Attendees at our annual Excellence in Journalism awards dinner will have a chance to bid on some fabulous items. Check out this preview of our two live auction items — a Mexican dinner party for 6 with chef Simona Padilla and framed original editorial cartoon of “The Vanishing Newsroom” by Peaco Todd — as well as many great silent-auction items, such as Tahoe ski trips, lunch with a literary agent, tango lessons, an adult fencing class, and a variety of wines from the San Francisco Chronicle’s cellar. Here’s the full list:
LIVE AUCTION ITEMS:
Mexican Dinner Party for 6 ($180 min): You and up to five friends can savor an authentic Mexican dinner, prepared by Simona Padilla, for decades one of the Mission District’s standout chefs. She was an early pioneer in The City’s taqueria movement; she co-owned the York Meat Market on 24th and York for many years; she caters the Mexican consulate’s annual Independence Day dinner; and over the years has won awards for her tamales in San Francisco cookoffs. She’ll serve the meal, and discuss the art of Mexican cuisine with the assistance of NorCal SPJ’s Ricardo Sandoval — her volunteer prep chef, wannabe foodie and chief bottle washer.
“The Vanishing Newsroom” ($120): Framed original editorial cartoon of “The Vanishing Newsroom” by East Coast cartoonist Peaco Todd, commissioned exclusively for SPJ NorCal. A wry take-off of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” This donation is for Peter’s part of the auction. The amusing back story is that the husband of board member Linda Jue, who commissioned the artwork three years ago, tried to “help” the bidding process along by raising his hand during a lull, and he ended up buying the print. They are now donating the art back to the chapter for this year’s EIJ. Artist Info: Peaco Todd is a syndicated cartoonist, author, and the publisher of Porkbarrel Comix. Her weekly column, “Notes from the Perimeter,” appears in several regional Northeast newspapers. She also teaches for Lesley University and the Union Institute and University. Her work can be seen at www.porkbarrelcomix.com and www.peacotoons.com.
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS:
Tahoe Ski Trip Card: SnowBomb ($150, Qty 2): This is no ordinary Tahoe discount card. It’s the best Tahoe ski/snowboarding card period. You basically get a Tahoe ski trip for less than 1 night’s stay! Every card gets you 4 — yes, 4 — FREE LIFT TICKETS to the resorts you want to go to Kirkwood ($70), Alpine Meadows or Homewood ($80), Dodge Ridge ($59) and China Peak ($60) — AND a FREE 2 NIGHT STAY at Grand Sierra Resort-Reno ($118). But wait — there’s more! You also get an adult Royal Gorge all-day trail pass; an adult Tahoe XC all-day trail pass; 1 year subscription to either Ski or Transworld Snowboarding Magazine; 1 day gear rental from the Back Country Store; 1 day ski or snowboard rental package from Demo Sport; 1 day ski or snowboard rental package form Bobo’s Mogul Mouse; 1 day ski or snowboard rental package from Lombardi Sports; ski or snowboard tune-up form Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods; 1 day basic ski, nordic or snowboard rental package from Sports Basement. But once you enjoy all your freebies, you still get year-round discounts on lift tickets to practically every ski resort, lodging — Tahoe Beach & Ski Club, Tahoe Seasons Resort, the Hyatt, to name a few — and dining, such as the Blue Agave and Rover Ranch. That’s over $500 worth of stuff! The Tahoe Gold Card — the top of the line card of its kind — retails for $150.
Lunch with literary agent Penny Nelson of Manus and Associates in Palo Alto ($100): Everything you ever wanted to ask about getting your book published over lunch at Straits Cafe in Palo Alto or the Liberty Cafe in SF. From Manus and Associates’ website: a bicoastal literary agency representing writers for over twenty years. The broad scope of our project list includes fiction ranging from commercial to literary, as well as nonfiction ranging from prescriptive to narrative. Our books are New York Times Bestsellers, New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and Oprah Book Club selections, and our clients have won numerous awards including the Whiting Award, the Kiriyama Prize, the Edgar Award, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award and the Lambda Award. We are always on the lookout for new projects that empower, enchant, enthrall, and entertain. A famous titles: “One Minute Millionaire” by Robert G. Allen and Mark Victor Hansen (Random House), “Cane River” by Lalita Tademy (Warner Books), “Geisha: A Life” by Mineko Iwasake and Rande Brown (Atria Books), “Catfish and Mandala” by Andrew Pham (FSG), “The World of Normal Boys” by K.M. Soehnlein (Kensington) (Expires June 10, 2012)
Heavenly Ski Day for 2: Resort Lift Tickets & Lunch ($165): The slopes of the world-renown Heavenly Ski Resort at Lake Tahoe beckon with the opening of ski season this Friday! Just a few hours’ drive from the Bay Area, you can ski, snowboard, ice-skate, snowmobile and snowtube at one the region’s most breath-taking resorts. Take that special someone, have a BFF day, bond with your kid or give the best Christmas present ever.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Lift Tickets for 2 ($148): Why wait until you get all the way to South Lake Tahoe to ride? Get your ski on early! Sierra-at-Tahoe is the first ski resort along Highway 50 on the drive up from the Bay Area. TransWorld Snowboarding puts Sierra-at-Tahoe in the top 10 for Overall Resort, Best Pipes and Best Parks. Plus, with 8 great places to eat over the resort’s 2,000 acres, the resort is also Snow Country Magazine’s top pick for on-mountain food.
Sephora Makeup & Accessories ($300): Various makeup items and accessories that need to be grouped into gift baskets or maybe we just label them for individual sale? Haven’t decided yet.
