SAN FRANCISCO HAUTE LIVING MARCH-APRIL 2020 ISSUE

S A N F R A N C I S C O | S I L I C O N VA L L E Y | M A R I N | N A PA | N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A

M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

LUXURY LIFESTYLE WITH PURPOSE

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET’S SPELLBOUND OPENING NIGHT SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S CHINESE NEW YEAR CONCERT MEET RUSSIAN COUTURE DESIGNER VASILY VEIN EXPERIENCE ALL-INCLUSIVE LUXURY AT HAMMOCK COVE IN ANTIGUA

$20.00

THE FASHION ISSUE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH WES GORDON OF CAROLINA HERRERA AND A SNEAK PEAK OF THE LATEST FASHION TRENDS FROM NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

*

5 DAYS OF

FILM

FOOD WINE

FUN BUY PASSES & TICKETS

sonomafilmfest.org *

Publisher’s LETTER

W

hat a fabulously festive first two months of our new decade! Read all about the magnificent San Francisco Ballet Opening Night SPELLBOUND event on page 48. Take a glimpse into the artistically inspiring Manetti Shrem Art Museum’s Winter Gala

in the Haute Scenes on page 108. Come with us as we share the beauty of the sensational San Francisco Symphony 20th Anniversary Chinese New Year Concert & Emerald Banquet on page 52. We went to New York for Fashion Week, where we met fashion icons Johnson Hartig of Libertine and interviewed Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera, which you can see on page 76. We also profiled Russian couture designer Vasily Vein (page 28) and fashion designer-turned-performer Isaac Mizrahi who is bringing his act to Palo Alto on March 28th (page 36). We previewed the Sonoma International Film Festival coming March 25-29 on page 44.

We expanded our Beauty and Wellness sections, because we know these are essential topics to our readers. We moved our Haute Auto to page 96-99 in case you are looking for it. For the upcoming spring break and Easter holiday, I highly recommend reading about the new Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort in Woodside on page 68. We also have a few articles about Healdsburg, the chic center of Sonoma Wine Country on pages 32 and 84. Perhaps venture to Cape Town for a faraway vacation on page 88. Read about the exciting new project of Ocean Residences M/Y Njord that will take you all over the world without having to pack your suitcases on page 92! For buying a home in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out the opportunity of Luxury Lifestyle Auctions in our back pages.

I thank our contributors and ambassadors for their expertise in their subjects and the coverage of all the fun and charitable events in our Haute Events and Scene sections. I invite you to share your stories and events with us.

Best wishes for a healthy and inspiring lifestyle,

OLIVIA HSU DECKER OWNER/PUBLISHER Olivia@HauteLivingSF.com www.HauteLivingSF.com Text 415.720.5915 Keep up with us digitally at www.HauteLivingSF.com

1

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Haute Living MAGAZINE PUBLISHER Olivia Hsu Decker Olivia@HauteLivingSF.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Teresa Rodriguez Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com ART DIRECTOR Krisha Chhaganlal Krisha@HauteLivingSF.com COPY EDITOR Karen M. Smith henhousepublishing@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stephanie Block, Jennifer Borden, Maria Castellucci, Laurie Jo Miller Farr, Steph Keay, and Jennifer Raiser VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & SALES Julia Schaefer Julia@HauteLivingSF.com LUXURY AUTOS CONTRIBUTOR Tim Lappen TL@JMBM.com WINE COUNTRY AMBASSADOR Kelly E. Carter Kelly@KellyeCarter.com LITERARY AMBASSADOR Stephanie Block Stephanie@HauteLivingSF.com HEALTH AND WELLNESS AMBASSADORS Lydia Graham SUBSCRIPTION AND DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES Julia Schaefer Julia@HauteLivingSF.com AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE Cindy Pelland Cindy.Pelland@ HauteLivingSF.com ACCOUNTING Sarah Trissel St.bayarea@gmail.com LEGAL Carl Lippenberger Carl@lippenbergerlaw.com

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TABLE of CONTENTS

New York Fashion Week

1 8

PUBLISHERS’ LETTER EDITOR’S LETTER HAUTE HAPPENINGS

12

HAUTE EVENTS 44

Sonoma International Film Festival

48

All the glamour of SF Ballet gala: SPELLBOUND

52

SF Symphony Chinese New Year in review

Your guide to upcoming social affairs

HAUTE CUISINE

14

Chef Tommy Cleary debuts Hina

56

The best of FOG

HAUTE DRINKS

60

St. Regis World Snow Championship

18

Married to the job in Wine County

HAUTE HOTEL

64

HAUTE SHOPPING

68

Canyon Ranch: Take a trip down the rabbit hole HeartRise: Your heart knows the way

22

26

HAUTE BEAUTY

Antigua’s newest luxury all-inclusive resort

HAUTE WELLNESS

The best museum stores around the world

HAUTE PROFILES

72

28

Russian couture designer Vasily Vein

32

Healdsburg tastemakers

76

36

Fashion-icon-turned-performer Issac Mizrahi

40

Kevin W. McNeely of the Sonoma International Film Festival

Beauty trends with celebrity stylist Nellie Muganda

COVER STORY

New York Fashion Week

HAUTE TRAVEL 84

Healdsburg

88

Cape Town ON THE COVER CAROLINA HERRERA FASHION SHOW PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINA HERRERA Haute Living, San Francisco. www.HauteLivingSF.com

8

Haute cuisine

Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreat – Woodside

St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

Sonoma International Film Festival

Issac Mizrahi

San Francisco Ballet gala

HAUTE RESIDENCE 92

M/Y Njord: The world’s best address

HAUTE AUTO 96

Lamborghini Huracán Evo and Urus

HAUTE AMBASSADOR 100 Stephanie Block reviews celebrity-read audiobooks 102 Kelly E. Carter shares the best Napa Valley events for Spring 104 Lydia Graham enjoys a healthy dose of magic in big sur

HAUTE SCENES

106 The best events, parties, and fundraisers this winter

HAUTE SEAT 112 DJ and activist Greg Sherrell

Nob Hill Spa

9

Editor-in-Chief ’s LETTER

O

f all the seasons in the year, spring is my absolute favorite.

Seeing the hillsides transform from dull, gray heaps to vibrant, lush slopes green with life and possibilities puts a smile on my face. Along with the glorious new blooms of spring, we welcome the latest fashion trends from New

York’s Fashion Week. In this fashion issue, we showcase three fantastic designers: Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera, Johnson Hartig of Libertine, and Naeem Khan. They, too, are inspired by the freshness of spring with their bold, floral prints and epic bedazzling.

Make sure to take time to dream about two fantastic hotels featured in this issue. Hammock Cove in Antigua is the perfect place to withdraw from life’s hectic pace, while Cape Town’s The Silo on the edge of the world is the center of style and activities for the intrepid traveler.

One of the top luxury wellness and health spa resorts in the nation, Canyon Ranch, has opened a wellness retreat here in Woodside. I took a few days off for my birthday to experience the Canyon Ranch lifestyle, and it was one of the most transformative 72 hours of my life. I don’t often share personal experiences; but, because I had such a powerful shift in my mindset, I thought you might gain some insight from my story and want to journey down the rabbit hole as well.

Two of my favorite writers, Laurie Jo Miller Farr and Steph Keay take us on a wonderful trip up to Healdsburg. Laurie shines a light on a few incredible local tastemakers in Healdsburg, while Steph gives us the ultimate itinerary for a perfect weekend in the “other” wine country.

It truly takes a village to create this magazine, and it would not be possible without the incredible dedication of our team, which sometimes goes unnoticed. So, I want to give a big shout out to Sarah Trissel,

TERESA RODRIGUEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Haute Living San Francisco Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com www.HauteLivingSF.com

our accountant and confidant. Thank you for your support, Sarah. Big cheers go to Krisha Chhaganlal, our super-talented art director who carefully designs and lays out the 120 pages each issue. And, a big round of applause goes to Karen Smith, our copy editor and my right hand, who makes sure that there are no dangling modifiers or run-on sentences.

I always love hearing from our readers, so please drop me a line at Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com with your comments about this issue, or ideas for the next issue.

At your service,

10

San Francisco’s CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Block

Laurie Jo Miller Farr

in RNDC and Young’s Market Company. She holds a

loves walkable cities. As a San Francisco-based travel writ-

WSET 3 certification in wine and spirits and is a re-

er, she enjoys views from its crazy signature hills following

cent graduate of an executive MBA program from both

half-a-lifetime promoting her two hometowns — a couple

Brown University and IE Madrid. Previously, Steph-

of oh-so-flat places: New York City and London. Laurie’s

anie ran St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery’s social

byline is found in USA Today, CBS, Where Traveler, Haute

media and worked Napa harvest 2016. Stephanie has

Living, Epicure, Frommers, Fast Company, Napa Valley

championed gender equality as a national board member of the US National

Life Magazine, Food & Travel Magazine, Eater, Google Touring Bird, and other

Committee for UN Women and once traveled the globe as an award-winning

major media titles. She was awarded Yahoo Contributor of the Year and is a mem-

travel writer. She has lived in six countries and visited over 80. Elle adore parler

ber of the Society of American Travel Writers.

Stephanie Block is a third-generation family partner

Laurie is a US/UK dual citizen and dedicated urbanite who

français.

Jennifer Boden

Steph Keay

Steph Keay is a Canadian freelance and technical writ-

Jennifer is a freelance wine, food, and travel writer based

er currently based in Silicon Valley. After completing

in beautiful Sonoma County and has an extensive career

her Bachelor of Commerce in her hometown of Cal-

in journalism. She contributes to KRON 4 News San

gary, Alberta, she spent a summer in Croatia assisting

Francisco, ABC 10News San Diego, and others. Prior

The Yacht Week with events management on the is-

to her writing career, she worked for several network

lands of Hvar and Vis. Formerly in PR/marketing, she

affiliates as a news anchor and executive producer. She

has also placed stories for a variety of clients — includ-

earned her degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona

ing tech leaders, international artists, and acclaimed actors and musicians —

State University’s prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass

with ABC, FOX, NBC, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News, Ameri-

Communication.

can Way, and others. In her spare time, she enjoys adventuring, photography, and travel — all of which she documents on on her website, StephKeay.com.

Maria Castellucci

Entrepreneur, first generation American, and mother of three children. Having earned her BA in finance in 2001

Jennifer Raiser

Jennifer Raiser walks between the worlds of strategy

from Dominican University on a tennis scholarship, she

and storytelling. Along with being a mom, she is the

later studied at New York University and the London

bestselling author of five books, including Burning

School of Economics. Maria took a strong interest in

Man: Art on Fire, In the Spirit of Napa Valley, and

global affairs which led her to become an ambassador

The Art of Being Bill Murray. She works in marketing

for nonprofit foundation Roots of Peace. In 2012 with

consulting and is an avid nonprofit board junkie. Her

her siblings, Maria founded Castellucci Napa Family, a luxury wine and real es-

BA in English literature and MBA, both from Harvard

tate brand that has expanded into the boutique hotel business. She now runs

University, are her prerequisite for writing about swell parties. You can find her

two inns, a wine label, and a family real estate development company.

at the hottest parties in San Francisco or on the Playa at Burning Man.

We are very fortunate to have such a prestigious list of writers. Each has succeeded in their respective careers as best-selling authors, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and on-air talent. We are honored and humbled by their commitment to creating content that is relevant, timely, and really fun to read!

11

By Laurie Jo Miller Farr

EventsCALENDAR

SIFF

The first spring of the decade is shaping up to be a lovely social season in San Francisco.

MARCH

6-15 A Midsummer’s Night Dream Returning for the first time in 35 years, San Francisco Ballet performs a Shakespearean favorite, a joyful masterpiece of whimsy, mistaken identity, and jest.

War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. SFBallet.org

Maison Rabih Kayrouz hiver2020 Look02 Couture

12

15 Smuin Contemporary Ballet Annual Gala Celebrate 26 years with a gala hosted by co-chairs Patti and Jerry Hume, Athena and John Konstin. Fabulous fête, cocktails, dinner, performances, and auction.

The Galleria, 101 Henry Adams St. Smuinballet.org

17 Flute Recital with Sir James Galway The internationally acclaimed master flautist takes to the San Francisco stage for the first time in nearly two decades, performing with Lady Jeanne Galway.

Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. SFSymphony.org 18 SF Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show Lunch is followed by a runway show and trunk show featuring haute couturier Maison Rabih Kayrouz. VIP dinner on March 17. Presented by Sam Malouf Authentic Luxury in Burlingame; event chair is Rhonda Mahendroo; proceeds benefit SF Ballet initiatives.

Saint Joseph’s Art Society, 1401 Howard St. 21 26th Annual Red Cross Gala The annual volunteer-led fundraiser celebrates and raises funds to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross.

San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlet Place.

PHOTO CREDITS: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: © MELANIA MAHONEY; © MAISON RABIH KAYROUZ

1 Joshua Bell & Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Among other works, virtuoso Bell performs Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1, a brilliant tour de force not heard here for nearly 30 years. Also, leading the famous London Chamber Orchestra.

Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. SFSymphony.org

25 - 29 23rd Annual Sonoma International Film Festival This event features 125 hand-selected films from independent filmmakers at seven intimate venues within walking distance of Sonoma’s historic plaza. Complemented by social events serving world-class cuisine and exceptional wines.

Sonomafilmfest.org 27-29 14th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival Cheesemakers, farmers, chefs, brewers, winemakers, and distillers join cheese enthusiasts for three days of tastings and pairings, education and celebration.

Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. artisancheesefestival.com 28 All Within My Hands Foundation Metallica’s charitable efforts are boosted by the second annual Helping Hands Concert & Auction.

Masonic Auditorium, 1111 California St. sfmasonic.com 31 - April 26 The Book of Mormon The Tony-winning musical satire from the creators of South Park returns to San Francisco.

Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St. Goldengatetheatresf.com

PHOTO CREDITS: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF NAPLES NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM; © MAISON RABIH KAYROUZ; © STEPHEN KNUDSEN

APRIL 3 San Francisco Giants Home Opener April is for baseball. The season opens with a 3-game series against the LA Dodgers for a busy schedule of 16 home games this month.

Oracle Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza. mlb.com/giants

8 and 13 Golden State Warriors Following nine home games in March, the Golden State Warriors move into NBA post-season play versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers.

Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way. nba.com/warriors 18 - Aug. 30 “Last Supper in Pompeii: From Table to the Grave” At the Legion of Honor, this exhibition originally organized by Oxford University’s Ashmolean Museum offers a glimpse inside well-to-do Roman households when disaster struck in AD79. legionofhonor.famsf.org

Pompeii Fish Catalogue at the Naples National Archaeological Museum

24 - May 3 Smuin Contemporary Ballet Dance Series 2 features Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Requiem for a Rose, a world premiere by Cuban choreographer Osnel Delgado, plus Michael Smuin’s otherworldly Symphony of Psalms.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St. Smuinballet.org 25 - May 25 44th San Francisco Decorator Showcase Some of the most prestigious addresses in the city’s most breathtaking neighborhoods are decorated to benefit the financial aid program at SF University High School.

22 22nd Ave., Sea Cliff. sfdecoratorshowcase.org 26 103rd Annual Opening Day on the Bay A celebration of our maritime community, the boat parade features 100+ workboats, fireboats, towboats, and classic and contemporary watercraft decorated to depict various holidays.

Brie & Cheese Festival / Salami Bites

Maison Rabih Kayrouz hiver2020 Look19 Couture

BY STEPH KEAY PHOTOS BY JONATHAN RACUSIN & CHANEL CHANG

PROFILE

HauteCUISINE

Kanpachi, one of several non-poultry surprises on the tasting menu, featuring amberjack, rayu, and lime on a bed of sesame leaf and nori

14

HINA BRINGS THE HEAT San Francisco’s latest culinary hotspot puts a twist on time-honored Japanese barbecue with omakase yakitori.

THREE WEEKS AGO, I WAS SEATED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER INSIDE ONE OF 60 tiny restaurants crammed into Tokyo’s famed Omoide Yokocho. Plumes of white smoke rose above the array of skewers cooking on the grill in front of me. Suddenly, a red-faced partygoer barreled into the impossibly narrow restaurant, scattering carafes of warm sake and plates piled with smoky offal. The server deposited the reveler back on the street, where he staggered off into the lantern-lit alleys of Shinjuku. The chef—wearing a look of concentration visible through the haze of sweet, meat-scented smoke—hardly even took her eyes off the grill.

In a country often known for specialties such as Kobe beef and horse meat sashimi, my first meal in Japan is simply chicken—yakitori, to be specific. The bar snack, salaryman staple, and, here, late-night street fare that was served with the rollicking atmosphere to match.

BLAZING A TRAIL Back in San Francisco, I stand next to a spotless glass partition shielding a custommade robata grill. It’s the shining centerpiece of Hina Yakitori, the Bay Area’s first omakase yakitori restaurant. Executive chef and co-owner Tommy Cleary and I admire the hand-painted mural along the back wall, depicting what appears to be rocks hurtling outwards. In fact, if you stand directly in front of the glass-encased grill, it looks as though it’s breaking out from the wall. “It looks like a spaceship,” Cleary laughs. It was his brother’s idea, he says, and explains that the artwork is also a continuation of Hina’s former location. There, his brother painted a mural beginning to crack through the wall.

Now, at Hina’s new shop, it’s fully broken out.

It’s a fitting analogy. Hina—which means “baby bird” in Japanese—swiftly outgrew its first location, in Oakland, which opened three years ago. In partnership with the Michelin-starred Ju-Ni team, Hina reemerged in San Francisco last September with the skewers that drew scores of loyal fans at the old shop, but with a more refined concept.

Here, 13 diners seated around a slate countertop get a taste of authentic Japanese barbecue in an omakase experience. It’s yakitori, elevated.

Yakitori is both an art and a science. The word itself simply translates to “grilled chicken,” and the skewered meat is often seasoned with little more than salt and tare (sauce).

However, the beauty of this particular form of Japanese barbecue lies not in excess, as

15

Haute CUISINE

Hina’s top-quality binchotan is shipped directly from Japan

it often does in its American counterpart, but in perfecting the preparation and presen-

Cleary was the first American chef to train at the acclaimed restaurant under revered

tation of the dish. Despite its ubiquity in Japan, the high-level preparation of yakitori is

yakitori chef Kazuo Nakayama, where he was put to the test—the culture of overwork

exacting, demanding both accuracy and precision. If one fine-tunes the process—from

was persistent, and trivial slips magnified. He commuted by bike through Japan’s notori-

the thoughtful sourcing of ingredients to mastering the timing of the grill—yakitori can

ously muggy summers, monsoon season, even snow, including a record-breaking storm

transcend its humble origins.

that shut down Tokyo’s famously infallible trains for days.

TRIAL BY FIRE

ORIGIN & CAUSE

On a regular night, chefs Rich Lee (Yardbird Hong Kong, In Situ) and Brian Shin (Alin-

Wisps of smoke curl around the skewers. Below, sticks of charcoal flicker vermilion like

ea, Manresa, Benu, In Situ) flank Cleary. As I watch him and his well-oiled team during

tubes of lava. Hina uses a mixture of Wakayama Kishu and Kamitosa binchotan, Japan’s

dinner service one Saturday, Michael Pollan’s documentary, Cooked, comes to mind. In

highest-grade charcoal, which emits infrared waves that cook the meat while imparting

it, he reflects on the theory that cooking meat over fire is what kick-started our evolution,

a subtle smokiness. Cleary shows me a box of the silvery-black sticks, clinking against

what made us human. “To see people whose appreciation of that is undiminished is

one another with a metallic ring—a tell-tale sign of high-quality binchotan. He tells me it

kind of thrilling,” he says. Such is the case here, as I observe Lee fanning the coals with

took his team more than a year to convince the maker, living in a rural town in Wakay-

a traditional uchiwa (Japanese fan) while Brian tops a trio of kanpachi with droplets of

ama Prefecture with no mobile phone or computer, to sell it to them. The coal is made

Japanese chili oil. In the middle, Cleary deftly scans the grill, making subtle adjustments

by burning off all impurities in ubame oak, of which a majority of the world’s supply is

here and there—almost like a DJ adjusting the myriad knobs and switches on a control-

grown in Wakayama. The taxing production process leaves behind an essentially odor-

ler. It’s the Chef Tommy & Co. Show.

less charcoal made of pure carbon. From sustainable harvesting to adjusting burn times

It’s a secret nod to Cleary’s life prior to chefdom. Growing up, he was interested in music, producing several albums and even touring worldwide with a hip-hop legend.

for each unique batch, it takes an artisan with instincts developed over time to perfect the process—not unlike yakitori.

Despite his successes, Cleary debated if music was a viable career, taking a job at a

Hina sources its free-range chickens from Pasturebird, an innovative farm near Temec-

family friend’s izakaya in the meantime. To get him up to speed, the owner gave him a

ula Valley. “It’s crazy how they do it,” says Cleary, describing his tour of the regenerative

stack of books showcasing Japanese cuisine and the accompanying methods of Tokyo’s

farming system and mobile range chicken coops, moved every 24 hours so the birds con-

top restaurants. As Cleary began studying one particular tome dedicated to the art of

stantly graze on fresh pasture. “Probably the best you can get in America, I would say,

yakitori, he gravitated towards the challenging nature of the dish and yearned to perfect

and I’ve tried them all.” The omakase format at Hina allows Cleary to use the chickens

it. His quest led him to Tori+Salon, one of the restaurants featured in the book, where he

without waste, ensuring each diner receives exactly half a bird. Among the highlights:

landed an apprenticeship working 15 hours a day, six days a week. He got his foot in the

Sot l’y laisse, the delicate, dark oyster meat served with an Osetra caviar-topped chich-

door by offering to work without pay and sold everything he owned, including a collec-

arrón; tsukune, a chicken “meatball” dipped in tare and a golden sphere of yolk; and

tion of more than 10,000 records he had amassed since childhood, to finance his year of

charred florets of broccolini, the current seasonal vegetable, served on a creamy pat of

yakitori enlightenment abroad.

garlic soy butter and finished with grated karasumi.

