Jetsettersblog

San Francisco Film Society Pairs Up with New People to Launch SF Film Society | New People Cinema

San Francisco Film Society (SFFS) and New People celebrated a grand opening of SFFS’ new venue for their acclaimed exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events.

The adventurous Film Society programming that brings Bay Area audiences the best in indie, international and documentary film notably during the annual San Francisco International Film Festival — and a full range of exciting panels, educational classes, workshops and filmmaker services events will be concentrated in San Francisco’s most up-to-date and technically perfect film theater.

The 143-seat theater located in the heart of Japantown at 1746 Post St., will accommodate a substantial portion of the SFFS fall season of festivals and one-time events, select KinoTek programs and recurring thematic programming, as well as provide the space to develop new programming initiatives.

Visit www.sffs.org/cinema  for complete up-to-date San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema program details.

There be Treasures There … Treasure Island Flea Marketplace

Treasure Island, renowned as the site of the 1939 World’s Fair, welcomed a new attraction on Memorial Day weekend — the Treasure Island Flea marketplace. In addition to antiques and collectibles the marketplace has become a magnet for new independent designer merchandise, handmade one-of-a-kind items, repurposed and up-cycled goods, shabby chic and French garden pieces, home décor, emerging designers, art, specialty food providers and more. Co-founders Angie and Charles Ansanelli are curating an experience where shoppers will be able to connect directly with designers and collectors and also offering a blend of local entertainment and special events.

The open-air market is held on Treasure Island, Avenue of the Palms, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., the last weekend of every month. Admission $3, 12 and under free. Parking is free.

For information visit www.treasureislandflea.com  or call 415-898-0245.

Superman Ultimate Flight Roller Coaster Soars Above Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Spring 2012
Hang on to your capes, folks. Next spring Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will open a new roller coaster: Superman Ultimate Flight. The ride, created in a partnership between Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment, is slated to open in spring 2012. This one-of-a-kind super launch coaster features the tallest inversion west of the Mississippi and will rank alongside the tallest coaster inversions in the world. At 150-feet-high, riders will experience lightning speeds of 62 miles per hour, with two upside-down twists and two vertical rolls over a track length of 863 feet.

Brightly painted in Superman’s colors — vibrant blue, red and yellow — the steel coaster will be visible from nearby highways and beyond from its location on the eastern side of the park. For information visit www.sixflags.com/2012news

A.C.T. and San Francisco Silent Film Festival Host Silent

Bay Area premiere of David Mamet’s Broadway hit “Race,” Oct. 21-Nov. 13, 2011

A.C.T.’s annual holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 1-24, 2011

Bay Area premiere of Lorenzo Pisoni’s one-man show, “Humor Abuse,” recounting his memories growing up as the youngest member of the Pickle Family Circus, Jan. 12-Feb. 5, 2012

World premiere of Carey Perloff’s “Higher” at The Theater at Children’s Creativity Museum (formerly known as Zeum Theater), Feb. 1-19, 2012, in which a high-powered Jewish architect, madly in love with her equally talented colleague, discovers that she is his rival in a competition to design a memorial in Israel.
West Coast premiere of Lebanese-Canadian writer Wajdi Mouawad’s “Scorched,” with a cast led by Emmy Award winner David Strathairn, Feb. 16-March 11, 2012

West Coast premiere of Jordan Harrison’s provocative comedy, “Maple and Vine,” March 29-April 22, 2012
Artistic Director Carey Perloff’s production of “Twelfth Night,” the first Shakespeare play to grace the A.C.T. stage in 15 years, May 10-June 6, 2012

Bay Area premiere of “The Scottsboro Boys,” recipient of 12 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical. The true story of nine young African American men, unjustly accused of a shocking crime, is transformed into an unforgettable theatrical event, June 21-July 15, 2012.

Unless otherwise noted, all performances are at the American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St. (at Mason St.)

SHN Season Opens with “Hair”

Formerly known as Best of Broadway, the SHN Series will bring Broadway to the Bay Area this fall with a dynamic series at the Orpheum, Curran and Golden Gate Theatres. The series opens with “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, 2009 Tony award winner for best musical revival, Oct. 25-Nov. 20, 2011 at the Golden Gate Theatre. Other shows in order of performances are:

“STOMP,” the percussive international sensation, returns Oct. 14-23 to the Orpheum Theatre.
Kevin Spacey is featured in Richard III, directed by Sam Mendes, Oct. 19-29 at the Curran Theatre.
Directed by Bill T. Jones, “Fela” a provocative hybrid of dance, theater and music, explores the world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, Nov. 15-Dec. 11 at the Curran Theatre.

