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Tucked in a former San Francisco bank vault with plush leather banquettes, silver pendant lamps, and rich blue dining chairs, The Vault Steakhouse is the latest restaurant by Hi Neighbor Hospitality Group (the team behind Trestle, Mama and The Vault Garden). “I have been given the opportunity to really tap into the space,” says chef Ryan Cerizo. “It’s unique to be able to create a restaurant from the ground up.” Menu selections range from Caesar salad prepared tableside to the A5 Ribeye from Miyazaki, Japan.

The Vault Steakhouse (Hardy Wilson)

Chīsai Sushi Club

Chef/owner Erik Aplin (of beloved Ichi Sushi fame) has returned to the Outer Mission with his latest venture Chīsai Sushi Club. Occupying the former Ichi space, the 500-square-foot eatery lined with photorealistic paintings of nearby Ocean Beach, Sutro Baths and The Cliff House by local artist David Imlay offers a selection of hand rolls served in custom wooden vessels. Dishes include the BLTA with bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado drizzled with yuzu kosho mayo and three multi-tiered omakase experiences such as The Oki, a 17-course tasting menu. “I wanted to open a restaurant that focused on high-quality ingredients and friendly service in a fun atmosphere, or essentially the type of restaurant at which I would want to eat,” explains Aplin, who worked alongside chef Masaharu Morimoto and helped open Morimoto Napa. “I love the feeling when the playlist is on point, the sake is flowing, guests are happy and everyone, including the staff, feels like they are part of the scene.”

Taiyaki-style waffles and ice cream at Chīsai Sushi Club (Darren Samuelson)

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Situated along the Napa River, the bucolic, 11-room Milliken Creek Inn has a modern and inviting new look. Designed by Jennifer Wojtkiewicz and Shelley Harden of Indigo Coast Design, the property’s new upgrades include guest rooms with king-sized beds (some with river views, fireplaces and oversized soaking tubs), L’Occitane bath amenities, Tivoli bluetooth speakers and iPads for ordering in-room dining offerings. Other guest amenities range from complimentary evening cordials and s’more kits to an afternoon mini-picnic consisting of wine, cheese and freshly baked cookies. “The interior of the property, of course, underwent a massive remodel, but what really stands out and is unique is the amount of privacy in regard to the outdoor space,” says general manager Scarlett Accurso. “Seven of our 11 rooms offer dedicated outdoor space, with four of those rooms featuring private fire pits. Three additional fire pits on the property really accommodate every guest feeling like they have their own outdoor space.”

The Cedar guest room at Milliken Creek Inn

Farmhouse Inn

Housed in an open-air structure fashioned with stable doors and equestrian drawings, Farmhouse Inn’s new 3,000-square-foot Wellness Barn offers inventive treatments like a massage with warm basalt stones and cooling gemstones designed to reduce inflammation or a sound journey therapy complete with a meridian point massage. “It’s my mission to encourage our guests and team to carve a few moments out of each day to practice self-care,” says spa and wellness director Irisha Steele. “The Spirit Path is my favorite service. It’s a one-of-a kind wellness experience. It infuses bath, massage and meditation during a 90-minute session, leaving you relaxed and recharged.”

The Wellness Barn at Farmhouse Inn (Paul Ferradas)

Elusa Winery

Set on a 4.7-acre organic vineyard in Calistoga, Elusa Winery is now open offering hand-crafted cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc wines by prominent winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. The resort-style modern property, designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live), includes a tasting room, private member’s lounge and wine library. For a guided tour of the estate and vineyard, be sure to make a reservation ($200 per person including wines and a selection of local cheeses).

Outside the tank room at Elusa Winery (Kim Carroll)

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el Prado Hotel (Kate Berry)

The restaurant and bar serves a modern take on tapas such as crispy patatas bravas with house aioli and spicy sauce and croquetas de jamon Serrano with mahon cheese and romesco aioli. “Our approach for the public spaces was to create intimate settings for casual interactions with residential furnishings and materials with a nod to the founding family from Spain,” says Hollis.

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Floramye (Evan-Marie Petit)

Along with the brand’s own product line made with certified organic hemp extract, essential oils and botanicals (all contained in sustainable canisters made of recycled Italian glass and wooden lids), the boutique carries items from other brands including cannabis incense by Allume and natural rose glycolic gel by Monastery Made. “We are always playing with ingredients and testing new ideas,” says Tryk of the brand that also gives back a portion of the profits from sales to benefit mental health nonprofit organizations. The newest release is the CBD-and-antioxidant-rich Celestial Dew facial mask kit and a cruelty-free vegan powder mask with a jade mixing bowl and brush.

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Located within a working winery and framed by the Palisades Mountains in Calistoga, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley welcomes guests with 85 thoughtfully designed farmhouse-modern guest rooms by St. Helena–based design icon Erin Martin and executed by Hirsch-Bedner Associates. The property, situated on 22 acres, is equipped with a spa, signature restaurant and other dining options including a Cal-Mexican open-air poolside eatery and bespoke experiences such as tasting sessions and winemaking classes with resident winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown.

The view of the pool at the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley

The Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge

The Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge, a destination dedicated to caviar and Champagne, has become a permanent Yountville fixture from renowned chef Thomas Keller and Regiis Ova Caviar co-founder Shaoching Bishop. Brought to life by Keller’s team and consulting San Francisco interior designer Ken Fulk, the dreamy, lounge-like space is awash in a palette of sea greens and RH furnishings. Beverage director Michel Couvreux hand-selected the drink menu, while bites range from tempura-fried chicken tenders with ranch dressing to French onion dip paired with kettle-fried potato chips and a new brunch menu offered on Sundays.

The Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge

The Flamingo Resort

Once a playground for Hollywood luminaries such as Jayne Mansfield and Frankie Avalon, The Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa has reopened following a multimillion-dollar renovation. Situated on 10 acres, the newly reinvented midcentury oasis (originally built in 1957 by architect Homer A. Rissman) boasts 156 guestrooms and 14 poolside suites and guest perks from a Pilates and cycling studio to excursion backpacks stocked with hiking sticks, water bottle, blanket and binoculars.

The pool at The Flamingo Resort

Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection

Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Calistoga has a fresh new look thanks to a $30 million renovation replete with a new restaurant, 11 newly unveiled cottage-style suites with private outdoor patios, showers and soaking tubs and a refresh of all guest rooms and public spaces. Lauded Napa Valley architect Howard Backen (of Meadowood Napa Valley and Esperanza in Los Cabos, Mexico) and Los Angeles-based design firm Studio Collective spearheaded the design with a subtle nod to nearby surroundings and views of the Palisades and Mayacamas mountains. Tucked within a modern barn, new poolside eatery PicoBar offers guests elevated Mexican-inspired cuisine. Chef Gustavo Rios (who previously worked in-house at Solage’s Solbar and Bouchon Bistro in Yountville) artfully prepares dishes such as whipped avocado dip made with pistachio, kale, cilantro and lime, wild mushroom tostada made with local herbs and goat cheese from local purveyor Laura Chenel in Sonoma and carne asada tacos stuffed with short rib. Top off the meal with bunuelos, an iteration of a Mexican churro-meets-funnel cake, or choco tacos, chocolate-dipped waffle tacos loaded with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, peanuts and chocolate.

A suite at Solage Calistoga

The George

Originally commissioned as a private residence in 1891 by George E. Goodman Jr. (the son of Napa business mogul George Goodman Sr.), The George, a nine-room Queen Anne Victorian listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been meticulously restored following a four-year renovation. Guestrooms at the sparkling new inn are outfitted with cloud-like Beautyrest Hybrid Plus mattresses, heated bathroom floors, Matouk luxury bath linens, Molton Brown bathroom amenities and in-room Keurig coffee and tea stations. Visitors can enjoy breakfast and complimentary snacks in the Peacock Room artfully designed with a hand-painted peacock-and-palm-leaf mural by local Italian artist Fabio Sanzogni and grass-green Chippendale-style dining chairs, or relax with a glass of wine in the parlor-like living room with an original fireplace.

The George

R Inn Napa

Set inside a renewed historic building in Downtown Napa, family-owned R Inn Napa features 10 guest rooms and five two-story loft suites centered around an inner courtyard with original artwork and high-tech touches including automatic adjustable beds, large QLED smart TVs, Bluetooth clock speakers and rainfall showerheads. For additional privacy, the property also boasts a 1,200-square-foot standalone bungalow with amenities like a full kitchen and laundry room and a detached indoor/outdoor private dining pavilion. “Our family’s vision was to create a modern boutique hotel featuring high-tech self-sufficient amenities and ample indoor/outdoor common spaces with a residential feel and artistic character,” says the owner. “With a walkable location in the heart of downtown Napa, our property is ideal for entertaining or escaping to a private haven. What we offer is unique to the area and has great value.”

R Inn Napa

Olive & Hay

Olive & Hay, the onsite restaurant at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, serves up Italian cuisine by sous chef Rachel Medeiros and executive sous chef Jose Mejia with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. The light-filled space—artfully appointed with black-and-white Mediterranean-inspired tile, white powder-coated metal bistro chairs, emerald-hued glassware and an outdoor patio—offers farm-fresh menu selections including black truffle pizza drizzled with fontina cheese, chicory salad and truffle vinaigrette and spring panzanella salad tossed with sugar snaps, cucumber, asparagus, serrano pepper, Henpen greens, Skyhill goat feta and black pepper buttermilk dressing.