16

PHOTO CREDITS: PAGE 51 ©JONATHAN RACUSIN PAGE 52 CLOCK WISE FROM TOP LEFT ©JONATHAN RACUSIN; ©CHANEL CHANG

Kawa, the crisped chicken skin skewer topped with salmon roe and tendrils of shiso

The mural at Hina painted by L.A. artist Tim Diet, Chef Tommy’s brother

Shoniku, the center cut thigh skewer with Kampot pepper and yuzu kosho

Beverage Director Justin Chin (Gary Danko, Ju-Ni) has also curated an impressive menu of sake, shochu, beer, and wine to accompany the dishes, including reserve list selections such as the 2012 Marcassin Pinot Noir, and Trimbach’s 2007 Riesling Clos Ste. Hune.

that I didn’t try to do this, too,” he laughs—and I recall the countless challenges he relayed to me over the past two days—“but my dreams were just different growing up.”

At the end of Cooked, Pollan reiterates mankind’s gift of cooking with fire. “It’s this great reaffirmation of our very special place in the cosmos,” he muses. It seems we should thank

THE HOTSPOT A friend recently told me he’s been setting alarms to try and snag a pair of the 13 coveted spots to witness the Chef Tommy & Co. Show. “On an average night, the wait list is over 100

our lucky stars that Hina’s custom-designed, binchotan-fueled spaceship landed on our corner of the earth.

Reservations open 45 days in advance. Set your alarms.

people. Fridays and Saturdays, 200. It’s mind-boggling,” says Cleary, pulling up Resy on his

www.hinasf.com

phone. “Something that I never expected to do did better than anything I tried [before]. Not

808 Divisadero, San Francisco

PHOTO CREDITS: PAGE 53 TOP PHOTOS ©JONATHAN RACUSIN

Chef Tommy (center) at the helm of Hina’s custom-made robata grill with sous chefs Rich Lee (left) and Brian Shin (right)

17

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

HauteDRINKS

Rich and Leslie Frank

MARRIED TO THE JOB IN WINE COUNTRY Husband & Wife Wineries and Tasting Rooms ALTHOUGH IT MAY LOOK ROMANTIC AROUND THE EDGES, THE WINERY business is hard work not recommended for the risk-averse. One can imagine that being married to the business—literally and figuratively—presents an extra layer of challenges.

We talked to four husband and wife winemaking teams in Napa and Paso Robles to scratch the surface beyond the glamorous.

18

RICH AND LESLIE FRANK

with local designer, Erin Martin. We completely reimagined the

Frank Family Vineyards • frankfamilyvineyards.com

traditional tasting room by renovating our 1930s yellow Crafts-

It was a chance encounter at Bouchon Bistro in Yountville, fol-

man house and converting it into a comfortable and trendy tast-

lowed by a second chance encounter on a flight (with a bottle

ing space. We also revamped our back deck with swing chairs

of Pinot Noir woven into the story) that sums up Rich’s delightful

and cushioned couches to provide for our guests a lounge ex-

telling of “how we met.” It was a palate for Bordeaux varietals

perience that’s free of stuffiness and frill. We introduced a new

and the pull of Napa Valley’s natural beauty that enticed the

food and wine pairing called the Elevated Experience ($90) to

Disney Studios president and the ABC news reporter away from

create a more immersive and educational visit. It’s now one of

Hollywood’s hustle and bustle.

our most popular tastings and is offered twice daily to meet

Now entering their 27th year in the business, and for eight

growing demand.”

consecutive years voted “Best Napa Winery” by Bay Area A-List,

The day begins at 5:52 a.m. With 380 acres of vines across

the “family” part of the brand name is foundational. “Our ap-

Napa Valley on four estate vineyards in Carneros, Rutherford,

proach to hospitality stems from the Disney culture; we have

and Capell Valley, it’s an early start for everyone, including win-

guests, not customers. Each and every visitor should feel like

emaker Todd Graff and his team. “Each vineyard is named after

they are being welcomed into our home. We know them, and

our grandchildren, Lewis, Benjamin, Stella, and Jeremy, and has

they know us,” Leslie said.

its own personality just like each of our grandkids,” said Leslie.

She added, “In 2017, we took our tasting experience to the next level with the redesign of our tasting room in collaboration

Frank Family Vineyards Tasting Room

Rich noted, “We’re proud to be family-owned, estate-driven, and nationally distributed—it’s a tricky trifecta to master.”

Frank Family Tasting Room Patio

Rich & Leslie Frank, and their dog

Frank Family Winston Hill Vineyard

Rava Winery

CHAD AND LAUREN RAVA Rava Wines + Events • ravawines.com Chad and Lauren first met at a little restaurant in downtown Paso Robles where they can now order their own sparkling brut from the menu.

“Because Chad is a third-generation farmer, his passion for agriculture was contagious,” said Laura.

Champagne is a thread running through the Rava Wines story.

The couple purchased the property when they married. The plan was to open a wedding and event venue, eventually adding a winery and tasting STOCK PHOTO PROVIDED BY SHUTTERSTOCK

room. That plan was embellished when they decided to make sparkling wine. “Because we love sparkling wine, it was important for us to make méthode champenoise to offer a premium product to guests who celebrate on-site,” said Lauren.

In 2015, the couple purchased equipment from Italy and began work on the first vintage with winemaker John Clark. “We now have eight varietals of sparkling wine to sample in our tasting room and three new varietals aging in the cellar.”

Surprise—or no surprise once you understand the pure energy from these two—the event side of the plan also came to fruition. A handsome, three-bedroom villa for guests graces the 505-acre estate. A state-of-the-art

19

HauteDRINKS indoor concert space can host up to 1,000 and in 2018, an outdoor music venue was created for an intimate vineyard concert experience. A lush lawn and superior sound system make “Rava on the Rocks” concert series a Central Coast draw. Lauren and Chad said, “We’re excited about the 2020 lineup that includes Emerson Drive, Randall King and Devin Dawson.”

As owner/operators, this busy couple has their hands in every aspect of the business. Chad manages all the farming, winery, and sparkling wine operations. Lauren focuses on the marketing, office administration, tasting room, weddings, and events. On bottling day, Lauren Rava

One of the settings for Rava Events

ROLANDO AND LORENA HERRERA Mi Sueño Winery • misuenowinery.com “We met in church as teenagers and were close friends for many years before we went on a first date.

Ten years later in 1997, we were married in the same year we started Mi Sueño,” Lorena recalls. It translates from Spanish as “my dream.”

Through their own words, one hears the strength of this partnership runs deep. And because Rolando and Lorena strongly believe that great wine starts in the vineyard, they founded Herrera Vineyard Management in 2003 to have total control of the fruit from bud break to bottle. “We farm, harvest, and maintain all eight vineyards that we manage across Coombsville, Oak Knoll, Mt. Veeder, Carneros, and Russian River. We walk this land together. We understand the soils and taste the grapes. We listen to our vines and because of that, we are able to make truly great wines that express the sites from which Rolando and Lorena

they come.”

Six children later, the marriage—and the winery—are a big success. Twenty-one years ago, the couple started building the brand as a passion project with just 200 cases of Chardonnay. Today, 100 percent

Mi Sueno Vineyard

family-owned and just as passionate, they produce up to 10,000 cases in a portfolio that includes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo, Rosé, and a red blend named El Llano, plus limited production Herrera ultrapremium wines given names that reflect one of their children’s personalities.

Rolando acutely recollects the day in 2001 when the White House sommelier called. Over time, it happened twice more. “(They) wanted to buy some Mi Sueño Chardonnay for a state dinner President George W. Bush was hosting for Mexican President Vicente Fox. Barbara Bush even liked it enough to order an extra case for her cellar. Then in 2008, our 2006 Russian River Pinot Noir was poured at a Cinco de Mayo celebration hosted by President Bush. The third time, in 2010, our 2006 Herrera Rebecca Cabernet Sauvignon with paired with a Wagyu beef mole dish at President Barack Obama’s first-ever state dinner to honor Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. Each time has been a great honor. There is no greater feeling than knowing that there are people who are enjoying the thing you have poured your time and love and passion into.”

PHOTO CREDITS: PAGE 20 (TOP PHOTO) ©TUBAY YABUT, PAGE 21 (BOTTOM LEFT - RAVA WINES) ©KELSEA HOLDER. PAGE 22 (TOP LEFT) ©JOHN PATRICK, (TOP RIGHT) COURTESY OF RAVA WINES. PAGE 22, (BOTTOM LEFT) ©ROCCO CESELIN. PAGE 23 (TOP RIGHT) ©TIM CARL, PAGE 23 (BOTTOM PHOTOS - KUKULA WINE) ©KEVIN JUSSILA

it’s all hands on deck.

Now with a brand new Napa cellar tasting room, the winning formula is expressed

by Rolando: “We worked together, we embraced every moment, we put everything we are into Mi Sueño ... we are all building this together. We still stumble sometimes.

When things get tough, we take a break; but, then you pick yourself up and you get going again. We love each other, we love what we do, and we could not be more blessed to be living the dream we built together.”

Rolando and Lorena

KEVIN AND PAULA JUSSILA Kukkula Wine • kukkulawine.com Kevin’s first language is Finnish, so his pronunciation of “kukkula” (kookkoo-luh), which means “the hill or high place” rolls off his tongue. He’s an organic dry farmer whose story is told by the dirt and whose philosophy is interpreted through hard work without irrigation. Blends from estate fruits are produced with very little intervention.

Farming on steep hillsides is always a challenge. Kevin and Paula tend to the vines around the clock and appreciate the beauty of all the seasons—fall harvest, winter fog, spring wildflowers, summer sunsets—are “so amazing when you’re living in a vineyard.”

Paula and Kevin met on a blind date in 1985 and developed an infatuation with wine when Kevin started making it around 1990 with a couple of friends in the basement of their newly built Topanga Canyon home. “We planted grapes there a few years later,” said Paula. “That was the beginning Kevin & Paula

of a hobby gone wildly out of control.”

Kevin remembers, “After several years of basement winemaking and farming an acre-and-a-half of vines, I convinced Paula to come with me to explore Paso. That was the fall of 2003. On that first trip, we discovered the

Tasting Room, Kukkula

Adelaida community and were instantly taken by its rugged beauty.”

We wondered how the couple decided to undertake ambitious dryfarmed Rhone farming and winemaking. Paula said, “The dry farming was definitely influenced by our neighbor, Dave Osgood, who has been farming in the Adelaida area forever. Also, wanting to farm organically, we thought dry-farming made sense, and it really pushed us to be good stewards of the land. And, did we mention ‘hobby gone wildly out of control?’”

There are many responsibilities to be divided up with farming, winemaking, olive oil production (seven varietals produced on eight acres), wine club dinners, and the tasting room on Chimney Rock Road in Paso Robles. Kevin is solely responsible for everything farming and winemaking. The tasting room is a shared role, although the couple realizes that as winemaker, Kevin is a much more appreciated presence for guests. Paula is the back-up, errand-runner-in-chief, and in charge of all food and events and organizing around the wine club. “Because our youngest started college last fall, Paula will probably be taking on more responsibility in the future,” Kevin added.

Kukkula WInery

BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ

22

HauteHOTEL

PARADISE FOUND: HAMMOCK COVE A new, all-inclusive resort showcases the beauty and hospitality of Antigua HIDDEN AWAY IN A SECLUDED INLET ON THE WEST Indies island of Antigua is a charming new resort where hospitality and luxury reign. The delightful Caribbean property has only 42 luxury villas, each with a private plunge pool and a full bar stocked with the finest spirits, wine, mixers, sodas, and beers. Each private villa of Hammock Cove has over 1,000 square feet of living space with epic views of aquamarine waters and the dramatic environs of the coastline.

Along with incredible views, the resort employs an impressive crew of guest ambassadors. The ambassadors offer person-

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAMMOCK COVE

al assistance for guests, including lovely amenities like morning coffee preparation; meals delivered either in-villa, on the beach, or around the swimming pool; dinner reservations; and other personal concierge services.

23

BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ

HauteHOTEL

Villa patio with plunge pool

Enjoy an afternoon in the sun

The owner, Mr. Barrett, is a native of Central California and has an incredible story of wit and ingenuity. A high school dropout, he found his mojo in the Caribbean when he was 18 years old. And over the past 50 years, he has built a legacy of high-end resorts that include locations in Barbados, the Grenadines, Panama, and St. Lucia. One of the reasons why Antigua’s Hammock Cove is so wonderful is because of the thoughtfulness and commitment to excellence that Mr. Barrett has fostered over the decades he has been a hotelier.

Fine-dining and international cuisine takes center stage at Hammock Cove, led by Michelin-trained, Italian Executive Chef Marco Festini Cromer. He blends years of international culinary expertise with the flare of Caribbean spice. Chef Marco has elevated the all-inclusive dining experience at the resort’s two restaurants, four bars, and 24-hour in-villa dining.

The resort’s spa, gym, and water-facing yoga shala redefine resort wellness and relaxation. The spa, Tranquility Body and Soul, features five treatment rooms equipped for a variety of face and body therapies, including wet room facilities, a cold plunge pool, and sauna.

Hammock Cove is delightfully named after a gentleman named Happy, who returned home to Antigua after living in London. Happy returned to this slice of heaven because he wanted to be “Happy,” and lounging in a hammock in the cove was the way he found happiness. Now, with the opening of Hammock Cove, the rest of the world can enjoy a bit of “Happy” as well.

The pink gazebo for intimate meals

Villa bathroom

Villa with king-size bed, TV, and internet

A PERFECT DAY AT HAMMOCK COVE 9:00 am In-villa breakfast delivered by your guest ambassador 10:00 am Gentle yoga on the yoga shala 11:30 am 60-minute Ocean’s Deep Restoration massage 1:00 pm Lunch at Irina’s 2:00 pm Beach front relaxation time, perhaps a cocktail or kayaking 5:00 pm Rum tasting at Nobody Knows bar 7:00 pm Cocktails at Lighthouse Bar 8:00 pm Romantic 5-star dinner at Lighthouse with three delicious courses that can be paired with wine 10:00 pm Night cap and a game of pool or scrabble in the Chairman’s Lounge

Irina’s Restaurant

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HAMMOCK COVE

11:00 pm Private time in your plunge pool overlooking the cove The excellent staff at Hammock Cove can also organize island excursions for

Private Hammock Cove beach

you to popular destinations like Nelson’s Dockyard and Shirley Heights. Some favorite trips include a day with Pink Panther Safari tours, where you will be given an intimate tour of the island and end with a delicious lunch on a hidden beach.

Antigua has 365 beaches nestled in tiny inlets and on vast golden shores that wrap around the island. Locals boast that you can visit a new beach every day for a year. With a population of 80,000, the island feels like a cozy village where everyone knows each other.

25

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

HauteSHOPPING

MoMA Design Store exterior

MUSEUM STORES MAKE MARVELOUS SHOPPING EMPORIUMS SERENDIPITY WITH A SPLASH OF ARTISTIC SENSIBILITY MAKES SHOPPING FOR GIFTS SO much more enjoyable. Pass up department stores to see what great finds await discovery within a first-rate art museum’s gift shop. Of course, there are wonderful coffee table art books, postcards, and prints. But that’s only the beginning. Museum stores are getting better all the time.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART 44 West 53rd St., NY, NY

Everything about MoMA, including its Design Store across the street, is conceived to fuel creativity and ignite the senses. Highly curated, every single product that’s stocked passes eight rigorous criteria set by a team to ensure it fits the museum’s vision of good design. The result is a top-notch collection of cool form + function, tech + textile items from air purifiers to watermelon knives.

At MoMA, there’s a Museum Store adjacent to the lobby, too. It’s no affront to art to say that the 18,000-square-foot store is one of MoMA’s highlights—and a major revenue generator.

26

MoMA Design Store

PHOTO CREDITS: (TOP & BOTTOM) © LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

Curate the Art of Browsing

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM Cromwell Road, London

The V&A gift shop is a far classier proposition than the one at the British Museum where the shelves are stuffed with Paddington bears sporting Union Jacks. A massive Chihuly chandelier under the glass rotunda sets the tone at the museum’s South Kensington entrance. Inside, a range of products is inspired by the permanent collection at this prestigious museum of global art and design.

Handmade jewelry from artisans in the UK and abroad is one of the better displays, with many pieces priced under $150. Everything is beautifully wrapped in a signature pouch and boxed as well. Take tea in the stunning 19th century V&A Café, the world’s very first museum café.

Main entrance, V&A

Porcelain necklace

by Claire Marfisi $200

Handpainted pendant fan necklace by Sibilia $195

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO 111 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago

PHOTO CREDITS: (TOP LEFT & BOTTOM RIGHT) ) © LAURIE JO MILLER FARR, (TOP RIGHT) COURTESY OF VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM, (BOTTOM LEFT) COURTESY OF WKIMEDIA

There’s not just one, but two, gift shops in America’s second largest museum of fine art.

Head past the 19th century lion statues standing guard at the front entrance to reach the Main Museum Shop just off the lobby. The handsome pair of lions are available as bookends and the jewelry collection captures inspiration from the museum’s collection of artworks. Choose a puzzle crafted from a Van Gogh masterpiece or an umbrella depicting Georges Seurat’s Pointillist “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” For more shopping, the new Modern Wing Shop off the building’s entrance at Millennial Park has unusual finds. And because The Art Institute is associated with the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago, this contemporary shop showcases exclusive objects created by the imaginations of today’s brightest talents.

Art Institute of Chicago entrance

Musée Picasso

LIBRAIRIE BOUTIQUE DU MUSÉE NATIONAL PICASSO 4 Rue de Thorigny, Paris

Pablo. Picasso. These two words stir excitement for admirers rediscovering the artist’s spirit in this chic boutique across from the Musée National Picasso in the trendy, leafy Marais district.

The shop tells the story of Picasso’s life in his studio. Three rooms in a former private residence set around a garden effectively use all-white interiors and highly polished wood floors to display a mix of Picasso-related paraphernalia and design-forward things he might have loved. There are French-made dish towels, cushions, and mugs; Danish handmade paper mobiles; cubist vases, sketch pads, paintbrushes and chocolates ... beautiful objects all.

27

PROFILE

FROM RUSSIA,

WITH LOVE

BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ

DRAMATIC COUTURE DESIGNER VASILY VEIN SHARES HIS INSPIRING LIFE STORY 28

TOP PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE DELFINO

Vasily Vein Collection at the Raymond Vineyard’s Red Room, Top Model Maria Kondrakhanova

BORN IN SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN AND RAISED IN MOSCOW, VASILY

in the military. He completed his military service, the USSR Collapsed, Russia spun

Vein was 13 years old when he realized that he wanted to be a designer. He was

out of control, and the country’s broken infrastructure shattered all opportunities

inspired by his little sister, who was only three years old when he started designing

to attend college. Vein found work in a factory that manufactured clothing, and he

dresses for her. The first dress he made was a baby doll dress with red polka dots and

sewed all day long.

white buttons. Vein continued to create dresses for her throughout his teenage years.

During this time, Vein started to build his design business after working hours

During the communist reign of the Soviet Union, high school and college stu-

and on the weekends. He built his clientele by designing ready-to-wear casual and

dents were required to harvest the local crops every summer. Vein was assigned to

business clothing for women. Once he had a robust business going, he quit the fac-

the cotton fields. Each summer, he and his friends work long hours picking cotton,

tory. Vein’s avant-garde fashion made a lovely change from the drab years of com-

“For the good of the country.” After high school, Vein served the mandatory two years

munism.

29

PROFILE

The Royal Wedding for Valle Monte’s Fashion Show, Exclusive Gowns from Vasily Vein, Model Ania Spiering

Vasily’s Favorite Model Ania Spiering showing Vasily Vein gown on Christmas Tree Elegance Fashion Show

LOVE In his twenties, Vein worked as a backup dancer for a famous Russian singer—the equivalent of Madonna in the United States. A handsome young man named Alex spotted him on stage. Alex asked around and discovered he had a few friends who knew Vasily Vein. After the show, they were introduced. That was 26 years ago, and the couple is still together. Alex is an integral part of Vein’s business and is always by his side.

AMERICA Alex and Vasily were invited to visit some friends in San Francisco. During their stay, Vladimir Putin created a new law persecuting those who identified as LGBTQ. Knowing that their future in Russia would be both tough and illegal, they made the hard decision to emigrate to the United States as political refugees. That was ten years ago.

COUTURE When Vein first arrived, a friend introduced him to the producers of Sacramento Fashion Week. Within weeks, he designed 12 different outfits—everything from ready-to-wear to couture. The next week, a magazine featured the event. One side of the spread had a photo from the John Paul Gautier’s fashion show, and the other side had a photo from Vein’s.

