Clout & About

A Memorable Evening at the SFMOMA Modern Ball

Joyce Maroon — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:35:55 +0000

Photo credits: Joyce Maroon and Drew Altizer, used with permission

Rain or shine, a ball must go on, and go on it did! With the rain pitter pattering over our heads more than 2,000 guests attended the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)’s Modern Ball on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. The Bay Area’s biggest art bash of the year and SFMOMA’s premier fundraising gala, the event completely transformed the museum for the night, with sumptuous cuisine, flowing cocktails, chic lounges, dancing, art, and a DJ set by acclaimed Montreal-based electrofunk duo Chromeo for the post-party.

The atmosphere at the Ball

While San Franciscans always thrill to dress up for a Stanlee R. Gatti-designed soiree—this affair was no exception with fabulous looks at every turn. Of course the main cause for the occasion was to raise critical support that allows SFMOMA to serve more than 50,000 students, teachers, and families with free access to innovative art education programs.

The ambiance ~ SFMOMA Modern Ball 2012

The overall theme of the evening was a nod to Picasso. In the Gala Dinner tent, dramatic blue velvet drapery and neon blue tables lit from within—each crowned with a cubist “guitar” centerpiece—tipped a hat to Picasso’s Blue Period. In the more laid-back Supper Club tent, rattan décor channeled the artist’s fascination with “Primitivism.”

George and Dolly Chamas, Jan and Maria Menettishrem

The three-tiered affair began in the museum’s Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Atrium with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music by DJ Vin Sol for the Gala Dinner guests, which included honored artist of the night Doug Aitken; former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown; event chair Dolly Chammas (looking stunning in Roberto Cavalli) and her husband George Chammas; honorary event chairs Helen and Charles Schwab; event sponsor and museum trustee Mimi Haas; celebrity chefs Hubert Keller (who also delighted everyone with a DJ set later in the evening), Michael Tusk, and Gary Danko; SFMOMA board president Bob Fisher and his wife Randi Fisher; Mrs. Donald Fisher; and designer Yves Behar; among 500 other guests including, Norah and Norman Stone, Vanessa Getty, Charlotte and George Shultz, Pat and Bill Wilson and Nicola Miner and Robert Mailer Anderson, to name a few.

Click on images to enlargeThe highlight of the Gala Dinner was the live auction, featuring five premium lots. Led by Christie’s auctioneer George McNeely, bidding was fast and furious and by the end of the evening, some $485,000 was raised to directly support the museum’s education programs for schoolchildren. The centerpiece auction item was 1968 (black), 2011—a spectacular mirrored sculpture by guest artist Doug Aitken—which sold after spirited bidding for $230.000, well above its estimate. Another sought-after item was Giorgio Armani’s Fashion and Art in Paris Package, offering two luxurious nights in Paris and insider access to exclusive Armani runway shows, art tours, and top-notch dining—hammering to the lucky bidder for $22,000

Simultaneously at The Supper Club, partygoers mingled in a stylish lounge with signature cocktails by Patron Tequila, gourmet culinary stations, irresistible dance music by DJ CAMS, and a performance by LA-based pop-disco band Poolside—the packed dance floor was definitely a hot spot all night long.

Gala Dinner and Supper Club guests then converged with additional party people at the completely sold-out Post-Modern Party, centered in the museum’s soaring atrium, with bubbly by Chandon and late-night bites by Aziza, Bix, Tacolicious, and others. Chromeo held court on the decks and Patr?n’s crowd-favorite photo booth was in demand all night long.

This event was definitely an event not to be missed and one that has set the bar extremely high for the next Modern Ball.

Say Goodbye to Winter Dry and Hello Olay Ultra Body Wash!

Lulu del Rosario — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:00:10 +0000

If you haven’t noticed yet, this has been one of the strangest winters in recent memory. Mother Nature has never been quite this fickle and it’s been difficult to plan what to wear around these parts. We never packed away our shorts, flip-flops and sweatshirts. In California, we’ve had very little rain – and our front lawn is very dry. It’s not unusual to see sprinklers turned on during the weekend on our street; chats with neighbors leave us all shaking our heads and shrugging our shoulders.

