“What’s New” is a listing of new venues, attractions and activities compiled by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB). Past editions of “What’s New” and a list of “Recent and Coming Attractions” are available in the Media section of the SFCVB’s Web site, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. The next edition of “What’s New” will be sent in February 2010.
San Francisco Bay Area Cultural Initiative Celebrates Ties to Shanghai in 2010
Programs celebrating the San Francisco Bay Area’s long-standing ties to Shanghai will be held in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose throughout 2010. More than 30 cultural institutions and civic groups are participating in a cultural initiative that corresponds with the World Expo in Shanghai, May 1-Oct. 31, 2010. Exhibitions, performances, film series, lectures, a symposium and more have been announced. The cornerstone of the celebration in San Francisco is Shanghai, a major exhibition at the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., Feb. 12-Sept. 5, 2010. Spanning a time period of 160 years, the exhibition includes 130 artworks such as trade oil paintings, Shanghai deco furniture and rugs, revolutionary poster art, fashion, movie clips and contemporary art installations. Since 1979 Shanghai, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, has been a Sister City of San Francisco and ties between the two cities go back 140 years. For information visit www.shanghaicelebration.com or www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500. Media contact: Michele Dilworth, 415-581-3713.
Reservations Now Available for Dine About Town Promotion, Jan. 15-31, 2010
Reservations are open for the popular Dine About Town San Francisco restaurant promotion which returns Jan. 15 – 31, 2010. The complete list of restaurants is posted on San Francisco’s official visitor Web site www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/dineabouttown. New restaurants participating include 5A5 Steak Lounge, Amber India, Blowfish Sushi to Die For, cityhouse, DOSA on Valencia, Eclipse, Fifth Floor, Le Central, Luna Park, Swell, The Plant Cafe Organic and Waterbar. Conceived by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) in 2002, the seasonal promotion offers diners a new price point this year: a two-course lunch menu for $17.95. The popular three-course dinner menu for $34.95 is still an option. On Jan. 13, 2010 at 6 p.m., the public is invited to celebrate Dine About Town at a launch party under the dome at Westfield San Francisco Centre, 865 Market St. With a $20 donation to Meals On Wheels, guests may sample offerings and meet chefs from participating restaurants. Reservations for both the launch party and Dine About Town restaurants may be made at www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/dineabouttown. Space is limited. Dine About Town returns for a summer encore June 1-15, 2010. Media contact: Angela Jackson, 415-227-2603.
Queen Victoria Makes Her Only U.S. Maiden Call to Port of San Francisco Jan. 27, 2010
Cunard Line’s youngest ship, Queen Victoria, will make her maiden call to San Francisco on Jan. 27, 2010, marking her only U.S. inaugural call in the next year. Queen Victoria will stop in San Francisco as part of the first segment of her third world voyage. Expected to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge at approximately 6 a.m., she will dock at Pier 35 at 6:30 a.m. before departing at 6 p.m. for Hawaii. Designed in the grand Cunard tradition, the 2,000-passenger Queen Victoria is the second largest Cunarder ever built, weighing in at 90,000 gross tons and measuring 964.5 feet from stem to stern – more than 110 feet longer than San Francisco’s tallest building, the Transamerica Pyramid. Thousands of spectators lined the shores of San Francisco Bay in 2007 when Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, made her first call in San Francisco. Best viewing locations include the Golden Gate Bridge – vista points on both north and south sides of the span; Fort Mason; Crissy Field and the Fisherman’s Wharf area. For information visit www.cunard.com. Media contact: Stephanie Schaffer, 213-438-8743, ; Renee Dunn, 415-274-0488; or Jackie Chase, 661-753-1035.
“Stay & Shop SF” Includes a $50 Westfield Gift Card and Free Breakfast and Parking at Participating Hotels for Two or More Nights Hotel Stays Through Jan. 31 2010
The SFCVB, American Express and Westfield San Francisco Centre are bringing cheer into the winter holiday with special offers for visitors for the “Stay & Shop SF” promotion through Jan. 31, 2010. Visitors who book a two-night minimum stay at one of 15 participating hotels on the Only in San Francisco Web site, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, with an American Express card will receive a $50 Westfield American Express gift card (limit one gift card per stay), free parking and free breakfast. The “Stay & Shop SF” promotion includes hotels in the Civic Center, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, Financial District and Pacific Heights areas. It is limited to the first 400 people who book a “Stay & Shop SF” package on www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. All travel must be completed by Jan. 31, 2010. Media contact: Angela Jackson, 415-227-2603, .
