SUMMER OF LOVE NEWS
More Than 60 Events and Activities for the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love
In 1967 nearly 100,000 young people converged on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, turning San Francisco into the epicenter of a cultural phenomenon known as the Summer of Love. During this transformative time, music, fashion, art and new ideas flourished and there was a feeling that everything was possible.
For visitors to San Francisco in 2017, the 50th anniversary will be a celebration with major exhibitions at some of the region’s top museums, special events and concerts looking back at the Summer of 1967 and exploring what that period meant then and now.
More than 60 exhibitions, events and activities are part of the Summer of Love anniversary celebration. (For media, a complete Fact Sheet with contact information is available here.)
San Francisco Travel and the California Historical Society have joined forces on the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. At www.summerof.love, the California Historical Society provides the detailed factual and cultural context for this seminal summer through its own exhibition and work with cultural partners such as the de Young Museum.
To help visitors plan their “trip,” the San Francisco Travel Association has launched a special website, www.summeroflove2017.com, which provides an ever-expanding guide to the whole groovy scene, including events and itinerary ideas.
For a guide to Summer of Love media resources, visit here. Media contact: Laurie Armstrong, 415-227-2615, laurie@sftravel.com.
FOOD & DRINK NEWS
March 18, 2017 – San Francisco Chocolate Salon
Chocolate aficionados, buyers and journalists can experience the finest in artisanal, gourmet and premium chocolate at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon. Featuring an extensive selection selected and curated by the organizers, international event participants include more than 40 master chocolatiers, confectioners and other culinary artisans. Salon highlights include chocolate tasting and chef and author talks. The deliciousness takes place at 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 18, 2017 at the Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post St.
For more information, visit www.sfchocolatesalon.com. Media contact: A.K. Crump, pressupdates@tastetv.com.
March 18, 2017 – Annual Napa Valley Wine Train Pride Ride
The Napa Valley Wine Train’s annual PRIDE Ride, an LGBT wine expert event, is returning on March 18 for the seventh year in support of Bay Area LGBT communities. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, a San Francisco-based non-profit organization.
The event will feature some of the Bay Area’s most prominent LGBT winemakers and experts, each on hand to lend their expertise and assist guests in selecting wines to pair with their multi-course gourmet meal prepared by Executive Chef Donald Young. Along with sampling three glasses of wine donated by LGBT vintners, winemakers and allies, PRIDE Ride passengers will have the opportunity to meet Pennsylvania State Representative Brian Sims, a well-known LGBT civil rights activist and the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvanian history.
The PRIDE Ride will begin with a sparkling wine reception at the Napa Valley Wine Train station at 5 p.m. After departing the station at 6:30 p.m., guests will experience an unforgettable three-hour, 36-mile round-trip journey. An after-party will take place once guests return to the Napa Valley Wine Train station.
Tickets are $252 for the Gourmet Express package and $352 for the Vista Dome experience.
For more information, visit http://reservations.winetrain.com. Media contact: James O’Hagan, 415-394-6500, winetrain@glodownead.com.
March 19, 2017 – Presidio Picnic Returns
Presidio Picnic, San Francisco’s largest community picnic returns for the fifth season on March 19, 2017. Sponsored by The Presidio Trust and Off the Grid, Presidio Picnic brings together the best of the Bay Area international food scene surrounded by the iconic beauty of the Presidio. Held on the seven-acre Main Parade Ground every Sunday from March 19 through October at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the family-friendly Presidio Picnic features diverse ethnic and American cuisines from celebrated local chefs with lawn games, yoga classes, music and nature-based arts and crafts for kids.
Presidio Picnic welcomes locals and tourists to enjoy the sunshine, diverse food and beverage options and an open, fun place to bring the kids. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to further explore the Presidio’s miles of hiking and biking trails, iconic Golden Gate views and a myriad of recreational opportunities.
“This year, we are excited that the new Presidio Visitor Center is now open and we hope that picnic goers will take advantage of this state-of-the-art center, located adjacent to the picnic, to find other ways to plug in and explore their Presidio,” said Allison Stone, director of park programs for the Presidio Trust
Choices for children are many. Rotating complimentary activities such as free yoga classes, a Green Screen photo booth for “selfies” in front of one of the Presidio’s many beautiful landscapes; nature-based crafts for kids, games that provide fun for people of all ages. On the first Sunday of the month between April and September, the Presidio YMCA will provide free bike safety lessons and helmets via the Y Bike Learn to Ride program. New Wheel will also be hosting free bike valet. Additionally, new custom lawn seating the “Presidio Share Chairs” will also be available to enhance the picnic experience. Many of the food vendors provide kid-friendly menus.
For more information, visit www.presidio.gov.
Media contact: Kiaran Locy/Heather Barbod, 415-274-2510, kiaran@kiaranlocy.com, heather@wagstaffworldwide.com.
March 22-26, 2017 – Flavor! Napa Valley
Flavor! Napa Valley takes place March 22-26, 2017, during Napa Valley’s “Cabernet Season” (November through April). The five day event, which supports programs and scholarships at The Culinary Institute of America’s (CIA) Greystone Campus in St. Helena, CA, celebrates both Napa Valley and CIA graduate chefs and winemakers with exclusive food and wine experiences that bring out the best flavors of the legendary Napa Valley.
Highlights of Flavor! Napa Valley 2017 events include:
- March 23, 2017 – “From Vineyard to Bottle – Exploring Napa Valley with Iconic Winemaker Heidi Barrett” at the CIA at Copia
- March 23, 2017 – “Napa Valley Icons Dinner” presented by the Silverado Resort and Spa at Silverado Resort and Spa
- March 24, 2017 – Chef Demo “Tyler Malek and Lisa Vega at the CIA at Copia
- March 24, 2017 – Terroir to Table – “The Blend Experience at Paraduxx” at Paraduxx Winery
- March 24, 2017 – Terroir to Table – “The Spirited Side of Napa Valley” at Napa Valley Distillery
- March 25 – Terroir to Table – “Exercise Your Senses with St. Supery Estate Vineyards and Winery” at St. Supery Estate Vineyards
- March 25 – “Legendary Napa Valley, The Grand Tasting” at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
Flavor! Napa Valley also includes additional Napa Valley wine tours, “Terroir to Table” events, chef demonstrations and wine classes.