Original 1969 People’s Park newspaper: Original 1969 Daily Californian commemorative edition of their People’s Park coverage, entitled “Days of Blood — Nights of Terror.” It’s printed on newsprint, yellow with age but not falling apart. The stapled packet consists, according to the cover, of “8 issues published during the ‘People’s Park’ conflict” that were “Compiled by the staff of the Daily Californian.”
Cal Academy of Sciences Family Four-Pack ($120): Family four-pack of tickets. From Academy website: The California Academy of Sciences is a world-class scientific and cultural institution based in San Francisco. The Academy recently opened a new facility in Golden Gate Park, a 400,000 square foot structure that houses an aquarium, a planetarium a natural history museum and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof. The new facility is also home to the Academy’s staff of world-class scientists, an education department that provides a wide range of student and teacher services, and an extensive science library with over 26 million specimens and artifacts.
S.F. Zoo tickets ($30): 2 tickets to the S.F. Zoo. From SF Zoo website: The San Francisco Zoo is Northern California’s oldest and largest zoological park and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It has an annual attendance of 925,000 people per year, making it one of the most visited recreational and cultural attractions in the Bay Area. Since its founding in 1929, the Zoo has served as an enduring tradition for Bay Area families for generations. Located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean along the Great Highway, the 100-acre facility is managed and operated by the private, non-profit San Francisco Zoological Society in a unique partnership with the City and County of San Francisco. The Zoo is funded through gate admission fees, retail sales, membership dues, contributions, and support from the city. Under the leadership of a 60-member board of directors and an executive director, the Zoo has an annual budget of $20 million and approximately 220 employees. The San Francisco Zoological Society has more than 25,000 household members, making it one of the top ten zoological societies in the United States.
Jillian’s VIP Billiards or Wii Package ($100): This exclusive VIP package will treat you and your guests to your choice of either a two-hour billiards party on two world-class Brunswick Gold Crown Billiards tables OR a Wii party at the private Martini Bar. With a some light snacks to get you started, you can enjoy Jillian’s fun, casual atmosphere where you and your guests can dine, shoot pool or play Wii, and root for your favorite team surrounding by Jillian’s large, flat-screen TVs. Whether you’re a sports fanatic or a sophisticated billiards expert, this VIP Jillian’s Biliiards package is sure to be a good time with friends.
Argentine Tango Class Series ($60): True, it takes 2 to tango … but it starts with 1 — YOU! Learn how to tango from a master, Carolina Rozensztroch, over 4 classes in a group setting (Monday or Wednesday nights in the same month). From Carolina’s website: Carolina Rozensztroch brings sixteen years of experience as a professional dancer and teacher to her gift for sharing the essence and beauty of tango. In her country, Argentina, she began her career as a modern dancer and later devoted herself to study Tango with the great masters. Before moving to San Francisco in 2006, Carolina lived in New York City for eight years. There she implemented the Tango classes at Fashion Institute of Technology¹s Recreation Department (State University of New York). Also, Carolina created a highly successful Tango School at the Aurora Studios where she taught students from around the world. Following Carolina’s move to San Francisco, she has developed a comprehensive Argentine Tango class series at both Barrio Tango Studio and The Slovenian Hall, and has been a special guest teacher at The Metronome Dance Center, as well as other tango venues throughout the bay area. She performed in the Leading Ladies of Tango production at the Herbst Theater last December and is now a member of the company Tango Con* Fusion. Carolina teaches, performs, and hosts a weekly Milonga with her dance partner Roberto Riobo. Also, every year Carolina and Roberto lead a ³Cultural Tango Tour² to Buenos Aires.
Adult Fencing Class ($147): EN GARDE! Learn the basics of swordfighting so you can say with authority whether the pen really is mightier! During this 8-week course in either foil or epee fencing (your choice), you’ll be introduced to all of the equipment, crucial fencing footwork and bladework, basic offensive and defensive moves like direct attacks and parry-ripostes, and the strategic mindset you need to defeat any opponent. Classes are held Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. at Halberstadt Fencing Club, 621 S. Van Ness Ave. All equipment provided; just show up wearing loose-fitting clothing, long pants or sweats, and sneakers. 1 adult fencing class at Halberstadt Fencing Club in San Francisco.
“Good Night and Good Luck” DVD ($19.98): 2005 film dramatizing (1) the 1950s confrontation between CBS News reporter Edward R. Murrow and Communist witch-hunt leader Sen. Joseph McCarthy, and (2) the start of the dumbing-down of TV programming. Should be “must” viewing for every high school and college student.
Wine:
REDS:
Pinot Noir: Fort Ross, 2009 / Robert Thomas, 2006 / Yorkville Highlands (Toulouse Vineyards), 2009 / Twomey, 2009 / Joseph Jewell, 2008
Landmark, 2009 / Breggo, 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon: Paul Dolan, 2007 / Bardessono, 2009 / Damian Rae, 2008 / Hughes Wellman, 2007 / Meyer Family Cellars, 2008 / Chateau St. John, 2006
Zinfandel: Bella, 2008 / Sextant, 2009 / Bradford Mountain, 2007 / Benessere, 2008
Petite Sirah: Clayhouse, 2007 / Cupa Grandis, 2004
Syrah: August West, 2007
Barbera D’Asti: Vietti (Italy) 2008
Blends: Paraduxx, 2008 / Cass, 2008 / Donelan, 2009 / Girard, 2008
WHITES:
Chardonnay: White Rock, 2009 / Stuhlmuller Vineyards, 2008 / Athair, 2008 / Patz&Hall, 2009 / Testa Rossa, 2008 / Morgan (Highland Vineyard), 2008
Pinot Blanc: Etude, 2009 / Dutton-Goldfield, 2010
Blends: Terre Rouge, 2008
CHAMPAGNE: Taittinger, Brut / Duval-Leroy, Brut