GETTING DRUNK

Looks Like Rolling Rock is Going After the Prized 'Young Urban Trendsetter' Demographic

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

It appears that the new Belgian owners of Rolling Rock have figured out that “the kids” don't like being marketed to and prefer the minimal packaging of simpler times.  Ordinarily I'd hate on Rolling Rock for missing the mark on this—part of the cachet of PBR/Tecate/High Life/Hamm's/Olympia is that their packaging has always looked shitty and they haven't had national television campaigns during major sporting events in recent memory.  This, on the other hand, is a blatant attempt to pander to the—dare I say it—“hipster” market, thus making it inherently lame.

So yes, ordinarily I'd say all that and then some; however, the new Rolling Rock “Throwback” was the cheapest 12 on the Castro Safeway's shelf, which landed it a prized spot in my refrigerator.  I can only imagine that if Rolling Rock keeps dominating the cheap beer race to the bottom, it will become the park beer of 2011.

Hot Bay To Breakers Costume For 2011: Dressing Up As An Official Runner

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

With SFPD and race organizers getting aggro over people planning on having fun at the 100th Bay to Breakers this Sunday, spectators have found a way to avoid the illegal-yet-promised “sobering tents” and course closures: wearing your own race bib.  Citizens for the Preservation of Bay2Breakers has the scoop:

Word on the street is that this year’s #1 trending costume for the 100th Bay to Breakers is…wait for it…dressing up as a registered runner. Yes, you too can dress up as a “registered runner” printing your very own faux bib at home (or Kinko’s). Your timing chip won’t work, of course, but hey, who said you would be trying to make record time carrying that keg over the Hayes Street hill anyway?

Apparently AEG is so concerned with people printing out their own bibs for the sold out race (available as a PDF and Photoshop file), they actually pressured Facebook into censoring the spread of these bibs, suggesting they realize this trick might work.  So if you want to 'run' without worrying about SFPD killing the parade of drunk, go forth and print one of these badboys out.

Also, we recommend knowing your rights before heading out on Sunday.

[Photo of a real bib by Jonathan Chan]

Previously on Uptown Almanac: