Marin Magazine - August 2008

Sales manager Dan Stephan and factory representatives from Aston Martin welcomed guests to the launch of the new DBS, the same car that James Bond will be driving in the new 007 film Quantum of Solace.

Also in Marin, locals enjoyed the third annual Marin Arts Salon at the California Closets showroom in San Rafael. The weekly salons featured emerging artists, performers and designers as well as wine from Imagery Estate Winery and Kunde Estate Winery and hors d'oeuvres by All Seasons Catering.

At SFMOMA's recent art auction more than 100 lots of contemporary paintings, photography, and sculpture were presented to bidders. The museum garnered more than $1.2 million in proceeds to support exhibitions and education programs, making the auction one of the most successful in the museum's history.

Fashionable Marinites celebrated the grand opening of Corte Madera's Juicy Couture with perfectly pink macaroons, champagne and shopping.

In Tiburon, the Reed School Foundation presented a spring fashion show fundraiser, complete with local moms as runway models. Each year the foundation raises money to pay for the difference in funds of what the state of California pays and what it actually costs to educate a child.

San Francisco Opera Guild event cochairs Patricia Ferrin Loucks and Jennifer Smith, along with Nordstrom, teamed up for the Designer Fete 2008, which welcomed more than 500 guests and raised nearly $100,000 for children's music education.

Nonprofit Image for Success raised nearly $50,000 at its annual luncheon in San Rafael.

San Anselmo-based Sunny Hills Services held "The Power of Love: Opening Our Hearts to Children in Need" as a benefit to serve the agency's program that helps emotionally disturbed children.

Recently Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain celebrated the release of his first pinot noir, Chanconne, the result of a collaboration with his friend Dennis De La Montanya. In attendance was oenophile and radio host Ziggy "The Wine Gal" Eschliman, who said, "The wine tasted incredible!"

At the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, Dominican University of California hosted a festive black-tie dinner to honor President Joseph R. Fink and his 20 years of vision and service to the Marin institution.

The Godmothers of Timothy Murphy School held their ninth annual English Garden Party Bingo at St. Vincent's School for Boys. The Godmothers are a group who actively support the school's educational programs through fundraising and direct financial contributions, as well as donating time and talents to promote a nurturing environment for the boys.

At the Mill Valley Community Center the third annual Summer Search luncheon was a sold-out event with 400 attendees.

Mayacama, one of wine country's premier private golf, lodging and wine clubs, held its seventh annual celebrity golf tournament to raise money for Sonoma County Children's Charities. The 115-player tournament included John O'Hurley and Dwight Clark of the 49ers and, along with the auction, raised more than $225,000 for the local charity.

In celebration of the Bay Area Discovery Museum's 20th anniversary, the Playdate 2008 fundraiser was bigger than ever, with over 500 people in attendance. Guests enjoyed the setting overlooking Horseshoe Cove and exciting auction items like "The Ultimate Bubble Q" a champagne barbecue with celebrity chef Tyler Florence. The event raised $570,000 for the museum.

In Tiburon, art lovers and friends of the Richardson Bay Audubon Center gathered at the Lyford House to view rare, life-size, hand-colored etchings by 19th-century wildlife artist John James Audubon.

At Cavallo Point, Friends of the Earth's Green Ball was a success, with over 300 people turning out for the fundraiser.