The grass isn’t the only thing dry around here. In fact, a few weeks ago, I had a conversation with my sister about the change in my nightly routine. I’ll to cut to the chase. I was itching like I’ve never itched before. My skin was so dry, none of my moisturizers was helping. The conversation led to me getting a lecture on histamines getting fired up at night. Really? Just before bedtime? Super itchy like this? That led to an expensive purchase of over-the-counter allergy medication. Ugh, more medicine. When the call to review Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash came from BlogHer, it didn’t take me two seconds to raise my hand! Yes, ME! I who itch a lot will gladly review your body wash!Itchy me was still looking for relief from flaky, itchy winter dry skin! Needless to say, when the bottle arrived in the mail (and I hadn’t yet known that I would be reviewing this product), I took a shower. A long, drawn-out, luxurious hot shower.

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash

This is not your usual body wash. There is more than a whole JAR of Olay Moisturizer inside. And you can feel that immediately. The ‘ooh la la yay me’ ultra-rich lather left my skin smooth, clean and clear, and I scrubbed all the winter dead cells away. The label suggest results after 4 showers. I took two showers that first day. [cue the song "Desperado" here!]

Over a jar of Olay Moisturizers inside! You'll feel it!

After a week of using this product, I’m thrilled to share my new nightly routine with you. No more antihistamines for me. AND I don’t even need extra moisturizing – it’s built in to my body wash! Time-saver some? That gives me more time to focus on the other life dailies! I’ve also begun soaking my hands and feet in warm water with the body wash and I’m loving the results as well. Now I’ve got to ask YOU! How do you simplify your day to carve out some ‘me time,’ which I know we all need, right? Comment on this post to share your replies and be eligible to win a $50 Visa gift card! I’d love to hear your stories! As for me, can you hear me say ‘yay Olay’? They had me at ‘over a jar of moisturizer inside‘ on this luxurious product. I know you’ll love it too.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/20 – 4/17.

Be sure to visit the Olay Body Wash page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win! While we’re on the subject of looking good, you might want to check out the “Looking Your Best” posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great tips and expert posts!

ZAGG – New Must Haves For Mobile Me (and You)

Clout and About — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:32:50 +0000

My first encounter with ZAGG was about a year ago when I ordered shield protectors for my iPad and iPhone. I still have them on and they’ve protected both devices from what would have been breakage or scratches either from my dropping them, or something scratching it while in my purse.

At MacWorld, I had the opportunity to visit the ZAGG booth and check out more of their product offerings. I spent a good amount of time discovering what they had ~their quality made and useful products were impressive. ZAGG is one company really tuned in to their clientele. That was pretty much what I concluded after speaking in depth with their rep at the show and getting up close and ‘in touch’ with the innovative gadgets and gizmos in their awesome product line.

iPad Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad 1 and 2

There were a few that I really wanted to test, though ~ and we’ve put these through some rigorous workouts for a week. These are my favorites, so far.

ZAGG Sparq ~ I'm ready for a day at the beach now!

ZAGG Sparq

In one week, I’ve been saved by my ZAGG Sparq twice, once for my iPhone and another time for an iPad that ran out of juice. I have a collection of chargers but none comes close to this in terms of portability and power. I’m not hooked up to a wall and I have the option of a regular charge or an optimized one if I need a quick charge. A fully charged ZAGG Sparq charged my phone and iPad with extra juice to spare. It works with any USB charged device including handheld gaming systems, digital cameras, cell phones and iPads. It’s a keeper and I don’t leave home without it. I highly recommend this for frequent travelers. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself many many times.

ZAGG SmartBuds

Now I must tell you about ZAGG SmartBuds, but let me back up a little bit. There were other wonderful suppliers at MacWorld with quality ear buds. I had a few favorites and some of them had their special unique great things about them. But this one ~ the ZAGG SmartBuds ~ this packs a punch as far as “they thought of everything” is concerned. Immediately upon unpacking it from the box, you could tell it was sturdy. The cord is made from Invisible Shield material. The sound was rich ~ I felt like I had a whole surround sound system in my ears.

