Newsroom – Page 225 – David Perry & Associates

FISHERMAN’S WHARF COMMUNITY BENEFIT DISTRICT UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE FOR JEFFERSON STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Written on September 4, 2012.

FISHERMAN’S WHARF COMMUNITY BENEFIT DISTRICT UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE FOR JEFFERSON STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN

www.visitfishermanswharf.com

September 4, 2012, San Francisco, CA — The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District has rolled out a new website — now live at (www.newjeffersonstreet.com) — for navigating San Francisco’s busy northern waterfront neighborhood during the Jefferson Street improvement project. Construction is slated to begin this fall on Jefferson Street between Hyde and Jones Streets. Undertaken through a private/public partnership between San Francisco City Planning, the Fisherman’s Wharf CBD and the city’s Department of Public Works, the improvements to the Jefferson Street public areas will make Fisherman’s Wharf more enjoyable and easily accessible for neighbors, visitors and local businesses in time for the America’s Cup in summer 2013.

“We are very excited that after six years we are on the cusp of making the plan for Jefferson Street a reality,” said Troy Campbell, Executive Director of the Fisherman’s Wharf CBD. “This new website, which was created by the FWCBD and will be jointly managed by ourselves and DPW through the construction process, is a testament to the ongoing private/public partnership for this project.”

The new website is designed to be an easy way for neighbors, visitors, businesses, and vendors to learn about the background of the project and to keep them informed during the construction process.

Visitors to www.newjeffersonstreet.com will stay up-to-the-minute on the improvement plan, which addresses ease of accessibility for businesses, customers, fishermen and others who work in the neighborhood, and aims to create a better walking and biking environment for the Wharf area’s 40,000–75,000 daily visitors.

To sign up for alerts from the site, visitors to www.newjeffersonstreet.com can select “Construction Alerts” in the top header, and once on that page will click the “Subscribe to blog” link located just under the main banner.

In addition to the new website, which will focus on the details of the construction, the Jefferson Street improvements can also be followed through the project’s Facebook and Twitter accounts — www.facebook.com/newjeffersonstreet, or on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/newjeffersonst

The Jefferson Street improvement plan focuses on six key elements:
* Pedestrian friendly streets and sidewalks
* Safe routes for bicycles
* A plan that is good for commerce
* Eases traffic congestion
* A plan that works well with transit
* Facilitates Parking

Since 2006, the San Francisco Planning Department has led an effort in coordination with the Fisherman’s Wharf CBD, local community organizations, and city-wide groups to explore improvements to the area. The planned improvements will provide safe routes for bicycles, including connecting the Bay Trail; pedestrian friendly streets and sidewalks, enhanced lighting, reduced traffic congestion, and a promenade experience for visitors and residents.

Learn more about the project and get ongoing updates at www.newjeffersonstreet.com. ABOUT THE FISHERMAN’S WHARF COMMUNITY BENEFIT DISTRICT The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District (www.visitfishermanswharf.com) was founded in November of 2005 by the business and property owners of the popular San Francisco neighborhood. The district is funded through an annual assessment for 15 years from the property owners.

The purpose of the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District is to preserve and enhance its vast San Francisco waterfront landscape and multi-cultural heritage, while integrating modern efficiencies to enrich the experience of visitors from both near and far through: Market Research; Brand and Destination Marketing; Sidewalk Operations, Beautification and Order; Traffic and Urban Planning; and Emergency Preparedness.

For more information visit www.visitfishermanswharf.com and www.newjeffersonstreet.com

Joanna Haigood’s Zaccho Dance Theatre Acclaimed Sailing Away Returns

Written on August 30, 2012.

