San Francisco is a difficult city to leave. I tried twice but was so homesick for the sound of the cable cars and the moaning of the fog horns on the bay that I finally returned to claim back a part of my heart.

As usual, there was controversy over which famous song about San Francisco would become the official song. Would “San Francisco “from the 1936 movie with Clark Gable and Jeanette McDonald about the 1906 earthquake stay or should it be replaced with Tony Bennett’s “I left my heart in San Francisco”?

I first heard Tony Bennett sing “I left my heart” at the Venetian Room at the Fairmont. Years later, a statue of Tony Bennett was erected in front of the Fairmont and the road in front of the hotel was changed to Tony Bennett Way. The song is played at the beginning of every Giants game, however “San Francisco” won as the official song and “I left my heart” was chosen as the official city ballad.

So, whether you hum,

“San Francisco, open your golden gate. You’ll let nobody wait outside your gate.” or

“I left my heart in San Francisco.

High on a hill, it calls for me.

To be where little cable cars, climb halfway to the stars.

And the morning fog will chill the air.”

You can feel a part of the magic of San Francisco.

The new CEO of the SF Hotel Council, Alex Bastian, has returned to his hometown to take on the new job of bringing the hotel industry and the City back to its glory. He talks about working with civic leaders to face the problems of the City with common sense by taking steps to implement plans with significant investments in public safety, and cleanliness and restructuring the taxes to encourage business to return to the City. He explained how important the hotel industry and tourism are to SF. We have always been a top tourist destination. We are #8 in the world. Hotel occupancy was down last year to 25% and this year occupancy has climbed back up to 68%. We still have room to improve as the typical occupancy prior to the pandemic was 80%.

Here is the good news. Dreamforce returns this week on September 12-14.

The APEC Conference will be held November 12-18

Conferences are good for the hotel sector and when the hotels succeed so does San Francisco.

The City endures constant bashing from the media. Much of what is said is not factual but with civic pride leading the way, San Franciscans will bring back the best of SF and we will come back even stronger.

We have endured two earthquakes, fires, tech bubbles and bursts, and now the pandemic.

As Alex Bastain states, ‘SF will survive with resilience in face of doubt and uncertainty. We have shown the ability to flourish after floundering and will come back stronger.

The SF City flag, which shows a phoenix rising from the ashes, is again flying outside the entrance of the Suites to remind us of all that San Franciscans do not give up, ever.

There is no other great city in the world that has the architectural beauty, hilltop vistas, finest hotels and restaurants where you can also spend the day outdoors sailing on the bay, walking along the Pacific Ocean on the beach, or strolling under the towering ancient redwood forests after driving across the Golden Gate Bridge.

San Franciscans will save San Francisco. SF Suites have partnered with the hotels on Nob Hill to watch over the streets, keep them clean and free of encampments and if necessary, report a repeat offender to the hotel’s security department so all hotel partners can be on the lookout.

The City has celebrated quite a few milestones during the last few months.

In August, the cable cars celebrated 150 years in operation while the SF Ferry Building celebrated a mere 125 years. Not to be outdone by these historic celebrations, our two owners at the Suites celebrated their 50-year anniversary by going to the SF Jazz.

Speaking of owners, Paul Gartner and Linda Nicolay were looking to create a new lifestyle out of retirement and have written a book called, “Where to next?” The book is at the front desk for you to check it out or you could go to their website… www.ourkeysplease.com to purchase the book.

The celebrity chef, Tyler Florence, of one of my favorite restaurants, Warfare Tavern, has partnered with the City to open two restaurants on Union Square Plaza. One restaurant will serve hearty cuisine and the second will serve lighter fare and desserts.

Don’t forget to visit the Gardens of Golden Gate Park to enjoy the return of the Flower Piano from September 10-12 at 1199 9th Avenue.

If you are not a SF resident, you will need to book tickets online at SF Botanical Gardens website.

The SF Board of Directors are working hard to increase the beauty and safety of the Suites.

The SF Fire Department has mandated that condos and timeshares must install a digital fire alarm system. The Board decided to close taking reservations for the month of January 2024 in order to install the new fire alarm system so as not to disturb our guests. The lobby wallpaper and guest room carpets will also be replaced.