Olive & Hay at The Meritage Resort & Spa

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El Salvador–born coffee connoisseur Ana Valle, founder of newly opened Abanico Coffee Roasters in the Mission in San Francisco, has spent years visiting coffee farms and perfecting the cafecito (a Spanish term of endearment for coffee).The new space, replete with a colorful mural by local artist Jason Jagel, offers selections such as café con leche with condensed milk and café con morro concocted with morro seeds and allspice. “With the delicious diverse food options, the hustle and bustle of the community, the combined classic Victorian architecture and expressive murals, the Mission has and will always have a sweet spot in my heart,” says Valle. “It’s the neighborhood that my family and I were welcomed into when we first moved here from El Salvador. I love the fact that with this coffee shop I can share a bit of that endearment ‘cariño’ for coffee and my culture.”

Coffee at Abanico Coffee Roasters

Empress by Boon

Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon (of Hakkasan Hanway Place in London and Hakkasan New York, to name a few) has created a buzz in Chinatown with the opening of Empress by Boon. Inhabiting the former beloved Empress of China restaurant space, the sophisticated eatery—reimagined by U.K.-based design studio Atelier LLYS and appointed with Chinese tableware by Ruyi by Legle France—features a prix-fixe menu for the first month, followed by an a la carte menu. “We have great respect for Chinatown and its community and we are very excited to finally have the opportunity to provide a celebratory space for gathering and dining, offering modern Cantonese dishes in a comfortable yet elegant space,” says Boon. “I want to utilize ingredients different from typical Chinese food using local organic produce from our own farm in Gilroy just outside of San Francisco. We will continue to surprise and delight our guests with our mix of nontraditional ingredients while preserving the natural flavors of Cantonese food to create something unique and special.”

The dining room at Empress by Boon

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Thanks to co-owners Dustin Valette and Craig Ramsey, downtown Healdsburg now has another wine and culinary mainstay: The Matheson. The storied building was home in the 1920s to Snowflake Bakery, run by Valette’s great-grandfather, Honoré Valette. Today, the tri-level space consists of a restaurant lined with a 3,800-pound copper penny–wrapped pizza oven, a wine wall with 88 self-service wines on tap and an open-air rooftop cocktail bar and garden lounge. Reinvented by San Francisco–based firm Cass Calder Smith Architecture+Interiors (Barbacco, La Mar), along with interior designer Barbara Turpin-Vickroy, touches include hand-hewn tables crafted from native redwood trees by wood sculptor and guitar maker Andrew Somawang and murals by local artist Jay Mercado.

Chef Dustin Valette of The Matheson

Valley

Serving up small-production and biodynamic wines and seasonal small plates with just-picked-from-the-farm produce from nearby purveyors, Valley’s standout selections range from olive oil cake (made with their own extra virgin olive oil) with sour cream and preserves to trout paired with citrus, beets and yogurt. “We feel that there are a lot of opportunities to enact the type of change that the Sonoma community as a whole can benefit from,” says co-owner Lauren Feldman. “We’d like to be a source of positive change with a youthful energy for the economy here.”

Outdoor seating at Valley

North Block

In Yountville, chef Nick Tamburo (previously of Momofuku Nishi in New York City) is at the helm of newcomer North Block, located in the hotel of the same name, with interiors by local interior designer Erin Martin. “Our food has a strong point of view,” says Tamburo of menu items such as grilled Swiss chard with celtuce, radish and herbs and wood-fired spring onion pizza with aged cheddar and chive oil. “We are always experimenting, incorporating interesting seasonal ingredients and finding ways to give nearly every dish that special fired flavor from the grill or the wood-fired oven. Everything on the menu is approachable, however, curious eaters may likely find something they haven’t tried before.”

The private dining room at North Block

Faust Haus

Following a three-year restoration, Faust Haus welcomes guests for wine tasting of its Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon in a Victorian home built in 1878 in St. Helena. Overhauled by Aidlin Darling Design, Maca Huneeus Design and Surfacedesign, the historic property is dotted with lush outdoor gardens with expansive views and a mix of new and old touches, such as a black-and-white freehand wall mural by Italian artist Roberto Ruspoli and a mid-century tapestry by French artist and weaver Jean Lurçat.

Al fresco tasting at Faust Haus

Top Sips

The 2017 Rudd Oakville Estate Samantha’s cabernet sauvignon and PerUs 2017 Janeen cabernet sauvignon are named after women and we can’t stop sipping on these robust and complex red wines.

Wine tanks at Rudd

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Tina Frey’s Montecito store

Now dividing her time between San Francisco and Montecito (she opened her flagship store there last year), Frey fills us in on her ideal road trip and her latest collection of mushroom-shaped table lamps and moss-hued stools.

What do you love most about the materials you use, including resin?

I have always loved resin, since it is very versatile and can take on many qualities. It can look like colorful sea glass or it can look like fine porcelain, stone or marble. The material looks delicate, but the applications are endless.

Tell us about your latest collection.

I am so happy about the new Mushroom Lamp that just launched. We have one in our house, and I absolutely love the overall shape and color. There is a certain chubby cuteness and comfort to the large proportions and the light it emits.

The brand’s Modern Tableware collection and the Mushroom Lamp

Dream collaboration?

I would love to collaborate with Axel Vervoordt, since I love how he mixes wabi-sabi objects with minimalist interior spaces. He does imperfection perfectly.

What’s up next?

We have a new collection of very large vases coming. I noticed that I needed a big vessel for holding large flowering spring branches, so I created the vases for this very purpose. I love how necessity drives the designs that come out of the process.

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Housed in a once-dilapidated barn dating to 1876 (comprised of nearly 90 percent whitewashed redwood), the Brion tasting room and production facility was more than four years in the making. Surrounded by 100-year-old olive trees, the bucolic 46-acre property is a harmonious blend of old and new replete with French oak barrels and a gallery-esque tasting room outfitted by designer Ronda Wise (wife of owner Brion Wise.) Sample Brion’s four cabernet sauvignon wines from three appellations al fresco on a lightly shaded patio or venture inside the painstakingly restored barn for a well-edited mix of curiosities and artwork. Special pieces include a pair of oversized canvases by Mexican surrealist artist Armando Martinez, animal-print armchairs, gilded table lamps and a retro, banana-hued rotary telephone.

Brion Winery’s barn

Rootdown Wine Cellars Tasting Room

In Healdsburg, winemaker and owner Mike Lucia has opened Rootdown Wine Cellars Tasting Room, a shared tasting room (with Leo Steen Wines) aptly dubbed The Drink. Designed by Lucia’s wife, Jill Shadek, the sleek space—showcasing wines by Rootdown, Cole Ranch and Es Okay Wines—is adorned with a wall mural by artist Naomi Mcleod and tables and benches constructed using reclaimed beams from a nearby winery. “The space was already a very cool space when we moved in, and it has an industrial feel with the exposed brick and vents in the ceiling,” says Shadek. “We were just trying to keep it simple and let the industrial vibe of the space speak for itself.”

The Rootdown Wine Cellars Tasting Room

Quail & Condor

Husband-and-wife culinary duo Melissa Yanc and Sean McGaughey (she’s a former Food Network baking champ; he’s a chef) have debuted a Healdsburg-based bakery, Quail & Condor, with a seasonal selection of sweet and savory confections. Kumquat and vanilla bean scones, blood orange morning buns, naturally leavened breads like apricot walnut Champagne and oat porridge and sandwiches are on offer. “Sean and I consider it an extension of our home and feel like we are hosting people for breakfast and lunch,” says Yanc. “We are inspired by California, dedicated to hard work and powered by the community.”

Pastry dough at Quail & Condor

Penfolds

More than 20 years ago, the team behind celebrated Australian winemaker Penfolds started exploring new terrain/terroir in the Northern Hemisphere, specifically the bountiful soils of California, with an ambition to create a new range of wines. This year, the brand will finally unveil the fruits of its labor (pun intended) with the debut of four new Californian wines. “The wines made in California pay respect to California terroir, yet one thing remains overtly consistent…the red Penfolds stamp,” says Penfolds’ chief winemaker, Peter Gago. “We will have the Californian sun above and soil beneath, but everything in between will be Penfolds.”

Penfolds’ four new California wines

The fruit for the four new wines were sourced from vines in regions like Oakville and Rutherford. Grapes were also sourced from Camatta Hills in Paso Robles. The resulting inaugural wines are: 2018 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz. “Crossing hemispheres happens to future-proof the brand, but our original motivations were very much embedded in curiosity,” says Penfolds senior winemaker Stephanie Dutton. “We have to ask ourselves what’s next and innovative in the industry and what’s new to us as a team.” The area’s diverse approach to winemaking and growing has its roots in French viticulture. “When we went to check in on these Australian vines in California, one aspect that was important to us was ageability,” says Dutton. “That’s a big part of our DNA, and Napa Valley was a fit with our fine wine portfolio and philosophy. The last thing we wanted to do was land in California and do everything exactly as we do it in Australia,” says Dutton.

