Perfect World Event is Northern California’s premier boutique Destination Management Company, comprised of nine full-time staff members who represent the very best in creative program development, flawless operational expertise and unmatched attention to detail.

Scene It is Perfect World Event’s newsletter highlighting what’s new and hot in the Bay Area. This summer edition will highlight the latest happenings at PWE and bring you up to speed on the region’s latest restaurant and venue news.

As always, we hope this information helps educate you as to the greatness of San Francisco and the entire Northern California region….

Dan, Mary, Bob, Marilee, Isabella, Jordan, Katy, Lisa & Kenny
 

Perfect World Events Announces the Creation of PWEPharma
Designed to meet the ever-growing needs of our client base, Perfect World Events recently launched PWEPharma, a division designed to manage the specialized requirements of the pharmaceutical and medical communications industry. Led by industry veterans Marilee Sonneman, CMP, DMCP, and Jordan Le Boeuf, PWEPharma recognizes the unique nature of promotional and CME meetings.

For promotional programs, PWEPharma focuses on delivering exceptional experiences befitting the elevated stature of the guests and the extremely competitive nature of the industry, balanced by a knowledge of, and respect for, PhRMA and AdvaMed standards and principles. “We take the time to understand the clientele – their education, their field of expertise, their passions and then we design a program accordingly,” said Sonneman. “Delegates typically have two common characteristics,” added Le Boeuf; “they possess an insatiable desire to learn and their time is extremely valuable. So to be successful on behalf of our clients we must deliver enlightenment as part of the experience.”

For medical education meetings, PWEPharma has negotiated special rates with its partner-suppliers to ensure transportation and other services are tailored to strict budget and ACCME guidelines. PWE delivers these services with flawless execution to CME providers, universities, academicians, clinicians, medical associations and other healthcare professionals.

For more information on PWEPharma, please contact Marilee Sonneman at 415.777.8200 or email her at msonneman@perfectworldevents.com.

Sonneman Receives Highest Achievement in Destination Management Industry
Marilee Sonneman, CMP, Managing Director of Perfect World Events, recently earned the designation of Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP), the highest recognition of professional achievement in the destination management industry.

Fewer than 115 professionals worldwide hold this certification awarded by the Association of Destination Management Executives. Sonneman adds this prestigious award to the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential.
 

PWE Organizes Waterfront 5K Run and 1K Walk
The sound of thundering feet could be heard along San Francisco’s famous waterfront as runners took to the streets for a Crack the Crab 5K Run and 1K Fun Walk. Held in conjunction with an oncology conference, the event brought together runners and walkers alike for the early morning outing.

The 5K Run was held on the Embarcadero, one of the most scenic courses found anywhere in America. Runners started from the iconic Ferry Building and headed west along the waterfront. The famous Willie Mays statue sitting majestically in front of AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, served as the perfect half-way mark for the out and back course.

The event concluded with a waterfront awards ceremony where the division winners were awarded customized event medals celebrating their accomplishments.

Northern California News You Can Use
San Francisco is now home to Eureka, the largest airship in the world. This $11 million venture is one of three passenger zeppelins in the world.

For the last two years, star San Francisco chefs Nancy Oakes, Michael Mina and Gary Danko have been working on high-profile restaurants in new condominium projects. Mina's RN74 recently opened in SoMA’s Millennium Tower as the first of the three, Danko's restaurant is scheduled to open in the winter at Ghirardelli Square, and Oakes' project at The Infinity San Francisco is slated to open this spring.

America’s Iron Chef winner, Traci Des Jardins of Jardinière and Mijita in San Francisco will create the signature restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Highlands slated to open in the fall at the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort. The project combines the James Beard award-winning chef’s two passions – cooking and skiing.

Condé Nast Traveler recently revealed its 2009 Hot Lists. Listed among the world’s hot new bars and clubs were San Francisco’s The Press Club (see venue spotlight below) and Infusion Lounge. San Francisco’s Zinnia made the hot tables list while Sausalito’s Cavallo Point and Yountville’s Bardessono made the hot hotel listing.

Il Buco, a New York institution, is opening a San Francisco edition called 54 Mint, in the revitalized Mint Plaza. Just steps from San Francisco Shopping Centre and only blocks from Union Square, the intimate Italian restaurant will specialize in the cuisine of Umbria.
 

