San Francisco Travel Launches First-Ever 'Martini Trail' Featuring 23 Perfected Martinis

The San Francisco Travel Association has unveiled The San Francisco Martini Trail, a curated journey highlighting 23 standout martinis and local establishments in the City by the Bay.

Few drinks are more debated—or celebrated—than the martini. Its exact birthplace may be disputed, but San Francisco played a defining role in shaping its rise to global fame. Conceived in the Bay Area during the Gold Rush and refined in the city's pioneering saloon scene, the martini's simplicity captures San Francisco's spirit: refined yet unpretentious, endlessly reinvented, and impossible to forget.

“The Martini Trail is both a toast to San Francisco's history and a taste of its future. This is where the martini found its swagger and where it continues to be reinvented,” said Anna Marie Presutti, President and CEO of San Francisco Travel. “San Francisco is always raising the bar. We're thrilled to work with local businesses to celebrate the city's craft cocktail scene.”

The Martini Trail spans San Francisco's distinctive neighborhoods, from the Embarcadero to The Richmond. Featuring downtown institutions as well as chic newcomers, each stop celebrates the city's role in shaping cocktail culture one perfect pour at a time.

Curated by San Francisco–based food, drink, and travel writer Omar Mamoon—whose work has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Esquire's “Best Bars” and “Best New Restaurants”—the 23 selections spotlight the creativity and range of San Francisco's bar scene.

“The list shines a light on just a fraction of the many bars and restaurants in San Francisco making excellent martinis,” said Mamoon. “The Martini Trail is just a starting point—use it as a fun way to explore the city and make your own trail, too. There's so much to uncover and explore in SF.”

In addition to the 23 standout martinis, The San Francisco Martini Trail website features Mamoon's favorite 11 establishments to drink a martini, plus details on the evolution of the iconic cocktail.

The 23 establishments highlighted on the San Francisco Martini Trail are:

· Absinthe

· Martuni's

· Balboa Café

· Osso Steakhouse

· Bar Iris

· Pearl 6101

· Bar Maritime

· Sam's Grill & Seafood Restaurant

· BIX

· Starlite

· Brazen Head

· Stookey's Club Moderne

· Californios

· Tadich Grill

· Club Waziema

· The Progress

· Hi Dive Bar

· True Laurel

· Holbrook House

· Wildhawk

· House of Prime Rib

· Zam Zam

· Lillie Coit's

San Francisco Travel held its launch event for the trail at Le Parc Bistrobar in the Galleria Park Hotel in homage to martini lore. The boutique hotel, formerly the Occidental Hotel, is where bartender Jerry Thomas is said to have popularized or created the Martinez, a martini precursor. The hotel celebrates its mixology roots with a daily Sipping Hour, serving complimentary gin martinis in the lobby to hotel guests.

explore The San Francisco Martini Trail and access an interactive map, visit sftravel.com/san-francisco-martini-trail.

San Francisco’s New Rule: Proof Of Vaccine Or No Dining In

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Greg Ryken showed up to his favorite lunch spot in San Francisco on Friday with an appetite and his vaccination record in hand.

A manager at Sam’s Grill and Seafood restaurant verified he was fully vaccinated against COVID-19, put him on a list of customers who have met the city’s new requirement for future reference, and walked him to his table.

“Easy,” Ryken said as San Francisco became the first major city in the U.S. to enforce the strictest vaccine mandate for entering restaurants, bars, gyms and large concerts.

Businesses posted signs and added extra staff to begin verifying people’s vaccination and identity cards before allowing them in. Many gyms had already been checking their members’ vaccination status before the health order went into effect.

“We tested systems in place to see how we would do it, we were talking to our customers, getting our staff prepared, and we are so thrilled to have the full-throated support of the leadership of our city so we can confidently walk into this new landscape together,” said Tracey Sylvester, owner of a Pilates studio in the Mission neighborhood.

Pete Sittnick, a managing partner of Waterbar and EPIC Steak restaurants on the city’s waterfront, said he was worried about slow check-ins, resistance from guests against the requirement or people showing up without proper documentation. So far, he said, the lunch crowd came with vaccination cards in their hands, and the line to get through the door was short.

“The good thing is, if somebody doesn’t have their verification of vaccination they can still eat outside. There is an option and we just need to be ready for different scenarios,” he said.

Mayor London Breed announced the requirement more than a week ago in an attempt to stem rising COVID-19 cases, saying she was worried the highly contagious delta variant could disrupt the city’s economic rebound. She also hopes it will encourage vaccine holdouts to join the 79% of the population that have gotten their shots.

“This is not a punishment,” Breed said Friday. “It’s really about a chance to try and get us moving in the right direction and keeping people safe.”

