“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 August 2009.

Public transit is highly recommended when visiting San Francisco. For bus schedules and information on San Francisco’s cable cars, historic streetcars and light rail system visit www.sfmta.org or call 311 (San Francisco) or 415-701-2311 if calling from outside area code 415.

CITY NEWS
Only in San Francisco: New Cable Car Debuts
Dedicated Crafts Workers Keep These National Historic Landmarks Rolling
On June 22, 2009 a new cable car, Car 15, was launched on the Powell-Mason line, one of three cable car lines still active in San Francisco. Each year more than 7.4 million people board these hardworking National Historic Landmarks. Using original blueprints artisans from four shops within the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) built the new cable car from the ground up over the course of four years. Cable Car 15 features a bright yellow Powell-Mason color scheme that originated in the 1890s. The Powell-Mason line, which opened in 1888, is the oldest transit line in the United States still operating on its original route with its original type of motive power and its original type of vehicles. For information visit www.sfmta.com or call 415-701-2311. Media contact: Judson True, 415-606-9281, judson.true@sfmta.com.

San Francisco Debuts Urban Food and Wine
Weekend Aug. 6-9, 2009: ‘SF Chefs. Food. Wine.’
Tickets are on sale for a new four-day urban food and wine weekend, Aug. 6-9, 2009, in San Francisco’s Union Square. “SF Chefs. Food. Wine.” will highlight regional ingredients and Northern Californian flair during four days of tastings, classes, dinners and events with acclaimed experts, including winemakers, mixologists, farmers, artisans and visionaries. A tented tasting pavilion featuring top restaurants and wineries will be housed on historic Union Square, and programs will be held at The Westin St. Francis, Macy’s and other venues. For information visit www.sfchefsfoodwine.com. Media contact: Laiko Bahrs, 415-781-7766, laiko@andrewfreemanandco.com.

Fresh Air, Fresh Music in San Francisco: Rock to Bluegrass Concerts
Over the next few months, the outdoor concert scene in San Francisco is even cooler than her legendary fog. Among the concert dates coming up are:

Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band Headline Outside Lands
Music & Arts Festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Aug. 28-30, 2009
Tickets are on sale for the three-day Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, Aug. 28-30, 2009, in Golden Gate Park. More than 50 artists and groups have been announced. Among the musical groups performing are Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, M.I.A., Jason Mraz, Ween, The Mars Volta, Thievery Corporation and Modest Mouse. The inaugural event in 2008 drew more than 150,000 concert-goers. The area that includes Golden Gate Park was known as the Outside Lands in the mid-1800s, and much of it was barren uninhabitable land. For information visit www.sfoutsidelands.com. Media contact: publicity@outsidelands.com.

Free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Returns to Golden Gate Park Oct. 2-4, 2009
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has grown into one of the world’s largest and most anticipated festivals for concertgoers and musicians alike. This year the festival expands to six stages and more than 80 bands will perform at Speedway, Marx and Lindley Meadows in Golden Gate Park, Oct. 2-4. It is estimated that more than 750,000-plus attended in 2008. In addition to Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Hazel Dickens who have been with Hardly Strictly Bluegrass since it began in 2001, this year’s festival will feature Richie Havens, The Chieftains, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Old 97’s, Marianne Faithfull, Amadou & Mariam and many others. On the morning of Friday, Oct. 2, as part of Daniel Pearl Foundation Music Days (www.danielpearlmusicdays.org), MC Hammer and others will entertain Bay Area middle school students. A special afternoon performance on Oct. 2 will feature Todd Rundgren, John Prine and Lyle Lovett & His Large Band. Weekend performances are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 4. The event is free; no tickets required. For information visit www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com. Media contact: Tracey Buck, 415-255-0333, tracey@slims-sf.com.

Two-Day Treasure Island Music Festival Returns Oct. 17-18, 2009
The third annual Treasure Island Music Festival, hailed as the West Coast’s most anticipated boutique music festival, will return to San Francisco Bay Oct. 17-18, 2009. Set against panoramic views of the city by the bay, the Treasure Island Music Festival will stick true to form in offering an electronic and dance centric lineup on Saturday, Oct. 17 and an indie rock lineup on Sunday, Oct.18. With two stages and no overlapping sets, fans can enjoy every note of every act. MGMT, The Flaming Lips and The Decemberists are among the more than two dozen groups in the lineup. In addition to the tunes, there will be a multitude of activities for the audience including a 60-foot tall Ferris wheel, an interactive art tent, a vendor village showcasing local designers and an array of healthy and affordable food and beverages. For information visit www.treasureislandfestival.com. Media contact: pr@treasureislandfestival.com.

