On May 31st, prepare to go wild and let loose on a journey deep into the Amazonian rainforest set in Golden Gate Park. Globetrotting experience designers Carina Hessmer and Red Rainey are collaborating with San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers on an event called Amazonia — Bring Your Wild! While partygoers meander, musical guests The Human Experience – David Block with Kristina Block, and violinist Shaina Evoniuk will play in the Conservatory’s forest.
Expect instrumental, symphonic and sultry beats along with an immersive experience inspired by the plants, music, food, and culture of the Amazon rainforest. Amazonia is a celebration of the largest and most biodiverse rainforest on earth. Experts in Amazonian flora and fauna will be on hand to share their experiences in the field. Experts in Amazonian flora and fauna will be on hand to share their experiences in the field. Drinks, Impossible Burgers, and delicacies from some of the Bay Area’s most talented caterers will be served. Click here for tickets.
Proceeds from the event will support San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, home to a renowned collection of Amazonian plants. This unique resource in Golden Gate Park is leveraged to educate thousands of Bay Area students about rainforests, plant adaptation, aquatic ecosystems, pollination and economic plants that we all depend on. The programs are offered for free, at no cost to schools.
Amazonia at San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers:
Thursday, May 31, 2018
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Jaguar Dream VIP Experience: Enjoy an exclusive Champagne greeting and passed delicacies. Participate in a professional jungle fashion photoshoot including specialty makeup and styling. Jaguar Dream VIP ticket holders also receive the same benefits as General Admission. $150.
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Amazonia: General admission guests receive two complimentary drinks, dine on tropical delicacies and experience an evening of music, performance, culture, science and botanical inspiration. $75.
8:15 pm – 9:15 pm Speaker Series (West Gallery)
Speakers include:
Dr. Pat Brown Topic: Another World is Possible
Pat Brown, CEO of Impossible Foods, addresses how rebuilding the food system from plants could usher in a new age of biodiversity and planetary health
Founded by Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., Impossible Foods is a Silicon Valley startup on a mission to make the global food system more sustainable. The first product is the Impossible Burger. Compared to a burger made from cows, making an Impossible Burger uses about 1/20th the land, 1/4th the water, and produces 1/8th the greenhouse gas emissions. With a brand new facility in Oakland, Impossible Foods is producing product which will eventually supply 1,000 restaurants and the Oakland A’s Stadium! Impossible Foods will discuss its new Sustainability Report.
Lou Dematteis
Topic: Crude Reflections: Oil, Ruin, and Resistance in the Amazon Rainforest Lou Dematteis covers issues of social, political and environmental importance around the globe, and has documented the damaging effects of Texaco’s (now Chevron) oil exploitation and environmental contamination in the Ecuadoran Amazon. Focusing on the heath impacts on the people of the region as a result of the contamination and the uplifting story of efforts by local communities to demand environmental justice and prevent drilling, this work can be seen in his latest book “Crude Reflections: Oil, Ruin and Resistance in the Amazon Rainforest.”
Dr. Lucia Lohmann
Topic: How the Amazon Rainforest and its Biodiversity Evolved
Lúcia Lohmann graduated from University of São Paulo with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (1995), and obtained her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics from the University of Missouri-St. Louis (1998, 2003) with a specialization in Tropical Biology and Conservation. Her primary research interest is to understand patterns of plant diversification and biogeography in the Tropics. She currently coordinates the FAPESP-NSF-NASA funded project “Assembly and Evolution of the Amazonian Biota: An integrative Approach” which aims to understand how was the Amazonian Biota assembled during the past 30 million years. Her research is highly integrative, combining components of classic taxonomy, phylogenetics, molecular biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation. A lot of her research focuses on the plant family Bignoniaceae, a key component of Amazonian forests.
Topher White Topic: Rainforest Connection: Listening Leads to Change
Topher White is Founder and CEO of Rainforest Connection. Topher has experience building systems for large and small startups as well as international science projects, including four years working on nuclear fusion at ITER, in France. He has received multiple accolades for his work, including being named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2015, a current Draper-Richards-Kaplan (DRK) Fellow and an “Engineering Hero” by the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
San Francisco Decorator Showcase in the Marina is open to the public through the end of May. Don’t miss it! Twenty-eight interior designers reimagined every space, both inside and outside, of the 1930’s Spanish Revival house at 465 Marina Boulevard. A few of the wow factors:
The Dining Room
David Bjørngaard, Creative Principal at Bjørn Design, presents one of the most relevant dining rooms I have seen in forever. A large window takes up the entire wall. The front-row view of the Marina Green and the beautiful Bay is the centerpiece. The room is understatedly elegant with plaster walls and materials and colors that connect sand, driftwood, sage, and sky. This dining room could be considered formal but its charm is cool and casual. The furnishings are carefully curated for optimal enjoyment of the space at any time of day or night.
The Mural on the Facade
The exterior art installation from Simon Breitbard Fine Arts in collaboration with artist AJ Oishi,“Eyes on Hue.” It took Oishi and four painting assistants four full days of painting. The result is stunning, modern, and inspiring.