The mandate goes further than New York City, which requires people to be at least partially vaccinated for a variety of high-risk indoor activities, and New Orleans, which requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for indoor dining or drinking. All three cities make exceptions for people who don’t qualify for the vaccine, including children under 12.

It follows a number of tough safety measures San Francisco imposed since the beginning of the pandemic. The city and its neighboring counties in the Bay Area were the first in the U.S. to issue a stay-at-home order, and was the first big city in the nation to require all city employees to be vaccinated, without the option of testing regularly.

This week, the city sent letters recommending a 10-day suspension without pay for 20 employees in police, fire and sheriff’s departments who refused to report their vaccination status by the Aug. 12 deadline, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has also tighten the rules after announcing the reopening of California’s economy in June. He has required health care workers to get vaccinated to keep their jobs and all teachers and state workers to either get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.

Local business groups have supported the new vaccine mandate, saying it will protect their employees’ and customers’ health and keep them from having to limit capacity indoors. Some businesses that had taken it upon themselves to check for proof of vaccination at the door said a citywide policy helps set clear expectations for all customers.

Jody McCord said the mandate forced her to cancel plans to meet relatives visiting from Wisconsin at her favorite dine-in spots because not everyone in her party is fully vaccinated. They had to take their reunion across San Francisco Bay to a restaurant in Sausalito.

It puts people between a rock and a hard place,” McCord said.

Online ordering and reservation systems such as OpenTable are helping businesses by warning customers of the mandate ahead of time. The city’s hospitality industry has launched a campaign called “Relax, We’re Vaxxed” to get the word out to travelers.

City officials said a paper card issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a photo of the CDC card, or a digital vaccine credential will suffice. Proof of vaccination issued by foreign governments is also acceptable.

Pearce Cleaveland, co-owner of the Temple nightclub, said his security guards have been trained to check all forms of vaccination proof and they have caught some people with fake vaccination cards.

“We’ve had people who get upset at the door when they’re turned away, but in general they’re understanding,” he said.

Workers have until Oct. 13 to prove they are fully vaccinated and Cleaveland said he expects to meet compliance by then.

After a sharp increase in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in the Bay Area over the summer, the numbers appear to be leveling off but remain high, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an expert on infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco.

He said reinstated restrictions have helped slow the spread.

“There is no magic bullet, just a combination of a hard stick and soft stick,” he said. “The proof of vaccination mandate is a soft stick because you can still eat outdoors, but if you want to hang out with people indoors you better get vaccinated.”

Alcatraz Reopens For Indoor Tours After Yearlong Closure

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alcatraz, the historic island prison off San Francisco, opened up Monday for a limited number of indoor tours, which had been off-limits for more than a year due to the pandemic.

Face masks and social distancing are still required at the island, which once housed Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Ferries to Alcatraz are operating at 25% capacity, carrying about 150 passengers instead of the usual 600.

Access to the infamous cell house will also be limited only to visitors who sign up for the audio tour in advance.

Safety modifications have been made throughout the island including social distancing markers, increased cleanings and hand sanitizing stations.

Food service will not be available on the ferries or on the island.

In August, the popular tourist destination opened to an outdoor-only experience, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Alcatraz usually hosts up to 5,000 tourists a day. For now, that number will be reduced to about a thousand.

San Francisco Travel Asks Visitors To Do Their Part With Safe Travel Pledge

(bluejayphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images) Photo by bluejayphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

San Francisco Travel, the city's official destination marketing organization, is asking visitors to commit to safe and responsible practices by signing the new Safe Travel Pledge. The Safe Travel Pledge encourages future visitors to come to San Francisco and to do so responsibly. This pledge is designed to remind people not only of what to expect when they visit the city, but what is expected of them as well.

Since launching on July 29, 420 people have proactively committed to the ten-point pledge to follow health and safety guidelines designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 62% of those who have signed the safe travel pledge live in California, with 32% being residents of San Francisco and 21% located in Northern California outside of San Francisco. 38% of those who signed are located outside of California.

People signing the pledge proactively promise to abide by the following tenants for traveling and visiting safely:

• Wear a mask or other face covering when in public spaces.
• Maintain physical distance from others while exploring the city.
• Practice good hygiene to lower the risk of spreading or contracting disease.
• Follow all local public health orders, even if they are different from the ones where I live.
• Research the changes that local hotels, attractions, and businesses have made before I travel so that I can be a responsible visitor.
• Support local businesses that form the character and culture of San Francisco's many different neighborhoods.
• Use contactless payment methods wherever possible.
• Be patient with and respectful to the workers in San Francisco's hotels, restaurants, and stores, who are all adjusting to new protocols and procedures.
• Preserve and protect the places I visit by not littering or leaving things behind.
• Lead by example and share these practices with other travelers.