TRANSPORTATION
Parking Lots and Tunnel Areas on South Side of Golden Gate Bridge to Close
for Repairs on Five Weekends; Bridge Remains Open to Traffic July 31-Oct. 26, 2009
Between July 31 and Oct. 26, the south side Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza and visitor areas will experience five weekend closures to accommodate construction improvements in the area. The bridge roadway will remain open during all construction. Improvements include:

• Repaving tourist parking lot located on the southeast side of the Golden Gate Bridge
• Repaving and adding lighting to the Bridge employee parking lot, southwest side of Bridge
• Modifying the utilities and improving the drainage in the tunnel under the Toll Plaza
• Repaving the roadway in tunnel under the Toll Plaza
• Improvements for persons with disabilities in several areas

For information and updates on closures visit www.goldengate.org or call 511 or 415-455-2000 (outside San Francisco Bay Area). Media contact: Mary Currie, 415-923-2222, mcurrie@goldengate.org.

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to Be Closed Labor Day Weekend 2009
This Labor Day weekend, crews will replace a section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge east of the Yerba Buena Island (YBI) Tunnel, to connect the bridge to a temporary detour. This work is part of the Bay Bridge Seismic Safety Projects, designed to bring the structure up to current earthquake standards.

A 300-foot double-deck section of the bridge weighing thousands of tons will be cut and slid away. A new double-deck section will be moved into place, allowing traffic to flow for the next few years on a half-mile long detour structure connecting the East Span to the tunnel. All of this will be done 150 feet in the air. This traffic shift will allow crews to demolish a portion of the original bridge, and build a new (permanent) connection from the tunnel to the new East Span.

When the bridge reopens to traffic, motorists will experience a slightly different drive. The roadway will curve to the south, requiring drivers to slow down while approaching or leaving the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel. On the detour, the speed limit will be reduced from 50 mph to 40.

Residents and visitors will have numerous alternatives for getting around the Bay Area while the entire Bay Bridge is closed during Labor Day weekend. Motorists should allow extra time for travel and use of other bridges, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge and the Dumbarton Bridge. Access to Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island for residents, employees and visitors will be maintained via special permit. For updates on other transit options, including ferries, BART and Muni, visit www.baybridgeinfo.org, which features up-to-date and detailed information on transit alternatives. Media contact: Bay Bridge Public Information Office, 510-286-7167, info@mtc.ca.gov.

PERFORMING ARTS
Rent Returns to San Francisco for Limited Engagement at Curran Theatre Oct. 6-18, 2009
Adam Pascall, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart will reprise the roles they originated on Broadway in Rent: The Broadway Tour. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical written by Jonathan Larson returns to San Francisco’s Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., Oct. 6-18. Inspired by Puccini’s La Boheme, Rent celebrates a community of artists struggling with the tough realities of today’s economy. The song “Seasons of Love,” which opens with the words “Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes” (the number of minutes in a calendar year), quickly became the anthem for the millennial generation. For ticket information visit www.shnfs.com or call Ticketmaster at 415-512-7770. Media contact: Jennifer McVey, 415-551-2075, jmcvey@shnsf.com.

EVENTS
AfroSolo Theatre Company Presents AfroSolo Arts Festival Aug. 1-Oct. 15, 2009
San Francisco’s award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, Aug. 1-Oct. 15, 2009. The festival features live music, visual art and new works for the stage. Among the artists honored this year will be Morrie Turner, creator of the Wee Pals cartoon, and the legendary musician Frank Jackson. Jackson will perform at the festival opener in Yerba Buena Gardens on Aug. 1 along with vocalist Nicolas Bearde and Bay Area singer Raja Rahim. An exhibit of Turner’s work will be on view at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Aug. 15-Oct. 15. Staged readings and performances are scheduled for the recently reopened African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton St., and a community health fair will be held at the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, 1050 McAllister St., Aug. 22. For complete event details visit www.afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376). Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. Media contacts: Erica Lewis-Finein, brightbutterfly@hotmail.com or Thomas R. Simpson, 415-346-9344, thomas@afrosolo.org.

