Jhett sent this in:

I see that you don't yet have anything up for the premiere in San Francisco. Below is just a little something I wrote up, if you're interested:

Today I had the experience of a lifetime; I saw a film, rubbed shoulders with Stormtroopers, met an idol, and made the national press.

The San Francisco premiere started with us picking up our badges/tickets, after which we were ushered over to the street party, which was 'quite a sight to see.' The California Mentor Foundation arranged to have Sutter Street between Van Ness and Polk closed for this once in a lifetime event. Radio station Alice 97.3 was on hand to supply the tunes and giveaways, and In and Out burger was giving out the grub. Making their way through the throngs of people were characters from both classic and prequel trilogies such as Jango Fett, Darth Vader, Stormtroopers and Rebel Pilots, Droids, Wookiees... You name it. The costumes were all excellent, although the Chewbacca looked a little worse for wear. Of particular interest were the dancing stormtroopers. It was hilarious seeing the two 'guards' for Vader rocking out to the trance music supplied by the DJ. Finally, at three o'clock, the doors to the theater were opened and we walked the red carpet into the darkened chamber that would hold us captive for the next three hours.

As we waited, event staff set up a camera aimed at the screen and put a California Mentor Foundation sign on an easel just forward of the first row. By the time four o'clock came around the theater was SRO. Suddenly there was a commotion towards the back. Craning our necks, we saw that George Lucas himself had arrived. A CMF staffer picked up a mike at the front and announced Mr. Lucas. George made a few comments about the importance of mentoring and thanked everyone for coming. Short, sweet, and to the point. He exited the front area, the camera, and thankfully the easel, were taken down and the lights dimmed...

I am not going to go into a full review here; there are many up around the web and in the media. The movie was good. Real good. Was it great? No. The next Empire, it is not. But it delivers as it should and was satisfying. The only way you will come out disappointed is if you get your hopes set to unattainable levels. So if you go in expecting a good time, you should be happy when the lights come back up.

And come up they did to resounding applause. As we exited the theater, we were herded (there might be a better term for it, but that's what it was) back across the street to the Regency, where the post-film gala was being held. On the red carpet we again walked. It was blocked off on the sides, just like you see at the Academy Awards; fans to one side, and the press junket to the other. Extra, Access Hollywood, ABC, CBS, NBC... Three must have been twenty cameras all rolling at once. It really made you feel like a star or something.

Entering the Regency, you could either head downstairs or go to the main floor. Downstairs was R2's Lounge, the 'kids' place. They had several large screens with video game systems running so that people could try them out. I didn't play any, but they looked interesting. Upstairs was where the hobnobbing and eating was going on. After a short conversation with former San Francisco 49er and future hall-of-famer Steve Young, I made my way around the room, taking in the sights. (Which, it should be noted, were decidedly non-Star Wars.) I got stuck in a small mob and who did I find when I turned around? The flanneled one, himself. I didn't know what to do. I stuck my hand out and he took it and we shook momentarily. I said something inane. "Great movie. Thanks," I think. He said "Thanks," and turned toward a kid. As I stood there, I heard the kid ask him when they were going home, so I can only assume it was Jett, Lucas' son. He told him they were going to go in about fifteen minutes, so I guess it really was a case of right place, right time. After that, I figured that my evening was complete, so I headed towards the exit, picking up my 'goodie bag' along the way.

The news reports later that night said that other celebrities on hand included Carrie Fisher, Cheech Marin, and Willie 'Da Mayor' Brown, but I can't honestly say I saw hide nor hair of any of them.

All in all, it was a wonderful event. Something that certainly won't be forgotten any time soon. And something that will have to wait three years to be repeated.