Sonya Molodetskaya in Vasily Vein’s gown as a Top Woman of Style at San Francisco’s Opening Nights Vasily Vein’s Muse Clara Shayevich wearing Vasily Vein, San Francisco Opera Ball

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MIKE DELFINO, TRISHA LEEPER, MOANALANI JEFFREY, MARK GUNTER, DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY

Valle Monte League, Inc. presents Fashion Show Magnolias & Mistletoe, Model Ania Spiering

Vasily Vein’s Muse Clara Shayevich wearing Vasily Vein, The San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Show Opening Night Preview Gala

For the past eight years, Vein has been designing extravagant, over-the-top, dramatic gowns for San Francisco’s elite, from fashionista Sonya Molodetskaya to socialite Clara Shayevich and Mayriam Naza to surgeon Dr. Lisa Kang, and Farah Makras.

Vasily Vein’s design philosophy showcases the personality of the woman who wears his gowns, emphasizing her characteristics. He captures this by using unique fabrics, bold prints, captivating colors, incredible cuts, and unexpected geometry. He first meets with his client, discusses colors, fabrics, and designs. He sketches his ideas, they agree, and then the magic starts.

Next, Vein sends her photos of different selection of fabrics for her to approve. He then works his magic with the client, fitting the sample cut.

Then, miraculously, a gown is built and sewn.

PHOTO CREDIT: DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY

Within a few weeks, a spectacular couture gown is born. Vein predicts volume, very bright color, and more prints with bold designs for 2020. www.vasilyvein.com

Charming and Super Elegance Sonya Molodetskaya wearing Vasily Vein, San Francisco Opera Opening Gala

Dr. Lisa Kang with her daughter Chloe Kang both wearing Vasily Vein, Serenity MedSpa Celebrates Opening

A. Rafanelli vineyard

PROFILE

Healdsburg

TASTEMAKER PROFILES

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

sharing tips about the inaugural Healdsburg

KEEPER, CAMELLIA INN

Tastemaker Weekend activities and all the lo-

Sunday morning sunlight floods the front

cal options for the day ahead: wine tasting,

parlor room in this sweet, south-facing,

watercolor painting and pizzas, a cooking

salmon-colored 1869 Victorian Italianate two

class, pastry making, mushroom foraging, an

blocks from Healdsburg Plaza. Step outside

afternoon high tea.

for a self-guided tour of the garden starting at

Lucy should know. Her parents, Ray and

the fish pond. You can’t miss the giant Cedar

Del Lewand, bought the house in 1981 and

of Lebanon tree and don’t want to miss the

opened Healdsburg’s first B&B as a “leap of

dwarf Japanese maple. The oldest of 80 ca-

faith,” she says. Escaping from the conges-

mellia trees of 50 varieties dates back to the

tion of Southern California, they arrived at

1820’s.

a very different Healdsburg—one that was

Owner Lucy Lewand can tell you more

without a single restaurant, filled with dilapi-

about the beloved camellias. But for now she’s

dated houses (this one included) and a largely

chatting with guests over a relaxed breakfast

boarded-up town square. Forty years later,

at a large mahogany table in the dining room,

compare that to the destination downtown

32

Camellia Inn exterior

PHOTO CREDITS: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ©KIM CARROLL; ©LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

LUCY LEWAND, OWNER AND INN-

Camellia Inn massage treatment room

Camellia Inn pool

Healdsburg scene that’s sprinkled with restaurants, art galleries, tasting

greets guests and runs the antique-filled, intimate nine-room property

rooms, shops, an antique store, a swish boutique for pets and one longtime

(note the outdoor pool and in-room massages) where free parking, Wi-Fi,

fixture—a European-style, century-old destination bakery called Costeaux.

a wine tasting passport and a delicious buffet breakfast (the best toasted

After earning her MBA at UCLA, Lucy joined the trendsetting fam-

bagels ever) and a late afternoon wine hour are part of the warm hospitality.

ily B&B business, contributing to the growing community as head of the

Camellia Inn, 211 North Street, Healdsburg

chamber of commerce and chair of the tourism council. These days, she

CamelliaInn.com

Valette exterior

DUSTIN VALETTE, CHEF-OWNER, VALETTE RESTAURANT As good fortune has it, a dream come true turned into a mission statement: “To provide a canvas for Sonoma County farmers, winemakers and artisans to showcase their craft.” Valette is a good old-fashioned, thriving family-run restaurant that stands as testament to the owners’ strong desire “to do something we’re passionate about.”

PHOTO CREDITS: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF CAMELLIA INN; COURTESY OF CAMELLIA INN; ©CHRIS HARDY

Positioned on an enviable corner in Healdsburg where his great grandfather once owned a bakery, chef-owner Dustin and his brother, general manager Aaron Garzini, are the front- and back-of-house pair at Valette, named in honor of that gentleman baker.

Before partnering with Aaron, Dustin Valette trained under James Beard Foundation Award–winning chefs Michael Mina, Thomas Keller, and Charlie Palmer. Some say Valette serves American-California cuisine. “It’s hard to say what kind it is,” said Chef Dustin, “other than delicious, fresh and local.”

Chef may twist an orange from the tree and plan a dish around its just-right ripeness. Other days, he may spy edible pine buds, meet up with a supplier milling

33

PROFILE heritage wheat, or yearn to do caramelized pears

there are 200 tomato plants, 50 pepper plants, corn

when the weather turns chilly. Notice that Valette’s

and lots more. We utilize everything and really en-

menus are printed on the cheapest possible paper?

joy getting back to basics and being good stewards

It’s intentional. Chef Dustin and General Manager

of the land.”

Aaron intentionally sourced this paper so they’d

To understand the heart of what makes Valette

always have the built-in freedom and flexibility to

tick, listen to Chef Dustin discuss teamwork as

frequently change the menu when fresh ingredients

a foundational pillar. “It’s about the artisans, our

or the best catch create opportunity.

sommelier, our servers...we couldn’t do it without

Just yards from the restaurant, a 5,000-square-

this collective energy, a team who are so damn pas-

foot chef ’s garden provides inspiration for the ever-

sionate that it gets us all fired up. And that’s the pos-

changing seasonal five-course menu.“The garden is

itive vibe we consistently deliver to our customers.”

one of the main drivers,” Chef Dustin explained. “It’s

Valette, 344 Center Street, Healdsburg

more about flavors and practicality than a showcase;

ValetteHealdsburg.com

Todd Knoll and Nitsa Knoll

Chef Todd Knoll in the kitchen

EXECUTIVE CHEF TODD KNOLL,

received by guests during the inaugural Healdsburg Tastemaker

JORDAN WINERY

Weekend in February, it is returning by popular demand. Chef

“Seventeen years,” says Chef Todd Knoll. He’s proud to state his

Todd and his wife Nitsa Knoll, director of hospitality and events

tenure at Jordan Vineyard & Winery, where as a chef who’s also a

at Jordan, are both veterans of California Culinary Academy and

farmer and environmentalist, nowhere could be better. “Every-

Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, so they know that afternoon tea ser-

thing grows here—it’s the best place to be for sure. My garden is

vice is “a regimented thing,” says chef.

my baby. Every morning, I’m there with the bees, the butterflies,

But before sitting down to enjoy a meal, Chef Todd gives us a

the hummingbirds.” He notes that more than three-quarters of

look at how the food on your plate got there on one of the intimate

the sprawling 1,200-acre estate is dedicated to natural habitat.

Jordan Estate Tours (say “JET” to sound like an insider) available

This destination winery, famous for producing Bordeaux-style California Cabernet Sauvignon in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, is

to visitors by reservation. “Get a glimpse of the wine country lifestyle that I’m so fortunate to have,” he suggests.

just five miles from Healdsburg Plaza. The objective of the found-

Surprises? Plenty. See a 30-strong herd of steers grazing on na-

ers, Tom and Sally Jordan, was to combine food, wine and hospi-

tive grasses plus corn husks and herbs from the garden during

tality to give visitors traveled to France without leaving Califor-

harvest, enjoy chef ’s bento box lunch served al fresco beside one

nia—a goal most definitely achieved. On the approach, the ‘wow’

the lakes, hike to Vista Point Pavilion for breathtaking views or

moment is provided by an ivy-covered French-style stone chateau

ride to remote corners of the gorgeous estate for al fresco wine

that houses winemaking facilities, kitchen, dining room, tasting

and olive oil tastings.

library, wine cellars, and lovely guest suites all under one roof.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery,

Healdsburg High Tea in the Jordan Dining Room was so well

34

Afternoon tea in the Jordan Winery Dining Room

1474 Alexander Valley Rd., Healdsburg Jordanwinery.com

PHOTO CREDITS: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF VALETTE; COURTESY OF JORDAN WINERY

Jordan Winery Estate garden

Dustin & Aaron, co-owners Valette

Barrel room A. Rafanelli Winery

WINEMAKER SHELLY RAFANELLI, A. RAFANELLI WINERY

attending high school, and for shopping, restaurants, movie theatres, we had to go

A rustic wooden barn on the beautiful grounds gives a clue to the historic fam-

to Santa Rosa,” Shelly recalls. “Healdsburg was very rural, mainly a farming com-

ily tradition that defines A. Rafanelli Winery in Healdsburg. Fourth generation

munity, and just look at it now. We’re so spoiled. And, we’re really pleased to help

winemaker Shelly Rafanelli-Fehlman said, “More than a century ago, my great

promote the destination by sharing our wonderful wine, food, and other businesses.”

grandmother came to America from Orentano, a Tuscan village, at the age of 19.

temaker Weekend event began months ago. A. Rafanelli Winery provided a unique

departed New York on the long train journey west to seek California climate more

opportunity for 20 guests to join a cave dinner (catered by local restaurant Baci) and

suited to growing grapes.”

tasting experience at which six select private library wines were poured, the oldest

Settling in Healdsburg, these early farmers could not know that Prohibition

being a 1988 Zinfandel. The red wine bottles were concealed in paper bags so people

would arise as the next challenge. “But she said it was crazy, it wouldn’t last—and

could enjoy guessing the varietal and vintage. How did everyone do? “It was fun to

kept planting grapes,” said Shelly. Today, the family is the core team of capable hands

reveal the results because blind tasting isn’t easy for those who aren’t in the profes-

producing a “manageable size” production of 11,000 cases of Dry Creek Valley Zin-

sional wine world. Two guests each got one right,” said Shelly.

fandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. “We’re motivated by the long tradition of growing grapes and making wine in the heart of Dry Creek Valley.”

Shelly has seen the town change. Growing up in Healdsburg, Shelly says school

Healdsburg Tastemaker Weekend dinner, A. Rafanelli Winery

Walks through the vineyard and tastings in the 100-year-old barrel room can be arranged by appointment.

classmates from around the region would tease the town’s name as Hicksburg. “For

PHOTO CREDITS: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ©KIM CARROLL; COURTESY OF A. RAFANELII WINERY; COURTESY OF A. RAFANELII WINERY

The enthusiasm around planning to participate in a special Healdsburg Tas-

Speaking only Italian and not knowing where her journey would lead, she bravely

A. Rafanelli Winery, 4685 West Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg ARafanelliwinery.com

Rafanelli Family

35

PROFILE

Mizrahi performing his first cabaret show “Does This Song Make Me Look Fat?” at Café Carlyle in New York City

Isaac Mizrahi I.M. in the A.M.

BY STEPH KEAY • PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON FRANK ROTHENBERG & DAVID ANDRAKO

In Palo Alto, navy blue skies give way to a pinky-gold haze. A familiar voice comes through on speakerphone. “You sent that unbelievable ice cream we’ve been cheating our diets on all weekend.” It’s fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi direct from his bedroom in NYC, effervescent as all get-out. Last week, I FedExed him a taste of the Bay Area—six pints of his favorite dessert via Humphry Slocombe—ahead of the West Coast premiere of his new cabaret show, Movie wake up with the designer-turned-performer.

3636

PHOTO CREDITS: ©DAVID ANDRAKO

Stars and Supermodels (March 28 at the Oshman Family JCC, paloaltojcc.org). Read on to

Mizrahi at home in Greenwich Village

MOVIE STARS AND SUPERMODELS OPENS AT THE LEGENDARY

and nineties. Hours of Golden Girls repeats. Hours of The King of Queens. I

CAFÉ CARLYLE TOMORROW.

can’t get enough of The King of Queens; that is the best show in the world, are

I’m feeling so great about it, I can’t even tell you. It’s like a dream. At first, I

you kidding me? That’s what I do to fall asleep.

PHOTO CREDITS: ©JASON FRANK ROTHENBERG

was a little apologetic about it, like who’s going to believe a fashion designer can sing? But now, I just love it so much, and I do it with no preamble and no

DO YOU HAVE A MOTTO?

apology. I sang to myself in the shower just now, this Stephen Sondheim song

I have this tenet that I follow, which is you should only do things that are really

called “One More Kiss.” It’s in my show.

scary.

TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED THE SHOW.

IF YOU WERE TO COME BACK AS A PERSON OR A THING, WHAT

When you make couture dresses for people and you have a talk show, you end

WOULD IT BE?

up just meeting everybody. I decided a really good show would be to do a col-

What if I came back as Cardi B? Wouldn’t that be that so exciting? Only be-

lection of my favorite stories. Also, I don’t know what sells tickets more than

cause she has the craziest existence—it’s almost like she doesn’t really exist,

movie stars and supermodels—so maybe it’s a desperate ploy to sell tickets.

except for the insane social representation. She just stays in bed until there’s

[Laughs.]

some kind of Instagram post to be made, you know? It could be fun to experiment with that for a minute.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CURRENT GUILTY PLEASURES—PERHAPS AN APP OR AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS AN ITEM OF CLOTHING EVERYONE

Forget about apps and Instagram, honey. I watch a lot of ridiculous television

SHOULD OWN?

that is intended for no one to watch, like reruns of sitcoms from the eighties

In this day and age when we don’t judge people’s bodies, I wish that people

36 37 37

could stop judging flats. Consider, one night, wearing a dressy flat—like a jeweled flat or a patent leather flat with a bow. I think it’s time for dressy flats. I mean it.

WHAT ARE THREE THINGS YOU COULD NEVER LIVE WITHOUT? My television. This diamond ring I have. I got it on the advice of an Ayurvedic astrologer who told me my life would get better if I wore it—and he was right. I wear it almost as an amulet, like a protection against things. My bed.

IF YOU COULD WAKE UP TOMORROW HAVING GAINED ANY QUALITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? An indestructible ego, like those Hollywood movie stars. They learn to ignore things that don’t please them, and I wish I could be a little bit more delusional that way. Nothing escapes me, and I’m always so critical of myself to the point where it’s almost debilitating. The only way you get somewhere is if you persist, and I think persistence requires a kind of indestructible ego.

YOU’VE DONE THE NYT CROSSWORD EVERY DAY SINCE HIGHSCHOOL. TODAY’S CROSSWORD: SIX LETTERS . THE CLUE IS “TUNE.” Is it melody? I haven’t looked at it yet today. Can I just say something? Monday’s crossword is demoralizingly easy. I love a Friday and Saturday, those days are genius. I remember Steve Sondheim said to me once, “Oh, darling, Mondays and Tuesdays, you either do the across or the down clues—but not both.”

ANY LAST WORDS ABOUT YOUR SHOW IN PALO ALTO? The show rarely gets to that part of the country. I, by the way, love the West Coast. The East Coast and the West Coast share politics, they share culture … it’s a different laidback attitude, but I really like it there. I just think it’ll be a really, really fun show.

And listen ... thanks for the ice cream. Thank you. I love it. You’re trying my diet, but I’ll take it—really.

38

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PROFILE

Kevin W. McNeely

WITH KEVIN W. MCNEELY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SONOMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

40

TOP PHOTO CREDIT: © MELANIA MAHONEY

MY Favorite FILMS OF ALL TIME

IF YOU’RE GOING TO WATCH 400 FILMS EVERY YEAR, IT CERTAINLY helps to like films. Kevin McNeely loves films. As executive director of the Sonoma International Film Festival since 2008, he sees some of the best independent features, documentaries, shorts, and world cinema by filmmakers from dozens of countries.

Who better to ask for a list of his personal top 10 favorite films of all time?

We suggested mulling it over for a few days and, in the end, McNeely settled on these 10, plus a bonus ... which is just fine with us. In no particular order, we’re pleased to present Kevin McNeely’s selection and supporting comments for “My Favorite Films of All Time.”

Harold & Maude (1971) I just love Ruth Gordon, and she’s brilliant as Dame Marjorie “Maude” Chardin, a free-spirited octogenarian. Plus, this was the first movie featuring a pop star composer—Cat Stevens—who wrote all the songs in this great soundtrack.

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) So much fun to see an ensemble of top-rated actors in a madcap race across the country in search of hidden treasure that’s buried under the “big W,” which turned out to be four palm trees with crossed trunks.

Pulp Fiction (1994) I have such a wonderful memory of walking the red carpet with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson at the film’s Cannes premiere. Love Quentin Tarantino, and this movie is timeless.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) It was inevitable that these two likeable villains would run out of luck. They were the bad guys that we rooted for. A great scene riding bicycles in the rain with Katharine Ross: we just knew they were going to make their last stand a valiant one.

TOP RIGHT PHOTO CREDIT: © PATRICE WARD TOP LEFT PHOTO CREDIT: PUBLIC DOMAIN

Susan Sarandon receiving SIFF Lifetime Award

A scene from “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”

41

PROFILE

James Stewart in “Rear Window”

Mary Louise Parker and Demian Bichir

The Sting (1977) I’m a huge Robert Redford fan and this movie is tied with Butch Cassidy alongside my favorites for a classic Redford/Newman pairing in their prime.

Goldfinger (1964) An Ian Fleming masterwork that kept me on the edge of my seat. I could watch it 10 times over.

And, can you beat the names of these characters with a scheme to raid Fort Knox? From the title role to Oddjob, Pussy Galore, and Miss Money-

Strangers on a Train (1951) I do love film noir, and psychological thrillers is a category brilliantly commandeered by Sir Alfred Hitchcock. Did you know that his daughter Pat, now 91 years old, makes an appearance in this movie?

TOP PHOTO CREDIT: PUBLIC DOMAIN BOTTOM PHOTO CREDIT: © D.W. PRINCE

penny—great stuff.

Robin Williams, Kevin McNeely, Lauren Hutton

Rear Window (1954) From the “Master of Suspense,” this is another Hitchcock film I’ll continue to watch over and over with growing admiration for the director’s skill. Grace Kelly only made three Hitchcock films, and James Stewart, confined to a wheelchair, is wonderful in the lead.

Midnight in Paris (2011) My top movie list just couldn’t be without a Woody Allen mention. You know that popular conversation starter, “Who would you most like to have dinner with?” Well, I’d choose all the

TOP & BOTTOM PHOTO CREDIT: © MELANIA MAHONEY

characters Owen Wilson encountered in this film.

Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School (1986) Call my taste sophomoric, I do love films that just make me giggle. This one is every college kid’s fantasy—put the dorm rooms together for the world’s biggest party and fall in love with a female professor.

Cheech & Chong Honorary mention as a bonus. They’re wonderfully hilarious. Living in Northern California with as many cannabis dispensaries as there now are, these two could never have imagined ...

The 23rd Annual International Sonoma Film Festival is on March 25-29, 2020 Kevin W. McNeely

EVENTPREVIEWS

44

Sebastiani Theatre

Sonoma

INTERNATIONAL Film Festival BY: LAURIE JO MILLER FARR • PHOTOS BY MELANIA MAHONEY

Film, food and wine. “If you love those three elements, you’ll have a blast here,” promises Sonoma International Film Festival Executive Director Kevin McNeely. The film cornerstone of this five-day wine country event, now in its 23rd year, is dedicated to promoting independent film, to supporting filmmakers around the world, and to inspiring film lovers.

45

EVENTPREVIEWS SIFF IN 2020 From March 25-29, 2020, historic downtown Sonoma is transformed into “Sonomawood” for the international film festival, tagged as “one of the world’s coolest” by MovieMaker Magazine. The cool factor gets bumped up a notch with this year’s opening night screening of “I Am Woman”, the Helen Reddy biopic about the 1970s “queen of housewife pop” who is now recognized for her early role in kicking off the Women’s Liberation Movement.

Additional highlights on the 2020 program include “The Devil Has a Name”, a dark comedy about corporate America starring David Strathairn, Kate Bosworth, Haley Joel Osment, Martin Sheen, Alfred Molina, Pablo Schreiber, and Edward James Olmos, with several of the cast in attendance.

“The Great American Lie”, by producer/director Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is

cessibility. If you buy a pass, you will get in.” Every pass-holder enjoys daytime access to the Backlot Tent, an opening night reception prior to the film screening and admission to all films. Audiences get involved in voting for the people’s choice awards, too.

What else? Grab a ticket for the sure-to-sell-out gala dinner, “Chefs & Shorts,” a dinner prepared by chefs inspired by short, food-focused films. Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo, founders of Devour!—the world’s largest food and film festival in Nova Scotia, Canada—curate the chefs and the films. This year, there’s an exploration of the mycelium network in “Fantastic Fungi”, naturally paired with local wines.

an exploration of the inequality rooted our core cultural values.

SIFF FOR THE COMMUNITY

SIFF BY THE NUMBERS

from Northern California, and half of those live between San Francisco and

For films that audiences cannot see anywhere else, plus an incredible opportunity to meet the filmmakers, SIFF is widely known. More than 250 independent filmmakers representing 26 countries attend (filmmakers from 20 countries will be there in person). Of the 125 films being screened in 2020, nearly half are feature-length.

SIFF WITH A DIFFERENCE World cinema, documentary shorts, documentary features, narrative shorts, and animations are all in the line-up for seven venues conveniently scattered downtown. “The thing that distinguishes us from the 1,200 other film festi-

46

vals out there is the walkability at SIFF,” said McNeely. “That fact, plus ac-

Come early, stay late. Sixty percent of the 8,000-plus annual festival goers are Santa Rosa. The remaining 40 percent primarily hail from Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and New York City, many of whom are repeat visitors. “When we started doing this, Sonoma was a seasonal destination. Now, it’s a cyclical one,” McNeely observed.