Two Exhibits Celebrate 70th Anniversary of 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition
Seventy years ago the Golden Gate International Exposition opened on Treasure Island. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the island to get a preview of what was to come, he said “I think you people out here on the Pacific Coast, when you start to do something, do it better than anyone else in the United States.” Among the things set in motion by this enormous civic endeavor were the 49-Mile Scenic Drive which still loops over and around San Francisco’s 40 some hills. It also commemorated the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge (1937) and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (1936). When the Exposition closed on Sept. 29, 1940 more than 17 million visitors had taken “a trip to the fair,” which is also the title of a new exhibit at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St. On view through Aug. 23, the exhibit features original souvenirs, art work, photographs and ephemera from the San Francisco History Center. For information visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277. Media contact: Marcia Schneider, 415-557-4277, publicaffairs@sfpl.org.

Also on view until Oct. 18, 2009 at the Presidio Officers Club, 50 Moraga Ave., is Treasure Island 1939 which features photographs of the fair’s dramatic Streamline Moderne pavilions and Art Deco monuments. Presented by the Treasure Island Development Authority, the exhibit ends with a preview of what’s to come as this man-made island evolves into San Francisco’s newest neighborhood. During the run of the exhibit “socials” featuring swing dancing and music of the era will also be held at the club. For information visit www.presidio.gov/calendar or call 415-561-5500. Dana Polk, dpolk@presidiotrust.gov, 415-561-5418.

24th Annual Sausalito Floating Homes Tour Returns Sept. 26, 2009
After a brief hiatus Sausalito’s colorful floating homes community will once again open its doors to visitors on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The self-guided tour takes visitors inside 20 of the most unique homes in the world. Docents will also be onboard to describe Sausalito’s waterfront lifestyle and answer questions. Six of the homes on this year’s tour have never been open to the public before. One of the featured homes is “Train Wreck,” built from an 1889 North Pacific Railway Pullman car that was cut in half and integrated into the structure. The tour begins at Kappas Marina, on Gate 6 Road off Bridgeway at the northern end of Sausalito, just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. The Green at Kappas Marina is the registration area and center for food and fun throughout the day. Past tours have attracted more than 1,500 visitors from around the country. Advance tickets, $35 per person, are recommended; purchase tickets online and view virtual tours at www.floatinghomes.org or call 415-332-1916. Media contact: Debra Levy, 415-332-1803, floatinghomestour@yahoo.com.

Open Studios Preview Weekend Oct. 3-4 Kicks Off Month-
Long Citywide Event for Art Lovers Through Nov. 1, 2009
ArtSpan’s Open Studios, the largest open studios event in the nation, with 600-plus participating artists over five sequential weekends, kicks off Saturday, Oct. 3 with a preview gala and opening auction at SomArts Gallery, 934 Brannan St. This free-for-all citywide exhibition runs the gamut from challenging installation work, painting and photography to furniture, glass, wearable art, fiber arts, ceramics, mixed media, drawing and more. From Oct. 3-Nov. 1 artists all over the city of San Francisco will open their doors to the public. With more artists per square foot than any other city in the country according to the NEA, there’s a lot to see and buy. SF Open Studios is also an ideal opportunity to visit tucked away neighborhoods. Dozens of signs on front doors or garages inviting passers-by to come in are often a surprise even for the neighbors who don’t realize they are living near a atelier. Select neighborhoods will be featured each weekend. For information visit www.artspan.org or call 415-861-9838. Media contacts: Liam Passmore, 415-865-0860, liam@shaveandahaircut.biz or Wendy Norris, 415-307-3853.

It’s Story Time Again: Litquake Returns to San Francisco Oct. 9-17, 2009
The West Coast’s largest independent literary festival returns to San Francisco on Oct. 9 with a gala opening night at the Herbst Theatre. Readings, panels and events ensue all week, culminating in the notorious Lit Crawl on Oct. 17. Litquake organizers promise an even larger festival to mark the tenth anniversary, with more events, more authors, and more reasons to leave the house and come hear literature out loud, straight from the author’s mouth. Amy Tan is the recipient of the Barbary Coast Award this year; previous honorees include Armistead Maupin and Tobias Wolff. Since its founding in 1999, the festival has presented close to 1,400 author appearances for an audience of more than 32,000 in its lively and inclusive celebration of San Francisco’s thriving contemporary literary scene. For information visit www.litquake.org. Media contact: Liam Passmore, 415-865-0860, liam@shaveandahaircut.biz.