The Master Bedroom
In particular, I am struck by the walls and the ceiling. And the view. The ceilings are low but interior designer Jeff Schlarb Jeff and his wife Trey turned that feature into a positive one. The space is a blue cocoon of bliss. The blue fringe wallpaper is from Tracey Kendall. The ceiling is covered in a grasscloth frame around Glamora wallpaper that looks like cracked plaster. The bed is divine, the artwork is fascinating, the curtains are sexy. I could spend hours in this room and never be bored.
More Stunning Rooms and Scenes from the Opening Parties:
Red Carpet Bay Area is celebrating 10 years this summer! A look back at our first video, in June 2008. Marybeth La Motte on the red carpet at the 944 Magazine launch in San Francisco:
944 Magazine Launch San Francisco - YouTube
People in this video (in order of appearance): Marybeth La Motte, Miss Chinatown USA Betty Hsu, Claudia Ross, Gina Klein, Caroline de Lima Toler, Rita Jenkins, Natalie Flynn, Carly Harrill, Gurbaksh Chahal, Kevin OConnor, Charleston Pierce, Elizabeth Thieriot, Karen Caldwell, Mayor Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Video by MBL Media Productions; director of photography Mark Hamburg, edited by Greg Marasso, produced by Marybeth La Motte
If you are thinking of renting in San Francisco, I have good news for you! Residential rental rates are trending down since 2015. As of March 2018, the average rent for an apartment in San Francisco is $3,558 which is a 4.78 percent decrease from the average of $3,730 in 2017.
Three Factors since 2015:
New construction: At least eight new apartment buildings in and around downtown started leasing in 2015. (See SF Chronicle article by Kathleen Pender)
New law allows more roommates per unit: Legislation that went into effect November 9, 2015, allows tenants to add occupants despite restrictions in the rental agreement. (See San Francisco Tenants Union for more information)
Airbnb impact lessened: San Francisco enacted an ordinance effective February 1, 2015, legalizing short-term rentals in the city, which brought some 7,000 units back on the market. (See nolo.com for an overview of the Airbnb law in San Francisco)
What to Expect to Pay Now?
According to my colleague Liz Kraus, the latest rental rates by neighborhood:
Studios: Depending on location, studio rental rates can start at $1,300 per month in the Sunset District and Parkside and go up to $2,950 in SOMA and South Beach.
One bedroom: The lowest priced one bedrooms in San Francisco start at $1,750 per month in the Sunset and Parkside and can rise to $6,000 in SOMA and South Beach.
Two bedrooms: Two bedroom apartments begin at $2,300 in the Sunset and can go as high as $10,000 in SOMA.
Three bedrooms: Three bedrooms are a minimum of $3,600 in SOMA and in the Sunset. On Nob Hill, you could pay up to $16,500 for a three-bedroom apartment.
2015 – 2018 Comparisons
In 2015, the least expensive studio citywide rented for $1,700 in Parkside. As mentioned above, studios there and in the Sunset are available for $1,300.
Rental rates in Bernal Heights and Potrero Hill are now even with the rates in Pacific Heights.
In 2015, the entry point for a one bedroom in SOMA was $2,800. Now you can get into a one bedroom in SOMA for $2,200 per month.
In 2015, renters found one bedroom apartments in Pacific Heights starting at $4,000. Today, one can find them for $3,400 per month.
The Tech Impact
Jobs in technology companies located in Silicon Valley are impacting San Francisco neighborhoods and rental rates. Many renters are looking to shorten their commute by moving near a shuttle stop. Rental apartments located near tech company shuttle bus stops are in high demand.
— Reported by Anne Laury, Top 10% Producer, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury BRE#0169827
One therapy pig, 33 dogs, six puppies, two cats and seven horses gathered at City Hall in San Francisco to salute the 150th anniversary of the San Francisco SPCA on April 18, 2018. Susan Atherton chaired the gala affair that also attracted over 300 animal-loving humans who donated vital funds for rescuing and caring for animals.
Guests experienced a “Pooch Smooch” cuddle and photo op with adoptable puppies, a vegetarian feast from McCall’s Catering, entertainment from the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars,and American jazz and cabaret singer Paula West. Lilou, one of the nation’s first therapy pigs, showed up in red carpet style with red painted hooves and graciously posed for countless pictures throughout the cocktail hour. During dinner, the SF SPCA paid special tribute to the George Roberts and Peter Read Families for their exceptional generosity.California Governor Jerry Brown (represented by Charlotte Shultz and her dog Stanford Shultz) and former State Senator Mark Leno received awards for their leadership in animal welfare and protection.
Scenes from the SF SPCA 150th Anniversary Celebration:
Merola Opera Program, one of the most prestigious and selective opera training programs in the world, presented an Evening of Mystery at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco on April 7, 2018. The celebratory night included dinner, dancing, and a concert by the San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows with special guest Jake Heggie.
