SEPT-OCT 2022 HAUTE LIVING, SAN FRANCISCO by Haute Living San Francisco

LUXURY LIFESTYLE WITH PURPOSESEPTEMBER/OCTOBER EXCLUSIVE2022INTERVIEW AND EVENING WITH ANDREA BOCELLI AND FAMILY$20.00 SAN FRANCISCO | SILICON VALLEY | MARIN | NAPA | NORTHERN CALIFORNIA The Arts & Entertainment Issue

ROMA FENDI.COM2830520646FRANCISCOSANSAKSGRANTFRANCISCOSAN

Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 California Lifestyle Collection

Waterfront Residence

Rare Belvedere with Views

of Golden Gate Bridge and City

Featured in Architectural Digest, this world-class residence showcases panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, the entire city skyline of San Francisco, and Sausalito. This magnificent masterpiece in a dramatic setting on the most prestigious location is comprised of a ±8,131 sq .ft. home on a ±0.67 acre lot, featuring 4 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. This architectural work of art was designed by architect Charles Gwathmey, with spectacular outlooks from every corner of the expansive 4-level o or plan. The primarily vertical organization of this house takes advantage of its sloped site on the southern coast of Belvedere Island. The uppermost level contains a 3-car garage with glass doors, an elevator which descends to a courtyard, a detached one bedroom, one bath guesthouse and a spacious wine cellar. The remaining levels of the main house are situated between two large retaining walls, which follow the natural contours of the site and splay outwards towards the Bay. The house’s compact organization within the precinct formed by the retaining walls ensures privacy. An interior circular stair winds around an elevator and forms the cylindrical focal point of the house’s massing. A barrel-vaulted ceiling articulates the living and dining room at the entry level of the main house, and a large deck projects towards the Bay to extend the space into the landscape. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a study and a two-story entertainment room occupy the intermediate oors, while a media room, a beautiful wet bar, a full bath with steam shower and sauna on the lowest level open onto a spacious outdoor terrace with a pool, whose “in nity edge” of water establishes a poetic connection to the Bay. The interior oors are limestone and wide plank, Bubinga wood and cabinets are lightly stained maple. The exterior is clad in gray stained cedar, with a curved standing seam zinc roof. All exterior windows, doors and decks are teak, all terraces are beige/gray amed limestone pavers and the retaining walls are painted warm white stucco.

Stunning

Offered at $31,000,0004 Beds | 5 Baths | 1 Half-Bath | ±8,131 sq. ft

445BelvedereAve com 455 Belvedere Ave also ,for sale offered at: $6,500,000

More photos and information can be found at: 445BelvedereAve.com

California Lifestyle Collection Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080

6 Beds | 8 Baths | 6,800±

1250-1210 Oakwood Lane, St. Helena, CA | 1250oakwoodLane.com

California Lifestyle Collection

This enchanting, gated estate in St. Helena o ers resort-like living, privacy, and the best of Wine Country at your door. Located next to the renowned Meadowood Resort, the residence is located on two legally separate parcels totaling 12.13± acres on an undulating knoll with sprawling grounds and mature gardens in a park-like oasis. Approached through a Mediterranean-inspired central courtyard with fountain, the grand yet understated 6,800± sq. ft. home combines contemporary design with timeless California architecture. The residence is an entertainer’s dream, featuring six bedrooms, seven and one-half baths, stately living and dining rooms with soaring vaulted ceilings, and a true gourmet chef’s kitchen that has been graced by the likes of Thomas Keller and other culinary masters. The primary bedroom rivals that of a five-star hotel suite, featuring dramatic vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, lounge area, walk-in closets and a spa-worthy bathroom complete with both indoor and outdoor showers. Adjacent to the main living areas are expansive Ironwood decks, terraces, and an outdoor dining pavilion with a modern twist on the classic California barn silhouette. Beyond is a 55-foot infinity edge swimming pool with spa and a cascading stone waterfall façade best viewed from the two private ensuite Casitas nearby. Additional highlights include a home gym/guest house, a 1,300-bottle wine vault, boccie court, built-in children’s bunk room, meandering garden pathways, vegetables gardens, a twelve-car motor court, and custom lighting throughout. The second parcel has a separate APN and is suitable for a private residence or guest house compound. Located approximately 1.6 miles to the center of downtown St. Helena bustling with restaurants, art galleries, wineries, boutiques and more, this serene Wine Country estate o ers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the most discerning of buyers.

$ 1 0 ,888,000 = Entire Estate (Home + 6.1 Acre adjacent Lo t at 1210 Oa kwo od Lane) $9, 500 ,000 = Home Only $1, 500 ,000 = Adjacent 6.1 ± A cre lot without the home sq. ft. $10,888,000

Serene Wine Country Estate on 2 Adjacent 6± Acre Parcels Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080

California Lifestyle Collection Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080

features the highlights of 2022 Festival Napa Valley and the Arts for All fundraising gala which raised remarkable $3.9 million this year to benefit schools’ musical education and community programs in the Napa community. Also, Sharon Seto interviews Jon Steiger who plays Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Travel is back! We take you to the Sofitel Hotel in Rome and Hotel Conrad in the Maldives. If you prefer to stay close to home, read our Napa Valley round-up and details of the Presidio. Our food and wine sections and Haute Scenes are action-packed with events and people. This issue’s Haute Residence is a rare home designed by Howard Backen and sited on 61 acres with 11 acres of vineyards (details on www. Our writers and ambassadors strive to entertain you in our pages with fun, inspiring, and interesting articles. We invite you to share your stories and events with us, too.

The most beautiful time of the year in San Francisco is fall when the summer fog finally burns off and sunshine returns as locals return from their summer vacations, children start school, and the performing arts season opens. We are happy to report San Francisco is full of live events again. I remembered my sorrow when writing the fall 2020 issue’s cover story, “Performing Arts Postponed, But Not Silenced: The Power of Music Gone Virtual,” showing an empty San Francisco Opera House populated by a cut-out audience as the cover photo. I am so excited the performing arts are returning to full swing! San Francisco Opera is having its centennial celebration with the opulent Opera Ball on September 9 and a grand opening night concert starring tenor Michael Fabiano and soprano Nadine Sierra under the baton of music director Eun Sun Kim. San Francisco Symphony is having their opening night concert and gala on September 23, featuring Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream accompanied by the African-American Shakespeare Company who will perform selected scenes from Shakespeare’s iconic play. The San Francisco Fall Show for arts, antiques, and design will reopen to celebrate its 40th anniversary on October 13 through 16. Haute Living is media sponsor of all these grand events, and you can read the details in this issue.

OLIVIA Textwww.HauteLivingSF.comOlivia@HauteLivingSF.comOWNER/PUBLISHER415.720.5915

HSU DECKER

PUBLISHER’S Letter

The most exciting event of all is a private evening with Andrea Bocelli and his family on December 2, which is a part of Oliva Decker Power of Music Series of Festival Napa Valley. This meaningful event will benefit Festival Napa Valley’s musical programs and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF). Bocelli is a philanthropist as well as an unsurpassed artist. Since 2011, ABF has empowered people and communities facing poverty, illiteracy, illness, and social exclusion. Our cover story presents a rare, exclusive interview Andrea Bocelli, granted to Haute Living in conversation with Mauro Aprile Zanetti about his life and the power of music to not only touch hearts but empower the people and communities his foundation Thissupports.issue

PUBLISHER Olivia Hsu Olivia@HauteLivingSF.comDecker EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Teresa Teresa@HauteLivingSF.comRodriguez ART DIRECTOR Krisha Krisha@HauteLivingSF.comChhaganlal DIGITAL EDITOR Laurie Jo Miller Laurie@HauteLivingSF.comFarr COPY EDITOR Karen M. henhousepublishing@gmail.comSmith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Boden, Noël Burgess, Laurie Jo Miller Farr, Becca Hensley, Steph Keay, Fran Endicott Miller, Robert B. Richards, and Sharon Seto. ABOUT TOWN AMBASSADOR Aubrey Brewster HEALTH AND WELLNESS AMBASSADOR Lydia Graham LUXURY AUTO AMBASSADOR Tim TL@JMBM.comLappen SUBSCRIPTION AND DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES Olivia Hsu Olivia@HauteLivingSF.comDecker AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE Cindy Cindy@HauteLivingSF.comPelland Haute Living San Francisco Visit us at www.HauteLivingSF.com Follow us @HauteLivingSF for your guide to all things haute

HAUTE KITCHEN 22 Chef Jennifer Puccio’s love affair with food may have begun on a small farm in New Hampshire, but it’s culimination is right here in San Francisco.

COVER STORY 42 Our exclusive interview with Andrea Bocelli about his life, his music and his Andrea Bocelli Foundation empowering people and communities in need.

8 Haute Living, San Francisco | www.HauteLivingSF.com ON THE COVER ANDREA BOCELLI PHOTO BY LUCA ROSETTI

TABLE CONTENTSof Cover

HAUTE WINE 28 Worried the restaurant won’t have your favorite wine? Worry no more: these wineries offer dinner with their wines.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 44 San Francisco Symphony and the AfricanAmerican Shakespeare Company will open the season, mixing theater and music in A Midsummer Night’s Dream 48 Sharon Seto goes behind the scenes of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in an interview with Jon Steiger who plays Scorpius Malfoy. 52 San Francisco Opera kicks off the 2022-2023 season with a timeless classic, Antony and Cleopatra, and its famed Opera Ball.

HAUTE TRAVEL 58 Savor quaint small towns, coastal charm, picturesque beaches, boutique shopping, and the freshest seafood on the East Coast—all in Martha’s Vineyard. 62 With majestic mountain views, relaxing spas, and the most innovative dining experiences wine country has to offer, you’ll be glad to take your vacation Napa Valley, even if you live here. 66 Vision and determination result in a unique repurposing of a disused U.S. Army post into a family-friendly, public park: the Presidio Tunnel Tops. Story

6 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 10 EDITOR’S LETTER 12 HAUTE CALENDAR HAUTE DRINKS 16 Modern noir and contemporary elegance mix as beautifully as the cocktails at the St. Regis Bar. HAUTE SHOPPING 20 The shape and style of wine glasses affect the wine. These manufacturers offer goblets crafted to bring our each wine’s best qualities.

HAUTE CUISINE 32 The first Purple Urchin Festival capitalizes on this invasive species’ delicious roe.

Haute Cuisine

HAUTE AMBASSADOR 106 Do you want to live longer and be healthier? Who doesn’t? Lydia Graham explains how intermittent fasting can help.

HAUTE SCENE 82 Local celebrities and notables joined Haute Living, San Francisco at The Vault Steakhouse to celebrate the release of our “Leaders & Legends” issue.

HAUTE EVENT 88 Festival Napa Valley once again wowed attendees with more than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants, chefs, and local vinters helping to make the arts accessible to all.

92 The V Foundation pulled out all the stops to raise $6.5 million for early cancer detection research.

86 The pre-party building anticipation for San Francisco Symphony’s opening night gala featured a performance of Caroline Shaw’s Limestone and Felt

94 The Sun Valley Wine Auction continued its support of the Sun Valley Museum of Art for the 41st year with participation from over 50 regional wineries.

SF Symphony Haute Travel Festival Napa Valley Haute Hotel

84 Those looking for the best in ready-to-wear designer brands found next season’s fashions at the Art of Fashion runway show.

98 Mushrooms add more than just a flavor to food, they also have many healthful properties benefiting mind and body.

HAUTE BEAUTY 96 Dr. Karen Horton explains how mastopexy can help restore “the girls” to their youthful glory.

85 Upscale fashion and retail came together to raise funds and showcase designer styles to benefit Lake Tahoe.

108 Man-about-town Aubrey Brewster celebrates this issue’s food and wine theme by interviewing the key personalities at his two favorite restaurants.

HAUTE RESIDENCE

HAUTE HOTEL 72 You’ll want to spend eternity at the luxurious and chic Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese.

76 An exotic vacation at the Conrad Maldives on Rangali Island delivers barefoot luxury with overwater and beachfront villas.

87 The renovated 1868 Calistoga Depot honors its fascinating history with new meeting space, retail, food, and beverage vendors to come.

TABLE CONTENTSof

102 Move seamlessly between indoors and outdoors at this 61-acre, luxurious retreat with prime vineyards and magnificent views.

HAUTE AUTO 104 Tim Lappen reviews two extremely dissimilar vehicles: the McLaren 765 LT Spider and the Hummer EV Pickup

Another rebirth has taken place at the St. Regis bar. The St. Regis Hotel, renowned for redefining luxury hospitality in San Francisco, recently completed an elegant update. Noël Burgess introduces us to the newly imagined space and the delicious drinks and dishes the bar now offers (page 16).

FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OUR BELOVED PERFORMING arts venues have been dark. Stage lights were off, curtains stayed lowered, and theater seats remained empty. But in the past few weeks, excitement has been increasing, actors are rehearsing, and the city is seeing a muchanticipated revival of live entertainment. Haute Living, San Francisco is front row and center, showcasing the plethora of live events that are taking our city by storm.

San Francisco Opera is celebrating its 100th anniversary—yes, you read that right. The city is abuzz with San Francisco Opera’s magnificent gala on September 9. Steph Keay takes us on a tour of the opera and how its incredible influence has shaped San Francisco’s cultural skyline for a century (page 52). We are lucky to have one of the most excellent opera companies in the nation.

Although it’s officially fall, it feels like spring. A sense of optimism fills the air, now that it looks like we’ve gotten through the pesky pandemic which shut the world down in 2020. Everyone I speak with has a renewed appreciation for the little things in life that bring us joy, and we hope this magazine is one of them.

TERESA

MUGANDANELLIEBYUPMAKEANDHAIRGOTTI,©VINCENTCREDIT:PHOTO RODRIGUEZ

Sharon Seto shares the magic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child . She received a rare opportunity to interview actor Jon Steiger, who plays Scorpius Malfoy in the play’s San Francisco production. His fascinating story is truly inspiring (page 48).

HauteEDITOR-IN-CHIEFLivingSan www.HauteLivingSF.comTeresa@HauteLivingSF.comFrancisco EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S Letter

Jennifer Boden catches up with San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Night Gala’s co-chairs, Jeremy Gallaher and Navid Armstrong. The celebration will take place on September 23 at Davies Symphony Hall (page 44). This year the theme is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and we are all curious to see how the symphony will transform the venue into a Shakespearian wonderland replete with guests in spectacular outfits. Autumn in San Francisco is the start of our warm season. Laurie Jo Miller Farr gives a wonderful rundown of all we can do in the Presidio this season. The much-anticipated Tunnel Tops park is now open to the public, adding 14 acres of parkland to our city. She also shares some of the Presidio’s secrets, including a list of places to eat, play, and enjoy (page 66).

SHARON SETO A graduate of Golden Gate University and serial entrepreneur, Sharon loves the excitement and creativity of the business world and its people. Her addiction to business ventures began with the acquisition of the El Cid Building, site of the famous SF Jazz Mural. She has served as a board member, fundraiser, and event chair for nonprofit organizations, including the SF Symphony Board of Governors, City College of San Francisco Foundation Board, Red Cross Board, National Colorectal Cancer Alliance Board, SF Ballet, and Dress for Success.

NOËL BURGESS Noël Burgess is an East Coaster living in Northern California wine country. His goal is to promote diversity and inclusion in wine, food, and travel with a focus on the places, the products, and most importantly, the people! Noël’s work can be found in VinePair, Wine Enthusiast, Travel & Leisure, Thrillist, San Francisco Magazine, and many other media platforms. Follow him on Instagram @mrnoelburgess and at noelburgess.com.

SAN FRANCISCO’S

Contributors

BECCA HENSLEY A bon vivant journalist who believes travel is the ultimate celebration of life awash with lessons waiting to be learned, widely-published, Texas-based Becca Hensley is travel editor for New Orleans Bride and editor-at-large for Insider’s Guide to Spas. In a career spanning three decades, she has contributed to scores of magazines and newspapers, including Architectural Digest, Elite Traveler, Global Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @beccahensley.

STEPH KEAY Steph Keay is a Canadian freelance and technical writer currently based in Silicon Valley. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, she spent a summer in Croatia assisting The Yacht Week with events management on the islands of Hvar and Vis. Formerly in PR/marketing, she has also placed stories for a variety of clients—including tech leaders, international artists, and acclaimed actors and musicians—with ABC, FOX, NBC, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News, American Way, and others. In her spare time, she enjoys adventuring, photography, and travel— all of which she documents on on her website, StephKeay.com.

LAURIE JO MILLER FARR Laurie is a US/UK dual citizen and dedicated urbanite who loves walkable cities. As a San Francisco-based travel writer, she enjoys views from its crazy, signature hills following half-a-lifetime promoting her two hometowns—a couple of oh-so-flat places: New York City and London. Laurie’s byline is found in USA Today, CBS, Where Traveler, Haute Living, Epicure, Fast Company, Napa Valley Life Magazine, Food & Travel Magazine, Eater, Google Touring Bird, and other major media titles. She was awarded Yahoo Contributor of the Year and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

JENNIFER BODEN Jennifer is a freelance wine, food, and travel writer based in beautiful Sonoma County and has an extensive career in journalism. She contributes to KRON 4 News San Francisco, ABC 10News San Diego, and others. Prior to her writing career, she worked for several network affiliates as a news anchor and executive producer. She earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University’s prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

Fran Endicott Miller is a luxury-focused freelance feature writer for a variety of lifestyle publications and websites, editor-at-large for JustLuxe.com, and California editor for luxury travel concierge service Essentialist. Prior, she held positions in the fields of politics, television, and professional sports. She is proud to have established the Golden State Warriors’ first community relations department and programs. When not traveling, she can be found walking her Northern California neighborhood with her beloved golden retrievers, Reggie and Nate.

8SFJAZZ11 | Opening Week

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

4th10 Annual Chuseok (Korean Harvest) Festival

Throughout September San Francisco Giants The last full month of regular season play brings 13 home games to Oracle Park, plus two more home games on Oct. 1 and 2. mlb.com/giants

The Bay Area’s largest event to showcase Korean culture, cuisine, music, arts, and community is held on the Main Lawn at the Presidio, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. koreancentersf.org

OPERA;SFCOOPER,MICHAEL©CREDITS:PHOTO

Haute Events kicks off with Moulin Rouge and ends with a spooky Halloween screening of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Grace Cathedral. It’s time for the glamorous Centennial Opera Ball and San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Night Gala.

Leyla McCalla (cellist, banjoist, singer, and guitarist) and piano virtuoso Hiromi open the season. Family matinees on 9/10 and 10/8. Programming continues Thursdays through Sundays. 201 Franklin St. sfjazz.org

Opera9 Ball: The Centennial Celebration

The Monterey Jazz Festival turns 65 and the brand new Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco plans to open its doors this fall. Enjoy!

Eugene Onegin, SF Opera Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Monterey Jazz Festival 2019

FESTIVALJAZZMONTEREYCOURTESYTUNNELL,RANDY©

CALENDAREvents

Sept. 7 through Nov. 6

“Vocal fireworks” describes San Francisco’s biggest night of the year, with proceeds supporting opera education in the Bay Area to ensure the next 100 years of musical excellence. Opera stars Nadine Sierra, Michael Fabiano, Lucas Meachem, and Pene Pati under the baton of music director Eun Sun Kim. sfopera.com/ on-stage/opera-ball 9Global11 Cuisine Series | The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Visiting Michelin-starred chefs collaborate with Navio’s executive chef, Roberto Riveros. From Wallsé in New York City, chef Matthew Neese brings Austrian flair by way of schnitzel, light fish dishes, and Viennese pastries. 1 Miramontes Point Rd. exploretock.com/ navio

Moulin Rouge! The Musical Pop the champagne, Moulin Rouge is the winner of 10 Tony Awards, including best musical. Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Orpheum Theatre, 1152 Market St. moulinrougemusical.com/us-tour/ home San8 Francisco 49ers Only one home game this month, kicking off the season to host the Seattle Seahawks at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara at 1:05 p.m. 49ers.com

SEPTEMBER

CALENDAREvents

Sept. 17 30th Annual Hands Across the Valley

Sept. 16, 17 San Francisco Symphony | Films with Live Orchestra Enjoy the magic of movies and music. September marks the opening of a new season beginning with Star Wars: A New Hope with Live Orchestra. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. sfsymphony.org/ Subscribe/Series/Film-Series

Sept. 13 - Oct. 9 To Kill a Mockingbird All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork on its national tour. Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St. tokillamockingbirdbroadway.com/tour

Sept. 30 - Oct. 1

Sept. 30 - Oct. 4

Brian Copeland | Not a Genuine Black Man San Francisco’s longest running solo show returns for two nights only. A hilarious and insightful look at Bay Area history and at the ways in which our upbringings make us who we are. 99 Moraga Ave. presidiotheatre.org

BAYMOONHALFRITZ-CARLTONOFCOURTESY

24Presidio25 Theatre Between Underground & Skyworld is presented by Dancing Earth, a mixed-heritage dance company, in a work that investigates renewable energy from differing ancestral, cultural, and practical perspectives. 99 Moraga Ave. presidiotheatre.org

New Century Chamber Orchestra opens their 30th anniversary season with Berlin 1938: Broadcasts from a Vanishing Society, a gripping radio musical drama featuring works by Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, and Hanns Eisler. 99 Moraga Ave. presidiotheatre.org 24Jack25London State Historic Park Gala “Once upon a time in a not-so-distant forest” is the theme for a magical evening. Acclaimed musician John Fullbright performs for an intimate audience on Charmian’s Steinway at the House of Happy Walls Museum, 4 p.m. 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. jacklondonpark.com/events/jack-london-gala-2022

16Presidio18 Theatre

Sept. 25, 28 and Oct. 1, 6, 9, 11, 14 San Francisco Opera | Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky’s drama is based on Alexander Pushkin’s deeply human story, one of opera’s most romantic masterpieces. Six evening performances and a Sunday matinee. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. sfopera.com/on-stage/eugene-onegin

Sept. 15 - Oct. 9 Passengers A.C.T. presents contemporary dance, circus arts, singing, acrobatics, and theater, combined in a story that explores a community of strangers with one thing in common: each person has somewhere to go. Geary Theater, 415 Geary St. act-sf.org/whatson/202223-season/passengers

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Pre-concert libations, a spirited performance, and post-concert festivities. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. Galasfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2022-23/Opening-Night-

Oracle NetSuite Open | 10th Anniversary This squash championship is a major PSA World Tour stop featuring 48 world class pros in a new indoor venue at Pier 70, Building 12. oraclenetsuiteopen.com

13 Opera11 in the Park Pack a picnic … a time-honored tradition is back. The free annual outdoor concert at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park is a delightful afternoon of arias and duets performed by stars from the fall season. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. sfopera.com/operainthepark

A fun evening of food, wine, fundraising, and dancing to live music by Mercy & The Heartbeats at the historic Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena, 4 - 10 p.m. handsacrossthevalley.com Sept. 22 - Nov. 5 Indecent SF Playhouse presents Pulitzer winner Paula Vogel’s play based on the real life events surrounding Sholem Asch’s The God of Vengeance. Peppered with popular songs of the era. 450 Post St. sfplayhouse. org/sfph/2022-2023-season/indecent

Sept. 10, 15, 18, 23, 27 and Oct. 2, 5

Sept. 23 San Francisco Symphony | Opening Night Gala

HWAN;TAEKIM©CREDITS:PHOTO

Opera Director Eun Sun Kim

Apple Strudel, Global Cuisine Series at Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

San Francisco Opera | Antony and Cleopatra

John Adams’ thrilling new opera, commissioned for the Company’s centennial. World premiere. Five evening performances and two Sunday matinees. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. sfopera. com/on-stage/antony-and-cleopatra

23Monterey25 Jazz Festival 65 Since 1958, the world’s longest, continuously running jazz festival is held annually at the 20-acre, oakstudded Monterey County Fairgrounds. The nonprofit event is committed to celebrating America’s creativity and cultural heritage by presenting legendary jazz musicians, composers, and young rising stars. montereyjazzfestival.org

Judith Ehrlich Films

On Halloweeen, the sacred space of Grace Cathedral is transformed into a grand movie palace. The 1923 silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s famous story features a live score by organist Dorothy Papadakos, presenting a brief history and appearing in costume as the title character. of-notre-damesfjazz.org/tickets/productions/the-hunchback-

Oct. 14 - 15

San Francisco Opera | Dialogues of the Carmelites Francis Poulenc’s profound drama returns to San Francisco in honor of the Company’s U.S. premiere of the work in 1957. Four evening performances and one Sunday matinee. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. sfopera.com/on-stage/dialogues-of-thecarmelites

Berkeley16 Symphony | Symphonic I: Identities

OCTOBER Interior of Grace Cathedral

Stroll8

Jagged Little Pill An “exhilarating and fearless” Tony and Grammy Award-winning new musical about a perfectly imperfect American family is based on Alanis Morissette’s worldchanging music. Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St. jaggedlittlepill.com

BIGSTOCKVIAYHELFMANCREDITS:PHOTO

Oct. 11 - Nov. 6

October 15, 18, 21, 26, 30

Down Penny Lane A live performance tribute to one of the most iconic songwriters of our age, Paul McCartney, this music experience is enhanced with stories, evocative images, and animation. 99 Moraga Ave. presidiotheatre.org

The Boys Who Said No! and The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers are presented in collaboration with Futures Without Violence. Both film screenings are followed by Q&A sessions with the director. presidiotheatre.org

On19-23Beckett A.C.T. favorite Bill Irwin performs in an intimate, oneman, 90-minute production, mining the physical and verbal skills acquired in his years as a master clown and Tony Award-winning actor. Geary Theater, 415 Geary St. act-sf.org/whats-on/202223-season/on-beckett

SFJAZZ31 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Opening the 51st season, the program includes a Brian Raphael Nabors World Premiere, Upon Daybreak. Also, Florence Price, Violin Concerto No. 2, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Special guest artist, violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Music director Joseph Young. Zellerbach Hall. berkeleysymphony.org/22-23-season

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

CALENDAREvents

Now available at the new Poliform San Francisco Showroom. www.bomma.cz

BOMMA crystal lighting creates a distinct atmosphere and combines a contemporary design, traditional craftsmanship, and dedication to quality.

