Scene Magazine South Bay Fall 2010 by MediaNews Group Targeted Products

THE SILICON VALLEY WOMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE TO STYLE

Champions of the arts The women behind the wine Should you get a tummy tuck?

Show-stopping looks for special occasions

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table of contents

84 78

features fall beauty 62 Make an Entrance! Show-stopping looks for special occasions. By Donna Kato and Joanne Ho-Young Lee

71 Master of the Drape: Q&A with designer Tadashi Shoji By Donna Kato

74 Camera-Ready? Tips for evening hair and makeup, and where to get them done. By Donna Kato

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91 62

icons: the arts 78 The Party Girl For one night a year, Anne Sconberg turns San Jose into the hub of hip. By Julia Prodis Sulek

84 Action Heroine Tamara Alvarado’s bridge-building superpowers lift the South Bay arts scene. By Julia Prodis Sulek. Photos by Patrick Tehan

special report 91 Women of the Vine Increasingly, women play big roles in local wineries – and it’s more than what goes in the bottle. It’s a way of life. We talk to the women of Byington, Clos LaChance, and Martin Ranch. By Bonnie Wach. Photos by Maria Ávila López.

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FALL 2010 • SCENE • 11

table of contents

departments

47 Beauty Report Is a tummy tuck for you? Plus, a look at noninvasive alternatives. By Donna Kato

54 The Interview

23 The Insider The season’s top trends, high-end consignment shopping. By Stephanie Simons

31 Indulge Charms: Talismans, tokens, trinkets – by any name, we fall under their spell. By Crystal Chow

Career coach Chris Melching on taking command of the room, your work – and your life. By Melinda Sacks. Photos by Nikki Ritcher

100 Getaways The Ritz at Northstar in Tahoe takes luxury to a new level. By Bonnie Wach

128 Seen

37 Shop Talk Filoli’s gift shop is a gem. By Crystal Chow

41 Body & Soul Christine Carter on what it takes for kids – and the rest of us – to be happy. By Melinda Sacks

home & design 106 Haute Stuff Must-haves for outdoor living. By Kristine M. Carber

Entertaining ideas at Bloomingdale’s, fashion aficionados at Santana Row and more.

130 Scene calendar, plus enter and win! What’s coming up, and our reader contests.

54 116 111 At the Table Baumé Restaurant’s Bruno Chemel. By Kristine M. Carber

116 Interiors Garen and Shari Staglin’s family estate in the Rutherford wine region is both showplace and comfortable home. By Charles Neave

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TH OR MORE.* ST, LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER

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Josie Lepe

Time to take a leap Though autumn is some weeks away, for many of us summer is over and it’s time to send kids off to school, update fall wardrobes – and get back to work. And at work, it’s also time to dream big, and think seriously about what we want. The biggest mistake women in the workplace make is not reaching high enough, says Chris Melching, a Bay Area executive coach who helps professional women effectively sell themselves and their ideas. “If you don’t put your hat in the ring, you won’t get a chance,” she says in our interview with her on Page 54. “You have to stand in your own essence, and take a leap.” It’s tough to focus on the big picture when we’re just trying to get the day’s work done and dinner on the table. But Melching and others like her make very clear that it’s critical for women to focus on what they want, go get it and stop apologizing for it. Some of this involves developing confidence and leadership skills and learning how to project them, and Melching suggests ways we can do this. The hard part, though, can be figuring out what we want in the first place, and sticking with our goal. This is where coaching can be useful, but what if we don’t have an executive coach? Cultivate your very own advisory board, says Melching. Not just gal pals who can answer “Does this make me look fat?” but a network of supporters who can listen to what we say we want, help us refine our message and communication styles, and challenge and push us. The women we profile in this issue likely have such a “board” – friends, family, mentors or a combination. Driven, strong and polished, women such as Anne Sconberg, Tamara Alvarado, Thérèse Martin, and the Clos LaChance and Byington families dream big and are tenacious in pursuit of their goals. I hope you enjoy their stories – and are as inspired as I was to reach a bit higher.

iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Katharine Fong Editor & Publisher

Join us! Holiday issue publishing November 19 Glamour, gifts and giving back FALL 2010 • SCENE • 15

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Scene Katharine Fong Editor & Publisher

Rebecca Hall-Lucero Art Director Donna Kato Contributing Fashion & Beauty Editor Crystal Chow, Julia Prodis Sulek Contributing Writers Joanne Ho-Young Lee, Patrick Tehan Contributing Photographers Rebecca Parr Copy Editor Scene Magazine Vol. 2, No. 2, copyright 2010 by the Bay Area News Group. All rights reserved. Material herein may not be reprinted without expressed written consent of the publisher. Make sure you receive every issue of Scene Magazine. Email scene@mercurynews.com, or write to Scene Magazine, 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190. Visit us at SceneBayArea.com

contributors Nikki Ritcher, a Colorado native, studied photography at Savannah College of Art and Design. She was sole photographer for various publications in the Southeast before moving to the Bay Area, where she pursues commercial work and wedding photography. Stephanie Simons’ fashion and beauty writing has appeared in C magazine, DailyCandy, PaperCity, La Garçonne and other national publications. She has interviewed style celebs from Manolo Blahnik to Carré Otis, and appears on television as a style authority. Bonnie Wach is the former editor of Design For Living Magazine and Napa Sonoma, and is a regular contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Her writing has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Time Out and the New York Times Magazine, among others. FALL 2010 • SCENE • 17

P A I D

A D V E R T I S I N G

This technology, known as the Acrysof ReSTOR lens, is one of the biggest breakthroughs in cataract surgery in the last decade.

s the space shuttle Discovery carried the rotor that he helped design and develop to the space station Ben Murach had his mind on another type of space: his immediate environment. For more than 30 years Ben Murach had been wearing glasses or contact lenses to see objects at near and far distances. A recent advance in eye surgery allowed him to eliminate glasses and contact lenses permanently. This technology, known as the Acrysof ReSTOR lens, is one of the biggest breakthroughs in cataract surgery in the last decade. “I don’t need my glasses or contact lenses for reading, working at my computer or driving,” said Ben Murach. He was convinced to have cataract surgery performed by Dr. Randal Pham, founder of Aesthetic & Refractive Surgery Medical Center, after meeting Odine Wiens, who wore glasses since she was 5 years old. Odine Wiens who just retired from her 20-year job as a child nutrition assistant at Evergreen school district, had the procedure done by Dr. Pham more than one year ago. “My grandson asked me why I don’t wear glasses anymore?” said Odine Wiens. “I told him ‘grandma had eye surgery and doesn’t need to wear glasses’ and he said ‘but grandma always wear glasses; if she doesn’t wear

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order to place a man-made lens inside the capsule. If the capsule is broken during the procedure and there is a large tear in the capsule the substance that normally stays behind the capsule moves forward. This substance is called vitreous. When this happens, the surgeon cannot place the man-made lens inside the capsule where the natural lens normally sits; the surgeon may place a different type of lens either in the corner between the iris and the capsule or in front of the iris. These lenses are called sulcus-fixated if they are placed in the corner between the iris and the capsule. If they are placed in front of the iris they are called anterior chamber lenses. When sulcus-fixated or anterior chamber lenses are used because their locations are not where the natural lens sits, the resulted power of the eye may differ from the calculated power which was measured before the surgery with the natural lens sitting inside the capsule. This difference in the calculated power and the resulted power may cause patients to require glasses or contact lenses after surgery. Ashley Stice, representative of Alcon Inc., the manufacturer of the Acrysof ReSTOR lens, confirms that of more than 150 Acrysof ReSTOR lenses implanted by Dr. Randal Pham, there has been no conversion to sulcus-fixated lens or anterior chamber lens implanted. “It is of utmost importance that you choose the right surgeon for this procedure,” said Odine Wiens. Ben Murach agreed: “You only have two eyes; for a procedure that requires exceptional skills and knowledge of refractive surgery I did extensive research to find a surgeon who is competent in both lasik and cataract surgeries.”

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@alum

ham randalp

glasses she can’t be grandma’,” laughed Odine Wiens. The human lens is like a camera lens. It helps focus light onto the retina, which is like the film of the camera. The human lens is made up of mostly water and protein. The protein lets light pass through and focus on the retina. As the eye ages the protein clumps together and starts to cloud a small area of the lens. The clumps also make the lens hardened; this hardening of the human lens causes people to have difficulty seeing up close. This loss of ability to see up close is called presbyopia. The cloudy area in the human lens is called a cataract. For years surgeons across the U.S. removed cataracts and implanted manmade lens to replace the natural lens. This procedure is called cataract surgery. “This is one of the safest procedures performed in the U.S. today,” said Dr. Pham. Each year millions of Americans undergo cataract surgeries across the U.S. Patients who undergo conventional cataract surgery still need to wear reading glasses after surgery. Because the Acrysof ReSTOR lens works like progressive glasses patients who have this lens can perform most daily activities without any glasses. “To implant the Acrysof ReSTOR lens, however, requires very precise and skillful work,” said Dr. Pham. Because patients who undergo implantation of the Acrysof ReSTOR lens have high expectations-they expect to be less dependent on glasses after the procedure, measurements made before the surgery and the surgery itself must be extremely accurate. The natural lens of a normal eye stays in a clear sac called the capsule. To remove the cataract, the surgeon first makes an opening in the capsule. The surgeon then removes the cataract from the capsule using ultrasound. The surgeon must save the capsule in

*An independent study found 85% of patients who received the Acrysof ReSTOR intraocular lens never had to wear glasses. Mrs. Odine Wiens and Mr. Ben Murach are actual patients of Dr. Randal Pham. Neither of them receives any monetary compensation for their testimonials. This ad was reviewed and approved by the Medical Board of California.

Scene Mac Tully President & Publisher Bay Area News Group

Michael Turpin Vice President, Advertising & Marketing Bay Area News Group John Stoeser Director, Community Information & Targeted Delivery Bay Area News Group Ginny Banuelos Director, Retail Advertising Bay Area News Group Steve Weimer Targeted Publications Director Monica Balistreri Product Manager cissi Holmgren-Kates Advertising Production Manager Timothy Tsun & Ad Services Advertising Design For advertising information, call (408) 920-5793. Copyright 2010 Bay Area News Group.

scene advisory board Karie Bennett Founder Atelier Aveda Salonspa and Atelier Studio at Santana Row

Kalpana Trivadi CEO World Information Network

Julie Kelly Director of Marketing and Business Development Stanford Shopping Center

Laura Vestal Marketing Director Westﬁeld Valley Fair

collette navarrette West Coast Marketing Manager Federal Realty - Santana Row Amanda Sinclair Strategic Account Manager Future Electronics

Monica Balistreri Product Manager Scene Magazine Ginny Banuelos Director, Retail Advertising Bay Area News Group

nanci Williams Founder/CEO Orloff/Williams Lily Yacobi CEO Sarah and David Interactive

Donna Kato Contributing Fashion & Beauty Editor Scene Magazine

fall 2010 • Scene • 19

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the insider plush texture AP/Richard Drew

Especially in accessories such as furry shoes, hats and handbags. zac posen

from runway to valley Key trends and cool pieces for fall. For evening looks, see Page 62.

zac posen

By Stephanie Simons

gap

denim on denim

sophisticated shapes

A trim jacket in an inky rinse necessitates distressed skinnies and sky-high heels.

Think tailored, ladylike silhouettes you can wear for a lifetime.

eclectic prints

camel color Classic camel returns in a full spectrum of shades perfect for an autumnal jaunt around Napa Valley.

Go for bold in visually arresting prints, but be careful not to overembellish this fresh, feminine look.

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michael stars

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the insider

Consignment shopping tip: Ignore sizes. Designer items run differently, and a little tailoring goes a long way to make a one-of-a-kind find flattering for your figure.

the way we wore A bevy of high-end consignment boutiques are forever changing the way women indulge in designer clothing and accessories. Here’s a rundown of our runway-centric favorites and their fashion-forward owners. By Stephanie Simons Photos by Edwin Suarez and Nikki Ritcher

Consignment shopping tip: Ask to get on a wish list — this will give you the opportunity to buy the best pieces before they ever hit the rack.

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Julie Painchaud makes house calls to check out customers’ closets.

Our Secret BOUTIQUE Our Secret OWNER: Julie Painchaud LABEL LOVE: Chanel, Gucci, Armani, Versace, Ferragamo, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Chloé, Marc Jacobs HOT FINDS: Jewelry by John Hardy, David Yurman and Lois Hill, plus boutique clothing lines Babette and Misook DON’T MISS: The denim room, stocked with 7 For All Mankind, Dolce&Gabbana and Façonnable, plus cozy warm-ups by Juicy Couture and Ralph Lauren. RÉSUMÉ: Fashion coach/ public speaker/former model who opened her first perfume and cosmetics store in 1969. “While visiting Santa Monica on vacation, I found a darling consignment shop and fell in love with the whole concept. I asked to speak to the owner, took her to lunch and the rest is history!” RETAIL RHAPSODY: “I love not knowing what will come through the door next … and visiting someone’s closet in Pebble Beach, San Francisco or Palm Springs [on house call] is always exciting. It’s like working in a candy store.” NEW ARRIVALS: Daily. Consignments accepted by appointment. EXTRAS: In-store cocktail parties and cherry-picked home décor (items are only accepted if they complement the shop’s Victorian setting). SHOP TO IT: “One of the more unusual pieces to cross my path was a cross brooch by Chanel — it was signed, and the stones were brilliant green and red with pearl clusters in a gold setting. It sold so fast.” 1115 Minnesota Ave., San Jose, 408.289.9290, oursecretconsignment.com

Our Secret features a Victorian setting.

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the insider

Mohana More says her shop is for “stylish women who want to get away from the ‘cookie-cutter’ look.”