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Peace Out Skincare’s Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots

Earlier this year, Frezza unveiled a hydrating and smoothing retinol eye stick packed with fountain of youth-esque agents such as encapsulated retinol and astaxanthin. “As we age, the eyes are prime real estate for wrinkles and dark circles,” he explains. “It’s perfect for all ages and skin journeys, whether it’s preventative or used as an anti-aging ally. It’s so easy to use: swipe, don’t wipe and that’s it.”

Peace Out Skincare’s Retinol Eye Stick

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Avocado toast with granola on top

“One day, the light bulb went off and I thought, there has to be a market for this,” recalls Williams, who previously struggled to find tasty granolas with a clean ingredient profile. “In June 2013, I sold gr8nola at my first farmer’s market. It was a humble start, and I looked at it as a fun little side project.” Here, the full-time granola expert dishes on her stint as a competitive swimmer and what’s up next.

What’s your backstory?

Growing up, I was always very into health and fitness. I swam competitively at a very high level from a young age. I competed at two U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and earned a swimming scholarship to Stanford.

What’s your can’t-live-without-it flavor? 

Black Coco Chia. It’s super unique and the only black granola infused with detoxifying activated charcoal.

Favorite job perk? 

Knowing that every day I’m building a brand and product that people love and that’s also good for them.

Are any future collaborations in the works? 

We have a new flavor launching mid-January with Girl Up (a United Nations nonprofit organization focused on gender equality and empowering young girls through leadership development) and television personality Nigel Barker, who is highly involved in the organization. The flavor is classic with a superfood twist. I’m mentoring five selected girls with Nigel to give them firsthand entrepreneurial experience.

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Attar Flora Repair Concentrate and Lapiz Matte Body Oil

Her new serene, minimalist skin clinic in Noe Valley offers bespoke facials to her devoted fan base. “We do have a few different facials to help give our clients some direction, but, basically, we’ll make sure that we give you what you need, no matter what you book,” Hewett says. The clinic also offers dermaplaning, microcurrent, photofacial technology, brow laminations and lash lifts.

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I wanted to build a skincare company on the very same philosophical foundations and principles as fine winemaking.” She was and remains passionate about marrying her passion for winemaking with her desire to create the finest skincare products. “When I first began looking for a place to make Active Botanical Serum, I was turned away over and over again by the top labs in the country,” says Gargiulo, who was steadfast in how she wanted to create this range. Her two hero products, Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum (used in this order), help skin regenerate, balance and heal. “Their formulas were created to complete one another,” says Gargiulo. “Together, they form a complete skincare system in two simple, yet powerful steps.”

So’s what’s in these magical products? Their signature Phyto Radiance Infusion of nutrient-dense botanicals (think nettle, moringa, ginkgo, alfalfa, calendula, dandelion, lavender, green tea and astragalus). It takes three weeks to extract their nutrition, coupled with a two-week-long Phyto Ferment process to amplify absorption and efficacy. Hyaluronic acid, natural vitamin C, three plant stem cell complexes, probiotics, prebiotics, marine algae and gentle microexfoliators keep skin plump, firm, smooth, even and glowing.

In a sea of brands that release a new product every month and expand into new categories annually, Vintner’s Daughter has been methodical and slow about how it launches these game-changing products. “From concept to final formulation took two years for Active Botanical Serum and four for Active Treatment Essence,” Gargiulo explains. “Of course, creating product after product increases your sales, but we are not driven by revenue; we are driven by integrity and skin health. This is not to say we will never release a new product. I hope we will, and when we do, our customers will know that it offers something that no other product does.” The brand is also serious about giving back. From its inception, Vintner’s Daughter has given two percent of its revenue to charities benefiting women and children worldwide like Every Mother Counts, Black Mamas Matter and Color of Change.

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Entryway of RH Marin, The Gallery at the Village

Upon arrival, guests are met by a charcoal gray Venetian plaster exterior with glass-and-steel French doors that open onto verdant garden courtyards and terraces surrounded by stunning olive trees.

Rooftop restaurant

An outdoor rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of the San Francisco bay showcases sculptural evergreens and offers year-round dining in a skylit garden beneath retractable glass walls and gleaming crystal chandeliers.

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Zee—who ventured out on her own eight years ago with made-to-order intricate wood panels and private commissions awash in beiges, caramels and coffee tones—has recently penned her first book, The Way of the Woodshop, a DIY guide for budding woodworkers, and debuted Float, a furniture collection replete with linear tables, cubes and lighting. We sat down with the Orange County native (who just launched a line of functional sculptures incorporating hardwood and concrete) to talk about everything from her foray into furniture to her take on the San Francisco design scene.

Wood panels and cubes

Why wood?

Woodworking takes patience; building, refining and finishing all take time and detailed attention. It’s an imperfect material with cracks, knots and irregularities. As an imperfect being, I find that by working with wood and all its inconsistencies, I can also tackle my own.

Why expand from art to furniture?

My new work is an extension of the work I have been creating for the past 10 years. I wanted to interact with the space itself instead of being limited to the wall. My goal with my new sculptural work is to play with form, function and space. Almost like a run-on sentence, from the wall to the room, from non-interaction to function. My Float pieces can be used as tables, benches, seats, and can also stand alone in a room as sculpture, stacked on one another or all alone. I want them to be able to live anywhere.

Whitewashed furniture and accessories

How has design in San Francisco influenced you?

It definitely reflects the California lifestyle: functional pieces, monochromatic colors and a focus on handmade. Being born and raised in California, I feel like my work fits within that aesthetic. When making my sculptural pieces I wanted to evoke a sense of calm, a moment to pause, pieces that enhance a space but don’t demand all of the attention.

Name two art inspirations.

Constantin Brancusi. His use of repetitive shapes, occupying a space with minimal shapes and the play with negative space and minimalism in his work is stunning. And Georgia O’Keeffe. Her watercolors are my personal favorites. What inspires me most about her is the love she felt for the desert, her home, and how she was drawn to the simple things in life.

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For more on San Francisco, click here. 

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https://www.instagram.com/p/B3VZV8Tp0Ku/

Her rotating collection of one-of-a-kind goods from fair-trade sources—curated by country—runs the gamut from an ottoman made from an antique cotton-and-silk suzani to a custom striped pom-pom pillow created from a hand-spun Ethiopian cotton textile with natural dyes to a vintage tulu rug woven by central Anatolian nomads. Products can be viewed in the showroom Monday through Friday, by appointment only.

For more on San Francisco, click here.

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Head  to the main lobby for a complimentary gourmet breakfast, followed by a trip to nearby Bear Valley Visitor Center for expert tips and insight on backcountry camping, the best local hiking trails, and the area’s rich history.

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More than a decade ago, Warner, who originally wanted to be an architect, got her first big break in the Bay Area design scene when her then apartment near Dolores Park in San Francisco was featured in Domino magazine. “That was all she wrote,” says the native of Missoula, Montana, and mother of two. She launched her own firm shortly after the magazine debut and went on to transform residential spaces in Hillsborough and the East Bay, and a now-defunct San Francisco restaurant, South, headed up by restaurateur Anna Weinberg.

The Redmond Aldrich room from 2017’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase

But now, Warner, a self-admitted “speckled” fan (think polka dots, linoleum, and terrazzo), has made a name for herself in the commercial design arena, outfitting spaces such as Ayla, a bright and airy natural beauty shop in San Francisco, and McMullen, a women’s clothing boutique in Oakland with pops of blush and mustard hues, vintage family photographs, Hans Jakobsson fringe lamps, and mannequins powder-coated to match the skin tone of the store’s owner, Sherri McMullen. “A lot of the commercial projects we have done are for female entrepreneurs,” Warner explains. “And I love the idea that I could become the go-to designer for female entrepreneurs. It’s something that feels like it’s just happening organically.” She’s also busy working on offices for New York–based media company Man Repeller as well as Friends and Family, a cocktail bar opening this fall in Oakland with a wink to the 1980s and Miami Vice.

For Warner, though, scheming thoughtful spaces is more than just a job. “I love creating atmospheres,” Warner says. “I always have been sensitive to my surroundings and felt like I knew that having the power to create, change, or charge atmosphere would be great. And so it’s like an art that combines all of these materials [furniture, tile, and paint color], but it all adds up to the backdrop of a great life.”

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Rubén Cambero

But Cambero, who studied business administration at Universidad Europea de Madrid, spent a year abroad at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, and earned a master certificate in hotel revenue management from Cornell University, once thought he would become a marine biologist. “I always dreamed of studying marine biology, probably due to my passion for the ocean,” says Cambero, who lives in downtown Sonoma with his wife (who also works at the hotel in operations) and two children. “Or maybe due to my crazy head back then, when all I wanted to do was spend time at the beach and surf.”

After meeting MacArthur Place’s CEO, Larry Bain, at the suggestion of a recruiter, Cambero was hired at the 150-year-old property, now outfitted with 64 modern, farmhouse-inspired guest rooms, suites, and cottages with original exposed wood beams, and an on-site Mediterranean restaurant, Layla, headed up by award-winning chef Cole Dickinson (of The Bazaar by José Andrés in Beverly Hills and Voltaggio Brothers Steak House). “We have respected the history, and we are enhancing the experience,” says Cambero of the hotel, replete with a no-tipping policy, complimentary bikes, and a seamless arrival practice. “We want to make sure that we do all the prep work and have everything taken care of for you, so guests can just come and enjoy.”

