San Francisco International Airport

SFO Airport Celebrates Dia de los Muertos

Holidays, , ,

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is sharing how the city’s Mission District is marking the Dia de los Muertos holiday.

Passengers will be treated to live music, dance, and cultural performances from San Francisco-based Latino artists.

The Dia de los Muertos celebration originated in Mexico and is now observed worldwide as a time for the living to pay tribute to those who have passed away. In San Francisco, the holiday celebrations center around the city’s Mission District, especially the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA).

And this year, the MCCLA is presenting a spectacular Dia de los Muertos shrine in SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1.

The shrine can be seen through November 10. Passengers will also be treated to music performances celebrating from October 26 – 28 and from November 2 – 4. The bands will perform multiple sets between 11 am and 3 pm each day.

Here are some details about the performers:

Wednesday, October 26: La Melodía de Cristo 
Representing Guatemala with joy and love in Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, and Bachata.
 
Thursday, October 27: Colectivo CalleSon
A community of musicians, singers, dancers, cooks, and poets that uphold and help sustain southern Mexico’s Son Jarocho tradition.

Friday, October 28: Tradición Peruana Cultural Center 
Music and dance celebrating the rich diversity of art from Peruvian cultures in the Bay Area and beyond.

Wednesday, November 2: Anthony Blea Afro-Cuban Quartet
Violinist Anthony Blea and his talented bandmates play danceable, infectious Afro-Cuban beats. 

Thursday and Friday, November 3 and 4: Cascada de Flores
A bi-national collection of musicians who find the joy of creation, individual expression, and musical communication within Mexican and Latin traditions.

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Unpacking SFO’s Dia de los Muertos altar


Dia de los Muertos marks a trio of events during which it is believed the spirits of children, adults, and all the dead return.

To welcome those spirits, the living create “ofrendas” or altars with items representative of the deceased person’s favorite foods and activities. Items to help the spirits continue their journeys are added as well.

SFO Airport and San Francisco’s Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts share these tips on how to ‘read’ the three-tier altar, which represents three planes of existence: the sky, the earth, and the underworld.

The heart: The heart is a sacred symbol in Mexican art, representing divine love.

Marigolds: These bold, orange flowers are sometimes called “Flor de Muerto” or “flowers of the dead.” Their scent helps to attract souls to the altar. 

Papel picado: Beautiful and intricately cut tissue paper banners are light enough to blow in the breeze when spirits arrive in this world. Their delicate nature symbolizes the fragility of life.

Alebrije animals: Traditional in Mexican art, these fantastical creatures combine the features and characteristics of various animals.

Photos and personal items: Photos of the deceased draw their spirit to the altar, as do personal items that were important during their lives on earth. 

Water, pan de muerto, and other food:  “Bread of the Dead” (pan de muerto) in the shape of bones or skulls is included with the deceased’s favorite foods to nourish their spirit upon return to the land of the living. Water is placed on the altar to quench their thirst after a long journey.

Candles: Candlelight illuminates the path home for returning spirits.

Salt: Often shaped into a cross, salt purifies spirits as they cross into the realm of the living. 

Copal incense burner: Derived from the copal tree, the incense purifies spirits and elevates the prayers of the living.

Airport Amenity of the Week: SFO’s Golden Gate Park ‘activation’

Music, ,

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has an ongoing program celebrating the city’s neighborhoods and cultural events.

The newest activation shines a light on the rich history of live music performances in Golden Gate Park with a photo essay, live performances, and a photo station in Terminal 3, Boarding Area F.

“From Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s to Lizzo in the 2020s; from the Summer of Love to Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Golden Gate Park has long been a Bay Area epicenter of music and culture,” SFO reminds us.

The new activation, SFO Celebrates: Music in Golden Gate Park will feature live music performances on August 26th and September 1st & 2nd.

On a stage near the F Food Court, there’s a two-sided backdrop where travelers can put themselves into the picture with the Grateful Dead in the 1960s or with Billie Eilish today.

And there’s a photo Exhibition in the F Concourse along the moving walkway, featuring photos of memorable performances in Golden Gate Park that have taken place over the past 60 years.

Airline aprons. The kind you wear.

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We’re big fans of the treasures in the collection of the SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

And of the museum’s searchable online database.

This tweet, about the museum’s collection of more than 100 flight attendant smocks and aprons sent the Stuck at the Airport fashion reporter down a very deep rabbit hole checking out the fashions.

We love this 1980s-era apron from Japan Airlines

And this one from Western Airlines. Also from the 1980s.

