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Author: Alfredo Casuso

AsiaSF  Celebrates a Quarter Century on April 17, 2023

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AsiaSF  Celebrates a Quarter Century on April 17, 2023

Internationally Acclaimed San Francisco Legacy Business Commemorates 25 Years

Transgender Performers Known for Sell-Out Crowds Are the Stars at
“Top 100 Hottest Restaurants in America” as Voted by Opentable

www.asiasf.com

22 March 2023 – San Francisco, CA:  Bouncing back from COVID with style, grace, award-winning cuisine and legendary, internationally-acclaimed entertainment,  AsiaSF (www.asiasf.com), the storied San Francisco dinner theatre and cabaret featuring the world-famous transgender Ladies of AsiaSF, celebrates a quarter century of success with four nights of celebration at their newly remodeled and retrofitted iconic venue: 201 9th Street in the SoMa District of San Francisco: April 13, 14, 15 & 16, 2023. The actual 25th anniversary of AsiaSF’s first day open is April 17.
“We’re ready for our next quarter century,” said Larry Hashbarger, Founder and CEO of AsiaSF. “Over 25 years, hundreds of thousands of people have become part of the ‘AsiaSF Family’ as we have entertained, enthralled, educated and enlightened people about the transgender experience and human diversity and all while enjoying a spectacular show, delicious food and signature cocktails.”

The celebratory ‘weekend’ begins on Thursday, April 13 when AsiaSF will pull out all the stops with a spectacular Silver Anniversary show, featuring the best of AsiaSF’s last 25 years. The festive Anniversary Celebration will continue on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. On Sunday April 16 a private, by invitation only,  AsiaSF’s “Friends and Family” evening will take place.

In 1998, a small business that celebrates diversity and multiculturalism was born: AsiaSF. Founded by Hashbarger and Skip Young, the world-famous restaurant, cabaret and nightclub quickly became an iconic entertainment landmark.

“AsiaSF has been a visionary pioneer in supporting the transgender community through empowerment by creating a safe space and unique employment opportunities that showcase our beautiful transgender stars, the Ladies of AsiaSF, said AsiaSF President/COO, Aaron Nelson. “The Ladies of AsiaSF, our star performers make you laugh, make you blush, make you go ‘WOW!’ and make you feel like a million bucks.”

Under the direction of show director and choreographer, Ronnie Reddick, guests will delight in choreographed dance routines and lip sync numbers with beautiful costumes, state of the art sound and lights, which will electrify AsiaSF’s dramatic runway stage. 

“This sisterhood of diverse performers has mastered the art of celebrating themselves,” said Young. By being their own authentic, welcoming selves, the Ladies of AsiaSF provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere that has made AsiaSF ‘Celebration Central’.

With Vegas commercial style choreography byReddick and award-winning Cal-Asian cuisine, AsiaSF is a unique interactive, cabaret and dinner entertainment experience. From the moment one enters, the internationally acclaimed “Ladies of AsiaSF” will entertain and enlighten you, complete with stand-out-performances featuring original creations by Julian Mendez Couture and Prime Kreations of Los Angeles who has designed for Beyoncé, Kendall Jenner and Megan Thee Stallion.

Voted “One of the Top 100 Hottest Restaurants in America”” and “Best Ambiance” by Opentable, AsiaSF had hosted over 1 million patrons since it opened its doors in 1998.  Then: COVID and the need for a seismic retrofit. During the last year and a half, the team at AsiaSF took the forced sabbatical to regroup, reform and undergo a Renaissance that will take the legendary San Francisco venue into the Roaring ‘20s.

“AsiaSF is a complete entertainment and food and cocktail experience,” says Hashbarger, the creator/producer of Passport – America’s premier fashion show and HIV/AIDS fundraiser – during his three and a half decades as Director of Special Productions for Macy’s. “Our beautiful and talented transgender cast bring our guests into their world from the first second they enter the space. They serve drinks. They serve food. They dish up a song and dance experience that will have you applauding-‘til-your-hands-are-sore and is literally transformative. I couldn’t be prouder of these inspiring women.”

“One of our missions of AsiaSF is to create a trans-positive environment that educates and raises awareness about living your truth and being your authentic self,” Hashbarger sums up, “while at the same time providing our guests with a ‘time of your life’ experience.”

