Well, Hello All!

The night I told my Dad I was gay – he was in shock.  I was 30 years old and had been living deep in the closet.  The night of my birthday, I made the biggest and most painful decision of my life when I came out  and took the risk of being alienated, avoided, and quite frankly hated by a great percentage of our society.  One thing I did know is that I was going to be free, and what had been my “problem” would now become the “problem” of the people that couldn’t accept me.  Back to my Dad; he was confused and just couldn’t accept it.  I had several serious relationships with women (a lot of us do to avoid dealing with family and peer pressure) and he kept saying to me ‘it’s just a phase and you’ll get over it’.  I didn’t, and sadly I didn’t talk to my Dad for ten years.

Looking back – I now have a new found respect for his confusion.  You see, I love women.  My best friends are girls (my wives as I call them). My closest relationships have always been with women – my Mom, my sister-in-law Heidi, my best girlfriend Lisa (friends since we were 15 –we actually made out once but that’s a whole other story), the wonderful ladies I work with and of course, Daisy and Tulip.  Quite frankly, women love us gay guys – we appreciate their gorgeousness, notice their clothes, hair, make up, heels,and when they have lost a few pounds.  We take care of our girls and are always gentlemen.  So while we may “want” the same thing, my girls are very important to me and have always been – which explains why my Dad didn’t get it.

Coming out was so damn tough. I had been beaten and bashed throughout my young years for being different.  I was so fearful to be me that I learned to suppress it and become who my Dad wanted me to be.  Even today – while our society has come a long way – there are thousands of young men and women going through what I did.  As we celebrate Pride Month all around the world – I couldn’t be happier or prouder of whom I have become.  For those of you who may know a young person who is struggling I encourage you to support the amazing project IT GET’S BETTER.  Thank you!

Living Out Loud and Proud—

Andrew

P.S. Speaking of Dads – read on for fun ways to celebrate Father’s Day along with invitations to great benefits such as the Dress for Success Gala.  And of course – big ways to celebrate Pride!  I am also really proud of our new team members.  Say hello!

Vanessa Karlsson | Senior Account Manager – Originally from Southern California, Vanessa followed her love of the Northern California coast to San Francisco in 2006 and has never looked back! Being raised by parents who loved travel, food & wine, camping and exploring cultures really cultivated her passion in the hospitality world.

Vanessa graduated with a B.A. in Communications and an emphasis in Public Relations from CSUF. As the VP for PRSSA, she was able to land an internship and a position in L.A. with Golin Harris International as an entertainment media executive.  She fell in love with everything in the PR world and learned production on Nintendo, Mattel, USAopoly game accounts and the DVD releases of major motion pictures. She grew her career through four years at global firm, Ogilvy & Mather and freelanced on several reality television shows for two years. Once she moved to the bay area she took on business and managerial opportunities and landed at Ubisoft Videogames as PR Specialist working on national & international press opportunities for game launches and blockbuster events.

Longing for an opportunity to explore her passion of food & wine, an position opened up with Bloomspot (luxury daily deal site) where she worked with restaurants, wineries, and a variety of hospitality vendors and met Andrew Freeman. Now settled into what she calls her “dream job”, Vanessa brings a wealth of experience to the team. If she’s not writing about food, you can find Vanessa hiking, camping through Northern California, attending festivals and shows or researching her next adventure with a passport in her hand.

Laura Garner | Account Manager – Hailing from the south, where food is  a way of life, Laura will  be the first to tell you that all good things happen at the table.  Having spent her early years shelling, shucking, pickling,  canning and cooking alongside her mom and grandmas, she  has an unshakable passion for food and drink.

At 16, Laura began working in the restaurant industry and officially caught the bug. From there, she spent a semester in Italy completing a culinary arts and wine studies program and used her knowledge while working in a wine shop in college. After graduating with a BFA in film and marketing from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, she moved to San Francisco, worked briefly for a wine brokerage and fell deeply in love with the food and drink scene in the city. Most recently, Laura was an Event Coordinator at streamlinevents, where she worked with clients such as Salesforce.com, LinkedIn and VMware honing her skills in large scale event concepting, planning and execution. Laura also took great pride in wowing guests with creating unique and interactive menus.

Outside of the office, you can find Laura practicing yoga, watching the Giants and 49ers, and cheering on her Arkansas Razorbacks from a distance. When she’s not exploring new spots in the city with her culinary companions, you can usually find her at Stock in Trade where her boyfriend, Jake, is the chef.