Joanna Haigood’s Zaccho Dance Theatre Acclaimed Sailing Away Returns

A site-specific work inspired by San Francisco’s early African American settlers

Performances are free and open to the public on San Francisco’s Market Street

Performances coincide with California Historical Society and Bayview Opera House public forums that mark “San Francisco Exodus”

Photos High Resolution bit.ly/SAflickr
www.zaccho.org

2 August 2012 – San Franisco, CA: It is sometimes referred to as the “San Francisco Exodus of 1858” a little-known part of the City’s history in which hundreds of African Americans fled discrimination and the threat of slavery for the safety of a Canadian exile. Choreographer Joanna Haigood and her Zaccho Dance Theatre (www.zaccho.org) are marking the iconic event with free public performances of her powerful work Sailing Away. Performances will be given in three continuous cycles, September 13, 14, 15, and 16 at 12noon, 1:30pm and 3pm daily starting at Market Street and Powell.

Market Street will provide the backdrop as performers interpret historical narratives through a series of vignettes and activities incorporating sites and monuments located between Powell and Battery streets. Important city monuments in the piece include: Mechanics Monument and Admission Day Monument.

“It’s ironic that a City now celebrated for its diversity once saw hundreds of its citizens flee in fear for their lives,” says Haigood, a celebrated local choreographer known for her unique and powerful site-specific works.

In the mid 19th century, San Francisco’s main thoroughfare, Market Street, was home to a burgeoning black middle class. However, Governor Peter Hardeman Burnett, California’s first governor (1849-51), pushed for the exclusion of free Negroes from the entire state. Although a black exclusion bill never passed in California, it reflected strong public opinion within the state, which eventually led to the passage of other discriminatory bills against blacks as well as Chinese, Mexicans and Native Americans.These bills restricted education, homesteading, voting, intermarriage and the right of testimony, which barred blacks from testifying against whites on their own behalf in court. By 1858, because of increasing discrimination, some 800 African Americans sailed for British Columbia aboard the steamer Commodore to escape growing hostility.

While some people may know the names of people such as early enterprenuer Mary Ellen Pleasant (AKA “Mammy” Pleasant), or Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, a participant in the Underground Railroad and friend of Frederick Douglas, they may not have heard of figures like Grafton Tyler Brown, Archie Lee or Peter Lester. Produced and presented in partnership with the California Historical Society, Sailing Away features eight such prominent African Americans who lived and worked near Market Street during the mid-nineteenth century and evokes their participation in the 1858 exodus.

During each performance and event, newspapers containing historical information that is referenced in the work (maps, biographies and significant events) will be distributed to the public. Through character interactions, audience members will get a feel for the 19th-century in a 21st-century commercial life on the city’s most important thoroughfare.

“While creating this work, it was important to acknowledge the invisibility and loss of African American history and the current out-migration,” notes Haigood. “Since 1858, there have been two notable waves of black ‘out migration.’ The first occurred during the redevelopment of the Fillmore district in the 1950s and ‘60s. The second is currently underway.”

The African American population in San Francisco has declined by 40.8 percent since 1990. Some stated causes of this new out migration are the lack of adequate housing, discouraging achievement gaps in education, and the disproportionate incidents of violence in the changing, de-integrating neighborhoods. The study implies that African Americans live in an environment that habitually dismisses palpable challenges to full participation in the health and commerce of San Francisco.

In addition to the performances, the details for the public forums will include:

School Assembly with performance at Bayview Opera House
4705 Third Street, San Francisco
Tuesday, September 11, 10:30am

The artists from Sailing Away will perform excerpts, joined by a lively discussion, and a performance from Dr. Susheel Bibbs’ one woman performance portraying 19th Century civil rights activist, Mary Ellen Pleasant.

Panel Discussion at California Historical Society

On Thursday, September 13 at 5:00pm, California Historical Society and Museum of the African Diaspora will co-host a panel discussion with scholars, historians, and local community leaders to discuss the past and current timeline of African American out-migration from San Francisco.

The panel discussion and performances are free and open to the public on a first-come, first serve basis.
678 Mission Street (at 3rd Street), san Francisco.
Thursday, September 13 at 5pm; post event reception, 6pm.

The California Historical Society and Museum of the African Diaspora will co-host a panel discussion with scholars, historians, and local community leaders to discuss the past and current timeline of African American out-migration from San Francisco. The panel discussion and performances are free and open to the public on a first-come, first serve basis. Meet the director, Joanna Haigood after the panel discussion. Light refreshments will be served, hosted by Zaccho Dance Theatre’s Board of Directors and the California Historical Society.