The adage “It takes a village” certainly applies here. The festival draws in the local community on many levels, including taking on volunteer positions and making personal connections as hosts to filmmakers for their festival accommodations. Local kids are involved as well. Since 2002, teacher Peter Hanson has led a robust media arts program at Sonoma Valley High School with a showcase for the students’ films, enthusiastically supported by Sonoma Inter-

national Film Festival and instrumental as an incubator for guiding students into

McNeely. “Less than 20 percent of the films that first start out at a film festival ever

university film programs and successful industry roles.

get picked up for distribution.”

DID YOU KNOW?

THE 23RD ANNUAL SONOMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

It’s tough out there for filmmakers. “A lot of films start here because of the prestig-

March 25-29, 2020

ious jury of executives in the motion picture industry that we have at Sonoma,” said

Sonomafilmfest.org

47

Dr. Shokooh Miry, Pam Preston, Ann Katherine Baer, Trecia Knapp, Samantha Wallrabens, Rene Rodman, Elizabeth Mitchell, Freddi Wilkinson, Patricia Roberts, Lori Harmon, Heather Cassidy Martin, Kate Coffino, Rada Brooks, Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff, Katie Colendich, Wendy Armstrong

48

San Francisco Ballet

SPELLBOUND 2020 OPENING NIGHT GALA

BEMUSED, CHARMED, BEWITCHED….IN SPELLBINDING FASHION

BY MARIA CASTELLUCCI • PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY

San Francisco’s gilded strutted the red carpet to kick off the hottest night in Bay Area ballet. As presenting sponsor for this evening’s event, Osterweis Capital Management enabled attendees to experience a night of pure luxury. Opening Night Gala goers created a brilliant sea of brightly colored floor length gowns, bedazzled head pieces and strapping, slim fit tuxedos on January 16th, when San Francisco’s City Hall welcomed over 2,500 art lovers for an embellished soiree, all of whom still echo its praises.

Katarzyna Mlyniuk, Anna Tuzhlova

Ivy Getty

Carl Pascarella, Miho Nedvigin, Yurie Pascarella, Gennadi Nedvigin

Tiit Helimets, Nancy Pelosi, Sasha De Sola

Jieyin Wu, Ying Fu, Chaomei Chen

Katarzyna Mlyniuk, Anna Tuzhlova

Yuan Yuan Tan

Yuan Yuan Tan

Helgi Tomasson, Kelly Tweeddale

The evening celebrated not only the art form we all adore and admire, but the

Claudia Ross, Lisa Zabelle

An elegant cocktail reception started off the evening as those gathered inside

man behind the scenes: the genius, the producer, the one who envelops all that City Hall, transformed by Riccardo Benavides, SF event planner extraordinaire, tickles our senses during a performance, the Artistic Director & Principal Chore-

with lush, verdant greens, sensuous florals, and sweeping twinkling lights to create

ographer for the SF Ballet, Mr. Helgi Tómasson. Joyously celebrating his 35th year

the SPELLBOUND ambiance with an opulent vogue for all to revel in. A sumptu-

with the San Francisco Ballet, Tómasson’s choice of vignettes brought a medley of ous, sit-down dinner, orchestrated by none other than McCalls Catering & Events, acts showcasing compilations ranging from highly contemporary to time-honored

called for a first course of Dungeness crab salad followed by smoked braised beef

historic pieces. From Men’s Regiment of “Stars & Stripes” by John Phillip Sousa short ribs and a most dainty chocolate ballet slipper filled with chocolate mousse to “Jockey Dance” by composer Carl Christian Møller to “Pas de Deux” from Swan and speckled with gold dust. Chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon wines provided Lake, the evening encapsulated a taste for all audiences alike. Yuányuán Tán graced

by Rodney Strong Vineyards flowed throughout the evening. Once dinner conclud-

the stage with a display of accomplishment undiminished in her 25th year as the ed, guests made their way to the War Memorial Opera House to witness a plethora SF Ballet’s principal dancer.

50

of dance vignettes spanning the utmost modern to the antiquity of Romeo & Juliet.

Dede Wilsey, Bob Hill

Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, Yuan Yuan Tan

Tanum Davis Bohen

Helgi Tómasson highlighted the evening when took center stage and introduced the performance, speaking from his heart, “… take your children to view the arts. You never know what will resonate with them. My mother took me to my first ballet at the age of five, and if it weren’t for her, I may never had been standing here tonight.”

As the audience gazed in awe, a silence came over the auditorium as if a powerful pulse had rushed over the crowd. Honoring Helgi in all his triumphs, his milestone with the San Francisco Ballet added value and gravity to this year’s Opening night Gala.

Those who could feel the power of the performance and had just enough left in them to continue the celebration waltzed back to City Hall for the epic afterparty. Bass blaring from the line outside City Hall called bodies through the door, moving and swaying to the beat of the music pounding inside those walls. In the north wing was deejay Chris Clouse with his violin and guitar in tow, while deejaying, as the partygoers danced the night away. Food stations and bars were dispersed throughout, while in the south wing, Poprocks performed.

The showstopping, 10-piece, high energy band reenacted hits from the heydays of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. The vibration from within City Hall created such soul: it was a proud salute to Tómasson’s 35th season and an astounding evening to kick off what the San Francisco Ballet has in store for 2020.

Patricia Roberts, Freddi Wilkinson, Riccardo Benavides, Ann Baer, Heather Cassidy Martin

Performance

Atmosphere

51

San Francisco Symphony’s SENSATIONAL 20th Chinese New Year Concert & Emerald Banquet

BY OLIVIA HSU DECKER • PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER, DEVLIN SHAND AND JAIME BORSCHUK OF DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY.

The Concert

Double vision in the FOG

52

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CHINESE NEW Year Concert & Emerald Banquet took place on February 1 at Davies Symphony Hall. Attended by over 2,500 guests at the concert and about 520 patrons at the banquet, the event raised over $1 million benefit the Symphony’s myriad education and community programs which serve over 75,000 students in Bay Area elementary, middle, and high schools each year.

Chaired by Lawrence and Gorretti Lui, the event was a colorful celebration of the Lunar New Year—the Year of the Mouse—drawing upon vibrant Asian traditions past and present. Conductor Perry So made his SF Symphony conducting debut, leading the orchestra in traditional folk music and works by Asian composers, including the U.S. premiere of Huang Ruo’s recently completed “Folk Songs for Orchestra” and Bright Sheng’s “Red Silk Dance.” The eclectic concert program featured sheng player Hu Jianbing, pipa player Yang Wei, pianist Sa Chen, San Francisco Symphony’s cellist Amos Yang, and performers from the Loong Mah Sing See Wui dance company. Unique video projections created by video designer Adam Larsen and Yee Eun Nam accompa-

Edward Collins, John Chen, Margaret Collins, Sherry Chen, Gorretti and Lawrence Lui

nied the performances.

A festival reception opened to all ticketholders opened at 4:00 p.m., an hour before the concert began. It featured an array of entertainment and activities in the Davies Symphony Hall lobbies, such as lion dancing, Chinese calligraphy, “lucky” red envelopes, a musical performance by Melody of China, as well as complimentary desserts, wine, and tea bars. A VIP reception for sponsors and top ticket purchasers took place at the same time in the Wattis Room. The soldout concert concluded with a celebratory balloon drop.

The glamorous and celebratory Emerald Banquet followed the concert in Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall. Inspired by the vibrant pageantry of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, unique video projections also accompanied the banquet which featured remarks by event chairs Lawrence and Gorretti Lui, cellist Amos Yang, and President of the Board of Supervisors Norman Yee, who presented the Lawrence and Goretti Lui with official certificates of honor.

A lucky draw followed, led by Gorretti and Emerald Banquet chair Tiffany Chang. Banquet entertainment was provided by DJL! and My Opera Institute

Conductor Perry So and wife Anna Graber, Cathy and Norman Yee

of San Francisco, featuring singer Jessica Shum. McCalls Catering & Events catered the banquet. Lighting design by Luke Kritzeck and décor by Gioi Tran and Jared Kendal of Applegate Tran Interiors completed the festive and glorious event.

During the banquet, I had the pleasure to be seated next to talented young conductor Perry So and his wife, Anna Graber. So was born in Hong Kong and studied at Yale University. He is known for his wide-ranging programming, including numerous world premieres and works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. He is the recipient of the First and Special Prizes at St. Petersburg’s Fifth International Prokofiev Conducting Competition, and the 2012 Diapason d’Or Award for his recording of Barber and Korngold’s Violin Concertos with violinist Alexander Gilman and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. So most recently made his European operatic debut at the Royal Danish Opera House leading Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and his North American operatic debut at Yale Opera with Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. He returned to the Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias as the orchestra’s artistic collaborator. He was the inaugural Dudamel Conducting Fellow of the

Iris Chang, Annie Lim Wong, Tiffany Chang, Margaret Liu Collins, Mindy Sun

Los Angeles Philharmonic and served as both assistant and associate conduc-

53

tor with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, with which he led an internationally televised celebration with Lang Lang for the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with China. This concert was Perry So’s San Francisco Symphony debut.

This year’s celebration marks the 20th anniversary of the Symphony’s signature heritage event which began as a way to invite the Chinese and ChineseAmerican Bay Area communities into Davies Hall, bridging Eastern and Western traditions with the universal language of music. Chaired by Ann Getty and the acclaimed Bay Area actor/director Joan Chen, the Symphony’s first Chinese New Year event took place in 2001 with two performances featuring author Amy Tan reading from her children’s book The Chinese Siamese Cat—accompanied by projected illustrations of Gretchen Schields’ artwork and original music by Nathan Wang—and from The Joy Luck Club to music from the film’s soundtrack. The following year’s event was chaired by Margaret Liu Collins and featured the world premiere of Red Seal – Strings Calligraphy II by local composer Gang Situ.

The 20th Chinese New Year Concert & Emerald Banquet is made possible through the generous support of: Presenting Sponsors John and Sherry Chen; Red Lantern Sponsors Tiffany and Jim Chang, Margaret Liu and Edward B. Collins, Jerome L. and Thao N. Dodson, Patricia Lee-Hoffmann and Steve Hoffmann; and, Supporting Sponsors Eliza and Dean Cash, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, Peter Liu, Chairman, WI Harper Group, and Joseph Cotchett and Nanci Nishimura. The Chinese New Year Concert & Banquet is presented in partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Zenni is the official Chinese New Year eyewear sponsor. Haute Living is proud to be the Official Chinese New Year media sponsor.

Olivia Hsu Decker, Yuan Yuan Tan, Gioi Tran

Willie Brown and Soyna Molodetskaya

Joan Chen and Dr. Peter Hui

Leigh Wasson, Elisa Stephens, Gorretti Lui

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and husband Markos Kounalakis

Concert ended with ballon drop

Sherry and John Chen

Denis Hale, Maria Manetti Shrem, Gorretti Lui

FOG DESIGN + ART

SF ART AND DESIGN LOVERS DRIFT THROUGH THE FOG

BY JENNIFER RAISER • PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY

Double vision in the FOG

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I

N SEARCH OF GREAT DESIGN, THE MANOLO-WEARING BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCKED ALONGSIDE THE adventurous Allbirds-shod techie set at the opening of FOG Design+Art Fair at Fort Mason. They flew in for this homegrown answer to Art Basel, featuring 48 curated exhibit booths, 11 presentations and panels, and a superabundance of furniture, fine art, and objects to covet. The chic preview gala, which benefited SFMOMA programs, was a preening combination of browsing, buying, and being fabulous in a contemporary way, fueled by creative food stations, bespoke cocktails, and plenty of buzz. A refreshing murmur of beginning collectors mixed merrily with more established art afficionados to survey the scene and snatch up temptations by A-list artists, including Ed Ruscha, Jenny Holzer, Cecily

Brown, Ruth Asawa, Donald Judd, Robert Bechtle, and Yayoi Kusama, as well as newer names with abundant lift, such as Mark Bradford, Rashid Johnson, Wangechi Mutu, and Anicka Yi.

PHOTO CREDIT: RADARPICS & XSIGHT

Kaitlyn Krieger, Mike Krieger, Kelly Huang

Ivy Getty, Toby Engel

Inder Dhillon, Ken McNeely

The Instagrammable Sybaritic Sofa

Jonathan Gans, Abigail Turin, Suzanne Modica

Beloved Bay Lights artist Leo Villareal alighted from New York to introduce a trio of his mesmerizing electronic pieces in the Pace Gallery booth, which were snapped up in the literal twinkle of an eye. Local heavyweight galleries, including Berggruen, Anthony Meier, Fraenkel, Jessica Silverman, Haines, Aimee Friberg and others offered all manner of art alongside their far-flung contemporaries, from David Zwirner, Hauser and Wirth, Marian Goodman, Matthew Marks, and more.

While sentimentalists cooed over Converso Gallery’s homage to the John Dickinson firehouse, a touchstone of Bay Area design, the Instagrammers converged for their fifteen minutes on the faux fur “Bazaar Sofa” or in front of Stanlee Gatti’s optical illusion backdrop. Others preened behind César Baldaccini’s monumental cast-bronze breast from 1967, said to be modeled on an exotic dancer.

There was something to spy, to buy, or to try

Amanda Michael

Leo Villareal, Yvonne Force Villareal

Kevin King, Meridee Moore, Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher, Joseph Becker

Katie Paige, Susan Swig, Neal Benezra, Allison Speer, Stanlee Gatti, Douglas Durkin

for everyone. And plenty of collectors found treasures to feather their nests, Allbirds or no.

Frish Brandt, Jeffrey Fraenkel, Connie Wolf, Alan Mark

Nion McEvoy Jr., Nion McEvoy

Sako Fisher, Bill Fisher, Rose Fisher

Stacie Caen, Stephanie Breitbard

John Berggruen, Garry Garells

Damien Frazer, Brian Robonson

Bob Fisher, Ralph Nauta, Randi Fisher, Tom Kelley

Among those with eagle eyes: Steering Committee Douglas Durkin,

Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem, Ellanor and Russell Notides, Tony

Stanlee Gatti, Roth Martin, Alison Speer, Susan Swig, Katie Paige and

and Robyn Coles, Kay and Sandy Walker, Alka and Ravin Agrawal, and

Sonya Yu; Honorary co-chairs Penny and Jim Coulter; art-power pairs

Linda and John Gruber. Making a statement: Norman Stone, Fanny

Sabrina Buell and Yves Behar, Jennifer and Doug Biederbeck, Carla

Singer, Christine Suppes, Kay Woods, Arlene Inch, Claudia Schmuckli,

Emil and Rich Silverstein, Kaitlin and Mike Krieger, Josh and Laurie

Lauren Taschen, Corey Lee, Andrew McClintock, Sophie Calle, Tina

Olshansky, Abigail Turin and Jonathan Gans, Diana Nelson and John

Vaz, Herbie Fletcher, Barry McGee, Lisa Zabelle, and a whole lot of chic

Atwater, Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg, Karen and Oliver Caldwell, Jan

and creative people who swooped in to drift through the FOG.

EVENTRECAP

WINTER in Aspen ROYAL SALUTE LAUNCHES NEW WHISKY, INSPIRED BY SNOW POLO BY: JENNIFER BODEN

60Regis World Snow Polo Championship St.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT WATCHING SNOW POLO IN ASPEN, Colorado That’s exhilarating—especially when there’s a crisp chill in the air. Even better, warming up is a breeze when you’re sipping smooth whisky in the VIP tent and looking out at some of the world’s most iconic mountain scenery.

It was all part of a lavish weekend event, hosted by Royal Salute, to launch their 21-Year-Old Snow Polo Edition—their first-ever blended grain whisky.

“Aspen is a magical place, full of serene beauty and immaculate snow-capped mountains, which provided the perfect, wintery backdrop to unveil the Snow Polo Edition,” said Barnabé Fillion, Royal Salute Product Creative Advisor. “It also has

Gondola Ride

a rich history and heritage, much like Royal Salute; and, this provided an elevated experience for our guests.”

For three glorious days, I was immersed in a winter wonderland, indulging in Aprés Ski drinks with monogrammed ice cubes and a sumptuous multi-course dinner at the Royal Salute snow chalet, lunch at Aspen’s historic Little Nell hotel, shopping at luxurious boutiques, and taking part in an exclusive snow polo clinic taught by Malcolm Borwick, Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador and worldrenowned polo player.

All events led to the famous St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, featuring savory hors d’oeuvres, blissful whisky cocktails, and an up-close view of the highly anticipated polo action held in Aspen’s snow covered Rio Grande Park.

“Aspen is an iconic destination,” said Malcolm Borwick. “Esteemed guests from

Signature cocktails in the VIP tent

Malcolm Borwick at St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

Snow Polo Clinic

Signature Cocktails

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EVENTRECAP

St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

around the world come together to enjoy all that the mountains have to offer; and, it

Malcolm Borwick at St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

natural to me,” said Borwick.

was great to see such excitement around the tournament. It’s outstanding that one

Blended masterfully by Royal Salute’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, the limited-

of the most dynamic and fast-paced sports is played in such a remote but prestigious

edition Snow Polo Edition is a rich blend with layered vanilla and toffee, blossom

space and that we were joined by such professional and renowned polo players. I

honey, and sweet orange marmalade flavors and a long, smooth finish.

think it was the quintessential place to launch the new Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Snow Polo Edition, creating excitement on and off the polo field.”

Snow Polo World Cup began in St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1985. For Borwick, polo and whisky are a perfect fit, and it just so happens that they are two of his biggest

“The whole event was unforgettable, from start to finish,” said Hyslop. “But one particular standout for me was the main launch dinner at our snow chalet, where we unveiled the Snow Polo Edition in the form of a comparative tasting. It allowed our guests to truly distinguish the particular tasting notes.”

passions in life. “A major parallel for me is the complexities and skill involved in a

The food, whisky, and snow polo, combined with the vibrant social scene and—

great polo team and crafting a perfectly blended whisky like Royal Salute—both are

yes—Aspen, made for an unforgettable weekend. There’s nothing like a dram of

incredibly multifaceted. The ties that exist between the sport and the whisky are very

well-crafted whisky to toast with new friends.

Nacho Figueras at St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

Royal Salute Snow Chalet

Actress, Rebel Wilson at St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

Malcolm Borwick teaching exclusive Snow Polo Clinic

Malcolm Borwick hosting the celebratory Snow Polo Edition Launch Dinner

Dinner at the Royal Salute Snow Chalet

Aspen is a magical place, full of serene beauty and immaculate snow-capped mountains, which provided the perfect, wintery backdrop to unveil the Snow Polo Edition. (left) Royal Salute’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop (right) BarnabÊ Fillion Royal Salute Product Creative Advisor

Monogrammed ice cubes

Desserts in VIP tent at St. Regis Snow Polo Championship

Exploring top of Aspen Mountain

Appetizers at the Royal Salute Snow Chalet

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BY STEPHANIE BLOCK

HauteBEAUTY

BEAUTY TRENDS WITH EXPERT NELLIE MUGANDA Find out the Freshest Looks for Spring!

LOOK YOUR BEST FOR EVERY OCCASION Arbiter of all things beauty, and makeup and hair stylist to the stars, Nellie Muganda is probably best known as a long-time business owner in San Francisco where the aspiring coiffed-and-made-up gather. Celebrities turn to her when they’re in town for film festivals, premieres, and live events at tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. Local brides, socialites, and the technorati hire her to look their best on special occasions.

And everybody goes home with some of Nellie’s signature makeup line, Neja, a nickname for her father.

Learn more at nejacosmetics.com and in person, two or three days a week, at Neja Cosmetics Salon, 2285 Union Street in San Francisco.

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WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY PHILOSOPHY? I’ve been in business for 30 years in San Francisco. I had a location on Fillmore Street for 18 years, and I’ve been on Union Street for 12 years. My first step is to look at the color of people.

[Looking at me:] You are a warm pink. I want people to look natural. I want people to embrace their natural beauty. I don’t want to make you look done-up. Your face, neck and forehead have to match. I like to see flawless skin. I work with men, too: the less the better for them. Subtle. With a guy you want to see the skin. I use a lot of anti-shine work for men.

If you are on TV or film, though, with high definition, you will need more makeup.

WHAT ARE THE SPRING BEAUTY TRENDS? Did you see the Golden Globes? All that fresh makeup: it almost looked like they weren’t wearing any. Subtle and very fresh is what I’m seeing; the spring look is always fresher. The eye shadow is not supposed to look “done.” Last year it was smoky cat eyes. This fad is going away. We’re almost going back to a 1990s look now—Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman—the fresh look never goes out of style. If you have a light eye, you can play with a darker lip. If you are going with a darker eye, you should keep the lip look natural. Be careful with fake eyelashes and glue. They can be damaging. I like to work with temporary lashes.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR SPECIAL EVENT HAIR? People are loose here in the Bay Area. Anything goes. Clients never want too much hair or makeup. I say if you are doing a subtle, fresh makeup look, then you can go bolder with your hair. Let the hair make the statement. Get an intricate updo. Leaving your hair down is okay too; that can still be funky. The 1940s-era wave that was popular in 2019 is going out of style. Now we are doing fresh blowouts. Long hair is still in, but look at Charlize Theron’s current look. Short hair, fresh makeup—it reminds me of the 1950s, of Grace Kelly.

This never goes out of style, this fresh beauty. You just need a darker lipstick, simple blush, light eyes, and voila!