The SmartBuds features include:

Noise canceling mic
Answer and hang up calls
ZAGG smartbuds music control for iPhone
Premium lenght, tangle-free cord
In-line volume control
Multiple sliders for better cord management
Rich, responsive sound from superior spearkers
Multiple ear bud adaptors for all ears (Did you know that some ears need different adaptors? Mine did!!)
Compatible with all 3.5mm jacks

My favorite feature is the in-line volume control slider that controls how much I want to tune out the world around me. And the cord ~ that itself is a unique stand out that sets it apart from others I’ve tested. I don’t think a dog could chew this one.

There is a handy round case that comes with the earbuds.

ZAGG Dual USB 2.0 Car Charger

ZAGG Dual USB Car Charger

The ZAGG Dual USB Car Charger solves a problem we have when we go on long drives. Now I don’t have to share one cigarette lighter time in the car when both phones need charging at the same time. Or when I have to charge my phone and my iPad, or my phone and my camera. The solution is right there in this handy dual charger that I’m trying to hold on to (I’ve been bribed with sweets in exchange for this lovely thing!).

My staples these days

There was a plethora of gadgets, protectors, gizmos and accessories that the booth was a mini Disneyland and packed with people wanting to dress up their devices. If there was one word to sum up all the products from this company, it would be ‘QUALITY’. They feel good, they work well and are built to last a long time. All excellent qualities you want in any item you invest in, right?

ZAGG: Zealous About Great Gadgets. They’re true to their name. I give them five hearts (out of five).

iChill ~ Therefore I Sleep (Like A Baby)

Clout and About — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:54:02 +0000

What’s a girl to do if she can’t sleep at night? No, not insomnia ~ just a busy day working a couple revolutions and drinking too much coffee and Coke Zero which equates to a boatload of caffeine. This was my dilemma the other night. I had accidentally taken a 2 hour nap after a daylong webinar, only to be awakened by my pup who bolted from on top of me to bark madly at the mailperson at the door. It was almost 5pm by then so I had to rush to get dinner done and a domino effect of the hurry-ups ensued until a late bedtime. Fast forward to midnite ~ I was tossing and turning and had already turned the television off. Just couldn’t find the right position to sleep. Wasn’t sure if I turned the tv off too soon.

Debating whether to declare temporary ~~insanity~~ insomnia, I got out of bed.

I remembered my bottles of iChill in the fridge which I had found at the Winter Fancy Food show. I’d tried it previously and thought I slept kinda good ~ but me? I’m always skeptical about dietary supplements. And I really couldn’t tell if it helped me or not. I needed more convincing. I normally don’t have trouble sleeping and blamed the restless evening on OD’ing on my leaded beverages. My sister, though ~ she swears by melatonin and valerian root. She’s the frequent traveler in the family and has no problem adjusting to time zones precisely because of these aids. Since these were the main ingredients in this sleep shot, and the fact that they were not drugs, I was happy to have the relaxation shots handy.

So I chugged a bottle of my sleep potion. And logged onto Facebook to chat with friends.

For those moments when you don't feel like counting sheep

iChill has zero calories, carbs and sugar but is does have Melatonin to manage circadian rhythms after a hectic day, Valerian Root for natural sedation and B Vitamins to boost mood, ease stress and promote increased cell metabolism.

It didn’t take me long to feel much more relaxed. I looked at the clock ~ about 30 minutes later. Then off I went back to bed.

Easy peasy! No problem at all. No tossing or turning. No feeling drugged or groggy. It was just good old delicious slumber all the way till about 8am or so. And I woke up refreshed. Actually, with an extra burst of energy I noticed as I had to immediately walk my dog.

Truth in Advertising? I’d say yes on this berry flavored grind unwinder! I swore by it the day after! Good enough to recommend? Sure, you betcha! It’s not habit forming. Keep a couple bottles for those nights when sleep just doesn’t come easy ~ or when you’re traveling and need a bit of help adjusting your body clock.

