FILE – Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado and Texas Rangers’ Adolis Garcia, second from right, argue as the benches clear following Garcia’s grand slam during the fifth inning of a baseball game July 26, 2023, in Houston. Everything is certainly bigger deep in the heart of Texas this baseball postseason, with a Lone Star State matchup for a spot in the World Series. The Astros are in their seventh straight ALCS, this time against the Rangers for the first time. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Everything is certainly bigger deep in the heart of Texas this baseball postseason, with a Lone Star State showdown for a spot in the World Series.

Defending world champion Houston is no stranger to playing long into October, now getting ready for its seventh consecutive American League Championship Series. This time, the Astros play the up-and-coming Texas Rangers, who led them in the AL West standings for most of the season but again didn’t fare well in the head-to-head matchups.

Both benches and bullpens cleared the last time the two teams played in Houston, where the ALCS opener will be played Sunday night.

“There’s a lot of intensity. … I’d say we’re rivals,” first-year Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday. “That’s the way baseball should be, I guess. They’re your opponent, so I don’t think it should be a lovefest out there.”

Especially with so much at stake when the instate rivals meet in the playoffs for the first time.

This will be only the 10th postseason series featuring teams from the same state in baseball’s divisional era (since 1969). It will be the first outside of California since the New York Mets and New York Yankees played in the 2000 World Series, which was a year before the Astros and Rangers had even met in a regular-season game.

Hall of Fame strikeout king Nolan Ryan pitched for both teams, finishing his career with the Rangers and later was part of the ownership group for their only World Series and ALCS appearances in 2010 and 2011. Their respective 40,000-seat retractable-roof stadiums are about 250 miles apart — Minute Maid Park in Houston opened in 2000, and Globe Life Field is in its fourth season.

Houston’s Dusty Baker and Bochy are the winningest active managers, both with more than 2,000 wins in 26 seasons managing in the big leagues. Bochy won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants and Baker finally got his first championship last season.

“Now me and Bruce Bochy need to battle,” the 74-year-old Baker said. ”I know Bruce and he knows me.”

They have gone head-to-head 214 times. Their only playoff meeting was the 2012 NLDS that Bochy’s Giants won in five games over Baker’s Cincinnati Reds.

Houston has dominated the AL West since the Rangers won the division in 2016, their last winning season before this year. The Astros have since been to the World Series four times, winning two of them, and the only time without a division title was the abbreviated 60-game regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when as a wild-card team they lost a seven-game ALCS to Tampa Bay.

“They are the reigning champions, so you have to give them a respect for that,” Rangers catcher-designated hitter Mitch Garver said. “I’d say we have equally as good a chance to win as they did.”

Texas led the AL West for 148 of the first 149 days this season, and 159 overall. But when the Rangers lost at Seattle on the final day of the regular season, a day after clinching a playoff spot, and Houston won to match them at 90 wins, the Astros had another division title and a first-round playoff bye.

“A lot of people were wondering what it was gonna be like if the ’Stros didn’t win the division,” third baseman Alex Bregman said at the start of their champagne celebration after the regular-season finale. “I guess we’ll never know.”

The Rangers became a wild card and had to fly across the country — going over North Texas on the way — before sweeping the AL’s winningest teams from the regular season, Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

Houston, which won its ALDS over Minnesota in four games, had the division tiebreaker because of its 9-4 record against the Rangers this year. The Astros had clinched the season series even before their obliterating three-game sweep with 16 homers and 39 runs in Arlington from Sept. 4-6. That is the only time they have played since the benches cleared July 26, after the Astros won the previous two nights to move within a game of the division lead.

Yordan Alvarez got hit by a pitch right after Bregman homered in the first inning of that series finale, and Texas second baseman Marcus Semien took a retaliatory plunk in the third. Semien hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fourth, and exchanged words with catcher Martin Maldonado. An inning later, Semien scored on a grand slam by Adolis García, who was face-to-face with the catcher when the benches cleared, though no punches were thrown.

“It’s a heated rivalry. I understand why there’s some animosity,” Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe said.

Bochy was drafted by Houston and began his nine seasons as a big league catcher with the Astros from 1978-80, when they were still in the National League. Their first World Series came as National League champions in 2005.

Interleague play began in 1997 with NL and AL teams from corresponding divisions playing each other. Well, the Astros were in the NL Central and it wasn’t until 2001 that MLB changed things so they could play annually. They became division foes when Houston moved to the AL West in 2013.

“Sometimes it takes time to build that (rivalry). But you can see it developing here,” Bochy said. “You’re in the same state, so no, I’m not surprised how quickly it’s developing.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The post Deep within the coronary heart of Texas, Astros and Rangers set for Lone Star showdown for spot in World Sequence appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

FILE – Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado and Texas Rangers’ Adolis Garcia, second from right, argue as the benches clear following Garcia’s grand slam during the fifth inning of a baseball game July 26, 2023, in Houston. Everything is certainly bigger deep in the heart of Texas this baseball postseason, with a Lone Star State matchup for a spot in the World Series. The Astros are in their seventh straight ALCS, this time against the Rangers for the first time. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Everything is certainly bigger deep in the heart of Texas this baseball postseason, with a Lone Star State showdown for a spot in the World Series.

Defending world champion Houston is no stranger to playing long into October, now getting ready for its seventh consecutive American League Championship Series. This time, the Astros play the up-and-coming Texas Rangers, who led them in the AL West standings for most of the season but again didn’t fare well in the head-to-head matchups.

Both benches and bullpens cleared the last time the two teams played in Houston, where the ALCS opener will be played Sunday night.

“There’s a lot of intensity. … I’d say we’re rivals,” first-year Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday. “That’s the way baseball should be, I guess. They’re your opponent, so I don’t think it should be a lovefest out there.”

Especially with so much at stake when the instate rivals meet in the playoffs for the first time.

This will be only the 10th postseason series featuring teams from the same state in baseball’s divisional era (since 1969). It will be the first outside of California since the New York Mets and New York Yankees played in the 2000 World Series, which was a year before the Astros and Rangers had even met in a regular-season game.

Hall of Fame strikeout king Nolan Ryan pitched for both teams, finishing his career with the Rangers and later was part of the ownership group for their only World Series and ALCS appearances in 2010 and 2011. Their respective 40,000-seat retractable-roof stadiums are about 250 miles apart — Minute Maid Park in Houston opened in 2000, and Globe Life Field is in its fourth season.

Houston’s Dusty Baker and Bochy are the winningest active managers, both with more than 2,000 wins in 26 seasons managing in the big leagues. Bochy won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants and Baker finally got his first championship last season.

“Now me and Bruce Bochy need to battle,” the 74-year-old Baker said. ”I know Bruce and he knows me.”

They have gone head-to-head 214 times. Their only playoff meeting was the 2012 NLDS that Bochy’s Giants won in five games over Baker’s Cincinnati Reds.

