Rain! Rain! Go Away!

After the Rain: Dex Barnes, Ralph Bruksos, Cathi, Mike Kunath

It was pouring rain when I awakened yesterday regretting that I had committed to friend, Mike Kunath, that I would be the fourth golfer and play in the Washington State Dental Association 2011 PNDC Golf Classic with him and his friend, WSDA past president, Dex Barnes, and weather guru, Steve Poole benefiting the Washington Oral Health Foundation.  After braving the downpour and driving to Harbour Pointe Golf Club in Mukilteo at 7:15 am, Steve Poole had cancelled (smart thinking considering the weather and the razzing remarks he would have received!) and was replaced by Ralph Bruksos.

Dex unloaded my golf clubs in the driving rain and I was thankful that I had remembered to bring a big golf umbrella at the last moment from home.  However, I could see that my cute matching blue visor was not going to work so bought a waterproof rain hat in the pro shop moments before the shotgun start.  Of course, the golf cart had standing water on the seats and our towels were sopping wet in a matter of moments as we headed out to what seemed to be the furthest possible starting point, hole #12.  With the rain furiously coming in sideways, within a couple of holes we were all thoroughly drenched.

Braving the Rain:  Dex Barnes, Mike Kunath, Ralph Bruksos

I can't remember a golf game when my hands and feet were as cold as they were yesterday.  Faint memories of skiing in Banff as a teenager come to mind, but that is another story.  Ralph tried to buy hand warmers for our team, but they had all been put in storage for the "summer".  The funniest golf incidents involved both Mike and Dex swinging at the ball with their cold, numb hands, and sending their golf clubs flying many yards, down the fairway for Mike and up into a tree for Dex.  

The tournament format was a 4 person best ball scramble, so after a few holes, I figured out that as long as I drove at each hole (yes, they did count 3 of my drives as the best of the foursome!), I could take cover in the golf cart and skip some of the interim hits on the longer holes, since I couldn't possibly hit my ball as far as any of my three male teammates.  However, I did try to make up for it on the putting green by sinking a few of the putts for the team.  Our final gross score was 3 over par.  We didn't win.

The inclement weather didn't seem to faze the tournament organizers and it appeared that the tournament had great turnout with two foursomes starting on almost every hole.  Overseeing all the details with her warm smile was WOHF Executive Director, Sandra Hardymon, along with her staff team, Melissa Holt and Ruth Abate and numerous volunteers.  One of the initiatives of WOHF is the Boys & Girls Clubs Oral Health Initiative.  The goal is to reduce the incidence of dental disease in low-income families by empowering children to assume more personal responsibility for their own oral health, helping families understand the impact dental disease has on the entire body, and teaching them how dental disease can be prevented.

This golf tournament benefited the WOHF Treatment and Oral Health Education Operatory at the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club and Teen Center in Seattle. The Operatory can provide examinations, treatment, and oral health education for 2,500 youth each year.  The mission of the Operatory is to provide educational programs for members and their families; in addition to free dental exams, treatment, and referrals.

Following the tournament, everyone convened in the clubhouse for lunch and a brief auction.  Once I wrung out my sopping wet golf socks and changed into dry shoes, it was heaven to enter the warm clubhouse!  But regardless of the cold and rain, we all felt warm inside because it was all for a good cause!

Seen at "Seen/Unseen" Scene

Robin DuBrin, Douglas Howe, Ron & Ann Morford

Last evening, there was a great ZINO Society social networking event hosted by ZINO Society member and 2009 PONCHO Artist of the Year, Judith Kindler.  The event was held in her studio for a preview of her work titled "Seen/Unseen" before it ships for a major show in Los Angeles later this month.

 

Kindler's studios are a treat for the senses! Everyone enjoyed seeing her new works and hearing the background psychology on what Judith is trying to tell the viewer with this body of her work.  There was much to see including works that are in progress and numerous studios devoted to the individual medias in which she works. It was a real behind the scenes unique libation, food and art experience.

Judith Kindler and husband, Kyle Johnson (also a ZINO Society member) are partners in William Ryan Distributors whose primary product line is the premium Aha Toro tequila line, so there was a tequila tasting comparing several premium levels of tequila with one another led by their business partner and tequila guru, Sang Chae.  Sang who attended with his wife, Connie, admitted that he decided to go "into" the tequila business when people told him that it was impossible for a Korean-American to be successful in selling tequila.  He decided to prove them wrong and was proud to announce to us last evening that in their third year of operation, Aha Toro has become a profitable business.

