Ellen & Walter Newman

American Idyll

Time for a patriotic party or two—break out the bunting and grab a flag. Just got back from Washington, DC, where we share some serious representation in our nation’s capital. Let’s be grateful for five freedoms, twenty-four amendments, and a Congressional delegation of women whose rock-star status makes them known by their first names: Nancy, Dianne, Jackie, Anna, Lynn, Zoe, and two Barbaras; Abigail Adams’s admonition to “remember the ladies” is fully manifest in the halls of Congress, where the doo-wop happens when the girl groups convene, with one more being added to the Supremes.

The Founding Fathers have been joined by the Resounding Mothers, and all deserve our thanks for their service. As do the brave women and men who serve our country, and the families who support them. (Salute to Colonel Mike Linick in Baghdad!) As we celebrate the month of our nation’s birth, let’s celebrate the rebirth of patriotism, the pursuit of happiness, and the purpose of parties, political and otherwise. Raise a glass of red, or white, or (heaven forbid!) the nun that’s blue … and celebrate what these great people do.

Our Hero, Mr. Knightly

One of the Great People in our midst, Walter Newman, is sporting a discreet red rosette in his lapel, a gift from President Nikolas Sarkozy bestowed in the presence of President Obama on June 6. The occasion, the 65^th Anniversary of D-Day, recognized Newman for his distinguished wartime service on the beaches of Normandy with his induction as a Chevalier, or knight, of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction. The affable and understated Mr. Newman, known for his leadership in the founding of University High School, chairmanship of the Fine Arts Museums and National Brain Tumor Foundation, governor of the SF Symphony, co-chairmanship of SF Hospital’s Hearts in San Francisco (with double-dynamo wife Ellen), and many, many contributions to the philanthropic life of our fair city, has always been modest about his efforts on the battlefield and beyond. Fortunately, the French figured out what we’ve known all along—even though he’s now recognized as a knight, he has always been a prince among men. Vive le Chevalier!

Stern Grove Festival Gala—That’s What Friends Are For

Time stood still within the crystal confines of the clear tent nestled in the bottom of Stern Grove, where the seventy-two-years-young music festival began its gala season with a delightful Dionne-ified dinner dance chaired by the ultra-charming and ultra-capable Lisa Goldman. Her husband, Douglas, chairs the board of this beloved venue, which his great grandmother Rosalie Meyer Stern gifted to the city in honor of her husband Sigmund.

And what a gift it is to offer a summer schedule of top-notch talent to perform in this magical meadow for an audience that pays not a penny. And so the task of funding falls to the annual gala, where patrons “picnicked” on Dan McCall’s finest, admiring the earthly elegant Hunt-Littlefield décor and sharing summer plans. Amongst those roving the Grove were Mary & Harold Zlot, Theo Schwabacher, Fishers aplenty, with Bill & Sakurako, and Randi with sister Sally Palmer, Maria & Guy Muzio, Susan Moldaw, Betsy Matteson, Lisa Pritzker, Eliza & Dean Cash, Jane & Doug Wolf, Eve & Ross Jaffe, and naturally, more of the generous Goldman family of Richard, Marcia & John, and many of San Francisco’s finest. Even before the dessert was dished, dancers got down to the live sound of the divine Dionne Warwick—who reminded us What It’s All About in a sound as supple as ever—and remained filled until the final encore. As the crowd wandered along the way to San Jose and elsewhere, somewhere Rosalie and Sigmund surely were smiling.

Verbal Vernon and Designing Donna

San Francisco has fans from far and wide, and two traversed the flyovers to make their mark. The multifaceted Vernon Jordan, known for his groundbreaking work in the Civil Rights movement and his significant role in numerous Presidential administrations, met with the Monday Group (founded by Grace Prien, Diana Dalton, Chris Boskin, and Gretchen Leach) to introduce his new compendium of speeches. Admitting that it might be considered unusual to
publish what he considers his finest work in Make it Plain: Standing Up and Speaking Out, Jordan told the distinguished coterie (including Ann Caen, Wilkes Bashford, Howard Leach, and Michael Boskin) that he felt the need to reinforce the messages of tolerance, inclusion, and civic duty for which he is well known. Asked if he missed an official appointment in lieu of his current corner office at Lazard Freres, Jordan smiled, “The best cabinet post is on the kitchen cabinet.”

A few days later, designing woman Donna Karan teamed up with Neiman’s Fashion Director Ken Downing for a candid chat about chic clothes. Karan has always been a champion of strong women (remember her ads imagining a woman president twenty years ago?) and her Fall ’09 collection follows, ahem, suit. Recognizing that powerful women come in all shapes, Karan discussed her use of draping fabrics to accentuate the positive, strong shoulders and shape-defining belts to create a flattering silhouette, and skirts narrowing at the bottom to create a trimming effect. Even in these challenging times, she asserts in her New Yawk accent, “Clothes should celebrate the goddess you are.” Her use of rich cashmeres, leathers, crushed velvets, and satins conveys the “luxury of caring for yourself and serving others.” And, she noted, shopping helps everyone involved in the clothing and fashion industry. You go, Goddess Girl!

Jennifer Raiser loves her delightful, deliberative, decisive DC dames and our honorable