Plumeria BOUTIQUE Plumeria OWNER Mohana More LABEL LOVE Hermès, Burberry, Ferragamo, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Chanel, Kate Spade COOL FINDS Vintage dresses, hats and brooches dating back to the 1940s and 1950s RÉSUMÉ: A web designer by profession, More handled marketing and design for company websites; she was in the process of starting a home furnishings business when she discovered a consignment store for sale and fell in love. RETAIL RHAPSODY “I’ve always had a keen eye for colors, styles and design. [My store] is for stylish women who want to get away from the ‘cookie-cutter’ look, and a lot of my customers are women who own their own businesses in the Bay Area.” NEW ARRIVALS Daily. Consignments accepted all day (during store hours). EXTRAS Online shopping, in-store makeovers and fashion shows. SHOP TO IT “Plumeria isn’t a typical consignment store where you find only very expensive brand names or vintage items — we cater to every woman and every occasion. People shop here on a regular basis.” 714 Villa St., Mountain View, 650.964.3749, www.plumeria.us.com

Répéter BOUTIQUE Répéter OWNERS Sisters Kara and Kellee Breaux LABEL LOVE Everything from Target and Gap to Prada and Gucci. HOT FINDS Coveted Juicy Couture and Michael Stars tees, designer shoes and like-new cocktail dresses. RÉSUMÉ Kellee is a schoolteacher who is involved in the boutique’s business operations; Kara is an accountant who keeps the books. RETAIL RHAPSODY “[We] get very excited to pull that next piece out of the bag! [We] love getting dressed in the morning and want our customers to feel the same. Only 10 percent of the items that come into the store are accepted.” NEW ARRIVALS Daily. Consignments taken by appointment only. EXTRAS Personal shopping, wardrobe consultation at home or in-store, girls’ night, book club, private winetasting events. SHOP TO IT “[We] love the idea of reusing and recycling, and it makes shopping here that much more interesting. You never know what treasure you’ll find, but it doesn’t have to consist of digging through racks and racks of clothes. … Look for items that flatter your shape but might need minor, inexpensive tailoring.” 308 State St., Los Altos, 650.949.1323, www.repeterconsignment.com

Kellee Breaux, below, and her sister are selective – they accept only 10 percent of what comes in.

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Afterwards’ luxe inventory moves quickly.

Afterwards BOUTIQUE Afterwards OWNERS Husband and wife Bob and Katie Hanson LABEL LOVE Balenciaga, Chanel, Prada, YSL HOT FINDS Manolo Blahnik shoes, Chloé and Hermès handbags, of-the-moment denim by Rock & Republic and True Religion RÉSUMÉ The Hansons worked as managers and buyers for Polo and Ralph Lauren boutiques. They met at the Stanford Shopping Center Polo store in Palo Alto. RETAIL RHAPSODY “Michael Keaton has shopped here [for men’s clothing], and we’ve had some famed pieces come in — the same Oscar de la Renta design that Reese Witherspoon wore to the Oscars.” NEW ARRIVALS Daily. Consignments taken by appointment only. SHOP TO IT “Shop early and often because on any given day amazing things come in. The best shoppers come in once a week or more and get to know the staff. If we know what you’re looking for, we’ll keep you in mind and recognize the items you’ll love when they come in.” 1159 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 866.238.7937, www.afterwards.com

Shop early and often for the best deals.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 27

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fall 2010 • Scene • 29

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indulge

charming Talismans, tokens, trinkets. By any name, we fall under their spell No one knows who created the first charms to be used as jewelry. But as long as there’s been a record of female adornment, there have been examples of these little ornaments that intimately reflect a woman’s taste — and often her life story By Crystal Chow

Charms by Aaron Basha, starting at $1,600, at Heller Jewelers.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 31

From left: airplane charm in diamonds, 18-karat yellow and white gold, $1,500; cupcake charm with blue and pink sapphires and tsavorites in 18-karat yellow and white gold, $1,500; boat charm with diamonds, sapphires, platinum and enamel, $1,200, at Tiffany & Co.

Platinum charm bracelet with diamonds, colored gemstones, carved turquoise and citrine, $65,000 at Tiffany & Co.

18-karat yellow gold Umi pendant with diamonds pavé, $1,929 at Tous.

18-karat white gold Fetiches teddy bear pendants with black diamonds pavé, $665; brown diamonds pavé, $629; and diamonds, $885, at Tous.

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Bead of black mother-of-pearl set in sterling silver, $50; dangle bead with fresh-water pearl with cubic zirconia top surrounded in 14-karat gold and sterling silver, $65; sterling silver dangle stiletto, $30; bead charm bracelet, $1,080, at Pandora.

indulge Charms by Aaron Basha, starting at $1,600, at Heller Jewelers.

Zable charms, $16.99 to $39.99 each, and sterling silver bracelet, $49, at Garden of Gems.

18-karat yellow/rose gold Mimi So chain link bracelet, $4,850; charms $480 to $1,380 each, all at Lustre Pearls & Gems.

Happy diamond bracelet with floating diamonds set in 18-karat gold by Chopard, $11,400 at CH Premier Jewelers.

Happy fish charm bracelet with rubies, blue and yellow sapphires set in 18-karat white gold by Chopard, $8,740 at CH Premier Jewelers.

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indulge Where to buy Zable charms, $16.99 to $39.99 each, with sterling silver bracelets, $49 each; sterling silver lariat with handblown Venetian beads, $219, at Garden of Gems.

Caratti Jewelers (carries Pandora) 1883 Second St., Livermore 925.447.2381, www.carattijewelers.com CH Premier Jewelers Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 1235, Santa Clara 408.983.2688, www.chpremier.com Flying Lizard Design 356 Santana Row, San Jose 408.244.8950, www.flyinglizard.com Garden of Gems 2235 San Pablo Ave., Pinole 510.741.5400 Heller Jewelers 2005 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 168, San Ramon, 925.904.0200, www.hellerjewelers.com Lustre Pearls & Gems Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 1099, Santa Clara 408.296.3686, www.lustrepearls.com Pandora Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 1040, Santa Clara 408.615.1417, www.pandora.net

18-karat gold vermeil, pearl and blue chalcedony bracelet, $189 at Flying Lizard Design.

Tiffany & Co. 1119 S. Main St., Walnut Creek 925.939.6300, www.tiffany.com Also: 149 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, 650.328.2552 Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 1247, Santa Clara 408.243.7771 Tous Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 2550, Santa Clara 408.247.7671, https://tous-shop.com

One-of-a-kind, high-end charms often can be found at shops that sell antique or estate jewelry. Look online for shops near you and call or stop by to browse their inventory. One place to try: Estates Consignment, 1500 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 925.682.6800.

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SOLD

E S TAT E G R OW N W I N E S

C E L E B R AT E D R E S TAU R A N T

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U N F O R G E T TA B L E W E D D I N G S

OUT

CHAMPIONSHIP G OLF

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shop talk

Kerry Hiroshi Paul

filoli garden shop A seasonal treasure From left: The gardens and mansion are the draw, but don’t miss the garden shop. Of particular note: tabletop treasures; Filoli-sourced honey, vinegars and dip and soup mix; and plants galore.

86 Cañada Road, Woodside 650.364.8300 www.filoli.org

With its acres of formal gardens and a stately mansion built almost 100 years ago, Filoli in Woodside represents the epitome of privileged living. TV viewers, in fact, saw Filoli in “Dynasty’s” opening credits. The estate is accessible to the public during the months when flowers, shrubs and trees are abloom (this year through Oct. 24), and a visit must include a stop at the garden shop. Located in the carriage house next to the main home, it is a charming “mini everything store,’’ according to manager Cat Bishop. That means housewares, tabletop treasures, clothing, gifts and foodstuffs — all reflective of the season. Filoli-sourced items such as honey, vinegars and dip and soup mixes are especially popular, Bishop says. Straw hats and pretty scarves are also perennial favorites. Speaking of perennials, most of the plants for sale in the courtyard represent varieties growing here. So if, say, you happen to fall in love with the pots of brilliant-yellow pocketbook plants lined up outside the visitors center, pick up a Calceolaria herbeohybrida to add to your home version of Filoli. —Crystal Chow

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 37

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NOV 8 2 3 2 FALL 2010 • SCENE • 39

Before

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After

body & soul

iStockphoto/Thinkstock

learning joy Christine Carter on what it takes for kids — and their parents — to get happy, and why we should By Melinda Sacks

Learning to be happy is like learning a foreign language, says UC Berkeley sociologist Christine Carter. Anyone can learn the skill set. Some just need more practice than others. A self-described anxious and overly emotional child, Carter says she wasn’t naturally happy. In fact, she remembers in great detail the painful morning rides on the school bus where she was taunted for her frizzy hair and buck teeth. Often she was the target of mean kids who would pelt her with berries during the interminably long ride to the last bus stop where she grew up in Orinda. Today at 38, she is a nationally renowned expert on what it takes to raise happy children. And yes, she says, she has learned to be happy. The author of “Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps

for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents,” Carter holds a doctorate in sociology. She is the executive director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, which sponsors research into social and emotional well-being. Her popular blog, “Raising Happiness,” melds science and her own experiences with parenting advice, practical suggestions and empathy for 21st-century parents struggling with issues from bullying to chores to teenage moods. She is a regular on morning news shows and “Oprah” and on the Huffington Post. The divorced mother of two daughters, 7 and 9, Carter has wrestled with many of the demons that can make mothers (and fathers, too) and their children unhappy, including financial pressures and divorce. Happiness is not about having a perfect life, or being a perfect parent,

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 41

she explains, adding, “It is never too late to become a happier person, even if you had an unhappy childhood yourself.” From her home in the East Bay, Carter took time out from her hectic schedule to talk about what science proves all of us can do to live a happier life, and raise happy children.

of inﬂuence over. We can teach it and practice it and get into patterns of thought and behavior that will inﬂuence our happiness for a lifetime. We think our children are born with the capacity to be cheerful or happy, and it’s not that this isn’t true, but happiness can also be taught like a foreign language, and just like a foreign language, it needs to be practiced.

Christina Koci Hernandez

You suggest that evHow did you become ery night at the dina happiness expert? ner table each family I started my career in member names three marketing, really specialthings they are grateizing in innovation and ful for (“the three creativity. I went to get Gs”). What do you my degree in sociology, advise families who and I was still interested don’t have the luxury in that line of inquiry. of sitting down toThen I had children, and gether? it moved my whole focus This book is full of from how can companies ideas, and no one needs be more innovative to the to implement them all. important question for Sociologist Christine Carter says that just like a foreign language, happiness can be taught and needs to be practiced. The suggestions are me: How do social strucbased on science that tures like the family elicit happiness? I started looking at the sociology, psychology shows if you do any of them, you will be happier. If the three Gs don’t work, you can do mindfulness while drivand neuroscience of happiness. Then my oldest started kindergarten, and I would ing your kids to school (see related story). You have to meet other parents picking up their children. What hap- implement what works for your family. pened was this great mom-to-mom dialogue, where I would arrive every day, and they would have questions, Often teens are resistant to things like the three and I would go back and do the research on what was af- gratitudes exercise. What can parents of teens fecting us as moms. That is how it went from academic do to practice some of your suggestions and not start World War III in the process? inquiry to discussion between parents. I call some teenagers gratitude resisters. For teens, What is the primary thing you have discovered it is their developmental tactic to reject what their parparents do that causes an obstacle to their own ents are doing. They will still be watching you, though. You can model the skills they are going to need later and their children’s happiness? They try to be perfect. They worry too much about in life. If you go shopping when you feel sad, they will how they are parenting and whether they are giving their learn to go shopping when they feel sad, which is not children all the right things. It is a mistake to think we a behavior you want to promote. It is really important can raise our children free from pain, and that struc- to model the 10 steps outlined (in the book) yourself. tured activities are what they need. We think if we just They will do what you do, eventually. Second, teenagers have a lot of powerful emotions, structure every minute of every day with lessons and classes, they will be successful, and if they are success- and they can drown a family in their emotions. It is ful they will be happy. Children have what they need to very important for parents to take care of their own be happy within them if they can just let it out. If we emotions — exercise, eat well, and that will spread to protect them from childhood, they become very brittle. the teens and they will see that. Even if kids are not participating or are openly objecting, if you go on talkThen they think if they fall down, they can’t get up. ing about what makes you feel grateful, it makes them Tell us about “Raising Happiness” and what you feel happier and they are learning from it. They are learning to express gratitude in a speciﬁc, meaningful hope readers will gain from it. The meta theme is that happiness is much better way, not in a global sense of, “I am grateful for clean thought of as a skill or set of skills we have a huge amount air to breathe.”

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body & soul Psychologist Judith Wallerstein has written extensively on the devastating impact of divorce on children. How did you decide to get a divorce knowing how it might affect your kids, and how did you minimize the damage? I looked at all the research very carefully. ... Judith Wallerstein’s research is a lot of hooey. Her population is made up mostly of families who have someone already in therapy for a mental illness. This is not transferable to the rest of the population. We do have great research on marriage and divorce, and conflict seems to be the linchpin. For kids in high-conflict relationships, it is very damaging. If you get divorced and the conflict in your family goes up, the divorce will be very difficult, but if you get divorced and the conflict goes down, the children will come out ahead. Divorce is very, very difficult for children any way you look at it, but I was in the fortunate position where I could stabilize a lot of factors — the conflict went way down, we didn’t have to move, they stayed in the same schools. I felt I was able to manage.

Deciding to get divorced is a huge decision, but every day we make smaller decisions that involve doing or not doing what is best for the kids. How should parents weigh their own wants and needs against those of their kids? I always say my children have a voice, but they don’t have a choice. My kids are constantly telling me what it is they would prefer. We are moving now, and they don’t want to move, and my reasons for wanting to move are irrelevant to them. It is the parent’s responsibility to take the long view for the family. You have to be careful not to take too many hits for the team. A depressed or anxious parent is not the best parent. The best thing for the kids is to have a parent who is happy and engaged and able to be the best parent. So you would advise parents to do what is going to make them happiest? Parents and kids’ happiness are totally related. I am not fostering a selﬁsh view of parenting. It is that as parents, we make loads of sacriﬁces for our kids, but

How to be happier From Carter: Teach kids the skills to be happy, and become happier yourself. Ways to get started: 1. Put on your own oxygen mask ﬁrst: Don’t let the balance shift so far toward taking care of your children that you don’t meet your own needs. 2. Build a village: Very happy people have stronger social relationships than less happy people. Learn to appreciate and embrace others: remind arguing kids to stop and breathe, and do it yourself; model kindness and practice mindfulness. 3. Expect effort and enjoyment. Not perfection: Help kids see that mistakes are fertile ground for growth. Always preventing your children’s failures keeps them from learning to deal with challenges and mistakes themselves. 4. Choose gratitude, forgiveness and optimism: Keep lists of speciﬁc things you and your kids are grateful for, such as “I am grateful for … my time with Grandma and the toy she gave me.” Practice forgiveness by providing different perspectives about hurt feelings — “Maybe she wasn’t feeling well today” or “Maybe she didn’t see you.” Retell stories of when you were forgiven, or write a forgiveness letter to someone you may have hurt. 5. Raise their emotional intelligence: Teach children to read and understand the emotions of others. All kids need to learn how to express and cope with their own and others’ emotions, positive and negative.

