Media Contacts:

Jay Cheng, SF Chamber of Commerce, (408) 691-0423 / jcheng@sfchamber.com

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

THE BAY AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME AND THE SAN FRANCISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCE THE INDUCTEE CLASS OF 2020

12 February 2020 – San Francisco, CA – The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce are proud to jointly announce the selection of the 2020 inductee class. The inductees will be honored at the 41st Annual Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet on Monday, May 11, 2020 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, CA.

We are very honored to present the following inductees for 2020:

• Bruce Bochy (Baseball)
• Paul Cayard (Sailing)
• Natalie Coughlin (Swimming)
• Rickey Henderson (Baseball)
• Bryant Young (Football)

The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce are joining their organizations to propel the Hall of Fame into its next decade of meaningful work. The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame is committed to honoring and celebrating the outstanding athletic achievement of Bay Area athletes.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors, I am extremely excited about the 2020 class of honorees and look forward to celebrating their contributions to the Bay Area community on the evening of May 11,”, said Mario Alioto, BASHOF Board Chairman.

Rodney Fong, President and CEO of The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce stated: “The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce is excited to work even more closely together with BASHOF after years of partnership. Together we can take the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame to another level. There’s a great future ahead!”

About Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame:

The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization that began in 1979 with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s Sports Committee and Lou Spadia, former president of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 41st year and adhering to its goal of honoring local athletic legends in the name of benefiting youth sports, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame has donated over $4 million to over 600 youth sports programs in the Bay Area since inception.

Organizations that will be the recipients of funds raised from this year’s banquet will be announced in the near future.

About San Francisco Chamber of Commerce:

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce represents over a thousand local businesses in the City, ranging from small legacy restaurants to large innovation companies. Over 80% of SF Chamber members are small, locally owned businesses. The SF Chamber advocates for a progressive economy and high quality of life for everyone who lives, works and visits the City.

Learn more at www.sfchamber.com.

About the 2020 Inductee Class:

• Bruce Bochy – Former MLB player with the Astros – Mets – Padres. Manager of the Padres(1995-2006) – Manager of the SF Giants (2007-2019). NL pennant with the Padres in 1998.World Series Champion with the Giants (2010-2012-2014). 2,003 wins as a Manager.
  
• Paul Cayard – San Francisco native. Graduated from San Francisco State. 7 Time World Champion, 2 Time Olympian (1984 & 2004), 1st American to Win the Round the World Race. Participated in the America’s Cup. Currently Chairman of the St. Francis Yacht Club.
  
• Natalie Coughlin – Twelve-time Olympic medalist, while attending the University of California, Berkeley, she became the first woman ever to swim the 100-meter backstroke (long course) in less than one minute – ten days before her 20th birthday in 2002. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she became the first U.S. female athlete in modern Olympic history to win six medals in one Olympiad, and the first woman ever to win a 100-meter backstroke gold in two consecutive Olympics. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she earned a bronze medal in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. Her total of twelve Olympic medals ties her with Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for the most all-time medals be a female swimmer.
  
• Ricky Henderson – Four tenures with the Oakland A’s. Graduated from Oakland Tech HS. 10x All-Star – 2x World Series Champion. AL MVP (1990. 1,406 Stolen Bases). Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
  
• Bryant Young – SF 49er Defensive Lineman (1994-1997). Super Bowl XXIX Champion. 4x Pro Bowl. First Team All-Pro (1996). NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1999). First team All-America (1993).

Media Contacts:
Jay Cheng, SF Chamber of Commerce, (408) 691-0423 / jcheng@sfchamber.com

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

MEDIA ADVISORY / REQUEST FOR ONSITE COVERAGE:
Tuesday, February 11 – 12noon

THE BAY AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME & THE SAN FRANCISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCE THE INDUCTEE CLASS OF 2020

The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce are proud to jointly announce the selection of the 2020 inductee class. Join in-person as we announce the inductees, which will include Bay Area legends in baseball, football, swimming, and sailing.

