News & Events

  1. Holiday Shopping Safety Tips from Bently Holdings

    By: Doug Hahn

    With the shopping season in full swing here in San Francisco, we’d like to share some holiday safety tips with you. Areas like our own Union Square provide some of our city’s most fabulous shops — but amidst all the holiday bustle, distracted shoppers can prove easy prey for pickpockets and other thieves. Here are some tips to ensure that you and your loved ones stay safe this shopping season.

  2. The Bently Reserve Receives National LEED Silver Certification: A Grand San Francisco Building Now Recognized as One of the Country’s Greenest

    By: Doug Hahn

    The historic Bently Reserve, formerly the San Francisco US Federal Reserve Bank, has received silver certification in the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System for Core and Shell Development (LEED Silver CS). Located in the heart of the financial district, the Bently Reserve is known as one of the City’s premier special event venues, and as one of the area’s most cherished buildings. This certification makes the Bently Reserve San Francisco’s first LEED Silver certified special event and conference center, as well as one of the City’s greenest commercial spaces — a landmark achievement for both the owner, Bently Holdings, and the city of San Francisco.

  3. Green Carpooling & Commuting Tips for the BART Strike

    By: Byron Taylor

    With the BART STRIKE looming this coming work week, we thought we’d share some of our tips on carpooling and green travel with you once again. Even if you drive, remember that our highways and roads will be jam packed with traffic. Consider the greener option of carpooling: if enough of us do it, it’ll save everyone valuable time. Remember too that AC Transit and the SFMTA will still be in operation – just leave for work at least an hour early, and bring your patience with you, as these services are likely to be overcrowded.

  4. A Common Green – San Francisco’s First Annual Conservation Consortium at the Reserve

    By: Doug Hahn

    The LEED certified Orchard Hotels and the Bently Reserve have partnered to create an unprecedented eco-event: they will gather San Francisco’s green leaders under one roof for a special night of collaboration and creation. Bay Area nonprofits, foundations, and businesses will have a unique opportunity to connect face-to-face during this lively and inspiring evening.

    A first of its kind for San Francisco, A Common Green will give eco-friendly organizations the chance to network, communicate, and coordinate their efforts under one green roof. The possibilities for new partnerships, collaborations, and initiatives are endless — but the goal for a greener future is common to all. San Francisco’s most influential energy leaders, nonprofits, organizations, and entrepreneurs will be in attending this sustainable soiree.

  5. The Cove Movie Opening Night & After Party

    By: Doug Hahn

    This Friday, August 7th, The Cove Movie will be opening nationwide. You’re invited to to see this outstanding documentary at the Landmark Embarcadero Theater, and attend a special after party at the Aventine.
    Billed as “an intelligent action/adventure/Ocean’s-Eleven-like horror film wrapped around a tale of redemption and ultimate revenge,” The Cove is a documentary that follows [...]

  6. The Belvedere Place Brokers’ Open

    By: Doug Hahn

    Bently Holdings will be hosting an exclusive showcase of Belvedere Place on May 14th, from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. on the building’s 3rd floor– brokers will enjoy drinks and hors devours, and find out why this is Marin’s most innovative place to do business in Marin.

    Belvedere Place is over 100,000 square feet of the finest office space in all of Marin, featuring views of Mount Tamalpais and the surrounding hills. Awarded the Energy Star Building rating in 2007, this building is making the transition to 100% solar power.

  7. Christopher and Amber Marie Bently Host a Discussion with the Coral Reef Alliance

    By: Doug Hahn

    Last night the Christopher and Amber Marie Bently hosted an informative function for the Coral Reef Alliance.

    Brian Huse, executive director of the Coral Reef Alliance, and Rick MacPherson, director of conservation programs, discussed the state of coral reefs and why they’re invaluable to our planet.

    Coral reefs provide local coastline communities with natural shelter from storm damage, and bolster local economies through tourism. When not abused, they’re an important source of food, both locally and abroad.

  8. Seafood Watch: Consumers Can Save Our Oceans

    By: Doug Hahn

    Overfishing, or the practice of catching fish faster then they can reproduce, is a threat to our world’s largest ecosystem. This has an impact on the delicate balance of coastal wetlands and sea floor – damage that takes centuries to repair. Over-harvesting this natural resource also has an impact on our economy, because species of fish can become so low that fishermen can’t make a living anymore – this has already happened to the centuries-old Cod fisheries off the coast of New England.

  9. Who Let The Dogs Out?

    By: Byron Taylor

    If we have learned nothing else from Pixar and Disney about lost dogs, (I say dogs because let’s face it, cats are never truly lost), it is that every time a precocious pooch leaps off a stoop and over a white picket fence, they almost always get involved in a heartwarming adventure that will end [...]

