Climb for the Cure

On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, the City Club hosted a kickoff meeting for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 3rd Annual Point B Climb for a Cure. Local business leaders from such companies as Point B, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Kaiser and Google met to create corporate teams in support of this fundraising event.

Point B Climb for a Cure is the CF Foundation’s annual stair climb event. Participants form teams to hike up 72 flights of stairs in the One Front Street Tower. The event ends with a celebration on the 28th floor—including music, food, mimosas, massages and a raffle. Climb for a Cure takes place on Saturday, September 19 at One Front Street with registration beginning at 9 am.

“With so much promising research on the horizon, it’s more important than ever that we raise every dollar we can to fight CF and improve the lives of people with this disease,” said Brian Herriot, volunteer chair of Point B Climb for a Cure. “We are grateful for the contributions of each volunteer and donor who supports Climb for a Cure. Everyone is doing their part in this life-saving effort.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been recognized as one of the most efficient charities in the country. Nearly 90 cents on the dollar raised by the CF Foundation is available to fund CF research and care programs.

Fifty years ago, most children with CF did not live long enough to attend elementary school.
Today, as a result of dramatic improvements in research and care, the median age of survival is more than 37 years old. For more information on cystic fibrosis, visit http://www.cff.org/.

To help fight CF, participate in the Point B Climb for a Cure and register at http://nca.cff.org/stairclimb or contact Jennifer Rucker, Special Events Manager, at jrucker@cff.org or (415) 989-6500.

-The City Club Team

Taking a Look Back

Can you believe the year is almost half over? The Club is filled with conversations of networking opportunities, business speculations and vacation plans. Every floor has a buzz of excitement as we prepare for the next meeting or event. With such gorgeous facilities, it’s not hard to showcase your event with our commitment to excellence that is defined by the beauty of the City by the Bay.

The first six months of this year have been busy with business and social member events. To name a few: the Jamison Roundtable Luncheons have hosted guests Nader Shabahangi, founder of AgeSong and The Pacific Institute, Cari Guittard - Executive Director, Business for Diplomatic Action, Sunny Schwartz who wrote Dreams From the Monster Factory. Our Food & Beverage Department has had tastings from The Balvenie Distillery, Macallan Single Malt Whiskeys and Tre Bicchieri Wines. The Club has been an exciting place during the first half of 2009, our event calendar will reflect the summer vacation months with fewer activities; which gives us ample time to plan for a great fall and holiday season to finish of the 2009 year. We look forward to sharing the good times with you.
Hector Romero - Banquet Manager

Got Light?

There are many aspects to wedding planning, food, cake, floral, dress, etc. One aspect that can be become over looked is lighting. Fortunately at the City Club, we have an in house lighting package called “Up Lights” that illuminate our white leather walls in the Café, and our walls of ash, ebony, pear wood and Philippine mahogany in the Main Dining Room with a warm amber glow.

If you’re looking for more, you can add more to our up lights with outside vendors. Lighting sets the mood of a venue, and enhances the atmosphere you are trying to create. I compare lighting to floral…..it illustrates the ambiance and look you are trying to showcase.
Recently, I have experienced the work of Got Light at a wedding at The City Club. The look requested by the bride was a “champagne glow”. The Café and Main Dining Room had this look throughout the event, and especially during dancing. The dance floor lighting had a scroll design on the dance floor, as well as the cake, and colored spot lights on the bar, cake, and dessert station. Everything matched impeccably, and perfectly reflected the look of a modern, elegant, and the "champagne glow strived for".

Other companies whom have great lighting ideas & packages are Elle Music & Events; contact Brandon Cruz at 925-236-2663 for assistance and booking. Pictures are compliments of Got Light? Cake by Carolyn Wong Cakes.

-Alison Angelo
Sales & Catering Manager

Fiesta Cigars!

Diamonds, Don Julio & Draws – the essence of Cigar Night at the Club! Once of my favorite events at the Club is Cigar Night –do you know why? First off, how cool is it to cut up a fine Nicaraguan cigar (a favorite was the El Baton, courtesy of Grant's Tobacconists) while sipping three or four different Don Julio tequilas? Kevin Kachadoorian, our awesome rep from Southern Wine & Spirits, talked our members through a tasting of Don Julio's premium tequilas – from the smooth, clean flavor of the Blanco all the way to the honey and vanilla notes of the 1942 – yum! This is one to savor, not shoot.