PERFORMING ARTS
Direct from London: Peter Pan Makes April 27, 2010 U.S. Premiere in San Francisco
Beginning April 27, 2010, San Francisco will host the U.S. premiere of a spectacular new stage production of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie’s classic story performed in a state-of-the-art theater pavilion. Conceived by an award-winning creative team, Peter Pan features 22 actors, stunning puppets, epic music, dazzling flying sequences and the world’s first 360-degree CGI theater set. One of the most striking elements of this new production is the setting: the threesixty° Theater. The show is performed “in the round” in a 1,350-seat theater-tent, which will be erected in Ferry Park on the Embarcadero opposite the Ferry Building. This remarkable structure, designed expressly for the world premiere of this production in London’s Kensington Gardens last summer, will be shipped 6,000 miles to San Francisco. The entire interior is lit with more than 15,000 square feet of high-resolution video, immersing the cast and audience in a CGI Neverland. When Peter and Wendy fly to Neverland the audience flies with them over 400-square-miles of virtual London and beyond. Tickets are on sale for the limited 10-week run. For information visit www.peterpantheshow.com or call 888-ppantix (888-772-6849); for groups of 15 or more, call 415-551-2020 or email . Media contacts: Anne Abrams, Jennifer McVey or Erin Garcia, 415-551-2075, .
Fast-Paced Hitchcock Whodunit The 39 Steps at Curran Theatre Through Jan. 3, 2010
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and the result is Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theater. This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, more than 150 zany characters (played by a talented cast of four), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance. At the Curran Theatre through Jan. 3, 2010, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps is the very first production of the 2009-2010 Citibank Best of Broadway series season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. For information visit www.shnsf.com or call 415-512-7770. Media contacts: Anne Abrams, Jennifer McVey or Erin Garcia, 415-551-2075, .
San Francisco Ballet 2010 Repertory Season Includes U.S. and World Premieres
The 77th repertory season of San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional ballet company in America, includes three full-length ballets, the San Francisco Ballet premiere of Fokine’s Petrouchka, as well as three world premieres by three unique and exciting choreographers, including Renato Zanella. A number of audience favorites will return as well: Forsythe’s modern in the middle, somewhat elevated, an all-Balanchine program and Jerome Robbins‘ comedic The Concert. This season also marks the 25th anniversary of Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson’s tenure with the ballet. As a special programming highlight in celebration of this milestone, the 2010 repertory season will include the presentation of three full-length works: Swan Lake, The Little Mermaid (also a U.S. premiere) and Romeo & Juliet. The opening night gala is Jan. 20, 2010 and the season concludes on May 9. For information visit www.sfballet.org or call 415-865-2000. Media contact: Meredith Nonnenberg, 415-865-6607, .
Diva Thelma Houston Returns to Teatro ZinZanni for 10th Anniversary Season Feb. 4, 2010
Disco diva and Grammy Award winner, Thelma Houston, will once again grace the Teatro ZinZanni fabled spiegeltent as the legendary hostess Feb. 4-May 16, 2010. She will appear in a new version of Hearts on Fire, a show that ran some 18 months ago to acclaim, and which will span the celebratory month of March, which marks Teatro ZinZanni’s 10th anniversary in San Francisco. Guests who attend the show in March will be able to join in the celebration and enjoy activities that will offer insight into the magic of Teatro ZinZanni. The show features an ensemble cast of world-class performers, generally headed by a marvelous “hostess,” ably assisted by a “chef de cuisine” who introduces each course and generally involves audience members in the action, while comedy and mayhem are supplied by acrobats, jugglers, comedians, singers, musicians, and others. The list of acclaimed performers has included celebrated singers Joan Baez, Sally Kellerman, Liliane Montevecchi, Maria Muldaur, Melba Moore, Ann Wilson, among others. For information visit www.zinzanni.org or call 415-438-2668. Media contact: Brenda Hughes, 415-244-9770, .
SPORTS
USC, Boston College Match 8-4 Records in Eight Annual Emerald Bowl Dec. 26
USC will meet Boston College in the Emerald Bowl game at AT&T Park. The Trojans and Eagles, each 8-4 during the regular season, meet on Saturday, Dec. 26 with kickoff at 5 p.m. The game will be televised in prime time for the fourth consecutive year by ESPN and will also be heard nationwide on ESPN Radio. In last year’s Emerald Bowl, California defeated Miami 24-17 before a standing-room-only 42,268 fans. “We could not be happier with this matchup,” Executive Director Gary Cavalli said. “In USC, we have one of the great brands in college football and a program that is almost always in the national championship hunt. In Boston College, we have one of the nation’s premier academic institutions and an over-achieving team that overcame a lot of adversity this season.” Since its inception in 2002, SFCVB figures indicate the Emerald Bowl has generated more than $83 million in revenue for the City and County. Emerald Bowl tickets may be ordered online at www.emeraldbowl.org; by visiting the AT&T Park ticket office at Third and King streets, or by calling 415-94-BOWL (2695). Media contact: Doug Kelly, 916-202-0552, .