"As we prepare to welcome people back to San Francisco, we want to encourage visitors to do their part to keep themselves and our residents safe, too. Our Safe Travel Pledge is a way for visitors to show that they are committed to traveling responsibly," said San Francisco Travel President and CEO Joe D'Alessandro. "The fact that almost 40% of those who signed the pledge are potential visitors from outside of California shows that we are starting to reach people outside of California, and they are signaling that they want to travel safely as soon as the city is open for leisure travel."

The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. For information on reservations, activities and more, visit http://www.sftravel.com or call 415-391-2000.

For information on reservations, activities and more, visit http://www.sftravel.com or call 415-391-2000.    For more about San Francisco, follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Please use hashtags #sftravel and #AlwaysSF.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 50 international cities on 44 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with 85 cities in the U.S. on 12 domestic airlines. In SkyTrax Passengers' Choice Awards for 2020, SFO was the highest-rated airport in the United States, ranking third worldwide behind airports in Toronto and Barcelona. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit http://www.flysfo.com. Follow SFO on http://www.twitter.com/flysfo and http://www.facebook.com/flysfo.

United Airlines is the preferred airline of the San Francisco Travel Association.

Alcatraz To Reopen After Closure Due To Pandemic August 17th

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alcatraz, the infamous former island prison off San Francisco, will reopen its outdoor areas to the public August 17th after being closed for five months because of the pandemic.

The island, which once housed Al Capone and George “Machine Gun Kelly,” will reopen Monday. But it will be an outdoor-only experience, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, the Mercury News reported Thursday.

The National Park Service, which owns Alcatraz, has been steadily reopening other national parks, including Yosemite, Muir Woods, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Pinnacles and others, often with reduced visitation and closed visitor centers.

Ferry service, trails, gardens and a revised audio tour that has commentary from former prisoners and guards, and includes the outdoor features, will be available.

Visitors, which normally reach about 5,000 to 6,000 people a day in the summer, will be limited to 750 a day. Those taking the ferry to head to the island will have their temperature taken before getting on the boat and will be required to wear a mask. Anyone with a temperature above 100.4 Fahrenheit will be turned away.

Masks are not required on the island, but they are strongly encouraged, parks officials said.

“This is a great opportunity. There will be fewer visitors on the island,” said Charles Strickfaden, a spokesman for the National Park Service. “It’s an opportunity to take a walk on the wild side at Alcatraz. There are thousands of nesting birds out there. There are amazing views. There’s a lot to do.”

San Francisco Toasts $550M Convention Center Expansion

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mayor London Breed says a $550 million expansion of San Francisco’s convention center will better meet the needs of tourism as the city battles entrenched problems of homelessness and drug addiction.

Breed and other civic leaders toasted on Thursday the expansion of Moscone Center, which opened in 1981.

The building is environmentally friendly with solar paneling and recovered water for landscaping and street cleaning. Officials showed off new terraces with breathtaking views and above-ground pedestrian bridges that connect its north and south sides.

Breed says she is aware that the city’s livability issues deeply affect tourism, and said the expansion is an eye to the future.

The convention center is in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, a challenging part of the city riddled with used needles and other trash.

The Best New Beer Gardens To Visit Summer 2016

Rob Cardillo

New open-air beer gardens are popping up all over the country. We’ve rounded up the best openings to check out.

This story originally appeared on foodandwine.com

PHS Garden at the Viaduct Rail Park, Philadelphia, PA

The Pennsylvania Horticulture Society has been revitalizing vacant city spaces since 2011 and has now turned a defunct overhead railway into a pop-up beer garden. Victory Brewing Company has crafted a special beer for the PHS beer gardens—an American wheat ale with Orange Blossom Honey—and Top Chef alum Jason Cichonski and Chef Sylva Senat oversee the food menu. Offerings include the Bun Box, an assortment of steamed buns with a variety of seasonal ingredients. Viaduct Rail Park, 10th and Hamilton St.

Springfield BID White Lion Wednesdays, Springfield, MA

The Springfield Business Improvement District has partnered with White Lion Brewery to pop up beer gardens in a rotating set of downtown locations. Each Wednesday features White Lion beer, food and live music. One Financial Plaza; Tower Square Park; Market Street by Market Place.

Steeplechase Beer Garden, Brooklyn, NY

James Quigley

Taking inspiration from the former Steeplechase Amusement Park that stood in the same spot for over 65 years, this beer garden features funhouse mirrors, an arcade, outdoor games and live shows. Local beers such as Coney Island Brewery, which is right next-door, are the focus of the taps. Come harvest time, they’ll brew their own beer with the hops growing on the garden’s trellises. 1904 Surf Avenue.