“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” breathes new life into this timeless tale of the real meaning of Christmas Dec. 21-31 at the Golden Gate Theatre.

“Bring It On: The Musical,” a brand new musical comedy comes along Dec. 15, 2011-Jan. 7, 2012 at the Orpheum Theatre.

Harold Pinter’s classic psychological drama “The Caretaker,” starring Jonathan Pryce is slated for the Curran Theatre, March 28-April 22, 2012.

Called “the first great musical of the 21st century” by critics, “American Idiot” returns home to the Bay Area June 12-July 8, 2012. The Tony Award-nominated Best Musical and 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album features the music of Green Day with lyrics by its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong at the Orpheum Theatre.

Glorious new staging and dazzling re-imagined scenery mark a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schonberg’s legendary musical, “Les Miserables,” July 10-Aug. 5, 2012 at the Orpheum Theatre.
London and Broadway’s smash hit, “War Horse” gallops into the Curran Theatre, Aug. 1-26, 2012. The powerful story of young Albert’s beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I, comes alive through life-sized puppets which bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life.

For ticket information visit www.shnsf.com

Maureen McVerry to Direct 42nd Street Moon’s Production of “Oh, Kay!” Nov. 2-20, 2011

Award-winning actress Maureen McVerry will direct the second musical of 42nd Street Moon’s l9th season: George and Ira Gershwin’s “Oh, Kay!” (1926). This will serve as her San Francisco directorial debut, with a show she knows well. Her own portrayal of Kay in the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival production of “Oh, Kay!” in 1993 won her a Theatre Critics’ Circle Award. Set on a Long Island estate, “Oh, Kay!” focuses on a trio of English bootleggers who land in the middle of romantic intrigue and hi-jinks at the height of Prohibition. 42nd Street Moon’s 2011-12 season continues with a visit to World War I England for the American premiere of “Three Sisters” (1934), by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. The show will run from Nov. 30—Dec.18, 2011.

The first main stage show of 2012 is set in Chicago and Miami in 1929. “Sugar” (1972), with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, is based on Billy Wilder’s screenplay, “Some Like It Hot.” “Sugar” will run April 4-22, 2012. Finally, 42nd Street Moon journeys to Greece and Crete, for the Kander and Ebb classic, “Zorba” (1968), which runs May 2-20, 2012. All shows are at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St., For information visit www.42ndstmoon.org  or call 415-255-8207.

Dec. 31, 2011; New Location for Famed Cabaret to Be Announced

After more than 11 years, 800,000 visitors, hundreds of guest artists and 40 different shows, Teatro ZinZanni will shutter the fabled Palais Nostalgique Spiegeltent on Pier 29 after its 2011 New Year’s Eve show. Teatro’s current home on Piers 27 and 29 is scheduled to be a part of the upcoming America’s Cup and Teatro ZinZanni is working closely with the City of San Francisco to locate a new permanent home. Bay Area icon Geoff Hoyle and Blues phenomenon Duffy Bishop headline “On the Air,” a new production for San Francisco, opening Oct. 13 and closing Dec. 31, 2011. In “On the Air,” Hoyle and Bishop join a cast of hugely talented individual performers to keep a local radio station on the air. “ZinZannity” quickly ensues with dazzling music, dance and acrobatic performances as magic blooms in the musical moonlight. Tune in for a nostalgic journey of music, cirque and cabaret as “On the Air” “broadcasts live” from Teatro ZinZanni. Tickets are available by phone at 415-438-2668 or online at http://love.zinzanni.org

Centennial Season of San Francisco Symphony Continues Through July 1, 2012

Founded as an orchestra “for the people” just five years after the 1906 earthquake, the San Francisco Symphony is celebrating its 100th season. “When you have a major birthday, you invite your friends over,” said Brent Assink, executive director, SFS. There will be plenty of reasons to accept the invitation. In addition to an unprecedented American Orchestra Series bringing six major symphony orchestras to the stage of Davies Symphony Hall starting with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on Oct. 23,

Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and SFS will break new ground with a two-week American Mavericks Festival March 8-18, 2012. Performances by Joshua Bell and Hilary Hahn; semi-staged presentations including Bartok’s “Duke Bluebeard’s Castle” and “Barbary Coast and Beyond,” an evening of music from the Gold Rush to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, are also high points of the centennial season. Details are available at www.sfsymphony.org  or call 415-864-6000.

