tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14026019051655481702024-02-20T19:56:45.146-08:00Became TodayColleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-21442592828163012662011-05-02T23:10:00.000-07:002012-11-20T02:15:06.852-08:00Flying Pigs and Atelier Crenn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSDF8wujK48asI_NZa5gdyrSpZP3nfgmK6RLHgKGjyjEZUO_tsxo_iQ1QWVZJ5_3n_IdDj3OOoRssstHom7dQhCKbSNsEYld5wg_r_RChBE0s5jWKLi_rd9H3KktNV0gtgLYvVTPkIFI/s1600/Turning-the-Tables-Atelier-Crenn-s-Dominique-Crenn-mdn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSDF8wujK48asI_NZa5gdyrSpZP3nfgmK6RLHgKGjyjEZUO_tsxo_iQ1QWVZJ5_3n_IdDj3OOoRssstHom7dQhCKbSNsEYld5wg_r_RChBE0s5jWKLi_rd9H3KktNV0gtgLYvVTPkIFI/s320/Turning-the-Tables-Atelier-Crenn-s-Dominique-Crenn-mdn.jpg" width="219" /></a>I read with interest <a href="http://www.elle.com/">Elle Magazine's</a> recent profile of chef Dominique Crenn's new San Francisco restaurant <a href="http://ateliercrenn.com/">Atelier Crenn</a>. Although the restaurant seems a bit chi-chi for my tastes (as Crenn says, “You can’t come by for a glass of wine or a salad, it’s an experience") the ambition is inspiring. My favorite bit from the interview:<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“I wish everyone <span style="font-size: large;">could have the luxury of realizing their dreams, if only for a short time,”</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Crenn says. She has a tattoo on her right forearm of a girl gazing up at a small, perennially fluttering winged pig, “When pigs fly,” says Crenn, explaining the image, “it’s all possible.”</span></span></div>
Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-76671965825714704742011-03-02T17:48:00.000-08:002011-05-02T23:11:34.186-07:00Elinor Diamond of Eel & Ermine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE57DhyphenhyphenS0APC_RBeVoM6F2yA3RKt8Roo-OlK9IUoJ3uSLQIDFMBsH8uhoaQ7eTFzXyAcr1mM3BTxPdPAoilY-uEPlXuGL4PWKTl0ckXwPA37qmON0F5rDyWC3RNS6XtI5niUZfIEkK4ug/s800/elinorheadshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE57DhyphenhyphenS0APC_RBeVoM6F2yA3RKt8Roo-OlK9IUoJ3uSLQIDFMBsH8uhoaQ7eTFzXyAcr1mM3BTxPdPAoilY-uEPlXuGL4PWKTl0ckXwPA37qmON0F5rDyWC3RNS6XtI5niUZfIEkK4ug/s200/elinorheadshot.png" width="170" /></a></div><a href="http://www.eelandermine.com/">Eel & Ermine</a> is a great little shop in Laurel Heights that sells handmade, custom tailored clothing at amazingly reasonable prices. The year-old boutique is run by co-owners Evelyne Aikman and Elinor Diamond, two friends who decided to create the kind of store they would actually <i>enjoy</i> visiting. <a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The result is a highly personal yet totally comfortable shopping experience, complete with freshly baked snacks, mimosas, great music, and even dog treats for customers' furry shopping companions. <br />
<br />
Personally, I've been gushing about Eel & Ermine to just about everyone I know since I discovered it last year, and I'm so happy that Elinor took the time this past weekend to answer a few questions for Became Today. But I do have to issue one caveat emptor: Once you get a stylish, simple, perfectly-tailored-to-your-body dress for less than $100 at Eel & Ermine, you may never be able to set foot in a Banana Republic again. <br />
<br />
Some of my favorite highlights of this 3-minute video:<br />
<ul><li>How two women who typically "hate shopping" ended up running a clothing boutique</li>
<li>How Eel & Ermine made the transition from Etsy to brick-and-mortar in a matter of weeks</li>
<li>How a bit of healthy jealousy inspired these two art school alums to try their hand at entrepreneurship: "If <i>they</i> can run a business, then <i>we</i> can run a business!" </li>
</ul>Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=20576454&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=858585&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=20576454&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=858585&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. A very special thank-you to my Mom and sister for the best birthday present ever: An Eel & Ermine gift certificate! And also a thank-you to B, who took over filming duties while I was busy spending said gift certificate. </span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-85128170130882090502011-01-19T16:12:00.000-08:002011-03-02T17:42:37.276-08:00Dee Harley of Harley Farms Goat Dairy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_y8FZARafqbE_d0tcjemGXru3aS7GuG2j459SRIRD0Wsdv0AdyZDYc4LfBIFZSAv_cAy2MVrNacI_ytsYyaxoOci-p84NaHvryZxIPv-EaWCOy8boQQ7Mp3G3pAeh1UjtwCG1aoWtLA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-19+at+3.49.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_y8FZARafqbE_d0tcjemGXru3aS7GuG2j459SRIRD0Wsdv0AdyZDYc4LfBIFZSAv_cAy2MVrNacI_ytsYyaxoOci-p84NaHvryZxIPv-EaWCOy8boQQ7Mp3G3pAeh1UjtwCG1aoWtLA/s200/Screen+shot+2011-01-19+at+3.49.28+PM.png" width="138" /></a></div>A visit to <a href="http://www.harleyfarms.com/">Harley Farms Goat Dairy</a> in Pescadero is one of my most favorite day trips to take from San Francisco. Just an hour's drive south of the city, down a gorgeous oceanfront stretch of Highway 1, the farm offers scheduled dairy <a href="http://www.harleyfarms.com/tours.php">tours</a>, cheesemaking classes, and seasonal farm <a href="http://www.harleyfarms.com/dinners.php">dinners</a>. In addition, drop-in visitors are welcome daily to browse the farm's fantastic <a href="http://www.harleyfarms.com/harley_store.php?cat=Cheese%20Shop&sort=">shop</a>, sample and buy its award-winning <a href="http://www.harleyfarms.com/cheese.php">cheeses</a>, and even cuddle a goat or two. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