In collaboration with artists: Wayne Campbell (Scenic Designer), Kim Euell (Writer), Callie Floor (Costume Designer), Bibene Byb Chanel, Antoine Hunter, Robert Henry Johnson, Jetta Martin, Shakiri, Raissa Simpson, Amara Tabor Smith, Travis Santell Rowland, and Matthew Wickett.

Funding for the performances is provided by the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, Wells Fargo Foundation, Bayview Community Fund of the Tides Foundation and California Historical Society and Bayview Opera House.

The Chinese Historical Society of America Presents Awards Ceremony

Written on August 13, 2012.

The Chinese Historical Society of America Presents Awards Ceremony at Press Conference to Celebrate the Passage of House Resolution 683

Friday, August 17, 2012, 1:30pm–2:30pm at CHSA, 965 Clay Street, San Francisco

www.chsa.org

13 August 2012, San Francisco: On Friday, August 17, 2012, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm, there will be a special awards ceremony and press conference at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum to celebrate the passage of House Resolution 683, a Congressional resolution expressing “regret for Chinese Exclusionary Laws.” Organized by the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA), the event will feature talks by Congresswoman Judy Chu and Assembly member Paul Fong, a video presentation about the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and the campaign to secure the Congressional apology, and a special performance by storyteller/musician Charlie Chin. This event is free and open to the public. The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum is located at 965 Clay Street (between Powell and Stockton Streets) in San Francisco. More information is available at www.apapa.org and www.chsa.org.

To celebrate the historic passage of HR 683, CHSA Artist in Residence Charlie Chin will perform songs that look back over 150 years of the Chinese American experience, and salute the early pioneers who faced the violence, discrimination, and barriers of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Chin dedicates his presentation to his father Chin Hung Ock, who arrived in the United States in 1925 and did not live to see this historic day.

At the event, the Chinese Historical Society of America will announce plans for its 2012 Voices & Vision Gala: Honoring the Spirit, Fortitude & Enduring Legacy of Chinese Americans, to be held on Saturday, September 22, at the Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market Street, San Francisco.

“Our 2012 Voices & Vision Gala will focus on how the Asian American community is building on its historical legacy,” said CHSA executive director Sue Lee, “and will recognize the achievements of three extraordinary women: Congresswoman Judy Chu, journalist Manli Ho, and community historian Connie Young Yu. The honorees are significant voices expressing the broad range of perspectives and experiences of the Chinese American community, and have provided visionary leadership in realizing important achievements in the name of social justice and equality.”

Congresswoman Judy Chu led the effort to pass HR 683 expressing regret for the passage of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Journalist Manli Ho investigated the long-lost story of Chinese diplomat Dr. Feng Shan Ho, who saved thousands of Jewish lives from 1938-40 by providing exit visas to Shanghai. Community Historian Connie Young Yu has devoted her energies for more than a quarter of a century to rediscovering a history of Chinese and Asian America that has, for the most part, been forgotten, overlooked, and even hidden.

CHSA’s annual Gala has grown to be an event of national importance reflecting the pioneering role that CHSA has performed for nearly 50 years. Journalist and MSNBC dayside news anchor Richard Lui will emcee the Gala program, which features a special performance by Beach Blanket Babylon.

ABOUT THE CHINESE EXCLUSION LAWS

Between 1870 and 1904, the U.S. Congress legislated a series of Chinese Exclusion Laws, which explicitly discriminated against persons of Chinese descent based on race. In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which imposed a ten-year moratorium on Chinese labor immigration. This was later expanded to apply to all persons of Chinese descent. Congress revisited the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1884, 1888, 1892, 1902, and 1904, each time imposing increasingly severe restrictions on immigration and naturalization.

By directly targeting persons of Chinese descent for physical and political exclusion, the laws legitimized the political alienation and persecution of Chinese laborers and settlers, affecting the ability of Chinese persons to pursue life in America without fear, and impairing the establishment of Chinese family life in America.

Although the Chinese Exclusion Laws were repealed in 1943 as a war measure after China became a World War II ally of the United States, Congress had never acknowledged that the laws violated fundamental civil rights of Chinese Americans.

