What is a Kilt Night?
There are many occasions to wear the kilt.
Many wear their kilt for no reason at all
(other than it may be illegal to go out naked).
Some wear their kilts for special occasions
or ceremony, others go to Scottish heritage-related
events such as a formal "Burn's Night"
dinner, pipe band performances or athletic
events such as the Highland Games.
There are many guys (young and old) that
get together with other kilt wearing guys
to "hoist a pint" at a local "kilt
night" event. These are usually somewhat
casual no-host affairs held at a local tavern,
Celtic-pub, restaurant, saloon or micro-brewery.
Many are conducted on a regular basis and
most are free to attend (other than your
meal and libations)!
 What makes a good kilt night? Well, there a few prerequisites and a few
things that would certainly help make the
event more of a success. First off, you need
to publicize your event, so all those that
may be interested are aware of the date/time
and location. Once all of your kilted buddies
are "in the loop," you all just
need to show up and have a great time. One
thing that will help in your success; no
entry or gate fee. Find a kilt-friendly venue
that does not have a cover charge or might
be willing to waive their usual door charge
for your kilted crew. Lots of cold beer is
mandatory, the cheaper, the better! Live
music on-site (plus), invite lots of cute
co-eds in mini-skirts (big plus!).
Kilt Nights are a great way to get together
for a relaxing good time. Please be sure
to encourage all of your participants to
bring a non-drinking designated driver. Also,
encourage car-pooling and see about hosting
your event somewhere with easy access to
public transit and point out the convenience
so your guests can avoid a drunk driving
arrest!
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Where are the local Kilt Nights in the San
Francisco Bay Area?
 |
 The original SF Bay Kilt Night started in
August 2005 at Devil's Canyon Brewing Co. in Belmont, CA (details listed below). The Belmont event
is held (rain-or-shine) on the last Friday of each month, from 5 pm to midnight. Most participants
are there from 7 pm to 10 pm, but we have been known to close the place
down after 1 am! We ususally have 6
to 12 guys show up in kilts and even a few
lovely ladies in tartan skirts or miniskirts!
Boo-yah!
The South Bay Kilt Night started on the
2nd Saturday of February 2006 at the Firehouse Grill & Brewery in Sunnyvale,
CA. That event was moved to The Blackwatch Pub in Los Gatos and was been moved to the 3rd Friday. It
has been temporarily suspended, see details
below. |
| Pictured above at January 2006 Belmont Kilt
Night. (Left to Right) Front: Rigged, Steve,
Tim (Founder). Back: Mark (Author), Alan
H. and Mike. |
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~THE ORIGINAL BAY AREA KILT NIGHT~ |
 |
SF Peninsula: Last Friday, Monthly
Belmont Kilt Night...
Calling all guys in kilts (traditional tartan
kilts, Utilikilts, any darned kilt!)... That's
right, mark your calendars for the LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH... time for our monthly kilt mixer in Belmont!
From 5 pm on. Rain-or-Shine, hell or high water!
 Most of the kilt crew starts trickling in
around 6-7 pm, although no doubt that Tim
C. will be there at 5... first hanging out
with the beautiful Damaris, in line for a
couple of cold brews and checking out the
opening band!
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 No stress meet-and-greet with cool, fun loving,
people in a casual, relaxing, atmosphere.
No cover charge! Live music, great hot food at really decent
prices, indoor and outdoor seating
with cozy
propane heat lamps and couches
inside &
outside! Come with plans to have fun! Bring a friend (or two)! No-host bar. Yummy
$3 (16 oz.) award-winning microbrews. Don't
miss their fantastic "Full Boar Scotch
Ale" as well as about a 1/2 dozen other
great draft selections!
Put on your kilt and come join
the fun! The
proprietors will be expecting
us! If we get
advance notice on the bands that
will be
playing, we will be sure to post
info. in
the XMarks Kilt Night forum! [LINK]
Devil's Canyon Brewing Company
111 Industrial Way #7, Belmont CA 94002
 [WEBSITE]
The brewery is located in the north/east
corner of the Harbor Business Center, right
off of Harbor Blvd exit from S/B Hwy. 101.
The driveway is just east of Industrial,
across the street from the Harbor Bar. It
can be a bit difficult to find the first
time. Just copy down the directions below
and you'll find it!
They are only open to the public just one
night per month. They call the event "Beer Friday."
Their doors open at 5 pm and
things tend
wrap up between 11 pm and midnight.
We have
no affiliation with the brewing
company,
it is just a convenient location
on the Peninsula
and a great place to hold a casual
mixer.
