April 2012 Hotel Manager's Picks | Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel

Greetings from Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco's #1 visitor destination. If you are visiting in April, there are fun attractions to visit, things to do and see, and places to dine and relax.

Marking San Francisco's sailing season's official opening day, the 96th annual "Opening Day on the Bay" Decorated Boat Parade, hosted by the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association takes place the first weekend of this month.

The parade will feature over 150 historic workboats, fireboats, Vessel Assist towboats, classic and contemporary craft decorated to a theme. Boats can be viewed for free by the public all along the waterfront from Fisherman's Wharf west to Crissy Field.

A trip to our famous city this month will also allow visits to the city's major attractions without dealing with the crowds that are common during the summer.

One of the busiest and well known attractions in North America, Fisherman's Wharf is best known for being the location of Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Cannery, Ghirardelli Square, a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, the Musée Mécanique, the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, Forbes Island and restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most notably Dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl.

Some of our restaurants, like Pompeii's and Alioto's #8, go back for three generations of the same family ownership. Nearby Pier 45 has a chapel in memory of the "Lost Fishermen" of San Francisco and Northern California.

To help plan your stay, visit our Local Events page on our website for details of some of the more interesting events that are happening in San Francisco this month. Regardless of what you have planned, enjoy visiting our beautiful city.

What's your favorite spot in San Francisco? Let us know at sheratonsf@ihrco.com or Share on Facebook.

Happy Travels ... Craig Schwan, General Manager

Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary
It's the 75th year of the Golden Gate Bridge this year and it's time to celebrate! Join in our 75 Community Tributes program with a variety of activities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

For information about a specific Tribute event, visit goldengatebridge75.org and save the date of May 27 for the big celebration, The Golden Gate Festival!

During April, be sure to visit these Tribute events in our area:

The National Park Service is showing the film, “Building of the Golden Gate” in the theater at the Fort Point National Historic Site plus interpretive walks and talks in the parklands at the Golden Gate every Friday-Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm.

The California Historical Society is featuring an exhibition featuring art work, photographs and historic bridge artifacts every day from Noon - 5 pm.

For further information, visit visit goldengatebridge75.org  

Betelnut on Union
While visiting Union Street for the street fair (see below), be sure to dine at Betelnut. When it first opened 16 years ago, this Pan-Asian restaurant was the first to offer dishes from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and India on the same menu. Now it seems just about every restaurant from coast to coast is mixing Asian cultures, but Alexander Ong has been able to maintain the integrity of each cuisine. The main challenge for diners is getting a table in this restaurant that evokes the sexy feel of a 1920s Shanghai speakeasy. The bar is exceedingly popular with the young Marina-Cow Hollow crowd, which is visible from the windows overlooking Union Street.

Specialties include Cecilia's minced chicken in lettuce cups; smoked sea bass; little dragon dumplings; Szechuan green beans; glazed pork short ribs; coconut-tapioca pudding. A plus for this restaurant pick of the month is it's location in the middle of the Union Street neighborhood. Union Street in San Francisco offers a rich mix of shops, restaurants and points of interest not far from the entrance to the Golden Gate and only a short distance from the hotel.

Located on Union Street. For reservations call: (415) 929-8855.

21st Annual Union Street Easter Parade
For 21 years Union Street has hosted this annual event that celebrates and showcases the diverse community of San Francisco and features some of Union Street's best restaurants serving attendees in an outdoor bistro setting.

A variety of children's and family activities are the focus of the event and include; large inflatable bounces, kids' rides and games, a climbing wall, a hands-on children's activities area, costumed characters, a petting zoo, a pony ride and entertainment from some of the Bay Area's best musicians.

Victorian in setting and charm of long ago ... the Union Street Shopping District contains some of the City's best eateries, art galleries, fine jewelry stores and trendy boutiques. The street is long, so plan on spending at least half a day exploring up and down the street - don't miss the cross streets - you will find some real gems off the beaten track. Breakfast, lunch or dinner at the great restaurants and cafés will definitely spike the enjoyment of your shopping day!

Presented Sunday, Apr 8 on nearby Union Street. For further information call: (800) 310-6563.

Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
The mesmerizing scenic beauty of wine country in Spring enhances the romance of both Sonoma and Napa valley. For a taste of timeless romance and some of the best vintages of wine in the world, journey north to enjoy the fragrance of wine in the air and superlative epicurean delights ... you will revel in the simple pleasures of being together.

Situated an hour's drive north of the hotel, Napa Valley is a great getaway idea for a weekend, although it is equally apt for a longer and more leisurely holiday.

You will be in awe of the many great wines, luxurious spas, and fine restaurants in Napa Valley, as well as interesting cultural events and the beautiful rolling hills and colorful countryside.

Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley together compose the traditional wine country of Northern California, often referred to as the vintner capital of the USA. A magnet for those who appreciate the good life, the area is famous for the medicinal hot springs and spas that soothe the soul and pamper the senses.

The Caretaker
Jonathan Pryce, two-time Tony and Olivier Award winner (Miss Saigon, Hamlet) and film actor (Brazil, Pirates of the Caribbean) leads a compelling cast in the first major revival of Harold Pinter's work since his death.

This superb production by Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse/Theatre Royal Bath won glowing reviews in London and Liverpool for its penetrating new take on the play-and for Pryce's tour-de-force performance as a repellant, darkly funny, and deeply human Davies.

In The Caretaker, a pair of working-class brothers allows a homeless man to stay in their decrepit London flat, an act of compassion that sparks a cycle of cruelties, delusions, and shifting loyalties in a desperate struggle over territory. Pinter's first great success, this work powerfully displays his sharp intelligence, masterful and spare use of language, and uncompromising exploration of life's menace and comedy.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.shnsf.com or by calling (888) 746-1799. Presented at the Curran Theatre thru April 22, 2012.

Walt Disney Family Museum
Celebrating their second anniversary, the Walt Disney Family Museum's three historic buildings within the nearby Presidio houses 10 galleries devoted to the inspiring story of Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Disneyland and the global yet distinctly American company that bears his name.

Disney's story is impressively portrayed through drawings, storyboards, the narrow-gauge train built for Disneyland along with film clips, concept art, scripts, musical scores and cameras used by Disney and his staff.

Using a mix of historic materials and artifacts, Disney's achievements really comes to life through innovative displays that include listening stations, interactive media, and more than 200 video monitors. Much of the material is being generously lent by the Walt Disney Company and private collectors.

Located at the nearby Presidio. For information and tickets call (415) 345-6893.