It’s different from where I came from and where I came to. Might seem too obvious, trite perhaps, but it’s true. And I like it. There is that one thing that keeps on  knocking in the back of my head. And it’s not the hot iron I left on, or the fridge door that was left open…

It’s about the one of the most important events of the year, right  after both Solstices, International Women’s Day, and every Wednesday –

The Annual Russian Festival is here! It’s happening this weekend, Friday through Sunday, and serves up dozens of cultural flavors — from pepper vodka to squat dancing. Go, soak it in. Trust me — it’s an eye openner.

S bolshoi lyubovyu,

Ctac.

Good thing about starting the new year is that you can do everything for the first time. Well, you can tell yourself that it’s the first time this year. It’s in essence the same as prefab ramen noodles – call it seafood mix, if you must, but it’s still tastes like… well, like ramen. But there is that tingling sensation that it’s all so fresh and exciting. It feels good, it promises to be wonderful, and some of us even got presents and  recognition. What a year it will be!

 I am going to skip the whole resolutions bit, since mine has been for years now to get the message out early, and jump straight to business – today’s, January 13, 2009 Puff’n’sip will start promptly @

 5:11 PM @ Harlot, 46 Minna (@ 2nd)

and proceed @

7:03 PM to Cigar Bar and Grill, 850 Montgomery (@ Jackson)

Lotsa love,

Big Red.

It’s almost here. And like every year, I get this conflicting feeling – it’s giddy and melancholy all at the same time. I inevitably go through the list of ‘the last time this year’, every entry followed up by a subdued giggle. Everything feels like it’s due for a new start, new begging, something so different that only the new year can deliver. Maybe it’s because in the olde country they would not give children their presents until the first morning of the year… But then there is the stark realization that this is it. The end. There is a very high likelihood that it will never, ever again be a 2009…

Oh, well. I liked mine and it was good to me. And there is always 2010. I just hope that a year from now I’d feel even stronger about 2010 passing.

Now, for the last time this year, to business! Today’s, December 30, 2009 Puff’n’sip will start the end-of-the-year celebration by kicking off at

4:09 PM @ 83 Proof, 83 First Street (@ Mission)

and carry on at

5:29 to Rickhouse, 246 Kearny (@ Pine)

to finish off at

6:59 PM @ Cigar Bar and Grill, 850 Montgomery (@ Jackson)

Happy New Year, yall!

Lotsa love,

Big Red.

But I do wonder sometimes what would IT have been if… it was not for the clever scheme to make money off a jolly large man with a handsome white beard, or if the Russians didn’t stop Tatar-Mongols on their spring break trip to Europe, or even if the guy with a scraggly beard, way back, decided that 30 coins was just not worth it… My guess, that it would have been a large bear, or a pony. But thanks to all the above, and a couple things in between, we got Santa Claus!
And the annual Bad Santa Pub Crawl is here!!!!

Remember, there is a plenty of time to get ready, and:
• We’re raising funds for the SF Food Bank! We’ll be passing the hat, as well as selling Santa hats ($10) and full Santa costumes ($25), profit goes to SF Food Bank. 2 Costumes left!
• Caroling stop at Union Square! We’re actually going to attempt a couple Christmas Carols. Bring a flask for courage.

4:30 to 5:30PM 83 Proof, 83 1st St
5:30 to 7:00PM Otis, 25 Maiden Lane (Otis is donating 10% of our tab to SF Food Bank!)
7:00 to 7:30PM Union Square caroling stop
7:30 to 8:30PM Gold Dust, 247 Powell St
8:30 to 10:30PM Swig, 561 Geary St
10:30 to ?? Aces, 998 Sutter St

And map: http://bit.ly/BadSanta2009

Bad Santa Pub Crawl Committee

Big Red is “scrambling,” he tells me. And thirsty. But we know that most of you are busy pulling that last-minute costume together, or saving yourself for tomorrows holiday party. We forgive you.

But Puff-n-Sip is still on:

5:30 PM at Alfred’s Steak House, 659 Merchant Street. It’s in the alley between Montgomery and Kearny, 1/2 block north of Clay. Same alley as Cafe Prague.

7:10PM to Cigar Bar and Grill, hopefully

Maybe see you tonight, or tomorrow.

Andy Barry
as POA for BigRed

Next Wednesday many of us will be out of town, or leaving work early, so no Puff-n-Sip next week! Use it to prepare your liver for December.

Today’s menu: a very generic, but comforting PnS:
5-ish at 83 Proof
7-ish at Cigar Bar and Grill

And don’t forget to reserve Friday December 11 for the Bad Santa Pub Crawl!

Cheers,
AndyBarry
as POA for Big Red

Save the date for the 5th Annual Bad Santa Pub Crawl!

Friday, December 11th beginning around 4:30PM

More details later. Meanwhile, help us paint the town red. Here are some resources:

• www.mysantasuit.com
• www.santasuits.com
• rent from Costumes on Haight
• or just search for “santa suit” on google or ebay

Please help us by forwarding to others!

Bad Santa Pub Crawl Committee

I think the bridge has been mended. But the sky is blue too. Such a lovely day…and the night to come. Renewed inspiration however, is yet elusive. Is it in a drink? Perhaps if one gazes at it long enough. You’ll soon find out!!!

Now, on to the important details

5:18 PM @ Zebulon,  83 Natoma St. (Howard between 1st and 2nd)
and stroll over @
7:17 PM  to Cigar Bar & Grill, 850 Montgomery (@ Jackson)

Lotsa Love!

BigRed (ish)

Aloha kâkou!

We tried to wait until the Bad Santa crawl, but we miss tiki too much. Join us this Friday, October 23^rd,  for a tiki pub crawl!

Crawl Itinerary (Map)

4:45 to 6:00 PM Pre-crawl @ EZ5 (684 Commercial St @ Kearny)

For the early crowd we’ll stage at “El Cinco” and chow on musubi spam!

6:00 to 7:30 PM @ Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum (12 Saroyan Aly off Columbus)

A cross between a museum and a dive bar, truly unique!

7:30 to 9:00 PM @ Bamboo Hut(479 Broadway @ Kearny)

Happy hour! Half price tiki cocktails, including those high-octane volcano bowls! Whoever drinks the cancerous-flaming 151 rum in the middle of the bowl doesn’t pay!

9:30 to 10:30 PM @ Hawaii West (729 Vallejo St @ Stockton)

It’s a tiki dive, but you won’t remember anything after 9 PM anyway

11:00 onward @ EZ5 (684 Commercial St @ Kearny)

Yes, that’s right, the EZ-5 bookends! You’re going to be crying like a wild dingo in the outback.

Dress Code

aloha shirts, grass skirts, coconut bras, flower leis, and/or sarongs

Tara, Andy, & Yung

Puff-n-Sip Costume Pub Crawl Subcommittee

You should be able to tell by the title that this is nothing but good news. Indeed, things are looking up, and a true optimist will never hit the bottom simply for the lack of thereof. Life is full of affirmations. There’s the world’s orientation, with the sun always coming up in the east, that would guide you to your homeport. In woods, there are bears and more than a few hands clapping. At night, there is the Polar Star… On Wednesdays there is Puff’n’sip.

Today’s, October 14, 2009 Puff’n’sip will kick off @

5:14 PM @ Harlot, 46 Minna (@ Shaw)

and continue @

7:03 PM to Cigar Bar and Grill, 850 Montgomery (@ Jackson)

Lotsa love,

BigRed