Looking for dining, décor, and drinks in downtown San Francisco?

The St. Regis Hotel, renowned for redefining luxury hospitality in San Francisco, recently completed an elegant update of its guest rooms, meeting spaces, lobby, and bar as part of a multi-phase property redesign. This 5-star hotel is located on Third Street in the SOMA district near the Yerba Buena Gardens, Union Square, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

FRANCISCOSANHOTELREGISSTOFCOURTESYCREDITS:PHOTO

Bloody MaryThe

Mary 16

REGISST.BAR St. RegisSt. Regis Gate

The St. Regis Hotel is raising the bar in San Francisco BY NOËL BURGESS

HAUTE DRINKS

The

Golden

Drawing inspiration from the rich colors found in the vineyards of Sonoma County and the complex architecture of San Francisco, London-based firm Blacksheep envisioned the new look for the hotel’s destination bar. Blacksheep’s designers created a location for meeting friends, grabbing a drink after work, or indulging in a nightcap before turning in. Whether you are walking on Third Street or entering through the lobby, your eyes will immediately track to the bar’s illuminated backdrop seemingly endless brass features throughout the space. In addition, the dark emerald and pink jade custom furniture adds contemporary touches in counterpoint to the modern noir ambiance, with traces of the past suggested by the bar’s sophisticated shapes and millwork. Be it locals, socialites, or business travelers, there is a bit of everything for patrons at the St. Regis Bar.

HAUTE DRINKS

The St. Regis Bar Astra Restaurant at The St. Regis San Francisco Astra, the ricotta pancake with homemade jam and pine nutsA cup of coffee to start the day

18 HAUTE DRINKS

“The St. Regis San Francisco prides itself on being ahead of the curve, and the reimagined interior spaces reaffirm its position as one of the most art and design-focused properties in the world,” said Roger Huldi, general manager of the hotel. “We’re excited for guests to experience the fresh interiors, new ambiance, and beautiful art.” The hospitality of the bartenders and staff is only rivaled by the wine and cocktail list which includes the St. Regis Signature Bloody Mary dating back to 1934. As the legend goes, Ferdinand Petiot was working at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France in the early 1920s when he was introduced to tomato juice by Americans and vodka by Russians fleeing a revolution. It is rumored he thought the taste of vodka was bland, so he wanted to add some flavor by combining it with tomato juice, thus making the first Bloody Mary. After his son-in-law tried the famous Bloody Mary, John Jacob Astor IV, founder of the St. Regis, brought Petiot over to bartend at the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis in New York City. The sophisticated clientele enjoyed the cocktail, especially when Petiot added some “spice” to it with the addition of tabasco pepper, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper, calling it a “Red Snapper.” Fast forward almost a century and the tradition of each St. Regis brand creating its own spin on the original Bloody Mary is still very much in practice. Guests are free to sample a few versions to see which one excites their palates.

American Wagyu Beef burger with aged Cheddar cheese in the St. Regis Bar

Brandt beef prime skirt steak with chimichurri Astra's shrimp tostada appetizer

DRINKS

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FRANCISCOSANHOTELREGISSTOFCOURTESYCREDITS:PHOTO

ABOUT THE ST. REGIS SAN FRANCISCO: The St. Regis San Francisco opened in November 2005, introducing a new dimension of luxury, uncompromising service, and timeless elegance to the city of San Francisco. The 40-story, landmark building, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, includes 102 private residences rising 19 levels above the 260-room St. Regis Hotel. From legendary butler service, “anticipatory” guest care, and impeccable staff training to luxurious amenities, the St. Regis San Francisco delivers an unmatched guest experience. The St. Regis San Francisco is located at 125 Third Street. Telephone: 415.284.4000. “Essence of Tokyo” cocktail features Nikka Coffey gin

St. Regis bartender Jose Martinez pours a seasonal custom cocktail for a guest

After (or during) a drink, you might be ready for more than a light bite. This cocktail bar also specializes in American cuisine and serves lunch and dinner, while Astra (located at the far end) is open for breakfast. While enjoying morning favorites like the truffle omelet and millionaire bacon, guests can enjoy a dreamy landscape titled Mountain Mist by Janie Rochfort. This piece reflects a unique watercolor style with rich olive greens and lighter pinks, capturing the fluid colors of a sunset reflecting off San Francisco’s hills.

The One Stemware Trust master sommelier Andrea Robinson. She’s a Napa resident, 3-time James Beard Award winner, trained chef, and author of four top-selling books on food and wine. Drawing from her vast knowledge, Andrea created a wine glass appropriate for all types or wine. Among other virtues, The One has a thin rim with a narrow opening, precise vertical depth to preserve complexity, and a sharp angle to enhance aeration when swirled. $32.95 (set of two) and $52.95 (set of four). andreawine.com 2. 1.

BY BECCA HENSLEY

HAUTE SHOPPING

These Wine Glasses Await Your Pour

We all have our favorite wine glass, the one for which we always reach. It’s as much a part of the happy hour ritual as the wine itself. Some of us choose a glass for how it feels in our hands or for the way it complements the color of our eyes or the living room’s décor. True aficionados, however, opt for glasses that enhance the flavors, aromas, and hues of the wine itself. Even then, experts disagree and subjectivity rules regarding which glass works best with which wine. As Antony Laviron, sommelier at Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa says, “When it comes to wine tasting, the choice of glass depends on many criteria, above all the wine characteristics and customer preferences,” though he favors crystal glasses to allow for better readability of the wine's aromas. Ready to fill your cupboard with some new stemware? These vessels make the grade.

INSWILLSTYLE

Riedel Veloce Collection

This all new, varietal-specific collection reimagines Riedel’s classic angular designs and introduces the thinnest and most lightweight collection of any of Riedel’s machine-made pieces. Feeling handmade, the Riedel Veloce offers a taller glass with a thinner stem and finer bowl. Choose the Riedel Veloce tasting set, fully dishwasher safe, which consists of a glass each for Cabernet/Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Available in sets of two. $79 riedel.com

Josphinenhutte Collection

Anyone who’s ever been in a Sur La Table store can attest to the inspiration the upscale, but infinitely accessible, kitchen and homeware store provides. Find everything you need to host the ultimate party without breaking the bank. This Sur La Table Chateau soft red wine glass has delicate contours and sleek proportions. Sophisticated and fête-worthy, it invites peerless pours. $12 per glass. surlatable.com 3. 4. 5.

6. Carry your favorite wine glasses with you wherever you go FlyWithWine’swith wine glass travel case, tailormade for oenophiles. $99.95 flywithwine.com

Follow the lead of Martha Stewart, the consummate hostess. Peruse her new, online marketplace, Martha.com, for wine glasses (and other products) personally curated by the superstar. Her direct-to-consumer online platform presents a slew of hard-to-resist stemware, including these Chardonnay wine glasses, inspired by Italian artisanal glassmaking techniques, which are shaped for a decanter effect ($75, set of four). Also, consider the Bee wine glasses by La Rochère, which reference the bees Martha keeps at her farm ($48, set of four). martha.com

HAUTE SHOPPINGShanga Glassware from Tanzania

Handblown on site by local employees with disabilities, gorgeous Shanga wine glasses can be bought at a dedicated shop on the grounds of Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge or online. The purpose-built workshop supports the local community and assists those with disabilities. Shanga reinvests all profits back into the project and uses recycled materials as much as possible. $12 per glass. shanga.org

Wine Ware from Sur La Table

A homage to the historical art of glassmaking, this new collection from Kurt Josef Zalto includes four stunning wine glass styles: white, universal, red, and champagne. Exceptionally thin-walled and light, the handblown, filigree glass creations manage an elegant, elastic quality. $74 per glass. us.josephinen.com

Wine Collections from Martha Stewart

SHARON

IN CONVERSATION

While Puccio was working in restaurants through college, the love of hospitality and feeding people through restaurant kitchens was born. Following her passion, Puccio attended the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, then spent time in New Orleans and Boston working with renowned chefs. On a trip to San Francisco, she was inspired by the incredible produce and seasonality of the Bay Area. It was reminiscent of life on the farm growing up. Relocating to San Francisco, Jennifer Puccio received her first 3-star review from The San Francisco Chronicle in 2009 at CortezPartneringRestaurant.with Anna Weinberg and James Nicholas to create Big Night Restaurant Group, Puccio received 3-star reviews from the Chronicle five more times—when opening Marlowe in 2010 and again in 2014, Park Tavern in 2012, The Cavalier in 2013, and Leo's Oyster Bar in 2016—making Puccio the most-starred executive chef in the Bay Area.

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Under Puccio's direction, the James Beard Foundation nominated both Park Tavern (2012) and The Cavalier (2014) for “Best New Restaurant” in the country, and Puccio was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Award, “Best Chef West Coast.”

SUMMER IN SAN FRANCISCO IS ACTUALLY DURING FALL, when I partake in a multitude of fun activities that leaf me smiling! September and October reap the best weather in the city for us locals and tourists alike! Giddy me when I see husband Dave fire up the grill and we sip rosé on the roof or eat al fresco dinners in Fog City. For those days that are a bit chilly, we head to venues with indoor patios to make us feel like we are outside. Marlowe, a modern, rustic, chic New American bistro located in SOMA district has both indoor and outdoor enclosed patios. It's a yummy place indeed, stewarded by a talented chef, Jennifer Puccio, whom I enjoyed meeting. Marlowe serves up plates using the freshest local ingredients, and I relished tasting the dishes below and more while learning about the chef. From an early age, Jennifer Puccio’s life has revolved around food. Growing up on a 5-acre farm in the New Hampshire countryside, seasons were marked by the produce available and what could be found in the surrounding area. Springtime meant shelling peas on the porch, fishing streams for trout, picking strawberries, and harvesting rhubarb. Summer meant bass fishing in the lakes, corn, zucchini, tomatoes, and picking bugs and caterpillars from the vines. Foraging for blackberries and raspberries resulted in amazing pies. Canning, pickling, and preserving kept the root cellar full. There was a compost bin at the back of the property to fertilize the fields. Friends raised chickens for eggs, goats for their milk, and rabbits for their meat.

Chef Puccio’s food is inspired by her time on the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as Europe and the Middle East. Approachable, crave-able, and ultimately, satisfying are her goals. BY SHARON SETO | PHOTOS BY ROBERT B RICHARDS SETO WITH

•

• 2

1. Soak the shallot in the lemon juice until the shallots turn pink.

chopped • 2

5, Top each with a sprinkle of chives, parsley, sea salt, and black pepper. 6. Drizzle with olive oil. This great appetizer can also be adapted into a deviled egg sandwich or used to spruce up a simple mixed green and herb salad. Approachable, craveable, and ultimately, satisfying are her goals.

•

4. Add the pickled shallots (minus the lemon juice) and fold. Add lemon juice and salt to taste. The mixture should hold its shape, but be creamy and silky.

minced • ¼

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INGREDIENTS Eggs • 15 eggs,

bowl •

minced •

1. Fill each egg cup as high as possible.

• ½

minced • 5 dashes

• Salt

2. Place a piece of crispy bacon on each.

and yolks removed Filling •

3. Top with the cheese. 4. Place the eggs on a baking sheet and broil or bake until the cheese is melted.

3. Add the parsley, chives, Tabasco, and cayenne pepper, and fold to combine.

•

Sauce Deviled Eggs

•

INGREDIENTS 2 cups ketchup ½ cup prepared horseradish • ½ cup citron vodka

Chef Jennifer Puccio

• 2

• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

• ½ cup salt Zest of 1 lemon Juice of 1 lemon Black pepper to taste This super-spicy and versatile cocktail sauce goes great with raw oysters, grilled prawns, and as the base for a bloody Mary. The salt seems excessive, but it’s not.

• 2

RICHARDSBROBERT©LEVENFELD;LAURI©CREDITS:PHOTO hard boiled, tip and tail cut through the equator, Yolks and tips and tails from the eggs, mashed with a whisk in a ½ cup mayonnaise tablespoons shallot, cup lemon juice tablespoons parsley, finely tablespoons chives, Tabasco teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste aged provolone cheese, each cut into triangles 30 1-inch pieces of crispy bacon 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped tablespoons chives, Sea salt Cracked black pepper Olive oil

Hot and Boozy Cocktail

•

Topping • 6 slices

INSTRUCTIONS Eggs and filling

removed,

2. Fold the mayonnaise into the mashed yolks and whites a small amount at a time until you have a thick, creamy base.

•

Topping

•

3. Season with the mustard and salt to taste.

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INSTRUCTIONS

2. Reduce the heat and add the cheeses, whisking constantly.

5. Adjust seasoning with salt.

4. Remove the pan from the heat and toss in ¼ cup of the fondue.

• Cracked black pepper

• 4 cups milk • 3 tablespoons cornstarch

2. Add the mushrooms and a sprinkle of salt.

Garnish • 1 cup baby pea tendrils • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated on a microplane.

This recipe is vegetarian and glutenfree. You can substitute sautéed bacon lardons for the butter to make a more traditional carbonara. If you can’t find cauliflower mushrooms, Alba clamshell mushrooms would be an adequate substitute. The fondue recipe will create leftovers; gently warmed, it is great with grilled bread, sautéed vegetables, or pretty much anything.

Mushrooms • ½ pound cauliflower mushrooms, sliced to resemble egg noodles

3. Sauté the mushrooms until tender and wilted.

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

4. Pass the cheese mixture through a fine sieve.

Fondue • 1 pound fontina cheese, grated

Mushrooms 1. Melt the butter over high heat in a large sauté pan.

• ½ pound Brie, diced

• ¼ pound Époisse cheese (or any other washed rind, stinky cheese), diced

• 2 quail egg yolks

“Carbonara”MushroomCauliflower

RICHARDSBROBERT©CREDITS:PHOTO

Fondue

• Chive blossoms

• 2 tablespoons butter

1. Bring the milk to a simmer and sprinkle in the cornstarch, whisking constantly.

INGREDIENTS

HAUTE KITCHEN INGREDIENTS Vinaigrette • ½ cup Worcestershire sauce • 1 cup smoked olive oil • 2 tablespoons salt Salad • 4 cups radicchio, dice into 1-inch pieces • 4 cups watercress, picked, lightly packed • 4 cups gem lettuce, cut into 1-inch slices • ½ cup red onion, julienned • ¼ cup scallion, sliced Garnish • 2 pounds ribeye steak, cooked medium rare on the grill, rested, then sliced • Remaining vinaigrette • Parmesan, grated on a microplane • Sea salt • Cracked black pepper INSTRUCTIONS Vinaigrette 1. Whisk to combine. Salad 1. Gently combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl. 2. Season with salt and add dressing to taste, mixing and tasting as you go. Salad 1. Fan slices of the grilled steak onto plates. 2. Place a generous handful of salad next to the steak on each plate. 3. Drizzle a few tablespoons of the vinaigrette over the steak. 4. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the dish. 5. Season the steak with sea salt and cracked black pepper. The steak sauce vinaigrette is a great addition to any grilled meat or vegetables. Straight umami. Steak Salad

3. Nestle the poached egg in the center of the polenta.

4. Scatter the wild arugula over the mushrooms. 5. Scatter the Parmesan cheese.

2. Combine all ingredients with salt to taste. To Plate 1. In a wide bowl, place a 1-cup mound of the polenta.

2. Arrange the mushrooms around the outside of the polenta.

6. Dress with the salsa verde.

2. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle bubble, whisking often until tender (about 20 minutes).

5. Season with salt to taste.

Mushrooms 1. Over medium-high heat, warm a large sauté pan.

4. When ready to serve, reheat 2 cups of polenta with the cream and butter, whisking until hot and creamy.

7. Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper. The recipe makes extra polenta. It will hold in the refrigerator for a week before the dairy is added. It’s a great item to have on hand to make a quick dinner

26 INGREDIENTS Polenta • 1 pound Anson Mills polenta • 7 cups water • 1 cup cream • 4 ounces butter Mushrooms • ½ pound mixed mushrooms, torn or sliced into ½- inch pieces (king trumpet, Alba, hen of the woods, etc.) • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped • 1 tablespoon chives, minced Truffle Salsa Verde • 2 tablespoons shallots, minced • ¼ cup lemon juice • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped • 2 tablespoons chives, minced • ¼ cup white truffle oil To Plate • 4 eggs, poached • 2 cups wild arugula • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler • Sea salt • Cracked black pepper

Polenta 1. Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan, then sprinkle in the polenta, whisking constantly.

3. Cool the polenta in a baking pan with a parchment cover in the refrigerator.

5. Remove from the heat and add the herbs.

HAUTE KITCHEN

Truffle Salsa Verde 1. Soak the shallot in the lemon juice until pink.

Mushroom Polenta

INSTRUCTIONS:

RICHARDSBROBERT©CREDITS:PHOTO

2. Add the butter and oil. 3. Add the mushrooms and salt. 4. Sauté until wilted and starting to color.

It’s time for mom to experience the thoughtful care she deserves You’ve been looking for a place where mom can thrive, one with exceptional dining, innovative programming, and an engaging social life. A community designed to enhance health and well-being. A setting that offers expert care for her, and peace of mind for you. Offering refined residences for Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care, The Watermark at Napa Valley is just what mom needs and more than you envisioned. Call 707-244-3924 to schedule your private tour and experience our award-winning senior living community. INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE RCFE #286803919 watermarknapa.com | 707-244-3924 4055 Solano Avenue, Napa, CA 94558

FINE INEXPERIENCEDININGWINERIES Ram's RubyexecutiveGatechefOliveros 28

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Ram’s Gate Winery, 28700 Arnold Drive Sonoma, CA 95476. www.ramsgatewinery.com BY NOËL BURGESS Pair your tasting with an elevated culinary experience in Sonoma and Napa

The new seasonal wine and food experience begins with a tour of the Ram’s Gate Winery property, highlighting the estate’s farming techniques and winemaking process. The tour is followed by a guided tasting of wines hand-selected by winemaker and general manager Joe Nielsen and paired specifically with seasonal dishes prepared by executive chef Ruby Oliveros. The 2-hour, communal, multicourse experience is offered Thursday through Monday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for $160 per person. Experiences are limited to 24 seats, with parties of up to six guests. Reservations can be made online via Tock.

In today’s market, many winery patrons seek more than just delicious wine flights and beautiful vineyards. They look for a full sensory experience to challenge, indulge, and activate all the senses. While many wineries serve “bites,” they still fall a bit short when it comes to culinary offerings, with a few notable exceptions. These five wineries within Napa and Sonoma Counties provide a “full palate experience” for their guests. By elevating their dining options to match their achievements in wine quality and hospitality, these wineries show off their good taste.

Ram’s Gate Winery

Sullivan Rutherford Estate,1090 Galleron Road, Rutherford CA 94573. https://sullivanwine.com Acclaimed Napa

Valley chef GomezDanielSanchez 29

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Sullivan Rutherford Estate Situated in the heart of the Napa Valley, Sullivan Rutherford Estate is surrounded by lush gardens and a picturesque pond reminiscent of Claude Monet’s garden. The 26-acre estate is home to one of the most premier private tasting experiences in Napa, reserved exclusively for Founder’s Reserve members. The multicourse food and wine pairing begins with an intimate tour of the estate’s grounds, vineyards, and private residence designed by John Marsh Davis. Following the tour, guests are welcomed into the private residence for the multicourse pairing curated by celebrated Napa chef, Daniel Gomez Sanchez, who spent time at the French Laundry, Cyrus, Napa’s Morimoto, and La Toque before he started collaborating with select Napa Valley clients. Sanchez’s hospitality and culinary teams work directly with members to curate a customized menu designed to enhance each wine, including access to library vintages of the J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, named in homage of the winery’s founder, James O’Neil Sullivan. Guests must be Founder’s Reserve Members to book. For inquires to join, please contact Erin Callahan: erin@sullivanwine.com.

HAUTE

Louis M. Martini Winery

J Vineyards & Winery, 11447 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, CA 95448. https://www.jwine.com

HAUTE CUISINE

The Bubble Room at J Vineyards & Winery features an exquisite, 5-course tasting menu inspired by the bounty of Sonoma County and paired with an incredible portfolio of award-winning wines. It brings together the J culinary team and winemaker Nicole Hitchcock. With the bounty of Sonoma County at their fingertips, the J culinary team, led by estate chef Forest Kellogg, uses ingredients and techniques to create five courses of food and wine pairings to showcase Hitchcock’s wines. Each menu tells a different story of the relationship between their varietal and sparkling wines and locally sourced ingredients. Reservations for the J Bubble Room can be made online via Tock. Offered Thursday through Sunday. $150 per person.

https://www.louismartini.com

An impeccably restored underground cellar is home to the most immersive and highly acclaimed wine and food experience Louis M. Martini Winery has to offer. This intimate tasting, led by one of their knowledgeable wine educators, offers a one-of-a-kind, luxurious, Napa Valley experience. As you descend below ground, you’ll enter a beautifully adorned, 85-year-old barrel cellar that pays tribute to the Martini family’s Old World heritage. You will experience Martini like never before, as they share the story of the family while in this historic setting. Following the deep dive into the Louis M. Martini family, property, and vineyards, you will be seated to experience a meticulously crafted, 4-course tasting menu of culinary delights prepared by executive chef Aaron Meneghelli and paired with their small production wines, including the pinnacle of their portfolio, Lot No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon. Reservations for the “Underground Cellar Experience” can be made online via Tock.

Offered Friday through Sunday. $325 per person. Louis Martini, 254 St Helena Hwy S, St Helena, CA 94574.

J Vineyards & Winery

Estate chef Forest Kellogg 30

HAUTE CUISINE

Estate chef Tom Stafford is well-versed in traditional methods of food preservation, so menus frequently include homemade pickled and cured items to complement peak-of-season produce. Menus change daily, prominently featuring organic produce harvested that very morning from Roy Estate’s own culinary gardens and Stone Tree Farm, also located in South Napa. Guests taking part in Roy Estate Exclusive Access experiences have the opportunity to work directly with the estate director to select specific vintages directly from the Roy Estate library and consult with the Stafford on the pairings. $250 per person for the estate luncheon with four wines. $450 per person for exclusive access, including canape reception, carte blanche menu, and bespoke wine line. Roy Estate, 1220 Soda Canyon Rd, Napa, CA 94558. https://www. royestate.com

The Roy Estate’s culinary philosophy is one of generous abundance and extreme seasonality, showcasing the bounty of the region’s farmers, foragers, anglers, and ranchers. Rich, classical French sauces and hand-rolled pastas emphasize technical craftsmanship. The woodburning oven and hearth’s glowing embers touch nearly every dish served, capturing the elemental rusticity of the open flame.

