April/May 2010: What’s New in San Francisco?
“What’s New” is a listing of new venues, attractions and activities compiled by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB). Public transit is highly recommended when visiting San Francisco. For bus schedules and information on San Francisco’s cable cars, historic streetcars and light rail system visit www.sfmta.org or call 311 (San Francisco) or 415-701-2311 if calling from outside area code 415.
PERFORMING ARTS
Direct from London: Peter Pan Makes April 27, 2010 U.S. Premiere in San Francisco
Beginning April 27, 2010, San Francisco will host the U.S. premiere of a spectacular new stage production of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie’s classic story performed in a state-of-the-art theater pavilion. Conceived by an award-winning creative team, Peter Pan features 22 actors, stunning puppets, epic music, dazzling flying sequences and the world’s first 360-degree CGI theater set. One of the most striking elements of this new production is the setting: the threesixty° Theater. The show is performed “in the round” in a 1,350-seat theater-tent, being erected in Ferry Park on the Embarcadero opposite the Ferry Building. This remarkable structure, designed expressly for the world premiere of this production in London’s Kensington Gardens last summer, was shipped 6,000 miles to San Francisco. The interior is lit with more than 15,000 square feet of high-resolution video, immersing the cast and audience in a CGI Neverland. When Peter and Wendy fly to Neverland the audience flies with them over 400-square-miles of virtual London and beyond. For information visit www.peterpantheshow.com or call 888-PPAN-TIX (888-772-6849); for groups of 15 or more, call 415-551-2020 or email groupsales@shnsf.com. Media contacts: Anne Abrams, Jennifer McVey or Erin Garcia, 415-551-2075, egarcia@shnsf.com.
Teatro ZinZanni’s Upcoming Production
Love, Chaos & Couture: All Dressed up with Someplace to Go! Opens May 20, 2010
Teatro ZinZanni’s upcoming production Love, Chaos & Couture opening May 20, 2010 features an artistic collaboration with international fashion designer Luly Yang, who created 13 original costumes for the show. An affectionate send-up of the world of high fashion, the show stars the legendary Tony Award winner Liliane Montevecchi, who returns to the San Francisco spiegeltent after an absence of two years, and ZinZanni favorite, comedian Frank Ferrante. The stellar international cast assembled for the show also includes the amazing French acrobats, Les Petits Frères, Ukrainian contortionist Vita Radionova, Chinese acrobats Ming and Rui who perform with U.S. National Champion gymnast Alexa, and the sensational Vertical Tango (Sam and Sandra). American opera singer Rachel DeShon rounds off the cast. For tickets visit www.zinzanni.org or call 415-438-2668. Media contact: Brenda Hughes, 415-244-9770, brenda@theatricalpr.com.
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), Magic Theatre and Marin Theatre Company (MTC)
Partner for West Coast Premiere of The Brother/Sister Plays September-November 2010
American Conservatory Theater, Magic Theatre and Marin Theatre Company (MTC) have announced a first-time partnership between the three companies to mount the West Coast premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s trilogy, The Brother/Sister Plays. Each of the interconnected plays in the trilogy will be presented on a different stage: MTC will present the first play, In the Red and Brown Water; Magic Theatre will take on the second, The Brothers Size, and A.C.T. will produce the final show of the trilogy, Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet. Hailed as an “explosive start” to the theater season, the three-theater collaboration is one of the most unique presentations ever to appear in the San Francisco Bay Area. The three plays can be seen in any order, with each creating a conversation with the others as told by a brilliant new voice. Acclaimed by the Chicago Tribune as “the greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30 in a generation or more,” McCraney’s plays combine an authentic exploration of a gritty and urban reality alongside magical flights of imagination. Performance dates and other details will be announced by each theater as part of their season announcement. For information visit www.brothersisterplays.org or call 415-749-2228. Media contact: Evren Odcikin, 415-439-2418, evren@act-sf.org.
Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show Kicks Off National Tour at
San Francisco’s Marines Memorial Theatre April 15, 2010
Direct from Las Vegas, Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show kicks off its National Tour at San Francisco’s Marines Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St., second floor, for a limited engagement April 15-May 23, 2010. Marking a half-century since the original Rat Pack’s legendary Las Vegas performances at the Sands Hotel, Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show takes audiences on a journey back to days of highballs and hi-jinks with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Dean Martin. Produced by Sandy Hackett, son of the late, great comedian and actor Buddy Hackett, and Lisa Dawn Miller, daughter of legendary songwriter Ron Miller, Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show features the classic songs everyone knows and loves such as “For Once in My Life,” “My Way,” “Mack the Knife,” plus original, never-before-heard songs written by the late Miller. For information visit www.marinesmemorialtheatre.tix.com or call 415-771-6900. Media contact: Kevin Kopjak, 415-296-0677, kevink@charleszukow.com.
MUSEUMS
Going to Extremes – California Academy of Sciences
Opens Extreme Mammals April 3, 2010
A new exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences, Extreme Mammals: The Biggest, Smallest, and Most Amazing Mammals of All Time showcases some of the most intriguing mammals, from the speedy to the sloth-like, the towering to the tiny, even the venomous and the armor-clad. Featuring spectacular fossils and reconstructions alongside recent specimens and live animals, the exhibit explores the surprising and often extraordinary world of extinct and living mammals. A whale that could walk? A bat the size of a bumblebee? Mothers who are pregnant for almost two years … or just 12 days? Meet this colorful cast of characters and learn why humans are perhaps the most extreme mammals of all. For information visit www.calacademy.org or call 415-379-8000. Media contact: Stephanie Stone, 415-379-5121, sstone@calacademy.org.
Chinese Historical Society of America Offers Special
“Second Saturday” Programs Beginning April 10, 2010
Beginning Saturday, April 10. 2010, the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) will debut a new series: Second Saturday. Groomed to carve out a more family-oriented space in CHSA’s landmark building, the series opens with a performance by Artist-in-Residence Charlie Chin at 2 p.m. Chin’s narrative, Chinatown is Burning: Huey Liang, commemorates the anniversary of the 1906 earthquake and fire. Chin recreates the life of 15-year-old Liang, who survived the earthquake and witnessed the rebuilding of Chinatown, going on to a career in vaudeville and radio. The hour-long performance will be followed by an architectural walking tour of Chinatown by CHSA Executive Director Sue Lee that ties in with CHSA’s current exhibit, The Architecture of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Chin’s performance is free with paid museum admission; the walking tour is $15 per person. Subsequent Saturdays will include talks on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882; a film screening of Carved in Silence, by Felicia Lowe about Angel Island, and additional walking tours. For information visit www.chsa.org or call 415-391-1188. Media contact: Judy Hu, 415-391-1188, ext. 107, judy@chsa.org.
EVENTS
Jeff Adachi Tapped for Grand Marshal Honors for Northern
California Cherry Blossom Festival April 10-11 and 17-18, 2010
Jeff Adachi, public defender for the City and County of San Francisco, will be the grand marshal at the 2010 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival parade on April 18, 2010. Adachi is California’s only publicly elected public defender; before being elected in March 2002, Adachi worked as a deputy public defender in San Francisco for 15 years and in private practice for two years. He is a past president of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area and the San Francisco Japanese American Citizen’s League. San Francisco’s Japantown will burst into full bloom on the weekends of April 10-11 and 17-18, 2010, when members of Northern California’s Japanese American community gather to celebrate their 43rd annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Each year, more than 200,000 people attend this dazzling tribute to the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American community. The event spans two weekends and climaxes with a grand parade Sunday, April 18. Leave time to explore the oldest Japantown in the United States, roam the food bazaar, and enjoy traditional arts and crafts and the children’s village. Entertainment stages feature Japanese dancers, martial artists and taiko drummers. For more information, visit www.nccbf.org or call 415-567-4573. Media contact: Jeffrey Kimoto, 408-998-0920, editor@nikkeiwest.com.