Houston has dominated the AL West since the Rangers won the division in 2016, their last winning season before this year. The Astros have since been to the World Series four times, winning two of them, and the only time without a division title was the abbreviated 60-game regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when as a wild-card team they lost a seven-game ALCS to Tampa Bay.

“They are the reigning champions, so you have to give them a respect for that,” Rangers catcher-designated hitter Mitch Garver said. “I’d say we have equally as good a chance to win as they did.”

Texas led the AL West for 148 of the first 149 days this season, and 159 overall. But when the Rangers lost at Seattle on the final day of the regular season, a day after clinching a playoff spot, and Houston won to match them at 90 wins, the Astros had another division title and a first-round playoff bye.

“A lot of people were wondering what it was gonna be like if the ’Stros didn’t win the division,” third baseman Alex Bregman said at the start of their champagne celebration after the regular-season finale. “I guess we’ll never know.”

The Rangers became a wild card and had to fly across the country — going over North Texas on the way — before sweeping the AL’s winningest teams from the regular season, Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

Houston, which won its ALDS over Minnesota in four games, had the division tiebreaker because of its 9-4 record against the Rangers this year. The Astros had clinched the season series even before their obliterating three-game sweep with 16 homers and 39 runs in Arlington from Sept. 4-6. That is the only time they have played since the benches cleared July 26, after the Astros won the previous two nights to move within a game of the division lead.

Yordan Alvarez got hit by a pitch right after Bregman homered in the first inning of that series finale, and Texas second baseman Marcus Semien took a retaliatory plunk in the third. Semien hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fourth, and exchanged words with catcher Martin Maldonado. An inning later, Semien scored on a grand slam by Adolis García, who was face-to-face with the catcher when the benches cleared, though no punches were thrown.

“It’s a heated rivalry. I understand why there’s some animosity,” Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe said.

Bochy was drafted by Houston and began his nine seasons as a big league catcher with the Astros from 1978-80, when they were still in the National League. Their first World Series came as National League champions in 2005.

Interleague play began in 1997 with NL and AL teams from corresponding divisions playing each other. Well, the Astros were in the NL Central and it wasn’t until 2001 that MLB changed things so they could play annually. They became division foes when Houston moved to the AL West in 2013.

“Sometimes it takes time to build that (rivalry). But you can see it developing here,” Bochy said. “You’re in the same state, so no, I’m not surprised how quickly it’s developing.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The post Deep within the coronary heart of Texas, Astros and Rangers set for Lone Star showdown for spot in World Collection – WWLP appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

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In some ways, the link between viruses, vaccines and heart health is simple.

Think of your heart as a house, said Dr. Jorge Alvarez, an interventional cardiologist at Methodist Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio. “You have the walls of your house, which are like the walls of your heart. You have the doors, which are the valves. And then you have plumbing and electricity.

“A virus can affect all of those aspects of your house,” he said.

That makes being vaccinated against COVID-19, flu and other illnesses an important way for people with heart disease to protect themselves.

That fact can get lost in the swirl of new information, not to mention misinformation, surrounding vaccines. Now that the updated COVID-19 vaccine is available—and can be given at the same time as the flu shot—here are more straightforward answers from the experts on what people with cardiovascular issues should know about viruses and vaccines.

Viruses pose serious heart risks

Heart issues and infection are linked in many ways. One is inflammation, said Dr. Saate Shakil, an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Diseases caused by viruses, such as the coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, can cause inflammation. So can bacterial illnesses such as pneumonia.

If you have coronary heart disease, blood flow is restricted by plaque-filled arteries. In such cases, inflammation could lead to a plaque rupture, blood clot and blocked artery that causes a heart attack or stroke, said Shakil, who has studied links between COVID-19 and stroke.

Other research has shown:

• Problems such as heart attacks and heart failure (the inability of the heart to pump properly) occur in about 20% of adults hospitalized with RSV, according to a 2018 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
• COVID-19 is linked to an increased risk of irregular heartbeats, heart failure and coronary disease. In a study published in 2021 in The Lancet, COVID-19 was associated with a threefold to eightfold increased risk of having a heart attack and a threefold to sevenfold increased risk of having a stroke.
• The risk of a heart attack may be as much as six times higher in the week after a flu diagnosis, found a study published in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A virus doesn’t have to attack the heart directly to endanger it, Shakil said. Someone with pneumonia might have trouble breathing, which strains the heart.

Meanwhile, Alvarez said, a high fever caused by infection can sometimes lead to heart rhythm issues in certain people.

Vaccines protect against those risks

Alvarez likens cardiovascular problems to a campfire. Cholesterol, which leads to arterial plaque, is like a growing pile of wood in his analogy. Inflammation is the lighter fluid. A viral or bacterial infection is the match that sets it all off.

A vaccine, he said, is like a bucket of water for that match, stopping the whole process.

A research letter published in February in JACC found that among more than 1.9 million people infected with the coronavirus, vaccination was associated with a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.

Flu vaccination, meanwhile, is associated with a lower risk of stroke. In an analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2021, flu vaccination also was associated with an 18% lower chance of death from cardiovascular problems and a 25% lower chance of death from any cause.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people who have heart disease or have had a stroke should talk to their health care team about vaccinations for COVID-19, flu and pneumococcal disease, which includes pneumonia and meningitis. They should also stay current on a Tdap vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (also known as whooping cough).

The CDC also recommends that adults 60 and older ask about the new RSV vaccine.

A health care professional can offer advice on other vaccines, as well as whether to avoid certain formulations. For example, the CDC says people who are pregnant, have weakened immune systems or are 50 and older should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine, which is a live virus-based vaccine. “It’s not that they can’t get vaccinated,” Shakil said. “It’s just that the type of vaccine has to be tailored for them.”

Vaccination risks are real—but far outweighed by the benefits

Vaccines can have side effects. The COVID-19 vaccine, for example, has been linked to rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, types of heart inflammation.

That has to be viewed in context, said Dr. Gregory Piazza, director of vascular medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“What we’re talking about with the risks of the vaccine are very infrequent events,” said Piazza, who also is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “And you pit that against the large degree of benefit that you get” by reducing the severity of COVID-19 and reducing the odds of being hospitalized or having a cardiovascular complication.

“Those are real, tangible benefits,” he said.

Piazza, who designed and oversees a large nationwide study of COVID-19 patients, said the scope of serious side effects is “very small. Very, very small.” For example, some vaccinated people had issues with blood clots.

“But many people have issues with blood clots if they are hospitalized because of COVID-19,” Piazza said. A study in England published in Circulation in 2022 found 10,500 more cases of dangerous blood clots among 1.4 million COVID-19 patients than would be expected without COVID-19.

When Alvarez’s patients express concerns about vaccine risks, he points out that their risk of getting in a major car accident on the way to his office—a risk they all were comfortable with—is higher than the risk of a serious reaction to the vaccine.