A guest room at the MacArthur Place Hotel

These days, he’s busy perfecting the art of offering advice on everything from the perfect proposal and engagement ring selection to managing wish list requests. “I believe that hoteliers could write authentic best sellers,” says Cambero, who once arranged a special surprise art studio visit for Woody Allen while at Hotel el Peregrino. “Welcoming guests is an art. There is something very special about the possibility of turning any given day into a lifetime memory, and we have the power and the ability to create that.” 29 E. MacArthur Street; macarthurplace.com.

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In 2006, she gave a TED Talk that caught the attention of Arianna Huffington and Linda Stone, who initially convinced her to launch a blog. Shortly after, she debuted Ecofabulous.com, a style and sustainability blog she conceived and then spearheaded for 10 years. “Seeing how using non-VOC paints and formaldehyde-free furniture improved the air quality of my house drove me to share that information with other families,” says Joaquin. “It wasn’t intended to be a business. I just wanted to make sure that other people had resources that I found very difficult to source. I loved researching products, featuring new brands with passionate founders, and bringing it all to life in tiny houses that I designed for Dwell on Design and the Gorgeous & Green Gala [an eco-fashion show] that I hosted for Global Green for 10 years. All I ever wanted was a wider audience so that sustainable design could go more mainstream and we really could see some positive movement.”

In 2014, Joaquin sold Ecofabulous to The Huffington Post (and became HuffPo’s editor-at-large of Home and Lifestyle) and launched her newest venture, Near Future Summit, a strategic community of entrepreneurs, activists, and investors. “I started it because I felt like my greatest value is connecting siloed concepts and people,” says Joaquin. “My mission is to bring passionate doers together to scale solutions. There is a lot of focus on problems. I wanted to focus on the solutions. The most rewarding thing is when I see individuals and companies collaborating in a world-positive way.”

Joaquin, now gearing up to launch a podcast and video series with Dwell magazine, is equally enthusiastic about eco-education and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Her top three easy tips? “Eat less meat,” she says. “Try a Beyond Burger. I know it’s obvious, but it is the easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint and your waistline. Second, go organic. Organic food, skincare, and goods can be delivered right to your door, and companies like Good Eggs and Brandless are making it easier and more affordable. And finally, make sure your wood-derived products are recycled or FSC certified.”

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Raised in Los Angeles, Gibson frequently traveled to far-flung countries and visited art galleries, flea markets and antique auctions with his parents, yet his initial career trajectory wasn’t interiors. “I started off thinking that I wanted to be a psychologist and went down that path for a few years,” says Gibson, now one of the country’s most acclaimed designers. “I had just moved to New York and wasn’t really sure what I was doing with my life. A friend suggested that I talk with an interior designer friend that was looking for an assistant. I was hired on the spot with no experience and learned the ins and outs of the business. Growing up, I never thought it was something that one could make into a career.”

In 2004, Gibson officially ventured out on his own with his sophisticated black-and-white Gentleman’s Retreat at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase. “I have clients that are maximalists and want layers and patterns, and others that want simple, more edited homes,” says Gibson. “I love putting on the different hats for each project and collaborating to create a tailored interior that is correct for its inhabitants.”

His latest project, a boutique design travel series entitled Travels With Grant, combines two of his passions. “A lightbulb went off while I was sitting in a hotel in India,” says Gibson, whose first guided five-person trip, Journey to Jaipur, slated for this December, sold out within 24 hours. “I didn’t want to open a shop or launch a fabric line, and wanted to do something different, but I didn’t expect this to be so successful,” he says. “I don’t think of it as a group tour, but rather a private, individual experience with like-minded, design-oriented travelers—I won’t be wearing a headset on a tour bus.”

Photography by: Kathryn McDonald

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With over 4,000 square-feet, the single-story boutique is filled with natural light from floor-to-ceiling front and rear windows, and a dramatic central skylight. Designed by Parisian architecture agency RDAI, the feel is a departure for the luxury house, though the mid-century ethos fits in with the California landscape perfectly. “Every Hermès store is different,” says the agency’s artistic director, Denis Montel. “And I must admit, this design is very different from anything we’ve done before.”

Hermès (photo by Frank Oudeman)

The space includes a digital piece of artwork, Handmade, by Eric Vernhes, while the window displays – cardboard landscapes – were designed by contemporary artist Eva Jospin.

Hermès (photo by Frank Oudeman)

The opening party moved from the boutique to a tented labyrinth atop one of the shopping center’s open-air parking structures, continuing in the theme of Jospin’s imagined-landscape – made entirely out of cardboard. Hermès definitely didn’t disappoint in the entertainment department – with a French flair for the absurd and unexpected, as special performances choreographed by I Could Never Be a Dancer, the Paris-based artist duo Carine Charaire and Olivier Casamayou entranced the crowd, Zrich-based artist Tobias Gutmann entertained revelers by painting abstract portraits at his infamous pop-up Face-o-mat. All things considered, a très chic evening.

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When asked about what he loves most about his hometown, Newsom cites everything from its inclusive culture to its California cuisine (much of which he has helped to foster himself). “[My go-to lunch spot] is Balboa Café for the famous Balboa Burger on a baguette. Add avocado — I declared it California’s official fruit in 2013,” says Newsom. But, he adds, what defines the city isn’t its millennial-friendly food, but its history as a bastion of social progress and LGBTQ acceptance. “Don’t miss San Francisco Pride,” he says. “It’s a philosophical, iconic destination, where diversity isn’t just tolerated — it’s celebrated. That’s quintessential San Francisco.”

With a busy election year ahead of him, Newsom will likely have no time for local R&R. But political office is hardly his sole ambition. He is also an entrepreneur and oenophile as the founder of the San Francisco-based PlumpJack Group, which operates several wineries in addition to a multitude of hotels, restaurants and bars – from the Bay to Palm Springs.

While his business has grown exponentially across the state, Newsom is proudest of its local philanthropic impact. “In the past few years PlumpJack launched the PlumpJack Foundation, led by my sister Hilary [Newsom Callan], to support cancer research initiatives and fight childhood poverty,” says Newsom.

And his sister isn’t the only philanthropic powerhouse in his life. His wife and potential First Lady of California Jen Siebel Newsom is a socially minded visionary in her own right. “Jen is continuing her life’s work as a documentary filmmaker,” says Newsom. “She is advancing the cause of women’s equality through her nonprofit The Representation Project. I’m so proud of both of them.”

Main image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Louboutin blew into town with no intention of sitting for interviews, only to see the boutique and some of his loyal local clients. Fortune smiled on me, however, and Monsieur Louboutin took some time to sit and chat a bit about his trip, his working style, current inspirations and being a regular pop culture reference.

His fondness for San Francisco is no secret. “People here are warm and welcoming and are great hosts, which is very similar to the European mentality,” says Louboutin. I wonder if the city and its clientele feel much different to him than New York or Paris, and he’s quick to praise the City by the Bay. “The conversation in San Francisco revolves around wine and delicatessens, for which it is highly regarded and loved in Europe,” he explains. “And, of course, technology, which makes sense given its closeness to Silicon Valley.”

Christian Louboutin visited his luxurious Maiden Lane boutique this fall. (Photo credit: Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)

I couldn’t help continually scanning the boutique’s sublime selection of footwear. His recent women’s arrivals like the Dolly Dola, May Wong and Mariposa are alive with vitality. I’m fascinated to know where he begins to conceptualize these virtual works of art. “It all starts with a drawing and my obsession with details,” says Louboutin. “In this case, the designs speak for themselves.” His men’s shoes are no exception. The Casano Flat
and Mister Academy are a dandy’s dream, and I have to believe it’s more challenging to design for men. “Designing for men is a different attitude,” he explains. “Therefore, I don’t draw for men on the days when I’m working on women’s designs.”

Just what, I wonder, are Louboutin’s current inspirations for his upcoming collections? “Right now, I’m concentrating on various collaborations that tie back to India, Bhutan and one,” he says, “specific to Northern California.”

Men’s Monono Flat, $995; Paloma Small Tote Bag, $2,100; Trouble In Heaven 30ML Parfume, $135.

I’m struck by how often the luxury brand is referenced in pop culture—particularly in music. Jay-Z, Keri Hilson, Drake, Jessi Malay and Jennifer Lopez have all immortalized the designer in their lyrics, and I wonder how it makes him feel. “When people are paying homage to you, it’s hard to understand that your name is used in a way that belongs in pop culture,” Louboutin says. “In different parts of the world my name has been celebrated, but I can see that it’s always associated in an aspirational way and conveys empowerment and freedom.” I bring up Bronx rapper Cardi B’s song “Bodak Yellow” and, specifically, her hit’s enemy-denouncing lyrics: “These expensive, these is red bottoms—these is bloody shoes.” “The name carries different values for different people in different parts of the world,” he says thoughtfully. “But, it’s not in my hands.” And, he’s quick to add, “There is nothing wrong with that.”

