Great classical music is always an enjoyment for our readers, and Carnegie Hall is hosting, on April 1, an opera duet featuring two world-class singers.  The featured singers will be no other than Soprano Sondra Radvanosky and Baritone Dmitri Hvorostosky. They will be performing timeless masterpieces including Aida, Don Carlo, Ernani, La Forza del Destino, Simon Boccanegra, and Un Ballo in Maschera.  Mrs. Radvanosky will also be performing some solo pieces as well.

Operas have always defined upscale entertainment and with the opportunity to hear such finely tuned voices, it is a concert our readers are sure to attend.  Marco Amiliato and his National Philharmonic will provide the music for Mrs. Radvanosky, so prepare for fingers dancing on flutes, the high-pitched sound of violins, and the flaring arms of conductor Marco Amiliato.

Both Radvanosky and Hvorostosky have developed a global following, and with several years of experience they will present quite the show.  For guests looking to make the evening complete, the event is offering a dinner before the show as well as a dessert party afterwards.  For $1,250 per guest, you can enjoy a pre-concert dinner hosted by acclaimed soprano Martina Arroyo to celebrate mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne.  If you prefer the dessert party afterwards where you will receive the opportunity to mingle among the stars of the show, it will be $500 per person.  For those guests wanting to partake in all the festivities, the event offers a VIP package for $1,500 per guest.  Make sure to attend this marvelous event on April 1 at 8 pm, you will experience a delight in classical music as well as first class service and style.  Tickets for the show only are ranging from $41 to $129, and Gala benefit tickets include a tax-deductible contribution, with all proceeds benefiting Carnegie Hall’s artistic and education programming.

If you haven’t had a chance to take on the haute and sweaty Bar Method workout, the new craze that is popping up all over San Francisco, let us fill you in on why this unique, body-aching approach is receiving rave reviews from workout buffs across the city.

The Bar Method incorporates exercises around a ballet studio barre and is so isolated that it consistently leaves practitioners’ legs shaking with the most minimum movement possible. The full-body workout, if you dare to take it on, targets each muscle with dance conditioning techniques and resistance training. As someone who aspires to have the perfect dancer’s body without necessarily sporting the tights and leotards, The Bar Method is the key to sculpting my ideal figure.

I’m giving you fair warning here: the class is rigorous and muscles you never knew you had will be sore and tingly, perhaps for the first time ever. However, the beautiful spa-like décor of the studios, along with the fast body-changing results make it oh so worth it. One glance at the lean bods strutting around the studios will convince you that there is a method to their madness. For me, this is what sets apart The Bar Method from other fitness programs—results.

While this system does enhance muscle growth, the incorporated stretching techniques promote elongated muscles for minimum bulk—perfect for women who want that lean and narrow figure. As friendly and inviting as the ballet barre may look, it will not be holding your leg up for you. The small, one-inch movements are deceptively challenging.

Newcomers can find The Bar Method studios in downtown San Francisco, the Marina District, Walnut Creek, Marin and San Mateo.

Fraiche Santa Monica is looking forward to the grand opening of their new bar and lounge.  The location offers the finest in décor, and guests will enjoy dining on finely finished wood tables and chairs complete with a vast array of burning candles to provide the most intimate lighting for an elegant dinner.  Dark and rich colors engulf the bar and lounge offering a warm setting to enjoy meals and cocktails. The grand opening event will actually be a fundraiser for the Concern Foundation, an organization that works diligently on cancer research.

The inspiration for the dual celebration comes from co-owner Keith Fox’s daughter, Olivia, who just last year battled cancer in her leg. Due to her own personal strength coupled with amazing medical attention, Olivia emerged victorious from her deadly battle.

Owners, Keith Fox and Amir Ohebsion hope to provide their guests with an experience worthy of praise while enticing helpful donations.  Olivia will also be walking the L.A. Marathon a day before the race in order to garner attention for the Concern Foundation. Her example will likely serve as an inspiration for all victims of cancer because her survival, as Ohebsion describes it, was miraculous.

As part of the fundraiser, Fraiche Santa Monica will introduce a house specialty drink labeled Olivia’s Crush.  The drink consists of organic blackberries, vodka, acai, house-made ginger syrup, mint, and Prosecco all in honor of the beautiful and brave Olivia. The cost of this fabulous cocktail is $20.  The money raised will go toward the Concern Foundation in hopes aiding more survivors like Olivia.  Entourage star Kevin Connolly will be part of the prestigious crowd who, along with many others, will be attending tonight’s festivities.