“Vaccines are safe and effective, and they help save lives,” he said.

Shakil said her patients often have asked about vaccine safety, so she examined the history of each patient for risks. “I see a lot of patients, and I don’t think there was a single patient where we went through their data and felt like it was risky for them to have the vaccination. If anything, it would have been more of a risk for them to have gotten COVID and not have been immunized.”

Vaccines aren’t perfect

Despite their overall benefits, COVID-19 and flu vaccines don’t stop every infection. That does not mean they didn’t work, Alvarez said.

He likens a vaccine to helping your immune system study for a test—it might not score 100%, but it’s going to do a lot better than someone who didn’t study at all.

You don’t have to sort this out alone

Worried or confused about which vaccines you need? It’s OK to grill your cardiologist or primary care physician, Alvarez said.

Ask them to explain their reasoning, then be open-minded about what they say. “There should be some thought and some discussion behind some of these things,” he said.

There are no silly questions, Shakil said. “The worst thing that could happen is that you walk away with more information than you came in with.”

The post What folks with coronary heart illness ought to learn about vaccines at the moment appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

In some ways, the link between viruses, vaccines and heart health is simple.

Think of your heart as a house, said Dr. Jorge Alvarez, an interventional cardiologist at Methodist Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio. “You have the walls of your house, which are like the walls of your heart. You have the doors, which are the valves. And then you have plumbing and electricity.

“A virus can affect all of those aspects of your house,” he said.

That makes being vaccinated against COVID-19, flu and other illnesses an important way for people with heart disease to protect themselves.

That fact can get lost in the swirl of new information, not to mention misinformation, surrounding vaccines. Now that the updated COVID-19 vaccine is available – and can be given at the same time as the flu shot – here are more straightforward answers from the experts on what people with cardiovascular issues should know about viruses and vaccines.

Viruses pose serious heart risks

Heart issues and infection are linked in many ways. One is inflammation, said Dr. Saate Shakil, an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Diseases caused by viruses, such as the coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, can cause inflammation. So can bacterial illnesses such as pneumonia.

If you have coronary heart disease, blood flow is restricted by plaque-filled arteries. In such cases, inflammation could lead to a plaque rupture, blood clot and blocked artery that causes a heart attack or stroke, said Shakil, who has studied links between COVID-19 and stroke.

Other research has shown:

– Problems such as heart attacks and heart failure (the inability of the heart to pump properly) occur in about 20% of adults hospitalized with RSV, according to a 2018 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

– COVID-19 is linked to an increased risk of irregular heartbeats, heart failure and coronary disease. In a study published in 2021 in The Lancet, COVID-19 was associated with a threefold to eightfold increased risk of having a heart attack and a threefold to sevenfold increased risk of having a stroke.

– The risk of a heart attack may be as much as six times higher in the week after a flu diagnosis, found a study published in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A virus doesn’t have to attack the heart directly to endanger it, Shakil said. Someone with pneumonia might have trouble breathing, which strains the heart.

Meanwhile, Alvarez said, a high fever caused by infection can sometimes lead to heart rhythm issues in certain people.

Vaccines protect against those risks

Alvarez likens cardiovascular problems to a campfire. Cholesterol, which leads to arterial plaque, is like a growing pile of wood in his analogy. Inflammation is the lighter fluid. A viral or bacterial infection is the match that sets it all off.

A vaccine, he said, is like a bucket of water for that match, stopping the whole process.

A research letter published in February in JACC found that among more than 1.9 million people infected with the coronavirus, vaccination was associated with a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.

Flu vaccination, meanwhile, is associated with a lower risk of stroke. In an analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2021, flu vaccination also was associated with an 18% lower chance of death from cardiovascular problems and a 25% lower chance of death from any cause.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people who have heart disease or have had a stroke should talk to their health care team about vaccinations for COVID-19, flu and pneumococcal disease, which includes pneumonia and meningitis. They should also stay current on a Tdap vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (also known as whooping cough).

The CDC also recommends that adults 60 and older ask about the new RSV vaccine.

A health care professional can offer advice on other vaccines, as well as whether to avoid certain formulations. For example, the CDC says people who are pregnant, have weakened immune systems or are 50 and older should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine, which is a live virus-based vaccine. “It’s not that they can’t get vaccinated,” Shakil said. “It’s just that the type of vaccine has to be tailored for them.”

Vaccination risks are real – but far outweighed by the benefits

Vaccines can have side effects. The COVID-19 vaccine, for example, has been linked to rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, types of heart inflammation.

That has to be viewed in context, said Dr. Gregory Piazza, director of vascular medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“What we’re talking about with the risks of the vaccine are very infrequent events,” said Piazza, who also is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “And you pit that against the large degree of benefit that you get” by reducing the severity of COVID-19 and reducing the odds of being hospitalized or having a cardiovascular complication.

“Those are real, tangible benefits,” he said.

Piazza, who designed and oversees a large nationwide study of COVID-19 patients, said the scope of serious side effects is “very small. Very, very small.” For example, some vaccinated people had issues with blood clots.

“But many people have issues with blood clots if they are hospitalized because of COVID-19,” Piazza said. A study in England published in Circulation in 2022 found 10,500 more cases of dangerous blood clots among 1.4 million COVID-19 patients than would be expected without COVID-19.

When Alvarez’s patients express concerns about vaccine risks, he points out that their risk of getting in a major car accident on the way to his office – a risk they all were comfortable with – is higher than the risk of a serious reaction to the vaccine.

“Vaccines are safe and effective, and they help save lives,” he said.

Shakil said her patients often have asked about vaccine safety, so she examined the history of each patient for risks. “I see a lot of patients, and I don’t think there was a single patient where we went through their data and felt like it was risky for them to have the vaccination. If anything, it would have been more of a risk for them to have gotten COVID and not have been immunized.”

Vaccines aren’t perfect

Despite their overall benefits, COVID-19 and flu vaccines don’t stop every infection. That does not mean they didn’t work, Alvarez said.

He likens a vaccine to helping your immune system study for a test – it might not score 100%, but it’s going to do a lot better than someone who didn’t study at all.

You don’t have to sort this out alone

Worried or confused about which vaccines you need? It’s OK to grill your cardiologist or primary care physician, Alvarez said.

Ask them to explain their reasoning, then be open-minded about what they say. “There should be some thought and some discussion behind some of these things,” he said.

There are no silly questions, Shakil said. “The worst thing that could happen is that you walk away with more information than you came in with.”

To find locations that provide COVID-19 and flu vaccines, visit the federal website vaccines.gov or call 800-232-0233.

The post What folks with coronary heart illness ought to learn about vaccines as we speak appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Located in Paris’ upscale Opéra district, the 149-key Kimpton St Honoré Paris is an art nouveau jewel, combining emblematic original features with contemporary amenities and Parisian flair. Dating to 1917, the iconic building originally housed the second location of the famous La Samaritaine department store (once called Samaritaine de Luxe).

