Gear:Summer Blowout at True Sole 1429 Haight St, at Masonic; Upper Haight 415.626.2600 True's taking up to 75% off most of its kicks, including Nike dunks (hi and low), Claes in patent and suede, skate shoes by C1rca (in business since circa '92), and Gravis casuals in muted tones (Barry Maniyellow?). More deets & shoes at TrueClothing.net
Eat:Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria Opened yesterday at 21021 Geyserville Ave; Geyserville 707.814.0111 Situated in a century old, brick-walled/hardwood-floored building, DPS sits 40 at both copper and old-bowling-lane tables, plus another 6 at the wine bar. The main event's house-cured salumi and specialty ‘zas like the N’dugo/arugula/stracchino “Diavola”; small plates get creative with the likes of octopus w/ crostini and fennel, and ox tongue w/ potatoes, green onion, and olive oil so fresh, oxen everywhere can’t stop trying to talk about it. Check the menu and wine list
Drink:2nd Annual Bierfest Sat Jul 12, 2pm, at The Endup 401 6th St, at Harrison; SOMA 415.357.0827 At this all-day beer-lympics, $20 gets you as much Spaten as it takes to compete in a round robin of beer pong, quarters, flip cup, pretzel toss, beer trivia, straight-up chugging, and long pour (teammates pour into each other’s mouths from a ladder). Your team of six must include at least one female, which will sweeten your typical beer pounding extravaganza's ratio by infinity percent. Bierfest is a 22yr-old female! Sign up for it at Myspace.
Eat:Umami Jul 14-Aug 3 ($85) at Ame; 689 Mission St, at 3rd; SOMA 415.284.4040 On Monday, Hiro Sone will roll out SF's first-ever tasting menu specifically designed to showcase Umami, the mysterious "fifth taste": the essence of protein, once unlocked by MSG, here summoned by natural ingredients like soybean, wheat, and seasalt. Start off with Umam-ized raw bites like nuka pickle/ponzu kampachi carpaccio (citrussy/tart/tangy yellowtail), hit your stride with hot mains like sake-marinated cod in minty shiso broth, then finish things off with caramel ice cream w/ shoyu powder (a substance guaranteed to shoyu the meaty). Check the menu here
Gear:30% off Ksubi shades at Azalea 411 Hayes St, at Gough; Hayes Valley; 415.861.9888 The Aussies behind Ksubi gained international notoriety for releasing rats at a runway show, but their surf-inspired, strikingly colored and patterned shades are noteworthy sans vermin. Highlights include the purple, round-framed Bayliss and the acetate-framed Geezer in tortoise -- modded up, old-man style Florida sunblockers that'll help you slay the 60+ women your grandfather wishes he could bag. They're all for sale at Ksubi.com; five styles discounted at Azalea if you mention Thrillist