With early Spring just around the corner, we're approaching an ideal time to visit Harley Farms. During the birthing season in February and March, the farm is filled to the brim with dozens of adorable newborn goats.<br />
<br />
One morning last March I interviewed the farm's very busy founder, Dee Harley, for Became Today. Despite having just pulled an all-nighter attending to baby goat births, Dee was gracious, energetic, and practically glowing-- the love she has for her work is palpable, and incredibly inspiring. And the cute footage we captured of the newborn goats speaks for itself.<br />
<br />
Mark your calendars, because according to Dee's <a href="http://www.harleyfarms.com/news.php">blog</a>, birthing season 2011 is set to start again in just three weeks! Once birthing starts, Harley Farms posts a daily baby goat count on its website, so it's very easy to plan a visit with optimal amounts of baby goat time.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="338" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18975256?color=9CCF92" width="601"></iframe>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-61716133564495884462010-09-21T11:45:00.000-07:002020-02-02T19:20:16.160-08:00The Beach Chalet: A labor of love and "literal" legwork<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm29HprXjO3TdqUdNy5RXSD7TmS0fP5Yhn19typqdd1Mv7MgzodDr8F6y0413k26QPMJ3sqUj8ompwQLfE-4M2MOQLw16k2zn-C7YDfaLu8PORpg7GNjTMeoZlG8qB2kL3LZINxk0-_1k/s1600/Beach_Chalet_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm29HprXjO3TdqUdNy5RXSD7TmS0fP5Yhn19typqdd1Mv7MgzodDr8F6y0413k26QPMJ3sqUj8ompwQLfE-4M2MOQLw16k2zn-C7YDfaLu8PORpg7GNjTMeoZlG8qB2kL3LZINxk0-_1k/s1600/Beach_Chalet_0.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>Don't be fooled by the great location: San Francisco's adjoining restaurant/brewpubs <a href="http://beachchalet.com/aboutus/index.php?page=parkchalet">Park Chalet</a> and <a href="http://www.beachchalet.com/">Beach Chalet</a> are definitely not the tourist traps we've come to expect from oceanfront restaurants. As I found out with a recent visit, the Chalets attract a loyal following of locals with distinctive beers and tasty food (and great weeknight specials.)<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The genuine, laid-back vibe seems to have started at the top: The Chalets are run by a down-to-earth husband and wife team who founded the business with a leap of faith in 1997, when they were in their mid-20's. <a href="http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/bay-area-power-couples-lara-and-gar-truppelli-beach-chalet">7x7 Magazine</a> recently <a href="http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/bay-area-power-couples-lara-and-gar-truppelli-beach-chalet">sat down</a> with Lara Truppelli to talk about running a business with her husband. I've excerpted a few of my favorite bits below. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"<b>We met in 1988 in San Luis Obispo</b> while both working at Woodstock’s Pizza.... It was a kind of hippie-family-party place to work….super fun."<br />
<br />
"<b>Gar was in his last semester at SF State </b>and I had recently graduated when the Beach Chalet building came up for lease. We lived in the Sunset and Gar had his eye on the site as<i> the</i> spot for his dream restaurant. We were also home brewing so we decided a brewpub would be the perfect type of operation for the Beach Chalet."<br />
<br />
"I was 25 and Gar was 24 when we started to develop the project. When the Beach Chalet opened we were 28 and 27.... <b>In hindsight, it was a total long shot given our age and lack of a track record, </b>but that’s often where many great businesses begin: with a dream and a whole lot of hard work."<br />
<br />
"...Since I had just graduated and was a new mom, <b>I did a bunch of leg work, literally</b>- this was before the web, so our market research included my walking on the beach and stopping surfers to check in on what they’d eat after a good session or what their favorite beer styles were."<br />
<br />
"<b>We do talk about business almost constantly.</b> I think we have all come to terms with that and instead of resisting it." </blockquote>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-76771453632004859712010-09-17T11:15:00.000-07:002012-11-20T02:19:15.689-08:00Stella & Dot's Jessica Herrin on going beyond "mile two"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8HinbKP2CgZuJNTKXMqwNFdNLeypeoHo3uI_ROrqDeT8O0axtt4gSEbji1eVK-Dt3Xw1jPwisP2gFHDo0uQ-dGl1z5PEpWdcpY2YlCmVxy19yyxK2dTL-vfj-VUTHK8d_KAmL45aa3g/s1600/jessica_bio-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8HinbKP2CgZuJNTKXMqwNFdNLeypeoHo3uI_ROrqDeT8O0axtt4gSEbji1eVK-Dt3Xw1jPwisP2gFHDo0uQ-dGl1z5PEpWdcpY2YlCmVxy19yyxK2dTL-vfj-VUTHK8d_KAmL45aa3g/s1600/jessica_bio-1.jpg" /></a></div>
Burlingame-based custom jewelry company <a href="http://www.stelladot.com/">Stella & Dot</a> recently nabbed the No. 67 spot on <a href="http://www.inc.com/">Inc. Magazine's</a> annual <a href="http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2010/index.html">list</a> of the top 500 quickly-growing companies. I especially loved Inc.'s accompanying <a href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100901/balancing-a-start-up-and-a-baby.html">interview</a> with Jessica DiLullo Herrin, Stella & Dot's founder and CEO. I had a feeling that she was a very interesting person and decided to search around a bit for more info on her.