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Apart from a few opening remarks about the non-profit’s mission to raise awareness for, and erase the stigma of, mental illness, the award-winning actress and activist left the evening’s program in extremely capable hands. Host Wayne Brady opened the evening by re-introducing himself to those in the audience who might have thought, “oh, that’s cute – Westley Snipes came.” The self-effacing Emmy-winner went on to explain that he, too, suffered from depression, making this an extremely special night for showing people mental illness knows no boundaries.

Irish singer-songwriter Rooty performed several new songs from her upcoming debut album, admitting earlier in the evening that her father suffers from serious depression. Comedian and author Greg Behrendt’s stand-up act was hilariously forthcoming as he told stories about past addictions and depression. Later, Tony-Award-winning singer Idina Menzel brought the packed room to their feet with a few songs from Wicked and an earth-shattering rendition of Radiohead’s poignant 1992 hit “Creep.”

Idina Menzel at the Revels & Revelations Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club
Photo credit: Drew Altizer

Perhaps the most poignant moment in the evening came when Robin Williams’ children, Zak, Zelda and Cody Williams, presented Billy Crystal with the inaugural Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award. Sharing stories about his long relationship with Williams – who committed suicide in 2014 – Crystal gave the audience a personal glimpse into his special relationship with the comedian by playing one of the last, hilariously funny, voicemails he left for Crystal.

Crystal sat down with me to talk about his friend and the impact he had, and continues to have on his life and the lives of so many others. For nearly four decades Crystal and Williams honored each other through their craft every time they performed together since meeting in San Francisco, in 1976. The curtain ultimately fell in 2014 when, at the 66^th Annual Emmy Awards, an emotional Crystal honored his longtime friend and collaborator after his untimely passing. Now, Williams, it seemed, was able to get the last laugh by celebrating Crystal – if only in spirit. “Nothing feels right all these years later,” said Crystal. “That speech I made at the Emmys was the single hardest thing I ever had to do, because it was so raw. He’d left us about a month earlier.” The Williams family agreed that the very first award bearing the comedian’s name could only go to one person. “To be able to be honored with an award bearing his name is the highest compliment a comedian can get,” he explained. “He was the closest friend you could imagine in every way,” he continued, “from the moment I met him to all the hours we spent on stage together.”

Billy Crystal at Revels & Revelations at Bimbo’s 365 Club
Photo credit: Drew Altizer

The evening broke its record by raising $1,020,525 to benefit BC2M with help from Close who took the number to its sweet-spot by giving $5,000 of her own money. Before the night was over, I met with Close to talk about the state of mental illness in our country, which she confirmed was “pretty bad” – as if we could ever think differently? “There’s a huge need on all fronts,” she continued, “for funding at the state and national level, for more places for people to go and get help, and there aren’t nearly enough care-givers.” I mentioned San Francisco’s notoriously contentious problem with homelessness to which Close responded. “Any homeless population has a high percentage of mentally ill because they’re the people who suffer at the hands of state facility closures – the ones who ended up on the streets in a vicious cycle of homelessness, addiction and jail.”

Guests included Williams’ ex-wife Marsha Williams, Close’s daughter, actress Annie Starke, Jennifer and Joe Montana, Zem Joaquin, Kristy Yamaguchi, SF Giants CEO Larry Baer and Peter Getty.

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Mikael Schiller, Acne Studios Chairman, and CEO Mattias Magnusson celebrated the fashion house’s new tenancy with some of the Bay Area’s own resident powerhouses – Zynga Co-founder Mark Pincus, Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman, Pinterest Co-founder Ben Silbermann, Eventbrite Co-founder Julia Hartz, Dropbox Founder Drew Houston and Peek.com Founder Ruzwana Bashir were all on hand to welcome the Swedish brand to town.

The Geary Street location’s unique design – and red accent color – was inspired by the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. “I wanted this store to have a special mood both for the location and for San Francisco itself,” explained Creative Director Jonny Johansson. “It is a large and beautiful space, and we have therefore kept the fixtures to a minimum.”

Acne Studios celebrates the opening of Geary Street store in San Francisco with entertainment provided by Spotify Premium
Photo credit: Drew Altizer Photography

What was once an old ice warehouse was transformed into a nearly 950-foot showroom, complete with a freshly-laid brick façade and floor-to-ceiling windows which highlight the “Golden Gate red” window and door frames, interior pillars and ceiling. A poured concrete floor and perimeter walls clad in milky off-white polycarbonate sheets give the boutique a raw industrial feel and are the perfect backdrop for showcasing the full men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections.

“It was quite organic,” said Schiller about choosing San Francisco for their latest store. “I felt there was a connection [to San Francisco]–it resonates with what we do.”

Spotify Premium provided the entertainment which included live performances from three-piece alternative band LANY and British singer-songwriter Jacob Banks. The soiree continued with a family style dinner at Mission Chinese where DJ Pippa Brooks (who famously spun for Hamish Bowles’ 50^th birthday celebration in 2013) held court as food and drinks were stealthily passed through the crowd. The rest of the welcome wagon included creatives from other fields–celebrity stylist Mary Gonsalves Kinney, Spotify’s Dave Rocco and Sofia Hansson, Gagosian Gallery’s Charlie Spalding, interior designers Jay Jeffers and Michael Purdy, former Vogue editor Emily Holt, Wired’s contributing style director Lauren Goodman and fashion designer Marissa Thieriot.

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DuJour served as the honorary media sponsor for the Cirque de Nuit-themed fundraiser, for which Stone’s non-profit organization, Planet Hope, was this year’s beneficiary. Founded in 1993 by sisters Sharon and Kelly Stone, and in line with the principals of The Drever Family Foundation, Planet Hope benefits terminally ill children, the abused and homeless. 

Nearly $330,000 was raised between ticket and auction sales. Stone even put her own 1958 Chevrolet Apache truck on the auction block. The fully restored classic was a gift from her brother-in-law Bruce Singer. Performances by Owen and Noyes and a special runway presentation by Ward punctuated the evening’s program.   

The night before, Patron hosted an intimate Secret Dining Society get-together on the property with State Bird Provisions Chef-owners Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski preparing a multi course dinner paired with specialty Patron cocktails.  Country star Brian Hughes played a set for the guests, accompanied by Nashville-based violinist Eli Bishop.

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The exhibition, curated by André Leon Talley and hosted by Honorary Chairs Annette de la Renta and Diane B. Wilsey, was a showcase of over 50 years of the designer’s work. The nearly 120 ensembles included some designed for American fashion house Jane Derby in the 1960s, as well as many from his days designing haute couture for Balmain. Some gowns on display were from Annette de la Renta’s private collection, with a few displaying the designer’s trademark Spanish influence. Others took a hiatus from the closets of friends like Houston socialite and philanthropist Lynn Wyatt, interior designing socialite Ann Getty and, of course, Dede Wilsey.

A point of interest for de la Renta’s many admirers is a “red carpet” display of gowns worn by celebrities, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Amy Adams, Taylor Swift and Rihanna, accompanied by a video montage of those memorable award show moments.

Certainly a time to remember the beloved designer, it was also a time for many to talk about fashion, today’s designers and de la Renta’s contemporaries. During a brief walk through the exhibition with Boaz Mazor, Executive at Large at Oscar de la Renta, DuJour came across an ensemble that belonged to Nancy Reagan, which sparked conversation about the late First Lady and her impeccable sense of style.

Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective (March 12-May 30), de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. deyoung.famsf.org

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As the latest hot spot in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, Odette Estate is already making a name for itself, thanks to inaugural 2012 vintages that received glowing reviews from critic Robert Parker. Its recently completed 3,500-square-foot public space welcomes visitors with walnut tasting bars, black velvet sofas, modern chandeliers and an open patio featuring cushioned benches and a fire pit. “With the addition of the lounge to the Estate, we look forward to creating offerings that are commensurate with the world-class wines being produced here,” says partner John Conover. The list includes the 2012 Odette Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, which received a 96-point rating from the venerable Parker. 

5998 Silverado Trail, Napa;odetteestate.com 

Verso Nightclub

Forgery and Verso 

The Mid-Market District welcomes its newest watering hole, Forgery, and an adjacent sister property, the nightclub Verso. Forgery’s historic brick façade frames floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing the perfect view into the PlumpJack Group’s latest endeavor. The cocktail list includes creations such as the County Cork Shrub (Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey, strawberry chamomile shrub and tonic) and the Pickled Swede (Absolut Elyx vodka, dill-infused Dolin vermouth and onion). Verso, the Latin word for “on the turned page,” is located in a former printing press and features exposed brick walls and a white Carrara marble bar alongside the dance floor. 

1525 Mission Street; forgerysf.com, versosf.com 

Bodega Bay rock cod marinated in brown butter dashi at Ninebark

Ninebark 

The Napa skyline is getting brighter with Michelin-starred chef Matthew Lightner’s latest project, Ninebark. In partnership with New York-based hospitality group AvroKO, the restaurant boasts California-focused and “market-forward” fare, which, according to Lightner, is “an easy way to say ‘seasonal.’” The atmosphere is designed to mimic the intimate feel of residential gardens, and features custom-designed replica 1950s glider chairs as well as modernist details and custom plaid cushions in a third-floor lounge ideal for enjoying a glass of wine. A glowing wall of preserved herbs in vintage wood storehouse boxes on the ground floor warmly welcomes guests to an experience Lightner says will be “fun, comfortable and refreshing at the same time.” 