Stephen Herbert | Account Coordinator – Stephen joins us as a recent graduate of San Francisco State University, where he received his B.A. in Communication Studies. Perpetually intrigued by the way in which people interact, Stephen knew he had to pursue and education in the field. Having worked in restaurants since he was 16 years old, his passion for the service industry grew as he worked his way through the FOH ranks.
An unbridled enthusiasm for all things fun and food brought Stephen to San Francisco, where he had been coming to play since his high school years. Working at both a tequila bar and a wine bar has led Stephen to develop an affinity for food, drink and good company. The ever changing dynamic of service, and the familial relations that one develops with coworkers in a restaurant setting are what truly inspire Stephen about the hospitality industry. He is thrilled to have found a perfect combination of his interests and passions here at Andrew Freeman & Co.
When not eating at a new restaurant, or playing pool with his friends, Stephen does yoga to stay in motion and enjoys spinning electro house music when he has time. When out with friends he loves a good IPA (Double Daddy, Speakeasy!), although he has a soft spot for tequila. Stephen is always looking for a new spot to try in The City, and is excited to be finished with school so he can enjoy his weekends off and have time to read for pleasure.

Finch & Fork | Santa Barbara, CA | Opened April 15 – Finch & Fork celebrates the spirit and style of a place we love the most – Santa Barbara. The ingredients are homegrown and locally sourced from farmers, fishermen, and vintners they know by name.

barbacco | Abruzzo Regional Menu | Launched May 1 – The team at barbacco is excited to launch the first of their three month-long regional menus.  For the month of May, barbacco will feature a special menu inspired by the Abruzzo region of south/central Italy that includes notable classics like Maccherroni alla chitarra con Ragu d’Agnello (pasta cut on the traditional ‘guitar’ with lamb shoulder ragu) and Brodetto di Pesce (a rich fisherman’s stew flavored with tomatoes and garlic).

SF Chefs Dinner Party Projects | Monday, May 6 & Monday, May 20 – A few seats still remain for the upcoming Spring Dinner Party Project Series and menu details have just been released! Pals David Bazirgan and Ravi Kapur are creating a market-driven, seasonally inspired menu to take guests on a globally inspired trip for the senses. And pizza master Anthony Mangieri, pasta ace Michele Belotti and pastry whiz Gary Rulli will transport you straight to Italy with their incredible carb-filled creations.

Gitane | First Monday of each month - located on Claude Lane, Gitane is excited to announce the launch of their new monthly Guest Bartending Series. The series kicks-off this Monday, May 6^th from 6pm-8pm with SFist Editor, Brock Keeling mixing up his favorite cocktail from behind the restaurant’s sexy bar.  On the first Monday of every month, Gitane will feature a new notable guest bartender shaking up their favorite cocktail – with a fun twist – behind the bar.

Hog & Rocks | An Alchemy of Distinctive Flavors: Single Origin Chocolate and Barrel Strength Bourbon | May 11, 2013 – Brought together by random chance and inspired by the flavors they love, Lisa Gallinger, chocolate maker at Dandelion Chocolate and Michael Lazar, bar manager at Hog & Rocks, are teaming up again on the afternoon of Saturday, May 11th to lead a tasting of single origin chocolates and barrel strength bourbons. This will be an opportunity to learn about the production of both chocolate and bourbon, understand how to best taste and evaluate each product and then experience the alchemy of tasting both together. Tickets are limited and are now on sale at  www.hogandrocks.eventbrite.com.

Poggio | Poggio Pizza Picnic | May 31, 2013 – Beginning Friday, May 31^st and continuing every Friday through August the city of Sausalito presents Jazz & Blues by the Bay – and what better way to take in the sights and sounds of summer in Sausalito than with a pizza picnic from Poggio, right across the street?  Enjoy a pizza and bottle of wine to go, while you picnic in the park!  Poggio is also celebrating the Negroni with a special weekday Negroni Hour.  From 4-6pm Monday – Friday,  the bar pays homage to the classic Negroni with six interpretations (each $5, wines are also available by the glass for $5). Lunch hours start at 11:30 am, dinner service starts at 5:30 pm, and reservations can be made at (415) 332-7771.

Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen | New Chef Arrives! – Jasper’s Corner Tap and Kitchen has officially announced their new Executive Chef, Mike Ransom. Previously at Henry’s in Berkeley and Bar Adagio in San Francisco, Ransom looks to add some new touches to the Jasper’s ever popular menu. “I was lucky to have inherited a really successful restaurant and a really successful direction, so my main emphasis is not on changing the Jasper’s experience, but to enhance it.” Call (415) 775-7979 for reservations.

