New Years Inspiration by L'Relyea Events

While Christmas is our favorite time of year, New Years Eve is like the icing on the cake for the winter holiday season. From delicious cocktails, to dapper attire and festivities galore, everything glitz and glam makes this holiday an occasion to celebrate. We joined forces with Head Over Heels by Melanie and Scott Andrew Studio to design and bring to life vibrant, chic and fun New Years Eve inspiration. 

With the help of our creative peers, we came together to create a nod to the traditional black and gold New Years elegance, while adding vibrant pops of teal and romantic elements of white florals. We couldn't help but throw in sparkled and texturized elements, too! What would New Years Eve be without bubbles and sparkles galore?

And of course, it wouldn't feel right if we didn't try to sneak a wedding in the mix, too! Our faux bride & groom surprised their closest friends by throwing a party to announce their recent elopement and celebrate their nuptials along with the New Year. The white florals were a beautiful touch, while the mint and teal pops were a perfect "something blue". Black suit in tow, this vibrant event still proved elegant enough for a wedding. 

For more photos and fun information on this photo shoot, check out our feature on Style Me Pretty. (link below) 

http://www.stylemepretty.com//living/2012/12/30/new-years-eve-party-inspiration/

Photography: Scott Andrew Studio / Venue: El Dorado Hotel in Sonoma, California / Concept Design and Fashion Styling: Head Over Heels with Melanie / Planning and Event Design: L’Relyea Events / Makeup and Hair Artist: Betten Chaston / Floral Design: EV Floral Design / Paper Goods: Fly Away Design / Cake Design: Sweet On Cake / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Selected Jewelry: Details by Candace Egnew

Fall Wedding Inspiration from L'Relyea Events

With this Indian Summer in high effect, we could not be more excited about the approach of Autumn. With the changing of the leaves from green to shades of red, orange & yellow comes a transition in wedding colors from soft feminine palates to warm, deep colors. There's a lot to love about fall, like pumpkin flavored..... everything, oversized sweaters & classic movies: & there is equally as much to love about fall inspired weddings. We're saying 'I do' to these 13 fall wedding trends for romantic bliss. Check out these hot fall wedding trends and see it's hard NOT to fall in love with them.

FEATHERS

For a more bohemian, eccentric vibe, feathers are a great incorporation to add a unique dimension &  theme. Whether it be in the bouquets & boutonnieres, the floral centerpieces, a headpiece, or otherwise, feathers will definitely be a showpiece for your event. Even in a small detail such as a clean and modern white invitation with a pheasant feather tied around the outside is a subtle nod to the season. Here are few ways we incorporated feathers into our "Bohemian Designer's Challenge" photo shoot. We paired it with woodsy elements & tangy florals. 

DEEP JEWEL TONES

There’s no denying that blush, champagne, creams – & all airy pastels, for that matter – are having a major moment. But when it gets right down to it, jewel tones are what really send us swooning. From a rich emerald to a royal blue to berry hues of any shade, there’s a million ways to pull off a jewel tone in your wedding and we’re here to show you how. As the seasons turn and cooler weather is afoot, we love a emerald-and-sapphire combination for your fall or winter wedding color palette. These deep, luscious colors compliment beautifully as simple pops throughout a simple ivory wedding to blend the jewel tones with the seasonal colors of fall. 

LEATHER & METAL ACCENTS

Gold and silver, step aside—there's a new metallic taking over. Copper details are popping up in creative ways, from glamorous chargers to centerpiece vases and even copper foil on invitations! The best part is, this metal meshes well with any wedding style: Polished copper can look glamorous and elegant, but matte or aged copper accents lend a rustic or vintage feel. There’s no reason that brown leather can’t creep into your wedding styling, too. For table place names you could use leather luggage tags with your guests names. For a luxe and rustic chic look & feel to your leather inspired wedding, I absolutely adore leather-like wedding stationery. Of course, anything with leather fringing is absolutely amazing! The thing about leather is that it can be both masculine and feminine, beautifully boho casual and luxe and lovely. You decide.

SEASONAL FALL FRUITS & VEGETABLES

As we transition from summer to fall, we also gain all that is the wonder of fall fruits & vegetables. From pumpkins & apples, to pears & figs, the deep, rich coloring of these seasonal inspirations can tie into any event appropriately. Marsala & cranberry are romantic & elegant colors that can play cohesively with any simple whites, ivories or creams to add a touch of vibrancy. Same goes for the ironic pumpkin & eggplant palettes that are an appropriate choice for any fall occasion. 