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HauteBEAUTY HOW DID YOU BECOME THE BAY AREA’S BEAUTY ARTIST TO THE STARS? I stumbled into this work. I’m from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. For college I went to Nebraska: go Cornhuskers! I started out doing payroll for a utility company there. But something was missing. One day, I saw an ad in the newspaper for a new modeling agency. The people in Nebraska are beautiful—they’re tall people. The agency owner loved me, and I became the manager. All the while I was doing hair and makeup— for the models, for my school friends—I’d always done it. The owner of the modeling agency loved my work and couldn’t believe I’d never been to beauty school. She encouraged me to enroll, so I did.

I was always working with the photographers. One photographer knew my work and hired me to follow him to San Francisco, which I did with my boss’s blessing.

There was a lot of catalogue work in the Bay Area in the 1980s and ’90s with the department stores. I did a stint in Hollywood, too. I helped a photographer with portraits in the jazz scene: Dizzy, Tony Bennett, everyone. I did a lot of album covers. That’s how I began to meet my celebrity clients.

Another fun fact about me is that I did some toy styling work. Do you remember the popular Sky Dancers doll? Pound Puppies? Troll dolls? I designed all their hair and accessories when I worked at Galoob Toys, that signature troll hair and bow work on the Pound Puppies.

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Neja Cosmetics

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO WORKING WITH CELEBRITIES? Celebrities are just people. The first thing I do is sit them down and ask them what they want, just talk to them. Your goal is to build their confidence in

STOCK PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SHUTTERSTOCK

you. Don’t freak out around them. They don’t want that.

WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES IN YOUR LINE OF WORK? Today producers and celebrities are so busy, so sometimes I need to work on them while they’re on their computers or phones. It looks crazy. I have to go all around them and avoid their devices! Often, I will finish their looks on-set, touching them up when I see how the lighting is.

WHAT ARE SOME JOYS? I love what I do! Every day is an adventure, and every face is a new challenge. Everyone is different and, in their own way, beautiful.

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By Teresa Rodriguez

HauteWELLNESS Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreat Woodside tree house

A TRIP DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE MY DRIVE SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 280 IN A TEMPERAMENTAL RENTAL CAR WAS A

to miss them if you don’t slow down. They say: HOW. FAR. DOWN. THE. RABBIT. HOLE. ARE.

stressful one. The week before weighed heavily on my mind, notably the break-in and vandalism

YOU. WILLING. TO. GO. I read those words and it was game on. I wanted to go down the rabbit

to my car a few nights earlier. The unforeseen cancelation of my daughter’s health insurance

hole. So, I trusted the process and surrendered to Canyon Ranch.

did not help my disposition. My chest was tight with anxiety, and my head ached with unease.

My stay started with a lovely orientation with other new guests. We were greeted with hot

I contemplated canceling my solo birthday trip to Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreat – Woodside,

cider and their famous sweet and salty pumpkin crunch. Delightful Sales & Marketing Director

but a commitment to self-care compelled me to reluctantly make the one-hour trip to a hilltop

Jeanine Conforti spoke to us about all the different programs, activities, and services that were

in Woodside. The drive was surprisingly short and ended on the winding Skyline Boulevard.

available during our stay. I chose a mountain biking adventure, an 80-minute massage, BOD-

The property opened in November 2019, Canyon Ranch, the newest concept created by the leaders in resort innovations. While they’re famous for their Tucson property where the rich and

POD, and a therapy session with a horse. My night ended with a class called Change: A Deeper Understanding. Oh, how apropos.

famous go to chill, this new property is sure to be a haven for Silicon Valley titans. The truth is,

Even though I love my sleep—and, when I don’t have to get my daughter ready for school, my

it takes a lot of time to get to the other Canyon Ranch locations, which include a property in

favorite thing to do is sleep in—here, I was up at 6:00 a.m. and at sunrise yoga by 6:30. It was

Lenox, Massachusetts, The Venetian in Las Vegas, and onboard Cunard and Celebrity cruises.

such a treat watching the sun gently rise as I practiced my downward-facing dog. I enjoyed a

Silicon Valley doesn’t afford the time for luxurious cruise vacations, so, it makes perfect sense

healthy breakfast of gluten-free avocado toast, breakfast salad, fresh fruit medley, and an oat-

that instead of going to Canyon Ranch, it came to us. And that could not have happened at a

milk cappuccino overlooking the lush redwoods.

more perfect time. I heard so much about Canyon Ranch, but there was no way in my hectic life

At 9:00 am, Marcel, professional mountain biker and owner of High Trails, collected me for

that I could possibly get on a plane. Honestly, I didn’t understand the power of Canyon Ranch,

for a 7-mile ride above the redwoods and overlooking the ocean. It was magnificent. It helped

but within the 72 hours of being on their Woodside property, I was transformed.

that the bike I was on was a $5,000 high-performance machine. While maneuvering up and

When walking into the lobby, read the set of stones placed a few feet apart. They are easy

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down the rugged coastal hills, I was brought back to my body and my relationship with the

PHOTO COURTESY OF CANYON RANCH WELLNESS RETREAT – WOODSIDE

How 72 hours changed my outlook on life

Firepit bike. I had an “ah-ha” moment when I realized that the only way I was going to stay on that bike was if I respected the ability of the bike and found balance. Wow. Such insight. I returned to Canyon Ranch and truly enjoyed my hearty and absolutely delicious lunch.

Following lunch, I joined an qi gong class under the grand canopy of the redwoods and next to the La Honda Creek. It was simply amazing. I felt my chest open up, and I finally could breathe. I took a gentle alignment class and then disappeared into the spa for one of the most incredible massages my body has experienced. I felt the pressure of stress lift from my bones, my muscles finally released.

Amazing.

That night ended with a dramatic drumming circle. There I was beating a drum, tapping into my inner primal energy, and feeling alive.

I admit that I slept in the next morning. I couldn’t resist the pressed sheets, cozy robe, and epic views from my window. After breakfast, Steven Ciarametaro, the owner of Ciara West Equestrian facility, met me. He drove me to his breathtaking property for a session with Nina Clark Ericson, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, life coach, and Equus Coach®. As a former equestrian, I had a tough time letting go of my preconceived notions of horsemanship and round pen work with a horse. Well, everything

Retreat balcony

Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreat – Woodside exterior

Healing class

BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO CREDIT: © AUBRIE PICK

Indoor pool

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HauteWELLNESS Hideaway that I thought I knew about my relationship with horses was blown out of the water.

Nina Clark Ericson took me deeper down the rabbit hole while I was in the round pen with Charisma, a headstrong Arabian mare. There, with the blue sky above me, the gray sand below, I had to come to terms with my relationship with myself. I cried.

I let my guard down and shared. I felt heard. And Charisma was there, letting me know it was all going to be okay. “Everything is as it should be,� her eyes whispered to my soul.

I left Ciara West Equestrian lighter and more grounded than I had been in months.

Steven drove me back to Canyon Ranch, where I went, smelling of horse, to the Energizing Breath and Sound class. There, on the floor of the loft, I breathed out, cried, moaned, and sighed out the rest of what was sticking to my tired lungs. The class ended. I wiped my eyes, took the deepest breath of 2020, and exhaled the final pieces of stress lodged in my throat and heart.

After the class, I took a silent, slow walk down to La Honda Creek. I sat there, bathing in the joyous energy of the forest, alone and at peace.

Lunch was filled with great conversations with other guests. We spoke openly

Loft Social

The Loft

Loft social

The Fitness Center

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Gong

about our “ah-ha” moments and the powerful shifts in thought we made in such a short time.

wonderful, that I felt like I was leaving home. I had always believed that significant transforma-

I followed lunch with some downtime in the spa. They have a massaging, zero-gravity chair

tion needed at least a week of immersion. Well, my 72 hours at Canyon Ranch was an amazing

where I almost floated away. I enjoyed time in the steam room and dry sauna and finished my

eye-opener on the power of just a few days and a commitment to go down the rabbit hole.

adventure with a swim in their beautiful indoor saline pool.

One of the best parts of Canyon Ranch is all the different activities that they offer throughout

CANYON RANCH WOODSIDE RETREAT – WOODSIDE 16350 Skyline Blvd, Woodside, CA 94062

the day. I ended the day with a pretty intense foot massage class called Fitness for your Feet,

650-529-1046

followed by the Roll and Release class that is done with a vibrating roller.

www.canyonranch.com/woodside

Endless hugs with all the fantastic friends that I made concluded my stay. The staff was so

Treehouse king

Treehouse bath

Spa lobby

Isabelle Nunes Jackson

Yoga fairy ring

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By Teresa Rodriguez

HauteWELLNESS

Jessie May Wolfe

YOUR HEART KNOWS THE WAY Conversation with HeartRise Movement Founder Jessie May Wolfe WHO YOU ARE HELPS THE WORLD

SPARKED. Thought leaders showcased their innovations for wellness and shared insights on

There is great power in fully being you, and most of us don’t know where to begin. The Heart-

living the best lives we can. Jessie May Wolfe, Founder of HeartRise Movement, made an in-

Rise Method is a unique blend of science and spirit developed by former fashion designer,

credible impact with the audience by delivering her philosophy of heart-based intelligence. As a

seasoned entrepreneur, healer, innovator and all-around disruptor Jessie May Wolfe. Through a

former fashion designer, seasoned entrepreneur, healer, innovator, and all-around disruptor, Jes-

simple practice, 4-step method HeartRise activates the heart’s electromagnetic field as a gen-

sie May Wolfe developed the HeartRise Method, a practical science-based process to ignite the

erative force to heal, empower, and innovate.

intelligence of the heart as a generative force to cultivate connection and empower innovation.

We had a chance to meet with Wolfe who shares her visionary perspective on living a more heartfelt and passionate life.

IN HER OWN WORDS …

We’ve been conditioned to dismiss the heart by claiming it is unreliable and irrational, too sensitive or overly emotional. It’s high time we challenge these old ideas.

Says who? Your busy brain which needs to take a backseat. This is exactly why we need to harness a real relationship with our heart: to ignite the vibrational intelligence that is here to support us, you, and all of our relationships as we create the world we’re ready for.

In the age of distraction, real heartfelt connection has never been more important. We are so

When we choose to be home in our hearts, accepting what meets us here in the moment—

busy engaging through our digital devices that we’ve lost the heartbeat of true connection to

whatever it may bring—we get to live from a place of integrity and to access our infinite power.

ourselves and each other.

It’s only when we’re caught in our own drama, clinging to the old or anticipating what’s to

The world is in rapid motion at a pace that is causing more burnout than ever: when what we are all deeply longing for lives inside each of us. While you may have heard some iteration of that before, the good news is your heart knows the way.

When we learn to really lead our lives heart-first, it’s amazing what can emerge from this natural guiding wisdom. Your heart is your native GPS, and on the dawn of this new decade, Heart Vision is what’s inviting us to really see with deeper, truer perspective, to rise and shine with unapologetic conviction. The only one in your way is you, and it’s about to change!

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come, that we are disempowered.

When you learn to move through your emotions in a safe way, you can repurpose them as fuel and cultivate a healthy relationship with your heart and those around you. This is how you empower better communication, trust, and cooperation. A more natural self emerges, and it feels good.

The electromagnetic field of one human heart has been measured as powerful enough to light up a small city. Sadly, due to faulty programming and conditioning, most of us have largely

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEARTRISE

THE BATTERY HOSTED AN INSPIRING DAY OF SPEAKERS PERFECTLY TITLED

HeartRise x Free People Team Building Workshop @ HQ

HeartRise candles and book

“We are at our truest essence vibrational beings — the ‘vibes’ we bring define the experiences we have.”

BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO CREDIT: AUBRIE PICK

HeartRisers

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HauteWELLNESS shut down this source of immense power. To reignite it means to reconnect with our hearts, to ignite our authentic truth and loving nature to come alive again.

We all know people who light up a room merely with their energy, and on the flipside, we know those who seem to bring the heavy when they enter. This is the heart power “the vibes” I speak of, and we can harness this energy with intention. The vibes don’t lie and can guide us to feel in sync with who we are and those around us, or we move through or on from situations that don’t resonate.

Your heart is attuned to the same powerful energy that moves the tides and radiates the sun, a frequency you can learn to connect with, which returns you to the natural rhythm of your being. As you learn to re-ignite it, like revving the engine of your being, you can actually use this fuel to re-pattern your thinking. The HeartRise Method can help recalibrate entrenched behaviors, toxic habits, and your mind’s nonstop chatter. Think of your triggers as firewood for your heart fire!

HeartRisers

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When you learn how to access, recognize, and trust your Heart Power, Radiant Integral Soul Energy (Heart Power/RISE), you can repurpose your stress through your heart engine inside, alchemizing it into inspiring energy!

Imagine how powerful it would be if you could plug into this currency of wisdom and connection as your source?

Connection cultivates feelings of love, trust, courage, compassion, and potential. When we feel connected, we remember we’re in this together. One heart ignited illuminates all those it touches. Our radiance is contagious, and connection is our greatest currency. As we join hearts, we build bridges.

The time has never been riper for you to master your life with meaningful and heartfelt leadership. With 2020 Heart Vision, together we are changing the pulse of the planet. Join us!

For all the many ways, discover how HeartRise can ignite your heart power or the heart of your community here: heartrisemovement.co.

HERE’S A SIMPLE WAY TO DIAL INTO YOUR ENERGY SOURCE AND BEGIN TO RECONNECT WITH YOU HEART POWER: Find a place where you can relax for a moment. Now, close your eyes. Place your hands to lay over your heart, feel yourself connect here … and inhale as you begin to feel your own heartbeat. Take a gentle pause as you bring your attention to anchor here, then, with tenderness, gently take your time with your exhale. Hold and feel your heart. Now take a long, soft, easy breath in and feel your heart, then again as your gently breathe out, slowing down, tuning in.

Connect to your own natural heart rhythm and feel that heart-centered attention start to naturally slow your thought processes.

HeartRise products

HeartRise Brand Empowerment Panel

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NEW YORK F

COVER STORY

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Fashion Week

BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ

Get ready for some bold colors & bedazzle this season

T

HE WEATHER IN NEW YORK DURING FASHION WEEK this season might have been gray and drab, but the electric colors, exuberant patterns, and bedazzled embellishments on the runway made up for the city’s winter chill. Some of the fashion leaders in the week’s lineup included Johnson Hartig, Libertine’s founder, vi-

sionary, and designer; Wes Gordon, the style force at the helm of Carolina Herrera; and, Naeem Khan, the beloved Indian-American fashion designer known for his intricately detailed gowns.

“Being at fashion week, seeing the artistry of the runway shows, the celebrities, and the glitz are all fabulous. However, the collection themselves are the crown jewel of the whole affair. The colors, textures, beauty, and creativity caress the senses and the sensibilities. Still, some of the pieces are high art. The embroidery and bright stones on the folds of the luscious fabrics of Naeem Khan are nothing short of sensual. The colors and sophistication of Wes Gordon’s debut pieces for CH are fabulous. And then there is Johnson Hartig and Libertine. He is the consummate creative artist and the most out-of-the-box designer of our time. His pieces are playful, delightful and pure joy. I keep thinking to myself how many art pieces can I actually own and display at any time?” says Nafiseh Lindberg, the San Francisco Opera Guild Co-chair of the SF Opera Ball 2020.

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favorites include his bold vintage botanical prints and a luscious print featuring

“I’m out there doing my thing, volunteering and knocking on doors; but I’m

portraits of people who have inspired him, including Malcom X, Pat Buckley, and

also trying to design really beautiful things that bring a little bit of joy and happi-

Boy George. Of course, he frames them in his iconic heart pattern. The text of

ness.” —Johnson Hartig

Arthur Rimbaud’s poem “Winter Dream” in an abstract print beautifully captures

If there was one designer whose collection could magically take up every inch

his love of poetry.

of my walk-in closet, it would be Libertine’s Johnson Hartig. Everything about his

Few designers who so deep into their personal proclivities to put their heart’s

designs shouts, “Individual, artistic, clever, beautiful, and brave.” We all want those

desires on exhibition as does Johnson Hartig. It is refreshing and absolutely won-

traits, and Hartig has captured them in his latest collection. From bold plaids

derful to see.

bedazzled with colorful crystals to sharp, black wool decorated with shimmering letters of the alphabet, you can’t go wrong with Libertine.

While his pieces are timeless, they are also delightfully whimsical. Each is a work of art that can be worn and celebrated. Johnson Hartig’s skill in graphics, beadwork, and crystal design has led him on this wonderful path of creation where he incorporates his love of history, fashion, art, design, travel, and culture in his pieces. The fall collection displays ample evidence of his genius. Some of my

Atmosphere at SF Ballet Gala 2019 at City Hall

Along with a substantial crew of devotees who came from San Francisco to attend his fashion show and trunk show hosted by Neiman Marcus, Johnson Hartig has an A-list of international celebrities who adore him, including Gwenyth Paltrow, Mick Jagger, Taylor Swift, Cher, Katy Perry, Usher, and Gwen Stefani.

“Libertine continues to revolutionize the way one thinks of textile design, embellishment, and, in fact, clothing itself,” Johnson Hartig says.

COURTESY OF LIBERTINE

JOHNSON HARTIG’S LIBERTINE

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WES GORDON FOR CAROLINA HERRERA Style icons and the fashion press were all smiles when Wes Gordon unveiled his deliciously colorful collection brimming with ruffles, bright floral patterns, and happy shades of mandarin orange, sunshine yellow, and intoxicating blue. This season, Gordon has some fun mixing deep fuchsia with a playful clementine that added some drama to the runway. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Carolina Herrera show without her iconic red. The designer added layers, ruffles, and impeccable lines to the classic color. The collection is filled to the brim with statement pieces that would brighten the day of any fashionista stepping out in a Carolina Herrera piece.

San Francisco is in for a treat on May 14, when Wes Gordon showcases his latest collection at Neiman Marcus for San Francisco Opera Guild’s annual fashion show. Funds raised from the show support the numerous educational programs that the Opera Guild sponsors throughout the year. If you want tickets, go to: sfopera.com/Opera-Guild/social-events/WesGordonFashionShow.

“Wes Gordon is the most creative talent on the fashion scene right now, and his designs respect the classics. But he has taken that look and made it youthful, fun, and extremely wearable for all ages. We are so excited that he is coming to San Francisco to showcase his new line for us,” said Mary Poland, President of San Francisco Opera Guild.

After the show we got a rare chance to chat with Wes about his collection: What was your inspiration for this latest collection?

Modern drama and bold colors set the tone the Fall 2020 collection. I describe this collection as “One Grand Gesture.” Within this gesture, I wanted to celebrate the house codes, including dynamic prints, hyper-pigmented hues, and a sense of optimism.

We are very excited that you will be coming to San Francisco in May. Can we get a sneak peek of what you will be showcasing?

It’s not a surprise if I give away too much, but I will be bringing the best of the best from Fall 2020, especially pieces perfect for the San Francisco woman.

San Franciscans love Carolina Herrera. How do you keep the brand relevant in changing times?

We’re a house known and loved for our distinctly feminine glamour, and I approach this through the lenses of color. Our goal is to make a woman feel COURTESY OF CAROLNA HERRERA

her most beautiful, no matter where she lives. I love traveling the world and meeting our clients and hearing their feedback. It’s so important to connect with the client and understand their needs.

What is the one Carolina Herrera “it” piece every woman should have?

I’m not a believer of following trends. The Carolina Herrera woman is bold.

They’re not followers, they’re not shy. They’re confident women who, when they laugh, they laugh loud, and when they march, it’s to their own beat.

Every woman should find the piece that will make her smile, dance—and to everyone, that piece could be different.

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NAEEM KHAN While Naeem Khan is a fashion icon known for his generous use of opulent embellishments to his gowns which have been worn by First Lady Michelle Obama, Queen Noor of Jordan, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, this season he wanted to do something a bit more personal and less over-the-top.

“I wanted to do something more personal, salon style,” Khan said.

Although Khan wanted less flash and more fashion, his show was indeed attended by stars like Ewan McGregor, who sat in the front row taking it all in. Along with international celebrities, this year’s co-chairs for the Opera Ball, Kim Dempster and Nafiseh Lindberg, also attended his show.

Once again, Naeem Khan showcased a collection of irresistible pieces from glittery pantsuits to epic, embordered and bedazzled gowns that shimmered in the subtle light off the runway.

“What an amazingly experiential way to search for our Opera Ball gowns.

Made only possible by our friends and partners at Neiman Marcus. Each show was unique, and each a visual feast for the eyes. The Naeem Kahn show was the exclamation point of the week —a kaleidoscope of colors, textures and sparkle. And it was at the Naeem Kahn show where we BOTH found our gowns for Opera Ball 2020 which happens to have theme Kaleidoscope!” shares Kim Dempster, the San Francisco Opera Guild Co-chair of the SF

NAEEM KHAN ALBERT URSO, GETTY IMAGES FOR NYFW- THE SHOWS

Opera Ball 2020.

