SWORDS TO PLOWSHARES VETS TO HELP CARE FOR PET CEMETERY. VOLUNTEERS WILL TEND GRAVES OF BELOVED MILITARY PETS
Presidio of San Francisco (March 18, 2010) — The Presidio Trust and the Swords to Plowshares Veterans Academy, located on the Presidio, are kicking off a new partnership that will ensure long-term stewardship of the Presidio Pet Cemetery. The agreement provides for Trust staff to work with residents at Swords to Plowshares’ permanent supportive housing facility, the Veterans Academy, to maintain and improve the cemetery. Activities will include pulling weeds, removing invasive plants, picking up trash, trimming shrubs, and eventually restoring individual grave markers.
Located at the foot of McDowell Avenue, beneath Doyle Drive, and bounded by a white fence, the 450-square foot cemetery is the final resting place for hundreds of loyal animals owned by families stationed at the Presidio. The cemetery’s official record is spotty but, by most accounts, it dates to the 1950s when upwards of 2,000 military families lived on the base. There are numerous legends surrounding the cemetery, which some believe was originally a burial ground for nineteenth-century cavalry horses or World War II guard dogs.
“The pet cemetery gives us insight into family life at the Presidio. It is part of the fabric of the park and former military base,” says Craig Middleton, the Trust’s Executive Director. “We are grateful that the veterans of Swords to Plowshares have offered to care for this important part of the Presidio’s legacy.”
Sunday Streets 2010kicked off yesterday – it’s maturing as an event, so now it seems more organic and “natural,” similar to something like Critical Masswhich just sort of happens without a whole bunch of organization. Of course, shutting down the Embarcadero northbound involves a lot of people and organization ‘n stuff, but you didn’t see volunteers and the SFPD all over the place yesterday the way you did at Sunday Streets in the past.
These people from Ing ErLand were busking away like champs at the Northern Terminus of SS in Fisherperson’s Wharf. For a little while, they appeared to be the main attraction, but it was hard to tell if they were an official part of the festivities. Walking on a rubber ball with your sister Sporty Spice on your back:
But let’s start at the beginning of the day, when the combination of Sunday Streets and St. Patrick’s Day festivities totally pwned our pathetic, slow-on-the-uptake MUNI bus service, once again. MUNI Denial, stage four, Acceptance:
But now we’re back on the Embarc, where shutterbugs can always get a friendly tow:
They’re putting it on for just one week - many sections are selling out already. This promises to be a mega show, so get your tickets now if you want a chance to see LM this go around.
Famous Yuan Yuan Tan as den Lille Havfrue:
See you there!
*Very varied. It was a balletic Rorschach Test, read the reviews.
The mise-en-scene inside -it’s like a mini water park. Throw in an orca or two and then there’d be no reason to travel to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (aka Marine World) in Vallejo:
But who’s that atop the ladder for the yellow slide wearing his street clothes? It’s Ross!
And Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass is coming back to town to give a talk on March 8th. Deets below.
Dr. Zahi Hawass giving Mayor Gavin Newsom a tour last year:
Click to expand.
FINAL WEEKS OF KING TUT AT THE DE YOUNG
Extended hours, Hawass lecture part of final weeks through March 28.
SAN FRANCISCO—Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs enters its final weeks at the de Young Museum before heading to its next presentation in New York City in April. The exhibition closes on Sunday, March 28. The de Young will offer extended viewing hours and a special lecture by noted Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass during the last few weeks.
Extended Viewing Hours
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs will offer extended hours on the following days:
• Saturday, March 20, 9 am–9 pm, last ticket at 7:30 pm
• Saturday, March 27, 9 am–9 pm, last ticket at 7:30 pm
• Sunday, March 28, 9 am–9 pm, last ticket at 7:30 pm
On those days, the Museum Café will remain open until 7 pm. The de Young’s permanent collection will close at the regular time of 5:15 pm and the Museum Tower will close at 5:30 pm. Exhibition tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com.
March 8 Lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawass
Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egyptologist and raconteur will deliver a lecture, Mysteries of Tutankhamun Revealed, at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House on Monday, March 8 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 (general admission) and available through www.ticketmaster.com. Dr. Hawass’ lecture will share information discovered through the two-year examination of the DNA and CT scans of Tutankhamun and 11 other royal mummies in the collection of the Cairo Museum. Among the findings are the details of Tut’s health conditions (cleft palate, clubfoot, malaria, bone disease), his family lineage, paternity of two fetal mummies found in his tomb, and the reassessment of stylistic depictions of Tut in sculpture and artifacts found in his tomb.
Organization
The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International, and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Northern Trust is the proud cultural partner, and American Airlines is the official airline of the exhibition. The San Francisco presentation is sponsored by Athena Troxel Blackburn, Mrs. Thomas C. Crowley, Sr., Rajnikant and Helen Desai and Beringer Vineyards.
Visiting the de Young
The de Young, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and located in Golden Gate Park, is the fourth most visited fine art museum in the United States. It showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international textile arts and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa.
