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What's New and Coming Attractions
What’s New in San Francisco -- January/February
January 2009
“What’s New” is a listing of new venues, attractions and activities compiled by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB). Past editions of “What’s New” and a list of “Recent and Coming Attractions” are available in the Media section of the SFCVB’s Web site, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. The next edition of “What’s New” will be sent in February 2009.
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. The new 74X-CultureBus offers express service to many of the city’s major museums. For information visit < ahref="http://www.sfculturebus.org"> www.sfculturebus.org.
City News
American Express Official Card Partner for San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau American Express is now the Official Card Partner of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB). This new partnership benefits both American Express® Cardmembers and San Francisco merchants with programs and offers created to showcase the many options San Francisco offers to dine, shop and visit. Some of the first programs to take place as a part of this partnership include:
On Presidents Day weekend, Feb. 15, 2009, the public will have access for the first time to all areas of the historically significant Immigration Station barracks on Angel Island. The $15 million restoration is phase one of a $65 million, five-phase project to preserve and rehabilitate Angel Island’s historic U.S. Immigration Station, the “Ellis Island of the West.” The facility opened on Jan. 21, 1910 and closed in 1940 after a fire destroyed the administration building. During that time more than one million individuals were processed through the center; historians estimate that 175,000 Chinese immigrants and 150,000 Japanese immigrants were processed at Angel Island. Because of discriminatory legislation enacted in the 1880s Chinese immigrants were detained on average two to three weeks; the longest recorded stay was about two years. Their frustration and fear left an indelible legacy: hundreds of poems etched into the barrack walls. Discovered by a park ranger in the 1970s the poems had been painted over. Beneath those carvings were even more poems written in pencil and ink. One unknown author wrote, “Imprisoned in the wooden building day after day, my freedom is withheld; how can I bear to talk about it?” The Immigration Station was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1997 and listed as one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered” historic places in 1999 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Ferry service to Angel Island is available from Fisherman’s Wharf, Tiburon and Alameda/Oakland. For more information, visit www.aiisf.org or call 415-561-2160 or www.angelisland.org or call 415-435-5390. Media contacts: Dave Matthews, 415-435-8339; Roy Stearns, 916-654-7538, or Eddie Wong, 415-262-4430. Exhibit at San Francisco Main Library Showcases Abraham Lincoln Feb. 5-March 5, 2009 A national traveling exhibition, “Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, A Man for All Times,” will be on view at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Feb. 5-March 5, 2009. Lincoln’s path from a self-educated, rough-hewn lawyer to the president who guided a divided nation through the crises of slavery, secession and Civil War is depicted in the exhibit. Locally, the library is also displaying a selection of materials from its own collections, representing Lincoln’s life, career and legacy, as well as other significant persons and events of the Civil War era. The diverse range of materials includes an 1852 edition of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” Carleton Watkins’ photographs of Lincoln obsequies in San Francisco, and a lithograph commemorating California’s ratification of the 13th Amendment. The influence of the Civil War on California and, specifically, San Francisco, is also spotlighted with the activities of Thomas Starr King. More contemporary items focus on the visible reminders in San Francisco of our 16th President. Among the related programs planned:
Renowned choreographer and director Bill T. Jones will engage in a community conversation on May 9, 2009 in the Forum of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., at 2 p.m. in advance of the October opening of “Fondly Do We Hope … Fervently Do We Pray.” This new production marks the Lincoln bicentennial. The free event will share what is commonly known about Abraham Lincoln and what his legacy and relevance is for today. The community will have a rare opportunity to explore these questions through Bill T.’s creative process. The upcoming dance-theater work is slated to open in October 2009 and this community dialog is part of the creative process that will inform Bill T.’s work. For information visit www.ybca.org or call 415-978-2787. Media contact: Kimberly Harding, 415-321-1307. More Lincoln Bicentennial Connections to San Francisco San Francisco has some long-standing ties to the nation’s 16th president whose 200th birthday is being honored in 2009. The western terminus of the Lincoln Highway is located in Lincoln Park, also named for the president, near the Legion of Honor where a marker is located on the plaza facing the museum. The Lincoln Highway, inaugurated in 1913, was conceived as the United States first coast-to-coast road and extended 3,389 miles from New York’s Times Square to San Francisco. Lincoln Park was dedicated in 1909 and covers about 100 acres in the northwest area of San Francisco. Among its attractions are pristine views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. It is also home to an 18-hole golf course which opened in 1928 and is owned by the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department.