813 Main Street; ninebark-napa.com

Chicken tortilla soup at Californios

Californios 

Chef Val M. Cantu put down roots in the Mission District with Californios, a fine-dining restaurant informed by his Mexican heritage. “I wanted something that made sense,” says Cantu. “I found a rich Mexican history and discovered that ‘Californios’ was what the locals called themselves when this was still part of Mexico.” Along with his partners, Cantu offers an ever-changing, seasonal tasting menu which may include a beautifully prepared squab or a braised and smoked beef tongue. “We try to change things as quickly as we can,” explains Cantu. “As soon as we’ve come up with something we’re happy with, we already want it to evolve.” 

3115 22nd Street; californiossf.com

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Over the past 10 years, Sugar has continued to expand both personally and professionally. These days, PopSugar operates internationally, with outposts in Australia, the U.K. and Japan, and is positioned for further growth into China. Additionally, the privately held company drives nearly $1 billion annually in sales to its retail partners, which include Target, Hilton, Levi’s, J. Crew and Neiman Marcus. Last October the site saw an unprecedented 1 billion page views and 93 million video views, according to Sugar.

At home, Sugar’s just as busy, thanks to her three daughters, Katie, Juliette and Elle. “Every day is definitely a little different,” she says of her home life. “Though there’s an absolute foundation and routine.” Indeed, her day begins at 6:45 A.M., when she starts checking email on her phone, and continues with Sugar rousing her girls and hitting the pavement by 7:55 A.M. to walk her older daughters to school.

Each morning, Sugar and her husband walk from their Pacific Heights home to the PopSugar offices downtown. “We make our way up and down the various hills of San Francisco. We really do walk most days, unless it’s pouring rain,” Sugar explains. “It’s nice for us; we can have a meeting or take calls.” As one would expect, Sugar’s day is filled with meetings, but there’s also the occasional soccer practice. “ Brian and I coached our kindergartener’s team this past fall,” she says. 

Generally by 5:30 P.M., Sugar is off to collect her daughters and then head home for family dinner. By the time the girls are in bed, Sugar is already plugged back in. “By 8 o’clock I’m back on my phone,” she says. “I’m a night owl, so I stay up until 11 or 12.” 

Considering her role at PopSugar, which recently refreshed its look, and her outside activities—including a book, set to be released later this year—it’s not too surprising Sugar looks for extra time wherever she can find it. “I’m so happy in what I do every day here, but between planning all the work and kids’ stuff, I now know the importance of having alone time.” 

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Click through the attached gallery for photos of the museum.

2155 Center Street, Berkeley; bampfa.berkeley.edu

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The private Atherton estate of Jillian Manus played host to the festivities, complete with a seal tank constructed outside the front door and a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge inside the main tent, which housed gourmet bites by The Slanted Door, Stones Throw, La Folie and Hog Island Oyster Co. Joe Montana, baseball legend Matt Williams and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom co-hosted the California-themed event, Jay Leno served as emcee and Michael Franti entertained the crowd with a live acoustic performance. 

The over 500 celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, tech giants, philanthropists and notables in attendance included musician Tommy Lee, jewelry designer Martin Katz, Trevor Traina, Marissa Mayer, Zachary Bogue, Monty Geer and former Super Bowl champions Keena Turner and Randy Cross, among others. 

Click through the attached gallery to see pictures from inside the gala.  

Main image courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography

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“The moment now feels right for us to open in San Francisco,” explained Stefano Gabbana. “I strongly believe timing is everything…and right now is the perfect moment for us to open our first-ever boutique here.” 

Domenico Dolce echoed this sentiment. “California is such an important market…we feel that our new San Francisco boutique is an important piece to our global puzzle. 

Guests, who sipped champagne served by waiters wearing black tailcoats, included Norah and Norman Stone, Denise Hale, Katie Traina, Willie Brown, Tanya Powell and David Lasker.

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In reference to the $15.8 million raised, David Pearson, the 2015 honorary Auction Napa Valley chair and CEO of Opus One, said, “Good friends, welcoming hospitality, renowned Napa Valley wines, culinary expressions of our gardens and the humbling generosity of our bidders, vintners and volunteers came together over these last four days to create an extraordinary Auction experience.”

Beginning on June 4, vintners hosted Welcome Parties that took place at top wineries, including Trefethen Family Vineyards, Shafer Vineyards, Rudd Oakville Estate and Inglenook. On Friday afternoon, Kathryn and Craig Hall of HALL hosted the Barrel Auction portion of the event, which raised a record $1.9 million through the sale of wine futures.

President of Bulgari U.S. Daniel Paltridge

There were many celebratory events, including a sumptuous dinner on Friday evening at Ma(i)sonry in Yountville, hosted by Blackbird Vineyards and Bulgari. Blackbird founder Michael Polenske was joined by newly appointed President of Bulgari U.S. Daniel Paltridge and San Francisco Director Daniel Diaz in welcoming the intimate group for extraordinary wine parings and an expertly prepared meal by Chef Victor Scargle of Bardessono’s Lucy Restaurant & Bar. 

The main event, Saturday’s Live Auction Celebration, took place at the picturesque Meadowood Napa Valley, where over 850 guests enjoyed an alfresco lunch prepared by Chef Michael Chiarello, followed by the 51 lot auction of Napa Valley’s most fabled wines as well as some very special experiences.  The most notable highlight included The Chair’s Lot, donated by the Opus One Team, which included a 35-year vertical wine collection of Opus One magnums and a two-week tour and visits with celebrated winemaking families in Napa Valley and Europe. It went for $800,000 only to double and then triple, selling to three different bidders and raising $2.4 million, becoming the wine event’s top grossing lot of all time. 

Raising a glass at the 35th Annual Auction Napa Valley

Perhaps second to that was Lot 31, an effort by Raymond Vineyards and DuJour’s summer issue cover star John Legend that included six etched bottles of Napa Valley wine and a dinner party for 30 with a private performance by Legend. Prior to the sale of the lot, which fetched $850,000, Legend performed his hit song “All of Me.” Other top grossing lots included those from Screaming Eagle, Staglin Family Vineyards and Colgin Cellars among others. The evening capped off with dinner under the stars, prepared by renowned Chef Pierre Gagnaire.

Auction Napa Valley and The Napa Valley Vintners have raised more than $145 million in support of the health and wellbeing of the Napa Valley community.

All photographs by Alexander Rubin at Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley

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Known for their collaborations with famous athletes, including the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade, Brazilian soccer star Pelé and Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Hublot welcomed Rose—its first professional golfer—into the mix last February.

At Thursday’s store opening event, Guadalupe told DuJour: “San Francisco’s diverse culture attracts an eclectic mix of consumers, making this Northern California enclave the perfect location for Hublot.” And as for Northern California, it appears the watchmaker is having its moment. 

Kobe Bryant, Ricardo Guadalupe

As the official timekeeper for the recent Ferrari racing challenge in Sonoma, the brand’s presence had been building up to the boutique launch, along with the anticipated debut of their newest timepiece in partnership with Bryant, the Big Bang Vino. Officially known as the Big Bang UNICO Chronograph Retrograde Kobe Vino Bryant, the collaboration with Bryant is the world’s first mechanical watch designed to time basketball.

“We started with the Black Mamba edition three years ago,” explained Guadalupe “and that was an incredible success…we sold out very quickly.” So the two powerhouses got together and came up with the idea for the Vino. “I asked ‘why Vino?’ and Kobe said, ‘I’m like the wine. I’m getting older and better.’” Guadelupe explained of the process: “To link the winemaking science to the watchmaking production, there are many similarities like passion, creativity, innovation…and so we took the color of the wine, which is a dark burgundy, and we were also inspired by that.” The substantial and technically advanced timepiece was unveiled during an intimate reception in the Napa Valley at a private wine reserve, where DuJour spoke to Bryant about his link to Hublot, the inspiration for the new watch and his best vintages.

You’ve been a partner with Hublot since 2013 when you launched the Black Mamba. Can you tell us about the partnership? 

It’s been great. I always try to partner with teams that view their industry a little differently, and Hublot is really good at doing things in a different way. 

Hublot Big Bang Vino timepieces

Arguably you’re one of the best players in the game, but today we’re in Napa Valley and not on a basketball court—what brings us here today?

Hublot’s always done things on a grand scale. It’s beautiful to be here and to be a part of such an incredible launch for the Vino, that’s the first reason. The other reason is because my shoulder doesn’t work, and because my shoulder doesn’t work we’re not in the playoffs, so I had the time to be here!

So, why Vino?

A friend of mine, a copywriter by trade, came up with the nickname ‘Vino’ because he said I just keep getting better and better with time and that’s where the name for the watch came from…and how I started the transition from the Black Mamba to the Vino.

Hublot Big Bang Vino timepieces

When we talk about wines, we define their greatest harvest by a vintage. Relating this to your career, what years would you consider your greatest vintages? 

Every year we won a championship! [In] making wine there is a certain process, a certain attention to detail, a certain patience you have to have, which is the same as the way I build my game.  Especially now…it’s a very patient process and that’s the common thread.

