San Francisco Symphony celebrated the centennial season with a magnificent Opening Night this week with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas’s amazing program that included Copland’s 1938 Billy the Kid Ballet Suite, Lang Lang on the piano for Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat minor, Itzhak Perlman’s performance of his famed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64, Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Opus 34 and a surprise encore of ‘Short Ride on a Fast Machine” with special projection of San Francisco historical landmarks in fast track movement on the giant screens above the stage to top off this historical 100 years celebration.

On Sunday, the California Film Institute (CFI) hosted its 17th annual Oscar Night at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center to watch the 83rd Academy Awards.

More than 600 guests attended this fund-raising event for the CFI’s education fund. I bought ten tickets and shared the event with friends and clients. The red carpet greeted guests who dressed in Oscar worthy attire and enjoyed gourmet box dinner and champagne donated by Korbel and chocolate dessert donated by Whole Foods.

Over the Presidents’ Day weekend I celebrated my birthday with family and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area on a quest for wine and the finest dining experience.