Created three years ago by W Hotels worldwide, the Fashion Next program is an industry-first initiative designed to discover and support emerging designers. On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, the W San Francisco presented Fashion Next with celebrity fashion designer, Michael Angel. The soiree included a live model viewing and trunk show showcasing Michael Angel’s Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, along with the unveiling of the new W staff uniforms.

On November 4, 2011, The Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, presented Violet Eyes in the Red City: An amfAR Affair. Held at the lavish Ken Fulk Studio, the affair was a magical merger of philanthropy and Moroccan fantasy.

The evening began with an exclusive dinner prepared by renowned Chef Gary Danko. Bravo TV’s Andy Cohen hosted the dinner and presented a special memorial tribute to Dame Elizabeth Taylor, amfAR’s Founding International Chairman. amfAR CEO, Kevin Frost, explained the significance of the homage: “Elizabeth Taylor was very important to this organization. We wanted to pay tribute to her tonight.”

Wilkes Bashford, San Francisco’s premiere upscale clothing store for men and women, has unveiled details for the renovation of its iconic Union Square Store. On November 3, 2011, the specialty retailer kicked off the renovation with a lively hard-hat party on the 7th Floor penthouse, the soon-to-be stylish lounge area.

TRACE, W San Francisco’s hot new restaurant, has unveiled the Thanksgiving menu prepared by Executive Chef Paul Piscopo, a lifelong advocate of sustainable cuisine. The three-course menu features traceable ingredients and high-quality, conscious cuisine capturing the Bay Area’s vibrant personality.

The Junior League of San Francisco (JLSF) held their 17th Annual Home Tour “Modernism Through the Ages” featuring the Dwell Design Lab during the weekends of October 22-23 and October 28-30. The double weekend affair showcased San Francisco’s sophisticated range of architecture and design.

World-renowned local olive oil producer, McEvoy Ranch, invites olive oil enthusiasts to visit McEvoy Ranch for Community Milling Days this Sunday, November 13 and Sunday, December 4, Guests are invited to bring their home-grown olives as McEvoy Ranch combines and mills olives. Participants will enjoy warm drinks and snacks and watch their olives turn to oil. Guests will also be given oil commensurate with the amount of olives they bring, and will have freshly bottled olive oil to enjoy within 3 days.

Melvita, France’s premiere brand of natural skincare, celebrated their first anniversary at their store in San Francisco’s Westfield Center on October 27, 2011. Guests sampled Melvita’s line of luxurious products while enjoying cocktails, nibbles, and product discounts. The Melvita team was on hand to assist guests to develop a personal skincare regimen, then the lucky guests were sent home with an essential skin care product for the fall.

This Friday, November 11, 2011, join Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Community Kitchen for a community cocktail party in honor of Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Kitchen’s 10 year anniversary. The event will feature “only in Healdsburg” purveyors and other local talents. This evening will celebrate what makes Healdsburg a dynamic community, and will feature bites from Dry Creek Kitchen, 30 fine wines from the region (see complete list below), along with the unveiling of the #10 cocktail created by cocktail guru Scott Beattie in celebration if the occasion.

On October 21, 2011, San Francisco’s St. Regis Hotel hosted This Old Bag: The Power of the Purse, a gala and silent auction to benefit the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. The lively 7th annual event was held at the St. Regis Hotel, where over 450 guests had the opportunity to bid on spectacular designer bags donated by couture designers, local philanthropists, retailers, as well as autographed bags from world-famous athletes, entertainers, and some of Hollywood’s A-list actors.