On April 25th at Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resorts Collection property, Sotheby’s International Realty welcomed a select group of highly acclaimed real estate brokers and tastemakers to mark a new phase in the development, as the renowned global brand assumes responsibility for sales and marketing efforts for the property.  Guests were treated to guided tours of the impeccably furnished two-bedroom Villas and the spacious three-to-six-bedroom Vineyard Homes at Stanly Ranch. Following the tours, they enjoyed welcoming speeches and a delicious lunch served in the Glass House Barn, along with ..read more

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Gardens by the Bay, Singapore As Frank Sinatra put it, “I traveled each and every highway, and more much more than this, I did it my way.” If doing it your way includes luxury travel that embraces self-discovery as well as wondrous landscapes, exotic wildlife, and incredible people, here’s some inspiration. As ever, a promise to transform the way you see the world is the end goal.   ’Round-the-World Destination Immersion  If you’ve got the time—141 nights, to be precise—Regent Seven Seas Cruises® has the voyage. The luxury cruise line wants to take y ..read more

“Why do you go all the way to the Caribbean when Hawaii is so close?”  is a question I’ve been asked many times since I began traveling from California to the Caribbean decades ago. While the proximity of Hawaii’s beaches certainly entices, the Caribbean’s soul and flavors seduce me like the irresistible scent of freshly baked pastries wafting from a Parisian boulangerie. And, Saint Barthélemy, the distinctive crown jewel of the Caribbean, tempts like no other island. Commonly called St. Barths, St. Barth, or St. Barts, the tiny French island is worth the journey, whether it’s your only d ..read more

Happy Birthday Mayor Brown! Spring kicked off a month-long celebration of our beloved former mayor of San Francisco, friend to many of us, and now nonagenarian, Willie L. Brown, Jr., as he marked his 90th orbit around the sun. Official festivities began on Brown’s birthday, March 20, with an afternoon of honoring him at San Francisco’s City Hall where San Francisco Mayor London Breed hosted an afternoon and where people who worked with Willie over his years in service could get together and reminisce. Later that evening, his longtime friends and colleagues, Steven Kay and Victor Makras along w ..read more

The wellness benefits may surprise you.  For centuries, humans have flocked to mineral baths and hot springs, sweat lodges and saunas for their healing properties. Long before any scientific data could validate their benefits, human instincts prevailed anecdotally. What’s Old Is New Again  Although hot and cold therapies have become mainstream in recent years in America (or at least in the mainstream of the health-conscious crowd), these therapies were widely used thousands of years ago. The word “sauna” is the only English word to have its root in the Finnish language. It is though ..read more

007 Never Had It So Good. You likely noticed that Aston Martin has had a long run of cars starting with “DB.” That designation came from David Brown, the owner of the company from 1947. The company’s lineup has included a “DB”-branded car for more than 75 years. The one-off, so to speak, in the run of numbers was the DB10 which, as it turns out, was made in very limited production (only ten units) for use in the 2014 James Bond film Spectre. That was quite the homage to a fifty-year collaboration between the James Bond films and the storied car manufacturer (the first such alliance being the ..read more

There may be a kernel of truth in the old wives’ tale that those married in June are blessed with a lifetime of prosperity and happiness. Even the word “June” is derived from Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, and the word “honeymoon” refers to the first full moon in June following the summer solstice. With so many friends born in March, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the birthday festivities. From lunches, dinners, and get-togethers, March was busy. I mean, I’m no reproductive expert, but I can count to nine from June! This spring welcomed some fabulous celebrations, and it al ..read more

FOR THOSE HEADING TO THE BEL PAESE THIS SUMMER (and who isn’t?), shake up the typical itinerary: head to the islands. Italy has over 400 isles and 13 archipelagos, and not only do these islands grant sun and sea, but they also have white wine varieties that pair perfectly with island life and, of course, island fare. Some are familiar, like Montecristo (yes, the Count), Elba (where Napoleon lived in exile), Capri (full of international celebrities), Sardinia (full of Italian celebrities), and Stromboli, an Aeolian Island with an active volcano. These islands often have volcanic soils that enri ..read more

“Why do you go all the way to the Caribbean when Hawaii is so close?”  is a question I’ve been asked many times since I began traveling from California to the Caribbean decades ago. While the proximity of Hawaii’s beaches certainly entices, the Caribbean’s soul and flavors seduce me like the irresistible scent of freshly baked pastries wafting from a Parisian boulangerie. And, Saint Barthélemy, the distinctive crown jewel of the Caribbean, tempts like no other island. Commonly called St. Barths, St. Barth, or St. Barts, the tiny French island is worth the journey, whether it’s your only d ..read more

San Francisco CASA (SFCASA) showcased numerous stories of youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems building a deep relationship with a volunteer advocate, their ‘CASA’ and finding their voice. Gala chairs Becca Katz and Dahlia Topkis raised $1.1 million to support San Francisco’s youth on April 26th, with 475 guests at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. In addition to first-time Youth Gallery featuring artwork, memorabilia, and stories, keynote speakers De’Marcus Jackson and Gerardo Rodriguez shared a few beautiful stories about their five-year relationship and the mutual impact. “W ..read more