A Steampunk Soda Fountain Adventure

Set your time machine to the era of the early Soda Fountain and join us for a Steampunk Luncheon at the newly-opened Ice Cream Bar in San Francisco.

At this trendy hot spot, we'll enjoy eight samples of the historically inspired beverages on the restaurant's menu, as well as bits of various sandwiches. Many of our group will be staying for lunch afterward.

Background: Ice cream parlors came into vogue in the 1880s and typically served ice cream and phosphate sodas. Phosphate-based sodas have a dry, tart flavor which the proprietors often enlivened with notes of cherry and chocolate.

In 2012, when restaurateur Juliet Pries opened The Ice Cream Bar in Cole Valley, she reached back to the soda fountain's past to created vintage-inspired delights. But don't the name fool you. The menu at The Ice Cream Bar is designed for adults who enjoy complex flavors that aren’t overly sweet.

Menu:

• Cole Street Cola - a true cola made from a proprietary blend of 15 botanicals.
• Russell's Sassafras Root Beer - a sassafras-based elixir made with 11 herbs and spices.
• Wild Cherry Phosphate - tart cherry syrup, wild cherry bark tincture and acid phosphate.
• Tiny Bubbles - fresh lime, 5-spice and black peppercorn tinctures and roasted pineapple ice cream.
• A Stalk In The Park - celery seed extract, fountain syrup, cream, lactart, mint.
• The Passion Project - chai-tea tincture, turbinado syrup, cream, tobacco aromatic.
• Two Good To Be True - butterscotch syrup, eggs, malted cream, molasses.
• The World's Best Pistachio Milkshake - raw pistachio syrup, pistachio ice cream, tart cherry whipped cream.

Various sandwich bites will also be served.

Costume: Costumes are required for this event. Your look should be Late Victorian, Edwardian or Steampunk. For examples of the Steampunk look, please visit the links below. (Full GBACG costume policy).

Reference & Links:

• Steampunkcostume.com, a website dedicated to appreciating Steampunk costumes, fashion, art and literature.
• Steampunkdistrict.com is also full of inspiration and how-to.
• Gallery of Steampunk Projects provided by Craftser.org.
• Steampunk on a Budget Tips on getting the look for less.
• Steampunk tutorials as hosted on cosplay.com.

Location, Directions & Parking:

The Ice Cream Bar Soda Fountain
815 Cole Street
San Francisco, CA 94117 (map)

Street parking is available.

Practicalities: Wear shoes that can easily make the walk from your parking spot. The weather at this time of year is unpredictable, so an umbrella might be prudent.

Children: Children are welcome at this event, but parents, please review the menu carefully. The tastes may not suit a child, and there is no child menu available.

Ticket sales are now closed.

You must be a GBACG member* to receive the member price. (*Or a member of one of our Sister Organizations: Costumer's Guild West, Art Deco Society of California or Somewhere in Time, Unlimited.) If you are a member and are purchasing several tickets for yourself and friends who are not members, then only you are entitled to the member price. You must pay the non-member price for your friends.

Tickets to GBACG activities are not refundable, but are transferable. If you've purchased tickets to a GBACG activity and are unable to attend, you may sell your tickets to someone else, but GBACG does not make refunds.

Latecomer Policy The GBACG and its event hosts are not responsible for providing meals, performances or other services for guests who arrive late, and latecomers are not eligible for refunds. Please plan accordingly. (For further details, please reference our full latecomer policy.)

Questions? Email Event Coordinator, Ann Morton at .

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