Photo Allson Appelbe “SAN Francisco Mayor Willie Brown will preside over the switching on of 17,006 lights outlining the five tov- ers of Embarcadero Center next Friday Nov. t7. Lighti Allson Appelbe Contributing Writer IN what has become a ' Spirited, late-autumn tradition in San Francisco, the public ‘and visitors are invited ‘to the Hyatt Regency hotel in that city’s ‘downtown financial dis- trict for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, followed by punch and cookies. Earlier the same evening — this year the date is Nov. 17 — San’ Francisco Mayor Willie Brown will preside over the _ switching on of 17,000 light outining the five towers of Embarcadero. shoppin and office centre, in which the Hyatt Regency is located. _ * Afterwards, fireworks will explode over San Francisco Bay. Then, when the flares have faded, onlookers will crowd the hotel lobby for a ‘celebration that includes the ‘lighting of a lavishly decorated . tree in the 12-storey hotel atri- - um, itself illuminated with 250,000. miniature hanging lights. The Golden Gate Boys Choir Bell Ringers will. per- form seasonal music, Cynics might sec this event, in its 15th year, as more a mat- ter of decking the halls of com- merce than celebrating the advent of Christmas. But few wilt argue that the lighting of the Embarcadero Center and hotel atrium draws attention to a part of the city thar often gets overlooked by winter visitors in favour of areas. like Union Square or Telegraph Hill. Embarcadero Center — . with more than 125 shops, restaurants and cinemas — is also a starting point tor a num- ber of walks and excursions of central San Francisco. Adjacent.to the complex is the celebrated cable-car_ sys- tem's California Line. By all means, catch & cable-car west towards Nob Hill, then trans- fer at Powell Street to the northbound — Powell-Hyde Line for a picturesque ride over Nob Hill and Russian Hill to Fisherman’s Wharf. Another option is to stick around and explore the com- pact commercial district and its exceptional architecture. Among outstanding sights is the historic Hallidie Building on Sutter Street. Named for cable-car inventor Andrew Hallidie, this oddball structure looks something like an old- fashioned meccano set fronted by a glass-curtain — wall. Decorative exterior fire escapes masquerade as ornate metal balconies, and the transparent, - facade is topped and finished with elaborate Venetian detail- in ‘A few blocks away on Sutter stands the Hammersmith Buildin 1907 beaux-arts but iiding sometimes described as a “commercial jewel-box.” And the nearby 1928 terra- cotta tower known simply as 450 Sutter Street, with Mayan- inspired designs on the walls both inside and out, is consid- ered an art-deco masterpiece. The 260-metre-high Transamerica Pyramid comes to a definite point high above Montgomery Street on. the ing up San Francisce northern edge of the financial district close to Jackson Square, itself a collection of well-preserved 19th-century buildings. In front of the Transamerica sits the 1911 Flatiron building, not unlike a big slice of fancy cake, and yer another carly San Francisco landmark of grace and charae- ter. See Architectural page Canal Cruising in Europe — A Presentation — Thursday, Nov. 16 @ 7:30 pm 1716 Marine Drive, W. Van. Limited seating, please reserve | Edgemont Office 986-2262 Ambleside Office 2 926-85 ! imperial Faineg)~ ALL RATES SUBJECT wi VAILABILITY AND TAX ~ 1467 Bellevue Ave. West Vancouver 22-4131 www.carisonwagoniitca Email: cwt27su@attgiobal.net \ Wbtitexpevience begins with ours. Y=. Bachelor of Tourism Management Degree ‘vanced Tourism. * Management Certificate Build on your two-ycar tourism, hospitality, outdoor secreation or business administration diploma. Upgrade to an Advanced Tourism Management Certificate at Capilano College. Courses transfer to the Open University's Tourism Management Degree. Evening courses (starting January 2001): TOUR 424 ~~ Entzepreneurship in Tourism : TOUR 425 Financial Management for Tourism TOUR 442 ~~ Environmental Stewardship for Tourism CMNS 354 Advanced Communications Weekend intensive ccourses (starting January 2001): TOUR 428 International Tourism Marketing TOUR 443 Cultusal Tousism Management INFORMATION MEETING Wednesday, November 22, 7 p.m. Capilano College, Cedar building, room 222 2055 Purceli Way, North Vanconver, B.C. For more information TeL.: 984-4960. FeMAIL: tourism@capcollege.be.ca WEB: www.capcollege.be.ca/programe/tourism with Santa with donation to the Deaf Children's Seclety of BC Join us for Santa’s Arrival Show with children's entertainers “Laure! & Jan” Sunday, November 19th at 1:00pm