16th Avenue Tiled Steps, San Francisco, California, United States

During inauguration ceremony, Chinese lion dancers (Sefu Dino Salvatera's "Hung Sing Gung Fu Club") rushed up and down the steps to the sound of popping firecrackers, gongs, and drums. They were followed by graceful members of Nguyen Dance Company descending the steps. Prof. Francesco Pignataro, Mayor of Caltagirone, Italy (location of the famous Scala Steps) cut the ribbon, together with Supervisor Sean Elsbernd (acting as Mayor for the Day). Assemblymember Leland Yee, Supervisor Fiona Ma, Adah Bakalinsky (author of Stairway Walks inf San Francisco), Frank Bonfiglio (President of the Sicilian American Association), and Fabio Ficano and Valeria Rumori, representing the Italian Cultural Institute, also joined for this happy occasion. The event was covered by Italian national television, a Sicilian newspaper, and several local San Francisco newspapers, including the Chronicle and the Beacon.