February 2010 Hotel Manager's Picks | Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel

While the rest of the country is focused on slogging thru one of the snowiest winters on record, San Francisco's mild weather makes it a joy to visit year-round. 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, without much difference in the temperature. Temperatures in February range from the low 50s to the middle 60s, while the summer months range from the low 60s to the high 70s.

February also marks the peak month of Dungeness Crab Season, with crab fest celebrations city-wide. This delightful sea creature is a favorite of us locals, so plan on strolling Fisherman's Wharf and have them served up as fresh as they come.

If the weather turns rainy, be sure to check out some of San Francisco's famous museums: the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Ansel Adams Center, the Cable Car Museum or the California Natural History Museum are all worth a visit.

In addition, the Local Events page on our website provides details for 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

Cartier and America at the Legion of Honor
Visit the nearby Legion of Honor overlooking the Presidio and Golden Gate Bridge for an exclusive showing on Cartier jewelry from now thru April.

Cartier and America covers the history of the House of Cartier from its first great successes as the "king of jewelers and jeweler to kings" during the Belle Epoque and into the ‘60s and ‘70s when Cartier supplied celebrities of the day with their jewels and luxury accessories. Derived mainly from the private Cartier Collection housed in Geneva, the spectacular array of more than 200 objects includes jewelry of the Gilded Age and Art Deco periods, as well as freestanding works of art such as the famous Mystery Clocks.

Marking Cartier's 100 years in the United States, the exhibition includes a pair of rock crystal and diamond bracelets worn by Gloria Swanson in the movie Sunset Boulevard, the exotic flamingo brooch made for the Duchess of Windsor, and the personal jewelry of Princess Grace of Monaco. For information call (415) 750-3600.

Crab Fest
San Francisco's Dungeness crab industry is an indelible symbol of the city, as historic and renowned as San Francisco's famed cable cars.

Along with the pioneers that came to San Francisco in the 1840s searching for gold, other entrepreneurs from the Mediterranean fishing villages of Italy sought their fortunes in crab fishing in the San Francisco Bay and along the coastline beyond the Golden Gate.

The Fisherman's Wharf Crab Festival is a month-long celebration of the City's culinary obsession and its love affair with Dungeness crab. Throughout February, the Festival features special restaurant dining promotions, scavenger hunts, walking tours of the Wharf, behind-the-scenes visits at Fisherman's Wharf, and much more.

To take a look at the many special offers, events and attractions for the Crab Festival season, visit online at: www.visitfishermanswharf.com. It's a culinary event the whole family will enjoy!

Diva Thelma Houston Returns to Teatro ZinZanni
Relax and be prepared to be entertained! Disco diva and Grammy Award winner, Thelma Houston, will once again grace the Teatro ZinZanni fabled spiegeltent as the legendary hostess beginning February 4th, 2010. She will appear in a new version of Hearts on Fire, a show that ran some 18 months ago to acclaim, and which will span the celebratory month of March, which marks Teatro ZinZanni's 10th anniversary in San Francisco.

The show features an ensemble cast of world-class performers, generally headed by a marvelous "hostess," ably assisted by a "chef de cuisine" who introduces each course and generally involves audience members in the action, while comedy and mayhem are supplied by acrobats, jugglers, comedians, singers, musicians, and others.

The list of acclaimed performers has included celebrated singers Joan Baez, Sally Kellerman, Liliane Montevecchi, Maria Muldaur, Melba Moore, Ann Wilson, among others. For information call (415) 438-2668.

San Francisco Ballet
The 77th repertory season of San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional ballet company in America, includes three full-length ballets, the San Francisco Ballet premiere of Fokine's Petrouchka, as well as three world premieres by three unique and exciting choreographers, including Renato Zanella.

A number of audience favorites will return as well: Forsythe's modern in the middle, somewhat elevated, an all-Balanchine program and Jerome Robbins' comedic The Concert.

This season also marks the 25th anniversary of Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson's tenure with the ballet. As a special programming highlight in celebration of this milestone, the 2010 repertory season will include the presentation of three full-length works: Swan Lake, The Little Mermaid (also a U.S. premiere) and Romeo & Juliet.

The opening night gala is Jan. 20, 2010 and the season concludes on May 9. For information call (415) 865-2000.

Fiddler on the Roof
A perennial hit since it first opened in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof has enjoyed critical acclaim for bringing to the stage a poignant story about the enduring bonds of the family. Now, the national touring production of this timeless musical brings the wit and wisdom of Tevye and his family to audiences throughout the United States with the reproduction of Jerome Robbins' famous masterpiece.

I have fond memories of playing the Fiddler violin theme music when my local high school produced the musical in the '70's ... Okay, so that's probably way too much info and really, really dates me; but I remember it as a lot of fun and was the only time I was as popular as the school quarterback, so it had to be mentioned.

Harvey Fierstein starred as the iconic milkman, Tevye in the recent critically acclaimed Broadway production. Audiences now have the rare opportunity to see this Tony Award-winning actor embrace one of his favorite roles in this Jerome Robbins inspired production.

Filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, which includes "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset," Fiddler on the Roof is a timeless classic, presented at the Golden Gate Theatre. For further information call: (415) 551-2000.

Walt Disney Family Museum
Now open in three historic buildings within the nearby Presidio, a total of 10 galleries are 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 portrayed through drawings, storyboards, a model of Disneyland, 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 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.