We asked You! And you responded!
The Gazette wanted to know the best of the best that the Bay Area offers in categories that Gazette readers cherish. Here are the results of your insightful, wise, distinguished, and sometimes funny or adorable (see the collection of some of our favorite responses at the end) votes for the best of what our Pacific paradise presents.
Private Jet Company
Winner: XOJet
Runners Up: NetJets, FlexJet
Caterer or Personal Chef
Winner: Dan McCall & Associates
Runners Up: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, Taste Catering, Fork & Spoon
Concierge
Winner: Sylvie Rivera at Millenium Towers
Runners Up: Any concierge at the Fairmont
“Gala” or Event for Elegance
Winner: Opera Ball
Runners Up: SF Ballet Opening Night Gala, Birth of Impressionism opening event at de Young Museum, Tipping Point Community Gala
“Gala” or Event for Creativity
Winner: SFMOMA 75th Anniversary Gala
Runners Up: Bouquets to Art at the de Young Museum, SF Zoo’s ZooFest, Mid-Winter Ball at the de Young Museum
Mixologist/Cocktailian
Winner: The Bon Vivants, Scott Baird and Josh Harris
Runners Up: Bartenders at Tosca, Bartenders at Balboa Café
Response to the Economy
Winner: Walking at Crissy Field
Runners Up: Buying Apple stock, Renting private Karaoke booth in Japantown
Day Spa
Winner: Nob Hill Spa
Runners Up: Spa Claremont, Spa at Cavallo Point, Osmosis at Freestone
Private Club
Winner: Olympic Club
Runners Up: Bohemian Club, Metropolitan Club
Limo Service
Winner: Bauer’s Limousine
Runners Up: Regency Limousine
Tradition
Winner: Bay to Breakers
Runners Up: Opera opening night, Pride Parade
Gala Date
Winner: Daru Kawalkowski
Runners Up: Kirsten Strobel, Frank Caufield, Justin Fichelson
Doorperson
Winner: Albert Tullis at the Huntington
Runners Up: James Wright at 1201 California, Tom Sweeney at Sir Francis Drake
Interior Design
Winner: Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design Associates
Runners Up: Jay Jeffers of Jeffers
Design Group, Suzanne Tucker, Nancy Van Natta
Martini
Winner: Quince
Runners Up: Bix, John’s Grill, Spruce
Make-up Artist
Winner: Robert Williams at Saks Fifth Avenue
Runners Up: Paige Boyer at Joseph Cozza, Jim Avila
Architect
Winner: Andrew Skurman
Runner Up: Lehrman Cameron Studio
Plastic Surgeon
Winner: Carolyn Chang
Runners Up: Randall B. Weil, William J. Wolfenden
Fashion Designer
Winner: Colleen Quen
Runners Up: Nice Collective,
Lily Samii
Lawyer
Winner: Guy Kornblum
Runners Up: Haig A. Harris, Jr., Robert Economidis, Barbara Moser
Hideaway
Winner: CordeValle
Runners Up: Nick’s Cove at Tomales Bay, Pelican Inn at Muir Beach, Inn at Mavericks at Half Moon Bay
Private Dining Room
Winner: Foreign Cinema
Runners Up: Quince, Kokari, Millenium Club Level Private Dining
Menu Item
Winner: Chicken for two at Zuni
Runners Up: French fries at NOPA, veggie burger at Bistro 69
Restaurant
Winner: Zuni
Runners Up: Frances, Bix, Waterbar
Romance Spot
Winner: Pier near the Ferry Building
Runners Up: Grace Marchant Gardens below Coit Tower, any rooftop in Nob Hill when it’s not foggy
Doctor
Winner: Laurie Green
Runners Up: Seth Matarasso, Victor Prieto
View
Winner: Top of the Mark
Runners Up: Skybridges at Mandarin Oriental, St. Francis Yacht Club, Starlight Room
Creative Invitation
Winner: Jillian Manus & Alan
Salzman’s Valentine’s Party
Runners Up: Pamala Deikel’s Fall Leopard Print Party Invite, brick of clay to SFMOMA’s event honoring Trustee Gerson Bakar
Sought-After Invitation
Winner: Getty Christmas Party
Personal Trainer
Winner: Jack Cooney
Runners Up: Derek Johnson, John Fernandez
Event Designer
Winner: Robert Fountain
Runners Up: Stanlee Gatti, Dominic Phillips Event Marketing, Lewis Sykes
After-Gala Venue
Winner: Le Club
Runners Up: The Big Four, Tosca Café
Art Dealer/Gallery
Winner: Modernism
Runners Up: Berggruen Gallery, Gallery Paule Anglim, Haines Gallery, Fraenkel Gallery
Gossip
Winner: Anything from Willie Brown
Additional Comments
Best Local Magazine: Nob Hill Gazette
(We couldn’t be more flattered!)
