Friday & Saturday: 10 for $10 after 10 PM sushi at Yoshi's

Are you desperately seeking Sushi? Have the late night munchies? Well, it's Yoshi's to your rescue.  Yoshi's San Francisco and Yoshi's Oakland have just launched their "10 for 10" special. Every Friday and Saturday night starting at 10p, you can order 10 pieces of Executive Chef Shotaro 'Sho' Kamio's sushi for only $10. That's a deal, people!

What: 10 for $10 Sushi
Where: Yoshi's San Francisco
When: Friday & Saturday 10p-closing  (every weekend until they decide not to)

 Friday: $65 Tasting menu at Masa's  

OK, they can't all be '10 for $10' deals, people. I apologize. This is more like '3 for $65'. Maybe I should have led with this piece. Anyhoo, I always like to take advantage of some reduced price deals at some of the city's more expensive dining spots. So here's your chance to eat at Masa's and not break the bank. You can select 2 savories and 1 sweet from the 5 course menu for $65.

If you want to add vino it'll tag on another $39 dollas. I wish they would have made it $34 so the whole shebang comes in under a hundy but oh well. Masataka (exec chef) likes his fish, so prepare for a seafood-oriented menu.

What: Masa's Tasting Menu
Where: Masa's Restaurant, 648 Bush Street
When: Friday 5:30p-9:30p (prime time)

Friday – Sunday: 31st Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival

Let that 'ol schnoz of yours lead the way this fest, starting Friday and going strong through the weekend. Hit Gourmet Alley for all sorts of munchies, including Garlic bread (15,285 servings last year, the winner!), Garlic Fries (10,836), Garlic Italian Sausage Sandos (5,315) and more. Some, remarkably free of garlic. There's more than 60 food vendors here so lots of good grazing. There's also over 100 arts and crafts vendors: so between stuffing your face and getting high on garlic stench you can buy some stuff too! And Top Chef runner-up Fabio Vivani will host the Garlic Showdown. Yee haw!

Cost: $12. A pocket full of Binaca Blast? Priceless. 

What: Gilroy Garlic Festival
Where: Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Avenue, Gilroy (just let your nose lead the way)
When: Friday – Sunday basically all day
Cost: $12

Friday & Saturday: Lebowski Fest

That's right, the Lebowski Fest is back. Part of the 2009 Speed of Sound tour, you'll have
the chance to celebrate the Coen Brothers' classic, The Big Lebowski,
with white Russians, a massive movie screening, trivia contests,
special musical guest Har Mar Superstar and more.

So crank it up a notch
and come dressed as your favorite Lebowski character. Go on! Now in it's 8th year, Lebowski Fest is a celebration of all things
related to 'The Big Lebowski,' the 1998 Coen Brothers film starring
Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi. Every
stop on the Lebowski fest features unlimited bowling, costume &
trivia contests, white Russians & Oat Sodas, special guests and
performers; but most of all, a massive movie screening.

What: Lebowski Fest Bowling & Movie Parties
Friday Bowling Party
Where: Classic Bowl  900 King Plz, Daly City
When: 8p
Cost: $32

Saturday Movie Party
Where: Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph, Oakland
When: 7:30p
Cost: $22.50

 Saturday: Cosentino Winery Block Party

First off – this is not at the well-known Yountville location on Highway 29, it's at their recently opened Lodi area locale. Whew, OK now that we have that part settled. Hate to send you all the way up to the hinter lands of Napa on a bum steer.

So what's going on in Lodi – some great vino. They have a solid Zinfandel, Cabernet and a couple blends – the Poet (red meritage) and the Novelist (white), and others. We actually reviewed The Zin check it out here.

So they promise ot serve up some kick-ass BBQ, Live Music, and fun for you and the entire family. But please don't bring your kids…cute as they are it can be a real buzz kill…

$15 Event Fee includes BBQ, Wine Tasting and GoVino glass! You can never have enough of those winery glasses in your cupboard.

What: Cosentino WInery Block Party
Where: 3750 E. Woodbridge Rd., Acampo
When: Sunday 12-4:30p
Cost: $15 ($10 for club members)
(209) 333-8014

Sunday: San Francisco Marathon

Either run it, watch it, or get the hell outta the way! And watch out for street closings. Join 20,000 crazy runners and thousands more wannabes on Sunday. This crappy weather is prolly great for the runners, not so great for spectating so grab your parka. The scamper starts at Embarcadero & Mission, down the Embarcadero and across the GG Bridge, back across that freezing-ass bridge and thru GG Park and then back thru town to…almost exactly where they started…WHAT'S THE POINT!? At least in the NY Marathon you feel like you got somewhere! Anyway, good luck if you're running it.

