The Seventh Annual Tannenbaum Toast
The House of Shields, in San Francisco, is the site of the Tannenbaum Toast. This is the bar c.1950s. Photograph courtesy of Heather David.
Ninety years ago, in 1929, the first great tree went up in Union Square, San Francisco, during the Yuletide season.
The tree returned for the 1930 holiday — but not again until more than 50 years later, in 1983. There has been an unbroken line of monumental trees in Union Square every holiday season since then — but, the "great tree" tradition in Union Square turns out to be of relatively recent vintage. (For the deepest, best-illustrated dive into this history, see our December 2018 long read.)
A certain legend has it that it was Emperor Norton who originally called for the Union Square tree — and that he did so thinking that such a display would bring particular delight to children.
Alas, the historical record doesn't bear this out.
No matter. The Emperor would have loved it!
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In 2013, on the second Sunday afternoon of December, The Emperor's Bridge Campaign* celebrated the imperial legend with a holiday party at The House of Shields — the beautifully restored 1913 bar that is just a short walk from Union Square.
We called it The First Annual Tannenbaum Toast.
From the beginning, we felt that the Tannenbaum Toast had the makings of a new tradition. The first gathering was such a festive success that we vowed to make it so.
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So, kick off the holidays in regal style! Join The Emperor's Bridge Campaign, on the second Sunday afternoon in December, for...
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST
Sunday 8 December 2019
The House of Shields (mezzanine)
39 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco (map)
Party from 4 to 6 p.m.
TOAST AT 5 P.M.
Period dress welcome but not required
Cash bar
Admission is free
Of course. . .
Donations will be gratefully accepted!
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The drink for the Toast is The House of Shields's version of the classic Boothby cocktail — created in 1908 by legendary San Francisco bartender William T. "Cocktail" Boothby, during his tenure at the Palace Hotel, just across the street.
Join us in raising a glass to Norton I!
And learn more about the Campaign's efforts to honor the life and advance the legacy of Emperor Norton — and to become recognized as the leading public resource on the Emperor.
* In December 2019, The Emperor's Bridge Campaign adopted a new name: The Emperor Norton Trust.
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