Turning Your Commute Into Art

(Image courtesy of The Bold Italic)

Inspiration is all around us, especially for revolutionary designer, Sean Porter. During his morning commute, the fashion designer was moved by the simple color palate of the BART tickets and thus his latest project was born! The Bold Italic has the details of this story - keep reading to learn more.

One man's discarded BART ticket is another man’s art — at least that’s the case with Oakland designer Sean Porter, who stitched together 192 BART tickets to create a one-of-kind cocktail dress called the b’ART dress.

While many Bay Area commuters go out of their way to avoid butt-to-BART-seat contact, Porter spent three years scavenging tickets and crafting his unique dress, which is currently on display at Piedmont Fabrics in Oakland. The actual sewing of the dress took only a few months.

Porter moved to the Bay Area from Mobile, Alabama, hoping to further his career in fashion. Instead of cursing endless BART delays under his breath like so many transplants do, he got inspired by the agency's ubiquitous paper tickets. “I fell in love with the simple color palette of the blue BART ticket," he told The Bold Italic.

Although he has a passion for working with unusual materials, Porter knew he had his work cut out for him when he came up with the idea for a BART cocktail dress. "I knew BART tickets would not be the easiest material to work with," he said, "and I began to sketch out different designs for the dress."

BART isn’t the only Bay Area icon that influenced him either. The skirt's triangular shape was inspired by the TransAmerica building and took 120 tickets to fashion together. “The bold black and white lines were perfect for giving the effect of lines created by dark windows and the light colored cement of the TransAmerica Pyramid," Porter said. “The skirt of the dress is just a side of the TransAmerica Pyramid. I love the way it flares out."

To accompany his b’ART dress, Porter also created the BART system dress, with draped velour ribbon mimicking the familiar commuter map.

What’s next for this innovative up-and-coming designer? “I would be glad to do any future collaborations with any of the other transit agencies, but right now I am putting together a ready-to-wear women's collection," he said.

The b’ART Dress and BART system map are on display at Piedmont Fabrics in Oakland through the end of March.

San Francisco Nightlife

(Image courtesy of Shannon)

The weekend is just around the corner, so how are you going to spend your time off? If you're thinking of heading out this weekend, (and why wouldn't you? San Francisco has amazing night life!) do you know what you'll be spending your money on? This article from SF Gate breaks down the typical spending habits of San Franciscans on their nights out - does this match up with your social scene?

Ticket fees, $9 beers, Uber fares — it's no secret that going out at night can add up. But where does your money go?

S.F.-based Eventbrite recently analyzed data from more than 10,000 nightlife events — from concerts to film, theater to visual arts, fashion to charity — that took place from February to December 2014, then surveyed the more than 4,000 people who went to them to get an idea of spending habits and preferences.

So, what did they find? In San Francisco, we really like our live music and drinks. And suprisingly, we have some of the lowest ticket prices for concerts of the six metro areas polled (New York, Austin, Chicago, Atlanta and L.A. were also in the mix).

Here are the takeaways:

The cost breakdown. On average, San Franciscans spend $71 for a night out, with about the same amount of money going toward tickets as going to drinks. We tied Austin for the cheapest night out. Who would have thought?

How often: The majority of those surveyed go out two nights a week on average (40%), while 31% go out 3+ nights a week and 100% go out at least one night a week.

San Franciscans like to drink. Those polled said they usually have three drinks in a night, with 15% saying they down five or more. Only 6% say they don't drink at all when they go out. Chicagoans drink more than us though — 27% say they consume five or more drinks in a night.

How we get around. Luckily, all that boozing doesn't go hand in hand with getting behind the wheel. San Franciscans prefer using ride sharing apps more than other cities (64% vs. 45%). We're also more likely to walk or take the bus compared to other cities.

Live music is where it's at. Eighty-three percent of all the tickets sold are for music events, compared to the national average of 64%. We also really like to dance — "getting one's groove on" was the most commonly cited reason for getting out at night.

Breaking it down by genre: For music events, here's how it goes: EDM shows (54%), hip-hop/rap (34%), indie (29%), rock (27%) and alternative (25%).

Getting our snack on: No surprise here. We like our burritos — 39% of those polled said this was the late-night snack of choice. But a whopping 24% said they went for a bacon-wrapped hot dog (we have a feeling this is the alcohol talking). Other cities went for pizza (NYC, Chicago), Korean BBQ (L.A.), Waffle House (Atlanta, natch) and tacos (Austin)

Bottoms Up!

