SPECIAL AAO Preview Section: San Francisco 2009

AAO to Show Off Its Home City

San Francisco ranks high in attractions.

BY JERRY HELZNER, SENIOR EDITOR

It should come as no surprise that the American Academy of Ophthalmology has proudly chosen its own headquarters city — San Francisco — as the site of its 2009 joint meeting with the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology The meeting will run from Oct 24 to Oct 27, with a Subspecialty Day on Oct 23.

As a visitor destination, San Francisco is at least the equal in attractions to any other city in the country. In a recent survey of America's Favorite Cities conducted by CNN and Travel and Leisure Magazine, San Francisco ranked number one in most interesting neighborhoods, number two in specialty shopping and number three in destination restaurants.

The location of this year's meeting will be the George R. Moscone Center, named after the popular San Francisco mayor of the 1970s. The centrally located Moscone Center is within walking distance of about 20,000 hotel rooms, the theater district and many restaurants. It boasts two million square feet of building area, 700,000 square feet of exhibit space and 106 meeting rooms. The Center was built in three stages over more than 20 years, with the latest addition being the Moscone West building, which was completed in 2003.

The Moscone Center is known for its progressive environmental practices and its ability to hold so-called “green meetings” that are notable for an emphasis on recycling and the efficient use of resources.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) offers fast, convenient regional service and MUNI Metro provides light rail service throughout the city. To reach Moscone North & South, take BART or MUNI to Montgomery station. To reach Moscone West, take BART or MUNI to Powell station.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

The foot of Powell Street. This is the spot where the famous San Francisco cable cars turn around.

Attractions at Every Turn

Away from the meeting site, attendees and their spouses have a wide array of leisure activities from which to choose. First-time visitors will want to take in the traditional San Francisco attractions such as Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Nob Hill and, of course, a ride in one of the city's famous cable cars. For those who have “been there, done that,” there are many less obvious attractions that are also part of the city's overall charm.

For example, the Aquarium of the Bay, located at Pier 39 on the Embarcadero at Beach Street, showcases approximately 20,000 marine animals. Visitors walk through 300 feet of crystal-clear tunnels and can touch sharks and rays. The experience has been compared to skin diving without getting wet. The Aquarium of the Bay is open daily with an adult admission fee of $15.95 per person.

A view of infamous Alcatraz Island, with the city skyline in the background. Alcatraz is now a tourist attraction.

Along with the aquarium, the Pier 39 site also offers a festival marketplace with more than 110 stores, 13 Bay view restaurants and a variety of other attractions, including street performers and live daily entertainment.

A visit to Chinatown, with its many restaurants and shops, ranks high on visitors' agendas. It is also close to the meeting site.

Formerly a military post, the Presidio on Graham Street in San Francisco is a national park and recreational area featuring spectacular views, meandering trails, and historic and architectural treasures. Visitors can hike, take a walking tour, have a picnic or view the many exhibits. Entrance to the park and most programs are free. The park is open daily, year-round.

The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is a spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants from around the world that will engage visitors. It is open daily except Monday, with an adult admission charge of $5 per person. Golden Gate Park is also home to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which also offers a wide variety of flora from around the world.

The San Francisco Zoo, Northern California's largest zoological park and conservation center, is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2009. This urban oasis, nestled against the Pacific ocean, features beautiful gardens and 250 different animal species in naturalistic habitats. Recent births at the zoo include a baby giraffe and a baby gorilla. However, the zoo no longer houses elephants and was one of the first to close its elephant exhibit and send the pachyderms to a sanctuary. The San Francisco Zoo is located on the Great Highway, between Skyline and Sloat Boulevards, next to the Pacific Ocean. Adult admission is $15 for non-residents.

For football fans attending the meeting, the NFL's Oakland Raiders will be at home on Sunday, Oct. 25, with a 1 p.m. start against the New York Jets. College fans can take in the California vs. Washington State Pacific 10 contest in nearby Berkeley on Saturday, Oct. 24, or the Stanford vs. Arizona State night game on the same date in Palo Alto.

Going Beyond City Limits

For those who have the time and inclination to venture outside of the San Francisco city limits, a nearby starting point would be across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausilito. Named by a Spanish explorer for the little willows (saucelitos) growing along its shores, Sausalito has been a vibrant area since the early 1800s, when sailors, whalers and shipbuilders settled there.