6. Form happiness habits: Make these small, attainable tasks, such as sitting through dinner nicely. Use a worksheet (see “Happiness Habit Tracker” at www.cristinecarter.com). Break down the task into steps, such as “Don’t interrupt your brother,” “Use your fork.” Practice encouragement, empathy and non-controlling language. 7. Teach self-discipline: Pick your battles, use a light touch, and when your kids are old enough, appeal to their reason. Remember the difference between punishment — which involves pain and suffering — and discipline — which contains the Latin root for “the process of learning.” 8. Enjoy the present moment: Tune in to what is happening now, rather than living in the past or the future. Teach kids (and practice with them) the same. 9. Rig their environment for happiness: Respect the importance of play, as it builds social skills, school success and happiness. Try to pick a preschool/day care that is warm and uses positive approaches to problem solving. Reduce TV time. 10. Eat dinner together: Use such times to model healthy eating, and to practice any of the above.

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body & soul we need to be careful not to tip the scales too much. If we are miserable, we are putting them at risk for the same. Negative emotions are more contagious than positive ones, and we are hardwired to remember negative rather than positive things. It plays out in big and small ways every day. Last week, my daughter’s soccer team had a special practice that was a 40-minute drive, and it was during dinnertime. I said, “I know you would really like to go, but Mommy will hurl herself off a cliff if we have to go. It is not worth the crazinessmaking that will ruin our evening. For that reason I am not taking you to that practice.” Sometimes it is really small things; sometimes it is really big, like, “I think the best thing is to move and change schools, and I am asking you to do hard things.” It is not always about the momentary pleasure.

Carter’s book, published earlier this year, combines research with practical parenting advice.

Do your suggestions apply to people who don’t have kids, or who don’t have kids in their lives? Research shows people who have kids are less happy than their peers who don’t. I wrote the book for parents because they needed one. The first chapter is about the individual, the second chapter is about social relationships and the third is about relationships and research about adults. You don’t have to have children to apply what is in the book, or to be happy. All the same things apply. S

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beauty report

iStockphoto/Thinkstock

The fastest way to a taut tummy may be through surgery – though there are now multiple alternatives

is a tummy tuck for you? The taut tummies taunt us from magazine covers, movies and television shows. We can’t help but zero in on the midsections, envious of the tight abs and wasp waists on Victoria Secret models, hot-tubbing reality show contestants and starlets frolicking on a beach. They make it seem as though a flat stomach is the norm, when the truth is that it’s one of the most difficult parts of the body to tone and maintain. It becomes even more problematic after childbirth and with aging, as extra layers of fat and deteriorating muscles pad the area.

“We see lots of patients coming in for body contouring,” says Dr. Rohit Khosla, assistant professor of plastic surgery at Stanford University Hospital who is a certified surgeon with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. “They are all looking to improve their shape, and a tummy tuck is the best way to get rid of extra skin from having kids, the fullness in the lower abs, and the laxity under the skin that comes from aging.” Abdominoplasty, commonly called a “tummy tuck,” is an extensive surgery that tightens loose skin, removes ex-

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FALL 2010 • SCENE • 47

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Dr. Brian Coyle, D.C., F.A.S.B.E. Dr. Jeff Coyle, D.C., F.A.S.B.E.

beauty report tummy tuck tips Physicians recommend finding a board certified plastic surgeon and checking the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons website (www.plasticsurgery.org) for information on procedures. For a full tummy tuck, you should be within 30 percent of your ideal body weight. You should not be planning future pregnancies.

Courtesy Canoun Plastic Surgery

You should be realistic considering your size, body shape, age, skin and muscle tone. Your medical history will determine whether you’re a candidate for the surgery, which is major and requires a long healing period.

Above: photos before a tummy tuck on the left, and after the surgery on the right. The best candidates are those within 30 percent of their ideal body weight, but whose midsections are resistant to diet and exercise.

cess fat and firms the abdominal walls. The procedure has become more commonplace recently as our obsession with body perfection and celebrity culture has grown. Actresses Patricia Heaton and Shar Jackson; reality television star and mom of eight Kate Gosselin; and entertainment reporter Dayna Devon have been public about their tummy tucks. Tabloids also have speculated that surgery has helped with the amazingly smooth stomachs of Heidi Klum, Brooke Burke, Angelina Jolie and Bethenny Frankel soon after they delivered children. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery reports the biggest growth in invasive procedures in the past five years has been in the number of women getting abdominoplasty. Last year, 152,769 tummy tucks were done by physicians offering cosmetic procedures in the U.S. – 144,075 on women. The best candidates are those who are within 30 percent of their ideal body weight and are troubled by areas resistant to diet and exercise, such as the midsection. Age and skin tone also determine results. “It is not a weight-reduction surgery,” Khosla says. “You won’t lose weight; it just changes your shape.” For fit women, a bulging belly may seem all the more pronounced, which may be why tummy tucks are the second-most requested procedure after breast augmentations at his office, says Dr. Stephen Ronan of Blackhawk Plastic Surgery in the East Bay.

A mini tummy tuck is sometimes recommended for patients who are within 10 percent of their ideal body weight or whose fat is distributed mostly below the navel.

“Some plastic surgery textbooks will say ‘get to the ideal weight first,’ but that’s not realistic,” says Ronan, a board certified surgeon. “The whole point is to make a patient happy as long as it’s safe.” Still, he advises overweight patients to reduce as much as possible first and tells women to schedule surgery only after they’re done having children. In fact, plastic surgeons note that they’ve seen an increase in the number of women seeking abdominoplasty after having children. “I hate the term ‘Mommy Makeover,’ but I do see lots of mothers coming in after having their children,” says Dr. Cary Canoun, a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Brentwood, Walnut Creek and San Francisco. “They want to restore their body to what it was before having kids.” The makeovers usually include breast lifts and liposuction in addition to the abdominoplasty, he says. Landscape architect Stacy Wons is still recovering from her March abdominoplasty, nearly two-and-a-half years after giving birth to her twins. “I had to come to terms with the fact that no amount of exercise was going to get rid of the extra skin or the pooch from having the boys,” said Wons of San Francisco, who has always been fit and trim at a petite size 2. “The worst was people still thought I was pregnant and it was going on two years!”

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 49

ABC/Craig Sjodin

Mother of eight Kate Gosselin’s tummy tuck let her wear formfitting clothes on “Dancing With the Stars.”

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After interviewing four doctors over several months, she decided on San Francisco plastic surgeon James P. Anthony, who seemed to have the best understanding of what she wanted to achieve with the surgery. He suggested a small amount of lipo on her lower back to add shape to an area that had flattened and widened with pregnancy. In midsummer, Wons was just getting back to a normal routine that included exercise and lifting her sons, Trevor and Jasper. The incision is sometimes uncomfortable or itchy, she says, and her stomach feels numb. Still, she’s thrilled with the results. “I am so much happier now. I feel terrific and confident,” Wons says. “Shopping is a pleasure again. It’s made a huge difference in my life.” Dr. Ernest N. Kaplan, a board certified surgeon based in Palo Alto, often repairs the rectus abdominis muscle, a paired muscle that runs from the ribcage down to the pubic bone, when doing a full tummy tuck. He says these muscles can separate after pregnancy, contributing to a flabby belly, and can only be repaired through surgery (and not through sit-ups, unfortunately). In fact, Kaplan says, post-pregnancy back pain can often be alleviated by repairing the separated muscle, which sometimes allows the surgery to be covered by medical insurance.

beauty report Nonsurgical tummy tighteners Noninvasive procedures designed to improve the appearance of abdominal areas include: LifeSculpt – a treatment that uses laser wavelength technology. Through a few tiny incisions, the laser gently melts fat for removal from the body. LipoDissolve or Mesotherapy – experimental fatmelting injections billed as a nonsurgical alternative to liposuction.

Courtesy Thomas Vamvouris

Titan – a device that uses infrared light to go beneath the skin to stimulate collagen and tighten sagging areas, including the stomach. Zerona – a low-level or “cold output” laser that dissolves fat within a fat cell and helps the body absorb and eliminate it.

Before Zerona treatments on the left, and after, right.

Although tabloid headlines have celebrities secretly getting tummy tucks soon after giving birth, most surgeons discourage this because of the high risk of infection, hernias and other dangers. “The body changes a great deal in the weeks after having a child, and the walls of the abdomen do recoil back to a normal state,” Khosla says. “I would say it’s surgically possible, but rarely done.” If you’ve considered the surgery, you’re probably aware of its faint-inducing details. A curved incision is made from hip to hip just above the pelvic region and another above the belly button. The skin is separated from the abdominal wall, fat is removed, muscles are repositioned and tightened, and excess skin is stretched and cut off. The remaining skin is redraped and sutured, and the belly button is replaced in a new location. There have been some advances in deflating abdominal areas without extensive surgery, but physicians say most people will not get the optimum smoothing nor will they be fully satisfied with the results. The so-called “mini” tummy tuck, which leaves a smaller scar and is recommended for those within 10 percent of their ideal body weight or with excess skin mainly below the navel, does not remove as much fat as the full tummy tuck. And the myriad noninvasive procedures that use lasers, injections and devices to dissolve and reduce fat don’t work as well because they are not as precise as surgery, doctors say. Thomas Vamvouris is an East Bay chiropractor who

Zeltiq – a procedure that uses cryolipolysis, a cooling technology that induces fat cells to undergo a process that gradually reduces the thickness of the fat layer.

uses Zerona, a noninvasive, nonsurgical procedure that painlessly uses cold laser technology to stimulate and emulsify the fat within a fat cell. Patients are screened to make sure they are metabolically suitable, says Vamvouris, who has offices in San Leandro and San Ramon. That means blood sugar levels are considered as well as the stresses to the lymphatic system and pre-existing heart conditions. “We don’t believe everyone is a good candidate for Zerona, but it is a cutting-edge technology and a device that can significantly reduce the abdominal and love handle area,” he says. It takes about six sessions, performed every other day at a total cost of about $2,500. A big advantage is that there’s no down time or pain, but the results will not be as dramatic as going under the knife. “The media tend to fixate on nonsurgical methods, but the bottom line is that the (abdominoplasty) surgery is very safe for the most part, and the results are big life changers,” says Ronan, the Blackhawk surgeon. (According to a 2004 American Society of Plastic Surgeons study, serious complications occur in one out of 298 cosmetic surgery procedures, and one death occurs in 51,429 cases in the U.S. A follow up in 2007 revealed nearly identical results.) Ronan says he has pioneered a method he calls the “short scar tummy tuck.” Incisions are made in a way that allows the top line to be pulled down “like a curtain so that it pleats” as it is tucked into the lower incision,

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 51

creating more of an hourglass effect on the waistline. Patients who undergo full abdominoplasty face a downtime of seven to 10 days, and it could take up to six weeks to get back to a normal routine. The cost ranges from about $5,000 to $9,000 and usually is not covered by insurance. Plastic surgeons say the best results also incorporate liposuction, which can increase the total cost by several thousand dollars. Although there haven’t been any major breakthroughs in how tummy tucks are performed, doctors say advances in anesthesia, better tools and honed surgical skills help patients recover quicker. Abdominoplasty has the same risks associated with major surgery. They include infection, bleeding or a bad reaction to anesthesia. Also, incision sites could leave major scarring, particularly for those with darker skin or from ethnic/racial groups prone to keloids (Asian, African, Hispanic). Tummy tucks aren’t done as often on men because unlike most women, they tend to collect fat internally within muscles and intestines, making fat removal with abdominoplasty and liposuction nearly impossible. “It’s fat build-up that we can’t treat,” says Khosla, describing the typical “beer belly” on overweight men. The economic downturn has meant a slowdown in the number of people seeking elective surgeries, doctors say, but it hasn’t been a big drop-off. “Patients want what they wanted five years ago,” Ronan says. “They want to look better, and when they do, their self-image improves significantly and so does their self-esteem.” S

52 • SCENE • FALL 2010

Courtesy Blackhawk Plastic Surgery

beauty report

A tattoo moves to another part of the body as a result of a tummy tuck.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 53

the interview

Nikki Ritcher Photography LLC

dream big, command the room, change your life Executive coach Chris Melching shares her secrets of gaining power in the workplace, and the world By Melinda Sacks

Be aware of your presence when you walk into a room. Hold yourself as if you are confident (even if you are a train wreck on the inside). Don’t let your hands touch when you are talking. These are just a few of the pointers offered up by veteran executive coach Chris Melching. If you want to know what works to get you noticed, and appreciated, in the ever-increasing noise of a multimedia, ultra-competitive workplace, Melching has the answers. A development and executive coach for San Jose-based Center Stage Group, she has helped Silicon Valley leaders from

54 • SCENE • FALL 2010

companies such as Cisco Systems, Genentech, Sand Hill Capital and Oracle learn how to sell themselves and their ideas by teaching them skills not often covered in business school. Melching came to work as an executive coach in 1998, after her own experiences in the corporate world at Oracle and Xerox. Her dual degrees from San Jose State University in music performance and computer science have served her well, she says, in helping people to effectively present their ideas, and be their very best. Over a bowl of strawberries and ginger tea at Palo Alto’s University Café, Melching shared some of the

Natalie Bering

Melching, upper left, helps women learn to support and challenge each other at a two-day development retreat.

wisdom she says women, in particular, can apply to their everyday lives to take command, whether it is in the boardroom or the living room.

The Melching Files

What are the biggest mistakes women make in the way they present themselves? We don’t dream big enough, and we tend to apologize. If you don’t put your hat in the ring, you won’t get a chance. You have to stand in your own essence, and take a leap. It’s about getting clarity about what you want, and what would make you happy.

Residence: Willow Glen, San Jose; shares her home with her partner of 15 years and their Havanese dog, Annie.

How can you get clarity if you aren’t sure or are conflicted about what you really want to do? Playing “what if” games is a great trick I use. You have to go silent, and ask, “What if I were happy, what would that look like?” We do this in Power Camp (a two-day development retreat for women). The magic of that is all the women coming together and supporting and challenging one another. But you can still do this with your own support system. There is something about talking out loud and having someone in your support system asking, “What do you want to do?”

Age: 52

Spare time: Yoga, running, spinning, hiking, gardening; she has high hopes for her tomatoes this summer. For more information about Power Camp for women, see www.power-camp.com.

