eWire
August 06, 2002
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, SF HO-LI-DAY
Downtown Offers Everything Revelers Need to Stay, Shop and Play in the Bay
ARGENT
SAN FRANCISCO — Following the $25 million redesign of Union Square, San Francisco’s downtown area is ready for its first post-renovation holiday season. Locals and visitors alike can get a taste of the inaugural buzz by enjoying the many activities happening downtown this December and beyond. Here is a summary of 2002 holiday highlights.
HIP TO BE SQUARE
The Union Square Association is the voice of the business community in the Union Square Area, representing some 250 members located within a 32-block area. The Association promotes Union Square as a world-class shopping district boasting one of the highest concentrations of luxury retail shopping in the world.
For the past 18 months, the Association and many of its members have been actively involved with the Union Square Improvement Project, which culminated on July 25th with the debut of the “all new Union Square.” The redesigned Square features an elegant green and tan granite plaza. A new terraced stage on Post Street, four entrance corner plazas bordered by the park’s signature palms and broad grassy terraces provide places to sun and watch programmed events and a passing parade of pedestrians. Pavilions and arbors on Stockton and Powell Streets will soon house a café and a visitor/ticket booth.
This holiday season, the Association will partner with downtown businesses and city agencies to increase staffing and promote security measures to enhance the “Union Square” experience during the holidays. Measures will be taken to facilitate travel and parking downtown, emphasize hospitality and to ensure public safety. Contact Linda Mjellem at (415) 781-7880.
DECEMBER IN THE GARDENS
The many museum stores and galleries throughout Yerba Buena Gardens will offer a variety of unusual gifts and welcome diversions this holiday season. Revelers should make a point of experiencing the Garden’s joyous carousel lighting at dusk on November 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Yerba Buena Gardens is located in the Yerba Buena/SOMA area — San Francisco's vibrant new cultural, entertainment and commercial district. Situated around a two-city-block urban oasis between Third and Fourth, Mission and Folsom Streets, the Gardens feature a range of attractions, restaurants, museums, public art and formal gardens. Visit www.yerbabuena.org for information.
The Yerba Buena Alliance is a not-for-profit membership organization whose diversity reflects that of the Yerba Buena/SOMA neighborhood. Members include cultural organizations, educational institutions, commercial and recreational entities, residential complexes, hotels, public agencies and individuals in Yerba Buena/SOMA neighborhood. Contact Anita Hill at (415) 541-0312.
WHERE TO STAY?
Enjoying all of San Francisco’s holiday shopping will be a snap this winter as The Argent Hotel makes staying downtown easy and affordable. This season visitors can skip astronomical parking fees and hours wasted searching for an elusive parking spot. The Argent’s Holiday Shopping Package includes FREE parking at the hotel, and FREE (by appointment) town car service to and from the most popular shopping areas. The Argent’s attentive chauffeur is available to take shoppers to the stores and help them back with all the bags they’ll have accumulated after a successful day of shopping. The Argent also is offering weary shoppers extra time to recuperate with a 2 p.m. late checkout time. The Holiday Shopping Package is available for only $159 a night. Valid weekends only, based upon availability. Shuttle service available by appointment only at the concierge desk. Late checkout available for Saturday and Sunday departures.
The luxurious 4-star Argent Hotel is located in downtown San Francisco near Union Square, the SOMA art district, and San Francisco’s famous theaters, restaurants and cable cars. With breathtaking floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views and custom furnishings, each of the Hotel’s 667 guestrooms and suites are designed with metropolitan elegance in mind. Equipped for business, and designed for pleasure, The Argent Hotel offers warm, attentive service delivered with true San Francisco flair. For reservations call (877) 222-6699 or visit www.argenthotel.com. Contact Heather Hovey at (415) 974-8715 or hhovey@destinationhotels.com.
MACY’S GIFT TO THE CITY LIGHTS UP UNION SQUARE
After a one-year hiatus due to the Union Square construction project, Macy's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony returns to Union Square on Friday, November 29 at 6:00 p.m. For the 13th year, thousands of Bay Area residents and visitors will participate in the festivities, signaling the start of the 2002 holiday season. The regal 80-foot California White Fir adorned with 12,000 twinkling lights, ornaments and bows is Macy's gift to the City. At approximately 6:25 p.m., Santa Claus will light the shimmering tree — simultaneously illuminating a giant wreath on Macy's Geary Street facade.
That same day, Macy's unveils its famous Holiday Windows on Stockton & O'Farrell Streets. The festivities continue inside the store with a visit to the Holiday Lane Trim-A-Home department located on the lower level of the former DFS location at Stockton & Geary Streets. With more than 60 theme trees on display and thousands of ornaments, collectibles, toys, candies and candles to choose from, customers can find everything they need to decorate for the season. On Friday, November 29, Santa and his elves will set up temporary headquarters on Holiday Lane, where children can meet and have their pictures taken with Santa. Contact Rina Neiman at (415) 393-3455 or rneiman@fds.com.