The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis, MN

Kurt Stafki

This new Nordic restaurant has opened its backyard space for a series of beer garden events throughout the summer, each partnering with a different local brewery. Collaborators include Fulton Brewery, Able Seedhouse and Brewery, and Pyres Brewery. And on the first Saturday of August, do not miss their annual Kräftskiva festival, a Scandinavian crawfish block party. 50 2nd Ave N.

Conservatory, Houston, TX

William Hardin

To get out of the sun without sacrificing outdoorsy vibe, head to Conservatory, an underground food hall and beer garden. There’s a wall of plants and design cues that take inspiration from greenhouses. The 60-tap selection includes local favorites like Texian Vaquero and Buffalo Bayou 1836, and food comes from all over Houston dining scene, including Texas barbeque from El Burro & The Bull. 1010 Prairie St.

Sipyard, Urbana, IL

Adjacency

This Kickstarter-funded beer garden was built from old shipping containers and sharing space with an outdoor graffiti gallery. The taps focus on Illinois beers, including those from Triptych Brewery, which was similarly funded through a Kickstarter campaign. 204 W Main St.

New Belgium Brewery Beer Garden, Fort Collins, CO

Courtesy of New Belgium Brewing

This 100% employee-owned brewery has expanded its Fort Collins tasting room after converting an old parking lot into a grassy picnic area, complete with fire pits, Belgian shuffleboard and a rotating host of food trucks. A retired airstream trailer, Abbey the Beerstream, has become a four tap pouring station. 500 Linden St.

Lagunitas Beer Garden at Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, CA

SF’s Ghirardelli Square just got a beer garden, courtesy Sonoma-based Lagunitas Brewing Company. Half the proceeds from the garden will be donated to local organizations like SOMA Arts and the San Francisco Parks Alliance. 900 N Point St.

Inside The New San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art

Courtesy SFMOMA

A rendering of the soon-to-be-complete new SFMOMA.

The museum will unveil a major expansion in May 2016, and Condé Nast Traveler got a peek at the new space.

On a rare rainy day in San Francisco last month, a group of museum patrons and partners met at the expansive new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, better known as SFMOMA. Up Natoma Street in a revived SoMa (the moniker for the formerly seedy south of Market Street neighborhood), a small crowd gathered beneath an overhang of the yet-to-be opened 10-story structure, erected at the back of the museum’s original Mario Botta building. The rippling white façade (made from 1,300 panels of FRP, or fiberglass reinforced polymer, with reflective silicate crystals), a gesture to the waters of the Bay, rose above as the group entered the building on a private tour. Emerging into the Roberts Family Gallery, the group was quiet as if crossing the threshold of a sanctuary. Richard Serra’s Sequence, still encased in plastic as they finish construction, stood in the center of the glass-walled space, which will serve as a public gathering area off Howard Street. The work was still affecting, even veiled by plastic.

By the time the museum reopens on May 14, it will have been closed nearly three years for the major expansion by architectural firm Snøhetta—winners of the World Architecture Award, among others, for projects including Egypt’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Oslo’s Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. By the numbers, it's easy to see why the expansion took so long: The 235,000 square-foot addition spans an entire city block and is the size of a football field. Nearly tripling in exhibition space, SFMOMA will have seven viewing floors with areas specifically dedicated to their acclaimed photography collection, American abstraction, Pop, Minimalism, German art, and works from the Fisher Collection (a private collection amassed by Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher), on loan for a century. A new commissioning program will launch with a work from Dutch felt artist Claudy Jongstra, followed by work from abstract artist Julie Mehretu in 2017. The program will also include performance work.

California's landscape plays a major role throughout the expansion. Scaling through the galleries are hidden maple staircases that reflect Telegraph Hill’s Filbert Street Steps, and a matching staircase will replace Botta’s original in the main entrance, allowing for more light from his signature oculus (the matte on glassy black striped tiling still characterizes the lobby). Up on the third floor, there’s a new sculpture terrace devoted to Alexander Calder; the largest living wall in the United States sowed with all native California plants serves as a backdrop. Another outdoor space on the seventh floor offers a glimpse into the conservators’ studio and a view over the city.

The museum has also revamped its dining program. A new restaurant from three Michelin-starred chef Corey Lee will be open until 11 p.m., even after the galleries close. Called In Situ, the restaurant features dishes from big name chefs like René Redzepi, Alice Waters, and Thomas Keller, the recipes for which Chef Lee has faithfully traveled to learn. Two other dining options are San Francisco’s own Sightglass Coffee on the third floor and Café 5, which serves light California-fusion fare, on the fifth.

