March 9, 2012
Paris' "Belle Epoque" Returns to San Francisco for LGBT Community Center Celebration
Robert Doyle READ TIME: 3 MIN.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The San Francisco LGBT Community Center announced it will kick-off its year-long celebration for its 10th anniversary by transporting Paris' "Beautiful Era" to present-day San Francisco with Soiree 10 on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
The Center, which serves tens of thousands of people every year through innovative services and a broad array of fabulous cultural programs, will commemorate 10 years of achievement with its grandest, most exciting soiree yet. Attendees will step back in time to Paris' golden age for an unforgettable evening of stunning performances, heart pounding music and tantalizing culinary delights.
Soiree 10 takes place at 7pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria, 101 Henry Adams Street, San Francisco. Pre-sale tickets are $95 each, available online at www.soiree10.com, $125 at the door. For more information please visit www.soiree10.com or call (415) 865-5617.
A special kick-off reception will take place from 6pm - 8pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012. The reception is hosted by California Pacific Medical Center, lead sponsor for Soiree 10. It is FREE, open to the public and will be held at the Archibald/Ehrenberg Rehabilitation Terrain Park at California Pacific Medical Center, Davies Campus, 45 Castro Street, San Francisco.
"Because our community built the Center 10 years ago, all of us are stronger and healthier, and the world is a more welcoming and equitable place," said Rebecca Rolfe, Executive Director of the Center, "Soiree 10 is the time for all of us to celebrate what's been accomplished and to invest in what's to come. All ticket sales and proceeds go directly to the Center's programs, which makes a difference in so many lives each year, so we encourage as many people to attend and be fabulous with us on this special night."
Soiree 10 kicks off with music from the turn-of-the-last-century, spun on antique crank-up gramophones, before spin-maestros from SF's hottest queer dance parties take over with contemporary club hits. Costumed characters will roam the Galleria's hallowed halls, interact with guests and help bring to life Paris' "Belle Epoque" period.
Onstage, the creme-de-la-creme of the Bay Area's queer performing arts scene connects the dots between cultural avant-garde Paris and modern-day San Francisco. Enjoy the entire spectacle while sipping from a fully stocked bar and eating sweet and savory hors d'oeuvres from more than a dozen of San Francisco's finest restaurants.
Attendees can also place bids on dozens of unique items, including restaurant and spa gift certificates, travel packages, works of art, gift baskets and collectibles during the silent auction. An online auction featuring several exclusive items will be available at www.soiree10.com.
Special thanks to lead sponsor California Pacific Medical Center, as well as to the dozens of other event sponsors, including Target, US Bank, PG&E, Recology Sunset Scavenger, Comcast, San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, Code Salon, Pink Collar Events, AOL, Curve Magazine, In-Symmetry and Medjool Restaurant. Because of their generosity, 100% of all ticket sales will directly benefit Center services.
The Center's 10th Anniversary year-long campaign is presented by Target and sponsored by Levi Strauss Foundation, State Farm and Barefoot Wine and Bubbly. Both lists are in formation-opportunities for sponsorship are still available.
The Center is a welcoming place for our diverse LGBT community and its supporters to find innovative services and fabulous cultural programs that lead to a stronger, healthier community and a more equitable world. Its safety net programs serve the most vulnerable members of our community and provide a welcoming gathering place for all LGBT and allied people. Each month, the Center serves over 9,000 visitors and hosts more than 200 events. The Center is located at 1800 Market Street in San Francisco.
Learn more about the Center at www.sfcenter.org, or call (415) 865-5555.
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.