If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting Domaine Carneros’ breathtaking winery in Napa, you have undeniably experienced something truly special in California. The château, completed in 1989, is best described as a first-class daytrip into 18th-century France, with its royal elegance and old-world charm. That being said, Domaine’s Chateau Society Wine Club is the crème de la crème group for wine connoisseurs who frequent this French-inspired estate.

The mission of the exclusive membership club, according to the website, is to promote the importance of celebrating life as often as possible.

When you become a member of the exclusive Chateau Society Wine Club, Domaine Carneros will send their Late Disgorged Brut, Demi-Sec, Ultra Brut, or Single Vineyard Pinot Noir to your home six times throughout the year. Of course that isn’t all. Additional benefits include exclusive access to Library Wines and special offers at luxury resorts and hotels throughout the Wine Country. But what makes this wine club a Napa Valley standout is weekend access to the private club room and exquisite outdoor terrace at the landmark chateau, which, according to the site, was “architecturally inspired by the historic Taittinger-owned Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne.”

Domaine Carneros prides itself on being one of the few wineries with a luxurious outdoor restaurant for formal tasting and nibbling. You are welcome to indulge in the smooth wine in flights, by the glass, or by the bottle, and be sure to complement it with the caviar or artisan cheese plates. To top it off, the estate is perched atop a knoll that overlooks the plush green vineyards to give visitors the ultimate Napa backdrop.

For more information or to join Domaine’s Chateau Society Wine Club, please call 800.716.2788 or visit www.domainecarneros.com.

What does access to Haute Secrets get you? The insider scoop from some of the most notable VIP residents in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Want to know where Michael Mina goes for late night dining, or which hotel Clive Davis would recommend to out of town guests? We’ve got the 411. What about Jill Zarin’s favorite place for a romantic date, or where you will find Helio Castroneves chowing down on ethnic food? We’ve got those answers too.

Sign up for our Haute Secrets City Guides to access some of the best resources for places to go, things to do, and hotspots that are worth checking out in your city, according to celebrities like:

• Sam Nazarian
• Michael Mina
• Kelly Wearstler
• Catherine Malandrino
• Michelle Bernstein
• Jorge Perez
• Jill Zarin
• Alex McCord
• Denise Rich
• Christie Kerr
• Edward Tricomi
• Joel Warren
• Candy Spelling
• Melissa Rivers
• Pat Kuleto
• Helio Castroneves

Waldo Fernandez and members of the Soho House design team are in preparations to finish their newly designed and constructed site in West Hollywood, and the club expects doors to open March 8 of this year.  The location’s exact address is 9200 Sunset Blvd. atop Luckman Plaza. The site’s neighboring penthouses are home to some big names such as Boa Steakhouse and Mosaic, a management company who represents premier Hollywood names such as Jim Carey, Steve Carell, and Will Ferrell.

Doubt overshadowed the project as concerns over possible parking issues may have delayed opening night, but Soho House representatives assure our readers that the postponement was due to producing the perfect product.  Designers rarely had moments to breathe let alone relax as constricting deadlines weighed heavy on their backs.

“We were hired only six months before the opening and all the interior architecture had not even begun,” says designer Waldo Fernandez as he explains how challenging this feat was.

Mr. Fernandez managed to complete the project and just in time for Oscar week.  He delivered an elegant design featuring a majestic staircase curving between floors.  Armed with such attention to detail, the site also features a customized wooden bar hiding behind massive pillar holding up glamourious high ceilings.  From the classy look of its wood flooring to seating tailored in the finest materials, the design offers quite the elegant appeal.

“They want to create an Old Hollywood glamorous feel with allusions to an old English gentleman’s club,” says Fernandez in reference to the overall design of the club.

With world class amenities minus the pool, spa, and gym, this bar will be the perfect location for our readers to rest and relax while they catch up on current events.  Memberships are currently $1,800 a year and early invitations have already been sent out to selected individuals.

Prepare to walk among the hautest, best dressed, and chicest partygoers in San Francisco at the always stylish and sensational Slide Lounge. The only lounge to offer actual slides within its contemporary designed walls will play host to the Raphael House Pre-Gala Launch Party to benefit Raphael House, an organization providing family services throughout the local community.