WHAT: 
Press Conference announcing the 2020 inductees to the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

WHERE: 
San Francisco Union Square (Geary & Powell Streets)

WHEN: 
Tuesday; February 11, 2020; 12 noon

WHO:
Mario Alioto, Board Chairman of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
Rodney Fong, CEO and President of the SF Chamber of Commerce
Paul Cayard, 7x World Champion, 2x Olympian
Bay Area Sports Fans and Leaders

Learn more about the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame: https://bashof.org/

Learn more about the SF Chamber of Commerce: https://sfchamber.com/

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

WHO: AsiaSF / Palm Springs Opens Tonight with Sold Out First Weekend

WHAT: Cal-Asian Restaurant, Cabaret, Dinner Theater and Night Club Features Transgender Performers

WHERE: 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

WHEN: Saturday, February 8: 5:30pm dinner and show

Sunday, February 9: 7pm dinner and show
“Lotus Lounge” Bar opening at 3pm

Regular Hours Starting Wednesday, February 12:

Dinner & Shows: Wednesday / Thursday / Sunday: 7pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm & 8pm
Lotus Lounge Bar: every day, 3pm – close
(Happy Hour Prices: 3pm – 6pm)
Forbidden City Dance Club: Friday & Saturday, 10pm – 2am)

WEB: www.palmsprings.asiasf.com 

HOW TO RESERVE: For individual reservations, groups and special events go to www.palmsprings.asiasf.comcall (760) 249-2766.  

WHY: With Vegas commercial style choreography by Ronnie Reddick and award-winning Cal-Asian cuisine from Chef Jen Solomon, AsiaSF/Palm Springs 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 and Kendall Jenner.  AsiaSF’s spectacular interiors, calling to mind a “1930s Shanghai” aesthetic are by Joshua Rowland Interiors.  In addition, taking advantage of the Coachella Valley’s indoor/outdoor lifestyle, the new location will also feature a special outdoor pool club event space with cabanas, bar and luxurious lawn known as The Sonoran. 

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

Films Announced for 17^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival:
San Francisco March 12 – 15, 2020

Celebration of cinema about marine life, the ocean, coastal cultures and conservation features works from 15 countries:

Four World, Six U.S., Nine West and Six Bay Area Premieres

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

5 February 2020 – San Francisco, CA: “Far and away, the greatest threat to the ocean, and thus to ourselves, is ignorance,” Dr. Sylvia Earle once remarked: “But we can do something about that.” For 17 years, San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival (www.intloceanfilmfest.org) has been doing just that – dispelling ignorance with its simple, cinematic and emotion packed mission: Saving Our Oceans –  One Film at a Time. As we head into an election year, arguably the most important one for issues facing environmental awareness and climate change, this year’s Festival taking place March 12 – 15 features 56 films from 15 countries including four world premieres, six United States premieres, nine West Coast premieres and six Bay Area Premieres.

“This is easily the most diverse group of films we’ve ever had, with the greatest international participation,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival, the largest ocean film destination event in the world. 

According to Blanco, for the 2020 Festival, 160 submissions were received from around the world, including films from the USA, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Turkey, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, South Korea, Madagascar and South Africa. The list includes films of all genres – documentaries, narratives, shorts, and animation films of all lengths. As always, the Festival focuses on all ocean centric themes including but not limited to: ocean exploration, wildlife, environmental, conservation, oceanography, seafaring adventures, maritime issues, ocean sports and coastal cultures. 

In addition to screening the films, the IOFF will be aligning itself with the Oceans Unite #Love30X30 initiative to bring more awareness to this global effort. #Love30X30 is a call to action to safeguard at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030 through a network of highly protected marine areas where no destructive or extractive activities like fishing or mining can take place. 

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 600 films from 50 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.

Current sponsors for the 17^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary, BigBus of San Francisco, Gray Line Tours, SSA, Alcatraz Cruises, the Port of San Francisco, the Consul General of Canada, Blue and Gold Ferry, RBC Wealth Management, and Pacific Gas & Electric. 

