“It’s nice to see people in my generation dress up a bit,” observed Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger, as he made his way through a black-tie crowd of music lovers at Davies Symphony Hall last week. “More than most nights at the Symphony, I’m getting to see a bunch of generations represented here, which is really fun.”

The occasion was the Opening Night Gala for the San Francisco Symphony’s 2017-18 season. Nearly 2,700 people attended the two-hour performance, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, and featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Read all about the gala today at “Town & Country.“

“Next to fashion and art, flowers are my great passion in life and in work,” remarked Andrew Gn, prior to the opening of the San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Show this week, for which he served as honorary chair.

“Floral themes are recurrent in almost all my collections, and every week I make sure to have fresh seasonal flowers all around my home,” said the Paris-based designer who counts some of San Francisco’s most socially prominent women as friends and clients. It’s fitting, then, that the theme of this year’s show was Flower Power, a hometown nod to the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love…

Visit “Town & Country” to read all about the 2017 gala!

San Francisco’s newest restaurant, Botellón, recently welcomed guests to a private gathering to celebrate its widely anticipated opening on Market Street.

Attendees such as Honorable Former Mayor Willie Brown, Sonya Molodetskaya, Farah Makras, Sobia Shaikh, and Hooman Khalili enjoyed an evening of complimentary hand-crafted specialty cocktails from a menu designed by Jesse Ostroski and Saul Ranella along with passed plates of modern rustic creations of California cuisine with Mediterranean regional influences prepared by Executive Chef Nicholas Andoe.

Located at 2200 A Market Street, Botellón captures the culture and spirit known as “El Botellón”— informal street gatherings for drinking and socializing which launched throughout communities in Spain decades ago.

It was an evening to marvel at the beauty of the earth and stars when La Prairie recently hosted a special dinner at the California Academy of Science to celebrate its Platinum Rare Collection.

Before being ushered into a darkened room lit with images of the galaxy projected to the wall, guests were given a special tour of the museum’s rare gems and minerals collection.

Attended by La Prairie’s President, Francois Le Gloan, and guests of Saks Fifth Avenue and MGK Style, the event (entitled “A Drop of Magic”) drew attention to the fact that the ultra-luxe product (the “Cellular Night Elixir” is priced at $1,200) contains the most precious metal on earth, platinum.

Guests included stylist Mary Gonsalves Kinney, jewelry designer Emily Wheeler, Ondrea Vicklund, Mary Beth Shimmon, Cici Deng, Meghan Kanodia, and others.

Prior to the opening of “Casanova: The Seduction of Europe,” at the Legion of Honor, high level donors and supporters of the museum were invited to an elegant dinner premiere of the delightful new exhibit, which explores the 18th century across Europe through the eyes of one of its most colorful characters, Giacomo Casanova.

Among those who attended, and joined in the mood of the evening with costume touches inspired by the 18th century, were Carl and Yurie Pascarella, David and Mary Beth Shimmon, Dede Wilsey, Denise Fitch, Gretchen Kimball, Jack Calhoun, Lauren Hall, Lucy Hamilton, Martin Chapman, Max Hollein, Sobia Shaikh, and others.

Here are some scenes from the elegant masquerade…

Max Hollein, Dede Wilsey, David and Mary Beth Shimmon

Dede Wilsey

Lauren Hall

Sobia Shaikh

“A Gorgeous Night at the Museum”

Carl Pascarella and Yuri Pascarella

Jack Calhoun and Max Hollein

CD Dickerson

Mary Beth Shimmon and Ricky Serbin

Sheila Ortona and Lorenzo Ortona

Designed by the Parisian architecture agency RDAI, under the direction of Denis Montel, the boutique has been designed to embrace natural light and the beautiful Stanford surroundings while showcasing the Hermès collection of métiers among digital installations by artists such as Eric Vernhes.

Contemporary artist Eva Jospin crafted signature cardboard landscapes, inspired by the Northern Californian environment, as a backdrop for the event.

See photos from the evening in the slideshow below!

On Saturday, Aug 4th, Saks Fifth Avenue and the League to Save Lake Tahoe welcomed 660 people to Lake Tahoe for their annual luncheon and fashion show featuring Oscar de la Renta.

Now in its 49th year, the event raised more than $870,000 to keep Tahoe blue.

Oscar de la Renta Co-Creative Directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia introduced the Resort 2019 collection with CEO Alex Bolen and his wife Eliza Bolen, Executive Vice President for the brand.

