Air-kiss Alert: We interrupt this program for a breaking health bulletin -- all air-kiss greetings must cease-and-desist. STAT. As charming as this standard, soiree-set greeting is, in this Season of the Swine, we needto curtail this habit. How about this? Until the time of Hyacinths yet blooms again, why not supplant this social staple with a firm, yet fond, pat on the back? Or a thoughtful elbow squeeze? If the greet-ee is one the greet-er knows well, then throw in a double-joint squeeze. Until then? Mwah, mwah and pass the Purell.
Street Smarts 4Kids It’s the final days of Dine Out and Donate, the annual campaign in support of this organization which partners with SF restaurants to help homeless children get the assistance they need. Diners can leave a donation as small as $3 with their check at participating restaurants; 100 percent of those donations serve youth programs at Huckleberry Youth Programs, La Casa de las Madres and Larkin Street Youth Services. Through Nov. 15. Click here for participating restaurants.
Parkmerced’s Greenest Family Parkmerced is sponsoring a contest for its Eco-Home, a high-rise apartment within this rental community that has been completely renovated to reflect the latest in environmentally-friendly living strategies. A panel of judges will determine the Greenest Family in San Francisco from submitted entries and the winning family receives a year of rent-free living in this Eco-Home. The contest runs through December 15 and is open to all SF residents. A winner will be announced in January. See entry rules and information here. Information is available at the San Francisco Green Festival, Nov. 13-15, Concourse Exhibition Center, 8th and Brannan Sts., San Francisco. For more Eco-Home information, contact PJ Johnston: (415) 260-8417.
November 12:
St. Vincent de Paul Society The Most Rev. George Niederaurer, Archbishop of San Francisco, is the recipient of the Frank Brennan Award for Service to the Poor at the society’s annual Brennan Award Dinner. Honorary chairman: Glenn Murphy. Dinner co-chairwomen: Sharon McCarthy Allen, Joanne Murphy, Maryanne Murray. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 12. Patrons’ Hall, St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco. Tickets: $150. $500 (two patrons’ tickets). $1,500, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 (sponsor tables). (415) 977-1270, ext. 3018.
Glide Memorial Church Dr. Maya Angelou and Sen. Dianne Feinstein serve as Honorary co-chairwomen for Holiday Festival 2009: From the ‘Hood to the House which celebrates The Rev. Cecil Williams’ 45th anniversary at the helm of this community treasure. The evening features a cocktail buffet and live performances by Dr. Angelou, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, SF Opera Adler Fellows, Glide Ensemble and Change Band, and other special guests. Funds raised support Mo’s Kitchen and Glide’s community outreach programs. Event chairwoman: Amy Errett. 6 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 12. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Tickets: $500. $5,000-$25,000 (10 premium seating tickets). $50,000 and $100,000 (two premium Opera House boxes of eight). (415) 674-6072. Performance-only tickets: $75-$250. (415) 864-3330.
November 14:
Music in Schools Today The annual Celebrity Waiter Luncheon features local musicians and media mavens serving up the goods to music-loving patrons during this melodic lunch and live auction that raises funds for music and education programs at Bay Area schools. Honorary co-chairs: Mayor Gavin Newsom, SF Symphony maestro Michael Tilson Thomas, Lisa DeBartolo, Donn Miggs. 11 a.m. Sat., Nov. 14. Ana Mandara Restaurant, 831 Beach St., San Francisco. TIckets: $150. $250 (preferred seating); $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 sponsor tables of eight). (415) 392-9010.
November 18:
California Pacific Medical Center FoundationWishes for Wellness 2009 honors the work of Dr. Nadine Burke, Dr. Charles Cobbs and Dr. Lester Jacobson at this awards program and dinner-dance in support of funding critical needs for CPMC’s special medical services, departments and resource programs. Event co-chairs: Sloan Barnett, Sharmin Bock, Carol Bonnnie, Christopher Lenzo and Laura Pfaff. 6 p.m. Wed., Nov. 18. Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave., San Francisco. Tickets: $500. $1,000 (individual sponsor ticket). $10,000, $15,000 and $25,000 (sponsor tables of 10). $35,000 (two sponsor tables of 10). (415) 600-2766.