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The next <a href="http://home.stelladot.com/luxejewels/images/thebuzz/covers/lg/2010jan-gentry.jpg">piece</a> I found about Ms. Herrin noted that she recently signed up for a 13.1-mile half-marathon, but ended up running the whole 26.2 miles "when she decided to 'go for it' halfway through." Wow.<br />
<br />
Turns out that wasn't Herrin's first "go for it" moment: Her first breakout business success was with <a href="http://weddingchannel.com/">WeddingChannel.com</a>, which she dropped out of Stanford Business School to establish with a friend at the age of 24. Now 37 and married with two young daughters, Herrin has great perspective on what it takes to make a business work, either as a single person or with a family.<br />
<br />
Below I've cobbled together some of my favorite insights from various interviews with Jessica Herrin. Enjoy!<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="ArticleText" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "Most 'overnight' success stories take years. Starting a business is a marathon, not a sprint. I learned this through experience. <b>Most people fail because they stop at mile two.</b> Don’t listen to the voices saying it won’t work. It will, as long as you keep evaluating, improving and applying true effort.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">" </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- November 2009 <a href="http://www.workingmother.com/web?service=direct/1/ViewArticlePage/dlinkFullArticle&sp=S2829&sp=90">interview</a> with Working Mother</span> </div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<b> </b>"I think entrepreneurship is ultimately persistence , <b>and the willingness to seem crazy for a long time.</b>"<b> </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">- April 2010 Forbes.com <a href="http://video.forbes.com/fvn/entrepreneur/stella-and-dot-founder-jessica-herrin">video interview</a></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
"The first thought is rarely the one that ends up succeeding. It's just getting up in the morning every day and chasing what it is in your gut, when you know there's something there. ...<b>You can't wait for something to be perfect to run with it.</b> You have to iterate; you have to do it, and build. Just doing <i>something</i> is better than doing nothing." <span style="font-size: x-small;">-Forbes.com <a href="http://video.forbes.com/fvn/entrepreneur/stella-and-dot-founder-jessica-herrin">video interview</a></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I brought my second daughter on my hip back to the office when she was 1 week old, because by then I had it down. And people would say to me, 'That's so hard-core to bring your daughter to work when she's a week old.' </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But to me, it was hard-core to stay home</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b>with an infant and a toddler.</b> What's easy is having a nanny and bringing one of your babies to work."</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> -- from the Inc. 500 article</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">“See the opportunity, not the obstacles.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">You shouldn’t be naïve, but <b>focusing on the hurdles will only exhaust you</b>, not compel you to do what seems impossible. Oftentimes, when you cast away disbelief, you can succeed because you didn’t focus on why you should fail.”</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">-2000 magazine <a href="http://www.richardsonwriting.com/uploads/WeddingChannel.doc">interview</a> with Vanessa Richardson</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Everybody's seeking that elusive balance. </b>As I became a mom, I decided I wanted to be a 'mom working,' not a 'working mom.' The mom part comes first. I couldn't be up to my crazy old antics like I was in the days of WeddingChannel, when I worked all hours."</span> --Fox Business TV <a href="http://home.stelladot.com/luxejewels/press/archive#bp">interview</a> on building Stella & Dot</span></span></blockquote>
Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-66826697313783100752010-07-13T10:48:00.000-07:002010-09-17T11:12:57.429-07:00Covet Boutique's Adrienne Wiley nominated for Woman Entrepreneur of the Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mv_krvRILfv9LPDbRDZ0hUfeYZTK-j_3ujfqvEDLBaNEXv47DZ6NQZCM8rQhulh2dOupSZbqzY6QsIcoGxWVLmzyKzqJ42NBE4e4O_BfwaRdQog9wqvE-uPbBKv8mlImVEzQ2pjwPY0/s320/Picture+2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="128" /></div>If you liked my <a href="http://www.becametoday.com/2010/02/adrienne-wiley-of-covet-boutique.html">interview</a> with <a href="http://www.covetsf.com/aboutcovet.html">Covet Boutique</a>'s Adrienne Wiley, you should head on over to the Women's Initiative <a href="http://www.womensinitiative.org/emails/wey_sf_nominees.html">website</a>, where she's recently been nominated for the <a href="http://www.womensinitiative.org/emails/WEY_Nominations.html#2010_Awards">2010 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award</a>!<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