San Francisco Film Society Announces New Cinema by the Bay Festival, Oct. 23-25, 2009
The San Francisco Film Society is producing a new Cinema by the Bay festival, Oct. 23-25, 2009. Celebrating Bay Area filmmaking the three-day festival will feature new work produced in or about the San Francisco Bay Area and provide a compelling window into Bay Area film culture and practice at its best. For information visit sffs.org/press. Media contacts: Hilary Hart, 415-561-5022, hilary@sffs.org or Bill Proctor, 415-561-5024, bproctor@sffs.org.

MUSEUMS
Three Men and A Woman: SFMOMA Offers Trio
of Photo Giants and Georgia O’Keeffe Works
Photo exhibitions featuring the work of Ansel Adams, in tandem with paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe; Richard Avedon and Robert Frank are currently on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St.

• Looking In: Robert Frank’s “The Americans,” is the most comprehensive and in-depth exploration of Frank’s groundbreaking book to date. On view until Aug. 23, 2009, the exhibition coincides with the 50th anniversary of The Americans, arguably one of the single-most important photography books published since World War II.
• Until Sept. 7, 2009, SFMOMA presents Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities, an exhibition that examines the relationship between the work of two of America’s most celebrated artists, as well as the momentous period of American Modernism to which they both contributed.
• Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946–2004, is on view through Nov. 29, 2009. Some of Avedon’s best-known portraits—a young Bob Dylan standing in the rain, Marilyn Monroe caught in a vulnerable moment, Andy Warhol and his Factory cohorts—are among the nearly 200 photographs spanning the artist’s entire career. SFMOMA is the only U.S. venue for this exhibition, which is the first major retrospective of the Avedon’s work since his death in 2004.

For information visit www.sfmoma.org or call 415-357-4000. Media contact: Libby Garrison, 415-357-4177, lgarrison@sfmoma.org.

Opening Set for The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco on Oct. 1, 2009
Three historic buildings within the Presidio of San Francisco will soon house 10 galleries devoted to the inspiring story of Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Disneyland and the global yet distinctly American company that bears his name. Disney’s story will be portrayed through drawings he made in his youth; drawings and cartoons from his first company, Laugh-O-gram Films; early drawings of Mickey Mouse; storyboards, a Disney innovation; the technically innovative Multiplane Camera; the narrow-gauge Lilly Belle train he built for his Hollywood home and a model of the Disneyland that sprang from his imagination. Throughout the exhibits there will also be film clips, concept art, scripts, musical scores and cameras used by Disney and his staff to create his characters and films. His family will be represented in photographs, artifacts, home movies and personal correspondence. More than 200 video monitors will be incorporated in the museum as well as a wide range of materials and technologies, including interactive displays. The museum will also include a 123-seat screening facility, a learning center, a store and a café. All admission to the museum will be by timed entry tickets. Admission is $20 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 6-17, children under 6 free with adult admission and $15 for seniors. The museum opens on Oct. 1, 2009; tickets will go on sale Aug. 1. For information visit www.waltdisney.org. Media contact: Elaine Mellis, 415-345-6893, emellis@wdfmuseum.org.

HOTELS
“The Evolution of a Legend” — $40 Million Restoration
Completed at The Westin St. Francis June 2009
The 1,195-room Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St., has completed a $40 million restoration project that includes a $12 million transformation of 614 guestrooms and common areas in the historic main building; renovation of the California, Colonial, Elizabethan and Georgian function space as well as the State and Chairman’s suites. The entire penthouse level, comprised of six signature suites, has been changed. Caruso’s, located in the tower lobby, is now positioned for enjoying a quick snack or glass of wine. The towering Magneta clock has returned to its place of honor in the right corner of the main lobby and chef Michael Mina opened his first cocktail lounge, the 55-seat CLOCK BAR, in the main lobby in July 2008. Additional hotel upgrades include wireless Internet access throughout the hotel; the installation of digital reader boards and a $2 million elevator modernization. For information visit www.westinstfrancis.com or call 415-397-7000. Media contacts: Gena Egelston, 415-774-0118, gena.egelston@westin.com or Kelly Chamberlin, 415-336-4332, kelly@chamberlinpr.com.

