This Saturday: San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade

This Saturday, February 20th from 5:15 to 8pm, San Francisco's annual two-week-long Chinese New Year festivities will culminate with the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. One of the top 10 parades in the world, San Francisco's celebration is the largest of its kind outside of Asia. 

Established in 1848, San Francisco's Chinatown holds the distinction of being not only the oldest Chinatown in North America but also of having the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. A major tourist attraction, the area covers 24 square blocks in downtown San Francisco, according to San Francisco's Planning Department, it is 'the most densely populated urban area west of Manhattan' with 15,000 residents living within its boundaries. 

Celebrating the Year of the Monkey, the parade includes elaborate floats, colorful costumes, school marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, martial arts groups and this year's Miss Chinatown USA. The parade's grand finale includes the 268 foot Golden Dragon and more than 60,000 firecrackers. Constructed in  Foshan, China, the 29 segment dragon is made of bamboo and rattan and is adorned with white rabbit fur, glittering lights and rainbow pom-poms, and silver rivets. With its 6-foot long head, it takes 100 people to carry the Dragon along the parade route.

         Golden Dragon in the 2009 parade. Image courtesy of David Yu photography. 

Beginning at Second and Market Streets, meandering around the perimeter of Union Square, heading north on Kearny Street, the parade finishes at Jackson Street. Bleacher seats are available for $30 at various points along the route but many attendees opt to stand along the streets. Whether you sit or stand, it is best to arrive between 3:30 and 4pm.  Public transportation delivers riders very close to the parade route but if you are driving, parking south of Market is your best option.

                                           Map of the Chinese New Year parade route.

A wonderful place to call home, San Francisco is an amazing city filled with culture, art, and diversity. Learn more about The Costa Group and how we can help you buy or sell in San Francisco.

Mill Valley Film Festival: Get Your Tickets!

Sarah Silverman as Laney in 'I Smile Back.' (Broad Green Pictures) ( Broad Green )

The Mill Valley Film Festival first began in 1978, in support of independent and foreign filmmakers with a mission to expose films about education and art.  This is the 28th year of the Festival which features an enormous amount of work, over 200 films and begins on October 8th.  Actor Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep and Directors, Tom Hooper and Catherine Harwicke are some of the luminaries featured this year.

You can preview the seasons most exciting films before the Academy Awards season is upon us. Running for 11 days the festival is not as hyped as Sundance and so has a more relaxed atmosphere.  Many attendees take advantage of the nearby hiking in the Tennessee Valley.

Sarah Silverman will be in attendance for her film "I Smile Back" about a woman battling mental illness and on Oct. 11th, Sir Ian McKellen will be at the the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, to accept a Lifetime Achievement tribute. Other featured actors are Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in the 50's era romance "The Price of Salt" and Meryl Streep in "Suffragette".

Several of the films have Bay area connections like "Dogtown Redemption", a film about 3 people who make a living off recylcling and a few films have already won prizes at Cannes.  Check out the line-up, it's stellar and enjoy the festival!

When:  October 8- 18t

Where: CineArts@Sequoia, 25 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley; Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael and other venues

Cost: $15 unless otherwise noted

Tickets and additional info: www.mvff.com or 877-874-683

San Francisco Half Marathon 2015

On Sunday, July 26th, the San Francisco half marathon will be taking over our beautiful city. 

Coach Andy outlines tips for The Wipro San Francisco Marathon Course!

The race also includes two half marathons, an ultra marathon and a five-kilometer race. Everyone in the city is buzzing about the exciting energy that the race brings, even for those that are spectators on the side eating Sunday brunch or drinking a nice cold beer on the Embarcadero.  Remember to plan your day out around the race route street closures!

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