You talk about “shaping your message,” but what does that mean for the working woman who doesn’t have a degree in marketing, or time to attend a two-day retreat? Your message is your elevator pitch. Most people, when they tell you their message, they give you the whole salt shaker, when all we can handle is a few shakes of salt. It’s about sharing a few nuggets and then hushing.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 55

10 to remember Chris Melchingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tips on how to get what you want, at work and in your career Paddle your own canoe â&#x20AC;˘ Remember the total impact of your message: 7 percent is what you say, 38 percent is how you say it and 55 percent is how you look when you say it. Build up your online presence â&#x20AC;˘ Think about what you want others to see, think or feel about you. Remember that what you put online stays online. Act as if â&#x20AC;Ś [youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in control] â&#x20AC;˘ Be conscious of your physical pace and presence. â&#x20AC;˘ Smile; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t nod or grin too much. â&#x20AC;˘ Ask questions and stay focused. â&#x20AC;˘ Project strength: remember to breathe; avoid ďŹ dgeting, and rushing to speak. Build selling into everyday conversations â&#x20AC;˘ Answer â&#x20AC;&#x153;How are you?â&#x20AC;? by offering something youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve accomplished, i.e., â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m well. This past two weeks, my team

members have really stepped up to the plate, and we are ahead of schedule.â&#x20AC;? Be succinct â&#x20AC;˘ Be aware of the ďŹ rst few words you say; avoid saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;um.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Share your passion so it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; become contagious. â&#x20AC;˘ Observe the other personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction. â&#x20AC;˘ Stay focused on your purpose. â&#x20AC;˘ Talk in small bites: What did you do, who beneďŹ ted, what were the results? Know what you want â&#x20AC;&#x201C; then ask for it â&#x20AC;˘ Identify what you want: more responsibility, more visibility, a different job title, more time off. â&#x20AC;˘ Ask for it: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking for ways to demonstrate more leadership and gain more visibility. How can you support me in that area?â&#x20AC;? Encourage objections â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help me understand why you think â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

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â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tell me more about â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who else should I speak to about this â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? Clarify next steps â&#x20AC;˘ Create short-term deadlines, â&#x20AC;&#x153;in two days, in two weeks â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Be speciďŹ c, i.e., â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will present my ideas to the team,â&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;I agree to another meeting.â&#x20AC;? Get frequent reality checks from others â&#x20AC;˘ Find out what is working, what your boss would like to see more of, what your boss would like to see less of. â&#x20AC;˘ Take risks, experiment with new skills and be accountable. Grow and sustain your network â&#x20AC;˘ Strategize your networking and be proactive. â&#x20AC;˘ Check in with your current contacts. â&#x20AC;˘ Attend at least one event every quarter.

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the interview Don’t say too much. One way to do this is to make a laundry list of your talents, and then another list of what you want. Then come up with two or three sentences of what you want and why you want it. Tell the world, and become contagious. Mine is: I want every woman to experience something like Power Camp, to get away from family and pressure and just be in the support of other women.

What are the most important basic communication skills that every woman needs to hone to assure her the best chance of accomplishing her goals? Be aware of your presence when you walk into a room. Concentrate on the first four minutes. Hold yourself as if you are confident. Never let your hands touch. If you have your arms crossed or your hands clenched, you look closed off and you don’t look as approachable. Play with your face as if you had a dimmer switch. You want to have a range of expressions. I use a Flip camera to show people what they look like when they are listening. Smiling is good if you don’t overdo it. If it is genuine, a small smile is good.

Karen Barr

How can women with some life and career experience under their belts stay competitive in an overcrowded and recession-weary workplace? In difficult times more than ever, we have to do what it takes to help the company be successful. It means get out of your cube. Volunteer. Find an area that is messed up and help turn it around. Be a mentor, start a mentor program or another group that addresses a company need and meet every week. Find something that is going to help the company, and help you stand out. Most significantly, identify what value you bring to your organization that is specifically related to your boss and your boss’s boss. Ask what are the two top priorities the boss cares about and be sure the majority of your activity is centered around that. It’s about finding what they are measured against, what has the most value to them and what do they not know that would have value. Then you learn it and teach them.

What if you either don’t like your job, or are looking to jump-start a new career? You have to continue to expand your network. If you have a job, do that inside your own department, in your company and outside the company. Invest time in what matters to someone in a position of power. Do they have kids, a hobby – find a common link and continue to bring value to them while you look for another position or opportunity. Another thing you can do is to be proactive about going to an event. Have a purpose and get out there. Challenge yourself – say, “I’m going to give out five business cards today, and I’m going to get five.”

Melching gives tips on projecting strength and confidence.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 57

Cold Hard Cash for Gold

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Today we are bombarded with new media – everyone has a blog, uses Twitter and Foursquare. Which new media and social networking tools are critical in helping one’s career path? From a business perspective I think LinkedIn is the new résumé. Take bullet points from your résumé and put them onto LinkedIn. Add your current projects and keep it up to date. Recruiters are using LinkedIn. I know a number of people who have gotten calls about new jobs just because they put up their information. I also encourage clients to use video blogs (to promote their ideas and abilities). You can do a minute or two that will give you an edge and not take that much time. More and more people and companies are using video to communicate, so it’s a good skill to develop. Just remember to always be careful what you post online. It is there forever. How can we stay focused on our goals if we don’t have our own personal executive coach? I believe it is important to build your own inner circle, your own advisory board. CEOs have a board of advisers; you need your own. You don’t have to officially ask people to be on your advisory board, but find people who will not just support you, but will challenge you and push you. I always tell people to be careful what they tell me about what they want, because I will be relentless, and I will push you to follow your dream. S

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 59

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FALL 2010 • SCENE • 61

fashion

Show-stopping looks for special occasions

Make an Entrance California casual may define our sartorial choices, but when the Bay Area’s gala season starts, we easily shift into black tie and formal gowns. Fall’s dreamy dresses are defined by jewel tones, twinkling embellishments and sculpted sophistication. There’s movement and flow and an uncomplicated ease, features we love when making a grand entrance.

By Donna Kato Photos by Joanne Ho-Young Lee

62 • Scene • fall 2010

Carmen Marc Valvo Collection amethyst one-shoulder gown, $845, label available at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Jimmy Choo “Evita” metallic suede cage sandals with crystal embellishment, $975, Footcandy, Walnut Creek. Bangles of 18-karat gold over vermeil with rose-cut diamonds, $275 each; Flying Lizard Design, Santana Row, San Jose. Eliot Danori earrings, $40, Macy’s.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 63

JS Boutique goddess gown with pleated bodice and gold beading, $209, Macy’s. Earrings of 24-karat gold over 14-karat gold, $499, Beau Bijou, Santana Row.

64 • SCENE • FALL 2010

Tadashi Shoji sequined ombre gown, $488, label available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. Givenchy earrings, $55, Macy’s.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 65

Carmen Marc Valvo ruched silk charmeuse dress, $525, label available at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Sterling silver pendant on double leather cord, $329, and sterling cuff, $299, both Beau Bijou, Santana Row.

66 â&#x20AC;˘ SCENE â&#x20AC;˘ FALL 2010

Shoshanna taffeta bustier dress, $295, label available at Nordstrom, Samantha Lee (Walnut Creek), Flaunt (Danville), Bella Rosa (Los Gatos), Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. Blue topaz and freshwater pearl earrings, $124, Flying Lizard Design, Santana Row. Silver cuff bracelet, $299, Beau Bijou, Santana Row.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 67

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Pamella Roland silk chiffon dress, $1,760, label available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Wilkes Bashford. Christian Louboutin fishnet pumps, $945, Footcandy, Walnut Creek. Eliot Danori earrings, $50, Macy’s. Black pearl necklace wrapped around wrist, $182, Flying Lizard Design, Santana Row

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fashion

Center: Shoji walks the runway at the end of a show; dresses from his Fall 2010 runway collection. Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Master of the Drape

Designer Tadashi Shoji on giving every woman her Hollywood moment

By Donna Kato

There are two kinds of evening gowns. There’s the imposing entrance-maker, drawing every eye in the room to its wow factor. Then there’s there’s the subtle elegance of a Tadashi Shoji gown, beautifully appropriate and designed to make every woman – whether she’s a Hollywood movie star, beauty queen or suburban fundraiser – feel confident and look gorgeous. Shoji’s evening and cocktail dresses have been worn by Gabourey Sidebe, Rachel McAdams, Eva Longoria, Oprah, Beyoncé, Selena Gomez and dozens of other stars for their red carpet moment. He was the official designer for several Miss Universe pageants. And, his gowns are a ubiquitous presence at gala parties and ben-

efit events around the world. His special-occasion dresses are sold widely in stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue in sizes that range from petite to plus, and most are priced in the $300 to $1,000 range. He talked to Scene magazine about his philosophy for designing special-event dresses and how every woman can have her Hollywood moment. Why do you think your dresses appeal to such a mix of women? It is simple: You can make the most beautiful dress, but if a woman puts it on and is not comfortable in it,

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 71

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fashion The Skinny on Shoji

Photos courtesy of Tadashi Shoji & Associates

Los Angeles-based Tadashi Shoji, 62, started his company in 1982. He manufactures his clothing in Shanghai and has a showroom in New York, where he also presents his higherend runway collection during Fashion Week twice a year. Born in Sendai, Japan, Shoji’s first passion was fine arts. He studied and apprenticed with one of Japan’s leading contemporary artists in the 1960s before moving to New York, then Los Angeles in the 1970s. He started his fashion-designing career with Bill Whitten, who created stage costumes for Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond and the Jacksons.

Entertainer Beyoncé wore a satin Tadashi Shoji dress for a “Today Show” appearance last year.

Today, in addition to his labels Tadashi and Tadashi Shoji, Shoji’s name is on a line of home items that includes bedding, bath accessories and candles.

she will not wear it and it will not sell. Even with celebrities, feeling good in a dress gives them confidence, and you see it in the way they are standing and smiling. And if a woman at a party doesn’t get a compliment on how she looks, she can’t help thinking, “Why am I wearing this? Did I choose the wrong dress?” How is it that your designs fit both curvy, plussize figures and petite frames that are equally hard to fit? I pay attention to the style lines, the preciseness of the fitting and the cut. I use fabrics like stretch jersey, chiffon and silk, and drape them in a way that is most flattering to emphasize curves and slim parts of the body that women tend to be concerned about, especially as they age. My dresses also drape around the body and lift bust lines, very good for small women. When a customer tells me, “I can’t wear a bodyhugging dress” and then is surprised that she can, that makes me happy. A gala means everyone is dressed in their best. How does a woman stand out in a sea of glamour gowns? Don’t wear a too-tight dress. Women get obsessed about the number on the label and think that squeezing into a small size means she is that smaller size. A too-tight dress makes you look fat. Look at yourself in profile, check for bulges. [If] you see them, you need a bigger size. Wearing a size bigger might make you look

Mo’Nique attended the 2010 Oscars in a ruched Tadashi Shoji gown.

10 pounds thinner. The most flattering dresses incorporate silk jersey, chiffon and stretch jersey, because the fabrics drape beautifully on the body. Pay attention to the style lines. Your inspiration board for Fall 2010 includes photos of tree branches in silhouette, rocky formations, windblown terrain, dunes. How did that translate to your collection? Nature inspires me always. I travel often, and I was looking through the airplane window at landscape and started to think about the beauty of Mother Earth and how important ecology has become for everyone. That is how I started to work this season with my design team. How important is technology to your creative process, your business? It’s definitely important, from designing to selling. I gather inspiration and information on the Internet and with an office in Shanghai and showroom in New York, I Skype meetings and connect in a way that I could not do before. Designers can now create fabrics and patterns using a computer, and we get exactly what we envision, from start to finish. Do you have favorite cities where you recharge, people watch, gather ideas? My favorite cities used to be in warm climates in Europe, like Spain. But now, I would say I like to go to Southeast Asia. It is fresh, always changing, surprising. S

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 73

Cameraready?

Makeup and hair tips for that special night

Story by Donna Kato Photos by Joanne Ho-Young Lee

The makeup A night out means putting more than a fresh face forward, says San Francisco-based stylist and makeup artist Clifford Hashimoto, who did the makeup for models Kyla and Malia in this issue of Scene. “So many women don’t wear anything or enough makeup because they just aren’t sure,” he says. “You can’t get dressed up without makeup. If you’re not sure how to apply it, go for a lesson or get it done professionally.” Always start with clean skin, prepped with moisturizers and eye creams that match your skin type. The basics for glam-cam makeup: a good foundation, color on the cheeks, black mascara and eyeliner. “False eyelashes are a must,” for dramatic eyes, a key

74 • SCENE • FALL 2010

trend this fall, he says. His tips: • Cut strip-type of lashes in half for easier application. • Wait for the glue to be almost dry before putting lashes on lids. • Use a liquid liner to hide the application line of the false lashes. Hashimoto likes airbrushed foundation for a flawless complexion. Airbrushing tools are available at stores such as Sephora. “It takes less than a minute and goes on so light,” he says. Finish with a shimmery blush to make cheekbones more prominent and add a hint of dewy shine that flatters under lights. Eyeshadow should add depth and drama, not just color to eyelids. For fall, smokey eyes are achieved with purples, deep pewters and grays that have a slight shine.

beauty They’re meant to contrast nicely with nude lips. “I always use just a pencil in a blue-ish pink or rose to outline the lips, then go over it with a gloss,” he says. To get the look, consider these products, available at Sephora, Ulta, Beauty 360 in select CVS stores and department stores: • Christian Dior Air Flash spray foundation in a can, $60 • Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $59 • Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder, $36 • MAC Cosmetics mineralize duo eye shadows, $19.50 • MAC Cosmetics brush cleaner for fresh application, $11 • Makeup Forever eyelashes, $15 • Nars pressed powder shimmer blush, $26 • Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, $42 • Shu Uemura eyelashes, $15 to $50 • Temptu Air Pod air brush foundation, $55

For evening looks, false eyelashes are a must, as are smokey eyes, says Clifford Hashimoto.