SF Conservatory of FlowersTropics, Treasures & Trains is the theme of this gala exhibition and cocktail buffet in support of the Conservatory’s conservation, education and garden programs. The gala heralds the launch of the Conservatory’s Golden Gate Express Garden Railway, a G-scale model train which traverses a miniature SF cityscape. Honorary chairmen: The Hon. Willie L. Brown, Jr., Harry Denton, Richard Goldman. Event co-chairs: Laine Buckingham, Hazel Kawaja. 6:30 p.m. Wed., Nov. 18. Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Tickets: $130. $250 (one Patron’s ticket, 5:30 p.m. entrance); $500 (two Patrons’ ticket, 5:30 p.m. entrance); $1,000 (four Patrons’ ticket, 5:30 p.m. entrance); $2,000 (six Patrons’ ticket, private cocktail reception and tour, 5:30 p.m. entrance). (415) 831-2093.
December 3:
Children of Shelters The Jingle & Mingle cocktail party and silent auction features one-of-a-kind holiday wreaths created by West Coast designers and artists to benefit this organization that supports children living in four San Francisco homeless shelters (Raphael House, St. Joseph's Village, Hamilton House, Compass Family Center). 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Event co-chairwomen: Serena Fairchild Sheldon, Summer Tompkins Walker, Lana Adair, Natasha Bradley, Heidi Castelein, Kate Sheridan Chung, Erin Lowenberg and Emily Martin. Presidio Officer’s Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, the Presidio, San Francisco. Tickets: $100. (415) 563-6082.
December 5:
Children of Shelters The fun continues at SantaFest, the annual family and children’s holiday party which features hands-on holiday art projects, gingerbread house decorating, photo-opps with Santa, more. 9 a..m.-noon. Dec. 5. Presidio Officer’s Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, the Presidio, San Francisco. Tickets: $75 per child; Adults are free. (415) 563-6082.
December 7:
Wender Weis Foundation for Children Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi and her husband, NHL great Bret Hedican, head up an all-star cast (including Oakland Raider Jon Alston, SJ Earthquakes’ Joe Cannon, 49ers Vernon Davis and Patrick Willis, Olympian Brandi Chastain and SF Giants' Brian Wilson) of local pro-athletes at the Holiday Heroes family celebration. This party supports the foundation’s work with at-risk youth and features costumed characters, holiday arts-and-crafts, face-painting, cookie-decorating, Santa photo opps, more. 5:30 p.m. December 7. Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop, the Presidio, San Francisco. Tickets: $185; $55 (accompanied children, ages 3-17). $350 (2 adults, 2 children). $400-$25,000 (sponsor levels). $50 (sponsorship for the attendance of an at-risk youth). (650) 321-4142.
December 9:
Fine Arts Museums of San FranciscoAn Elegant Evening in the Court of Honor is the Museums' Board of Trustees' annual black-tie, holiday dinner-dance; with music by the Earl Heckscher Orchestra. Event chairwomen: Dede Wilsey and Marion Cope. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Court of Honor, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, San Francisco. TIckets: $450; $350 (40 and younger); $4,000 (tables of 10). (415) 750-3518.
December 10:
Champion Charities The annual A Night at the Theater fundraiser features a family-friendly pre-party prior to a performance of Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. Proceeds benefit this organization (co-founded by NFL greats Harris Barton and Ronnie Lott) which supports Bay Area children and families-in need. 5:30 p.m. North Light Court, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco. The 8 p.m. performance follows nearby at the Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., San Francisco. Tickets: $500. $2,500 (six tickets to sponsor your preferred charitable group at this event). $5,000-$50,000 (sponsorship levels). (415) 235-6318.