Perbacco | Spring Dessert Menu – Spring desserts have arrived at Perbacco! Food & Wine’s People’s Best New Pastry Chef Nominee Laura Cronin has introduced her new seasonal dessert menu highlighting the fruits of spring.  From red and green strawberries to rhubarb and lavender, Laura’s ingredient-focused approach celebrates the flavors of the season with a creative blend of savory and sweet in the Italian style Perbacco is so well known for.

City Youth Now Gala - SOLD OUT! | May 17, 2013 City Youth Now’s Spring Gala, entitled “A Night of Infinite Possibilities” honoring Kathleen and Anne Ryan on May 17, 2013 at San Francisco’s Bently Reserve.  The black-tie affair will begivn with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception hosted by Chopin Vodka and E & O Asian Kitchen along with a silent auction.  A gourmet-plated dinner will follow with a live auction MC’d by radio DJ Paul Tonelli of 107.7 The Bone to raise funds for the personal development and health of San Francisco’s neediest children.  The gala will attract judges, attorneys, prominent politicians and community leaders, all of whom are stakeholders in City Youth Now. Tickets and sponsorships are available by calling 415-753-7576 or www.cityyouthnow.org.

Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center Dinner Celebration | May 11, 2013 -  The Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center (Tel-Hi) will be hosting their annual dinner celebration, A Taste of Tel-Hi, at the Joe DiMaggio Playground in the North Beach neighborhood. Now in its 123^rd year, the annual dinner raised over $225,000 last year in support of the Tel-Hi. This year, “Taste” will feature San Francisco’s most exciting and talented culinary professionals and top restaurants including Chef Jennifer Puccio of Park Tavern, Chef Rob Lam of Butterfly and Chef Brandon Peacock of Venticello Ristorante as well as Bink Wines.

Dress for Success Power Walk | May 18, 2013 – Come join Team AFCO as we walk in the Dress For Success Power Walk on May 18^th.

Poggio Trattoria | Sausalito, CA – Poggio will be welcoming moms for lunch and dinner in beautiful downtown Sausalito this Mother’s Day. Celebrate your mom with Chef Benjamin Balesteri’s phenomenal menu of seasonal Italian dishes. Lunch hours start at 11:30 am, dinner service starts at 5:30 pm, and reservations can be made by calling (415) 332-7771.

Baker & Banker | San Francisco, CA – Celebrate mom over dinner at Baker & Banker. Executive Chef Jeff Banker will be serving delicious seasonal dishes and Pastry Chef Lori Baker’s desserts – such as her famous XXX- triple dark chocolate layer cake or the seasonal strawberry crisp, are the perfect indulgence. All mother’s will be treated with a homemade scrub created by Lori Baker. Or stop by the bakery all day to get your mom a special treat – such as an Apricot White Chocolate Pecan scone, a Pecan Sticky Bun, or one of Lori’s delicious cookies or cupcakes. And just in time for Mother’s Day, Jeff and Lori will be welcoming the second addition to their family right around that time! Baker & Banker is open on Sundays from 5:30pm – 10pm. For Mother’s Day dinner reservations, call (415) 351-2500

Bluestem Brasserie | San Francisco, CA – Celebrate your mother at the beautiful, urban neighborhood restaurant Bluestem Brasserie, located on Yerba Buena Lane! Treat your mom to brunch and indulge in seasonal dishes such as buttermilk chocolate hazelnut pancakes, spring vegetable frittata and other delicious options alongside a bellini or mimosa. Also, Bluestem will be giving moms a beautiful Bluestem tote bag with a gift of housemade cookies! Bluestem is open on Sundays from 11am – 11pm. Call (415) 547-1111 to make a reservation.

Parc 55 Wyndham Hotel | San Francisco, CA – This Mother’s Day, escape to a luxurious oasis nestled in the heart of Union Square – the Parc 55 Wyndham Hotel. With the Bed and Breakfast package, moms can stay in the center of it all and start their morning with a full American buffet breakfast at cityhouse Restaurant. For reservations, call (415) 392-8000.