Louis Martini's executive chef, Aaron Meneghelli

Estate chef Tom Stafford, Roy Estate

Roy Estate

Cabbage served with purple sea urchin at Harbor House Inn

BY STEPH KEAY

PLATING

O NE OF THE GREAT GASTRONOMIC VISUALS IN LIFE IS an untouched tray of buttery uni. Rows of glowing amber flecks immaculate in shape and identical in size packed side-by-side, it recalls a briefcase filled with glimmering bars of gold. It’s riches, still, but from the sea. The picturesque trays almost seem untouchable—or perhaps simply too perfect to disturb—yet the waters of Mendocino County teem with the sea urchins, long considered an invasive species along its coast, which contain the tiny treasures. Once known as a hotbed for highly prized abalone, the Mendocino coastline experienced a perfect storm of events leading to the closure of northern California’s recreational abalone fishery. It began with the collapse of the coastline’s kelp population, previously dense

The first-ever Purple Urchin Festival in Mendocino explored the history and impact of the invasive species on our coast, inspiring both thoughtful discussion and delicious solutions UP PURPLE URCHIN

Purple urchin at MacKerricher State Park

KEAYSTEPH©CREDITS:PHOTO HAUTE CUISINE

PHOTOZNIK©KEAY;STEPH©CREDITS:PHOTO

Inn 3333

Fried maitake mushroom and sea urchin mayo on sea urchin restaurant at Harbor House

Sablefish

risotto The

HAUTE CUISINE

forests of seaweed that provided necessary shelter and food for marine life such as sea stars. A marine heatwave referred to as “The Blob,” first detected in 2013, resulted in unusually warm waters that hindered kelp growth. This, combined with a decrease in the sea star, a predator of purple sea urchin, led to an outbreak of the spiny species which devoured and devastated the kelp forests in Northern California. Today, only a tiny percentage of Northern California’s kelp forests remains, with nearly 95 percent decimated by the exponential growth of purple urchin. Without the kelp necessary to its survival, abalone began to disappear en masse. Originally slated to reopen in 2021, the abalone fishery’s closure has now been extended through 2026. Adding to the issue is the fact that purple urchin can lie dormant for years if unable to find a food source. This simultaneously reduces their value, because the small amount of the prized roe found within an urchin receives little nourishment. While exploring tide pools at MacKerricher State Park, three miles north of Fort Bragg, I meet Desiree. A longtime Mendocino local, she brings her two children to the tide pools at this beach frequently and recalls seeing sea stars “everywhere” when she was growing up. Now, these pockets are filled with the spiny, vibrantly-hued urchins instead—so ubiquitous, it’s nearly impossible to sidestep them while navigating the rocky terrain. In quantitative terms, there are approximately a hundred times the normal number of purple urchin than should be in a healthy ecosystem. Candied sea urchin and wakame ice cream

HAUTE CUISINE In hopes of spreading awareness of this phenomenon, Mendocino County banded forces with local chefs and organizers for the inaugural Mendocino Purple Urchin Festival, held June 17 to 19, 2022. Visitors from far and wide were welcomed to celebrate, learn, and—best of all—dine on the delicious, spiny creatures. A weekend of special culinary experiences kicked off with a purple urchin tasting menu at the stunning Harbor House Inn in Elk. Presented by chef Matthew Kammerer of the inn’s Michelin-starred restaurant and Urchinomics, a sustainable sea urchin harvesting company, the 5-course menu highlighted the flavor, texture, and versatility of urchin through a series of inventive dishes.

The final dish before dessert was a comforting sea urchin risotto, embedded with pickled vegetables to add a bit of acidity and topped with a sleek filet of sablefish.Finishing off the luncheon was candied sea urchin farmed by Urchinomics, adorning a distinctly toasty and mildly sweet wakame (kelp) ice cream that tastes almost like hojicha. The candied sea urchin is a wonder, the uni cloaked in a sweet syrup and its usual brininess transformed into an herbal, grass jelly-like flavor. The experience is a true taste of today’s Mendocino, imparting a sense of place not only through flavors, but also quality, hyperlocal ingredients and thoughtful preparation.

The first dish was an irresistibly silky, Japanese-style custard through which a spoon sliced easily as air. Purple urchin—collected locally in Elk—sat atop, a slight taste of the sea joined by notes of peppery citrus from yuzu. Next was maitake mushroom, fried in a light batter and served with a side of tangy mayo made with red urchin from Fort Bragg, about 22 miles up the coast. A bread course followed, featuring sourdough baked with hand-gathered, sun-dried sea lettuce from the cove below the inn and restaurant. Caramelized cabbage was served with Santa Barbara purple sea urchin from Sea Stephanie Fish, a Santa Barbara-based sustainable fishing operation that sells directly to restaurants and consumers up and down the coast. (For those interested, they pop up in the Bay Area from time to time—and, from personal experience, their purple urchin makes a fantastic uni squid ink pasta.)

PHOTOZNIK©CREDITS:PHOTO

Denise MacDonald of Urchinomics and chef Matthew Kammerer

Savory custard topped with sea urchin Harbor House Inn celebrated the festival with an exclusive sea urchinfocused tasting menu

Little River Inn's "uni-cini" Kerry Tamura displays a bottle of sparklingbottle-fermentedJunmaiGinjosake

HAUTE CUISINE

Another highlight was the sake and food pairing seminar held at Little River Inn on Saturday. Sake expert Kerry Tamura of World Sake Imports guided guests through a series of sakes hailing from six Japanese prefectures. Executive chef Marc Dym also developed a special menu of small bites for the event, including uni deviled eggs with pickled wild radish pods and “uni-cini,” a clever take on arancini merging Japanese and Italian cuisines. Rather than the traditional preparation using risotto and mozzarella, Dym’s version featured a fried ball of sushi rice and nori (seaweed) filled with a silky uni velouté. Meanwhile the chawanmushi (Japanese custard), made with slipper tail lobster and trumpet mushrooms, was topped with a generous helping of uni collected earlier that morning from Van Damme State Beach, the down the hill less than a quarter mile from the inn. During the 3-day festival, other beloved restaurants served up specials highlighting urchin, including Noyo Harbor Inn, Glendeven Inn & Lodge, The Inn at the Cobbler’s Walk, Elk Cove Inn, Princess Seafood Market & Deli, and Izakaya Gama. A promising launch to what one hopes will be a recurring, annual affair, it’s heartening to see the chefs, residents, and community of Mendocino County come together and act on their passion for the environment. Next year, be sure to join the program—and, if this year’s events are anything to go by, bring a voracious appetite.

KEAYSTEPH©PHOTO;ZNIK©CREDITS:PHOTO

Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 California Lifestyle Collection Magni cent Belvedere Island Italianate Villa 8 Beds | 6 Baths | 2 Half-Bath Offered at $10,495,000 Belvedere, California

This iconic appx. 7,695 sq. ft. mansion featuring eight bedrooms, six full baths, and two half baths is one of the most admired homes on Belvedere Island for its styling, magnificent gardens, spectacular pool, and panoramic views overlooking Tiburon Hills, Corinthian Island, Angel Island, East Bay, Bay Bridge, and beautiful Belvedere Cove reminiscent of Portofino, Italy. Located on the desirable, warm side of the island with allday sun and sheltered from the wind, this classic residence was renovated in recent years, featuring a beautiful custom-designed kitchen with Italian marble countertops and a breakfast area with a balcony to enjoy the views and for al fresco dining. The eight bedrooms mostly open onto balconies with expansive bay views. A generously sized master suite with his/her dressing and sitting areas includes a kitchenette/coffee bar, closets, a luxurious bathroom with a steam shower, and a sunroom. The lower level includes an exercise room with a full bath and sauna, wine c ellar, and two spacious storage rooms. There is a security system and a t wo-car garage, plus an adjacent one-car carport. Across the street-tos treet lot are extensive brick terraces with elegant balustrades, lush g ardens, and water features. Three separate entrances and multiple l iving spaces create a perfect floor plan setup for an au pair unit and an i n-law unit. Easy walking distance to the San Francisco Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club, downtown Tiburon restaurants such as Malibu Farm and Mi chael Mina’s Bungalow Kitchen, and ferry services to San Francisco and Angel Island. Offered as a newly certified historic property, t his magnificent home provides a very substantial property tax reduction to the next owner and comes with an assumable mortgage. Details and p hotos at www.308GoldenGate.com

California Lifestyle Collection Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 Magni cent Belvedere Island Italianate Villa Belvedere, California

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Crafted by Philippe Melka, Tusk is renowned as one of Napa Valley’s most elusive Cabernets—adding to the allure of this remarkable evening. Bocelli is a philanthropist as well as an unsurpassed artist. Since 2011, the foundation that bears his name has empowered people and communities facing poverty, illiteracy, illness, and social exclusion. ABF also implements and promotes educational projects through art, music, and digital media. This meaningful evening will support Festival Napa Valley’s educational programs, Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s educational projects in Haiti and Italy, and initiatives that support Ukrainian refugee students in the communities ABF serves. Access to this exclusive benefit event is $10,000 per person ($9,600 tax deductible). A limited number of spots are available. Contact Festival Napa Valley’s patron services team at concierge@festivalnapavalley.org or call 707.927.3874 to reserve your place.

Andrea Bocelli has performed for four U.S. presidents, three popes, and royalty, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. With over 80 million records sold worldwide, Bocelli has brought classical music to the top of international pop charts and can effortlessly render a sacred hymn or a pop song with the same perfection. You’ll enjoy his company and more at this intimate, private event with Andrea Bocelli and Family at the historic Kohl mansion. With its landmark architecture and grand views of the San Francisco Bay, the mansion provides the elegant surroundings for exquisite music, exceptional food, and world class wines from the Tusk Estates.

Veronica, Matteo, Andrea, Virginia and Amos relaxing at Bocelli home.

Andrea Bocelli, the world’s most famous tenor, and his family will be appearing in the San Francisco Bay Area on December 2 for an exclusive evening benefiting the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) and Festival Napa Valley. This extraordinary event is part of Festival Napa Valley’s Olivia Decker Power of Music Series and includes dinner hosted by Michael and Tara Uytengsu, featuring world class, Napa Valley wines. The event is made possible in part by the generous support of Olivia Decker, Jan Shrem, and Maria Manetti Shrem.

La Vita è Bella with the BOCELLIFAMILY benefiting the ANDREA BOCELLI FOUNDATION

AN EXCLUSIVE EVENING WITH A REMARKABLE PURPOSE

BY MAURO APRILE ZANETTI AND OLIVIA DECKER PHOTOS BY LUCA ROSSETTI

AB: As a boy, who was self-taught. I sang freely what I loved most: the great operatic pages of Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Giordano, etc. Then my study became more systematic and more serious. My greatest hero in music has always been Franco Corelli. The encounter with his voice marked my destiny. I was a child when my nanny gave me one of his records. I still remember the excitement of hearing that voice, which went straight to my heart. Destiny would have it that, as an adult, I would later become his pupil! Corelli represents my ideal tenor; I have a real veneration for him.

AB: Talent is a gift and not something that one can learn. If one has it, it must be substantiated by many other ingredients: ambition, humility, determination, and a spirit of sacrifice. My profession is no different from the profession of an athlete: you must practice daily and lead a regular life. The journey in learning opera singing is undoubtedly thorny, because it is also made up of sacrifices; but it is worth it, because it leads toward what I have repeatedly called “the paradise of music.”

HL: When did you realize you wanted to become a singer? I mean, when was the moment you realized music could be truly your life and career?

HL: What does “talent” mean to you? Can young people be taught or is it innate? What did you wish you knew before your career took off? Your children, Matteo and Virginia, are following in your footsteps. What advice do you have for any young artist?

We are proud to present you this rare, exclusive interview Andrea Bocelli granted to Haute Living to Mauro Aprile Zanetti. They discuss his life and his power of music which not only touch hearts but empowers people and the communities his foundation supports.

Andrea with Pope Francis Performance at Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubliee Bocelli family with Joe and Jill Biden at White House

AB: As a child, I was often asked to sing to the point that I began to think, “I’ll have to do this my whole life!” My passion, particularly for the opera, goes back to childhood: I knew by heart many of the most famous arias in the repertoire and would often sing them at the top of my lungs in the living room at home. Success came to me unexpectedly, when I was over the age of 35, after working my way up the ladder and through many disappointments. Eventually, however, reality exceeded all my dreams, even the boldest, the rosiest.

With Chinese President Xi Jinping

COVER STORY

HL: What was your main music passion? Did you have any heroes in music?

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HL: You involve several artists in all your concerts, touring the world and leading by example, while fostering such an admirable, cultural diversity. You are truly able to unleash a vital energy in the crowds. What is a very specific concert, among the thousands you have already done, that you can’t forget and why?

AB: I have never made a secret of my preference for opera. I do not like to mix different genres. I try to put them side by side, by offering in a context that is usually geared to pop, as well as operatic music, in the desire to make opera known even among those audiences that are less accustomed to that repertoire. I am a tenor, an opera singer. However, I also enjoy performing a somewhat lighter repertoire which may include great popular romance as well as the song, just as Enrico Caruso or Beniamino Gigli did 100 years ago. Thus, the main distinction I make remains that between beautiful and ugly music. My challenge is to continue to disseminate quality wherever it is present.

AB: I deem equally worthy of attention anyone who seeks in my voice a moment of both tranquility and joy. Regardless of whether I am in front of tens of thousands of people or in a small school or in the ward of a hospital, in front of royalty or in the company of a few friends, the joy I receive from it and the commitment I put forth when I sing are always the same. Each concert, in almost 30 years of my active profession, has had its own importance and beauty. I admit, however, feeling a special emotion running throughout me on the occasions when I had the privilege of singing in front of the last pontiffs, from John Paul II and Benedict XVI to Pope Francis. I also remember with pleasure of the concert I held in 2011 on the Great Lawn in Central Park, a very special event that gave me the gauge of the extraordinary affection that people have for me, even overseas.

HL: You enjoy the combination of classic and contemporary influences, as opposed to strictly operatic performance. Can you elaborate the way your concerts are designed?

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When Matteo expressed his desire to try to pursue the artistic profession, I warned him of the difficulties that I personally knew, making him aware of how complex the show business environment is. However, I am happy about his choice, because I realize that he has found his own way and style in music, expressing his personality. I would like to remind young people that there is no such thing as an impossible dream: what matters the most is to believe in it and to pursue one’s life project with honesty, humility, and discipline. You need to be humble yet determined, optimistic and at the same time strict with yourself.

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AB: We are working across the board to offer the widest possible access to education, devoting to the citizens of tomorrow a quality education and, through the innovative potential of languages such as art, music, digital, enhancing the talent of everyone, inspiring and offering tools for growth and awareness. We are activating these programs in schools within pediatric hospitals, by means of the vocational pathways of ABF GlobaLAB and the ABF Voices Of project. The last is a multiyear, strategic program we have developed and fine-tuned, which includes the creation of regional choirs as well as other educational activities in vulnerable areas of the world. Fostering and empowering the expression of talent, as the mission of ABF states, means seeking to give our own contribution to improve the world of which we—ourselves and our offspring—are inhabitants. The only possible and successful revolution is the inner revolution: fostering it through culture means laying a foundation that can transform the individual and, in the long run, the community.

AB: Art and culture are human rights. Music is the voice of the soul; it opens the mind and develops critical thinking. Education, when expressed, is awareness, in the respect of others and in the transfer of values: it is the driving force of society. Developing and improving education is the most effective response for the self-affirmation of individuals and the communities to which they belong. It is the beginning of a journey of knowledge that can transform ourselves and, in perspective, our own country. The time in history we are living through is complex and unprecedented. Apart from concerns about the serious social as well as sanitary wounds, unfortunately, the pandemic has also spread uncontrolled fear and limited a fundamental value which is inherent to human beings, namely freedom. I believe that artists have a great responsibility within the mainstream of society. Emergency management has been penalizing music and culture, neglecting them and often relegating them to a frill. In contrast, art (including music), I insist, is a gift that both nurtures and strengthens the spirit. I fear that its vital role has been underestimated.

HL: Is there any specific encounter or event that changed your life? What does overcoming an obstacle generated by inner and/or outer conflict mean to you?

HL: Eleven years ago, you created the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, the mission of which is “empowering people and communities.” What does “empowerment” mean these specific days of social unrest and war? You are partnering with several nonprofit organizations all over the world, raising funds in support of different causes, mainly people in need such as, in the aftermath of earthquakes, providing them with shelters; building world class hospitals for kids, such as the Meyer Hospital in Florence; and welcoming refugees from war zones. Can you tell us more?

HL: Can creativity contribute to a person’s growth? How much of an influence can music and art have on people’s feelings and actions, and particularly during hard times, such as the pandemic? Hence, how can artists contribute to make the world a better place, despite all that is going on all over the globe?

When, on a daily basis, we are at a crossroads (and faced with the choice between good and evil) and on every occasion, our conscience has the correct answer. And music, by touching our spiritual strings, helps us listen to the voice of our conscience.

Matteo Veronica,BocelliAndrea, and Matteo with Haitian children

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AB: It is life that changes us: it happens, unnoticeably yet daily. Every encounter, every reading, every meditation has been influential in contributing to my distinctiveness as an artist. The “lived experience” inevitably finds its reverberation in singing. However, the source of inspiration has always been the same, and I can summarize it with the word love : love at 360 degrees, the sensual love, the love for life, for beauty, for the brotherhood that unites and for the He Who shaped us.

HL: Andrea, you have truly achieved some outstanding and absolutely unique things close to the impossible, also thanks to a dream team of collaborators, starting with your wife, Veronica Berti, being involved with so many different heads of state, dignitaries, and legends such as Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, the President of the United States Joseph Biden and his family, Hollywood stars, fashion top brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, and some of the greatest of the greats in the music world. Is there still a moonshot you are dreaming of?

AB: I dream of being able to continue singing as long as the good Lord shall wish and to bring some more serenity into people’s homes. I dream of being able to have the joy of witnessing the complete fulfilment of my children, of being able to hold their children’s children in my arms, growing old together with my wife. Last but not least, I dream of being able to continue, together with the foundation that bears my name and the many friends who support it, to offer my small contribution to making the world a better place.

COVER STORY

AB: I’ve always liked soccer, ever since I was a kid in boarding school, and I used to listen to “Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto” (“All soccer minute by minute”) with my little radio. It is the passion of Italians, the one for which you never grow old, a way to remain a child even at my age. When I became passionate about FC Inter, the team was very strong and literally won everything—a great line-up which, like any respectable fan, I remember in detail. In a way, soccer gives emotions related to those that are experienced in an opera house. In its ritual dimension and in its ability to attract healthy glorification and restless partisanship, even soccer projects life into the playful experience. It evokes challenges to the death, outbursts of generosity, heroism, fatal stumbles, magnificent achievements. In both cases, it is a game, but taken very seriously, a game that thrills and touches, that fraternizes and divides. As on the operatic stage, so on the court, we have an arena of heroes: the actors of the dream we choose to live, tightrope walkers running, mimicking battles, expressing virtuosity, loving and hating, falling and getting back up, exposed to the (strictly partial) judgment of the bleachers, always poised between glory and defeat.

AB: We are in the midst of a digital revolution that carries with it some risks, but also a great many benefits. For instance, thanks to technology, traveling, when problematic from a logistic point of view, can be bypassed. It has already happened to me several times, [enabling me] to rehearse, study, and even record together with colleagues who were on the other side of the world. The digital revolution is underway, and the music industry is also facing radical transformations and new challenges. I am thinking, for example, of the shift from physical records to digital streaming, with the advantages and disadvantages it encompasses. This is a fact of life, and we must take it into account. We certainly welcome the digital revolution of robotics and artificial intelligence when applied to good deeds, for example, microsurgery, industry, but also music. If used properly, it can even help creativity and artistic production. As to my children, I have always tried to pass on to them the values I believe in, not by giving them advice, but by way of example. And one value I consider important (and try to apply) is that of moderation.

HL: We often hear about a “New Renaissance,” also thanks to technology. What is your take? Aren’t children and all of us somehow overwhelmed by digital transformation? How do you handle this with your own children?

Andrea with music daughter,AndreastudentswithhisVirginia

HL: Italians, by design, are in love with soccer? Aren’t you? Unfortunately, this year Italy won’t be part of the World Cup. Bummer. What a paradox also for the current European champions! But you have a special soccer team in your heart, FC Internazionale, aka “Beneamata,” which has a unique “manifesto of values” that goes under the motto “brothers of the world.” Can you tell us further about this passion of yours?

Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the San Francisco Symphony.

SAN NIGHTSYMPHONYFRANCISCOOPENINGSEPTEMBER23 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

This year’s gala promises to be a dreamy affair BY JENNIFER BODEN

S AN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY IS CELEBRATING ITS OPENING night gala by fusing music and theater for a stunning show. The concert, which is being held on September 23 at 7 p.m., will feature Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, accompanied by the African-American Shakespeare Company who will perform selected scenes from Shakespeare’s iconic play. The event will begin with a red carpet entrance, followed by the concert and an outdoor after-party with three gala dinner packages available to those looking for an elevated experience. Proceeds from the event will benefit the symphony’s artistic, education, and community programs.

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Prepare for a Whimsical and Inspiring Evening

“San Francisco Symphony provides some of the most extensive education and community programs offered by any American orchestra,” said event co-chair Jeremy Gallaher. “The symphony’s free music education experiences engage students throughout San Francisco.

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This year, purchasers of a gala dinner package have the option of adding 10 percent to their gala gift in support of the SF Symphony’s 43rd annual All San Francisco concert on September 22. This beloved opening week concert welcomes and pays tribute to many of the impactful community groups and nonprofit organizations across the Bay Area for their invaluable work in enriching our city.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Conducted by the symphony’s music director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, the concert will be an immersive experience as whimsical as Shakespeare’s play. Actors from the AfricanAmerican Shakespeare Company, along with other special guests to be announced, will perform scenes from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, interspersed between movements of Mendelssohn’s incidental music, directed by AASC artistic director L. Peter Callender. Esa-Pekka Salonen, music director of the San Francisco Symphony.

Adventures in Music, one of the longest running education programs of its kind in the country, serves elementary children in San Francisco’s public schools and engages more than 23,000 students annually.”

In addition, the symphony’s Music and Mentors program supports the school district’s band and orchestra programs, providing professional musicians to coach students each week. The program also provides instruments, supplies, and concert tickets. More than 35,000 students throughout Northern California hear the symphony each year through the Concerts for Kids program.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Come and enjoy yourself and bring your family and friends,” said Armstrong. “Be prepared to be inspired and moved. A warning: you will not want to leave the after-party, especially since we have Mason Bates, one of the most amazing living composers of our time, to deejay for us.”

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“When I listen to this music, I am transformed into a world of magic,” said gala co-chair Navid Armstrong. “It is as if I am walking on clouds. I see rainbows and sunshine. I feel joy. It gives me hope for the future, this beautiful world we live in, despite its challenges.”

Décor for the opening gala is provided by Blueprint Studios and features a whimsical exploration of a midsummer’s night, reflecting on music’s ability to communicate and transform, inspiring beauty and curiosity at every angle.

Armstrong also looks forward to a fantastic display of fashion and hopes guests will dress to impress, highlighting their individuality.

“Given the motif of the opening night, the sky is the limit,” Armstrong said. “I imagine colors as blue as the sky and as red as the passionate piece by Felix Mendelssohn. I am looking for a gown that is romantic and dramatic. What Blueprint is creating is also quite whimsical and dreamy. Bring your dancing shoes, love of music, and a smile.”

The concert will be followed by an impressive outdoor after-party on Grove Street. Open to all ticket holders, the post-concert event will feature music from DJ Masonic (Mason Bates).

