Image from HarmonyRae on Flickr

The Giants are in the World Series. It’s remarkable. With standing-room only tickets to the games starting at around $500, it’s likely that you’ll be watching more games on TV than in person. While you could stay at home to watch on your couch, why not go out on the town to support a local business, and toast victories with like-minded baseball enthusiasts?

Maybe you want to meet your neighbors at a rowdy sports bar and be merry on cheap beer. Or you might want to bring your family to a kid-friendly establishment to fill up on good eats as you root on the orange and black.  Regardless, you don’t have to cross 19th Avenue to find good places to watch the World Series. You hardly even have to cross Sunset Boulevard.

Kid-Friendly

The Park Chalet. On the Great Highway near the Dutch windmill, the Park Chalet offers the biggest screen in the neighborhood: an expansive 5 feet. The restaurant’s open layout makes it hard to have a bad seat, with such a big screen. The restaurant’s 3-6-9 Happy Hour ($3 beers, $6 cocktails, and appetizers for $3, $6 and $9) will be held through 6 p.m. during each game. As an added incentive, Thursday’s Game 2 will coincide with a fundraiser for the Peace Pedalers organization, whose members bicycle around the world to promote peace. They are raising funds for the Good Hope School for AIDS orphans in Uganda, and if you donate $5, you get happy hour prices all night.

Parkside Tavern. This is a much-loved baseball restaurant, and the post-season has provided a steady crowd for the games. At Taraval Street and 30th Avenue, the Parkside is a classic Giants bar. All four of their 42-inch plasma TVs will show the game, with the sound on. That means you can soak in the Fox Sports commentary, though the network might find fans would rather have John Miller broadcast the World Series.

Irish Cultural Center. This hub of Irish — and neighborhood — activity is a great place to watch sports in a lively atmosphere with authentic Irish cuisine. Located on 45th Avenue between Sloat Boulevard and Wawona Street, it has weird hours: The restaurant is only open from Thursday through Sunday, so you have limited opportunities, but it’s worth giving the restaurant a shot for the atmosphere. The bar, however, is open Tuesday through Sunday, so you can go without kids to more of the games.

Leave the Kids at Home

Image from Indi on flickr

Hockey Haven. One of the better sports bars in the Outer Richmond, Hockey Haven will not be showing hockey this week. Instead, the bar’s four flat-screen TVs will be tuned in to the Giants. As the barkeep said, “We’ll have happy hour, but it’ll depend on how the team is doing if it’s actually happy or not.” The beer is cheap, with prices between $3 and $4, and they have pool tables, which may offer a good relief if you need a distraction from the torture of the baseball game.

Costello’s Four Deuces. Four Deuces is another Taraval Street establishment, between 33rd and 32nd avenues. With friendly staff and great deals, this is definitely a spot worth considering. For the World Series, Four Deuces will be selling $3 Coors Light and will be barbecuing while they show the game on their six televisions. “What more could you ask for?” the bartender here asked. We’ll take a Giants win, too, if that’s possible.

The Riptide. The Riptide will broadcast the games on its large pull-down projector screen, the second-largest screen in the neighborhood. The bar will offer its regular happy-hour prices throughout the games, and will stick to its usual schedule of providing party-themed food on Wednesday and Thursday, which is a nice perk.

Flanahan’s Pub. This authentic dive bar will likely be packed with regulars, and if you’re lucky, you might be able to squeeze in with them. The bar has three TVs and is planning on serving hot dogs throughout the games.

The World Series Game Schedule.

As with all major sporting events, you increase your chances of getting a good seat if you show up early.
Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 27. 4:30 p.m., in San Francisco. Tim Lincecum vs. Cliff Lee
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 28. 4:30 p.m., in San Francisco. Pitchers to be announced.
Game 3: Saturday, Oct. 30. 3:30 p.m., in Texas.
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 31. 5 p.m., in Texas.
(if necessary) Game 5: Monday, Nov. 1. 4:30 p.m., in Texas.
(if necessary) Game 6: Wednesday, Nov. 3. 4:30 p.m., in San Francisco.
(if necessary) Game 7: Thursday, Nov. 4. 4:30 p.m., in San Francisco.