Meet Our Opera Ball Partners
Behind the Magic: Celebrating Our Opera Ball Partners
Each year, Opera Ball captivates San Francisco with elegance, imagination, and sheer spectacle—and behind that enchantment are the visionary partners who bring it all to life. This week, we’re proud to spotlight two of our longtime partners who are helping make Opera Ball 2025 possible, J. Riccardo Benavides of Ideas Event Styling, and McCalls Catering & Events.
J. Riccardo Benavides, Ideas Event Styling
A creative force in the national events scene and a beloved icon in the Bay Area, J. Riccardo Benavides is the founder and creative director of Ideas Event Styling, an internationally recognized event production studio known for bold, theatrical design and immersive event experiences.
Since launching Ideas in 1992, Riccardo and his team have produced some of the region’s most spectacular events. In San Francisco, he is best known for his longtime role as the visionary behind the Opening Night Galas for San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and de Young Fine Arts Museum, as well as landmark philanthropic and cultural events including the Afropolitan Gala for MOAD, The Fine Arts Museum’s Oscar de la Renta Retrospective, San Francisco Edgewood, The League to Save Lake Tahoe Fashion Show, and many more.
His extensive client list includes private individuals such as Queen Sofia of Spain, luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, Emporio Armani, and Jason Wu, and leading tech and corporate innovators including Facebook, Google, Salesforce, and Apple.
Appointed to the San Francisco Arts Commission by the Mayor in 2023, he also serves as the Vice President on the board of the Nob Hill Association, frequently donating designs services and rentals to causes close to his heart.
A proud LatinX business owner and advocate for diversity and inclusion, Riccardo continues to champion equity in the events industry while generously supporting the arts and philanthropic causes throughout the Bay Area.
We are incredibly grateful for Riccardo’s continued partnership and creative spirit, and we can’t wait to see the extraordinary vision he’ll bring to Opera Ball 2025.
Take a look below at just a few of the breathtaking Opera Ball moments Riccardo has brought to life over the years.
McCalls Catering & Events
From the first sparkling glass of champagne to the final plated dessert, McCalls Catering & Events is the creative culinary powerhouse behind every unforgettable Opera Ball dining experience. For over 45 years, McCalls has been a cornerstone of San Francisco’s cultural and social fabric, setting the gold standard for excellence in hospitality, food artistry, and flawless catering execution.
As the Bay Area’s preeminent caterer, McCalls has brought hospitality, innovation, and insight to thousands of events, large and small. Whether executing civic galas, weddings, or corporate gatherings, they keep guests at the forefront—crafting thoughtful, refined menus, perfecting every detail, and delivering exceptional service at every turn.
Their client list speaks volumes: San Francisco Symphony, SFMoMA, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and leading global brands such as Facebook, Oracle, Google, and the San Francisco Giants, to name a few. With McCalls, each event is more than a meal—it’s a culinary experience crafted with care, artistry, and precision. From lavish gala dinners to intimate celebrations, McCalls brings thoughtful innovation to menu development, flawless execution in service, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
This year’s Opera Ball menu promises to be no exception—an extraordinary culinary experience to complement an extraordinary evening.
To Riccardo and the entire McCalls team—thank you for your creativity, passion, and enduring partnership. You make the magic possible!
Take a look below at just a few of the unforgettable Opera Ball moments made even more special by McCalls’ exquisite culinary touch.