The hair “Start with a simple pony tail as the foundation, and from there you can do many things, from a chignon to curling and pinning it in place,” says Franc Gutierrez, hair stylist and owner of newly opened Luxe Salon in San Jose, who gave Scene’s models varying up-dos during the shoot. “Women get nervous about wearing their hair up, but it really is the finishing touch to looking elegant.” While hot rollers may have gone out with stirrup pants, Gutierrez says they are the surest way to get body, control and hold. “Just put six rollers in, and you can just shake it out and spray it in place,” he says. Be wary of Big Hair – no one wants to look like a longago Miss America contestant. Desired volume means hair should look natural and fall gracefully with natural waves, not overdone curls. “Come fall, we’ll see a lot more volume,” he predicts. Women with short hair, too, can glamorize locks by slicking hair back with a gel product or working with bobby pins to generate finger waves. “Just changing the part to the other side will give you more lift,” he says. Products to try, available at salons, specialty stores and online: • Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion, thickens hair for volume, texture and workability, $23 • Frederic Fekkai Au Naturel Sheer Styling Gelée, enhances hair’s natural texture and provides weightless definition, $23 • Kerastase Nutritive Mousse Nutri-Sculpt Protective Brushing and Blow-Dry, helps prevent stressing overworked hair, $33

• Kiehl’s Superbly Smoothing Argan Hair Pak with Argan oil, to repair hair, reduce frizz and create a smooth look, $25 • Redken Forceful 23 Super Strength Finishing Hair Spray, for lasting lift and hold, $18 • Redken Hot Sets 22 Thermal Setting Mist, locks in heat styles, protects hair from damage and won’t build up on hair, $18 Franc Gutierrez, Luxe Salon, 361 Meridian Ave., San Jose, 408.216.0325, www.luxesalonsj.com Clifford Hashimoto, 415.391.7735, www.clifford style.com S

Where to go Want to go pro with your hair or makeup application? These salons and studios may meet your needs: Thi Studio 522 Bryant St., Palo Alto 650.327-8880, www.thicosmetics.com Umbrella Salon 2 N. Market St., San Jose 408.293.4242, www.umbrellasalon.com Barbarella 1183 Lincoln Ave., San Jose 408.947.7255, www.barbarellabeauty.com Atelier Aveda 378 Santana Row, San Jose 408.244.4222, www.atelieraveda.com

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 75

122 s SCENE s FALL 2010

fall 2010 • Scene • 77

For one night a year, Anne Sconberg’s edgy arts fest makes San Jose the hub of the hip

the party girl

Anne Sconberg studied design in London, photographed in Australia, created a gallery in New York, remodeled an apartment in Madrid and partied with artists on the Rue de Bellechasse in Paris. When she settled in San Jose, things seemed, well, rather dull. She wanted her young daughter, whom she was raising close to family, to be surrounded by all the things Sconberg loves: art, music, friends, festivities. So she set about making their new home, as she puts it, “a hipper, groovier place.” She and her partner, Mark Henderson, started four years ago quite simply: with a house party for their artist Photos this page and next by Kerry Hiroshi Paul

78 • SCENE • FALL 2010

Story by Julia Prodis Sulek Photos by Kerry Hiroshi Paul and Janis Wilkins

friends. But what they pulled off one wild spring night this year for more than 1,000 people in a warehouse on the edge of downtown San Jose — and the buzz that continues to reverberate across the valley from it — was as much a creative triumph for the couple as it was a turning point for the local art scene. “I remember telling a friend that night that Anne and Mark are going to go down in history in Silicon Valley for what they did for the art world,” says Kimberly Langston Hagen, who sold her first sculpture at the party for $10,000. “I don’t know them that well, but I can’t stop talking about them.”

icons: the arts

The party was so underground and edgy that partygoers who had been invited by friends — and friends of friends — had the feeling they needed a secret password just to get in. If they dared find it. To get to “Anne and Mark’s Art Party,” you first had to walk down the long alleyway of the Smurfit-Stone recycling center behind Spartan Stadium, sidestepping rolling plastic bottles and bales of flapping garbage bags. Rounding the back of the building, you had a sense of excitement and dread, as though you might come upon a drug deal, a dead body or, wait, what is that? A 12-foot rocking rooster and a metal go-cart topped with sails careening through the parking lot? And who was this Bonfire Bob and what was that “dumpster dome?” Before you could fully comprehend your surroundings, the sound of opera music drew you into a big white warehouse that had been transformed into a gallery filled with hundreds of works of local art. It was Mad Max meets Moulin Rouge, freak show meets Fellini. It didn’t shut down until the last guest who lost his pants (don’t ask) left wearing a black garbage bag around his waist. And to think Anne Sconberg grew up on a cattle ranch in Salinas, barrel racing on weekends and so shy at school that she spent her recesses reading books. At home, her parents and grandparents were big entertainers. Every

Christmas, they had a huge party and after every branding, they’d throw a barbecue. “Their house was built around being able to entertain and really create a sense of community,” says Sconberg, who is in her 40s. “My grandparents would tell my mother and her siblings that it’s important to give back to the community and make it stronger by pulling people together.” When she was just 11, her father was killed while helping a neighbor put out a house fire. Her mother remarried, and the family moved to Woodside. Her new aunt introduced her to photography when she was 13, and ever since, she’s had a darkroom in her home. After graduating from the elite Palo Alto girls school Castilleja, she read a biography of Virginia Woolf, who grew up in a sheltered environment but became part of the literary Bloomsbury Group. “They created this artists colony for themselves,” Sconberg says. “That’s what I wanted to do — just go off somewhere and live in a really creative environment and listen to interesting people and have life be different.” With her stepsister and her stepsister’s mother living in an apartment next to the Rodin Museum, she left for Paris after her first quarter at Stanford University as an English major. As she traveled back and forth over the next several years, earning her English degree in between,

Above and on both pages: Sconberg and her partner organized the annual Art Party earlier this year that drew some 1,000 revelers and art lovers to a warehouse on the edge of downtown San Jose. Below, Sconberg with her daughter Charlotte, in front of a portrait of Charlotte photographed by Sconberg. Art Party is part of an effort, says Sconberg, to surround her daughter with all the things she loves – art, music, friends, festivities.

For more photos and information about “Anne and Mark’s Art Party,” go to www.artparty2010.com.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 79

‘The whole idea of the Art Party is to encourage creativity and nurture creativity.’

‘And to have a great party.’ — Mark Henderson

— Anne Sconberg Dave Choice

she began to create her own artistic salon. In her courtyard apartment near the Seine in the early 1980s, she threw a premiere party for a friend whose movie had just opened. “As all my neighbors will recall, the sound reverberated to the sixth floor,” she says. “The whole idea started with wanting to meet people interested in the same things I was.” Through the 1990s, she continued her journey. In Paris, she worked as an assistant to photographers and published her first photos in Liberation, the edgy alternative paper to Le Monde. She enrolled in art schools throughout Europe. For a time, she worked as a French translator for a Lebanese company doing business in Morocco, and in New York, she worked for a multimedia company. Every time she moved into a new place, she set about making it her own, giving it a new coat of paint and throwing a party to “change the karma of the place.” She married a Spaniard, whom she met in New York and lived with in Madrid and London. They moved back to San Jose in the 1990s to follow his career in high tech. They had a daughter, Charlotte, who is now 8 and has attended Spanish immersion schools since preschool to cultivate her international sensibility. Though the couple are now divorced, Sconberg’s ex-husband lives 10 blocks away, and they raise their daughter together. Four years ago, Sconberg moved into a Colonial Revival in Naglee Park with Henderson, an English-born potter who created urns for Smith and Hawken and has been part of the Santa Cruz art scene. He works as a Photos below by Janis Wilkins

80 • SCENE • FALL 2010

residential builder. “He’s the most even-keeled person I’ve ever met,” she says. In 2008, the couple made efforts to realize Sconberg’s dream of creating an art colony. In a building Sconberg leases in South San Jose, they opened the doors to emerging artists for a live-work space. They call it Backwater Arts, a reference to Sconberg’s wry assessment of the San Jose art scene. She’s adored by her friends, who have committed themselves to her and the annual Art Party. “She’s extremely creative and one of the smartest people I know,” says Georgie Huff, her neighbor and friend who spent months with a clipboard and a glass of wine in her living room making Art Party plans. “Since I’ve known her, her mantra has been that ‘if I can’t live in Paris, why can’t San Jose be a groovy place?’ ” The first Art Party took place at Sconberg and Henderson’s Naglee Park home. They transformed the home into a gallery by covering the windows with particle board and, with the help of exhibit design and installation guru Matt Isble, hung the artwork of a close group of family and friends and artists, many of them friends of Henderson’s from Santa Cruz. Sconberg credits Henderson with turning her ideas into reality. “I have an idea, then I have a nervous breakdown,” Sconberg says. “Mark figures a way to make it happen.” Two other art parties followed, with the artists who exhibited in the first show nominating artists to the second.

icons: the proﬁle arts

Kerry Hiroshi Paul

Sconberg’s daughter, Charlotte, curated her own space with works from her favorite artist, painter Kristin Farr, as well as her own painting of their dog, Mandi. At each party, the crowd grew exponentially. In 2009, almost 700 people flowed through their home. Earlier this year, they decided to move the party to a warehouse Sconberg owned and had rented to a tenant for a time on South Alma Street, another property in need of new karma. Jim Gordon, a local producer, musician and event planner, turned the music aspect of the party into an extravaganza, with four stages and almost 100 musicians and performers inside and out. “This is how Burning Man started,” Gordon says. “There’s a culture around this, a philosophy of ‘Let’s spread this to the arts. Let’s support artists.’ ” All the musicians and performers donated their time, he says, because they wanted to be part of this artistic “happening.” So many artists now clamor to be included that Sconberg and Henderson turned many away. Their intent, they say, is not to show the most well-known or even the best. “This is our party for family and friends,” Sconberg says. “It’s not us saying these are the best artists we can find.” What they ended up with was a vibrant show

of paintings, photographs, sculptures and multimedia installations with artists that included an old photographer friend of Sconberg’s from New York to Henderson’s artist friends from Santa Cruz and numerous artists with roots at San Jose State. Despite the bigger venue, Sconberg and Henderson underwrote the entire evening, including catering, staging and lighting. And that didn’t even include the $30,000 upfront they needed to haul out the piles of detritus left over from the last tenant. Sconberg’s inheritance from the sale of her family’s Salinas ranch land helped foot the bill. They took no commission on any art sale and donated all the proceeds from entrance fees — $13,000 — to the Silicon Valley Arts Council. Cathy Kimball, executive director of the San Jose Institute for Contemporary Art, which hosts downtown art walks the first Friday of every month along South First Street, attended the Art Party and was “blown away.” “It’s a fantastic contribution to the creative force of the South Bay,” she says. The party takes at least four months of planning every year, and as Sconberg says, almost as much time to decompress afterward. But it’s her way of spending her life “creating things of value and meaning,” she says. “The Art Party is maybe a shot at saying for a moment, ‘Hey, this is what the world could be like.’ ” S

This year, Art Party included four stages and almost 100 musicians and performers. Facing page, bottom left: The plaster hands are by Valerie Raps, a San Jose State graduate who curates the Art Ark Gallery. Facing page, bottom right: The four abstract figuratives are by San Jose artist Mary Souza. This page, bottom left: Created by Rob Larson of Santa Cruz, the patchwork abstract is made up of discarded Marlboro wrappers. Bottom right: Bonfire Bob.

Photos below by Janis Wilkins

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 81

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At the Triton Museum, Alvarado strikes a pose similar to the pop-art Wonder Woman behind her.

Patrick Tehan

action heroine Tamara Alvarado’s bridge-building superpowers lift South Bay arts and culture

By Julia Prodis Sulek

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icons: the arts ating a more vibrant downtown and promoting local arts that reflect the diverse community. Martinez handpicked Alvarado two years ago to lead the organization’s Multicultural Arts Leadership Initiative. “Tamara always struck me as someone filled with courage and energy. I just like her presence and her ability to listen, but also to show up and speak her mind.” Alvarado, 37, seemed destined to create a role for herself that merged art, heritage and advocacy. It’s reflected in her work, through her traditional ethnic dance performances and in her art-filled home in San Jose’s edgy Spartan Keyes neighborhood. To all of it, she brings a quality she learned as a child – an ability to overcome obstacles and find common ground. She was born in Escondido to Mexican immigrant parents, and her family was adept at straddling borders and cultures. Her father was a trumpeter and member of the house band at the famed El Patio club in Mexico City before moving to Southern California in the 1950s. He loved the contemporary swing music of his time, and played in local clubs and occasionally performed mariachi music when he needed an extra paycheck. The family cherishes a photograph of him with Desi Arnaz taken after performing with his orchestra. He died recently at age 93, but through the years, his bands were always made up of an ethnically diverse roster of musicians, Alvarado says. “He showed that expansive way of thinking, being broadminded and open and tolerant,” she says. “He always embraced the culture he lived in.” If she and her siblings weren’t watching their father perform, Alvarado was on stage herself in local theaters and dance troupes. Her parents sent her to Catholic high school on scholarship, where she was excelled academi-

Left: Patrick Tehan; right: Luci S. Williams

Tamara Alvarado was in her mid-20s when she first saw the pop art painting of Wonder Woman: Her hair was gunmetal blue, her lips were ruby red and her arms were crossed defiantly in front of her. The glint of the superhero’s big black eyes bore into Alvarado. Back then, in the late 1990s, Alvarado was a Stanford graduate and director of a youth center in downtown San Jose, still trying to find her voice, her style and her way in the world. The cartoonish portrait by a Latino artist showed strength, femininity and, as she put it, a “don’t f- with me” attitude. “It wasn’t that I felt I was Wonder Woman,” Alvarado says, “but it was the spirit I wanted to have.” She was barely making enough to pay her rent at the time, but she put half down on the $500 painting and paid the balance by the next month. It was her first purchase of artwork and for years was “the one thing of beauty” she owned. Now, a decade later, both Alvarado and the portrait have grown up. And each are occupying newly esteemed roles in the community. Alvarado not only went on to take charge of the gallery where she bought the painting, but she is now a mentor and leader in the Silicon Valley arts scene: As an executive at the cultural nonprofit 1stACT Silicon Valley, she is nurturing a network of rising stars. And the portrait by artist Isis Rodriguez – “Wonder Woman LMA” (1999), part of her “Little Miss Attitude” series – was summoned to the Triton Museum in Santa Clara, where it has spent the summer hanging on a gallery wall. “If someone asks me, ‘Who’s an up-and-coming multicultural leader you would want cloned and modeled?’ I would say Tamara Alvarado,” says Connie Martinez, executive director of 1stACT, which is charged with cre-

Above, Alcario and Carmen Castellanos, major supporters of MACLA, with Alvarado in 2004. Right: Alvarado, at right, in 1994 as a sophomore at Stanford University, was active in campus activities supporting minority empowerment.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 85