For more information, visi www.FlavorNapaValley.com. Media contact: Angela Jackson, 7072600114, Angela@visitnapavalley.com.
April 22, 2017 – Region's Largest Cider Festival Returns to San Francisco
Cider Summit SF, the region’s largest cider tasting festival, will return to the Presidio on April 22, 2017 from 1-5 p.m. Cider Summit SF is an opportunity for guests to meet and greet with cidermakers and taste nearly 200 selections of cider, including popular and new releases. The event will also include a variety of cider cocktails prepared by selected cideries, along with apple spirits. To complement the cider, specially paired food selections will be available for purchase from vendors including Whole Foods Market Truck, Slow Hand BBQ, and other assorted small bites. Whole Foods Market will also host a cider and food-pairing pavilion featuring Sebastopol-based Golden State Cider and local food purveyors.
For additional information, visit: http://www.cidersummitnw.com/. Media contact: Yasemin Sussman, 408-823-3945, yasemin.sussman@gmail.com.
April 29, 2017 – Eighth Annual HALL Cabernet Cookoff
At the 8th Annual HALL Cabernet Cookoff, 15 professional chefs will partner with local charities in a culinary challenge to pair HALL Cabernet with creative and delicious dishes at the beautiful HALL St. Helena Winey in Napa Valley. The competition includes two awards sections, People's Choice and Judge's Choice. Each culinary creation will be paired with HALL’s 93+ point rated 2013 Coeur Cabernet Sauvignon. The People's Choice award is determined by the attendees. The Judge's Choice will be selected by a panel including celebrity chef Duff Goldman of FOOD Network fame, wine critic Virginie Boone of Wine Enthusiast magazine, Olympian Natalie Coughlin and Michelin-rated chef Ken Frank of La Toque Restaurant. Participating chefs represent culinary landmarks such as One Market Restaurant, The Grill at Meadowood, Harris Ranch, Brix Restaurant and the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins. The action takes place at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 29, 2017 on the Great Lawn at HALL Winery in St. Helena, CA. VIP tickets include a “Pre-Event Meet and Greet” with celebrity judges and Kathryn Hall to hear exactly what they are looking for in the winning pairing.
For more information, visit http://www.hallwines.com. Media contact: Lisa Covey, 707-967-2623, lcovey@hallwines.com.
June 10, 2017 – Taste of Yolo Festival Debuts in Davis
The first-ever Taste of Yolo festival is set for June 10, 2017 in Central Park in downtown Davis, 73 miles east of San Francisco. The festival celebrates the extraordinary bounty of Yolo County agriculture and cuisine. The event will run from 3-8 p.m. and offers a wide range of food, wine and beer tastings, celebrity chef demonstrations and other activities.
Nearly 90 exhibitors from Davis, Woodland, Winters, Clarksburg, Capay Valley and West Sacramento will have booths, with each community represented by a specific cluster of vendors. There will be restaurants offering bites from their menus, wineries, breweries, olive oil, nuts, honey, fresh produce and more, all from Yolo County producers. Festival attendees will also be able to buy products on site and take them home in a complementary tote bag.
The Nugget Markets cooking demonstration stage will feature three guest chefs, including nationally known headliner Tanya Holland of Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland. Also, appearing will be Chef Patrick Mulvaney of Mulvaney’s B&L in Sacramento and Chef Fred Reyes of Buckhorn Steakhouse in Winters.
For more information, visit www.tasteofyolo.com. Media contact: Tiffany Dozier, 530-297-1900, tiffany@yolocvb.org.
San Francisco International Airport Named Best Airport for Local Eateries
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was named the Best Airport for Local Eateries by www.RewardExpert.com, a free service that helps travelers fly for cheap by using miles and points. For the 2017 Airport Dining Scorecard, Reward Expert combed through almost 75,000 customer reviews and studied menu data to determine which of the 20 busiest U.S. airports have the best dining experience for travelers, also researching the best experience for specific dining categories like vegetarian or gluten-free. In addition to being named Best Airport for Local Eateries, SFO came in eighth overall, noting, “Aside from a Burger King, a Wendy’s and some staple coffee shops, nearly all of the San Francisco Airport’s restaurants originated in San Francisco. Napa Farms, SF Uncork’d, Mission Bar and Grill, and Lori’s Diner are just a few of the Frisco-based restaurants that can be found in the airport.”
For more information, visit www.rewardexpert.com. Media contact: Kaja Olcott, 347-227-0993, kaja@rewardexpert.com.
New Oakland Ale Trail
Visit Oakland has launched the new Oakland Ale Trail, creating a comprehensive way for visitors to explore Oakland’s craft beer. There are multiple ways to travel the trail including by foot, public and private van tours or even on a 15-person bike. The Ale Trail currently includes 12 breweries and nine tasting rooms with more brewers on the way. Oakland is a city that craves beer as bold and unique as itself and these breweries are providing just that. Their efforts are enhanced by the many bottle shops and craft beer focused bars around town that support the industry.
The city’s first craft beer trail is complimented with a new passport program to encourage beer drinkers to visit the tasting rooms currently in the city. Visitors can collect a stamp from each of the nine tasting rooms to redeem a free, branded Oakland Ale Trail growler at the Oakland Visitor Center in Jack London Square. The passport will soon be accompanied with a map that highlights all of the must-see craft beer destinations in the city.
For more information, visit www.oaklandaletrail.com. Media contact: Frances Wong, 510-208-0561 | C 510-396-8367, frances@visitoakland.org.
