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San Francisco's famous Rotunda in Neiman Marcus is closing indefinitely; it has overlooked Union Square for more than a century

10/14/2020

The dazzling Neiman Marcus Rotunda — adorned with its landmark stained glass dome — is one of the few remaining artifacts preserved from San Francisco’s
lost department stores.

The gorgeous Rotunda with its landmark stained glass dome announced its tentative closure in late September, four months after the famed Neiman Marcus department store was forced to file for bankruptcy for Chapter 11 protection, another victim of the economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gone are the popular afternoon tea with floor-to-ceiling windows. Well-known for its extravagant 80-foot-tall Christmas tree -- and all the hoopla that sight brings --
the restaurant had hoped to reopen at some indefinite future time, according to a a few restaurant employees furloughed in March.

This story was reported in the

The visual elements of the Rounda Cafe were maintained from the original City of Paris building, a department store that at one time was San Francisco's oldest, first making its appearance in 1851 at the Sutter and Kearny intersection, and eventually settling at the Geary and Stockton location in Union Square in 1896.

The City of Paris building was remodeled by architects Arthur Brown, John Bakewell, and Louis Bourgeois who also designed San Francisco City Hall, the War Memorial House, and the Veterans Building. Amazingly, the City of Paris department store survived the 1906 Earthquake, though the resulting fire badly damaged the store interior.

The City of Paris building was demolished by Neiman Marcus, which bought the building in 1974 with plans to build a brand new Neiman Marcus department store, with the promise to preserve the iconic stained-glass rotunda. The upheaval to one of San Francisco's treasured downtown buildings was all the more met with scorn when the new Neiman Marcus building opened as a glitzy, modern, out-of-place structure when it opened in 1983.

Read the history of the famed City of Paris building, here.

Read more on this story at SF Gate

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United Nations Association Film Festival Will Present its 23rd UNAFF Visionary Award to Joan Baez, Sunday Oct 25, 2020

10/7/2020

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The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) is proud to announce that its annual UNAFF Visionary Award will be presented to legendary singer, songwriter, musician and activist, Joan Baez.

On Sunday Oct 25 The UNAFF Visionary Award will be recognize legendary singer, songwriter, musician and activist, Joan Baez and her life-long unwavering commitment to human rights. Her leadership, creativity, persistence, and vision have inspired several generations to promote peace and a better future for all.

Joan Baez is a key subject featured in the UNAFF Closing Night film
The Boys Who Said No!, which profiles the young men and women who actively opposed the military draft in order to end the Vietnam War.

A passionate nonviolent activist, Joan was married to David Harris who was a leader in the draft resistance movement. The Boys Who Said No! is offered to stream on the Festival’s Closing Day of the eleven days online film festival on Sunday, October 25.

At the last of the daily panels on zoom that day starting 6pm, Joan Baez will participate and receive the award. All details can be found at unaff.org.

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23rd UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival) documentary film festival, held online October 15-25, 2020

10/3/2020

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**This year’s UNAFF theme The Power of Empathy, emphasizes our readiness
to care about other people’s emotional experiences.
Featuring World and U.S. Premieres of Groundbreaking Documentaries**
which will change your view of the surreal world we live right now.
This festival is a must see!

This year’s theme THE POWER OF EMPATHY continues the celebration more than two decades long of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing our readiness to care about other people’s emotional experiences and exploring possible paths emanating from it into the future.

UNAFF 2020 will present 60 documentaries spotlighting current events from across the globe, including through its very popular programs UNAFF AND KIDS and UNAFF IN SCHOOLS. UNAFF is committed not only to presenting films, but also creating spaces where audience members can engage in ongoing dialogue about the subjects at hand. FREE online daily discussions “Meet the Filmmakers, Subjects of the Films and Experts” will take place during the eleven days of the Festival covering broad, timely, and thought-provoking topics.

Learn more: read the UNAFF Mission here.

Female Pleasure

When Women Won

Voices Of The Rohingya

Megafires: Investigating A Global Threat

UNAFF 2020 Schedule

About The Films

Click on the film title to learn more about the film.

Tickets

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San Francisco Bay Area events

San Francisco's famous Rotunda in Neiman Marcus is closing indefinitely; it has overlooked Union Square for more than a century

The dazzling Neiman Marcus Rotunda — adorned with its landmark stained glass dome — is one of the few remaining artifacts preserved from San Francisco’s
lost department stores.

United Nations Association Film Festival Will Present its 23rd UNAFF Visionary Award to Joan Baez, Sunday Oct 25, 2020

The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) is proud to announce that its annual UNAFF Visionary Award will be presented to legendary singer, songwriter, musician and activist, Joan Baez.

23rd UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival) documentary film festival, held online October 15-25, 2020

**This year’s UNAFF theme The Power of Empathy, emphasizes our readiness
to care about other people’s emotional experiences.
Featuring World and U.S. Premieres of Groundbreaking Documentaries**
which will change your view of the surreal world we live right now.
This festival is a must see!

Melanie posts:

SF Bay Area updates on upcoming events and what's happening now around town.

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San Francisco Bay Area events

San Francisco's famous Rotunda in Neiman Marcus is closing indefinitely; it has overlooked Union Square for more than a century

The dazzling Neiman Marcus Rotunda — adorned with its landmark stained glass dome — is one of the few remaining artifacts preserved from San Francisco’s lost department stores.

United Nations Association Film Festival Will Present its 23rd UNAFF Visionary Award to Joan Baez, Sunday Oct 25, 2020

The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) is proud to announce that its annual UNAFF Visionary Award will be presented to legendary singer, songwriter, musician and activist, Joan Baez.

23rd UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival) documentary film festival, held online October 15-25, 2020

This year’s UNAFF theme The Power of Empathy, emphasizes our readinessto care about other people’s emotional experiences.Featuring World and U.S. Premieres of Groundbreaking Documentaries which will change your view of the surreal world we live right now.This festival is a must see!

Melanie posts:SF Bay Area updates on upcoming events and what's happening now around town.

Archives

Categories

The dazzling Neiman Marcus Rotunda — adorned with its landmark stained glass dome — is one of the few remaining artifacts preserved from San Francisco’s
lost department stores.

**This year’s UNAFF theme The Power of Empathy, emphasizes our readiness
to care about other people’s emotional experiences.
Featuring World and U.S. Premieres of Groundbreaking Documentaries**
which will change your view of the surreal world we live right now.
This festival is a must see!

Melanie posts:

SF Bay Area updates on upcoming events and what's happening now around town.