Fall is a season of breathtaking displays as the old makes way for the new. This sentiment -- and nature's palette of deep reds and oranges -- makes for a gorgeous wedding. However you decide to accentuate your fall wedding inspiration, take full advantage of the unique elements that are sure to make this event an autumn fantasy. And do not forget to take plenty of photos with the changing leaves & grape vines. 

Wedding Planning Tips & Tricks

TIMELINE: The wedding day timeline is so valuable to your team of vendors creating all of your wedding day magic. We like to streamline the process for our couples and give them a snapshot of what to expect for the wedding day, should they be communicating directly with their vendors. Common questions such as, "what time should our photographer arrive?" will be dictated based on the number of hours your hired your photographer for. More often than not, we find that our couples will hire their photographer 3-4 hours prior to the ceremony {to capture special moments of you getting ready before you walk down the aisle} and 4-5 hours following the ceremony {to capture portraits, candids, toasts, and dances}.  

PHOTOGRAPHY: So much of your wedding day revolves around your flow of photography. We often hear that our couples don't want to miss out on key elements of their wedding because they are off taking photos {and we don't blame you!}. The way we look at it, you are investing a lot of time & effort (and money) into this momentous event, and you should be able to enjoy it! We have a few tricks with timing that we find balance the timing perfectly to capture the images you want, while still enjoying the festivities. We always work with our couples to prioritize a "shot list" with your photographer prior to your wedding day, this should ensure a quick and fluid procession of photos. Another helpful tip is having someone there who is not involved in the majority of photos but wants to be involved (a siblings significant other or a cousin, for example) can be an efficient way to manage the order of the photos and find Uncle Henry if he's 'M.I.A.' for the family portraits. We also suggest minimizing your list of staged photos as much as possible {you know, the photos you fell in love with on Pinterest and have re-create on your wedding day}.This will give your professional photographer the creativity to play. This is, after all, why you hired a professional wedding photographer - trust them, they are masterful behind the lens!

FIRST LOOK: A "first look" refers to a private moment you and your partner share before the ceremony vs. the more traditional route of seeing one another for the first time on your wedding date at the alter. It is no secret that wedding day jitters can be extremely overwhelming, and we have found the trick to nearly curing this anxiety: simply seeing your loved one in private prior to the ceremony. This allows for you both to have some (rare) alone time on your wedding day and exchange some sweet words & possibly tears and/or laughs in private. Most couples say that once they saw their soon-to-be-mister-or-misses, all of their fear and anxiety diminished. It also makes for some incredible photography if you so choose to invite your photographer to capture this moment. By doing a first look, you are able to tackle almost all of your family and bridal party portraits before the ceremony begins, which means you will not miss any of the fun you have spent so much time and energy planning! It also means that you can transport together with your entire wedding party to the venue, where you can jam out to some music, sip on some champagne, and share in the excitement together. If you opt for the traditional route, fear not, we have a few tips for you too! We suggest having a place to retreat directly following your ceremony to have a moment with your new husband/wife relish in the matrimony. Also, if you have a large family and you are nervous about missing your cocktail hour, extend it 30 minutes so you can enjoy the festivities and not feel rushed. 

GUEST ARRIVAL: While we like to believe that an event as monumental and ceremonial as a wedding would be one of few occasions that our closest friends and family would go out of their way to be on time, one thing leads to another and next thing you know you have missed the shuttle and you are risking missing the wedding all together. Things happen, and people run late for one reason or another. With that in mind, we always recommend to our clients is to buffer 30 minutes from guest arrival before you actually start your ceremony. Knowing this, we suggest that your ceremony start time listed on your invitation be the time that you wish your guests to arrive, and prepare to begin the ceremony 30 minutes out from there. In other words, if you wedding invitation states a 4pm start time, you will be walking down the aisle at 4:30pm. Giving your guests that time to enjoy the surroundings, have a refreshing beverage, sets the right tone for the wedding you worked so hard to plan. As your wedding coordinator, we will do routine head counts throughout guest arrival and once we are at 90% of your total guest count, we will begin the procession the aisle. 