Olivia Hsu Decker and Navid Armstrong attend the SF Symphony's reopening night on October 1, 2021 ,at Davies Symphony Hall.

Dances at the after-party of the San SymphonyNightSymphony'sFrancisco2019OpeningGalaatDaviesHall.

Blueprint's design of the tented pavilion at the SF Symphony's 2019 Opening Night Gala.

While tuxedos and gowns are more common than suits and cocktail dresses, both make a splash on the carpet.

September 23: The San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Night Gala concert features Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed in collaboration with the African-American Shakespeare Company and conducted by Music Director EsaPekka Salonen. Actors from the company, along with other special guests to be announced, will perform scenes from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream interspersed between movements of Mendelssohn’s incidental music. The evening’s festivities conclude with a not-to-be-missed outdoor after-party on Grove Street for all attendees, featuring food, refreshments, and live music entertainment. The performance also features two singers from the 2022 San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship program: sopranos Anne-Marie MacIntosh and Elisa Sunshine.

September 29–October 2: Esa-Pekka Salonen and the SF Symphony give the world premiere of a new orchestral work by the inaugural winner of the Emerging Black Composers Project, Trevor Weston. The concert also features Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, a work evoking the divine glory of eternal life attained only through the suffering of the mortal world, featuring mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung and soprano Golda Schultz in her SF Symphony debut.

Jeremy Gallaher and Navid Armstrong, co-chairs of the San Francisco Sym phony’s 2022–23 season Opening Gala, attend the Gala Launch Party on July 27,

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October 13–15: Pianist Yuja Wang performs the world premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s Piano Concerto—a new piece by a composer known for the flowing energy and vibrant instrumental colors of his music, commissioned by the SF Symphony. Esa-Pekka Salonen also leads Carl Nielsen’s sun-drenched Helios Overture, a work inspired by the Aegean coast, and Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra

musicEsa-Pekka2022.Salonen,directorofthe San Francisco Symphony. Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the San Francisco Symphony during reopening night on October 1, 2021, at Davies Symphony Hall.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

September 24: Violinist Randall Goosby makes his SF Symphony debut performing Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a work imbued with Black spirituals and American dance rhythms. Esa-Pekka Salonen also leads the Symphony in Also sprach Zarathustra, Richard Strauss’ epic tone poem about the human spirit’s search for perfection, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s rarely heard comic opera overture to The Impresario.

Fall Highlights

November 5: The San Francisco Symphony presents its 15th annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, featuring a concert program of traditional and contemporary Latin American music conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto. The concert is preceded by a festive array of family-friendly activities and followed by a reception and dinner, with proceeds benefiting the Symphony’s education and community programs. San Francisco Symphony’s 2022-23 Season

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SHARON SETO

BEHIND

WHAT A THRILL IT WAS FOR ME TO FINALLY attend a live performance after being strapped at home due to the pandemic. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was my first theater pick, and it turned out to be such a good one indeed that I’m featuring it to launch my first Behind the Scenes article in Haute Living, San Francisco! Yes, it’s time to believe in magic again. Harry Potter is back— joined by his son Albus—on a thrilling new adventure through time. Prepare for spectacular spells and an epic battle to stop mysterious forces, all while the future hangs in the balance. BY SHARON SETO

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child THE SCENES

BEHIND THE SCENES

JS: I guess this story starts a few years after I graduated college. I became an usher and a historical tour guide at the beautiful Hudson Theatre. At the end of 2017, I booked my first touring show with Theater Works USA and was on and off the road for about three months. When my tour ended, the Hudson went dark for a few months while they prepared for a new show, Head Over Heels, which had its pre-Broadway run in San Francisco at the Curran Theatre. (Small world, huh?) I needed a job, and the company that operates the Hudson Theatre was also in charge of another Broadway theatre called the Lyric. I was fortunate enough to transfer over there for a while and be a part of the amazing front-of-house team that helped open Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I remember seeing Anthony Boyle’s amazing portrayal of Scorpius and thought, “That. I wanna do that.” So, I put it into the universe. A few months later, the production put out a casting call for future Broadway replacements and the new San Francisco production. I submitted myself and got an initial audition. I worked my butt off and watched the show with a very keen eye. The day of my final audition, I was ushering at the Hudson, exhausted beyond belief. (In total, I’d done about seven auditions over the two months for Potter. That takes a lot out of you). I was in the back of the house during the song “Mad About You” when I got a phone call. The fact I didn’t get fired that day was a miracle, as I took the call in the basement stairwell of the theatre when I was supposed to be in the back of the house. The phone call was from John Tiffany, the director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and he wanted to know if I wanted to play Scorpius Malfoy in the West Coast premiere of the show.

The entire theater has been transformed to immerse theatergoers in this one-of-a-kind experience packed with “thrilling theatricality and pulse-pounding storytelling” (The Hollywood Reporter). “You’ll be wondering ‘how’d they do that?’ for days to come” (People).

BEHIND THE SCENES: Jon Steiger who plays Scorpius Malfoy in the San Francisco production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was an usher at the Lyric Theater in New York before he was cast in the role in our city. Mr. Steiger has a great story about watching the show on Broadway and then coming into the role. HL: You have an amazing story about watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as an usher to being one of the main characters, Scorpius Malfoy. Tell me, how did that happen? It’s so cool.

HL: Scorpius’ traits resonate with you, and I like how much he loved his mother as you do on a personal level. What other common traits are there, and how do they help you as an actor to play Scorpius?

JS: There are so many moments in this show I absolutely love and enjoy doing, and there are so many scenes in the show, it’s hard to pick one; but, I would have to say there is a scene at the beginning of Act 2 that’s probably my favorite. I don’t want to give too much away, but in it, the wizarding world has been changed drastically from what we know it to be, and in this scene, I find myself in a room with three very familiar faces to fans of the Harry Potter franchise. I debrief them on what has made the world this way, and we come up with a plan to save the day. It gives me (Jon) a chance to work with three extremely strong and talented actors (Lily Mojekwu, Geoffrey Wade, and Steve O’Connell). The scene has some very funny and serious moments to play with, so it’s got something for everyone! My favorite Scorpius line is a newer addition to the

HL: We talked about bullies and being bullied and how we admired Scorpius, because he was bullied for years and rose above it. Your comment in regard to seeing yourself as a “vessel to inspire and help people” touched me. Please elaborate.

Ten months after that day, I was at San Diego Comicon doing a bunch of press for the show and a magic workshop in front of a room of 2,000 people, and that’s how they announced me as San Francisco’s Scorpius. Today, it’s the best job I could ask for. I love being in this show.

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reimagined production: “Humiliation turned Cedric into a very angry young man. He was brutally bullied … and some people can’t survive that.” This line is important to me personally, and it’s important to think about in these crazy times. When someone is faced with a situation that makes them feel unsafe, humiliated, unloved, or small, you have no idea how it will affect that person. Bullying is such an ugly thing to do, and putting someone down doesn’t help anyone. I was bullied as a kid, and much like (my) Scorpius, I didn’t let it stick to me forever, and I didn’t let it fuel my decisions. I didn’t let it define me. It hurt. Heck, it still does, but I refuse to stay a victim. I hope that the work we do and what we put into the world helps people find themselves. And love! Love is a wonderful thing. Draco has my favorite line in the play, and that is “People think being a parent is the hardest job in the world. They’re wrong. Growing up is. We all just forget how hard it was.” Why is this my favorite? Because it’s so true! Growing up is hard! That’s why I’m in deep denial about being an adult.

JS: I love this question, because he and I are so similar it can be a little weird at times. We both love history and fun facts. We have a passion for family and friends and know what it’s like to have only one parent. We make terrible jokes … just such bad jokes. We care and try to be empathetic. We know what it’s like to feel all alone and to fear everything, but we also know what it’s like to push through those fears and uncertainties and to do our best. Never give up and be the best friend and son we can be.

Few phone calls change your life like that, and I will never forget it and forever be grateful to him and the whole production team for taking a chance on me. I responded with an emotionally controlled “I would very much like that.” It was crazy! When we hung up, I ran back upstairs and grabbed my best friend and dragged her into the basement with me and told her what had happened. (I was not supposed to do that, but can you blame me?) We stood there holding each other, crying, when a woman (one of the patrons seeing the show) came out of the bathroom and could not believe the very strange sight that greeted her. That poor woman’s confused face will stay with me for the rest of my days.

HL: What is your favorite scene in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? How about your favorite line as Scorpius Malfoy and from his father, Draco Malfoy? Why?

JS: I love what I do. I hope more than anything that the work we do matters to people. From some of the messages and kind words our guests have shared with us, it seems like it does. One of the biggest privileges in my life is having a strong sense of who I am. As I’ve grown older, I realize not everyone has that. If what I do can give them a voice or a stronger sense of self-worth and love, that’s worth everything. I love coming up with ideas to use my work to help others. The world is crazy, and I want to make some of it better with what we do.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage, has sold over 4.5 million tickets worldwide and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best New Play. Don’t walk, run to get tickets. Performances of the exclusive West Coast engagement are extended through September 11, 2022, at San Francisco’s Curran Theater located at 445 Geary Street. Tickets ($59 - $199) for all performances are available now, only via the official website: HarryPotterPlaySF.com Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is pure magic! BEHIND THE SCENES

HL: You’ve resided in many cities. What are your favorite go-to things to do in your “off-time?”

JS: I’ve lived on both coasts now and several places in-between, and it’s always amazing to me how different every city is. San Francisco really does stand alone, and I’m proud to call it an adopted home. My fiancé and I love the Ferry Building. The food and shops there are simply amazing. I love Acme Bread. They’re doing the Lord’s work over there. We also love the Yoda fountain in the Presidio. And I know it sounds touristy, but I love Ghirardelli Square. I can’t help it; that place is beautiful and smells like chocolate.

HL: Any hopes and dreams for your future as an actor?

JS: Nothing but hopes and dreams for the future! There’s a series of Neil Simon plays that people call the Eugene Trilogy which I would love to do in rep someday. It would be a lot of work, but an extraordinary challenge. I would love to play Dick Grayson’s Robin in a Batman film (I loved Batman as a kid and think the time for a gritty Robin film is now). I’ve also started taking puppetry classes and would love to do more work with some fuzzy friends. One of my big hopes is to do more film and television. I have a very romantic view of film and television, but the theater will always be my home. There is so much wonderful work out there, I’m never at a loss for things to strive.

BY STEPH KEAY

The 2022-2023 season honors the company’s storied past and bright future with the Opera Ball: The Centennial Celebration, Opening Night, 100th Anniversary concerts, and more.

SAN OPERAFRANCISCOCELEBRATES100YEARS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Richard Bonelli, San Francisco Opera founder Gaetano Merola, Claudia Muzio, Armando Agnini, and Dino Borgioli with the cast of San Francisco Opera’s production of La Traviata in 1932

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S INCE ITS INAUGURAL PERFORMANCE OF PUCCINI’S LA Bohème on September 26, 1923, San Francisco Opera has persisted through the Great Depression and World War II, the rise of technology and competing media to earthquakes and recessions and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Only the third American opera company to reach its centennial milestone, San Francisco Opera’s longevity is a testament to its tireless dedication to preserving the art of opera while also expanding its boundaries. “From the moment Gaetano Merola raised the first curtain on San Francisco Opera, this has been a company of possibility, of excellence, of innovative spirit,” said Matthew Shilvock, the opera’s general director. From commissioning thrilling new works by leading composers to introducing new voices and supporting the next generation of operatic artists through its training programs, the company has long been a pioneer in its field. Now, San Francisco Opera is set to celebrate its dazzling legacy in spectacular fashion this upcoming year—from the beloved Opera Ball to the return of a full season of mainstage productions.

Lucas Meachem Pene Pati 2022 Opera Ball co-chairs Jack Calhoun and Maryam Muduroglu

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The season kicks off September 9, 2022, with the city’s biggest night of the year. Opera Ball: The Centennial Celebration, co-hosted by San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Opera Guild, will be held in conjunction with the Opening Night Concert at the War Memorial Opera House, starring soprano Nadine Sierra, tenors Michael Fabiano and Pene Pati, and baritone Lucas Meachem under the baton of music director Eun Sun Kim. The once-in-a-lifetime program will range from operatic arias and duets significant to the company’s history to pieces that have special meaning to the artists themselves, plus musical surprises. Co-chaired by Jack Calhoun and Maryam Muduroglu, the benefit gala will feature a lavish cocktail reception and dinner at San Francisco’s City Hall, followed by the spectacular concert at War Memorial House and after-party in the City Hall rotunda. “With our centennial, we are honoring the Bay Area community that helped to build a world-renowned opera company in our city and a leader across the world of opera,” said Calhoun. “We are also excited to be looking to the future and continuing to produce grand opera at the highest level, while also trying new things to excite our current and newOpeningaudiences.”weekend continues September 10, 2022, with the world premiere of Antony and Cleopatra by internationally renowned composer and Bay Area resident John Adams. Commissioned for the company’s centennial, this highly anticipated work will take center stage with a cast starring Gerald Finley and Amina Edris as the titular lovers. Set against a glamorous backdrop inspired by 1930s Hollywood, the legendary tale comes to life through Adams’ powerful and evocative score. Performing through October 5, this will be the first operatic presentation of San Francisco Opera’s season, which marks a return to full strength with eight mainstage productions and several concerts scheduled through July 1, 2023.

Composer John Adams and San Francisco Opera Music Director Eun Sun Kim at an Antony and Cleopatra orchestra reading Michael FabianoNadine Sierra

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A time-honored Bay Area tradition, Opera in the Park returns September 11, 2022 2019 Opera Ball

A long-standing tradition, San Francisco Opera’s free Opera in the Park concert at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park will also return September 11, 2022, as part of San Francisco Opera’s historic opening weekend. The annual concert will feature artists from the company’s fall season with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra led byTheKim.2022-2023 season will see a host of other special events to celebrate San Francisco Opera’s major milestone, including a free community open house, showcase concerts, and outdoor performances—including the return of the everpopular Opera at the Ballpark—culminating in a 100th Anniversary Concert on June 16, 2023. This historic evening of music and memories will feature a roster of treasured San Francisco Opera artists with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus in a program that spans the company’s rich history.“Inthe next 100 years, I hope to see a San Francisco Opera that continues to excite and delight our community,” said Calhoun. “I also hope that we continue to find ways to attract new people into the world of opera … it really is an all-encompassing, multi-sensory experience and an incredible way to spend a special evening.” These sentiments are reflected in San Francisco Opera’s partnership with the Dolby family on a new ticket initiative that aims to make the opera experience accessible to more people. Another project, slated for early 2023, is Bohème Out of the Box which will bring a condensed version of Puccini’s La Bohème, performed live on a shipping container to audiences outside. “We are taking opera into communities around the Bay Area and meeting people where they live and work,” said Calhoun.NewSan

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Francisco Opera productions this season include Verdi’s La Traviata (November 11 – December 3, 2022) staged by director Shawna Lucey and starring soprano Pretty Yende in her company debut; the return of Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice (November 15 – December 1, 2022), only staged once before by the company, in 1959, in an energetic new production by Matthew Ozawa; and a new interpretation of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly (June 3 – July 1, 2023) by director Amon Costume supervisor Galen Till inspects a costume for one of Cleopatra's soldiers

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Finally, the San Francisco Opera co-commission of El último sueño de Frida y Diego by Gabriela Lena Frank and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz will receive its first performances at San Diego Opera before its local premiere at the War Memorial Opera House from June 13 through 30, 2023.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Music’s powerful language inspires us to better understand our world—and each other,” said Kim, who made history as the first woman to serve as music director of a major American opera company following her appointment in 2021. “I’m deeply honored to be a part of the legacy built over the first 100 years of San Francisco Opera, and I look forward to engaging with our community in so many ways during this celebratory year.” Kim will lead all performances of Antony and Cleopatra, Dialogues of the Carmelites, La Traviata, and Madame Butterfly, in addition to the Opening Night Concert, Opera in the Park, and the resident artist Adler Fellows concert. She will also be among the maestros in the pit for the 100th Anniversary Concert.

San Francisco Opera’s 2022-2023 season honors the company’s first 100 years and kicks off an exciting new era under Kim’s music directorship, along with a renewed dedication to growth and innovation. “Our centennial will honor the extraordinary people who shaped our first 100 years and also be a steppingoff point into the incredible, creative possibilities that lie ahead,” said Shilvock. “As we begin our second century, we want to be a place where our community feels that their stories are being told, where we are energizing new conceptions of the art form, and where we continue to create experiences so profound that they reverberate for a lifetime.”

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock San Francisco Opera Music Director Eun Sun Kim

Miyamoto, a co-production with the Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation, Semperoper Dresden, and Copenhagen’s Det Kongelige Teater. Celebrating the aesthetic that defined San Francisco Opera’s first century, two influential masterpieces return to the stage where each enjoyed its American premiere in the 1950s: Poulenc’s profound Dialogues of the Carmelites (October 15-30, 2022) and Richard Strauss’ fantastic Die Frau ohne Schatten (June 4-28, 2023). Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin will also be presented in the Bay Area premiere of Robert Carsen’s lauded production September 25 25 through October 14, 2022, marking a return to Russian repertoire for the first time in 14 years.

Master suite features sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, a replace, a deck and an opulent bathroom of exquisite marble.

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An approximately 11,200 square foot home with stunning views from the Bay Bridge to San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito, on appx. 1.2 acre lush garden double lot, this resort-like magnificent view estate is truly a one-of-a-kind property on the prestigious Belvedere Island. Incredible scale and unrivaled opportunity, in one of the most exceptional settings in Northern California, overlooking San Francisco Bay with breathtaking panoramic views. Sweeping entertainer’s decks and walls of glass that bring phenomenal views to the forefront of the living experience, all in a beautiful and private resort-like Rebuiltsetting. in 2008, this gated contemporary style home offers 6 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a 60 foot indoor pool and entertainment area with multiple decks to enjoy world class views, with elevator and walkways connecting the levels and uniting the indoor with the fabulous gardens and sculptures. Double doors open into a light-infused, two-story atrium entrance of the home’s incredible floor-to-ceiling window walls, flooding the space in natural light and immersing guests in breathtaking views. Office nook with a fireplace, majestic formal living room with soaring high ceilings, wall of glass windows, fireplace, wet bar, wine cellar and deck with panoramic views. The dining room is next to the spacious open plan kitchen/family room/breakfast nook with replace and wallto-wall glass doors to view decks and a second family room/o ce with half bath around the corner. The kitchen with enormous center island is equipped with top of the line appliances t for a Michelin Star chef.

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Three other en-suite bedrooms complete this oor. A separate guest oor with two bedroom en-suite sharing a living room with wet bar and a private view deck.

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Grand View Estate Olivia Hsu

The estate’s resort-like luxurious amenities are as impressive as the residence, o ering the versatility to retreat in serenity or entertain elaborate and lavish events, featuring the indoor pool on the garden level with steam room, sauna, spa, an exercise nook, an entertaining kitchen, dining, bar, two bathrooms, wallto-wall glass doors opening onto a spacious deck with a hot tub and outdoor dining overlooking the exquisite gardens, various terraces with seating areas and endless views. Ample parking within the gate, plus three-car garage. This is a perfect home to enjoy luxurious gardens, breathtaking views and resortlike amenities in the most exclusive BelvedereForlocation.photos and details, please visit: BelvedereGrandEstate.com

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MARTHA’S VINEYARD, KNOWN colloquially as “the Vineyard,” is a 100-square-mile island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Unfortunately for wine lovers, the island’s name is bit of a misnomer, as there are no vineyards. However, this affluent destination makes up for it with picturesque beaches, great places to eat, and coastal charm. Despite the wealth and celebrity sightings, the island retains much of its small-town flair, thanks to the 20,000 yearlong residents favoring boutique shops and restaurants over chains and huge retailers. Are you ready to explore Martha’s Vineyard? Check out the guide below before booking your luxury island vacation in New England.

LUXE GUIDE TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD

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New England’s top destinations for beach, food, and adventure BY NOËL BURGESS

WHERE TO STAY Now that you are on the island, where will you call home? Airbnb and other home rental services are available, but if you are looking to relax and let someone else do the work during your vacation, the island is home to numerous, luxury lodgings. The towns on Martha’s Vineyard offer several choices: Chilmark, West Tisbury, Aquinnah, Vineyard Haven, and Oak Bluffs. However, if you’re a fan of shopping, restaurants, coastal views, beautiful beaches, and the quintessential luxe vibe, then Edgartown is the place to go and the Harbor View Hotel is ready.

Located six miles off the coast of Cape Cod, the island is only accessible by plane or boat. The Steamship Authority Ferry and Island Queen Ferry are the two largest providers for sea transportation departing from mainland Massachusetts. There are also a few other ferry charters leaving from New York and Rhode Island. The island has its own airport—Martha’s Vineyard (MVY)—with JetBlue, Delta, and American offering seasonal flights that connect from the major surrounding airports. Cape Air offers options year-round from Boston Logan International Airport. Pro tip: Take the red-eye from the West Coast into JFK for your first leg. Fly Mint on JetBlue and have a glass of wine before lying flat on their adjustable firmness seats with massage features. Passengers will wake up refreshed before catching a connecting flight to the island.

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Harbor View Hotel has been a beloved fixture on the Vineyard since 1891, offering plush guest rooms and suites in the heart of historic Edgartown. The iconic hotel recently underwent an extensive renovation which includes The Roxana, a 51-room building featuring new luxurious guest rooms, suites, and public spaces seamlessly melding a new, modern design with the elegance of this timeless landmark. While the historic building pays homage to classic Martha’s Vineyard, The Roxana has a vibrant, youthful design appealing to both legacy guests as well as a whole new generation of travelers. In addition, Bettini, its popular restaurant led by director of culinary operations and executive chef Michael Gottlieb, offers a casual yet sophisticated ambiance for island-totable dining, utilizing the Vineyard’s freshest ingredients. This resort has it all with beautiful views of the coast which includes the Edgartown Lighthouse, an upscale restaurant with a fantastic wine program, a pool made for lounging all day thanks to plush cabañas and a poolside bar, and nearby excursions that guests can book directly with the Harbor View.

HOW TO GET TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD

Pro tip: This fall they are throwing their annual Food and Wine Dinner Event. One hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds will be donated the Island MV Boys and Girls Club which supports the club’s food insecurity program, providing meals to members and their families.

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African American Heritage Trail Tour

There is nothing wrong with working on your tan or indulging in copious amounts of “lobstah,” but if you want some education, exercise, and a little adventure while on the island, here are a few options.

Harbor View Hotel, 131 North Water Street Edgartown, MA 02539 harborviewhotel.com

Beaches

WHAT TO DO

Joseph Sylvia State Beach (Edgartown) is a charming, 2-mile, sandy beach in Martha’s Vineyard, best known as one of the primary filming locations for the iconic 1975 feature film Jaws. Jumping off the bridge—or doing the “Jaws Bridge Jump” as it is known—is a summer tradition for many tourists visiting the island. Don’t be shocked if you see someone doing a back flip off the wooden railing as they yell, “Wakanda Forever” or “For Narnia!”

Katama Beach (Edgartown) is a 3-mile barrier beach and one of Martha’s Vineyard’s best spots for surfing and big wave seekers. On the way up to the beach, stop by the Katama General Store for great sandwiches and drinks to take with you!

The Inkwell Beach, also known as Oak Bluffs Town Beach, is popular due to its calm waters and smooth sands, which are suitable for those with children or looking for a leisurely swim. It has significance as one of several historic, African American summer resort communities since the 1890s.

Chappaquiddick Island

Take a 3-minute or 550-foot ferry ride over to what the locals call “Chappy.” As part of the Edgartown experience, visitors can take a car or bike to explore this small island within an island. Check out the Cape Poge Lighthouse, Mytoi Japanese Gardens, or just pack a picnic basket and find one of the scenic spots to stop for lunch.

TRAVEL

The African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard is a physical entity comprised of 30 sites dedicated to the formerly unrecognized contributions the island’s history made by people of African descent. A descriptive plaque is placed at each of these landmarks, most of which can be found in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. They offer 90-minute, 2.5-hour, and 4.5-hour fully narrated tours throughout the season.