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BY STEPH KEAY

HauteTRAVEL

HEALDSBURG: THE HEART OF SONOMA COUNTY SONOMA STRONG

all, the folks of Sonoma County were unflinchingly sunny, presenting a unified front in

A SUN-BLEACHED SIGN DECLARING “THANK YOU, FIREFIGHTERS!” FLAPS IN THE

exigency then and as wine country recovers now.

wind off Highway 101, one of the few lingering reminders of the Kincade Fire of 2019. Not

Touring the area several months later with local winemaker Nick of Goldschmidt

long after the fires began, I sped up to Sonoma County Fairgrounds with World Central

Vineyards, he points out the hills where the fire began rolling down last October. Today,

Kitchen to churn out as many meals as possible for the endlessly brave first responders

there’s hardly a trace of the tragedy. Where smoke once lingered, a dewy mist now blan-

battling the blaze. The mood? Surprisingly upbeat, despite the imminent threat. As the

kets several thousand acres of grapes surrounding the charming town of Healdsburg. Its

flurry of activity died down through the week and the fire reached 100 percent contain-

residents have slipped back into a familiar routine, but the mighty sense of community

ment, even the thin veil of smoke hanging in the air had all but dissipated. Through it

remains apparent year-round, personified by the chefs, winemakers, and artisans who

Jordan Winery’s luxury estate tour takes guests through its sustainable vineyards, scenic vistas, chef’s garden, apiary, and more

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PHOTO CREDIT: DESTINATION NEW SOUTH WALES

After the harrowing Kincade Fire, this beatific Northern California town is not only surviving, but truly thriving.

frequent this whimsical locale.

At just under five square miles, Healdsburg feels like quintessential, small-town America. At the center of it all is a quaint plaza with an old-time band shell still used during the city’s numerous festivals and concerts. Surrounded by darling clothing boutiques, independent art galleries, and antique shops ripe for rummaging, the town center is also home to one of Healdsburg’s most charming and unique features: its “fairy doors.”

These sweetly decorated portals standing just five-inches tall can be found all along the corridors of downtown Healdsburg, peeking out from the baseboards of local shops and buildings. Some young visitors even leave diminutive gifts and goodies, in case it persuades the pixies to emerge. The doors began appearing mysteriously just three years ago, and no one has yet to come forward and take credit—adding to the enchantment.

After an afternoon of hunting for heirlooms in Antique Harvest’s 7,000 square foot

Harmon Guest House in downtown Healdsburg is a home away from home

storehouse, Healdsburg’s oldest antique shop, weary shoppers can wind down around the cozy fire pits atop the rooftop terrace at Harmon Guest House next door. Dishes highlighting local bounty such as Miyagi oysters from Marin can be enjoyed over craft cocktails and expansive views of downtown Healdsburg and the Sonoma hills. Below, the luxurious LEED Gold certified retreat doubles as an art gallery with commissioned illustrations, prints, and sculptures from emerging California artists dotting this latest addition to the acclaimed Hotel Healdsburg family.

Fancy a nightcap after a long day of exploring? Guest rooms feature bar carts stocked with locally-sourced spirits and refreshments to mix your own cocktails, including a sampling of Healdsburg hotspot Alley 6’s rye whiskey. If it tickles your palate, set up a tour of the nearby craft distillery, where co-owner Jason Jorgensen also whips up concoctions with its small-batch whiskey and grape-based gin made with locally harvested California bay laurel, wild fennel, and botanicals foraged from the wilderness of West County.

Locals and visitors alike clamor for prime spots during happy hour at Harmon Guest House’s rooftop bar and restaurant

SABERS AND CHATEAUS Three premier wine appellations converge at this winsome destination for world-class tasting rooms. Alexander Valley’s 15,000 vineyard acres boast soil similar to those in the best vineyards of Bordeaux, establishing this American Viticultural Area (AVA) as a premier location for growing top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon. Meanwhile, Dry Creek Valley comprises more than 9,000 vineyard acres in an area only 16 miles long and two miles wide. Just northwest of Healdsburg, this wine region is bookended by the Russian River and Lake Sonoma and is known for its hardy Zinfandel vines that survived through Prohibition. The final appellation, the renowned Russian River Valley, encompasses 15,000 vineyard acres frequently enveloped by a cooling fog. The Pacific Ocean, only a few miles west, shapes the crisp conditions of this AVA, making it a top-notch destination for cool-climate varietals Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.

At Breathless Wines in downtown Healdsburg, a trio of sisters—plus honorary “fourth

Breathless Wines shares the dramatic art of uncorking a bottle in its sabrage experience

sister,” award-winning winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster—have created a collection of méthode champenoise sparkling wines. The chic winery features sabrage lessons for those brave enough to wield an authentic Italian saber, a practice rumored to have originated with Napoleon Bonaparte. I recommend taking a crack at the Breathless Brut, a dry bub-

Craft distillery Alley 6 is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Krystle and Jason Jorgensen (pictured)

bly that’s served with a savory pairing of potato chips—assuming a successful sabrage.

Continuing with the French influence, Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s lush château in the Alexander Valley transports oenophiles to the luxurious wine estates of France. Executive Chef Todd Knoll breezes into the estate’s opulent, newly remodeled dining room, clutching a bouquet of freshly picked herbs. “I just ran down and found some of the first chamomile,” he declares. Sharing his passion for foraging on Jordan’s sprawling

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HauteTRAVEL 1,200-acre estate—a veritable playground for hunting wild edibles—he brandishes the kaffir lime leaves, lemon verbena, and madrone bark from Jordan’s woodlands that will be steeped for today’s herbal tisane service. Keep an eye out for the official debut of Jordan’s Afternoon Tea, which also features Jordan cuvée paired with the winery’s small-batch caviar—made from Tsar Nicoulai’s sustainably-farmed caviar and Chef Knoll’s homemade, konbu-infused sea salt harvested from the Sonoma Coast.

SUSTENANCE WITH SUBSTANCE Healdsburg is, of course, home to triple Michelin-starred, critical darling SingleThread. However, Sonoma County’s incredible agricultural landscape and diverse offerings have attracted plenty of talented restaurateurs from far and wide.

Near the city center sits a welcoming terra cotta façade with a Mayan symbol denoting “chief.” Here in the kitchen

At Mateo’s Cocina Latina, Yucatáninspired dishes utilize fresh, organic ingredients from Sonoma County

of Mateo’s Cocina Latina, a rich aroma fills the air as Chef Mateo Granados adds a splash of Spanish sherry-style vinegar to a sizzling pan. He’s preparing pollo alcaparrado, the restaurant’s signature slow-braised blue foot chicken dish Jordan Winery Executive Chef Todd Knoll forages on the estate’s 1,200-acre property

with olives, capers, and organic vegetables from his garden.

Taking a break from the heat, he regales our table with tales of his upbringing in the Mayan village of Oxkutzcab, Mexico, over housemade pineapple-guava margaritas.

At Mateo’s, Granados showcases the bountiful crops of Sonoma Valley, and the dynamic flavors of his native Yucatán with French influences. He explains that his creative tronomic landscape of his homeland, where regional cuisine has long been influenced by a melting pot of cultures, including flavors from Europe, the Caribbean, Middle East, and beyond. The pollo alcaparrado is brought out alongside a stack of piping-hot blue corn tortillas, which serve to sop up the divine braising liquid. Boasting a surprisingly complex acid-

Pollo alcaparrado (“capered” chicken) is served at Mateo’s Cocina Latina

ity, my fellow diners and I take turns tipping the platter for one another to scoop up every last drop of the flavorful pan sauce. When Granados isn’t experimenting with new dishes (marquesitas are currently in development for the dessert

Chocolate cake with candy cap mushroom crème anglaise, brandied chanterelles, and whipped cream at Relish Culinary Adventures

menu), he can be found foraging for mushrooms—a beloved Healdsburg pastime I’m soon introduced to.

Just a short stroll from Mateo’s is a bright, open space with a full kitchen where long-time Healdsburg resident Donna del Rey warmly welcomes a sold-out crowd. Tonight, the passionate culinarian leads a side-by-side cooking experience with local winemakers here at Relish Culinary Adventures.

Joined by a throng of Dry Creek Valley winemakers, guests are separated into small groups to cook and get acquainted with their assigned vintners. As the wine flows and the night

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Mateo’s Cocina Latina.in downtown Healdsburg

Grilled pork loin paired with Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, a dinner party staple at Jordan Winery

PHOTO CREDITS: KIM CARROLL, MATT ARMENDARIZ, KENDALL BUSBY, STEPH KEAY, DAWN HEUMANN. PHOTO COURTESY OF BREATHLESS WINES, HARMON GUEST HOUSE.

approach to Latin cuisine is inherited from the unique gas-

unfolds, strangers become fast friends over a family-style feast. Relish also offers workshops aimed at inspiring guests to venture deeper into the wonderful world of gastronomy.

“My whole mission is to get people excited about cooking and get into their kitchens more,” says del Rey. Her passion for great food is infectious even at 9:30 in the morning, when we meet for one of Relish’s mushroom forays led by foraging expert David Campbell. Our expedition leads us to a trove of edible fungi amid delightful views in the hills above Healdsburg, one of the best places to forage in the west. After two hours of

Foraging expert David Campbell leads a mushroom foray with Relish Culinary Adventures

traipsing around, the group meets back at Relish’s headquarters to enjoy black trumpet, hedgehogs, and even the uncommon lion’s mane mushroom integrated in a sumptuous four-course lunch. While the plaza may appear to be the city’s center, it’s these events and experiences around

David Campbell harvests wild mushrooms

the table that are the metaphysical heart of Healdsburg, bringing a community together and forging lasting connections.

More than simply Sonoma Strong, Healdsburg and its unparalleled wine and bountiful gastronomic offerings exemplify Sonoma County at its strongest. For a getaway of epic proportions just 90 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, don’t skip this jewel in Sonoma Wine Country.

And, don’t forget to keep an eye out for the fairies.

Wild mushrooms gathered from a recent foray with Relish Culinary Adventures

Jordan Winery celebrates the olive harvest season with an al fresco lunch

Poached pavé of Ōra King salmon with a summer vegetable cassoulet, served at Jordan Winery’s Bastille Day dinner

The newly remodeled dining room at Jordan Winery, featuring design to bring the outdoors in

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BY STEPHANIE BLOCK

HauteTRAVEL

ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST HOTELS: CAPE TOWN’S THE SILO HOTEL My latest hotel obsession? The Silo is everything.

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE NEW LUXURY hotels in the world, Cape Town’s The Silo. I stayed there for a month. I can tell you that all the accolades are not only true, but they also barely capture the opulence and wow-factor of this game-elevating property.

The Silo is a refurbished grain silo from the 1920s. It was once the second highest building in Africa after the Great Pyramid. Today it is part of The Royal Portfolio of hotels and occupies the floors above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

Let’s talk design. The fabulously appointed rooms have been personally furnished by the owner herself, Liz Biden, who decorates them with unique objets from her favorite designers. Even if you are the most seasoned jetsetter, your jaw will drop when you see these rooms. The floor-to-ceiling, honeycombed windows are staggering, and the public areas are festooned with important art from the MOCAA. Although the interiors are bold, they do not overpower the exceptional views of dramatic Table Mountain.

What sets 5-star Silo apart is the staff. I am still pen pals with the concierge team who went out of their way to bring magic to my journey. When you visit, say hi to Hoon and Jessica for me. Experiences they can plan include visiting world-class wine country, seeing the penguins down south, cage diving with great whites, as well as restaurant, shop-

PHOTO CREDIT: DESTINATION NEW SOUTH WALES

ping, nightlife, outdoor adventure, and rich history and culture recommendations nearby.

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Dramatic exterior of The Silo

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HauteTRAVEL Save some time to hang at the hotel! They have a wonderful bar, restaurant,

joyed the vegetarian options. Then we dashed up to the roof deck for front row

spa, roof deck and pool. Breakfast is charming and happy hour is divine. The

seats of the fireworks glittering over Table Bay, the bass from parties along the

drinks menu boasts a deep selection of South African wines, beers, and spirits,

V&A Waterfront below booming all the way up to the tippy top of The Silo.

including an interesting array of local gins. You can start off your day watching

But wait, there’s more! As part of a portfolio of properties, The Silo can be

the sun rise on Table Mountain and end your evening watching the sun set on

one of several ultimate stops around South Africa if you book the 10-day Royal

an elegant bottle of pinotage. All the while, the staff will treat you like family.

Itinerary. You’ll experience Cape Town, the wine lands, a safari second to none,

The hotel dazzled on New Year’s Eve. My best friend, Dr. Guilhem, and I

and the rugged coast. South Africa is a dream destination, and The Royal Port-

were guests of generous General Manager Luis Pinheiro. We dined on a multi-

folio of hotels is one way to do it in superb style. For more information, visit

course dinner featuring local delicacies like kudu and springbok. Guilhem en-

theroyalportfolio.com.

PHOTO CREDITS: KIM CARROLL, MATT ARMENDARIZ, KENDALL BUSBY, STEPH KEAY, DAWN HEUMANN. PHOTO COURTESY OF BREATHLESS WINES, HARMON GUEST HOUSE.

Stunning in-room bathroom

Chic Sky Terrace Rooftop

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ROYAL PORTFOLIO

Delicious Granary Cafe

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BY OLIVIA DECKER

HauteRESIDENCE

M/Y NJORD- YOUR NEW OCEAN RESIDENCES AROUND THE WORLD Imagine the ultimate private super-yacht – the largest of its kind, which you call home. A place to experience ‘once in a lifetime’ adventures shared with a discerning community of like-minded friends and family who have a passion for luxury, adventure, discovery, conservation and philanthropy. Welcome aboard NJORD. Ownership of one of NJORD’s 118 residences entitles you to join one of the most exclusive communities in the world. NJORD is a home, and a place for personal enrichment and adventure. It’s not only about exquisite luxury and impeccable service, it’s about living life in an enhancing, intellectual, spiritually nourishing and meaningful way. “It’s a safe environment in which to have fun with family, travel, discover, meet new friends and be energised,” says Renato Chizzola, head of resident relations and lifestyle.

“Imagine the inspiration you get from seeing the most awe-inspiring scenery passing by while relaxing on your own private terrace, enjoying your favourite drink. One day watching polar bears on an ice floe or on another, in tropical Papua New Guinea as you anticipate what lies ahead. All from the comfort of your home.”

Aptly named after the Norse god of the wind and seas, who ensured safe passage and enrichment, NJORD is a fitting name for this majestic super yacht and her residents and crew. On-board, the highly

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HauteRESIDENCE personalised services and activities are limitless and rewarding. Ashore, there’s a

alised services to an entirely new level. As residents travel the globe, they are united

wealth of experiences to be enjoyed as you are immersed into the culture and his-

in a philanthropic purpose, creating positive change where it matters most. They

tory of a region that few people get to explore. The past, present and future are re-

will explore the planet, enjoy it in all its glory, and at the same time, they may want

vealed by experts: business leaders, heads of states, explorers or leading scientists.

to give something back,” Stensby says. NJORD will be equipped with an oceano-

Excursions, destinations and encounters with extraordinary people and cultures will

graphic research laboratory containing sophisticated monitoring equipment which

fill your day with precious memories.

will constantly gather vital data. Throughout NJORD’s annual circumnavigation of

So, what motivated the creation of this exceptional lifestyle? “My vision is to leave

the globe, scientists and experts will research the changing environment, record sea

a lasting legacy in our wake,” says Kristian Stensby, founder and CEO of Ocean Resi-

and air conditions and map the ocean floor. All this information will be made avail-

dences Development Ltd, the developer of NJORD, “a luxury yacht with a purpose

able to further humankind’s understanding of our planet’s oceanic secrets.

which is meticulously designed by icons of the marine world and that takes person-

This unique way of life is made possible by the crew and operators whose passion

As residents travel the globe, they are united in a philanthropic purpose, creating positive change where it matters most. They will explore the planet, enjoy it in all its glory, and at the same time, they may want to give something back,”

94 © Espen Øino International

it is to understand and anticipate their guests’ every need. “Our crew love this life

a variety of events for entertainers to perform. There are also professional medical

and they cherish their family of residents,” says COO Alain Gruber. “The crew are the

facilities and a wellness centre providing transformative treatments, individually tai-

life and soul of the yacht,” adds Gruber, “and their welfare is of upmost importance.

lored nutrition plans and preventative wellness therapies. Located on deck 10, this

A first in the industry, each crew member will have their own personal room. For

stunning 10,000 sq. ft facility will have a choice of holistic treatments which fuse

them, this is a rich and rewarding career path, and many will remain with us for

effective natural therapies with medical innovation. Residents will de-stress, detox

years.”

and re-balance body and mind.

NJORD’s design is the realisation of a talented team of naval architects, engineers and designers. Led by Jean-Louis Stutzmann, the chief designer and an award-win-

Ocean Residents Development Ltd host a team of notable marine and hospitality professionals.

ning interior designer with an extensive career in luxury residential, ocean liner and

The team have developed and operated some of the most iconic brands in the

yacht design. Working alongside him is Espen Øino International, the world’s lead-

world, including LVMH Cheval Blanc, Relais & Châteaux, Ritz-Carlton, Royal Viking

ing super-yacht designer who is responsible for the exceptional sleek exterior. The

Line, Cunard, Norwegian and The World-residences at sea.

fully fitted apartments are, elegantly appointed, spacious and feature floor-to-ceiling windows and sea views from every room.

Facilities on-board include an impressive yacht and dive club with two subma-

NJORD is set to be one of the most exclusive residential communities on earth and without doubt the finest address, everywhere in the world.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

rines, jet skis, sailing crafts and Riva style limo tenders. Restaurants will have the

OLIVIA@HAUTELIVINGSF.COM

finest Michelin-standard chefs. A lecture and movie theatre will provide space for

my-njord.com

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BY TIM LAPPEN

TheHAUTE LISTAuto

A pair of Evos hit the track!

LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO AND URUS Lamborghini introduces two new models – the world rejoices head-turning, dreamy . . . but enough about me. Let’s talk about cars for a minute.

Imagine, for the moment, the Thanksgiving table at Villa Volkswagen, hosted by company chairman, Dr. Herbert Diess. Given the incredibly illustrious members of that family — Audi, Bugatti, Bentley, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, VW and more — it would be every car-lover’s dream to attend such an event.

comes to the table with decades of unparalleled, edgy designs and prodigious power, so, by all rights, the largest piece (read most-powerful, torque-iest piece) should go to him.

Doubtful that the imagined family engine wars would be decided thusly, but it’s as good a story as any.

The foregoing may be interesting because there is a certain sharing that goes on, quite understandably, among the various brands under the VW umbrella. For example, the

Let’s also imagine that a dispute has broken out between three of the family members.

engine which powers the Audi R8 is similar to the one moving the Lamborghini Hura-

Bob (Bentley), Aaron (Audi), and Larry (Lamborghini) each weighing in on why he should

can Evo. However, Audi’s pumps out between just over 560 and about 610 horsepower

get the biggest piece of pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, Dr. Diess already has cut it, so the

(depending on which variant is chosen), while the Evo’s clocks in at over 630 ponies. To

equality ship already sailed — there must be only one undisputed winner.

my mind, having driven both extensively, the R8 has a “Germanic” feel of an extremely

Bob reminds the group that the responsibility for the family claim of elegance rests

competent vehicle that does everything well (I liked it a lot), whereas the Evo (with much

upon him. Aaron weighs in that he wears the family’s mantle of sportiness. But Larry

German engineering and “Germanic involvement”) is all Italian with the excitement and

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PHOTO CREDIT: LAMBORGHINI

HANDSOME, COLORFUL, EYE-CATCHING, MUSCULAR, POWERFUL, DYNAMIC,

actual raucousness that the Italian automobile culture connotes.

unwary. I am proud to say (and my financial advisor is happy that I can say)

The Huracán model of Lamborghinis arrived in 2014, as a replacement

that I kept it on the track and pointed the right way the entire time, which

for the “entry level” Lamborghini, the Gallardo. (Huracán and Gallardo, like

actually is a lot easier in a vehicle with the Evo’s tenacious grip, nimble

virtually all Lamborghinis, are names of fighting bulls, though “Huracán”

steering, and prodigious power. And as with most other modern Lamborghi-

also is a Spanish word for “hurricane.”) Since its arrival, the Huracán has

nis, the Evo is eminently drivable.

been refined and adjusted, and the Evo is the natural evolution of the line

It was a hot day at Willow Springs (not an unusual occurrence), yet we

(thus providing a major hint at the origin of the model’s name). The Evo

ran lap after lap in fully air-conditioned comfort. Gone are the divas of yester-

clearly looks like the other Huracáns, though refinements and other changes

day which might perform mightily on the track and then wheeze and cough

are quite apparent. For example, the front bumper is redesigned to work

while trying to maintain an idle after several laps, many even letting loose

well with the new front splitter and its integrated wing, and the sides show

with occasional bladder lapses while waiting. No, the Evo clearly is a car

changes in the look of the windows and air intakes while the rear sports

which can take you to the track, perform flawlessly on the circuit, and then

elevated exhaust pipes (pay attention, motorcyclists!) and a redesigned slot-

take you home (with room for trophies).

ted spoiler. The wheel design also is new on this model.

With the new visuals just mentioned comes improved aerodynamics.

Coupled with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering (on two of the three Evo variants), the Evo is more responsive and, need I add, it’s quick! Zero-to-60 takes only 2.9 seconds, an unheard-of metric just a few years ago.

Pricing? Thanks for asking. Huracán Evos come in three flavors: rearwheel drive coupe (about $212,000), all-wheel drive coupe (about $268,000) and the all-wheel drive Spyder (convertible) (about $290,000).

I had nowhere near enough time with the Evo (I usually borrow cars for about a week at a time), so my only experience of it was on the track. I’m

Luckily for me, Lamborghini chose to showcase the car at Willow Springs

not complaining, mind you, as I had a terrific time; but, I’m just explaining

International Raceway, the well-known track near Rosamond and Lancaster

why my driving impressions are so narrowly focused. That said, I certainly

in Southern California and the location of many scenes in the current Ford

had sufficient opportunity to determine that this was an amazing car, ca-

vs. Ferrari film. It’s a great track, with turns of varying radii (I’ve been wait-

pable of fantastic feats of performance, doing it all with confidence, class,

ing years to use that word again), elevation changes, and other traps for the

and aplomb.