EVENTS
OVO, Cirque du Soleil’s Latest Big Top Touring Production
Extends San Francisco Dates until Jan. 24, 2010
OVO, Cirque du Soleil’s latest big top production, made its U.S. premiere in San Francisco on Nov. 27, 2009. Its run has been extended in San Francisco until Jan. 24, 2010; it will then open in San Jose Feb. 4, 2010. OVO, which means “egg” in Portuguese, utilizes this timeless symbol of the life cycle and adapts it to a colony of insects who are awestruck and intensely curious when a mysterious egg appears in their midst. A cast of 54 performing artists from 13 countries will make the teeming world of these quirky critters come alive. A stunning trapeze act employing the skills of six flyers is the biggest of its kind ever presented under Cirque du Soleil’s distinctive blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top). The finale features 20 artists running, jumping and leaping straight up a 26-foot vertical wall. Look for the Grand Chapiteau at AT&T Park, corner of Third Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard. For information visit www.cirquedusoleil.com. Media contact: Kevin Kopjak, 415-296-0677, .
Pier 39 Marks 20th Anniversary of Arrival of Sea Lions on Jan. 15, 2010
In January 1990 California sea lions began “hauling out” on Pier 39’s K-dock shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. At the time it was only a few dozen; however, a plentiful herring supply, dock space and a protective environment attracted increased numbers over the years. On Jan. 15, 2010 visitors are encouraged to come to Pier 39 to learn more about these boisterous pinnipeds from Marine Mammal Center docents, stop by the Whale Bus for a complete educational experience and learn why Pier 39’s West Marina has been declared a Watchable Wildlife viewing area by the California Wildlife Project. For information visit www.pier39.com or call 415-705-5500. Media contact: Sue Muzzin, 415-705-5500.
It’s Going to Be a Grrrr-eat! Year of the Tiger
Chinese New Year Celebration Roars in to San Francisco Feb. 6-28, 2010
The lunar new year, 4708, is going to open with a growl or a contented purr depending on a twitch of the whiskers; 2010 is the Year of the Tiger and the striped predator will replace the placid ox at the stroke of midnight on Feb. 13, 2010. A symbol of strength and courage, the tiger ranks as the king of land beasts in China and his arrival is often viewed with caution. Festivities ushering in the top feline, “fu” as the big cat is called in Cantonese (“hu” in Mandarin), will include a Chinese New Year Flower Fair (Feb. 6-7), Miss Chinatown USA Pageant (Feb. 20), and the Chinatown Community Street Fair (Feb. 27-28). It’s all built around a fantastic parade from Market and Second Streets to Columbus Avenue on Saturday, Feb. 27, beginning at 5:15 p.m. Bleacher seats to view the parade are $30 per person. Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 14. For information visit www.chineseparade.com. Media contact: Karen Eng, 415-986-1370, karen.eng@cnyparade.com.
Macworld 2010, “The Start of a New Era,” Comes to Moscone Center Feb. 9-13, 2010
Macworld 2010, the single largest opportunity to see, buy and share Apple-based products, is Feb. 9- 13, 2010, at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Macworld 2010 is the only place where attendees can touch, try and take home innovative products and talk directly with the developers of the products. A comprehensive expo hall offers access to hundreds of Mac products and services, paired with expert advice, demonstrations and instruction. The Macworld 2010 conference program, expected to attract several thousand Apple product users from around the world, will feature six unique programs taught by industry leaders and visionaries: MacIT® Conference, Users Conference, MacLabs, Market Symposiums, Power Tools and Creative Safari. For information about Macworld 2010 or to register for the event, visit www.macworldexpo.com. Media contact: Linsy Reese.