FAVORS: Guest favors are always such a sweet & creative way to thank your guests for sharing in your love, however, the unfortunate reality that we often find, is that these lovely items get left behind. However, as your wedding mentor, we recommend you find other ways to treat your guests without spending a large chunk of money that will in the end go unreceived by their prospective owner. Some things to keep in mind while considering favors: 'can my guests fly home with this favor?', ' is this something that I would use?' Some ideas for this might be a fun and interactive Photo Booth or a candy and dessert bar. These are sure to go to use! Edibles are another great option- consider a local confectionery shop where you live or where you are holding your nuptials. 

FAMILY & FRIENDS: We often find that family and friends have many, many varying opinions about how things should look or feel for YOUR wedding. While we understand that everyones intentions are good, we also understand that, as your wedding advocate, many opinions can mean much confusion and frustration. Consider finding creative ways to ask your friends and family to help by giving them a specific project or task that they are in charge of for the wedding. This could be planning the bridal shower or bachelorette, party favor assembly, registry shopping, to name a few. The bigger a task you give them, the more involved they will feel in your special day, which means some space for you to focus on your own desires and wishes for your big day. Ultimately, they mean well and are excited to support you, but may not know how.

WEDDING PLANNING: Okay, okay. I know this is going to sound ridiculous coming from us, but trust us, we have your very best interest at heart! We have no doubt in our minds that many of you can handle wedding planning on your own. What we find, is that even the most organized and resourceful of people need assistance when it comes to planning a wedding: something that realistically is foreign territory for most. A typical rule of thumb is if you don't have 15 hours a week to fully dedicate to planning your wedding, seek help, it's a full time job in itself {we know!}. So enjoy this time and let us help guide you. Almost every couple we have had the pleasure of working with comes back to us and says "I was so stressed out and overwhelmed before we brought you on to handle the coordinating of our wedding. We could not have survived this process without you!". We understand how incredibly time consuming each element of your wedding requires, and we want to ensure that you fully enjoy and look forward to the end result. If you can take a deep breath and relinquish your planning to us, we promise you will not be disappointed. Every bride and groom deserves a break, and at the end of the day you should not be running around worrying about anything that we have listed above! Instead, you should be drinking refreshing cocktails, laughing with your friends and family, having an engagement party, and enjoying this milestone in your life.   

Spotlight: J&G Engagement

We see & hear about couples getting engaged or married on a daily basis, but very rarely do we get to relish in the excitement of our own friends' engagements. Today, we celebrate the genuine love of one of L'Relyea Events very own, Julia Evans. Julia & her fiancé, Galen, sat down with us to share some details of their engagement & their love story. It is not hard to see how in love & humble these two are, and we could not be more thrilled to share with you this type of inspiring love! Julia & Galen will be getting married at the Villa Chanticleer in Healdsburg.  

1. First & foremost: The proposal!

As cheesy as it sounds, I am a wedding planner and my fiancé proposed on Valentines Day! 

The morning started as most of ours do - with pancakes {he literally makes them every day, it’s amazing}. From there, we gathered our things, made a picnic lunch and packed our puppy, Oliver, in the car. Our first stop was Iron Horse, my favorite winery, where we shared a flight of bubbles and watched as the two groups on either side of us made the mistake of doing chardonnay and pinot flights. Who would pass up Iron Horse sparkling wine?! I just don’t know! Needless to say, we bought a bottle and moved on.

We took the long route out to the coast and drove Bohemian Highway over the bluffs. We stopped at all of his favorite view spots and planted ourselves for a picnic on a grassy knoll across from Salmon Creek with an amazing view of the ocean. I would be lying if I denied that every 30 seconds I thought - just maybe - he was going to pop the question. I even had myself all nervous when I mistook a quarter in his pocket for a ring! But no, after a delicious lunch and no talk of marriage we packed the car and moved north up the coast to walk Oliver along the bluff’s off of Carlevaro Way {a favorite surf spot of his}. We cozied up in the sand, watched Ollie run from the waves and again, I just knew he was going to do it! He paused at a view point, got very serious, pulled me in close and asked… if I was ready to go home and get ready for dinner. And so, again, we packed up our things and continued on our journey ever so slightly more sullen than before. 