The 17th Annual International Ocean Film Festival takes place March 12 – 15, 2020 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, as well as the Smith Rafael Film Center in Marin County and the Roxie Theater in the Mission District of SF. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit. www.intloceanfilmfest.org and social at: 

• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
• Twitter @oceanfilmfest
• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest

2020 Film Listings

1. 7 Lessons from Japan, Rafael Mellin & Gustavo Ferolla, Brazil, 13 min
2. A Better Life – Blue Habits Baja (Sustainable Travel), Ben Hamilton**, United States, 7 min – Bay Area Premiere
3. A la Mar (To the Sea), Bruno Monteferri & Dana Bonilla, Peru, 32 min – West Coast Premiere
4. A Voice Above Nature, Annie Moir, United Kingdom, 13 min – West Coast Premiere
5. All Inclusive, Corina Schwingruber Ilić, Switzerland, 10 min
6. Anna and the Thresher Shark, Franck Sanson, France, 52 min
7. Artifishal, Josh Murphy*, Ecuador, 80 min
8. Back to the Roots, Alessandro Piu, Italy, 27 min – US Premiere
9. Be a Better Roommate, Patrick Gilmore, United States, 3 min
10. Black Moon Trent Mitchell, Robert Sherwood, Australia, 5 min
11. The Beauty, Pascal Schelbli, Germany, 4 min – Bay Area Premiere
12. By the Sea, Lynn Bianchi, United States, 3 min – Education Program Only – Bay Area Premiere
13. Changing Seas: Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song, Alexa Elliott*, United States, 27 min – West Coast Premiere
14. Changing Seas: The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure, Alexa Elliott*, United States, 26 min 
15. Dammed to Extinction, Michael Peterson, United States, 51 min – Bay Area Premiere
16. Dick Ogg: Fisherman, Cynthia Abbott*, United States, 9 min – West Coast Premiere
17. Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy, Mimi Armstrong deGruy*, United States, 83 min – Bay Area Premiere
18. Eco-Drone, Michael Hanrahan**, United States, 10 min – World Premiere
19. Elude Surf Film, Perry Gershkow*, United States, 33 min 
20. freeFLY, Avery Bazan**, United States, 4 min  – West Coast Premiere
21. Future Planning Trilogy Blue Green War Part. 1, Woo-gwang Hwang, South Korea, 49 min  – US Premiere
22. Galapagos Evolution, Roberto Ochoa**, Ecuador, 32 min
23. George & The Whales, Nessim Stevenson**, United Kingdom, 8 min – World Premiere
24. In Your Hands, Brandon Moore, United States, 1 min
25. Junk, Chris Jones, United States, 29 min
26. Just Keep Swimming – A Waterlust Film about Sockeye Salmon, Patrick Rynne, United States, 12 min 
27. Kodiak Queen, Rob Sorrenti, United Kingdom, 17 min – Education Program Only
28. Kokoly, Matthew Judge – Blue Ventures*, United Kingdom, 15 min – Bay Area Premiere
29. Last Cast, Ashley Siana, United States, 13 min  – World Premiere
30. Lionfish, David Chang, United States, USA, 5 min – Education Program Only
31. Made in Paradise, Yang Yang*, United States, 34 min – US Premiere 
32. The Mill, David Craig, Canada, 52 min – US Premiere
33. The Mother, Lutfi Tanriover, Turkey, 4 min
34. Norway’s Magical Fjords, Jan Haft, Germany, 52 min
35. Octopus: Making Contact, Anna Fitch*, United Kingdom, 59 min 
36. One Breath Around the World, Guillaume Néry, France, 13 min 
37. Only One World Left, Alican Abacı*, Turkey, 3 min – West Coast Premiere
38. Our Atoll Speaks, Ko Talatala Mai Tō Mātou Wenua, Gemma Cubero del Barrio*, United States, 12 min – West Coast Premiere
39. Picture of His Life, Yonatan Nir & Dani Menkin**, United States, 71 min
40. Rock-Paper-Fish, Colin Arisman & Connor Gallagher, United States, 26 min – Bay Area Premiere
41. Saving Gentle Giants, Justin Dalaba*, United States, 6 min  – Education Program Only
42. Scott Portelli | Swimming with Gentle Giants, Stefan Andrews, Australia, 10 min 
43. Sea of Shadows, Richard Ladkani & Sean Bogle, United States, 65 min
44. Space Sharks, Stefan Schumacher*, United States, 5 min – West Coast Premiere
45. Spinnaker Documentary, Nadine Licostie, United States, 14 min – Bay Area Premiere
46. Spot Stands Up, Zach McCune, United States, 2 min
47. Stories from the Blue: Million Waves Project, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries*, United States, 6 min – West Coast Premiere
48. Street Surfers, Arthur Neumeier, South Africa, 9 min – Bay Area Premiere
49. Tahiry Honko, Matthew Judge – Blue Ventures*, Madagascar, 6 min – US Premiere
50. Tassy, Sarah Niemann, Germany, 8 min – US Premiere
51. The Tide Pool: Where the Ocean Begins, Lim, Hyung Mook*, South Korea, 58 min
52. Transformation, Gui Garcia & Cathryn Castle Garcia, United States, 4 min – West Coast Premiere
53. Under the Sea, Paula Schwabe, Germany, 1 min
54. Under Thin Ice, Denis Blaquière, Canada, 88 min – Bay Area Premiere
55. Warty Sea Cucumbers: A Story of Collaboration in California, Natasha Benjamin*, United States, 6 min – World Premiere
56. Whale Wisdom, Rick Rosenthal*, United States, 50 min

