Local Expert
Amelia Lang
Amelia has traveled around the world backpacking, photographing, drawing, and attempting to learn various languages. After a long hiatus in Portland, Oregon, New Zealand, Spain, and Africa, she…
Amelia has traveled around the world backpacking, photographing, drawing, and attempting to learn various languages. After a long hiatus in Portland, Oregon, New Zealand, Spain, and Africa, she recently returned to her roots in San Francisco. She couldn’t find a city she liked more. Barcelona came close, Berlin and Tokyo were up there too, but as corny as it may sound, she left her heart in San Francisco. Amelia balances her love for both the rural coastline just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and the stimulation of city life. She graduated from University where she studied history and fine art. She comes from a family of artists and can’t help but indulge her own creative impulses. She looks forward to graduate school in design and art history, hopefully somewhere abroad. Although she knows she will always succumb to her gypsy spirit, for now she is happy nesting in San Francisco.
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Heading up to an expensive ski resort during the depression seems somewhat extravagant. We are all cutting out going out to dinner, adding to our art collections and jet-setting off to Italy, heading up to Lake Tahoe seems to be something that we should pass up.
But, with a new special put out by Thrillist, it is almost cheaper to head out of town than stay around the city. For just 29.99, Thrillist offers a Silver Tahoe Card. With the card come some unbelievable (and alarming) offers. Once you sign up for the card, you are given a FREE pass to Donnor Ski Ranch. Free rentals, waxes or tune-ups at several ski shops from San Francisco to Reno. You are also given a one-year subscription to Transworld Snowboarding or Skiing Magazine.
This deal is hard to pass up. Take advantage of the good snow, fairly empty resorts and beautiful California mountains. For the price of dinner and a movie, leave town and spend the day in the snow.
While you are in Chinatown, enjoying the world famous New Year's celebrations, make sure that you head down Jackson Street and turn into Ross Alley. Walk down the alley until you hit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
It may be a surprise/let down to you, but let it be known that the cookie given after a meal at most Chinese-American restaurants, is in fact, a U.S. invention. If you bring your eight year old to China and they expect to survive on the yummy sweets, make sure you pack them before heading across the ocean. It was not until 1993 that Wonton Food Company, based in New York, delivered the cookies to China.
But in San Francisco, the cookies are standard fare, and the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory has been pumping out the folded snacks since 1962.
At the factory, you can see the cookies being made in all shapes and sizes. For just $3.52, you can buy a big bag to bring back as a souvenir. Get them flat or folded, enormous or mini. Get them with traditional fortunes or more contemporary wit. Or, just go along to see how these American cookies get folded up and loaded with good fortune.
The New Year's Celebrations in San Francisco are far more exciting later in the month than on the eve of January 1st. With one of the biggest Chinatowns in the country, San Franciscans get out in the wintry street every year to welcome the Chinese New Year with gusto.
The events begin on Saturday, the 24th of January with a ribbon cutting ceremony lead by Mayor Gavin Newsom. From the 24th on, the city is full of celebratory events marking the beginning of the year of the ox.
The grand New Year’s Parade takes place on Saturday, February 7th from 5:15 to 8 pm. This enormous gathering relocates from Chinatown, down to Market Street. The loud procession makes it way west and the streets fill with both festively adorned participants as well as spectators. Bleacher seats are $30 and are located on Kearny Street between Sacramento and California. With bright colors, giant puppet dragons and lion dancing, this colorful celebration is truly not to be missed. The parade is not complete without Miss Chinatown and several of the New Year deities dressed in traditional gowns and ceremonial clothing. As the sun goes down, the parade becomes illuminated with fireworks, lanterns and candles.
The Chinese New Year's Parade in San Francisco is ranked one of the best parades and cultural celebrations in the world. It is not to be missed. If your New Year’s Eve was sub par, think of the Chinese New Year as another chance to ring in 2009.
Well, it is over! The holiday season is slowly slipping away. That means that weekends are yours again after weeks of stamping your "family commitment card."
If you want to have some fun in the winter wonderland, head up to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, just 20 miles south of Lake Tahoe. You will find yourself in the middle of the California Alps, in Hope Valley. Among the tall peaks and ski resorts, make sure you head to Sorensen's Resort. This special destination is not your typical resort, but more like a series of rustic cabins scattered deep in the woods. With no televisions or telephones and old stove fireplaces and a sauna, you will find yourself slowing down to a wintry pace. With an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you never have to go far once you settle into your cabin.
Another perk about this rustic resort is that you are surrounded by cross-country skiing trails. Spend the day kicking and gliding through the woods! Hope Valley Outdoor Center is just down the road and you can cheaply rent all the gear you need.
Sorensen's Resort is located at 14255 Hwy 88 in Hope Valley. Check ‘em out and enjoy some holiday-free winter celebrations.
Do your grandparents celebrate Christmas, but your mom celebrates Kwanza? Do your aunts go to the Zen center while your dad makes sure to polish up the family menorah and give gold coins to all the kiddies? Instead of worrying about which family holiday to embrace, head down to 111 Minna for Christmahanukwanzah where everyone is ready for some celebratory dancin'.
There is no better way to celebrate the holidays than to shake what your mama gave you, especially at 111 Minna. This art bar/ dance hall is located in SOMA and is a beautiful space to spend an evening out on the town. Check out the hip hop/reggae/funk/dancehall and truly celebrate the holiday season. The party begins on the night of the 26th from 9pm on. Make sure to get there before 10 and you will only have to pay $5 bucks. Getting there after 11 will set you back $10.
Merrykrismahanukwanzika to all!
The winner of the 1992 winter Olympics in ice skating happened to be our local hero, Kristi Yamaguchi who grew up in Hayward and San Jose.
The graceful Olympian is honored every year down by the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Join ice-skaters (many of whom are not that familiar with ice or snow) and skate (or fall down) in honor of the Holiday Season.
Rent some skates, buy some knee pads and wrist guards and head down to the Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Park as local residents celebrate15 years of holiday fun. The Embarcadero Center’s rink will be open to the public for nine weeks beginning November 12 through January 4, 2009.
For more information, contact Helen Han, Marketing Coordinator, at 415.772.0753 or email at hhan@bostonproperties.com.