2006 events |
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2003 events |
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2001 events
Cool and crisp for the holiday tree lighting
The Dorothy Fritz Cope Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony sponsored by the Nob Hill Association and the Huntington Hotel was held on Monday, Dec. 3, 2007 in Huntington Park. In a ceremony that rang in the official start of the holiday season on Nob Hill, Yomi Agunbiade, general manager of the Recreation and Parks Department, threw the switch lighting the Christmas trees at 6 p.m. as the bells of Grace Cathedral chimed.
"The Nob Hill Association has been helping to keep Huntington Park beautiful since 1928", said Torey Presti, the association's president. Santa stopped in to greet Nob Hill's children and the San Francisco Girls Chorus sang carols of the season.
The ceremony is a truly local event, embracing family and the city's can-do, pioneering spirit. In 1945, real state developer Eugene Fritz turned his Huntington Apartments into the Huntington Hotel, and five years later stunned the male-dominated industry by transferring ownership to his daughter, Dorothy Fritz. It was Dorothy Fritz's hard work that made the Huntington Hotel the must-stay address for generations of royalty, celebrity, and people with supremely good taste. Today, the ownership and operation of the landmark hotel remains in the hands of a third generation of family members.
For photos of the tree lighting, click here.
Big Crowd For The Annual Meeting
The Nob Hill Association commemorated its 79th year of existence with a packed grand ballroom at the Ritz Carlton Hotel for its annual meeting of members. Numbering now nearly 800 members, more than 200 attended the meeting to review the Association's accomplishments for the last year and to acknowledge two outstanding public servants and numerous individuals all of whom give of their time, talent and resources to the City and to the Nob Hill neighborhood.
NHA president Torey Presti reported on the benchmarks for 2006 which included the Association's participation in the state of the art renovation of the St. Francis Hospital emergency room. He also reported on the ongoing efforts of the Association and the Huntington Park committee to update and modernize maintenance procedures for the Fountain of the Tortoises in the Park and the ongoing efforts to beautify the Jones Street Tank property.
But, as usual, the highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Association's awards honoring San Francisco's Firefighter of the year and Police Officer of the year. Fire Department Chief Joanne Hayes-White presented the Firefighter of the year award to Assistant Deputy Chief Thomas Siragusa who serves as deputy chief in charge of training. He was also recognized for leading a team of firefighters to southern California last month during the massive coastal fires. Police Department Chief, Heather Fong, was also present as Central Station Captain Jim Dudley presented the Police Officer of the year award to Officer Matthew Fambrini, a fourth generation San Franciscan. Both award recipients made moving remarks in accepting the awards, particularly thanking their colleagues in the Fire and Police departments for their support. President Presti also made presentations to the Firefighters' Toy Program and for the lighting of the windows at Grace Cathedral, accepted by Grace Cathedral Dean Alan Jones.
Instituting a new tradition, President Presti also made three Citizen Recognition awards to individuals who make a difference in the neighborhood. He recognized Jeannette and Tom Hsieh for organizing a cleanup of Huntington Park the first Saturday of every month; Susan Crossley and Timothy Collins for volunteering to clean the streets on the Hill; and John Doremus for his work cleaning off graffiti in the neighborhood.
Following the meeting, the Association hosted a lovely reception for the members and the award winners and their families and supporters. Wines and assorted waters and soft drinks were offered by Ritz Carlton staff to members while they nibbled on such succulent hors d'oeuvres as caramelized pear with Roquefort cheese and walnut on brioche, tuna tartare wakame and other wonderful hot offerings such as Colorado grilled lamb chops; caramelized onion, mushroom and goat cheese tartelette; and mini bouchee "Wellington" stuffed with beef mushroom duxelles and fois gras truffle.
It was an exceptional and fun evening and has everyone looking forward to the NHA's 80th anniversary in 2008.
For photos of the 2007 annual meeting, click here.
New Restaurant Opens on Nob Hill
New Restaurant Opens on Nob Hill
The new restaurant, Californian Bar & Restaurant, located in Gramercy Towers at California and Jones streets on Nob Hill has opened to great pomp and wonderful reviews. Owned by the Frantin family: Dorothy, Phil and Mat, the Californian is the newest restaurant for fine dining to grace the Hill. Nob Hill Association members and their guests were recently invited to the Californian for a splendid evening of conversation and camaraderie and hosted to a wonderful spread of tasty dishes prepared from the menu of Executive Chef Gérard Savé, formerly of the Gold Spike and Mortons. Over 150 guests attended.
For photos of the opening of Californian, click here..
Warm Weather Delights Huge Crowd for California Mille 2007
Over 500 Nob Hill Association members and friends contributed to the annual California Mille benefiting the Nob Hill Association and its effort to preserve the beauty and history of Nob Hill and Huntington Park. Many hundreds more dropped by to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon admiring the dozens of rare cars assembled in front of the Fairmont Hotel and in Huntington Park. The California Mille has become one of the Nob Hill's most popular events. And everything was captured by KRON 4 and broadcast live.
The California Mille unites an international group of rare sports racing and production cars dating from 1927 through 1957 for a 1000 mile journey throughout Northern California. The tour is patterned after the world-famous Italian "Mille Miglia," a 1000 mile open road race which ran from 1927 through 1957 from Brescia in the North of Italy to Rome and back. It was revived in 1982 as an annual event and, today, the California Mille is the only American event recognized by the Mille Miglia Storica (Historical Society) of Brescia, Italy.
Held in front of the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, manager Francisco Gomez and his staff provided a sumptuous Italian buffet with Champagne, wine and cocktails. In addition to the Fairmont Hotel, California Mille 2007 was sponsored by Audi, Blancpain Watches and the Nob Hill Gazette. Special thanks go to Chairman Bella Farrow and Co-Chairs Sylvia Clough, Francisco Gomez, Lois Lehrman and Martin Swig.
For photos of the California Mille 2007, click here.
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