SFJAZZ Spring Season Includes Artists Keith Jarrett, Bobby McFerrin, Booker T., Pharoah Sanders, Al di Meola’s World Sinfonia and Others Performing Feb. 19-June 12, 2010
Some of the most illustrious names in jazz, world and related music have been announced for the 11th annual SFJAZZ spring season, Feb. 19-June 12, 2010. Artists include: Keith Jarrett, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling with The Count Basie Orchestra, Booker T., Pharoah Sanders, SFJAZZ Collective, Marcus Miller, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Al di Meola’s World Sinfonia and others. The lineup is one of the most diverse in recent memory. “In some of the groups we present at SFJAZZ, literally every person on stage is from a different country. Yet they perform together as one, whether playing a melody in unison or creating complex sonic textures for layered improvisation,” noted Randall Kline, executive artistic director of SFJAZZ. Concert venues range Grace Cathedral to Davies Symphony Hall. For information visit www.sfjazz.org or call 866-920-JAZZ (5299). Media contact: Marshall Lamm, 510-928-1410.
Digital Divine Design at the Exploratorium Feb. 11-13, 2010:
Rods and Mods: Kustom Kulture of Radical Computer Modification
Feb. 11-13, 2010, the Exploratorium showcases the innovations and outlaw
aesthetics of custom computer culture at “Rods and Mods: Kustom Kulture of Radical Computer Modification.” An outgrowth of the hacker community, personal computer modding was born from the need for speed and personal style. Look under the hood of this creative subculture and explore the hacking geekery that ignited a billion-dollar design industry. Rods and Mods features a showroom of souped-up PCs, restored classics, and experimental computers, as well as workshops, presentations and a parts swap. Modders will be on hand throughout the event to discuss their work from noon to 5 p.m. This event is included in the price of admission. For information visit www.exploratorium.edu or call 415-EXP-LORE (397-5673). Media contacts: Linda Dackman, 415-561-0363 or Leslie Patterson, 415-561-0377.
Celebrate Japanese American Culture at Northern California
Cherry Blossom Festival April 10-11 and 17-18, 2010
San Francisco’s colorful Japanese quarter will burst into full bloom on the weekends of April 10-11 and 17-18, 2010, when members of Northern California’s Japanese American community gather to celebrate their 43rd annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Each year, more than 200,000 people attend this dazzling tribute to the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American community. The event spans two weekends and climaxes with a grand parade on Sunday, April 18. Leave time to explore the oldest Japantown in the United States, roam the food bazaar, and enjoy traditional arts and crafts and the children’s village. Entertainment stages feature Japanese dancers, martial artists and taiko drummers. For more information, visit www.nccbf.org or call 415-567-4573; a full schedule of events will be available in February 2010. Media contact: Jeffrey Kimoto, 408-998-0920.
MUSEUMS
Cartier and America Opens at Legion of Honor
for Exclusive Showing Dec. 19, 2009-April 18, 2010
Cartier and America covers the history of the House of Cartier from its first great successes as the “king of jewelers and jeweler to kings” during the Belle Epoque and into the ‘60s and ‘70s when Cartier supplied celebrities of the day with their jewels and luxury accessories. Derived mainly from the private Cartier Collection housed in Geneva, the spectacular array of more than 200 objects includes jewelry of the Gilded Age and Art Deco periods, as well as freestanding works of art such as the famous Mystery Clocks. The exhibition, Dec. 19, 2009-April 18, 2010, is exclusive to the Legion of Honor. Marking Cartier’s 100 years in the United States, the exhibition concentrates on pieces owned by Americans, including a pair of rock crystal and diamond bracelets worn by Gloria Swanson in the movie Sunset Boulevard and the exotic flamingo brooch made for the Duchess of Windsor. Private lenders have contributed significant pieces to the exhibition. For the first time, an American museum will feature the personal jewelry of Princess Grace of Monaco from the time of her wedding to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. Lent by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, these pieces include her engagement ring; a diamond necklace and more informal gold brooches. For information visit www.famsf.org or call 415-750-3600. Media contact: Robin Wander, 415-750-2604.