So don’t forget the magic of San Francisco. Please call the front desk to book your holiday events, order concert tickets to the Symphony, tickets to the Nutcracker or the latest musical.

If you are looking for a special wedding or birthday gift, there are still shares to be adopted or purchased.

As a San Franciscan, leave a little of your heart behind at the Suites to recover on your next stay.

Remember, San Franciscans never give up. I won’t give up and I hope you will not.

Warmest wishes,
Cynthia Reid
General Manager
San Francisco Suites

San Francisco Suites on Nob Hill

2023 SEPTEMBER ADOPT-A-SHARE PROGRAM

August 1,2023

Greetings, Everyone!

As you may know, certain shares owned by the Association are periodically offered for adoption by owners, by friends and family of owners, or by individuals interested in the Suites. This year we have six Parlor shares for adoption at $1585.00 per share. The cost includes the 2023 assessment of $1,555.00 plus the property tax of $30.00. The Adopt-A-Share year will begin September 1, 2023, and end September 1, 2024.

We will accept email requests for adoption during normal reservation times until 12 noon PST on Wednesday, August 30.  All names received will be pooled and a drawing will be held on Thursday, August 31, at 11 a.m. PST. Please be advised that the Association has imposed a restriction on adopted shares that prohibits them from being rented to third parties, and they cannot be exchanged or sold through a Time Share company. They may be used only by the adopter, by his or her immediate family, and by those persons designated by owners as being entitled to Bonus Time. On Friday,

September 1, between 6 and 7 p.m. PST, we will notify the first six applicants whose names were drawn.

The San Francisco Suites City Share Association’s governing documents, including all Rules & Regulations, do apply to the adopted shares. 

PLEASE NOTE: Payments must be received by September 30, 2023.

Thank you in advance for your interest and participation in the Adopt-A-Share Program.

Best Regards,
Cynthia Reid
General Manager
San Francisco Suites

Dear San Francisco Suites Owners and Friends of the Suites,

The Board of Directors would like to hold a special Summer Auction

for 1 Master and 1 Parlor:

Master

216M Year is July1,2023-June 30,2024 7 days still available

• The minimum bid for the Master is $3,000

Parlor

206P Year is April 1,2023-March 31,2024 7 days are still available.

• The minimum bid for the Parlor is $100.00

The auction is open to anyone interested in placing a bid.

The property taxes for 2023 have been paid.

The highest bids will win.

The buyer agrees to pay escrow costs, which are about $800.

The 2023 assessment of $1,555.00 will also be due.

This special auction will close on August 15, 2023, at 9 PM. No bids will be accepted after this time.

This is a unique opportunity for you to purchase a share, at a very nominal price, which has become a liability because its owner has decided to “walk away” from their financial responsibility to the Association.

Please email your bid or bids to creidgm@sfsuitescsa.com

Call me at (415) 433-9700 if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Cynthia Reid
General Manager
San Francisco Suites

Dear San Francisco Suites Owners:

I have just been notified by the City and County of San Francisco of the May 1-4th sale for properties that have had past property taxes, that have not been paid and are now defaulted and subject to be sold at auction.

SFS share 262P that belongs to one of our owners, who had a defaulted property tax bill for $1,151.36, did not sell at the auction.

San Francisco City and County Tax Defaulted Property Auction will re-offer

265T-262P for a minimum bid of $100.00

May 22-25, 2023

https://sanfrancisco.mytaxsale.com

The share will be sold to the highest bidder at the place, date and time indicated. The proposed sale is for the purpose of satisfying unpaid taxes, penalties, and costs.

Please visit https://sanfrancisco.mytaxsale.com to register and provide

a single $1,000 deposit (plus a $36.00 processing fee) to participate in this Timeshare auction.

Deposits are accepted on May 8-12th.

The 2023 assessment of $1,555.00 will also be due after the transfer is completed.

Please be reminded that no City share owned by a City Share Owner can be used for commercial rental purposes to third persons.

Please contact https://sanfrancisco.mytaxsale.com for additional information.

You are all invited to bid. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this matter.

Thank you,

Cynthia Reid
General Manager
San Francisco Suites

CC: Chuck Meibeyer, President of the Board

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