Tours & Sightseeing
Art Ramble – San Francisco Art Tours Offers Personalized Tours of San Francisco's Dynamic Art Scene From cutting edge galleries to world-class museum collections, visitors seeking a premier-level experience of San Francisco's exciting art world can now opt for Art Ramble – San Francisco Art Tours. Offering customized and professionally- guided tours of art galleries and museums, Art Ramble strives to accommodate the special interests of visual art enthusiasts as well as clients wanting a fun introduction to the buzz of the art world. Opening night at the gallery tours are offered monthly. In addition to tours of San Francisco's incredibly diverse gallery scene, specialty tours may be arranged for public art tours, visits to artists' studios and talks with curators or gallery owners. Customized/charter groups on request. Group rates available. Minimum number in a group is 10. Advanced reservations required. For information visit www.artramble.org or call 415-497-0086. Media contact: Rosemary Scarmon, 415-497-0086.
Events 1
San Francisco Beer Week Brews Up More than 50 Beer-Related Activities Feb. 6-15, 2009 More than 30 San Francisco breweries, pubs, restaurants and shops are organizing SF Beer Week, Feb. 6-15, 2009, to celebrate the early roots of the modern Renaissance in artisan beers. The 10-day celebration will showcase the Bay Area's brewing heritage with more than 50 events. The week will be anchored by the Bistro Double IPA Festival, and the Toronado Barleywine Festival and will end with a full-blown Bay Area Beer Festival. In between there will be beer dinners, cheese and beer pairing events, other gourmet food events savoring world-class cuisine, special releases, meet the brewer evenings, homebrewing demonstrations, music, films and even a museum exhibition exploring the history of Bay Area brewing, from Monterey to Sacramento and beyond. For information visit www.sfbeerweek.org. Media contact: Dave McLean, 415-710-3136. Events Celebrate Darwin’s 200th Birthday and 150th Anniversary of The Origin of Species Several San Francisco organizations are producing events and exhibits in association with the worldwide celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the first publication of The Origin of Species. Details on more events are listed at www.evolve2009.org. Among the highlights are: The Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon St. Darwin Days: Evolution Beyond The Origin of Species Feb. 7-14, 2009 www.exploratorium.edu, 415-EXP-LORE (397-5673) Media contact: Leslie Patterson, 415-561-0377. The Exploratorium's Darwin Days presents a series of presentations, debates and discussions, to explore the ways scientists continue to learn from and apply their knowledge of evolution to a broad range of pursuits. California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Dr. www.calacademy.org, 415-379-8000 Media contact: Stephanie Stone, 415-379-5121 In addition to scheduled programs, visitors to the Academy will also be able to take a cell phone-based audio tour beginning Feb. 12 that features more than a dozen locations in the museum highlighting examples of evolution in action. Check Web site for admission fees and reservation policies. Feb. 10 Lecture by Dr. David Mindell, dean of science and research, California Academy of Sciences 12:15 and 6:30 p.m. Discussion on broad applications of evolutionary science from public health to forensics based in part on Mindell’s book, “The Evolving World.” Feb. 12 The Young Charles Darwin: Where Did He Get His Ideas? Lecture by Keith Thomson, professor emeritus of natural history, University of Oxford. 12:25 p.m. How did a quiet 27-year-old, who had been isolated for five years on a voyage around the world, develop the most provocative idea of the past 200 years? This lecture explores how Darwin created his theory during a time of intellectual and social turmoil. Feb. 12 Evolve 2009 Kick-Off Party 6-10 p.m. Celebrate Darwin’s birth by exploring the Academy’s Islands of Evolution exhibit while sipping cocktails and listening to the music of Om Records DJ. Academy scientists will be on hand to share research specimens that illustrate evolutionary concepts. Keith Thomson, University of Oxford, will present an informal talk, “Who Was Charles Darwin?” at 7 p.m. Additional lectures scheduled include Feb. 17: Patagonia and the Pampas: Darwin in Southern South America; Feb. 24: Leaping Lizards! Charles Darwin Explores the Galapagos; March 3: Charles Darwin and the Heyday of Natural History; March 10: Collecting Evolution: The Untold Story of Darwin’s Vindication by the 1905-06 Galapagos Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences; March 31: Darwin, Dover and Intelligent Design San Francisco Botanical Garden Golden Gate Park, Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way www.sfbotanicalgarden.org, 415-661-1316 Media contact: Genevieve Antaky, 510-482-3553 In addition to the opening in October 2008 of the Ancient Plant Garden showcasing a spectacular collection of plants that tell the story of