SFMOMA Celebrates 75th Anniversary in 2010
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), 151 Third St., is presenting a series of 75th anniversary events and exhibitions for visitors to experience the scope of SFMOMA’s collection and to celebrate the formative moments, philosophies and personalities that have influenced the museum’s evolution. Anniversary festivities will kick off with a free weekend celebration from Saturday, Jan. 16 through Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. Saturday programming will feature artist talks, a community talk show, and special evening performances by new media artists MTAA and visual artist Allison Smith. Sunday will be devoted to families, with hands-on art projects and participatory family interviews about art and artists. On Monday, Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the day SFMOMA was founded 75 years ago, the museum will celebrate the spirit of service by having Smith recreate the „Skills and Service“ program first introduced by the museum during World War II. Smith will invite veterans and their families, as well as general museum visitors, to participate in the decoration of a memorial wreath that will be taken to the War Memorial Building on Memorial Day 2010. Throughout the anniversary season, SFMOMA will present a series of exhibitions under the heading 75 Years of Looking Forward that will tell the story of the artists, collectors, cultural mavericks and San Francisco leaders who founded, built and have animated the museum. The exhibits include: The Anniversary Show, Dec. 19, 2009-Jan. 16, 2011; Focus on Artists, Jan. 16-June 6, 2010; The View From Here, Jan. 16-June 20, 2010; Dispatches from the Archives, Nov. 7, 2009-July 6, 2010; Ewan Gibbs: San Francisco, Jan. 16-June 20, 2010, and Long Play: Bruce Conner and the Singles Collection, Jan. 16-June 6, 2010. For information visit www.sfmoma.com or call 415-357-4000. Media contact: Libby Garrison, 415-357-4177.
San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art Features
Extraordinary Textile Arts from Mali Feb. 5-May 2, 2010
The West African country of Mali is home to more fiber artists and designers than most other countries in the world. Examples of Mali’s extraordinary legacy of textile arts, with its vibrant colors and complex graphic statements will be presented at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, 51 Yerba Buena Lane, Feb. 5-May 2, 2010. Rhythm and Hues: Cloth and Culture of Mali gives long overdue recognition to contemporary Malian fabric artisans and highlights the enduring significance of textiles as a major form of aesthetic in Mali. Featuring works beyond the mud cloth tradition, this exhibition seeks to showcase contemporary styles and techniques yet to be shown in the U.S. In addition to the cloth and clothing, the exhibit showcases other forms of traditional art and craft from Mali, such as wooden puppets, and the life-sized masked and costumed figures called „marionettes“ which act out village legends. Unusual calabashes and baskets are also included to show the wide variety of Malian craft and folk art. For information visit www.mocfa.org or call 415-227-4888. Media contact: Betsy Herczeg-Konecny, 415-227-4888, ext. 10.
HOTELS
St. Regis San Francisco Unveils Two Limited Edition SFMOMA 75TH Anniversary Suites
Starting Jan. 1, 2010 The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 Third St., is celebrating its fifth anniversary and the 75th anniversary of its neighbor, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). To honor both occasions, The St. Regis San Francisco is creating two Limited Edition SFMOMA Suites: Gems of the Museum Suite will showcase pieces from The Anniversary Show exhibition, which highlights the depth and breadth of SFMOMA’s collection and traces the art and individuals that have made the institution what it is today. The Art of California Suite reveals the many ways the Golden State and San Francisco have inspired artists over the last century. An SFMOMA Anniversary Travel Package is available for guest stays Jan. 1, 2010 through the end of 2010. For information visit www.stregissanfrancisco.com or call 415-284-4000. Media contact: Jenn Myres, 415-394-6500 ext. 224.
Luxurious Rosewood Sand Hill Opened in Menlo Park April 2009
Located on a 16-acre site in Menlo Park, Calif., one mile west of Stanford University, the Rosewood Sand Hill opened in April 2009. With resort-like amenities, lush courtyard gardens and local charm, the 123-room (31 suites) property melds relaxed California Ranch architecture with stunning views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Located at 2825 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park, the hotel includes Sense, A Rosewood Spa®, which includes 13 treatment rooms, a fitness room, spa café, Alex Chases Salon, and outdoor pool as well as 13,000 square feet of meeting and special event spaces. The signature restaurant, Madera, and adjacent lounge spill into the outdoor space and offer stunning views of the pristine local landscape. Featuring an open artisan wood-burning kitchen and extensive wine list, Madera serves American cuisine that celebrates the culinary traditions of the Western United States. For information visit www.rosewoodsandhill.com or call 650-561-1500. Media contact: Tish Gallegos, 415-394-6500.
RESTAURANTS & NIGHTCLUBS
Affronti Restaurant & Wine Bar
235 Healdsburg Ave., Suite 105, Healdsburg, 707-431-1113, www.affrontihealdsburg.com
Neighborhood: North of San Francisco, Sonoma County
Media contact: Joan Simon, 707-795-4885
Chef Jude Affronti has opened a “true wine bar” in the heart of Healdsburg only a half block off the popular plaza. Featuring unique and small production wines by the glass paired with Mediterranean-style tapas, Affronti’s polished menu features affordable “bits, bites, salads, small plates and bigger plates.” Live music on Thursday evenings and Sunday jazz brunch have swiftly put Affronti, which means “the place” in Italian, on the map. The enclosed courtyard and sleek interior can accommodate 20 to 175. Open daily except Tuesday for lunch and dinner. Opened October 2009.
