Oysters, Wagyu and Whiskey in Polk Gulch

What's old is new again. Which is why you'll want to get reacquainted with Mayes, the newly resurrected oyster house from 1867, opening in Polk Gulch on Wednesday.

Today, Mayes is all spit-shined-up for you and your date—stop in for $1 oyster happy hour, or make an entire night of it. Take over the high-backed chairs by the fireplace and unwind with a few old-fashioneds and a spread of Seafood Louie or oysters or from the raw bar. If this is all a little too old school, you can enjoy some modern-day touches like sashimi and late-night dining, when the lights dim at 10pm and a DJ starts to spin.

Mayes Oyster House
1233 Polk St (at Bush)
415-885-1233

{MEDALLION STEAKHOUSE OPENS!}

Gus & Bahya Murad, owners of Medjool Restaurant in San Francisco just opened Medallion Steakhouse on Wednesday October 28th, with an amazing and generous reception for their closest friends.

Medallion the hot new spot in the Peninsula serves organic grass fed steak with delicious sides, it features a sexy lounge where you can try their dye for signature cocktails and a patio that will transport you to a natural landscape with a sound of water and a waterfall that turns into a video screen at night.

And if that wasn't enough reason to try it ... there is a raw bar too that features an array of fresh and chilled oysters from near and afar.

Medallion Steakhouse

1095 Rollins Road

Burlingame

{THE ART OF THE TABLE ~A DINING BY DESIGN 2009 PRE-EVENT}

A Dining by Design 2009 Pre-Event was hosted at Gump's San Francisco on October 22, in support of DIFFA'S Dining by design featuring designers Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, Martha Angus, Ken Fulk and Claudia Juestel. The designers created a wonderful display of tables utilizing some of the most prestigious brands like Hermes, Puiforcat, Cristal Saint-Louis, Raynaud, Ercuis, Alberto Pinto, Varga, Jean Louis Coquet among others.

Designed by Claudia Juestel

Designed by Ken Fulk

Designed by Claudia Juestel

Maria Barrios Ehmer, Claudia Juestel, Karen Tamblyn

Guest and Ken Fulk

Ken's Fulk Table Design

{CRESCENT HOTEL IN SAN FRANCISCO OPENS TODAY!}

It is a reality, The group behind Crescent Beverly Hills and the infamous Cooper Square Hotel in NYC are opening today October 21st the New Crescent Hotel San Francisco today with a fresh new perspective in terms of design and execution.

Located a block north of Union Square, on Stockton and Sutter, this used to be the Allison Hotel, the partners have completely gutted and renovated from top to bottom. But consciously maintaining the original architecture of the building which is 100-years-old.

It's a typical look for San Francisco but with a modern twist.

The rooms will feature the boutique hotel amenity trifecta of flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations and best of all, complimentary WiFi.

As for the restaurant and bar, that won't be ready when the Crescent SF opens but expecting for a mid-2010 opening of the space, which will be located on second floor above the lobby and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as 24-hour room service.

So expect the Crescent to be a little bit Beverly Hills glam and a little bit New York City cool.

http://www.crescentsf.com/

The Hermès Shop Windows

Is everything from Hermès ridiculously expensive? I'm going to have to say yes. A while ago I was reading the New York Times online and found a story about Kelly Wearsler shopping for hard to find design books which included "The Hermès Shop Windows" by Leila Menchari, who has been the sole creator of window displays at the Hermès store in Paris since 1977 and what did I find if you are interested, it can be yours for $1,000. Or you could save that and put it toward a Birkin. Your call.

JUDITH RIPKA! Number One on my Wish List!

Ah ... my latest obsession, a pair of gorgeous Judith Ripka earrings from the 18K Gold & Diamond Collection... Their name Olivia!

They just arrived into the San Francisco store ... totally in love with them!

Judith Ripka
110 Geary Street
415.399.1995

VIVANISTA LAUNCH NATIONAL!

Layne Gray, Kimberly Miller, Annie Vranizan and Alex Skillman hosted a cocktail party on October 13th to celebrate the National Launch of Vivanista. A virtual Sisterhood where women can share best practices in fundraising and all that encompasses their philanthropic lifestyle. Congratulations!

CONDE NAST CLOSING FOUR TITLES!

Gourmet, Cookie, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride ...

Last week, Condé Nast revealed plans to close Gourmet, Cookie, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride magazines, with the loss of about 180 jobs, after the firm hired consultants McKinsey & Co. to evaluate its business and find ways to increase profitability across its magazines and Web sites.

The changes come as the industry has lost a quarter of its ad page revenue in 2009 during the crippling recession, and follow closures and budget cuts throughout the sector, including Blender, Domino, Country Home, Condé Nast Portfolio and Best Life. Media research firm ZenithOptimedia predicts ad spend will drop 15 percent in 2009 versus 2007, to $49 billion.

So sad ...Gourmet its been the magazine I would go over and over for new recipes and they were always fantastic.

AMFAR~ PRE-GALA KICK OFF PATY!

Ralph Laurent, Vanessa Getty together with Nick Augustinos & Curt Kirschner, Mark Calvano, John Costouros, Joel Goodrich,Tim Hanlon, Jenna & Bryan Hunt, Gari James, Claudia Ross,Lisa Sardegna & David Carrillo, and Beth Townsend hosted on October 8th an evening of cocktails and private shopping to celebrate amfAR’s upcoming Fall Gala, honoring Stephen Brady and Peter Poulos.

SAN FRANCISCO FLEET WEEK 2009!

October 8 - 13Th
Fleet week is certainly one of my favorite weekends in San Francisco! featuring every year the Navy Blue Angels, a Parade of Navy Ships and some awesome acrobatics over the San Francisco Bay! The air show today Friday was awesome! Have fun everyone!