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A
City Within ‘The City’
Home to the largest concentration
of Chinese outside of China, San Francisco's
Chinatown crams exotic shops, restaurants,
produce markets, herbalists and temples
in its 24 square blocks of teeming
activity in the midst of downtown.
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When the ASA Annual Meeting convenes October 11-15,
it will mark the 10th time since 1959 that San Francisco,
California, has played host to the world’s premiere
meeting of anesthesiologists. As always, “Everybody’s
Favorite City” will extend its charm and hospitality
to those who make the journey west. Although small
in size, San Francisco offers the excitement and sophistication
normally found only in much larger cities. A compact
city center where sights and shopping are within easy
walking distance makes for easy exploration on foot.
The city’s 41 hills reward the more adventurous
walker with some of the most picturesque vistas in
the world, including the world-famous Golden Gate
Bridge, which spans the entry to the Pacific Ocean.
The greater San Francisco Bay Area, a compact region
of some 6 million people, offers many more opportunities
for adventure. Whatever activities you choose, you
will find them the perfect diversion from the work
of the meeting.
To help you enjoy some of what San Francisco has to
offer, ASA has put together a wonderful package of
social activities for your entertainment during the
meeting. If you or your guests have never been to
the city before, be sure to attend the free orientation
program to be held on Saturday, October 11. After
that, do some exploring on foot or take a cable car
over Nob Hill and across town to Fisherman’s
Wharf, the most-visited attraction in the city. At
the wharf, you can eat fresh crab while you stroll
along the bay and visit the shops. For those with
children, Pier 39 on the Embarcadero is crowded with
shops, arcades, street entertainers and restaurants.
This spot also has become famous as a hangout for
San Francisco’s large seal population, and they
usually can be seen sunning themselves on the docks.
San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods, each with
a distinct personality. The most famous, Chinatown
and North Beach, are only a modest walk from downtown,
and both are best explored on foot. Take a tour of
Chinatown, starting with the famous gate on Grant
Street. Indulge yourself in some shopping or just
stroll along the small and crowded thoroughfares while
you take in the sights and culture. A little farther
north and adjacent to Chinatown lies the traditional
Italian neighborhood of North Beach. Filled with restaurants,
coffeehouses, theaters and parks, this area hums with
activity all day long and into the evening and is
a wonderful place to explore on foot. Stop for an
espresso and a pastry, have a traditional Italian
dinner or attend a performance of the highly entertaining
Beach Blanket Babylon, a modern version of the Commedia
del’Arte, now in its 27th year on stage.
With more restaurants per capita than any city in
the United States, San Francisco is a food lover’s
paradise and ranks as one of the country’s great
gastronomic destinations. Ethnic cuisine thrives here,
and great restaurants can be found in every price
range. Those looking to get in some shopping between
educational sessions will have everything from the
haute-couture shops and department stores of Union
Square to the more touristy haunts of the Embarcadero
Center. To the south is the upscale Stanford Shopping
Center, home to a beautiful mall with many of the
country’s finest department stores.
San Francisco is home to numerous art museums, studios
and galleries. A short walk from the headquarters
hotels is the unique and beautiful Museum of Modern
Art. This stunning building, a creation of Swiss architect
Mario Botta, houses a remarkable collection of paintings,
sculpture, photography and design. Those interested
in Asian art can visit the newly moved and reopened
Asian Art Museum, now housed near the Civic Center
in the renovated 1917 Beaux Arts building that formerly
served as the city’s main library. After seeing
the museum, do not forget to go across the street
and visit San Francisco City Hall, a French Renaissance
masterpiece of architecture with a dome modeled after
St. Peter’s in the Vatican. Those with more
eclectic tastes might visit one of San Francisco’s
many private studios to learn more about the innovative
side of the art community in the city.
No trip to San Francisco would be complete without
a boat ride on the bay. Take a tour of Alcatraz, the
former “home” of Al Capone and many more
of America’s most notorious criminals. Learn
the true story of “The Rock” and see what
it was like to be in solitary confinement. For a more
serene setting, take the ferry to Angel Island, the
largest island in the bay, and admire the views of
San Francisco while strolling along the old army trails
amid the fields and woods. Another ferry ride will
bring you to the quaint seaside village of Sausalito.
Once a bustling fishing town, it is now home to shops,
restaurants and waterfront views.
A little farther afield lie the beautiful Sonoma and
Napa Valleys, home to some of the world’s finest
wine and food producers. Restaurants such as the legendary
French Laundry and the boutique town of St. Helena
also can be enjoyed. Several wineries have renowned
art collections that can be viewed, and indeed, some
of the winery architecture is art in itself.
No matter what you are looking for, chances are you
will find it in San Francisco and its environs. Those
of us who are fortunate enough to live here join the
city in welcoming you this fall. Just be prepared
to enjoy yourself, and remember to bring a sweater.
The City by the Bay will do the rest.
Steven D. Goldfien, M.D., is
Attending Anesthesiologist, California Pacific Medical
Center, San Francisco, California. |
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