botanical evolution, the San Francisco Botanical Garden will sponsor the following: Through March 31, 2009 Echoes of Darwin Artist Mary Harden has organized an exhibition of new watercolors illustrating plants from the recently renovated Ancient Plant Garden. For this exhibit Harden chose ferns, horsetails, magnolias, pines, araucarias, barberries and other plants in order to illuminate various stages of plant evolution. San Francisco Jewish Community Center 3200 California St. www.jccsf.org/arts, 415-292-1233 Media contact: Brenda Hughes, 415-244-9770 Several notable speakers have been engaged to honor this event. Among them are: March 24 Charles Darwin, Evolution of a Naturalist 8 p.m. Richard Milner, a noted anthropologist at the American Museum of Natural History, presents a roundup of his favorite Darwin adventure stories March 26 Charles Darwin: Live and In Concert 8 p.m. Critics have hailed Milner’s one-man musical about the life and times of Charles Darwin as “the thinking person’s musical.” Milner’s show delights audiences of all ages with his witty blend of song, history, science and madness. World’s Largest Rare Book Fair Comes to San Francisco Feb. 13-15, 2009 A special treat for book lovers everywhere, the world’s largest rare book event returns to San Francisco over Valentine’s Day weekend. Featuring collections and rare treasures from more than 200 booksellers from around the world, the 42nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair runs Friday, Feb. 13-15, 2009 at the Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth St. Exhibits and seminars at this year’s Book Fair include a special exhibit about California artist and writer Jo Mora by the Monterey Maritime and History Museum and a seminar by Peter H. Hiller, curator of the Jo Mora Trust Collection. Joseph Jacinto “Jo” Mora (1876-1947) was a prolific artist in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, book illustration, cartooning, sculpture, and photography. Also confirmed is an exhibit and seminar about early California tourism by Gary Kurutz, the director of the Special Collections Branch of the California State Library. Kurutz, along with his wife K.D. Kurutz, director of California Consultancy for Arts Education, will present a seminar based on their book “California Calls You,” which will focus on early books and ephemera used to promote the Golden State for health, wealth and sunshine. For information visit www.sfbookfair.com or call 415-962-2500 or 800-454-6401. Media contact: Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793.
Events 2
Bloom Boom: Flower Festivals and Garden Shows Usher in Spring in San Francisco Beginning in mid-February while much of the United States will still be in the grip of winter, San Francisco will enjoy some sublime weather and plenty of special greenery amid the scenery. Here are some fragrant favorites: Pier 39’s annual Tulipmania Festival, Feb. 11-16, returns in full bloom at Pier 39 with free, guided tours beginning from the entrance plaza at 10 a.m. daily. This year's collection will feature flowers of every color combination conceivable. The tulips will be topped with winter vegetables including lettuce, parsley, celery and red chard. At the culmination of each tour, participants are invited to the Wines of California Wine Bar for post-tour refreshments. Also, visitors can enjoy the Pier 39 Tulipmania Sale; participating stores will have special offers. For information visit www.pier39.com or call 415-705-5500. Media contact: Courtney Cvetko, 415-705-5500. The San Francisco Orchid Society will continue focusing on environmental preservation at the 2009 Pacific Orchid Exposition (POE), March 5-8, at Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion. More than 150,000 orchid flowers from all over the globe will be displayed in educational exhibits from local, national and international orchid growers. For information visit www.orchidsanfrancisco.org or call 415-665-2468. Media contact: Liz Stigge, 650-548-6700. The “silver jubilee,” 25th annual Bouquets to Art, March 16-21, at the de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. in Golden Gate Park, celebrates the beauty of flowers combined with fine art. The show opens with a gala dinner and, for the first time, dancing at three locations in the museum and an intimate cocktail lounge setting in the Piazzoni Murals Room. Inside the museum extravagant floral arrangements by more than 100 of the most sought-after Bay Area, national and international designers will be on view. For information visit www.bouquetstoart.org or call 415-750-3504. Media contact: Jill Lynch, 415-750-3553. California’s biggest spring garden festival, the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show moves to a new location at the San Mateo Event Center, March 18-22. Celebrating its 24th year of inspiring gardeners, the show features display gardens by the West’s top garden designers, children’s activities, workshops, educational activities and a shopping area with plants, garden art, tools and specialty items. For