John Buchanan, Dede Wilsey, and Hesham Elnakib, Consul General of Egypt

In anticipation of the de Young’s spectacular opening of “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco recently hosted a luncheon in recognition of their donors, whose contributions help make such exhibitions possible.  The nineteenth annual luncheon included special speaker Hesham Elnakib, PH.D., the Consul General of Egypt.

Jeana Toney

Debbie Hatch

William Fries

Gail and Alec Merriam

Walter Newman and Connie Baron

Gretchen Kimball

Lewis Sykes

Alvin Baum

Bob Bransten

Photos: Thomas Gibbons [email tjgibbons@gmail.com]

Anette Harris and Dr. Jeff Thomas, neurosurgeon at CPMC

A reception hosted by Anette Harris and Scott Tafuri, DPM, was recently held in San Francisco, honoring Lawrence B. Harkless DPM, a graduate of the California College of Podiatric Medicine.

Lawrence Harkless, D.P.M., and his wife, Gerry Lawrence

Dr. Harkless is the Founding Dean of the College of Podiatric Medicine, Western University of Health
Sciences, Pomona, CA, where the charter class will matriculate in the Fall of 2009.

Scott Tafuri, D.P.M., and Tina Matejka

The reception was attended by the community of interest which included business leaders, fellow podiatric physicians as well as fraternity and community leaders.

Photos: Thomas John Gibbons [email tjgibbons@gmail.com]

Although Gavin Newsom is falling way behind Jerry Brown and billionaire Meg Whitman in fundraising efforts for his gubernatorial campaign, he’s proving to be not so shabby in the PR department.

This weekend he takes the cover of the New York Times Magazine, which is distributed nationally. While the Times feature won’t do much to increase poll numbers, it should be amazing for fundraising efforts, as it gives his campaign even more legitimacy and confidence.

So be sure to check out our local guy on the cover of the Times this weekend!

John Buchanan, Dede Wilsey, Dr. Zahi Hawass

We really enjoyed the coverage that the Chronicle’s Carolyne Zinko and Janny Hu gave of the glamorous opening night for the beautiful King Tut exhibit at the de Young. If you haven’t read it yet, just follow this link to sfgate.com

Photos from the first opening night, the “Tut Director’s Gala,” can be seen here, featuring some of the Fine Arts Museum’s most generous donors. Our museums are funded, in large part, by the kind of people that you see here, who have a true passion for the arts, and for the enrichment of San Francisco culture. There is no doubt but that the quality of life of our great City would suffer without the arts and their supporters. We salute them!

Trevor Traina and John Traina

Jay Xu (of the Asian Art Museum) with Katherine Matsuura, Jennifer Biederbeck and Doug Biederbeck

Kate Chung and David Chung

Dr. David Silverman and Dr. Renee Dreyfus, curators of the exhibition

Cheryl Menoufy

Thelma Schnitzer, Gilbert Schnitzer, Dorothy Saxe, George Saxe

Gilbert and Thelma Schnitzer

Lisa Stevens (of Wells Fargo) and Robert Gallo

Trevor Traina with Keith Scott (of Cartier)

William Obendorf and Susan Obendorf

Belva Davis and William Moore

Richard Essey, Denise Fitch, Lucy Jewett

Bill Bacigalupi (of KGO), and Marilyn Bacigalupi

Consul General Hesham Elnakib, His Excellency Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian Ambassador to the US

Egyptian Consul General Hesham Elnakib, Dede Wilsey

Dean Osaki (of Target), and Diane Nomura

Mike Sangiacomo and Mary Sangiacomo

Mr. & Mrs. John Wilcox

Lisa Sardegna and David Carrillo

Trevor Traina and Alexis Traina

Cynthia Gunn, John Gunn

John Buchanan, Jeanne and Sandy Robertson

Paul Violich, Lonna Wais

Barnaby Conrad and Dr. Zahi Hawass

Lucy Buchanan, John Capizzi (of Neiman Marcus)

David Blanton, Lindy Sherwood-Coombs, Steve Bell

Tim Simon, Anne Simon

Marianne Peterson, Joan Danforth

Dagmar Dolby and Ray Dolby

Gretchen Kimball

Photos: Drew Altizer

David de Rothschild

Adventure Ecology (founded in 2005 by David de Rothschild) has opened its doors for the public to visit its amazing new project: The Plastiki – Mission Control, at San Francisco’s Pier 45.

The Plastiki is a 10,000 nautical mile voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a boat made almost entirely out of reclaimed plastic soda bottles! The mission of the voyage is to beat waste.

