Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. The BizWorld Foundation honors Ron Conway for his keen entrepreneurial skills at their seventh annual luncheon and he parlays those same skills to help raise funds for a new children’s hospital.

Ron Conway

Category: Entrepreneurs

Company: SV Angles

Industry: Venture Capitalism

What Makes Him Haute: This prolific angel investor who took an early interest in Google has put his faith and his funds in more than 500 companies over the years. Some of the big name businesses that have counted Conway as a guardian angel include Ask Jeeves and PayPal, along with some of his more current charges like Digg, Facebook, Twitter and Associated Content Inc. No wonder the world knows him as the “Godfather of Silicon Valley.”

What Makes Him Now: The BizWorld Foundation, a supporter of business education in the classroom, will honor Ron Conway for his innovative entrepreneurial endeavors at their seventh annual luncheon. “Ron Conway is an amazing visionary and we are honored to have him speak on behalf of The BizWorld Foundation,” said Harry Gould Chairman of BizWorld. The Bay area’s leading CEOs and venture capitalists will also be attendance to help support the teaching of business, finance and entrepreneurship to the next generation. All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit The BizWorld Foundation. Conway is also lending his chops to help raise funding for a children’s hospital. The University of California, San Francisco and Causes.com have reinvented new media fundraising by enlisting the help of Conway and others to get multiple individual donations. People can form teams to sponsor funding, and those entrepreneurs that reach 75 voters will have a chance to pitch their idea or start-up to Conway.

Last night, famed television personality and Art Basel host committee member Raúl de Molina, in conjunction with gallerist Nina Menocal, held his seventh annual Art Basel kickoff party at his home in the Grand Bay Towers and Residences on Key Biscayne. As co-host of Univision’s No. 1 rated entertainment news show “El Gordo y la Flaca,” De Molina is a celebrity in his own right, beloved for his candid personality and humble demeanor. He is, essentially, the Ryan Seacrest of the Latin world.

An avid art collector since the age of 18, De Molina has compiled an impressive collection, starting with works from Cuban artists and soon expanding to masterpieces from all over the globe. Ardently displayed throughout his home are dozens of interesting, thought-provoking pieces from top artists like Pieter Hugo, famed photographer from South Africa (“The Hyena and Other Men”); Kcho, an award-winning Cuban sculpture featured in the esteemed Marlborough Gallery in New York City; Martin Schuller, who is known for portraying extreme close-ups of celebrities (De Molina has one of Clint Eastwood and one of Bill Clinton); Manuel Mendive, the Cuban artist known for his “Voodoo Alters”; Jose Bedia, Hunt Slonem…the list goes on. No wall is bare in the De Molina household; and no detail left unadorned. The array of bold colors and textures blend effortlessly, creating their very own personal MoMA.

As is typical for a De Molina event, the living room was not only overflowing with impressive art, but also with impressive people. Guests included Jorge Perez, Miami’s top real estate developer (aka The “Donald Trump of the Tropics”); Stephanie Reed; baseball legend Sammy Sosa; Gary Nadar; Sascha Nikitin from Art Basel Switzerland; Lily Estefan; Silvia Tcherassi; MAM Director Thom Collins; and many more. A delicious gourmet spread with cheeses and caviar along with passed hors d’oeuvres and Champagne was the perfect accent to the lively atmosphere and respectable crowd.

When asked what he’s most looking forward to in the upcoming Art Basel week, De Molina had trouble identifying just one thing. He ambitiously stated that he plans to go to “everything.” He was also adamant about the fact that Art Basel it’s not just about art, but also about an entire Miami cultural experience. His passion for Basel is based on the more intangible component that makes it come alive — the energy. “Art Basel is the premiere event in Miami. There is nothing else that compares in the entire United States,” he gushed, continuing to emphasize that the energy and the culture of the city during the week-long exhibition is his favorite part. “I love how the entire city comes together. And not just the city, but people from all over the world. Miami is the perfect city for such an event. It’s the Casa Blanca of the United States.”

With such high regard for the event, would he change anything? “Art Basel should be at least a week,” he suggests. “There’s not enough time in five days to see or do everything!” And so, as is tradition, De Molina has taken matters into his own hands. Although the festivities don’t technically start until Dec. 2, his party last night has now (un)officially kicked off Art Basel.

Check back with Haute Living for more exclusive Art Basel coverage!

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Haute Secrets Phoenix

Name: Anicia Bragg

The stats: Born in Knoxville, Tenn.; been in Phoenix six years; currently lives in Paradise Valley.

Why she loves Phoenix: Phoenix offers a relaxing atmosphere with year-round beautiful weather, great resorts, shopping, entertainment, hiking, cycling and things to do for the entire family.