San Francisco Opera Season Repertory Includes Several Company and New Production Premieres
San Francisco Opera’s fall 2011 season which opened on Sept. 10 with the world premiere of “Heart of a Soldier,” based on the life stories of Susan Rescorla, Rick Rescorla and Daniel J. Hill and the book of the same name, continues with Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” through Nov. 25; Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia” through Oct.11; Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” Oct. 15-Nov.10; George Frideric Handel’s “Xerxes” Oct. 30-Nov. 19; and Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” Nov. 6-Dec. 4.

Throughout the season, San Francisco Opera will present some of the world’s leading singers including Renee Fleming, Francesco Meli and Vitalij Kowaljow. The summer of 2012 opera season will include “Nixon in China,” June 8-July 3, 2012; “Attila,” June 12-July 1, 2012; and “The Magic Flute,” June 13-July 6, 2012. All performances are at the War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. For information visit www.sfopera.com  or call 415-864-3330.

Get away from the cold winter weather this Christmas and New Year and embark on an adventure-of-a-lifetime with The Selous Safari Company in Tanzania. Swap sleigh rides in the snow for 4×4 game drives in the bush, reindeer for impala and a trip to see the relatives for a boat ride among crocodiles and hippos on the Rufiji River! What’s more, benefit from savings of up to $896, with a seven-night beach and safari experience over Christmas or New Year starting from $3,410 per person with Africa Odyssey.

With gala dinners and entertainment on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, guests at the two luxury tented camps and exclusive beach retreat will still enjoy traditional Christmas fare but with a Tanzanian twist. Children over six are especially welcome and are invited to spot Santa’s and Rudolph’s tracks in the camps on Christmas Day. Accommodation options include:

A hidden gem in the Ruaha National Park with just eight luxury tents, a swimming pool and fabulous food, Jongomero promises a great vantage point from which to take in the sights and sounds of the African bush. Ruaha’s dry open landscape encourages large herds of elephant, buffalo as well as giraffe, zebra, lion and leopard.

Promising a totally different, yet equally awe-inspiring backdrop and experience, the boutique Selous Safari Camp, situated on the bank of Lake Nzerakera, is the ideal base to explore the Selous Game Reserve. In addition to daily game drives, regular boat safaris on the Rufiji River gives a unique opportunity to get up close to crocodiles and hippos. For large families, a section of the camp can be exclusively booked. Selous Private Camp accommodates up to 12 guests and comes with private use of safari boats, vehicles and walking guides as well as own dining and lounge area and a swimming pool.

On safari, accommodation is in luxuriously appointed en suite tents, which are built on raised platforms with thatched roofs. Each comes with a king-size bed and a private veranda, ideal for watching the sun rise or set and for wildlife viewing. The adventure starts here as the animal world, including giraffes, buffalo and elephant, saunters past the tent – by day or night!

Before or after game viewing, Ras Kutani, set amid a long stretch of unspoilt beach and a fresh water lagoon, is the ideal hideaway for those seeking solace, luxury and Tanzanian charm. Each of the nine en suite beach cottages boasts an eight-foot wide bed, large veranda with hammocks and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. For extra privacy, the four hillside suites come with a plunge pool and there’s also a family house with two connection rooms.

Packages Available Over Christmas & New Year Include:
Stay three nights at Jongomero Camp and four nights at Ras Kutani from $5,224 per adult (saving $789 per person) and $3,413 per child

Stay three nights at the Selous Safari Camp and four nights at Ras Kutani from $5,384 per adult (saving $896 per person) and $3,410 per child.

Valid for selected departures late December, prices include international flights, internal transfers, accommodation on a full board basis, game viewing drives in open sided 4×4 vehicles, concession and park entrance fees. Book with Africa Odyssey (www.africaodyssey.com  / 1-866 356 4691).

KAMPALA, Uganda ( Premier Safaris, a specialist in adventure/luxury safaris in Uganda and Kenya, is offering a six-day “Nile Spectacle,” a spectacular water safari that comprises visiting the source of the White Nile, river rafting, and a boat trip to world-famous Murchison Falls and the foaming pool at its base known as the Devil’s Cauldron. Along the way, safari-goers will enjoy walks in forests where primates, butterflies and birdlife are rife, game viewing on the River Nile and in Murchison Falls National Park, and a visit to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a sanctuary created to re-introduce rhino to Uganda after their near extinction in 1982.

The rate per person for six nights, all-inclusive, is US$6282. For two people sharing, the rate drops to $9000 and for four people to $16,170.