Note: as with all “dietary supplements”, please read the ingredients and check with your doctor if you have allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Cool Gadget Alert: IRIScan Book 2 – I Don’t Leave Home Without It

Clout and About — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:23:33 +0000

First of all, true confessions. I’ve secretly ripped off some cool recipes or articles while waiting for my hair treatment to be done. More than once but probably not more than one hand. I felt guilty the few times I’ve had to do that. Or sometimes (same fave salon), I’m into a very interesting story on Vanity Fair and they tell me it’s time for a shampoo. They’re very efficient in this place!

Problem and occasional dilemma solved! I found my magic wand that fits nicely in my purse and I can scan anything I want ~ anywhere I am. And I get quality images to boot! Say hi to my IRIScan Book 2 gizmo!

My portable scanner, my new best friend

The IRIScan Book 2 is smaller than my flat iron. It comes with a 2GB mini SD card. It’s simple to use ~ you slide, it scans. You can see how handy and portable it is in the image above next to my magazine. It’s not bulky at all. And the images are clear! See?

Scanned image via IRIScan Book2

You do not get this quality when you take a picture with your phone OR a scanner.

All I did was slide the scanner (I like to call it my ‘wand’) over the image and then hook up the scanner to my computer via a USB cord and voila! You also have the option of transferring files to your phone or computer via the memory card that’s included in the package. The IRIScan Book 2 Executive (below) allows you to transfer files via Bluetooth. You have a choice of capturing images in black and white or in color. You also have the luxury of saving documents to PDF format.

At MacWorld 2012, this stood out as an excellent must have (The Executive allows you to transfer files via Bluetooth)

This is great for travelers and people on the go. Imagine yourself on the plane and scanning everything you want to buy from the SkyMall magazine you just read. Okay ~ maybe not. In reality, I can think of so many people who might find this a must have tool. I know I have it in my handbag these days and it has come in handy many times. Away from my fax machine? No problem! I’ve signed forms and scanned them and sent the file by email. I like the simple things in life! And these days ~ portable, mobile, small form factors ~ you gotta love it!

IRIScan Book 2 is running a $20 Mail-in-Rebate at the following retailers:

Disclosure: We were provided with a sample to test for this review. We only recommend products that have been thoroughly tested and that which we would recommend to our own friends and family. There was no monetary compensation to write this post. Trust me when I tell you, we have weeded out some gadgets that have been sent to us. Not everything passes our high standards.

Cool App Review: Snapheal ~ Magically Easy Photo Editing Easy

Lulu del Rosario — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:16:51 +0000

I have been testing ~ and having fun with ~ a new app on my Mac called Snapheal. Discovered at the recently concluded MacWorld, this program allows you to fix bad images – get rid of unwanted objects, delete text, heal skin imperfections and more. I’m a big fan of photo editing tools, both on my desktop and on the run. The quality applications developed by MacPhun LLC are a really cool discovery which I’ve uploaded on to my Mac, iPad and iPhone.

Snapheal is cool. This is the first image I edited right after I downloaded the app. My edit is not 100% perfect, but I just wanted to show you how easy it is to use.

Quick edit on Snapheal

I simply moused over and removed some of the bars behind the subject and blended in some of the greenery. There was no need for a learning curve, it was quick and simple! Snapheal has developed special algorithms so it does its job faster and better than other photo apps. Snapheal literally does magic. Warning: it’s rather addicting!

Check out the video here to see how much fun you can have playing with your images!

Snapheal is currently available in the App Store. The current price is $5.99 today so grab it while you can at that introductory price. Tomorrow, it goes up to $14.99! If you want to check it out, Snapheal also has a free 15-days trial, which is available for download here. Enjoy! We’re off to play!

Top Toys and Games of the Year Unveiled at “OSCARS®” of the Toy Industry

Cloutwomen — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:16:50 +0000

LeapPad Explorer from LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. Garners Coveted “Toy of the Year” Title

More than five hundred toy industry executives and guests from around the globe gathered in New York City tonight to honor their peers at the 12^th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

A Toy Industry Association (TIA)-administered event in support of the Toy Industry Foundation, the glittering gala held in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center kicked off the 109^th American International Toy Fair and paid tribute to today’s superstars, tomorrow’s bright up-and-comers and illustrious toy industry icons.