Michael Roupp, Ken, Dave Syferd, Cathi, Trudi Syferd

Nathan Godestad, John Christensen, Cathi

For non-tequila drinkers, wine was also served by ZINO Society Wine Professional Member, Scott Fivash of Fivash Cellars. Of course, a gourmet taco bar and traditional Mexican appetizers was the featured food for this casual evening.  A big hit was the small grilled sweet pepper poppers.

A few of the 60 ZINO Society members and guests enjoying the evening included Carol Wright, JJ McKay, Michael Roupp, Robin duBrin & Douglas Howe, John Midby, Chloe & Lance Mueller, Adam Hartzell and Michael Harman of JP Morgan Chase, past and present PNB principal ballet dancers, Stanko Milov, Olivier Wevers and Lucien Postlewaite, Ann & Ron Morford, Bob Nowlin, Helena Bierly, Trudi & Dave Syferd, Randy Squires, Vladlina & Eric Fulton, Andrea Mann, John Christensen & Nathan Goderstad, and Kathy & Mike McQuaid.

Michael Harman, Judith Kindler, Adam Hartzell

Thank you Judith & Kyle!  What a fun and intellectually stimulating evening!

Sang Chae, Kyle Johnson

Passport to Global Health Celebration

Dean Allen, SBRI Board of Trustees

Last night, Ken and I were guests of Dick & Betty Hedreen at the Seattle BioMed Seventh Annual Passport to Global Health Celebration.  Their daughter, Jane Hedreen, who is on the Seattle BioMed Board of Trustees was the chairman of the event.  Also seated with us were Mimi & Bill Gates Sr., Lisa & Charles Simonyi, Susan Hutchison plus one of the talented Seattle BioMed PhD scientists.

Founded in 1976 by President and Founder, Ken Stuart, Ph.D., Seattle Biomedical Research Institute is devoted solely to global infectious disease research and works to tackle the world's deadliest diseases by developing new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines.  Board member, Dean Allen, shared some of the highlights of 35 years of discovery and introduced a video including snippets throughout the years.

Tachi Yamada receives Advancing Global Health Award

The "Advancing Global Health Award" was presented to Tachi Yamada, M.D., president of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  He talked about how important the Gates Foundation and he have found encouragement of innovation to be in helping address pressing global health problems.  He is credited with encouraging more high-risk, high-reward projects with long-term benefits and has more than tripled the Gates Foundation's global health grant portfolio.

I was especially taken with one thing he said. He talked about the importance of valuing not only "evolutionary innovation" but placing the big bets on "revolutionary innovation"; meaning those ideas that are a little "crazy" and have not gone through a peer review, that would likely automatically diminish them and find reasons why they won't work. The Gates Foundation has been giving out $100k grants for those "revolutionary innovation" ideas in global health that can be followed by another $1 million grant to help execute the innovation.

With the collaboration of SBRI, the Gates Foundation, and other funding partners, what exciting breakthroughs in global health and reduction of infectious diseases can we hope to see in the next few years!?

 

Magical PNB Season Encore Performance

Ariana Lallone in Lambarena

Tonight Kleenex was a must as I attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet Season Encore Performance honoring the PNB careers of Ariana Lallone, Jeffrey Stanton, Stanko Milov, Olivier Wevers, Chalnessa Eames, Stacy Lowenberg, Josh Spell and Barry Kerolis.

It was a spectacular evening of dance showcasing the multi-faceted talents of these dancers.  Stacy Lowenberg danced in Agon and her own choreographic piece, Rushed Goodbye. She and the stage were showered with flowers and after numerous curtain calls, the show had to be delayed while all the flowers were swept up.

Jeffrey Stanton danced in Petite Mort, Agon, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Who Cares and brought down the house in his Fred Astaire-like dancing in Silver Lining.  His dance partners past and present brought flowers for him and joined him during the thunderous applause onstage including gorgeous Patricia Barker in a bright red cocktail dress, whom I still miss seeing onstage now several years after her retirement.  He was also honored onstage by PNB Artistic Director, Peter Boal, and PNB Founding Artistic Directors, Kent Stowell and Francia Russell.

