Cheers to all Tomatoes and may your holiday season be filled with laughter, great food and the comfort of friends and family.  And now, what’s coming up this December. Some very fun and festive holiday pop ups are waiting for you to visit. Wine that gives back and Champagne and caviar – yes please. Christmas Tea is always a good idea, and we have the best ones for you, lift your pinkies and get ready to indulge. The hilarious two man show Potted Potter returns and grab your tickets to laugh now.  I’ll be back in the New Year with more happenings in 2024. Until then, cheers from my corner of “the bay” to yours.

Learn A New Holiday-Themed Skill At An Adorable Ski Chalet

 This season, Terrene, the sustainably minded restaurant at the Embarcadero’s 1 Hotel San Francisco, transforms into an enchanting après-ski chalet complete with mountain furnishings, warming cocktails, and cozy winter bites like fondue. Events to give back and learn new holiday skills will run throughout December, including a candle-making workshop on December 10th. The chalet will run from December 2nd through January 19th. 1hotels.com

Wine for a Good Cause

Let the wine on your table do some good. Frank Family Vineyards makes giving back effortless this holiday season with their Frank for a Cause program. This year, 20 percent of the proceeds from the winery’s 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and their Frank Family gift packages will go straight to K9s for Warriors, an organization training shelter dogs to serve as life-saving companions for veterans suffering from service-related trauma.   frankfamilyvineyards.com

Celebrate the Season with Champagne and Caviar

Get into the spirit of the season at The Westin St. Francis’ Pop! Lounge, a pop-up bubbly and caviar bar next door to the hotel’s iconic Sugar Castle. The elegant hotel will pair Moët & Chandon Champagne with sustainably minded, locally owned California Caviar, serving it up with blinis and a view of the holiday happenings in Union Square. The Pop! Lounge is open Friday through Sunday through December 31st, no reservations needed. Get the details.

Grinchville

Popular arcade bar Thriller Social Club has opened Grinchville, an exciting Grinch-themed holiday pop-up on their second floor. Their floor-to-ceiling decorations help to create one of the most unique holiday bars in SF. Grab a glass of their bright green Christmas Eggnog before heading to their ground-floor arcade for fun and games. It is recommended to reserve a table on Yelp beforehand. https://www.thrillersocialclub.com/

Sip Cocktails at the Alchemist

The Alchemist offers a more low-key holiday pop-up experience with elevated holiday decor including giant Nutcrackers, glittering Christmas lights, and periodic snow flurries. Sip on delicious seasonal cocktails in a less in-your-face festive environment, and consider visiting Thrive City’s nearby winter wonderland while you’re on that side of town. https://alchemistsf.com/

Miracle at PCH

Returning to SF for its 8th year, this sparkling holiday pop-up bar is a San Francisco favorite and is the quintessential holiday bar. It offers up the best in seasonal cocktails, festive photo ops, and holiday cheer. Drinks include warm rum, almond milk eggnog, eggnog with peanut butter cognac, cranberry cosmos, mulled wine, and more. The official 2023 menu hasn’t been released yet, but a sneak peek on Instagram tells us to expect the fan-favorite “Christmas Cricket” again, with Patron Blanco Tequila, Licor 43, Branca Menthe, pandan, coconut, and bitters. https://www.pacificcocktailsf.com/

Tea for the Holidays

This time of year, some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful historic homes and hotels take on the tradition of afternoon tea. These extravagant architectural beauties are worth a visit in any season, but crustless finger sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd, and an uplifting, aromatic tea make the trip even better. After all, everyone deserves to indulge in a little tradition around the holidays.

Pardee Home Museum

This cream-colored Victorian built in 1869 in Oakland celebrates its roots with oh-so British high teas. Served either in the house’s elegant dining room or its manicured garden, the Pardee Home pairs their brew with platters of sweet and savory treats for between six and 20 guests. Afternoon tea is $40 per person in the dining room and $45 in the garden. Dessert tea is $30 per person. When you’ve cleared your plate, take a tour of this beautifully decorated house museum. Teas are private and must be reserved two weeks in advance.   pardeehome.org

Fairmont San Francisco

Afternoon tea has been served at the Fairmont San Francisco since 1907, so they’ve had time to perfect their skills. Presented in the Laurel Court, high tea includes maple scones, buttermilk biscuits, pastries, finger sandwiches, and loose-leaf tea. During the holidays, the lobby is extra festive, with a sparkling display of decorated trees and a massive gingerbread house. You can literally get into the holiday spirit by booking a private dinner inside the Gingerbread House (call for pricing, eight people max).  fairmont.com.

Garden Court at the Palace Hotel

The Palace’s sumptuous Garden Court, with its stained glass dome and Austrian crystal chandeliers, was the hotel’s crowning jewel when it opened in 1909. Over the years, it has hosted presidents (Warren G. Harding died in a room upstairs) and starred in movies (1997’s The Game). For over a hundred years, it has also been the site of an elegant tea service. Presented on fine china and silver, the signature tea in the Garden Court ($100/adults, $70/kids 12 and under) includes finger sandwiches and pastries. marriott.com

The Potted Potter

The Olivier nominated two man show The Potted Potter returns to The Palace of Fine Arts this year. A parody by “Dan and Jeff” – they take on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books, and a real time game of Quidditch into 70 hilarious minutes. Even if you don’t know the difference between a horcrux and a Hufflepuff, Potted Potter will make you roar with laughter. We saw this a few years ago and never stopped laughing, we will be returning for more. Highly endorsed by your SF editor! Through January 7. https://www.palaceoffinearts.org/event/potted-potter