Copita | Sausalito, CA – Join Chefs Joanne Weir and Gonzalo Rivera this Mother’s Day at Copita Tequileria y Comida in beautiful Sausalito. In addition to their delicious modern Mexican brunch menu, Joanne and Gonzalo will be featuring a very special Goat Birria dish inspired by Gonzalo’s grandmother. Join them for a taste of authentic Mexican flavors with whole goat and charred chile de arbol salsa. Open 10am-10pm on Sundays (brunch served until 4pm). Call (415) 331-7400 for reservations.

E&O Asian Kitchen | San Francisco, CA – Step away from traditional Mother’s Day celebration with E&O Asian Kitchen. The restaurant’s Modern Asian cuisine is sure to delight moms of all backgrounds and Chef Sharon Nahm will make their day extra special with complimentary chocolate truffles infused with lemongrass and a sweetened coconut flake coating. Dinner is served on Sunday from 5-10pm. For more information or to make reservations, call 415-693-0303 for reservations.

FIVE Restaurant at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza | Berkeley, CA – Join Chef Banks White and the FIVE team this Mother’s Day with a decadent bottomless mimosa brunch buffet. FIVE will be featuring FIVE Belgium Waffles & Texas French toast, two types of quiche, and a very special chef’s omelet station and hand-carved prime rib. Sweets include Strawberry Shortcake, small bites of Pecan Pie, Butterscotch Pudding, assorted cookies, brownies and macaroons. The special Mother’s Day brunch buffet at FIVE will be available 10am-2pm on Sunday, May 12 for $70 per person ($25 for children ages 6-12). Call 510-225-6055 for reservations.

Hotel Adagio | San Francisco, CA - Treat yourself to a weekend in the city this Mother’s Day! Book the Anything You Want package and receive a $40 credit to use on anything you wish at Hotel Adagio. Try a cocktail at The Mortimer – San Francisco’s hottest new bar, or savor a delicious farm-to-table breakfast in The Green Room. Not in the mood to socialize – stay in your extra spacious room and indulge in gourmet room service. It’s up to you!

La Boulange | San Francisco Bay Area – Treat mom to a taste of France at La Boulange, the ideal spot for a quaint café brunch, lunch or dinner. Mom will be delighted with options like french toast, seasonal quiche or niçoise salad. At all Bay Area locations, any mom who dines in on Mother’s Day will receive two, freshly baked macaroons. Still looking for the perfect present? Check out the newly released La Boulange cookbook, “Café Cooking at Home”! The cookbook features some of the bakery’s signature recipes including tartines, salads, desserts and pastries. The cookbook is available at all La Boulange locations and a few Starbucks locations.

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa | Monterey, CA – Celebrate the extraordinary women in your life with a gorgeous brunch in the Monterey Bay Ballroom. From 10am-3pm on Sunday, May 12 for $50 per person ($23 for children ages 6-11, children 5 and under are free) Schooner’s Costal Kitchen will be serving a delicious multi-station buffet. Whatever mom wants, she will get with brunch items ranging from omelets and desserts to a carving station, made-to-order pasta and oysters on-the-half-shell. All brunch guests will enjoy complimentary valet parking. For reservations and more information, call 831-646-1700.

M.Y. China | San Francisco, CA – Treat your mother to a meal at Martin Yan’s new restaurant in San Francisco – M.Y. China. Indulge in the M.Y. China dim sum collection, house-made noodles or something from the wok and end with something sweet. As a very special treat for mom, Executive Chef Tony Wu will be hand-carving special creations from fruits and vegetables, such as flowers and butterflies. M.Y. China is open every Sunday from 11am – 9pm. For Mother’s Day lunch or dinner reservations, call 415-580-3001.

Pican | Oakland, CA – Head to Pican Restaurant in Uptown Oakland and indulge in Executive Chef Sophie Uong’s (a mother herself) special menu while soaking up the sun on Pican’s outdoor patio. Enjoy mimosas and Bloody Marys as well as some of Chef Sophie’s signature dishes. Service will run from 11am – 8pm. Call (510) 834-1000 for reservations.

Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel San Francisco | San Francisco, CA -  Aurea, located at the Renaissance San Francisco Stanford Court Hotel on Nob Hill, will be offering an exceptional Mother’s Day brunch from 6:30am -2 pm. From Aurea’s signature lemon soufflé pancakes to Dungeness crab florentine, this breakfast line up has everything you could ask for! Call (415) 989-3500 for reservations.

SliderBar | San Francisco & Palo Alto – Brunch isn’t just a meal, it’s a way of life! And there’s no better time for brunch than Mother’s Day. To celebrate this attitude, bottomless mimosas and a selection of delicious breakfast items like a chicken n’ waffle slider, will soon be available at both of SliderBar’s locations. Cheers!