“Our resort collection looked incredible against Lake Tahoe with the blue backdrop and wind giving life to the dresses on the runway,” said Laura Kim.

The show featured 64 looks including everything from modern power suits in pop colors, shorts suit sets, signature Oscar toile du juoy prints done in modern silhouettes, sleek cut-out gowns with high slits, and petal and wedgewood pastel day dresses.

Jeffrey Kalinsky recently celebrated the opening of his eponymous Jeffrey luxury specialty store at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto with an in-store cocktail party co-hosted by Vogue.

It’s the third store for Kalinsky, in addition to Jeffrey Atlanta and Jeffrey New York.

More than 200 party goers were the first to shop and experience the 12,000-square-foot space, with its meticulously-edited selections of designer apparel, shoes and accessories for women and men from Celine, Gucci, Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten, Christian Dior, Prada, Miu Miu, Valentino, Rick Owens, Gianvito Rossi and more.

See photos from the opening night party below!

Jay Jeffers recently debuted his second book, Be Bold: Bespoke Modern Interiors, with an event at Coup D’Etat attended by 300 friends, fans and a Who’s Who of the San Francisco design world.

Guests dressed boldly in honor of the book’s title, with Jay’s husband and brand director Michael Purdy embracing the theme from head to toe — literally — wearing silver sequined shoes, mesh top, studded collar, and a tinsel mop of green hair? you simply must see for yourself.

Guests such as Holly Baxter, Burcu Garnier, Shauna Harden, Reese and Shawn Forbes, Lisa Dolby Chadwick, David Nash and more, enjoyed an array of bold party surprises, including an artistic balloon installation and mural by Area Environments that made for a stunning photo booth

The book itself is a beautiful showcase of 14 of Jay’s favorite projects since publishing his first book in 2014. Be Bold: Bespoke Modern Interiors is now available at jayjeffers.com

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Jay Paul Company recently welcomed 150 guests into its newly debuted penthouse at 181 Fremont designed by Kendall Wilkinson Design.

Guests toured the $15.5 million residence (the price includes furnishings and finishes), while enjoying the stunning panoramic views from 700 feet in the sky.

The event showcased Kendall Wilkinson’s signature glam style, with art curated by Holly Baxter, and impeccable florals by Kathleen Deery, as well as champagne, oysters, caviar and custom artisan cocktails by Rye of the Road.

View Gallery 8 images

Artist Kara Walker was recently honored with the SFMOMA Contemporary Vision Award, at a dinner organized by the Modern Art Council, and attended by museum supporters and artists.

Works by the Stockton-born artist have been showcased in numerous exhibitions and are held in museum collections worldwide, including the SFMOMA which represented Walker’s first solo museum exhibition on the West Coast in 1997. She’s best known for her explorations of issues related to race, gender, sexuality and violence through the use of silhouetted figures.

The event featured a presentation of the award (a custom engraved monocle designed by Natsuko Toyofuku), and a conversation between the artist and curator Eungie Joo.

Among those attending the event were Courtney Dallaire, Laura Nagle, Liam Everett, Alicia McCarthy, Sean McFarland, K.r.m. Mooney, Lindsey White, Ari Marcopoulos, Rosana Castrillo Díaz, Charles Gaines, Barry McGee, Clare Rojas, Jayde Fish, Pamela Joyner, Komal Shah, Wayee Chu, Brent Sikkema, Monkia Sprüth, Linda Harrison, Stephen Beal, Gordon Knox, among others.

Few organizations reach their diamond anniversary, however, Villa Taverna just celebrated 60 years of upscale dining service to its members with a grand red carpet celebration.

Located on Hotaling Place the Villa has provided prominent San Francisco families countless year-round gatherings, events, and delicious dining experiences, all within one of Jackson Square’s rare pre-1906 historical buildings.

See photos from the special evening below!

Recipients of the 2019 Breakthrough Prize were celebrated recently at a glittering awards ceremony held at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View.

Often called the “Oscars of Science”, the 7th annual event brought together luminaries in the science and tech communities, alongside celebrities, athletes, musicians and dozens of current and prior Breakthrough Prize laureates for a festive celebration of science.

A combined total of $22 million was awarded during the evening, in recognition of groundbreaking, research achievements in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics.

Each Breakthrough Prize is $3 million, the largest individual monetary prize in science.