53rd San Francisco International Film Festival Runs April 22-May 6, 2010
Hailed as “the best 15 days of the year for film lovers and party goers,” the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF53) will screen 177 films from 46 countries in 31 languages from April 22-May 6, 2010. On the schedule are five world premieres, one international premiere, nine North American premieres and five U.S. premieres. One of the most important events on San Francisco’s cultural calendar, SFIFF53 films screen at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the Castro Theatre and Landmark’s Clay Theatre in San Francisco; and the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley. The party circuit will include stops at the historic Regency Center, Manor West, 1015 Folsom, W San Francisco, Temple Nightclub-Prana Restaurant and the Westin St. Francis. Opening night begins at 7 p.m. at the historic Castro Theatre where the curtain rises on Micmacs, the latest offering from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Three major award recipients will be feted at the annual Film Society Awards Night, April 29, at the Westin St. Francis: Brazilian director Walter Salles; actor Robert Duvall, and screenwriter James Schamus. Film critic Roger Ebert will be honored on May 1 at “An Evening with Roger Ebert and Friends.” The festival’s closing night offers a rousing finale at 7 p.m. with a screening of Joan Rivers — a Piece of Work. Rivers is expected to attend. Established in 1957, the SFIFF is the longest-running festival in the Americas. Over the past 52 years, SFIFF has shown some 6,000 films from 150 countries to an audience of two million film lovers. For tickets and information visit www.sffs.org or call 925-866-9559. Media contact: Hilary Hart, 415-561-5022, hilary@sffs.org. Photos and press materials are posted at www.sffs.org/pressdownloads/.
Presidio Heights Mansion Site for San Francisco Decorator Showcase May 1-31, 2010
The West Coast’s most prominent and emerging interior and landscape designers are converging on 3450 Washington St. in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights to transform a circa 1930s French Normandy mansion into the 2010 San Francisco Decorator Showcase. Now in its 33rd year, the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, a must-see design event, will run from May 1-31, 2010. The home features three floors of living space; the spacious living room and formal dining room offer beautiful views of the Golden Gate. The main floor also features a paneled library, a completely remodeled kitchen and outdoor terrace with Bay views. The upper two floors in the home feature several large bedrooms and sitting rooms, including a master suite with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay and the Presidio. The home is open to the public Tuesday-Sunday, and closed on Monday (except for Memorial Day). New for 2010, the San Francisco Decorator Showcase will be open to the public until 7 p.m. on Friday evenings and special activities are planned for guests. Tickets are available at the door and are $30 for general admission and $25 for seniors. Group rates are available and must be arranged in advance by calling 415-447-3115. For information visit www.decoratorshowcase.org. Media contacts: Grier Mathews, 415-246-4054, griermathews@mac.com or Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793, denise@deniselamottpr.com.
Yerba Buena Arts & Events Announces Lineup for
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival May 1-Oct. 31, 2010
From May 1-Oct. 31, 2010 the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (YBGF) will be celebrating its 10th year with 100 free events including music, theater, circus, dance, poetry, family festivals and children’s programs with artists from Cuba, Bali, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Italy, Sweden, and other lands. “This year we will present more than 1,400 artists on our outdoor stages in a six-month season that showcases the extraordinary creativity and diversity of the region’s artists,” noted Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Executive/Artistic Director Linda Lucero. “Today, more than ever, people need the joy, the spiritual sustenance, and the inspiration that only music, dance or theater can provide,” she added. Festival highlights include the festival kick-off event on Saturday, May 1 with the world premiere of Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra’s MLK and the Hawaiian dance company Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, directed by Patrick Makuakane on Saturday, May 8. Other highlights include Gamelan Sekar Jaya (May 15), Bassam Saba (May 22), Los Terrys (June 12), AXIS Dance Company performing a YBGF commissioned piece (June 26), enCayapa + Venezuelan Music Project (June 27), Circus Bella (July 3), The Angola Project (August 28) and the Nice Guy Trio premiering Darren Johnston’s Waking Music and Rob Reich’s Clown School, both commissioned by YBGF (Sept. 4). Yerba Buena Gardens is located between Mission Street and Howard Street and Third and Fourth Streets in downtown San Francisco. For information visit www.ybgf.org or call 415-543-1718. Media contact: Marshall Lamm, 510-928-1410, marshalllamm@earthlink.net.