You can cast your vote for Adrienne or one of the 100 or so other ladies who've been nominated. It's great just to scroll through and see the names of all the women in San Francisco who run their own companies.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-12325813400489200552010-03-18T23:42:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:49:05.249-07:00Sally and Jessica of Philanthropist, Part 2: Head-to-Toes and Personal Faves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2A-nKDema_jAkuvj4ssO3hVfoTdH9cwUmAU3HxxgA39t4_LIi2HVAPTC7-3DtAxEcMir3UJLQyfkdHYwfyb-4oecomQwvY3OTS1htij4FvSyYZk9BvKxe0LTcfQdknTcCznZehCCxh8/s200/mission.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="117" /></div>Sally Fowler and Jessica Moment of <a href="http://www.philanthropistboutique.com/">Philanthropist Boutique</a> aren't just amazing businesswomen-- they're also fun, down to earth, and impeccably dressed.<br />
<br />
After our <a href="http://www.becametoday.com/2010/03/jessica-and-sally-of-philanthropist.html">main interview</a>, I pulled each aside for a quick outfit head-to-toe, and some personal questions about San Francisco, lifestyle and career.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>Highlights from Jessica's video:</b><br />
<ul><li>How she made the shift from being a full-time law student to a fashion/philanthropy entrepreneur-- in less than a year!</li>
<li>Jessica's favorite S.F. restaurants-- from a posh eatery in Presidio Heights to a tiny Thai food gem in the Outer Richmond</li>
<li>The business advice she's glad she didn't take</li>
<li> Her top tip for surviving New York Fashion Week</li>
</ul><br />
<b>Highlights from Sally's video:</b><br />
<ul><li>Sally's personal style icon</li>
<li>The spot in Tiburon where she takes all her out-of-town visitors</li>
<li>Her favorite San Francisco wine bars</li>
<li>The three things that are always in her purse</li>
</ul><br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10278048&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10278048&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10278149&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10278149&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-24867371329283111522010-03-15T12:54:00.000-07:002010-03-18T23:44:50.558-07:00Jessica and Sally of Philanthropist Boutique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkghDd3TRpHAFZ1PXSUd63BecaHwBZ5gFWne9DnpPR5-4z2mSBu29iD-IsAlPUuxwaaDE06Apklbz6nIOfWvkFzjn5AIxfCxYTHmkF-xev50-zlqCjADbI83_Hv4pZRYxi0NsVHIVa8M/s200/Philscreenshot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="200" /></div>Last month I met with Jessica Moment and Sally Fowler, the co-owners of <a href="http://www.philanthropistboutique.com/">Philanthropist</a>, a gorgeous designer boutique in Presidio Heights. Philanthropist donates 100% of its profits-- yes, that's everything the shop makes beyond its operating costs-- to charities in the San Francisco Bay Area. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Philanthropist's unique business model has garnered lots of <a href="http://www.philanthropistboutique.com/press">press attention</a> since the shop opened in 2008, with mentions in The New York Times, In Style, Vanity Fair, and Lucky, to name a few. So it was a big honor that Jessica and Sally agreed to sit down with Became Today one evening.<br />
<br />
Philanthropist has been a major success, despite the initial skepticism of some people in the retail community. "There were a couple [people] that said, 'People don't really care about giving back. They just want great clothes,'" Jessica said. "But we really have found that our clients really care about giving back, too. If they are going to buy the same dress here, or at some department store, they're definitely going to choose here, because their money is going to somewhere that they really feel good about."<br />
<br />
Jessica, Sally, and the shop made for such great footage that I have a few videos I'll be posting from my evening there. Some highlights from the first video:<br />
<ul><li>How a routine trip to the grocery store spurred Jessica's "A-ha" moment that led to Philanthropist</li>
<li>The transition from working at a corporate retailer to owning an independent boutique<br />
</li>
<li>Jessica and Sally's top advice for aspiring entrepreneurs<br />
</li>
<li>How Philanthropist designed a shop that "makes you feel beautiful"-- champagne and cupcakes are involved!</li>
</ul><br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10183695&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10183695&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-67971745306533186132010-02-06T10:02:00.000-08:002010-03-15T12:29:33.556-07:00Adrienne Wiley of Covet Boutique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mv_krvRILfv9LPDbRDZ0hUfeYZTK-j_3ujfqvEDLBaNEXv47DZ6NQZCM8rQhulh2dOupSZbqzY6QsIcoGxWVLmzyKzqJ42NBE4e4O_BfwaRdQog9wqvE-uPbBKv8mlImVEzQ2pjwPY0/s320/Picture+2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="128" /></div>I had *so* much fun talking with Adrienne Wiley last weekend, and I'm really excited to share these videos with you. Adrienne is the co-owner of <a href="http://www.covetsf.com/">Covet Boutique</a>, a lovely shop in the Inner Richmond that sells locally handcrafted jewelry and other accessories.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Adrienne and her business partner Liza Anongchanya took a leap by opening their shop in June 2009, with the recession in full bloom. But their gamble has paid off, and then some-- Adrienne and Liza are set to open a second Covet location in Hayes Valley this month!<br />
