Today our Personality is a real life adventurer. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raised in Scotland, Keith Bellows has visited more than 98 countries all over the world and is a legend in his line of work. Appointed Editor in Chief of National Geographic Traveler Magazine in 1998, Mr. Bellows has won numerous awards and recognitions including 60 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards.

This week Personality Hotels had the honor to have him as a guest at Hotel Diva, where he was signing his new book "100 Places That Will Change You Child's Life".

Let's see what Mr Keith Bellows can tell us about San Francisco and himself, time for Lounge Confessions:

Inspired by the Proust Questionnaire, here is a set of 10 questions that we like to ask the personalities staying with us to get to know them a little better.

PH: What is your favorite food and drink in San Francisco?

KB: "Whenever I come to San Francisco I like to buy some good Brie cheese, French Bread, Salami and to go with that, a bottle of California Chardonnay." 

PH: What is the place you always go to when you are in town? 

KB: "San Francisco is a great launching pad to explore the surrounding area. I like to discover or re-discovering Sausalito, Muir Woods, Bolinas and Stinson Beach, ride in a convertible to Big Sur or Point Reyes. If I was to pick one neighborhood in SF my favorite would be Pacific Heights."

PH: What is your favorite street ?

KB: "I love to get lost so whatever street I end up on becomes my favorite."

PH: What do you most appreciate in SF?

KB: "San Francisco is one of the most real cities. There is sort of a dychotomy between this city manufactured by Silicon Valley and the real San Francisco which is about the people."

PH: What is you favorite occupation in SF? 

KB: "My favorite occupation in this city is people watching. There is so much going on in the streets of San Francisco; you learn a lot about a city, watching it's inhabitants."

PH: What is your idea of happiness? 

KB: "A day at the beach with my kids."

PH: If not yourself, who would you be?

KB: "I would have liked to be the right hand man of Winston Churchill during the war."

PH: What is the natural talent you would like to be gifted with?

KB: "Flying, that would save me so much time."

PH: What is your present state of mind?

KB: "I am happy."

PH: What is your favorite Motto?

KB:"Carpe Diem."

Can you feel it? The sun is setting later, the weather is getting warmer (in the limits of San Francisco weather of course) and the flora and fauna is reclaiming its wonderful colors.You are feeling an urge for sun on your skin and BBQs with friends. Spring is finally here and it means it is time for you to go out, smell the perfume of flowers and enjoy the beauty of San Francisco.

There are many ways to get your springtime flower rush; one of them is the Macy’s Flower Show. We are very lucky, as San Francisco is one of the few cities where Macy’s is having it’s Flower Show and even luckier as our hotels are located in the heart of Union Square just steps away.

From March 24^th to April 7^th they will be having their yearly Flower Show. If you have never had the chance to see it, you should not miss the occasion...and it's a great excuse to shop. The entire store will be transformed in a poetic garden and this year should be very colorful as the theme will be South East Asia. It’s free, so go and have a peek at this wonderful ephemeral work of art. 

Another great place to celebrate Spring, is in Japantown (at Post and Buchanan). I am personally fond of this area of San Francisco, as it offers you a nice change of scenery and during Spring the Cherry Blossom festival is in full effect. 

In front of the Japan Center (where you can find everything Japanese, from Hello Kiity goodies to Japanese tea pots) are some delicate Japanese Cherry trees or Sakuras. As soon as the trees start blossoming you can see flocks of young couples taking wedding pictures in front of their beauty. The Sakuras are very important in Japanese culture as the flowers are a symbol of ephemeral beauty. All over Japan the blossoming of these trees is monitored and celebrated. A great way of discovering part of the traditions surrounding the blossoming of the Cherry trees is going to the Cherry Blossom Festival to see all the great exhibits they have to offer.

The festival lasts just over two weeks with the main celebration being held on April 13^th and 14^th and April 20^th and 21^st,  with the Grand Parade happening on the last day. Between the pink flowery trees and the beautiful traditional costumes, it’s a great to expereicne a unique culture.