After an overnight in Kampala, Safari-goers will be taken to Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria, the closest city to the source of the White Nile, whose location was the subject of great mystery from ancient times until its discovery in 1856 by explorer John Hanning Speke. Guests will stay at two of Marasa’s three luxury lodges in Uganda – Paraa Safari Lodge, “the jewel of the Nile” situated in North Western Uganda and Chobe Safari Lodge, a new, five-star lodge located in a little-known section of Murchison Falls National Park that affords breathtaking, panoramic views of the River Nile, coupled with the sounds of its frothing rapids.

Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. Nowhere else on the continent of Africa can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track wild chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth in the afternoon. The country is home to a wide range of forest primates, with the star attraction being the endangered mountain gorilla.

CHOBE SAFARI LODGE

The luxurious new Chobe Safari Lodge is set to become one of Uganda’s key tourist destinations for adventurers, anglers, and aficionados of river-scapes. It comprises 36 elegant guest rooms, 21 luxury tents, four suites and a Presidential Cottage. A state-of-the-art Conference block can host up to 100 guests and is fully equipped for business meetings. The area offers prime bird-watching and game-viewing (one elephant in the park weighed up to 10 tons!) and such an abundance of fish, it’s expected that the site will become one of the preeminent fishing sites in all of Africa.

Once upon a time there was another Chobe Safari Lodge which had been constructed in the 1950s, and was then one of Uganda’s crown jewels of tourism. After decades of abandonment, it was decided to raze it and to build a completely new lodge with a $13 million investment. The architect’s perspective was to take advantage of the spectacular scenery of the river. Thus, all rooms and luxury tents have balconies and terraces that face the Nile and afford sweeping, uninterrupted views of the longest river on Earth.

The 1500-square-mile Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest, protects a swath of untamed African savannah intersected by the 4132-mile-long Nile. It is named for the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge 140 feet into a foaming pool below. Though badly poached in the 1980s, wildlife populations have largely recovered. Today, elephant, buffalo and giraffe are regularly encountered on game drives, while lion are seen with increasing frequency.

The Nile itself is dense with hippo and crocodile populations, and a stunning variety of water birds including the world’s most accessible wild population of the rare shoebill stork.

PARAA SAFARI LODGE

Each of the 54 rooms, suites and the Queen’s Cottage at Paraa Safari Lodge are designed with an authentic Colonial African style to remind visitors of the period of early African explorers, although significantly more comfortable. Each of the accommodations has its own spacious balcony and en-suite bath, all overlooking the River. The Queen’s Cottage, named after Queen Elizabeth II’s mother who stayed there in 1959, offers two bedrooms, a lounge, and a large balcony. It is ideal for families or for friends traveling together. Three luxury safari tents are soon to be added to the accommodation on offer.

Amenities at the Lodge include a holistic massage center, a gym and a large free form swimming pool just above the entertainment area by the rustic bar, where bonfires and traditional African entertainment such as dancing take place in the evening twice a week. There is also a Business Center with internet and a gift shop selling local crafts and safari essentials. The Nile River itself offers world-class game fishing for Nile Perch near the lodge, and a basic collection of fishing gear and binoculars may be rented at the Lodge. Chimpanzee trekking may be arranged at a forest some 37 miles from the Lodge on a day excursion trip, where the primates may be viewed in their natural forest surroundings,

Paraa features one restaurant, the Captain’s Table, which features local and international specialties. Guests may dine at either the indoor area or on the terrace, enjoying views of the River. The Explorer’s Bar is next to the restaurant where guests relax in sinkable sofas and partake of refreshing drinks.

Paraa is positioned close to the area where The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Kathryn Hepburn was filmed. It is also where Ernest Hemingway and his wife crashed in their plane as their pilot flew close to view the Falls. When they took off again, that plane crashed also. Both survived.

RIVER NILE

The Nile flows 4100 miles northward from the Equator and empties into the Mediterranean sea. Both the source of the White Nile in Equatorial Africa and its mouth on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea lie within one degree of longitude. It crosses 35 degrees of latitude, a distance comparable to the width of the continental United States, and flows across regions which differ more from each other than lands drained by any other river.

For more information and day by day itinerary, visit www.premiersafaris.com  or www.chobelodgeuganda.com ; www.paraalodge.com

CUSCO, PERU, — Intense Peru travel, experts in designing unique tour packages to Peru, recently announced a 10% savings on select Peru travel packages and tours. The selected tour packages are designed to encourage more U.S. travelers to discover the natural wonders, amazing culture, and breath-taking adventures Peru has to offer.