At this point it was clear that I was a little disappointed. We were on our way home, all the amazing view points were gone and I was convinced it wasn’t going to happen. As we made our way through the redwoods he looked at me and told me that all he wanted was to propose to me today but unfortunately the ring hadn’t arrived yet. I, of course, felt a little silly for seeming so disappointed and told him that it wasn’t about jewelry or a fancy diamond. For me all I wanted was him and the perfect moment and I would never try to control his moment ;) I told him he was officially off the hook and I didn’t expect anything.

Our drive continued and he suggested that we cap off the day with a walk in Armstrong Woods. As we drove out there he made a sudden turn off our mapped route. If I remember correctly I asked him if he was taking me to the dump which he responded with an annoyed eye roll and a firm no. In my defense - the roads are very similar! We continued up, the view became more expansive and at the top of the hill Galen pulled over, yanked on the e-brake and without even unbuckling his seatbelt turned to me and all in one breath said “Julie-will-you-marry-me?”. I cried, vigorously nodded, kissed him and said “should we get out of the car?”. We both laughed!

Lucky for us, our day started at Iron Horse so we enjoyed the next hour sitting on the side of this deserted road with our little pup and an amazing view sipping high end champagne out of Klean Kanteen caps {we forgot glasses}!

The day was absolutely perfect! My advice to the nearly engaged ladies of the world is don’t attempt to plan your own proposal because no matter how unplanned his might be, it’ll always be better than you could even imagine!

2. Tell me your favorite thing about Galen (if you could choose JUST one!)

He is incredibly loyal, loving, determined and dedicated. He works harder than anyone I know and I truly believe he could do anything he put his mind to. He’s inspiring! 
 

3. Your favorite memory together:

Aside from every memory! Two years ago we went to Sayulita Mexico with friends and I think it’s safe to say it’s where he truly fell in love with me. I joke that I’ve loved him since the second time we met but I remember knowing after this trip that he felt the same and we would be together forever. 
 

4. How you met:

The first time: AOL Instand Messenger! We met when we were 13 and freshman in high school. His best friend lived in my hometown and they would go to our football games. There he met a friend of a friend and somehow we acquired each others screen names. Then, like dorky little teenagers we would chat online for hours! We became really close friends and spent nearly everyday of that summer on the Russian River. Of course teenagers change and grow apart and we went our separate ways.

The second time: A 4th of July canoe trip on the Russian River. The same friend that connected us originally invited me with him on this long standing canoe trip tradition. I went and inevitably ended up in Galen’s canoe for the entire trip. We’ve been together ever since. Thank you Paris ;)
 

5. Tell me a little bit about your wedding & the planning so far: 

Well, I think my favorite thing is our venue. We are getting married at the same venue that my parents got married at over 30 years ago! As any good planner would I locked in all my vendors ASAP but most of the little details are still in the works. It might sound silly, but our ultimate goal is for it to be fun! As a planner I have a unique insight on how quickly it passes and how overwhelming the day can be so what I want more than anything is to enjoy the company of my guests and have fun with my new husband! The design and details will fall into place from there. 

6. If you could describe your love in 3 words, they would be: 

Amazing, pure, consuming, honest and everlasting {3 isn’t enough!}
 

7. Tell me about what it was like during your engagement shoot. What the experience was like, how you felt, what your vision was, why you chose the location, what you were hoping to get out of it?

Ok - and I mean this in the best way possible - but it was totally weird! I’ve never really been behind the lens of a professional photographer so I was pretty nervous. Galen, on the other hand, could not have seemed more at ease. He was so adorable and involved! He kept pausing to scope out the next best location and asking the photographer about various angles - I loved it! After the first few shots, I was right there with him and it was so much fun! I was able to forget about all the people that were there and the lens in front of us and just be with him.

Galen and I both have a passion for nature and being outside so it was important for us to find a very natural setting. We debated on redwoods, oak grove, ocean, bluffs, cliffs - I could go on! We came up with Muir Woods because it was a beautiful setting and truthfully it was equal distance for us and our amazing photographer {shout out to Brooke Beasley Photography}! 

As a planner I know how important it is to have this experience, interact with your photographer and be behind their lens before your wedding day. Brooke made us feel so incredibly comfortable and at ease it was amazing - she’s amazing! I think that alone got us everything we needed out of the photoshoot - not to mention the gorgeous photos! Thank you Brooke!