Acclaimed actor, producer and philanthropist Pierce Brosnan guided the program, which featured performances by Academy Award winner and four-time Grammy Award winner Lionel Richie and Chinese Music Sensation G.E.M..

There were also presentations from Orlando Bloom, Ron Howard, Rachel McAdams, Julianne Moore, Thandie Newton, Lupita Nyong’o, and Eddie Redmayne.

A highlight of the evening was a tribute to the late astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, which featured statements by Eddie Redmayne and Hawking’s daughter, Lucy Hawking.

Hawking inspired the theme of the evening — “Look up” – based on a quote in his final book, Brief Answers to the Big Questions:

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.”

Prize recipients included Dr. Frank Bennett, Adrian R. Krainer, Angelika Amon, Xiaowei Zhuang, Zhijian “James” Chen, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Charles Kane, Eugene Mele, Vincent Lafforgue, Brian Metzger, Rana Adhikari, Lisa Barsotti, Matthew Evans, Daniel Harlow, Daniel L. Jafferis, Aron Wall, Chenyang Xu, Karim Adiprasito, June Huh, Kaisa Matomäki, Maksym Radziwill.

“Every year I am inspired by the Breakthrough Prize laureates and the deep insights that are made possible by pure curiosity-driven research,” said Breakthrough Prize co-founder, Anne Wojcicki.

“This year is particularly special, with the special recognition of Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s groundbreaking contributions at a time when women were underrepresented and unrecognized,” she added.

Additionally, a “Breakthrough Junior Challenge” prize was awarded to 16-year old Samay Godika of India. He’ll receive $250,000 in educational prizes, which his science teacher will receive $50,000, and his school, the National Public School, in Koramangala, will receive a new science laboratory valued at $100,000 designed by and in partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Directed and produced by Don Mischer was broadcast live on National Geographic TV on November 4th.

See more photos from the spectacular event below!

They don’t call her the Notorious RBG for nothing. “She broke three ribs at her office and went home. If I stub my toe bad enough, I’m like, I’ve gotta go to the hospital,” joked Armie Hammer when asked about 85-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s recent fall. “That tells you how tough she is.”

He would know. Hammer became immersed in her life’s story while playing Ginsburg’s late husband Marty in the new biopic, On the Basis of Sex, which stars Felicity Jones as the young lawyer struggling against numerous obstacles in her fight for equal rights.

We recently caught up with the actors and screenwriter Daniel Stiepleman (Ginsburg’s nephew) at a celebratory feast after they received the SF Honors Award for Achievement in Filmmaking.

See photos from the special evening, and its incredible setting, at townandcountrymag.com

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Neiman Marcus Union Square recently transformed their penthouse space to give it the feeling of a 1930s nightclub in honor of Libertine founder and creative director, Johnson Hartig.

As a celebration of the anniversary of Libertine Day in San Francisco, over 500 pieces were brought in from the latest collection, which guests checked out while sipping Mai Tais.

See photos from the colorful event below!

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The San Francisco Opera Guild recently honored Bay Area philanthropists John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn at the sixth annual “An Evening on the Stage,” one of the highlights of the fall social season.

Held on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House, the dinner was co-chaired by Kim Dempster and Linle J. Froeb, with décor by J. Riccardo Benavides.

Among those attending were Dede Wilsey, SF Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock, Opera Guild President Mary Poland, and philanthropist Bernard Osher, among others.

See photos from the elegant event below!

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The Getty family recently celebrated Gordon P. Getty’s 85th birthday with a joyful party at their Pacific Heights home.

Taking place at the height of the holiday season, the semi-regular event is a tradition many in San Francisco society look forward to, and for good reason — it’s a fun way to honor one of the City’s greatest philanthropists and cultural leaders.

Among the many guests one spotted Paul and Nancy Pelosi, George and Charlotte Shultz, Bill and Sako Fisher, Denise Hale, Richard and Kathy Hilton, Tatiana Sorokko, Larry and Pam Baer, Jim and Penny Coulter, among others.

See photos from the festive occasion below!

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Artist Wayne Thiebaud was honored last week by California College of the Arts at its annual gala, raising over $1.2 million for CCA student scholarships.

Over 350 supporters attended the event at the college’s Eighth Street campus in San Francisco, which Stanlee Gatti Designs transformed into a colorful tented space inspired by Thiebaud’s painting Two Paint Cans (1987).