We know our Cool Toys, don't we?

Interspersed with the presentations of twelve TOTY Awards were two inductions into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame: Arnie Rubin, Founder and CEO of Funrise Toy, and the late Frederick August Otto Schwarz, founder of FAO Schwarz. The new inductees join a distinguished roster of nearly 60 toy industry luminaries who have been inducted into the Hall since its establishment in 1985.

“Tonight’s event was a wonderful way to celebrate the launch of Toy Fair week and recognize the absolute best in toys and children’s entertainment,” said Carter Keithley, TIA president. “Thanks to the outstanding work of the talented individuals and innovative companies honored tonight, kids around the world are brought joy each day through play!”

Award winners were selected with the input of consumers (on ToyAwards.org), retailers (mass and specialty), media and members of the toy industry. The five ballots – open from November 21, 2011 to January 15, 2012 – were weighted and used to determine the category winners as well as the overall “Toy of the Year” award.

LeapPad™ Explorer by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. received the coveted “Toy of the Year” title and was awarded Educational Toy of the Year and Preschool Toy of the Year. The awards program included 77 finalists across the 11 categories.

Lego Systems Ninjago - Toy of the Year

And the winners are…

Recognizing an outstanding toy that inspires creative play through various forms of activity, the Activity Toy of the Year was presented to LEGO® NINJAGO Fire Temple by LEGO Systems, Inc.

Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for boys of any age, the Boy Toy of the Year was presented to Hot Wheels ® Wall Tracks ™ by Mattel, Inc.(continued)

Recognizing an outstanding toy that helps children develop special skills and knowledge through play, the Educational Toy of the Year was presented to LeapPad™ Explorer by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.

Recognizing an outstanding children’s board, card, CD-ROM or electronic game, the Game of the Year was presented to Angry Birds Knock On Wood Game by Mattel, Inc.

Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for girls of any age, the Girl Toy of the Year was presented to Fijit Friends™ Interactive Figures by Mattel / Radica®

Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for infants and toddlers up to 36 months, the Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year was presented to Elefun Busy Ball Popper by Hasbro / Playskool.

Recognizing an outstanding toy that combines innovation and play value, the Innovative Toy of the Year was presented to Hot Wheels ® Wall Tracks ™ by Mattel, Inc.

Recognizing an outstanding toy that is designed for outdoor play, the Outdoor Toy of the Year was presented to Rockboard® Scooter – Mini by M.Y. Products LLC.

Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for preschool-aged children (ages 3-5) the Preschool Toy of the Year was presented to LeapPad™ Explorer by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.

Recognizing a property that has had the greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry, Property of the Year was presented to Angry Birds™ by Rovio Entertainment Ltd/ Striker Entertainment (Licensing Agent).

Recognizing an outstanding toy that is distributed primarily through specialty toy retailers, the Specialty Toy of the Year was presented to HEXBUG® Nano® Hive TM Habitat Set by Innovation First Labs, Inc.

Descriptions of each TOTY-nominated toy and links to each manufacturer’s website can be found online at ToyAwards.org. The finalists were selected from nearly 600 products and properties submitted for consideration. Nomination committees comprised of academics, journalists & toy trend experts, play therapists, toy inventors & designers, and toy retailers narrowed the field to the slate of 77 finalists.

Why I Love My Slow Cooker Again. Blame Wine Country Kitchens For That!

Lulu del Rosario — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:09:05 +0000

When the kids were growing up and I had a 8am – 6pm job, my saving grace many many times was my slow cooker. I rotated between that and a pressure cooker to keep my sanity. Back then, dinner consisted of a meat dish, some kind of fish and vegetables. And rice. Always rice. In a table set formally each evening with a family of five (sometimes more) that sat down to dinner at exactly 7pm. That was then. Structured, predictable. Same old weekly grocery list. Until my kids feared pot roast and would call in sick for dinner when it was served. I eventually gave the slow cooker away.

That was some moons ago.

