North Beach Week: Sword Swallower's Day, A Secret Sushi Menu, Orchid Exposition, More

North Beach Week: Sword Swallower's Day, A Secret Sushi Menu, Orchid Exposition, More

Photo: Mark Hogan/Flickr

Mike Pinzuti
Published on February 25, 2016

With the Super Bowl and Chinese Lunar New Year festivities in the rear view, we can now go back to normal around the area—which, of course, means a celebration of sword swallowing.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not (175 Jefferson St.) is one of 18 global locations that will be celebrating the ninth annual World Sword Swallower’s Day this Saturday. They'll have free events and performances, including the official "Big Swallow," taking place precisely at 2:27pm. If you happen to know a sword swallower, they're encouraged to apply online to become part of the festivities. 

Photo:  J.B. Monaco Collection (SFP 48), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

In other North Beach news this week, L'Italiano Americano took a look at the historical significance of photographer J.B. Monaco's work around North Beach at the turn of the last century, while SFGate sat down with Alberto Cipollina, owner of Original U.S. Restaurant (414 Columbus Street) about his recent move across the street and what's in store for the future. Lastly, Travel + Leisure Magazine believes that if you want to experience San Francisco like a movie star, then you have to make a trip to Francis Ford Coppola's Cafe Zoetrope (916 Kearny St.) 

In local food news, Ferry Plaza Seafood (653 Union St.) has a hearing tonight for its request to upgrade to a full liquor license (it currently serves beer and wine). And this year's 7x7 100 Things To Eat In San Francisco Before You Die includes several local eateries you need not wait until death to try, including the chicken for two from Tosca Cafe (242 Columbus), fried onion pancakes from the House of Nanking (919 Kearny St.) and the cheese cart from Quince (470 Pacific Ave.)

Want a chance to score some of the best sushi around? During the month of March, you can request an off-the-menu reservation directly to executive sushi chef Mike Lim of Roka Akor (801 Montgomery St.), via his Instagram page. The sushi-specific omakase tasting is $118 per person, and he'll only be taking five reservations a night, Monday-Wednesday.

For a full list of what's going on around town this weekend and beyond, don't forget to check out hoodline.com/events. If you see a local event missing and want to get in on the fun, submit it for free for the chance to see it featured in our next events roundup.

On to our editor's picks for the weekend ahead. 

Thursday, February 25th


Friday, February 26th


Saturday, February 27th

Sunday, February 28th


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