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icons: the arts

Alvarado is “definitely the fairy godmother of a new generation of leadership.”

cally. In 1991, she was recruited by Stanford – a university she had never heard of. No one in her family had ever attended college. “People said I got into Stanford because I was Mexican only,” she says. The comment still rankles her. But she doesn’t consider herself a victim, and if anything, her resolve to distinguish herself was only strengthened. This young woman who didn’t speak English until she was 6 went on to graduate from Stanford in 1995 with a degree in Spanish literature, with an emphasis on Chicano studies. After performing in fringe theater in San Francisco for a few years, she moved to San Jose in 1997, a place where “I was able to make real connections and leave my mark.” By day, she took charge of the Washington United Youth Center, supported by Catholic Charities. By night, she dressed up in her pre-conquest sparkling regalia to perform traditional dance with Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance troupe or to perform in local theater. It was an acting gig that took her to MACLA, (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana), a visual and performing arts space in downtown San Jose where she first laid eyes on Wonder Woman. “I saw myself, my experience being reflected on the walls,” Alvarado says of MACLA’s work, and its exhibits. “That was amazing to me, and transformative. As a young

Patrick Tehan

person, MACLA was one of those places that became home base.” There, co-founder and executive director Maribel Alvarez recognized her leadership skills, and when she stepped down, she invited Alvarado to apply for her job. While Alvarado knew little about running a business, she was passionate about the art and the mission. “I was very rough around the edges. I didn’t know anything about profit and loss statements,” she says. MACLA needed a strong leader to revitalize the organization and help raise its half-million dollar budget each year. She was nervous at first, but knew deep down, “I’m a hustler. I’m going to find that money.” The board that hired her “went for energy and enthusiasm,” she says. Standing 5-foot-10 and wearing size 11 shoes, her stature itself is a commanding presence. She speaks her mind; she’s always direct. But she puts her guests at ease with a ready laugh and a playful slap on the knee to make a point. During her five years as MACLA’s director, she stayed on budget by raising money from corporations, foundations and government agencies. She brought in extra income by renting out space to performing and visual artists. She also began to reach out to the South University neighborhood

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 87

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icons: the arts A Few of Tamara’s Favorite Things Designer: Michael Kors Car 1970 Buick Wildcat (“I’m 5-feet-10; I need a big car!”) Signature piece of jewelry Large coral and silver ring from the Santo Domingo reservation in New Mexico Favorite make-up line MAC Shoes Linea Paolo (“They make beautiful size 11’s.”) Sheets Target Coffee Nescafe Clasico Dress Tahari or Oleg Cassini Sunglasses “Whatever I pick up for $10 at the annual Jazz Festival in downtown San Jose, cheap and trendy.” Favorite artist (local) Viva Paredes, http://paredesarte.com Most exciting artwork “Pocha Indigena,” sculpture by Viva Paredes, 2005 Favorite shopping sites smartbargains.com and ruelala.com Most inspirational figure “After my mother and father, Emma Goldman.” Last book read “The Year of Magical Thinking,” Joan Didion Favorite music festival Left Coast Live Favorite staycation spot Big Sur Favorite vacation spot Mexico City

Photo courtesy Tamara Alvarado

near MACLA, an experience that would become her legacy and vault her to a leadership role at 1stACT. In one effort, she helped create a “family portraits” exhibit by inviting neighborhood residents, who had mostly Asian and Mexican roots, to be photographed in front of local businesses with whomever they consider family. The digital images – of a skateboarder with his friends, gay couples, or parents with their children – were transferred onto vinyl banners hung around the neighborhood. “Our primary goal was for them to get interested in each other,” she says of neighbors and businesses, “and to decrease isolation between communities.” She caught the eye of Connie Martinez, who was looking to bring new faces to 1stAct. Martinez offered Alvarado a role that played on her strong suit – being a connector and bridge builder among disparate communities. “She’s definitely the fairy godmother of a new generation of leadership,” says Elisa Echeverria, who went through Alvarado’s 1stAct 14-month leadership program when she started her new job as transition manager of the troubled Mexican Heritage Plaza. “It’s about coalition-building, about having relationships across sectors. It’s not being afraid of the differences, but being stimulated by them.” The idea of the program is to put together surprising couples: a CEO and a local graffiti artist, for instance, Echeverria continues. “These are the kinds of relationships that Tamara creates.” The program for young and emerging leaders is now in its third year. (See www.1stact.org.) At home, Alvarado’s house is a collection of surprising juxtapositions. Edgy artwork shares space with plastic baby toys. She wants her 1-year-old daughter, Emiliana (from a marriage that ended this year), to know that “the arts are not something only in a museum. They are part and parcel of growing up.” And Wonder Woman will be, too. When the painting returns from the Triton, it’s going right back up on the wall. S

Alvarado’s favorite artwork: “Pocha Indigena,” by Viva Paredes; blown glass, medicinal herbs, mixed media.

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 89

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special report

Kristin Murphy, Brenda Murphy and Cheryl Murphy Durzy

Thérèse Martin

Kathryn Byington, Sheryl Byington Brissenden and Rachelle Charest

womenof thevine The growing numbers of local female winemakers have a more inclusive, holistic way with the grape — and it’s winning them both fans and awards

Twenty years ago, a discussion about women in the wine business might have conjured visions of Lucy and Ethel wearing headscarves and stomping grapes in a giant barrel. In the male-dominated world of wine, only a handful of women had risen to the ranks of managers — and even fewer dared venture into the winemaking arena. Two decades later, the cork ceiling has crumbled. From the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Livermore Valley, the barrel room to the boardroom, women are increasingly planting their feet on terroir firma. And they’re do-

ing it in a uniquely feminine way. Moreover, they’re confident, smart, stylish — and often intent on bringing up even more women, including their own daughters, to the business. For the women profiled in these pages, wine is not just about grapes and chemistry. It’s about food, family, beauty, artistic expression, entertaining — and perhaps most importantly — creating a place where all of these things come together. As one woman winemaker put it, wine is a way of life.

Nikki Ritcher Photography

By Bonnie Wach

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 91

Maria ﾃ」ila Lﾃｳpez

92 窶｢ SCENE 窶｢ FALL 2010

special report

a family force Brenda Murphy, Cheryl Murphy Durzy and Kristin Murphy Clos LaChance

From left: Kristin Murphy, Brenda Murphy and Cheryl Murphy Durzy. Cheryl is the current president of the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association.

Clos LaChance Winery 1 Hummingbird Lane, San Martin 408.686.1050 www.closlachance.com

If wineries could have a gender, Clos LaChance’s would undoubtedly be female. Start with the building itself. Set in the rolling hills of San Martin, 20 miles south of San Jose, the Old World estate and hospitality center exude a graceful European elegance, ensconced in rich dark wood, French-inspired tapestries, candelabra sconces and a fountain courtyard. Add to that the name and the winery symbol. LaChance is co-owner and President Brenda Murphy’s maiden name, the latter is the delicate but steely hummingbird, known for its ephemeral beauty as well as its ability to keep other birds out of the vineyard. It’s an icon that befits Murphy, a former teacher and gourmet cook, who founded Clos LaChance with her husband, Bill Murphy, as a backyard vineyard in 1987, and who’s been the steady, determined hand behind the scenes ever since. “We started literally with an office in our house in Saratoga,” she recalls. “It was a hobby – a hundred acres of chardonnay planted in our backyard. And I pretty much ran it while Bill was working full time at HewlettPackard.” By the time Bill Murphy retired as HP’s Director of Internet Marketing in 2000, the couple was producing 6,000 cases. In addition, they had launched CK Vines, a company that provides installation and maintenance of backyard vineyards, and had broken ground on the winery. Also, another female force, daughter Cheryl, had entered the picture. A business marketing graduate of the University of San Diego, Cheryl was working in the high-tech industry when she realized her true calling lay closer to home. As it happened, her parents were looking to hire a marketing person and take Clos La Chance to the next level. “I was in a PR factory during the high-tech bubble, and one day I woke up in the middle of the night and said, ‘This is not what I want to do,” remembers Cheryl Murphy Durzy, who now heads up sales and marketing for the winery and subsidiary companies, CK Vines and Bay Area Bottling. “My mom put me through a pretty tough interview process. But in the end, it turned out to be a great fit.” In 2001, when they needed someone to launch the hospitality and events arm of their business, the Murphys once again harnessed their girl power, this time bringing in youngest daughter Kristin. Drawing on her background in public relations and events planning, Kristin built Clos LaChance’s weddings and events unit from scratch, and today the winery hosts some 40 to 50 weddings and events every year. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine it would get this big,” laughs Brenda Murphy, surveying the winery’s 60,000-case production facility and hospitality center. “But we had to decide if we were going to make this a commercial business. At some point, it’s either go big or go home.”

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 93

Jackie Starkovich

94 • SCENE • FALL 2010

special report

true character

Maria Ávila López

Thérèse Martin Martin Ranch Winery

‘Women want to take on a lot — it’s in our nature. Since we don’t have children, all my maternal instincts go into the business.’ Thérèse Martin, at far left with her mother, Sharyn Brazil, is involved in all aspects of the winery, including her food (and wine) blog on the website.

Thérèse Martin is not the kind of woman who takes no for an answer. In 1993, when she and her husband, Dan Martin, decided to start growing grapes on their Gilroy ranch at the southeastern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountains, they were told nothing good would grow on the land. “It was rocky, clay, loamy soil, and vines had to struggle and work to produce,” remembers Martin, 47, a former marathon runner and triathlete. “But struggle brings out character — not just of the grapes, but of the people making the wine.” The couple had already experienced a difficult period when one of their three grocery stores was demolished in the Loma Prieta earthquake. They became winemakers almost by accident, after enduring some tough years when they could not sell all their grapes. As it turned out, the minerality of the Santa Cruz Mountains proved to be the perfect microclimate for growing cabernet sauvignon. The Martins spent the next decade planting vines, cultivating the soil and tending grapes until they were able to produce their first commercial crush of 625 cases in 2002. “We’d work all day in the field and then stay up all night at the crush pad,” Thérèse Martin recalls. “It was hard work, but we loved every minute of it.” Today, Martin Ranch Winery generates some 4,000 cases of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, nebbiolo, petit verdot and a dozen other varietals, which are available through its wine club, at restaurants and at gourmet grocers such as Draeger’s. In addition, they open their doors to the public one weekend a month, offering wine tastings, home-cooked food and vegetables grown in their organic garden. For Thérèse Martin, a local girl whose family is from the Corralitos area, the success of Martin Ranch has meant wearing a few more hats. “My role doesn’t stop with the winemaking,” she laughs. “I’m the staff director, bookkeeper, website developer. I man fields during harvest, drive the tractor, dump the grapes — Dan and I do everything down to the label design and writing the text.” The payoff, she says, is the pleasure she gets from sharing her home and her wine with others. On open house weekends, Martin greets every guest personally — as many as 200 people per day. “We have the great fortune of doing what we love and being able to share it with everyone, and we get to do it in our own front yard,” she says. “When we decided to enter the wine business, I knew we wanted to create a unique experience, not just great wine. At Martin Ranch, you can experience wine, food and the lifestyle it’s made in. It’s the whole circle that wine envelops. When you open a bottle of the wine you bought, you reflect back on your day here.”

Martin Ranch Winery 6675 Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy 408.842.9197, www.martinranchwinery.com

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special report

it’s all relative Sheryl Byington Brissenden, Kathryn Byington and Rachelle Charest Byington Vineyard & Winery In 1990, when Bill Byington decided to open a winery in the mountains above Los Gatos, the notion of showcasing his family’s spectacular mountaintop vineyards and chateau by hosting weddings and events was not even an addendum in the business plan. Daughter Sheryl, however, recognized that there were very few places near Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz where you could host special occasions, and even fewer with a gorgeous chateau and spectacular hilltop location boasting views across the Santa Cruz Mountains that stretched all the way to Monterey Bay. She thought she could play a role in events planning. “The job didn’t exist. Thomas Fogerty was the only winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains doing events,” recalls Sheryl Byington Brissenden, who moved with husband, Don, and their two children back to the Santa Clara Valley from Sacramento to help start the winery. “I had no background in hospitality management, but I had done a lot of charitable fundraising, and I loved to entertain at home. So I put that on my résumé and presented it to my dad. It turned out to be the perfect background for the job.” Byington Brissenden hit the ground running. “We opened our winery doors June 9, 1990, and we did our first event June 10,” she laughs. “It was crazy. Just the family doing the serving. But in the wine business, you have to live it, breathe it, sleep it. It’s your social life and your work life.” The chateau, which was originally conceived as a private family retreat, was transformed into a stunning bridal suite, and a rose garden was planted on the newly dubbed “wedding hill” behind the winery where ceremonies were held. Within a few years, Byington was hosting as many as 65 weddings and events a year and doing so well, it was supplying cash flow to the winemaking operation. In 1994, the family launched California Fine Wines, a lower-priced second label, which became so successful, they spun it off as a separate sister winery. Byington Brissenden rose from events manager to the ranks of vice president, and in 2002, her daughter Rachelle Charest caught the wine bug and joined the family business as well. Today, Charest, a 1994 graduate of Santa Clara University, is part-owner and vice president of California Fine Wines; its labels include Bear Ridge, Shon and Charest. Charest – whose husband Travis Charest is a Marvel Comics artist who designed the Charest label – is involved in everything from blending and production to sales and label design. Adding to the woman-power: Four years ago, Byington Brissenden’s sister-in-law Kathryn Byington, CEO of Byington Steel Treating, became CEO of the Byington winery. “It’s been a whirlwind,” says Byington Brissenden, who has scaled back her duties since the birth of her grandchildren a few years ago. “Everyone has this dream of what the wine business is like. In the beginning, we all had our heads in the clouds. We had no idea what it really involved. I believe it takes one person on either side of the equation. Marketing is a huge part of it. But creating events and a place where people feel welcome is equally important.”

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Above, from left: Rachelle Charest, Sheryl Byington Brissenden and Kathryn Byington. Sheryl’s father, Bill, founded the winery at the urging of neighbor and legendary pinot producer David Bruce. Byington hosts events in its wine cave, barrel room and spacious outdoor areas.

Byington Vineyard & Winery 21850 Bear Creek Road Los Gatos, 408.354.1111 www.byington.com

Maria ﾃ」ila Lﾃｳpez

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WINE & SUMMER DESSERT PAIRING

PattyHinzImagery.com/Courtesy J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines/John Green

WINE EDUCATION EVENTS

From left: Judy Schultze, Cynthia Lohr and Christine Tran.