ARTS & CULTURE NEWS
Openings
March 21, 2017–Oct. 4, 2017 “Deja View: The Art of Andreas Deja” at the Walt Disney Family Museum
Explore the dynamic work of one of the most accomplished and versatile character animators of our time: Andreas Deja. This unique exhibition showcases original works on paper and maquettes of Deja’s most iconic characters, from menacing villains Scar and Jafar, and larger-than-life muscle men Gaston and Hercules, to the much beloved Mama Odie and Lilo Pelekai. In addition to his work for The Walt Disney Studios, Deja is known for independent projects, including his upcoming film “Mushka.” The film is animated in a colored pencil style, and is “a story of love and sacrifice set in Russia,” featuring a young girl and her tiger. Deja’s extensive career bridges the rich tradition of classic hand-drawn animation and animation’s innovative future.
For more information, visit www.waltdisney.org. Media contact: Sarah Rothstein, 415-345-6853, SRothstein@wdfmuseum.org.
March 29-April 2, 2017 - 20th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival
The 20th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival takes place March 29 - April 2, and will feature more than 100 hand-selected films including independent features, documentaries, world cinema, and short films screened at intimate venues within walking distance of Sonoma's historic plaza. Named one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World by MovieMaker Magazine, the Festival is dedicated to promoting independent film and supporting filmmakers around the world. Renowned filmmakers, industry leaders and celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Susan Sarandon, Meg Ryan, and the beloved Robin Williams have walked the festival red carpet and enjoyed its intimate ambiance. A popular highlight at the event is the SIFF Village, which will include its main Backlot Hospitality tent, food trucks, nighttime parties, happy hours, and live entertainment every day. New to this year's SIFF Village is the Celebrity Cruises Mobile Cinema, a pop-up mobile theater featuring a high definition 3D projector and sound system. This screening venue will feature a special preview of the new Celebrity Edge with beverages, truffle popcorn, great prizes and more.
For more information, visit www.sonomafilmfest.org/. Media contact: Beth Schnitzer, 415-221-2875, beth@spritzsf.com.
April 1-March, 2017 - “Exclusion: The Presidio's Role in WWII Japanese American Incarceration” at the Presidio Officers’ Club
This April, the Presidio Officers' Club opens a new exhibition, “Exclusion: The Presidio's Role in WWII Japanese American Incarceration.” Learn about the decisions that lead to the internment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans in the United States, and the Presidio's pivotal role in executing the military orders. The exhibition invites visitors to investigate these individual, civic and national choices and to consider alternatives to and consequences of each decision. In doing so, the exhibition encourages reflection and inspires action about present-day issues of immigration, racism and mass incarceration.
For more information, visit www.presidio.gov/presidio-trust/press. Media contact: Lisa Petrie, 415-561-5424, lpetrie@presidiotrust.gov.
April 5-19, 2017 – 60th San Francisco International Film Festival
The lineup for the 60th anniversary of the San Francisco International Film Festival, April 5-19, 2017 will be released on March 15, 2017 with select programs announced in advance. The longest-running film festival in the Americas, the San Francisco International Film Festival is recognized throughout the world as an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The Festival combines a range of marquee premieres, international competitions, compelling documentaries, new media work, musical performances, and star-studded events.
For more information, visit www.sffs.org. Media contact: Bill Proctor, 415-561-5024, bproctor@sffs.org.
April 8-9 and 15-16, 2017 - Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Turns 50
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions and biggest on the West coast, celebrates its 50th year in 2017. Started in 1968, the festival cultivates the continued alliance between Japan and United States using culture as the bridge. Each year, more than 200,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American community. The festival is held on Post St. between Laguna and Fillmore Streets with food booths, cultural performances, martial arts, live bands, the annual Queen Program and more. The Grand Parade will be held April 16, beginning at City Hall and concluding in Japantown. There are only three Japantowns in U.S. and San Francisco’s is the oldest.
For more information, visit http://sfcherryblossom.org/. Media contact: Greg Viloria, gviloria@nccbf.org.
April 21-30, 2017 – Let Loose at Bay Area Dance Week
Now in its 19th year, Bay Area Dance Week (BADW) is one of the nation's largest, most joyful and inclusive celebrations of movement and dance. This year's festival features nearly 400 events, all entirely free to the community, throughout San Francisco, the East Bay, North Bay, and South Bay. BADW brings many opportunities to express oneself creatively and engage the body and mind. All bodies and backgrounds are welcome to attend workshops, performances, classes, open rehearsals and more. This 10-day festival, a gift from the dance community to the public, highlights the broad, all-embracing nature of the Bay Area dance community. This year's festival kicks off with everyone's favorite flash mob, One Dance, led by Dancers' Group and Rhythm & Motion at San Francisco City Hall on April 21 at noon. One Dance is a flash mob created from crowd-sourced material and featuring dance "moves" from around the world. Participants can learn the dance online beginning mid-March at www.bayareadance.org, come to a rehearsal or jump in the day of the event. No dance experience is required.
For more information, visit www.bayareadance.org. Media contact: Mona Baroudi, 415-615-2735, mona@monabaroudipr.com.
April 27-Sept. 3, 2017 – “Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs” at the Contemporary Jewish Museum
Roz Chast is one of the most celebrated cartoonists in the United States today. Since the 1970s, Brooklyn-born Chast has chronicled the anxieties, pleasures and perils of contemporary life in a body of work that includes over 1,200 cartoons published in The New Yorker and other magazines, several illustrated children’s books, and her award-winning 2014 visual memoir about the last years of her elderly parents’ lives, “Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?,” winner of the National Book Critics’ Circle Award for Autobiography and the Kirkus Prize for Non-Fiction. The exhibition, making its West Coast debut at The Contemporary Jewish Museum, features approximately 250 objects including all of the original work for “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?,” original cartoons for The New Yorker and others, children’s book illustrations and storytelling rugs.
For more information, visit www.thecjm.org or call 415-655-7800. Media contact: Nina Sazevich, 415-752-2483, nina@sazevichpr.com.