  10. The Cove

    By: Doug Hahn

    Billed as “an intelligent action/adventure/Ocean’s-Eleven-like horror film wrapped around a tale of redemption and ultimate revenge,” The Cove is a documentary that follows an elite reconnaissance team to the picturesque fishing village of Taiji, Japan.

    It is here the world’s largest annual dolphin kill takes place in a hidden bay that is watched over by armed guards and obscured behind blue tarpaulins. What occurs beyond the patrols and scrims is one of Japan’s darkest secrets: pods of dolphins are herded into the bay, where they are trapped behind a wall of nets and butchered by whalers with spears and knives.

  11. Feeling Blue About Going Green?

    By: Byron Taylor

    Hesitant to go green? Think it’s too involved, too expensive, or too complicated? Want to start recycling but don’t know where to begin? Or maybe you’re feeling the pressure from peers and loved ones who give you the evil eye every time you throw a can of soda in the garbage along with the coffee grinds? Well, rest easy. Going green does not have to mean wearing hemp clothing or living off the grid on solar power and home grown vegetables. It can be something as simple as bringing your own bag to your local grocer, or as technical as reclaiming shower water for use in your toilet. In this series, several green alternatives are applied to everyday living with the ultimate aim of giving good old Mother Earth the break she finally deserves.

  12. Gorgeous and Green’s 4th Annual Global Green Benefit at the Bently Reserve

    By: Doug Hahn

    Kate Bosworth, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Elliott Yamin, Sebastian Siegel, Darren Moore and hundreds of Global Green supporters gathered at the soon-to-be- LEED certified Bently Reserve on December 2nd for the fourth annual San Francisco Global Green Benefit and fashion show.
    The event focused on green solutions that can help the world’s economy and energy crisis. Proceeds [...]

  13. Bently Reserve at the Hall of Flowers

    By: Doug Hahn

    The Golden Gate Park’s Conservatory of Flowers has created a unique holiday experience that features San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, and the Bently Reserve is a part of it. Miniature trains will wind through a landscape of dwarf plants clustered around the city’s most prominent landmarks in this exhibit. The trains will pass ten replicas [...]

  14. TNDC Celebrity Pool Toss 2008

    By: Doug Hahn

    Annual supporters of the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development’s annual Celebrity Pool Toss, Christopher and Amber Marie escaped this year without taking the plunge… unlike last year [link]. Instead, they participated as MC’s for this extraordinary event to announce their good friend Glenn McCoy, director of the San Francisco Ballet who made a splash to help support this much needed cause.

  15. ForestEthics and 100 Million Trees

    By: Doug Hahn

    As supporters of the fight against global warming, Christopher and Amber Marie Bently are delighted to have supported ForestEthics’ 100 million Trees Party on September 30th. The event was a fundraiser to support the Do Not Mail Campaign, which aims to stop unwanted junk mail from reaching American mailboxes.
    Although many of us understand the harmful [...]

  16. Dress for Success at the Bently Reserve

    By: Doug Hahn

    Amber Marie & Christopher Bently were delighted to host the third annual Dress for Success gala at the Bently Reserve.
    Dress for Success is an organization dedicated to raising funds to “promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in [...]

  17. PAWS and Petchitecture

    By: Doug Hahn

    Petchitecture, or the art of creating habitats for pets, has gone green this year – the annual Petchitecture event by PAWS features seventeen wonderful habitats that are constructed from 100% recycled and sustainable materials. Designs will range from”CAT-TANK-ER-OUS,” a cat house with a built in aquarium, to “Teagan’s Terranium,” a sustainable turtle hut.

    On April 24th, guests at the Westin St. Francis can bid in silent and live auctions for a variety of human and pet related items to raise money for PAWS’ services. The event also features photo-ops hosted by top professional animal photographers, hosted cocktails and fabulous food, and even Doggie Day Care and Bow Wow Bar with doggie treats on silver trays!

  18. Global Green

    By: Christopher Bently

    Bently Holdings is a long time supporter of Global Green, the pioneering national organization focused on curbing Global Warming, eliminating weapons of mass destruction and providing clean, safe drinking water for those who lack it. More recently Global Green has engaged in the largest green rebuilding effort in New Orleans using all sustainable building materials [...]

  19. Coral Reef Alliance

    By: Christopher Bently

    The Coral Reef Alliance is a non profit organization based in San Francisco dedicated to the protection of coral reefs throughout the world. By integrating responsible sustainable tourism, community partnerships and ecosystem management, Coral is fighting for the survival of more than 50% of the worlds coral reefs now in danger of complete destruction. The [...]