Joining in the celebration of the legendary 98-year old artist, who received an honorary doctorate in 1972 from CCA (then known as California College of Arts and Crafts), were leaders of major San Francisco arts institutions, such as John and Gretchen Berggruen, Nion McEvoy, Jennifer Biederbeck, Gary Garrels, Kelly Purcell, Lawrence Rinder, Lauren Ryan and Charlie Spalding.

Notable designers, architects, and artists we spotted at the event included Sara Bird, Squeak Carnwath, Arthur Gensler Jr., George Jewett, Byron Kuth, Zack Lara, Stanley Saitowitz, Sandy Walker, Alyssa Warnock, and Sonya Yu.

Among the many cultural and society figures attending were Todd Berardi, Victoire Brown, Lorna Meyer Calas and Dennis Calas, Jim and Penny Coulter, vice president of user experience at Google Catherine Courage, John and Ellen Drew, Fred and Shelby Gans, Stanlee Gatti, Michael Krasny, Deedee McMurtry, Michele and Chris Meany, Eileen and Peter Michael, Amanda Michaels, Diana Nelson and John Atwater, Katie Paige, Alexandra Pelosi, Paul Pelosi, Alison Pincus, Cathy and Mike Podell, Leslie Podell, John Pritzker, Clint and Janet Reilly, Norah and Norman Stone, Kim Swig, Katie Traina, Kay Kimpton Walker and Sandy Walker, and Summer Walker.

The gala, helmed by co-chairs and CCA trustees Cathy Podell and Stanlee Gatti with honorary committee chair Lorna Meyer Calas, began with a lively cocktail reception, where guests enjoyed libations by Rye and musical entertainment by Eric Long while mingling amid an exhibition curated by CCA alumna Lisa Jonas Taylor (MFA Fine Arts 2014) that brought together work from current students and alumni influenced by Wayne Thiebaud.

Berlin Gabrielle Barrera, Eleni Berg, Rebekah Goldstein, Woody De Othello, and Leah Rosenberg were the artists whose works were presented.

Following dinner (catered by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events), CCA President Stephen Beal kicked off the evening’s program by highlighting the college’s major initiatives and the bright future ahead for the college.

“We’re working with MacArthur Award–winning architect Jeanne Gang to design our new campus, which will be a living, learning laboratory for creative experimentation in the heart of San Francisco,” stated President Beal.

“This exciting future is possible thanks to the legacy of CCA faculty and alumni and by the world class, creative community in the Bay Area. Wayne Thiebaud is surely one of the most distinguished leaders of that community.”

Following keynote remarks by scholar Steven Nash, and some impromptu words by Thiebaud, a video tribute featuring an exclusive interview with KQED Forum host Michael Krasny covered Mr. Thiebaud’s approach to being a painter, philosophies on being an artist, the importance of teaching, and his contributions to art history.

In a surprise close to the evening, a never-before-seen page from Mr. Thiebaud’s sketchbook, showing nine pen-and-ink drawings of compositional studies for his iconic paintings, was auctioned for $42,000.

See more photos from the stellar evening below!

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Stick & Ball, the equestrian inspired apparel and lifestyle brand, held its inaugural event with the first of three private polo matches and signature farm-to-polo-field dinners in the 2019 Mandarina Stick & Ball Polo & Dinner Series.

With its brand beginnings inspired by the West Coast and South America, Stick & Ball has woven together the cultures of Mexico and California through fashion, food and sport for this summer’s event series.

The kick-off event was held at the Cerro Pampa Polo Club in Petaluma, California in June, with Mandarina as the 2019 Stick & Ball Polo & Dinner Series presenting sponsor.

Mandarina is a new One&Only and Rosewood resort, as well as residential community, in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, opening in the fall of 2020. Flanked by majestic, untouched beaches, jungle, and the Sierra del Vallejo mountain range, Mandarina boasts luxurious villas and world class equestrian facilities.

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Artist David Downton recently joined Ken Fulk at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society to welcome sexual anthropologist and provocateur, Betony Vernon, to San Francisco.

The space was transformed into “a den of sensual delights” while Betony signed copies of her new book, The Boudoir Bible, for guests including Denise Hale, Alex Chases, Serge and Tatiana Sorokko, David and Mary Beth Shimmon, Valerie von Sobel, Jeffrey Gerson, Heide Betz, Mark Calvano, and Kurt Wootton, among others.

The Paris-based artist’s work has been included in a number of international exhibitions, from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to The Triennale Design Museum in Milan.

She has also designed for several brands including Missoni, Gianfranco Ferré, Alexander Wang and Fornasetti.

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