The Michael Brandon Leather Benefit party at the Edge: A Contrast Between Volunteers

Michael Brandon and Boy Gabriel

There could not be much more of a contrast between the two groups of volunteers at Michael Brandon’s Leather Party benefit for Project Open Hand at the Edge Bar on Dec. 17. Open Hand’s volunteers who sold raffle tickets at the party looked like the casual, well-covered bar-hoppers that pack the local bars. Brandon’s volunteers looked and performed like erotic screen and stage performers and wore only bulging underwear and sneakers.

Go-go boy Element

The title of the event was “Edge-ing” which alludes to a torturous sex act and sexual magnetism was exuded by go-go dancer Element and Jello-O shot salesman Boy Gabriel. Host and primal erotic film star Brandon also danced provocatively in a jockstrap on stage when he took a break from MC’ing. Open Hand executive director Tom Nolan braved the packed heavy-cruising crowd to meet and greet the guests and he was happy to hear that $400 was raised for his organization. Bar manager Terry Penn was beautifully dressed as a voluptuous helper to Santa Claus and attentive party coordinator Gary Virginia adjusted the sound and staging. Leather Party co-founder Michael Dumont was introduced and he is well-known as someone equally comfortable in glamorous drag and in a leather uniform when appearing as a former Emperor of San Francisco.

Michael Brandon and Gary Virginia

In a neighborhood infamous for its Castro Triangle of bars that are not generous to worthy charities, the Edge stands out as a haven for non-profit organizations.

To see more of my photos off this event, visit flickr.com/rinkfoto.

The Project Open Hand Luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel: Commemorating 25 Years of Meals With Love

Tom Nolan, David Chiu, James Hormel, and Jan Wahl

Project Open Hand commemorated 25 years of meals with love at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco on Dec. 15 at their annual Hand to Hand Luncheon. Hundreds of well-dressed people enjoyed a gala reception followed by luncheon in the hotel ballroom.

Open Hand provides meals to people with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and other critical illnesses, and seniors. The most vulnerable people in our community are cared for with delicious sustenance, and the holidays are a special time for the organization’s clients. Holiday meals include holiday decorations that include tree ornaments from Under One Roof, and that organization’s executive director Beth Feingold and some of her crew were at the luncheon. Open Hand Communication Manager Hannah Schmunk helped coordinate the luncheon, meeting and introducing guests as she described the work that goes into getting 2,500 meals prepared and delivered each day.

CBS News’ Kate Kelly cleverly MC’ed the event, and she introduced Open Hand executive director Tom Nolan, who has masterfully run the organization for 17 years. Notable guests included donor James Hormel and his lover Michael Nguyen, Open Hand board chair Laura Smith, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors David Chiu, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Positive Resource Center executive director Brett Andrews, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, and Suzan Revah with her entourage from Real Bad. An expressive video that featured kitchen volunteers in dance routines that rivaled some current stage shows promoted the Open Hand food program, and it drew laughs of approval from the diners.

The luncheon is known for its diverse meal choices and this year 12 chefs prepared gourmet delights that included four different appetizers, entrées, and desserts.

Demetri Moshoyannis

Folsom Street Events was honored as the Most Outstanding Community Partner at the event. The organization’s executive director Demetri Moshoyannis spoke about the 27-year history of fund raising street fairs that started with visionary Patrick Toner. He also spoke about the $165,000 raised by the fairs for Open Hand and the $4.5 million raised for all of the charities. Moshoyannis is one of those rare executives who has yanked off his shirt to flip hamburgers over a hot grill at events while hungry benefit donors gather around him to have their buns filled and check out his muscles and tattoos.

The Walter and Elise Haas Fund was represented by Jennifer C. Haas, who is the granddaughter of the fund’s founders, who are descended from the Levi Strauss who sold jeans to 1849 Gold Rush miners. She accepted the Open Hand Most Outstanding Foundation Partner Award. The fund’s executive director Pam David was joined by Wally Haas at their table at the luncheon. Haas family members are well-known for their longtime generosity to Open Hand.

Open Hand’s angelic founder Ruth Brinker attended the event and she was awarded a new Visionary Award that in the future will be named for her. She is famous for caring for people with AIDS early in the pandemic. She realized that many were not accessing nutritious food so she started Project Open Hand to provide for them. Dozens of people took turns kneeling at her feet to express their admiration for her activism and for feeding their loved ones. Open Hand volunteers and Macy’s were also honored.

It was an exceptional event for an exceptional organization that compassionately cares for the needy and sets an example for altruistic groups worldwide.

Project Open Hand's Dessert First Party: Extreme Cocktails and Desserts for a Good Cause

Project Open Hand executive director Tom Nolan (center) with the cupcake-hatted event promoters Yay! Sprinkles

Project Open Hand presented their tenth annual “Dessert First...A Decade of Delicious” gala at the InterContinental Hotel on August 15 and it was a doubly fine event. First there was the VIP Reception that featured some of San Francisco Bay Area’s best mixologists competing for the title of “Top Mixologist.” The party was a crush of trendy upscale gay men in groups and numerous opposite-sex couples, with some butch guys with tiny cupcake hats mixed in. Those were the Yay! Sprinkles guys who won this year’s outrageous Easter Tricycle Race that started and finished at Café Flore. Cocktails have been a major attraction of San Francisco since the Gold Rush, starting with such favorites as Pisco punch, and the well-dressed guests tightly squeezed around the drink creators before they voted.

Excellent music from the LiveWire band with their beautiful young women singers welcomed guests to the large reception in the hotel's grand ballroom. The event was a tribute to some of the Bay Area’s finest pastry chefs, and luxurious desserts were displayed on tables around the ballroom. The 16 chefs included Patti Dellamonica-Bauler of One Market Restaurant, Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake and Orson, Jessica Sullivan of Boulevard, and Terri Wu of Farralon.

A real treat for the chocolate lovers was a delicious confection with raspberries from The Claremont Hotel Club and Spa, and their executive chef Josh Thomsen and Janine were ready with a smile as people lined up around their table.

Chris Fentin, Jan Wahl, Ajay Herrejon and Tom Nolan

This year marks the 25th year of Project Open Hand, and there will be celebrations throughout 2010. A check of their website is a good idea. The organization was founded by grandmother Ruth Brinker because she realized that many people with AIDS were undernourished, and that it was a threat to their health. Project Open Hand has grown to be able to serve 2,600 meals a day to people who are in need.

Sponsors of Dessert First include the InterContinental Hotel, W&J Graham’s, Dow’s and Blandy’s port wines, Angove Family Winemakers, Blue Angel Vodka, Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liqueur, DRY Soda, San Francisco Magazine, and the San Francisco Business Times. There was also a silent and live auctions, wines, cheeses, and hors d’oeuvres, and it was a very well-organized party with experienced and helpful staff and volunteers presenting a wondrous afternoon for the delighted guests.

Project Open Hand executive director Tom Nolan maneuvered himself through the vast sea of guests, greeting and welcoming happy diners, as did Angela Rauch and Jared Scherer. The only complaint that this journalist heard was a yearning for a past year’s splendid chicken salad sandwiches for guests who had skipped lunch.

Project Open Hand deserves congratulations for their pleasurable benefit as they enjoy the success of a quarter century of service to the San Francisco Bay Area.