Each year an increasing number of travelers are coming from around the world to fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines, explore the Amazon Rainforest, hike the Inca Trail, and admire the vistas of Machu Picchu. Despite the increasing numbers, there is still a large segment of U.S. travelers believe that traveling to Peru is not a viable travel destination for various reasons.

Some travelers know little about the country while others think that not speaking the native language will hinder their travel. The truth is that Peru is home to some of the world’s most unique treasures and natural wonders. In addition, the abundance of English speaking guides and service providers make Peru one of the most U.S. Friendly tourist destinations in South America. No matter how much or how little you know about Peru, you are sure to be impressed by its rich and intriguing history, splendid architecture, and enigmatic sites.

“Peru is one of the most unique travel destinations in the world because it offers a large variety of experiences through its natural beauty, archaeological legacy, ancestral communities, and adventure activities. In essence, a Peru vacation “has it all” said Sofia Arce, General Manager of Intense Peru. “And with the added savings currently available on selected tours, it is a great time for U.S. travelers to experience Peru.”

To entice travelers to visit Peru, Intense Peru is offering a 10 to 20 percent savings on selected tour packages. The discount applies to some of their most popular tours including the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu tour, two Machu Picchu tours and a Peru vacation package that includes visits to the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu.

“No matter how much you read about Peru and its origins… it cannot match the once-in-a-lifetime experience that one gets from visiting Peru in person” concludes Arce.

Come and experience Peru and save 10% on selected amazing tours from www.IntensePeru.com.

Established in 2007 Intense Peru is a tour and travel agency located in Cusco Peru. Intense Peru specializes in designing and facilitating travel, lodging, and tours of Peru for individuals and groups from around the globe. For more information about visiting Peru, visit the Intense Peru website or contact them directly through one of the numbers below.

Website: http://www.intenseperu.com

“Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts” Opens at Asian Art Museum

The Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., will present the U.S. premiere of “Maharajah: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts,” Oct. 21, 2011-April 8, 2012. Organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the exhibition presents more than 200 artworks related to the intriguing world of India’s rulers over three centuries. Maharaja is the first exhibition to comprehensively explore the world of the maharajas and their unique culture of artistic patronage. An extensive schedule of public programming will accompany the exhibitions, including a film series featuring a guest appearance by esteemed producer James Ivory. Set against a backdrop of the tumultuous early 18th century through the 1940s, the exhibition brings to life the lavish world of India’s maharajas through elaborate jewelry, ornate weaponry, royal costumes and stunning artworks. For information visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Offer an Eclectic Fall Exhibition Season
In one of its most diverse exhibitions schedules in recent memory, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco offer an eclectic and arresting array of work including a world exclusive:

Through Jan. 22, 2012

“Surface Tension: Contemporary Prints from the Anderson Collection”

de Young Museum

Rather than embrace the smooth, flat finish that can be achieved through print processes like screen-printing and lithography, the artists featured in “Surface Tension” have manipulated the dimensionality of their works on paper, literally pushing their paper surfaces to new heights. Though their approaches vary, all of the artists included in this gallery rotation challenge the traditional belief that editions on paper are merely made up of layers of ink impressed upon paper.

Through June 10, 2012

“The Art of Anatolian Kilim: Highlights from the McCoy Jones Collection”

de Young Museum

A world-class collection of Anatolian kilims, given to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco by H. McCoy Jones and his wife, Caroline, is showcased in a choice exhibition of two dozen of the finest examples. Presented in the textile arts gallery at the de Young, the Anatolian flat-woven kilims on view, dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries, include a variety of design types and regional styles, as well as superb examples of artistic and visual prowess.

Oct. 8, 2011–Feb. 26, 2012

“Ralph Eugene Meatyard”

de Young Museum

Ralph Eugene Meatyard (American, 1925–1972) is not one of the most familiar names in photographic history, but his impact on the field, belatedly recognized, is significant. An optician in Lexington, Kentucky, Meatyard sustained a lifelong interest in visual perception. Well read and deeply connected to a circle of poets and philosophers, he made photographs rich in literary allusion. In his last decade, Meatyard kept returning to the tropes of dolls and masks, often photographing his children posed in abandoned houses and landscapes in the environs of his home. These pictures put an uncanny spin on family photography, exploring the contrasts between youth and age, childhood and mortality, intimacy and unknowability, sharing and hiding.