information visit www.gardenshow.com or call 415-771-6909 or 800-569-2832. Media contact: Dawn Stranne, 415-893-1780. The Macy’s Flower Show, April 3-19, is a spring tradition. The 63rd annual show will salute the land of Bohemia where fairy tale castles are surrounded by magical gardens of whimsical delights. The celebration includes guest speakers and special in-store events. For information visit www.macys.com or call 415-393-3333. Media contact: Laura Gardner Smith, 415-954-6283. Pacific Heights Mansion Site for San Francisco Decorator Showcase April 25-May 25, 2009 The West Coast’s most prominent and emerging interior and landscape designers will soon converge on 2830 Pacific Ave. in San Francisco’s prestigious Pacific Heights neighborhood to transform a stately four-story Georgian mansion into the 2009 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, California’s premier design showhouse. Now in its 32nd year, the San Francisco Decorator Showcase will run from April 25 through Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. The elegant and formal Georgian mansion was originally designed and built in 1910 by San Francisco architect Nathaniel Blaisdell. The main level’s spacious public areas include a parlor, living room, large family kitchen and a formal dining room leading out to a landscaped garden terrace. The second level includes five bedrooms and a formal library. The penthouse level features a stunning wrap-around terrace with panoramic bay views. The home is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays, and closed on Mondays (except for Memorial Day). 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, or Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793. Carnaval, California’s Largest Annual Multi-Cultural Event, Slated for May 23-24, 2009 Themed “Roots of Revival: Seeds of Change,” Carnaval San Francisco 2009 is a vibrant multi-cultural event. With something for everyone who loves Latin American and Caribbean cultures, Carnaval San Francisco 2009 is California’s largest multi-cultural celebration. 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 23- 24, 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. The world famous Carnaval Grand Parade on Sunday, May 24 starts at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of 24th and Bryant streets where it will proceed west to Mission street. From there, the parade heads north on Mission down to 17th Street, where it will turn east and flow into the festival area. Carnaval’s Grand Parade is a unique multi-cultural event that celebrates the traditions of many countries and cultures around the world. For information visit www.carnavalsf.com or call 415-651-1811. Media contact: Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793.
Performing Arts
Wicked Offers Day-of-Performance Lottery for Limited $25 Orchestra Seats Jan. 27-June 27, 2009 A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of $25 orchestra seats will be held daily for “Wicked,” playing an open-ended engagement at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St. Lottery tickets are available for every performance of “Wicked” beginning Jan. 27 through June 27. Each day, two-and-a-half hours prior to curtain, ticket buyers can arrive at the Orpheum Theatre box office to have their names placed in the “Wicked” lottery barrel where 30 minutes later, names will be drawn for these seats. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person, cash only. Each person must have a valid photo I.D. in order to participate. The city that launched the international smash hit musical will get its very own production when “Wicked” returns home to San Francisco for a sit-down, open-ended engagement beginning Jan. 27, 2009. This production is a significant homecoming for “Wicked,” which had its world premiere in San Francisco in 2003 before casting its spell on Broadway, winning 20 major awards, including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. For information visit www.wickedthemusical.com/sf or www.shnsf.com or call 415-551-2000. Media contact: Jennifer McVey, 415-551-2075. Burn the Floor Makes San Francisco Premiere at Post Street Theatre Jan. 30, 2009 “Burn the Floor,” the Ballroom and Latin dance spectacular that has captivated audiences in more than 30 countries worldwide, will make its San Francisco premiere in a limited six-week engagement Jan. 30-March 15, 2009 at the Post Street Theatre, 450 Post St. A breathtaking blend of Latin and Ballroom dance first conceived during Sir Elton John''s 50th birthday celebration in 1997, “Burn the Floor’s” troupe of 16 award-winning dancers, two percussionists and two vocalists hail from around the globe — the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia, Australia, Sweden, the Philippines — and includes Australian Ballroom dance champions and World Latin American champions. For information visit www.poststreettheatre.com or www.burnthefloor.com. Tickets are available at the Post Street Theatre box office or by calling 415-771-6900 and online at ticketmaster.com. Media contact: Ed Kiley, 415-296-0677. Bisceglie’s SF Follies Offers Singing, Dancing and a Touch of Scandal Opens Feb. 6, 2009 A new show, Bisceglie’s SF Follies, is having some fun at its star’s expense. San Francisco with all her foibles and idiosyncrasies is the subject of the 90-minute show opening on Feb. 6 at the Actors Theatre, 855 Bush St. Overflowing with glitz, singing, dancing and jaw-dropping comedy, the show pokes fun at the city’s popular landmarks, attractions, personalities, institutions, neighborhoods and events. Hippies, flappers, rabid sea lions, earthquakes and a nearly naked gold miner are on the follies “hit list,” which also includes more than 280 nods to the famous and infamous. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. For information, visit www.sffollies.com or call 800-838-3006. Media contact: John Bisceglie, 650-302-5681. Maureen McVerry Headlines Two Plays in 42nd Street Moon Spring Offerings ”High Spirits,” the musical version of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” opens on March 21 and runs through April 12, 2009 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St. The musical adheres closely to Coward’s original text about a man who is haunted by the mischievous spirit of his dead wife. The 42nd Street Moon production will star Megan Cavanagh in the role of Lillie, an eccentric medium. Maureen McVerry appears as Ruth, the current wife of the harried and haunted Charles Condomine, played by Michael Patrick Gaffney. “The Shadows of Pompei,” featuring a score by Tony-nominated composer Keith Herrmann, follows on April 16-26. The play tells the story of a young female artist’s desire to express herself and live life to the fullest in the shadow of the male-dominated Roman Empire in Pompeii 79 A.D. McVerry also appears in “Wildcat,” May 7-24, a rip-roaring treat about the adventures of a wily oil prospector in 1912. 42nd Street Moon makes great musicals sing again by finding “uncommon” and rarely produced musicals and presenting them in staged concert format with full choreography, minimal costumes and set decoration, accompanied by piano or small ensemble. Since 1993 the company has staged more than 90 musicals, as well as several revues celebrating the 20th century’s greatest musical theater composers and lyricists. Tickets range from $24-$38. All performances are at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St. For information visit www.42ndstmoon.org or call 415-255-8207. Media contact: Brenda Hughes, 415- 244-9770.
Museums
SFMOMA Presents Two Special Exhibitions for 75th Anniversary in 2010 In celebration of the museum's 75th anniversary, Jan. 18, 2010, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), 151 Third St., will present two special exhibitions tracing the extraordinary growth and evolution of the collection and offering an in-depth look at SFMOMA's past, present and future. On view from Dec. 19, 2009 to May 16, 2010, “SFMOMA: 75 Years of Looking Forward” focuses on SFMOMA's role in both the history and the future of modern and contemporary art through major acquisitions, groundbreaking exhibitions and innovative public programming. The exhibition will occupy the museum's entire second floor. Beginning with the museum's founding in 1935 and continuing to the present day, “SFMOMA: 75 Years of Looking Forward” unites nearly 250 works from the permanent collection, including painting, sculpture, media arts, photography, and architecture and design. Also highlighted is the art of Bruce Conner, Sol LeWitt and Robert Rauschenberg, whose early-career work was presciently collected by SFMOMA, making it particularly well represented in the collection today. As a complement, a second exhibition, “75 Years of Looking Forward: Focus on the Artists, Collecting in Depth,” opens Jan. 18, 2010, commemorating SFMOMA's longstanding relationships with artists whose work has been featured in major exhibitions and collected in-depth. The exhibition explores the work of 17 artists whose iconic works were influential in defining movements from Abstract Expressionism to international contemporary art. With a single gallery dedicated to each artist's work, the presentation begins with a selection of paintings by Clyfford Still, who in 1975 made a gift to SFMOMA of 28 paintings that spanned his career. The next gallery will focus on the paintings of Philip Guston, whose 1980 retrospective at SFMOMA resulted in many of his paintings entering the collection. A third gallery will feature the paintings of Richard Diebenkorn; SFMOMA received its first Diebenkorn in 1955, and it was the first of several influential works to come to the museum. Other artists whose work will be the focus of a single gallery include Diane Arbus, Matthew Barney, Robert Gober, Ellsworth Kelly, Brice Marden, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, Robert Ryman, Doris Salcedo, Richard Serra, Frank Stella, Kara Walker, Jeff Wall and Andy Warhol. For information visit www.sfmoma.org or call 415-357-4000. Media contact: Libby Garrison, 415-357-4177.