We hope to see you there!
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Driving directions to Devil's Canyon Brewery
in Belmont:
From San Francisco
Take 101 South to South of San Mateo, then
take the Ralston/Harbor exit. Do not exit
onto Ralston continue, but follow the Harbor
Blvd. sign and parallel to the freeway to
the next exit onto Harbor. Take an immediate
left into the first driveway, into the business
complex and park as soon as you find a spot.
They are the corner unit, closest to the
freeway.
From the East Bay
Take the SF/Oakland Bay Bridge (Hwy 80 to
Hwy 101 south) or Hayward/San Mateo Bridge
(Hwy 97 to Hwy 101 south) and follow the
"From San Francisco" instructions
above or take the Dumbarton Bridge (Hwy 84
west to Hwy 101 North) or Hwy 237 west (to
Hwy 101 north) and follow the "From
San Jose" instructions below.
From San Jose
Take 101 North to north of Redwood City,
then take the Holly St. exit West. Drive
back over the freeway and turn right on Industrial
Road. Continue until it "T's" into
Harbor. Turn Right on Harbor and turn tight
immediately at the next driveway into the
business complex and park as soon as you
find a spot. They are the corner unit. closest
to the freeway.
Please note: Devil's Canyon Brewery is in the most N/E
suite of the most N/E building in the "Harbor
Business Center," very near to the S/B
Harbor exit off 101. Parking can be difficult
if you arrive after 7, but word is, you can
block the roll-up doors at the many commercial
businesses in the area if their lights are
out. No one seems to mind. If you have a
hard time finding the place, park in the
business park where you see lots of cars,
walk towards the freeway and listen for the
live music and rabble in the N/E corner of
the Harbor Business Center. It is not well
signed or posted as it is not a bar, but
a real brewery. |
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NEW DAY & VENUE for our monthly SOUTH BAY KILT NIGHT COMING SOON!
South Bay Kilt Night - NEW DATE PENDING, starting at 7:00 pm
 Black Watch Scottish Pub [MAP] [REVIEW]
141 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
in beautiful
Downtown Los Gatos, CA 408.354.2200.
What a great excuse to dust off
your classic
Black Watch kilt! Come one, come
all to the
new & improved South Bay
Kilt Night...
wear your "BW tank"
or any ole'
kilt you like, grab a firend
and join us
for a great time! The more,
the merrier!
REVIEW FROM CITYSEARCH.COM
A local favorite since 1959,
this dark and
unassuming tavern consists of
a handful of
oversized wooden booths in the
main room,
a bustling bar scene and a smaller
gaming
area in the back with pinball
and Pac-Man.
Coats of arms and other Scottish
cultural
paraphernalia co-exist with purple
Christmas
lights and other modern touches.
The predominantly
classic-rock jukebox spills out
tunes while
kamikaze shots and beers are
consumed with
vigor.
NOTE FROM MOTORMAN:
Okay, we tried Saturdays (twice),
now we
are moving it to Fridays to see
if that will
garner a better turnout... How
could this
new location possibly fail? A
Scottish Pub,
voted "Best Kamikaze Shots"
in
the South Bay (served pitcher
style), they
come in both pineapple and cranberry
flavor,
with a strainer (for the ice)
and shot glasses
for the whole gang! Bring your
own designated
driver, with gas prices what
they are, Michael
can't drive us ALL home afterward!!!
The South Bay Kilt Night has been temporatily
suspended, pending more interest. We have tried different nights and locations
and while this one was well attended when
it was in effect, we have had difficulty
keeping the momentum going. The event at
Devil's Canyon Brewery has a lot going for
it, live music, good beer, cheep beer, inexpensive
food, no cover charge, a good mix of people
from all age groups, indoor and outdoor seating
(with heat lamps!), a central location and
ample free parking. It is really hard to
beat or even match all of that. Does anyone have some new ideas for a South
Bay Kilt Night event?
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Can the North and East Bay be
far behind?
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| Where are other Kilt Nights? |
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Philly, Denver, Houston, NYC, Washington
D.C., Vancouver, London... there are kilt
nights all across the U.S. and around the
globe on a regular basis!
Many can be found listed and announced on
the two forum-based websites linked below.
Both of these sites allow you to post questions
and feedback, make suggestions and contact
the hosts (if you join the forum).
If you can't find a kilt night in your area,
you can also use these forums to announce
your own event or post a message seeking
those in your area that may be interested
in attending a kilted affair in your town!
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| 3 chaps enjoying a few pints at a local tavern.
Photo courtesy of Hamish. |
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