Neither Stanko Milov or Olivier Wevers danced.  Stanko has been recovering from an injury for almost the past two years so we had to make do with our memories of him along with a few photos and snippets of video featuring Stanko dancing with Ariana.  Olivier presented Monster, his choreographic piece which premiered in his new dance company, Whim W'Him earlier this year and the audience responded enthusiastically.  He was joined on stage and presented with massive bouquets of flowers by Peter Boal, Francia Russell, Kent Stowell, Kaori Nakamura and Lucien Postlewaite.

Biggest focus of the evening was for Ariana Lallone, who danced in Petite Mort, Rubies, Carmen, and Lambarena.  A film showed snippets of her dancing in dozens of ballets during her PNB career with Stanko Milov, Olivier Wevers, Jeffrey Stanton, Karel Cruz, Bathurel Bold, Christophe Maraval, among many others.  Before she took the stage for the final time to dance Lambarena, choreographer Val Caniparoli, talked about how much Ariana has meant to him as she has danced the roles he has created, with some created especially for her. She danced joyfully and brilliantly and at the conclusion of Lambarena, was rewarded with tumultuous applause and a standing ovation.  It took two strong men to bring a giant basket of flowers to center stage for her and then artistic directors, dancers, past dance partners, staff members, and friends joined her onstage each bringing massive floral bouquets in recognition of her amazing career.

As Founding Co-Artistic Director, Francia Russell, said it so well in the beautiful keepsake program, "It is both wonderful and painful to be celebrating the eight dancers who end their careers with PNB tonight.  The evolution of an arts institution inevitably  includes saying goodbye to people who have been important parts of its very fabric-in some cases, builders of the Company."

Having served on the PNB Board for 17 years and as Chairman of the Board for five years, I am invested in the careers of each of the dancers retiring and in my mind, they are all "my" dancers.  You have brought magic to all who have seen you perform!  Brava!  Bravo!

VIP Sneak Preview of RN74

Tama Smith with friend, Dwight, Cathi, Ken

Tonight Ken and I attended the sneak preview of the new Michael Mina restaurant, RN74, opening in downtown Seattle in the Joshua Green Building.  As we arrived, there was a lineup of valets 20 deep leading up to the roped off red carpet entrance.  On the street, we ran into friends Tom Hedges, Jim Rose and Sam Baker on their way in the door also.   

JIm Rose, Tom Hedges, Ken, Sam Baker, Ken Advesian

The interior of the restaurant has warm wood and colorful pendant lights hanging overhead.  The star feature of the restaurant is the four sided bar located right in the center of the restaurant.  The invitation promised "cocktails and canapes" and there were a number of oyster stations set up throughout the restaurant and Ken was in heaven slurping various types of fresh oysters directly from the shell with mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce or a mustard sauce.  In addition to various wine offerings, there was a special martini house drink being offered, which included Citron Vodka, lemon juice, some kind of an "Edel" flavoring and garnished with a thyme sprig.  Yum!

We saw many additional friends at the event including Tama Smith and her friend Dwight, Aya Hamilton & Drew Welk, Ben Smith & Gaye McNulty, Julie & Tom Skerrit, Renee & Carl Behnke, Colette Courtion, Dani Ackerley,  Kathy & Mike McQuaid, Simone & Joe Torres, Lea Anne Quinn & Bob Farra, Janet Ketcham, Lynn Beck, Fran & Bob Davidson, Greg Lill and scores of others.

Since I am not an oyster aficionado, I look forward to returning for dinner soon to try out the whole menu when they are offering more choices than just oysters.    

Impressive Gathering of Angels and VCs

Atlas to ZINO Investor Open House

On Tuesday evening, Atlas Accelerator and ZINO Society co-hosted the Atlas to ZINO Investor Open House,  inviting 23 funded and companies seeking funding to present to 100 Angel Investors and VCs.  Though ZINO Society merely assisted Atlas Accelerator in producing their event, of the 23 Atlas Accelerator clients presenting, it was interesting to note that 15 had also previously been through the ZINO Society screening and coaching processes presented to ZINO Society Angel Investor Roundtable members at monthly investment meetings and/or investment forums and 5 had received some funding through ZINO Society.

Bill Furlong of Escapia opened the evening speaking about the inherent optimism of entrepreneurs and investors while Bill McAleer of Voyager Capital was the final speaker providing data on the "lost decade" and the return to normalcy or ROI for investors.

Star Spangled Salute to Ariana Lallone and Jeff Stanton

Ariana & Jeff arrive!