May 12-June 11, 2017 – New Conservatory Theatre Centre Presents Del Shores’ “Sordid Lives”
In May, “Sordid Lives” by Del Shores makes its San Francisco debut as New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) presents the play that spawned the huge cult comedy phenomenon. Three generations of a dysfunctional small-town Texas family gather after their elderly matriarch dies during a tryst in a seedy motel room with her much younger, much married neighbor. Fireworks are set off and bizarre truths exposed as the town prepares for what could be an embarrassing funeral. After a hugely successful and award-winning long run in Los Angeles in 1996, “Sordid Lives” became a cult film classic in 2000, written and directed by Shores and starring Leslie Jordan and Olivia Newton-John. Later Shores followed the success of the film with a television series on Logo. “Sordid Lives” marks the third collaboration between Del Shores and NCTC, after lauded productions of his plays “Southern Baptist Sissies” and “Yellow.”
Tickets are available at www.nctcsf.org or by calling 415-861-8972. Media contact: Ben Randle, 415-694-6156, ben@nctcsf.org.
May 24-Sept. 4, 2017 – “The Landscape Architecture of Lawrence Halprin” Exhibition to Open at the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts
“The Landscape Architecture of Lawrence Halprin,” a traveling photographic exhibition about the life and work of landscape architect Lawrence Halprin (1916-2009), will be on view May 24-Sept. 4, 2017 at the Innovation Hangar at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The exhibition features 56 newly commissioned photographs by leading landscape photographers of dozens of Halprin’s major works, ranging from recently rediscovered residential projects created early in his career in the 1950s to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. and capstone projects such as the Yosemite Falls approach and Stern Grove in San Francisco. The exhibition both honors the influential designer and calls attention to the need for informed and effective stewardship of his irreplaceable legacy.
Lawrence Halprin was among the foremost landscape architects of the twentieth century. The Brooklyn-born Halprin began his career in 1945 with a four-year stint working for Thomas Church in San Francisco, where he collaborated with architect George Rockrise on the renowned Dewey Donnell garden in Sonoma, CA. He opened Lawrence Halprin & Associates in 1949, and his oeuvre initially included residential gardens, campuses and housing projects. However, by the mid-1960s, his firm had turned decisively to re-designing major urban landscapes. A series of innovative parks, plazas and pedestrian malls brought international notice and critical acclaim.
For more information, visit http://tclf.org/sites/default/files/microsites/halprinlegacy/index.html. Media contact: Joey Kahn, 415-629-2559, joey.kahn@sfgov.org.
June 2-July 2, 2017 - New Conservatory Theatre Center Closes Season with World Premiere of “warplay”
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) will close its 35th anniversary celebration and 2016-17 aeason with the world premiere of “warplay” by JC Lee (“Luce” at Lincoln Center Theater, ABC's “How to Get Away with Murder”), directed by NCTC Artistic Associate Ben Randle. Inspired by Homer’s” The Iliad” and the epic tale of Achilles and Patroclus, “warplay” is a shockingly funny, poetic and radical reimagining of one of the oldest love stories in all of Western literature. Two young men. A battle rages in the distance. Game on. “warplay” was commissioned and developed as part of NCTC’s New Play Development Lab.
Tickets are available at www.nctcsf.org or by calling 415-861-8972. Media contact: Ben Randle, 415-694-6156, ben@nctcsf.org.
July 29, 2017 – James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt at AT&T Park
Legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor & His All-Star Band will perform at four iconic ballparks this summer, including his first-ever appearance at AT&T Park in San Francisco on July 29, 2017. This very special evening of music will also feature Taylor's special guest, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt and her band. This is Taylor’s only California performance date this summer.
After a banner year that saw AT&T Park host three shows in 2016 – The Night Before featuring Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and San Francisco Fest On the Green – Giants Enterprises, in partnership with Another Planet Entertainment, are set to co-produce the July 29 performance at the home of the San Francisco Giants.
Taylor's shows at some of the nation's biggest ballparks have been a home run for fans and critics alike. In addition to AT&T Park, Taylor’s ballpark tour will feature shows at Boston's Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Nationals Park in Washington, DC.
For more information, visit http://apeconcerts.com/events/james-taylor-his-all-star-band/. Media contact: Giants Enterprises - Rory Davis, rdavis@giantsenterprises.com, Another Planet Entertainment - Sarah Fink Dempsey, sarah@anotherplanetent.com.
Aug. 13, 2017 - Lady Gaga in Concert at AT&T Park
Grammy and Golden Globe winner and Academy Award-nominated Lady Gaga will perform Aug. 13, 2017 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA.
A one-of-a kind artist and performer, Lady Gaga has amassed an outstanding 30 million global album sales and 150 million single sales, making her one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Her fifth studio album "Joanne" was recently released and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, marking her fourth consecutive #1 album - the first female to do so in the 2010s.
After a banner year that saw AT&T Park host three shows in 2016 - The Night Before featuring Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and San Francisco Fest On the Green – Giants Enterprises, in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, are set to co-produce the August 13 performance at the home of the San Francisco Giants.
For complete tour and ticket information, visit www.ladygaga.com and www.livenation.com. Media contact: Rory Davis, 415-972-1800, rdavis@giantsenterprises.com.
Continuing
Through April 2, 2017 – Four New Exhibitions at the Museum of the African Diaspora
The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), presents four new exhibitions through April 2, 2017. “Where Is Here,” curated by Jacqueline Francis and Kathy Zarur, presents the work of contemporary artists of African descent who are interested in claiming, making and describing places. Toyin Ojih Odutola debuts a new body of work with “A Matter of Fact,” an exhibition that places her subjects in articulated environments and punctuates the detailed scenes with accents of vivid color. MoAD is also introducing the second annual Emerging Artists Program with Nyame Brown’s “Classroom in Neveryon.” An exhibition on the first floor showcases the photographic survey conducted by renowned international architect and designer, David Adjaye, of buildings in 53 cities across the continent of Africa with “Urban Africa.”
Learn more at www.moadsf.org. Media contact: Mark Sabb, 415-358-7200, msabb@moadsf.org.