Today, visitors can stroll along the water watching sea lions cavort, linger in the plaza and soak up the ambiance in the many open-air cafes and unique boutiques. Sausalito hosts a thriving artist community and is home to several world-class art galleries.

In contrast to laid-back Sausilito, Alcatraz Island is basically an isolated rock in the middle of San Francisco Bay that was chosen to be the site of an escape-proof federal penitentiary. Though entrance to Alcatraz Island is free, it is only reachable by ferry, which departs regularly from Pier 33 near Fisherman's Wharf. Adult admission is $26 for a day tour and ferry transportation to the island and back.

Tours and side trips through Napa Valley wine country are a “can't miss” experience for wine lovers (see accompanying article) but these trips can take the better part of a day.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is probably the most widely known symbol of San Francisco.

Shops Like Nowhere Else

The sanfrancisco.com Shopping Guide boasts that the city “offers some of the best shopping in the world, so it is no wonder that tourists and serious shopaholics alike want to spend some time and money in San Francisco's varied shopping centers, districts and malls.”

Union Square, Hayes Valley, upper Fillmore, the Mission, Sacramento Street, Chinatown and downtown's San Francisco Shopping Center each offer a unique style with one-of-a-kind shops. Each mall and neighborhood has a distinctive feel suited to any shopper's mood, from urban sophisticate to funk.

The www.sanfrancisco.com Web site provides a detailed description of each of the above-mentioned shopping districts and provides the names and specialties of the key retailers in each neighborhood.

Special Events

■ Run/Walk for Vision 5K — Sunday, Oct. 25, 6:30 a.m., Start and finish near AT&T Park

The Academy invites you to bring your running shoes and enjoy spectacular views of the bay on this fast, flat 5K course! Celebrating its 24th year, Bausch & Lomb and the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) again host this annual benefit run/walk. The $50 registration fee is tax deductible as a charitable contribution and benefits the EBAA, the nation's oldest national transplant association. All participants receive a race T-shirt and a commemorative photograph of their participation.

Go to the Academy Web site, www.aao.org, to register for this event.

■ Documentary Preview — Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story, Monday Oct. 26, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Moscone South, Esplanade Ballroom

A new public television documentary tells the inspiring story of Dr. Kelman's tumultuous ride to success, from the driven young man who wanted to be Sinatra to his revolutionary work with phacoemulsification and his tremendous impact on medicine.

Produced by WLIW21 for WNET.ORG New York Public Media, the documentary premieres nationwide in January on public television.

SPECIAL AAO PREVIEW SECTION

Dining Out: The San Francisco Scene

Take some advice from the locals.

BY RENE LUTHE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Those heading to the 2009 AAO meeting in the Bay City are fortunate that it is located in a place so renowned for its outstanding restaurants — and Ophthalmology Management was fortunate to have found some restaurant-savvy locals! Compliments of ophthalmologists Wayne Fung, MD, and H. George Tanaka, MD, and Tony Moses, vice president of sales and marketing at Neo Vista, Inc., we've got the lowdown on the best eateries the city has to offer.

And while it is always a good idea to make reservations when a major conference is in town, it is especially necessary in San Francisco. As one local warned, “Everything in San Francisco is a reservation restaurant!” So as you are reviewing OM's list, take the precaution of booking your favorites ASAP.

Tony Moses's Picks

Campton Place Restaurant, Bistro and Bar
340 Stockton Street
Telephone: (415) 955-5555 • www.Camptonplacesf.com
Email: dine@camptonplacesf.com
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
The renowned restaurant offers “Mediterranean inspirations with local California cuisine and gentle spice overtones,” according to its Web site.

Chez Spencer
82 14th Street
Telephone: (415) 864-2191 • www.chezspencer.net
Dinner
This French restaurant features a wood-burning oven and a tasting menu.

Kokkari
200 Jackson Street (at Front) San Francisco
Phone: (415) 981-0983 • www.kokkari.com
Closed Sunday, Lunch (weekdays only), Dinner
This Greek/Mediterranean restaurant offers classics such as moussaka, kotopoulo souvlas and mesquite-grilled octopus.

Restaurant Gary Danko
800 N Point St.
Telephone: (415) 749-2060 • www.garydanko.com
Dinner
Located in Fisherman's Wharf, it offers “California-French” cuisine and features a tasting menu.

