28 Mar 2014
@Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz,Sept. 27, 2014-April 26, 2015
Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei responds to the layered history of Alcatraz — former federal penitentiary, site of Native American heritage and protest, and now a national park — with a major new body of work. Ai is creating site-specific sculpture, sound, and multimedia works for spaces throughout the island, including restricted areas that will be opened to the public especially for this exhibition. A vocal critic of the Chinese government, Ai was taken into custody by Chinese authorities in 2011 and secretly detained for 81 days on charges of tax evasion. His bail was lifted in 2012 but he is still not permitted to leave China. As a result, he is developing the artwork in Beijing. @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz is organized by the FOR-SITE Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Media contact: Alina Sumajin, Resnicow Schroeder Associates, asumajin@resicowschroeder.com,
212-671-5155.
San Francisco Bay Area to Host NFL Super Bowl 50 in February 2016
The 2016 Super Bowl game, which will be held at the new Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (45 miles south of San Francisco), will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact to the entire Bay Area. The Super Bowl bid included more than 22,000 hotel rooms set aside for the event, along with official and unofficial events to be hosted throughout the Bay Area region, with free public celebrations and the NFL Experience in downtown San Francisco. For additional information visit www.sfsuperbowl.com or contact media@sfsuperbowl.com
Golden Gate Bridge Electronic Tolling
San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge is the first bridge in California to switch to electronic tolling. Those weekends backups heading to The City are now a little easier with no more stopping at the toll plaza. FasTrak ($5 toll) and Pay-By-Plate ($6 toll) are the two options. FasTrak offers discounted toll rates which anyone may use or the Pay-By-Plate option: License Plate Account or One-Time Payment. A License Plate Account may be opened online with a credit card to allow drivers to “pay as you go,” with the card being charged each time the bridge is crossed. The One-Time payment is designed for infrequent bridge users and visitors, and is easiest when paid on-line using a credit card. If no action is taken, the registered vehicle owner is mailed a Toll Invoice. For additional information, visit: www.goldengate.org/tolls
The Bay Lights, World's Largest LED Sculpture, Enters Second Year on the Bay Bridge
Inspired by the 75th anniversary of the Bay Bridge in 2011, The Bay Lights is a fine art piece installed on the western span and viewable from San Francisco and points north, but not by drivers crossing the bridge. Measuring 1.8-miles-long and 500-feet-high, the high-tech light sculpture design features 25,000 individually programmable, energy-efficient LED lights mounted on the bridge's vertical cables. The Bay Lights will remain on the bridge for two years and is projected to add $97 million to the local economy. Installation of the lights began in October 2012 and was completed in March 2013. They will be on display daily from dusk to 2 a.m. For more information, visit www.thebaylights.org. Media contact: Tami Kelly, Brazer Communications for The Bay Lights, 925-640-9997, tami@brazercommunications.com .
The New Exploratorium at Piers 15 and 17
On April 17, 2013, the new Exploratorium, San Francisco's internationally acclaimed museum of sciences, art and human perception, opened on Piers 15 and 17, located on San Francisco's historic northern waterfront at Embarcadero and Green streets. The new museum features 150 new exhibits, a Bay observatory, outdoor gallery and free civic space.
For information visit www.exploratorium.edu or www.press.exploratorium.edu. Media contact: Jenny Slafkosky, jslafkosky@exploratorium.edu or 415-528-4367.
San Francisco's New Pier 27 Cruise Terminal – Slated to open in 2014
The Port of San Francisco, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2013, is building the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 over an approximate one-year period. The structure, which was used as the venue for the 34th America's Cup Village in 2013, will also create a new 2.5 acre public park known as the Northeast Wharf Plaza.
The new cruise terminal will accommodate vessels up to 1,200 feet long, carrying 2,600 passengers, and has the capacity at key areas to allow it to service vessels carrying as many as 5,000 passengers. On non-cruise days, the terminal will be used as a special event facility. The entire project, which will be completed in two phases, is estimated to cost $90 million. For information visit www.sfport.com. Media contact: Renée Dunn Martin, 415-274-0488, renee.martin@sfport.com.