<br />
I've divided our interview into two ~5 minute long videos: <b>On Covet Boutique</b> and <b>On Life</b>.<br />
<br />
<b>Highlights from video one: </b><br />
<ul><li>What it's like to turn a friendship into a business partnership</li>
<li>Adrienne's path from selling jewelry out of her cubicle to owning two stores</li>
<li>Covet's unique pricing philosophy</li>
</ul><b>Highlights from video two:</b><br />
<ul><li>How Adrienne "worked up the courage" (or didn't!) to leave her corporate job</li>
<li>How she learned the ropes in a surprisingly unfriendly industry</li>
<li>Her advice to other would-be creative entrepreneurs</li>
</ul>Enjoy! <br />
<br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9223799&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9223799&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9225359&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9225359&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-63266760293455651272010-02-06T09:00:00.000-08:002010-07-13T10:51:21.623-07:00Sunhee Moon on the perfect SF outfit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cheeryobservations.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/sunhee-moon-dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cheeryobservations.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/sunhee-moon-dress.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>I've always admired the clean, classic clothes made by <a href="http://www.sunheemoon.com/">Sunhee Moon</a>, the designer who owns two boutiques in the Mission and Pacific Heights. But I only recently learned about her total commitment to San Francisco.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Turns out, all of Sunhee Moon's clothes are made in small batches here in the Bay Area, primarily out of American-made fabrics (which aren't easy to find nowadays.) That's especially remarkable considering that almost all of her clothes are <a href="http://www.sunheemoon.com/dresses.html">well under</a> the $300 mark!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sanfranmag.com/">San Francisco Magazine</a> ran a great little <a href="http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/getting-a-leg-up">interview</a> with Moon about 2010's trends-- I've excerpted a couple of my favorite bits. I love her practical style advice, and the story of her home-grown talent.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"...Sunhee Moon can credit the creation of her eponymous clothing line to her 5-foot-1-inch height and her two older brothers. Growing up in Palo Alto, Moon had to alter her own clothes for length and—with a dart here and a nipped waist there—transform brotherly hand-me-downs into feminine fashion. Soon, with the help of her seamstress mother, she was designing entire garments from scratch. By 1996, Moon was selling her fitted daywear to Barneys in New York and Los Angeles, then in her own shops in the Mission district and Tokyo."</blockquote><blockquote><b><i>...</i>If you could select the perfect daytime uniform for the San Francisco woman, what would it be?</b> </blockquote><blockquote>"A black cigarette pant with loafers or a ballerina flat—the transportation system here is not great, so people walk a lot—a button-up shirt, and pieces for layering: a cardigan or crewneck sweater that you can wear as a scarf around your neck."</blockquote><blockquote><b>No jacket?</b> </blockquote><blockquote>"A sweater is much more versatile. You can roll it up, throw it in your bag, and wear it when you go out with friends after work."</blockquote>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-18247008598530080472010-01-31T23:37:00.000-08:002011-02-20T18:20:55.886-08:00Rosetta Costantino on bringing Calabria to California<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNGLu9xnlMttrYU63tWbFYVHJXHIXJAVDxMznCWxRukYZzRBsFcbIntlth1JbtE8HcuQGMMgH7FdODzKugSepwjfYwRkWJfiWtk2YYIS-gO03JuO5FD6UJ0kK9-D6hBTqmwnETtw1Yhg/s800/rosetta_portrait-285x426.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="127" /></div>I was lucky to land a spot in one of the frequently sold-out <a href="http://www.cookingwithrosetta.com/">Cooking with Rosetta</a> classes in Emeryville last weekend-- and between all the slicing and dicing, Rosetta Costantino agreed to answer a few questions for Became Today. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Rosetta has a palpable passion for what she does, so it was really fantastic to hear a bit about the path that's brought her here.<br />
<br />
Although for many years her primary focus was elsewhere-- she earned a degree in chemical engineering and enjoyed a successful career in Silicon Valley-- cooking has always been a big part of Rosetta's life. "My mom and grandmother always allowed me in the kitchen," she said. "I remember being like 4 or 5 years old, and I couldn't even really reach, but they'd tell me, 'Well, you can put in the garlic, you can put the basil in.' And I always loved it. It was never like a chore."<br />
<br />
It wasn't until 2001, when she walked away from corporate life to focus on raising her two children, that Rosetta thought about turning her lifelong passion into more than just a hobby.<br />
<br />