The museum has come a long way since its foundation in 1935 on just one floor of the War Memorial Veterans Building. And even with the renovations still underway, SFMOMA is abuzz with energy. It's not just surrounding the museum: the notoriously creative city is finally meeting its match in arts institutions. This year alone will bring a new home for the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 500 Capp Street (the new museum in artist David Ireland’s former home and studio), FraenkelLAB (the experimental gallery from the city’s well-established Fraenkel Gallery), and Pace Gallery’s new Art + Technology program launching in Menlo Park next month. Among them, SFMOMA is the mothership marking the Bay Area’s arts and culture renaissance.

Written by Molly Elizalde, www.cntraveler.com

Prisoners Of Age Exhibit Extended At Alcatraz Through June 2016

The National Park Service is pleased to announce that the award-winning “PRISONERS OF AGE” exhibition will be extended through June 2016. This special display was designed by photographer Ron Levine and designers Michael Wou and Russel Volckmann and will be on view for an additional six months due to the overwhelming response from visitors to the island. This exhibit marks the next in a series on Alcatraz that focuses on aspects of crime and punishment, incarceration, freedom and social justice.  

“PRISONERS OF AGE” is an evocative series of photographs and chronicles of elderly men and women, taken over a period of 18 years, at prisons and prison-wards for geriatric offenders in the United States and Canada. Prisoners of age comprise the fastest growing age group in the United States. One-in-ten inmates is 55 or older. A decade ago, that was one-in-twenty. Existing prison space is in serious decline and medical costs are soaring. Incarcerating geriatric men and women in prison is becoming prohibitively expensive- up to 9 times the cost of a younger inmate.  As Federal and State prisons begin to look more like high security nursing homes, the people who manage North America's prison system worry about how to handle the imminent explosion in the geriatric population. Through photography and interviews, “PRISONERS OF AGE” offers a microcosmic glimpse of what lies ahead in this new millennium.

The exhibition features 60 larger than life photographs and revealing narratives from conversations with the inmates, guards and prison officials. The exhibition is designed by Michael Wou and Russell Volckmann.

How to see the exhibit:

The exhibit is displayed in the New Industries Building through December 2015 and will be open to the public visiting Alcatraz Island during daytime hours for no extra charge.  Exhibit hours are 10:00am to 2:00pm. Storms or heavy rain could cause the exhibit to temporarily close. For additional information, please call NPS Alcatraz at 415-561-4900. 

Tickets to Alcatraz frequently sell out many days in advance. They are only available through Alcatraz Cruises, the official park concessionaire for ferry service, 90 days in advance: alcatrazcruises.com or 415-981-7625.

The full exhibit was last seen at Alcatraz Penitentiary in 2000. It has also been seen in The National Archives of Canada [2002], Eastern State Penitentiary Museum, Philadelphia [2002], Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin [2004], Fremantle Prison Museum, Perth [2010], and The Powerhouse Gallery, Brisbane [2011].

Alcatraz Cruises is the National Park Service concessioner of ferry service to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.  Alcatraz Cruises hosts nearly 1.5 million visitors annually.  Alcatraz Cruises designed, built and operates the first hybrid ferry in the United States.  The Hornblower Hybrid’s revolutionary design has reduced fuel consumption by 75% and has already begun to be implemented in other parts of the country.  For more information visit: www.alcatrazcruises.com.

Travelore Tips: 10 Travel Secrets From The Top Hotel Concierges In The world

Concierges are often overlooked as a resource for insider information on any given destination—called upon instead for last-minute theater tickets, restaurant reservations, and the like—but they're also experts at the destinations they represent. Certified Indigenous, a new book released by The Luxury Collection, taps concierges of the world's top hotels for their best destination secrets. Here are some of our favorites.

Ignore what all the guidebooks tell you and skip Moscow’s busy “golden period” (April-June) in favor of winter—yes, really. “Winter is the best season to visit Moscow,” promises Julia Pasechinik, Chief Concierge of Hotel National. “The streets are decorated and look so beautiful, especially at nighttime, when the trees and buildings are lit up and covered with snow. It’s magical.”

“Hire a traditional troika—a carriage pulled by three horses, once the standard mode of transport in cold weather,” adds Pasechinik. “Afterward, have a bowl of hot borscht and a small glass of vodka at Pavilion, like the natives.”

Chris Neidenthal/Getty

Jakarta might be filled with tourist traps, but there’s still lots of authenticity hidden in plain sight—if you know where to look. “Go to Setu Babakan, a cultural village that preserves the indigenous Betawi culture in Jakarta,” advises Teguh Perwira, Chief Concierge at Keraton at The Plaza. “You’ll find traditional houses, see cultural shows, and experience authentic Indonesian traditions.”

If you’re in the Old City, stop by the charming Cafe Batavia. “It’s in the second oldest building in Kota Tua and is the perfect spot for lunch. Grab a window table on the second floor, overlooking the old city hall.”