Noodle Fest 2010: Chinatown and North Beach, A Cultural and Culinary Celebration May 2
Wide noodles. Thick noodles. Thin noodles. Noodles of every dimension will be put to the test on Sunday, May 2, 2010, in the first Noodle Fest 2010. Sponsored by the Chinatown Community Development Center and North Beach Merchants Association, Noodle Fest 2010 will be held along Grant Avenue near Broadway from 3-7 p.m., bridging the traditional boundary between the two historic neighborhoods of Chinatown and North Beach. Noodle noshers will be able to sample delicious noodle and pasta dishes from more than 30 Chinatown and North Beach restaurants. Come ready to mingle, enjoy live entertainment, watch noodle making demonstrations by renowned chefs, vote for your favorite restaurant from both neighborhoods and enter to win a grand prize raffle of two roundtrip tickets from San Francisco to New York City. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and include six noodle or pasta tastings. For tickets and information visit www.chinatowncdc.org. Media contact: Vivian Chang, 415-984-1447, vchang@chinatowncdc.org
Sixth Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration Set for May 15, 2010
The sixth annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration, the largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation, is set for May 15, 2010. New features include a Mah Jong section, more arts and crafts selection and shopping incentives, and Filipino American Jazz. The fair also features Asian American artists, DJs, martial arts, today’s Asian pop culture, j-cars, a Muay Thai kickboxing ring, scrumptious food, children’s area, cultural procession, anime, free hepatitis B screenings and more. Free and open to the public, the celebration will be held in front of the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., adjacent to the Little Saigon District. For information visit www.asianfairsf.com. Media contact: Angela Pang, 415-321-5894, apang@asianweek.com.
International Fine Art Fair Premieres at San Francisco’s Fort Mason May 21-23, 2010
In May 2010 San Francisco will welcome the city’s first international Fine Art Fair in nearly a decade. This first edition of the SF Fine Art Fair, taking place May 21-23, 2010 at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion, will feature approximately 70 internationally renowned galleries, displaying more than $300 million in modern and contemporary artwork by more than 500 artists. From modern masters to important contemporary offerings, visitors to the SF Fine Art Fair (SFFAF) will experience a full weekend of artistic excellence in a 50,000-square-foot setting designed to accentuate and highlight a spectacular selection of paintings, works on paper, drawings, printed editions, photography and sculpture (both indoors and outdoors) by the world’s leading artists. In addition to traditional gallery-curated booths, the SF Fine Arts Fair will feature LIFT, a series of gallery-sponsored solo artist booths focused on highlighting some of the best new talents and trends in contemporary art. Fair attendees will also have the opportunity to experience another form of up-and-coming via Distillers Liquid Art, a series of eight bars that will be set-up throughout the exhibition space serving samplings from some of America’s top artisanal distilleries. For information visit http://www.sffineartfair.com/san-francisco-fine-art-fair.php. Media contact: Wendy Norris, Norris Communications, 415-307-3853, wendy@norriscommunications.biz.
San Francisco Symphony’s 2010 Black & White Ball Features Grammy
Award-Winning Recording Artists Tony Bennett and k.d. lang May 22, 2010
Grammy Award-winning recording artists Tony Bennett and k.d. lang will headline the San Francisco Symphony’s 2010 Black & White Ball Saturday, May 22, 2010, performing in a concert that will include duets as well as individual performances at Davies Symphony Hall at 8 p.m. The complete entertainment line-up, announced on March 15, will also include Kool & The Gang, Tiempo Libre, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Faith Evans Moonalice, Royal Crown Revue, Candela, Papa Doo Run Run, Foreverland: A Musical Tribute to Michael Jackson and Zepparella. The post-concert party at San Francisco’s War Memorial Performing Arts Center, which will be transformed into one of the country’s most elegant party venues, features 10 bands on five stages, live music, dancing, food, drinks and the rollicking midnight surprise. The public is also invited to help “build your own ball” with online voting on music, food and fashion elements at www.sfsymphony.org/byoball. All proceeds from the evening will support the Symphony’s nationally acclaimed Adventures in Music education program, which provides comprehensive music education in San Francisco public elementary schools. For information visit www.sfsymphony.org/ball or call 415-864-6000. Media contact: Colleen Gallagher, Glodow Nead Communications, 415-394-6500, colleen@glodownead.com or Oliver Theil, SFS Communications, 415-503-5426, otheil@sfsymphony.org.
