SF Readies For Tony Bennett’s 90th Birthday And Other Haute Events

We know you were so busy with Super Bowl 50 parties that you may have forgotten that non-football related events were still taking place before and during the big game. Here’s a look at a few:

A Special Reception for Tony Bennett

Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, Willie Brown and Thomas Klein hosted a reception in The Penthouse Suite of Fairmont San Francisco to support the creation of a commemorative statue in honor of Tony Bennett. The statue, to go in front of the historic hotel where Bennett first sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” will be unveiled this summer for the singer’s 90th birthday in August. Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto, attended the reception, along with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee,Nancy and Joachim Bechtle, Richard Guggenheim, Pam and Larry Baer, Gayle and Ron Conway, Daniel Lurie and Becca Prowda, George P. Shultz, Paul Pelosi and Stanlee Gatti. Shultz, the Chief of Protocol for the mayor’s office, is busy planning the festivities to honor Bennett.

Green Ribbon Cutting at Dr. Chow’s Redesigned Surgery Center

Dr. Albert Chow, San Francisco’s renowned plastic surgeon, unveiled his expanded and newly-redesigned green surgery center last week. Ken Henderson, Executive Director of the Richmont Ermert Aid Foundation, cut the green ribbon. Sophie Azouaou, on behalf of Mayor Ed Lee, presented Dr. Chow with a Certificate of Honor, commending him for his work in the city and being among the team that performed the first hand transplant in the U.S. The event, hosted by Azouaou and benefitting REAF, Eileen Blum Bourgade and Joel Goodrich, drew Dr. Ed Lee (not to be confused with the mayor), Monica Lee, Teresa Rodriguez, Pernella Sommerville, Doug Waggener, Lawrence Wong, Jerold Osato, renown artist David Piera, Tatiana Takaeva, Sheila Ash, Dr. Nourredine Azouaou, Dr. Lisa Kang, Dr David Kang, Nicholas Belloni, Hermine Mnatsakanian, Dan Perez, Elizabeth Thierot and Mark Calvano. Guests enjoyed award-winning wine and exquisite hors d’oeuvres while being serenaded by Blum Bourgade, violinist virtuoso and daughter of Richard Blum and Senator Dianne Feinstein. Her son Tristan followed suite with “The Swan” by Saint Saens Allemand and Courante from Bach’s cello suite in D minor. A live auction, emceed by Henderson and Azouaou, raised much needed funds for REAF. Azouaou, founder of SophiSticate Interiors, also created the haute design in Chow’s surgery center. “I wanted the surgical center to look elegant, rich looking, yet serene and calming to the senses,” she said. “My firm selected the best eco-friendly finishes available. I know the patients will feel they have come to the right place to get beautified in the hands of the best and triple board certified surgeon in San Francisco.” Dr. Chow added, “Sophie designed a space that is a pure reflection of my practice, what I do each and every day by creating beauty in a natural way.” The evening ended with a drawing of amazing raffle prizes courtesy of Earth Friendly Products, 21HM Boutique and a $500 GC for Botox from Dr. Chow. Guests left with beautiful 100 % organic Replete skincare goodie bags filled with Earth Friendly Products, Shear Miracle Organic shampoos, Numi Organic Tea, Replete Lip Restore and Suki products.

Guardsmen 40th Birthday Party

The Guardsmen of San Francisco, who in 2015 raised $1.9 million in philanthropic funding to improve the lives of at-risk youths, recently celebrated the transition of 40-year old members to senior status. At a 40th birthday party, hosted by the Guardsmen and the Merchants Exchange Club in downtown San Francisco, these fundraising giants passed the baton onto their younger counterparts. The event, emceed by Phil Spiegel and Justin Hildenbrandt, celebrated the 150 young men that annually each raise at least $4,000 and work 30 hours at the eponymous Guardsmen Tree Lot in Fort Mason that has turned into a quintessential San Francisco holiday tradition. The 2015 tree lot raised close $1 million in philanthropic funding for Guardsmen programs. The Guardsmen is a group of Bay Area men mobilizing their significant talents and resources to enhance and improve the lives of at-risk youth. This all-volunteer organization, founded in 1947, provides access to high-quality educational and outdoor activities for inner-city youth.

Photo credit for Tony Bennett reception and Dr. Chow: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo credit for Guardsmen: Gustavo Fernandez