After landing a position as a spokesmodel for Eastman Kodak in her early 20s, Anicia Bragg moved to New York City to expand her knowledge of the arts, television, film and design, eventually also working with Barbizon Modeling School and teaching thousands of high school students how to “dress for success.” Her eye for fashion, style and decor, and aptitude for making stylish clothing designs eventually led to a career as an image consultant and now she collaborates with some of the most talented designers and professionals in the industry. Also, as the founder of a special events/production company and designs, Bragg has coordinated celebrity galas, VIP parties, weddings and award ceremonies. And she has also served as vice president of a high-profile real estate development company. Bragg’s design and styling firm is ABRAGG Design in Phoenix, and she is also the editor for “Indulge with AniciaB,” a design philosophy blog.

Check out Anicia Bragg’s favorite haute spots in Phoenix at Haute Secrets.

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Designed to reflect Colorado’s western spirit and capture the outdoor essence of Caribou Springs Ranch, this extraordinary two-story residence with detached guest home is a true sanctuary where upscale living unites with Caribou Springs Ranch’s unrivalled and exclusive setting. Sited amidst lush pasture land and overlooking Foothills Reservoir, the 5-bedroom, 6-bath residence offers more than 7,000 square feet of exquisitely finished living space situated on more than 6 view-oriented acres.

Offered @ $2,295,000

Contact Scott Franklund @ 303.440.4999. Or visit www.legendaryproperty.com.

Franklin Square was, in recent memory, also known as Philadelphia forgotten square. One of the five original in the city designed by William Penn, it was simply a fading patch of green by the Vine Street Expressway and Ben Franklin Bridge. But thank goodness someone realized the potential, and Franklin Square is now perhaps one of the most popular, drawing families to its Philly-themed carousel, miniature golf course and interactive storytelling by the actors of Historic Philadelphia.

The holidays are bringing this already festive park up a level as it lights up in celebration with a series of events by Historic Philadelphia. Tonight, November 30, at 5 p.m. will be the official lighting of Franklin Square, hosted by Ben Franklin and Santa Claus. Free hot chocolate will be distributed to the merry makers.

Throughout the remainder of the holiday season, the park will be open on December 4 – 19 on Saturdays and Sundays from 5 – 8 p.m., and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand through 7 p.m. to chat with children and discuss potential holiday surprises. Families off from work and school can enjoy the park daily December 26 – 31 from 5 – 8 p.m.

To top off the month of festivities, Franklin Square will hold a Kid’s New Year’s Even Countdown on December 31 starting at 6 p.m.

Make it a family night out, complete with burgers, fries and those irresistible and rich Cake Shakes from SquareBurger. The weather may be cold, but with these cheerful events you’ll be plenty warm inside.

Franklin Square is located at Sixth and Race streets. Call 215.629.4026 or visit www.historicphiladelphia.org for more information.

Sara Rahbar, Leyli Jan Dear Leyli, courtesy of Carbon 12 Gallery

Art Dubai, the region’s largest and most established contemporary art fair has announced its fifth edition and the participation of more than 75 renowned international art galleries. To be held from March 16th to 19th, Art Dubai 2011 will showcase works from over 30 countries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Laleh Khorramian, Intro, 2009 Courtesy of The Third Line

This year’s returning galleries include Frey Norris (USA), Chemould Prescott Road (India), Chantal Crousel (France), Athr Gallery (Saudi Arabia), and The Third Line (UAE). Newcomers include Goodman Gallery (South Africa), Pilar Corrias Gallery (UK), Marianne Boesky (USA), Galerie Balice Hertling (France), Chaterjee & Lal (India), L’Atelier 21 (Morocco), and Rodeo (Turkey).

This year’s fair will also include a selection of stands as alternative spaces curated by Nav Haq, exhibitions curator at Arnolfini (UK). They will be allocated as five stands throughout the fair and will focus on the some of the most emerging art spaces from Asia and Middle East many of which are first-time participants at Art Dubai.

Another new initiative will be Art Dubai Live, an online platform launched at the close of the fair enabling a greater interactive audience of collectors, artists and art lovers to participate from around the globe.

Gil Heitor Cortesao, Double Bed, Courtesy of Carbon 12 Gallery

“I’m delighted to have joined the fair at this extraordinary moment, when it is both reflecting and contributing to the creative, social and commercial shift in the region,” said Antonia Carver in a recent press release. “Art Dubai is rooted in the Gulf but is part of a ‘future conversation’ that critically links Asia and the Middle East with the rest of the world. It is enormously exciting to be part of the cultural scene in Dubai, a city of ideas, of entrepreneurship and debate.”

As Carver so eloquently stated, Art Dubai is not just about an art fair, it is about a new world of artistic discovery with the aim to foster a dialogue about art in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA region) and how it communicates with the world at large.

Art Dubai is a joint venture of the Dubai International Financial Center and is held in partnership with Abraaj Capital and sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels. The event takes place at the Madinat Jumeirah.

