Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

The San Francisco Bay Area began drying out today after nine days of extravagant dinners, including the star-studded 80th birthday celebration Haute Living and Louis XII threw for NFL legend Jim Brown, high-wattage celebrity-filled parties, raucous concerts and other fabulous festivities and worthwhile events centered around Super Bowl 50. The culmination, of course, was yesterday’s game at Levi’s Stadium, where the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 for the NFL championship. Here’s a look at some of the hautest Super Bowl 50 parties and events that took place leading up to the big game.

BIG GAME, BIG GIVE

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

How much would you pay to catch a pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana? Singer Michael Franti and others shelled out $50,000 during the live auction portion of the Giving Back Fund’s “Big Game, Big Give,” an over-the-top cocktail party fundraiser held at the Atherton estate of venture capitalist Jillian Manus. More than 500 guests, including celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, tech founders, philanthropists and other boldface names, walked the red carpet at the exclusive Feb. 6 event, hosted by Montana and baseball great Matt Williams, along with Gavin Newsom, the Honorary Co-Chair. Jay Leno emceed while CBS’s Liam Mayclem served as auctioneer for the evening, which raised more than $1 million to be distributed to The Stanford Cancer Institute, The Four Rings Montana Family Foundation, The Giving Back Fund and Do It For The Love. In addition to the aforementioned VIPs, also on the scene: Tommy Lee, Marissa Mayer and Zachary Brogue, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Jennifer Montana, Erika Williams, Martin and Kelly Katz, Trevor Traina, Allen Forrest, Ron Conway, Joy Venturini Bianchi, Jim Harbaugh, Keena Turner, DeMarco Murray and Randy Cross.

Manus is known for throwing spectacular, headline-making parties at her lavish, 16,000-square foot spread and she didn’t disappoint for her Super Bowl 50 bash. She emptied out her Atherton estate and let Robert Fountain turn her house into nine different parties, building unique and extravagant sets in each room to fit the “California” theme of the event. Different party décor included a Napa wine room, Rodeo Drive display with Stephen Silver Jewelry, Palm Springs with a live Frank Sinatra impersonator, beach and surf room featuring a Beach Boy cover band and silent disco room. Upon entering the estate, guests descended down Manus’s driveway, which was transformed into a BMW “Laguna Seca Raceway.” A Seal Rock with live rescued sea lions outside her front door greeted guests at the door and offered kisses to each guest. But the real eye-popper was the replica of the Golden Gate Bridge that hung precariously over the guests inside a tent in her backyard. There were themed bars filled with specialty cocktails by the city’s top mixologists, including H. Joseph Ehrmann, a beer pong draft room sponsored by AOL,and gourmet bites by Slanted Door, Stones Throw, La Folie, Tout Sweets available throughout the evening. Franti lit up the stage during an energetic acoustic performance with band members J Bowman and Carl Young, singing hits “The Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” among several others.

The auction items were impressive, to say the least, and included the opportunity to be on the set of the new Blade Runner sequel and attend the movie premier. The 2016 Monaco Grand Prix with the Ultimate VIP Package started at $41,500, while a week-long stay at Richard Branson’s private Australian Island for 10 started at $86,500. And there was the opportunity to be on the receiving end of “The Catch” for a donation of $50,000 — which also included Super Bowl 50 tickets and a football signed by Montana. First, they had to catch his pass.

DIRECTV SUPER SATURDAY NIGHT

Photo Credit: Getty Images for DirecTV

Once again, the DirecTV Super Saturday Night, co-hosted by Mark Cuban’s AXS TV, was one of the hautest tickets of the Super Bowl 50 parties. This year’s event, held at San Francisco’s Pier 70, drew Erin Andrews, Reggie Bush, Kate Bosworth, Kate Hudson, Drew Brees, Chace Crawford, Victor Cruz, Mark Cuban, Nina Dobrev, Andi Dorfman, Rich Eisen, Ryan Fitzpatrick, G-Eazy, Jennie Garth, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, Ashley Greene, Cole Hauser, Liam Hemsworth, Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Oliver Hudson, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Alicia Keys, Tommy Lee, Adriana Lima, Rob Lowe, Eli Manning, Brandon Marshall, Maria Menounos, Genevieve Morton, Olivia Munn, DeMarco Murray, Isaiah Mustafa, Aaron Paul, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Rodgers, DJ Ruckus, Donté Stallworth, Hailee Steinfeld, Tim Tebow, Joe Thomas, Jonathan Tucker, Vince Vaughn, Abby Wambach, DJ White Shadow and more.