Through April 2, 2017 - New Conservatory Theatre Center Presents Premiere of “Leaving The Blues” About Singer-Songwriter Alberta Hunter
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) continues its 35th Anniversary celebration in March, presenting the world premiere of Jewelle Gomez’s “Leaving the Blues,” an NCTC-commissioned play with music imagining the life of legendary Blues singer-songwriter Alberta Hunter (1895-1984). In the new play by the “Gilda Stories’” author, Hunter is backstage preparing for a professional comeback, knowing just how many doors to the past it may open. Spanning 60 years, “Leaving the Blues” imagines a journey through the public life Hunter led as an African-American musician, the private life she hid as a lesbian, and the ghosts that won’t let her forget. “Leaving the Blues” was commissioned and developed as part of NCTC’s New Play Development Lab, and will be directed by Arturo Catricala. This is the second play in a trilogy Gomez is writing. The first was “Waiting for Giovanni,” written in collaboration with Harry Waters Jr., and was a dream play exploring the inner life of author James Baldwin. It premiered at NCTC in the 2011-2012 Season, and was also developed in NCTC’s New Play Development Lab. For the world premiere of “Leaving the Blues,” NCTC partners with the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). NCTC and MoAD presented special events for their members, including writing workshops with Gomez and a cabaret featuring a selection from the play and discussion with Gomez.
For more information, visit www.nctcsf.org or call 415-861-8972. Media contact: Ben Randle, 415-694-6156, ben@nctcsf.org.
Through April 30, 2017 – “Diane Arbus: In The Beginning” at SFMOMA
“Diane Arbus: In The Beginning” considers the first seven years of the photographer’s career, from 1956 to 1962. A lifelong New Yorker, Arbus found the city and its citizens an endlessly rich subject for her art. Working in Times Square, the Lower East Side, and Coney Island, she made some of the most powerful portraits of the twentieth century, training her lens on the pedestrians and performers she encountered there. This exhibition highlights her early and enduring interest in the subject matter that would come to define her as an artist. It also reveals the artist’s evolution from a 35mm format to the now instantly recognizable and widely imitated look of the square format she adopted in 1962. Bringing together over 100 photographs from this formative period, many on display for the first time, “Diane Arbus: In The Beginning” offers fresh insights into the distinctive vision of this iconic American photographer.
For more information, visit https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/diane-arbus-beginning/. Media contact: Jill Lynch, 415-
Through May 28, 2017 - “Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty” at the Asian Art Museum
Like the Roman Empire, China’s Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) forged one of the most powerful, advanced civilizations of the ancient world, and its elite had it all: unbridled luxury, technical innovations and courtly romance. “Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty” is an original exhibition of more than 160 intriguing works recently unearthed from the coastal heartland of classical Chinese culture.
“Tomb Treasures” showcases these fresh archaeological finds, almost all never-before-seen outside of China. Surviving over 2,000 years underground, such outstandingly crafted royal burial goods reflect Han royalty’s daily lives and nightly pastimes, and confirm how the early Chinese courts sought to glorify their statures in this life and in the next one.
Highlights include an extravagant jade burial suit made up of hundreds of “fish scale” tiles and sewn with gold threads (only a handful of these suits have ever been discovered); an exquisitely decorated lacquer and jade coffin, resplendent even after centuries underground; elegant bronze bells that still ring; and domestic wares that surprise us with their intimate reflection of private life and an abiding concern with grooming, hygiene, longevity and even sex during the Han dynasty.
For more information, visit www.asianart.org/exhibitions/tomb-treasures. Media contact: Zac Rose, 415-581-3500, zrose@asianart.org. Images available here.
Through May 29, 2017 - “Monet: The Early Years” at the Legion of Honor
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco will present “Monet: The Early Years” on Feb. 25- May 29, 2017 at the Legion of Honor. This will be the first major U.S. exhibition devoted to the initial phase of Claude Monet’s (French, 1840–1926) career. Through approximately 60 paintings, the exhibition demonstrates the radical invention that marked the artist’s development during the formative years of 1858 to 1872. In this period the young painter developed his unique visual language and technique, creating striking works that manifested his interest in painting textures and the interplay of light upon surfaces. With a selection of works gathered from some of the most important international collections – the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and other public and private collections worldwide - “Monet: The Early Years” authoritatively demonstrates the artist’s early command of many genres, not only the landscapes for which he has become so renowned but also still lifes, portraits and genre scenes.
For more information, visit http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/exhibitions/monet-early-years. Media contact: Miriam Newcomer, 415-750-3554, mnewcomer@famsf.org.
Through May 29, 2017 - “Matisse/Diebenkorn” at SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is hosting the first major exhibition to explore the profound inspiration California artist Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993) discovered in the work of French modernist Henri Matisse (1869–1954), featuring nearly 100 paintings and drawings – 40 paintings and drawings by Matisse and 60 paintings and drawings by Diebenkorn - from museums and private collections throughout the U.S. and Europe
For more information, visit www.sfmoma.org/press/release/matisse-diebenkorn. Media contact: Jill Lynch, 415-357-4172, jilynch@SFMOMA.org.
Through May 28, 2017 – SFJAZZ’ Fifth Anniversary Season
SFJAZZ is presenting its Fifth Anniversary Season since the SFJAZZ Center’s opening in January 2013. The Center has been recognized as one of the best performing arts centers in the country receiving numerous architecture, design, and acoustic awards.
A sampling of artists appearing in April 2017 alone includes Max Raabe and Palast Orchester, Hermeto Pascoal, Nels Cline, Omar Sosa Quarteto AfroCubano and Juan de Marcos González and the Afro-Cuban All Stars.
For more information, visit www.sfjazz.org. Media contact: Marshall Lamm, 510-928-1410, marshall@sfjazz.org.