Oct. 29, 2011-Feb. 12, 2012

“Masters of Venice: Renaissance Painters of Passion and Power from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna”

de Young Museum

“Masters of Venice” showcases a rich selection of Venetian 16th-century paintings by artists of true genius. Together Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and others translated a revolutionary appreciation for the sensual beauties of nature into a mode of artistic representation capitalizing on the poetic potential of rich atmospheric effects and lustrous color. Visitors will thrill to this worldwide exclusive opportunity to experience 16th-century Venetian paintings through the collections in Vienna. Featured are outstanding examples collected by the Archdukes and Emperors of the Hapsburg family, the most celebrated holdings in the collections of the Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery).

Through Dec. 31, 2011

“The Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy”

Legion of Honor

“The Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy” features 37 exceptional devotional figures that recreate the mourners in a royal funeral procession. On loan from the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, these small marvels have never before been seen in their entirety outside of France prior to the current seven-city exhibition tour.

Oct. 22, 2011–Jan. 22, 2012

“Pissarro’s People”

Legion of Honor

Camille Pissarro (1830–1903) had a special lifelong interest in the human figure. From his earliest years in the Caribbean and Venezuela until his death in Paris in 1903, Pissarro drew, painted and made prints featuring human subjects from every walk of life, which outnumber the figural works of his colleagues Monet and Sisley. “Pissarro’s People” celebrates the painter’s humanism in all its aspects and brings together more than 100 works of art including 40 paintings and numerous works on paper made over the course of his entire career.

Oct. 22, 2011–Jan. 22, 2012

“Artistic San Francisco”

Legion of Honor

An installation of prints, drawings, photographs and paintings from the permanent collection of the Fine Arts Museums pays tribute to the unique sites, scenery and topography of the Bay Area. This display of 30 works in the lower level Wattis Gallery is presented in conjunction with the release of “Artistic San Francisco” a museum publication featuring works of art from the mid-1800s to the present by Wayne Thiebaud, Chiura Obata, Eadweard Muybridge, David Park and Robert Bechtle, among many others.

For information visit www.famsf.org or call 415-750-3600.

Houdini: Art and Magic Examines Life and Legend of Celebrated Entertainer
Starting Oct. 2, 2011 the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., will present the first major exhibition to examine Harry Houdini’s life, legend and enduring cultural influence. On view until Jan. 16, 2012 “Houdini: Art and Magic” includes more than 160 objects: magic apparatus, a recreation of the famous Water Torture Cell, historic photographs, dramatic Art Nouveau-era posters, theater ephemera, and archival and silent films that allow visitors to fully explore the career and legacy of the celebrated entertainer. With a talent for self-promotion and provocation, this immigrant son of a poor Hungarian rabbi rocketed to international fame and grabbed front page headlines with his gripping theatrical presentations and heart-stopping outdoor spectacles. For information visit www.thecjm.org  or call 415-655-7800.

Museum of the African Diaspora Shares Notable Collections in “Collected” Exhibition Oct. 7, 2011-March 4, 2012
Organized by the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), Collected: Stories of Acquisition and Reclamation will be exhibited Oct. 7, 2011- March 4, 2012. The exhibit includes more than 100 objects from three public and private California collections notable for the stories they convey about the contributions of people of African descent to American history, visual and material culture through art works, photographs, historical books, magazines, journals, sheet music, proclamations, manuscripts, photographs, posters and other ephemera. Represented in the exhibition are selections from the collection of brother and sister Alden and Mary Kimbrough; priceless and often eclectic examples of Black Americana rescued by Dr. Mayme A. Clayton, and modern and contemporary artworks collected by San Francisco collector Melvin Holmes. Each collection will be featured in an individual gallery space and through photographs and videos will showcase the collectors’ stories and approach to acquiring their materials. For information visit www.moad.org

SFMOMA Showcases Drawings of Richard Serra Oct. 15, 2011-Jan. 16, 2012
Richard Serra’s large-scale steel sculptures have made him a crucial figure in contemporary art, but his work also takes another striking, lesser-known form: drawing. On view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), 151 Third St., Oct. 15, 2011-Jan. 16, 2012, in its only West Coast presentation, “Richard Serra Drawing: A Retrospective” is the first-ever critical overview of Serra’s drawings. Offering new insight into both the artist’s practice and the possibilities of the medium, this landmark traveling exhibition brings together roughly 70 works made over the course of some 40 years—including many of the artist’s sketchbooks that have never been shown before—and will unfold chronologically, tracing Serra’s ever-evolving ideas and methods since the 1970s. For information visit www.sfmoma.org  or call 415-357-4000.