The annual spring gala serves as a fundraiser for Merola’s intensive summer training program, now in its 61st season. Each year, a group of 29 artists including aspiring singers, coach-accompanists, and stage directors, are carefully selected from a pool of over 800 applicants. The Merola artists participate in master classes and private coaching with opera’s most accomplished singers, conductors, and directors. Offered free of charge for all participants, the Merola Opera Program is also the only young artist program to provide financial support to developing artists for five years following participation.
Merola graduates are considered for participation in the prestigious San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship Program, a multi-year performance-oriented residency. Merola has served as a proving ground for hundreds of artists who have gone on to extensive careers in opera, including Leona Mitchell, Anna Netrebko, Patricia Racette, Carol Vaness, Deborah Voigt, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Dolora Zajick, Rolando Villazon, Thomas Hampson, and Patrick Summers among many others.
Bay Area audiences will have the chance to see the Merola opera stars of tomorrow throughout the summer beginning with the Schwabacher Summer Concert on July 5th in San Francisco and July 7th in Palo Alto. Click here for the full concert schedule and related information.
Scenes from the Merola Spring Gala Evening of Mystery:
Photos by Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography
— Related Red Carpet Bay Area coverage for Merola Opera Program:
A well-known media personality in France, San Francisco resident Valerie Orsoni is the author of more than a dozen books, the creator of the popular Le Bootcamp, and a native of Corsica, France. Her growing success led Orsoni to California where she serves as a slimming coach for Hollywood celebrities and shares tips with the mainstream media on nutrition, diet, fitness, and well-being.
M6, the number one television network in France measured by viewership, recently filmed a primetime special featuring Orsoni’s life in San Francisco, that will air in May. The subject is San Francisco, the city of tomorrow, and the idea is to show San Francisco as one of the best cities in the world. Real estate agents Joel Goodrich and Anne Laury hosted a party filmed for one of the show’s segments at 1945 Franklin Street, a former home of actor Nicholas Cage. Fashion designer Yuka Uehara dressed Orsoni for the occasion and also presented her latest capsule collection at the event.
Scenes from 1945 Franklin Street, San Francisco, filming for M6:
Event photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Valerie Orsoni is a working mother who was once overweight and had battled with weight issues for many years. She now shares her experiences and victories with other women. After years of yo-yo dieting and trying countless miracle diets that never kept the weight off, Orsoni took charge. Assisted by experts and with her from her father, a chef, she developed her own slimming method based on her desire for a healthy and balanced lifestyle and a life devoid of frustration and deprivation. Voila, Le Bootcamp!
Compass Family Services Spring Benefit featured animation artist Maximus Pauson, who shared parts of his story as a beneficiary of Compass Family Services when he was young. With help from Compass, Mr. Pauson received a scholarship from Children of Shelters for animation school. Now living in Los Angeles, his impressive resume includes a variety of animation work for shows such as Scooby Doo, Sponge Bob Square Pants, and Rick and Morty. His latest project with Matt Groening of The Simpsons, is in production.
Compass Family Services annual Spring Benefit raises funds for vital programs that help prevent and end family homelessness in San Francisco. On March 28, 2018, more than 300 supporters gathered at the Bently Reserve and raised over $430,000 for shelter, long-term housing, mental health care, enriched childcare and educational and employment assistance.
San Francisco Boys Chorus 70th Anniversary Gala on March 10, 2018, served as a salute to its founding year. In 1948, Gaetano Merola started San Francisco Boys Chorus as a training ground for singers for the San Francisco Opera. Led by Artistic Director Ian Robertson since 1996, it is now a Grammy award-winning choral group and one of the nation’s most accomplished music education programs. Robertson, who also serves as Chorus Director for the San Francisco Opera, received the new title of Artistic Chair for San Francisco Boys Chorus, an announcement made at the event by board member Annette Cambell-White.
The gala honored members in attendance from the San Francisco Boys Chorus class of 1948: Ronald Bourdon, Bruce Chesse, Achille Paladini, and James Webster. The evening’s activities raised over $120,000 which will allow more boys to participate in its music education, vocal training, and performances.
Scenes from the San Francisco Boys Chorus 70th Anniversary Gala at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco:
Don’t Miss San Francisco Boys Chorus 70th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at 7 pm.
Join world-famous opera superstar Leah Crocetto to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the San Francisco Boys Chorus in a special performance at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in downtown San Francisco. Click here for tickets and additional information.
— Related Red Carpet Bay Area coverage for San Francisco Boys Chorus:
Birdwatch: Kimberly Mulligan sent out a birdcall on behalf of San Francisco Zoo Auxiliary and a flock of beautiful birds appeared! Birds of a Feather, the SF Zoo’s annual fundraiser and luncheon event at Neiman Marcus was a sell-out. On March 15, 2018, guests in fascinators and feathers mingled, lunched and watched a fashion presentation from 3.1 Phillip Lim.
Scenes from Birds of a Feather, a gathering of pretty birds and a benefit for San Francisco Zoo’s Tropical Rainforest and Aviary:
Photos by Natalie Schrik for Drew Altizer Photography
— Related — more Red Carpet Bay Area coverage for SF Zoo:
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