Hours: Monday – Sunday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

19 Prime Cast Iron Steakhouse & 19 Oyster Bar. Once two separate restaurants, they have merged to offer the best of land and sea on your plate. Located off Main Street in Edgartown, and offering 16 rotating types of freshly shucked oysters and over 15 unique cuts of steaks and chops, they have something to please all palates. If you are keen to sit outside or want to “highchair” it, they have two patios and two bars in addition to a private dining space. Must Try: Lobster caviar slider, 20-ounce bison chop, and local oysters served with Champagne mignonette, kimchi puree, and spicy cocktail sauce.

19 Church St, Edgartown, MA 02539 www.19rawoysterbar.comwww.19primesteak.com

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Biscuits. This Black-owned breakfast and lunch spot is in the heart of Oak Bluffs. For 20-plus years, they have served Southern-style cuisine to guests that soon become family, as visitors keep returning this Vineyard institution. Be sure to arrive early for breakfast: Biscuits is so popular, the line can stretch back to Inkwell Beach.

Cottage City Oyster Farm is offering a 1-hour tour to those wanting to learn history of the business and the process of growing oysters from seed to market. Once on the farm, the shuckin’ begins. Sit back and enjoy as the farm’s shuckers load the raw bar with as-fresh-as-itgets oysters while you sip your favorite beverage. Lemons, cocktail sauce, and hot sauces will be available. Patrons often bring a cocktail or wine to pair with their oysters. WHERE TO EAT Get ready for a bounty of riches on your plate, thanks to the locally grown produce and seafood available in Martha’s Vineyard. If you’re looking for an abundance of fast food on the island, let’s just say you’re fishing in the wrong place. Take a look at these staples in the community.

15 Winter St, Edgartown, MA 02539. www.detentemv.com

Oyster Tour

Détente Restaurant and Wine Bar. Located in downtown Edgartown, Détente features two floors and a garden patio for guests to dine. This charming restaurant and bar uses ingredients sourced from local farmers and fishermen. Their menu rotates, but always features creative American fare with European influences, local seafood, hand-rolled pasta, and house-made desserts. In addition, the eatery also offers a robust wine list with classic favorites and regional surprises.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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Must Try: Seared scallops, crispy duck confit spring roll, and beef tenderloin.

26 Lake Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 www.mvbiscuits.com

Must Try: Obviously Biscuits! Also try the shrimp and grits: blackened shrimp and garlic roasted red peppers served over cheese grits.

Napa Valley’s wine country is legendary for a reason BY JENNIFER BODEN N APA VALLEY IS HOME TO DOZENS OF WORLD CLASS vineyards, innovative winemakers, and fabulous restaurants and resorts. Even the locals are constantly discovering hidden gems and new hotspots! When you plan your next Napa getaway, consider exploring some of the places I recently visited: they’re stellar examples of everything California’s premier wine country has to offer. DISCOVER THE GEMS OF NAPA VALLEY HAUTE TRAVEL THECOLLECTION,RESORTSSOLAGE,AUBERGECREDI:PHOTO BODENJENNIFERANDESCALANTEDAVIDYOUNTVILLE,ESTATE Solage's 130-foot pool and Picobar in the distance Dining at Picobar 62

Guest rooms range from 515 to 1,900 square feet, each with an outdoor patio. Some suites are equipped with a fire pit, enhancing the ambiance for a gathering with friends or a little romance.

For the ultimate in relaxation, take a dip in Solage’s 130-foot pool. You’ll be treated to views of the Mayacamas Mountains and cool, jewel-like water while you beat the Napa heat. If you want to indulge in real luxury, rent a cabaña with lounge furniture, mini-fridge and complimentary drinks, and a TV and sound system. Don’t forget to check out the poolside margarita cart, with your choice of spirits and garnishes. All that swimming will work up an appetite. When you get hungry, try Picobar, Solage’s delicious and beautiful Mexican restaurant on site. If you love agavebased spirits, don’t miss their newest offering: an expert-guided tasting of four mezcals and tequilas. You’ll get four pours of tequila and mezcal, plus a special cocktail selection. The tasting comes with piconuts (barbacoa-andlime chickpeas) and three different salts. “Napa Valley is known for its beautiful weather, wine, delicious food, and, most importantly, connection.

Shafer Vineyards Is Open to Visitors!

Bottega Restaurant: An Italian Experience in Napa Valley Do you enjoy Italian food? If so, make a reservation at Bottega in Yountville. This cozy, romantic restaurant features Italian design elements like Murano glass chandeliers, Calcutta d’Oro marble, Venetian plaster, and soft leather chairs. Dine inside or take advantage of the outdoor patio with two stone fireplaces. The warm, rustic Italian setting is matched only by the delicious food and attentive service. During my visit, I indulged in their ricotta gnocchi della Nonna dish with a delicious glass of wine. Perfection!

Solage: Detox, Retox, and Repeat Ready to get away from it all? Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection, is one of my favorite Napa Valley retreats dedicated to helping you live “the good life.” Located in Calistoga and home to natural hot springs and a great climate for growing grapes, this modern property combines urban sophistication with the area’s small-town charm.

If you love caviar, then you must visit Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge in Yountville!

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Regiis Ova Caviar and Champagne Lounge

Tasting at Shafer Vineyards

After a long pandemic-induced break, I felt very lucky to experience a private tasting on Shafer Vineyard’s beautiful patio. The wines, views, and hospitality were exceptional. “We’ve very pleased to say, ‘Welcome back,’” said Doug Shafer, president of Shafer Vineyards. “We’ve missed the incredible energy and warmth of sharing our property and our wines with guests from around the world.”

Experience their caviar and roe, paired with small plates and snacks from famous chef Thomas Keller. I highly recommend it for when you want to pull out all the stops. Regiis Ova is sure to impress, and I can’t wait for my next visit!

Solage brings all of this into one singular destination. Our talented team is known for having a great insider’s perspective of Calistoga and the greater valley,” said Pete Alles, Solage Resort and Spa’s general manager.

Goose & Gander Restaurant Goose & Gander in St. Helena offers rustic American food driven by Napa’s seasonal offerings. Guests can enjoy executive chef Tim Humphrey’s main courses and bar bites in the dining room, basement bar, or outside in the lovely garden. Try a custom cocktail or order from their wine list. This casual spot is perfect for date night, family dinners, and celebrations alike.

The hotel’s garden grows an abundance of hyperlocal ingredients for your tasting pleasure. Or, you can take your drink to the pool and soak up that warm Napa sunshine.

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The Estate Yountville: In the Heart of Napa Valley Another lodging favorite is The Estate Yountville. On the south end of the property, Hotel Villagio offers contemporary guestrooms and suites with large soaking tubs, outdoor decks, and rich décor. I particularly enjoy relaxing or writing articles in their beautiful lobby lounge, sipping one of their yummy garden-to-glass cocktails.

Wine country is waiting for you. Whether it’s your first time in the area or you’re practically a local, make time for Napa Valley. Hotel Villagio guest room Deviled eggs available at Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge.

The Spa at the Estate is the perfect excuse to take some “me time” and restore body and spirit. You’ll emerge rested, transformed, and ready to explore Napa Valley. You may also want to spend time in The Estate Yountville bubble, which offers two luxury hotels (Hotel Villagio and Vintage House), a 5-bedroom villa, and a vineyard nestled on 22 beautiful acres. “Whether you’re traveling with a group of friends in search of a fun and sophisticated vibe or a couple seeking a romantic wine and spa retreat for the weekend, this is the destination,” said Marc Adrar, general manager of The Estate Yountville. “We’re located adjacent to more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the world, including The French Laundry, Bouchon, Bistro Jeanty, Bottega, and countless wine tasting rooms within walking distance.”

We are celebrating our 40th anniversary! Join us for our Ruby Jubilee Oct 13 -16 Opening Night Gala on Oct 12 with proceeds benefiting the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco sffallshow.org@sffallshow

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Brand new: Presidio Tunnel Tops BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR Q: How does a major American city add 14 acres to its footprint?

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A: Through great partnerships and contagious enthusiasm (because it’s not easy). But those views! Presidio Tunnel Tops connects the Main Post to Crissy Field right over a sunken highway, creating a stunning and vibrant public space. The highly anticipated urban national park expansion was 20 years in the making and supported by $98 million in private funding and $20 in public funding contributed by the Presidio Trust to transform this section of the old military post into a “local jewel, a national treasure.”

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PRESIDIO:

With fun in mind

presidio.gov/places/presidio-visitor-center

Sculpted benches made from fallen cypress trees add a sensuous touch to Cliff Walks + Overlooks. For those who know their city’s history, our multilayered story is revealed via three vantage points for new views that encompass the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, National Cemetery, Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, andTobeyond.learn more about the Presidio, don‘t miss the new Presidio Field Station (open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday) where the natural and cultural worlds are on display, presented via activities (anyone want to paint a ceramic frog or sketch an owl?) focused on kids. This is staffed by youth adventure guides with seasonally changing content to encourage curious exploration and investigation of the real Presidio.

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Explore 1.8 miles of paths, overlooks, meadows, and green spaces for reflection and relaxation and nature play areas. There are discovery talks, learning labs, and adventure treks, picnic benches, grills, mobile food providers, and pop-up vendors. presidiotunneltops.org Getting the lay of the land First, stop in at the Presidio Visitor Center at 210 Lincoln Boulevard, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Kids can see the Golden Gate Bridge upside down while turning cartwheels on one of the three grassy lawns. Grownups can plan a private special event by renting out the Eastern Meadow or West Lawn. Alternatively, rent 16- to 23-foot picnic tables, plus barbeques, under a grove of trees decorated with strings of lights for a festive Speakingevening. of fun (and incredible views!), the Presidio Steps connect Cliff Walk to the play area below through a series of terraces built into the natural hillside, like an amphitheater. Skip down to the bottom, even closer to the bay, which opens up to a 2-acre play area known as Outpost. Kids will face some tough decisions here—whether to climb, crawl, balance, slide, or swing as they explore their way among natural elements such as wood, stone, and water.

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Bring the kids. If you don’t have kids, bring dogs. If you don’t have kids or dogs, bring a kite. It’s free.

It’s a handsome welcoming place where a 3-D model is the centerpiece of a spacious room, history is revealed, questions are invited, and tasteful souvenirs are sold. It’s right near the Presidio Transit Center where free Presidio Go shuttle buses come and go from downtown and a permanent restaurant will open later this year.

Check out the Crissy Field Center + Learning Labs next door and the cozy Campfire Circle, too.

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Up Now—are offered up from food trucks, carts, and tents that operate on a rotating schedule seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tunnel Tops back story In 1989, the U.S. Army announced their intention to leave the Presidio. When Loma Prieta hit, the earthquake emphasized an urgent need to rethink the aging Doyle Drive freeway that cut the Presidio in two as it led from downtown to the Golden Gate Bridge. City officials declared the six-lane stretch of road to be seismically unsafe. By 1993, Bay Area leaders, urban planners, and citizens put forth a vision to redirect the highway into tunnels and reconnect the park by creating new land above. Thus, the Presidio Tunnel Tops project was born. Starting in 2001, Crissy Field was reimagined from a former military airfield into a beloved national park site, creating 2.3 miles of waterfront promenade. Consultation followed. More than 10,000 people all over the city and beyond shared their ideas about what a new public space in the Presidio might look like as well as the activities it could embrace. Imagination from the community and for the community informed the vision. With this feedback, Presidio Tunnel Tops was designed and built, fueled by support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Campaign.

James Corner Field Operations, the design firm that created Manhattan’s High Line from a disused elevated railway, won an international design competition and became the project’s developer. The park is part of the larger Golden Gate National Recreation Area, celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall. This nearly 84,000-acre UNESCO biosphere reserve is a collection of destinations including the Marin Highlands, Muir Woods, Alcatraz Island, and the Presidio, encompassing 1,500 acres on a former military post. Evergreen Presidio From A to Z, places to visit and things to do in the Presidio is a long and growing list. In addition to being on the doorstep of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, there are landmarks such as Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco National Cemetery, and Mountain Lake. Commune with nature along dozens of trails, several beaches, forests, scenic overlooks, and a pet cemetery.

Talk about hidden gems! Frankly, this trite but true expression applies perfectly to the entire Presidio. More highlights: TRAVEL

68 HAUTE HOTEL Year-round, family-friendly, public programming features an array of music, dance, NPS park ranger storytelling, public art, monthly fun at First Sunday Afternoons, even a Korean harvest festival. Diverse global cuisines—from Latin-Hawaiian fusion dishes to Singaporean classics by Satay By the Bay SF to the popular Curry

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5. While “hidden gem” and “under-appreciated” are trite terms, they apply. It’s not widely known that the Presidio, covering 1,491 acres, is even larger than Golden Gate Park (true even before 14 acres were added to the Presidio landscape). This includes 300 acres of Presidio historic planted forest maintained as part of a cultural landscape.

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1. A 10-minute walk reveals another history plus nature vantage point. Follow the trail for a quarter mile west from Tunnel Tops to visit Battery Bluff which opened in April. It’s a 6-acre spot near the San Francisco National Cemetery where newly restored, turn-of-thelast-century batteries were built by the U.S. Army to (potentially) defend San Francisco Bay. Tip: Take a picnic and a camera.

2. Plantings at Tunnel Tops have been carefully chosen with consideration to colors, height, wind protection, and more. About half of these 200,000 plants represent 200 varieties grown from seed in the Presidio Nursery. The landscaping is low-water use, incorporating best practice irrigation to maximize water conservation for droughtresistant plants that create a new habitat for insects, butterflies, and other pollinators.

4. San Francisco started here. The Presidio is rich with places where visitors can understand and appreciate history. The indigenous Yelamu Ohlone people gathered shellfish along the shore thousands of years ago; archaeologists have located a shell mound in the Crissy Field area dating back to 740 A.D. Follow the “Post to Park” story through the Spanish empire’s northernmost military outpost, Mexican frontier, U.S. Army outpost, to today.

3. Partnerships are key. Presidio Tunnel Tops is brought to life by the Partnership for the Presidio, an agency that brings national park experiences to urban communities. Two federal agencies manage the Presidio: the Presidio Trust and the National Park Service, supported by the nonprofit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy which is dedicated to “Parks For All Forever.” The Presidio Tunnel Tops Campaign raised more than $98 million to build the site, one of the largest fundraising campaigns for public open space in San Francisco’s history. An additional $20 million was contributed by the Presidio Trust.

Did you know? Five quick facts

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70 HAUTE HOTEL Hotels: Loving it so much, you want to stay? Check in at one of the park’s sister properties—Inn at the Presidio and Lodge at the Presidio, both restored former army barracks, now boutique hotels. The scent of eucalyptus groves and Golden Gate Bridge views enhance features like rocking chairs on the front porch and cozy fireplaces in the lobby. presidiolodging.com

Restaurants: The operative word here is “lots” with lots of choices, lots of menus, and lots of views. See a full and growing list of places to eat at presidio.gov/food/restaurants

Curtain up: Comfy seats, great line views to the stage, wine service, and plenty of charm characterize the Presidio Theatre, a beautifully restored, 600-seat venue originally built as a cinema for resident army members and their families. It’s now used for live performances, films, dance, lectures, and more. Keep an eye on upcoming events. presidiotheatre.org

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 Colibri, a Mexican bistro, has outdoor fire pits at the Officer’s Club. colibrimexicanbistro.com  The nostalgic Presidio Social Club, near the park’s Lombard Gate, serves American classics with a patio in the rear. presidiosocialclub.com  Sessions at the Presidio, a gastropub, features a patio and private dining room, a stone’s throw from the Palace of Fine Arts. sessionssf.com  Round House Café is a circular art déco building built in 1938 beside the south entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge. Grab coffee and a bite before taking a walk across. parksconservancy.org/services/round-house-cafe

Oscar statuettes on display: Curated by his daughter, the life and legacy of a great American “imaginer” is a one-of-a-kind story told here. The Walt Disney Family Museum and Café has a permanent collection and special exhibitions. waltdisney.org/visit

Presidio Golf Course: Dotted with eucalyptus and Monterey pine, it surprises some that such a gorgeous, historic course is indeed a municipal one. Golfers-in-chief include 12 U.S. presidents as well as celebrity golfers

Stay out of the gutter: Presidio Bowl and Grill is the place for strikes and spares and burgers and fries. Come on your own or bring 200 friends; buy-outs are popular at the 12lane Presidio Bowl. presidiobowl.com

Public art: Sculptor and environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy has four site-specific works on permanent display in the Presidio: Admire Spire, Tree Fall, Earth Wall, and Wood Line presidio.gov/places/presidio-visitor-center

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The unexpected: Arion Press is an active specialist printmaker offering tours by appointment. arionpress.com Getting to the Presidio It’s easy. Ride the Muni 43-Masonic straight to the Presidio Transit Center. Or, take the 30-Stockton bus that connects Union Square and Chinatown to a stop at Sports Basement adjacent to the Tunnel Tops Outpost. Hop a ride for free on Presidio Go operating in and out of the Transbay Terminal and BART at Embarcadero. There’s a Bay Wheels bike share station and a new rideshare drop-off point. Paid car parking is found at the Presidio’s Main Post and East Beach parking lots, too.

Babe Ruth, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Charles Schulz, and Joe DiMaggio. The café and patio overlooking the course is open to the public, and there’s free parking, too. presidiogolf.com

Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese embodies the essence of Rome

I T’S THE END OF A HOT DAY IN ROME, AND I’M sitting with tour guide extraordinaire Lauren Caramico of Davvero Rome in an al fresco cafe in Campo di Fiore. Sipping oversized Aperol spritzes at a sun-dappled table, we alternatively clink glasses, watch the throngs pass by, and wax poetic about Rome and its eternal buzz. Immersed in the great Roman ritual of aperitivo (that state of being that Lauren describes as a “transition between work and play or work and home life”), I feel myself relax into the sweetness of Rome.

HAUTE HOTEL Archeorunnnig

BY BECCA HENSLEY

“I’d never make it through the summer without these,” Lauren says, then laughs and adds, “or any other season for that matter.” She goes on to remind me that unlike happy hour in the United States, aperitivo in Italy calls for specific drinks, such as an Aperol spritz or Campari spritz.

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ROMAN

“These drinks are both made with bitters,” says Lauren.

“The purpose is to get your digestive juices flowing. You could almost say that they’re medicinal.” HOLIDAY tour

VIP visits with art curators in museums to gladiator lessons for kids to morning running tours across the city’s urban landscape. That’s where Lauren comes in. She’s Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese’s food maven. For small groups or individuals, she designs customized tasting tours, sipping tours, gelato tours, truffle foraging tours—really, anything to do with Rome, its hinterlands, and the region’s food and drink. In collaboration with the hotel’s concierge and each guest, Lauren draws up bespoke itineraries that take Sofitel’s visitors deep into the city’s soul. As a veteran traveler to Rome, I appreciate how Lauren takes me only to places she likes to go, not necessarily the venues already incorporated into guidebooks or blogs. Our walk around Trastevere feels like a night out with friends, a chummy way to interact with local restaurant and bar owners, residents, and Lauren herself. In times when travelers want to embrace sense of place and connect more deeply with locals than ever, luxurious but approachable Sofitel Villa Borghese triumphs. Hotel Sofite VIlla Borghese exterior Walking tasting tour with Davvero Rome

Adept at pampering guests—its rooftop restaurant, Settimo, rules, and its concierges are bar none—Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese prides itself as well on its ability to get its guests out into the streets of Rome to partake of the city’s virtues. To do this, they’ve partnered with esteemed local experts in fields ranging from fashion to science to architecture to fitness. Offering programs designed to specifically appeal to diverse types of travelers—families, solo travelers, and repeat visitors—the adventures include everything from behind-the-scenes

I met Lauren through my hotel, Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, an elegant palazzo tucked into a quiet nook along the walls of the Borghese Gardens. Supremely situated for tourists, it lies just steps from must-see sites, such as Villa Medici, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain. A swankily renovated, neoclassical marvel, the 19th century palace recently received a decorative facelift under the direction of renowned French architect and interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. The result: Sofitel Villa Borghese has the intimacy of a home, albeit a glamorous one fit for a baroness.

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More About Sofitel Villa Borghese

The Vibe Impeccably restored, fusing Sofitel’s signature French savoir faire with Italy’s sleek sprezzatura (the art of looking good without effort), the Sofitel Villa Borghese pays homage to the regal and artistic aspects of Rome. Glamorous and just ornate enough, the modern palazzo reimagined by architect Nuel oozes elegance without being stuffy. Revolving collections of artwork add vibrancy. The Rooms Airy suites and rooms boast a design-forward feel. Ceiling paintings (mine was a fluff of dreamy Michelangelo-esque clouds) fascinate; fancy, wall-sized mirrors sport fairytale whimsy; huge windows frame views of Rome’s top sites, such as Villa Medici and the Sistine Chapel; and oversized bathrooms coddle. Opt for one of the seven suites to enjoy apartment-sized terraces.

Food and Drink

Multigenerational Family Packages Families can delve into Rome with Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese’s engaging adventures for all ages, including stargazing like a Roman astronomer, gelato workshops, horseback riding down the Appian Way, Italian lessons, or gladiator school. Archeorunnnig tour Settimo rooftop restaurant Cooking class

Drawing locals as well as guests, sexy Settimo sits on Sofitel Villa Borghese’s rooftop, presenting nearly 360 degrees of jaw-dropping Roman vistas. With both an outdoor area (lovely for breakfast or apertivo time) and indoor seating, the romantic restaurant excels at modern Italian favorites. The carbonara pasta with black truffle and the fried sea bass with tomato puree and burrata are just two palate-pleasing options.

ArcheoRunning with Isa Calidonna You don’t have to be a runner to love this early morning tour of Rome’s hidden art and architectural gems. Able to gear her customized tours to any level (walkers are welcome), Isa, an architectural historian and trainer for the Italian National Olympic Committee, combines her talents to guide guests on a fascinating romp around Rome without the crowds. archeorunning.com Yoga around Rome Guest room at Sofitel Villa Borghese Rome Family

Solo-Scapes Solo travelers need not fear loneliness with the hotel’s variety of experiences designed to connect them with local Italians. From wardrobe style with a top fashionista to yoga lessons among the ruins to cooking classes with the chef, those traveling alone will have the time of their lives. Food Tours with Davvero Rome Join epicurean Lauren Caramico on a customized tasting tour around Rome. From the newest food trends in Rome to the iconic hotspots, she shares her city’s culinary secrets with passion. This is ideal for both new and repeat visitors to Rome. davverorome.com

Astronomytours class

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CONRADRANGALIMALDIVESISLAND

Dive into the twin island resort where unparalleled luxury awaits both above and below the surface

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IT’S NO SECRET THAT THE MALDIVES IS ONE OF THE ultimate vacation destinations for discerning travelers. From overwater bungalows to gleaming white sand beaches, the island nation is a veritable paradise for jetsetters seeking the ultimate in rest and relaxation. With more than 160 resorts spread across 26 atolls—the majority of which occupy their own islets—there’s no shortage of worthy options. While there are many beautiful resorts, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island located in the South Ari Atoll also has heart. The Conrad Maldives offers a twin island experience as well as the world's first undersea residence Aerial shot of a superior water villa

BY BECCA HENSLEY

AHMED;YASHRIB©CREDITS:PHOTO MALDIVESCONRADOFCOURTESY

Villas have been updated with elegant new interiors Superior water villa with pool

Beyond its undeniable luxury is a true sense of authenticity and passion for hospitality. “It’s how you feel when you’re here,” says general manager Carla Puverel. “We empower our team to interact with our guests in a very understated [and] authentic way.” Her sentiment is backed by the resort’s 42 percent repeat guest rate—from families staying on the main island, Rangalifinolhu, to honeymooners on the secluded, adultsonly Rangali Island. The first international resort brand in the Maldives, the Conrad pioneered the first overwater villas on stilts in the entire country—not to mention the world’s first undersea villa. The ultra-deluxe property continues to make a splash following a multimillion-dollar relaunch this past February, just in time to celebrate its quarter century later this year.