What a beautiful evening on the tip of Yarrow Point to celebrate the dance careers of PNB Principal Dancers, Ariana Lallone and Jeff Stanton!  Jeff and Ariana arrived at the party via yacht and were greeted on shore with giant sparklers by around 100 friends, admirers, dancers and dance aficianados.

Event co-chairs, Sharon Richardson and Amy Anderson and the STARS group assisted by Liza Turner and rest of the stalwart PNB staff, produced a magical evening to honor Ariana's 24 year career with PNB and Jeff's 23 year dance career, with the last 17 years at PNB.

Cathi & Ariana

Ariana and Jeff have both been such audience favorites over the years and it is hard to imagine the PNB stage without either one of them on it.  I think of Ariana, with her grace and beautiful long arms and legs that extend forever and Jeff, dancing with his classical, clean lines and his perfect sense of theatre and comic timing.  There are dozens of favorite memories in my mind of each of them, but a couple of my personal favorites are remembering Ariana in Lambarena and Jeff tapping dancing in Silver Lining.

PNB Chairman of the Board, Aya Hamilton, shared a tribute to Ariana and I, as a past Chairman of the Board, was asked to give the tribute to Jeff which I was so pleased to do.  Here is my tribute to Jeff:

Cathi & Jeff

"Jeff Stanton began his professional dance career in 1988, exactly the same year I began my “dance career” as a PNB Board member. He has been a professional ballet dancer for 23 years now, the last 17 with PNB. Jeff, at 17 years with PNB, is the male dancer who has danced with PNB longer than any other dancer. The runner up is Benjamin Houk who danced for PNB for 13 years. In my mind’s eye, I can see Jeff dancing in so many roles, and usually he is the handsome prince who is dancing with the beautiful princess.

Reitred PNB Dancer, Lisa Apple, honors her former partner

Jeff started dancing when he was only 5 years old and began with tap and jazz. It was amusing to hear that at the ripe age of five, he decided that he didn’t like ballet and thought it was boring. Of course, we are all really glad that he changed his mind since he has made a career out of ballet.

I asked Jeff to share some of the funny memories he has from his dance career. One of stories he shared with me was a time that he and Patricia Barker were dancing the pas de deux in the Snow Scene in The Nutcracker and he had not shaved that day so had a fine stubble on his face. There are many lifts in this particular pas de deux, and Patricia’s beautiful long hair was hanging down her back. Each time Jeff would bring her down from a lift, her hair would catch on his stubble so that for much of the pas de deux, he appeared to have a very long blonde beard.

Ariana at her celebration

When I asked Jeff if there was a role that he didn’t get to dance that he wished he could have, he first answered that he got to dance all of the roles he hoped to dance and more. But when pressed, he said that a role he would have loved to dance, which ABT and San Francisco did regularly, is the Aaron Copland cowboy tap solo in Agnes de Mille’s “Rodeo”.

That reminded me that I have seen Jeff in a secret cowboy role that many of you may not have seen. A few years ago, Jeff and I were at the same Hoe-Down style party where there was a mechanical bull. Though I know dancers are expected not to snow ski and participate in dangerous sports activities to prevent injury, I don’t think anyone had specifically said that mechanical bull riding was off limits. Jeff was one of the most graceful riders that stayed on the bull for one of the longest times of anyone, though he finally fell off too. I decided that I would not share that story with anyone at the ballet just in case he might get in trouble . . . so Jeff~ I have kept your secret for several years now!

Jeff being toasted

As Jeff moves on to new life adventures with his first being a five week opportunity to dance a new work being commissioned from an Italian choreographer from La Scala in the Shanghai Opera House; I know that each of you join with me in wishing Jeff the best that life has to offer while we each hold our happy individual memories of him dancing at PNB. To Jeff! Cheers!"

JJ's Birthday with the Girls

JJ, the Birthday Boy

After walking through quaint Post Alley above the Pike Place Market, it was a glorious, sunny day to celebrate JJ McKay's birthday on the deck at the Pink Door yesterday afternoon.  

Pat Wallace put together a few of JJ's many girlfriends to help him celebrate the beginning of another new year. It was the first day this year that it was warm enough to sit outside and dine so we gathered to toast JJ's 45th under the latticed arbor and enjoyed every moment of it.

Fredda Goldfarb arranged for a group gift of a beautiful pave black diamond pendant for us to present to JJ that he had recently admired at Alvin Goldfarb Jewelers.  Just as we all hoped, he loved it!