Friday, August 27th 7:30 p.m., $40.00 per person

and the list goes on...

Chef Jaimie Casey will guide you through six bite-sized summer desserts paired with five savory J. Lohr wines and one dessert wine.

The South Bay – and particularly the Santa Cruz Mountain area – boasts a plethora of wineries where women play big roles. Their numbers, in fact, make it impossible to mention everyone; standouts include Judy Schultze, who owns Windy Oaks Estate in Corralitos; Alexia Johnson, winemaker with her husband, Todd Johnson, at Monte Verde Vineyards in Morgan Hill; and Katy Lovell, winemaker at Poetic Cellars in Soquel. A special toast to Kathryn Kennedy, founder and winemaker at Kathryn Kennedy Winery in Saratoga, who died last year. Kennedy, who didn’t start making wine till her 40s, was a trailblazer and icon to many. A little farther afield from the Santa Cruz Mountains are Cynthia Lohr, vice president of marketing at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, which started in San Jose and now has vineyards in Monterey County and Napa Valley; and Christine Tran, wine lover, industry expert and proprietor of the Artisan Wine Depot in Mountain View.

DESCRIPTOR SEMINAR Saturday, August 28th 7:00 p.m., $20.00 per person Develop your wine vocabulary. Includes: Enhanced component tasting (acid, sugar, tannin) Evaluation of enhanced descriptors (apple, grapefruit, curry) Practice by tasting six J. Lohr wines. Learn the difference between aroma and bouquet.

WINE & APPETIZER PAIRING

Chef Jaimie Casey will guide you through an evaluation of six bite-sized appetizers paired with six world-class J. Lohr wines. Learn basic strategies for pairing food and wine.

J. Lohr San Jose Wine Center 1000 Lenzen Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 For tickets, call Lisa at (408) 918-2176 or visit the tasting room from 10am to 5pm daily. Please note that ticket sales are non-refundable.

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Courtesy of Joie de Vivre

Friday, September 10th 7:00 p.m., $45.00 per person

Stay awhile: Hotel Los Gatos Even if home is mere miles away, you’re in another world when you explore South Bay wine country. So why not make a weekend of it? Accommodations range from bedand-breakfasts in Aptos to funky lodges in Boulder Creek to the Hilton in Santa Cruz. We have a soft spot for the luxe Hotel Los Gatos, part of the Joie de Vivre chain of boutique hotels. Located at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains in downtown Los Gatos, the place resembles a Mediterranean villa. You can rest up in one of 71 plush guestrooms, rejuvenate in the full-service spa and eat exquisitely fresh Greek cuisine at Dio Deka restaurant. Weekday rates from $199. 210 E. Main St., Los Gatos, 408.335.1700, reservations 1.866.335.1700, www.hotellosgatos.com. S

Three generations of service Joseph George Wines is the culmination of 3 generations of producers and distributors in the spirits industry. Starting in 1940, we grew to be one of the largest distributors in Northern California. Gradually, we decided to follow our passion for fine wine and make a shift from distribution towards the retailing of premium wines.

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mountain’s

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getaways

majesty

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands takes Tahoe luxury to a new level

Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe

By Bonnie Wach

Everyone’s got a favorite season in Lake Tahoe. Summer, when the lake shimmers like an indigo sapphire. Fall, when the air is so crisp you can almost take a bite out of it. But around this time, I start longing for Tahoe in the snow, and it has nothing to do with the air, the trees or the water. It’s because I have fallen for the boot concierge at the new Ritz-Carlton. Now, I’m as hardy as the next veteran Sierra skier. I have marched miles through resort parking lots laden with more gear than a Sherpa on Everest, endured bouts with chronic frozen buckle fingers and elbowed kids in line for storage lockers. But when the boot concierge at the Lake Tahoe Ritz kneeled at my feet and slipped me into a pre-warmed pair of ski boots, snapped them shut with the deftness of a Tupperware salesman and escorted me out to where my skis lay waiting in the fresh powder—my icy core melted as fast as snow in July. Chocolates on your pillow are one thing. A guy whose sole job it is to put on and pull off ski boots takes you to a whole other level of mountain resort experience, which is likely why, despite rooms that go

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Above, left: The Manzanita restaurant is a showcase for Traci Des Jardin’s French-California cuisine. Above, right: Massage with a view.

for upward of $400 a night, the Ritz-Carlton Highlands has been doing brisk business since it opened on the slopes above Northstar village last winter. In the Sierra, where many lodges still specialize in the chili-in-a-bread-bowl brand of hospitality, the Ritz feels like the dawn of a new era. The $300 million property, which includes 170 guest rooms, 23 private residences and 25 fractional ownership units (where owners buy into the resort property), is Lake Tahoe’s first fivestar resort, the first from-scratch luxury hotel to be built in the area in decades and the first in the Ritz-Carlton chain to incorporate eco-conscious LEED-designed features. Here, the wild boar and white bean chili is served on an expansive stone sundeck with panoramic views of the mountains and a side of live acoustic guitar. If the breeze is too brisk, you can opt for a leather armchair in the comfort of the enormous tree trunk-shaped “living room,”

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anchored by a six-story four-sided granite fireplace and flanked by 25-foot-high windows that look out to the forest. Or if you have something a little more formal in mind, there’s Manzanita restaurant, where red wine-braised short ribs and house-made gnocchi with foraged mushrooms

if you go The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe 13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Court Truckee, CA 96161 www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ LakeTahoe 530.562.3000 Rates from $349 per night, depending on the season For Tahoe activities, weather, info and more, see www.visitinglaketahoe.com

getaways

Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe

put a hearty mountain-resort spin on celeb-chef Traci Des Jardin’s French-California cuisine. After a day of skiing, hiking, biking or golfing (guests get preferred tee-times at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course in nearby Truckee), you can soothe your tired torso in the spa, a 17,000-square-foot palace of pampering featuring three pools, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, a fitness center and 16 treatment rooms offering everything from massage and manicures to a hydrating therapy involving organic espresso and wild orchid extract. The opulence continues upstairs in the guestrooms, where gas fireplaces, plush terry robes, deep soaking tubs, 400-thread count linens and flat-screen TVs are all standard issue. Splurge for accommodations on the exclusive club floor and you may never venture farther than your hallway—five different food-and-beverage presentations are offered daily in the club-level lounge, which comes with its own concierge

and snacks ranging from goat cheese frittatas to dark-chocolate fondue. Over-the-top amenities aside, it’s the attention to detail and service that truly separates the Ritz from the rest — the thick wool blankets in the private gondolas that ferry guests between the hotel and the European-style ski village at Northstar below; the separate spa elevator so that you don’t have to parade through the lobby in your bathrobe after your pinyon pine nut warm-stone massage; the kids’ arcade loaded with free PlayStation video games so that adults can enjoy a grown-up cocktail at the bar; the regiment of valets who magically whisk away your bags, your skis, your golf clubs and your car, and then instantly reappear with them at the appropriate time and place. And of course, let’s not forget the boot concierge. Call me a Sierra sissy, but I think I’ve just discovered a new Tahoe luxury I can’t live without. S

Above, left: At night, cozy up to the fireplace in the resort’s lobby. Above, right: Guestrooms feature soaking tubs, 400-thread count linens and flat-screen TVs.

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IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE TO Drop 2-9 Pant or Dress Sizes in 2 Weeks? New Technology ) An Old Goal. Have you ever wished that you could just lay under a light, take your vitamins, drink water and drop inches? It even gets better. Let’s say you lost 5 inches from your waist in 2 weeks. Or maybe 2-½ inches from each thigh and an 1-½ inches from each arm in those same 2 weeks. How about having all your friends asking you what you did because you look more alive, younger and slim than you have looked in years. What if the biggest problem you had was all your pants were falling off you because you lost so many inches from your waist? That’s exactly what our ZERONA™ patients are experiencing.

ZERONA™ Involves No Surgery, No Pain, No Needles, No DownTime, No Medications and Is Completely Non-Invasive? What if this process was healthy and good for you? So much so that our patients have reported that the ZERONA™ SYSTEM balanced cholesterol and blood sugar, improved nerve function, helped with skin tightening and body rejuvenation while decreasing aches and pains.

Introducing the ZERONA™ SYSTEM. ZERONA™ LipoLaser removes fat without surgery, pain or wounds. ZERONA™ is a new LipoLaser body-sculpting procedure designed to remove fat and contour the body without invasive surgery. ZERONA™ allows you to continue your daily activities without interruptions from surgery, pain, or wounds. ZERONA™ works by utilizing the LipoLASER™ (FDA cleared for laser assisted liposuction) to emulsify fat which then releases into the interstitial space. The excess fat is passed through the body during its normal course of detoxification. The ZERONA™ procedure was proven through a double blind, randomized, multi-site, and placebo controlled study in which patients averaged a loss of 3.64 inches, and some lost up to as much as 9 inches compared to the placebo group that lost only a half inch. What You Can Expect: Our patients lose an average of 8 - 11 inches from the waist, hips & thighs and reduction in clothes size in 2 weeks. This is not a quick weight loss program—we are targeting adipose tissue and are not taking off excess water weight. We are removing the excess fat to successfully shape the body for a more desirable outcome.

ZeronaTM LipoLaser Workshops When: Tuesdays Evenings, 6:15 pm - 8:00 pm Where: O’Connor Health Center, LipoLaser Center 1190 S Bascom Av. ,Suite 111, San Jose, CA 95128 Cost: FREE ($79.00 value) Call: (408) 293-5800 Seating is reserved 104 • SCENE • FALL 2010

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These glass mosaic accent tables are available with motifs of grapes, tulips or hummingbirds. Designs are set in solid concrete, with metal frames and stands. $69.99 at www.windandweather.com.

When the mood calls for old world, Pottery Barn’s Malta Lanterns are just the touch. Built of steel with a bronze finish, the lanterns can rest on a flat surface or hang from above. $29 to $99 at www. potterybarn.com.

There’s no end to uses for this outdoor sideboard from Plow & Hearth. Put it next to the grill for extra cook space, or on the patio as a sideboard when entertaining. $99.95 at www.plowhearth.com.

Finally, a glass for all seasons. West Elm’s stylish hammered-acrylic drinkware is ideal for libations of all kinds, from fruit juice and lemonade to burgundy and Beaujolais. Use for indoor or outdoor entertaining. $14 to $18 at www. westelm.com.

Tray chic is the only way to describe Pottery Barn’s all-weather galvanized metal servers. The dual-purpose design allows them to convert to stylish organizers when not in use. $49 at www. potterybarn.com.

Take an exotic adventure without leaving your chair. The lush tropical blooms of West Elm’s larger-than-life Jungle Flower Outdoor Pillows set the mood for a backyard safari. $29 at www.westelm.com.

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haute stuff Charms by Aaron Basha, starting at $1,600, at Heller Jewelers.

Don’t get strung out on lighting when decorating the yard. West Elm’s festive paper lanterns hang easily over the patio or porch. $29 at www. westelm.com.

savoring summer’s end There’s still more than a month of summer left, plenty of time for late-season pool parties, barbecues, dining alfresco. The right accessories will enhance your outdoor festivities. By Kristine M. Carber

Take shelter from harmful UV rays under Crate and Barrel’s 9-foot round umbrella in Mediterranean stripes of riviera blue, palm green, lavender and cayenne. Frame and stand sold separately. $199 at www. crateandbarrel. com.

Candela Glow rechargeable lights are just the trick to light up the night. Portable and cordless, the warm, ambient LED fixtures can be left unattended and won’t blow out in the wind. $69.99 for a set of four at www.oxo.com.

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at the table

Bruno Chemel Chef/owner Baumé, Palo Alto From left: The relaxing dining rooms at Baumé feature black, slate and tangerine color schemes and minimalist décor; chef Bruno Chemel; each dining room can seat 14 people.

Story by Kristine M. Carber Photos by Kerry Hiroshi Paul

Age: 41 Hometown: Born in Moulins, France; now lives in Sunnyvale Experience: Chemel is a practitioner of molecular gastronomy, which applies scientific techniques and tools to cooking. He opened Baumé in January of this year; he aims, he says, to dynamically prepare a menu for each table based on the best ingredients currently available to the restaurant. So instead of dishes, diners choose prix-fixe meals with featured ingredients, such as asparagus, vermouth, liquid nitrogen and pineapple. They are given no clue as to how the ingredients will be presented, and leave it to Chemel to surprise and tantalize. A recent Mercury News review of Baumé noted how “vermouth foam floats atop a vegetable puree; pearls of passion fruit adorn both a pre-dinner and predessert amuse bouche; an emulsifier turns balsamic vinegar and olive oil into a butter-like spread.” But foams, gels and flavor pearls are the flashier side of a larger body of culinary philosophy and science that aims to improve the taste of food and how we experience it. Baumé is named after French chemist Antoine Baumé (inventor of the Baumé density meter), and reflects Chemel’s understanding of cooking techniques and flavors, and also his willingness and ability to do things differently.

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From Silicon Valley

Fashion show An event Spa services you won’t want to miss! Retail pavilion Want to learn more about this event? To get exclusive updates from Scene including details on this event and beauty and fashion tips. SNAP a photo of the tag to the left with your camera phone. SEND via your phone to 234411* or bang@snaptag.mobi OR TEXT “SceneSV” to 234411. Standard messaging and data rates apply. Send STOP to 234411 to opt-out at anytime. Send HELP to 234411 for more info. See terms and conditions at www.bayareanewsgroup.com/mobileterms. *234411 for AT&T Alltell & Verizon. Others use email.