Brannan Street Wharf Opens in South Beach Neighborhood Near AT&T Park
Brannan Street Wharf is a newly constructed two-acre public park on the Embarcadero in the heart of the South Beach neighborhood. The $26 million wharf includes a neighborhood green; a waterside walkway with seating and picnic tables; a shade structure; and interpretive features about the height of the tide and the site's rich maritime and cultural history. It is located on the Embarcadero at the former sites of Piers 34 and 36. The Wharf includes a 52-foot long interpretive exhibit featuring the multi-faceted history and importance of the site to maritime shipping, Chinese immigration, and labor struggles that established San Francisco as the base for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. For information visit www.sfport.com or call 415-274-0400. Media contact: Renée Dunn Martin, 415-274-0488, renee.martin@sfport.com.
ARTS & CULTURE
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“And My Room Still Rocks Like a Boat on the Sea (Caruso's Dream)”
Artists Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn's newest piece dangles from the new 17-story residential high-rise at 55 Ninth St. This permanent site-specific artwork commissioned by the Black Rock Arts Foundation (of Burning Man fame) features 13 pianos created from vintage chicken-wire glass and pilings from the old Transbay Terminal. Says Goggin, “The whole piece is inspired by this moment when the opera star Enrico Caruso was awakened by the Great Calamity of April 18, 1906, while he was staying at the Palace Hotel. He did not know if he was awake or still dreaming as he was walking to the window to see the results of the ongoing earthquake.” http://blackrockarts.org.
San Francisco Ballet Announces 2014 Repertory Season
SF Ballet's 2014 Repertory Season will include the presentation of two full-length works, including the revival of SF Ballet Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson's Giselle and the encore presentation of Christopher Wheeldon's Cinderella. Individual tickets are available at www.sfballet.org or by calling 415-865-2000. Media contacts: Kyra Jablonsky, 415-865-6603, kjablonsky@sfballet.org or Lauren White, 415-865-6610, lwhite@sfballet.org.
SFJAZZ Center
The $60 million, SFJAZZ Center, at 205 Franklin St, which opened in January 2013, is the first center anywhere in the country for jazz designed and built from the ground up. The Hayes Valley location is just blocks from Davies Symphony Hall, the War Memorial Opera House, the Asian Art Museum, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The 35,000-square-foot, transparent structure designed by Mark Cavagnero of Mark Cavagnero Associates, features a flexible, 700-seat performance hall, dedicated space for education and professional development; three rehearsal spaces; a digital music lab, and a sidewalk-level restaurant/café. The 2013-2014 Season will run through June 8, 2014. Highlights include the trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, March 20-23, 2014; Rosanne Cash, April 10-13, 2014, along with dozens of resident artists. For complete details on the season and all performances visit www.sfjazz.org or call 866-920-5299. Media contact: Marshall Lamm, 510-928-1410, marshall@sfjazz.org.
Skulls at the California Academy of Sciences May 16 through November 30, 2014
Every skull tells a story. As unique as a thumbprint, skulls act as roadmaps in the scientific quest to understand how vertebrate animals live, die, and ultimately, evolve. In this new exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences, explore the science of skulls—from teeth and jaws that allow animals to hunt and consume food, to eye sockets that support advanced vision to escape predators. Walk along a wallscape of sea lion skulls, watch a live colony of dermestid beetles demonstrate just why they're known as “bone cleaners,” and discover how scientists use the Academy's collection of skulls to uncover evolutionary clues about our natural world. Media contact: Kelly Mendez, Communications Associate, (415) 379-5133, kmendez@calacademy.org
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Feature Two Exhibitions from National Gallery of Art
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco has announced two exhibitions showcasing stellar collections from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC: Intimate Impressionism from the National Gallery of Art,at the Legion of Honor, March 29-Aug. 3, 2014 and Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert & Jane Meyerhoff Collection, at the de Young,June 7 – Oct. 12, 2014. Intimate Impressionism will feature nearly 70 works by 19th century avant-garde painters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Vincent van Gogh. These works are among the National Gallery's most beloved paintings and usually hang in a special sequence of rooms in its East Building. Modernism will highlight nearly 50 works by the great masters of postwar art, including Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and Frank Stella. The de Young is the exclusive venue for this exhibition, the first showing of the Meyerhoff Collection outside the greater Washington, DC and Baltimore metro areas. The National Gallery of Art is in the midst of renovating its East Building galleries, making these presentations in San Francisco possible. For information visit www.famsf.org or call 415-750-3600. Media contacts:Erin Garcia, egarcia@famsf.org or Arlo Crawford, acrawford@famsf.org.