Starlight Room | San Francisco, CA – Soak up the views from the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel at a lavish brunch supporting the Hamilton House. It is the perfect way to celebrate the that special woman in your life in a truly unique setting. Come watch the Drag Show, with events starting at 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm. Call (415) 395-8595 for reservations.

Steins | Mountain View, CA – Join the team at newly opened Steins and Executive Chef Colby M. Reade for Mother’s Day this year. Show your mom how much you love her by treating her to gourmet modern American comfort food with dishes including smoked pork belly with a poached egg, smoked chicken and creamy polenta with pan juices and braised greens and house-made pastrami on toasted rye with sauerkraut and russian dressing. Steins is open 11am-11pm on Sundays. Call 650-963-9568 for reservations.

The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards | Livermore, CA - Join Chef Matt Greco and Master Gardener Diane Dovholuk at Wente Vineyards for a delicious Mother’s Day brunch. The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards will be offering three incredible courses for $49. Items include warm asparagus with salt roasted radish, caviar, sabayon and hot house greens, scallops with spring peas and yeasted cherry tart with streusel, saba and vanilla cream, among other mouth-watering menu options. Brunch will be served from 10:30-2:30, and you can call (925) 456-2450 for reservations.

The Course at Wente Vineyards | Livermore, CA – For mothers who golf – take the family out to beautiful Wente Vineyards, and indulge in a peaceful round of 18 holes while basking in the sun and enjoying the striking views of the surrounding vineyards among the rolling hills. Whether charging up before tee time or winding down after the 18th hole, The Grill is the ideal spot to savor classic breakfast and lunch dishes. Eighteen hole standard rate is $115 for Sundays and holidays. For tee times and more information call 925-456-2477.

Yasemin Sussman | My mom is my best friend and we have many, many memories! My absolute favorite memories are of my mother, her mother and I in my mom’s kitchen making Borek, a Turkish dish. We would all put on our aprons and spend an hour making the dish – in a bowl you had a mixture of melted butter and egg and then you put down a layer of phyllo dough then brush on the butter/egg mixture, then another layer of phyllo and repeat for many, many, many layers. The filling would be spinach, ground meat or feta.  My mother was born in Istanbul, Turkey and lived there for over nine years and I am thankful to have been exposed to a lot of delicious Turkish food and culture!!

Crystal Yang | Since growing up on home-cooked Korean food, I now know that I am guilty of not appreciating what I had when I had it. Living away from home, I am more aware of the rarity of your mother’s home cooking. I clearly remember a moment when my mom and I were casually enjoying a very traditional Korean dish, kimchi stew; and she looked up at me and said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could enjoy something that tastes as good as this.” Korean food is on the rise, but it is still far from mainstream dining habits. Maybe one day, going out of my house to get kimchi stew will be as convenient as finding artisanal pizza in SF.

Erin Euser | My mom is the person I turn to in times of need and in times of celebration— she is always generous with her time and her heart. When I graduated college, instead of having a party, my mom and I took a last minute trip to NYC for my first visit. We spent the week exploring the city by foot and eating our way through the Big Apple. During that trip I got to know her as a person rather than just a parent and it strengthened the friendship that I now cherish more than anything. She will always prepare the meals I look forward to most because, as we all know, love is the most potent of flavors.  Love you, Mama, for all you do and for all you are xoxo

Kate Michels | My mother always said her best recipe was a reservation. Even with a lack of culinary talent, she truly appreciated food. From frog legs to escargot, I was expected to try everything once, whether it was in a child’s vocabulary or not. I will be eternally grateful to my mom for forming my palate from a young age and for pushing me to be adventurous with food.  Additionally, I will always stay true to my mother’s belief that, “There is always room for dessert!”

Laura Barnes | My mom is an artist and has always worked in a lot of different mediums—oil, watercolor, clay, charcoal, print making, batik, etc. But one day she decided it was time to get into welding. Before we knew it she had the equipment and was using the blow torch in the driveway. I love that she never stops trying new things!

Monica Powers | In elementary school I had harp lessons every Monday and after my class my mom would always surprise me with Burger King chicken nuggets (my childhood guilty pleasure). My mom has always been an incredible inspiration and motivator for me – HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MAMA! I LOVE YOU!