Through June 25, 2017 - Cary Leibowitz at the Contemporary Jewish Museum
New York–based contemporary artist Cary Leibowitz (b. 1963) creates comically self-effacing text-based works with a decidedly gay and often Jewish perspective that address issues of identity, kitsch, modernist critique, and queer politics. Since the early 1990s, when he became widely known under the moniker “Candyass,” Leibowitz has been one of the art world’s most delicious practitioners of this demonstrative self-abasement.
In both his cheeky multiples and his irregular-format paint-on-wood “wood” works, Leibowitz mixes his obsession with popular culture, fine art and Jewishness with elements of therapy and self-loathing, interrogation and self-interrogation, institutional critique, social commentary and stand-up comedy routine. His brightly colored reductive paintings often reference seventies queer history, blending comedy and neurosis in such a way that questions about appearance and identity become a running gag.
The exhibition will feature nearly 350 original artworks and multiples from 1987 to the present: paintings, fabric works, multiples, installations, documentation, photography and ephemera related to curatorial endeavors and performance.
For more information, visit www.thecjm.org or call 415-655-7800. Media contact: Nina Sazevich, 415-752-2483, nina@sazevichpr.com.
Through Dec. 31, 2017 – Rodin Centenary at the Legion of Honor
Marking the centenary of Auguste Rodin’s death in 1917, the Legion of Honor will present a completely new installation of its extraordinary Rodin holdings in “Rodin Centenary.” Approximately 50 objects in bronze, marble, and plaster—all from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s permanent collection—will be presented in a new context. The exhibition will examine the artist’s celebrated life and influential work—from his early days courting controversy with sculptures that bore unexpected levels of naturalism—to his later renown and lasting influence. “Rodin Centenary” is part of a worldwide series of major Rodin projects and will provide Bay Area audiences a significant opportunity to examine and recontextualize the legacy of the artist known as “the father of modern sculpture.” The Legion of Honor holds one of the finest collections in the world of sculpture by Rodin cast during his lifetime.
For more information, visit https://legionofhonor.famsf.org Media contact: Miriam Newcomer, 415-750-3554, mnewcomer@famsf.org.
ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES NEWS
Through March 31, 2017 - San Francisco Botanical Garden’s Magnificent Magnolia Bloom
Every year at this time, nearly 100 magnolias at San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park burst into bloom. Velvety silver buds on the often bare branches of these elegant trees, many rare and historic, open into dazzling pink, magenta and white flowers, filling the wintery Garden with dramatic splashes of color and sweetly fragrant scents.
The annual floral spectacle, with trees reaching 80 feet, is at its peak this year from mid-January through March, and visitors to the Garden can take advantage of free Magnolia Walk maps, docent-led tours, special signage, a magnolia mobile app, and more to celebrate and learn more about these magnificent magnolias.
San Francisco Botanical Garden is home to the most significant magnolia collection for conservation purposes outside China, where the majority of species originated. Its current collection includes 44 species, 42 cultivars and 16 hybrids or varieties, including many important specimens from Asia.
For more information, visit www.sfbotanicalgarden.org. Media contact: Nina Sazevich, 415-752-2483, nina@sazevichpr.com.
PIER 39’s 39-Week 39th Anniversary Celebration Continues with Weekly Events
PIER 39’s 39-week 39th Anniversary Celebration continues through October. Each Friday brings something different, including discounts, giveaways or special events and more. On March 24, play for free at participating attractions. * March ends with a free screening of “Forrest Gump” and special discounts* at outdoor Movie Night on March 31.
On April 14, visitors can scour West Park Lawn for hundreds of colorful eggs at the PIER 39 Easter Egg Hunt. On April 21, follow PIER 39 on Facebook for a chance to win a birthday party for 11 people on The PIER.* On April 28 it’s a free outdoor Movie Night featuring “Big Hero 6” on April 28, with more festivities coming in May through October, 2017.
*Restrictions apply. Visit www.pier39.com for details. Events and event activities are weather-permitting and subject to change without notice.
For more information, visit pier39.com/39. Media contact: Alissa Giusti, 415-705-5562, afiset@pier39.com.
April 16, 2017 – 26th Annual Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter
The 26th Annual Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter Parade celebrates and showcases the diverse community of San Francisco and features some of Union Street's best restaurants serving attendees in an outdoor bistro setting.
A variety of children's and family activities are the focus of the event and includes large inflatable bounces, kids' rides and games, a climbing wall, a bubble jump, the Easter Bunny, fun costumed characters, face painting, a petting zoo, a pony ride and musical entertainment. For years, the event has been known as the Biggest Little Parade in San Francisco and reflects the unique community of the Bay Area. The event is not the average street fair or parade. It can best be described as wonderful, wacky, elegant and fabulous, with everything from roller-blading butterflies and creative self-propelled mini-floats to garden areas, sophisticated fashions and beautiful classic and art cars.
For more information, visit www.sresproductions.com. Media contact: Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793, denise@deniselamottpr.com.
April 22, 2017 – Alcatraz Cruises Celebrates Earth Day
Alcatraz Cruises along with Respect Our Planet will present a full day of free, family-friendly activities on Earth Day, April 22, 2017. Partnering with local environmental companies, Alcatraz Cruises’ Earth Day festivities are free and open to the public and will take place at Pier 33/Alcatraz Landing in San Francisco. Activities and featured interactive stations will include:
- Discover the Bay - explore water samples from the bay and watch the microorganisms on a large-display microscope - learn what role living things play in our local marine environment.
- Arts and crafts - engage in educational and creative green art station for children to express their views of the Earth.
- Gifts and giveaways - enter to win drawings for children who fill out a passport of vendor visits; prizes for all children who fill out passport; spinning wheel for chances to win additional prizes.
- Other activities including face painters, music and other entertainment.
Alcatraz Cruises was the first to run hybrid ferry service in the country. The company is considered “zero waste,” consistently recycling 90 percent of its waste and it is certified by several national agencies because the company has always and continues to perform at the highest levels for quality, environment, health and safety.
For more information, visit www.alcatrazcruises.com, call 415-438-8320 or email ac-marketing@alcatrazcruises.com.