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Chef Pedersen’s experience spans from Dubai to the Seychelles, and his curiosity and knack for creatively combining ingredients is certainly invaluable at his new post. Sous vide reef lobster dish with yuzu dressing, a Maldivian fish curry served with chapati, a rich veal cheek tagliatelle with fermented lemon and creamy ricotta, and a supremely tender octopus with chorizo, passion fruit, and a tomato ragout are all on Pedersen’s lineup of dishes showcasing quality ingredients executed in a masterful way. Other culinary offerings include the Atoll Market all-day buffet with live cooking stations, Rangali Bar’s sand-floor bar and outdoor tables overlooking the lagoon, and Vilu, an open-air restaurant that recently relaunched with an Italian-leaning menu and wood-fired pizzas.

The villas have been updated with elegant new interiors and emphasize indoor-outdoor spaces offering unfettered access to the stunning Indian Ocean. Enjoy a floating breakfast from the private pool of your overwater villa with a view of the reef sharks, or snorkel in the house reef teeming with a rainbow assortment of marine life—located just steps from the beach bungalows. The twin island resort is also home to the world’s first-ever undersea residence, The Muraka, an ultra-luxurious, 2-level residence with a master bedroom submerged 16 feet in the Indian Ocean. Essentially a one-of-a-kind, private underwater aquarium, the bedroom features a 180-degree curved acrylic dome and floor-to-ceiling windows allowing guests to immerse themselves in the brilliant aquatic life. Not to be outdone, the resort’s 12 culinary establishments include Ithaa, the world’s first underwater restaurant. The 14-seat restaurant is enveloped by the Maldives’ signature blue waters, rays of sunlight streaming by colorful reef fish to curious sharks drifting past. Executive chef Christian Pedersen is the mastermind behind Ithaa’s contemporary cuisine, in addition to the resort’s other restaurants. Over a sumptuous dish of crisp tortellini—stuffed with sweet Maldivian lobster and served atop a silky saffron and potato cream, grilled sweet corn, and charred leek—he shares his approach. As he speaks passionately about everything from microgreens sourced from a Netherlands specialty plant nursery to working with the produce grown on the resort’s hydroponic farm, it becomes abundantly clear that he creates from a sincere, deep appreciation for food and for sharing his discoveries with guests. “He’s a dream chef for me,” says Nils-Arne Schroeder, the global brand head for Conrad Hotels & Resorts and vice president of Luxury & Lifestyle for Hilton in Asia Pacific. “It’s about the culinary experiences in luxury hotels, and we made a point of hiring a great executive chef.”

The Conrad Maldives delivers genuine barefoot luxury with 151 luxury overwater and beachfront villas sprawled across two islands, linked by a 3,200-foot suspension bridge where one can often spot manta rays gliding beneath in the evening.

Natalia Souza Samper is the resident marine biologist with Ocean Group which runs the dive center at the resort. Aside from the resort’s snorkeling and diving excursions—where you might spot a whale shark, since the South Ari Atoll is famed for sightings of the gentle giants year-round—it offers activities that tie into the resort’s conservation efforts. Samper leads the resort’s coral planting initiative, where guests can “adopt” coral and assist in planting coral fragments that will help promote reef rejuvenation, receiving an adoption certificate, photographs, and updates on “their” corals’ growth every six months.

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Aerial view of Ithaa, the world's first underwater restaurant

The Muraka

The resort even offers an authentic Chinese dining experience—the first in the Maldives—helmed by celebrity chef Jereme Leung, a pioneer of contemporary Chinese cuisine. Integrating elevated culinary experiences into luxury travel is a trend that Schroeder foresees rising even more rapidly in the next decade, putting the Conrad Maldives at the forefront of the movement and in a class of its own. Part of luxury is also flexibility, and very few islands offer the staggering amount of space that the Conrad Maldives’ adjoining islands provide. There are spas unique to each island, one with glass-bottom floors and the other set in a Zen-like hideaway next to the resort’s organic restaurant, Mandhoo. The spas themselves also offer a wide range of services, from harmonyrestoring chakra color rituals to traditional indigenous Maldivian treatments. As for guest experiences, the resort provides a wealth of activities aimed at creating a connection between guests and the local culture.

While the resort offers the comforts of home—including a subterranean wine cellar stocked with over 15,000 bottles and 800 labels—it also provides guests with opportunities to immerse themselves in Maldivian cooking classes, learning how to play boduberu (drums), and even coral planting.

At departure, Chef Pedersen sends me off with a small wooden box filled with passion fruit marshmallows made in-house. As the seaplane prepares to depart, he rides off on his bicycle into a striking lavender sunset. It’s a picture-perfect finale to a week spent in paradise—not only beautiful and indulgent, but also meaningful and memorable.

“Of course, this hotel is beautiful, but what really makes a difference is our team members,” says Schroeder. “If somebody has a fantastic attitude, if [they’re] passionate and love what they do, everything else you can train.” I recall Niyaz, my housekeeper, who patiently constructed a beautiful tableau of wildlife on my bedspread daily—from dolphins to deep sea divers—using hand-cut local flora. On my final evening, a farewell gift awaits: a pocket journal with a whale shark etched into the cover. Again, it’s Niyaz’s delicate handiwork—a fact I don’t realize until Puverel shares that she had run into him carving the beautiful covers earlier that day. “That’s our hope, always, in our hotels around the world,” says Schroeder. “When you meet a passionate team member, you will remember this person. If it’s an authentic experience, that is what you will remember.”

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HAUTE HOTEL The Muraka at sunset The Muraka's master bedroom sits 16 feetThebathroomTheunderwatermasteratMuraka Ithaa's all-glass dome roof RIGHT)TOPFROM(CLOCKWISECREDITS:PHOTO NICHOLAS;JUSTIN©NICHOLAS;JUSTIN© AHMEDYASHRIB©NICHOLAS;JUSTIN© 79

Nothing Compares. BAHAMAS SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY | WINDSOR BUSINESS PARK • NASSAU, BAHAMAS | +1.242.322.2305 | SIRBAHAMAS.COM | Serenade House 4 BR | 5 BA | 6,800 sf | $3,800,000 Ocean View Residence, 80’ Elevation, Pool, Caretaker’s Unit, 17,474 sf Lot. Property ID 49462 Samira.Coleby@SIRbahamas.com +1.242.376.6248 Nick.Damianos@SIRbahamas.com +1.242.376.1841 WEST BAY STREET, NASSAU, BAHAMAS Verandah, 107 Ocean Club Estates 5 BR | 6/2 BA | 6,000 sf | $6,900,000 Stunning Architectural Design. Private custom-built home. Turn-key. Golf. Property ID 47251 Mack.Altidor@SIRbahamas.com +1.242.577.4283 PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS 403 One Ocean 3 BR | 3.5 BA | 2,798 sf | $1,475,000 Modern Island-Living. Large Covered Balcony. Resort Amenities. Gated. Property ID 47130 Mack.Altidor@SIRbahamas.com +1.242.577.4283 PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS Blue Agave 5 BR | 5/1 BA | 6,400 sf | $5,500,000 Canalfront Home, New Dock, Covered Verandah, Infinity pool, Gated. Property ID 49384 Monty.Roberts@SIRbahamas.com +1.242.424.4944 OLD FORT BAY, BAHAMAS

CLASSIC TAHOE CHARM Four bedrooms, three baths, two- to three-car garage, 3,681 square feet on nearly 1/2 acre. Private road shared by 4 residences. Magnificent views overlooking the garden, fire pit and cascading water feature. Garage has two tandem spaces plus an available lift for a third car. Adjoining is a spacious workshop that could be repurposed. French doors from the main level open to a south-facing deck with gas BBQ hookup, and there is garden access from entry level. Modern kitchen and beautifully tiled baths, several ceiling fans and thoughtful detail throughout the house make this move-in ready. Purchase has available 1/4 ownership in a Talmont lot for unlimited access to Tahoe Park Private Beach, affording buoy rental, exquisite beach, 2 piers and more. Visit www.355Bow.com $3,125,000 THE LEADER IN LUXURY REAL ESTATE | CHASEINTERNATIONAL.COM TRINKIE WATSON NV & CA BROKER | CIPS | CLHMS | CRS | LTG | GRI NV BS.1022 | CA 00326518 800 783 laketahoeluxuryestates.comtwatson@chaseinternational.com0722 Tahoe City office: 531 North Lake Boulevard

Crispin Clarke and Charles Baker III

Karen Clopton, Pernella Sommerville, and Robin Nielsen

THE FORMER BANK VAULT REPURPOSED AS A FINANCIAL District dining destination is right on the money in more ways than one. The restaurant’s lounge/bar was the place to be to celebrate the release of Haute Living, San Francisco’s July/August 2022 issue, “Leaders & Legends,” with a debonair John Legend gracing theBubblescover. flowed freely as passed hors d’ouevres showcased chef Jason Halverson’s culinary talents. “We invite our guests to surround themselves with amazing people in our sophisticated BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR | PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY HAUTE LIVING LAUNCH PARTY AT THE VAULT STEAKHOUSE

Vanessa Arriola, Alix Brewster, and Nicole Parrish

John Harrington, Claire Colville, and Patrick Colville

Farah Makras, Willie Brown, Aubrey Brewster, Sonya Molodetskaya, Olivia Decker, and Victor Makras

Stephanie Ng and Navid Armstrong

Imane Hanine, Noel Burgess, and Madeleine Bocaya

Chef Jason Halverson, Willie Brown, and Tai Ricci

Former Mayor Willie Brown was among the guests enjoying camaraderie in the chic venue at The Vault Steakhouse. “It was wonderful to see so many familiar and new guests enjoying our food and drink … a real pleasure to host this event for Haute Living, San Francisco,” said Halverson.

On the evening’s menu at The Vault Steakhouse were truffled deviled egg with Dijon mustard and chervil; potato pavé tots with crème fraîche, chive, sieved egg, and caviar; oyster on the half shell lemon mignonette; shrimp cocktail; crab dip with red Fresno chile, tarragon, avocado, and flat bread; and roasted mushroom tart with whipped ricotta.

Bill Armstrong and Doug Waggener Sophia Zhao and Nicole Wu Ellah Coomans, Parker Coomans, Kari Coomans

Andrew Freeman and Tom Wolfe Kirsten Strobel, Beth Schnitzer, Laurie Jo Miller Farr, and Gwyneth Borden and comfortable environment. From a great evening with friends to a business dinner, we welcome guests to share an abundance of food and drink. What could be better than a shellfish platter, a dryaged porterhouse, and one of our signature Vault martinis?”

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NIEMAN MARCUS PRESENTS: BY ROBERT RICHARDS PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY THE ART OF FASHION BY FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY

Tatiana Sorokko, JC Boisset, and Maria Manetti Shrem

Chandra Friese, Donna Berg, Nafiseh Lindberg, and Julie Coplon

NEIMAN MARCUS, IN CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH Festival Napa Valley, presented the Art of Fashion runway show and Vintner’s Luncheon at Festival Napa Valley on Saturday, July 23, at Raymond Vineyard in St. Helena. The show featured a curated assortment of ready-to-wear garments and accessories from luxury designer brands, including Carolina Herrera, Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford, Burberry, Alexander McQueen, and Christian Louboutin, all available at Neiman Marcus. Festival Napa Valley is presented by the Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring the arts to all.

Chris Ashworth and Veronica Ashworth

FashionShremshow

Top attendees at the show were Jean-Charles Boisset, Mark Sullivan, Eva and Mauro Zanetti, Tatiana Sorokko, and Maria Manetti Shrem.

Sally Yu and Jeff ShenHeather Rangel and Tanneasha Gordon Maria Manetti

Jodi Nakatsuka and Dana Manning

Chris Vargas, Shannon Nicols, and Bill Roach Mark Sullivan and Jean-Charles Boisset

Bob Damaschino, Krista Giovara, Jessica Hickingbotham, Riccardo Benavides, and Barbara Brown

Jennifer Walske, Anna Chung, Komal Shah, and Mary Beth Shimmon

Katie Lee and Jim Lee

took

record setting benefit

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE AND OSCAR DE LA RENTA HELD A the League to Save Lake Tahoe. event place in Incline Village, Nevada on August 7. Attendees included Fernando Garcia, co-creator director at Oscar de la Renta; Brad Somberg, CEO of B & N Industries; Robert Benavides, San Francisco event and CEO of B & N Industries; and philanthropist Mary Beth Shimmon. de la

Everyone enjoyed cocktails, a live auction fundraiser, a seated lunch beachside, and a glorious Oscar

designer

Alex ElizaBolen,Bolen, and Fernando Garcia

Barbara Brown, Gordon Andrews, and Kristin Keane

Ashley Brown and Shant Melkonian Julie Schumacher, Ella Maffi, Ryan Schumacher, and Armity Simon

fashion show benefiting

Lisa Borel, Alejandra Kolyvakis, Katherine Tempesta, Naya Nessary, and Devi Navamani

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE & OSCAR DE LA RENTA FASHION SHOW BY ROBERT RICHARDS PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY A to save Lake Tahoe

John Antonini, Anna Chung, Heather Preston, and Fernando Garcia

The

Renta fashion show. This year’s fundraiser set a new record for donations, bringing in over $1.2 million.

Jeff Alley, EvanJeffArmstrong,NavidandBharkhadaShahin,Noelle Shahin, Paula Blank, and Win Derman

A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT BY ROBERT RICHARDS PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY Pre-party celebrates the San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Night Gala

Andrea Palmer and Mark Orttung

Jeremy Gallaher, Navid Armstrong, and Jerome Guillen

Whitney Matagrano, Kari Lincks Coomans, Lauren Erickson, and Meredith Tan Performance

ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, ATTENDEES GATHERED FOR a pre-party to celebrate San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Night Gala which takes place September 23 at Davies Symphony Hall. The evening’s theme was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and guests enjoyed a live performance of Caroline Shaw’s “Limestone and Felt”. Jeremy Gallaher and Navid Armstrong co-chair the Symphony’s 2022–23 opening gala. “We want to thank everyone who came out to our kickoff party for the Symphony’s Opening Night Gala,” Gallaher said. Armstrong added, “We hope everyone joins us for the Symphony’s opening gala on September 23, an enchanted evening full of music, beauty, and joy you don’t want to miss!”

Meredith Tan and Lauren Erickson

HAUTE SCENE

Whitney Matagrano, Lauren Erickson, Jeremy Gallaher, Kari Lincks Coomans, and Meredith Tan

Jennifer Laska and Joe Laska

Catherine Geeslin, Keith Geeslin, and Prisca Geeslin

Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning and Jean-Charles Boisset Proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset Daniel Merchant and Jean-Charles Boisset Brian Maloney and Jean-Charles Boisset Quay Hays, Gina Gallo-Boisset, and Jean-Charles Boisset Calistoga Depot interior

At Calistoga Depot

Calistoga Depot Opening Julia Jinks, Patrick Egan, Jean-Charles Boisset, Leela Hutchinson, Jeff Colton, Todd Everett, Elan Villamor, and Gina Gallo-Boisset

WHAT’S 154 YEARS OLD AND YET BRAND NEW? THE answer to the riddle is Calistoga Depot, built in 1868 to bring tourists by train to enjoy the subterranean thermal mineral water that distinguishes this destination to this very day. Transformed and living its best next life, California’s secondoldest train depot is now a contemporary meeting place honoring that fascinating history. Adorned with American flags, and surrounded by smiling faces, Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning and Proprietor JeanCharles Boisset cut the ceremonial red ribbon at the dedication of the new Calistoga Depot on July 20. Renovations to the high-ceilinged interiors made way for an upscale grocery, deli, wine retail shop, espresso bar, microbrewery, and a soon-tobe spirits tasting room. Outside, there’s a wood-fired pizza oven, and leafy garden with live music, and several landmark, restored rail cars, housing a Mexican restaurant, a champagne and oyster bar, and more to come.

GRAND OPENING AT CALISTOGA DEPOT BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR PHOTOS BY ALEXANDER RUBIN

Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning, Gina Gallo-Boisset, and Jean-Charles Boisset

Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning and Jean-Charles Boisset

HAUTE EVENT

BY NOËL BURGESS

S INCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2006, FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY HAS provided an annual summer celebration of music, food, wine, and culture to the region. The multi-day celebration kicked off its 16th year at Charles Krug with conductor Carlo Ponti leading Festival Orchestra Napa in Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Daniel Brewbaker’s Cello Concerto with soloist Sophia Bacelar. Over the course of two weeks were 60 artistically diverse concerts, events, and programs around Napa Valley, including the Bouchaine Young Artist Series at the CIA Copia and Taste of Napa, a grand wine tasting held at Meritage Resort & Spa. Additionally, guests were inspired by the world premiere of Polaris: A Juneteenth Anthem by prizewinning composer Nia Imani Franklin, with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City led by Francisco J. Núñez in a concert that also featured soprano Mikayla Sager, tenor Mario Chang, baritone Lester Lynch, and Gordon Getty’s Young America.

Trisha Yearwood performs at the Arts for All Gala 88

Grammy Award winner Trisha Yearwood helps raise a record-setting $3.9 million.

NAPAFESTIVALVALLEY2022

About Festival Napa Valley Blending the beauty and bounty of Napa Valley with the very finest performing arts, Festival Napa Valley offers programs that enrich the economic and cultural vitality of the region and make the arts accessible to all. The festival presents world class performances staged in iconic venues and inspiring educational programs offered at the Napa County schools year-round. It is presented by Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit organization governed by a board of prominent vintners and local leaders. More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants, chefs, and vintners participate each year.

at the

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Access to the once-in-a-lifetime Bocelli concert is $10,000 per person ($9,600 tax deductible). Most spots were sold, but a limited number remain available. Contact Festival Napa Valley’s patron services team at concierge@festivalnapavalley.org or call (707) 927-3874 to reserve your place.

“Our 2022 season electrified audiences with the most exciting and varied program we have presented to date,” said the festival's president & CEO, Richard Walker. “The range of music styles, venues, and price options made it possible for everyone to enjoy the festival.”Thehighlight of the festival was the Arts for All Gala, a fundraising event held on July 17 at the Nickel & Nickel winery and featuring a concert with 3-time Grammy Award winning superstar Trisha Yearwood. The event raised a record-breaking $3.9 million dollars benefiting arts education and the festival’s community programs. Included in the $3.9 million were 16 auction lots purchased at the gala by generous patrons and festival board members. Top auction lots included a trip to Tatiana and Garret Copeland’s Toucan Hill Villa on Mustique Island, which three bidders purchased for $410,000. Dinner for six people at chef Tyler Florence’s new restaurant, Miller & Lux, fetched $65,000. The December 2 evening with Andrea Bocelli benefiting the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and Festival Napa Valley as part of the Olivia Decker Power of Music Series brought in $620,000.

Festival Napa Valley returns for its 17th season July 14 to 23, 2023. Please visit festivalnapavalley.org. Night Ballet performers Voice and the Violin with Joshua Bell and Larisa Martínez 89

Rich and Leslie Frank

Mauro Zanetti, Maria Manetti Shrem, and Chris Minev 90

Attendees at the Arts for All fundraising gala included Gordon Getty, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul Pelosi, Ambassador Trevor Traina and Alexis Traina, Mayor London Breed, former Mayor Willie Brown, conductor Carlo Ponti, Suymaya Slim, Maria Manetti Shrem, Dagmar Dolby, Keith and Priscilla Geeslin, David and Mary Beth Shimmon, and festival board members, including Robin Baggett, Kathryn Walt Hall, Olivia Hsu Decker, Antonio Castellucci, Leslie Frank, Clarke Swanson, Michael Polenski, Lauren Ackerman, and Maggie Oetgen.

Willie Brown, London Breed, Nancy and Paul Pelosi at Arts For All

Nia Imani Franklin’s with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City

Wray Armstrong, Karen, and Rick Walk at A Night at Ballet

Opera, Gaetano Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore

Olivia Decker with Mayor London Breed at Taste of Napa

l An innovative staging of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore directed by

l Admission-free programs including Festival Live! with the Frost School at Festival Napa Valley and the Blackburn Music Academy and Novack Concerts for Kids.

l AloneTogether, a multimedia exhibition created by Francisco J. Núñez and members of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, on view at the CIA at Copia through September 30, 2022.

l Ansel Adams: America by Dave and Chris Brubeck, followed by a performance by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet as part of the Olivia Decker Power of Music Series.

Jean-Romain Vesperini, with Gemma New conducting Festival Orchestra Napa and starring Andriana Chuchman, Mikayla Sager, and Mario Chang.

l Tuition-free Blackburn Music Academy and Manetti Shrem Summer Vocal Conservatory.

Tatiana Soroko, Jean-Charles Boisset, and Maria Manetti Shrem 91

Patron dinners and experiences at Alpha Omega, Artesa, Auberge du Soleil, Bardessono, Beringer Vineyards, Cardinale, Castello di Amorosa, Charles Krug, Far Niente, Four Seasons Napa Valley, Frank Family Vineyards, Grgich Hills Estate, HALL, Harbison Estate, Hess Persson Estates, Meritage Resort, Mont La Salle, Nickel & Nickel, Quintessa, Raymond Vineyards, Spring Mountain Vineyard, St. Supéry Estate, Stull Residence, Tamber Bey Vineyards, Trinchero Napa Valley, and Wheeler Farms.

l A Night at the Ballet: From Tchaikovsky to The Rolling Stones

l World premiere of art songs by Jake Heggie, Jack Perla, and Luna Pearl Woolf set to poetry by Lisa Delan and performed by Alexandra Armantrading and Kevin Korth.

OTHER FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY 2022 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:

l The Maria Manetti Shrem Daniel Brewbaker Composer Prize awarded posthumously to Daniel Brewbaker.

l Festival Orchestra Napa’s performance of Dvorak’s New World Symphony against a backdrop of artwork created by local children and seniors participating in the Festival’s How I See Music program.

l Performances by Joshua Bell, Larisa Martínez, Tessa Lark, Sophia Bacelar, Dmitry Masleev, Lara Downes, and Peter Dugan, with conductors Constantine Orbelian and Carlo Ponti.

Antonio Castellucci and Olivia Decker at the Ansel Adams America Concert Patron dinner at Castello di Amorosa winery

Guests enjoyed sublime events and spirited auction BY JENNIFER BODEN T HE ANNUAL V FOUNDATION WINE CELEBRATION featured a stunning array of luncheons, dinners, a symposium, and an epic gala. Since its founding in 1999, the Wine Celebration has raised more than $137 million to support cuttingedge cancer research across the nation. HAUTE EVENT Dr. Nelson V FOUNDATION WINE CELEBRATION RAISES $6.5 MILLION TO FUND IMPORTANT CANCER RESEARCH The gala auction at the V Foundation Wine Celebration Weekend Donna Orender, Kate Johnson, Jeanette Lee, Chaunté Lowe , and Kikkan Randall at the Title IX Luncheon

• Humanitarians & Founders luncheon held at Vineyard 7 & 8. Chef Andre Villahermosa created the food and legendary Napa winemaker, Martha McClellan, chose the perfect matches.

THE GALA CAPPED OFF A LONG WEEKEND OF EVENTS:

• The 25th Annual Silver Anniversary V Foundation Wine Celebration will be held on August 3-6, 2023. HAUTE EVENT

• Luncheon toasting Samantha Rudd, 2022 Vintner Grant honoree.

In addition to auction lots, the fund-a-need, during which guests raised their paddles to support early cancer detection, raised additional funds to support the V Foundation’s efforts to battle cancer. The complete auction brought in $6.5 million.

The event featured food from chef Philip Tessier and wines from RUDD Estate.

This year’s V Foundation weekend, which ran from August 4 to 7 at several gorgeous sites around Napa Valley, raised support for early detection research. Many clinicians and researchers believe that finding cancers at their earliest possible moment, when they are easiest to treat, is the best recipe to cure these diseases. The vast majority of cancer deaths are caused by metastasis, during which the cancer spreads throughout the body. Early detection may eliminate that danger.

