Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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San Francisco Examiner - September 16, 2002
Debby Morse Of The Examiner Staff
It's the well-seasoned well-to-do who pack themselves into the couturier gowns and cummerbunds, plunk down gobs of money for a catered dinner in a tent, and then fall asleep in their upholstered chairs the minute the first strains of Puccini well up in the Opera House.
The under-30 set is seen as an anachronism in the world of class and glamour, though not entirely unwelcome. You pay, you can stay.
The under-20 set? Forget about it. You just don't see them at San Francisco's best fall cultural events.
Until now. This week brings one of The City's most enjoyable, most spectacular and most big-hearted events, Macy's Passport -- a high-energy fashion show at Fort Mason Center that raises money for HIV/AIDS programs -- and its opening night, Wednesday, is for teenagers only! Kids. Fashion. Compassion. Cool!
This is a special year -- Passport's 20th anniversary. The show draws a variety of spectators, from the tuxedo-clad to the -- well, I've seen what I could swear are recycled prom dresses, but maybe it was an ironic statement. In general, the idea is to be stylish, creative and even a bit outrageous.
It will be the third Teen Night at Passport (last year's had to be canceled due to the 9/11 disaster), and is sponsored this year by Microsoft.
Teen Night is not open to the public, so you won't be able to buy tickets to it. Instead, invitations (at a value of $60 each) have been issued to some 2,000 teen guests from the Bay Area through high schools and youth agencies, and (here's the best part) the kids will be treated to the exact same program the paying public will see on Thursday and Friday (tickets may still be available for the Thursday and Friday events; call 1-800-334-6158, or visit the Macy's Passport 20/02 Web site at http://www.macys.com).
That means, in addition to a fashion show featuring knock-out stuff by Marc Ecko for Ecko Unlimited, Tracy Reese, Nike, Hugo Boss and Iceberg (and so many others), the evening will include performances by hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari, recording artists 4 Deep and Yasmeen -- and the outrageous MAC Viva Glam Circus.
Oh, and did I mention the sizzling underwear segment of the show? The buffed bods in snazzy skivvies, the long legs sauntering in wispy slips, the smoke and lights and -- well, yes, the sweat? Kids, don't try this at home.
Before the fashion show, the teenagers will be regaled at a reception featuring refreshments, music and interactive games on HIV/AIDS prevention education. You know, stuff like tarot cards and "Pop! Goes the Condom." Passport Teen Night beneficiaries, such as the Larkin Street Youth Services, San Francisco Unified School District, School Health Programs and Huckleberry Youth Programs, will host the games as well as provide education and prevention information.
You don't think that sounds like fun? Macy's spokeswoman Jill Osaka says the kids love it. "There's so much energy, because they're so excited to be there. They just go crazy."
Stephanie Zepeda, a 17-year-old living with HIV who participated in last year's Teen Night and was a photo subject in Passport 01's exhibition "The Panels of Hope," will be back Wednesday to talk to the crowd about prevention and education.
And that's not all. Some lucky kids will be chosen from the crowd at the reception to actually try out their modeling moves on the runway. There might be a future in this kind of thing, eh? Right, said Fred. Depends on what the tarot cards say.
E-mail: dmorse@sfexaminer.com
Macy's Passport 20/02 events take place Thursday-Friday. Tickets for the Thursday Gala Evening general reception and fashion show only are $75 and are available through Ticketmaster; tickets for the American Express Cardmember Evening on Friday are $65-$75 for bleacher seats and general reception, $40 for the fashion show only, and are available through Ticketmaster. A limited number of VIP runway seats are available for $150 through blue room events at (877) 252-7814.
Tickets to Microsoft Teen Night will not be sold to the public.
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