March 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 March range from the low 50s to the middle 60s, while the summer months range from the low 60s to the high 70s.

March also marks the end of our rainy season. With the mild El Nino pattern we've experienced this year, the area hills and valleys have been well watered, resulting in a forecast for record blooms this spring. From mustard in Napa to wild flowers and flowering fruit trees, the Bay Area will be on display this March.

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.

McCormick & Kuleto's
Looking out over Aquatic Park and toward the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, this local Fisherman's Wharf restaurant presents picture-postcard views of the City by the Bay. Inside, polished woods, faux tortoise shell light fixtures and crisp detailing welcome diners.

This is one of the loveliest dining rooms anywhere. Food, service and the atmosphere are spectacular. A good value for San Francisco and not to be missed.

The extensive "Fresh List" menu, created and printed daily, presents the best seafood selection from international waters.

Menu offerings hail from around the world, and the house crab cakes are a much-loved favorite. A busy bar scene proves popular with tourists and residents alike. For reservations call: (415) 929-1730.

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 in March.

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 season is currently underway and concludes on May 9. For information call (415) 865-2000.

WICKED The Musical
Although we originally saw Wicked on Broadway after it's initial run in San Francisco, it was great to see it return to it's home town.

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace.

The plot is set mostly before Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, and includes several references to well-known scenes and dialogue in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz as a backstory. For further information, call: (415) 551-2020

Sunday Streets Arrives at Fisherman's Wharf
Sunday Streets, a series of car free Sundays featuring recreation and entertainment on normally busy thoroughfares, has proven to be so popular that it will now be a tradition in San Francisco.

"We introduced Sunday Streets in 2008 as an incentive for San Franciscans to become more active and healthy, and experience the diverse communities within our city," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

"The people of San Francisco have shown great support, and we are proud to expand the number and duration of Sunday Streets events in 2010, and add at least one regular car-free recreational space." The 2010 Sunday Streets season will feature nine dates, longer hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and extend into new communities, in addition to the return of the popular routes in the Fisherman's Wharf/Embarcadero, Bayview, Mission and Outer Sunset/Great Highway neighborhoods.

The season opener for 2010 is March 14th and extends along the Embarcadero, starting at Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, south to China Basin and Terry Francois Boulevard.