Attractions
Monterey Bay Aquarium Turns 25, Opens Seahorse Exhibit in 2009 During the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s silver anniversary season, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the magic of seahorses and more. Opening on April 6, 2009 “The Secret Lives of Seahorses” will use a multimedia platform to share intriguing stories about seahorses, their relatives and habitats. Special activities and events are also scheduled for Oct. 17-18 to mark the Aquarium’s 25th anniversary. For information visit www.montereybayaquarium.org or call 831-648-8888. Media contact: Karen Jeffries, 831-644-7548.
Green News
SFO Launches Green Rental Car Program Discount Program on Jan. 1. 2009 On Jan. 1, 2009 San Francisco International Airport (SFO) launched the first green rental car program that rewards customers for renting “green” alternative-fueled vehicles and rental car companies for increasing rentals of high mileage and alternative-fuel vehicles. The innovative incentive program is expected to eliminate more than 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. Customers who rent hybrid cars that receive an EPA rating of 18 or higher will receive a $15 discount at the rental car counter. Cars in this category include the Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Prius. Rental car companies will qualify for a 20 percent reduction of their airport rental fees if they achieve a goal of increasing the percentage of their overall transactions to 15 percent for rentals of high mileage or hybrid cars (EPA ratings of 17 or higher). Cars in this category include the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Ford Focus, as well as the hybrid cars. By offering these incentives to customers and rental car companies, SFO hopes to increase the total number of these cars to greater than 15 percent. The customer credit is available only to companies located in the airport rental car center. For information, visit www.flysfo.com/web/page/tofrom/rental-cars/greenrentals. Media contacts: Jane Sullivan, 650-821-5123, or Michael C. McCarron, 650-821-4000.
Hotels
Big Sur’s Iconic Ventana Inn & Spa Reopened on Oct. 31, 2008 Ventana Inn & Spa, 161 miles south of San Francisco in Big Sur, reopened on Oct. 31, 2008 unveiling an $18-million renovation that returns the iconic resort to its rustic, yet luxurious origins. Sitting 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Ventana is renowned for its tranquil setting, rustic sophistication and romantic allure. Lodging options at Ventana feature 60 spacious rooms and suites in 12 separate one- and two-story buildings. Each room has its own private balcony, or patio, along with a view of the ocean, the valley or the mountains. Additional amenities contributing to the resort's appeal include two swimming pools (one is clothing-optional) and the Inn's popular Japanese baths, which are open daily —- as well as nightly under the moonlight and Ventana's spectacle of stars. Ventana Inn & Spa, a Joie de Vivre managed hotel, is situated on 243 acres in Big Sur, 30 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea just off Central California's famed Highway 1. The resort features the renowned Allegria Spa. The award-winning restaurant, Cielo, reopens in summer 2009; in the interim the Ventana Bistro will serve lunch and dinner and provide room service. For more information, visit www.ventanainn.com or call 831-667-2331. Media contacts: Kristen Hunter, 831-375-1747, or Johanna Koch, 831-667-2331. Bardessono Opens in Napa Valley’s Yountville on Feb. 2, 2009 Bardessono, a 62-room hotel, spa and restaurant with a green attitude will open Feb. 2, 2009. Located at 6526 Yount St., Yountville, on the Bardessono family homestead, Bardessono aspires to wed “deep green” living with luxury. Each guest room will feature in-room spa services, including a cabinet housing a massage table and supporting equipment; fireplaces, and flat-screened TV sets with surround sound. Many rooms have both indoor and outdoor showers. The luxurious “green spa,” which offers East-meets-West services, is heated and cooled by an underground geothermal system. Executive Chef Sean O’Toole, former group operations chef for Michael Mina, will be creating what he terms “custom cuisine” at the property, tailoring menus to the guests’ requests for special events as well as the 92-seat restaurant. Bardessono offers 2,574 square feet of indoor meeting and event space to accommodate groups between 10 and 130. Dramatic poolside and patio settings allow for outdoor entertainment of groups up to 160. An exclusive private dining room holds up to 16 guests. For information visit www.bardessono.com or call 707-204-6000. Media contact: Pamela Hunter, 707-258-1699.