Carnaval, California’s Largest Annual Multi-Cultural Event, Slated for May 29-30, 2010
The 2010 San Francisco Carnaval Festival, “Colors of Sound, Splashes of Culture,” will be held May 29-30, 2010 in San Francisco’s Mission District on Harrison Street between 16th and 22nd Streets. The San Francisco Carnaval Grand Parade, with its rich multi-cultural themes, spectacular costumes, music and dancing takes place Sunday, May 30 at 9:30 a.m. and begins at Bryant and 24th Streets, proceeds down Mission to 17th Street. Carnaval showcases the very best of Latin American and Caribbean cultures with a dynamic array of food, music, drumming, dancing, live music and artistry, including works created by Mission District residents and Bay Area artists. The Carnaval San Francisco Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located on Harrison Street, between 16th and 22nd streets, the festival will offer food, music, dance, art, crafts and other fun activities and events on several stages for the entire family to enjoy. For information visit www.sfcarnaval.com or call 415-642-1748. Media contact: Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793, denise@deniselamottpr.com.
Weekend World Whirl: 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival June 5-27, 2010
From the palaces of Bali to the village squares of Mexico and the mountains of the Andes, the 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival promises to whisk audiences away on a first class journey around the world. As The New York Times dance critic Alastair Macaulay noted in 2009, “What other city in the world has anything like the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival?”
Every weekend June 5-27, 2010 San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts comes to vivid life as 36 companies representing dance traditions from more than 20 cultures take the stage. This year, the festival will present several special commissions, including one honoring the Mexican bicentennial. For information visit www.worldartswest.org or call 415-474-3914; tickets are available www.cityboxoffice.com. Media contact: Jennifer Roy, 415-706-7644, jennifer@worldartswest.org.
“Double-Header” at AT&T Park: AT&T Giant Race and Giants County Fair
The summer of 2010 will see the return of the Giants County Fair at McCovey Cove, June 11-20, 2010 and the inaugural AT&T Giant Race June 12, 2010. For the second year in a row the San Francisco Giants are bringing all of the fun of a county fair to AT&T Park. Featuring more than 20 carnival rides, classic midway games, food and daily entertainment, the event drew more than 37,000 attendees in 2009. The inaugural Giant Race is a combination of the Plate to Plate 5K that has taken place in the ballpark for the past three years and the former Stadium to Stadium run. Runners will be able to compete in a half-marathon or 5K road race, finishing on the field at AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza. Ancillary events include a “Runners’ Night at AT&T Park” on Friday, June 11. During the San Francisco Giants-Oakland As game, runners will be able to pick up their race packets and attend a pre-race health and wellness expo in Pier 48. For information visit www.sfgiants.com or call 415-972-1800. Media contact: Shana Daum, 415-972-2445, sdaum@sfgiants.com or Jens Weiden, 415-972-1808, jweiden@attpark.com.
SPORTS
Register Now for Triple Crown of Bay Area Races
Registration is open for three of San Francisco’s major summer running events: the 30th annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon on May 2 (select categories only); the ING Bay to Breakers on May 16; and the San Francisco Marathon on July 25, 2010.
Hundreds of top athletes from around the world will take over the streets and bay waters of San Francisco for the 30th annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon May 2 at 8 a.m. Featuring an icy cold 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the San Francisco shoreline, an 18-mile hilly bike ride through the Presidio and an eight-mile trail run through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this triathlon is limited to only 2,000 triathletes/relay teams. Fans will not want to miss this world-class sporting event at the Marina Green where they can see the swim start and end, the athlete transition areas and the finish line. Spectators also are invited to enjoy the free Fitness Festival & Expo on the weekend of May 1-2 with dozens of vendors, product demos, refreshments and more. For information visit www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com or call 424-653-1883. Media contact: DeeDee Taft, 415-380-8390, deedee@spinpr.com.
