Week in Review: Rebecca Minkoff (Almost) Opens on Fillmore Street

We survived another week, despite the rain, and the Oakland Raiders finally won a game. Now that’s reason to celebrate! Speaking of reveling, there was plenty of that going on during the last week (and then some). Read on to find out why San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, author Jennifer Raiser, jewelry designer Lisa Salzer and restaurateurs Johnny and Paul Tanphanich had reason to smile as we look back at the week in review.

 Rebecca Minkoff

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

The show must go on! Due to construction delays, a celebration for the opening of the Rebecca Minkoff store in Pacific Heights on Nov. 18 had to be moved from the boutique to the nearby HEDGE Gallery. Nonetheless, Langley Fox Hemingway and Libby Leffer graciously hosted Minkoff and guests, who included Susan Swig, Kelcey Morton, Olga Dubrovsky, Navid Armstrong, Maria Barrios and Joel Goodrich, and deejay The Brigette Bardot did her thing to keep the event lively. If it’s true that good things come to those who wait, Minkoff will have lots of good coming her way. When the brand’s second flagship location opens in the space previously occupied by Pure Beauty, it will boast an immersive shopping experience and Connected Store developed in partnership with eBay Inc. The store is the vision of co-founder and CEO Uri Minkoff, whose goal was to showcase never-before-seen retail technology that merges the online and physical shopping experience through the lens of Rebecca Minkoff, to specifically cater to Next-Generation shoppers. Stay tuned for a look inside this innovative store.

Crystal Jade’s Grand Opening Bash

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee helped cut the ribbon at the Nov. 14 party to celebrate the opening of Crystal Jade Jiang Nan, which officially opened its first restaurant outside of Asia on Nov. 18. Restaurateur Gus Murad, a partner in the venture, and wife Bahya Oumlil-Murad were on hand, along with CEO of Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts Holdings Ip Yiu Tung, designer Ken Fulk, Scott Wiener, Willie Brown, Sonya Molodetskaya, Tanya Powell, Marius Carluci of Vera Wang, Joel Goodrich, Joy Venturini Bianchi and Olga Dubrovsky. The opulent, $15.7 million eatery that serves authentic, regional Asian dishes is housed at Four Embarcadero Center in the Financial District. San Francisco’s Crystal Jade Jiang Nan will serve as the Singapore-based Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts Holding’s United States flagship with 16,000 square feet of indoor and 4,000 square feet of outdoor space serving lunch, cocktails and dinner as well as offering private event spaces and a to-go concept. In case you missed our on-the-scene coverage of the inaugural dinner, click here.

Jennifer Raiser Book Signing

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

Black Rock City and its infamous “Burners” converged on San Francisco’s Cavalier by Jay Jeffers, the city’s destination for seekers of all that is uncommon and collected, on Nov. 12. Ornate with Burning Man décor inspired by past playa art installations, Jay Jeffers and Michael Purdy’s Tenderloin design showroom provided the perfect atmosphere for author Jennifer Raiser’s book signing of her newest work, Burning Man: Art on Fire (Race Point Publishing, $35).

San Franciscans arrived in full force, clad in traditional harem pants, colorful jewels, and animal print ensembles. A trio of exotic belly dancers circulated the venue while guests sipped on spiced mojitos, noshed on charcuterie from Stag Dining, and met with Raiser as she signed – and smooched! – cover pages. The festivities continued into the night when guests boarded a Kazbus straight from Burning Man. The authentic decked-out lounge bus cruised the city while “Burners” carried on the positive party vibes into the night.

Karen Caldwell, Victor Vargas, Mary Beth Shimmon, Jenna Hunt, Susan Dunlevy, Maria Barrios, Jorge Maumer, Joel Goodrich, Kevin Sessums and Sonya Molodetskaya were among those to come out to support Reiser.

Lulu Frost Trunk Show

Photo Credit: Ellian Raffoul for Moanalani Jeffrey Photography

Catherine Kwong Design hosted a special private reception and Lulu Frost trunk show featuring celebrated jewelry designer Lisa Salzer in the San Francisco’s Design District on Nov. 6. Interior designer Catherine Kwong‘s guests, who included Nicole Dunn, Jennifer Hall, Katie Martinez, Jennine Jacob, Jessica Reeves and Julie Dalton, were treated to a preview of Lulu Frost’s Fall/Winter collection, as well as some of the designer’s favorite pieces from the vintage collection. Salzer was on hand to tell the stories behind each piece, as well as craft custom pieces for guests throughout the evening.

Happy Birthday Le Central!

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

Lastly, we wish happy 40th birthday to Le Central, the famed Financial District eatery that holds the honor of being San Francisco’s oldest French bistro and where some of the city’s most distinguished people dine on a daily basis. Style aficionado Wilkes Bashford has lunched at the restaurant daily since its inception, sitting at the same table next to the window. He has a plaque, has does his frequent dining partner Willie Brown and the late Herb Caen. We wish Le Central owners Johnny and Paul Tanphanich many more years of success!

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