WHY:The Union Square Alliance in partnership with Fisherman’s Wharf CBD, Erica Sandberg and two historic sites, John’s Grill and the Buena Vista, sponsor “Cable Car Appreciation Day” to encourage locals and tourists alike to sample some of the fine food and drinks along San Francisco’s famed Powell Street Cable Car line. At 3pm this Saturday, February 26, members of the public are invited to meet at John’s Grill (63 Ellis Street) for some specialty bites and beverages and then hop onboard one of SF’s historic moving national monument, the Cable Cars, for a trip over the hill to the Hyde Street Pier / Fisherman’s Wharf for an end-of-the-line drink at the Buena Vista: home of the legendary Irish Coffee that was invented there. NOTE: Attendees ARE NOT GIVE PRIORITY IN THE CABLE CAR LINE. Attendees will need to cue with tourists / others in line: first come, first served.
About the 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 and an international destination where visitors come to 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 generally bordered on the north by Bush Street, on the east by Kearny Street, on the south by Market Street and on the west Taylor Street. For more information on the Alliance, go to www.visitunionsquaresf.com
23 February 2022—San Francisco CA: The Rainbow Honor Walk (www.rainbowhonorwalk.org) today announced its full slate of 24 history-making LGBTQ pioneers to be honored with sidewalk tributes in the city’s Castro District.
Last year, the all-volunteer Board of Directors began its selection process with the unanimous selection of Phyllis Lyon, the world renowned San Francisco-based activist for lesbian rights and visibility. The group has finalized this selection round with 23 additional individuals to memorialize. To date, the nonprofit organization has installed 36 sidewalk tributes, with another previously chosen 8 plaques scheduled for placement this spring.
“We continue to find inspiration and strength from the lives of LGBTQ pioneers,” says Rainbow Honor Walk board president Donna Sachet. “In this diverse group of names, some are quite famous and others not as well-known. As we review hundreds of names for inclusion, we seek to honor individuals from a wide range of careers and across a great span of history to highlight contributions that have truly changed the world. The process of doing this, especially during the ongoing pandemic, has only strengthened the love and appreciation we feel for our far-flung community.”
Hometown Heroes, International Leaders, and Artists for the Ages
Joining Phyllis Lyon, the additional 23 honorees are:
Peter Adair (1943 – 1996), film-maker best known for 1977’s Word is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives, offering a clear, detailed picture of the broad spectrum of the LGBTQ population
Gloria Anzaldua (1942 – 2004),a Tejana-Chicana who wrote widely on feminism, queer theory, and marginalization, best known for her ground-breaking books, 1981’s This Bridge Called My Back, and 1987’s Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza
Gilbert Baker (1951 – 2017), American artist, gay rights activist, and designer of the rainbow flag, worldwide symbol of LGBTQ pride
Tullalah Bankhead (1902 – 1968), openly “ambisextrous” stage and screen actress, gay icon, and pioneering civil rights activist who strongly and publicly opposed racism and segregation
Bernice Bing (1936 – 1998),recognized SF Bay Area painter whose artwork bridged her Chinese American background and her interest in modern philosophy, women’s issues, and abstract expression
Bobbi Campbell (1952 – 1984), early self-identified person with AIDS whose prolific writing helped inform the public, empower early sufferers, and destigmatize the condition
Esther Eng (1914 – 1970), the first woman to direct Chinese-language films in the United States, recognized as a female pioneer who crossed the boundaries of race, language, culture, and gender
Leslie Feinberg (1949 – 2014), radical activist and author whose book, Stone Butch Blues, familiarized readers with transgender, non-binary and genderqueer terms, pronouns, concepts, and politics
Lorraine Hansberry (1930 – 1965), first African American woman to have a play performed on Broadway and the youngest playwright to receive the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award
Magnus Hirschfeld (1868 – 1935), pioneering German physician and sexologist, outspoken advocate for sexual minorities, important theorist of sexuality, and a prominent advocate for sexuality minorities in the early 20th century
Billie Holliday (1915 – 1959), Harlem-based singer and jazz legend who courageously made public a wide range of personal and political truths, notably recording 1939’s anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit,” widely considered one of America’s most influential protest songs
Langston Hughes (1901 – 1967), a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, whose poetry, plays, novels, and columns gave fresh insight into the experience of Black men in the United States
Carlos Jáuregui (1957 – 1996),courageous Argentinian activist who fiercely fought for the rights of the full spectrum of the LGBTQ community
Marsha P. Johnson (1945 – 1992), known as the “Mayor of Christopher Street,” a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and co-founder (with Sylvia Rivera) of the radical activist group Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries
Larry Kramer (1935 – 2020), American playwright, author, film producer, public health advocate, LGBT rights activist, and a founding member ACT UP, created to publicize and protest the lack of treatment and funding for people with AIDS
Xulhaz Mannan (1976 – 2016), martyred Bangladeshi human rights activist, founder of the country’s first and only gay magazine, and organizer of the Rainbow Rally to celebrate its broader LGBTQ community
