It has to be magical when one can stroll the streets of downtown San Francisco sleeveless. And so it was Thursday night for the launch party of the San Francisco edition of 944 magazine, a fashion, entertainment and lifestyle publication with other big city editions around the country. An unusually balmy evening with the full moon casting a glow around the fashionistas, the event was held at the historic Bentley Reserve building located in San Francisco's financial district. Over 1000 fashion forward people gathered at 8pm on Battery street sporting spring attire.
The ladies' chosen style for the evening was the tunic dress in bright colors and patent leather sandals. Accessories included large cocktail rings, chunky necklaces, and clutch bags. Always appropriate black made an appearance as well and the gentlemen donned everything from black jeans to suits (like those worn by Ezra Miranda, Jeremy Roberts, JD Elquist, left). No fog and no chilly breeze meant there wasn't a coat or wrap to be seen.
San Francisco is the latest city to join 944 Media, founded in 2001 by entrepreneur Marc Lotenberg. Other locations include San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Miami, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. So, we might ask, why San Francisco? 944's Managing Editor Laurel May said, "Why not San Francisco? This is a fabulous market for food, fashion, everything." Looking tres chic in a LBD, Laurel went on to comment that San Franciscans have their own sense of style and are open to new ideas. "944 will reflect all the great qualities that are already here," she said.
Laurel was joined at the launch by her two friends, Caroline Demers and Jill Greenberg (shown right, with Laurel in-between) who agreed with Laurel that 944 is the perfect magazine for San Francisco. "It's different from anything else we have," said Jill. "What they cover and how they cover it is unique."
The premiere issue of 944 San Francisco hit the stands on June 2nd and is celebrity-packed with features on E! on-air personality Catt Sadler, filmmaker/musician Pras Michel, San Francisco documentarian Geoff Callan, Grammy Award winner singer Macy Gray, ans soon-to-be San Francisco's first lady Jennifer Siebel.
Party goer Rachel Lau felt that San Francisco needs a magazine like 944. "This is such a stylish fashion forward city," said Rachcel, "we want a magazine that's on trend and appeals to a younger crowd."
The festivities included a VIP cocktail party with cosmopolitans and sushi rolls making the rounds. As people mingled in the vast two-story Bentley Reserve (once the SF Federal Reserve building) DJ Vice spun the tunes and the Avante-Cabaret group, Vau de Vire, entertained the crowd with awe inspiring contortions. By the time this writing-girl made her way home, the crowds were still lining up to get in, the moon was still glowing, and we were all still wrapless on the magical night that launched 944 San Francisco.
Just read the first issue while getting my hair colored at Di Pietro Todd!
Posted by: pamela | June 23, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Congrats on the launch!
Indeed that's a great magazine we have it available at Nousha but we are already out of issues.
944!! We need more magazines! :-)
Posted by: nousha.com | June 23, 2008 at 02:49 PM
That event looked so exciting! The three gentlemen look exceptionally dressed. I wish I could've seen 1,000 people exceptionally dressed.
Posted by: Casanova Ruffin | June 25, 2008 at 09:54 AM