Ian Trower/Alamy

There's so much more to Vienna than palaces, gardens, and museums; it has a very fun, playful side that most tourists overlook. "Visit the Prater Amusement Park and ride the Riesenrad," advises Dieter Ludewig, Chief Concierge of the Hotel Bristol. "Then hike up Kahlenberg to its peak, Stefaniewarte, for the best views of the city."

Once you've worked up an appetite, "eat lunch at Gastwirtschaft Huth and try the tafelspitz (boiled beef),schnitzel (deep-fried veal), and apfelstrudel. Or, for a quick bite, try a sausage at Würstelstand Bitzinger for a truly local experience."

Shopaholics, rejoice: Turns out one of the best ways to experience the City of Bridges is through browsing its artisan boutiques. “Much of the beauty of experiencing Venice comes from shopping,” admits Filippo Bollani, Chief Concierge at Hotel Danieli. “Stop in the charming boutique Pied-à-terre for a pair of handcrafted leather Furlane, the famous velvet gondolier slippers, handsewn by Friulu countrywomen, using bicycle tires for the soles.”

“Then there’s Nardi. Its jewelry is beloved by clientele that have included Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. The shop also works with clients to create fabulous bespoke pieces, the ultimate Venetian keepsake. End the day with an aperitif and dinner in Restaurant Terraza Danieli.”

Reda and Co/Alamy

Shanghai

Fight the impulse to see everything in glamorous, action-packed Shanghai and, instead, just take it slow. “Take a walk through the 400-year-old Yu Garden, a tranquil private garden,” advises Stanley Shao, Chief Concierge at The Hongta Hotel. "Stop at Lu Bo Lang for Chinese radish cake and xiao long bao (steamed pork dumplings), or the Pavilion tea house to sip Chinese tea.”

“Do as the locals do and spend an evening taking a mellow boat ride down the Huangpu River, enjoying the lights and spectacle of Shanghai—from afar.”

Alex Segre/Alamy

Mallorca

The island of Mallorca may be best known for its beaches but, according to Mariano Iglesias Moreno, concierge at Castillo Hotel Son Vida, the island’s peaks are equally beautiful. “The Serra de Tramuntana mountains are my favorite natural attraction in Mallorca,” says Moreno.

“Start your day with a mild hike through the mountain range, starting in Esporles. While you’re there, try pa amb oli—an authentic snack of bread with native ramallet tomato squeezed over it, and a dash of olive oil, salt, and various toppings. Later, visit the indoor markets of Palma—Mercat Olivar and Mercat de Santa Catalina—which is like heaven for foodies.”

Marin Siepmann/Alamy

Paris

Paris, like Venice, is best experienced through admiring (and tasting!) the work of its artisans. "Visit the Delisle showroom, where, since 1895, craftsmen have been working with bronze and iron to make custom lighting, furniture, and clocks," advises Marie-Liesse Thery, Head Concierge at Prince de Galles Hotel. "Or arrange for a visit to the workshop of Manuela Paul Cavallier, an artist who use gold leaf to combine a 17th-century aesthetic with a contemporary vibe."

Like cheese? "Visit Fromagerie Quatrehomme on Rue de Sèvres. The family dairy shop has more than 200 cheeses on offer. The owner, Marie, was the first woman to be awarded the title Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman in France) in 2000."

Boris Karpinski/Alamy

San Francisco

When in San Francisco, it's worth exploring outside the city center. "Ride the ferry to the charming town of Sausalito, full of boutiques, outdoor cafes, galleries, and wine shops," suggests Jose Lopez, Chief Concierge at the Palace Hotel. "Spend the afternoon wandering, shopping, and tasting, and enjoy the stunning sights on the water spanning from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge on the way back."

"Also visit North Beach, and slip into an Italian cafe for homemade cannoli and delicious espresso."

Bob Kriesel/Alamy

Crete

Crete isn’t all sandy beaches and aquamarine waters; it’s also home to the country’s best wine, according to Konstantinos Skoumbakis, Chief Concierge at the Blue Palace. “Don’t miss Boutari Winery, near the archaeological site of Knossos, where some of the earliest traces of Western viticulture were discovered,” says Skoumbakis. “It’s a state-of-the-art winery that gives incredible insight into the country’s history in winemaking.”

“End the day at the Blue Palace. We light bonfires on the beach and slow-cook the famous antikristo lamb. Bread is baked in a stone oven, and local producers come with their honey, olive oil, herbs, and clay pottery. Crete is a magical place.”

Fanika Zupan

New York

When visiting New York, "touristy" isn't always a bad thing. "Take a stroll through Central Park—it's the world's most famous public park—and see the Reservoir, Belvedere Castle, and the Great Lawn," advises James Jolis, Chief Concierge at The Chatwal. "Art lovers should also visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, particularly the Ancient Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian Collection."