San Francisco will celebrate the 99th running of one of the most famous footraces in the world: ING Bay to Breakers 12K May 16, 2010.The ING Bay to Breakers 12K is one of the world’s largest and oldest footraces. The name reflects the traditional course which takes tens of thousands of participants beginning at 8 a.m. from the starting point near The Embarcadero (the “Bay” side of the city) to the west end of the city and the “breakers” of Ocean Beach. The 7.46-mile race features world-class athletes in addition to costumed runners and “fun-loving” folks out for a great day of running and walking through San Francisco. Festivities begin May 14 and 15 with the ING Greater Body Expo at East Concourse, S.F. Design Center, 620 Seventh St. For information visit www.ingbaytobreakers.com or call 415-359-2800. Immediately following the race, the annual ING Footstock festival along Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Golden Gate Park will feature food and vendor booths as well as a beer and wine garden. Media contact: Sam Singer, 415-227-9700, singer@singersf.com.
On July 25 upwards of 22,000 runners from all over the world will flock to the City by the Bay for the San Francisco Marathon™, the coolest mid-summer marathon in the United States. The average starting line temperature for the race is a perfect (for marathoners) 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 C). The course through America’s number one rated running city and across the famed Golden Gate Bridge offers several options: full marathon, two half-marathons (choose a half), 5K or progressive marathon. The race benefits Youth Run4Fun, a youth running program in San Francisco benefiting underserved schools; runners have the option of earning free race registration by fundraising for Youth Run4Fun. For more information or to register online, visit www.thesfmarathon.com or call 888-958-6668. Media contact: Press Coordinator, 888-958-6668, info@thesfmarathon.com, Attn: Sabrina.
ATTRACTIONS
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Offers New Season of the “Best in Land, Sea and Sky”
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, located in Vallejo, Calif., opened March 6 with a three-week long celebration honoring Taj, the park’s 70-year-old Asian elephant. The party will continue all season long with unprecedented pricing, amazing animal encounters and a full slate of park offerings that meld the “best in land, sea and sky.” This season Six Flags Discovery Kingdom debuted the all new show, Birds of the World, and Looney Tunes Dance-Off. The underwater feats of Odin, the spectacular white Bengal tiger, and his fellow tigers is now showcased on giant video screens. An all-new Johnny Rockets Shakes and Fries location has opened and a new catering kitchen is available for groups from 15 to 15,000. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is home to eight thrilling roller coasters and three children’s themed areas including Thomas Town™. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom also offers unique animal interaction programs. In addition to its in-water dolphin swim program, Dolphin Discovery, guests can participate in the Trainer for a Day series, where they can actually shadow marine mammal trainers in this daylong program. During the popular overnight Sharks in the Dark program, guests can sleep among the sharks. With a Seafari Pass, guests can feed lorikeets, seals and sea lions, and giraffes. They can even ride an elephant. All season long, the park will host park-wide themed events from Fourth of July fireworks, cultural weekends to educational days such as Ocean Discovery Day and holiday extravaganzas like Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. For information visit www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom. Media contact: Nancy Chan, 707-556-5227, nchan@sftp.com.
HOTELS
San Francisco’s Parc 55 Hotel Will Join Wyndham System in Late April 2010
On March 22, 2010 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts announced that the 1,011-room Parc 55 Hotel San Francisco, 55 Cyril Magnin St., will be branded as a Wyndham hotel in late April. The new name will be Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco-Union Square. The hotel recently completed a $30 million redesign that includes upgrades to all guest rooms and suites, the club lounge and the fitness center and expansion of the hotel’s meeting and event facilities to 30,000 square feet. Redesigned by Gensler design firm, Parc 55 has been recognized nationally for its energy management strategies and is one of the few hotels in San Francisco to earn Energy Star designations from both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and from the U.S. Department of Energy. The hotel also offers a dedicated floor of allergen-friendly guest rooms. For information visit www.parc55hotel.com or call 415-392-8000. Media contact: Casey Shaughnessy-Gray, 415-394-6500, ext. 212, casey@glodownead.com.