8. Tips for soon-to-be brides as a wedding planner AND soon-to-be bride! 

1. First and foremost I will pass on the advice that my boss passed on to me when I got engaged - have fun with it and do all the fun things you are supposed to do! Have an engagement party and celebrate with your friends and family whenever possible. This is a huge moment for you both and at times it will inevitably feel stressful so I mean it, celebrate!

2. Remember two conflicting things: ultimately this is about you and your partner so do what you want because it’s your day BUT this is huge for your family so when possible pick your battles and give a little

3. Give your fiancé things to do too! As a planner this is hard for me - it’s my job so I just do it. But, remember that this is their wedding too so involve them. If you are having a difficult time involving him, give him a specific project to work on like planning the rehearsal dinner!

4. Give yourself plenty of time to plan!

5. Hire a planner! I couldn’t stress this enough - I am a planner and I’ve still hired a planner. The last thing you want is for everyone {friends, family, vendors} to be asking you one thousand questions in the months leading up to your wedding. That my friends and future brides, is the remedy for a bridezilla! Of course your going to be snappy and irritable when your mind and body are being pulled in a variety of directions. Do yourself {and your fiancé} a favor and prevent that from happening before it even begins. 

We can not wait for Julia & Galen's big day! How special it is for us to get to experience such true & inspiring love like these two have. Congratulations you two! We wish you lifetime full of love, laughter & happiness!

Bachelorette Party in San Francisco

San Francisco is a youthful & hip city full of bars, nightlife, restaurants, shows, shopping and more. Why not take advantage of all that the gorgeous “city by the  bay” has to offer and spend a weekend with your ladies for your bachelorette party. It offers all that is Vegas and then some and for those who want to party AND relax or explore, this is the place for you.

Looking for a place to get some nice cocktails and enjoy a view of the city? Here are our top picks!

Sens San Francisco: this Mediterranean restaurant is located across from the Ferry Building and has a lovely patio with a view overlooking the Embarcadero and the Bay.

The View Lounge: Atop the Marriott on Mission Street, the View Lounge is a rooftop cocktail lounge with a 360 degree view of the best sites of the city. For a chic, hip cocktail spot, this is the place to be! Try their Soma Spritzer, it is our favorite for a refreshing evening cool down.

Water Bar: Also located in the Embarcadero, this restaurant and bar has stunning views on the Golden Gate bridge and the water.

Perhaps you are looking for more of a fun night out on the town. From the Castro, to Polk Street and beyond, there are plenty of great choices to entertain you.  A few of our favorites include:

Polk Street Bars: Start at Lush and make your way to any of the number of dive bars and cocktail lounges that Polk Street has to offer. The vibe here is lively and youthful, perfect for a bachelorette party.

Ruby Sky: This nightclub would be a perfect spot for you and your ladies to get bottle service and feel like VIP for a night. Get a little more dressed up and dance the night away to live DJ music and good cocktails.

Tiki Lounge: For a more casual, fun experience, go to the Tiki Lounge and share a Volcano beverage and enjoy the live entertainment. You will feel like you are in the heart of Fiji!

Maybe you are ready to wind down and enjoy a relaxing day with your ladies. Here a few things we love to do to enjoy some r&r in the bay area:

Sailing in the bay: Enjoy a day on the water, sipping on champagne with your ladies and enjoying the fresh ocean air as you take in the stunning city views. If you are able to, sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. There are plenty of charters that you can hire to take you sailing from Fisherman’s Wharf if you or your guests are unable to source this on your own.

Sausolito: This quaint town on the water is north of the Golden Gate Bridge and full of character and charm. With lots of local shops and restaurants, you can enjoy a full day exploring the many house boats that line the city and enjoy some Northern California local flavor.

There are also plenty of fun things to explore and do during the day! Here are a few fun ideas:

Giants Game: With AT&T Park located at the end of the Embarcadero and situated right on the bay, this view and the experience is one not to miss. Sometimes you just need some peanuts and beer with your girls!

Bike the bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic locations in the world, and on a sunny day what better way to experience its beauty than with a bike ride across the bridge! It will take you around 40 minutes and offers incredible city, ocean and Alcatraz views. Plenty of photography spots on either end of the bridge for you to relax after your bike ride and enjoy the view.