All prices are inclusive of dinner and the shows, with cocktails priced separately. For individual reservations, groups and special events go to asiasf.com or call (415) 255-2742.

MAYOR BREED’S PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD WITH APPROVAL BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

PRESS RELEASE

MAYOR BREED’S PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD WITH APPROVAL BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Police overtime funding and community ambassador contracts extension will address immediate safety needs in neighborhoods across San Francisco while work continues on longer-term solutions

San Francisco, CA – Today Mayor London N. Breed’s legislation to address key public safety needs was approved by the Board of Supervisors.

First, $25 million in funding for police overtime will ensure officers can continue to provide the current level of service in the City, while also lifting a hiring freeze that has prevented retired police ambassadors from being deployed and academy classes from beginning. This legislation was approved by a vote of 9-2.

Second, contract extensions for two of the City’s ambassador programs will ensure that the Tenderloin, Mid-Market, Downtown, South of Market, Union Square and all along the waterfront continue to have ambassador coverage. This legislation was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.

These actions are part of a public safety push the Mayor is leading to address critical short-term and long-term safety needs in the City that also includes disrupting open-air drug markets and addressing long-term staffing needs for the San Francisco Police Department.

“Public safety is the number one issue I hear about from residents and small businesses every day,” said Mayor London Breed. “These measures address immediate, on-the- ground needs in our neighborhoods, by ensuring that our police officers are able to respond to calls for service and address major safety needs, while also keeping ambassadors on our streets to make them more welcoming and safer. I want to thank all of the community members who stepped forward to express their support for these measures and for public safety in our city.”

Fund Overtime: Budget Supplemental

On Tuesday February 14, Mayor Breed introduced a $27 million budget supplemental to fund police overtime and public safety ambassadors through the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2023.) She was joined by co-sponsors Supervisors Catherine Stefani, Rafael Mandelman, Matt Dorsey, and Joel Engardio. During the legislative process, the supplemental was reduced to $25 million.

The approval of the supplemental ensures the police have the funding necessary to continue to meet current levels of service. This includes the ability to investigate and curtail drug dealing and illegal use of narcotics, reduce gun violence, homicides, theft, and violent crimes. Importantly, this supplemental prevents mandated service cuts and lifts a mandated a hiring freeze.

“Things in San Francisco are changing for the better and we need to sustain our efforts. This budget supplemental allows us to maintain our focus on addressing drug dealing, violent crime, and property crime,” said SFPD Chief William Scott. “The largest single category of the overtime by far is being spent to backfill each of the ten police district stations, and that impacts every community in San Francisco.”

Continue Ambassador Program in the Tenderloin and Downtown: Contract Extension

In January, Mayor Breed introduced a contract extension for two ambassador programs: Urban Alchemy that covers the Tenderloin and Mid-Market areas and the Welcome Ambassadors that cover Downtown and tourist areas. Both of these programs have created positive change in the areas they are located. Urban Alchemy has been an asset for the community, serves as an alternative to policing, and has helped bring stability to some of our most challenged streets.

The Welcome Ambassadors are an essential part of our Downtown and tourism recovery. They support visitors, workers, and residents, and help make conventions at Moscone Center a success. They’ve received highly positive, consistent feedback about the beneficial impact they are having.

“We thank Mayor Breed, the Board of Supervisors, and the City and County of San Francisco for their investment and commitment to developing an innovative public safety model that provides inclusion and opportunity for folks who traditionally have been counted out,” said Founder and CEO of Urban Alchemy, Dr. Lena Miller. “By compassionately responding to anger and despair, our Practitioners work their magic every day to peacefully intervene and deescalate often dangerous situations that may harm our communities. Urban Alchemy is building a system designed and implemented by the people it impacts while setting a precedent for what safe, community-based alternatives can look like across the country.”

“Our Welcome Ambassadors are essential to enhancing the visitor experience in Union Square,” said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of Union Square Alliance. “We are proud to partner with the City to ensure that San Francisco remains a welcoming, safe and vibrant destination for all.”

In addition to these actions, the Mayor is also pushing for two more solutions to address public safety in the City.

The first is to increase disruption of open-air drug dealing by expediting hiring for prosecutors focused on drug dealing. The Mayor has introduced a nearly $200,000 supplemental funding for three additional prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office who will focus on open air drug dealing. This will bolster the DA’s aggressive efforts by expediting additional resources.