Also celebrating with JJ were Vanessa Strickland, Afshan Lakha, Becky Benaroya, Dani Ackerley, Elizabeth Roberts, Toni Hoffman, Margaret dell'Osso, Betty Tong, Renee Harbers and me.  Our al fresco lunch included tiny oysters on the half shell and a vibrant antipasto platter before the main courses with entree selections of Copper River salmon, whole fish, pastas, risotto and salads.  A perfect lunch on a perfect day!

Happy birthday, JJ!

An Afternoon in the French Countryside (Almost)

Heather, Alessandro, Jamee, Giuseppe

On Thursday afternoon, ZINO Society members and guests joined Blaise Bouchand at his elegant Maison de France Bellevue retail shop featuring Haute Décoration Française.  Walking into his shop is a feast for the senses!  When I stepped inside, I felt I had ventured into an afternoon in the French countryside.

Everywhere one looks, there is a visual treat including elegant linens, glassware, flatware, furniture, tabletop decor and fine china.  As an avowed "chinaholic", I was most taken with his offerings of beautiful Robert Haviland & C. Parlon china hand-made in Limoges, France. My two favorites included Dynasty, which is a 24 karat incrusted gold, double gold, polished with an Agathe stone and Flammes d'Or which is an exquisite orange/gold pattern also 24 karat incrusted gold polished with an Agathe stone.

Blaise Bouchand in Maison de France

Blaise provided a taste of France hors d'oeuvres including mousse au chocolat as the sweet finish, while his next door neighbor, Nabil Absil, owner of Seattle Wine Company and new Wine Professional Member offered French Bordeaux and a beautiful rose champagne.

A few of the ZINO Society members soaking up the French culture were Helena Bierly, Michelle Kauffman, Gary Ritner, Pamela Rolfe, Michael Roupp, Robin Carmichael, Rich Stillman, Neil Sturgeon, Heather Sullivan and Giuseppe Mascarella.  Giuseppe brought as his guests, Alessandro Giacobbe and the Switzerland Consul General, Phillippe Goetschell.  ZINO Society management team members, Mary Holmes, Jamee Nunnelee and Kristie Lanum were also on hand to enjoy the "afternoon in France."

Cheers to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Opening

The Atrium

Tonight, Ken and I attended the opening reception for the new Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Campus.  It was an opening event that included partners, grantees and community leaders.  What am impressive complex of offices, conference center, meeting rooms, windows everywhere and soaring ceilings!

Susan Hutchison, Ken Hatch, Melissa Milburn

It was definitely an evening to see and be seen.  It was fun to see so many friends and community leaders there including a few that I had a chance to speak with including Renee & Carl Behnke, Bob Wallace, Stewart Parker, Jon Fine, Rob McKenna, Susan Hutchison, Laura Peterson, John Carlson, JJ McKay, Jack Faris, Colleen Brown, John Hamer, Carol & Buster Brown, Martha Choe, Bob & Anne Farrell, Cindy & Dan Brettler, Tama Smith, Marilyn Mason Plunkett, Frank Blethen, Kate Janeway & Howard Wright III, Melissa Milburn, Jane & Robert Nellams, Dean Allen, plus another 980 or so that I didn't have the chance to speak with.

JJ McKay, Ken Hatch

I arrived just in time for the program which included a performance by the Total Experience Gospel Choir, an invocation by Cecile Hansen, the chair of the Duwamish Tribe and brief remarks by CEO Jeff Raikes, and Bill & Melinda Gates, Co-Chairs.  Bill shared that this achievement is really Melinda's vision and that he had very little interaction with the project until there was a budget shortfall, which he was expected to solve  He also talked about how his Dad had really created the structure for the foundation by offering to take over looking at the many requests that Bill and Melinda started receiving requesting financial support for a plethora of good causes.  Melinda spoke and was so pleased with the outcome of the project giving special recognition to the landscape architect  and the project designers for keeping the project on track to meet the goals that they had set which included commitment to sustainability and connection to the community.  She also said, "We plan to be here a very long time."

As the brochure handout says, the new campus really does feel like "a place for community and innovation" featuring numerous sustainable features including living roofs, rainwater storage, thermal energy storage, specially engineered windows, drought-tolerant and non-invasive plants and trees, smart lights, and water and energy-efficient systems. I loved the inscription on the one of the upstairs walls that is the famous African saying "If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together."  It is easy to visualize huge solutions to numerous world problems being developed in such an amazing space.  Our community is lucky to be home to  this extraordinary resource.

Congratulations and cheers!