Legion of Honor The Fine Arts Museums presents Cartier and America, a centennial exhibition celebrating the House of Cartier (“king of jewelers and jeweler to kings,”) which feature exquisite pieces of Cartier jewelry and objets from private collections which were created during the era of the Belle Époque through the 1970s. Opens Dec. 19. California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, 34th Ave. and Clement St., San Francisco. (415) 750-3600.
December 1:
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Foundation The Holiday Hob Nob on the Hill is a progressive party featuring a cocktail buffet in the Venetian Room, a seated dinner and live auction in the Gold Room followed by dessert and dancing to the the tunes of the Rich Martini Orchestra back in the Venetian Room. The evening benefits the hospital’s Bothin Burn Center. 6 p.m. Dec. 1. Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St., San Francisco. Tickets: $375. $750 and $1,250 (sponsor tickets); $3,000, $6,000 and $10,000 (sponsor tables of 8). (415) 353-6848 or here.
December 3:
Meals on Wheels of San Francisco A concert celebrating the release of Christmas on Pine Mountain, a new CD by artist Michelle Schmitt, benefits this organization which delivers to more than 900,000 meals to homebound seniors throughout the year. 8 p.m. Dec. 3. Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley. Tickets: $20. $100 (includes a CD and a pre-concert VIP cocktail reception at 6:45 p.m.). Tickets: here.
San Francisco Opera The SF Opera Guild hosts ‘Tis the Season, the annual holiday celebration featuring a holiday-themed silent auction and cocktail buffet in support of free, live opera performances at Bay Area shelters, hospitals, hospices and senior centers. Event co-chairwomen: Gail Anderson, Kirsten Callahan. 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Alexandra’s, St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell St., San Francisco. Tickets: $150. $225, $500, $1,000 and $5,000 (sponsor levels). (415) 565-3204.
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). Event co-chairwomen: Serena Fairchild Sheldon, Summer Tompkins Walker, Lana Adair, Natasha Bradley, Heidi Castelein, Kate Sheridan Chung, Erin Lowenberg and Emily Martin. 6 p.m. Dec. 3. 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 ChildrenHoliday Heroes 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 Brian Wilson of the Giants) of local pro-athletes at this family holiday celebration. This family celebration supports the foundation’s work with at-risk youth and features costumed characters, holiday arts-and-crafts, face-painting, cookie-decorating, Santa photo opps and 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 8:
Global Green Actress Kate Bosworth co-hosts the Gorgeous & Green fundraiser which features a seated Patrons’ dinner (5:30 p.m.) created by Iron Chef Mourad Lahlou and Aziza chef Louis Maldonado followed by a cocktail party, eco fashion show and art exhibition of works by Sage Vaughn in support of this organization’s Rebuild New Orleans Green initiative. Event co-chairwomen: Zem Joaquin and Nadine Weil. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8. The Bently Reserve, 301 Battery St., San Francisco. $250 (general admission at 7:30 p.m.). $1,000 (includes a VIP party); $2,500 and $5,000 (Patrons’ dinner and VIP party); $25,000 (Patrons’ dinner table of 10 and VIP party). Tickets: 415.681.1049.
December 9:
Edgewood Center for Children and Families A special evening at ODC’s performance of The Velveteen Rabbit benefits this organization. The evening includes a pre-performance family dinner and reception at 5 p.m. prior to the 6 p.m. curtain. Dec. 9. Event co-chairwomen: Milly Hanley, Jeannette Harris, Annabel McClellan. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., San Francisco. Tickets: (415) 682-3215.
Fine Arts Museums of San FranciscoAn Elegant Evening in the Court of Honor is the 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 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.