According to the event’s press release, Raphael House has taken a “homeowners” approach to aiding families in planting a foundation for further development.  For 37 years, they have provided families with support and staff to make sure they find stability and maintain it.

“Long after a family departs to stable housing, our staff volunteers, and Board of Directors remain committed,” states the organization’s press release.

The party is set for tonight and will go from 7 until 10 pm at Slide Lounge located on 430 Mason St., and there will be a $50 cover charge.  Slide Lounge, known for their themed parties, will highlight a “Speakeasy” theme, so prepare for a night of memories, as the event will surely keep the oldies rolling.  Prepare to step into a lavish scene reminiscent of the 20s once you cross the doorway and enter the lounge’s fun and fantastic decor.

Slide Lounge is a premier place for our West Coast readers, and this event in particular demonstrates the community awareness surrounding San Francisco.  Filled with rhythmic music, flowing cocktails, and trendy style and design, this party is sure to leave an impression on its guests.  Slide Lounge attracts elegance and excitement, and if you are in the area make sure to stop by for a good time and a good cause.

And you thought that the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival were the only things heating up the Magic City tonight. Think again. The Miami International Fashion Week Kick-Off Party will be the hot spot on the mainland tonight, at Gary Nader Fine Art in Wynwood from 7 to 10:00 p.m.

Considering that anything associated with the Nader name connotes ultimate luxe, Tiffany & Co. is hosting the elegant affair, which will honor the following Humanitarian Award recipients:

• Yolanda Berkowitz
• Michelle Bernstein
• Michael Capponi
• Jessica Goldman-Srebnick
• Ami Glottmann
• Laurie Jennings
• Gary Nader
• Abigail Pollack
• David Samson
• Stephanie Sayfie-Aagaard

Philanthropists in the know understand that right now we are in the midst of one of the most important seasons in South Florida: the charity gala circuit. Starting in October and lasting through March/April, this is the time when the socialites and dapper dons restock their wardrobes with some of the finest ball gowns and tuxes from our favorite couture designers.

Coming up this Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Fontainebleau, will be one of the biggest fundraising galas of the season: The Blacks’ Annual Gala. 2010 marks the 15th anniversary of this spectacular charity event that draws in bold faced celebrity names year after year. Since inception, 100 percent of the ticket sales and auction proceeds have benefited one specific nonprofit. This will be the first year that Lea and Roy Black will fund the charitable organization that they recently created, the Consequences Charity, whereby they have stated that they hope to “spread the love to various qualifying schools and prevention programs that meet the qualifications set forth in their Mission Statement,” some of which include Educate Tomorrow, I Have a Dream, and Project Medishare.

Auction Items include:

• Rolls-Royce Ghost Bentley Mulsanne
• Bugatti Veyron
• modern design package including furnishings, art, and accessories by award-winning designer Tui Pranich

Celebrity Appearances include:

• Grammy award-winning artist Natalie Cole
• Latin pop sensation Paulina Rubio
• Platinum recording artist Rick Ross
• Saxophonist Alto Reed
• DJ Entice (FLO RIDA’s official DJ), DJ Irie, and DJ Tracy Young

For tickets, contact Jason Clarke at 305.443.8980.

What happens when a denim entrepreneur and a fashion-savvy astrologer meet at a cocktail party in Manhattan under a waxing moon? A new line of jeans is born.

Liz Rose, astrologer, and author of the book Bedazzled! An Astrological Guide to Earthly Bliss with Your Man, has teamed up with Catherine Hart, founder of Hello! Skinny Jeans, a brand of jeans that gives you a svelte appearance. Together, they have created Stellar Skinny Jeans, a denim collection that features one of 12 astrological symbols studded onto the back pocket of the slimming silhouettes.

The two women, both California natives, had instant chemistry, and found it easy to agree on the look of the antique brass studded symbol, which is discreet, yet striking. About the astrological symbols, Rose said, “Even though our culture is experiencing an upswing in astrology at this moment, it’s not a trendy subject. And the 12 symbols, dating back thousands of years, have enduring allure.” Hart instantly took to the idea. “When you find the perfect jeans for your body, you want to wear it in different ways,” she said. “And you can wear more than your own sign—you can wear your boyfriend’s sign too,” or for that matter, we suggest the sign of anyone significant in your life. It seems that these jeans are astrologically compatible with all women looking to add some enchantment to their wardrobes and their contours. Manhattan’s social elite are already under the spell of this stellar line.