Off the Grid Presidio Is Back; Polk Bar Ban Passes

The scene at last year's Presidio Off the Grid. [Photo: The Presidio Trust]

PRESIDIO—Off the Grid is bringing its Picnic at the Presidio event back for a second six-month run, beginning this Sunday. As usual, they've snagged a stellar lineup of vendors for the occasion, including Haven, Del Popolo, Humphry Slocombe, Nopalito, Namu Gaji, and Hog & Rocks, plus a bunch of farmer's market vendors; check out the full list of vendors for 2013 here. Cocktails will be offered blanket-side, while horseshoes, kites, bocce ball, and other pastimes will be available to rent. The event will run from 11 am-4 pm every Sunday through October 27.

LOWER POLK—Polk Street's drinking-den days are over, at least for now: the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last night to place a moratorium on new bars in what's arguably San Francisco's most bustling street of them. For the time being, no new liquor licenses will be granted on Polk between California and O'Farrell, where there are already 45 alcohol permits in six blocks. [Examiner]

THE MISSION—Now's your last chance to snag tickets to tomorrow night's annual TASTE benefit for Root Division, which offers free art classes to kids in the Mission. They'll have food from the likes of Beretta, Hi-Lo BBQ, Mission Bowling Club, Tacolicious, Lolinda, and Batter Bakery, plus wine from Bi-Rite and cocktails from Asiento, Hog & Rocks, Mosto, Dosa, and Lolinda. (See the full menu here.) Tickets are $75 for one or $250 for a four-pack. [EaterWire]

BERKELEY—Pax Mahle of Wind Gap Wines will be dropping by Comal on Tuesday, April 30th, for a special pairing dinner matching his wines with Matt Gandin's Mexican fare. Dishes will include a halibut crudo with chardonnay, Dungeness crab in tomato-chipotle broth with pinot gris, and wood-roasted pork loin with pinot noir. Tickets are $90 and include food, wine, and gratuity. [EaterWire]