SHOP SAN FRANCISCO
The San Francisco Shopping Centre is happy to announce several new stores and exciting changes in 2002. New stores include Swarovski, offering fine crystal and giftware; L’Occitane specializing in bath, home and beauty products; Pac Sun for fun men’s and women’s apparel; Tourneau, known for their selection of fine watches; and Origins, bath and body product specialists. In addition to these stores, San Francisco Shopping Centre also is home to a flagship Nordstrom and 65 other leading retailers including Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, bebe, BC BG, Charles David, Club Monaco, Coach, J. Crew, Kenneth Cole, Lucky Brand Jeans, Vertigo and many more.
Holiday visitors can purchase the Centre’s new gift card that can be used at any San Francisco Shopping Centre store. San Francisco Shopping Centre is synonymous with high fashion and sophisticated style, it’s the perfect place for holiday shopping for the whole family.
San Francisco Shopping Centre is located at Fifth and Market, at the Powell Street Station. For more information and holiday hours please call (415) 495-5656 or visit us at www.westfield.com. Contact Christine Miller at (415) 512-6776 or cmmiller@westfield.com.
TAKE A BREAK FROM SHOPPING AND SPEND TIME WITH THE FAMILY AT
METREON — A SONY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
Take a break from shopping and spend the day with family at Metreon — A Sony Entertainment Center. Beginning November 29, step into Metreon’s winter wonderland. From the windows at Fourth and Mission streets to the Gateway on the Ground Floor, Metreon is offering a real winter experience as SNOW falls every day! In addition to dancing and playing in the snow, visitors can gather their friends for a birthday party, corporate event or group outing at Where the Wild Things Are and Portal One!
Metreon guests will enjoy free Japanese anime screenings at Action Theatre and futuristic season greetings at Digital Solutions. They can snack on holiday-themed goodies at Jelly Belly Candy Shop and Just Desserts; meet Leslie Jonath, author of the new book Christmas Trees: Fun and Festive Ideas at Chronicle Books; discover the latest electronics at Sony Style and rediscover holiday classics on CD and DVD at Digital Solutions. With all these distractions under one high-tech roof, Metreon is the perfect place to take a break from holiday shopping and start celebrating! Contact Kirsten Maynard at (415) 537-3417 or kmaynard@metreon.com.
ART IN THE CITY
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has something for everyone. The newly expanded Museum Store offers a broad range of gift items — from notecards and tote bags to jewelry and home furnishings, art books, toys and games.
In the galleries, the internationally acclaimed exhibition Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting runs through January 14, and Ellsworth Kelly in San Francisco runs through January 5. Opening December 14, No Ghost, Just A Shell: The Ann Lee Project presents computer animations by numerous artists who have brought to life the same “open source” manga anime character, Ann Lee.
Another lively December offering is a screening of the new film On_Line by Jed Weintrob, as part of the monthly series The Seventh Art: New Dimensions in Cinema. Set in Manhattan’s cybersex industry, character John Roth (Josh Hamilton) runs a live erotic Web site called Intercon-X. The film will screen at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, followed by a special discussion with director Jed Weintrob. As always, SFMOMA admission is half-price on Thursday evenings from 6–9 p.m. SFMOMA is located at 151 Third Street between Mission and Howard streets. For information call (415) 357-4000 or visit www.sfmoma.org. Contact Polly Winograd Ikonen at (415) 357-4170 or pwinograd@sfmoma.org.
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAY SEASON
WITH THE CITY’S FAVORITE YULETIDE PROGRAMS
From October 26, 2002 through January 12, 2003, YBCA presents Bay Area Now 3, the Center's critically acclaimed triennial survey of local contemporary art. Bay Area Now 3 offers the only comprehensive evaluation of the region's thriving art scene. The festival features engaging visual arts, performing arts, film/video and education programs, and is a unique opportunity to take an in-depth look at the Bay Area's flourishing art scene.
From November 29 through December 15, Oberlin Dance Collective (ODC) presents KT Nelson’s The Velveteen Rabbit. ODC's adaptation of this classic tale includes dancing, singing and narration. On December 7 and 8, the Jon Sims Center and San Francisco's Gay and Lesbian Freedom Band present the Dance Along Nutcracker that features San Francisco’s gay/lesbian Sousa band performing Tchaicovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Audience participation is encouraged! And from December 18 to 29, Smuin Ballet presents the 2002 Christmas Ballet, a wonderful, light-hearted alternative to traditional productions of The Nutcracker.
