Sophisticated San Francisco

If you wish to add a dollop of sophistication to your everyday grind, look no further than the Rooftop Auction!  

Afterguard Sailing & SF Winery  http://afterguard.net/www.afterguard.net – Sip ‘n sail

San Francisco Bay will be home to next year’s America’s Cup Finals, the first time the race has been in the U.S. since 1995. Get a taste of the action this year with a three-hour sailing cruise that follows the exact route of the famous racing yachts plus an hour-long wine tasting experience on Treasure Island .

With boats that fit an intimate six passengers each, Afterguard Sailing Academy will take you from Treasure Island Marina along the waterfront, by Angel Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Relax and go along for the ride, or help man the sails as the captain and crew will be offering basic sailing instruction for those interested. Upon docking, take a short walk over to acclaimed The Winery SF tasting room for an hour of sipping and swirling.

San Francisco Jazz Festival – 2 tickets to spring concert

Every year music lovers from around the country descend upon the city to hear their favorite artists live at the SF Jazz Festival.  Six string savants, Sonic explorers, Jazz royalty, Sirens of song, Global genre-benders from Africa, England, India, Greece, Cuba, Brazil, Israel, Spain, Ireland and  New Orleans: there is truly something for everyone. Be sure to check the auction catalog to see which concert tickets are for sale at the Rooftop Auction!

Lancaster Estate – Nicole’s Red 2008 Magnum http://www.lancaster-estate.com/

All of Lancaster’s grapes are grown on the 53 hillside-acres of vineyards located in the eastern hills of southern Alexander Valley. The wine makers spend lots of time walking in the vineyard, developing an understanding of every row in every block. The Nicole’s Proprietary Red is something else: The best barrels from each vintage are hand selected to craft the proprietary blend that is released in December of each year. Hints of sweet spice, cocoa and vanilla compliment this small production, members-only wine. Oenophiles (yes, that’s you!) you know what that means: stay focused and bring it home!

Gary Danko www.garydanko.com – Fisherman’s Wharf

A special occasion deserves a special place and it doesn’t get much better than Gary Danko.  The master chef himself describes it as follows: “We may be three thousand miles and twelve blocks off Broadway, but what we do here is definitely theatre. We work hard to ensure that each evening’s ‘performance’ is seamless and magical.” Interested in experiencing this much-hyped dining extravaganza? All it takes is your enthusiastic bidding at the Rooftop Auction and a 2-month advance reservation.

Gallery of Jewels – gift certificate
If you got lucky this week, your beloved went Valentine shopping at this gem of a store. But if you woke up (like most of us) without ‘bling’ next to your breakfast plate, don’t fret. Bring your checkbook to the auction and covet that gift certificate. The one-of-a-kind pieces at Gallery of Jewels come from all over the world. Some are classic, some funky but they’re all lovingly made by carefully selected designers.  You will not leave the store empty-handed.

The French class www.frenchclass.com – 8-week French course

Oh la la, everything sounds more sophisticated in French, n’est-ce pas?  Whether you need to speak French at work, vacation or just want to develop that ‘je ne sais quoi’, the French Class will get you on your way.  The classes are small, the teachers kind and qualified, the courses are fun and welcoming for beginners or challenging and interesting for advanced speakers. Alors, allez-y!

The Mandarin Oriental SF Hotel – http://www.mandarinoriental.com/sanfrancisco/ – One night

Towering above downtown, guests at the Mandarin enjoy stupendous views of the city’s iconic sights, from the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco Bay. This spring, the hotel will unveil a new bar and restaurant and all guestrooms will have been refurbished. A perfect opportunity to re-acquaint yourself with our bustling downtown. Indulge yourself in a stay-cation weekend: pick a fine restaurant, visit some sights or shop ‘till you drop and spend the night in opulent luxury.