For food: "Go to Totto Ramen for a quick bite. And indulge in one of the notable restaurants in the Theater District before seeing a show—Betony (pictured) is good for modern American fare, and ABC Kitchen for an intimate downtown vibe."

For concierge secrets in other destinations, check out The Luxury Collection's Certified Indigenous: Exceptional Itineraries for the Global Explorer.

Ilya Savenok/Getty

From www.cntraveler.com

Alcatraz Island Is Home To A New Exhibit Entitled “Prisoners Of Age”

The National Park Service is pleased to announce the return of the award-winning ‘PRISONERS OF AGE’ exhibition from photographer Ron Levine and designers Michael Wou and Russel Volckmann to Alcatraz Island July-December 2015.  This exhibit marks the next in a series on Alcatraz that focuses on aspects of crime and punishment, incarceration, freedom and social justice.  

PRISONERS OF AGE’ is an evocative series of photographs and chronicles of elderly men and women, taken over a period of 18 years, at prisons and prison-wards for geriatric offenders in the United States and Canada. Prisoners of age comprise the fastest growing age group in the United States. One-in-ten inmates is 55 or older. A decade ago, that was one-in-twenty. Existing prison space is in serious decline and medical costs are soaring. Incarcerating geriatric men and women in prison is becoming prohibitively expensive- up to 9 times the cost of a younger inmate.  As Federal and State prisons begin to look more like high security nursing homes, the people who manage North America's prison system worry about how to handle the imminent explosion in the geriatric population. Through photography and interviews, ‘PRISONERS OF AGE’ offers a microcosmic glimpse of what lies ahead in this new millennium.

‘The exhibition features 60 larger than life photographs and revealing narratives from conversations with the inmates, guards and prison officials. The exhibition is designed by Michael Wou and Russell Volckmann.

How to see the exhibit:

The exhibit is displayed in the New Industries Building (July – Dec. 2015) and will be open to the public visiting Alcatraz Island during daytime hours for no extra charge.  Exhibit hours are 10 am to 2 pm.  For additional information, please call NPS Alcatraz at 415-561-4900. 

Tickets to Alcatraz frequently sell out many days in advance. They are only available through Alcatraz Cruises, the official park concessionaire for ferry service, 90 days in advance: alcatrazcruises.com or 415-981-7625.

The full exhibit was last seen at Alcatraz Penitentiary in 2000. It has also been seen in The National Archives of Canada [2002], Eastern State Penitentiary Museum, Philadelphia [2002], Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin [2004], Fremantle Prison Museum, Perth [2010], and The Powerhouse Gallery, Brisbane [2011].

Alcatraz Cruises is the National Park Service concessioner of ferry service to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.  Alcatraz Cruises hosts nearly 1.5 million visitors annually.  Alcatraz Cruises designed, built and operates the first hybrid ferry in the United States.  The Hornblower Hybrid’s revolutionary design has reduced fuel consumption by 75% and has already begun to be implemented in other parts of the country.  For more information visit: www.alcatrazcruises.com.

Travelore Tips: What To Do In San Francisco

If you’re going to San Francisco, you don’t actually need to wear flowers in your hair – that’s so 1967 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENrmULWKbeM) – just come as you are, do your thing, and bliss out. Whether you’re a freak, geek, diva, or dandy, there’s a niche here with your name on it. At the local subculture hotspots we list below, you’ll find your scene and fresh inspiration waiting for you. You might not end up wearing flowers in San Francisco, but you could sport a pirate patch, or learn a whole new way to rock a sock.

If you like free shows...

• Stern Grove Festival (www.sterngrove.org): Free concerts on Sundays through the Summer in San Francisco’s natural tree-ringed amphitheater, from Rufus Wainwright to SF Opera.
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Social Distortion and other headliners play for free on five stages in Golden Gate Park.
• Shakespeare in the Park (www.sfshakes.org): Romeo, Juliet & company take over the Presidio at free outdoor performances.
• Amoeba Music’s free concerts: Rockers, DJs, singer-songwriters, and hip-hop heroes give free concerts at the Bay Area’s best record store.
• Giants Baseball (sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com): Catch a glimpse of the multi-World Series winners in action and join the party at the Embarcadero waterfront promenade behind left field.

If you like saloons...

