The gifts have been unwrapped, your Festivus pole has been returned to storage, the eggnog is drunk and the Fat Man in the Red Suit isn't due back for roughly 350 days. If the most wonderful time of the year has passed and left you depressed and missing an eye, last week may have been your perfect intervention! For the second year in a row, Yelp San Francisco treated the 415 to a lil' holiday hair of the dog with all the fixings at Big Daddy's Antiques in Potrero Hill!
Night 1: Hyphy in the Hamptons
Kicking off the week of festivities, we channeled the spirit of ol' Sean "P. Diddy" Combs for an all white celebration of all things hip-hop. Freestyle rhymes emanated as Mr. Jahi spit an entire set of East Bay style microphone mechanics, accompanied by the hot steps from the Soul Con Dance Company. The crew from Suchada was back for a second straight year to hook up relaxing chair and table massages for those weary from a night of unabashed indulgence, Snap Fiesta kicked off their week long residency in style, DJ Sonny Phono was in the house with a playlist to please any rap junkie, and Skyy, along with Rye on the Road, Trumer Pilsner, Fiji water, and wine from Harrington and Green Barrel ensured all in attendance were able to attain a tasty, tasty buzz. The evening also featured complimentary savory treats from Txoko, Indian Bento, popchips, and Bottle Cap… and to satisfy that sweet tooth, Cynically Delicious and Landru Chocolates had samples of their sacchariferous delights. Behind the lens, check out roving photos from our pal Asia at PHOTOSTUDIO29.
Night 2: Boom, Baby, Boom!
Big Daddy's is arguably one of the best antique flea markets in the country with an entire inventory of retro, hard-to-find goodies… so on night two, we payed homage to their historic collection with a Baby Boomer era banger ripe for any age group.
DJ Tanoa set the mood with his collection of old timey 45-records from yesteryear, while the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology treated attendees to '40s style updos that'd make Lucille Ball want to return to form and beat the drum. Additionally, if you've ever found yourself wandering around Union Square and have stumbled upon the one-man-band known as Jordan Wilson, you'll be pleased to find out he set aside some time to pop by for a rare special performance. Suchada retained their week long residency with a slew of complimentary body manipulations, Snap Fiesta ensured there was a second round of magic at our old school photo booth, and Rye on the Road (together with Skyy), tapped into the Mad Men era with a host of Don Draper-inspired elixirs to fully capture the feel of the '40s. Savory nibbles from The Pub @ Ghirardelli Square, Dobb's Ferry, and Le Truc paired with sugary treats from Barbary Brix, Mission Minis, and Loving Cup surely satiated the collective palates of any gourmand in the building. Of course, our pals at Fiji, Trumer Pilsner, and Navarro Wines with select wineries participating in the 7th Annual Int'l Alsace Varietals Festival rounded out the night with libations fit for a king or queen. Check out PHOTOSTUDIO29 for images from the studded occasion.
Night 3: Silent Storm Sound System's Neon Beat
Back by popular demand, we teamed up with Silent Storm Sound System for a night of silent booty shakin', '80s style!
DJ Sonny Phono and Facemelter provided the sound of the '80s with a Punky Brewster-influenced set that brought everyone back to the age of the Brat Pack. Suchada was in the mix for the third straight night with relaxing chair and full body rub downs, and Rye on the Road, in conjunction with Skyy, improved upon classic '80s drinks like the Long Island Iced Tea and Cosmo for a nostalgic sip down memory lane. Trumer Pilsner was on-site once again, as was Fiji water, with appearances from Cornerstone Cellars and Stepping Stone Cellars to boot. Comestibles from Puccini & Pinetti, Pacific Catch, Eat Curbside, Neo Cocoa, Polkadotties, Sweet Lauren Cakes, and Doll's Kitchen kept the metabolism high and dance floor energized, as silence continued to envelop the room for the duration of the evening. Airbrush artist Clay Chollar rang in with nifty designs for pea cocking denizens, and in a recurring theme, Snap Fiesta had their photo booth up and running throughout the soiree. Take a gander at some of PHOTOSTUDIO29's captures from the silent dance par-tay as well.
Night 4: Sneaky Tiki
The weather outside might be cold, but the surf was up and it was hot, hot, hot for this Thursday night summary retreat!
The surf pop stylings of Drifting Sand provided the tenor for an instant San Francisco Staycation, and Rye on the Road's blended hooch from Skyy transported folks to a tropical location hundreds of miles from home. It's not a party unless the crew from San Franpsycho is on board, and they had the milk van parked out front while screen printing custom t-shirts inside at Big Daddy's. To melt away the stress from the long week, Suchada was on hand for the 4th straight skate, and hula-hoop darling Cressie Mae stole the show with a Shakira-esque performance that proved, in fact, her hips don't lie. T-We Tea, Fiji, Trumer Pilsner, Eric Kent Wines, and Beachside Coffee helped to wash down the delectable little vittles courtesy of Ike's Place, The Brick Yard, Grand Cafe, Socola Chocolatier, Miz Lynn's Pies, and Sweet Constructions. Keeping on track, Snap Fiesta had the shutter lens flying, and PHOTOSTUDIO29 kept a close eye on the festivities once again.
Night 5: Yelperstitious
Had enough? Not until one last spirited affair to end the week on Friday the 13th!
Goth and industrial tunes proliferated throughout Potrero Hill as House of Voodoo perfected a haunted soundtrack that set the stage for the most unlucky day of the year, while Wanugee the Mystical tapped into the afterlife with Chinese-style tarot readings to give some sense of clarity for those daring enough to learn of their futures in 2012. Atelier Emmanuel brought out their team of stylists to transform the crowd into chic creatures of the night, while Jon Casey captured the essence in caricature form for all to see. Suchada ended their 5-night stint with another well-received appearance, while partygoers sipped on Skyy's possessed potables courtesy of Rye on the Road. Berkeley's Trumer Pilsner kept the beer fans happy with their fifth appearance of the week, Fiji completed their 120-hour stint with refreshing h20 for all, while Long Meadow Ranch and The Donum Estate ensured oenophiles never went thirsty. Guests also enjoyed a nice spread of food stuffs from Ike's Place, Nico's Tacos, Koja Kitchen, The Butcher's Daughter, Radio Africa & Kitchen, Cocotutti, and Frozen Kuhsterd. Check out the final day's bloody photo booth shots from Snap Fiesta, and don't miss the wrap from our lil' buddies from PHOTOSTUDIO29.
Phew! If that leaves you wanting more, be sure to check out all the reviews of Yelp's Holiday Hangover 2.0 here. Big ups to Wonder Dog Rescue, Trapeze Arts, Rye on the Road, Skyy, and the fine folks at Big Daddy's Antiques for one heck of a party! Until next time, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars, frendo.