SFMOMA Expansion Plans Include Extensive Off-Site Programming
The physical space known as SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art) closed on June 2, 2013. Much of its collection, however, remains in view and shared through a series of collaborative and traveling museum exhibitions, site-specific installations and neighborhood festivals that will take place throughout the Bay Area during the construction of its new building. The building, which will triple the exhibit and gallery space, is slated for completion in early 2016. Instead of relocating to a temporary space during the time leading up to the opening of the new building, SFMOMA is using the time to experiment, engage with new cultural partners and create innovative ways for audiences to experience its collection. For information visit www.sfmoma.org or call 415-357-4000. Media contact: Robyn Wise, 415-357-4172, rwise@sfmoma.org.
Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) Reopened in San Francisco's Dogpatch Neighborhood
On April 6, 2013 the Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) reopened its doors in a new 8,000-square-foot space in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood. The move to the historic American Industrial Center has allowed MCD to significantly expand its exhibition space and build its first-ever dedicated education room for its popular public programs, including MakeArt workshops and special events. MCD's addition to the neighborhood will support the continued transformation of the Dogpatch area into a thriving enclave for arts, culture, dining and entertainment.
For information visit www.sfmcd.org or call 415-773-0303. Media contact: Wendy Norris, 415-307-3853, wendy@norriscommunications.biz. Photography by Matthew Millman, Courtesy of the Museum of Craft and Design; San Francisco
SHOPPING
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Levi's® Brand Opens New Store on Market Street
On Aug. 1, 2013 the Levi's® brand moved its store from San Francisco's Union Square to 815 Market St., one of the world's most highly trafficked shopping corridors. At more than 7,000 square feet, the new Levi's® store pays homage to the Levi's® brand's commitment to quality and sustainability. Steeped in craftsmanship, the store brings to life the Levi's® brand's unique heritage through its vintage, industrial-inspired design and tailor shop. The Market Street location houses an impressive array of the latest fashion trends, the very best in denim as well as a selection of Levi's® Made & Crafted and Levi's® Vintage Collection. Also available for purchase, are items from the "Makers" program that celebrates local artisans and features some of the best products from Bay Area designers. The new store is one of the only two stores in the U.S. to offer Lot No. 1 jeans, Levi's® line of custom-made jeans. The LEED certified location uses reclaimed wood from the San Francisco piers, bringing to life the Levi's® brand's heritage through these specialized design elements. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. For information, visit www.levi.com or call 415-501-0100. Media contact: Kelly Moss, 415-501-6411, kmoss@levi.com.
ATTRACTIONS & TOURS
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Beach Blanket Babylon, world's longest running musical revue, celebrates four decades on June 6
Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon will commemorate its 40th anniversary with a special public celebration to take place at San Francisco's City Hall on Friday, June 6, 2014 at 12 p.m. City and civic leaders will join the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon as the City of San Francisco salutes the world's longest-running musical revue in an event open to the public. This “only in San Francisco” event will feature Mayor Ed Lee, Chief of Protocol Charlotte Shultz, former Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. Other dignitaries will be announced at a later date.
Beginning in March, legendary Beach Blanket Babylon hats from the past 40 years will be on display at various locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including eight Macy's stores, Davies Symphony Hall, SFJAZZ Center, American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, the de Young Museum, Wilkes Bashford, Ghirardelli Chocolate Marketplace in Ghirardelli Square, The Fairmont San Francisco and The Westin St. Francis. For more information, visit www.beachblanketbabylon.com. Media contact: Charles Zukow, 415-296-0677, charlesz@charleszukow.com.
Aquarium of the Bay and PIER 39 announce the Grand Opening of the Sea Lion Center at PIER 39
Operated and managed by Aquarium of the Bay, the Sea Lion Center is a free nature center where guests can learn about the world famous California sea lions that inhabit the docks at the end of Pier 39. The Sea Lion Center overlooks Pier 39's K-Dock, the usual hangout of these charismatic mammals that mysteriously made this their home in January 1990, shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake. The Sea Lion Center features interactive displays, educational videos, fascinating presentations and one- on-one interactions with naturalists. Guests can touch real sea lion artifacts including pelts and skulls, and size themselves up next to a life-size sea lion skeleton. For information visit www.aquariumofthebay.org or call 415-623-5300. Media contact: Mallory Johnson, 415-623-5340, mallory@bay.org.