They were among the guests to enjoy a performance by six-time Grammy Award-winning band Red Hot Chili Peppers and special guests Run DMC, plus a surprise performance by DJ Snoopadelic. Run DMC opened the show with their classic hits “It’s Tricky,” “Walk This Way,” and many more. The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed over an hour set with “Californication,” “By The Way,” “Otherside,” “Under The Bridge,” and “Can’t Stop” among other hits. DIRECTV Super Saturday Night closed out three nights of live concert performances, with Dave Matthews Band performing at DIRECTV’s Super Thursday Night and Pharrell Williams at Pepsi’s Friday Night Live.

ESPN THE PARTY

Photo Credit: Getty Images for ESPN

Scores of current and former athletes mingled with models and celebrities at the massive ESPN The Party, which took place is the cavernous Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center on Feb. 5. The sports network’s 12th annual Super Bowl event, held in conjunction with the release of ESPN The Magazine’s Super Bowl issue, was a high-energy bash and drew NFL players Jerome Bettis, Terrell Owens, John Elway, Santonio Holmes, Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush, Calais Campbell, Chester Pitts, Carlos Dunlap and Rob Gronkowski along with former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson, models Chanel Iman, who dazzled in a white leather python bustier by Rubin Singer, and Devon Windsor, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and ESPN talent Michael Wilbon, Chris Berman, John Saunders, J.A. Adande, Stephen A. Smith and Jemele Hill.

ESPN honored the history of Fort Mason with a vintage nautical design including dock pylons, oversized fishing cages with pulleys, and more than 5,000 feet of nautical rope and oversized props. Custom chandeliers made from Edison bulbs, lanterns and candle light also helped set the thematic tone. There was plenty to do besides posing for selfies at this soiree. There were Mercedes-Benz vehicles to drool over, including a haute yellow 2016 AMG GT S and guests traveled back in time to a 70’s themed lounge replicating the look and feel of HBO’s new original series, “Vinyl,” while enjoying samples of KFC’s new “Nashville Hot” chicken, King’s Hawaiian sliders, and Krave Jerky. Custom beverages from Ketel One Vodka and plenty of Coors Light quenched the thirst of revelers, who also took advantage of EXPRESS screen-printing exclusive, limited-edition ESPN The Party graphic T-shirts.

The event featured a special live performance by multi-platinum selling GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Nick Jonas, who was joined by brother Joe Jonas and his new band, DNCE in a surprise performance of their latest hit “Cake by the Ocean.” Nick also performed hits such as “Chains,” “Levels,” and “Jealous” as well as an acoustic version of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” among others. Guests were offered hot coffee, hot chocolate and donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts when they exited into the night.

PLAYBOY

Photo Credit: Getty Images for Playboy

There was lots to celebrate at The Playboy Party, held in a tent on Lot A at AT&T Park on Feb. 5, as the brand launched its newly-redesigned magazine. Playboy’s March 2016 issue, its first non-nude version, made its official debut that night (issue on newsstands Friday, February 12), and party guests were some of the first consumers to receive copies via an Instagram-activated vending machine. Revelers included 50 Cent, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Renner, Nina Dobrev, AnnaLynne McCord, Adrian Grenier, Jamie Chung, Bryan Greenberg, Nick Lachey, Mia Moretti, JB Smoove, Mark Cuban, Tahj Mowry, Scott Porter, Daniel Dae Kim, Geoff Stults, Jenna Ushkowitz, DeRay Davis, Stephen Rannazzisi, Pia Wurtzbach, Olivia Jordan, Golden Tate, Terrance Williams, Marshawn Lynch, Michael Sam, Antonio Gates, Shawne Merriman, Copper Helfet, Alesso, DJ Ruckus and DJ Politik.