  20. PAWS

    By: Christopher Bently

    Long time supporters of PAWS Christopher and Amber Marie Bently were very proud to donate use of the Bently Reserve and host the 20 year anniversary celebration of the organization. PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) helps people who suffer from a disability, sickness or advanced age keep their animals by giving the support animals need [...]

  21. TNDC Pool Toss

    By: Christopher Bently

    For the second year Bently Holdings has supported the TNDC (Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation). This year the Bently’s themselves participated by getting set to get wet. After a dramatic entrance, Christopher and Amber Marie were tossed and dove into the pool to help raise over $280,000.00 for children’s programs and housing efforts benefiting families in [...]

  22. Leap

    By: Christopher Bently

    Leap is an organization that teaches and enforces the importance of art and creativity to kids. Being artists themselves, the Bently’s both know the value of encouraging creativity when people are young. Christopher and Amber have long supported Leap and this year had the honor and fun of being judges for Leaps largest fund raising [...]

  23. Point Reyes Bird Observatory

    By: Christopher Bently

    Bently Holdings has long been a strong supporter of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory in support of their efforts to study and preserve the animals in and around the Farallon islands. The Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Founded in 1965, is dedicated to conserving birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through innovative scientific research and outreach. Many [...]

  24. ROAR and Shambala

    By: Christopher Bently

    September 2007 saw the launch of Amber Marie Bently jewelry on Union Square. The best part of the sold out event was that all proceeds and sales went to benefit the ROAR foundation and the Shambala preserve. Good friend Tippi Hedren came to support Amber and educate people on what Tippi does with her ROAR [...]

  25. Friends of the Urban Forest

    By: Christopher Bently

    Friends of the Urban Forest , a San Francisco based nonprofit committed to the belief that trees are a critical element of a livable urban environment. In 25 years Friends of the Urban Forest has planted over 40 thousand trees. We are honored to to have a partnership with such a worthy organization and happy [...]

  26. Petchitecture!

    By: Christopher Bently

    Bently Holdings has a dog friendly office, some days we have 5 or 6 dogs in and it has been tagged “the puppy pound”. Christopher and Amber Marie Bently love animals so they donate annually to San Francisco’s Petchitecture. Together with architectural firm Richard Pollack and Associates in 2006 and Nichols Booth Architects in 2007, [...]

  27. Sunset Youth Services

    By: Christopher Bently

    Bently Holdings stepped up their contribution for the second year and donated use of the Bently Reserve in support of a benefit for Sunset Youth Services. The second annual event for Sunset Youth reached it’s full potential at the Reserve raising more than $120,000.00 to fund programs and facilities for the Sunset districts youth in [...]

  28. California College of the Arts

    By: Christopher Bently

    Bently Holdings gave support to the California College of the Arts and the Threads Fashion Show at the Fort Mason center April 25th 2006. the event was the centerpiece of a yearlong celebration of the college’s 100th anniversary. The evening included a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, and Threads Fashion Show, featuring outstanding collections by CCA’s [...]

  29. Bently Reserve newly leased!

    By: Brady J. Frey

    Bently Holdings has placed it’s first tenants in the Bently Reserve. We took our time and discretion finding perfect fits for our building. Bently Holdings is proud to host businesses that are not only forward thinking but have an air of sophistication able to respect and appreciate the beautiful history of the Bently Reserve. All [...]

  30. Environment California

    By: Christopher Bently

    Do you want clean air, clean water and open spaces. Of course you do but these days it takes tough-minded advocacy to win concrete results for our environment, especially when powerful interests or profound ignorance stand in the way of environmental progress. Environment California focus’s exclusively on protecting California’s air, water and open spaces. They [...]

  31. A Fertile Hope

    By: Christopher Bently

    Fertile Hope hosted A Magical Night at The Old Federal Reserve Banking Hall (Bently Reserve LP) on October 7, 2005. Bently Reserve LP provided the facility to Fertile Hope for this meaningful, fun filled event that  helped raise funding for the organization. Fertile Hope is a nonprofit dedicated to helping cancer patients faced with infertility. [...]

  32. World Wildlife Foundation

    By: Christopher Bently

    In September of 2001 while still looking for a tenant, the Bently’s donated use of the retail space at 240 Stockton and Maiden Lane to the World Wildlife Foundation. Together with the WWF Bently Holdings held an event to raise the consciences of endangered species throughout the world. It is hard to imagine that people [...]