The hills and sounds of San Francisco.

“The hills are alive with the sound of music

With songs they have sung for a thousand years

The hills fill my heart

With the sound of music

My heart wants to sing every song it hears.”

New visitors to the City, complain about the steep hills and the city noise.

Yes, San Francisco is one of the hilliest cities in the world.

San Francisco was a small town of 1,000 residents, but in 1849, during the Gold Rush, the 49ers brought in an additional 25,000 gold seekers. The City was on its way to becoming a world-class city. Undaunted by the hills of Nob Hill, Russian Hill and Telegraph Hill, Andrew Halliday in 1873 designed the first cable car to run on Clay Street after witnessing the abuse of horses drawing carriages up the steep hills.

San Franciscans are extremely proud of their hills. The columnist, Herb Caen, famously declared, “Take anything from us, our cable cars, our bridge, even our bay – but leave us our hills.”

A city built on 48 hills with only 7 hills named, San Francisco Suites is proud to be perched on the first named hill, Nob Hill.

“I go to the hills

When my heart is lonely

I know I will hear

What I’ve heard before

My heart will be blessed

With the sound of music

And I’ll sing one more”

Then there are the city sounds. Yes, there is the rambling of the rails of the cable car and clanging of bells, the bird song of crows, ravens, seagulls and the croaking Russian Hill parrots, and during the summer, the ominous groaning of the foghorn out on the Bay and the Grace Cathedral bells ringing out over Huntington Park and Nob Hill.

San Francisco is alive with the sound of music, with heart-stopping inclines and exhilarating vistas. So, embrace the city sounds and hills. Take a cable car or, better yet, hike the SF Cross Town Trail, which is a 17-mile trek starting from Candlestick Park and ending at Lands’ End.

Our owners, Martha and Peter Jones, completed the hike a few weeks ago. It took 7 hours and, on their return, they took refuge by the lobby fireplace, enjoying a glass of wine and sharing their experience with guests in the lobby.

The Embarcadero (its flat) is also a wonderful place to walk, starting at the Ferry Building, walking along the waterfront with a view of the lights on the Bay Bridge.

The Ferry Building is enjoying a renaissance with a fascinating new array of restaurants, shops and bakeries:

• Arquet has re-opened in the Slanted Door space

Californian cuisine from the Michelin star owners of Sorrel

• Nopa Bar is famous for take-out fish and chips
• Hog Island Oyster Bar
• Senor Sisig takeout breakfast and Mexican burritos
• Parachute Bakery voted best croissant in SF
• Farmers Market outside the Ferry Building

Saturdays from 8 am – 2 pm

Ferry Building is great for shopping. Pick up bread from Acme Bread, or an ice cream cone from Slocombe Creamery or browse through the shelves at Books, Inc.

A new favorite French bistro, Bon Delire, with a waterfront view, classic French films shown on the walls while a DJ spins French jazz. Steak frites is a must!

• Bon Délire Pier 3

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a lively bar scene

Last month I attended a Women in Leadership Luncheon hosted by the Hotel Council at the St Francis Hotel. It was extremely inspirational to see such a large number of women hotel general managers. When I started at the Huntington, 30 years ago, I was one of the first female concierge in the world. When the American section joined the European concierge association, Les Clefs d’Or, they were forced to accept women in the profession. At that time, in San Francisco, there was not a single woman general manager. Years later, I was hired by the San Francisco Suites as General Manager, and now in SF it is not uncommon to see a woman in a hotel leadership role.

SFS news alert:

• New sofa beds are arriving at the end of August
• All Masters and Parlors all have new bed

Shout out and thank you to the Olsons!

They invited friends to join them at the Suites to go to the Giants game, and now their friends are new owners of a parlor!

Please let me know if you have a friend who may be interested in becoming an owner, and I will offer them a complimentary stay.

The next board meeting is Saturday, August 15

The San Francisco hills are full of the sounds of the City.

My heart wants to sing every song it hears.

Happy Summer!

Warmest wishes,

Cynthia Reid

General Manager

San Francisco Suites