MOVIE: JAMES BOND IS BACK
Forget about James Bond saving the world. Can he rescue the movies in the era of COVID-19 and streaming service domination? You be the judge, but I say YES! This is the last outing for Daniel Craig as the title character and I feel this is Craig at his most brilliant as 007. "No Time To Die" is a right royal, high octane in your face action film. It's the 25th Bond film and was directed by the Bay Area's own Cary Fukunaga (True Detective) and opens Friday in local theatres. I highly recommend it.
DINING: MILLER & LUX
Miller & Lux brings fine dining to San Francisco's home of the Warriors, Chase Center. A night out provides a slam dunk for pre or post-game diners!
Rolling carts are a theme here: from champagne to salads to desserts, wheeled up tableside for your delight & selection, hearkening to days where stellar service really DID matter and it DOES here. The menu offers surf and turf and something from everyone: M&L Burger at $24 to the delish & decedent Caviar doughnuts $98 (for five) but worth the splurge. The sweet ending to our delish dinner: a cart full of decedent, gooey, sweet treats. Miller & Lux is the latest restaurant by Bay Area based star chef, TV personality and entrepreneur Tyler Florence. In the kitchen and at the helm nightly is Colton Hayes, a humble chef with buckets of talent and it shows up on every plate served. This spot makes a statement with its food, wine selection and service but also design by designer Ken Fulk. The dining room is upstairs where cozy, leather booths with Bay views invite you in. The dining room gets more and more magical as the sun fades and the full drama of the perfectly lit floor to ceiling columns show. For a more casual experience, saddle up to the swanky round bar downstairs for crafted cocktails or a simple local brew. Venture upstairs for champagne, caviar and the finer things. You'll find Miller & Lux next to Chase Center. Go on, treat yourself and the one you love to fine dining experience here. You'll be jolly glad you did!
EAT: WARRIORS FOOD DREAMS
Foodie alert: Go to Chase Center to cheer on the DUBS but bring an appetite and prepare to get excited about the diverse offerings of cuisine, reflecting the food centric & culturally rich Bay Area: Chicken and waffles, Impossible meats hot dog, vegan Shanghai Lupia and a vegan pastrami sandwich. All your hoop dreams and food dreams are realized with 50 new items to feast on by local vendors (Alicia's Tamales, Bakesale Betty, Tony's Pizza, Sadie's and many more) and curated by Executive Chef Chad Neuman. There are also seven new crafted cocktails (Warriors punch and the Golden 75) and, yes, they did hit the spot. The finest champagne (Moet & Chandon) and wine (Silver Oak) is showcased at the Splash bar and available by the glass around the arena. A sweet ending can be enjoyed at Room For Dessert; the Steph Curry inspired caramel popcorn ice cream is a must have – and did I mention the Mango passion fruit Bon Bon? The new sit down eatery Modelo Cantina on the 6th floor offers amazing court views & a taste of Mexico (chicken chilaquiles, asada quesadilla, chile rellenos & more). The "cool" factor: you can order food from the Chase-Warriors app from any spot at Chase and even preorder your bites and beverages so they are ready when you walk into the venue. Your tummy will be happy and on a winning streak with every bite and beverage you enjoy here. See you at Chase Center. Go Warriors!
EVENT: BLUE ANGELS
Planes, boats and sailors...OH MY! Fleet week returns and so do the Blue Angels to the Bay Area's skies. Look up and see the best of aero acrobatics by way of the U.S. Navy, regarded among the best in the world. This FLEET WEEK tradition makes a comeback after a year off. There are all manner of Fleet Week activities in the air and the shores. The main air shows are daily (Friday-Sunday) 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Please check the website for more.
FREE FESTIVAL: SF ITALIAN HERITAGE
The country's oldest Italian Heritage Festival gets underway Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in San Francisco at the foot of Jefferson St. and Powell St. in Fisherman's Wharf and proceeds south through North Beach on Columbus Ave. and ends in Washington Square in front of Saints Peter and Paul Church. Parade viewing is available throughout the entire route.
FILM FEST: MILL VALLEY FILM FEST 44
It's the little film fest that could. The 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival showcases a diverse portfolio of films from around the Bay and the world. My personal pick is Sunday's screening of "Like A Rolling Stone," a documentary about the fascinating life of author, broadcaster, rock journalist and Bay Area treasure Ben Fong-Torres. Ben also happens to be a friend and neighbor. I even make two quick cameos in the doc – blink and you'll miss me. It's a brilliant doc about an amazing guy with a passion for storytelling and music who went on to write for and edit Rolling Stone Magazine (1969-1981), interviewing the world's biggest and up-on-coming music stars. If you were an artist or band being interviewed by Ben Fong-Torres in that era you knew you had made it.
MUST SEE TV: EVIL
If you like a show that is captivating and haunting, gets under your skin and keeps your on the edge of your seat, EVIL is it. The basics: Kristen is hired by the Catholic Church to determine if a serial killer is possessed by a demon and well, I'll leave the rest for you to discover. Smart scripts and suspenseful direction make EVIL must see streaming TV. New shows air on Sundays.
SPORT: SF GIANTS
It's the postseason and the SF GIANTS take on their biggest rivals, the LA DODGERS, at Oracle Park on Friday at 6:37 p.m. It's the first playoff match-up for these two teams and fans on both side are amped. I'm seeing a World Series WIN in our future. Let's hope so. See you at the ballpark. Go Giants!
Enjoy your weekend.
Liam's List premieres Fridays on KPIX and is also available to download in a podcast via iTunes. Please email ideas to me at liam@liammayclemproductions.com.
Facebook: @liammayclem
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