October Events

Of course we all know that this weekend will be a crazy one round the Bay, what with the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park, Fleet Week, and the America's Cup. As it turns out, thanks to the German Oktoberfest and the timing of the grape harvest, there is also a ton going on in the booze biz this whole month. Here's enough events for the next two weeks so you can maintain a nice buzz:

Beer

Oaktoberfest- Saturday, October 6, 11AM-6PM, 2 miles from the Fruitvale BART

If you're in the East Bay or thinking about being there, check out Oakland's take on the German festival. The website calls it a "family friendly street fair," but don't let that deter you- there will be beer from 20+ microbreweries, not to mention a homebrew competition, and of course food and live music. Plus an eco kids' fair, but still, you might want to leave the kids at home... Music and street entertainment is free, but if you're gonna go, you probably want to buy a beer ticket. Just a guess.

If you really love your beer and just can't get enough, you're in luck, catch Redwood City's Peninsula Oktoberfest next Saturday, 10/13. SF's was last weekend.

Wine

Watch the Blue Angels and drink some wine at The Winery SF, today through Sunday 10/7, 12-5PM. They are celebrating with special Fleet Week Flights for $10, at their spot on Treasure Island.

For more wine on Treasure Island, there's the Best of Lodi California Wines festival, Saturday, 10/6 1-5PM. More than 45 wineries from Lodi, CA will be there with samples of their wares, not to mention a great view of the jets. This one's on the pricier side and requires a $55 (advance) or $65 (at the door) ticket. That includes fancy snacks to soak up the alcohol, of course.

A bit further from the city there's the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, today-Sunday 10/7. This larger wine festival features more than 150 wineries, a grape stomp, and a general celebration of the fall grape harvest. Plus some microbreweries, for the beer drinkers that have been dragged along. Tickets into the event are $10, plus another $15 for tasting. Also the San Carlos Art and Wine Faire (the 'e' on the end really makes it special), 10/6-10/7, is pretty self-explanatory. You know, art, wine, crafts, classic cars, live music, the works. Seems like this one might ACTUALLY be free...

Thursday, 10/11, taste more wine at the Union Street Wine Walk. This street fair in Cow Hollow/Pac Heights will feature crafts, food, and wine tasting from local vineyards and restaurants up and down Union and Fillmore Streets. Once again, this "free" event isn't actually free, since a tasting bracelet and "complimentary" wine glass costs $30. 4-8PM.

Finally, the Wine & Spirits Magazine's Top 100 Tasting Event on Wednesday, 10/17, 6:30-8:30PM in the Financial District. This one broadens the spectrum, featuring not just local wine, but the wineries around the world that were rated most highly by W&S tasting events throughout the year. Tickets are $105. Includes food by local chefs and wine tastings.

Spirits

Because there aren't enough booze festivals in this town, they're adding another- San Francisco's First Craft Spirits Carnival arrives next weekend, 10/13-10/14, 2-5PM at the Fort Mason Pavilion. The website promises craft spirits from more than 100 distilleries, everything from whiskey to tequila to grappa, plus an "edgy Vaudville-style Carnival Spectacular". For the low low ticket price of $125.

So much to drink, so little time. Better get started.