Passage of HR 683 during the 112th Congress (2011-2012) resulted from the nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy and education efforts of the 1882 Project, which focused on educating lawmakers and the public about the Chinese Exclusion Laws and the impact such legislation had on Chinese American history. The 1882 Project worked with Congress to pass resolutions expressing regret for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Laws, and to increase national awareness of the laws. Several national civil rights organizations spearhead the 1882 Project: the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, the Committee of 100, the National Council of Chinese Americans, and OCA.

______________

Founded in 1963, CHSA is the oldest and largest organization in the country dedicated to the documentation, study, and presentation of Chinese American history. In 2011, CHSA celebrated the 10th anniversary of its opening at the landmark Julia Morgan-designed Chinatown YWCA building in 2001. Through exhibitions, publications, and educational, public programming, CHSA promotes the contributions and legacy of Chinese Americans.

The Chinese Historical Society of America is located at 965 Clay Street, San Francisco, 94108. Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday 12-5pm, and Saturdays 11am–4pm. (Closed Sunday, Monday, and Holidays.) Admission to the museum is $5 for adults, $3 for students/seniors, $2 for children 6-17. The museum is free the first Thursday of the month. Further information is available by calling (415) 391-1188 x101, or at www.chsa.org

ArtSpan Presents SAN FRANCISCO OPEN STUDIOS

Written on August 13, 2012.

ArtSpan Presents SAN FRANCISCO OPEN STUDIOS

With over 900 artists it is the country’s oldest and largest open studio event

Every weekend October 13 – November 4, 2012, 11am – 6pm

ArtLaunch Opening Event: Wednesday, October 10, 5:30pm – 10pm

www.artspan.org

13 August 2012 — San Francisco comes alive with art this fall as ArtSpan presents its 37th Annual SF Open Studios – the oldest and largest event of its kind in the country. From Dogpatch to Fort Mason, the Mission to Ocean Beach, each weekend features new neighborhoods to explore as more than 900 emerging and established artists open their studios to show and sell their work during the month-long event. It’s an unrivaled opportunity for art patrons, collectors, and admirers to connect one on one with artists, get a glimpse of the working artist’s life, and to find their next true art love.

SF Open Studios is free, self-guided tour which takes place every weekend October 13 – November 4, 2012 from 11am to 6pm. Each weekend features artists in different neighborhoods (please see event schedule below). To assist in planning studio visits, the public is invited to learn about the participating artists at www.artspan.org or by picking up the free SF Open Studios Guide, complete with thumbnail reproductions, contact information, and map locations, available at distribution points throughout San Francisco and at SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street, during regular gallery hours. While at SOMArts, visitors can enjoy the SF Open Studios Exhibition, featuring select works by many participating artists, on view October 10 – November 4, 2012.

“SF Open Studios absolutely epitomizes the breadth, depth, and diversity of the city itself,” says ArtSpan Executive Director Heather Holt Villyard. “There’s no other event that illuminates the abundance and vibrancy of San Francisco’s arts and culture in the same way.”

SF Open Studios kicks off with ArtLaunch, a special exhibition preview event and fundraising party on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 from 5:30pm to 10pm. Tickets are $25-$60 and can be purchased by visiting www.artspan.org

About ArtSpan ArtSpan, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, builds a community by connecting the public to visual arts in San Francisco. Through SF Open Studios, youth and adult education, and art-centric events, ArtSpan creates a platform for artists to thrive, fostering a Bay Area that values the arts.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
2012 SF Open Studios Weekend Dates:

Weekend 1: October 13 & 14, 11am – 6pm  
Fort Mason, Marina, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, North Beach, Ocean Beach, Sunset, Richmond, Diamond Heights, Buena Vista, Twin Peaks, West Portal, Glen Park, Excelsior, Duboce, Hayes Valley, Haight, Upper Market

Weekend 2: October 20 & 21, 11am – 6pm  
SOMA, Tenderloin, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, Bayview

Weekend 3: October 27 & 28, 11am – 6pm  
Mission, Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, Castro

Weekend 4: November 3 & 4, 11am – 6pm  
Hunters Point Shipyard & Islais Creek Studios

SF Open Studios Exhibition
October 10, 2012 – November 4, 2012
Tuesday – Friday, 12pm – 7pm
Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Sunday, 11am – 3pm
SOMArts Cultural Center, Main Gallery, 934 Brannan St. San Francisco, CA Free

ArtLaunch October 10, 2012, 5:30pm – 10pm
Tickets range $25-$60
Available at www.artspan.org

TV Listing. August 2012

Written on July 23, 2012.