Restaurants & Nightclubs
Chill 125 Kearny St., 415-433-1233, www.chilldesserts.com Neighborhood: Union Square Media contact: Trang Nguyen, 415-433-1233 Located near the Financial District and only two blocks from Union Square, Chill is a new specialty dessert cafe catering to exotic all natural flavor combinations. Staffs from nearby offices, dedicated “foodies,” local Union Square shoppers and tourists are gravitating to the café’s modern decor, warm ambiance and free Wi-Fi. Founded by Trang Nguyen, Chill marries two of her passions – overseas traveling and indulging in food. Menu items include Snow Bliss™ shave ice dessert, specialty drinks, Crispy Crepe Cone™, all natural exotic frozen yogurt and frozen custard, organic coffee, rooibos red tea lattes, all natural house made sodas and flavor infused water. Among the more exotic ingredients offered by Chill are drinks and frozen desserts with acai puree and dark chocolate gogi berries. Opened November 2008. Tropisueno Mexican Kitchen 75 Yerba Buena Lane, 415-243-0299, www.tropisueno.com Neighborhood: Yerba Buena Media contact: Michael Sopher, 415-243-0299 Tropisueno offers both a casual taqueria experience as well as an elegant restaurant. At lunch a taquista whips up burritos, tacos or special plates. Diners can enjoy these house specialities either in a room reminiscent of the Jaliscan coastline or “to go.” In the evening full-service restaurant amenities emerge with a menu featuring traditional favorites and antojitos. Hand-squeezed margaritas and 80 premium tequilas are also part of the draw. Chef Antelmo Faria, a graduate of the San Francisco-based California Culinary Academy, nurtured his passion for Mexican food growing up in San Jose, Calif. Lunch and dinner daily. Opened November 2008. For more updates on the latest on San Francisco’s food scene, check out the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau’s food blog, Foodie 411, written by Marcia “the tablehopper” Gagliardi: www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/taste/foodie411 .
San Francisco International Airport
SFO Welcomes Qantas Airways New A380 On Jan. 14, 2009 San Francisco International Airport (SFO) welcomed Qantas Airways’ new A380 as it arrived from Sydney, the first Airbus A380 to bring passengers to SFO. The International Terminal which opened in December 2000 was designed and built to accommodate new large aircraft such as the A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world. Unique features of the 24-gate terminal include five gates that can be used by the A380. Moreover, SFO can accommodate a rapid turnaround for the Airbus. SFO is the only airport in the United States with such a high level of built-in readiness. Qantas joins several airlines that are planning on bringing A380 aircraft to San Francisco on a regular basis in the next few years, including Emirates, which began Boeing 777 service in late 2008. For information visit www.flysfo.com. Media contact: Michael C. McCarron, 650-821-4000. Arrivals and Departures: Upcoming New Airlines and Routes at SFO The following new airlines and routes will be added at San Francisco International Airport in the upcoming months:
Ecotourism: www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/green Food and wine: www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/taste LGBT: www.onlyinsanfrancisco/gaytravel Neighborhoods: www.onlyinsanfrancisco/neighborhoods Beyond the Bay: www.onlyinsanfrancisco/beyond_san_francisco For general information on hotel packages and reservations; events; activities and transportation in San Francisco, visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. For lodging reservations, call 800-637-5196 within North America or 415-391-2000 elsewhere. 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 visitor''''s kit may also be ordered online at www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, by phone at 415-391-2000, 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 25 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. Note to editors: To access and download images from the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau’s online photo gallery, click on the link www.sfcvb.org/travel_media/photolibrary.asp.
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