Heading into the homestretch of the holiday season, we thought we'd present a few ways to create some New Year's craziness on your own terms (thus brilliantly avoiding the megaparties). You're your own megaparty...
The Rye crew shows up with a custom-made bar, complete with removable panels that'll match any theme (like, say, Festivus), house-made syrups, organic produce and top-shelf spirits to mix custom cocktails and Rye specialties like the 209 Basil Gimlet (a drink you know well).
Phone in (even the day of your party) and owner/wine expert Ceri Smith will hand-select notable, SF-exclusive wines and champagne to pair with your party needs. She'll even wrap it all up and have it ready for a curbside hand-off—all you have to do is pop the trunk.
Feast on nine courses of chef Charles Phan's signature dishes—like Niman Ranch BBQ Pork Ribs and Lemongrass Pork Vermicelli—all packed in nifty flying saucer-shaped party boxes that look more 2090 than 2009.
This hip, twenty-something trio—Executive Chef Chris Kronner (Serpentine, Slow Club), a former assistant to Iron Chef Cat Cora and a local winemaker—swoop in with plates of Prather Ranch Short Ribs and Range Brothers Pork Shoulder and plenty of bubbly—read: definitely not your mom's caterer.
Start big—a five-course dinner at Michael Mina (toasting with Schramsberg '99 Reserve)—and end bigger with a ride in the world's largest airship soaring over the Golden Gate. You'll have 1,000-foot skybox views of the New Year's fireworks, so expect all future New Year's Eves to be spoiled.