Since its debut as a boutique Kimpton hotel in 2021, this property has become something of a standard bearer for the brand’s rapid expansion in Europe. Beyond its historic aura and true sense of place, this brand-true Kimpton stands out for its excellent amenities, including a gorgeous rooftop bar with sweeping views of the city’s legendary landmarks, a luxurious spa and even a small swimming pool.

As one of TPG’s favorite hotels in Paris, I was keen to see if it would live up to my lofty expectations. If you are considering a stay at this luxurious Kimpton property, here’s what you need to know.

Quick take

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The Kimpton St Honoré Paris is a registered historic landmark designed by architect Frantz Jourdain. The exterior features the original curved facade trimmed with turquoise metal framework and decorated with floral patterns. You’ll also see marble panels with copper and wrought iron all over. It’s a stunning building.

Step inside the lobby and you’ll find inviting gathering spots set among original wrought-iron elevators and grand staircases, while up in the light-filled guest rooms (more on those later) veteran interior designer Charles Zana — known for his clean lines, subtle color palette and classic 1930s influences — brings his distinctive Parisian aesthetic.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The renovated spaces opened to the public in 2021, so it still feels like a new property. The ground floor and mezzanine also feature areas known as the Living Room and the Library, but you’ll find no shortage of little alcoves or spaces to plop down in. On the second floor, you’ll also find an area where you can look out to the bustling street below.

How to book the Kimpton St Honoré Paris

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

TPG booked the Kimpton St Honoré Paris using IHG One Rewards points. We spent a total of 209,000 IHG One Rewards points for two nights (or 105,000 points for the first night and 104,000 points for the second night).

TPG values IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents apiece, bringing the value of my stay to $1,045. The same nights booked with cash would have cost at least $1,248, so it was a decent redemption in this case. The cash rates at the hotel are usually much higher, and the award nights occasionally cost as little as 78,000 IHG One Rewards points per night (when there’s availability), so it’s possible to get even more value out of your stay by using points.

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IHG Hotels & Resorts

Because TPG booked my stay with points, I didn’t earn points for the room booking. However, I did put my room charges on my IHG Rewards Club Select Card (no longer open to new applicants), so I earned 3,232 IHG One Rewards points (which TPG values at about $16). Had I stayed longer, I could’ve used the card to enjoy a fourth night free on award stays.

Related: New IHG card offers: Earn up to 140,000 points and a $100 statement credit

The information for the IHG Rewards Club Select Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Location of the Kimpton St Honoré Paris

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The Kimpton St Honoré Paris is in a super central part of town, just steps from the Palais Garnier opera house that you’ve undoubtedly seen in movies and TV shows. It’s on Boulevard des Capucines directly across from the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand and just around the corner from another IHG property, the Hotel Indigo Paris – Opera.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

There is easy access to excellent shopping, including luxury French fashion house Kenzo down the boulevard and a Cartier boutique across the street. Plus, you can reach famous French department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps on foot. Oh, there is also a giant Apple Store just down the street.

Some of the top attractions in Paris, including the Louvre, Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Garden, are within a 20-minute walk as well.

Related: Paris Pocket Guide: What to see, do and eat in the City of Light

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

You can take the express RoissyBus shuttle (16.20 euros/$17.30 for 60 minutes) directly to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) from the Opéra stop near the hotel. The property is just a few hundred feet from the Opéra metro station, too.

Modern rooms at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Stepping into these charming accommodations feels like entering your own Paris pied-a-terre, with floor-to-ceiling windows, custom artwork and other design components.

Paris hotel rooms are generally on the small side, and the Kimpton St Honoré Paris is no exception — rooms start at just 220 square feet. While there wasn’t a lot of elbow room inside the room, my small balcony certainly helped add extra living space. Despite traveling with a plus one, I wasn’t bothered by the lack of space.

In addition to the rooms, there are 26 suites to choose from, which offer a lot more space (ranging from 526 to 1,100 square feet) and start from around $1,300 per night.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

If you stick with a standard room, request one with a balcony. Thirty of the rooms have them, and the extra amenity adds a lot to the experience. Know, though, that you will need to pay around $100 more per night for the feature, depending on the season.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speakers are positioned next to the beds, and there are plenty of electrical outlets. All rooms have espresso machines, electric tea kettles, bottled still and sparkling water, and minibars stocked with high-end spirits like gin and vodka from Distillerie de Paris. Extra coffee pods, sweeteners and creamers were delivered promptly during my stay.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Additionally, you’ll find some local treats like Superproducteur chips and Le Bonbon Francais jelly candies. My favorite was the chocolate wrapped in a box with the hotel’s design on the packaging.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

While the exterior of the hotel is all about art nouveau design, the interiors have more of an art deco flair, with designer Charles Zana incorporating his signature 1930s design elements into each room and suite’s decor.

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The designer also commissioned a who’s who of French artistic houses for decorations, including Maison Lucien Gau for the lighting and Pierre Mesguich Mosaik for the ceramics.

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The common spaces and rooms feature artwork selected by Charles Zana with the help of Amelie du Chalard from the Marion d’art.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Black and white are the prominent colors in the rooms, with occasional pops of color like red and turquoise.

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The bathrooms are luxuriously appointed with Carrara marble, black and white tiles, amenities by French spa company Codage, walk-in showers with great water pressure and separate water closets for the toilets. There was no bathtub in the little bathroom, but it was pretty nice nonetheless.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

There were fluffy towels, a heated towel rack, heated floors and robes labeled as St Honoré.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Overall, the room was well appointed and luxurious, if a little on the small side.

Food and beverage at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

While this boutique hotel doesn’t have a ton of food and beverage choices on-site, you’re in the middle of Paris, so you’re never far away from a good meal. The two on-site restaurants, however, are simply wonderful.

Sequoia

Whether you go for drinks or not, the rooftop bar Sequoia should be the first stop once you’ve checked into your room. There are spectacular views from every direction.

If you do go for food or drinks, know that there’s a minimum spend requirement of 40 euros ($43) per person, but the venue is open from 3 p.m. until midnight (though I had no trouble showing up earlier in the day) if you just want to pop in for the views. Drinks are decently priced at around 14 euros ($15.21) for a glass of wine.

The outdoor space features tables and chairs arranged to provide 360-degree views of either the Eiffel Tower or the nearby Paris Garnier opera house. You can also see Montmartre, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the high-rises of La Défense, the city’s business district. This rooftop view is that memorable, distinctive kind of feature that makes you want to return to a property again and again.

Montecito

California cuisine in Paris? Yes, please. I guess the California-themed parts of the hotel (Sequoia and Montecito) are a tribute to the Kimpton brand’s founding in San Francisco. Montecito took its name from the city in Southern California and serves a fun mix of American and Mexican dishes.