VIPs attendees arrived at the party through a time portal tunnel, which took them on a visual journey of the history of Playboy and auto sponsor Dodge. Adrian Grenier was one of the first to show up and stayed the entire night as he was later seen chatting with AnnaLynne McCord, who didn’t arrive until nearly one in the morning. Soon after, Renner, Chung with husband Greenberg in tow, and Dobrev all arrived and were seen enjoying an electrifying DJ set by Alesso. Cuban and Stults arrived next and were spotted flipping through copies of the newly-redesigned Playboy magazine. The party really amped up once 50 Cent arrived and immediately headed to the bar to serve up his super-premium EFFEN® Vodka cocktails to VIP guests. 50 continued to celebrate at his private table with EFFEN® Vodka bottle service delivered by four Playmates in gold Bunny Costumes. Gooding Jr. was ready to have fun as he stormed into the party and made a b-line to the stage with DJ Ruckus. The “People vs. OJ Simpson” partied it up on stage on stage and later posed for pictures with fans and Playmates. The party featured an EFFEN® Vodka Molecular Mixology Bar curated by San Francisco cocktail den Benjamin Cooper. VIP Guests were mesmerized by an interactive Dodge hologram experience, while they chowed down on cuisine by a selection of San Francisco’s most notable food trucks, including Mozzeria, El Sur, Curveball and Pacific Puffs. VIP guests enjoyed water by AQUAhydrate and energy by Red Bull.

ROLLING STONE

Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry, who took his family to Super Bowl 50 to cheer on his Carolina Panthers, and his teammates Draymond Green and Festus Ezeli were among the big names at Rolling Stone‘s party. Accompanied by his wife Ayesha Curry, the NBA star was joined at the bash by Travis Scott and Fergie and AnnaLynne McCord, who became engaged over the weekend. “Fergie asked me to marry him on a sailboat under the Golden Gate Bridge,” McCord, who is currently nominated for two Grammys, wrote on Twitter. “I said yes.”

MAXIM MAGAZINE

Photo Credit: Michael Bezjian

Maxim Magazine collaborated with Bootsy Bellows and Karma International for its bash on Treasure Island at a 50,000 square foot waterfront property. The Maxim Party footprint included The Party pavilion with a private Bootsy Bellows pop up for VIPs and sweeping views of the city, bay and bridges. The exclusive affair, produced by Karma International, showcased hip hop recording artist A$AP Rocky and sets by William Lifestyle & Devin Lucien x Balthazar Getty with a special performance by Lil Wayne. The 2016 Maxim Party pavilion included a custom designed premium ultra lounge and feature concert sound, theatrical lighting & effects, full LED video walls, and risers for exclusive VIP Tables on different levels. The event included multiple interactive areas, highlighted by the Dodge Thrill Ride Experience. Dodge, and their ‘Dodge Thrill Ride Experience’ provided guests with an opportunity to feel the rapid acceleration of Dodge Vipers, Charger SRT and Challenger SRT Hellcat vehicles as a professional driver took guests on a spin around the waterfront driving course. Pernod Ricard served as the exclusive spirit provider of the 2016 Maxim Party and provided specialty drinks made with Absolut Elyx, Avion Tequila and Perrier Jouet Champagne. Guinness had a custom “Gig Rig” draught truck on the property with premium Guinness beer served nostalgically on tap. Triumph, a premium lifestyle motorcycle brand based in the UK, had several of their newest Bonneville family of motorcycles on display with an interactive photo activation for guest enjoyment. Will Day powered by Isplack had a live painting activation, Red Bull provided energy drinks, Michael Costello dressed all of the models, Core Hydration supplied water, John Varvatos had their own VIP green room for celebrities, and Jet Smarter was among one of the other top-tier sponsors. Other celebs in attendance: Alyssa Milano, Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, Ludacris, Jennie Garth, Sherri Shepard, Chuy Bravo, GG Golnesa, Scott Porter, Nick Cannon, Jiff the Pom, Nathan Owens and Terrence J.