Sutro’s at the Cliff House
Oft known for its sweeping views of the Northern California coast, the food at the Cliff House never quite measured up to the awe-inspiring views. Thanks to the recent addition of chef George Morrone, that has changed. An East Coast native, Morrone has been cooking in San Francisco for 26 years, and is best known for being the first local chef to receive two 4-star reviews (at Aqua, and later at the Fifth Floor) from the SF Chronicle.

Sutro’s at the Cliff House is a casually stylish restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and a stunning panorama of the famous Seal Rocks, the Marin coastline and the Pacific Ocean. The restaurant’s ever-changing menu focuses on the finest organic produce, fresh seafood, and local ingredients that are farmed using sustainable practices. Dishes representative of Morrone’s skill include vibrant slices of venison carpaccio with huckleberries, salmon with lobster hollandaise and prime rib of veal with rosemary carrots and Marsala sauce. Thanks to these recent changes, the Cliff House is now a place where the food surpasses the ocean vista – which, by the way, is best viewed at sunset.

San Francisco’s Press Club
Over the past few years, Napa and Sonoma wineries have devoted extensive resources, financial, artistic and intellectual, to upgrade their on-property tasting rooms to deliver a more refined and educational platform for highlighting their vintacultural creations. Thanks to the opening of Press Club, the Wine Country tasting room experience comes to downtown San Francisco. 

Located steps from the excitement of Market Street and just a short walk from many of the downtown hotels, Press Club blends Wine Country ambience with city chic in seamless fashion. The subterranean space vanquishes any vestiges of the City and the best news about Press Club is that the wines do not take a back seat to the concept.

Each of the eight exceptional wineries at Press Club are represented by their own staff and vintners to provide the most intimate, educational and comprehensive wine tasting available outside of the Wine Country. Wineries that call Press Club home include such acclaimed labels as Chateau Montelena, Landmark, Saintsbury and Phalmeyer. Guests are free to sample from all the different stations and mingle on one of the many couches, banquettes and private spaces.

Press Club can accommodate up to 300 guests, making it the largest tasting room in the region and is an exceptional venue for private events.

Half Moon Bay’s Harley Farms
Located just minutes from the pampering elegance of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, Harley Farms offers Coastside visitors with a slice of life that is strait out of a Norman Rockwell novel. On any given day, some 200 goats roam the grounds feasting to their hearts desire and soaking in the magnificent salt air.

The perfect Harley Farms experience includes a tour of the grounds and an up-close introduction to the four-legged star residents, an informative overview of the cheese making process, followed by a gourmet lunch in the restored barn where the highlight of the meal is an assortment of Harley Farms cheese, including their signature chèvre. "When people finish the tour, they leave with a piece of us," says owner Dee Harley. "It's about having a personal relationship with the food that you eat."

Napa’s Oxbow Public Market
The evolution of the Napa Valley has been well chronicled. First, there were the wineries and amazing restaurants. Next in line was the addition of boutique shops and hotels. This combination has helped make the Valley a must-see destination for visitors to the Bay Area. Now, thanks to the addition of Oxbow Public Market, many of the Valley’s great offerings are delivered in one central riverfront location.

Located in the heart of downtown Napa's up-and-coming Oxbow District, the Market offers an eclectic combination of local food purveyors, wineries, shops and restaurants all housed along the banks of the Napa River.

Some of the more notable restaurants include the latest incarnation of Taylor’s Refresher, the cult burger stand; Rôtisario, which features mouth-watering rotisserie items; and the famous Hog Island Oyster Company. The Market wouldn’t be complete without a focus on wine, and Oxbow Wine Merchant delivers on that front. The venue also features dozens of specialty shops including The Model Bakery, with their on-site bakery; The Fatted Calf, a soon-to-be legendary, artisanal charcuterie and butcher shop, the Oxbow Cheese Merchant, with its selection of artisanal cheeses and Bay Area favorite, Kara’s Cupcakes, to name a few. We think you'll find the Oxbow Public Market a warm, welcoming, delicious experience.

Better to be scene or heard? Both! The next edition of Scene It! will be coming your way this fall, but we would love to hear from you before that so drop us an e-mail or give us a call!

See you next time, on Scene It!