Sociale
3665 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA
(415) 921-3200 • www.cafesociale.com
E-mail: gm@caffesociale.com
Lunch, Dinner (closed Sunday)
This Italian restaurant offers a brick courtyard for outdoor dining.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Dr. Fung's Picks

Bar Tartine
561 Valencia Street
Telephone: (415) 487-1600 • www.bartartine.com
Dinner, Brunch (weekends)
“It's a little off-beat and funky but offers very fresh, good food,” says Dr. Fung. The restaurant is basically a long bar.

Delfina Restaurant
3621 18th Street
Telephone: (415) 552-4055 • www.delfinasf.com
Dinner
Italian cuisine in the Mission District.

Great Eastern
649 Jackson Street
Telephone: (415) 986-2500
Lunch, Dinner
For Chinese and dim sum, Dr. Fung recommends this Chinatown spot.

Greens
Building A, Fort Mason
Telephone: (415) 771-6272
Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch
“It's vegetarian like you never thought vegetarian could be,” Dr. Fung says, and very popular. Located at the water's edge near where the Presidio used to be, it also offers sweeping views of the Marina, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin headlands.

Hing Lung
674 Broadway Telephone: (415) 398-8838
This Chinatown spot is a favorite of local denizens for congee. Dr. Fung explains that this is a very popular rice gruel, served in either morning or noontime, that is flavored with either beef, or fish or pork, or vegetables. “I guarantee that any meeting attendees who go there will not see another Caucasian,” says Dr. Fung.

R & G Lounge
631 Kearny Street
Telephone: (415) 982-7877 • www.rnglounge.com
Lunch, Dinner
Traditional Cantonese cuisine.

Tommy Toy's Cuisine Chinoise
655 Montgomery Street
Telephone: (415) 397-4888 • www.tommytoys.com
Email: info@tommytoys.com
Lunch (Wed. thru Fri.), Dinner
The opulent setting is modeled on the 19th century quarters of the Empress Dowager's sitting room. The menu goes “well beyond typical Chinese fare.”

Zuni Café
1658 Market Street
Telephone: (415) 552-2522 • www.zunicafe.com
Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch
The menus change daily, inspired by seasonal organic ingredients, and incorporate traditional regional French and Italian cuisine. “One of their most popular dishes is roast chicken with bread salad,” says Dr. Fung.

Dr. Tanaka's Picks

Blue Bottle Coffee Co.
66 Mint Street.
Telephone: (510) 653-3394 • www.bluebottlecoffee.net
Where to find the best coffee in San Francisco is a pretty hotly debated topic among coffee aficionados, Dr. Tanaka reports. His hands-down favorite is Blue Bottle. “There is a new outpost on Mint Street, only an eight-minute walk from the convention center,” he says. “Apparently, they have some $20,000 gizmo that brews the perfect cup of coffee!”

Coi Restaurant
373 Broadway
Telephone: (415) 393-9000 • www.coirestaurant.com
Dinner
Located near the red-light district, Dr. Tanaka reports that Coi is very upscale and hip, with “fantastic” contemporary California cuisine.

Fleur de Lys
777 Sutter Street
Telephone: (415) 673-7779 • www.fleurdelyssf.com
Dinner
“It's always a good standby, very romantic, very cozy and intimate,” says Dr. Tanaka.

Spruce
3640 Sacramento Street
Phone: (415) 931-5100 • www.sprucesf.com
E-mail: info@sprucesf.com
Lunch, Dinner
It's a little off the beaten track in Pacific Heights, says Dr. Tanaka. But it may be worth the cab ride — “It's the chi-chi place to be seen, with excellent food,” according to Dr. Tanaka.

Quince
1701 Octavia Street
Telephone: (415) 775-8500 • www.quincerestaurant.com
Dinner
Dr. Tanaka's personal favorite, it is also located in Pacific Heights and offers French- and Italian-inspired food only a nine-minute cab ride from downtown.

The Woodhouse Fish Company
2073 Market Street
Telephone: (415) 437-2722 • www.woodhousefish.com
E-mail: info@woodhousefish.com
Dinner
In mid-town, this restaurant is known for its oysters and lobster roll.