Take a look. Meet Mandalay, a local “girl” who’s a Virgin America flight attendant based out of SFO in real life. Listen to her go on about the “romance of aviation” and the benefits of choosing Virgin America, the only California-based airline left by the way.
Doesn’t this promo shot from the CW Network of former beauty queen Nikole look just like a Virgin America ad?
This show is going to be something like eight half-hour Virgin America infomercials complete with 30-second commercials for shampoo and cosmetics. Nevertheless, it’s going to be better than NBC’s high-budget San Francisco-based Trauma serial, that’s a given from the get-go. (Wonder if cheeky Virgin Airlines founder Sir Richard Branson will make an appearance or two…)
Just discovered that my aging Trinitron (that could be older than you) actually receives channel 44 so I’ll be sure to tune in to check out the debut.
Now, meet the Fly Girls and get more deets after the jump.
Farrah Williams
Hometown Airport: LAX Must Have Travel Accessories: Lip balm and a camera Travel Tips: “Be nice to fellow travelers and flight attendants. It makes for a more pleasant experience all the way around.” Security Checkpoint Tips: “Don’t make eye contact. Strip down quick so you’re not holding up the line.” Years with Virgin America: 2 ½
Louise Nguyen
Hometown Airport: LAX (currently SFO) Must Have Travel Accessories: Moisturizer and lip balm Travel Tips: “While on the plane, always wear your shoes in the restroom!” Security Checkpoint Tips: “Get in line behind someone who has already taken their shoes off, and who is not juggling a ton of things in their hands, and then do the same.” Years with Virgin America: 2
Mandy Roberts
Hometown Airport: PHX (currently SFO) Must Have Travel Accessory: A big, soft pashmina that can be used as a pillow or blanket. Travel Tips: “Drink an endless amount of water.” Security Checkpoint Tips: “Wear slip-on shoes with socks, if possible. It’s yucky to wait in line with bare feet on the dirty floor.” Years with Virgin America: 2
Nikole Rubyn
Hometown Airport: SMF (Sacramento) Must Have Travel Accessory: Visine Travel Tips: “Always wear or bring socks with you to walk through security!” Security Checkpoint Tips: “Don’t wear all of your jewelry to the airport, keep it in small bags and put it on after you get through security.” Years with Virgin America: 2
Tasha Dunnigan
Hometown Airport: SMF (Sacramento) Must Have Travel Accessory: Cell phone Travel Tips: “Don’t forget your common sense at home.” Security Checkpoint Tips: “Have all of your things in order and pay attention.” Years with Virgin America: 2
“Fly Girls” is from Collins Avenue Productions, with executive producers Jeff Collins (“Bridezilla 3, 4 & 5,” “The Exterminators”) and Colin Nash (“The Hills,” “The City”) and co-executive producers Larry Bond and Porter Gale.
Soon, you’ll be able to get a $1 cans of Olympia at Oakland’s Kingfish Pub or a “Yelp, I Need Somebody”(?) at San Francisco’s Four Seasons for $7.50 – your choice. Just mention the Y-word and then order away. Deets below.
Here’s the flyer for SF:
Of course there are a few rules:
“Yeah, boyeeeee! Who’s up for a sweet Bay Area-wide happy hour?!?
For three weeks in March, Yelp brings you YELP DRINKS, where you’ll get a chance to sip on lip-smackingly good adult libations at locations that locals love all over the Bay Area! Participating bars and restaurants will feature up to 3 delicious, hand-crafted cocktails for 50% off throughout the promotion. Nothing like saving a few ducks while you get crunk, huh?
San Francisco Yelp Drinks Week: Monday, March 1st – Sunday, March 7th, 2010
Silicon Valley Yelp Drinks Week: Monday, March 8th – Sunday, March 14th, 2010
East Bay Yelp Drinks Week: Monday, March 15th – Sunday, March 21st, 2010
A few quick notes:
1) Though we’re calling this a happy hour, it’s better – Yelp Drinks prices are good all day Monday through all day Sunday *while supplies last.
2) Please tip on the regular price of the drinks.
3) And please, consume responsibly!”
“From February 1 through March 15, 2010, the Academy will offer free admission to military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and teachers, in honor of their service to our communities and country. To participate, individuals must show proof of occupation and a valid ID at the ticket window. This discount applies to one individual admission only and cannot be combined with other offers.”
Just think, your camera could soon be recording the most-photographed fish in the world:
Well it’s late January in San Francisco so it’s time for our sidewalk plum trees to begin blossoming. Yeah, they look a lot like cherry trees and that causes people around town to start talking about how global warming / climate change is making the cherry trees of April wake up three months early or something.
You can double-check with the Friends of the Urban Forest if you want, but I’ll tell you, those flashes of pink you see brightening up the otherwise-dreary Streets of San Francsico these days are early-rising Prunus blireiana, aka Flowering Plum trees, or something similar.