The second is to strengthen retention and recruit new police officers by approving a new police contract. The new Police Contract Agreement will help stop the outflow of experienced officers leaving San Francisco by including significant retention bonuses. It will also help recruit new officers by making San Francisco the highest paid starting salary in the Bay Area for larger cities while also adding incentives for officers looking to transfer from other jurisdictions. The legislation to adopt the contract must be approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors.

This contract is part of a broader strategy to address long-term police staffing issues. More about that effort can be found here.

Union Square Alliance Welcomes BART’s New Deployment Strategy for a Cleaner, Safer District

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Media contact:  DP&A, Inc. / David Perry / (415) 676-7007 /news@davidperry.com 

Union Square Alliance Welcomes BART’s New Deployment Strategy for a Cleaner, Safer District

21 March 2023, San Francisco, CA: In a recent press conference, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) announced a new deployment strategy to increase safety and cleanliness on their trains and platforms. This initiative aligns with the Union Square Alliance’s strategic plan to maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment in the Union Square District.

BART’s new deployment strategy, outlined by BART Police Chief Alvarez, involves maximizing the visible presence of the BART Police Department throughout the transit system. The plan includes the removal of seven traditional vehicle patrols per shift, redeploying those officers inside trains, and increasing the number of officers patrolling trains per shift to 18. Furthermore, the strategy will incorporate non-sworn staff such as transit ambassadors, crisis intervention specialists, fire inspectors, and community service officers.

This initiative is a response to concerns from BART riders, who have expressed frustrations about the system’s current state. As the city and region recover, BART aims to regain the public’s trust and encourage ridership.

The Union Square Alliance, a key stakeholder in maintaining the district’s prosperity, voiced its support for the new deployment strategy. Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance, said “A clean and safe transportation environment is vital to attracting visitors and workers back downtown.”

The Alliance focuses on enhancing the district’s appeal through initiatives such as economic development, public realm improvements, and creating events for the community to enjoy.

John Grubb, Chief Operating Officer of the Bay Area Council, also supported the new strategy, stating that a safer BART system would encourage ridership and help prevent the transit system from going bankrupt. The Bay Area Council will work with BART on officer recruitment campaigns and seek additional funding from state and federal governments.

As part of its ongoing efforts, BART is also evaluating bids for new fare gates to prevent fare evasion, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to improving the transit experience for riders and stakeholders.

About Union Square Alliance:
The Union Square Alliance serves members and creates a high-quality visitor experience by managing and activating public spaces, attracting new investment, and advocating for the district’s future success. Union Square is the vibrant heart of San Francisco, an international destination where visitors enjoy exceptional retail experiences, luxury hotels, world-class cultural institutions, and great public spaces found only in the City by the Bay. A lively 27-block community surrounding Union Square Park in the heart of San Francisco makes up the Union Square Alliance. It is bordered on the north by Bush Street, on the east by Kearny Street, on the south by Market Street, and on the west by Taylor Street. For more information on the Alliance, go to www.visitunionsquaresf.com.

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The Hotel Council of San Francisco’s 20th Annual “Hotel Hero Awards “

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Media Contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc/David Perry
( 415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

The Hotel Council of San Francisco’s
20th Annual “Hotel Hero Awards “
Thursday, April 27
Hilton San Francisco Union Square

www.hotelcouncilsf.org 

Deadline to Nominate a Hotel Hero is Tomorrow March 21

20 March 2023:  Three years ago, San Francisco shut its doors for the common good and the public health. Three years later, the “City That Knows How” has opened them to welcome back the world. On Thursday, April 27th (6pm reception; 7pm dinner and awards) the Hotel Council of San Francisco (www.hotelcouncilsf.org) returns with its annual Hotel Hero Award at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square (333 O’Farrell Street) to celebrate the City’s hospitality industry and salute its frontline heroes who made San Francisco a model for other cities as we recover from the Pandemic. Members of the public and hospitality colleagues are encouraged to nominate their own “Hotel Hero”. Nominations are open until COB Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 21 by emailing nroumph@hotelcouncilsf.org and putting “Hotel Hero Nomination” in the subject line.

