Ready, Set, Crack!
Union Square Association Celebrates the 6th Annual Celebrity Crab Festival at
Union Square – A fundraiser for the San Francisco 49ers Foundation
San Francisco 49ers team up with Local Chefs for Crab Cracking Contest
Food, Beer and Wine Tastings
Saturday, March 1, 12:00 Noon – 3:00 p.m.

What: The 6 th Annual Celebrity Crab Festival at Union Square . Union Square may not be home to crab fishermen, but we know how to celebrate San Francisco 's local seafood treasure!
Members of the San Francisco 49ers team up with local chefs to demonstrate the art and intricacies of cracking a crab. The noon-time demonstration will be followed by a timed crab cracking and cleaning contest to see who can clean the most crab.
For a minimal sampling fee, local restaurants will provide tastes of the city's beloved Dungeness and patrons can sample beer and wine at the Wine & Beer Garden Music from Diego's Umbrella , family entertainment including a children's booth, and raffles will be featured throughout the day.
This year, the Crab Festival will be a “zero waste” event. In partnership with Golden Gate Disposal and the San Francisco Department of the Environment all materials used at the event will be compostable and recyclable including all cups and plates used.
When: 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m. – Crab Cracking Competition
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Where: Union Square
San Francisco , CA
Who: San Francisco 49ers
49ers Gold Rush Cheerleaders
49ers Mascot Sourdough Sam
Who: Union Square Chefs
Mike Koenig, Scala's Bistro
Keira Moritz, Puccini & Pinetti
Robert Helstrom, Kuleto's
Robert Petzold, Ponzu
Sharon Nahm, E & O Trading Co.
Fernando Padilla, Master Baker, Boudin Bakery
James Chan, Bistro Boudin
Thomas Rimpel, The Oak Room at the Westin St. Francis
Richard Slusarz, Grandviews at the Grand Hyatt
Darren Lacy, Luques Restaurant & Bar at the Chancellor Hotel
Mauro Pando, The Grand Café
Tickets: Admission is FREE. Tickets for food, beer and wine tastings are $5 each or 6 for $25. Tickets can be bought the day of the event at a designated ticket booth - cash only.
Why: Proceeds from the event will benefit the San Francisco 49ers Foundation (501c3)
which supports development programs for underserved youth that keep them safe, on track and in school. A significant portion of its funding goes towards family violence prevention programs and activities that teach youth leadership and respect.
Sponsors: Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Department of the Environment, Johnny Foley's Irish House & Diageo Guinness, The Chancellor Hotel and Kenwood Vineyards, Macy's, Sears Fine Food, Boudin Bakery & Bistro, See's Candy, The Kimpton Group, Stanley 's Steamers, MJM Management Group and CBS5
Produced By: Union Square Association in partnership with the San Francisco 49ers Foundation.
For More Info: Call the Union Square Association at 415-781-7880 or visit the website at http://www.unionsquaresf.net/.

Welcome Erhan!

We are proud to welcome Erhan, our new management trainee intern, from Anadolu University - Eskisehir, Turkey. Erhan studied hotel management and wanted to do an internship in the United States to experience American Hotel Management Practices. He will be spending a year with us working in each department including the restaurant, housekeeping, front desk, accounting, reservations and more.

Erhan previously worked at the Swissotel in Istanbul - doing a Public Relations & Marketing internship. He grew up in Istanbul, but was born in Bulgaria . This is his first time in the United States. Erhan has a lot to learn and he is very eager. If you stay with us and see him, say hello in Turkish --- "Merhaba"

Chinese New Year Parade

On February 23rd, the Chinese New Year Parade came right by the hotel. Unfortunately, it rained that night, but it never stops the parade. Here are a few pictures from that night.

A Changing of the Guard

Ellen Tsai, our controller for the last eight years just left us to join the new, 5 star, St. Regis Hotel on 3rd Street. We are very proud of her and wish her the best. On the other hand, we are excited to welcome Mr. Jamie Pulido as the new controller to the Chancellor Hotel family. Here are a few shots from Ellen's going away celebration on her last day.
Out with the old, in with the new!
Pictured above: Jamie and Ellen
We had some great food and desserts

Pictured above: Alice, Lisa, Ivy and Tita loading up.
Matt, the Quirky Bellman, came in on his day off.
I don't know if it was for the food or to say good bye.


Pictured below: Jose, Kevin, Ellen, Florinda, Lilie, Susan and Mao
Over 120 years of Chancellor experience sitting around the table

Ellen overjoyed at her going away gift


We had to get a giant card for everyone's farewell wishes.

