Nothing compares to Opening Night of the Opera, long considered the social event of the year in San Francisco, and thanks to the generosity of Jon Finck , Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the SF Opera, we bring you an up-close, in-person glimpse of the evening. As we crossed Van Ness from City Hall, the gala reception was in full swing inside and spilling out of the War Memorial Building. Red carpets and roses, patio seating, and uniformed valet parkers and cocktail servers greeted the colorful splash of guests. We wholeheartedly agree with Mayor Willie Brown that a white tie affair demands appropriate attire, specifically tails for men and gowns for women, so we were particularly pleased at his nod of approval for my date Richard Sablatura 's sleek cutaway jacket and white accessories, deftly accented with a crown pin. Indeed, the majority seemed to welcome the opportunity to dress up lavishly, including several members of our community,

Source: Bay Area Reporter