Rosetta held her first Italian cooking class in 2004-- mostly for fun, she says. But thanks to a glowing <a href="http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-09-22/food/17444866_1_peppers-hot-chiles-meyer-lemon">article</a> in the San Francisco Chronicle and rave word-of-mouth reviews, Cooking with Rosetta quickly became a huge success. Today, many of Rosetta's classes are sold out weeks in advance, and she has completed a cookbook, <i>My Calabria</i>, <a href="http://www.calabriafromscratch.com/?p=2387">slated for release</a> by publisher <a href="http://books.wwnorton.com/books/">W.W. Norton</a> in November 2010. <br />
<br />
"I thought, 'Oh, I'll just do a couple classes, initially.' And it sold out! And it kept on selling out. So I'm still at it."<br />
<br />
Rosetta moved to the Bay Area at the age of 14 from a small town in Calabria, Italy. Though she quickly became fluent in English and adjusted to many aspects of American culture, her family, who had always eaten mostly home-grown Mediterranean style meals, wasn't so keen on adopting the standard American diet.<br />
<br />
"When we came in 1974, it was shocking," she said. In terms of food, "the Bay Area didn't look anything like it does today. There was no <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acme_Bread_Company">Acme Bread</a>-- there was no good bread! There was no pasta from Italy, there were no Italian cheeses."<br />
<br />
Rosetta's parents did all they could to maintain their way of eating: Her father, who had been a vinter and cheese maker in Calabria, planted a vegetable garden at their new home with seeds he brought from Italy; her mother snuck her family's bread starter into the US in her purse after one of her trips back home.<br />
<br />
"If we had been willing to adapt, and eat Wonder Bread, you know, and put Thousand Island on our salads, then we would have been perfectly fine," she said with a laugh. "But we wanted to keep everything we had."<br />
<br />
Today, Rosetta sees her cookbook and classes as her own way of keeping her family's traditions alive. "When I stopped working, I really wanted to share the food I grew up with," she said. "A lot of people used to think that was peasant food, but it's amazing how it's all turned around. Now, people want to learn how to make their own bread, how to preserve things, how to grow their own vegetables, how to eat simple."<br />
<br />
"And that's what I grew up with. I think the timing is perfect."Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-11276433050519405252010-01-20T23:24:00.000-08:002010-02-06T13:01:31.178-08:00SFAppeal's Eve Batey on work, life and San Francisco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzzrN_ePyK8JYbPJtpkvURUbw6M8DN-lHZnGivsciZvPzkCxhktMsqA4L3R9busJCTlkLOH8UHhzipv_IRGtAISBJx633O5XxXxW7Wf2rEJjUeH5jybDoj3RpyaWmsKj6vaf-yBZ829o/s320/EveBateyBecameToday.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="202" /></div>Eve Batey is the editor and publisher of the <a href="http://sfappeal.com/">San Francisco Appeal</a>, the city's online newspaper. She's also an exceptionally engaging and interesting woman, and I was thrilled when she agreed to sit down with me for Became Today.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Although I promised Eve I just wanted to conduct a brief interview, we ended up talking for an hour about work, life, and the city-- we only stopped when we literally ran out of tape! <br />
<br />
I've whittled our interview down to its best bits, which are split between two different 10 minute videos: <b>On Work</b> and <b>On Life</b>. <br />
<br />
<b>On Work highlights:</b><br />
<ul><li>Her journey from working as an orthodontic chairside in Indiana to becoming one of San Francisco's most influential media figures</li>
<li>The worst career advice Eve's ever received</li>
<li>Which San Franciscans are the best to follow on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a></li>
</ul><b>On Life highlights:</b><br />
<ul><li>The city's best spot for coffee, cinnamon toast(!), and surfer-watching</li>
<li>Eve's New Year's resolution </li>
<li>Her favorite way to spend a Saturday </li>
</ul>Needless to say, Eve is an incredibly busy person, so it was fantastic to get so much of her time and insight. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8858271&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8858271&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="338" width="601"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8859028&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8859028&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=9CCF92&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="601" height="338"></embed></object>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-18816390523776149942010-01-20T23:23:00.000-08:002010-02-06T13:05:51.590-08:00Think global, shop local<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbp8CI2CvnoGMqlFP5tPaj7sltTbq63FnqiEvPwrLs4OruYwIdMV_1b18nBaQ2u3bKK_Be24c31DDuTNF2Cf3ksGnPID6Ps06-ZKoJu3IVf4GDhkZ6sYyQ4HqmRA-YpIHKsCvZXu-56g/s200/IMG_7823.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="187" /></div>Obviously, buying stuff isn't the best or only way to give back-- but if you're going to shop anyway, it's nice to do it as conscientiously as possible. And SF's businesses have really stepped up to the plate to provide lots of cool ways to do just that.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Last week after work I stopped into <a href="http://www.shotwellsf.com/">Shotwell</a>, a locally-owned clothing boutique downtown. Turns out they were holding a <a href="http://twitpic.com/yvkmf">one-night sale</a> with really great discounts, and sending all profits to a Port-au-Prince orphanage that was destroyed in the earthquake. I picked up two tops and helped pitch in a bit for the earthquake victims. Easy peasy.<br />