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Collectors of the iconic Italian automobile, along with connoisseurs, aficionados and gear-heads came from all over the county, not only to revel in the fast-paced competition, but to tour the vast car stable which held nearly 150 of some of most renowned classic Ferraris like the Dino Spider, 250 GTO, 250 GTE and a rare grouping of Enzo and LaFerrari sportscars. 

A Ferrari on the racetrack

Excitement built during the weekend’s second round of racing when, among the 31 drivers, Ferrari of Houston’s Ricardo Perez qualified with the fastest time, and ultimately finished in first place in Race 2 of the Ferrari 458 Challenge. In the Coppa Shell race, Miller Motorcars’ Joe Courtney and Boardwalk Ferrari’s Jean-Claude Saada competed for first place finishes.

After a weekend cruising in the FF enjoying the finely crafted automobiles and watching them scream through the course, we asked Ferrari’s North American president and CEO Edwin Fenech what his favorite model was. He didn’t skip a beat: “This question was repeatedly asked of [founder] Enzo Ferrari, and I agree with his regular answer, ‘the next one.’” And, for a brand known for their longevity, innovation in design and technology, we would tend to agree!

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Throughout the course of the weekend over 100 celebrity chefs, fine food purveyors and close to 200 wineries plated and poured to the delight of the masses. Each day was chock-full of cooking demonstrations and seminars, wine and beverage tastings and lectures, as well as sold-out multi-course dinners. In addition to the more exclusive events, the Lexus Grand Tasting tent, open both Saturday and Sunday, offered an all-access pass to the best and the brightest talents in the fields of food and wine.

Here, explore a few highlights from the culinary adventure.

The Magic of Château Margaux
Held at The Inn at Spanish Bay, this was an experience that doesn’t come along very often. As one of the world’s most revered names in wine, Château Margaux is one of the four original First-Growth Bordeaux designated in the classification of 1855 and has continuously been producing wines from the 16th century. Aurélien Valance, the estate’s senior director, led a retrospective tasting of library wines that came directly from the estate’s private cellar. “The way [Château Margaux wines] behave is very concentrated and dense, with a lot of elegance and a very long finish,” he explained. Beginning with the single white, the 2011 Pavillion Blanc du Château Margaux, the tasting moved back through time with some of most revered reds. The 2010 Pavillion Rouge du Château Margaux—heralded as the best Pavillion Rouge to date—led into the infamous Château Margaux vintages themselves, from 2010 and 2009 to 2004 and 2003, back to 1995, 1989 and finally 1986. “What is most special, though, about Château Margaux,” Valance says, “is the spirit.”

Family Style: An Ultimate Pairing of Comfort Food & Cabernets
The event, hosted by Michael Trujillo, president and director of winemaking at Sequoia Grove, along with “wine wise guy” and expert Anthony Giglio, showcased a litany of dishes prepared by a handful of great chefs, including Richard Reddington of REDD in Yountville, Neal Fraser of Redbird in Los Angeles, Alex Guarnaschelli of Butter Restaurant in New York and Angela Tamura of Pèppoli in Pebble Beach. Each plate was paired with a spectacular vintage from Sequoia Grove.

An Evening with Chef Curtis Stone
This was an asparagus lover’s delight. Focusing on the seasonal ingredient, he incorporated the slim green vegetable into every dish on the menu. Pairings of wines from G.H. Mumm, Penfolds, Domaine Laroche and Dolce complemented the food to perfection. Stone shut down his intimate (20-seat) Los Angeles restaurant, Maude, for the weekend in order to bring the award-winning experience to Pebble Beach.

Michelin 101: Stars of the Valley
This event brought together a constellation of one-starred Michelin chefs whose famed restaurants dot the 101 Freeway. Peter Armellino (The Plumed Hors), Dmitry Elperin (The Village Pub), Jarad Gallagher (Chez TJ), Peter Rudolph (Madera Restaurant) and William Werner (Craftsmen and Wolves) served up a diverse menu, including Roasted Line-Caught Halibut in Oxtail Consommé, Roast Partrige with Morels, Huckleberries and Smoked Turnips and Roast Broken Arrow Ranch Antelope with Stinging Nettles, Semolina Gnocchi, Pickled & Roasted Spring Garlic. Werner’s Blonde Chocolate Ricotta Tart was the final nail in the coffin for a sweet, sweet ending. Wines from Domaine M&S Ogier (the most sumptuous 2007 Côte-Rôtie), Champagne Henriot (to-die-for vintage 2005), Mayacamas (1998 genius Cabernet Savignon) and Domaine Faiveley (2007 “Clos de Beze”) paired perfectly.

The Lexus Grand Tasting
This took place over the course of both Saturday and Sunday afternoons and was by far the most accessible and well attended of the festival. Held in a massive two-room tent on the grounds of the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, wide-eyed guests navigated through 2,000 wine booths and over 30 chef stations on each day. Booths and demonstrations by Masaharu Morimoto, Curtis Stone, Fabio Viviani, Lara Werlin, Roy Yamaguchi, Richard Reddington, Antonia Lofaso and Kevin Gillespie helped keep folks satiated. Standout wines including those from Scribe Winery, Duckhorn, G.H. Mumm, Sequoia Grove, Heitz Wine Cellars, Kistler Vineyards, Champagne Tattinger, Cliff Lede and Penfolds Wines. If wine wasn’t your thing, lounges provided by Driscoll’s Berries and festival sponsor Classic Party Rentals (who housed a booth by Morro Bay Oysters) were a welcome respite from the crowds.

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“Never before in my life did I like coffee, not even coffee ice cream. But there’s this place called Philz, and it’s so delicious that it started me drinking coffee.” 

Flicks Fix

“I love seeing movies at the Castro Theatre. One night we went to see Can’t Hardly Wait, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.”

Bottoms Up

“My favorite bar is The Stud. It’s a down and dirty gay bar with drag shows. We shot an episode there and then went back that night to go dancing.”

The Wheel World

“I ride my bike everywhere here, and Golden Gate Park is an amazing place for it. At every turn there’s some cool thing, like how there are buffalo in some parts of the park. It’s the best.”

Dining Al Fresco

“I love Tartine, which is near Dolores Park. They have the most incredible pressed sandwiches that I’ve ever had in my life. I like to eat them in the park for a little picnic after work.”

In The Cone

“Bi-Rite Creamery is amazing—especially the caramel-salted ice cream. And pretty much every other flavor of ice cream they have.”

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In addition to Belcampo’s first brick-and-mortar shop, in Larkspur at the Marin Country Mart, she’s also opened butcher shops and restaurants in Pacific Heights, Palo Alto and downtown Los Angeles. “Our business is doubling in size,” she explains, “and a big focus for me is keeping our company culture strong as we go through that boom.” Also in the works: family food-education programs. “In Marin County, we’ll be launching a series for kids and their parents,” she says. “Our first class is trussing and roasting a turkey!”

Anya Fernald

Fernald, an early adopter of the Slow Food movement, ran Slow Food Nation before founding Belcampo. Another big project on the horizon: a rum distillery in Belize. “Our distillery in Belize is like a small city,” she explains. “We have our own power plant, huge water-treatment plants and places for people to live.”

When it’s time for lunch, Fernald might take the opportunity to visit an empire outpost. “I am at our store in Marin frequently; I love to stop in there for lunch,” she says. “My go-to order is the Star Route Farms salad with seared steak.”

A Belcampo farmstead

Fernald does her best to return home by six o’clock each evening to have dinner with her daughter and husband. What does the honcho of a globe-spanning culinary empire make? Belcampo’s lamb merguez sausage is always a favorite, even for a toddler’s tiny palate. “It’s not too spicy,” Fernald says, “but it does make her mouth pucker a little.”

Even as Belcampo expands, the Slow Food principles of balance and sustainability keep Fernald grounded. Being busy doesn’t have to mean rushing things: “Measure twice, cut once.”

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Co-hosted by The San Francisco Zoological Society’s Rosemary Baker, Anne Pedrero, Tanya Peterson and Timothy Wu, Ghurka debuted an array of handbags, including several re-editions culled from the brand’s archive—like the Tilbury, based on a vintage weekender bag. Perhaps the chicest new must-have is the new Standard tote, inspired by the “American paper bag.”

The event also served as the official announcement of the name of the Zoo’s new Red Panda: Hillary.  “The introduction of San Francisco’s most beautiful new female resident is the most exciting way to launch our new women’s collection,” explained Pam Bristow, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy at Ghurka.

Guests included Kathereine Rothschild, Brenda Jewett, Suzanne Levit, Michael Purdy, Marianne Pederson and Holly Ferrell.

A portion of proceeds benefitted the Zoological Society.

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For the San Francisco native, the inspiration for the film Last Weekend (which hit local theaters Labor Day weekend) was close at hand: his own family and their vacation home on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. “The location is certainly autobiographical, and the set-up of the family was as well—successful father, sophisticated mother, gay older son, straight younger son,” says Dolby. “But beyond that, it spun out into fiction.”

Tom Dolby and Tom Williams on set

Dolby isn’t the only talent in his family. His father, Ray, founder of Dolby Laboratories—who passed away in 2013—was a pioneering engineer whose sound developments had a major impact on the television and film industry, earning him two Academy Awards, Emmys and a Grammy. His son’s directorial debut stars Patricia Clarkson and Zachary Booth as members of the Green family, who spend a long Labor Day weekend at their summer home, confronted with what may be the end of an era. The dark comedy also features a superb supporting cast, including Mary Kay Place and Judith Light.