LEATHER AND LACES

Photo Credit: Kuks Singh

Jeremy Piven and Emmanuelle Chriqui  hosted the first night of Leather & Laces 13th Annual Two-Night Mega Party, which was attended by celebrities, NFL players and locals and presented by MGM Grand. Other notables included Chuy Bravo, James Hall, JJ Stokes, James Anderson, Sam Barrington, Johnny Gill, Carissa Rosario and Charles Woodson. Piven arrived in an all black ensemble and was seen cracking jokes with friends and fans throughout the night. Chriqui arrived looking chic as always wearing an all black dress that had a leather bottom. She joked, “ I’m scoring major points by being here as my boyfriend is a huge football fan.” She went straight for Piven for a huge welcoming hug. The two were seen together all night mingling and sipping on Medea Vodka. At one point the two were up on stage mixing some beats at the DJ table! On the second night, hosts Alessandra Ambrosio, rocking a risqué black dress with cut-outs and silver embellishment, and Emily Ratajkowski, sporting a leather Alexander Wang dress, welcomed Shaquille O’Neal, Andrew Sendejo, Adrian Ross, Daryl Johnson and Cage The Elephant.

SUPER BOWL CHAIRMAN’S PARTY

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

There were plenty of locals on hand hand to toast Super Bowl 50 Host Committee Chairman Daniel Lurie at Super Bowl Chairman’s Party, held Friday at The Masonic.  Hosted by Anthony Anderson, Becca Prowda and Lurie, Karen and Ronnie Lott, Marshawn Lynch, Laurie Tisch and family and Lauran and Justin Tuck, the event also drew Katie and Todd Traina, Trevor Traina, Pam Baer, Vanessa Getty, Sloan and Roger Barnett, Mimi Haas, Brian Lurie, Alicia Engstrom, Nicola Miner, Robert Mailer Anderson, John Sykes and Paul Tudor Jones. The bash featured Tiësto and DJ Ruckus, whose skills kept the dance floor packed. Chef Michael Tusk of Quince and Cotogna curated a “Best of the Bay” menu featuring special small bites from the community’s most well-known chefs and restaurants including A16, Boulevard, Cala, Frances, Jane, Kronnerburger, Marlowe, Octavia, Park Tavern and Trestle.

BIG GAME TRAIN

Photo Credit: Suzanne Becker Bronk

Legendary NFL Coach Dick Vermeil and his super wines scored a touchdown in the Big Game Train on Feb. 3. The event, which took place aboard the historic Napa Valley Wine Train, also featured fellow NFL vintners Rick Mirer and Terry Hoage who poured tastes of their wines prior to boarding. Guests mingled with the NFL vintners and the celebrity guest roster that included Hall of Fame San Francisco 49er Dave Wilcox, Hall of Fame Oakland Raider Fred Biletnikoff, MLB Cy Young Award and MVP Award winner Vida Blue, former San Francisco 49er running back Ricky Watters and a special appearance by the “Never Miss a Bowl Club”, a trio of gentleman that attended their 50th Super Bowl in Santa Clara.

Once on board, guests enjoyed a sumptuous four-course lunch created by Executive Chef Kelly MacDonald with flowing Vermeil selections. Just before dessert, fans joined their favorite “team,” in the “Cabernet Bowl,” and chose their winning Cabernet Sauvignon in a blind tasting of entries from Vermeil, Mirer, and Damon Huard. The highly anticipated 2013 Passing Time “Danny’s Vintage” Cabernet Sauvignon by Damon Huard and Dan Marino made an exclusive pre-release appearance in the competition. Each rail car was abuzz with excitement and the intimate gathering, which benefitted the HOF Players Foundation, was a winner for all.

NEW ERA SUPER BOWL GOLD RUSH PARTY

The Battery was the venue of choice for American Sports Brand New Era, which hosted the New Era Super Gold Rush party. Attendees included: Hailey Baldwin, Justin Bieber, Chanel Iman, Jamie Chung, Usher, Michael B. Jordan, Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez, Louise Roe, Bryan Greenberg, Karrueche Tran, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Zac Posen and celebrated NFL players. DJ sets by Myles Hendrik, DJ Mia Moretti, a musical performance by Future and a closing set by Diplo kept The Battery rocking all night.