Grand Opening of the International Art Museum of America Celebrates Artistic Excellence Oct. 15, 2011
The International Art Museum of America (IAMA), a non-profit, permanent art museum located at 1025 Market St., in the new downtown San Francisco Central Market Art District, will open to the public on Oct. 15, 2011 from 11 a.m-5 p.m. The day will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a proclamation from the Mayor of San Francisco and entertainment featuring international opera diva Brenda Jackson..The 21,000-square-foot facility will feature waterfall gardens, meeting and event spaces, and a gift shop. Currently, the galleries include a selected retrospective of the work of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, recent recipient of the World Peace Prize; also featured are works by Professor Yu Hua Shouzhi Wang and others. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors/students/military with I.D. $5 children 5-17 years; children under 5 free. Group tour rates are available. For information visit http://www.facebook.com/IAMASF or call 415-376-6344, ext. 7001. Media contact: Dyana Curreri-Ermatinger, 415-376-6344, ext. 7000.

California Dreaming: New Exhibition at Contemporary Jewish Museum Explores Jewish

Life in the Bay Area from the Gold Rush to the Present Nov. 17, 2011-Oct. 16, 2012
From Levi’s blue jeans to the Sutro Baths, Gump’s to Alan Ginsberg’s “Howl,” the history of the Bay Area’s Jewish community is the history of the region itself. The first exhibition of its kind, “California Dreaming” at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., explores Jewish life in the Bay Area from the Gold Rush to the present and demonstrates how Jewish life today is informed by the pioneering, entrepreneurial spirit of the many Jews who came out West in the booming decades after the Gold Rush. A documentary video by award-winning independent filmmaker Pam Rorke Levy, as well as a commissioned series of photographs by local artist Rachel Schreiber will join an array of original objects, photographs, and more documenting the development of the Bay Area Jewish community. Visitors will be invited to add their stories to the timeline and submit photographs to an ever-evolving exhibition website that can be browsed online or in the gallery. For information visit www.thecjm.com  or call 415-655-7800.

Major New Exhibit Rumbles into California Academy of Sciences May 26, 2012
Prepare to be moved! In the upcoming “Earthquake” exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., delve into the science behind earthquakes and learn how societies prepare for and respond to these destructive phenomena. Experience a high-magnitude jolt in an earthquake simulator, fly over and into the dynamic planet in an immersive planetarium show, and explore the impacts of the largest disaster in San Francisco’s history—the 1906 earthquake and fire. Along the way, visitors will see how earthquakes fit into the larger story of plate tectonics, a constant process that builds mountains, moves continents, and creates the landscape in which life evolves or goes extinct. For information visit www.calacademy.org  or call 415-379-8000.

Sanctum On The Green, created by the team behind the funky Sanctum Soho, is offering the ideal compromise between a house takeover miles from the city and simple overnight in the city: A pool house takeover with room, dinner, breakfast, driver and rock n roll credentials…just an hour from London….and for £235 including VAT per person to boot.

The New Year’s package, for six pals looking for affordable chic rolls out the red carpet right from the get go:

• A glass of bubbly on the rooftop at Sanctum Soho followed by a private transfer early evening on January 31st 2011 (an hour tops) to Sanctum On The Green. (guests coming from other spots will be picked up from Maidenhead train station and chauffeured to check in)

• Dinner for six courtesy of Consultant Executive Chef, John Burton-Race (and nobody gets to wash up or confess to forgetting vital ingredients for the nominated chef)

• A pool house New Year takeover for the night (sleeps six)

• Dipping and lounging in our 80 degree heated outdoor pool or gossiping in the hot tub

• A “ 2012 morning after” continental breakfast

• Private transfer back to Maidenhead Station or to London

Visit: www.sanctumonthegreen.com or call: 01628 482 638

A few facts on Sanctum On The Green:

Nestled in the National Trust beauty of Berkshire’s Cookham Dean, less than an hour from London, this is a breather from City Life without the trek.
9 individually designed rooms, including a pool house and the Sanctum Suite complete with a six foot bath tub, means luxury with side order of exclusive and quiet
Treatment room means anyone can add a bit of spa to the break
A dip in the 80 degree heated outdoor pool or the hot tub, set in the gorgeous courtyard highly recommended
John Burton-Race is Consultant Executive chef, brings Michelin star winning experience to the restaurant serving excellent English dishes
Walks galore in National Trust territory
Horse riding and kayaking easily arranged

For the fun, freedom and fresh air a Keycamp holiday provides, at some of the USA’s most exciting destinations, then why not experience the USA the Keycamp way? And with 20 per cent discount available on RV bookings made before 27 February 2012, your opportunity to ‘live the American dream’ is well within reach.