What: SF Marathon
Where: Starts and ends @ Embarcadero & Mission
When: 5:30a-1p

Sunday: Wine & Cheese Tasting at Bar Bambino

The Bambino is goin' Italian on Sunday, with a pairing of 4 Tocai – Friulano wines (3 whites and 1 Rosso) along some delish Robiola cheeses, including a light and delicate Piemontese Roccaverano, to the sweet and pungent Lombaridan Rustica.

Hey many people don't know all that much about the Tocai wines and I'm not gonna teach ya here, so this is your chance to be smarter than most of your wino friends and enjoy some tastiness.

What: Wine & Cheese tasting
Where: Bar Bambino
When: Sunday 3p-5p
Cost: $45
Reserve: (415) 701-8466 or email to events@barbambino.com

Sunday: Summer Winetasting Featuring Napa Wines @ The Cannery

This event continues Sunday near The Cannery. Come taste Napa Valley wines and meet winemakers from boutique
California wineries at San Francisco's Sunday Summer Wine Tasting
series in Del Monte Square next to The Cannery. You'll learn about the
Napa Valley wine growing regions, meet winemakers and, most importantly,  taste through
over a dozen wines from Napa Valley in a casual outdoor setting in
San Francisco. I hear they do a pretty decent pour, too.

What: Napa Wine Tasting
Where: Del Monte Square (next to The cannery)
When: Sunday, 1p-4:30p
Cost: $15 advance/$20 at the door
Reserve: 415-929-WINE (9463), or buy online

OK, that should be a good start to the weekend, so get out there and enjoy! 

Michael Mina 5th Birthday – Friday

Help lonely 'ol Michael celebrate his 5th anny at his Union Square location. Take out a second mortgage beforehand, or lift up that mattress, remove the stock certs you've been hiding and cash 'em in. That said, if you ignore the bill you will enjoy some top-notch grub. They are serving up a special menu, $5 drink specials (they serve something for $5? Is it the Thimble-Tini?) and more. Dinner is a set $125 per person. Hey if it's your birthday too, maybe it's worth it!  Or just hit it for some of the $5 drinks and go on from there.

Hi Dive + a Giants game + Hi Dive – Saturday and/or Sunday

Go on, even if the nation's fave pastime isn't your bag, this is a fun way to get a healthy glow, plus a good excuse to snarf a beer & a dog. The Padres are in town,  the Saturday game is at 6:05 and the Sunday smack down is at 1:05. They're the last games before the All-Star break, so take advantage of a sunny weekend, a pretty hot Giants team vs. a pretty crappy San Diego squad, and be sure to hit Hi Dive (located on the Embarcadero near Bryant) before and after the games for some tasty libations and a great outdoor patio. Or do what we usually do – screw the game and just stay at Hi Dive!

Vine & Barrel's White Wines of the World Tasting – Saturday 3PM sharp, Petaluma

And don't be late! These guys will have 27 wineries that will be pouring a huge variety of whites – Reislings to Pinot Grigios to Pouilly Fume and of course tons more. Costs $20, what a deal! And Petaluma is a cute town and a pretty short drive from SF.

Gourmet Ghetto Fashion Food & Wine – Saturday 6-10p, Berkeley

Snack, drink, and do some serious people watching at this cool event. Food from Chez Panisse, Corso and more; wines from Behrens Family Winery & Medlock  Ames and hot fashion from Bryn Walker and others I have not heard of, but am sure are extremely talented…

Prepare for Bastille Day! – Tuesday

It's time once again to get yer French on, bitches! Strange coincidence that the All Star game is the same day, huh? Anyhoo, a sure bet is to head on down to Belden Place and toast a glass of champagne (while dodging drunk a-holes that may puke on your loafers) to the storming of the Bastille, which marks France's national holiday. Plouf and Café Bastille are the two French restaurants on the alley. If you're not in the mood for a St. Patty's day drunk-fest type scene (who isn't?!) then go a few blocks off and hit Le Central or Gitane (French with a  Spanish touch).

Whatever you do, have a blast!