Postseason pop-up party plans

If you’re reading this, it’s because you signed up to follow along as I work to start a sports bar in SF centered on women’s sports. Thanks for being on the ride.

It’s October, somehow. I’m writing this on the hottest day of the year in San Francisco. The WNBA is moving into the real heart of the postseason, the “oh wow, the champs really might not make it back to the finals” part of the postseason. And today I’ve got for you the following things that start with the letter P:

• Pop-up parties (including a new partner)

• Planning survey (please take it!)

• Pupdates (these are actually regular old starts-with-a-u updates but I’ll throw in a bonus dog to make it fit)

Pop-up parties

First one first: This very Friday, Oct. 4, The Changeup is popping up at Willkommen on Market Street for the WNBA playoffs. We’ll be posting up in the Rainbow Room for both games: Lynx vs. Sun at 4:30 PM and then Liberty vs. Aces at 6:30 PM. I love Willkommen’s beers, sausages, and pretzels (oh look, another thing that starts with P) and I’m excited to be partnering with them for the first time. Come when you can. We won’t tell your boss. As always, this is all-ages-friendly, so bring the family or your family-like friends, or come alone and let us find you a cheering buddy (or friendly rival, depending on your mood). This is a big one and I hope we can show Willkommen the joy and power of a women’s sports crowd. (Details: Friday, Oct. 4, 4:30-8:30ish, the Rainbow Room at Willkommen, 2198 Market Street, San Francisco)

And, a little further out: Save the date for Sunday, Oct. 27, back at Barebottle in Bernal Heights for the US Women’s National Team friendly vs. Iceland, aka Kelley O’Hara day. No, I’m not OK. Come be not-OK with me. I’ll bring the tissues. Bevvies via Barebottle, smash burgers available via the Smash’d truck. This one is family-friendly and dog-friendly so the whole pack is welcome. (Details: Sunday, Oct. 27, 2:30-4:30ish, Barebottle Tap Room in Bernal Heights, 1525 Cortland Ave, San Francisco)

Postseason comes with a lot of “if necessary”s and “time TBD”s so while I’ll always strive to post event announcements here first, it’s also a good time to keep an eye on Instagram for any late-breaking changes.

Planning survey

That’s not all. I’m currently in convos with partner bars about events later in the fall. NWSL postseason? The Stanford vs. Cal oh-we’re-in-the-ACC-now basketball game? Volleyball? It’s all possible. But to pick events that people actually can and want to watch together, I need your help. This four-question survey should take just a couple of minutes to complete and covers (1) what you want to watch (2) when you can watch and (3) where you’d like to watch this fall (with a bonus fourth spot to share anything else you want me to know). It’s a little thing that helps a ton, and if you have a moment to share your thoughts, trust me: I’m listening.

Updates and pupdates

While the location search marches on, the exciting news of last week is that I fell in love with one space enough to put in a letter of intent (aka, an offer to lease it). I have no idea right now if I’ll get it; I do know I’m not the only offer, because this is the Bay Area and in my 20 years here, I’ve never once been the only offer on property of any kind. But if everything breaks right, it could be really really good. I’m probably jinxing it just by writing this, and the next update is likely to be welp I shouldn’t have said anything because I’m back on the hunt bigtime. But for today, we live in hope.

Pupdate: Here’s Speedy, The Changeup’s favorite dog. He’s a little too skittish to make an appearance at a Barebottle pop-up so far, but maybe someday? He put the hat on like this himself, I swear.

To recap

1. See you Friday at Willkommen, from 4:30 onward, in the Rainbow Room with the foosball table, to find out (among other things) whether the Aces will make it to Sunday

2. Save the date for a soccer Sunday, Oct. 27, at Barebottle in Bernal

3. Please take the pop-up planning survey

4. Cross your fingers

To sports!
-Kimra