Whether you’re experiencing the fun and theme parks of the Sunshine State, California dreaming on the West coast or visiting the cultural sites of New England, the ‘Birthplace of America’ – touring your chosen destination from the comfort of an RV cruising down the American highways really will be a holiday to remember.

Sun, fun and theme parks for an Easter to remember in Orlando – £1,624 for 14 nights

An Easter trip to Orlando is the perfect destination for a fun family adventure. From the magic of Disneyland, to the beautiful beaches, world class shopping facilities and the nature of the Everglades – there really is something for all family members to enjoy.

14 nights in a 5 berth RV, sleeping up to three adults and two children and picked up in Orlando on 1 April 2012, will cost £1,624, vehicle hire only, including an early booking discount of £406. Flights are available at a supplement, while theme park tickets can also be purchased through Keycamp.

As well as RVs, there’s a wide selection of other self-catering accommodation options in the USA available from Keycamp, including kabins, lodges, mobile homes and even the iconic ‘Flying Cloud’ Airstream travel trailer, giving a variety of options to suit all tastes, budgets and family sizes.

To book, or for more information, call 0844 406 0319 or visit www.keycamp.co.uk

To celebrate our entry into the icy worlds of Polar Cruises, KE Adventure Travel are giving away a FREE PHD Yukon Down Jacket worth £255 to everyone booking a cruise between now and the end of 2012! Made with probably the warmest down in the world (grade 900), this quality jacket was designed to keep competitors warm at -35C during the Yukon Arctic Ultra sled dog race. Naturally, it’s also perfect for spotting wildlife from the deck of the recently refitted MS Expedition. We are excited to be able to offer a choice of cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic aboard one of the very best of the polar cruise ships.

You can now book the 8-day Realm of the Polar Bear cruise that makes a circumnavigation of the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, or the 11-day Antarctica Classic adventure that will take you from Ushuaia, at the southern tip of the South American continent, across the Drake Passage to the remote and rarely visited Antarctic Peninsula. There is also an extended 13-day Antarctica In Depth cruise which includes additional exploratory days. Whichever of these holidays you choose, it will provide memories to last a lifetime.

- 15% Discount on our Antarctica In Depth cruises departing in November or December 2011.

KE’s Chloe Johnson, has just returned from the Realm of the Polar Bear cruise and you view her photos on KE’s facebook page – www.facebook.com/keadventures

>> View all Polar Cruise Holidays

Leading low cost airline bmibaby is making it cheaper and easier for holidaymakers to jet away with the launch of a new package holiday service.

bmibaby holidays offers a comprehensive range of holiday packages, including flights, accommodation and optional airport transfers, to the UK and Europe’s most popular city and beach destinations.

Customers can book their perfect break safe in the knowledge that bmibaby holidays is fully ATOL protected. There are no debit card fees to pay and holidays can be secured from as little as £100 deposit per person.

Provided in association with Co-op Holidays, bmibaby holidays gives customers the chance to build their perfect holiday package including convenient bmibaby flights from East Midlands, Birmingham and Belfast City Airport, a range of accommodation options and competitive optional airport transfers.

From cultural city breaks for two to a week on a sun drenched beach for the whole family, bmibaby holidays has something for everyone. In addition to the traditional seven and 14 night holiday durations, bmibaby also offers a range of shorter break options of four and five nights which will prove popular with those looking for a quick ‘mini’ break away.

And, with prices starting from as little as £159 for a four night break to Prague or from £189 for a four night break to Benidorm, Alicante, there’s something to suit all budgets.

Julian Carr, managing director at bmibaby, said:

“We are well known for our low cost flights and have a loyal following of regular holidaymakers who fly frequently with us. It made perfect sense for us to extend our offering and give our customers the chance to book their complete holiday package with us.”

Neil Smillie, head of direct operations at Midlands Co-operative Travel, said:

“Having bmibaby now offering complete package holidays in conjunction with Co-op Holidays is great news for their customers, who already know them for their low cost flights so, will be looking forward to seeing what exciting holiday deals they will now offer.”

Simply log on to www.bmibabyholidays.com  to explore what’s available and view the latest offers, a ‘destination of the month’ recommendation and last minute deals.