Fang
660 Howard St., 415-777-8568
Neighborhood: Yerba Buena
Media contact: Kathy Fang, 415-777-8568
Peter Fang and his daughter, Kathy, have imported some favorite menu items from Fang’s famous “sister restaurant,” House of Nanking, to their new location near Moscone Center and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Diners can enjoy some “classics” including Nanking sesame chicken, fried calamari, marinated bok choy salad and Peking duck buns as well as new additions to the menu that feature a more modern, healthy touch. Private dining options include the Glass Room that seats 10-12 and the large dining area up to 200. The full bar also offers specialty cocktails blended with Asian liqueurs. Lunch and dinner daily. Opened September 2009.
Nombe
2491 Mission St., 415-681-7150, http://www.nombesf.com
Neighborhood: Mission District
Media contacts: Susie Biehler, 415-771-9975 or Kevin Blum, 415-290-2767
In Japanese, the word Nombe (pronounced „nom-bay“) refers to someone who likes to drink heartily. It’s a fitting name for San Francisco’s hottest new izakaya, a dining concept that traditionally focuses on heavy drinking coupled with an array of sharable chef-driven small plates. In standard izakaya, diners start off with light grilled and fried proteins and vegetables, then finish the meal with more substantial starches such as udon and onigiri, or sticky rice balls stuffed with various sweet and sour fillings and wrapped in nori. Nombe’s menu is arranged to reflect this expected sequence, yet guests are encouraged to dine in whatever order suits their mood. As with any izakaya worth its merit, sake will play a large role in the Nombe experience; more than 75 premium sakes are available. Nombe also serves Japanese street food on Friday and Saturday nights out of a special window facing onto Mission. Nombe will churn out okonomiyaki, takoyaki, oden, ramen and more to the Mission’s hungry late night revelers from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. The 80-seat space at Nombe is divided into two rectangular dining rooms. Near the entrance, guests are greeted by a roughly 20-seat communal dining table flanked by spacious banquettes. Dinner nightly, except Tuesday. Opened November 2009.
RN74
Millennium Tower, 301 Mission St., 415-543-7474, www.rn74.com
Neighborhood: Financial District
Media contact: Erin Hunt, 917-544-3222
Named after Route National 74, the major thoroughfare passing through the heart of France’s Burgundy region, RN74 is one of the most recent additions to The Mina Group. The 60-seat urban wine bar and 75-seat restaurant is the much-anticipated collaboration between longtime Mina Group Wine Director and sommelier Rajat Parr, former Thomas Keller Sous Chef Jason Berthold and Chef Michael Mina. Guests may select from a list of more than 50 wines by the glass or taste through a custom-made enomatic machine. The cuisine at RN74 features simple interpretations of regional French cuisine. Lunch Monday-Friday, dinner Saturday-Sunday; wine bar opens at 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Opened April 2009.
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Arrivals and Departures: Upcoming New Airlines and Routes at SFO
The following new airlines and routes will be added at San Francisco International Airport in the upcoming months:
December 2009
17 United Bozeman Seasonal daily [Service through March 27, 2010.]
January 2010
05 JetBlue Boston Adds second daily flight with A320 aircraft-daytime departure.
05 JetBlue New York/JFK Adds second daily flight with. A320 aircraft–daytime departure
05 JetBlue Long Beach Adds two additional daily departures for a total of five daily flights.
February 2010
11 United St. Louis New United destination from SFO; one daily A320 service.
March 2010
28 United Frankfurt, Germany Reinstates second daily service (evening departure) with B777 aircraft.
28 United Tokyo, Japan Reinstates second daily service with B777 aircraft.
28 United London, England Reinstates second daily service (early afternoon) with B777aircraft.
28 United Osaka, Japan Increases two frequencies perweek for a daily non-stop service.
May 2010
04 WestJet Calgary, Canada Reinstates seasonal service (Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday) with B737 aircraft.
10 Air Berlin Düsseldorf, Germany New European carrier/new destination summer (Wednesday/Friday) with A330.
June 2010
02 Swiss Int’l Zurich, Switzerland New European carrier/new
destination; daily except
Tuesday with A340.
22 Air France Paris, France Summer season second daily
daily flight (Tuesday/
Thursday/Saturday) through
Sept. 4, 2010