Media contacts: Denise Rasmussen, 415-438-8320, drasmussen@alcatrazcruises.com and Molly Blaisdell, 925-300-7252, molly@hooklineandthinker.com.
June 3-4, 2017 –Union Street Festival Returns for its 41st Year as the Union Street Music Festival
The Union Street Festival returns for its 41st year as the newly revamped, free Union Street Music Festival on June 3 and 4, 2017. With a greater emphasis on free live music, this long-running San Francisco tradition will feature two days of local bands playing everything from jazz and blues to country, bluegrass and more. Live bands will be playing throughout the festival site on historic Union Street, allowing festivalgoers to come and go or sit and stay awhile to enjoy the music. As always, the festival will feature arts and crafts booths, festival food and beverage gardens, community groups and unique sponsors. Foodies can choose to dine on tasty gourmet goodies from the dozens of fine food vendors within the festival or visit the established cafés, bistros and bars along Union Street. For this year’s festival the beverage gardens will be set up near the entertainment areas and offering a great selection of craft beers and fine wines. San Francisco's charming Union Street with its historic Victorians transformed into fashionable boutiques, art galleries and restaurants will also be open for business.
For more information, visit http://www.sresproductions.com. Media contact: Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793, denise@deniselamottpr.com.
Through June 30, 2017 – “Butterflies & Blooms” at the Conservatory of Flowers
Get eye to eye with a butterfly in the exhibit “Butterflies & Blooms” coming to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park this fall. The popular exhibit returns by overwhelming demand to San Francisco’s beloved Victorian greenhouse, transforming its Special Exhibit gallery into a beautiful and intimate cottage garden aflutter with hundreds of butterflies on the wing including magnificent monarchs, western swallowtails, painted ladies and more. Walk among a wide variety of brightly colored blossoms like zinnias and daisies while free-flying butterflies flit from flower to flower, drinking nectar and getting covered in pollen. These goodwill ambassadors of the insect world provide a fascinating demonstration of plant pollination in action. The Butterfly Bungalow at the entrance to the gallery also allows you to observe the pupae in their chrysalis stage. You never know, you may be lucky enough to catch the moment when one of these delicate beauties emerges.
Visitors learn about the mysterious process of metamorphosis, butterfly anatomy, pollinators’ critical role in the life cycle of plants and more through fascinating interpretive signs throughout the gallery.
For more information, visit www.conservatoryofflowers.org. Media contact: Nina Sazevich, 415-752-2483, nina@sazevichpr.com.
Through Aug. 31, 2017 – National Park Service’s Every Kid in a Park Program
Building upon the Centennial of the National Park Service this year, the NPS is extending the Every Kid in a Park program for a second year in 2017. The Every Kid in a Park pass is valid through Aug. 31, 2017. After completing a fun educational activity on the website, the child can download and print a pass.
Locally, the printed pass can be traded for a more durable annual Every Kid in a Park pass at the three national park sites with entrance fees: Muir Woods National Monument, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, and Pinnacles National Park.
The pass grants free entry for fourth graders and up to three accompanying adults to most federally managed lands and waters, including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries.
Visit www.EveryKidinaPark.gov for more information. Media contact: Nathan Hale Sargent, 415-561-4732, hale_sargent@nps.gov.
San Francisco Dungeon Presents History Disguised as Fun
Teachers can thrill their middle- and high-school students with California history lessons presented in an interactive and engaging setting at The San Francisco Dungeon.
The live-action attraction provides a 60-minute journey through 200 years’ worth of the Bay Area’s most riveting—and sinister—history. Field trips provide a fun and unique introduction to a range of classroom subjects.
The San Francisco Dungeon presents 10 shows in a realm where theatrical actors, special effects and stages offer up a dark, atmospheric—and often hilarious—interpretation of the city’s deepest, darkest historical moments.
In addition to providing a history lesson, corresponding curriculum enables teachers to extend the learning opportunities into the classroom which have been crafted into three separate lesson plans that meet California Education State Standards.
Local Bay Area students qualify for $10 tickets and for every 10 tickets, school groups receive one free ticket. In addition, for every 20 students booked, one teacher receives a free ticket. The San Francisco Dungeon provides assistance with supervision and free educator resources.
For more information, visit https://sanfrancisco.thedungeons.com or call 855-753-9999. Media contact: Marina Nicola,702-355-0845, mnicola@wearevoxsolid.com.
Parts of Alcatraz Closed for Restoration in 2017
This year will be a unique time to visit Alcatraz Island. Portions of the Cellhouse West Wall are temporarily shrouded while this important historic structure is repaired and restored. With the exception of the hospital wing, all areas traditionally open at this time of year remain so. There are limited areas on Alcatraz that are always closed, due to their fragile, potentially harmful, condition. Restoration of the cellhouse will be complete in early 2018.
For more information, visit more information visit www.alcatrazcruises.com. Media contact: Molly Blaisdell, 925-300-7252, molly@hooklineandthinker.com.
HOTEL NEWS
Virgin Hotels Comes to San Francisco in Summer 2017
Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, has announced plans to open and operate a new hotel at 250 Fourth St., San Francisco, in the Yerba Buena/South of Market area. Expected to open in the Summer of 2017, the San Francisco property will be managed by Virgin Hotels and developed by Paradigm Hotels Group. The new building will feature 196 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites; multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand’s flagship space, The Commons Club; a coffee shop; numerous meeting spaces; and a rooftop bar.
For more information, visit http://development.virginhotels.com/press-room. Media contact: Amanda Caskey, 646-340-1723, amanda@thedooronline.com.
Hotel Nikko Completes $60 Million Design Overhaul
Following a $60 million redesign, Hotel Nikko is set to have the newest guestrooms and meeting spaces available in San Francisco. As a familiar part of the skyline, Hotel Nikko San Francisco will re-emerge as the city’s “newest” destination in time for the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love – the city’s biggest ever cultural movement – making it the ideal accommodation choice for travelers that want to be in close proximity to all of the festivities taking place throughout the year. The expansive 533-room contemporary Hotel Nikko is located two blocks from Union Square in downtown San Francisco, providing its guests with intuitive Asian service and modern accommodations. Amenities include the acclaimed Restaurant ANZU, the intimate 140-seat Feinstein’s at the Nikko live entertainment venue and 10,000 square foot Club Nikko health club.