WINERIES/BREWERIES/TASTING ROOMS
Winery Collective Offers Unique California Wine
Country Experience in Heart of Fisherman’s Wharf
The Winery Collective is the first multi-winery tasting room in San Francisco focused on California boutique wineries. With more than 50 wines from more than two dozen wineries, the Winery Collective allows visitors to meet winemakers, experience wine tasting and enjoy educational and special events right in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf. Located at 485 Jefferson St. the Collective is open daily noon-9 p.m. Among the wineries represented are Donum Estate, Twisted Oak, Canihan Family, Tercero, Gregory Graham, Shannon Ridge, Vie, LaTour Vineyards, Sol Rouge and Viader. Private and corporate event services include wine tasting with the winemaker, sommelier/executive wine seminars, wine and cheese pairing receptions and winemaker dinners at local restaurants. The space will accommodate up to 35 people semi-private and 50 for a private function. An outdoor patio holds up to 300 people and several nearby venues are also available including the Argonaut Hotel and the Maritime Museum. For information visit www.winerycollective.com or call 415-929-WINE (9463). Media contact: Mel Guse, mguse@winerycollective.com.
RESTAURANTS & NIGHTCLUBS
Credo
360 Pine St., 415-693-0360, www.credosf.com
Neighborhood: Financial District
Media contact: Frank Holland, 415-591-1810, frank@clintonreilly.com
Credo is the Latin (and Italian) word for “I believe.” Credo believes in authentic Italian peasant food, simply prepared and served in a uniquely modern environment. Credo’s conceptual décor makes the entire restaurant a conversation piece and a favorite for dinner table discussions. Diners enjoy world-renowned Chef Mario Maggi’s unique recipes on handmade scrapwood tables by Dutch craftsman Piet Hein Eek. The 70-seat eatery is noted for its thin crust pizzas, inventive specials and sleek, open design. Opened January 2010.
The Parlor
2801 Leavenworth St. , 415-775-5110, www.theparlorsf.com
Neighborhood: Fisherman’s Wharf
Media contact: Media contact: Gina Klotz, 415-543-4001, ginaklotz@yahoo.com
Billed as “a bona fide place for hydration,” The Parlor exudes comfort in combination with the city’s finest cocktail culture. Classic cocktails, local brews and single-barrel whiskey from Kentucky-based Buffalo Trace distillery (exclusive to The Parlor) are specialties. The setting? Exposed brick walls, antique chandeliers and button-tufted leather banquettes complement the space; booths with private TVs may also be reserved. The club offers world-class entertainment with DJs, live music and dancing nightly. Semi-private and private events for 20 to 400 people can be accommodated. The library features a pool table and ample seating. Opened October 2009.
Alioto’s Remodels Downstairs to Bring Back the Old Fisherman’s Wharf
Alioto’s Restaurant, one of the oldest restaurants in San Francisco, is paying homage to its past by remodeling its casual cafés on the ground floor. Combining its two ground-floor restaurants, Nonna Rose and Café Eight, Alioto’s is creating Alioto’s Waterside Café on the first level of #8 Fisherman’s Wharf. The remodel will be completed at the end of April, 2010. The family’s flagship restaurant, Alioto’s #8, remains open. Alioto’s Waterside Café will have two separate rooms with distinct characters. The Nonna Rose Room, which is designed in the style of an Italian trattoria, has seating for 48 and is decorated in warm rose-colored booths, Italian tiles, hand-painted wall murals and bayside tables. The restaurant will also have a lobster tank and a fresh fish display. The second room will seat 78, and is designed as a throwback to earlier days on the Wharf, when the family first opened crab stand #8 on the foot of Taylor Street in 1925. The room will take on a decidedly seafaring theme, decorated in family photos and memorabilia, reclaimed wood, fishing nets, crab traps and pots and oars. The menu at both restaurants will include seafood salads and pastas, house made clam chowder, fish sandwiches, fresh Dungeness crab and fish. The restaurant is designed by Kostas/Panteleoni architects under the direction of Roseanne Alioto. When completed, the fourth generation of Aliotos will be in charge, including Nunzio Alioto, Alexander Alioto and Nicole Alioto-Solomou, who have been working at Alioto’s for the past 10 years. For information visit www.aliotos.com or call 415-673-0183. Media contact: Cynthia Traina, 415-775-3330, cynthia@trainapr.com.