Of course your tour of blooming San Francisco would not be complete without a stop at the Conservatory of Flowers and the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. The Conservatoty is a beautiful piece of Victorian Architecture built in 1878 and is the oldest wood and glass conservatory in North America. Each of the Conservatory’s galleries focus on a different tropical niche, but if you want to learn more about indigenous plants visit there special exhibit running through April 14th: Boomtown: Barbary Coast at the Conservatory of flowers. This exhibit will take you back to 1848 and will give you a good idea of what San Francisco vegetation looked like at the time.  

From there you must go to the DeYoung's Bouquets to Art exhibition, held from March 19th to March 23rd the museum celebrates the return of spring with this annual event. 125 Bay Area designers show their personalities through their floral creations. Make sure to bring your cameras, as the musuem allows you to take pictures at this exhibit. 

Now that you are done with your visits don’t forget to take a walk in Golden Gate Park, enjoy the warm sun and the smell of Eucalyptus, while purposefully getting lost in the beauty.

 Come spend a week-end with us in San Francisco and take your time to smell the roses. 

This coming week-end San Francisco will be celebrating Saint Patrick's Day with a wide variety of events and parties.

The Irish Spirit is visiting us: get ready for lots of green, lots of beer and lots of fun.

As it is well known Patrick is the Saint patron of Ireland, what you might not know is that he has been celebrated in Europe as early as the 9th and 10th century on March 17th. This day was made an official feast day in the 17th century, which meant  you could break any lent rules you have and feast. At the beginning Saint Patrick’s day was a commemoration of the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.  Originally a religious celebration it as become a secular celebration and an essential part of Irish culture. 

Even though St Patrick's Day is not a legal Holiday in the United States, it is widely celebrated across the country and of course San Francisco has a lot to offer on this week-end, here is a selection of what the city has in store for you:

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

What would be a festival without a joyful parade? This year the parade is scheduled on Saturday, March 16^{th, a} day before Saint Patrick’s Day. 

Rain or shine it will start at 11:30 am, the parade route will begin at 2^nd and Market and go all the way to Civic Center Plaza, next to the City Hall. 

Proudly marching up Market Street will be numbers of groups from the Irish community; schools, cultural groups and of course the Police and Fire department of San Francisco.

This event is free to attend.

Saint Patrick’s Day Irish Festival

If you want to learn a little more about Ireland’s history and enjoy some traditional Irish music and dancing, this is the place.

The Festival will take place at the Joe Allioto Performing Art Plaza (south-east of the City Hall) from 11am to 5pm. Of course you are more than welcome to have a beer and try some Irish food while enjoying the moment. There will be exhibits for the whole family to enjoy, do not hesitate to go with the little ones. This year the festival will honor the Celtic women, one of them, this year’s Grand Marshall: Joanne Hayes-White; SFFD Chief. If you want to avoid crowds, going in the morning is probably a safer option as more and more people are expected to come to celebrate as the day goes by. 

This event is free to attend. 

Saint Patty’s Day Pub Crawl

A Saint Patrick’s day celebration would not be complete without a little bar hoping, so for those more interested in beer tasting than in leprechaun hunting, get a ticket for the 3 Day Pub Crawl. They have events planned for you on the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th of March. You can choose to only attend one day, or for the bravest get the full 3 day pass. Last year the event gathered more than 3000 people so there are a lot of chances that you will make friends and good memories.

3 simple rules: wear green, be 21+ to participate and Do Not Drive. If you are staying with us get in touch with our concierges, they will be more than happy to arrange transportation with our town car company, Delovely Limo. 

Pricing Varies.

For those who just want a Beer 

Of course Pub Crawling is not the only option out there, if you want to keep it simple, why not take a quick walk from any of our hotels and have a beer at John Foley’s Irish Pub, located steps from Hotel Diva, Kensington Park and Hotel Union Square at 243 O'Farell St.

For those who just want to see Green

If you're not a beer fan and dont like large crowds, but still want to feel the green vibe, check out our Perrier Lounge at Hotel Diva. 

We wish you a lot of fun and as the Irish would say “Bíodh deireadh seachtaine maith”*.

*Have a good week-end.