The Evo dash reconfigures, depending upon what mode the driver selects

The Evo’s cockpit is a space of beautiful functionality

A lifelong petrol-holic, mechanic (cars, motorcycles, boats), and automotive journalist since penning a column for his high school newspaper, internationally recognized attorney Tim Lappen is a partner at a major Los Angeles-based law firm, where he chairs the firm’s Family Office Group and its Luxury Home Group and is, of course, a member of its Motor Vehicle Group. He can be reached at tlappen@gmail.com.

Extremely supportive seats keep the occupants in place, even during track time

Great badging abounds

97

TheHAUTE LISTAuto Having experienced such incredible performance with the Evo, I was surprised/not surprised by the Urus (cognoscenti tell me it’s pronounced “ooo – roos”), Lamborghini’s spectacular initial entry into the SSUV arena. (No shock that Lambo calls their ute a “Super Sports Utility Vehicle.”) And what an entrance, so worthy of the international star that it has become. Urus sales to date far exceed any other Lamborghini model, and the rush to buy one does not appear to be abating. My week with the Urus gave me ample reasons why the public had an immediate love affair with this car.

First (especially as I am from Los Angeles), let’s start with the looks. Yes, it resembles other SUVs, of course, as form really does follow function if you want the motor in the front, a few rows of seats in the center, and a cargo area in the rear. But Lamborghini has been able to inject the inimitable Lamborghini DNA into this new stormer; so, whether it’s coming toward you or you’re behind it on the road (a common experience, given its performance), there’s

The aggressive face, unmistakably Lamborghini

To paraphrase Mark Twain, I’ve never met a Lamborghini that I didn’t like. However, that’s not to say that all Lambos are created equal, especially when looking back almost 60 years, when Lamborghini opened its doors in 1963. no doubt that it’s another creation from the Saints of Sant’Agata Bolognese.

Let’s start from the front. Especially on “my” yellow (“Giallo Auge”) Urus with shiny black trim, this pairing was, to my eye, the perfect combination, as it highlighted all the special design bits.

Nature apparently agreed — several times I had bees alight on the car when stopped or parked. (It would have been hard for the little critters to hang on up to the 190MPH top speed; and, with a 0 – 60 of about 3.5 seconds, that acceleration would challenge even the most determined insects.) With a twin-turbo V-8, it put out over 640 horsepower (no need to check back on the Evo, as it was getting by with “only” 630HP), but the magic happens due to the torque — over 625 pound-feet of twist (compared to the Evo’s 443) which sounds like a machine ready to pull tree stumps from your yard. As high torque provides right-now performance, that big number explains everything about the thrill factor that comes with this hauler.

The Urus 98 has six drive modes, including sand, dirt and snow

The Urus is a highly-capable off-roader

It can actually climb the mountain

Sitting up high like a proper SUV and shod in 23-inch (optional) wheels, it’s hard to

and the huge panoramic roof ($2,778). You know what? There wasn’t an option I would

comprehend why this car can accelerate, stop, and — amazingly — corner with such con-

have deleted. I like the Urus very much, so much that I started to come up with the vari-

fidence. It may not have made me want to be a better man, but I certainly wanted to

ous reasons why . . . forget want, I needed one.

be a better driver able to test the limits of the Urus on the track. Clearly, however, in the

To paraphrase Mark Twain, I’ve never met a Lamborghini that I didn’t like. However,

twisties so prevalent in Southern California, not many cars, no matter of what ilk, could

that’s not to say that all Lambos are created equal, especially when looking back almost

keep up with the Urus on the corners, much less on the straightaways which reward this

60 years when Lamborghini opened its doors in 1963. Even their more recent supercars,

car’s incredible power.

like the Gallardo and Murcielago, really bear scant resemblance to the Aventadors, Hura-

Did I mention that “mine” was bright yellow (a color so luminescent that it bears repeat-

cáns, and Uruses (Uri?) of today. Gone are the days of having to settle for a lack of creature

ing)? With a base price of $200,000, my menu was ticked so many times that the price

comforts or even reliability in order to have a high-performance Italian car. The Evo and

hit about $243,000. The big tickets? Upgraded B&O sound system ($6,313), the aforemen-

the Urus stand as testaments to the premise that you can have it all, get there quickly,

tioned 23-inch rims ($5,051), Alcantara seats ($3,157), the Ambient Light Package ($3,036),

and have fun doing it.

Equally at home on the road or in the wilds

99

BY STEPHANIE BLOCK

HauteAMBASSADOR

Literary Reviews

SOME SUPER CELEBRITY-READ AUDIO BOOKS Why read to yourself?

Let professionals entertain you!

Papercuts are so passé. Here are some of the best and most fun, hilarious, and surprising celebrity-read audio books out there. Cozy up to Jeremy Irons and hear the truth from Maya Angelou. You will win at book club and homework, because celebrities are particularly active among the classics. So, enjoy some of these utterly charming combinations of dearly loved works and amazing actors who bring them to life. Let’s listen!

CHARMING CLASSICS: Nick Offerman brings the right amount of mischief and moustache, voic-

Jeremy Irons reprises his epic 1997 role reading Vladimir Nabokov’s

ing Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Lolita.

The late, great Ruby Dee brings us Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes

B.D. Wong doesn’t shrink from reading all three Beverly Cleary’s Ralph

Were Watching God.

the Mouse books.

Scarlett Johansson makes Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonder-

Maggie Gyllenhaal feels right for reading Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar; her

land curiouser and curiouser.

brother, Jake, reads F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

You might accidentally listen to Tim Curry’s narration of James Matthew Barrie’s Peter Pan, Or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up straight on Stephanie Block is a third-generation family partner in RNDC and Young’s Market Company.

She holds a WSET 3 certification in wine and spirits and is a recent graduate of an Executive MBA program from both Brown University and IE Madrid.

Previously, Stephanie ran St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery’s social media and worked Napa harvest 2016.

Stephanie has championed gender equality as a national board member of the US National Committee for UN Women and once traveled the globe as an award-winning travel writer.

She has lived in 6 countries and visited over 80. Elle adore parler français.

100

till morning.

Anne Hathaway transports us away from Kansas reading L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. Kate Winslet reading Roald Dahl’s Matilda is fun for the whole family.

Benedict Cumberbatch is a logical solution as the voice of John Taylor’s new Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes’ Rediscovered Railway Stories: Four Original Short Stories.

Sissy Spacek is a sublime Scout reading Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird.

Maya Angelou embodies her own I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Patrick Stewart, Kenneth Branagh, and friends explore wardrobes

Blessed be Claire Danes who reads Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s

with you in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series.

Tale.

Tim Curry, Alan Cumming, and friends bring immortality to Bram

Stephen Fry is ever the narrator of Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s

Stoker’s Dracula.

Guide to the Galaxy, in film and audio book.

CAPTIVATING CURRENT WORKS: Samuel L. Jackson is, heck yeah, the narrator of Adam Mansbach’s Go The F**k To Sleep.

Everyone’s pal, Tom Hanks, reads Anne Patchett’s The Dutch House.

Lin-Manuel Miranda was in the room reading Benjamin Alire Saenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

Legends Betty White and Christopher Plummer read their own autobiographies.

Eddie Redmayne, a.k.a. Newt, reads J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Wil Wheaton fulfills nerd dreams everywhere reading Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One. Meryl Streep reads (and starred in) buddy Nora Ephron’s Heartburn.

101

BY KELLY E. CARTER

HauteAMBASSADOR

Wine Country

Songwriters in Paradise 2019

102

HELLO, SPRING! The best Napa Valley events to fill your upcoming social calendar PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME IF I GET BORED LIVING IN NAPA VALLEY.

Spring officially gets underway on March 19, coincidentally the first day

How could I ever be bored living in one of the world’s most scenic places

of the sixth annual Yountville Live, a four-day weekend celebration of food,

where there is always a fabulous food and wine, art, music, or film event

wine, and music, featuring some of the area’s best chefs and visiting culi-

enticing me from my home?

nary talent, Napa Valley’s most revered wineries, and both Grammy award-

With the exception of the decadent Napa Truffle Festival every January,

winning and emerging musicians. A coveted VIP experience provides you

the first month of the year is often quiet. But that’s good, because so many

unique access to the celebrity chefs, vintners, and musicians who create

of us torture ourselves by giving up alcohol during “Dryuary.” February is

intimate experiences throughout the weekend, including Friday’s red carpet

livelier, thanks to Premiere Napa Valley and the Yountville International

gala and Saturday’s Taste of Yountville. www.yountvillelive.com

Short Film Festival. This year, Brasswood Estate brought New Orleans to

Kicking off April is the 2nd Annual Songwriters in Paradise Napa, an

St. Helena with an epic Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras celebration, benefitting the

invitation-only boutique music festival that knocked my socks off last year

Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga.

when it debuted. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to this event, go! I

Spring, however, is when Napa Valley really comes alive in more ways

encourage you to opt for the four-day pass, which grants you admission

than one. In the vineyards, winter dormancy gives way to bud break, when

to intimate, “in-the-round” performances featuring beautiful music, story-

tiny buds on vines begin to sprout, signaling the start of the annual grape

telling, and—no surprise—wines, at each hosting venue: Frank Family Vine-

growing cycle. The social calendar swells with a bevy of events that I

yards, Alpha Omega, Silver Oak, Brasswood, and host resort Harvest Inn.

hope you have an opportunity to experience. Here are several taking place

www.songwritersinparadise.com

through mid-May that I highly recommend.

I haven’t been able to attend the Cabernet Cookoff at HALL Wines in St.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROOKE STEVENS/SONGWRITERS IN PARADISE, BEN FINCH, YOUNTVILLE LIVE/PHOCO, HALL WINES, ALPHA OMEGA

Kelly E. Carter is the director of communications at Alpha Omega winery on Napa Valley’s Rutherford Bench. The former editor of “Haute Living San Francisco” previously enjoyed a lengthy, award-winning career in journalism writing about sports, entertainment, and luxury lifestyles for various media outlets.

Kelly co-authored New York Times bestseller “Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession” with Venus Williams and penned “The Dog Lover’s Guide to Travel” for National Geographic Books. She has traveled to more than 40 countries and territories on six continents and called Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Italy home. Visit Kelly at: www. kellyecarter.com

Cultured Vine presents the Judgment of Napa

Yountville Live

Helena in several years due to this delicious event always conflicting with an invitation-only extravaganza at Alpha Omega celebrating our flagship wine, ERA. If you’re not coming to Alpha Omega on April 25, then I suggest you head up Highway 29 to HALL to partake in the 11th edition of Napa Valley’s largest food and wine pairing competition where 15 notable chef teams compete for a charity of their choice by preparing a seasonal dish that pairs best with HALL Cabernet. The 2019 Cabernet Cookoff raised $106,000 for the community, bringing the total amount raised in 10 years to $1 million. www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff Yountville may be known as the culinary capital of Napa Valley, but it is also home to the Napa Valley Museum. Make plans to check out the first U.S. museum exhibition of paintings and sculpture by artist, award-winning actress, and advocate Lucy Liu. “Lucy Liu: One of These Things Is Not Like the Other” is on display in the main gallery through April 26. In February, the multi-faceted Liu delivered the keynote address at the museum’s Phenomenal Women fundraising luncheon and donated an origi-

HALL Wines Cabernet Cookoff

nal work for auction to benefit the museum’s arts education programs. www.napavalleymuseum.org Napa Valley’s most fabulous spring event happens May 14, when you can be a judge or a spectator for Judgment of Napa, a modern-day interpretation of the famed 1976 Judgment of Paris in which the victorious outcome of a blind tasting elevated the profile of all California wines. Among the VIP tasters will be Steven Spurrier, British wine expert and organizer of the 1976 Judgment of Paris. This YOLO (you only live once) experience, presented

by Napa-based luxury concierge Angela Duerr and her Cultured Vine team, promises to be unforgettable. www.culturedvine.com Cheers!

Lucy Liu

Bud break in Napa Valley

BY LYDIA GRAHAM

HauteAMBASSADOR

Health & Wellness

healing power of nature and connection. Each guest walked away with the action points that specifically called to them and there were plenty of New Year’s resolutions made. Surprisingly, almost all the speakers attended each other’s sessions and an amazing synergy and chemistry developed between the speakers as well as between the speakers and the guests, and guests between guests. New friendships and even a few business partnerships/ collaborations were bonus take-aways.

Dr. Mark Hyman, (www.drhyman.com) internationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the fields of functional medicine

Stunning views at Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA

and nutrition kicked off the weekend’s program

ENJOYING A HEALTHY DOSE OF HEALING MAGIC IN BIG SUR Health & Wellness Ambassador, Lydia Graham, Convenes & Hosts First Healthy Longevity Weekend

104

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MIX RENOWNED

indulged in its Big Sur luxury and hosted

health and longevity thought leaders, the ma-

healthy fine dining at Sierra Mar, one of Cali-

jestic nature of Big Sur, the top-notch hospital-

fornia’s top restaurants perched on the cliffs

ity and luxury of a place like Post Ranch and

of the Pacific Ocean while mingling with fel-

an amazing intimate group of high-powered

low guests and speakers at hosted events

guest attendees? The net-net was a healthy

throughout the weekend. A diverse group ge-

dose of healing magic and the rare alchemy

ographically including the Bay Area, guests

that occurs from the intersection of exciting

hailed from as far away as Canada, New York,

exchange, powerful networking and plenty of

Charleston and Chicago.

new information and key take-a-ways.

sible.” The Head of Strategy and Innovation at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, he is a twelve-time New York Times best-selling author, and Board President for Clinical Affairs for The Institute for Functional Medicine and host of one of the leading health podcasts, The Doctor’s Farmacy. Dr. Hyman gave a bonus session Sunday morning featuring a preview of his newest book

Lydia Graham Hosts Healthy Longevity Weekend

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that leads

The first Healthy Longevity Weekend

to a longer healthspan is not the result of

(www.healthylongevityweekend.com) kicked

one action but rather the summation of

off 2020 at this exclusive and intimate gather-

many actions in a variety of areas in one’s

ing. Guests relaxed and enjoyed nature amid

life over time. And the good news is making

the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Coast and

changes at any age or life stage can impact

the wildlands of Big Sur. With the opportunity

health. The program was intentionally curat-

to get up close and personal and learn from

ed to provide a surround-sound approach to

renowned thought leaders—folks heard about

health and delve deeper into some of the key

recent breakthroughs and new life strategies

areas in an interconnected system of heal-

to enjoy a longer healthspan (the healthy

ing: healing nutrition, healthy indoor environ-

years of life).

ments, restorative sleep, new breakthroughs

Held at Post Ranch Inn this year, guests

Backwards: Or How to Die Young as Late as Pos-

in evidence-based longevity science, and the

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZONE PUBLISHING

Lydia is a passionate advocate of healthy living. She has launched and positioned many health and wellnessrelated companies, products, technologies and organizations receiving more than 100 awards nationally and internationally. Her focus in the health sector is specifically on life sciences, aging and longevity. She is a partner and investor in several recognized national brands.

She sits on the board of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging whose mission is to eliminate the threat of agerelated disease for today’s and future generations. It is the only independent research organization globally dedicated to extending the healthy years of life. Like the scientists at the Buck, Graham envisions it will be possible for people to enjoy life at 95 as much as at 25.

To support Buck’s mission, please visit www.buckinstitute.org.

talking on healthy nutrition and “How to Age

PHOTO CREDITS: KODIAK GREENWOOD

Food Fix due out in February 2020. (Watch for my hosted

asleep or staying asleep most nights, and 68 percent—

have more than 60 million views on YouTube. Louie is

health book series at Cavallo Point where he will be do-

or an estimated 164 million Americans—struggled with

America’s leading time-lapse cinematographer—making

ing a book signing on March 11th. Go on the Cavallo

sleep at least once a week”. Dr. Michael Breus, America’s

the invisible visible and taking us on journeys of time

Point website to purchase tickets as they will likely go

Sleep Doctor, (www.thesleepdoctor.com) shared a never

and scale. After dinner Saturday, he treated us to a spe-

fast). And stay tuned for future columns to learn more

before seen aspect of his practice as he detailed an in-

cial showing of his latest movie Fantastic Fungi and en-

about his new book.

sider’s view of “Sleep Coaching at the Highest Level.”

lightened the group on the vast mycelium network of

Next up was Dr. Eric Verdin, president and chief exec-

He shared insights into his new supplement regimen,

fungi in the soil underneath our feet.

utive officer of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging

his bedroom makeover, how genetic testing can identify

Continuing the nature theme on Sunday, guests had

(www.buckinstitute.org). Dr. Verdin studies how metab-

areas of future concern, how to get that “Sleep Edge,”

an opportunity to experience a Native Birds’ Falconry

olism, diet, and small molecules regulate the activity of

and how to harness the Power of When (his popular

Demonstration. These are amazing creatures—the fast-

HDACs and sirtuins, and thereby the aging process and

book) to optimize sleep and energy. Since the group was

est on earth. To see them up close and watch them fly

its associated diseases, including Alzheimer’s. He is a

filled with international travelers, everyone was all ears

was truly an unforgettable experience.

highly cited scientist (top 1 percent) and has been recog-

on how to optimize sleep across time zones.

On Sunday, we also heard from leading building sci-

nized for his research with a Glenn Award for Research

As we spend more time indoors, we become more dis-

entist Bill Hayward and his wife, Dr. Adriana Hayward,

in Biological Mechanisms of Aging and a senior scholar-

connected from nature and the inspiring awe that comes

on a deep dive into “Secrets for a Healthy Home.” I’ve

ship from the Ellison Medical Foundation. He is also a

from recognizing the interconnectedness of all living

written about the Hayward’s and their Hayward Score

global expert in NAD--a hot anti-aging topic these days.

things on the planet. In 2015, James Hamblin wrote in

(www.haywardscore.com) before in this column. Take

He provided the big picture in his talk “The Longevity

the Atlantic Magazine about “The Nature Cure” and how

it, if you haven’t. But in this session, we learned more

Revolution”. The average life span of someone born in

“Ecotherapy” is a burgeoning field, and some doctors

fully how we can make our indoor environments (work

1900 was 47 years. Since then, improvements and dis-

even write prescriptions for time spent in parks.”

and home) our “First Line of Defense for Achieving 21st

coveries in science and medicine have added approxi-

Guests heard and visually delved into the natural world

mately two years per decade to that average. Remark-

with award-winning Cinematographer, Director, and Pro-

Many guests wrote to me afterward how the week-

ably, a child born today can expect to live over 100 years.

ducer Louie Schwartzberg (www.movingart.com) in his

end had changed their life and they were excited to be-

Century Wellness.”

Sound sleep is the absolute pillar of good health but

talk, “Nature to the Rescue: How It’s Wonder and Awe

gin to start making notable changes in 2020. All in all,

it’s a frequently neglected and often little understood

Can Help Us Find Meaning and Purpose.” Louie’s theat-

I can’t think of a better way to kick off a new decade—

topic despite a current disrupted sleep epidemic. A 2016

rical releases include the 3D IMAX film Mysteries of the

both informed and inspired.

article in Consumer Reports stated, “Today, the problem

Unseen World with National Geographic, narrated by

of too little sleep, and the quest for more of it, is as acute

Forest Whitaker; the theatrical feature, Wings of Life for

If you are interested in attending

as ever: 27 percent of people in a new Consumer Reports

Disneynature, narrated by Meryl Streep, and America’s

(or sponsoring) future events, please email

survey of 4,023 U.S. adults said they had trouble falling

Heart and Soul for Walt Disney Studios. His TED talks

info@HealthyLongevityWeekend.com.

Dr. Mark Hyman

Healthy Longevity Speakers (left to right) Bill Hayward, Louie Schwartzberg, Dr. Mark Hyman, Lydia Graham, Dr. Eric Verdin, Dr. Michael Breus and Dr. Adriana Hayward

105

HauteSCENE

BY MARK RHOADES

MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM HONORS ARTS LEADERS, ANNOUNCES MAJOR GIFTS AT THIRD ANNUAL WINTER GALA THE POWER OF ART, EDUCATION, AND THE VISIONARIES WHO SEEK TO ENSURE ACCESS TO BOTH FOR FUTURE generations was celebrated January 25, as the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, Davis, announced a commitment of $4.5 million in gifts at its third annual winter gala. A group of 150 guests encompassing the worlds of art, academia, and philanthropy raised approximately $350,000 toward the museum’s mission of educational outreach programs and free exhibitions. Guests included museum founding donors Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem; SF Mayor London Breed; UC Davis Chancellor Gary May and his wife, LeShelle May; conceptual artist Stephen Kaltenbach; and longtime Bay Area art and UC Davis supporters.

