The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary May 27, 2012!

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

Did you know?

Although the idea of a bridge spanning the Golden Gate was not new, the proposal that eventually took hold was made in a 1916 San Francisco Bulletin article by former engineering student James Wilkins.[12]San Francisco's City Engineer estimated the cost at $100 million, impractical for the time, and fielded the question to bridge engineers of whether it could be built for less. One who responded, Joseph Strauss, was an ambitious but dreamy engineer and poet who had, for his graduate thesis, designed a 55-mile (89 km) long railroad bridge across the Bering Strait, At the time, Strauss had completed some 400 drawbridges—most of which were inland—and nothing on the scale of the new project. Strauss's initial drawings were for a massive cantilever on each side of the strait, connected by a central suspension segment, which Strauss promised could be built for $17 million.

How are you going to celebrate?

You could…..

Share your Bridge painting, drawing, or other artistic masterpiece

Take a picture of you or your friends holding a “Happy Birthday Golden Gate
Bridge!” sign at your favorite local bridge—a drawbridge, a footbridge, or any bridge at all—and share it with GGB

Concoct a Golden Gate Bridge 75th cocktail and send us the recipe

Take a photo from the Bridge on your 2012 birthday and share it

Post a video of your best impersonation of a foghorn

Snap a quick pic when you see the Golden Gate Transit’s 75th Anniversary Bus, adorned with a Bridge image by Marin artist George Sumner

Bake a birthday cake in the shape of the Bridge and share the photos

Host a Golden Gate Bridge movie night (a quick Web search turns up lots of films!); debate the greatest movie scenes that feature the Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary May 27, 2012!

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

Did you know?
Many wanted to build a bridge to connect San Francisco to Marin County. San Francisco was the largest American city still served primarily by ferry boats. Because it did not have a permanent link with communities around the bay, the city's growth rate was below the national average. Many experts said that a bridge couldn’t be built across the 6,700 ft (2,042 m) strait. It had strong, swirling tides and currents, with water 500 ft (150 m) in depth at the center of the channel, and frequent strong winds. Experts said that ferocious winds and blinding fogs would prevent construction and operation.

How are you going to celebrate?

You could….

Tweet about your thoughts and reactions to 75th anniversary celebrations and activities; be sure to hashtag #ggb75

Tell your favorite story or memory of the Bridge; visit www.goldengatebridge75.org/share to add to our collective “valentine” to the Bridge

Write a poem or song about the Bridge and share it with GGB at www.facebook.com/ggb75

Sing “Happy Birthday” to the Bridge and post your video to GGB Facebook page

Upload your favorite photographs of the Bridge on GGB Flickr page

Join Us in Celebrating the Chinese New Year!

Ring in the Chinese New Year with Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush, the parade continues to delight and entertain the many hundreds of thousands of people that come to watch it on the street. It's all happening Saturday,February 11, 2012 from 6pm-8pm.

Nowhere in the world will you see a lunar new year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers , and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court. A crowd favorite is the spectacular 250' Golden Dragon ("Gum Lung") It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group, White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.

This year's Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade promises to warm your heart and electrify your senses, come rain or shine.

Come Celebrate the Chinese New Year in San Francisco!

Ring in the Chinese New Year with Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush, the parade continues to delight and entertain the many hundreds of thousands of people that come to watch it on the street. It's all happening Saturday,February 11, 2012 from 6pm-8pm.

Nowhere in the world will you see a lunar new year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers , and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court. A crowd favorite is the spectacular 250' Golden Dragon ("Gum Lung") It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group, White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.

This year's Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade promises to warm your heart and electrify your senses, come rain or shine.

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary May 27, 2012!

Did you know?
Before the bridge was built, the only practical short route between San Francisco and what is now Marin County was by boat across a section of San Francisco Bay. Ferry service began as early as 1820, with regularly scheduled service beginning in the 1840s for purposes of transporting water to San Francisco!
How are you going to celebrate?
You could….