The weekend’s highlight occurred Saturday night with the gala and auction. The event was held at the Nickel & Nickel Estate Winery in Oakville and celebrated Duke University basketball legend Mike Krzyzewski (aka Coach K), who recently retired from the game. Other presenters included former NFL defensive end Devon Still, who won 2015 Jimmy V Award for perseverance in 2015, and Food Network personality chef Charles Phan.

There were many prized auction lots. The evening’s top lot was six liters of Screaming Eagle in memory of Ron Kuhn, a V Foundation Wine Celebration and Napa Valley longtime friend, dedicated supporter, and philanthropist. The gavel came down at $270,000 for this very special lot featuring a 1992 6-liter bottle of Screaming Eagle, one of two ever produced by world renowned vintner Jean Phillips and one of the most prized possessions from her private cellar. The lot was purchased by Gary Jabara, new owner of The Estate Yountville, the Wine Celebration Weekend’s host headquarters.

Erik Stenson and Cindy Goldberg celebrate a winning bid at the V Foundation Wine Celebration Gala Auction Trackhouse racing team car

Another auction highlight included two VIP tickets to race weekend at Sonoma Raceway with full-access, behind-the-scenes passes, logo inclusion on NASCAR’S Trackhouse Racing Team car, and a tasting experience at Gemstone Vineyard with a 1.5-liter bottle of 2018 Gemstone Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon signed by the Trackhouse and Gemstone teams. This lot raised $300,000 total (doubled up at $150,000 each).

• Dinner with the Docs held at Far Niente winery. Attendees shared the night with the MDs and PhDs on V Foundation’s scientific advisory committee.

• The Answer for Cancer Research Symposium was held at The Estate Yountville. Leading physicians and scientists presented their work and provided an overview of the research being funded by the V Foundation and how early detection may hold the key to curing cancer.

• Title IX Luncheon, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the passing of the landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational institution that receives federal funding. This special event featured four elite athletes, including Olympic champion cross-country skier Kikkan Randall; former world number one female billiard player Jeanette Lee; FISA world rowing champion and Olympic silver medalist Kate Johnson; and 4-time Olympian, 3-time world championship medalist, and 12time U.S. National high jump champion Chaunté Lowe. These heralded women athletes who courageously fought cancer shared their compelling stories with attendees.

Devon Still, former NFL defensive end and 2015 Jimmy V Perseverance Award winner, and V Foundation Board Member and Duke University’s legendary former Men’s Basketball Coach Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski kick off the Gala Auction

“My mother, Molly Chappellet, helped to start the first Sun Valley Wine Auction with her dear friend, Glenn Janns,” said Cyril Chappellet, the winery’s current CEO and president. “Mom, Jaimee Davies, Janet Trefethen, and others helped Glenn get the first auction off the ground, and we have been thrilled to be involved with the Sun Valley Wine Auction in some capacity ever since.”

A CELEBRATION OF WINE, COMMUNITY, AND ART: THE SUN VALLEY WINE AUCTION

BY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

Contributing to the bulk of funds raised were the live auction and its array of offerings, such as the ¡VIVA ARGENTINA! package provided by Revana Family Wines and auction sponsor Essentialist, the private member service for passionate travelers. (As a sponsor, Essentialist also provided free annual memberships to top tier ticket holders.) The curated tour and tasting journey for four to the Mendoza region raised more than $40,000.

“When we first learned about this event, we felt it was a great opportunity, as it combined the right community of people with the vintner focus in a beautiful destination and for a great cause,” said Essentialist founder and CEO Joan Roca. “Between the Sun Valley and vintner communities, there was such a convivial feel to the event.”

This annual three-day fête celebrates 41 years of support for the Sun Valley Museum of Art.

SVWA Chairperson Susan Greenspan and SVMoA Board Member Constance Lawton

SVWA River Ranch Wine Walk

“I found that the auction resonated with Essentialist’s tagline, ‘There’s a difference between visiting a place and truly getting to know it,’” said SVMoA executive director Jennifer Wells Green. “We are creating memorable and unforgettable experiences at our wine auction, and partners like Essentialist do the same. I love that there is a difference between tasting and drinking wines and truly getting to know the vintners and the museum community over the course of these three days.”

SVMoA executive director Jennifer Wells Green

Vintner Cyril Chappellet

F eaturing 50 wineries from the Willamette, Walla Walla, Napa, and Sonoma Valleys, the Sun Valley Wine Auction recently wrapped its 41st annual event in support of the Sun Valley Museum of Art (SVMoA). The 3-day event, responsible for approximately 50 percent of the museum’s annual budget, enables the museum to continue its commitment to yearround lectures, workshops, and classes for both adults and K-12 students in Idaho’s Wood RiverEventsValley.featured varied vinous-oriented programming, including nine intimate vintner dinners such as that enjoyed at Dan and Rosalie Peed’s Big Wood residence, featuring the cuisine of Michelin star chef John Tesar, and the wines of Force Majeure, Holocene, PASXA, The Walls, and Chappellet, a wine auction participant from the event’s beginning more than four decades ago.

Passionately crafted with deep roots. Reservations by Appointment | www.baldaccivineyards.com

Myfullness.patients seek out a breast lift for a variety of reasons. Some women feel their breasts have lost their formerly pleasing shape or they are concerned their nipples now sag downward. Moms may miss how their breasts looked before children. Other women want better symmetry of their breasts. Many patients like how their breasts look supported in a bra and simply want to have that appearance without needing to wear a bra. What Happens During a Breast Lift

B REASTS CAN START DROOPING FOR A VARIETY OF reasons, such as pregnancy and breast feeding, increased age, or significant weight loss. One potential solution is a mastopexy, or breast lift.

KAREN M. HORTON, MD, FACS FOLLOW DR. HORTON ON INSTAGRAM DRKARENHORTON

HAUTE BEAUTY

Is a breast lift right for me?

A mastopexy reshapes the breast tissue internally, raising where the breast sits on the chest wall. It repositions the nipple upwards, decreases areola size and removes extra baggy lower pole breast skin. An analogy I often use with patients is to visualize rolling up a long sport sock into a small ball. Although this isn’t really what happens during a breast lift, it is easy to visualize a more compact breast shape versus a longer cylinder. Each breast lift technique creates a circular incision around the nipple and areola, allowing the nipple to be repositioned upward and the areolar diameter reduced as necessary. A mastopexy preserves vital nerves, blood vessels, and milk ducts, thereby best preserving breast function. Some women require additional incisions under the nipple (a lollipop scar) and in the breast fold, depending on their breast shape, the amount of excess skin and their nipple location.

BY KAREN M. HORTON, MD, FACS

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF BREAST LIFTS

Mastopexy surgery rejuvenates the breasts, returning them to a more youthful position on the chest, and provides a more aesthetically pleasing look without actually increasing breast volume. The ideal breast lift result looks perfectly natural, like you were born that way, with a teardrop breast shape and without unnaturally round upper pole

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As a leading plastic surgeon in the Bay Area, I favor a personal technique I developed several years ago called “auto-augmentation,” which fills the breast’s upper pole with tissue from lower parts of the breast. Not only is the breast shape improved, but auto-augmentation allows tissue to sit higher up in a pocket on the chest wall, similar to where an implant would be placed, and to have a round, compact shape similar to a natural breast implant.

Combining Mastopexy and Augmentation Sometimes a breast implant will be added to a mastopexy to achieve more significant upper pole fullness. Breast augmentation alone can subtly lift the nipples; however, combined mastopexy and augmentation is recommended when breasts droop significantly and the patient wants to enhance volume and projection, achieving a push-up or padded bra look, but not necessarily a natural teardrop shape. Who’s a Candidate for Breast Lifts? Women who are healthy, in good physical shape, and at their ideal body weight (or a stable weight following major weight loss) are good candidates for surgery. During your initial mastopexy consultation, we will take a complete medical history and learn more about your specific aesthetic goals. If you are a breast lift candidate, we will describe your ideal, personalized procedure in detail. As an all-women plastic surgery team, we intimately understand how a woman’s feelings about her breasts can influence her self-image and femininity. Our goal is to help you be happier with the way you look, considering safety our number one priority.

IN TERMS OF CULINARY TRENDS, THE NEW YORK TIMES dubbed mushrooms the ingredient of the year as they foretold what we’d gulp and swallow in 2022 for better health. Their article “How Will Americans Eat in 2022” (January 10, 2022) showcased the tendency of health nuts to turn to shrooms in food and drink, though mushrooms have been showing up in cosmetics and other aspects of the modern beauty industry for a few years. Long part of the East’s health and wellness regimens, mushrooms have played a prodigious role for centuries in both Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. Seen as alternative by some, they’ve now sprouted into the mainstream. Whether it’s haircare, face serums, coffee, brow boosters, or body lotion, mushroom ingredients have become more than a splash of truffle oil over pasta or a sad gray slice atop a salad. They’re mushrooming … but why?

How mushrooms can make you well and pretty

DININGCAVEMUSHROOMCREDITS:PHOTO

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FUNGI PHENOMENON

First of all, mushrooms brim with beta glucan: healing immunity boosters with antioxidant and anti-aging properties. Each type of mushroom (there may be as many as 14,000 species, not all of them good for you; some, in fact, are downright deadly) offers something a bit different. They can hydrate, can be antiinflammatory, and can help with focus. Most edible varieties boast nutritious vitamins and minerals, including potassium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, vitamins D and B, and magnesium. With some protein, little fat, and tons of fiber, they have a place in healthy diets. But most interestingly—and a boon for those in search of mood management—many mushrooms are adaptogenic.

So, what’s an adaptogen? It’s an herb or plant that has the ability to (miraculously) reduce stress, adapting to your body— even adjusting to your needs—as if by magic. Adaptogens, long BY BECCA HENSLEY

SHUTTERSTOCKOFCOURTESYPHOTOS

99 HAUTE WELLNESS proven by science to work and used for centuries in the East, have a wholesome, healthy, and beneficial effect. Finally, let’s not bypass the latest trend of mushroom micro-dosing, wherein so-called actual magic mushrooms are being parsed out in tiny doses, purportedly to treat mental health issues from anxiety to depression. Indeed, mushrooms are having their heyday. Interested in a fungal fling? Here are some mushrooms you may want to incorporate into your diet or slather over your skin.

Reishi mushrooms. Long considered a way to nurture longevity, fan-shaped reishi mushrooms can reduce stress, combat depression, and are believed to have anticancer properties. In skincare, they’ve been proven to soothe skin, fight wrinkles, and moisturize the skin.

$53 navinkaskin.com

Sip Wundeground, a mood-enhancing and stressfighting adaptogenic mushroom coffee made in Seattle.

Kypris uses silver ear mushroom, an enchanting fungi that holds hundreds of times its weight in water. The various Kypris masks soak even the driest skin with a layer of intense moisture. $210 kyprisbeauty.com

Chock full of fungi power, from chaga to lion’s mane, their house-roasted blends are made from coffee beans (and teas) purchased directly from smallholder farms. Try various varieties, such as Brainchild for focus or Hocus Pocus for banishing anxiety. wundergroundcoffee.com

Chaga mushrooms. More potent than acai berries (chaga bowl, anyone?), chaga shrooms are abundant with antioxidants. Known to fight free radicals, they increase blood circulation and, when in skincare products, can evenout skin tone and plump the skin.

Eat in a mushroom cave at Soneva Kiri, the luxury eco-resort on Koh Kut, an island in Thailand. Guests can enjoy a multi-course mushroom tasting menu for lunch (from mushrooms that are grown on site), including desserts made from mushrooms. soneva.com/resorts/soneva-kiri/

Shiitaki mushrooms You may have these better known mushrooms in your refrigerator already. Beloved by chefs, they impart a rich umami flavor to dishes. For skincare, their high levels of kojic acid render them ideal for fading dark spots on the skin and treating acne scars and hyperpigmentation.

Slather on Navinka Skincare’s mushroom rife Nightly Calibrator, a lightweight blend of elderberry, gentle acids, and mushrooms to clear dull complexions and diminish dark spots and scars without drying the skin.

Apply a layer of Susanne Kaufmann’s mushroomenriched Moisturising Eye Fluid around the eye to hydrate and improve skin elasticity. $77. susannekaufmann.com/products/eye-fluid-line

Cordyceps mushrooms. Looking like bunches of flailing fingers, pricey cordyceps have a well known medical history in the East. Anti-inflammatories, they’re used to treat a variety of ailments from respiratory disorders to anemia. Loaded with antioxidants, they strengthen the immune system. In skincare, they help hydrate and rebuild collagen.

Some Mushroom News

Lion’s mane mushrooms A tried and true staple of East Asian medicine, lion’s mane grows on the trunks of dead hardwood trees. In today’s adaptogenic supplements and drinks, lion’s mane reputedly increases mental focus, reduces anxiety, and quells depression.

Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 California Lifestyle Collection 41.76± acres Vineyard Estate with 30± acres of High-Quality Vines 5 Beds | 4 Baths | 41.76± Acres | 5,487± sq. ft. Residence O ered at $21,000,000 3265 Soda Canyon Road Napa Napa, California

Entering the stately iron gate and tall Italian cypress tree-lined driveway, you will nd this enchanting private vineyard estate prominently sited on 41.76± acres in the Atlas Peak wine region with 30± acres of high-quality vineyard with the best soil. Complexed wines grow on Soda Canyon peak, known for the best rocky soil with undulating elevations. The vineyard includes 18.45± acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.23± acres of Merlot, 2.88± acres of Malbec, 1.33± acres of Zinfandel, 1.98± acres of Sauvignon Blanc, 0.87± acre of Tempranillo and 1.42± acres ready for replant. This spacious 5,487± squarefoot residence with timeless wine country architecture features ve bedrooms, four baths over three oors with large windows in each room facing the panoramic views of vineyard, hills, natural and beyond, and the bright sunlight shines through every room and brings the warmth and charm of wine country living. The open kitchen features the nest materials with a large granite countertop island with a dining bar. The formal dining area faces the magni cent view of the vineyards, a perfect place for hosting dinner events and gatherings. Enjoy a glass of wine in the living room, with replace and attached large deck showcasing the panoramic vineyard view and the dramatic vistas of the sunrise and sunset over vineyards. The Master bedroom located at the end of the hall on the second oor features a marble bathroom, walk-in closets, replace, and large windows facing the dramatic view of vineyards and beyond, bringing privacy, peace, and tranquility. The two guest bedrooms located at the other end of the hall on the second oor each feature a bathroom. Two more bedrooms on the third- oor feature vaulted ceilings and panoramic views of the hills and vineyard. There is a wine cellar, 2-car garage and a laundry room. There is also a separate red barn which serves as an o ce building for vineyard manager and sta . The home is equipped with AT&T Fiber high speed internet and security cameras in front and back of the house, as well as the basement. The grapes produced at this vineyard are sold to prime wineries in Napa Valley. 3265 Soda Canyon Road, Napa | O ered at $21,000,000

California Lifestyle Collection Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 41.76± acres Vineyard Estate with 30± acres of High-Quality Vines Napa, California

STUNNING, WORLD CLASS WINE COUNTRY RETREAT BY OLIVIA DECKER

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THIS STUNNING, WORLD CLASS RETREAT IS THE EPITOME of the indoor-outdoor Napa Valley lifestyle. Designed by awardwinning architect Howard Backen and featured in the From the Land: Backen, Gillam, & Kroeger Architects published by Rizzoli, the residential complex consists of three pavilions— the master suite, the kitchen and living space, and the 2-story guest house. All have sliding doors and screens that open to the surrounding gardens and views beyond. Three separate, zinc-roofed pavilions float above semi-enclosed porches around a magnificent pool. Featuring extraordinary materials and workmanship, brilliant designs, and soaring ceilings, this private compound captures magnificent views of nature and 11 acres of prime Atlas Peak AVA Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. Sited at the edge of a ravine, this home is oriented to frame and command panoramic views across neighboring vineyards and a Napa River watershed. Inside, the main pavilion blurs the boundaries between living room, kitchen, dining room, and the surrounding terraces. The combination of openness and grand scale permits the home to feel both expansive and comfortable for intimate entertaining. Radiant heating under polished concrete floors provides year-round comfort. The flexible layers of sliding window walls, shutters, and screens control the space, light, and temperature. When all the sliders are open, the four rooms transform into one large lanai, as if the house has disappeared and only the floating roof and anchoring fireplaces remain!

The house’s approximately 2,500 square feet interior space is surrounded by 6,450 square feet of covered porches and terraces. A main house of any size can be built subject to county approval.

Spread across 61 acres of grounds, amenities include an infinity-edge pool, spacious lawn, bocce court, two hot tubs, olive grove, organic vegetable garden, stocked lake, fire pit, and outdoor kitchen with refrigerator, barbecue, and pizza oven. The basement level features a large wine cellar, a powder room, a catering kitchen, and for a gym. A separate equipment building near the well and water tanks houses a backup generator and well equipment, including reverse-osmosis water filter. HAUTE RESIDENCE

The separate, 2-bedroom guest house faces the spectacular pool, acres of vineyards, and mountain views beyond. Sliding window walls in the guest rooms turn interior spaces into nature-viewing venues.

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This serene, private residence rivals a world class design and offers a once-in-lifetime opportunity for the most discerning buyers, as it was formerly on the market for $13,500,000 and is now reduced to $11,888,000. The time is ripe to purchase this stunning, world class wine country estate. Video and photos on www.SodaCanyonEstate.com.

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The home opens to the surrounding landscape, yet its broad, shady eaves protect interior spaces from wind and weather. This sublime place represents an artistic departure from the conventional and is one that truly must be experienced: this is a house to inspire great thoughts and to play gracious host for many extraordinary events!

IT’S NOT JUST WHAT YOU EAT, IT’S WHEN YOU EAT

MOST OF US FOCUS ON WHAT WE EAT, BUT recently there has been increased attention and research devoted to the study of when we eat. Many experts attribute an array of benefits derived from managing our food timing, such as weight loss, improved mental concentration, reduced inflammation, increased energy, decreased vulnerability to a variety of chronic diseases, expanded longevity, and even better outcomes for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? That is a big promise and the scientific field is still relatively young, but it’s rapidly developing and studies are encouraging.

WHAT IS INTERMITTENT FASTING OR TIMERESTRICTED EATING?

STOCKADOBEVECTORMINE,CREDIT:PHOTO

HAUTE AMBASSADOR

If you have ever had extensive blood work done for your annual physical, then you have likely fasted by simply not eating for an extended time. So, how is this different from intermittent fasting? As the term suggests, intermittent fasting is more of a strategic on-again, off-again approach in which periods of eating follow stretches of not eating or eating limited amounts of specific foods. It is important to start slowly.

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO INTERMITTENT FASTING BY LYDIA GRAHAM Health Wellness

IT’S NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL Those who do it swear by it anecdotally. With so much talk and buzz, however, intermittent fasting is a subject that can be both intimidating and confusing: one size does not fit all. If you have health issues or plan to try extreme fasting, then you should consult your health practitioner before starting. Some folks are not ideal candidates, such as those under a lot of stress, who are underweight, or who have a history of disordered eating. Women especially need to be mindful of potential effects of intermittent fasting on their hormones and fertility. Intermittent fasting or fasting in general is not recommended during pregnancy. At the outset, it is important to establish and understand your goals: why are you interested in intermittent fasting? Are you trying to lose weight, increase your longevity, etc.? Your goals will inform your choices and make a good starting point for a discussion with your practitioner.

106 Lydia is a passionate advo cate of healthy living. She has launched and positioned many health and wellnessrelated companies, products, technologies and organiza tions receiving more than 100 awards nationally and internationally. Her focus in the health sector is specifi cally on life sciences, aging and longevity. She is a part ner 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 glob ally 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.buckinsti tute.org.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA)-conducted a review of research on intermittent fasting, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019. The review authors Rafael de Cabo, Ph.D., of NIA and Mark P. Mattson, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, noted “weight loss is not the main driver of the health benefits observed in preclinical and clinical studies. Rather, the key mechanism is metabolic switching, in which fasting triggers the body to switch its source of energy from glucose stored in the liver to ketones, which are stored in fat. Ketone bodies are not just fuel used during periods of fasting. They are potent signaling molecules with major effects on cell and organ functions.”

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLAN FOR YOU

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Next, comes an 8-hour plan (16:8 fasting/eating plan), 6-hour plan (as 18:6 fasting/eating plan), and 4-hour plan (as the 20:4 fasting/eating plan) for eating all your meals and snacks within that (shorter) time window. From here the schedule gets more strenuous. It’s not for beginners and should not be attempted without consulting your health practitioner. There is the 36-hour plan, which means skipping one day of eating and spacing your last meal and the time you break your fast, so you are without food for 36 hours. A version of this is alternate day fasting, which is a 36:12 fast/eating schedule. This 36:12 alternate day version is not recommended for women. During both fasts, one generally consumes water, moderate amounts of black coffee, or herbal tea. Or if that is too difficult, one may consume 25 percent of his or her normal calories in fasting periods. An alternate day fast much kinder to women is the 5:2 plan. Here we reverse the ratio, meaning within the week there are five days of eating and two non-consecutive days of fasting. On fasting days, one may consume 500 to 600 calories. Another intermittent version you may hear about is simply not eating one day a month.

The 12-hour plan: (12:12 fasting/eating) This is the easiest fast to incorporate into a busy life. It simply means not eating for 12 hours then eating all your food within a 12-hour window. Essentially half and half. Just remember, it is best to have three hours after dinner before going to bed. This plan is easy to keep track of, too—say 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You get the drift. Eating and finishing earlier in the day may produce better results. By the way, having that morning latte breaks the fast, but black coffee is okay for all you coffee lovers out there.

The 10-hour plan: (14:10 fasting/eating) You have been successful with the 12 hour schedule and want to stretch a little further, meaning now you eat all your food within a 10-hour window and fast for 14 hours; e.g., you schedule meals between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. or between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Are you catching on?

In a summary, the NIA elaborated, “Ketogenesis, or the increase of ketones in the bloodstream, initiates activity in a variety of cellular signaling pathways known to influence health and aging. This activity enhances the body’s defenses against oxidative and metabolic stress and initiates the removal or repair of damaged molecules. The impact of ketogenesis carries over into the non-fasting period and can improve glucose regulation, increase stress resistance and suppress inflammation.”

There are many options in intermittent fasting or fasting from which to choose. The key is to make the choices that are right for your body and health situation. Hopefully, this article has demystified the landscape a bit and given you enough terminology to do your own further research on the pros and cons of each alternative and to have a productive conversation with your health practitioner to select the best course for you. Most importantly, let how you feel be your guide if you decide intermittent fasting or fasting is a health strategy you wish to pursue.

Commonly referred to as time-restricted eating, the schedule might vary as follows. Remember, ideally you are sleeping for seven or eight of these hours which helps.

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PROLONGED FASTING AND FASTING MIMICKING DIETS

Distinguished from intermittent fasting is prolonged fasting or fasting mimicking diets. Valter Longo, Ph.D., at the USC Longevity Institute believes these longer periods of fasting target longevity by triggering cellular repair mechanisms such as autophagy, a process whereby our bodies clean out and repair damaged cells and cellular components. He developed the ProLon 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet to mimic and achieve the effects of fasting without eliminating food completely. Alternatively, one might do an extended fast, such as fasting several consecutive days several times per year. So, let’s get back to what we eat. If you are eating while on a fast, it is important to have nutrient-dense foods: no sugar or high carbohydrates. The same goes for when you break a fast. You never want to break a fast with a binge. HOW DOES IT WORK?

Though he loved to cook with his mom, Harrelson was a kid in a beach town; surfing the California waves was his utmost passion. At age 15 and tired of having to borrow his parents’ car to load up the board and hit the waves, he decided to find a job to save up for his own ride. Luckily for him, his friend worked at Captain Jack’s, an upbeat, local, favorite seafood and live music restaurant. Harrelson was hired as a bus boy. When Harrelson was 17 years old, he learned he could receive extra credit in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps’ (ROTC) food service program, which would allow him to take fewer classes the next semester and free some time for surfing. So, he and a friend enrolled. As it turned out, he enjoyed the program, and it furthered his passion for cooking.

