August 25, 2016 Comments (0) Views: 2515 Blog, Life on the Mesa

Life on the Mesa: The Magic of Symphony at Salk

Nothing beats rubbing elbows with fascinating minds like Al Gore in a marvelous setting

Just Mesa’n around…

Exquisite. Yep, I think that’s the word I’ll use to describe last Saturday’s Symphony at Salk. From rubbing elbows with fascinating minds like Al Gore, to chatting up my favorite local oceanographer Walter Munk, the setting was simply marvelous. Two women that stood out in the crowd were the tall, striking Lisa Alther, and the dainty yet elegant legend herself, Francoise Gilot. With a beau on my arm who spoke French, this wonderful encounter with the artist and wife of Jonas Salk was endearing. Alther and Gilot have just launched a book titled About Women: Conversations Between a Writer and a Painter. It’s no coincidence that my dear friend Alexis Dixon has just walked into the Social Club with this book under his arm. About Women is serendipitously my next read.

Walking past the glowing banners displaying the colorful artwork from years past (which just happened to coincide with the year I landed in La Jolla, 1996), I bumped into Mark Cafferty, CEO of the San Diego Regional EDC. A true gentleman, Cafferty and I chatted about our bi-national region and upcoming Global Empowerment Summit focused on Human Trafficking.

And the evening would not be complete without hugs from Peter and Ellen Salk. I had the chance to meet John Salk as well. I waltzed out of our Mesa’s architectural wonder to My Fair Lady’s “I could have danced all night” feeling like a kid at Christmas. I have already started counting down to what I consider a splendidly magical day as I anxiously await next year’s Symphony at Salk.

Upcoming events (I’ll be at the fun table…)

Innovation Event: Analytics Ventures
August 25, 5-7 p.m., Cooley LLP
Haven’t heard of Analytics Ventures? Well, you should. While most VCs have been backing Big Pharma, they’ve been busy focusing on Big Data. And while others are looking at scooping up companies later in the startup process, Analytic Ventures is focused on getting in the ring well before the first round of funding begins. AV follows the studio model, where getting in early pays in spades.And let’s get to the real reason why these guys rock. They are behind one of the best apps ever… TapHunter, my friends! Any San Diego craft beer aficionado knows that this app is like finding the holy grail.

Want to learn more? Check out their event tonight at Cooley LLP. The CEO of Curemetrix will talk about his experience working with the studio model and Analytics Ventures.
Snorkel with the Leopard Sharks
August 27 and 28, 8 a.m., Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Swim with sharks? Birch Aquarium hosts two snorkeling sessions this weekend in La Jolla. What a fantastic way to close out summer, by rubbing fins with our coast’s leopard sharks. Snorkelers will also discover other amazing wildlife between the kelp, rocks, and sandy sea floor. Kids must be ten or older for this activity.
Hera Labs Press Conference With Mayor Kevin Faulconer
August 30, 12-1 p.m., Hera Labs Sorrento
Mayor Kevin Faulconer will come out next Tuesday to show his support for Hera Labs & female entrepreneurs. Small business owner Katherine Stuart Faulconer will co-present the check. High five to our city’s mayor for showing support for our female entrepreneurs and start up community.
Biocom DeviceFest 2016
August 30, Sheraton Carlsbad
So maybe it’s technically not on the Mesa. But some of our favorite usual suspects from the Mesa will be featured at next week’s DeviceFest conference. CEO of Biocom Joe Panetta will open this conference, inviting attendees to dive into the day’s events and connect with key decision makers in the medical device community. Two panels that grab my attention are the Design Driven Innovation and Five in 5 panels.