Montecito is truly a destination restaurant unto itself. While you can access it from within the hotel, there’s also a separate entrance off Boulevard des Capucines. I treated family friends from Los Angeles to dinner at the restaurant one night, and we all enjoyed the food. It’s a glamorous setting with a DJ spinning tunes at night and a bustling bar. It’s got a bit of Hollywood chic thrown in with the Parisian design by the architecture firm Humbert & Poyet.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

My friends and I tried several great dishes, including the guacamole and tortilla chips (more like Doritos), the pink hummus and pita bread (made with beetroot), stir-fried broccolini and the miniature macaroni and cheese. Yum.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Daily breakfast is also served at Montecito, which my guest and I found excellent. Service was prompt and friendly, and there was an incredible selection of French pastries along with all the classic breakfast buffet items. Eggs were cooked to order or available at the buffet. In total, we spent 42 euros ($45) for breakfast, though the charge was waived since the booking was made with points by an IHG One Rewards member who holds top-tier Diamond Elite status.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The restaurant also has a giant room service menu with food supplied by Montecito. One note, while there is late-night room service available, at 10 p.m., it switches to a limited menu that consists of heated-up jars of vegetarian food with bizarre options like veggie chili and vegetable curry. You’re better off going next door to the giant outpost of Five Guys if hunger strikes late at night.

The incredible spa and pool at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

I am madly in love with the amenities at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris. I used the pool, sauna and steam room every day of my stay, and I would go back just for another chance to use these facilities.

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The Codage spa facilities are on the lower level of the hotel. There are wheelchair-friendly changing rooms and an accessible sauna and steam room along with a small pool. The swimming pool is large enough for doing laps, but it can get crowded if more than a few people are enjoying the facilities. While I was there, I mostly had it to myself.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

If you haven’t heard of Codage, you will likely stumble upon it sometime in the future. The French firm formulates skin care products based on your skin type. In fact, they will create a special formula just for you when you visit.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

I treated myself to a one-hour deep muscle massage that cost me around 171 euros ($186, before tip). There are two relaxing treatment rooms with some of the spa’s signature Codage lotions and oils used in the massages. The experience was lovely. While it felt a little pricey to me, that’s pretty standard for a hotel massage these days.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

There is also a small workout room in the basement. Unlike the spa, it is open 24 hours a day, though you’ll need your room key for access.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

The other amenity I took advantage of was the complimentary bikes that you can borrow for a ride around Paris. The bikes come with helmets and bike locks, and I strongly recommend taking advantage of them, as the drivers in Paris can be … aggressive. My helmet may have elicited some giggles from observers, but it made me feel safer.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Why the Kimpton St Honoré Paris may not be for you

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

No hotel is perfect. While I enjoyed my time at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris, there are a few reasons why it may not be the hotel for you.

• Like other Paris hotels, this one is expensive. You won’t find many nights for less than $475, and while that’s not outrageous for Paris, there are cheaper options out there.
• Most of the rooms at the Kimpton St Honoré are on the petite side. Unless you are in a suite, you may find the rooms a bit cramped and even claustrophobic, though having a balcony does help if you choose a smaller room. There are many room types available, so know that your experience here will greatly vary depending on your assigned room. Higher floors will have better views.
• The Kimpton St Honoré is on the casual side. That’s actually a selling point for me, but I know some guests may not be as fond of the casualness of the staff. You won’t find uniformed staff here, so look elsewhere if that’s the Paris vibe you are after. This is a younger, cooler crowd with a more laid-back attitude (think: California living, not a grand hotel).

Accessibility

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

I was impressed with how accessible the Kimpton St Honoré Paris was for differently abled people. The hotel told me it has five rooms that are fully wheelchair accessible, including one king suite, one king premium room and three essential rooms.

Those rooms feature roll-in showers, grab bars, wide doorways and beds and tables that are easily reachable by anyone in a wheelchair. In fact, the hotel has a few sections on the website dedicated to customers who are differently abled.

Public restrooms are accessible and have grab bars installed as well. The same is true for the shower at the swimming pool in the basement.

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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

I found that even the regular facilities were wheelchair-friendly, with wide-open common areas and elevators that are wide enough for mobility assistance devices. However, remember that the hotel was fashioned from several buildings, so some floors are uneven, and you will find stairways in many parts of the property.

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Related: How to make sure you get an accessible hotel room if you need one

Alternatives to the Kimpton St Honoré Paris

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

If the Kimpton St Honoré Paris doesn’t sound quite right for you, there are plenty of other properties where you can take up residence while visiting the City of Light (like my favorite, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme).

If you want another IHG option, the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is literally across the street. The lovely rooms have recently been refreshed. The Hotel Indigo Paris – Opera is also close by, and the new Voco Paris Montparnasse has rooms starting at $150 a night, should you prefer something more affordable.

World of Hyatt members have a range of lovely options, too. To start, there’s the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, plus the previously mentioned Park Hyatt. Other noteworthy options include the Hôtel du Louvre, the Hyatt Paris Madeleine and both a Hyatt House and a Hyatt Place near Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

Hilton fans also have an array of properties to choose from. They include the Maison Astor Paris, Curio Collection by Hilton; the Hilton Paris Opera; the Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero; the Hilton Paris La Defense; and Le Belgrand Hotel Paris Champs Elysees, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. For a budget-friendly option, consider the Niepce Paris Hotel. It’s a Curio Collection by Hilton, and while it’s not in the best location, the price is right. It’s roomy and chic inside.

Related: 10 of the best points hotels in France

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Niepce Paris Hotel. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Finally, if you are in search of a Marriott Bonvoy property, there are quite a few glamorous choices in Paris. The Westin Paris – Vendôme is a go-to for many Marriott loyalists, as it has a central location and old-world Paris elegance. The Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel near the Kimpton St Honoré is another option, as is Le Roch Hotel & Spa from the Design Hotels group. The latter sits close to the Tuileries Garden (just like the Westin and the Park Hyatt) and gets high marks from recent guests.

Related: Book this, not that: Getting the most from your hotel points in Paris

Checking out

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

I absolutely loved my stay at the chic and quirky Kimpton St Honoré Paris and have no qualms about recommending it to others. In fact, I told a friend to book it for his upcoming trip to Paris over Thanksgiving.

The charming spa and swimming pool in the basement were major selling points, and the reimagined interiors and chic decorations set a glamorous tone for my stay. While my cozy room was a bit on the small side, the balcony added to the hotel’s allure. The real highlight for me, though, was that incredible rooftop with panoramic views of some of Paris’ most recognizable attractions. I’d book the hotel again for those views alone and can’t wait to go back.

Related reading:

The post Dramatic views and even a pool within the coronary heart of Paris: A overview of Kimpton St Honoré Paris appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Tony Bennett, the legendary crooner of American music standards, has passed away at the age of 96, leaving a profound impact on the music world and the city he loved so much, San Francisco, according to AP News. Bennett’s illustrious career spanned seven decades, during which he left an indelible mark on the music world with his signature style and grace.