Erik Harrelson, Executive Chef, The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus

Born to a Swedish mother and an American father, Erik Harrelson moved to Southern California from Sweden with his parents when he was four years old. Harrelson’s mother worked a full-time job. Being a marvelous cook, after the day’s work, she always made time to prepare dinner, except for those nights the family would frequent her favorite restaurant, Taco Surf (home of the “world famous” Baja fish tostada and Taco Tuesday) in their hometown of Seal Beach, a coastal town located in the westernmost corner of Orange County.

Chef Erik Harrelson and Aubrey Brewster

Chef Erik Harrelson Plating

Two Local Culinary Icons at the Front and Back of the House

Aubrey Brewster, a bon vivant and man-about-town, is a. product of his environment. His affinity for cooking, fashion, and entertaining was inherited from summer vacations shared in Charleston, West Virginia with his southern belle modelturned-hostess grandmother. It should come with no surprise that Brewster followed in his grandmother’s footsteps, with an inherent talent for hosting legendary parties. He is often listed among San Francisco’s best dressed. Aubrey is a San Francisco native, traveler, and food and lifestyle hostingfavoriteandfriendsafternoonsAubreywithHe(aubreyabouttown.com).bloggerresidesinSanFranciscohishusband,Edward.canbefoundenjoyinglunchingwithatNeimanMarcussomeofSanFrancisco’shauntswhennotorattendingevents.

BY AUBREY BREWSTER

Young Harrelson took an interest in cooking and found comfort in watching the Food Network and in spending time with his mother in the kitchen where he assisted her in preparing dinner for the family.

TOWNABOUTAUBREY

W ITH MY PASSION FOR ALL THINGS CUISINE, I WAS ecstatic when Haute Living, San Francisco’s editorin-chief, Teresa Rodriguez, announced the upcoming “Food & Wine” issue, a topic close to my heart. I knew exactly what I wanted to share. As a native San Franciscan, I consider dining out a treasured pastime. Even though many of our beloved San Francisco eateries and bars have shuttered due to the COVID pandemic, we still boast over 4,400 restaurants (according to SF Travel). If you ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a different spot every day of the year, it would take over four years to dine at each restaurant. Mind boggling, right? Now, more than ever, dining out brings us closer. In addition to the servers, bartenders, food runners, and dishwashers, it’s the people at the helm running the front and back of the house who hold it all together and make us diners happy to keep coming back. I’m delighted to share two with whom I spend much of my time.

As a bonus, I’m pleased to share one of my most coveted autumnal recipes: pumpkin cheesecake!

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Harrelson excelled at culinary school. While there, one of his instructors took an interest in him and his talent and gave him a great opportunity that would ultimately launch the young chef’s career: an internship at the critically acclaimed restaurant, Gary Danko.When Harrelson’s internship at Gary Danko concluded, Mr. Danko immediately offered him a position as a chef de partie. Chef Harrelson’s culinary career began to blossom at Gary Danko, and he remained there for another two years. He moved to Palmetto Restaurant where he was a sous chef for a year before returning to Gary Danko as a butcher. If you ever had one of Gary Danko’s beautifully trimmed, herb-crusted lamb loins or stuffed quail, chances are Harrelson had a hand in its perfection.

With his newfound knowledge in food service, Erik landed his first professional cooking job at his friend’s parents’ sports bar and grill, a casual eatery called Coaches Sports Grill in Seal Beach. He cooked there for several years. Wanting to further his culinary expertise, Harrelson applied to and was accepted at the renowned (and now defunct) Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles in Pasadena, California.

The Afternoon

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Maureen Donegan, General Manager, North Beach Restaurant When I met up with Maureen Donegan one late afternoon at the famed San Francisco North Beach Restaurant which she manages, she was downstairs in the cellar just past the infamous “prosciutto room” in her private kitchen, harvesting seeds from some rare heirloom tomatoes to keep for a future planting season and to share with some lucky friends. All the while, she was bustling around the kitchen, topping individual ramekins of tiramisù with mascarpone custard and pulling out a raspberry butter cake and a chocolate cake (from a new recipe she was developing) from the oven to cool for the evening’s dessert selection. To say that Ms. Donegan is a

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Events TownAMBASSADOR Tea The Rotunda

Jaqueline-of-all-trades is an understatement.

Harrelson’s experience brought him to the Rotunda at luxury goods retailer Neiman Marcus in San Francisco where he is presides masterfully at the helm as executive chef. Along with the NM’s vice president and general manager (SF), Mark Sullivan, and the Rotunda’s manager, Mariam Lavecchia, Harrelson has fine- tuned the recipes and plating of the Rotunda’s menu classics, added new and innovative dishes, dramatically improved their afternoon tea service par excellence to the level of the most chic tea services of London, and elegantly enhanced the dining experience. Diners are raving about it ... I know I am!

Service at

Chef Harrelson eventually moved on to other restaurants, including Cavalo Point as chef tournant, Daniel Patterson Group as a sous chef, Radhaus as executive chef, and the Florence Group as a corporate chef and culinary director working behind the scenes with famed celebrity chef Tyler Florence, assisting Florence with his cookbooks and television shows.

Born in Oahu, Hawaii, Donegan moved to Los Angeles with her parents at the age of three. The family ultimately settled in Alamo in Northern California where she was raised. With brighteyed ambitions of the big city where she often visited with friends for weekend nightlife, Donegan made the decision to move to San Francisco at the young age of 18. She quickly secured a job at the smoke shop in the lobby of the former Bank of America Center, where she met a friend who worked as the secretary Bob Lurie, the former SF Giants owner and real estate magnate. Through her friend, Donegan secured a job as a receptionist for The Lurie Company on the 50th floor of the tower and at Candlestick Park (the home of the San Francisco Giants at the time), where she became privy to local happenings and began fostering relationships with the movers and shakers of the San Francisco social scene, including Sandy Weiner, who was Bob Lurie’s political consultant (as well as former President Richard Nixon’s) and shared an adjoining office suite with former SF mayor Willie Brown. Donegan started working on political campaigns with Mr. Weiner, and took a night job at the Marina District’s famous Balboa Café, a hangout for many notables in the city’s political and social circles.

Maureen Donegan, General Manager North Beach Restaurant

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Maureen Donegan, Preparing Chocolate Cake at North Beach Restaurant

After a year, Maureen bid farewell to Balboa Café and began working at La Barca, a beloved bar and eatery famed for its colorful patrons, such as Gavin Newson, who was mayor at the time and was known to sing with La Barca’s mariachis (can you image that?), and the late Herb Caen who often mentioned the place in hisWhilecolumn.working in the Marina District, Maureen became involved with racing boats and playing volleyball on the Marina Green. That was when she read an ad about the opening of Izzy’s Steaks & Chops. She applied and got a job where she met her mentor, the founder of Izzy’s, the late Robert “Sam” DuVall (who passed away in November 2021 at the age of 80). Mr. DuVall converted two-thirds of the upstairs space for wine storage, and it was he who fostered in Donegan the art of tasting and selecting wine varietals. To this day, she fondly recalls DuVall as one of her favorite bosses. One of Donegan’s close friends had begun working at famed restaurateur Wolfgang Puck’s now defunct establishment, Postrio. In its heyday, the world’s most influential celebrities, politicians, socialites, and local celebrities called Postrio home. For over a month, Donegan’s friend pleaded with her to take a position at the hyper-busy eatery. Reluctant to leave Izzy’s, she finally agreed and moved to Postrio where she worked as a maître d’ and reservation manager, working close to Puck and with reservations booked three months out. After six years at Postrio and despite Wolfgang Puck offering her the general management position, Donegan left for Southern California to take a shot at the film business. But after the film was shelved, she left that project. She garnered many positive relationships at Postrio and is still close with many of its former employees. After a stint in Southern California, Donegan moved to London to work on the film A Man Who Knew Too Little (1997, Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Studios), starring Bill Murray. However, a record cold spell in the United Kingdom caused Maureen to decide that London wasn’t for her, so she detoured to Kinsale, Ireland to look up her Irish roots before heading back to San Francisco where she put her expertise in wine to work as a wine and spirits associate at Young’s Market, now Republic National Distribution Company (RNDC).

Donegan’s current ambition is to someday own the beloved place. I know she’d make Orsi and Petroni proud doing so.

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Maureen Donegan, Preparing Tiramisu at North Beach Restaurant

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Maureen Donegan took the reins as the general manager of the iconic North Beach Restaurant in 2021, where some of the country’s most notable athletes, international celebrities and local personalities love to frequent. Donegan has continued the vision of the late founders, Lorenzo Petroni and Bruno Orsi, in creating a world class Tuscan dining experience by fine-tuning the menu; scouring the globe for European antiques, fine china, and silver; and carrying on Petroni’s legacy in greeting guests and curating a memorable experience.

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Upon returning to San Francisco, she got a job at Epic Steakhouse where she worked with her friend, the late chef Jan Birnbaum, cofounder of Epic. In 2012, Donegan moved on to consult the revamp of the Presidio Social Club. She worked there and as a partner at The Café at the Film Center, until 2019, when she was sidelined with a major shoulder injury. Donegan took time off to heal, and take care of her mom. When ready to return to work, the COVID pandemic hit.

In 1998, Donegan left Young’s Market to open and manage MoMo’s in SoMa. Six months after MoMo’s first anniversary and as the ballpark was set to open, Donegan left to open Dine Restaurant on Mission and Second Streets. Partnership conflicts made that a decision she immediately regretted. Donegan regrouped to follow her passion and moved to Napa to attend college to get a degree in viticulture, furthering her expertise in wine and grape cultivation. She worked at Martini House in St. Helena while studying.

All her experiences led to the most rewarding chapter yet of her life.

l Adjust oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

l 1 cup granulated sugar

l Mix pumpkin, flour, and cornstarch into cream cheese mixture. Combine until no streaks of white batter remain.

l Put graham crackers, flour, sugar, and cinnamon into a 1-gallon plastic zipper bag. Press the air from the bag and seal it. l Lay the bag flat, and with a rolling pin, wine bottle, or the back of a skillet, roll across the bag to crush the graham crackers to a mealy crumb. Shake the bag to combine the ingredients. l Add the melted butter. Shake and massage the bag until the crust mixture resembles wet sand. Check with your fingertips to ensure the butter has fully coated the flour and crumb mixture. l Evenly disperse the crust mixture into the bottom of prepared springform pan.

l With the bottom of a straight-sided water glass or measuring cup, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan, working outward from the center. Form a ½-inch lip around the circumference to form a short-sided crust up the sides of the pan. l Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. l Transfer the pan to a rack and let cool completely.

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Cinnamon-Graham Crust

l Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. l Place prepared crust on a baking sheet. l Pour cheesecake filling over the crust, using an offset spatula to evenly spread the filling.

HAUTE AMBASSADOR Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling

l Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least four hours or better, overnight.

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Vanilla Cream Cheese Topping l 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature.

To prepare the topping

l 16 graham crackers, squares (1 plastic sleeve) l cup all-purpose flour l cup butter, melted l 2 tablespoons granulated sugar l 1½ teaspoon cinnamon To prepare the crust l Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. l Melt the butter in the microwave or over the stove in a small saucepan, then set aside. l Line the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with an 8-inch parchment disc.

l In the bowl of a standing mixer or a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese, sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Blend until smooth and the sugar has dissolved.

l 15 ounces prepared pumpkin (one can)

l Place on the oven’s center rack and bake for 45 minutes or until the edges of the top of the cheesecake begin to puff slightly and the center jiggles slightly (but has not puffed).

l 16 ounces cream cheese (2 8-ounce packages) at room temperature

l Turn off the heat and crack open the oven door. Use a rolled-up kitchen towel to keep the door ajar. l Allow the cheesecake to cool inside the oven until room temperature (about four hours).

l ½ cup granulated sugar l 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream l 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

l 2 tablespoons corn starch l 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice l 1 teaspoon vanilla extract l ½ teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg l ¼ teaspoon salt To prepare the cheesecake filling

l Mix ingredients together until smooth and sugar has completely dissolved. Rub a bit of topping between your fingers to check for grittiness to verify whether the sugar has dissolved. l With an offset spatula, spread topping evenly over the cheesecake. l Refrigerate two hours to set.

l cup heavy whipping cream l 2 large eggs l 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

McLaren also planned to create only 765 examples of this limited production car. The “LT” stands for “long tail,” because McLaren discovered that having a longer body, especially behind the rear wheels, adds to high-speed stability, so the LTs have a greater distance from their rear wheels to their bumpers. It’s not a radical difference in most of their cars, but the current McLaren Speedtail (from their ultimate category and with a base price of about $2 million and a top speed of 250 mph) takes that extended dimension to a whole new level.

MCLAREN 765 LT SPIDER The Ultimate McLaren Supercar

BY TIM LAPPEN

McLaren categorizes their cars as being in one of three groups: “GT,” “Supercar,” or “Ultimate,” and the 765LT Spider is the top supercar offered. Others in that category include the new Artura hybrid, the 720S Coupe and Spider and 765AsCoupe.onemight expect, the numbers “765” have a meaning behind them: the engine produces 765 PferdeStarke (ps, about 755 hp) and 800 newton meters (Nm, 590 lb-ft) of torque.

The “Spider” moniker on “my” 765LT identifies it as a droptop version, as opposed to the hardtop coupe (convertibles used to have an umbrella-like top with eight stays which some people thought looked like spiders).

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FAITHFUL READERS MAY RECALL THAT I AM A BIG fan of the McLaren brand. I’ve driven most of their automotive offerings and each one punches well above its weight, or at least they all give me the feeling that they are way faster than the very impressive specs indicate.

Firing up the 765LT is a great experience in and of itself. The sound is an instant awakening (of the motor and of the neighbors), but that sound that is destined to disappear in the future as EV mandates take effect (to the dismay or joy of people, depending upon their persuasions). I love the sound.

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It cannot be matched by the electric hum or audio system-enhanced growl that e-cars create. The departure of the internal-combustion engine’s exhaust is destined to be a part of history, much like the whinny of the neighbor’s horse. But, at least for today, those of us needing that aural fix can get it, and then some, from the 765LT. The sounds at start-up and idle of the mid-engine twin-turbo V8 are well surpassed by the roar emanating from the high-mounted exhaust pipes on full acceleration. The car accelerates so quickly, I half expect the sound to reach observers long after the car has passed by: 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (km/h, or 62 mph) takes just 2.8 seconds and, more incredibly, 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) flies by in only 7.2 seconds, not much longer than many muscle cars in the 1960s could rip off 0 to 60 mph.

When I get into a McLaren, I generally feel a range of emotions: excitement for what’s to come, pride for accomplishing the limbolike movements that get me ensconced without head injury, and the realization that the tailor made the suit a little too small for my girth. (Note to self: am I the target market for this car?) Yet once in place with seat belt fastened and mirrors adjusted, I feel like the 765LT is made for me. No worries about sliding around in the seat while cornering; to the contrary, I feel like the McLaren and I are at one, almost like the “I think-it does” immediacy of a race car. I don’t find the ride too rough for street use, but then I do like the “road feel” of a performance car. McLaren has upgraded its center stack, so a touch screen takes the place of the knobs that one dialed to change the settings. Even the high-end Bowers & Wilkins sound system sounds great, though I prefer the melodies created by hydrocarbon explosions. They also have added items which have been de riguer on many street cars for years: parking sensors, 360-degree view cameras, and even a nose-lift system (something about asphalt rhinoplasty on a $9,410 carbon fiber diffuser, even if barely created, is terribly grating). And, especially on a drop-top, having a glass roof panel for which the opacity can be adjusted by dialing the darkness was a real treat. The 765’s father may have been a full-on race car, but its mother bequeathed it with good breeding and fine manners.

Try as I might to keep it, I had to give the 765LT back sooner than I would have liked; but I found that living with it, albeit for a short time, was very enjoyable. It was my daily driver and worked well for every run I made, whether to the market (storage space is limited) or to the always enjoyable canyons. The supercar moniker is well-deserved.

The price of the 765LT Spider starts at $382,500, but “mine” (for about 72 hours) was a beautiful, purplish “Amethyst Black” ($9,400 option) and very well-equipped, as reflected in the sticker price of $507,420 which included an enthusiast’s wish list of items, such as loads of carbon fiber add-ons inside and out (totaling about $62,000), electrochromic roof ($9,090), track brake upgrade ($18,030), and many other accoutrements which, in sum, made the car both an incredible performer and flat-out gorgeous.

Greased Lightning Created WHAT WEIGHS 9,000 POUNDS AND goes like hell? The answer used to be “nothing” but now it’s “the new Hummer EV Pickup”! Is 0-60mph in about three seconds good enough for you? How about allwheel steering which can be adjusted at the push of a button to steer the front and rear wheels in the same or opposite directions? What can’t this vehicle do? While many thought that the early Hummers were fun, to some they were the poster child for the profligate use of gasoline as they were big (especially wide) and were not very fuel-efficient (per the EPA, 10mpg city for the H2, 14mpg city for the H3). So what did GM do? They created the Hummer EV, pickup truck and SUV, which are 100% battery operated. I had the great pleasure of spending a few days in the Arizona wilds (actually, some trail experience near Scottsdale, so we were at least five miles from the nearest In-N-Out, which qualifies as off-roading in the wilds for people from Los Angeles) with the Hummer EV pickup . . . and I was impressed. Although it weighs some 2.5 tons (almost 3,000 pounds of which are batteries), the Hummer EV moves with great alacrity, thanks to the instant torque provided by gearing and no-waiting electric motors. 0-60 mph is a about a three-second dash (let that sink in) and the electronically-limited top speed is about 105mph. Of course, the performance is helped immeasurably by propulsion from power plants (different options, of up to 1,000HP and torque of some 11,500LB-FT -- which is a GM estimate –your torque may vary). The handling is greatly BY TIM LAPPEN

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EVHUMMERPICKUP

TIM LAPPEN 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 or visit LifeInTheFastLane.org

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benefited by a special system which lets the rear wheels run in three basic modes – go straight no matter what; turn in the same direction as the front wheels; or turn in the opposite direction from the front wheels. Those options make for some fun experiences – the same-direction option creates the now-famous “crab walk”, with the rear wheels turning to one side or the other up to ten degrees from straight, and driving with that mode feels like one is ice skating in a controlled way. The opposite-direction mode is like a mini-hook & ladder and allows for the car to feel like it pivots around the center and is a great feature on ultra-tight turns on a mountain trail.

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When anyone mentions an EV, the immediate question is “what’s the range?” With the Hummer EV, the range is up to 350 miles (GM estimate) and, better yet, using a fast DC charger, one will get about 100 miles of range for each ten minutes of charging. The fit and finish of the EV is light-years (Star Wars and Toy Story references intentional) ahead of the earlier gas- or diesel-fired Hummers. The designers gave great attention to detail and included features like an incredible eighteen onboard cameras (providing a wide array of camera views, including forward- and rearwardfacing cameras below the car, each with a remote washing system in case the lens gets dirty!) and a newly-created Bose system, which not only provides excellent sound track accompaniment but allows the driver to activate the “engine sound” options which add a certain additional layer of both visceral and aural feedback to the occupants. And should you be interested in communing more with nature, the available transparent roof is comprised of four “sky panels” which can be removed and easily stored in the “frunk” (which opens and closes automatically at the touch of a button).

The Hummer EV has an automatic transmission but, especially with humongous wheels and tires (it comes with 35” Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires), the five driving modes (Normal, OffRoad, Terrain, Tow Haul and My Mode, a customizable setting, all available at the turn of a knob) and that fact that there was no need to get out in order to lock the hubs, it was really simple to choose the right combination of options for a particular section of the trail. The drive modes make things really simple as, with one choice, you can adjust the throttle sensitivity, power allocation, steering, ground clearance and even the sounds coming from the Bose system. For example, -- going up a soft-packed twisty climb of what felt like forty degrees? Choose Terrain for an all-wheel drive experience with enough ground clearance, which is done just as easily as changing channels on the radio. I expect to have a longer-range driving experience with the Hummer EV soon so I plan to update this article then, at least on my website. For now, however, I hope that you can tell that I am a big fan of the vehicle and expect that demand will continue to outstrip supply for a long time to come.

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Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 California Lifestyle Collection Magni cent St. Helena Vineyard Estate $17,500,000 St. Helena, California 7 Beds | 5 Baths | 1 Half-Bath | ±15 Acres This picturesque villa of nearly 10,000 square feet of living space is perched on its own promontory with panoramic views of vineyards, lush gardens, and Napa Valley. The custom-built Main Residence and Guest House boast quality finishes and high ceilings showcasing grand proportions and scale including 7 bedrooms, 6 baths, wine cellar, tasting room, a grand motor court, an 80 foot pool, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, meandering gardens, koi ponds, stone terraces, vegetable gardens, flower gardens covering the sprawling grounds. The guest house has one bedroom and bath. The property has its own self-sustaining water source – a rarity in Napa Valley. Don’t miss the opportunity to own this breathtaking view property that is synonymous with the quintessential wine country lifestyle and only minutes away from the vibrant downtown St Helena. www.SpringMountainEstateNapaValley.com

Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 California Lifestyle Collection

4 Beds | 3 Baths | 1 Half-Bath | 3,493± sq. ft. $5,850,000

This newly remodeled contemporary residence, located in the most prestigious location in the heart of Belvedere, is comprised of a 3,493± square foot home on 0.2± acre lot with stellar views of the Belvedere Lagoon, Tiburon hills along with Raccoon Strait, Angel Island, Belvedere Cove, and San Francisco Bay. This dramatic home, designed with contemporary beauty in every corner of the oor plan, features four bedrooms, three and one-half baths, library, media room, 3-car carport spaces with EV Charging, laundry room, and spa/hot tub on attached deck facing the views. This home o ers an open and desirable oor plan and was newly painted in 2021. The open kitchen features the nest materials with beautiful Neolith stone counter island, easy to clean porcelain product, as well as the replace, surrounding in the living room, and the counters of the bathrooms. The living room was designed with oor-toceiling glass wall-to-wall windows and door attached a new deck with special decking with panoramic views. The master suite decorated in soft creamy-white with wood oor is simply classic and evokes the feeling of peace and tranquility. The spacious master bathroom features a bathtub under the skylight and a separate shower designed with glass walls with spectacular outlook of Tiburon hills, San Francisco Bay and beyond. The hot tub located on the second attached deck faces the view, a fantastic spot for enjoying a glass of wine when soaking in the hot tub. The house is surrounded by beautiful landscaping that was newly completed in 2022 and dotted with amazing sculptures available for purchase. The roofs over the main house and the media room deck were replaced with a special 99-year thermal roof to reduce heat, keeping the home in comfortable temperature always while enjoying the sunshine, natural lights and stellar views of Belvedere living. The sheltered east side Belvedere Island location o ers convenient access, only 5 minutes to downtown Tiburon, some of the nest restaurants and popular spots, shops, the best school district, ferry services to San Francisco and Angel Island, and the two world class yacht clubs—Corinthian Yacht Club and The San Francisco Yacht Club. This stunning beauty of Belvedere will be available for visit early September 2022. O ered at $5,850,000 A Contemporary Beauty In The Heart of Belvedere Island Belvedere, California

California Lifestyle Collection Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com Cell: 415.720.5915 | Olivia@SanFranciscoFineHomes.com | Lic.# 00712080 A Contemporary Beauty In The Heart of Belvedere Island Belvedere, California

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SQUARE BANG UNICO Black ceramic case. In-house UNICO chronograph movement. Limited to 250 pieces. Union Square • 174 Geary Street Tel. 415 981 2200 SAN FRANCISCO BOUTIQUE

INAUGURAL PARTNER LEAD MUNICIPAL PARTNERSECOND CENTURY PARTNER SEASON PARTNERS OFFICIAL AIRLINE Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the Orchestra in an imaginative rendering of Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, featuring African-American Shakespeare Company actors and surprise guest stars. Enjoy pre-concert libations and a lively outdoor after-party to cap off the celebration. For an elevated experience, reserve a Gala Dinner package. Sponsors of Opening Night support the Symphony’s artistic, education, and community programs. sfsymphony.org/gala22 OPENING NIGHT GALA NAVID ARMSTRONG & JEREMY GALLAHER, CO-CHAIRS 09.23.22 Ofﬁcial Magazine Partner HAUTEMAGAZINELIVING Sponsor