The Pier 45 headquarters is an interactive activity and educational centre where people will be able to learn every aspect of the adventure, and really feel a part of it. It’s great for both children and adults.

Guests leave the interactive educational center with a better understanding of the effects that waste has on the planet. And once the expedition sets sail, ‘The Plastiki – Mission Control’ will screen live feeds, webcasts, blogs, voice files, photography and short films that document the crew’s amazing adventures as they negotiate the vast and volatile waters of the Pacific.

David de Rothschild founded Adventure Ecology to build on the idea that through “edutainment,” one can call attention to humanity’s impact on our Earth’s most remote and fragile ecosystems, but also help to articulate and promote a better understanding of one of the most pressing ecological issues of our time: waste.

San Francisco is so lucky to be home to the headquarters for this inspirational, international project, which is receiving major technological support from HP (the official technology provider for the expedition.)

David de Rothschild at the Center’s Opening
(photo via flickr.com)

“This partnership is not only of great significance due to the long-term mission of Adventure Ecology to promote and influence smarter ‘Planet 2.0’ ways of working, but also because of the exciting opportunity for us to help support HP’s ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its products, services and operations,” says de Rothschild.

“It is our shared vision to create a smarter, more sustainable ‘Planet 2.0’ way of living, through inspiration, education, storytelling and the empowerment of individuals. This partnership has all the right ingredients to create the agents of change that will help to sculpt our future.”

During the voyage, the Plastiki vessel will pass through a number of environmentally sensitive regions, including the Great Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, where plastic pollution twice the size of Texas has accumulated.

HP is equipping the Plastiki vessel with energy-efficient and durable technology that will be used to document and capture data from these regions to better understand the impact of pollution on the environment. With HP technology, the crew will be able to gather information, capture and store their story, and communicate with their land-based crew.

Other important partners for the Plastiki are IWC Schaffhausen and Kiehl’s.

We hope you’ll visit the Plastiki Mission Control Center at Pier 45 soon. It’s open this Summer, Wednesdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At the center, visitors can:

· View exhibits of the boat-building process, from plastic bottles to the final design
· Learn about the effects of waste on the planet and understand some of the solutions to combat the problem
· Track the Plastiki journey on animated maps with information on each stop along the voyage
· Interact with the Plastiki crew by sending text and webcam messages at the “your planet your voice” station

Joel Goodrich, Eva Jettmar, Mark Leibowitz, Scott Harkonen and Karen Tamblyn

Scott Harkonen recently hosted a small event in San Francisco to give friends a preview of the exhibit “Backstage at Galliano: Photographs by Mark Leibowitz.”

Leibowitz has photographed New York, Milan and Paris fashion shows for the past 12 seasons, but as an artist rather than a typical wire-service photo journalist. With an exquisite sense of color and mood, his photos capture the energies of fashion and those unique moments of a show that always keep fashion fresh and alive for those who are true fans.

Victoria. Backstage at John Galliano’s Spring/Summer 2009 Collection.

We are told that a larger, public exhibit of the San Francisco native’s work will be shown here later this year.  In recent months it has been shown at Cannes, London and New York.  We will let you know the details when they become available, as you will not want to miss it!

Back in Blue. Backstage at John Galliano’s Fall/Winter 2008 Collection.

Further Information: Mark Leibowitz [leibowitzpictures.com]
Photos (bottom two): Copyright Mark Leibowitz

We know so many beautifully dressed people who regularly wear Judith Ripka jewelry (from international business women like Pamela Joyner to socialites such as Jill Zarin and Elizabeth Thieriot, and celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Jessica Simpson, Naomi Watts and Tori Spelling), and when we recently went to the Judith Ripka store in San Francisco’s Union Square (at 110 Geary Street) we quickly saw why they are fans.

We find that the jewelry is fun, glamorous and fashion forward, while maintaining a look that is distinctly feminine and wearable.  As a wife, mother, grandmother and business woman, Judith designs versatile jewelry that is classically informed, yet it seems modernized to complement today’s wardrobe.

Some of our favorite pieces are showcased below.  There is more to be seen at the Union Square boutique.

We are also happy to announce that a limited number of San Francisco Luxury living readers will receive a $1,000 gift card for purchase of items for the 18-k Couture Collection.

Simply send an email with your name and address to info@sfluxe.com to receive yours.

