Last Saturday I went to the San Francisco GenArt Ignite Party. Wow, was that quite the scene! I think all the beautiful people of SF were out and about, clad in their sassiest attire (in the words of one charming SF leacherous fellow said to my friend Darcy and I "you gals have a lot of competition here"). I say so did he!
While I'm not generally into the club scene, this party was awesome as most of it was outside at this huge lot near China Basin. The party started in a big warehouse in which they were screening some indy films from local filmmakers and displayed some cool multi-media art. After checking out the art inside we moved outside (during an unseasonably warm night) for a awesome performance by firedancers, which was a sort of belly dancing / Cirque du Soleil / modern dance thing with fire. Very cool. We got to watch the performance while sitting outside on comfy bean bag chairs while sipping on our favorite vodka drinks (vodka and cranberry was my choice of the evening). While not much of a spirits drinker, I generally try to steer clear of the wine served at these types of things as most (but certainly not all) of the time it's usually not of the finest quality. After the fire show, we cruised over to the Burning Man dome which they brought in as dance floor to get our groove on a bit.
My one complaint: they were handing out free cigarettes and everyone was smoking. Yeah I get it, "Ignite". At least we were outside. But even so, smoking kills. I just hope the cigarette sponsors paid the organization a lot of money!
Other than the smoking thing, way to go GenArt! SF is lucky to have such a great organization stepping it up all in support of art, film and fashion.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Bastille Day Picnic in South Park
Celebrate la Guillotine!
Vive la France!
Leave it to the French to continue to celebrate the decapitation of hundreds of royals (okay, I know, the celebration is really about the release of the prisoners from the horrific prison, la Bastille, but you really can't think of the Bastille without envisioning a guillotine chopping off someone's tete). Regardless, 14th Juillet is one of my favorite days of the year. First of all, my nephew Nicholas was born on this day 12 years ago! Sadly I rarely get to celebrate with him since he lives in Austria, but I always do send my love.
Secondly, Bastille Day gives me an excuse to eat some of my favorite foods and drink some of my favorite wines. This year, we had a brief break in the fog for some unseasonably warm weather here in San Francisco (it actually got into the 70s!), so my friend Tracy thought it would be nice to do a little picnic in South Park, a hidden little park right in the center of the city. Tracy just moved back from London and said that her friends would often have impromptu after work picnics as it would stay light until past 10, so we decided to give it a go.
Here's a sampling of what we served:
- French bread with tomatoes, basil & chevre (goat cheese)
- pate de campagne (wasn't a huge hit)
- some delectable salami brought by my friend Eric of Niman Ranch (I don't think it's commercial available, but all their meats are delicious and they're nice to their critters)
- cheese selection including: triple cream Brie, Pont L’eveque, Morbier, and an aged goat
- radishes (tres French)
- Nougat de Provence (little candies)
- Croque Monsieur from The Butler & the Chef (an awesome cafe on the edge of the park)
And the wines included:
- Chateau Thurry (a rose I brought back from Coteau Valois en Provence - quite light and refreshing)
- Chateau Routas (of course - my favorite rose)
- 2003 Clos du Caillou (a delightful red Cote de Rhone) - brought by our office resident wine expert Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications.
- and we finished off the night with some yummy Kir Royales (Tracy's favorite)
So next time you find yourself facing a georgeous evening, I definitely recommend foregoing the bars and restaurants and grabbing your friends for a picnic.
Vive la France!
Leave it to the French to continue to celebrate the decapitation of hundreds of royals (okay, I know, the celebration is really about the release of the prisoners from the horrific prison, la Bastille, but you really can't think of the Bastille without envisioning a guillotine chopping off someone's tete). Regardless, 14th Juillet is one of my favorite days of the year. First of all, my nephew Nicholas was born on this day 12 years ago! Sadly I rarely get to celebrate with him since he lives in Austria, but I always do send my love.
Secondly, Bastille Day gives me an excuse to eat some of my favorite foods and drink some of my favorite wines. This year, we had a brief break in the fog for some unseasonably warm weather here in San Francisco (it actually got into the 70s!), so my friend Tracy thought it would be nice to do a little picnic in South Park, a hidden little park right in the center of the city. Tracy just moved back from London and said that her friends would often have impromptu after work picnics as it would stay light until past 10, so we decided to give it a go.