Beautiful Aussie actor Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse) celebrated his 34th birthday halfway around the world this weekend in Chicago hotspot the Underground. Sponsored by Grey Goose and Vitamin Water, the celeb spot was transformed into our very own Fangtasia for the night. Far from his native land of Sydney, he was surrounded by local scenesters Kelli Zink (CelebTV), Ryan Poli (Executive Chef of the Perennial), RJ Melman (Co-owner HUB51) and Jason Erkes (President, Chicago Sport and Social).

Kwanten is up for a GQ Award in Australia this week and has a has a sex/love book coming out next year called “The G Strategy.” We’ll vamp to that.

Los Angeles is famous for its art walks. Downtown, Culver City, and Venice all have dates when the galleries and shops that line a particular stretch of town open their doors well past dark and patrons are invited to trawl the many visual stylings within. But, why should art have all the fun? What about design?

One doesn’t always think of Los Angeles when considering a design destination but it’s quickly building a strong rep in that direction. Which isn’t surprising considering that the city of angels sports the cream of the aesthetics, antiques, and architecture crop. So, those who adore décor will be thrilled to note that design is getting its due in this town with the La Cienega Design Quarter’s Holiday Design Walk.

The walk, which takes place December 3rd until 8:00 pm and then Saturday, December 4th, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, will fill La Cienega from Santa Monica to Beverly. Think of it as a sophisticated, stylish, and subdued block party of design devoteés, without M.I.A. or the doorknockers.

In addition to keeping the lights on and the doors open several LCDQLA participants are hosting events at the Holiday walk. Be sure to drop (or should I say walk) by, peruse the fixings and fixtures and pick up a couple presents while you’re at it. I’ll be heading over to street artist Louis Carreon’s show at Lee Stanton Antiques on Friday at 5:00 pm and then skipping over to Catherine Malandrino at about 6:00 pm for an informal fashion viewing and cocktail party. I’ve already marked the shindigs in my calendar. And so should you. In pen.

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Maybe you love The Jetsons. Maybe you love the color white and have really well-behaved kids. Maybe you’re the kind of person who’s always longed to say, without a trace of irony, “Perhaps we should have our drinks in the grotto?” Maybe you’ve always wanted your own private bowling alley. Maybe you’ve always wanted to live in Bell Canyon.

If any of the above describes you to a T, you might consider signing the deed on this über modern abode. Here’s the stats. The home, which was listed on Redfin, was completed in 2007, boasts 6 bedrooms and 9 baths, and comes with a $3,995,000 sticker. Crafted with a sartorial take on outer-space style, the home sports sleek lines, metal detailing and a monochomatic color palette (If you have pets, a bun in the oven or drink red wine, you may have to pass).

The exterior of the property features an outdoor utopia that seems like it was taken straight from the pages of a Bret Easton Ellis novel. Multiple waterfalls flow gently into a glass-tiled and heated pool surrounded by a cabana, the aforementioned grotto, fire-pits and a large full service outdoor kitchen. The interior features a few amenities such a private media room, billiards room and oh yeah, your own personal bowling lane. Strike!

While Bell Canyon may not have the caché of other canyons, this luxury dwelling is enough to make a person consider adding travel time to their commute. Trust me. Even Angelenos who prize their zip-code like its the Hope Diamond will claim 91307 as their stomping grounds.

172 Bell Canyon Road, Bell Canyon, CA 91307

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Rock-a-holics in Los Angeles have been jonesing hardcore in anticipation of Rolling Stone Magazine’s flagship restaurant and lounge, located in the heart of Hollywood at Hollywood & Highland. (For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Aztec-themed retail/culinary bohemoth, the complex houses another awards show you may have heard of, the Oscars.)

In what is sure to become a major nightlife destination for both music lovers and party goers, the Rolling Stone Restaurant and Lounge is the first time the seminal rock rag has ever licensed it’s moniker for an American eatery. While the hot spot won’t open its doors until later this winter, they did recently host the VIP after party for the American Music Awards. And as you know, as much as Angelenos enjoy ceremonies and the like, they absolutely love an afterparty.

Chic celebs gathered in throngs at the 10,500 square foot space, to see and be seen while getting a sneak peek at the RSLA luxe environs, which marries old world European elegance with Hollywood glamour. Rolling Stone founder and publisher Jann Wenner was in the house mixing it up with a who’s-who of Hollywood including Avril Lavigne, the Black Eyed Peas, Brandy Norwood, Brittney Snow, Christina Milian, Dave Navarro, Enrique Iglesias, Eric Benet, Jackson Browne, Jamie Foxx, JC Chasez, Jesse McCartney, Katy Perry, Karina Smirnoff, Kelly Osbourne, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Ke$ha, Kid Rock, Mark Salling, Matt Lanter, Matthew Morrison, Mena Suvari, and Russell Brand.

Said Warner in a recent press outreach, “The Rolling Stone restaurant and lounge captures the essence of the magazine and is the ideal extension of our brand.  We are excited to open up the venue by hosting the AMA afterparty and sharing this new Hollywood destination with some of the top names in the music community.”

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