San Francisco Marriott Union Square Opened on April 1, 2009
FelCor Lodging Trust Inc. announced on April 1, 2009 the opening of the San Francisco Marriott Union Square, 480 Sutter St. In addition to 400 guestrooms and suites, which offer spectacular views of the city and the bay, this full-service property has three floors of concierge rooms, a concierge lounge, state-of-the-art fitness center and the new Marriott Great Room. Offering more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, the hotel also features bin480 wine bar and dining located on the lobby level at the corner of Sutter and Powell streets. Guestroom amenities include luxurious appointments, all new furnishings, flat panel TVs, wired and wireless high-speed Internet and Marriott’s exclusive connectivity panel. For information visit www.sfmarriottunionsquare.com or call 415-398-8900 or 866-912-0973. Media contact: Nicole Rogers, 415-370-9544, nicole.rogers@marriott.com.

SPORTS
Sailing’s SAP 5O5 World Championships Come to San Francisco Bay Aug. 16-30
The 2009 SAP 5O5 World Championships and North American Championships are coming to San Francisco’s St. Francis Yacht Club Aug. 16-30. The sailing competition will draw 180 competitors from around the world. Initial entries include 2008 World champions Ian Pinnell/Carl Gibbon; 2008 European and 2007 North American champion Ethan Bixby sailing with Australian legend Simon Gorman and 2006/2007 Australian champions Michael Quirk/Geoff Lange. A veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of American sailors as well as local stars will be joining the competition. All races will take place on the Olympic Circle west of Berkeley, specific courses will be designated in the sailing instructions. For more information visit http://505sapworldchampionship2009.com/ . Media contact: C. Scott Marx, 415- 344-0719, scott@xramcommunications.com.

Volleyball Pros Compete on the Shores of San Francisco Bay Aug. 13-16, 2009
For the third year in a row, the AVP Crocs Pro Beach Volleyball Tour will make a stop along San Francisco’s Embarcadero at Piers 30/32 Aug. 13-16, 2009. The world’s best professional beach volleyball athletes will compete for the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open title in a high-energy beach party atmosphere. The tour will feature the world’s best beach volleyball players including 2008 Olympic gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, as well as Stanford graduate Matt Fuerbringer and 2008 Beijing Olympian and Orinda native Nicole Branagh. The AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open will also be one of two-time Olympic gold medalist, Stanford graduate and Santa Clara native Kerri Walsh’s first events back since taking time off to have her first child. Tickets for this three-day event are on sale now online at www.avp.com and www.sfgiants.com or by phone at 800-225-2277. For additional information regarding group tickets call 415-972-2295 or email groupsales@sfgiants.com. Media contact: Jens Weiden, 415-972-1808, jweiden@attpark.com.

SIGHTSEEING AND TOURS
Gears and Grapes Getaways Combines Fine Wine, Food and
Luxurious Lodging with Cycling Options in California’s Wine Country
Gears and Grapes Getaways has engineered a way to offer the avid cyclist or wine lover an opportunity to experience California’s wine country in a brand new way. Avid riders can enjoy a 30- to 40-mile bike ride while their partner heads to a spa for a massage, yoga classes or the pool. Guests cycle through vineyards with certified sommeliers and become informed/educated about the winemakers themselves. Afterwards, the whole group reunites to taste and learn more about wine together. Among the tours offered are: Russian River/Dry Creek Valley day trip includes four wine tastings, lunch, two guides and support vehicle; Napa Valley day tour includes four wine tastings, gourmet lunch, two guides and support vehicle; Wine Country Weekend Getaway includes three days and two nights in Napa and Sonoma, wine tastings, meal and guides. Tours are offered May through October. Other tours include Santa Ynez Valley weekend and weekday tours. Pickup in San Francisco available. For information visit www.gearsandgrapes.com or call 310-804-4585. Media contact: Arianne Goodma, 310-804-4585, info@gearsandgrapes.com,

GREEN NEWS
Stonestown Galleria Adds Year-Round Farmer’s Market
Located in the Sunset District at 3251 20th Ave. near San Francisco State University, Stonestown Galleria has opened a new year-round farmer’s market. Open every Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market features more than 50 local farmers, specialty food purveyors and artisans. Family entertainment options include pony rides and live music. For more information visit www.stonestowngalleria.com or www.marinfarmersmarkets.org. Media contact: Melissa Pollack, 310-899-2900, mcraigpr@aol.com.