Image courtesy of Sigfrid Lunberg

Sometimes it's not simply enough to head to just any old restaurant or bar for happy hour. Every once in awhile you and your friends want to venture out to try something new - and what better way to do that than by exploring a bar with excellent servers and an extensive list of brews on tap.This article from 7X7 offers a sample of the ten best bar selections in San Francisco. So grab your friends and head out on the town. Cheers!

10. The Willows – This funky SOMA bar has an excellent rotating selection of rare craft beers well paired with sandwiches, sliders, and big ass burgers. A pool table, along with extensive board and arcade games, enable tipplers to while away the day. Check the web site for tap takeovers and other events.

9. The Beer Hall – This snug upscale Civic Center taproom has 20 rotating beers on draft, all Californians, and mostly from the Bay Area. Beer drinkers wanting more variety can select from over 200 bottled beers, which can either be consumed onsite or as takeout. You can even order beer online. Bonus: small bar bites are available.

8. La Trappe Cafe & Trappist Lounge Restaurant- Brewers are drawn to Belgian beers for the same reason musicians like jazz—there’s a wild and creative freedom in riffing off of the classics. For centuries, Belgians have made arguably the world’s finest beers, and Russian Hills’ resident gastropub, La Trappe, stocks classic Trappist ales and hundreds of other brews. Helpful servers can help you navigate the food and overwhelming beer menu. When in doubt, order the mussels and frites.

7. The Monk's Kettle – An expertly-curated selection of beer matches savory cuisine and a knowledgeable staff willing to help you with both. Your best chance of securing a seat in this Mission gastropub is before the dinner rush, so do yourself a favor; tell your boss you need to get your Boosted Board out of the shop, and leave work early to arrive before 4:00.

6. Mikkeller Bar – Union Square is home to this sleek, 80-seat, Danish-style beerhall. The 42 kegs are stored in one of their two perfectly chilled coolers and are dispensed precisely using the Flux Capacitor, which carbonates each beer at the optimum level of either carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Mikkeller also has an extensive bottle selection. The food menu is meat- and sausage-heavy, all wonderfully selected to pair with the beers. Sour-heads should check out the Tivoli Sour Room.

5. Zeitgeist – Forty taps of west coast craft beer, pitchers, a full bar, a sunny backyard, communal tables, and basic pub grub make this Mission dive one of the best day drinking venues in the city.

4. Toronado – This renowned Haight Street Mecca for craft beer has the highest rating of any SF bar on Beer Advocate. Great prices and more than 40 beers on draft, including Pliny the Elder, make this a perfect choice to satiate your inner beer geek. Although Toronado’s bartenders have a reputation for surliness, especially when the bar gets crowded, feel free to ask your neighbors for recommendations, as you can’t swing an empty firkin without hitting a beer expert. There’s no kitchen, but grab a beer and a seat, then go to Rosamunde next door to order an artisan sausage.

3. City Beer Store – It’s nearly impossible to imagine a more extensive craft beer selection than on the shelves in this well-laid-out SOMA location. 15 rotating taps offer a solid set of craft beers and an exceptional collection of rarities in fridge behind the bar, and anything else in the store can be purchased for drinking onsite. City Beer is probably San Francisco’s most sought after venue for craft brewers to showcase their new beers, so check the web site to stay current on what’s coming soon to a glass near you.

2. Hopwater Distribution – Hopwater expertly matches creative high-end pub food with the 31 west coast craft brews they have on tap. Comfortable yet modern, efficient yet relaxed, Hopwater excels at everything. It’s a perfect place to bring out of town beer fans who want to sample a variety of California brews.

1. Amsterdam Café – This Tenderloin treasure attracts local beer fanatics with its low-key and comfy atmosphere as much as its 25 taps and extensive bottle collection of craft beer. It’s an excellent place for a small group to have a relaxed evening over a few craft beers.

Note: It proved impossible to whittle down this list to only ten bars, and these four also came highly recommended by local seasoned beer fans: Lucky 13, The Ave Bar, The Dark Horse Inn, Rogue Ales Public House

Get Happy - Find The Perfect Happy Hour In San Francisco

Image courtesy of Katina Rogers

You're halfway through the week - now it's time to celebrate! Find the perfect place to relax in San Francisco this week with this list of the most fun happy hours in town from SFitst.