Ollie, our Executive Housekeeper, giving Ellen the card

Even our regular guest, Sue, came by to wish Ellen good luck.

If you're going to leave the Chancellor, at least it's for the St. Regis!

Chancellor Hotel Fire Drill

The first Chancellor Hotel fire drill of 2008. We conduct several per year.





Rory identifying the location of the "fire" and dispatching staff to check it out.

Good Job, Rory!












Staff gathered out front at the established meeting place.








Mehari testing the ladder evacuation procedures

Thank you to all who participated.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Chinese New Year began yesterday. My year - Year of the Rat. It is basically a two week celebration culminating with the big parade. The parade comes up Powell, right to the corner outside the hotel, turns right and goes down Post Street. Below is some information from the website.

2008 Parade Saturday, February 23 5:30 pm

Lunar Year 4706

Over 100 units will participate in the 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 or tune in to watch it on television on KTVU Fox 2 or KTSF Channel 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m. 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 201' 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.

Schedule of Events

Year of the Rat - Lunar Year 4706

February 8-24

February 6-February 24 Daily 10:00am-10:00pm
Chinese New Year Carnival Walter U. Lum Place, Washington & Clay Street
February 7 Thursday Chinese New Year Day
February 16 Saturday 7:30 pm
Miss Chinatown U.S.A. PageantPalace of Fine Arts Theatre 3301 Lyon Street @ Bay, SFChinese Chamber of Commerce 730 Sacramento Street, SF (415) 982-3000 United Commercial Bank 900 Kearny Street, SF (415) 397-8988 (Mon-Sat) Ling Ling Chinese Dress 63 Walter U. Lum Place, SF (415) 981-5608 (Mon-Sat)
$30, $40, $60
For over 55 years, young women from throughout the United States come to San Francisco to compete for prizes and scholarships in the annual Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant. The winners will become goodwill ambassadors for the Chinese community throughout the new year.
February 17 Sunday
Chinese Chamber of Commerce/Chinatown Run 10K/5K Run/WalkYMCA ChinatownContact: Lara Hitchcock at 415 576-96227:00am Pre-Registration at Portsmouth Square 8:00am Race begins at Grant and Sacramento
This event benefits the youth and teens in YMCA programs. Kids are able to participate in seasonal Day Camp, Summer School, Residence Camp, After School Program, and Ballet! Please visit YMCA Chinatown to register on-line and for more information.
February 22 Friday 6:00pm No Host Cocktails 7:00pm DinnerDancing until midnight
Harrah’s Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Coronation Ball San Francisco Hilton & Towers 333 O’Farrell Street, San FranciscoTickets: 415 982-3000
$120
The newly selected Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court will be crowned at the annual Harrah’s Coronation Ball. The black tie dinner/dance, attended by many community leaders, promises to be a highlight of the Lunar New Year festivities.
February 23 Saturday 5:30pm-8:00pm
Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year ParadeMarket and Second Street to Kearny and JacksonLocation of bleachers: Kearny Street (between Sacramento & California and between Pine & Bush) 415 986-1370 or 415 982-3071
Free$30 for bleacher tickets
Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by the IFEA (International Festivals and Events Association), the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in the country. Started in the 1860’s by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Parade and Festival have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Parade highlights include elaborate decorated floats, costumed elementary school groups, stilt walkers and the 201 foot long Golden Dragon “Gum Lung”.
February 23-24 Saturday 10:00am-4:30pm Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm
Chinese New Year Community Street FairGrant Avenue from California to PacificPacific Avenue from Kearny to StocktonWashington and Jackson Streets from Kearny to Stockton
Free
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of San Francisco’s exhilarating Chinatown during one of the community’s most exciting times of the year. Enjoy dance and music from throughout Asian and experience ancient and modern Chinese arts such as calligraphy, kite making and acrobatics.
February 23-24 Saturday/Sunday11:00am-4:00pm
Chinese Culture Center Spring Festival750 Kearny Street, 3rd Floor (Hilton SF/Financial District)Information: 415 986-1822
Free

New Chef at Luques Restaurant & Bar inside the Chancellor Hotel

We are very excited that Darren Lacy has just been hired to be the Executive Chef for Luques Restaurant & Bar located inside the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square.

Chef Lacy comes to us from the Carnelian Room. Other previous experience also includes work at the Campton Place Restaurant, Delfina's and Sneaky Tiki.

Come in and try some of his great cooking. I will be posting pictures of some of some of his specialties.

His first big event will be the Union Square Crab Cracking Contest that we are participating in on March 1st. I will post more about that later.

We wish Lidia Valledor, our former Chef all the best. She is joining Cafe Niebaum-Coppola in North Beach as the General Manager.