<br />
Then on Saturday, <a href="http://www.truesake.com/">True Sake</a>, the gorgeous sake shop in Hayes Valley, held a tasting to benefit the Haiti relief effort. I got to be one of the first people in the US to sample this year's batch of nama-sake and donated a bit to a larger cause. Win-win.<br />
<br />
Buying locally is a good cause in itself, so supporting the Haiti relief effort at the same time feels especially rewarding. There are still lots of similar local events slated for the days ahead-- <a href="http://sf.eater.com/archives/2010/01/14/how_sf_restaurants_are_helping_haiti_how_you_can_too.php">EaterSF</a> and <a href="http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2010/01/all_the_haiti_benefits_we_coul.php">SFWeekly</a> both have great lists of upcoming Haiti fundraisers and specials in San Francisco.<br />
<br />
We all want to do whatever we can to help the earthquake recovery effort. We all know about George Clooney's <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20337229,00.html">telethon</a>, the $10 donation <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5449712/haiti-text-message-donations-top-10-million">text messages</a>, and the <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7484242">option</a> to give money to the Red Cross at the Walgreen's checkout. But it's also worth taking a look at all the local ways to chip in.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-35004112814908081872010-01-20T23:22:00.000-08:002010-01-26T00:24:52.179-08:00"Please do not be cynical."<img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwzyX21Qm-G-_AmtV0Bu4DdUlupO-vvjFtuaBnWTXxgAi989lE9MtabnYXHY4smHxF0JBigMRmpG_oe0jH5rmZ1B1y04VbQvnqCvPwDx6pnLLVhUH1YyHorzs1LIbQuS1atd6g6OVb-w/s800/2239.news_lg_conan_logo.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="129" /><span style="font-size: small;">"All I ask is one thing,</span> and this is-- I’m asking this particularly of young people that watch.<br />
<br />
Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism; for the record, it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard, and you're kind, amazing things will happen. <br />
<br />
I’m telling you: Amazing things will happen. I’m telling you. It’s just true."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Conan O'Brian, during his final Tonight Show monologue</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Definitely not strictly within Became Today's purview, but it's so rare that genuine inspiration can be found in larger pop culture (and on network TV, no less) that I thought it warranted inclusion. </span> </span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-58888823374196341552010-01-20T23:21:00.000-08:002010-02-06T13:06:47.735-08:00"I always tried to be fabulous."<img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZwdeUNEHyGooKtOW0teJvfYEN7KadJiVPOgRdpuBcZ4q45nufWUuH5jJIt7ul_pbiQTzTJuqmHJ72xId63cKLba5mYQtQsEVx_WSv6amE1yJdKmVOQlD8fFuutsLuQ5-wwK7xveMVlA/s800/141772844_15d241c7e8.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="173" />I've heard stories about <a href="http://roshambofarms.com/">Roshambo</a>, a quirky Sonoma winery an hour north of San Francisco. At their legendary parties, everyone gets dressed up and partakes in one of the most grown-up activities imaginable (wine tasting) while playing round after round of the quintessential kid's game (rock-paper-scissors.) <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
According to a bittersweet <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/dining/22sfdine.html?src=twr">article</a> in today's <a href="http://nytimes.com/">New York Times</a>, Roshambo has been hit hard by the recession and is shuttering its winery for good. Naomi Brilliant, the plucky 37-year-old California native who launched Roshambo at the vineyard she inherited in 1997, is currently in the process of uprooting some 50 acres of vines. She has plans to grow organic vegetables there instead.<br />
<br />
Although the Times leads their story by declaring that <i>"the party’s over for Naomi Brilliant,"</i> I think that's really just for dramatic effect. It's clear that Brilliant brings a party with her everywhere-- and winemaking's loss will be the organic farming industry's gain.<br />
<br />
Bits of silver lining from the Times article:<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wearing a miniskirt and a feather boa at wine industry events, [Naomi Brilliant] made up for all of the business’s stodginess.<br />
<br />
