This Monday, I stopped by Cole Valley to check out the soft opening of Double Black on Cole Street. It occupies the old Pharmaca space inside the Yardsale outdoor equipment retail store. The owners describe the coffee bar addition as a third-space for community building and an additional way to share this historic building with the public. The crowd that turned out was impressive, and many people lingered to enjoy the space and check out the clothing section.

The Yardsale merchandise includes all-season clothing, hats, bags, ski gear, and more, and it is warehoused and displayed at this location. The few items I browsed appeared to be classic styles of good quality.

The Double Black menu includes all standard espresso drinks (they offer A2 organic milk and alternative milks at no additional charge) as well as some unique seasonal specials. They are serving Bird & Bear and Linea coffee. I had the Black Diamond, a creamy hōjicha drink with black sesame and cold foam. It was delicious. They also have a selection of pastries. I saw brownies, mochi muffins, a giant chocolate chip cookie (also available in quarters 😄), and a selection of sweet and savory croissants. Come by for a great cup of coffee and to browse the retail items.

Maggie & Mac’s opened in the Inner Sunset about seven weeks ago. I stopped by for lunch to see what their spin on California comfort food was all about. The venture comes from the owners of MoMo’s near Oracle Park. The restaurant occupies the former Social Kitchen & Brewery space on 9th Avenue. The menu reflects the owners’ goal of serving families with a fun kids’ menu and dinner classics like mom’s meatloaf. Plus, there’s a sleek bar serving a variety of craft cocktails, local beer, and wine.

A thoughtful redesign has transformed the space, anchoring it with rich wood tones and a beautiful tiled bar bathed in soft light from overhead skylights. Pendant fixtures pull the eye upward to a mezzanine with additional seating. This is a cozy space for a meal, whether you’re dining solo or in a group.

The service at Maggie & Mac’s is friendly and accommodating. I ordered the fish tacos made with Pacific rock snapper, pico de gallo, serrano-cilantro slaw, and habanero roasted salsa with a side of warm, house-made tortilla chips. The rock snapper was tender and flavorful, wrapped in soft tortillas and balanced by bright salsa. The serrano-cilantro slaw provided the perfect tangy freshness. I would definitely order this again, though seeing the onion strings at neighboring tables was a convincing argument for a return trip.

Back in June, we tried to get into The Deluxe (fka Club Deluxe) on opening day but didn’t stand a chance. There was a line down the block, and the room only held so many people. It was clear Club Deluxe was missed by many, including ourselves. 

We finally made it back on Sunday night, now that some of the opening hype has cooled. My sister was in town visiting, so I thought it was the perfect occasion to revisit. Henry Plumb Trio was playing, with Michael Potter on piano and Alan Jones on bass, plus Miles Turk sitting in as a special guest. We were able to get a great table near the piano. The venue itself was still beautiful and had the same character we remembered. Between us, we had a few martinis, a couple of bourbons, and one of their classic fresh squeezed Greyhounds.

This group of musicians was much younger and more modern than the old Club Deluxe rotation, and their set wasn’t the same old standards. They even worked in two hip-hop renditions over the course of the night, including 50 Cent’s “21 Questions” and Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights.” As a hip hop fan, you could clearly tell they had an appreciation for the songs. It reminded me a bit of BADBADNOTGOOD, another trio who incorporate hip hop covers into their sets and whose music is sometimes more like a hip hop beat.

The Deluxe has live music seven days a week, with shows starting at around 7pm on weekdays and 2 sets (early and late) on weekends. We’ll certainly be regulars.