Bennett’s devotion to American song led to the creation of new standards, including his most famous song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” which won him two Grammy Awards and became the city’s unofficial anthem. The passionate singer’s connection to the city was eternal, and his contributions to its art and culture left a lasting impression, evoking mixed feelings in San Francisco on the day of his death.

Born in Astoria, Queens, the man once named Anthony Dominick Benedetto became the last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century. As he navigated the ever-changing musical landscape, Bennett has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, collaborating with musicians of diverse generations and backgrounds.

Bennett went beyond the traditional pop and jazz worlds and engaged in collaborations with contemporary artists such as Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse and Carrie Underwood. His dedication to bringing the Great American Songbook to new audiences led to several successful albums and proved that old and new can effortlessly coexist and thrive together.

San Francisco holds a special place in Tony Bennett’s heart, symbolized by the statue of Bennett unveiled in 2016 at the Fairmont Hotel, where he first sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1961. Through the decades, Bennett continued his tradition of loving the city and, at the age of 90, returned to perform and celebrate in his honor. Today, San Francisco mourns the loss of the voice that so perfectly captured the essence of the city.

Following news of his death, Breed, Mayor of San Francisco London, expressed the city’s gratitude for Bennett’s contributions, stating, “Tony Bennett has provided us with a song, a spirit and a magic that is connected to the history of this city and those who we are is connected.” Breed added that Bennett’s affinity for San Francisco “will stay with us forever.”

From the day he sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at the Fairmont Hotel, Tony Bennett has embodied the love for this city shared by all San Franciscans throughout the decades since. Today we honor his memory and celebrate his legacy that will stay with us forever. pic.twitter.com/lHzO1O9LN9

— London Breed (@LondonBreed) July 21, 2023

Even the famous Fog of San Francisco paid tribute to Bennett. Popular Twitter account @KarlTheFog mourned Bennett’s death, saying: “ RIP Tony Bennett. Thank you for the city anthem. Our golden sun shines for you today.”

As the sun sets on the life of a legend, the people of San Francisco and beyond will forever cherish the memories and tunes Tony Bennett gave us. May his golden voice continue to reverberate through the hills of his favorite city, reminding us all of the magic and spirit that bound them so beautifully.

The post The Voice That Stole San Francisco’s Coronary heart Silenced at appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Es begann mit einem Schrei in der Nacht zum 1. August 1966.

Die Frau, die es gehört hatte, eine Lehrerin aus Oakland, stürmte aus der Tür und sah einen Mann vor sich stehen, der ihr über die Schulter verstohlene Blicke zuwarf. Er war groß, von 1,80 m kräftiger Statur und trug einen frisch gebügelten Anzug. Er war auch unglaublich angespannt. Der Mann hieß Charles Sullivan, Besitzer des Fillmore Auditorium, und er galt einst als einer der reichsten Schwarzen an der Westküste.

Laut David Talbot in „Season of The Witch“ hatte Sullivan gesehen, wie ein Kind auf ihn zukam, und das reichte aus, um Panik auszulösen. Nachdem er sein Auto überprüft und sich vergewissert hatte, dass alle seine Sachen in Ordnung waren, verabschiedeten sich Sullivan und der Schullehrer.

Stunden später war Sullivan tot, gefunden an der Ecke Fifth und Bluxome in der Nähe des heutigen Oracle Park. Nach Angaben der Polizei vor Ort lag ein Revolver vom Kaliber .38 mit einer verbrauchten Patrone nur wenige Zentimeter von seiner rechten Hand entfernt. Er war 57 Jahre alt, und das Fillmore Auditorium war erst seit etwas mehr als einem Jahrzehnt geöffnet.

Von Anfang an gab es Fragen zu seinem Tod. Zum einen gehörte die Waffe Sullivan, dessen Familie später im San Francisco Chronicle bestätigte, dass er „sie zum Schutz trug“. Aber Schutz vor wem? Was führte ihn so spät in der Nacht in das Viertel South of Market? War das ein Selbstmord? Ein Mord? Die Polizei hatte ihre Theorien, die Presse auch. Aber bei all den Spekulationen gab es eine Gewissheit, auf die sich alle einigen konnten: Charles Sullivan, einst als „Bürgermeister von Fillmore“ bezeichnet, war weg. Und die Gemeinschaft, die er aufgebaut hat, war nicht weit dahinter.

Blick nach Südosten über Geary von Boswell (Kreuzung existiert nicht mehr) zum Fillmore Auditorium, Beth Israel Synagogue, 29. Dezember 1966.

OpenSFHistory / wnp14.1430

Charles Sullivan kommt im Bezirk Fillmore an

Am Anfang war das Fillmore eine Chance. Als Handels- und Kulturzentrum war es die Heimat von Tausenden von Juden, Japanern und Afroamerikanern auf der Suche nach ihrem eigenen Erfolg. Und nur wenige fanden mehr Erfolg als Charles Sullivan.

Sullivan wurde 1909 in äußerster Armut in Mobile, Alabama, geboren und war für einen amerikanischen Mythos geeignet. Seine Migration aus dem Süden nach San Francisco auf der Suche nach einem besseren Leben spiegelt die vieler schwarzer Amerikaner seiner Zeit wider, aber Sullivans Herkunft war in einigen wichtigen Punkten unterschiedlich.

Zum einen war Sullivans Geburtsname Charles Williams. Es wurde später von Robert Sullivan, einem Farmer mit einer Vorliebe für Bourbon und heftigen Wutausbrüchen, geändert. Der Chronicle berichtete einmal, dass Robert mehr als 40 Jahre nach der Emanzipations-Proklamation „vollständige Kontrolle und Besitz von Charles“ durch eine von Charles’ Mutter, Bell Mary Williams, unterzeichnete Dienstbarkeitsvereinbarung erhielt. Die Vereinbarung wurde unter dem Deckmantel einer landwirtschaftlichen Lehre getroffen, von der Bell hoffte, dass sie ihm eine Chance auf eine Ausbildung und einen Beruf geben würde, aber alles, was er davon bekam, waren Narben. Im Alter von 13 Jahren ging Charles mitten in der Nacht und ging 18 Meilen zu Fuß zu einem Bahnhof.

Von da an hielt Sullivan seinen Kopf gesenkt und die Hände beschäftigt und arbeitete Gelegenheitsjobs in ganz Kalifornien, darunter Autowäscher, Parkservice und persönlicher Chauffeur. In einem Profil aus dem San Francisco Chronicle von 1963 sagte Sullivan einmal über seinen Antrieb: „Ich hatte immer etwas in mir, das mich dazu brachte, es besser machen zu wollen.“

1934 fand sich Sullivan in San Francisco wieder. Er hatte Monate damit verbracht, fleißig die Abendschule zu besuchen, um Maschinist zu werden, aber als es an der Zeit war, der Gewerkschaft beizutreten, wurde Sullivan die Einreise verweigert.