“San Francisco’s hospitality and tourism industry is the engine that is driving our city’s economic and business renaissance,” said Alex Bastian, Hotel Council President and CEO. “Our world class hotel workers are the engineers driving that train and our ambassadors to the world. Thank you is never enough, but this is our night to do just that: say ‘thank you.’ ”

Established in 2003, the Hotel Hero awards were created to pay tribute to the people who dedicate their lives to the hospitality industry. As the largest industry in San Francisco, hotels and tourism directly impact the success of many businesses throughout San Francisco, supporting over 86,000 jobs. Prices for the 20th Annual Hotel Hero Gala are: Table of 10: $3000; half table $1500. Individual Member Ticket, $ 350; Individual Non-Member Ticket, $425: available at www.hotelcouncilsf.org/events/

About the Hotel Council of San Francisco:
The Hotel Council of San Francisco is a non-profit membership-based organization advocating for the economic and social vitality of the hospitality industry in San Francisco. Their membership roster includes over 200 hotels, allied members, and partner organizations. The Hotel Council is dedicated to protecting the San Francisco hospitality industry and connecting its members to support the growth and success of the industry.

20th Anniversary Benefit for International Ocean Film Festival

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media contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry /  (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

20th Anniversary Benefit for International Ocean Film Festival
March 31, 7pm at California Academy of Sciences

Honors Ocean Champions Ashlan & Phillippe Cousteau

Franco Finn of Golden Gate Warriors Fame is Emcee / Auctioneer

Festival Runs April 13 – 16 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre Fort Mason
and the Smith Theatre San Rafael

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

17 March 2023 —  San Francisco, CA:  Celebrating “20 years of saving the world’s oceans, one film at a time,” San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival (www.intloceanfilmfest.org) is honoring this year’s “Ocean Champions” at its annual benefit, Friday, March 31 (7pm) at the California Academy of Sciences: Ashlan & Philippe Cousteau.  The evening will feature food, fine wine, a silent auction and a live auction spearheaded by “Warriors Hype Man” Franco Finn.  The evening’s schedule is 5:30pm – 7pm cocktail reception; 7pm-9pm dinner and program; 9pm ‘til 10:30pm music by DJ Bryce. Highlighted during the evening will be previews of the Festival’s upcoming films. Individual tickets are $ 225 and can be purchased at www.intloceanfilmfest.org (direct event link: https://intloceanfilmfest.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/MakingWaves/tabid/1352412/Default.aspx ). Also, sponsorship are available for full tables.

“It’s so good to be back in person” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival. “This year’s event gives us the opportunity to gather, restore and celebrate with ocean loving friends including a change to engage with ocean scientists and filmmaker and directors.”

Award recipient Ashlan Cousteau has an almost two-decade career as a journalist and TV Host. During the first half of her career she was a producer for MSNBC an on camera host and fill-in anchor for Emmy-winning shows E News and Entertainment Tonight. In 2013 she shifted gears to leveraging her experience in media and pop-culture to help new audiences learn about and connect with the ocean. Since then she has co-hosted and produced several programs for Discovery, Travel Channel, and more. She has also become a sought-after speaker and host for everything from the United Nations to the Society of Environmental Journalists to numerous universities. She is also the author of Oceans for Dummies.

Philippe Cousteau has dedicated his life to the conservation and exploration of the ocean. He has hosted/produced over 100 hours of documentaries for CNN, BBC, Discovery and more, including his Emmy-nominated series Awesome Planet.  His most recent work has been in partnership with his wife Ashlan, including a series with Travel Channel. He is also an author of several children’s books and guides for youth. 

In 2005, Philippe founded EarthEcho International based on a simple concept: youth have the power to change the world. At the time there were no organizations focused on fostering and building pathways for youth to become informed and active ocean champions. Today, EarthEcho is a leader in the growing movement of youth-focused ocean advocacy. With the fight to protect and restore our ocean planet reaching critical levels, youth leaders are emerging as powerful change agents, from tackling plastic pollution and species decline to influencing policies. To date EarthEcho International has worked with over 2 million youth in 146 countries. Most recently, EarthEcho launched GenSea, an initiative and digital platform that convenes a global community of young ocean advocates, ages 13-25, and partners connected through networking, learning, and collective action to protect and restore our ocean. Ashlan and Philippe added, ““We are honored to be the recipients of this year’s Ocean Champions Award. As storytellers, authors, and entrepreneurs, everything we do is focused on bringing people closer to the ocean and helping them recognize that the health of the ocean is vital to all life on earth.”

