Christmas Eve 2006

Nar surprised us with luminarias last night in our front yard...we'll put new tea lights in them tonight for Christmas...we watched "It's A Wonderful Life" last night on DVD, then some hilarious back episodes of "The Office"...everyone is coming over this morning to open presents, have Cindy's quiche and my Mamosas, and then a ham dinner. Rumor has it that we will also watch "Little Miss Sunshine" at some point today as rain is forecast. Merry Christmas everyone from the Andersons.

The Palace Hotel

We stayed, for the first time, at The Palace Hotel in SF. It is a sophisticated and elegant hotel, occupying an entire block, originally built in 1875, gutted by fire in 1906 after the Great Earthquake, and rebuilt in 1909. It's guest list is a Who's Who of famous statesmen and stars. It is quite opulent, but a quiet and relaxing place to stay for out-of-towners. It has a magnificent and luxurious Great Ballroom, an indoor pool with glass ceiling on the 4th floor, and its centerpiece Tea Room in the middle of the hotel, with its glass ceiling, is world famous. The rooms have high ceilings with elegant molding, and are reasonably priced. It is located at the intersection of Market St and New Montgomery so shopping at the upper-end stores is very walkable.

Taxi Waiting

All of us (there were 6 of us which required two taxis) had several wild rides on Saturday evening while traversing San Francisco from The Palace Hotel to the former Pan Pacific, to the Mark Hopkins, to Absinthe, to the Top of the Mark, back to The Palace, and then to the FKA Pan Pacific (for Dean and Carol). The drivers, inexplicably, but nonetheless, were tipped handsomely. The air was crisp and The City was bustling with theater goers exiting the plays and filling up the restaurants, so there was plenty of time for Dean and Carol to cuddle while trying to flag the next ride.

The Chocolate Baron and His Princess

Jack and Mary Shaw, Sacramento chocolate magnates, relax in their luxurious penthouse at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, before all of us dined at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, and then to the famous "Top Of The Mark" nightclub on the 17th Floor for cocktails and dancing.

Mark Hopkins Penthouse

Here we are enjoying the living room of Jack and Mary's penthouse at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco this weekend. Their 1K+ sq ft suite was outrageously spacious with a fully-windowed terrace, dining room, office, magnificent bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms, and on the 15th floor with sweeping views of The City. Their prestigious chocolate reputation and prominence in The Valley has obviously been properly acknowledged in The City, with its inherent perks. If Godiva owned a hotel, they would be its only visitors.

Santa and our hosts Dean & Carol

Dean & Carol (and their special favorite feline Sydney) also enjoyed having Santa visit their home for some eggnog. Maybe next year Mrs Claus can make the party too, although, it looks like Santa likes having the ladies on his lap and she might not understand.

Shellenberger's Christmas Party

We always have a great time at Dean & Carol's annual Holiday Party. Even though he is busy, Santa dropped in and enjoyed Lindsay on his lap, while we, and the Gollihurs, toasted anyone who happened to be near. Dean had his backyard fireplace roaring in the crisp evening air, while inside we tried to allay Dick & Donna's fears that burning 2 DuraFlame logs simultaneously would anger the fire Gods.