Ten Percent

TV Listing. August 2012

Ten Percent — LGBT-TV for Northern California

Mondays – Fridays, 11:30am & 10:30pm and Saturdays & Sundays at 10:30pm on Comcast Hometown Network Channel 104 in Northern California.

www.comcasthometown.com

Episode # 150
Monday — Friday, August 6-10, 11:30am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, August 11 &smp; 12, 10:30pm

David Perry interviews attorney Fred Hertz about the current state of LGBT rights in Israel. David also speaks with Bishop Otis Charles, the first openly gay bishop in history, about LGBT progress in the Episcopal, and other, denominations.

Episode # 151
Monday — Friday, August 13-17, 11:30am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, August 18 & 19, 10:30pm

David Perry speaks with “Top Chef: Just Desserts” winner and gay activist Yigit Pura about reality TV and his new SF bakery Tout Sweet. Perry also discusses mental health issues specific to the LGBT community with clinical psychiatrist Dr. Ronald Holt.

Episode # 152
Monday — Friday, August 20-24, 11:30am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, August 25 & 26, 10:30pm

David Perry talks with Gina Gatta, president of the world’s oldest LGBT publishing outlet, the Damron Guide, about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. David also interviews Amity Pierce Buxton, founder of the Straight Spouse network and author of two new books on straight/gay couples and the issues they face.

Episode # 153
Monday — Friday, August 27-31, 11:30 am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, September 1 & 2, 10:30pm

David Perry chats with Clinical Psychologist, Bart Magee, founder and executive director of the Access Institute, advocating for affordable access to mental health services. Perry also interviews Nathan Purkiss, Board Member of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, the oldest such political group in the country. Additionally, Perry speaks with Fred Lopez, board president of the historic Castro Street Fair, founded by Harvey Milk.

Ten Percent is also available 24/7 through the “On Demand” Feature through your Comcast Cable Network. Choose “Get Local” and “Comcast Hometown” to access Ten Percent. Past shows may also be viewed online at www.comcasthometown.com.

Become a fan on Facebook: 10 Percent on Facebook

About 10 Percent

Comcast Hometown Network (CHN), Comcast’s regional cable network covering Northern and Central California, continues its commitment to quality original programming with Ten Percent, a weekly interview series that focuses on lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LGBT) issues. The half-hour show, created and hosted by long-time San Francisco media professional David Perry, airs on Channel 104, Mondays – Thursdays at 11:30am & 8pm and is available to all Comcast digital cable customers throughout Northern and Central California. Each episode will then be available online at www.comcasthometown.com as well as on Comcast’s popular ON DEMAND platform, which is free to Comcast digital customers. To view Ten Percent ON DEMAND, Comcast Digital Cable customers can tune to Channel 1 on their Digital Cable lineup or press the ON DEMAND button on their remote control, then click on the “Get Local” section, then click on “Comcast Hometown.”

“I jokingly call the show ‘Charlie Rose for the LGBT world,” said David Perry, Producer/Host of Ten Percent. “We may be only ten percent of the general population, in round numbers, but our issues are one hundred percent front-and-center in today’s world. Whether it’s the fight for marriage equality or debates about gay clergy or the right to serve openly in uniform, our issues are reflective of the world at large.”

“David has a well-known and unique voice that bridges many communities,” said Jason Holmes, Executive Producer at Comcast Hometown Network. “David’s talents and the launch of Ten Percent further enhance Comcast’s commitment to our communities and Comcast Hometown Network’s compelling, community-based regional programming,”