Here's a sampling of what we served:
- French bread with tomatoes, basil & chevre (goat cheese)
- pate de campagne (wasn't a huge hit)
- some delectable salami brought by my friend Eric of Niman Ranch (I don't think it's commercial available, but all their meats are delicious and they're nice to their critters)
- cheese selection including: triple cream Brie, Pont L’eveque, Morbier, and an aged goat
- radishes (tres French)
- Nougat de Provence (little candies)
- Croque Monsieur from The Butler & the Chef (an awesome cafe on the edge of the park)
And the wines included:
- Chateau Thurry (a rose I brought back from Coteau Valois en Provence - quite light and refreshing)
- Chateau Routas (of course - my favorite rose)
- 2003 Clos du Caillou (a delightful red Cote de Rhone) - brought by our office resident wine expert Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications.
- and we finished off the night with some yummy Kir Royales (Tracy's favorite)
So next time you find yourself facing a georgeous evening, I definitely recommend foregoing the bars and restaurants and grabbing your friends for a picnic.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Smarts in the City?
Last week Jen & I were interviewed by Jess McCuan at Smart Money Magazine. Jess was great to talk with and captured the essence of SmartsCo. We feel especially privileged to be her last featured company before her move over to the Wall Street Journal! Congratulations Jess - I look forward to reading your future pieces - it's great to see talented people achieve success.
Apparently after reading this blog Jess thought to compare us to the "sassy ladies of HBO's 'Sex in the City'". Certainly it's quite the compliment, but I suppose we should dispel a few misconceptions this comparison might lead to.
Shoes
When I think of the HBO series, the element that most comes to mind are Carrie's shoe fetish. I don't think Jen has worn stilettos in her life and generally cruises around in jeans and Pumas. Now I do share Carrie's passion for shoes and often find myself painfully hobbling around S.F.'s hills in heels that make no sense whatsoever. But, being an entrepreneur has sadly diminished my ability to purchase the latest designer footwear (and we all doubt a newspaper could really support Carrie's penchant for Manolos).
Party Scene
One great part of writing about food, wine and sex is we get invited to all sorts of fun events. Unlike the NY-based "Sex in the City" gals, parties here in San Francisco tend to shut down by 11pm so everyone can get up in the morning to workout (especially since half the city seems to be training for a marathon or triathalon at any given moment) and enjoy the our georgeous surroundings. And I gotta tell you, I don't mind going home early. Love NY, but I gotta tell you, it can wear a girl out!
Other than that, are we (a) fun-loving, (b) a bit irreverent, and (c) somewhat whimsical? We try!
Apparently after reading this blog Jess thought to compare us to the "sassy ladies of HBO's 'Sex in the City'". Certainly it's quite the compliment, but I suppose we should dispel a few misconceptions this comparison might lead to.
Shoes
When I think of the HBO series, the element that most comes to mind are Carrie's shoe fetish. I don't think Jen has worn stilettos in her life and generally cruises around in jeans and Pumas. Now I do share Carrie's passion for shoes and often find myself painfully hobbling around S.F.'s hills in heels that make no sense whatsoever. But, being an entrepreneur has sadly diminished my ability to purchase the latest designer footwear (and we all doubt a newspaper could really support Carrie's penchant for Manolos).
Party Scene
One great part of writing about food, wine and sex is we get invited to all sorts of fun events. Unlike the NY-based "Sex in the City" gals, parties here in San Francisco tend to shut down by 11pm so everyone can get up in the morning to workout (especially since half the city seems to be training for a marathon or triathalon at any given moment) and enjoy the our georgeous surroundings. And I gotta tell you, I don't mind going home early. Love NY, but I gotta tell you, it can wear a girl out!
Other than that, are we (a) fun-loving, (b) a bit irreverent, and (c) somewhat whimsical? We try!
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Beer Trends from 21st Amendment's Shaun O’Sullivan
As we prepare to launch BeerSmarts, we've been meeting lots of cool brewers and beermakers across the country. I've found that beer is a very complex and interesting beverage and goes well with all sorts of food (my newest favorite is beer and a nice selection of cheese). We've recently had a chance to interview Shaun O'Sullivan, the owner of San Francisco's hot brew pub, 21st Amendment, located at 563 2nd Street between Bryant & Brannan.
