New Orleans-Inspired Alba Ray's Now Open in the Mission

As we finish our first week with Donald Trump as president, it’s time to highlight the news you need to know—here are the haute happenings in the Bay Area right now.

Where to Go This Weekend: the Mission

Boudin Balls at Alba Ray's — Boudin Balls at Alba Ray’s

Photo Credit: Pierce Larick / New Revolution Media

EAT: Alba Ray’s, a sensational new Cajun-inspired restaurant has opened on the corner of Mission and 19th. With plenty of ferns and colorful beads, the decor—and menu—are inspired by New Orleans. Boudin balls with Creole mustard, decadent charbroiled oysters, and succulent shrimp with creamy grits are a few of the items that the open kitchen is preparing. At the bar, you’ll find classic Southern-inspired concoctions like sazeracs and Ramos gin fizzes.

Flip-Flop's Coconut Daisy — Flip-Flop’s Coconut Daisy

Photo Credit: Wes Rowe

DRINK: ABV’s new upstairs cocktail bar—yes, it’s a bar within a bar!—is a drink experience unlike any other. It’s called Flip-Flop and features five rum cocktails with hefty food pairings. The Pink Flamingo is a delightful connection of rum agricole, lime, pineapple gum, and absinthe. It’s paired with an oversized clam stuffed with a finger-licking good mixture of andouille sausage, breadcrumbs, and chopped clams. Note that there is only one seating per night at 7:30 p.m. and reservations are required.

PRACTICE: Watching your figure? Then head to the hottest new yoga spot in the city, Love Story Yoga. If yoga were a church, Love Story Yoga’s Stephanie Synder would be its high priestess. The trainer, who has been teaching in SF for 20 years, has a huge cult following and for good reason. Her spiritual classes flow from one move to the next seamlessly and will leave you sweaty, but feeling incredibly revitalized. Chanting has never been so haute.

Coming Soon

A rendering of a new hotel to open at 250 4th Street later this year

2017 is the year of the new hotel in San Francisco. Four new hotels, Hotel Via and Proper Hotel, and two unnamed properties, are opening later this year SFist reports. The exciting thing is that three of these establishments will have roof top bars. Since San Francisco is seriously lacking in roof top bars, this is thrilling news. Now we just have to pray to the warm weather gods and hope this summer isn’t as cold as last summer.

Taken: Hunter Pence

Hunter Pence and his bride, Alexis, on their wedding day

Ladies, the San Francisco Giants‘s hunky right fielder, Hunter Pence, is officially off the market. Although he got married on November 26, details about his wedding to Alexis Cozombolidis came out this week. The SF Giants tweeted a photo of Pence’s groom look and Pence himself shared an instagram image of his big day. “Believe it or not the smile doesn’t quite represent the beautiful indescribable feeling that I feel. ‘Love’ :) #TBT #NationalSpousesDayRumor,” he posted.

Rumor has it the reception was at waterfront steakhouse Epic Steak and had a ‘Harry Potter Meets Game of Thrones’-themed reception. Chef Parke Ulrich created a menu that included multiple courses and a traditional whole roast lamb.

About Last Night

Katie Traina, Lynn Heublein, Sobia Shaikh

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

SkinSpirit celebrated its opening last night in a lavish champagne-filled reception at its new Sacramento Street location. The event was hosted by Katie Traina and Sobia Shaikh and attended by all the pretty ladies: Allison Speer, Sonya Molodetskaya, Brenda Zarate, and Alexis Traina.