Forget Woodstock, It's the 40th Anniversary of Cobb Salads in Cow Hollow

By Meredith Brody Thu., Aug. 20 2009 at 10:26 AM

Categories: Events

pbo 31/Flickr

Yup, the lights are still on.

Hard to believe for some of us, but it's the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Wait a minute, and it'll be the 40th anniversary of Altamont, too (cruel irony of 1969). The Gap just brought out a line of jeans called 1969. And it's the 40th anniversary of Perry's, San Francisco's echt fern bar with burgers and strong drinks served up on blue-and-white-checked tablecloths in the depths of Cow Hollow.

Maybe you haven't even thought about Perry's in years. Not only is it still serving onion soup, Cobb salad, sautéed petrale sole meunière, and weekend eggs Benedict at the original location (1944 Union at Laguna), but a second Perry's (155 Steuart at Mission) opened on the Embarcadero last November.

Anyway, let the 40th anniversary celebrations begin! Tonight marks the beginning of four days of festivities, with a reunion party for Perry's workers over the years (famously including Brian of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, who was a Perry's waiter). For the next two nights, count on celebrity bartenders -- Willie Brown! Carmen Policy! Dwight Clark! (we hear the last two have something to do with football) -- and food and drink promotions, including a 12-ounce New York, regularly $29.95, priced at $19.69 (get it?), and half-price bottles of wine. This Sunday, August 23, Union Street between Buchanan and Laguna will be closed off for an afternoon block party, featuring live music and outdoor BBQ, priced between $6 -8, open to the public.