Yank Sing
www.yanksing.com
1 Rincon Center, 101 Spear Street
Telephone: (415) 781-1111
49 Stevenson Street
Telephone: (415) 541-4949
Fans of dim sum should check out Yank Sing, Dr. Tanaka says. It offers two locations in downtown San Francisco.

However, when it comes to Chinese food, Dr. Tanaka claims that San Francisco's best is not in Chinatown! “It is actually halfway across town on Clement and Irving Streets, in the Richmond District,” he says. “It's considered a second Chinatown.”

Adventures in Wine Country

If you're already as close as San Franciscico, how can you resist venturing into the Napa Valley?

For attendees who can't resist the opportunity to explore the storied wine country called Napa Valley, Tony Moses, local wine connoisseur and NeoVista vice president of marketing and sales, offers priceless sight-seeing tips. First-time visitors, he suggests, should start with the Silverado Trail. Located just north of Napa City, it runs all the way up to Callistoga, he says, an approximately 20-hour drive.

“You literally pass just one winery after another as you work your way northward,” Moses says. Visitors interested in tastings and tours should contact the wineries in advance.

Palmaz Winery
www.palmazvineyards.com
Palmaz Vineyards
4029 Hagen Rd., Napa
E-mail: contactus@palmazvineyards.com
Winery Office: 707 226-5587
“In my mind, this is the most impressive property in the valley,” says Mr. Moses.

The winery was developed by Dr. Julio Palmaz, credited with inventing the first cardiac stent. The winery is 18 stories into the ground, making it the largest gravity-fed winery in North America; it houses the largest top-to-bottom supported building in the world in the wine industry.

Tastings are by invitation only.

Darioush Winery
www.darioush.com
4240 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA
Telephone: 707-257 2345
Famous for its Bordeaux blends, the winery offers Persian-style architecture, gardens and an art exhibit.

Regusci Winery
www.regusciwinery.com
5584 Silverado Trail, Napa
Telephone: 707-254-0403 Email: info@regusciwinery.com
Known for its cabernets and zinfandels, as well as its olive oil. Mr. Moses says the winery offers picnic tables as well, making it an excellent place to take a break.

Cliff Lede Vineyards
www.cliffledevineyards.com
1473 Yountville Cross Rd., Yountville
Telephone: (707) 944-8642 / 800-428-2259
E-mail: info@CliffLedeVineyards.com
The Bordeaux maker also has the Poetry Inn, a bed-and-breakfast inn in the hills of the Vaca Mountains.

Auberge Du Soleil
www.aubergedusoleil.com
180 Rutherford Hill Rd., Rutherford
Telephone: (707) 963-1211
Reservations 800-348-5406 (Hotel & Restaurant)
Mr. Moses recommends it for a lunch or apertif during one's tour.

Rutherford Hill Winery
www.rutherfordhill.com
200 Rutherford Hill Rd., Rutherford
Telephone: (707) 963-1871 Email: info@rutherfordhill.com
The winery features a picnic area at the top of a mountain, offering spectacular views of the Napa Valley floor.

Harris Estate Vineyard
www.harrisestatevineyard.com
225 Franz Valley School Rd., Calistoga
Telephone: (707) 942-1513
E-mail: info@harrisestatevineyards.com
This small, premium winery in the Spring Mountain Range is well worth the trip, Mr. Moses says.

Domaine Carneros
www.domainecarneros.com
1240 Duhig Road, Napa
Telephone: 800 716-BRUT (2788)
E-mail: tours@domainecarneros.com
Part of the Tattinger Family Estates properties, visitors will want to see “the exquisite chateau,” says Mr. Moses.

Domaine Chandon
www.chandon.com
1 California Dr., Yountville Telephone: 707-944-2280
In addition to the winery and beautiful gardens, Domaine Chandon also boasts a “wonderful restaurant,” the Etiole, says Mr. Moses.

Robert Sinskey Vineyards
www.robertsinskey.com6320 Silverado Trail, Napa Telephone: 707-944-9090
Show some support for winemaking ophthalmologist Robert Sinskey, MD, with a visit to his vineyard. The house specializes in cabernets and pinot noirs. Wine tastings are available daily between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

French Laundry Restaurant
www.frenchlaundry.com
6640 Washington St, Yountville, CA
Telephone: (707) 944-2380
Additionally, if you do visit Napa, Mr. Moses recommends the French Laundry. “It's always voted one of the top one or two restaurants in the country,” he says.