And check out this Delta Air Lines apron from 1973.

Fun photo op at SFO Airport: Castro Theatre

Fun Stuff, ,

The “SFO Celebrates” program has been running at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) since April.

The entertainment and engagement series brings a taste of the city’s diverse culture and neighborhoods into the terminals with live music, dance, arts & crafts, and demonstrations.

We snapped this fun photo during SFO’s Cherry Blossom Festival in April.


 
This month, SFO Celebrates Pride in the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 – the first terminal in the world named for a LGBTQ+ leader – with a photo opp and stage based on the iconic Castro Theatre.

Located post-security across from the iStore, this month’s Pride events feature live entertainment on Thursdays and Fridays between 11 am – 3 pm. Passengers may snap selfies with a version of the iconic Castro Theatre backdrop, enjoy live music, meet the Wag Brigade stress relief animals, and more.

Travelers can also celebrate Pride in other spots in the SFO Terminals.


Welcome back SFO Aviation Museum & Library

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As fans of airports, libraries, aviation history, and museums, we’re delighted that San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has reopened the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum & Library after a two-year closure.

The facility is named after a former airport director and sits pre-security in the Main Hall of SFO’s International Terminal.

The retro look intentionally evokes the airport’s passenger lobby from the 1930s.

 

The museum is home to more than 150,000 objects related to the histories of commercial aviation and San Francisco International Airport. And during the facility shutdown, SFO Museum staff spent time doing an extensive digital construction of the museum’s Aviation Collection.

Aerial view of SFO – 1966

Now there are more than 40,000 objects accessible online. And more material is being added each week. Online highlights include the history of SFO airport; material relating to major airlines such as Pan Am and United Airlines; and photographs, uniform pieces, and other aviation memorabilia, such as Junior Pilots Pins and airsickness bags.

If you know exactly what you’re looking for, the collection is easily searchable.

But if you’re just interested in poking around, beware.

We started this post three hours ago and went down a serious rabbit hole once we started clicking on the “random object” button.

Visit the Aviation Museum & Library in person

With its reopening, the Aviation Museum & Library is also launching a series of new exhibitions that passengers may visit in person. Exhibits include:

Going the Distance: Endurance Aircraft Engines & Propellers of the 1910s & 20s.

This exhibit includes two groundbreaking engines, the V-8 Curtiss OXX-6 and the Wright J-5 Whirlwind radial engine, two related propellers, photographs, and more.

Jet Mainliner in Miniature: the United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 Cutaway Model

This exhibit shows off a late-1950s United Airlines cutaway model of a DC-8. Historical photographs, promotional materials, and video clips from United’s promotional film ‘Jet Mainliner Flight 803’ are also on display.

There are also several other new exhibits in the reopened aviation museum at SFO, making this a great time to schedule a long layover to take in these and some of the 20 exhibits the SFO Museum presents throughout the terminal buildings.

All photos and images are courtesy of the SFO Museum.

Fresh airport art from SFO, PHL, & Albany Int’l Airports

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SFO Museum presents an exhibit about art from pineapple leaves

At SFO: From Pineapple to Piña: A Philippine Textile Treasure 

The newest exhibit from the SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is about textiles made from pineapple leaves.

“Unique to the Philippines, piña is an extraordinary textile made by weaving the fibers of the leaves of the pineapple plant. This light, airy fabric was perfectly suitable to the tropical climate. The textile enjoyed a golden age during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, particularly on the island of Panay, where it was made into shirts, women’s blouses, shoulder scarfs, handkerchiefs, and table linens.“

A new exhibition at Albany International Airport (ALB)

Albany International Airport (ALB) will open a new Gallery exhibition on May 7. The Life Around Us, features recent paintings by Ashley Norwood Cooper and Heidi Johnson, as well as a new site-specific installation, Stream by Laura Moriarty.

Iced Coffee With Friends – by Heidi Johnson

Route pins from PHL Airport

And Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) recently handed out pins created by local artists to celebrate the return of several transatlantic flights. Great idea!

More Airports Share Holiday Cheer

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Yesterday, we shared news of the Holiday Petting Zone and photo opp station at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Here’s a round-up of some more fun holiday events and activities we’ve spotted happening at airports.

Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) having fun with those holiday lights.

Gifts – and Robots – are on deck at CVG Airport

Also, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) now has two robots on duty delivering food and retail items from the Tripadvisor store operated by Paradies Lagardere in Concourse B.

Passengers can order items from the store and have one of the fully autonomous delivery robots from Ottonomy, called Ottobots, make the fully contactless delivery to their location in the airport.

