Booze and Books: Tipping and Turning at Two Sisters Bar and Books
What’s the best way to honor the unspoken nod between booze and books? Start a book club at a bar, right?
That’s just what two two sisters who concocted the “Books and Booze” book club did. It’s hosted monthly at their literary and libation haven, Two Sisters Bar and Books in Hayes Valley. Two Sisters is like walking into the pages of a real life pulp fiction classic, where the bartenders know how to make a drink and the walls are lined with well-stocked bookshelves.
In their own words…
“…there is always time to linger over a classic cocktail or a delightful cup of coffee, nosh on a well-crafted dish, and share our love of all things literary.“
I had a chance to catch up with Mikha Diaz, one of the two sisters herself between chapters.
Scott: Why did you start the Booze and Books book club?
Mikha: I started the club because, prior to opening, I wanted to get people excited about my two favorite activities: boozing it up and reading a wide variety of literature.
Scott: What’s your favorite thing about doing it?
Mikha: I love that the book club brings people together. Individuals who did not know that they have friends in common come together over a shared affection for a given book and find that there is so much more that is shared. It is really great to see.
Scott: Do book club members get any special deals?
Mikha: Yes. Each month there is a special cocktail designed around the book we are reading together, and is available for book club members during the meeting for $5-$6. And when appropriate to the text, we bring in the authors or outside resources to help the text “come alive.”
So there you have it, readers.
Need more evidence? In May the Booze and Books club served up Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. It doesn’t get any more booze-iful than Sam Spade pouring a few fingers of bourbon into a paper cup in his noir office.
Oh, you don’t like reading the classics? Maybe you want some cheese with that w(h)ine? June’s slice of the literary buffet was Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge, written by San Francisco’s own Gordon Edgar about his journey from a Velveeta childhood to the artisan cheese aisles of Rainbow Grocery.
Read up on the book club and how to join here.
When you get there, turn to page 42 and order me a “Two Sisters” (templeton rye, cynar, punt e mes & bitters) or a Racer 5 IPA . I’ll see you there after I pay these library late fees…
Booze and Books Club!
Two Sisters Bar and Books
Happy hour Tuesday – Friday, 4:00-6:00pm,
Saturday & Sunday 1:00-4:00pm
(That means $3 beers, $5 house wine and $5-$7 cocktails.)579 Hayes Street (bt Laguna & Octavia) [Hayes Valley]