Blick auf San Francisco von Yerba Buena Island, 1934.

OpenSFHistory / wnp28.1034

Stattdessen arbeitete er als Chauffeur für einen wohlhabenden Prominenten in Hillsborough und nutzte sein Einkommen, um Bars und Restaurants zu eröffnen. Als der Zweite Weltkrieg ausbrach, wusste er jedoch, dass seine Fähigkeiten als Maschinist gebraucht würden, und bewarb sich erneut um den Beitritt zur Gewerkschaft.

Es bedurfte 50 weißer Maschinisten und einer persönlichen Untersuchung durch Präsident Franklin D. Roosevelt selbst, um die Gewerkschaft von seinen Qualifikationen zu überzeugen, aber 1941 war Charles Sullivan ein Gewerkschaftsmitglied – der erste von Tausenden von Schwarzen, die in der Morgendämmerung auf Werften in San Francisco arbeiteten des Zweiten Weltkriegs.

Nach dem Krieg widmete sich Sullivan wieder seinen eigenen Unternehmungen. Es begann mit Spirituosengeschäften und Restaurants, dann Hotels und Nachtclubs.

1954 übernahm Sullivan den Mietvertrag für eine heruntergekommene Tanzhalle und Rollschuhbahn namens Majestic Ballroom und taufte sie Fillmore Auditorium, in dem integrierte Tänze stattfanden und die größten Namen der schwarzen Musik gebucht wurden. Es war ein wilder Erfolg. Neue bürgerliche schwarze Familien sehnten sich nach Unterhaltung und Sullivan gab sie ihnen und buchte alle Größen, darunter Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington und Ella Fitzgerald. Es lag Magie in der Luft. Die Leute begannen, das Fillmore als „Harlem des Westens“ zu bezeichnen.

Blick nach Osten zum neuen Geary Blvd und St. Francis Square 66 Cleary im Bau. Schild Mayfair Market rechts. 1963

OpenSFHistory / wnp28.2797

Blick nach Osten über die Fillmore-Überführung und den St. Francis Square 66 Cleary im Bau. Mayfair Market auf der rechten Seite. 1963

OpenSFHistory / wnp28.2807

Blick nach Osten zum neuen Geary Blvd und St. Francis Square 66 Cleary im Bau. Schild Mayfair Market rechts. 1963 (OpenSFHistory / Wnp28.2797/ Wnp28.2807)
Blick nach Osten zum neuen Geary Blvd und St. Francis Square 66 Cleary im Bau. Schild Mayfair Market rechts. 1963 (OpenSFHistory / Wnp28.2797/ Wnp28.2807)

Es war nicht ungewöhnlich, in der Stadt unterwegs zu sein und zu sehen, wie Sullivan mit Little Richard Cocktails trank oder einen Arm um Charlie Parker legte.

Er erweiterte sein Werbeimperium von San Diego nach Vancouver und kaufte ein neu eingerichtetes Haus am Alamo Square. 1966 nannte ihn der Chronicle einen der reichsten schwarzen Männer des Westens.

„Urban Renewal“ kommt nach San Francisco

„Es gibt keine moralische Distanz zwischen den Tatsachen des Lebens in San Francisco und den Tatsachen des Lebens in Birmingham“, sagte James Baldwin in der KQED-Dokumentation „Take This Hammer“. In dem Film spricht Baldwin mit schwarzen Bewohnern des Fillmore über das Leben in der Stadt und die Auswirkungen der Stadterneuerung.

Nur zwei Jahre nachdem Sullivan das Fillmore Auditorium eröffnet hatte, begann San Francisco mit dem Sanierungsprojekt A-1 seine umstrittene Version des Programms. Nach Angaben des San Francisco Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure argumentierten die Befürworter, sein Ziel sei es, „schädliche Bedingungen“ in Innenstädten zu beseitigen und die lokale Wirtschaft anzukurbeln. Kritiker sagten, dies habe zu Schließungen von Unternehmen und Massenvertreibungen geführt.

A-1, das sich über etwa 28 Blocks erstreckte, schloss Hunderte von Geschäften und drängte Tausende von Einwohnern aus dem Fillmore. Die zweite Etappe, A-2, begann 1965. Das Programm verwandelte die Geary Street in eine Hauptverkehrsader der Stadt, und die Bewohner der weitgehend weißen westlichen Viertel sahen, dass ihre Pendelzeiten halbiert wurden.

Das Fillmore als Eisbahn, 1949.

Öffentliche Bibliothek von San Francisco

Sullivan versuchte, wie viele Wirtschaftsführer zu dieser Zeit, die Nachbarschaft zu retten, indem er mit der Sanierungsagentur zusammenarbeitete und Unternehmen aus der Entwicklungszone verlegte. Aber der Schaden war angerichtet, und der Fillmore war nie mehr derselbe.

Im Sommer 1964 begannen in Städten in ganz Amerika Rassenunruhen. Der Arbeitsmarkt der Fillmore Nachkriegszeit trocknete aus und ließ Tausende arbeitslos zurück. Die Kriminalität nahm schnell zu und Sullivan trug eine Waffe in seiner Aktentasche.

Der Tag, an dem die Musik starb

Zum ersten Mal in seiner Karriere hatte Charles Sullivan Mühe, das Fillmore Auditorium gebucht zu halten. Der Jazzmarkt war so gut wie verschwunden, und eine neue Generation verlangte nach neuen Künstlern. Um beim Übergang zu helfen, vermietete Sullivan den Veranstaltungsort 1965 an einen ehrgeizigen Weißen namens Bill Graham.

Graham war ein hartgesottener Holocaust-Überlebender mit unerbittlichem Tatendrang. Er kannte sich auch besser mit Rockmusik aus als jeder andere. Aber als Transplantant aus New York fand er es unmöglich, in das strenge Genehmigungsverfahren der Stadt einzudringen. Sullivan sah in Graham eine widerstrebende Verwandtschaft und erklärte sich bereit, ihm beim Aufbau zu helfen.

Rock-Promoter und Konzertproduzent Bill Graham posiert vor dem Fillmore East. Früher als Village Theatre bekannt, wurde das Fillmore East zu einem Veranstaltungsort für Rockmusik, an dem viele Bands ihre Anfänge hatten.

Bettmann/Bettmann-Archiv

Unter Graham begann das Fillmore Auditorium, Acts zu buchen, die für das San Francisco der 60er Jahre stehen, wie Jefferson Airplane und The Grateful Dead. Diese neue Musik brachte auch ein neues Publikum – jüngere weiße Hippies, die begierig darauf waren, den „San Francisco Sound“ zu erleben. Es war ein durchschlagender Erfolg, und Graham bat unermüdlich darum, den Mietvertrag zu übernehmen. Aber Sullivan gab nie auf.

