Viva L’ Evolution! Chef Russell Jackson is known for his diversity and boldness when it comes to cooking, and this challenge was no different. In early March, the dissident chef took the reigns of the Lunch Break for Schools fundraiser, an event sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings.

The upcoming Spring Starlight is the swanky Silicon Valley benefit for After School All Stars. Hosted in the Los Altos Hills at the Majestic Stonebrook Estate, this private manor is widely considered one of the greatest estates in the country.

San Francisco’s Union Square was transformed into a stunning sea of red during the the evening of the American Red Cross Gala. Co-chaired by Susan Atherton and Gwyneth Borden in a clear tent under the stars, the annual black-tie event brought out the who’s who of San Francisco, including Mayor Ed Lee and former Mayor Willie Brown. Over 580 members of the Bay Area philanthropic and corporate community were in attendance to celebrate and acknowledge the work and dedication of the American Red Cross.

Angela Bassett will join President Barack Obama and actress turned celebrity chef Gwyneth Paltrow on May 9 for a special presidential fundraiser at an undisclosed San Francisco home. Which house? No idea. But it’s sure to be an opulent one, we can only assume.

Showcasing the best of new independent cinema while embracing the epicurean pleasures of Napa Valley, the second annual NVFF will once again light up Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville and Napa from November 7-11, 2012. Different levels of passes are available and on sale, including the Festival Pass and Pass Plus; festival-goers who purchase tickets by March 31 will receive a savings of up to 20 percent.

From March 23 – 25, the Sheraton Sonoma County will be host to the celebration and exploration of handcrafted cheeses, foods, wines and beers from California and beyond. The weekend-long event will prove to be educational, delightful and no doubt, delicious.

The 28th annual American Heart Association’s Heart Gala has reached astral levels, raising over $400,000 to build healthy lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Nordstrom San Francisco hosted a fierce cocktail party to celebrate upcoming De Young Museum exhibition “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From Sidewalk to Catwalk”. As the lead sponsor of the upcoming exhibit, Nordstrom provided cocktails and fashion for the kick-off for the long-awaited Gaultier exhibit which hits the D’Young on March 24.

San Francisco’s oldest restaurant in its original location still stands strong 150 years after it was established in 1861. The Old Clam House has been restored to its Victorian roots dating back to the Gold Rush when President Abraham Lincoln presided, . The momentous 150-year restoration was celebrated on February 23, 2012.