CityPASS Offers Visitors Significant Savings
The San Francisco CityPASS program, which saves 43 percent on combined attraction admissions covers prepaid admission to the California Academy of Sciences, a Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise, a choice between the Aquarium of the Bay and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, as well as a choice between the new Exploratorium and the de Young Museum and Legion of Honor. And getting to all of these attractions — not to mention Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and other notable sights — is easy with a Muni and Cable Car 7-Day Passport, also included in each CityPASS booklet. The passport lets visitors enjoy an unlimited number of rides on all Muni buses, streetcars and the city's famous cable cars. San Francisco CityPASS costs $86 for adults and $64 for kids, 5-11. Passes, which may be purchased online at www.CityPASS.com or at any of the CityPASS attractions, are valid for nine consecutive days, beginning with the first day of use. Media contact: Deborah Wakefield, 503-292-4418, deborah@citypass.com.
Oakland Food Tours
In 2012 The New York Times ranked Oakland, 10 miles east of San Francisco, as the #5 city in the world to visit. Food tasting and cultural tours produced by Savor Oakland Food Tours takes visitors through the Oakland waterfront, receiving an insider's perspective into the culture that defines “The Town” and experiencing scrumptious tastings from one-of-a-kind food eateries. On the three-and-a-half-hour tour, the guide will dish the lowdown on Oakland's food, culture and history. Steeped in Gold Rush lore, the Oakland waterfront is a symbol of Oakland's beginning, which is now the backdrop to sophisticated restaurants and local culinary favorites. Advanced reservations are required. Purchase tickets at www.savoroakland.com or by calling Zerve at 800-979 3370. Media contacts: Geneva Europa or Carlo Medina, 510-883-EATS (3287), geneva@savoroakland.com.
Nite Tours International Launches San Francisco Nightlife Tour
Nite Tours International, one of the world's leaders and providers of nightlife tourism products has launched “Sip Happens” Union Square Club Crawl. The first tour of its kind in the Bay Area, Nite Tours' “Sip Happens” San Francisco provides party-goers a unique experience of visiting “A list” nightlife venues in the San Francisco Union Square setting. The tour, includes VIP venue access with no line waits (5 minutes or less) and no cover charges to four of San Francisco's hottest nightlife venues “Sip Happen” is offered every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and starts at 8 p.m.; the cost is $19 per person. For information visit www.nitetours.com or call 702-877-NITE (6483). Media contact: Renee Roberts, 702-337-5922, renee@paragonpublicrelations.com.
Scenic Running and Walking Tours
The some 20 tours, walking and running, range from a deep dive into the Mission District along Valencia Street and the 16th and 24th street corridors, a Little Saigon food tour and an expedition to the home of the famous parrots. The popular Art in Nature excursion includes a guided run through the dramatic terrain of the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, home of two major museums; and Lands End explores the beautiful coastal trails. Culinary walks, visits to San Francisco's urban wine country and the Ferry Building are recent additions and they will soon debut scooter and North Beach pub-crawl tours. Alcatraz tours are also included in some packages. For information visit www.exploresf.biz or call 415-793-1104. Media contact: Michael Moran, 415-793-1104, michael@exploresanfrancisco.biz
Dopios Platform Connects Travelers with Locals
Dopios ("local" in Greek) started in Athens, Greece and was conceived as a community marketplace that connects travelers with locals who match their travel style for advice and unique experiences. Users can get travel tips before they go, plan adventures for their next vacation, and meet new friends. The service allows travelers to search for locals by destination city, and then filter the results by their personal travel style to make finding the perfect adventure even easier. In addition to experiences, dopios also offers free travel advice from locals including: what to pack, where to stay, or any other question answered by a person with the same style and personality. For information visit www.dopios.com or call +1 (855) 665-6225. Media contacts: Alexandros Trimis, alex@dopios.com or Maria Kritsiligkou, maria@dopios.com.
Urban Hiker Tour
Urban Hiker San Francisco is a new tour company offering five routes that bring together some of the best the city has to offer. The hikes include "Urban Jungles and City Heights" (5 miles/3 hours), "Presidio Exploration" (5 miles/3 hours), and "Tales of the City" (4.5 miles/3 hours), which includes North Beach as well as Telegraph and Russian Hills. Her more off-the-beaten-path hikes include "Walk on the Wild Side” (4.5 miles/2.5 hours), which explores Glen Park and “Stairways to Heaven” (3 miles/2.5 hours). Hikes are offered at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and are considered moderately strenuous because of hills and stairs. Tour prices are $35-$45 per person. Custom hike routes are also available. For information visit www.urbanhikersf.com or call 415-669-HIKE (4453). Media contact: Alexandra Kenin, 415-669-HIKE (4453), alexandra@urbanhikersf.com.
