Kok to Become Driftwood; Truck Stop Cafe Is Back

Kok Bar, soon to be stripped of its leather curtains. [Photo: Pinball News]

SOMA—Grub Street brings word that Kok Bar, the Folsom Street leather bar that's been around in one incarnation or another since the '70s (it was previously Ramrod and Chaps II), is changing owners and names; the new moniker will be Driftwood, suggesting that the bar may be changing direction from its current gay-bar status into something a little more generic, and one of the owners also owns the Mission's Amnesia, which is more folky-hip than leather and whips. It's a rough time for SF gay bars these days, with Deco Lounge closing, the nearby Eagle Tavern in limbo and Marlena's set to shutter next month. [Grub Street]

THE MISSION—Wednesday will bring another edition of Truck Stop Cafe, the irregular savory pop-up from Jake Godby of Humphry Slocombe fame at Mission gay bar Truck. This time out, Godby will pay tribute to "Lonely Hearts Killer" Martha Beck (not to be confused with the Oprah-approved life coach) by serving an $18 blue-plate take on her last meal: fried-chicken salad with winter vegetables and buttermilk dressing, shoestring potatoes, and a chocolate-banana-butterscotch tart for dessert. Check out the full menu here. [@truckstopcafesf]

HAYES VALLEY—Those who wish Beer Week lasted longer than just ten days will be pleased to learn that Boxing Room is planning monthly third-Tuesday beer dinners focusing on pairings with an individual brewery's wares. The series kicks off next week with Magnolia; next month will feature Oregon's Ninkasi, and SF's own Almanac will follow in April. Next Tuesday's dinner is $55 for four paired courses—see the menu here. [EaterWire]

SOMA—Also in beer news, the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in SOMA has announced their plans to revive last year's "Pizza and Pitchers" event this Thursday, in honor of Beer Week. The Del Popolo pizza truck will park outside, and locals Pacific Brewing Laboratories will pour brews to pair with pizzaiolo Jon Darsky's pies and sandwiches from the American's Heidi Gibson and Nate Pollak. Everything's a la carte, so no need to RSVP. [EaterWire]