YBCA is the Bay Area's premier venue for adventurous contemporary art. Located in downtown San Francisco, the Center presents dynamic visual, performing and media arts programs. For tickets and information, call (415) 978-ARTS (2787) or visit www.YerbaBuenaArts.org. Contact Kena Frank at (415) 978-2700 ext. 207 or kfrank@yerbabuenaarts.org.
THE CARTOON ART MUSEUM GETS SUPERWACKY FOR WINTER
The Cartoon Art Museum is at a new location in the heart of the Yerba Buena Garden’s arts district at 655 Mission Street, between 3rd and New Montgomery. The Museum collects and exhibits original art from comic strips, comic books, animation, magazines and editorial cartoons.
October 5 through January 12, 2003 the Museum hosts Superwacky: Animation on Television 1949 – 2002. This exhibition examines the rich history of cartoons on television from Crusader Rabbit to Scooby-Doo to the Powerpuff Girls. Included are more than 125 vintage production cels, character sketches, concept drawings and rare painted background art from 25 major animation studios including Disney, Hanna-Barbera, Warner Brothers and more. Superwacky is co-sponsored by the Cartoon Art Museum and The Fullerton Museum Center. Also on display is Gorey at Bay featuring the art of Edward Gorey, and An Exploration of Cartoon Art, the museum’s permanent exhibition presenting the history of the art form.
Contact the Cartoon Art Museum at (415) CAR-TOON or visit www.cartoonart.org. Hours: Tues.-Sun., 11-5. Admission: Adults, $6; Students & Seniors, $4; Children 6-12, $2; Members & Children under 6 years old, Free. First Tuesday of the Month is Pay What You Wish Day. Contact Jenny Dietzen at (415) 227-8666 or curator@cartoonart.org.
ARTE A LA MEXICANA
As the Mexican Museum prepares for the move to its new home in Yerba Buena, current activities and programs seek to expand upon the public's knowledge of its impressive permanent collection. An exhibition entitled Highlights from the Permanent Collection is on display in the Peter Rodriguez Gallery at Fort Mason. The gallery is presently open to the public on the first Wednesday of each month or by appointment.
The Mexican Museum continues to offer educational and public programming including tours of the Diego Rivera mural “Allegory of California” on the first Wednesday of each month at the City Club of San Francisco, Street SmArt at various Mission Housing Development Corporation sites throughout the city, and the Museum Youth Initiative at Horace Mann Middle School. Upcoming Family Sundays have been planned addressing topics regarding indigenous influence on Mexican culture, featuring workshops on how to make Day of the Dead nichos (boxes), do Mexican printmaking and cook tamales. The Mexican Museum, Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, San Francisco 94123. Visit www.mexicanmuseum.org for information. Contact Patrick O’Donahue at (415) 202-9700 or patrick@mexicanmuseum.org.
WALK THIS WAY
765 Market is home to the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences. Yerba Buena Lane links this distinctive address to Yerba Buena Gardens’ mix of cultural and entertainment facilities. The Lane is being converted into an open-air promenade beginning where Market and Grant Streets intersect, and extending south to Mission Street. The exciting new urban space will include a collection of cafés, restaurants, shops, landscape art forms, and outdoor seating that will reflect the rich cache of Bay Area restaurants and retailers.
Yerba Buena Lane also will incorporate the long anticipated special BART entrance to the Gardens. Internationally acclaimed artist James Turrell has been working with the application of light to create a variety of spaces that BART patrons and others can experience as they move through the new Powell Street station access point. Yerba Buena Lane will create a dynamic connection between the Financial District/Union Square and Yerba Buena Gardens. The Lane is scheduled to open in spring 2003. Contact Mark Farrar at (415) 274-9150 or mfarrar@millenniumptrs.com.
BAY AREA NOVELTIES 2002-2003
A bold new entrance opened this summer at the 72-year old San Francisco Zoo. The new animals and habitats, entry village, gift shop and café underscore the Zoo’s commitment to conservation.
"Dine About Town" returns to San Francisco, January 10-31, 2003. More than 100 of the City's top restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe lunches at $19.95 and dinners for $29.95.
The Asian Art Museum opens in a new home on January 23, 2003. The permanent collection — which will be located at the City’s former Main Library — includes more than 13,000 objects.
The San Francisco Ferry Building reopens after a dramatic renovation March 21, 2003. The ground floor will be an arcade of 47 shops featuring artisan food producers, restaurants and cafés.
Moscone West will open July 2003, giving San Francisco an additional 300,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The new facility will be adjacent to Moscone North and South.
The Conservatory of Flowers — the oldest surviving public conservatory in the Western Hemisphere — reopens in Golden Gate Park in 2003.
For a complete list of holiday happenings and special offers in San Francisco, please visit the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Web site at www.sfcvb.org. Contact Laurie Armstrong at (415) 974-6900 or larmstrong@sfcvb.org.
# # #