On the Scene

SNAPSHOTS FROM SPECIAL EVENTS IN MARIN AND SAN FRANCISCO EDITED BY DANIEL JEWETT

Eric Bindelglass, Kim Mazzuca, Gabrielle Tierney, Elizabeth and Thomas Tierney Marco Acosta, Carlos Avalos and Tony Nethercutt

Amy Barad, Yuri Izrailevsky, Kate Karniouchina and Adrienne Kelley

• 10,000 DEGREES: ONE AMAZING NIGHT GALA Guests enjoyed cocktails, appetizers and dinner by chef Heidi Krahling April 30 at the Marin Civic Center as they heard stories of opportunity as told by 10,000 Degrees students.

• 100MARIN More than 300 attended the philanthropic event held March 10 at the Buck Institute in Novato. The top award went to the Wednesday’s Gift program. • MARIN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL With a Havana Nights theme, the annual fundraising event brought more than 1,000 supporters to the Marin Civic Center March 12.

Top row: Kate Weigel, Cassandra Falby, Alison Gause, Regan Fedric, Devereaux Smith, Charlotte Maxwell, Jin Kim, Cathryn Couch and Colleen Kleier. Bottom row: Mireya Segura, Sandra Nathan, Judith Harkins, Cindi Cantril, Vera Packard, Kathleen Woodcock, Cecile Gregorio Ascalon and Fern Orenstein Wendy Barbaria and Linda Blum

• TO CELEBRATE LIFE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION Foundation grants totaling $300,000 were distributed among 16 Bay Area nonprofit organizations March 28 at Ristorante Servino in Tiburon.

• SONOMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Attendees enjoyed films, wines and delicious food March 30–April 3, all within walking distance of Sonoma Plaza.

Christie Lynn Smith and John Fortson Lia and Blaine Transue

adlib MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP

Mariena Mercer,

chef mixologist at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

As Chef Mixologist for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Mariena Mercer creates cocktails for the award-winning beverage program. At the helm of one of the largest fresh beverage programs, she oversees creation, education and everything that falls in between.

What makes your program noteworthy?

The cocktail program at The Cosmopolitan stands out due to the quality of the ingredients and the massive scale on which we deliver. The creativity and autonomy I’m given really are special and unique in a program of this size: I design cocktails for 13 different property venues and the casino floor. We have a beverage production kitchen with amazing chefs who execute recipes for house-made syrups, purees, bitters and infusions, and juicers who juice around the clock for fresh mixers.

Eva Claiborne, owner at Eva Claiborne Beauty & Wellness

Born in Hungary — land of wellness and spas — I’ve always been obsessed with finding the most effective skin care regiments. Here in Tiburon, as a certified aesthetician having trained throughout Europe, I offer my clients both traditional (lymphatic massage) techniques and new technologies (such as Hydrafacial).

Briefly describe your business philosophy.

I feature a high-end service with effective products. My treatments have to work; otherwise my clients won’t come back. I’ve been in business for 35 years — I think it’s working.

What is your competitive edge?

My experience has provided valuable exposure to the latest in advanced antiaging skin care therapies, focusing on areas such as fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, rosacea, acne, hydration and exfoliation.

Describe your dream client/customer.

My dream client follows my skin care advice. Coming for his or her regular professional treatments and using a skin care regimen at home, so together we can achieve the best results: healthy, beautiful and rejuvenated skin.

What is your background?

I’ve always been fascinated with alchemy. I studied chemistry in college and have a love for the culinary arts. At my first job in the industry I was dubbed “Tequila Goddess.” I spent quite a bit of time in the town of Tequila and throughout the Jalisco region of Mexico, studying at different distilleries. When I returned to the States, I began consulting on bar programs and participating in competitions where I was able to home in on my personal cocktail style.

Recommend one cocktail that is a must at The Cosmopolitan?

The Verbena has been the most popular cocktail, by far, although it does not formally appear on any menu and is known only by word of mouth. Served exclusively inside the Chandelier, it’s a margarita of blanco tequila, yuzu, kalamansi, lemon and ginger garnished with a Szechuan flower, or “buzz button.” The flower is a natural alkaloid that speeds up your salivary glands giving the guest a tingly feeling in their tongue and making them a super taster. Each sip of the cocktail is different as the flower changes the flavor profile sip after sip, creating a very unique drinking experience.

THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS, 3708 LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD SOUTH, LAS VEGAS, COSMOPOLITANLASVEGAS.COM

What (or who) were you going to be when you grew up?

I realized the importance of skin care and chose to study it right after high school. I earned my master’s degree in skin care in 1983.

Which product or service (that you offer) is your favorite?

Currently my favorite products are Omorovicza and Germaine de Capuccini, and I am one of only a few aestheticians offering the Hydrafacial treatments. I love the results I’ve seen with it.

What makes you excel at your business?

I love what I do.

EVA CLAIBORNE BEAUTY & WELLNESS, 86 B MAIN STREET, TIBURON, 415.435.4326, EVACLAIBORNE@GMAIL.COM, TIBURONSKINCARE.COM