Customers receive status updates on their phones and a unique QR code. They can then scan by the robot’s top camera to open the secure compartment and retrieve their food. No attendant travels with the robots, which can deliver two unique orders per trip.

SFO’s Holiday Giveaway Still Happening

Delayed Xmas Flights? Vizzy Wants to Help

 Airports and air travel are expected to be quite hectic this season so keep an eye out for brands promising to ease your journey with their promotions.

Hard seltzer Vizzy will be doing just that December 21 – 23 with a Vizzy on us promotion.

Vizzy will host a pop-up at Denver International Airport at Concourse C near Gate C29 to provide travelers with drinks and will be offering Vizzy samples at Midway Airport at Concourse A near Gate A7.

During those days, travelers 21+ can visit www.vizzyholidelaydrinks.com to enter for the chance to receive one of 5,000 instant $8 prepaid cards for Vizzy Hard Seltzer drinks.

More Holiday Fun from Airports & Airlines

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It is so encouraging to see airlines and airports having fun celebrating the holiday season this year. Here is another batch of actions and activities we spotted.

SFO Holiday Giveaway

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the award-winning Grand Hyatt at SFO are hosting a holiday giveaway contest. Enter by December 21 for a chance to win the Grand Prize: a night at the hotel and a cool SFO Travel Bag.

First Prize is up to $200 worth of parking in the airport garage + an SFO travel bag. And five additional winners will get BART tickets and swag and an SFO Bag.

Vote for the Best Holiday Wreath at O’Hare Airport

Concessionaires at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport have created themed wreaths for the holidays. Now the airport is inviting the public to vote for their favorites in the Wreath Decorating Contest through December 25.

We like the pretzel-adorned wreath from Auntie Anne’s and the popcorn canister encrusted wreath from Nuts on Clark. But we must admit to being partial to the shoe happy wreath with the boot-wearing elf made by the airport’s Shoe Hospital.

And Look: a Southwest Airlines-branded Zamboni

Southwest Airlines is the sponsor of the Downtown Denver Rink, where ice-skating is complimentary through the season if you bring your own skates. Skate rentals are available ($9/adults & $7/kids), but earlier this week, during Colorado Gives Day, Southwest Airlines picked up all the skate rental fees and handed out holiday treats and surprises.

Our favorite part? Just the fact that there’s a Southwest Airlines-branded Zamboni!

Airports & Airlines Having Holiday Fun

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It IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas in airports and in the air. Here are some of the fun holiday items we spotted today.

Alaska Airlines’ Holiday Perks

Alaska Airlines has a new special-edition aircraft in the skies decorated with snowflakes, the words “Merrier Together,” and those festive red Starbucks holiday cups.

Through December 12, passengers on 50 of this aircraft’s flights will receive reusable holiday cups and some bonus treats. The airline will also be offsetting the carbon impacts of these flights.

On National Ugly Sweater Day – December 17 – the airline will be offering early boarding to any passengers wearing an ugly sweater.

Holidays take flight at Alaska Airlines

And throughout December, passengers wearing ugly sweaters may purchase a day pass to any of the airline’s eight lounges around the country for $25, which is 50% off the regular price. The lounges are located in Anchorage (ANC), New York (JFK), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and Seattle (SEA).

An Elf is Roaming Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Festive Selfie Spot at ATL

And Check out the SFO Wag Brigade

Video Arts Screening Gallery Open at SFO

Movies, ,

After a 20-month hiatus, the video arts screening room at SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is open.

The gallery screens short-form documentaries, experimental films, and all forms of animation. It is located pre-security on the departures level of the International Terminal. Hours: daily, 5:00am to 10:00pm.

With a nod to COVID-19, this month, the gallery is showing the work of four filmmakers from around the world whose work reflects how the pandemic impacts our lives and our interactions.

You can see the films next time you go to SFO. Or you can see them here.

In Sorry for the Inconvenience, by Jane Chow, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker from Hong Kong, a lonely teenager tries to help her parents keep their restaurant afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles Chinatown.

In Air, Canadian filmmaker David Findlay presents an exploration of the critical importance of physical contact in our interpersonal communication.

Turkish illustrator and animation director Tuna Bora collaborates with London-based animator Jonathan Djob Nkondo in this excerpt from Solipsism.

The film tells the story of a young girl who, amidst self-isolation, becomes lost inside the world that surrounds her.

And in Dancers in the Loop, French filmmaker Julie Rohart identifies inspiration found in the isolation of Paris’ lockdown in the winter of 2020.