FAMILY NEWS
S.F. Sunday Streets Wins Numerous Awards
Upcoming Dates Include Aug. 9, Sept. 6, 2009
Sunday Streets, an ongoing program in San Francisco that sets aside car-free zones for family-based activities on normally busy thoroughfares, has not only gained broad support among participants and local merchants, but also local and national recognition for its innovative, health and family-oriented program. Mayor Gavin Newsom and Livable City, the non-profit sponsor of Sunday Streets, have been awarded the “Winning Campaign” by the National Alliance for Biking and Walking, a coveted national grant from Bikes Belong, and were recipients of this year’s Golden Wheel Award from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC). Local families, kids and adults are invited to walk, jog, bike and participate in group exercise in the car-free zones. Upcoming dates and locations are Aug. 9 and Sept. 6, Great Highway, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information visit www.sundaystreetssf.com or call 311 (San Francisco) or 415-701-2311 if calling from outside area code 415. Media contact: Joe Arellano, 415-554-6608, joe.arellano@sfgov.org or Grier Mathews, 415-246-4054, griermathews@mac.com.

Attn: Campers – Novel Spots for Pitching a Pup Tent in San Francisco
Summer just wouldn’t be the same without at least one overnight camping trip. Here are several Only in San Francisco ideas for the s’mores crowd:

As part of Aquarium of the Bay’s annual Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, Aug. 2-9, 2009, families can share an unforgettable experience – sleeping just inches from sharks swimming overhead. The sleepover also features guided tours of the Aquarium, shark-related activities and trivia from the Aquarium naturalists, hands-on meeting and greeting with select animals, evening snacks, paid overnight parking and a full breakfast. Sleepovers are for families with children 5-17. Reservations, $60 per person, are available at www.aquariumofthebay.org or call 415-623-5313. Media contact: Kati Schmidt, 415.623.5340, katis@aquariumofthebay.org.

Sleep under the stars at AT&T Park on Aug. 12, 2009. The San Francisco Giants are setting up camp on the field right after the Giants-Dodgers game. Reservations are $180 per person, $650 for family of four; no charge for children ages 2-5; however, game ticket is required; children under two are free. Slumber party goodies, pizza and snacks; games, activities and movies; a photo on the field and breakfast in the morning are all included. For information visit https://secure.mlb.com/sf/fan_forum/slumberparty_form.jsp or call 415-972-2361. Media contact: Jens Weiden, 415-972-1808, jweiden@attpark.com.

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:
Aug. 16, 2009 Southwest will increase to six daily flights to Orange County.
Sept. 2, 2009 United will start nonstop daily service to Pittburgh, PA with A319 aircraft.
Oct. 22, 2009 United adds Kansas City as a new non-stop domestic destination for United Express

SFO Launches New Customer Service Initiative
Volunteers to Assist International Arriving Passengers
Beginning July 1, 2009, San Francisco International Airport Customer Service volunteers began staffing the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility to assist customers arriving from international flights. Currently, 40 of SFO’s 200 volunteers have signed up and received Customs and Border Protection training. The volunteers speak a total of 12 different languages and will be scheduled so that their language skills will be fully utilized. The volunteers wear teal-colored SFO jackets and red SFO identification badges with the Customs’ seal. SFO’s volunteer program, one of the largest in the country, has been active since 1955. The volunteers range in age from 17 to 91 years old.

For information visit www.flysfo.com. Media contact: Michael C. McCarron, 650-821-4000, michael.mccarron@flysfo.com.

# # #

For general information on hotel packages and reservations; events; activities and transportation in San Francisco, visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. For lodging reservations, call 800-637-5196 within North America or 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD) elsewhere.

The San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide is available at the Visitor Information Center, 900 Market St., at the corner of Powell and Market streets, lower level, Hallidie Plaza. A virtual edition of the guide is also available online: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/weaver/sfovg208/ A visitor’s kit may also be ordered online at www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, by phone at 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD), by written request to the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, 900 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94102, or via email to vic1@sanfrancisco.travel. Domestic and international shipping charges apply.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop links with more than 30 international points on 25 international carriers. The Bay Area’s largest airport connects non-stop with more than 65 cities in the U.S. on 20 domestic airlines. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com.

Note to editors: To access and download images from the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau’s online photo gallery, click on the link http://www.sfcvb.org/travel_media/photolibrary.asp.

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7.28.2009