Waverley Aufmuth | Every Monday night when I was little my dad would work late and we would have girls night, – Round Table Pizza delivery (her childhood favorite and ours too) with her signature Caesar salad (to keep it healthy).  We would veg on the couch and watch Home Improvement followed by Monday Night Football (go 9ers!) – even though every other night of the week we sat down to beautiful family dinners, girls nights are still my favorite memories.  A fantastic woman, chef, role model and best friend, I wish you the happiest Mother’s Day (and the other 364 days of the year too), Mom! Xoxoxoxo

http://rundown.com/sf/6122-this-weekend

Senior account manager Yassemin said:

For Easter, my favorite childhood memory is waking up to find huge Easter baskets that my mom put together for my little brother and I. They were filled with arts & crafts and candy.  We would spend about an hour playing with new things from the basket and then decorate Easter eggs.  My mom would set up a table with different bowls of different colored dyes for the eggs. We would then go outside and have an egg hunt (my mom and dad hid a bunch of plastic eggs throughout the trees and bushes in the backyard!) My brother and I were pretty competitive And on top of this, I just remember my mom dressing us up in these really cute outfits – I loved this beautiful flower dress and a matching headband that I got to wear on Easter and my brother had a little blazer and bow tie.

Melinda, one of the new faces at AFCO, shared one of her family traditions:

Growing up, every Easter my family would have a big, fabulous brunch, do an Easter egg hunt and then watch some fun blockbuster movie, like Indiana Jones. Our favorite movie snack was onion dip and Ruffles potato chips. The classic, kind of trashy dip made from dry, packet onion soup mix and tubs of sour cream. Even as a toddler I had to be cut-off after about 10 minutes. It’s not Easter in my house without it.

SFPDV | Growing for Change Gala | April 24, 5:30PM – 8:30PM – Join the SFPDV at a Gala to benefit The Edible Schoolyard at Hunters Point at E&O Asian Kitchen. Enjoy food, wine, cocktails and take your hand at the silent auction. Tickets available online March 25th via Brown Paper Tickets for $30 in advance and $40 at the door. For more information please contact info@sfpdv.com.

Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center | A Taste of Tel-Hi | May 11, 5:30PM – 9:30PM – You are warmly invited to attend the upcoming annual dinner, A Taste of Tel-Hi. The event is shaping up to be an occasion the whole city will remember! Join them and support their biggest fundraising event of the year with cuisine from three of San Francisco’s finest chefs! The first course will be prepared by Chef Martin Parra of Venticello Ristorante, followed by Chef Jennifer Puccio of Park Tavern who will be preparing the main course, and Chef Rob Lam of Butterfly who is serving dessert.  To purchase tickets, learn about sponsorship opportunities, or donate an item to the auction, please call 415-421-6443 ext. 27 or email taste@tel-hi.org.

City Youth Now | A Spring Gala Honoring Kathleen & Anne Ryan | May 17, 6PM – 11PM – Join City Youth Now they honor the incredible dedication and service of Kathleen and Anne Ryan to the children of San Francisco at City Youth Now’s Spring Gala, May 17th at the Bently Reserve in San Francisco.  There will be a silent auction, a cocktail and oyster bar reception, followed by a lovely dinner and live auction of several unique and exciting items.  There will also be a live band – “Pure Ecstasy” – so bring your dancing shoes!  San Francisco local radio DJ, Paul Tonelli, will be the Master of Ceremonies for this event dedicated to raising funds for the personal development and health of San Francisco’s neediest children.  City Youth Now will present academic scholarships to foster and probation youth who have shown extraordinary effort and dedication and are continuing on to college.

Dress for Success | The Power Walk | May 18, 8:30AM – Join forces and walk for a cause May 18 with all the profits going directly to Dress for Success San Francisco. Find out more information at dfspowerwalk.org/sanfrancisco2013.

E&O Asian Kitchen | San Francisco, CA | March – August – This month, E&O Asian Kitchen will begin “traveling the Spice Route” with its menu and cocktail program. Each month, Chef Sharon Nahm and Mixologist Carlos Yturria will highlight a specific spice in the form of a savory dish, a sweet treat and a delectable cocktail. Take the journey this month, with the first spice being cinnamon.

Also at E&O this month, Mixologist Carlos Yturria hosts an “Infuse Your Booze” Cocktail Class at E&O Asian Kitchen on March 24. This hands-on class will teach attendees the tricks of the trade and how to master the art of infusing spirits, with particular emphasis on Brugal Rum Blanco. Each attendee will get to make three of their own cocktails as well as feast on the newest dishes and desserts to hit the menu at E&O. Purchase tickets here.