Dear San Francisco Owners and guests,
Spring in San Francisco
“Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May,
So, if it’s raining have no regrets,
Because it isn’t raining rain
You know, it’s raining violets.”
San Francisco has survived the April showers even though the City lost 13,263 trees.
Powell Street across from the Suites was closed for an afternoon this month during the deluge and high winds which brought down a huge tree at Pine and Powell that just missed a cable car.
The Suites’ trees on Pine and Powell survived and are now beginning to bloom. Since the trees are planted on City property, we are not allowed to prune the trees and need to wait for SF Trees to do the pruning or we would receive a violation. The trees are pruned every 3-5 years.
The super bloom in California is a phenomenon that occurs when a wet year follows a prolonged dry spell resulting in an explosion of flowering street trees and wildflowers. The yellow acacia is the first to bloom followed by the magnolia, plum, and cherry blossoms. The perfect spot to experience the late April super bloom of wildflowers, such as the California poppies, blue-eyed grass, salmonberry, and Douglas iris would be a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands or Mt Tamalpais.
April brings baseball with the Giants and the Oakland A’s as well as basketball with the Golden State Warriors, but the spring also brings the SF Ballet performing at the War Memorial Opera House. I recently attended Giselle and the production was gorgeous and the dancers were superb. After the performance, we walked down to the Zuni Café and enjoyed the famous roast chicken for two.
The de Young Museum hosts the San Francisco-born, Ansel Adams photography exhibit of 100 works of famous landscapes including Yosemite. April 8-July 23.
Restaurant Week in San Francisco begins April 14 -23. Discounted set menus for lunch and dinner will be offered. Please contact the Concierge for a list or go to the website www.sfrestaurantweek.com.This is a great chance to try one of the new higher-end restaurants at a discounted rate.
One of my favorite “City getaways” is walking thru Chinatown to North Beach, stopping at City Lights Bookstore on Columbus, to pick up a book, and continuing to Washington Square Park at Union and Stockton which is across the street from Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church where San Francisco born slugger, Joe DiMaggio married Marilyn Monroe.
Sitting at an outside table at Original Joe’s. I order burrata and prosciutto and linguine pesto while listening to the church bells ring out and if you are lucky, you may hear the squawking of the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, which may soon become the City’s official animal.
Across the street from OJ’s, with Coit Tower looming overhead, is Tony’s Napoletana Pizzeria, and down the street on Green is found the best cioppino in SF at Sotto Mare.
For entertainment after dinner:
- SF Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway
- Club Fugazi’s, acrobatic wonder, “Dear San Francisco “at 678 Green Street
- Caffe Trieste for coffee and live music and poetry readings 601 Vallejo Street
- City Light’s Bookstore 261 Columbus
- Original Joe’s 601 Union Street
- Tony’s Napoletana Pizza 1570 Stockton
- Sotto Mare 552 Green Street
April is also tax season, and the 2nd installment of the Property taxes was due on April 11.
If you have not received your tax bill, because you have moved, please contact me so I can help you pay your property taxes online in order to avoid incurring late fees or becoming tax defaulted and possibly losing your share in a tax auction.
Finally, I need to announce that Eric Ingersoll, who has worked at the Suites for the last 11 years as Front Desk/Concierge and Front Desk Supervisor has decided to move, along with his spouse, to Kansas. Eric’s last day will be Saturday, April 15.
You are all invited to the Farewell Party for staff and owners in the Boardroom at 4 pm. Please join us to celebrate Eric’s long and exceptional service to the Suites.
We will miss him.
Make your reservations at your “home away from home” and come celebrate spring in San Francisco!
Warmest wishes,
Cynthia Reid
General Manager
San Francisco Suites