Marlon Riggs (1957 – 1994), Award-winning film maker whose examinations of Black gay life boldly confronted racism and sexual repression, most notably with 1989’s Tongues Untied
Bob Ross (1934 – 2003), co-founder and publisher of the Bay Area Reporter, the oldest continuously published LGBTQ publication in the United States, political figure, and philanthropist
Charley Parkhurst (1812 – 1879), famous California stagecoach driver in the Gold Rush era who was discovered, upon his death, to be biologically female; decades before female suffrage was legal, he voted as a man in the 1868 presidential election
Oliver Sacks (1933 – 2015), neurologist, naturalist, historian of science and author who wrote of his experiences with some of his patients to inform and inspire others
Jon Reed Sims (1947 – 1984), founder of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps (now San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band), the first openly LGBT musical group ever formed in United States history, and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the country’s first openly gay American choral group
Edith Windsor (1929 – 2017), who faced onerous federal tax penalties after the death of her spouse, Thea Spyer, following their 40-year relationship, and was the lead plaintiff in the 2013 landmark Supreme Court case, United States v. Windsor, that established marriage equality rights for American citizens
Sophie Xeon (1986 – 2021), Grammy-nominated musician, record producer, singer, and DJ who reframed trans self-expression for Millennials and Generation Z cohorts with her brash and “hyperkinetic” take on pop music
With this announcement, the Rainbow Honor Walk Board of Directors now turns its attention to a daunting fundraising effort. Each bronze sidewalk plaque costs nearly $6000 to fabricate and install. We need your help! Financial support for the public tributes has overwhelmingly come from individual donors, with additional gifts from corporations and allied nonprofits to our 501(c)3 organization. To make a tax deductible donation, please visit http://rainbowhonorwalk.org/.
For more information:
A full list of the Board of Directors, donors, and honorees can be found online at www.rainbowhonorwalk.org or on Facebook by searching for “Rainbow-Honor-Walk.” For more information, email at info@rainbowhonorwalk.org or by mail to Rainbow Honor Walk, 584 Castro Street, #113 San Francisco, California 94114.
media contact: David Perry / David Perry & Associates, Inc. / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival April 7 – 10 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theater Fort Mason
Virtual Presentations April 11 – 24
Tickets Go on Sale March 10 for Largest Festival in the World for Ocean-Related Films
Full schedule of films announced February 21
15 February 2022 – San Francisco, CA: After two years of battering COVID waves, attendees to this year’s 19thAnnual International Ocean Film Festival will hear ocean waves as they walk into San Francisco’s Cowell Theater at Fort Mason, April 7 – 10 for the first in-person event since 2019. In addition, virtual presentations will also be offered April 11 – 24. The full schedule of films will be announced on February 20, and tickets to the entire festival go on sale March 10.
“We’re back! To say we’re excited is an understatement,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the Festival. “This year’s festival will not only be an extraordinary homecoming to the Cowell Theatre, but will also highlight some of the lessons we learned from the pandemic. The silver lining of the last two years has been reaching more and new audiences through our virtual component, which now is a permanent part of the full festival.”
This year’s 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival is marked with 18 days of ocean-focused, independent films. In addition, the Festival will host lively Q&A panels with film directors, marine scientists, and industry experts, as they discuss the films and share insights into ocean conservation, preservation, and legislation.
“Also, one of the Festival’s most important components is the 10th AnnualStudent Film Competition,” says Blanco. “It’s a way for students to tell their stories about the ocean and explore the exciting world of filmmaking. We are delighted to have PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) supporting the Student Film Competition.”
The Student Film Competition is open to middle school and high school students (grades 6 through 12) from around the world. Films must be five minutes or less in duration, and touch upon some subject matter regarding the ocean. The deadline for submission is February 28.
According to Blanco, the past two years’ “Virtual Oceans” online Festivals were seen by a record breaking 10,000 people and more than 2500 students took part in the online education series. During 2020 and 2021, submissions were received from around the world, including films from the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia and Germany. For this year’s 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival, Blanco is expecting an even great number – and greater diversity – of submissions. 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 offinalists 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. 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 40different 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 upcoming 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include, The Consul General of Canada of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Laura WaisUnderwater Imaging,NOAA, PG&E, RingCentral, RBC Wealth Managementand The SSA Group. Our generous hotel and hospitality partners are: The Hotel Griffon, The Hotel Zetta, the J.W. Marriott, the Kimpton Alton Hotel, Le Meridien, the Lodge at the Presidio and the Omni Hotel.