Magic Bus SF Adds “Rock and Roll” Alcatraz Option
Magic Bus SF, the world's first time-traveling bus tour, offers a multi-media experience that revisits the Summer of Love, the Haight-Ashbury and Chinatown. As the bus travels to historic points of interest, real footage is projected on retractable screens to create a multi-media experience. A combination package of Magic Bus SF and Alcatraz tour tickets is now available, allowing visitors to experience the famous histories of the “Rock” and San Francisco's heart of rock n' roll, as told by original voices and videos from the period. Adult tickets for Rock and Roll and Magic SF combo ticket are $80 per person and tours must be taken on separate days. For information visit www.magicbussf.com or call 855-WOW-MAGIC (855-969-6244). Media contact: Gabriel DeRita, 415-332-8867, mailto:magicbussales@gmail.com.
Extranomical Tours Adds Shopping and Wine Tasting Tour Combination
Extranomical Tours launched a new tour, Premium Outlet Shopping® & Napa Wine Tasting, that allows people to visit and shop the Vacaville Premium Outlets and combine that with wine tasting in nearby Napa and see both the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge enroute. There are more than 120 outlets at the Vacaville center and each guest receives a complimentary VIP coupon booklet valued at up to $200. After four hours of shopping (lunch not included), the tour visits Napa Valley for wine tasting (fees apply). Wineries visited depend on day of the tour and winery availability. The semi-private tour is designed for smaller groups and includes hotel pick-up/drop-off. For information visit www.extranomical.com or call 415-357-0700. Media contact: Linda Bauer, 415-357-1022, linda@extranomical.com.
WINERIES & BREWERIES
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Dogpatch WineWorks Features Collective Tasting Room
Dogpatch WineWorks, 2455 Third St., a 15,000-square-foot urban winery located in the historic Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco is open to the public every Thursday-Sunday. The tasting room provides a space to experience a collection of wines from a number of boutique wine brands in a variety of offerings. Dogpatch WineWorks is housed in a unique loft-like environment, originally constructed in 1940s, and joins a number of creative new artisan shops and dining establishments in the area. Walk-ins are welcome; parties of six or more can experience a seated tasting of a featured flight led by a tasting room host, by appointment only. Dogpatch WineWorks also offers educational seminars, crush camp intensives, blending sessions and winery tours for individuals as well as corporate groups. For information, visit www.dogpatchwineworks.comor call 415-525-4440. Media contact: 415-525-4440, info@dogpatchwineworks.com.
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SFO)
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Terminal 3 at SFO Opened in Jan. 2014
Terminal 3's boarding area includes 10 gates for United Airlines, luxury amenities, innovative technology and more. Boarding Area E has undergone a $137 million transformation designed to meet the needs of today's modern travelers. Key features include high-tech interactive displays, luxury amenities, local dining and shopping and a sustainable design.
SFO and San Francisco SPCA Introduce the “Wag Brigade” to Bring Stress-Relief Therapy Dogs to SFO
In Dec. 2013, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) launched the “Wag Brigade” program to bring trained dogs into the Airport terminals to make passenger travel more enjoyable. The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA) brings specially trained dogs to walk the terminals with their handlers to take the stress out of air travel. The dogs are identified by vests that read “Pet Me!” and are planned to be at SFO on a daily basis. All participating dogs are graduates of the SF SPCA's Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) training program and are required to visit SFO prior to formal acceptance into the Wag Brigade program. Dogs are evaluated for temperament and comfort with large crowds, security requirements, and the Airport environment. Media Contact: Krista Maloney, San Francisco SPCA, 415-522-3507, kmaloney@sfspca.org
SFO Museum
SFO Museum was established by the Airport Commission in 1980 for the purposes of humanizing the Airport environment, providing visibility for the unique cultural life of San Francisco and providing educational services for the traveling public. The Museum was granted initial accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 1999, reaccredited in 2005, and has the distinction of being the only accredited museum in an airport. Today, SFO Museum features approximately twenty galleries throughout the Airport terminals displaying a rotating schedule of art, history, science, and cultural exhibitions, as well as the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, a permanent collection dedicated to the history of commercial aviation. For more information, please visit www.flysfo.com/museum.
SFO Announces Upgrades to Free Airport Wi-Fi
The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced the completion of a comprehensive upgrade to the Airport's free Wi-Fi network. In response to customer feedback, passengers can now connect ad-free with one click by accepting the terms and conditions. By selecting SFO's network named “#SFO FREE WIFI” and then launching a browser, passengers will experience:
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• Ad-free connectivity
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