Sam Spade's San Francisco

Bay to Breakers

This coming Sunday, May 20th is the 95th running of the Bay to Breakers foot race. The start time is 8 AM at the Embarcadero. The runners will wind their way through the City to the finish at the foot of Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach.

The Bay to Breakers is a 12K (7.46 miles) course. From sea level at the Embarcadero the course rises steeply along Hayes Street Hill. Around the 2.5-mile mark runners climb an 11.15% grade between Fillmore and Steiner, bringing them to the highest point in the race, approximately 215 feet above sea level. The remainder of the course gradually flows alongside the Panhandle and through Golden Gate Park.

The rules for the race are clear. Only registered participants will be admitted to the Start and Finish areas. For everyone's safety and enjoyment no alcohol or full nudity is allowed and there will be alcohol checkpoints along the course. Additionally, no pets, roller blades, skateboards, bicycles, or plastic bags for warm-ups are allowed on course. Wheeled objects and over-sized costumes must line up at the back. Near-nudity and wild costumes are welcome.

Call for recorded information and voicemail or visit the Bay to Breakers online at www.ingbaytobreakers.com



ING Greater Body Expo Speaker Programs

On May 19th the Bay to Breakers Expo will feature a full day of exciting speaker programs at their Seminar Area in the Main Arena of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium:

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Brendan Brazier, world-class professional Ironman triathlete, marathon champion, best-selling author, and vegan. Brendan is also the creator of an award-winning vegan meal replacement bar called Vega. Learn about Brendan’s secrets for optimal athletic performance through better nutrition.

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – ING’s Run For Something Better Program– San Francisco Unified School District 7th graders will talk about their recent participation in the 2007 program. Topics will include training, goal-setting, overcoming obstacles, and their experience at the first San Francisco Run for Something Better race in Golden Gate Park on May 17th. This program is perfect for kids!

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm – Q&A with 2007 ING Bay to Breakers 12K Elites– this program was so popular last year we’re bringing it back again. Selected male and female runners from our elite field will be available to answer your questions about the life of a professional runner, the atmosphere of ING Bay to Breakers compared to other races, and their training.

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Meet Steve Jones - Reebok spokesman and former world record holder in the marathon, Steve is one of the great ambassadors and personalities of running. He will address training, the state of US and international running, and his vision for professional running in the future. More information: www.ingbaytobreakers.com



blacKMahal

blacKMahal is a Punjabi-hip hop jazz funk experience led by the "Godfather" of the Dhol Drum Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti. The group mashes sounds from around the world with poignant vocals of life in the farmlands reset within a contemporary landscape. For this narrated concert, BlacKMahal is joined by Dholrhythms in order to show the progression and connections of new and old. Dholrhythms dance troupe performs a fusion of Punjabi folk dances Bhangra/Giddha ranging from traditional choreography to more urban and contemporary pieces.

blacKMahal will perform FREE on Sunday, May 20th from 1pm tp 2:30pm at Yerba Buena Gardens. For more information click here.



San Francisco Botanical Garden at the Strybing Arboretum

Kids of all ages are invited to explore the Botanical Garden with their families! There will be activity, craft and learning stations located throughout the garden. Garden volunteers will help visitors plan a route and set them on their way for a fun family field trip! Children must be accompanied an adult.

Families can pick up a passport and a map at the welcome stations located at the entrance gates. From 1pm to 4pm, Saturday, May 19th. For more information and directions, click here.



Stern Grove Festival

It's time to begin planning which weekends this summer you will attend the Stern Grove Festival. Stern Grove Festival is San Francisco's celebration of community, nature, and the arts. Since 1938, The Festival has shared world-class performing arts with hundreds of thousands of visitors in one of the country's most beautiful and unique natural settings. For generations, every performance at Stern Grove Festival has been presented to you, completely admission-free. The 2007 season promises to be one of the most exciting yet.

Take a look at who is going to be performing:

June 17
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
The Paul Thorn Band

June 24
THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT
Oakland Orchestra

July 1
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

July 8
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
James Gaffigan, Conductor

July 15
OS MUTANTES
Los Amigos Invisibles

July 22
Breathing Under Water, FEATURING ANOUSHKA SHANKAR & KARSH KALE
Non-Stop Bhangra Collective

July 29
ANDY PALACIO & THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE
EMELINE MICHEL

August 5 HUGH MASEKELA
GOAPELE

August 12
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director

August 19
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA

For more information visit the Stern Grove Festival at www.sterngrove.org



San Francisco Symphony

The renowned Philadelphia Orchestra will perform this coming Sunday, May 20th at 7pm. One of the world’s leading orchestras returns to Davies Symphony Hall under the leadership of its music director, conductor Christoph Eschenbach. The New York Times raves, “... Mr. Eschenbach, a musical dynamo, ... is also a probing artist who does not indulge in attention-grabbing effects.” He leads a program that includes Tchaikovsky’s Fifth, a piece that has held the world's attention since it was first heard. The evening's program includes Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, and Horn and Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5.

Tickets range from $25 to $91 and may be purchased from the box office by calling . The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday noon to six. Closed Sundays. Web site: www.sfsymphony.org



8th Annual San Francisco Oyster and Beer Festival

A celebration of oysters and beer from around the world with live music, cooking demonstrations, shuck and suck competition and more. The event will be held in Sharon Meadow at Fort Mason, Bay and Franklin Streets this Saturday, May 19th. Admission ranges from $15 to $50 and the event runs from 12 noon to 7 PM. For more information call .



Whale Migration Boat Trips

Want to see the whales in the Delta or see gray whales feeding off the coast? The Oceanic Society is offering boat trips departing from San Francisco and also Half Moon Bay. You will go out into the Pacific Ocean and watch the furor and frenzy of feeding that is currently going on off the California Coast. Boat trips are planned for this coming Saturday and Sunday. Cost ranges from $45 to $85. For more information call the Oceanic Society at or visit them online at www.oceanicsociety.org