Food-Themed SF Sandcastles; Mockingbird Goes BYOB

OUTER RICHMOND—The annual LEAP Sandcastle Contest was food-themed this year, and the entries are amazing: Candy Land, lobsters, veggies, and an SF topographic map made entirely out of food. Take a look. [RichmondSF]

OAKLAND—Mockingbird has had to dump their alcohol sales, due to "a misunderstanding with our landlords regarding our rights of use of the alcohol license that covers the restaurant space." But they're making the best of it by allowing customers to BYOB, a very attractive proposition for an already quite reasonably priced restaurant. [EaterWire]

SAN FRANCISCO—Renee Erickson, the James Beard-nominated chef of Seattle's acclaimed Walrus & The Carpenter, Boat Street Cafe, and The Whale Wins, is on a tear through SF to promote her appropriately titled new cookbook, A Boat, a Whale, and a Walrus. Catch her signing at Omnivore tonight, or head to Boulettes Larder tomorrow for a special menu inspired by the book ($80, includes drinks and a copy). [EaterWire]

PACIFIC HEIGHTS—Also swinging through on a book tour: "Modern Mixologist" Tony Abou-Ganim, who'll be demonstrating recipes and talking about his book Vodka Distilled at the Van Ness BevMo on Thursday night. (East Bay folks, he'll be in Walnut Creek the day before.) Tickets are completely free if you sign up in advance. [EaterWire]