 *Filmmaker expected for post-screening Q&A

**Film representative expected for post-screening Q&A

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

Pulitzer Prize Winning SWEAT by Lynn Nottage Continues 12^th Season for Dezart Performs of Palm Springs: February 28 – March 8

www.dezartperforms.org

31 January 2020 – Palm Springs, CA:  In 1949, Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Death of a Salesmanraised capitalism’s crushing weight on “Everyman” Willie Loman to the level of Shakespearean tragedy. Six decades on, SWEAT by playwright Lynn Nottage, likewise honored with the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Literature,brings the collapse of the American working class to the stage in a wrenching production directed by Michael Shaw for Dezart Performs of Palms Springs, February 28 – March 8.

“For the last two decades, small towns across the United States have been devastated by the loss of union labor, decreasing wages and a changing workplace. Jobs once thought secure, literally, vanished overnight,” said Shaw, founding artistic director for Dezart Performs. “This play brings home the economic, blue-collar misery of the Rust Belt in an uncompromising fashion.”

It’s the year 2000 in Reading, Pennsylvania. Three childhood friends work together in a steel mill in Reading, Pennsylvania, just like their parents and grandparents did. After work, they decompress at the local bar like they’ve been doing for many years. But, when the plant threatens to cut wages and layoff workers, the friends turn against each other and they struggle to stay afloat. SWEAT reminds us that there’s always someone on a lower plane to blame for your troubles, and there will always be someone who stands to profit from your loss.

“The emotion is raw and real,” notes Shaw, who has been wanting to somehow capture the ethos of the last few years, politically, on stage. “Unless we find a way to speak with each other – left to right, working-class to upper/middle-class – our country will continue to be fractured. Both sides of the political and social spectrums have work to do to heal this nation.”

During the play one of the characters, Stan, observes as much: “I watch these politicians talking bullshit and I get no sense that they even know what’s going on beyond the windshield of their cars as they speed past. But, I decided a month ago that I’m not voting, cuz no matter what lever I pull it will lead to disappointment.”

The cast for SWEAT is: Eddie Stephens (Evan),  Corydon Melgoza (Jason), Cortez Johnson (Chris) Mike Truelock (Stan), Miguel Arballo (Oscar), Theresa Jewett (Tracey), Desireé Clarke (Cynthia), Melanie Blue (Jessie) and Cary Thompson (Brucie).

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.

All performances take place at the Pearl McManus Theater (at the historic Palm Springs Woman’s Club) 314 S Cahuilla Road, Downtown Palm Springs. Tickets may be purchased online at www.dezartperforms.org, or by calling (760) 322-0179. Showtimes are Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm; Sundays at 2pm.After SWEAT the season concludes with the comedy/drama EVERY BRILLIANT THING written by Duncan Macmillan, with Jonny Donahoe (April 3 – 12). 

12^th Dezart Performs Remaining Season  & Cast Listing

EVERY BRILLIANT THING
Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe  Directed by Deborah Harmon
Comedy/Drama
April 3-12, 2020

Cast / Narrator – Joel Bryant

“A heart-wrenching, hilarious play…One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop!” —The Guardian

You’re six years old. Mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. 1. Ice cream. 2. Kung Fu movies. 3. Burning things. 4. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out your nose. 5. Construction cranes. 6. Me. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. A play about depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love.