Winter Carnival and Lighting Ceremony is This Friday at Embarcadero Center

Remember back in the day, back in the 90’s, when you could attend a University of California law school and pay for the three years’ tuition by working part-time as a law clerk for a couple semesters in the Financial? Well, part of that job entailed moving your yuppie supervisor’s yuppie Saab convertible out of and then right back into the garages at Embarcadero Center once or twice  a day. Why? Cause of the sweet validation deal EC had where buying one cup of coffee for 25 cents (remember, it was the 90’s) at the 2 Embarcadero McDonalds (no longer there) would let you park for free for three hours. And sometimes, she’d even give you a quarter to pay for her coffee. Those were the days.

Well, they’re back baby. Sort of. Starting November 20th, 2009, you can park for free after 5:00 PM at the EC for four hours with validation and for free on the weekends. Of course you can park on the street during some of those hours but sometimes those free spaces can be hard to find, especially during the holidays.

Anyway, the validation program starts the same day as the Winter Carnival and Lighting Ceremony – and on that day only, the free garage parking starts at 4:00 PM. Deets below.

The lighted buildings of the EC in the back, 505 Monty up front – from a few years back. Click to expand:

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The scariest “craigslist etc” job imaginable – replacing light bulbs high atop the former Equinox revolving restaurantat 5 Embarcadero Center, aka Hyatt Regency Embarcadero. Click to expand:

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One down, 17,000 to go…

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All the deets:

We ain’t got snow, but we got lights…17,000 of them!

The ceremony takes place at the Holiday Ice Rink in Embarcadero Center, beginning at 6PM. This year’s theme is “Disney on Ice Presents Worlds of Fantasy”. The event will include performances by local musicians and a spectacular fireworks finale over the skyline.

A Winter Carnival precedes the Ice Show and Building Lighting, featuring fun activities for the kids – carnival games, interactive arts and crafts making booths, face painters, balloon twisters, musical performances and more – from 4 to 6PM.

Needless to say, the highlight of the evening is the initial lighting of Embarcadero Center’s dramatic office towers which illuminate San Francisco’s skyline with 17,000 lights throughout the holiday season.

There will be four hours of free parking at Embarcadero Center from 4PM.

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Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy Kicks off the Holidays with Embarcadero Center!

Experience four magical worlds in one ice spectacular when Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy comes to the Bay Area! Enter the wondrous world of Pixie Hollow to meet Tinker Bell and her fairy friends, speed through Radiator Springs with Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew, and relive classic Disney favorites The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.From wheels to waves, Pride Lands to pixie dust, Worlds of Fantasy offers excitement for everyone!  Stop by Embarcadero Center’s 2009 Building Lighting Ceremony to get a sneak preview of this one-of-a-kind production prior to its stint in the Bay Area, February 24-March 7.

As San Francisco’s “Official Kick Off to the Holiday Season”, as declared by Mayoral Proclamation in 2002, Embarcadero Center is brightening the holidays this year on Friday, November 20th, with the Building Lighting Ceremony that we are so famous for.  The Ceremony takes place at the Holiday Ice Rink in Embarcadero Center Presented by Hawaiian Airlines and will begin at 6:00 P.M.  In addition to the ultimate mega mix of skating, dancing and the songs you love from Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy, the event will include performances by local musicians brought to you by KDFC and a spectacular pyrotechnic show finale which will dazzle the City’s skyline.  All this exhilarating entertainment has been designed to complement the highlight of the evening, the initial lighting of Embarcadero Center’s dramatic office towers which illuminate San Francisco’s skyline with 17,000 lights throughout the holiday season.

Preceding the Ice Show and Building Lighting is the Winter Carnival; a perfect event to share with the family. It will feature a host of fun activities for the kids such as carnival games, interactive arts and crafts booths, card making, balloon twisters, musical performances and more!  Come and visit with Santa to give him your holiday wish list!

For those wanting to get a jump start on their holiday shopping, Embarcadero Center retailers will offer holiday gift ideas and special discounts you will not want to miss, with four (4) hours of free parking from 4:00 PM.

Make it a date!  Meet family and friends at Embarcadero Center for an evening of fun, entertainment, shopping and great food!

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Delighting families, couples and ice skating enthusiasts for over twenty years, the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center presented by Hawaiian Airlines, the largest outdoor rink, will open to the public for nine magical fun-filled weeks beginning November 11 through January 3, 2010

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Boston Properties has made it easier to shop at Embarcadero Center this holiday season …  Starting November 20th, shop and dine at any Embarcadero Center store or restaurant and we will give you free parking!

Share the excitement of the holiday season and explore the shops, skate at the Ice Rink and top off the day with free parking – all at Embarcadero Center!  Our merchants will have stickers on hand to distribute to customers who shop at the Center.

Remember, holiday parking starts November 20th and continues through the end of day December 24 for all those last minute shoppers.  Hours of validation are 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and four hours free on weekends.  On Friday, November 20, validation will begin at 4:00 p.m. for those who attend the Winter Carnival and Building Lighting Ceremony.

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