Fast forward to today. The kids are grown and on their own, all building their families. I am remarried to the most undemanding man on planet Earthling. Dinner is never structured and always unpredictable (if there even is dinner). On the rare occasions that I do put a meal together, there’s usually some kind of fanfare involved. Like now. And, by the way, I do have a slow cooker again although I have not make pot roast till today. (Secretly, I can’t wait for dinner!! I miss you, Pot Roast!!!)

Say hello to Wine Country Kitchens‘ Slow Cooker Sauce. It’s my new friend! And it’s what’s for Valentine’s Day in my home. Dinner for two. Made last night.

Wine Country Kitchens' Country Pot Roast Sauce

The sauces are the concoction of Chef James who I met at the Winter Fancy Food Show and chatted with briefly. He’s working on a cookbook (stay tuned!).

Chef James Aptakin at the Winter Fancy Food Show 2012

I had recently served a dish with their Coconut Curry sauce for my family during the 49ers game that took us to the semi-finals. I was hooked-on-sauce thereafter and am a Chef James fan. The dish was a hit and was consumed to the last drop. Literally. I’ve not seen my my family soak up sauce in a while. Last night, after debating Valentine’s Day dinner (actually, we discussed the frou-frou-ness of the Hallmark holiday) I whipped my one last sauce that I picked up at the show and declared a V-Day reprieve for the man. I set up my ingredients (carrots and potatoes under my roast) and turned the cooker on LOW and all he had to do was turn it off when he woke up. (note: the goodbye kiss this morning included “I’m off, honey ~ Happy Valentine’s Day and dinner’s done!“).

That took about 1o minutes. Sleep was 8 hours long.

Cooking while asleep. Multi tasking!

Can you see how delicious this sauce looks? It’s definitely NOT your ordinary pot roast mix and I tasted it this morning. I’m excited for dinner now and will set up some candles around the house for when the man comes home. Like the Coconut Curry sauce, this one will be good till the last drop. Nom nom nom!

Note: I like to cook at night so I can remove any excess fat from the dish the following morning as it cools off.

At The Ritz-Carlton’s New Parallel 37 Restaurant, Chef Ron Siegel Serves Up A Magical Meal

Clout and About — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:23:19 +0000

Parallel 37, the new Nob Hill neighborhood bar, lounge and restaurant located inside The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco opened to great fanfare this past December 2011. We were there and wrote about our first impressions, as we were in attendance at the media and press cocktail event prior to their official official opening. Two well known talents in San Francisco’s food and restaurant scene were collaborating for the first time, Ron Siegel in the kitchen creating simple, contemporary American cuisine that is not over-manipulated and Camber Lay at the bar creating an all new mixology program for the destination restaurant. The restaurant’s menu seeks inspiration along the geographic latitude Parallel 37 with food and wine celebrating the many cultures in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Parallel 37, Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco

But we really wanted to experience Parallel 37 for ourselves, and take in the ambiance ~ as we are prone to do on our blog. Experience, before we can truly recommend. The restaurant is quite lovely and the design so exquisitely simple, yet classic. Beautiful and natural.

Parallel 37′s new interior, by EDG Interior Architecture + Design, brings an urban edge to The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco on Nob Hill. The architects merged the formerly sequestered bar and dining spaces to create a relaxed and lively social experience. The design links Northern California’s culinary countryside with the dynamic, neighborhood food culture and style of San Francisco. Clean architectural lines and modern, glass wall treatments combine with natural materials to create an informal sense of tailored sophistication. Behind the host, a glowing glass graphic panel of California oaks imparts an immediate sense of place. The intimate dining spaces celebrate the artful, honest character of Chef Siegel’s cuisine with elements such as free-edge wood tables and plaid-embossed leather seating. In addition to dinner in the main room, guests may opt for cocktails and shared-plates at the bar or in the lounge that opens into the main restaurant. A Chef’s Table, with its exclusive view into the kitchen is available for parties of eight or a semi-private room, partially visible through a plaid-etched, glass wall seats up to twenty.

The bar at Parallel 37

Table setting on beautiful oak tables

The Chef's Table, with its exclusive view into the kitchen

Having settled into our table after taking in the feel of the very cozy restaurant, we were presented with a menu that offered us an insight into Chef Siegel’s approach to food. Handpicked and fresh ingredients to create a simple, not over-manipulated and delicious meal. In photograph:

Chef Ron Siegel presents...