For more information, visit www.hotelnikkosf.com. Media contact: Stephanie Senter, 310-586-7193, ssenter@murphyobrien.com.
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SFO)
SFO Welcomes Finnair with #Fly2Finland Contest
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has announced a contest on social media celebrating Finnair’s new seasonal nonstop service to Helsinki beginning June 1, 2017. The contest, titled #Fly2Finland, invites participants to answer three questions about Finnair to enter for a chance to win two round-trip, economy tickets on Finnair to Helsinki.
The contest is easy to enter. Simply use the #Fly2Finland contest tab on the SFO Facebook page (www.facebook.com/flysfo) to answer three (3) questions about Finnair and Helsinki. Entries are welcome through March 15, 2017. On March 17, 2017, there will be a random drawing where one grand prize winner will win two (2) round-trip economy tickets on Finnair to Helsinki. The grand prize winner will be announced on San Francisco International Airport’s Facebook page. For complete contest details, including alternate entry methods, please visit: http://www.flysfo.com/finnair.
Starting June 1, Finnair will offer seasonal service three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) to Helsinki flying an Airbus 330-300 aircraft. Flight AY012 will depart SFO at 7:10 p.m. and arrive in HEL at 3:30 p.m. the following day. The return flight AY011 will depart HEL at 4:35 p.m., arriving to SFO at 5:20 p.m. Finnair plans to operate the nonstop service from SFO through September 2017.
Through May 18, 2017 - “Jeff Divine: 1970s Surf Photography”
In an era before surfboards had leashes and prior to corporate sponsorship, Jeff Divine captured the burgeoning sport on 35mm film. As illustrated in the exhibition “Jeff Divine: 1970s Surf Photography,” Divine not only documented a host of legendary surfers in the water, but also the colorful surf culture of the time. In one photograph, Hawaiian surfer David Nuuhiwa sits among a sea of airbrushed boards in Laguna Beach, California. Another image shows a lone corduroy-clad surfer walking down a path toward the beach. An old sign lies in front of him painted over with the mantra of Point Loma surfers: “If you don’t live here, don’t surf here! NO UNLOCALS.”
Jeff Divine grew up in La Jolla, CA, where he first began taking pictures of his fellow surfers in the 1960s. In 1971, he took his first staff position at Surfer Magazine. For nearly two decades, he has worked as the photography editor at The Surfer’s Journal in San Clemente, CA. Divine’s work has taken him to Oahu 35 times and to numerous other premier surf destinations around the world.
“Jeff Divine: 1970s Surf Photography” is located pre-security on Departures Level in Terminal 3 of the San Francisco International Airport. This exhibition is accessible to all airport visitors through May 18, 2017.
The online version of this exhibition is viewable at: www.flysfo.com/museum/exhibitions.
SFO Outlines Plans to Rehabilitate Runway 28L
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has announced plans to repave Runway 28L, one of two runways used primarily for arriving flights. The project will also install new long-lasting LED centerline lights and ground markings. Along with this project, construction of Taxiway F2 and enhancements to Taxiway S will improve operational efficiency of Runway 28L.
Runway repaving is necessary every 8-12 years, based on flight activity. Runway 28L was last repaved in 2008. This project will include the following:
- Fresh new asphalt pavement surface for the second-longest runway at SFO, equivalent to paving four lanes of an interstate highway for a distance of over 10 miles
- Upgraded runway centerline lights featuring long-lasting, energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures
- A new secondary taxiway near the end of Runway 28L to improve operational efficiency
- Enhancements to an existing taxiway to improve the departure capacity of the airport
While much of the work will occur during overnight hours, a series of nine (9) weekend closures of Runway 28L will be required to complete the work. The schedule of runway closures will be as follows (all times are Pacific Standard):
- March 31 at 6 p.m. through April 3 at 12 p.m.
- April 7 at 6 p.m. through April 10 at 12 p.m.
- April 21 at 6p.m. through April 24 at 12 p.m.
- April 28 at 6 p.m. through April 30 at 12p.m.
- May 5 at 6p.m. through May 7 at 12p.m.
- May 12 at 6p.m. through May 15 at 12p.m.
- May 19 at 6p.m. through May 22 at 12p.m.
- June 2 at 6 p.m. through June 5 at 12p.m.
- June 9 at 6p.m. through June 12 at 12p.m.
All dates are weather-dependent and subject to change. This project will require runway and taxiway closures which will affect normal operations. Some delays may occur during weekend closures. The Airport has worked with airlines and the FAA to develop a schedule that will minimize delays by maximizing construction productivity with closure periods that are least impactful to operations. For more information, please visit: www.flysfo.com/28L..
For more information, visit www.flysfo.com. Media contact: Doug Yakel, 650-821-4000, Doug.Yakel@flysfo.com.
The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. For information on reservations, activities and more, visit www.sftravel.com, read the Visitors Planning Guide or call 415-391-2000. San Francisco Travel operates Visitor Information Centers at Hallidie Plaza, 900 Market St. at the corner of Powell and Market streets, and on the lower level of Macy’s Union Square. San Francisco Travel is also a partner at the California Welcome Center at PIER 39.
American Express® is the official Card partner of the San Francisco Travel Association.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 46 international cities on 39 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with 79 cities in the U.S. on 13 domestic airlines. SFO is proud to offer upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. 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. Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and www.facebook.com/flysfo.
# # #
Note to editors: Photos and press releases are available at www.sftravel.com.
For news and story ideas, follow @SFMediaRelation on Twitter and @OnlyinSF on Instagram.
To sign up for e-newsletters on San Francisco travel, culinary, LGBT or Illuminate SF Light Art news, click here.