Graham mag die Acts gebucht haben, aber es war Sullivan, der die Show leitete, und er förderte weiterhin schwarze Künstler, wo immer er konnte. An einem Wochenende im Jahr 1966 flog Sullivan nach Los Angeles, um an einem James-Brown-Konzert teilzunehmen. Es war das letzte Konzert, das er jemals sehen würde. Er starb nur wenige Stunden nach seiner Rückkehr nach San Francisco.

Wochenlang bauten die Mordinspektoren Kenneth Manley und Jack Cleary einen Fall auf, in dem sie alle Szenarien untersuchten, bevor sie dem Chronicle sagten, dass sie „die starke Möglichkeit eines Selbstmords“ favorisierten.

Diese Theorie hinterließ jedoch Fragen zu dem, was der Prüfer „seltsame Umstände“ nannte. Der Gerichtsmediziner bemerkte zum Beispiel die ungünstige Platzierung der Wunde etwa einen halben Zentimeter rechts von der linken Brustwarze – kaum ein intuitiver Winkel für einen Selbstmord. Es ging auch nicht darauf ein, warum Sullivan in einem notorisch kargen Teil der Stadt gefunden wurde, meilenweit von seinem Zuhause entfernt. Sogar Sullivans eigene Familie, Frau Fannie und sein jüngerer Bruder Marion, äußerten ihre Zweifel und sagten der Presse, dass er ermordet worden sein muss.

Nach Sullivans mysteriösem Tod übernahm Graham den Pachtvertrag für das Fillmore. Sein Erfolg trug dazu bei, New Yorks Fillmore East zusammen mit anderen Veranstaltungsorten hervorzubringen. Er hat Millionen verdient. In seiner Autobiografie trauerte Graham um seinen Freund, erwähnte jedoch keinen Selbstmord, sondern sagte nur, dass Sullivan „sich umbringen ließ“.

Erinnerung an den „Bürgermeister von Fillmore“

Von der Jazzgeschichte des Fillmore Auditorium sind nur noch wenige Überreste übrig geblieben. Bilder säumen die Hallen, aber keines davon zeigt Sullivan. Inzwischen ist Bill Grahams Name in Stein gemeißelt, immer noch ein Synonym für die größten Shows der Stadt.

Hippies tanzen im Frühsommer 1967 bei einem psychedelischen Rockkonzert im Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.

Archiv Michael Ochs/Getty Images

Im Inneren bedeckt ein Mosaik aus Postern jede verfügbare Oberfläche. Ihre Farben sind verblasst, aber Sie können sich immer noch in diesen Menschenmassen vorstellen, wie Sie sich im Rhythmus einer kleinen Trommel oder dem Schrei eines Saxophons verlieren. Damals versammelte sich die ganze Nachbarschaft, als wäre es eine Kirche, außer dass ihr Altar die Bühne war. Und die rohen Harmonien, die mit geneigten Köpfen über Klaviere gesungen wurden, waren wie ein Chor, dirigiert vom „Bürgermeister von Fillmore“.

Mehr klassische Gegenkultur aus San Francisco

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San Francisco International (SFO) plays an important role in attracting business to the city, acting as a major gateway to the rest of the US, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The first phase of upgrades to the Harvey Milk terminal (formerly known as the South terminal) opened in May 2021, with seven new departure gates and a new post-security passenger walkway which connects it to the international terminal, allowing passengers to connect to domestic flights without having to go through an additional security checkpoint.

“[The upgrading of SFO is] going to be a continual process,” says D’Alessandro, “but for the business traveler, those types of improvements are going to make the experience in San Francisco much more positive.” The final phase of the terminal will be completed in spring 2024.”[It’s also] the first airport terminal in the world named after an LGBTQ+ leader,” says D’Alessandro. It features a display of exhibition content honoring the life of the political leader and activist.

Incoming improvements

While cities across the world are attempting to bounce back from Covid-19, San Francisco has a tougher job than most. Its notorious reputation for social problems such as racial and economic disparities, drug addiction, homelessness and crime existed well before the pandemic.

Recently, the city has put a major focus on tackling its widely publicized challenges through focused funding. The city budget for 2021 to 2023 includes US$25 million allocated for the Street Crisis Response Team (a rapid, de-escalation response unit for people experiencing behavioral health crises on city streets) and US$9.6 million for the Street Wellness Response Team, to provide Immediate wellbeing checks, and medical and social services to those experiencing homelessness.

There have also been changes to policing strategies, including the Tourism Deployment Plan, high-visibility police presence in tourism areas. In July 2020, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed introduced the Homeless Recovery Plan with the largest expansion of Permanent Supportive Housing in the city in 20 years, and over the last two years, the city has leased or acquired more than 2,500 new units for the project.

“I’m really impressed with the steps that the city and the mayor are taking, and also the people of San Francisco,” says D’Alessandro. “In the last few years, they voted for a number of ballot measures that would significantly raise the amount of funds to provide long-term supportive housing for people and also short-term care. “I think what we’re going to see in San Francisco in the next few years is significant improvement on the street, which is great for everybody.”

The post I discovered my coronary heart in San Francisco – Enterprise Traveller appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

“Everybody should have access to a beautiful place, good music, good food, good wine,” said Arcana founder and curator Naz Khorram. “Basically, an extended version of my own living room in my own personal home was what I was really striving for.”

Whether you’d like to become a plant parent or add to your existing collection, Arcana offers hundreds of carefully selected options to fill your space.

“We handpick every single plant, choosing plants and pots that go together to create some sort of vibe that you can kind of imagine in your space,” explained Plant Specialist & Interiorscaper Anna Trautman. “It’s a place where you actually get to see living things as a form of art. It’s also a place for community.”

A plant shop and teahouse by day and wine bar-restaurant by night, Arcana serves as an oasis that connects the community through sustainable offerings.

“From our plant-based food to our natural wine to the tea, everything is pretty environmentally focused and inspired,” said Operations Coordinator Andy Garcia.

For Arcana founder Khorram, the shop’s location and welcoming vibe hits close to home.

“It’s a very immigrant-dominated neighborhood, that’s why I really connected with it,” they said. “I’m queer, I moved here when I was 18, and I specifically wanted to come to San Francisco because as a very young Iranian came out of that culture, people didn’t have an open mind about it.”

Khorram displays the Rainbow Flag inside Arcana as a symbol of the love and community they feel in San Francisco, with the intention of sharing positivity and light with all who visit.

“I just wanted to have a big flag raised as a sign for all the other 18-year-olds that are moving into this city from their own countries and their own backgrounds to feel what I felt, ‘Oh, that’s a safe place to go,'” said Khorram.

For more information about Arcana, visit here.

For the latest updates about workshops, design services, and more, follow Arcana on Instagram.

The post Arcana welcomes you to a neighborhood lounge within the coronary heart of San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

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