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

Spring has Sprung!

As a Wedding & Event Planner at the City Club I work with many creative people and the creative process. Each season brings new themes, colors, trends, and cuisine. I am lucky enough to work with different designs aspects all year long. Each event and/or Wedding couple is different. Usually the wedding date dictates the theme or “look” of the wedding they wish to create. Due to so many professionals in the Wedding market there are several ways to design the perfect atmosphere.

As we head into spring and Wedding season, I have seen some great colors pop within the club walls. Recently the work of Classic Party Rentals, and Nancy Liu Chin came together to create the perfect Spring Wedding atmosphere at The City Club in March. The colors of Pea & Kelly Green, Soft Ivory, and Canary Yellow complimented one another. Pictures provided by Darcy Weddings captured the light and colors in a beautiful way to portray the essence of Spring. Creativity is just one aspect in Wedding Planning which can really enhance the atmosphere. Each season of the year has signature colors & themes which can be incorporated to enhance any celebration.

-Alison Angelo
Sales & Catering Manager

The City Club recommends San Francisco!

Thinking about where to have your next event or Wedding?
I recommend San Francisco!

San Francisco has so much to offer within its mainland of seven square miles.
At your very fingertips you have sites, smells, and sounds of such a diversely populated city. From the restaurants, neighborhoods, historical sites, museums, and sporting arenas, the culture that San Francisco offers is truly one of a kind. Your guests can experience all of this by taking urban hikes, jumping on our Cable Car lines or by utilizing our public transportation system. It’s really easy to travel around, take it from me, I grew up in suburbia!

If you are out of town planning for an event in San Francisco I recommend checking out: http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/

If you are local to San Francisco and want to provide your guests valuable maps and information about San Francisco, head downstairs near the Powell BART station and you’ll see the Visitors Information Center at 900 Market Street. Here you can grab complimentary maps, visitor’s guides, restaurant coupons and Bay Area tour information, great for welcome bags.

Looking for large party restaurant ideas, check out San Francisco Private Dining Venues, http://www.sfpdv.com/. Here you can access the city’s finest restaurants with private dining space. You can search by group size and even view photos of each restaurant.

Need a place for your guests to say?

The City Club has partnered with the following hotels:
Galleria Park Hotel, contact Monica Bowman, (415) 835-6466
The Hotel Monaco & Serrano Hotel, contact Chad Schyvincht, (415) 292-0149
The Sir Francis Drake Hotel, Prescott Hotel and Hotel Triton,
contact Sarika Patel, (415) 395-8569
Mandarin Oriental, contact Candace Balandra, (415) 276-9713

All of the above recommendations are easily accessible and very close to The City Club.

Once you get to The City Club your truly San Francisco experience promises to continue.
If you’re here reading this, you’ve found us, we are one of the city’s most historical and hidden gems.

Hope you are getting excited for your next San Francisco visit.
We look forward to seeing you here soon!

Michelle Kimmins, Director of Sales & Catering