The International Ocean Film Festival encourages its patrons, supporters and partners to follow the most current advice from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for preventing the further spread of the COVID-19 in Northern California and beyond, and to stay tuned for announcements about International Ocean Film Festival events once the threat level is reduced. The 19th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place April 7 – 10 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture and April 11 – 23 online at www.intloceanfilmfest.org. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit.• www.intloceanfilmfest.org• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest• Twitter @oceanfilmfest• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest
Media Contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc., David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
Charlotte Mailliard Shultz Honored In Public Memorial at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral
Wednesday, March 30 at 3pm
11 February 2022 – San Francisco, CA: On Wednesday, March 30 at 3pm at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street atop Nob Hill) members of the public are invited to pay tribute to Charlotte Mailliard Shultz who passed away from cancer on December 3, 2021. Longtime Chief of Protocol for the State of California and the City & County of San Francisco, Shultz was 88. All those wishing to attend must register online at the link below.
Originally from Texas, Shultz moved to San Francisco in the mid 1960s. Over a remarkable career spanning more than 50 years, Shultz represented her state and her city at the highest levels, planning and hosting events for Presidents, Popes and international cultural icons. In 2018, she coordinated and oversaw the naming of the street in front of the Fairmont Hotel in honor of longtime friend, and San Francisco’s singing ambassador, “Tony Bennett Way.” During the worst days of COVID, Shultz conceptualized and led a public sing-a-long of Bennett’s iconic “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, #SingOutSF, to honor front line workers during the pandemic. Shultz served as President of the Board of the War Memorial Performing Arts Center and a member of the Boards of the San Francisco Symphony, Grace Cathedral, the Commonwealth Club of California, and the San Francisco Ballet.
In memory of Shultz, gifts may be made to the “Charlotte Mailliard Shultz Fund for the Arts” at the San Francisco Foundation at www.sff.org
NOTE FOR ATTENDING MEDIA:All media must RSVP in advance, no later than 11am, Tuesday, March 29. Media may register by calling (415) 676-7007 or by email to news@davidperry.com
Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
AsiaSF / Palm Springs Celebrates its “Ribbon Cutting 2.0” Wednesday, February 9: 5pm Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton & PS Chamber Officiates
Two Years After Its Record-Breaking Grand Opening in January 2020 Iconic Entertainment Brand Featuring Transgender “Ladies of AsiaSF” and Award Winning Cuisine Officially Welcomes Back the World
8 February 2022 – Palm Springs, CA:Two years after its record-breaking grand opening and subsequent COVID enforced shut-down, AsiaSF/Palm Springs (www.asiasf.com), is back! The SoCal branch of the storied San Francisco dinner theatre and cabaret featuring the world-famous transgender Ladies of AsiaSF welcomed back its first paying customers earlier this year. Now, they’re ready to officially announce their full return. The “Ribbon Cutting 2.0” will take place tomorrow – Wednesday, February 9 at 5pm – at 1555 South Palm Canyon Drive. Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton and representatives from The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce will officiate. Proof of full vaccination is required for all employees, guests and entertainers and masks are required for entry and when guests are not actively eating or drinking.
“What a difference a pandemic makes,” said Larry Hashbarger, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AsiaSF. “For two years we’ve been hibernating and wrapped in a COVID cocoon. But now, the butterfly is ready to burst forth! ”
With Vegas commercial style choreography by Ronnie Reddick and award-winning Cal-Asian cuisine, 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 location features a special outdoor pool club event space with cabanas, bar and luxurious lawn known as The Sonoran at AsiaSF/Palm Springs.
Founded by Hashbarger and Skip Young, AsiaSF has been packing in sell-out crowds at its original location for over 23 years, with legions of fans traveling to San Francisco from all over the world. Millions more have had the “AsiaSF experience” via the Fuse TV show featuring the AsiaSF cast, Transcendent. Voted “One of America’s Hottest 100 Restaurants” by Opentable, AsiaSF has hosted over 1 million patrons since it opened its doors in 1998.