As she puts it: <b>“I am an artist. My art is to bring people together.”</b></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She made Roshambo the highlight of Sonoma County wine events by cranking up the live music and encouraging her friends to forgo the sober sipping and spitting and simply drink her wine. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>“We had a lot of success getting people to dress up,” </b>she said.<b> “I always tried to be fabulous.”</b></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Her “future sanity,” she says, will come from digging in the dirt, thinking about the seasons and learning the process of growing food.<b> “What I want to do with my life is to share things,”</b> she said. “It was through wine. <b>Now it is through my vegetables.”</b></blockquote><div about="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jyri/141772844/" xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#"><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Jyri Engestrom </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jyri/" rel="cc:attributionURL">http://www.flickr.com/photos/jyri/</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" rel="license">CC BY 2.0</a></span></i></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-8770263645594268992010-01-20T23:20:00.000-08:002010-02-06T13:07:18.590-08:00The Osha Thai sister act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizR-hgeE3Zl-fTHbwG6R9Pscfj0QAnQfvUWSfC6PwhkBh29_9pnu_wcfggQir4aOzvhMGnqQDs2hA6fwoJA13_K4_-Y7fycfKPMPZTSJDyLaLwDI0NEaL4T7Wq6jpzGHgw0BmR6YPEKKY/s200/dd-osha21.0081_0501049000.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="188" /></div>The Chron published a fantastic <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/20/DD0P1BI8O3.DTL#ixzz0dH0TiPuZ">article</a> today about <a href="http://oshathai.com/">Osha Thai</a> , the trendy locally-owned restaurant group that is opening its 7th location this week. <br />
<br />
I had no idea the company was owned by two sisters who emigrated from Thailand and started Osha in the Tenderloin with a $30,000 investment-- while they were just in their 20s! <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The whole article is pretty snappy and worth reading, but here are my favorite tidbits:<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Lalita Souksamlane, 39, and Wassana Korkhieola, 37, "are immaculately dressed from head to toe, and they're as prone to chat about fashion as they are the latest stemware and serving plates."</span></li>
</ul></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Both sisters met their husbands while building Osha. </span><span style="font-size: small;">"Nuttawat Wongpisethkul was a regular at the Geary location - 'It was the best in that area,' jokes Wongpisethkul - before mustering enough courage to introduce himself to Souksamlane... [Korkhieola] met her husband, Derek Shotiveyaratana, at a restaurant supply shop."<br />
</span> </li>
</ul></blockquote><blockquote><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">"Korkhieola says her older sister is more mature, more organized. Souksamlane says her younger sister is more outgoing and detail oriented...'She's more Thai contemporary, and I'm more modern and trendy,' Korkhieola says. 'It's a good fit.'"</span></li>
</ul></blockquote><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: <a href="http://russellyip.com/">Russell Yip</a>/<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/">The Chronicle</a></span> </div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402601905165548170.post-18148353246938114812010-01-20T21:35:00.000-08:002010-02-06T13:07:55.678-08:00"You can't gloat when you're at the crest."<img alt="" border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLwTCFzLSR-eisloEiqKzLW3DNsBblyNjXljS0Zn3j-BO98K_TlpKwLcZ2BK9np5SXEX-kIlkExusp5P8hCgzdi4rwsaqQ9cm0OOS-bka_Q4zW3TeVklodx1SXGwCr9MKw4V0bApN7fg/s800/stand-bow-finalweb.gif" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="115" />Poking around Pacific Heights this weekend, I came across "<a href="http://newfillmore.com/">The New Fillmore</a>," a new neighborhood newsletter.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The paper's coverage of restaurant closures and falling home prices makes it apparent that even the city's poshest neighborhood hasn't been immune to the economic downturn-- but there were also bits of optimism and inspiration to be found. I especially liked the Q&A with Brian Monnier of <a href="http://www.yogicmotion.com/">The California Yoga Company</a>. <br />
<br />
Some excerpts: <br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">On recently changing the name of his studio from Yogic Motion to The California Yoga Company:</span> <br />
<blockquote>Frankly, one thing that prompted that change was that no one could say Yogic Motion. So it became like a rock band with a bad name. I wanted a name that reflects the neighborhood-- I’m on California Street, after all. And the new name is not as adolescent, which is a better reflection of me being more experienced in business and my clients becoming more experienced in yoga.</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">On doing business in San Francisco:</span> <br />
<blockquote>There have been times when I considered moving to a cheaper area of the country and starting anew. But every time, my customers suddenly would rally and turn everything around.</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">His zen outlook on the recession:</span> <br />
<blockquote>After being in business for five years, I don’t get as freaked out as I used to. Now I just keep remembering what the great teacher Bikram said when I took a class from him many years ago: "Life is like waves in the ocean. You can’t gloat when you’re at the crest, since a downturn is sure to come. But when you’re at the bottom, you can look forward to the next upward surge."</blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Photo from The California Yoga Company's website, <a href="http://www.yogicmotion.com/">http://www.yogicmotion.com/</a></span> <span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.yogicmotion.com/"></a></span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761584687296289867noreply@blogger.com0