After working as a legal assistant in his early career, O'Sullivan "traded his suits for rubber boots" and started a career in the beer industry, cutting his teeth at Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley. He realized his dream of opening up a place that was comfortable, accessible for everybody, nice staff, and good food, when he opened 21st Amendment in SF's South of Market location in August 2000. Its 5-year anniversary is next month so keep an eye out for anniversay parties.
O'Sullivan brews a variety of beers from traditional microbrews such as a blonde pale ale, and IPA, to a very unusual, but delighfully refreshing Watermelon Wheat. While you can find some of his beers in a few outlets across town, you best bet is to get it at the brewery either over dinner (the food is great) or you can even purchase a 64 oz "growler" to go or buy a keg for your next party.
Here are some highlights of our interview:
SC: What are some of the trends you’re noticing in beer drinking –customers, types of beers that are popular, etc?
SO: Something I noticed from the get-go was that our customers, the people interested in microbrew beers have a discerning palate and are more interested in the flavors vs. mass-produced beer. We have training-wheel beers for people who are trying microbrews for the first time, that are blonde beers, more BCM ( “bud coors miller beer”). Then they put their toe in a little deeper – watermelon wheat, and then try a pale ale, and ramp up to IPA.
SC: Have you noticed regional differences in brewing styles?
SO: I always have and I think it’s becoming a little bit blurry in terms of regional differences. There was the West Coast IPA – higher in alcohol, more malt and way more bitter and way more aromatic. Especially in Washington and Oregon and Northern CA. The East coast– probably because of its proximity to England – had a style that was malty and not so bitter; a little more comparable to British beers. Now with innovative beer categories at beer festivals you start to see double IPA category and bitter beers made by breweries all over the country. It’s more and more of a melting pot. Though people still refer to west coast IPA. I still think we are producing some of the hoppier beers.
Who’s doing innovative things?
At Magnolia, Dave MacClean -- in terms of cask conditioned beers. Also, nontraditional styles of lagers and ales coming together. Brian Hunt at Moonlight Brewing Company with his “Death and taxes” beer.
After working as a legal assistant in his early career, O'Sullivan "traded his suits for rubber boots" and started a career in the beer industry, cutting his teeth at Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley. He realized his dream of opening up a place that was comfortable, accessible for everybody, nice staff, and good food, when he opened 21st Amendment in SF's South of Market location in August 2000. Its 5-year anniversary is next month so keep an eye out for anniversay parties.
O'Sullivan brews a variety of beers from traditional microbrews such as a blonde pale ale, and IPA, to a very unusual, but delighfully refreshing Watermelon Wheat. While you can find some of his beers in a few outlets across town, you best bet is to get it at the brewery either over dinner (the food is great) or you can even purchase a 64 oz "growler" to go or buy a keg for your next party.
Here are some highlights of our interview:
SC: What are some of the trends you’re noticing in beer drinking –customers, types of beers that are popular, etc?
SO: Something I noticed from the get-go was that our customers, the people interested in microbrew beers have a discerning palate and are more interested in the flavors vs. mass-produced beer. We have training-wheel beers for people who are trying microbrews for the first time, that are blonde beers, more BCM ( “bud coors miller beer”). Then they put their toe in a little deeper – watermelon wheat, and then try a pale ale, and ramp up to IPA.
SC: Have you noticed regional differences in brewing styles?
SO: I always have and I think it’s becoming a little bit blurry in terms of regional differences. There was the West Coast IPA – higher in alcohol, more malt and way more bitter and way more aromatic. Especially in Washington and Oregon and Northern CA. The East coast– probably because of its proximity to England – had a style that was malty and not so bitter; a little more comparable to British beers. Now with innovative beer categories at beer festivals you start to see double IPA category and bitter beers made by breweries all over the country. It’s more and more of a melting pot. Though people still refer to west coast IPA. I still think we are producing some of the hoppier beers.
Who’s doing innovative things?
At Magnolia, Dave MacClean -- in terms of cask conditioned beers. Also, nontraditional styles of lagers and ales coming together. Brian Hunt at Moonlight Brewing Company with his “Death and taxes” beer.
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