Through his newly formed Water’s End Productions, Dolby is already hard at work on developing a number of new projects. “If we can have half as much fun as we did making Last Weekend,” he says with confidence, “I think we’ll do just fine.”

MORE:

Behind Stuart Murdoch’s Directorial Debut
Why Director Ira Sachs Can’t Get Enough of NYC
Scott Haze’s Chilling Work Turns Heads

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The exhibition will be on view from June 20 through September 14.

MORE:

New Restaurants in the Tenderloin District
SF MOMA Throws a Modern Ball
Salvatore Ferragamo Throws a Mid-Winter Gala

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The Remède Spa, St. Regis Hotel
125 3rd Street
starwoodhotels.com
If complimentary chilled champagne and handmade truffles are not enough to bring you here, come for the luxurious treatments and refined service. Take a dip in the glassy 50-foot indoor infinity pool post-massage and enjoy an outstanding view of San Francisco.

Spa Claremont

Spa Claremont
41 Tunnel Road
claremontresort.com
Deep tissue and hot stone massages, triple-peel facials and facial rejuvenation acupuncture are among the many services on this spa’s menu. Prior to your treatment, take some time to visit the eucalyptus-filled steam room and soak in the whirlpool tub while gazing out at views of San Francisco Bay.

Spoke & Weal
850 Greenwich Street
spokeandweal.com
The talented staff at Spoke & Weal is known for being among some of the best in the business for haircuts and color treatments. Headed up by industry pros Jon Reyman and Christine Thompson, the San Fran outpost is fairly new and exclusively uses Aveda products containing 100% plant and flower derived ingredients.

Barrow Salon
256 Sutter Street
barrowsalon.com
Named after NYC’s West Village street, this salon, owned by celebrity stylist Michelle Snyder, is the epitome of modern glamour-meets-chic elegance. As the first in Northern California to feature R+co products, this salon truly is a cut above the rest.  

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
222 Sansome Street
mandarinoriental.com
Guests of this oasis are welcomed with a cup of hot tea, a hot towel and a purple dendrobium orchid. Try the Oriental Harmony treatment, which includes a footbath in purifying waters, a warm scrub and a simultaneous head and foot massage.

SenSpa
1161 Gorgas Avenue
senspa.com
This 13,000-square-foot mecca of aromatherapy seeks to treat bodies inside and out. Try the unique 5 Senses Fusion Facial, designed to leave your skin glowing all day.

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Click through the gallery to see photos from the event.

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A Salvatore Ferragamo San Francisco Gala
Refining the California Neighborhood Butcher Shop
Prada Fetes the San Francisco Ballet School

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The Mid-Winter Gala marks a century since Salvatore Ferragamo’s arrival to California. In 1914, he made his way from Boston to Hollywood and became the “Shoemaker to the Stars,” designing stylish footwear for icons such as Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren until his death in 1960. The family-owned company has continued to thrive and expand worldwide, dressing a discriminating clientele from toe to head, including such style-savvy celebrities as Rachel Bilson, Emma Roberts, Kate Beckinsale, Brad Pitt, Gerard Butler and Meryl Streep.

Behind its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Ferragamo’s new 11,000-square-foot space, framed within the building’s original pilasters and frieze, features a grand staircase of marble, walnut, mirror-polished stainless steel and vertical slits of LED lighting—all imported from Italy. Hovering above all these elements floats a unique ceiling sculpture by Ross Lovegrove for Artemide, titled SKYDRO. On the night of the soirée, DJ Matthieu Schreyer supplied the beats, while Moët & Chandon filled the flutes. See inside the new flagship below, and click through the gallery above to photos from the Gala.

MORE:

Etro Hangs a New Shingle
Talking Shop with Robert Graham
A Beverly Hills Night to Remember

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Worldwide President and CEO of TAG Heuer, Stephane Linder, set the pace for the sporting three-day adventure on The Bay, which began with dinner at James Beard Award-winning chef Corey Lee’s Michelin Star restaurant Benu on Friday night.

Prior to boarding TAG’s private yacht the following day for a floating front-row view of Saturday afternoon’s first set of races, Linder’s guests toured the Oracle Team USA base, seeing just how each boat works, from the intense tracking technology—which even included the crew member’s extreme-tech digital chronograph, the TAG Heuer AquaRacer 72, co-developed by the engineers at Oracle Team USA—to the on-site couture construction of each sail in a specially built “atelier” (or warehouse).

After the team’s fourth race win that Sunday, TAG’s yacht docked at the Oracle Team Innovations Lounge to meet and congratulate the team and skipper Jimmy Spithill on their adrenaline charged success. Later that night, Linder hosted a farewell dinner at Rich Table—one of Bon Appetit’s “10 Best New Restaurants in America” nominees—to toast the future success of the defending chamption.

The first two days on the water saw competitors Team New Zealand hold the advantage, but Oracle Team USA has remained stiff competition through the 10th race, which took place on September 15.

Races can potentially continue through September 22, as it takes nine victories to win the America’s Cup.

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Bar Tartine’s Sandwich Shop, 561 Valencia Street
Chad Robertson devotees and Mission hipsters can order sandwiches—to eat in or to go—at his new cafe and bread shop in Bar Tartine. Crowd-pleasers include the smørrebrød: an open-faced rye-bread sandwich spread with either chicken liver pâté, apricot and parsley, or corned beef, horseradish cream and fried onion. The bakery’s famous bread is made from heirloom grains and baked in a custom-built oven.

Duende, 468 19th Street, Oakland  
Oakland’s uptown has much to celebrate with the opening of Paul Canales’ Duende, next to Flora, which he cooked up with partner Rocco Somazzi. The Spanish phrase tener duende means “to have soul,” and it’s a fitting name. The authentic Spanish and Basque comfort food includes classic tapas—both frios (cold) and caldas (hot)—like fritos mixtos, canalones, croquettas, albondigas and cazuelas; leave room for Canales’ paella, too. In a loft above the kitchen, guests can enjoy some of the Bay Area’s best musicians, such as Charlie Hunter. Among the offerings in Duende’s on-premises bodega are artisanal olive oils, house-made charcuterie and confections, and Ici Ice Cream treats. Morning people will be tempted by the sweet and savory breakfast creations and the expertly made Verve coffee and espresso drinks.

Dandelion Chocolate, 740 Valencia Street
Willy Wonka has arrived in the Mission. At Dandelion, you’ll pore over artful displays on bean anatomy and how to taste chocolate. The High Seas bar ups the enlightenment factor—packaged with the salty sweet is If I Were a Wizard Chocolatier, a book of stories, poems and drawings by students at 826 Valencia, a nonprofit writing center cofounded by author Dave Eggers (some proceeds from the bar benefit the organization). The chocolatiers roast, crack, sort, grind, conch and temper small batches of high-quality beans, which they then hand-mold and package. Sip hot cocoa at the café overlooking the workroom, and see the care this staff puts into all the products.

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Atmosphere: Rugged-meets-dandy. These two masculine aesthetics converge in the white-walled, wood-floored store. Preppy basics, like navy blazers and plaid button-downs, hang from industrial-inspired pipe and wood fixtures, suspended from the ceiling.

We’re coveting: GANT by Michael Bastian jackets. They are just such a simple way to look stylish – and not to mention perfect for San Francisco weather, year round.

Pièce de résistance: The dressing rooms, which perfectly incorporate GANT’s love of vintage (see the distressed, half-painted doors) with modern, fashionable touches (evident in the frosted glass “G”).

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Now, thanks to years of serious fundraising and planning, the group, which presents over 100 shows a year and was called “a crown jewel among American jazz festivals” by the Chicago Tribune, has a space of its own. On Jan. 23, SFJAZZ’s new, 35,000-square-foot home—said to be the largest standalone jazz center in the U.S.—opened with a concert and Billy Cosby-hosted gala celebration. Founder and executive artistic director Randall Kline says it’s about time.

“We were founded in 1983 with a thousand-dollar budget,” Kline says. “We started off as a small, community-based festival and, via some fits and starts, began to grow rapidly.”

Soon, the spaces SFJAZZ was borrowing from other institutions began to seem too small. But building a new space in an expensive city was not a small proposition.

“When we became an organization working with a budget of $2 or $3 million, that’s when we started looking into having a home of our own,” Kline says. “We put together a plan in 1998 that identified constructing a facility as a project to consider, and we started pursuing it. We had no money, just some pretty strong ideas about what a building should be.”

And they’ve got it. The new space contains a performance hall (with many moveable elements), a public lobby, retail space, a restaurant and bar, see-through walls that allow passers-by to peek in, and plenty more. 

“The venue is complicated, it’s eclectic,” says Mark Cavagnero, the project’s architect. “The room needs to accommodate a wide variety of music. To that end, we can also change the audience; there are all kind of options.”

He’s talking about adjustable risers, projection options and removable walls that allow the venue’s performance space to become whatever it needs to be. Fans will be able to see that in action as the first weeks of performances will include everything from piano concerts to skateboarding demonstrations with musical accompaniment.

“It’s experiential, like jazz itself,” Cavagnero says of the new space. “No two nights there will be identical.”

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