Hot slice Celebrating its 10th anniversary this month, the Noe Valley Bakery and Bread Co. (4073 24th St., S.F. 415-550-1405, www.noevalleybread.com) has decided to celebrate tenfold. The store is giving away a loaf of bread to the first 10 customers to arrive after 10 a.m. through the end of the month. Why the numerical wizardry? Coproprietor Michael Gassen wants to "call attention to the number 10 and how significant it is for a small, family-run business to make it for that long." (Matthew Shechmeister)

Slow and steady "We are the best!" exclaims Erin Witta, manager of the Green Tortoise Hostel (494 Broadway, S.F. 415-834-1000, www.greentortoise.com), in tongue-in-cheek exaggeration. But it does have something to make other low-budget accommodations green with envy: the San Francisco travel company's hostel won second-best hostel in North America at the international Hoscar Awards in Dublin, Ireland. All it took was Green Tortoise's free beer on Tuesday nights, free breakfast, open mics, free 24-hour Internet, and free dinner three times a week. When do we move in? (Lucy Martin)

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