HOLLYROD / UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Actor, author, activist Holly Robinson Peete and husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, met with pediatric patients at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco for a special reading of the book “My brother Charlie,” which describes one family’s journey with autism. Following the book reading, Holly and Rodney hosted a cocktail reception with Kim Scurr, Vice President of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, to honor Charles Woodson as he retires from the Raiders. The event marked a new chapter for the HollyRod Foundation, the couple’s nonprofit dedicated to providing compassionate care for those living with autism and Parkinson’s disease. The Foundation, together with UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, is committed to raising awareness about autism and excited to explore opportunities to work together.

FANATICS

Photo Credit: Getty Images for Fantatics

Big Game Weekend was a huge success at the FANATICS’ Super Bowl event at the swanky restaurant, 25 Lusk, with an intimate performance by musician, Wiz Khalifa on Saturday. The star studded event was packed with various celebrities, athletes and legendary rockstar Jon Bon Jovi to support FANATICS’, the market leader for authentic, officially licensed sports merchandise. Guests eagerly waited for the performance from Wiz Khalifa while they mingled with NFL legends Jerome Bettis, Dan Marino and Jim Brown. Wiz Khalifa made his entrance to the stage and performed hit songs such as Young Wild & Free, Black and Yellow, and See You Again to the packed venue which included New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez, Brandi Chastain, Matt Ryan, Deontay Wilder and Alyssa Milano.

NFL FILMS & SF SYMPHONY: A CONCERT OF CHAMPIONS

Photo Credit: Amelia Kusar, San Francisco Symphony

Culture and football came together beautifully on Feb. 3 when NFL Films and the San Francisco Symphony teamed up for Concert of Champions, a beautiful evening at Davies Symphony Hall. Hosted by NFL Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen, the concert featured the iconic music and filmmaking of Emmy Award-winning NFL Films, with conductor Joshua Gersen leading the Orchestra in live accompaniment. Images captured by NFL Films’ cameras over the years were projected on the stage with anyone remotely connected to the San Francisco 49ers always getting the most applause. The SF Symphony also provided live orchestral accompaniment to a selection of short documentaries produced by NFL Films, featuring original scores by composers David Robidoux, Thomas Hedden and Sam Spence. These short films covered topics including the history of the NFL, Super Bowl moments, the life of NFL Films founders Ed and Steve Sabol, and the best of NFL Films’ well-known football follies. The elegant evening began with an hour-long cocktail reception in the Wattis Room before guests, who wore everything from evening to tailgate attire, sat down for a scrumptious, three-course meal catered by McCalls. Karen and Ronnie Lott and Marcia and John Goldman chaired the pre-concert dinner and greeted guests, who included Daniel Lurie and Becca Prowder, Keith Bruce and Kimberly DesJardine Gavin Newsom, Gene Washington, Charlotte and George Shultz, Phil Bronstein, Jillian Manus, Sako Fisher, Marva and Merton Hanks, Elaine Mellis, Heather Rosenkranz, Roberto Rosenkranz, Rich and Marybeth La Motte, Brent Jones, Paul Pelosi and many more.

NFL WOMEN’S SUMMIT

Photo Credit: AP Images/Doug Benc

At the culmination of a year in which the NFL celebrated the history and future of NFL football in the lead-up to Super Bowl 50, the league paId tribute to the critical role sports have played in the lives of female leaders past and present and raising public awareness of the role they can play in developing the next generation of leaders. The NFL Women’s Summit: “In the Huddle to Advance Women in Sport” brought together prominent leaders from sports, government, media and a variety of other fields—all of whom believe in the power of sports to support the future success of young women both personally and professionally. Through their experience and insights, the summit reinforced the power of sports and encouraged broad support—from men and women alike—for girls’ athletic participation. Prominent women in attendance at the event held at the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district included: Condoleezza Rice, Serena Williams, Robin Roberts and Billie Jean King.

Big Game, Big Give photo credit: Drew Altizer Photography
DirecTV photo credit: Getty Images for DirecTV
ESPN The Party: Getty Images for ESPN
Playboy photo credit: Getty Images
Maxim photo credit: Michael Bezjian
Leather and Laces photo credit: Kuks Singh
HollyRod/UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals photo credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Fantatics photo credit: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Fanatics
The Big Game Train photo credit: Suzanne Becker Bronk
A Concert of Champions photo credit: Moanalani Jeffrey
NFL Women’s Summit photo credit:AP Images/Doug Benc