Did I mention the bling-bling that we had going on as well? The gorgeous diamonds adorning these lovely ladies were hand-selected from Simayof's vaults by our member Irv Spivak. Aren't you jealous of his job? Irv is continually followed around by his personal paparazzi, Cody Rasmussen (ok, I am sort of making that up ) so he shot these amazing photos of the event that really captured the vibe!

Every other month, our members enjoy this event as a way to relax, reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. Board member and general great guy Rich Stratton made an eloquent speech in praise of the event, the outstanding Cinco de Mayo fare, the camaraderie, and the Thursday night date. Come join us next time – we practically guarantee that is you like Cigars, you will LOVE this event!

Photos by Cody Rasmussen (thanks Cody!)

Life is a Cabaret...and a Cabernet!

The excitement continues to build for The City Club’s first ever Cabaret evening!

On Friday, May 29th, the Club will transform into a beautiful, plush cabaret lounge with all the “bells and whistles” that will WOW even the most frequent Club visitor!

Here’s a sneak preview of how the night will unfold….
You’ll make your grand entrance to the affair as you’re greeted with bubbly and exquisite hors d’oeuvre, in true City Club fashion…followed by a classic cocktail as you mix and mingle with fellow Members and guests…let’s get this evening started!
At just the right time, you’ll move upstairs to the Main Dining Room and experience true culinary decadence as Chef Michael and his team unveil a special surf and turf menu, created just for this event! Perfectly paired wines will fill the glasses as you enjoy the sounds of the baby grand on center stage…
Moving from dinner – it’ll be SHOWTIME! And we’re all in for a treat with Steve Ross. Hailing all the way from New York City, Ross will deliver an intimate cabaret performance of the songs of Noël Coward for our entertainment and enjoyment. A truly classic evening and our first class Club – we can’t wait!

Because of the unique set up requirements for this show, seating will be limited and last minute reservations will be difficult, if not impossible, to accommodate. That being said, reserve your tickets today! City Club Members enjoy the exclusive price for $150 – such a steal for all that this evening includes: a cocktail hour featuring an open bar and hors d’oeuvres, a three-course dinner with wines, dessert, and ports, and a legendary cabaret performance.

Dust off that tuxedo and your most special dress and make it a night out! We promise you that it will be one of the most memorable City Club events to date!

Click here to find out more about the event!

Weddings at the City Club Whinston & Kim 4.03.09

One of the things that I love about weddings and particularly about the wedding venue is how every couple makes it their own. Each couple selects the venue that they feel is perfect for their day and if you ask they reasons that they find it so well fitted the answers run the gamut. Whether it be the location, the food, the atmosphere and decor or some combination of it all, eventually the decision is made. Chances are, other people have also been married in the same location so personalizing the venue to reflect you as a couple and your journey to that day becomes the next step!

Julie and Adam did such a wonderful job doing this and I think that was one of the main reasons that I’m still hearing compliments about this particular event. From the first conversation that I had with them I could tell that they were true adventurers always looking for their next destination. They happened to become engaged on a trip to Morocco and had decided to work this into the wedding day. It was really important to the couple that who they were as individuals and a couple shone through and that their guests had a wedding experience as unique as their relationship.

A Moroccan themed print (picked out on the trip) was present from the Wedding Invitations, to the Ceremony Programs all the way to the Cake made by Carolyn Wong. They customized a masterfully prepared menu by Executive Chef Michael Munoz, including Seasoned Veggie Skewers, Panzanella Bread Salad and Moroccan spiced Tri-Tip, all served family style. A photo-booth provided by Photoboof, Henna Artist from Henna Gardens and jeweled trinket boxes for place cards all helped to complete the theme. With San Francisco street names as table numbers and a personalized song about their life, there was no doubt where this couple was from, where they’ve been and where they are going! Congratulations to Julie and Kim on beautiful day!

All Photos by Traci Griffin
To see a slideshow of the day, click here

-Cassie Harris, Sales & Catering Manager

The City Club Healthy Lifestyle

In this first installment of The City Club Health & Fitness series, Executive Chef Michael Munoz demonstrates the proper technique for exercising the Quads. Chef Munoz strives for an overall approach to healthful living and is eager to share the benefits of his 15 years experience as a personal trainer. Please e-mail Chef Michael if you have questions pertaining to this healthy lifestyle fitness segment. Michael.Munoz@cityclubsf.com