Join the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary communities on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ggb75), Twitter (www.twitter.com/ggb75) and Flickr (www.flickr.com/groups/ggb75/)

Attend one or more of the 75 Community Tributes being offered by Bay Area organizations throughout the anniversary year (see list of activities at www.goldengatebridge75.org)

Make plans and invite friends to attend the Bridge’s waterfront birthday celebration over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27, 2012—don’t miss the surprise grand finale on Sunday night!

Throw your own Bridge birthday party on May 27, 2012

Chocolate and Lights!

What is the first day that you start thinking about Christmas? I know for most, it’s the day after Thanksgiving. This is the first day that most pull out the Christmas lights, go tree shopping or start to hang their stockings. This year you can celebrate the beginning of holiday spirit at the 47^th Annual Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting. It is all happening November 25, 2011 at 5:30 pm.

Enjoy free, live entertainment for the entire family throughout the day culminating with the lighting of the Ghirardelli Square tree. It is the perfect opportunity to get together with the family to kick off the holiday season.

Before the tree lighting there will be live entertainment from the San Francisco City Opera, Contra Coastal Chorale and even Yuletide Carolers.

Walk around listening to the singing, viewing the tree and of course tasting the chocolate that San Francisco is known for. Enjoy hot chocolate with your family and friends while walking around the square.

Something for Everyone in the Bay Area

As the heat of the summer starts to pass it becomes more pleasant to sit outside and enjoy the remaining weeks of summer. There is no better way to end a season than to attend exciting events around the city. Whether it be music, art, beer, or food there is something everyone can enjoy.

Head to the Mission district for La Cocina’s San Francisco 3rd annual street food festival, taking place August 20, 2011. Here you will find an array of food carts lining the street. The festival is just as much about the entrepreneurship of the vendors as it is about the delicious food they are there to showcase. Enjoy all the food, friends, and music that come along with the festival. Don’t miss out!

For those looking for something a little less casual it can certainly be found at the Steins Collect exhibit at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. Through September 6, 2011, bohemian Paris in the 20th century will be on display exhibiting Picasso, Matisse, Renoir and more avant-garde pieces. Interested in the history of the paintings? Try the SFMoMA mobile audio tour. As you walk along the exhibit you have the option to hear audio about the history and back-story of each work of art. The collection celebrates Gertrude Stein and her influence on modern art, literature and culture.

Take the art off the wall and into the skies and head just across the Bay Bridge to the Cesar Chavez Park in Berkeley Marina. Happening there is the 26th annual Kite Festival. No longer is kite flying reserved for family vacations to the beach or kids having fun in the park. You will be truly amazed at the beauty the kites bring to the sky. Check out modern displays of kite building with kites as big as houses and a tasty candy drop for kids. The best part about this long running kite hang out, is that it is free admission to all! The festival takes place July 29 and 30, 2011 and is fun for the entire family.

Finally, take in the cinematic history of San Francisco with Alfred Hitchcock’s, The Birds screening at the Mark Lounge along side a free wine tasting. The screening and wine tasting are apart of Classic Film and Wine Night and is held every Tuesday night through September 6, 2011. If you miss out this time, enjoy more classic films like The Maltese Falcon and Dirty Harry always accompanied with a glass of your favorite wine and free admission.

Celebrates Independence Day With Red & White Fleet

Nothing is more spectacular than the San Francisco Bay illuminated with the4^th of July fireworks. Passengers are welcome to enjoy up close views of the patriotic entertainment as well as the city’s night time skyline from aboard Red and White Fleet. Red and White Fleet’s historic ferry boats offer outdoor decks to view the show, as well as indoor spaces to warm up during the cool San Francisco evenings. A full bar is available onboard, with one beer, wine or soda included in the ticket price. Along with the fireworks, passengers also will see the illuminated city skyline and pass by such landmarks as the infamous island of Alcatraz. During and before the fireworks show, the cruise boats will be stationary to secure a good spot for viewing the show. There will be a total of four departures at 7:45pm and 8:15pm with estimated sailing times of about 2 ½ hours each.

Prices are as follows: General Admission = $66; Children under five = free