Monica Poindexter, Nichole Jordan, Maria Manetti Shrem, London Breed, and Ashley Murray

Jan Shrem, Mauro Aprile Zanetti, Inder Dhillon, Maria Manetti Shrem, Eva Zanetti, and Ken McNeely

Gala Co-chairs LeShelle May, Maria Manetti Shrem and Pam Kramlich

Rick Walker, Karen Walker, Adria Bini, and Dante Bini

Dennis Calas, Ann Hatch, Lorna Meyer Calas, Gary May

Maria Manetti Shrem and London Breed

Rachel Teagle, Constance Lewallen, Carlie Wilmans, and Ann Hatch

Gary May, London Breed, Ken McNeely, and Inder Dhillon

Cait Molloy, Tyler Scheidt, Susie Kantor

BY MARK RHOADES

HauteSCENE

Barry Deach, McCall Harwell

Natalia Urrutia, Farah Makras, Barbara Winchell, Clara Shayevich

ONWARD AND UPWARD EVER FORWARD MASKED BALL THE FIRST EVER FORWARD MASKED BALL WAS HELD AT THE GREEN ROOM in the War Memorial Veteran’s Building on Tuesday, February 11. The event was co-chaired by Elaine Mellis and Tanum Davis Bohen with honorary chairs Ever Forward Club founder and Executive Director Ashanti Branch and Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The Honorary Committee included: Altana Duffy, Arlene Inch, Brian Boitano, Charles Sims, Christopher Meza, Clara Shayevich, Courtney Dallaire, Dulo Batsuh, Jane Inch, Jill Wickersham, Dr Joan Oloff, Katy Menges, Leti McNeill Light, Lucy Wu, Maya Labban, Monaz Mehta, Dr. Sean P. Bohen, Sheri Sobrato Brisson, Stacy Crinks, Stephanie Block, and Tiffany Shlain. Franc D’Ambrosio, one of the world’s longest running Phantoms of the Opera, performed iconic songs from PhanMaria Pitcairn, Robert Beadle

tom and Broadway.

Jill Wickersham, Arlene Inch, Tanum Davis Bohen

Marilyn Cabak, Michael Cabak

Ashanti Branch, Glenna Hamilton

Tanum Davis Bohen, Donnie Waters, Elaine Mellis, Claude Bryant and others

Courtney Dallaire, 109 Greg Desmond, Elaine Mellis

BY MARK RHOADES

HauteSCENE

Joshua Morgan, Sean Livingston, Trent Norris, Chris Meza, Jack Calhoun, Farah Makras, and Will La Bahn

Nick Augustinos, Trent Norris, Jack Calhoun, Kurt Kirschner Mark Ryle and Chris Meza

Atmosphere

OH, OSCAR! A NIGHT OF GLITZ, GLAMOUR, AND GENEROSITY THE SAINT FRANCIS FOUNDATION HOSTED THEIR 5TH ANNUAL “AN Intimate Evening with Oscar” Academy Awards viewing party and benefit on February 9 at the Fairmont Penthouse Suite, Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. All proceeds from the event benefited Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in support of its expansion campaign for the new Gender Institute.

“An Intimate Evening with Oscar is the Saint Francis Foundation’s evening to honor our donors. From the moment you sweep onto the red carpet, you’re our ‘Best Nominee!’” shares Christopher J. Meza, Event Founder and Chair.

“This year’s event was another record-breaking year, and it wouldn’t be possible without our generous sponsors and guests, who helped us raise over $155,000 for Saint Francis,” said Mark Ryle, Saint Francis Foundation President.

Jordan Deschamps-Braly, Ginger Hsu, Jennifer Fick, Gorretti Lo Lui, Mindy Sun, and Peter Sun

Atmosphere

Richard Kolosky, Heather Arora, Arjun Arora, Michelle, Daniella Vallurupalli, Neely Pointer, Kate Smith, and Ted Smith

Joshua Morgan, Pernella Sommerville, Tony Sananikone, Mark Rhoades, Tanum Davis Bohen, Elaine Mellis, and others

Tony Sananikone, Brian Ayer, Joshua Morgan, Pernella Sommerville, Kim Kilbride, Jason Seifer, Michael Gregg, Mark Rhoades

Tanum Davis Bohen, Clara Shayevich, Joel Goodrich, Elaine Mellis, and Ted Hannig

Farah Makras and Sonya Molodetskaya

BY MARK RHOADES

HauteSCENE

BIG HEARTS AND GREAT LEADERS SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION HOSTS HEARTS IN SF FUNDRAISER AT ORACLE PARK HEARTS IN SF IS A VIBRANT CELEBRATION HELD ON THE FIELD OF ORACLE PARK TO benefit the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. Presented by the Foundation, event honorary chair Lisa Stone Pritzker, and co-chairs Schuyler Hudak, Lionel C. Johnson, and Andrew McCollum, Hearts in SF celebrates the work Zuckerberg San Francisco General does every day. The annual

Mayor London Breed and Alonzo King

fundraiser was a night of hope focused on the urgent need for community mental and behavioral healthcare solutions. During the program, three leaders received Heart Awards which recognize extraordinary community leaders who exemplify the compassion and commitment of the Foundation and ZSFG—caring for all San Franciscans. Recipients: Hearts in SF featured interactive art installations, inspiring remarks, live music from DJ ThatGirl and Mustache Harbor, the 2020 series of the iconic “Hearts in San Francisco” public art project sculptures, and more.

Pam Baer, Schuyler Hudak, Judy Guggenhime

Art Agnos and Nancy Bechtle

Lisa Fortuna and Michelle Porche

Denise Bradley-Tyson and Willie Brown

Dr. Hemal Kanzaria, Jenna Bilinski, and Jack Chase

Denise Bradley-Tyson, Larry Baer, and Pam Baer

Rich Guggenhime, Ivar Satero, and Willie Brown 111

BY STEPHANIE BLOCK

HauteSEAT LIFE OUT LOUD:

RADIO ICON GREG SHERRELL A Fan’s Thank You for 15 Years of Smiles

Greg interviewing dance artist “Cash Cash” at 997now’s Electric Bounce House at San Jose Convention Center.

Greg interviewing Normani, formerly of Fifth Harmony

Big Bay Mornings Greg Sherrell and Bennie Seigal with pop artist Hasely at Poptopia

I COULDN’T WAIT TO INTERVIEW GREG SHERELL, THE PRINCE

watcher, and as funny as all get-out, as we Texans say. He calls his mom back

of Bay Area radio for almost two decades. The Fernando & Greg morning

home on air every week; listeners have named her peacocks and cows. Greg

show hit Bay Area radio waves in 2006. The duo came from Dallas, Texas

as “Gregdini” makes predictions about life that are never wrong, and Ben-

and launched on Energy 92.7 FM as the first openly gay radio personalities

nie and Greg also help Bay Areans with their love lives on zeitgeist-capturing

on a self-proclaimed gay-oriented radio station. When that radio station sold,

segments like “Ghost Busters,” where the guys help you find out why you got

they moved to 99.7 NOW FM. Then last year, fantastic Fernando Ventura

ghosted. Reasons have ranged from the stench of dirty socks to being over-

broke away from Greg and moved to the 10:00 a.m. time slot, just after Greg’s

served on a first date.

6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. show. Greg’s new partner on air is the vibrant Bennie

Greg is as locally foundational as Karl the Fog and the Giants’ public ad-

Siegal, and their chemistry is awesome. The show has rebranded as Big Bay

dress announcer, Renel Brooks-Moon, personalities who give us their all and

Mornings.

co-create our culture. I’m a long-time listener and first-time profiler, and I

Greg is a Texan with a twang, a die-hard sports fan, a Real Housewives

112

thank Greg for waking me up with a smile every weekday morning.

Big Bay Morning’s annual Holiday Toy Drive

Big Bay Morning’s annual SF Pride kick off broadcast the Friday of Pride featuring SF drag legend Heklina

The greatest gift radio has given me is a voice.

How is it working with Bennie after so many years with Fernando?

I think I’ve lasted so long because I’m authentic with people. I share my life. I’m

This is my fifteenth year in Bay Area radio and twelfth at 99.7 NOW. For 12 years,

observant—I eavesdrop in restaurants. Nothing is off-limits for my show. Material

there was no change. Then in 2019, there were two changes: Fernando left, then

is all around. You can’t have boundaries in a job like this. People in your life don’t

Shan left [the delightful Shan Berries a.k.a. Shannon Clark had a successful stint

necessarily sign up for this. It can be detrimental in dating. I’ve always pursued the

with F&G on air]. All this change makes me feel refreshed and recharged. Bennie

career; I’ve always wanted to be honest with the audience. And I find humor in eve-

and I complement one another—we are very different people with very different

rything—you have to be able to laugh at yourself. I’m so structured now that it drives

perspectives and life experiences. We reflect the greater Bay Area.

my friends crazy. I’m not spontaneous, I’m ridiculous.

You are a radio pioneer.

What is the future of radio?

I think Fernando and I were the first openly gay duo on the radio, on classic, ter-

Radio gets revenue through ad money. Now we compete with podcasts and tech

restrial radio. It was revolutionary. Fifteen years ago, people said we wouldn’t last.

companies. But people still listen to radio in huge numbers; it’s not dying. People

That’s one thing I’m most proud of: we’re still standing. San Francisco is the only

enjoy that simplicity, I think. You turn on the radio and listen to the same people

place this could have happened. Now, the format might work other places. Even

every day. A podcast isn’t quite the same. Howard Stern is an idol of mine, and he

with today’s politics, huge strides have been made. But when we first started out, I

talks about how podcasts don’t have the same pressure to be on top that radio shows

made sure we wouldn’t be caricatures of a gay stereotype. Sometimes we would be

do. We have an on-demand option for our show on the station’s website and smart

asked to be “a little more gay.” We had to school people on how offensive that was.

phone app. Radio is adapting to that model. You can listen to us anywhere, anytime.

We are out gay men. We just wanted to be ourselves.

Radio is important because it serves the community. It has all these things: callins, contests, events, concerts, giveaways. The greatest gift radio has given me is a

What’s a favorite celebrity moment?

voice. I give my opinion and share my humor with tons of people. Everyone in the

We were one of the first to introduce Lady Gaga. It was right when her first single,

world wants to be heard. I get to do that every day.

“Just Dance,” came out. No one really knew who she was. She was a guest on our show at 7:00 a.m. She was amazing.

How do you give back?

Our annual holiday toy drive is a huge fundraiser. We also support many commu-

What’s your favorite radio segment?

nity events like SF Pride. And we provide a means of connection. Parents say they

My favorite is with my mom. A weekly call to her isn’t work. We call it “Down Home

drive their kids to school and listen to us together. Our show gives them something

with Ginger.” I think it’s so popular because a lot of people here are transplants, and

to talk about. One parent said she was sad when her daughter got her driver’s li-

it reminds them of their mom or grandma, especially transplants from the South. It

cense, because, after ten years, they wouldn’t share that morning ritual anymore.

is familiar. It’s a joy for me, too, that I have been able to share this spotlight with her.

Another listener once told us that she was hospitalized for two months and that we

She is such a star in her own right. She has no clue when she comes here how many

got her through it. She listened to us every morning. Or parents who tell me that

people know her and love her.

when their kids come out, they have them listen to our radio show for a positive role model. It’s important for them to hear someone like themselves on the radio.

What are you like off the air?

Radio connects people from all walks of life. We meet different kinds of people all

[Laughs.] People think my life is more glamorous than it is. Morning radio is hard.

the time, and what brings them together is our radio show. That’s pretty great for a

You want to have a normal life, but you are in bed at 8:00 p.m. and up at 4:00 a.m.

morning’s work. I love being a part of that.

During the week, you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor. And you have to take care of yourself. I get three to four weeks off, but I’ve been on air over 200 days a year for

CATCH Greg and Bennie on Big Bay Mornings every weekday morning from

15 years. Sleep is a big thing. In my youth I could push it more, but now not so much,

6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on 99.7 NOW FM and on-demand on 997now.com and

or it just ruins your whole day.

streaming on the free smartphone app as well as on the majors of social media.

113

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions

AUCT ION

Golden Gate Bridge View Estate 4+ Beds | 4 Baths | 1 Half-Baths | 4,800± sq. ft.

Beautiful ±4,800 square foot high quality home on approximately half acre level land with panoramic views of San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Belvedere Lagoon and Island, Sausalito and Richardson Bay. Spacious gated courtyard entry with ample parking and gorgeous landscaping throughout the property, including matured olive trees, cypress trees, colorful flower beds and a level lawn. 4+ bedrooms. 4.5 bath, living room with stone fireplace, formal dining room with view terrace, large family room with book-case, office or 5th bedroom, wine cellar, 3-car garage, luxurious

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

Deadline to Bid is April 10, 2020 at 5pm Original List Price: $6,950,000 master bath, spacious grand gourmet kitchen, and high ceilings. Located on one of the best streets in Tiburon, this immaculate home was remodeled in 2015 with high quality designer touches throughout, such as 9-foot solid wood interior doors, crown molding, 8-inch baseboards, hand painted Italian plaster walls, ceilings and window/ door trims, coffer ceilings, special fine stucco and more.

For more detailed information, please visit: 11Acela.com

IN COOPERATION WITH

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

These properties are listed for sale by Olivia Hsu Decker (#00712080) of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, 10 Beach Road, Tiburon CA 94920 – 415.720.5915. Guy Masters, Auction Consultant, is the provider of auction marketing services and is not acting in the capacity of a real estate agent or broker. The services referred to herein are not available to residents of any state where prohibited by applicable state law. Guy Masters, Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, its agents and affiliates, broker partners, and the Sellers do not warrant or guaranty the accuracy or completeness of any information and shall have no liability for errors or omissions or inaccuracies under any circumstances in this or any other property listings or advertising, promotional or publicity statements and materials. This is not meant as a solicitation for listings. Brokers are fully protected and encouraged to participate. See Auction Terms and Conditions for more details. ©2020 Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated. Neither Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC nor any of their affiliated companies is providing any product or service in connection with this auction event.

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions Golden Gate Bridge View Estate

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

Tiburon, California

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions

AUCT ION

Waterfront Living on San Francisco Bay 4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2 Half-Baths | 4,000± sq. ft.

State-of-the-art extremely high-quality home built by Red Horse Construction in 2014. Waterfront with boat dock. Contemporary open floor plan features living, dining and kitchen combo, 5 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances. Spacious entertainment deck over San Francisco Bay. Front courtyard entry with water feature, fruit trees, lush landscaping, and fully fenced garden for privacy. Pocket doors in all main rooms opening to panoramic views of San Francisco Bay including the Golden Gate Bridge, city skyline, Sausalito, Strawberry Shores and

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

Deadline to Bid is April 10, 2020 at 5pm Original List Price: $8,980,000 Mt. Tamalpais. 2-car garage with access door and half-bath for gardener.

Radiant floor heating, tankless hot water heaters, solar, and Sound Vision sound system. Located on flat and wide West Shore Road, with easy access to Tiburon Boulevard, downtown, ferry and Highway 101. Award winning Tiburon School District. This property is not a land lease.

For more detailed information, please visit: 39WestShore.com

IN COOPERATION WITH

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

These properties are listed for sale by Olivia Hsu Decker (#00712080) of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, 10 Beach Road, Tiburon CA 94920 – 415.720.5915. Guy Masters, Auction Consultant, is the provider of auction marketing services and is not acting in the capacity of a real estate agent or broker. The services referred to herein are not available to residents of any state where prohibited by applicable state law. Guy Masters, Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, its agents and affiliates, broker partners, and the Sellers do not warrant or guaranty the accuracy or completeness of any information and shall have no liability for errors or omissions or inaccuracies under any circumstances in this or any other property listings or advertising, promotional or publicity statements and materials. This is not meant as a solicitation for listings. Brokers are fully protected and encouraged to participate. See Auction Terms and Conditions for more details. ©2020 Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated. Neither Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC nor any of their affiliated companies is providing any product or service in connection with this auction event.

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions Waterfront Living on San Francisco Bay

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

Belvedere, California

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions

AUCT ION

Napa Valley Vineyard Estate 5 Bedrooms | 6 Full Baths | 2 Half-Baths | ±5,653 sq. ft. | ±9.46 Acres A Nantucket inspired vineyard estate situated between Saint Helena and Calistoga, this charming residence on ±9.46 acres features a gated entrance with tree lined drive, appx. 5,653 sq. ft. main residence offers 4 en-suite bedrooms, spacious living/dining room, generous gourmet kitchen, plus a separate charming apartment with 1 bedroom, 1 bath and kitchen, a wine cellar adjacent to wine bar, billiard room, a pool and a stone pool house which currently serves as a guest house with bedroom, full-bath and kitchenette. Appx. 1.3 acre fully managed vineyard produces

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

Deadline to Bid is April 10, 2020 at 5pm Original List Price: $4,950,000 around 3 tons of Zinfandel grapes and is farmed by the professionals from Alpha Omega Winery. The level lawn and many patios offer ample outdoor entertainment venues, and the convenient Silverado Trail location offers easy access to downtown St. Helena, Calistoga and the beautiful lifestyle of Napa Valley.

For more detailed information, please visit: CalistogaEstate.com

IN COOPERATION WITH

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

These properties are listed for sale by Olivia Hsu Decker (#00712080) of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, 10 Beach Road, Tiburon CA 94920 – 415.720.5915. Guy Masters, Auction Consultant, is the provider of auction marketing services and is not acting in the capacity of a real estate agent or broker. The services referred to herein are not available to residents of any state where prohibited by applicable state law. Guy Masters, Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, its agents and affiliates, broker partners, and the Sellers do not warrant or guaranty the accuracy or completeness of any information and shall have no liability for errors or omissions or inaccuracies under any circumstances in this or any other property listings or advertising, promotional or publicity statements and materials. This is not meant as a solicitation for listings. Brokers are fully protected and encouraged to participate. See Auction Terms and Conditions for more details. ©2020 Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated. Neither Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC nor any of their affiliated companies is providing any product or service in connection with this auction event.

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions Napa Valley Vineyard Estate

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

Napa, California

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions

AUCT ION

8 Bedrooms | 9 Baths | 2 Half-Baths | ±12,109 sq. ft. | ±52 Acres Deadline to Bid is April 10, 2020 at 5pm | Original List Price: $22,500,000 Towering above Silicon Valley and Los Gatos hills, the Aztec Estate offers a pool with spa, a tennis court, ridge-top 360-degree panoramic views, incredible scale and unrivaled quality, all in one of the most exceptional settings in Northern California. Secluded in a private enclave at the end of a gated drive, the residence features soaring ceiling atrium, modern open floor plan, sweeping entertainment decks and sliding glass walls that bring phenomenal views to the forefront of the living experience. The main residence features superior quality and resort-like amenities throughout the extraordinary living space, linear designs, and prominent contemporary styling. Engineering and utilitarian elements play into the timeless design of George Foy, with materials like glass, stone, and steel used liberally in construction to showcase the natural beauty of this estate and the finest selection of materials and finishes, exquisite interior design and exterior landscape. The gourmet chef’s kitchen, with large center island and top-of-the-line appliances, features large butler’s pantry, full size indoor grill, and over-sized custom glass windows. Secluded in its own private wing, the luxurious master suite is surrounded by sweeping panoramic views. An opulent marble bathroom boasts amazing ceiling heights and custom walk-in closets. With an office space, oversized fireplace and

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

sitting area, sliding doors lead to a sprawling outdoor lounge overlooking the pool below and sunset on the horizon. This gated estate offers total privacy, steel frame construction, wine cellar, billiards room with wet bar, two custom offices, and state-of-the-art technology.

The estate’s resort-like grounds are as impressive as the residence, offering the versatility to retreat in serenity or entertain with lavish events. Features include an infinity pool, spa, tennis/basketball court, outdoor bar and grill, fire pit, manicured gardens, various terraces and seating areas, fountains, waterfall, and wrap-around decks with endless views. As seen on HGTV’s Extreme Homes, Forbes magazine and DuPont Registry, this stunning private enclave, just minutes from the heart of energetically charged Silicon Valley, maintains a retreat from the bustling lights below while sharing the neighborhood with several of Silicon Valley’s elites. Aztec Estate is truly a unique combination of privacy, serenity, panoramic views, and luxury amenities, all in a one-of-a-kind modern masterpiece.

Photos and video on: AztecEstateLosGatos.com

IN COOPERATION WITH

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

These properties are listed for sale by Olivia Hsu Decker (#00712080) of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, 10 Beach Road, Tiburon CA 94920 – 415.720.5915. Guy Masters, Auction Consultant, is the provider of auction marketing services and is not acting in the capacity of a real estate agent or broker. The services referred to herein are not available to residents of any state where prohibited by applicable state law. Guy Masters, Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, its agents and affiliates, broker partners, and the Sellers do not warrant or guaranty the accuracy or completeness of any information and shall have no liability for errors or omissions or inaccuracies under any circumstances in this or any other property listings or advertising, promotional or publicity statements and materials. This is not meant as a solicitation for listings. Brokers are fully protected and encouraged to participate. See Auction Terms and Conditions for more details. ©2020 Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated. Neither Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC nor any of their affiliated companies is providing any product or service in connection with this auction event.

Luxury Lifestyle Auctions Contemporary Masterpiece of Epic Proportions

LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com Guy Masters Auction Consultant

415.720.4225

Olivia Hsu Decker, Listing Agent 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 olivia@sanfranciscofinehomes.com sanfranciscofinehomes.com

Los Gatos, California

Olivia Hsu Decker presents...

Luxury Lifest yle Auctions Auction Bidding Deadline is April 10 at 5pm

The world’s finest art, jewelry, cars and wines are sold at auctions. Why not fine homes as well?

We present the California Luxury Lifestyle Auction, a rare opportunity to purchase some of the finest homes from Silicon Valley to Marin County to Napa Valley at one auction event. Contact us now, the deadline to bid is April 10th.

Please visit LuxuryLifestyleAuctions.com or call 415.720.4225 for properties offered and further details.

Call or Text Olivia Hsu Decker at 415.720.5915 | Lic.# 00712080 IN COOPERATION WITH

Olivia Hsu Decker | olivia.hsudecker@sothebysrealty.com Guy Masters, Auction Consultant | 415.720.4225