hope that you're able to join us for one or more of the nights... and you're more than encouraged to invite friends and loved ones as well!

The general info for each night is on the invite. We're meeting at each of the venues starting at 7:30 pm, but feel free to drop by anytime after that. Sunday is the exception this year - We'll be going to the Stern Grove show then doing an aftershot! Details on meeting time/place to come later in the week.

Mark your calendars now, and feel free to spread the word... Kudos to you if you can piece together the overarching theme of the week!

- The Planning Posse (Megan, Janet, Emily and Graham)

7b7n History 101

Back in '07 (when 7b7n was immaculately conceived) we were sadly blogless. Here are some artifacts from that year that should both titillate newcomers and moisten the eyes of old-timers in misty remembrance...

Day 1 (Zeitgeist)

Great turnout today! Hopefully we will all get to reunite tomorrow night for round 2.... :)

http://portobello.smugmug.com/gallery/2983409#161525722

Day 2 (Trad'r Sam)

Nicely done everyone! Hope you all slept off the scorpion bowls. Here are some photos from last night -
http://portobello.smugmug.com/gallery/2990870#162051460

Looking forward to a mellower celebration at Yield Wine Bar tonight!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/qxaYckrMuYu1PugSY1njzA


Day 3 (Yield)

Here are the pics from last night... great seeing some veterans and rookies alike out there.

http://portobello.smugmug.com/gallery/2997417#162507721

Good job making it to 7b7n Hump Day!! Tonight at 8:30 is revolution cafe... I'm told there will be music. Let's hope the heat wave holds into the night.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/XmJvy41_tJLOS8WCAVQB5g


Day 4 (Revolution)

Another night, another round of pics. Sorry so many have me in them.. I swear I'm not that narcissistic!!
I don't know about you guys but I loved Revolution! I think we need to go back there before too long.

http://portobello.smugmug.com/gallery/3000935#162774832

If anyone wants off this email list, please let me know... it's looking like we should have started a blog for this thing! Also it's been cool how people have been brainstorming other themed social concept events... although I don't think anyone is yet on board with my 7 Psychedelic Trips, 7 Nights idea...

Tonight should be a fun one - Bourbon & Branch! We've got a lot of interest in this one so it should be a short, sweet hour of fun. Don't forget to don your bracelets...

http://www.yelp.com/biz/aud84H-NpMx3opWPtLX-vg


Day 5 (Bourbon & Branch)

Friday is here, and not a moment too soon... we have all had a taxing week of extended high-impact socializing. Great to see you all again last night, though we shall of course "speak easy" regarding the alleged events. The walls have ears...

http://portobello.smugmug.com/gallery/3006587#163148750

What better way to wrap up the week than by unwinding at Kennedy's and playing some foosball and air hockey? Janet has claimed that she'll mop the floor with me at air hockey, but we all know better. I've been doing visualization exercises all week and am prepped for victory.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/TgFUSRFSgfNhzi-2ZWC8Ug

- Graham "lemon on fire" McDermott

Day 6 (Kennedy's)

Friends... we are in the home stretch. Last night at Kennedy's was a fine addition to the series. We were graced by some new faces and some old stalwarts, but through everyone coursed the palpable dedication that is the magic stuff of 7 Bars in 7 Nights. Well done. For those of you that didn't make it, I think the pictures can speak for themselves:

http://portobello.smugmug.com/gallery/3011799#163492637

We hope to see as many of you as possible tonight at the grand finale. I don't know much about Etiquette Lounge, but their website starts with a William Blake quote so I'm anticipating something fantastic.

http://www.etiquettelounge.com/home.htm
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nZO-ERIANw117v1IcxUCdA

Cheers!
Graham "3rd Hookah's a Charm" McDermott

Day 7 (Etiquette)

Seven hand-picked bars... Seven consecutive nights! We've done what we set out to do, and not a moment too soon. Things were beginning to get downright ridiculous at night 7 at Etiquette, so it's probably best that for now there is no night #8:

http://portobello.smugmug.com/gallery/3019760#164014355

Before we go any further, it must be acknowledged that Roy "Punctual" Kimura gets enormous props for being the only non-organizer to attend all seven nights!!! If you happen to see Roy, please give him a pat on the back (and a wink for picking up that cute, single dental student).

On behalf of all of us here at 7b7n headquarters, thanks for making this such a great time! The requests have been mounting to make this an annual 7b7n event! I can't think of a better way to kick off summer each year.

Signing off,
Graham "Kamikaze" McDermott