Our recommendations:

The Tuna Tartare is a must

Click on image to enlarge (hover over image for description)

Candy Cap Macaroon with Maple Ice Cream ~ Pièce de résistance

Each dish was savory and mouth watering. The Tuna Tartare and Sea Scallops oh-so-fresh, leaves you wanting more. The main entrees were presented quite uniquely ~ the Bento Box in separate dishes which I enjoyed immensely. The highlight of the meal was the sinfully gorgeous Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwich, a magical marriage of candycap macaroon with maple ice cream. Can you say “died and went to heaven”?

It was altogether a delightful meal and an experience we enjoyed. The service, definitely top notch and friendly as one might expect from the Ritz-Carlton. You get everything and more at this new restaurant in Nob Hill. Parallel 37 knows the way to anyone’s heart. We’ll definitely be back, perhaps during cocktail hours and into dinnertime!

Team Clout & About with the Ritz-Carlton / Parallel 37's Steven Holt

In the meantime, if you find yourself in San Francisco, do drop by and treat yourself to Chef Siegel’s magic.

eBay Celebrity and Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Host Gallery Exhibition Benefiting New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward

Clout and About — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:58:09 +0000

eBay, the world’s largest online marketplace, is teaming up with Brad Pitt’s Make It Right to take charitable fundraising to a whole new level with a physical space and interactive bidding. Fans are invited to walk through a gallery featuring one-of-a-kind celebrity experiences and mementos to be auctioned off for charity on eBay Celebrity. Smartphones add a hands-on element to visually innovative displays, enabling attendees to participate in an interactive bidding process via dimensional QR codes by utilizing the eBay mobile app to bid in real time as well as track auction progress.

eBay Celebrity teams up with Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation

The elite exhibition brings celebrity charity auction items to life in New York’s famed Chelsea Market, with 100% of proceeds going to Make It Right, a non-profit foundation building sustainable, affordable homes in disadvantaged communities. Launched in November, eBay Celebrity is a unique shopping destination that combines celebrity experiences, memorabilia and merchandise with philanthropic causes.

Charity auction items include a diverse range of rare collectibles and experiences from celebrities spanning sports, movies, television, music and pop culture with all proceeds benefitting Make It Right, including:

A 30 Rock set visit for four to meet Alec Baldwin
A set of scrubs from ER signed by George Clooney and the original cast members of the television show
A Zac Posen dress worn by Kim Kardashian on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
An autographed basketball from Chris Paul and two tickets to an upcoming Los Angeles Clippers game
An autographed Baby Taylor guitar from Katy Perry
A tennis match and set visit with Kevin Spacey
A Bottega Veneta gown worn by Charlize Theron on the red carpet
Kanye West ‘s iPod, engraved for the winning bidder
A lunch with Rachel Zoe and her husband Rodger Berman, a tour of her Beverly Hillsheadquarters, and a hair and makeup session with Joey Maalouf

“We’re thankful to everyone who generously gave to help Make It Right and to eBay for their support,” saidBrad Pitt, Make It Right founder. “We hope that the people who check out the auction will have fun with it and know that their bids go directly to build sustainable, healthy homes for disadvantaged families.”

Charity auction items will be featured in an interactive multimedia gallery exhibition located within New York’s Chelsea Market in the newly renovated corner space at 15th Street and 10th Avenue. The space is open to the public starting Feb. 9 through Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and on Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans outside of New York can find details of each charity auction item and experience by downloading the eBay app for mobile devices, or online at www.ebay.com/celebrity. Bidding starts online3 p.m. EST Feb. 8 and will conclude 4:15 p.m. EST Feb. 15.

“We are thrilled to bring the eBay online charity auction experience to life in a physical and interactive gallery where fans can connect with their favorite celebrities,” said Richelle Parham, chief marketing officer for eBay. “eBay has consistently been the platform of choice for celebrities and their fans looking to raise funds for charity; and we are delighted to help Make It Right reach their fundraising goals.”