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
SFO Receives 2010 Award for Best Airport Concessions
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was the recipient of the 2010 Airport Revenue News Best Airport and Concessionaire Awards. SFO won in the category of “Airport with the Best Overall Concessions Program – Large Airports Division.” More than 200 industry judges voted for nominees in a host of categories. SFO finished in a three-way tie for the Best Overall Concessions Program with Phoenix Harbor Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport. SFO’s concessions include high-end retailers such as Coach and Burberry; local food vendors such as Firewood, Boudin Bakery and Andale; and a broad scope of services, such as Harmony Pharmacy and SFO/St. Mary’s Medical Clinic. During the summer and winter holiday seasons, SFO offers passengers You Are Hear, a live music program featuring Bay Area bands playing at points throughout the airport. For information visit www.flysfo.com. Media contact: Jane Sullivan, 650-821-5152, jane.sullivan@flysfo.com.
LAN Peru Announces Service from SFO to Peru Beginning July 1, 2010
Beginning July 1, 2010 LAN Peru, an affiliate of LAN Airlines, will initiate operations from San Francisco to South America, offering the only non-stop service from San Francisco to South America. The company will offer four flights per week to Lima on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. LAN Peru’s new service to Lima will offer passengers connections to multiple destinations in the region including Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Santiago, Chile. San Francisco will become LAN Airlines and its affiliates’ fourth U.S. gateway, in addition to New York, Los Angeles and Miami.
Arrivals and Departures: Upcoming New Airlines and Routes at SFO
SFO recently announced that Air Berlin will offer twice weekly non-stop service from San Francisco to Düsseldorf beginning May 2010, with round-trip fares as low as $805. Germany’s second largest airline, Air Berlin has one of the newest fleets in Europe.
The following new airlines and routes will be added at San Francisco International Airport in the upcoming months:
May 2010
2 WestJet Edmonton, Canada New destination for WestJet;
operates three times weekly
through Oct. 28, 2010.
2 Air Canada Montreal, Canada Daily through Oct. 31, 2010.
2 Air Canada Toronto, Canada Daily through Oct. 31, 2010.
2 WestJet Calgary, Canada Reinstates daily seasonal service with B737 aircraft.
12 Air Berlin Düsseldorf, Germany New European carrier/new destination summer
(Wednesday/Friday) with A330.
June 2010
2 Swiss Int’l Zurich, Switzerland New European carrier/new
destination; daily except
Tuesday with A340.
6 Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Daily through Aug. 21, 2010
9 United Anchorage, Alaska Daily through Aug. 30, 2010
10 Delta Los Angeles Five daily non-stop flights
22 Air France Paris, France Summer season second daily
daily flight (Tuesday/
Thursday/Saturday) through
Sept. 4, 2010
28 WestJet Vancouver, Canada New destination for WestJet to
operate daily through end of
October.
July 2010
1 LAN Airlines Lima, Peru New continent for SFO; non-
stop service four times a week.
For information visit www.flysfo.com. Media contact: Michael C. McCarron, 650-821-4000, michael.mccarron@flysfo.com.
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The San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide is available at the Visitor Information Center, 900 Market St., at the corner of Powell and Market streets, lower level, Hallidie Plaza. A virtual edition of the guide is also available online: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/weaver/sfovg209/#/0. A visitor’s kit may also be ordered online at www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, by phone at 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD), by written request to the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, 900 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94102, or via email to vic1@sanfrancisco.travel. Domestic and international shipping charges apply.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop links with more than 30 international points on five continents with 29 international carriers. The Bay Area’s largest airport connects non-stop with more than 65 cities in the U.S. on 20 domestic airlines. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com.
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April 9, 2010
Posted in: United States West