You might not think of Elixir as a Bastille Day destination, even if it is close to a certain popular crêpe spot. But tomorrow night, the Mission bar is hosting a unique first-time twist on the holiday. Along with booze, wine, giveaways, and prizes, Elixir promises a functioning guillotine, doing double duty as a prop to hype Matt Stewart's first novel, The French Revolution (Soft Skull Press, $15.95).
Stewart ― who first published his book last year on Twitter in over 3,700 tweets ― is a local author who calls The French Revolution a fictional family saga set mostly in San Francisco, "patterned on the extreme plot swings of the historical French Revolution." Elixir has scheduled what it calls "revolutionary readings" with that guillotine display. Our only question: Where do you go about getting a real guillotine? Elixir?
Elixir's Bastille Day Book Launch Extravaganza
When: Weds., July 14, 8 p.m.
Where: 3200 16th St. (at Guerrero), 552-1633
Cost: Free; take cash for drinks and a copy of Stewart's book