Past recipients of the Ocean Champion Award includelegendary oceanographer and marine activist Dr. Sylvia Earle, Kip Evans, director of Expeditions for Mission Blue, Academy-Award winning director Louie Psihoyos,  Jeff Boehmn, Executive Director of the Marine Mammal Center and Swedish environmentalist and climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

The 20th annual Festival, April 13 – 16 takes place at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason and San Rafael’s Smith Center: 33 films representing 11 countries. Especially anticipated is the Festival’s opening night offering Deep Rising, a Sundance Film Festival winner. This up-to-the-minute tale of geopolitical, scientific, and corporate intrigue that exposes the machinations of a secretive organization empowered to greenlight massive extraction of metals from the deep seafloor that are deemed essential to the electric battery revolution. Other Festival highlights include Collision, an eye opening film about the main cause of death in large whales, and Patrick and the Whale in which stunning underwater footage explores the fascinating nature of the Sperm Whale and its intriguing and complex intelligence and relationship with humanity.

The Festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of our big, blue ocean. Subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s film categories include Environmental, Marine Sciences/Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Island Culture. Animation, Conservation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Shorts and Female Directors.

Sponsors for this year’s festival include RingCentral, Jenga Ocean, Hapag Lloyd, SSA Group and the Consul General of Canada in San Francisco. Note: Additional sponsorship opportunities are available through March 1st.Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 815 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Below is the full list (in alphabetical order by title, followed by director, country of origin and running time) for this year’s 20th Anniversary Festival.

1. And yet, I remain, Rick Wall (South Africa) 8 min

 2. The Arctic Halocline, Amy Lauren (USA) 21 min 

3. Big Waves Guardians, Luke Stirtz (USA) 90 min

4. Blue Carbon, Paul Nicklen (USA) 3 min 

5. Bottle Cap, Marie Hyon & Marco Spier (USA) 5 min 

6. Changing Seas: Vanishing Whales, Alexa Elliott (USA) 27 min 

7. Cold Refuge, Judy Irving (USA) 79 min 

8. Collision, Philip Hamilton (UK) 80 min 

9. Deep Look: Barnacles Go To Unbelievable Lengths To Hook Up, Josh Cassidy (USA) 4 min 

10. Deep Rising, Matthieu Rytz (USA) 98 min 

11. Fishing Into The Future: A San Diego Story, Lindsay Bauman & Andrea Sanchez Davidson (USA) 5 min 

12. Gender Outlaw, a bodysurfing story, Peter Williams (USA) 16 min 

13. The Gift of Bathsheba, Zach Hellmuth (USA) 4 min 

14. Havana Libre, Corey McLean (USA) 85 min 

15. Huff, David Mangum (USA) 7 min 

16. Hypnotise, Ste Everington (Australia) 4 min 

17. The Impossible Wave, Jessica Frankovelgia Johnson & Jay Johnson (USA) 40 min 

18. Inseparable: Ava, Andrew Harrison Brown (USA) 11 min 

19. Mediterranean LIFE UNDER SIEGE, Fred Fougea (France) 91 min 

20. New Boats, Lansana Mansaray (Sierra Leone) 50 min 

21. Patrick and the Whale, Mark Fletcher (Austria) 72 min 

22. Planting Coral Forests, Johann Vorster (Kenya) 27 min 

23. PLSTC, Laen Sanches (France) 2 min 

24. Restoring the Farallon Islands: A Critical Conservation Opportunity, Brandon Schilling (USA) 4 min 

25. Rise of the Clambassador, Alexander Davidowski (USA) 8 min 

26. Robots in the Deep, Leo Richards (UK) 13 min 

27. SAGRES, José Eduardo Zuzarte (Portugal) 44 min 

28. SB2508: A Death Threat to Everglades Restoration, Noah Alexander Miller (USA) 30 min 

29. Seagrass for Sea Change, Whitney Beer-Kerr (Australia) 12 min 

30. The Storm Chaser, Jack Pirie (UK) 7 min 

31. Tangled in the Tides, Henk Ekermans & Barend van der Watt (South Africa) 50 min 

32. Truluck, Matt Cannon & Jake Smallwood (UK) 20 min 

33. Washed Ashore, Ley Heimgartner, Cameron Nielsen (USA) 16 min

The 20th International Ocean Film Festival runs April 13 – 16, 2023 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. The International Ocean Film Festival is a 501(c) 3 non-profit.