Mint Green Quartz Olivia Ring
18-karat yellow gold setting adorned with pave diamond insets
Approximately $3,200

Monaco Sapphire Ring
Cushion-cut canary crystal. Diamond accents, Yellow sapphire encrusted band. 18-k setting.
Approximately $6,800

The “Flame” Ring, Earrings and Bracelet
Pavé diamonds and 18-karat yellow gold
Approximately $5200, $3600 and $8200, respectively

Shopping: Judith Ripka [110 Geary Street, San Francisco]
To Receive a $1,000 Gift Card: Email SFLUXE

Ricky Serbin and Carmen Dell’Orefice

San Francisco vintage couture seller, Ricky Serbin (of Ricky’s Exceptional Treasures) attended the 2009 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall in New York Monday evening. His date for the night was legendary model Carmen Dell’Orefice.

Kirsten Dunst (center), Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte

“I’m happy to report the Rodarte sisters won the Designer of the year award,” Ricky tells us. “Christine Suppes was there to cheer them on, as one of their biggest supporters.”

Lorenzo Martone and Marc Jacobs.   Jacobs won for International Designer of the Year.

Ricky said that everyone stopped to pay homage to his friend Carmen Dell’Orefice. “Designers Zac Posen, and Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez (of Proenza Schouler) were so honored to see her.”

Anna Wintour and Justin Timberlake

Photos: Wireimage.com
Photo (Top): Ricky Serbin

Haute Living and CADE Winery Partner for Napa Wine Auction Kick Off Celebration

To kickoff the 2009 Auction Napa Valley in style, Haute Living magazine, the region’s premier luxury lifestyle publication, partnered with CADE Winery, the newest venture by PlumpJack Group, for a special Auction Eve Kick-Off event.

Auction Napa Valley attendees who purchased the Classic or All-American Day packages received invitations from approximately 20 different vintners throughout Napa Valley to join them at celebrations hosted at their homes, wineries, and cellars.

Gordon Getty (right), chats with Georg Salzner, David Costello and other guests

Seth Similof with Ann and John Conover

An elite group of guests gathered at the eco-friendly CADE winery on Howell Mountain for an evening hosted by CADE Winery partner John Conover and venture capitalist Gordon Getty, who is featured on the cover of the May/June edition of Haute Living Florida. Haute Living Publisher Seth Semilof was also in attendance.

Anthony Biagi and Jeff Nead

During the evening, Winemaker Anthony Biagi provided guests with a selection of CADE and PlumpJack wines, with bites from Michael Mina’s new San Francisco restaurant, RN74.

The event was designed by Warren Sheets, an internationally recognized interior designer based in San Francisco.

John Conover and Gordon Getty

“Auction Napa Valley is so important for the valley,” said Conover. “In so many different ways, it supports the critical lay of the land. The wine auction has generated so much in its history, and it has become a year-round event.”

Kyle Schrader, Peter Menza, Nancy Dahlfors, Brant Dahlfors

Ron Nicholson, Daron McAfee

Margretta Wikert, Christina Donnallly

Jim Flowers, Eric Railsback, Charles Bililies

Kent Nielsen, Kimberly Busick, Philip Busick

Warren Sheets, Sharon Regan

Suzanne Lavalle, Philippa Ward, Jan Dinuoscio

Guests were also given exclusive access to a prized Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, which was showcased in white and silver.

Seth Semilof checks out the amazing Bugatti Veyron

“Haute Living was so proud to be involved in such a successful event,” Seth tells us.

“In such a short time, CADE Winery has proven itself as one of the region’s finest. Likewise, Haute Living may be new to the San Francisco market, but we have established ourselves as the publication of choice for the affluent. We are thrilled to have been involved in Auction Napa Valley during our very first year in San Francisco.”

If you haven’t seen Haute Living, you need to check it out! It’s a a bimonthly luxury lifestyle publication with regional editions in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and now San Francisco.

Haute Living caters to the affluent with a focus on the private aviation marketplace, with distribution at more than 180 private airports and FBOs and on 15,000 private flights every month.

For more information, please visit www.hauteliving.com.

• Photos: Drew Altizer [drewaltizer.com]
• Further Information: Haute Living [hauteliving.com]
• Further Information: CADE Windery [cadewinery.com]

Jennifer Siebel Newsom attended the Step Up Women’s Network’s 2009 Inspiration Awards Luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on June 5, 2009.

While for months people have been commenting on how she is so thin and doesn’t look pregnant, she is now beginning to show. Or as our favorite magazines would elegantly put it — Look at that Bump!!

We think she always looks lovely.

Photos: Jesse Grant/Wireimage.com