Of Bling-Bling and Cleaning Up

By Ron Donoho

WELCOME TO OUR “LIFE OF LUXURY” ISSUE. A significant portion of our readership is, however, using gold bullions for doorstops and wallpapering an extra bedroom with hundred-dollar bills (tacky though those design ideas may be). So with all due respect for health and family, for the holidays we wish the luxury lifestyle on all our readers. And herewith, we celebrate it.

Contributor Rachel Laing writes this month about what our high-life living citizenry is buying, eating and doing, and the parties they simply have to be seen attending. Design editor Thomas Shess gets the keys to the best hotel suites in town and lets us in for a sneak peek. Tom Gable pours forth about priceless wines that are full-bodied in taste; don’t even ask how much they cost. And assistant art director Heather Eubanks gets the finest fashions—as well as those all-important accessories—in place in time for the next chi-chi holiday gala.

Merry Christmas, and a happy new wardrobe to all.

THERE’S NOTHING REALLY LUXURIOUS about San Diego Magazine’s recent office renovation. But it’s still a good story worth passing along. Each month after we close an issue, we hold a Thank God It’s Over (TGIO) day. We recognize an employee of the month and usually play a game at a group lunch. We’ve done office trivia contests; played spoofs called “Newly-Friend Game” and “A Magazine Idol.” Last month, we played “The Apprentice: Cleaning Up.”

It was held on a Friday and loosely based on Donald Trump’s The Apprentice. Four project managers and their teams were assigned areas in our Front Street office to clean up and organize. They tackled the mailroom. The conference room. Common areas. The kitchen. There was some grumbling at first. Then, magically and beautifully, team spirit kicked in. Competitive juices started flowing. But at the same time, teams found themselves helping each other with tasks. Today, we’ve got new paint, new organization and a renewed sense of team pride. It shows, physically, in our workspace. And I think it’s also reflected in these pages.

Enjoy the issue. It shines.

RON DONOHO
Executive Editor

	50 People to Watch Party 2012 This year's event held at the Saltbox at the Hotel Palomar on January 20 honoring San Diego's best and brightest.

	47th annual Presentation Tea Photos of the 47th annual Presentation Tea at a private estate in Rancho Santa Fe

	Air Supply: Filling Lungs with Love Photos of an event to raise money for Sharlie Kaltenbach at a private estate in Olivenhain

	Super Stars... Let it Shine! Photos from an evening to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad held at La Costa Resort