• Comstock Saloon: Vintage Victorian watering hole with lantern lighting, strong drink and dainty bar bites.
• Elixir: Serving spur-shaking cocktails since the Gold Rush – only now they’re organic in this certified-green 1858 saloon.
• 15 Romolo: Hidden between XXX dives, this speakeasy serves superior bar bites and a vicious Suckerpunch (bourbon, bitters, coffee and Fernet).
• Homestead: Your classic Victorian front-parlor dive, complete with stamped-tin ceiling, Boddington’s on tap and peanuts in the shell.
• Rickhouse: Bartenders in newsboy caps serve whiskey straight from the barrel and dangerously tasty spiced rum punch bowls.

If you like local hangouts...

• Sharon Meadow: Drum circlers, glassblowers, girls’ soccer teams, lawn bowlers, and carousel-horse riders: there’s something for everyone at this sunny Golden Gate Park field off Haight Street.
• The Embarcadero: No matter whether you jog, skate or stroll it, this Bayfront promenade will stop you in your tracks with waterfront watering holes and attractions galore. Don’t miss Ferry Building farmers markets and the mysterious fog science exhibits outside the Exploratorium.
• Cafe Flore: Glassed-in Castro corner venue serving coffee with a side of local eye candy – ideal for Grindr meetups and 4-7pm weekday happy hours.
• Trouble Coffee: Soggy wet-suited surfers chill with coconut water in the shell outside on the driftwood bench, while beachcombers on a mission toss back espressos in handmade stoneware cups at the tiny indoor bar.

Pin this imageMacondray Lane is a beautiful alley offering tree-lined walkways and views across the city. Image by John Leszczynski / CC BY-SA 2.0

If you like offbeat shopping...

• 826 Valencia: Get your eye patches, lard recipes, tall tales, rope by the fathom and other essential pirate supplies at this den of literary inspiration – all proceeds go to support youth writing and literary arts programs.
• Adobe Books: Lose track of entire afternoons among piles of used San Francisco history books, sidewalk album art installations, self-published ‘zines and survival guides for artists, and backroom gallery openings featuring SF artists who show in museums elsewhere.
• Park Life: Cool-hunting made simple: skateboard decks sporting SF Victorian row houses, Russian prison tattoo books and sprawling collage art installations.
• Hollow: A curiosity-cabinet café lined with inkwells, robot tea strainers, wildflower seed bombs, Guinness cupcakes and DIY chai kits – it’s Alice in Wonderland retail.
• Loved to Death: Morbid glamour, from genuine Victorian hair lockets to the taxidermy art wall – no wonder this place has its own surreal reality TV show. 

If you like hidden alleyways...

• Balmy Alley: Hot topics and artistic talents have surfaced since the 1970s in this alley covered in art by SF muralistas.
• Spofford Alley: Revolutions were plotted and bootlegger gun battles waged here – but peace has brought Chinese orchestras and marathon mahjong games to the block.
• Jack Kerouac Alley: Dig this byway named after the Beat author where poetry is inscribed on the walls.
• Ross Alley: Ladies who entered this notorious alley once risked their reputations, but now the most colorful characters are on the alleyway murals.
• Macondray Lane: This shady, cottage-lined lane was the perfect setting for the mysterious landlady in Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City.

If you like being as naked as possible without getting arrested...

• Baker Beach:When the fog rolls into the clothing-optional north end of the beach, you’ll get goose bumps in the most unusual places.
• Pride Parade: A handful of rainbow glitter is all you need to come out and show some pride, as a million people cheer for you along Market St.
• Bay to Breakers: Racers streak across town, some wearing nothing but shoes and fanny packs to stash sunscreen and cover unmentionables.
• Folsom Street Fair: As you’ll soon notice, it’s possible to get tattooed and pierced absolutely everywhere – but don’t stare unless you’re prepared to compare.
• Jane Warner Plaza: You’ve arrived in the Castro when you spot guys wearing nothing but a strategically placed gold lamé sock, casually chatting at bistro tables next to the F-line streetcar turnaround.

Pin this imageThe northern section of Baker Beach is perfect for getting that all-over tan - fog permitting. Image by David McSpadden / CC BY 2.0

If you like classic movie locations...

• Fort Point: Hitchcock was right: swirling noir-movie fog and giddy Golden Gate views make for a thrilling case of Vertigo.
• Nob Hill: What a ride - Steve McQueen’s muscle car goes flying over the summit in Bullit and somehow it lands in SoMa.
• Sutro Baths: San Francisco’s splendid, dandified ruin made a suitable setting for the May-December romance in Harold and Maude.
• Human Rights Campaign Action Center & Store: Harvey Milk’s camera shop in the Oscar-winning movie Milkwas the actual Castro location, now home to the GLBT civil rights organization.
• Bay Bridge: Oops! When Dustin Hoffman sets out for Berkeley in The Graduate, he heads across the Bay Bridge - the wrong way. You should see it the right way – at night, when the mesmerizing Bay Lights installation shimmers all the way to Treasure Island.

Contributed by Alison Bing

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