Cable Cars: The cable cars are an easy and fun way to see some of the best and most well known spots in the city. The open air transportation allows for people to take pictures along the way and enjoy all that is the city while seeing some of the top tourist destinations! Hint: Look in the window of the cable cars to see which city or country they are gifted from.

And of course, this city is full of incredible eateries and restaurants to satisfy any taste bud. Here are a few of our top picks for the best girls dinners:

Flour & Water: This hip, new age spot in the Mission is famous for their handmade and house made pastas. I promise you, this is the best pasta dishes you will ever have in your life. You can share a bunch of different styles because they offer half orders and their staff is some of the best we have experienced.

Cotogna: This Italian restaurant in downtown SF offers some of the tastiest pizzas and Italian dishes we have ever tried. The location is ideal and the ambiance is fun and vibrant.

Gary Danko:For a more upscale dinner, we recommend Gary Danko. World renound, this restuarnt offers some of the best steaks and American style cuisine. Located in the heart of one of San Francisco’s most desirable residential neighborhoods, this is an experience sure to please all your guests.

No matter what you are looking for, San Francisco has it all. From relaxing days by the bay, to exciting nights in the city, there is something for everyone. Your ladies are sure to have a blast, but make sure you don’t forget to enjoy a bacon wrapped hotdog before you leave, a SF specialty!

Wine Country Bridal Shower

Trust us when we say that we know how challenging and time consuming planning any event can be. Whether it is as simple as a birthday party or as complex as a wedding, each occasion, first and foremost, should be a fun and memorable experience from start to finish. With wedding season in full swing, many soon-to-be-brides will be turning to their closest friends and family for assistance in planning their bridal shower. Here a few of our favorite party ideas to celebrate the bride-to-be.

Photo Credit:  Photography by Jay C Winter

Ladies: a boudoir session & bridal shower in one. How much fun would this be? Get your closest girlfriend's together, bring some champagne, play dress up and suddenly a boudoir photo shoot does not seem so intimidating! An ultimate girls day if you ask us. What girl doesn't want to get dolled up and feel like a model for a day? It is a great way for the bride and her bridal party to feel confident and sexy before the big day.

See Style Me Pretty's take on this idea here!

With so many breathtaking outdoor spaces in Northern California, what better way to celebrate than an outdoor picnic style brunch. Imagine oversized throw pillows surrounding low tables with a Bloody Mary, Mimosa and Bellini bar, large colorful blankets and assorted pastries. This is a great way to get everyone outside and set a more relaxing and organic atmosphere. We love this idea, especially with summer just around the corner and so many wonderful picnic spots around Napa and Sonoma! And of course, don't forget to incorporate some fun lawn games like bocce and badminton. Many wineries in the area encourage picnicking on their property and offer wine tastings and tours, as well.

Click here to see more of this backyard picnic celebration on Style Me Pretty

For our more eccentric gals, think Kate Spade: bold, daring colors and patterns, oversized polka dot balloons, and assorted donuts. Kate Spade is all about her motto of "live colorfully". This is a sure fire theme to get your guests having a great time while feeling girly and carefree. Don't be afraid to incorporate gold accents and bold decor to embrace this design fully. Even encourage your guests to dress accordingly in vibrant colors to set the tone for the day!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

The beauty of Wine Country is not only the wineries and vineyards, but the proximity to the coastal region of Northern California. We have some of the most pristine and breathtaking ocean views, right alongside the green rolling hills of the countryside and the rocky cliffs. In the early months of the year, whale watching is prime in this area, and could make for a fun, adventure to include in your bridal shower! Another big attraction around this area is oysters. We love the concept of oyster bars for various events! It is no secret that fresh seafood can be pricey, so if this seems unreasonable then consider picnicking with your gals at Hog Island Oyster Company in Tomales before heading to Point Reyes for a hike to the lighthouse or a laid back day at Drake's Beach. The views are to die for anywhere along the coast of Northern California so what better way to share that with the ones you love than a pre wedding get together! 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Of course, if none of these options suit you, there's no shortage of options for wine tours that are always a fun filled day for you and your girlfriends! 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

{COMING UP NEXT WEEK: BACHELORETTE PARTY IDEAS IN SAN FRANSISCO}