This is How Silicon Valley Does a Fancy Dinner
Shimmer, sparkle and shine are not words normally associated with Silicon Valley style, but that's exactly what we saw this week at an ultra-glam private dinner attended by 40 of the Bay Area's tech elite.
Hosted by lifestyle expert Nikita Kahn (Larry Ellison's striking girlfriend), stylist Mary Gonsalves Kinney, and man-about-town realtor Joel Goodrich, the glittering occasion in the private dining room of Park Tavern was in honor of Marni's Spring 2017 collection, which debuted at the Italian brand's Maiden Street boutique earlier in the day. It was the first event Nikita hosted in San Francisco following the recent launch of her new site, NKHerLifestyle.
While guests raved about the decor, and enjoyed the cuisine by chefs Jennifer Puccio and Trevor Ogden, we checked in with the hosts to find out what, beyond the food and wine, goes into creating a great Silicon Valley dinner party.
THE GUESTS
"Other than the amazing cuisine, the most important elements in any party are the guests and their energy, along with the hosts and the energy they create," said Joel Goodrich, who put the party together with his co-hosts and event planner J. Riccardo Benavides in three days after a last-minute change of venue.
Among the many notables were Lynne Benioff, who with husband Marc Benioff just donated $20 million toward construction of the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC; Samantha Bechtel, whose recent wedding party with husband Darren Bechtel at the Legion of Honor is still the talk of the town; Pia Cohler, wife of financier Matt Cohler and founder of the chic new boutique, Pia, The Store, in Jackson Square; and artist Ana Saygi.
THE FASHION
The days of sloppy, boring, ill-fitting clothes in Silicon Valley are over, at least among this crowd.
"What I find as a stylist to the tech elite is that if a wardrobe piece can stand on its own and is hard to come by, it becomes even better. This is why Marni is the perfect brand for Silicon Valley," said Mary Gonsalves Kinney. "It encompasses, on a fashion level, all the tech industry stands for and hopes to achieve professionally–the bolder, the better."
She and host Nikita Kahn both wore Marni, as did several guests, including tech insider Alexia Tsotsis, startup founder Komal Shah, and boutique owners Pia Cohler and Sherri McMullen. The brand's bold and bright shaped silhouettes filled the room. We even spotted Marni's menswear on political strategist Jason Kinney, who commented he was at the "only place in San Francisco where people don't want to kvetch about the election." Others, such as Shannon Bavaro, Sonia Maria Edwards, Camilla Papale, Carolyn Chandler and Ana Saygi opted for classic black.
THE DECOR
The glint of gold took center stage in the decor. Inspired by host Joel Goodrich's gold and crystal dining room at home, J. Riccardo Benavides of Ideas Event Styling transformed the room into a sparkling jewel box, with reflective surfaces, twinkling votives and vases, and a multitude of long white candles. "He said he'd like something that glittered," said Riccardo. Did it ever!
THE CAUSE
"Every child should be able to get an education, no matter where he or she lives," said Nikita Kahn, as she spoke about her support of the Reach To Teach Foundation, an educational charity based in India that provides for the needs of rural, disadvantaged children. A portion of proceeds from the day's sales at the Marni boutique earlier in the day, which are said to have been sizable, are being donated to the organization.
The Ellison Medical Foundation has been helping to fund the charity since 2008. "Without Larry Ellison and the Foundation's support we would not have been able to achieve our mission and provide thousands of children with an education they would not otherwise receive," according to a statement by Reach To Teach.
Wonderful food, fascinating guests, chic clothes, stunning decor, and a mission to do good in the world – those are the ingredients of a great dinner anywhere. These days in San Francisco, though, it's just done with a bit more glitter.
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