ICHI Sushi + Ni Bar
It's been almost exactly a year since this subtle sushi operation moved to its larger Mission Street location, but don't worry, it's remained a Bernal happy hour favorite. From 5:30 to 7 p.m. pop in for $1 oysters, half off appetizers, $4 Fort Point beers, and cold sake and white wine for $6. That all goes down in the Ni Bar subsection, so sidle up to that back bar. — Caleb Pershan
3282 Mission Street at 29th Street

Pesce
In Italy, they've got this awesome thing called aperitivo hour, where you get FREE FOOD with your drinks. How civilized is that? You can take advantage of this brilliant concept at Pesce in the Castro, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. every night of the week. There are drink specials, of course, but also free cicheti (snacks, to you) including bruschetta with smoked salmon, goat cheese-stuffed peppers, and meatballs in marinara. Also, on Tuesdays, they do $1 oysters and $5 martinis. — Lauren Sloss
2223 Market Street near Sanchez

Bar Agricole
Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m., and all day Sunday, Bar Agricole offers up $2.50 oysters as well as some delicious $2.50 sausages with house-made mustard and sauerkraut. Also, there's $6 glass of Riesling and $3 beers to wash that down, as well as their sophisticated cocktail list, at full price, should you want to head that direction. — Jay Barmann
355 11th Street at Harrison

Park Chalet
On a sunny afternoon there's no more suitable post than at Park Chalet, where you'll find $3.50 pints house-brewed beers every Wednesday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Taco Tuesdays ($2.40 each) also feature two-for-one margaritas, free live music and a happy hour that runs until midnight.
— Caleb Pershan
1000 Great Highway between Upper Great Highway and Lincoln Way

Gaspar Brasserie
One of the newer happy hour deals around town is at this stylish French spot. Monday to Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. they're offering $1 oysters and deviled eggs, as well as $3 pomme frites, $5 glasses of wine, and a couple of $6 cocktails, including one called the Ma Cherie (vodka, lemon, honey-ginger, hibiscus tea).
185 Sutter Street at Kearny

El Techo de Lolinda
This rooftop spot in the Mission has some tasty bites, and their happy hour runs from 4 to 6 p.m. on weeknights. On offer: $5 guacamole, beef empanadas, fried green plantains (with black beans and queso fresco), and fried chicken thighs with habanero salsa. Also, $7 margaritas and $18 sangria pitchers. — Lauren Sloss
2518 Mission Street at 22nd

UVA Enoteca
UVA is on our list for the second year in a row for good reason, as it's still one of the best deals around. From 5 to 6:30 Monday to Thursday, and 3 to 6:30 Saturday and Sunday, cans of beer (but they pour it into a glass, so you still feel all grown up) are $2, petite carafes of wine are $5, and there's a limited (and cheap!) selection of pizza, pasta and nibbly things to soak it all up. Get their early—UVA's prime seats at their lovely marble bar fill up fast. — Eve Batey
568 Haight at Steiner

Boxing Room
Blessed with a new full liquor license to complement their solid beer offerings from the local to the New Orleanian (Abita, anybody?), the Absinthe Group's Boxing Room also cuts you a break with half off oysters from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cajun boiled peanuts and $4 Turbodog beers or $5 Cava should go with that nicely. — Caleb Pershan
399 Grove Street at Gough Street

Bar Crudo
Crudo's oyster, chowder, and fish taco happy hour always makes our lists, and it's still one of the best deals in town for a cheap date or after-work treat. Happy hour is 5 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, and weekend evenings tend to have folks outside waiting for the doors to open right at 5. In addition to $1 oysters, there are $1 jalapeño marinated mussels, 2-for-$10 local rock cod tacos, and a few other seafoody delicacies. Wash it all down with a $3 pint of beer or $5 glass of wineSee the full happy hour menu here. — Jay Barmann
655 Divisadero Street at Grove

Mission Rock Resort
On sunny days, especially, you want to be sitting out on a deck, sipping cold beer and slurping oysters, and this is the place for that. At happy hour (3 to 7 p.m.), Mission Rock Resort has four hours worth of 99-cent oysters, as well as $5 draft beers, and $6 cocktails and wine. You won't find a more sun-drenched and relaxing spot, assuming you score one of the tables on the deck, and it makes for a perfect pit stop before a Giants game. - Jay Barmann
817 Terry A Francois Blvd (between Mariposa and 16th Street)

Two Sisters Bar & Books
It's pretty tiny, and quite popular, so swinging in on the early side for happy hour is probably one of your best bets for getting a seat at this Hayes Valley spot, or even ample standing room. Tuesday to Friday they do it from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the deal is $3 draft beers, and $5 cocktails, which means their delicious concoctions are half price. And that deal runs all afternoon, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on weekends.
579 Hayes Street at Laguna

Hi Tops
This popular Castro sports bar has, $3 well drinks like the rest of the neighborhood before 8 p.m. But, there's the added bonus of 25-cent Buffalo wings on Mondays, which tend to draw serious crowds of sports fans who are also spicy wing fans, given that you can order yourself a dozen for three bucks, and then get drunk, all for less than $15. — Jay Barmann
2247 Market Street, between Noe and Sanchez