“AsiaSF is a complete entertainment and food/cocktail experience,” says Hashbarger, the creator/producer of Passport – America’s premier fashion show and HIV/AIDS fundraiser – during his three 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 stand-on-the-table and applaud-‘til-your-hands-are-sore song and dance experience that is, literally, transformative. I couldn’t be prouder of these inspiring women.“
“We’re thrilled and excited to be back,” said Aaron Nelson, President, COO of AsiaSF and also an ownership partner. “During the last few months, we’ve been doing a series of pre-opening events, including private functions for The Dinah and Palm Springs Pride. Now, fully staffed and fully vaxxed, we’re ready for AsiaSF/PS 2.0.”
AsiaSF has been a visionary pioneer in supporting the transgender community through empowerment by creating a safe space and unique employment opportunities that showcase its beautiful and multi-talented transgender stars, the Ladies of AsiaSF, who not only entertain but also educate and enlighten people about the transgender experience and human diversity.
“One of our missions of AsiaSF/Palm Springs 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.
About The AsiaSF/Palm Springs Management Team:
Larry Hashbarger— Founder, Chairman & CEO: In addition to being a founder and creative force behind AsiaSF, Larry was the Director of Special Productions for the Macy’s Parade & Entertainment Group. In that role, he created and produced the iconic Macy’s Passport – America’s premier fashion show and HIV/AIDS fundraiser, as well as other iconic annual events such as the Junior League Fashion Show, Macy’s Flower Show and Tree Lighting events. He has been in the San Francisco nightlife scene for over 25 years and in 1995 founded Asia – a mega late night Asian gay dance club, which became one of the most successful clubs in the City. He has been involved with and supported many non profit organizations and served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Friends and was the organization’s Chairman for two years.
Skip Young— Co-Founder: Skip was an investment advisor for ten years and for seven years Vice President, Creative Development for RTC, a subsidiary of WPP Group plc – the world’s largest advertising conglomerate. For almost 30 years he has been President of the Choo-San Goh – H. Robert Magee Foundation, awarding choreographic grants to dance companies worldwide. Mr. Young is also an Eagle Scout.
Aaron Nelson — President & Chief Operating Officer: Aaron joined AsiaSF shortly after its inception in 2000, and became an ownership partner in 2010. A previous small business owner, his passion for the hospitality industry and attention to detail lends itself perfectly to AsiaSF’s unique offerings of nightlife, dining, and entertainment. When he has some time to get away, he still enjoys returning home to his native city of Chico, CA.
Ronnie Reddick — show director/choreographer: Ronnie is one of California’s most dynamic and multi-talented choreographers with an edge of what’s happening in the world of dance and fashion today. This multifaceted San Francisco based choreographer/dancer made his mark by combining hip hop, jazz, fashion and theatrics to create an explosive and dynamic new style, making him one of the most sought-after choreographers in the Bay Area and beyond. In the entertainment world, Ronnie has worked with such artists as Michael and Janet Jackson, Deborah Cox, Paula Abdul, Kristine W., Tony, Toni, Tone, Jody Watley, Liza Minelli, Santana, Ultra Nate, Kelly Price, Vicky Shepard, RuPaul, Jeanie Tracy, Abigail and M.C. Hammer along with many corporations like Gap, Macy’s, MAC Viva Glam Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Starbucks, API, Apple Computer, Google, Sun Microsystems, BEBE, Univision Television, E*Trade, Coca Cola, Microsoft, Bill Graham Presents and recently a video for Hillary Clinton, just to name a few. Mr. Reddick has also choreographed and worked with many designers and fashion brands, including Kenneth Cole, Puma, Barcelino, Tommy Bahama, BeBe,West Coast Leather, YB Timepieces and Diesel. He has also had the privilege and honor to be invited to teach master classes for the cast of the prestigious Las Vegas show A New Day featuring Celine Dion at Caesars Palace. Mr. Reddick also teaches at Stanford University, University of Santa Clara and just recently started teaching a few master classes at Princeton University. “Technique is only the beginning of what makes a memorable dancer, and we don’t start dancing to end up doing chorus”, says Reddick. “You have got to have that extra something.” It is through his experience and selfless devotion that Ronnie Reddick is inspiring a new generation of talent.
Interior Design: Joshua Rowland Interiors Be it extravagant or subdued, sophisticated or subversive, Joshua Rowland Interior’s intent is the same: Make it beautiful, make it exciting and keep it engaging. His obsessions with haute couture fashion, art history, science, and an overactive imagination, create a combination of spectacularly potent influences. Joshua Rowland Interiors experience spans almost two decades as a practicing designer. Expertise includes creating luxury hospitality, residential, boutique retail, furniture and textile design. Commissions are executed with charm, luxury and bespoke details. Collaborations span treasured residences, destination wineries, boutique hotels, nightlife venues, restaurants and luxury retail hospitality located at domestic and international addresses.