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at the table

Chemel graduated top in his class in culinary school while also working at Michelin two-star restaurant Jean Pierre Billoux in Dijon, France. He worked at several other highly regarded restaurants in Paris before moving to New York to work as executive chef at Le Chantilly. He spent four years in Japan studying macrobiotic cooking with Japanese master chefs and became executive chef at Tokyo’s Ambrosia. Then he opened the four-star Cliquo in Honolulu in 1995. After relocating to California, he worked as executive chef at Aqua (Southern California), La Suite (San Francisco) and Chez TJ in Mountain View, before striking out on his own. Early inspiration: “My dad loved to go to two- and three-star Michelin restaurants, so I learned early about good food.” Easiest and hardest part of owning a restaurant: “The best part is the freedom, and the most challenging part is the ups and downs of the business.” Favorite food: Japanese Favorite restaurant: Red Crane in Cupertino Culinary philosophy: “What I do well now, I will do better tomorrow.” If not a chef, what would you be: “A motorcycle or race-car driver.”

asparagus salad Chef Bruno has adapted this dish for the home cook – no egg-yolk pearls, but still fresh and delicious. 9 jumbo green asparagus spears 1 shallot 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch fresh rosemary, chopped fleur de sel (sea salt) to taste black pepper to taste 2 ounces aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese mizuna and mustard leaves for decoration Serves 4 Wash and peel 8 asparagus spears and set aside in cool water. Peel and shave the last spear and keep the shavings in iced water. Set aside. Finely dice the shallot and macerate in sherry vinegar for 5 minutes. Then drain, and add the olive oil with the chopped rosemary to the shallots to make the vinaigrette. Add sea salt and pepper. Blanche the asparagus in salted boiling water for 3 minutes. Remove and drain on a dry towel. Align the asparagus and top with vinaigrette. Finish with fleur de sel, black pepper and asparagus shavings. Decorate with small salad leaves and aged Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings Bon appétit!

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interiors The Staglin family estate in Rutherford wine country is both a showplace and a comfortable home Story by Charles Neave Photos by Rick Bolen

elegance When Garen and Shari Staglin decided in 1982 to buy vineyard property, start a winery, build a house and move full time to the Napa Valley, they had very firm ideas as to what it was they wanted. It took them three years. First, it had to be in an exceptional area. They found a property in Rutherford, home of what viticulturists reverentially call “Rutherford Dust.” With 62 acres and a knoll above the vineyards on which to build their home, it was ideal. Second, they knew they wanted to make limited amounts of the best wine possible. Today, with their organic farming methods, production is just 7,000 cases a year. Most importantly, they wanted a place that would be a home for family, and a house to welcome their legion of friends from the Bay Area and around the world. “We designed it for entertaining and for living, and it has worked out beautifully,” both of them agree. After two years of planning, construction began. Every detail of

Garen and Shari Staglin, with son Brandon, enjoy a meal at their home. At left, high ceilings and walls of windows make for light-filled, airy rooms. On the wall is the painting “Fischmarkt” by Thomas Schindler (1989), part of the Staglins’ notable art collection.

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Above, from left: The house offers multiple areas for indoor/ outdoor living; hallway wall space displays paintings; and the grounds feature sculptural pieces, such as “Winged Woman Walking” by Stephen de Staebler (1987). The Staglins found the work so inspirational that they use it on one of their wine labels.

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the Italianate design that could be provided for was, even though Garen is the first to admit that “a 22-foot ceiling on paper is a whole different thing than standing in the middle of a room with a 22-foot ceiling.” In all, the five-bedroom, seven-bath house covers just under 10,000 square feet. Early on, they had given San Francisco architect Bob Arrigoni of BAR Architects a list of specific requirements: The house had to have lots of light, it would be designed for indoor/outdoor living and there had to be lots of wall space for their art collection, which is extensive and continues to grow. “Garen and I collect the art together,” Shari says. “When we were first married, we knew next to nothing about art. I dragged him around to galleries, and now he loves it. It took us a while before we agreed on anything; now we agree on everything.” The art, which is both indoors and out, is an eclectic but stunning mix – primarily figurative work by Bay Area artists. Around each turn a visitor never knows what might appear. There is a long gallery on the west side that runs from the front of the house past the living and dining rooms, kitchen and family room and almost to the back of the house. There is ample room for large pieces in the living room, and plenty of outdoor space for large sculptures. Even the paint on the exterior has an artistic aspect. “We took a box of the ‘Rutherford Dust’ and had the paint mixed to match. No one else in the world has that,” Shari says. The symmetry they asked for means that on the east (vineyard) and west (pool and

interiors

lawn) side of the house, 12 sets of French doors mirror each other, taking advantage of the views and the light no matter the time of day or the season. “Inside, we put in light wood floors, which is unusual perhaps, but [the effect] is very soft,” Garen says. Pavers and plaster are the other predominate materials. A loggia stretches almost the length of the vineyard side of the structure. The property has appealed to others: Much of the 1998 movie “The Parent Trap” (with Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson and Lindsay Lohan) was filmed here, and pop singer Christina Aguilera used the grounds for her wedding and reception. Those grounds are a mixture of wild and manicured, with a tile-lined pool that can be covered over for larger parties; plenty of manicured, multi-tiered lawn; and a massive sculptured stone table with a self-draining trough that runs its length. The trough can be filled with flowers, or often is filled with chipped ice and seafood for an alfresco raw bar. Wine is never a problem, since in addition to the multiple wine coolers in the house, the Staglins’ extensive caves are only a few minutes’ walk away. The kitchens, both indoors and out, are set up to handle anything from a dinner for family – Shari, Garen and their two grown children, Shannon and Brandon – or for much larger groups, as often happens when friends, and friends of friends, converge. “The inside and the outside blend seamlessly. That is what we asked for and that, we are happy to say, is what we have.”

Above, from left: A stone table has a trough that can be filled with flowers, or chipped ice and seafood; the pool can be covered over for large parties; and the spacious dining room.

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From left: Rick Bolen/Courtesy Staglin Music Festival for Mental Health 2010

interiors

The party place: The 24,000-square-foot barrel cave at the Staglin winery is the perfect setting for gourmet dining and winetasting. The annual music festival is underwritten by the sale of the Staglins’ Salus-labeled wines.

When Brandon Staglin was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the summer of 1990 after his freshman year at Dartmouth, Garen and Shari Staglin first wanted to make sure their son got better. But they also wanted to raise money for research into curing and helping others, and educate people along the way. They found a novel way to do it all. Now in its 16th year, the Staglin Music Festival for Mental Health brings together musicians, food and wine, and scientists to raise funds and awareness for the cause. Guests at the festival have enjoyed famous wines – some of them the rare cult bottlings that are seldom seen – and hors d’oeuvres from renowned chefs, all served in the 24,000-square-foot barrel cave at the winery. Music and dancing takes place in a pavilion a hundred yards away. Past performers have included Gladys Knight, the Pointer Sisters, Brian Wilson and Roberta Flack. This year’s event, on Sept. 11, will feature country singer Dwight Yoakam and chefs Richard Reddington of Yountville’s acclaimed Redd Restaurant and Jon Bonnell of Bonnell’s Restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas. The festival is underwritten by the sale of the Staglins’ two premium Salus-labeled wines. All proceeds from the event go directly to supporting mental health research and treatment across the country. Since 1985, the Staglins have donated and raised some $710 million for multiple charities, of which almost $100 million has been raised by the music festival. For more information, go to www.staglinfamily.com.

Courtesy Staglin Music Festival for Mental Health 2010

The Staglin Music Festival for Mental Health 2010

Dwight Yoakam is this year’s headliner on Sept. 11.

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all for you funeral

cremation

Saratoga’s Joan Stoelker, second from right, and her family won tickets to the Santana Row fashion show.

O riginalfuneralhom e 1930’s A lan & C atherine A lam eda

Scene magazine winner Joan Stoelker won our Earth Day contest with a tribute to her Irish grandmother, who was “green” before her time: “As a young wife, mother and recent immigrant, she carefully reused all cloth in the home ... [first] as clothes, tablecloths, or napkins, then as dishtowels, dusters, and cleaning cloths, finally ending as a neat stack of rags.” She exchanged them with the “‘Rag Man’ ... for a handful of change ... starting the cycle all over again.”

Scene magazine reader contest Contest details and rules continued from Page 130:

‘A Win-Win!’ In 250 words or less, or in a drawing or photo, explain how you would accessorize a LBD to stand out at 1) a dance performance, 2) a chamber music concert and 3) an upscale fashion show.

FOUR GENERATIONS OF CELEBRATING LIFE

Email scene@bayareanewsgroup.com by Sept. 7. You must be 18 years old and a legal California resident to enter. Employees of the Bay Area News Group and their families are ineligible. Limit one entry per person, per household. Winners may be photographed and featured in Scene’s November issue.

Mark your calendars Scene and Bloomingdale’s Stanford present: ‘Fashion on the Go!’ Saturday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m., at Bloomingdale’s Stanford. Wardrobe need an update? Don’t miss this presentation with Lorence Manansala, Bloomie’s At Your Service Manager. Discover the best of fall fashion from Hugo Boss, Rachel Roy Signature, Burberry, Ralph Lauren Black Label, Three Dots, Trina Turk, Rebecca Taylor, Nanette Lepore, and more. Informal modeling; light refreshments. RSVP to 650.463.2240. Limited seating.

Project Pink – a ‘runway event’

K athleen A lam eda-D urham

Z oe A lam eda, A lan A lam eda

Jessica B urroughs

OUR FAMILY SERVING YOUR FAMILY Experienced in Services of All Faiths, Traditions and Customs

Friday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m., at Westfield Valley Fair. Westfield Valley Fair and the Bay Area Fashionista partner to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s efforts to stop breast cancer with a pink-inspired fashion show, auction, music, food and drinks. $25. www.westfield.com/valleyfair.

Scene

A special thank you to Rob Barker, Erika Brown, Pat Danna, Ed Eke, Rudy Knight, Janet Kim Paik, Gail Petty, Robin Siegfried, June Stephens and Mark Yamamoto.

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FALL 2010 • SCENE • 127

Kerry Hiroshi Paul

May Ngai, Carol Sadler and Margaret Tomei

A model sports a sophisticated ensemble.

Lorence Manansala, right, explains what the model at left is wearing.

Freda Scott, Annie Morhauser, Vae Sun

Christie and Bruno Chemel from Baumé

Matt Lin

Henry Kee

Mark Hundley

It was standing-room-only at Scene’s special event with Bloomingdale’s Stanford on June 24. “Fresh Ideas on Summer Entertaining” featured presentations by glass artist Annie Morhauser (of Annieglass), floral designer Vae Sun, Baumé chef Bruno Chemel (see story Page 111), a fashion show styled by Bloomingdale’s Lorence Manansala and more. Raffle prizes capped a fun evening.

From left: Longevity Gala Co-chair Christine Ng, Amy Tan and Cochair Antonia Tu.

From left: Longevity Gala Committee members Diane Lee and Helen Hubbs.

On a Thursday night in June, Straits founder and chef Chris Yeo, who lives in Hillsborough, celebrated the grand reopening of his San Jose restaurant and lounge. In addition to enjoying good food, guests entered on a red carpet and partied to live music.

Self-Help for the Elderly’s Longevity Gala, held in Burlingame in June, fittingly celebrated the organization’s 45th year. More than 1,200 guests attended; funds raised benefit SHE’s comprehensive programs for seniors in Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo and Alameda counties.

Sam Broydo

From left: Tessa Clark, Stephanie Recto, Jamie Garland, Chris Yeo and Kelly Yeo (Chris’ wife).

Jon Halsey, Irena Halsey and Marc Tessier-Lavigne

Natalie DiMarco and Ramune Ambrozaitis

Dr. John Seffrin, Carole Seffrin, Courtenay Corrigan and Sean Corrigan

Phyllis and K.G. Romine

CEO of the American Cancer Society Dr. John Seffrin was guest of honor at a reception held at the home of Courtenay and Sean Corrigan in Los Altos Hills on June 16. Seffrin spoke to some 55 guests about the ACS’s research program and funding young cancer researchers as they are entering the field. 128 • SCENE • FALL 2010

seen

Katharine Fong

Valerie Genco, JoAnn Morgese and Shari Duncan

Ivanya Terrazas and Rina Lanham

Rose Kaiser and Jen Miller

Sarina Atangan, Cherry Galong and Krystina Orozco

Melody Lewis and Denise Lehman

out and about in silicon valley “A Poolside Soiree” at Santana Row was the place to be for a glimpse of summer fashion, back in May. The two runway shows, in partnership with Scene, showcased clothes and accessories from Santana Row retailers. Before and after, guests mingled, shopped the booths and noshed. Kaitlin Lockhart

Sonya Chavez, Connie Yi, Cari Gushiken, Stephanie Ho, Vincy Chan

Ernie and Ruth Chavez

Norma Martinez and Karen Butler

Phyllis, Heidi and Rachel Bonneau

Maria Ramirez, Klarissa Ramirez and Barbara Reed

Kitty Angel and Ada Bartenslager

Thea Moore and Amy Bidwell

Gina Jackman, Sonja Kapovik and Kristi Ciro

Marianda Fahrnbruch and Victoria Monteiro

FALL 2010 • SCENE • 129

all for you

A Win-Win! Enter Scene’s contest and savor local arts and culture Ladies, it’s time to dress up. Office-wear and workout gear have their place – but not at special events. A night out at a sizzling dance performance, or a swank afternoon at a chamber music concert or upscale fashion show call for some

attention to detail. Tell us in 250 words or less, or show us in a drawing or photo, how you would accessorize a LBD (little black dress) so you could stand out from the crowd at all three events. Deadline is Sept. 7. Contest rules on Page 127.

S pa cen rtn e er

1) `A pair of tickets to opening night of “Burn the Floor” on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m. Presented by Broadway San Jose at the Center for the Performing Arts, the show has everything you’ve come to know and love about ballroom dance: high-octane numbers, skin-tight costumes, smoldering glances.

2) A pair of tickets to hear the Saint Michael Trio at Villa Montalvo on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. Part of the Villa Chamber Music Series, the trio – all Silicon Valley venture capitalists – will perform “Mendelssohn Explained”: Mendelssohn’s C minor trio, plus commentary, audience participation and more.

Courtesy of Broadway San Jose/Courtesy of Montalvo Arts Center/ Adriana Ristau

Three grand prizes:

3) Four tickets to Santana Row’s “Fall Fashion in the Park” on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. Prize includes the runway show, a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, shopping boutique and post-show soiree. (“Project Runway” fans: Splurge on the Friday, Sept. 10, evening show, when Jay Sario, above, appears; info at www.santanarow.com.)

Mark your calendars Courtesy of Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts Aug. 28-29, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., on University Avenue Works by 300 fine artists and crafters are on display, including paintings, photography, sculptures, fiber arts and one-of-a-kind jewelry, mixed media and ceramics. The fest also offers music and a kids’ art studio. www.mlaproductions. com/PaloAlto. Look for the Scene booth!

Continued on Page 127

130 • SCENE • FALL 2010

Original artwork will be available for purchase at the festival.

4 SCENE MAGAZINE HOLIDAY ISSUE 2009 l