"We opened the shop to try and get more people to the studio," Michael Shindler of Photo Booth SF explained to us. He and business partner Vince Donovan wanted others to experience the photo process they had grown so fond of—creating tintypes. The photographic process that takes place in their San Francisco studio is exactly the same as the processes used in the 19th century.
"We can work out relationship out in the kitchen," Courtney Burns of Bar Tartine told us of working with Nick Balla. And the couple has plenty of outlets for working it out—at the restaurant everything is processed in-house. They pickle vegetables, make the cheese and create the spices. With a menu based upon what the farmers deliver to them, they have plenty to keep them busy.
“When I first started my blog, it was the wild west,” Jordan Ferney told us of the blogging world when she launched Oh Happy Day nearly seven years ago. “It was just a thing I did,” she explained.
Anne and Kris met many years ago working together in a restaurant. Anne was busy baking at the time, and Kris was transitioning from the front of the house to the back to bake alongside Anne. They began business together baking for Bi-Rite Market, a San Francisco staple, whipping up the many amazing goods that line the market's shelves—cookies, pastries, granola.
At the time, they were working from a rented kitchen space. Anne told us that they asked themselves a couple of questions that led to the opening of the bakery and creamery, "What if we were on the same street as the market? And what else can we do that's sweet?" (more...)
Grad school brought Kate Koeppel to San Francisco, a stint that she thought would end upon completing her degree. "I thought we'd leave but between the weather and long growing season, there was no reason to," Kate told us.
It was grad school that not only brought her to the city, but fueled an idea that has now become one half of her business: Skill Exchange. (more...)
Those beautiful wooden shelves at The Mill and in Four Barrel Coffee? And the parklet outside? All are the work of Alex Palecko, a San Francisco-based woodwork designer and friend of the local businesses.
"I wanted to open a more modern patisserie, with the technical influence of France and Japan with influence of California mixed in," chef William Werner told us of his latest business, Craftsman and Wolves.
"I've never met a child who didn't like comics," Brian Hibbs, owner of San Francisco's Comix Experience told us. And after 24 years open, we can't help but believe him.
If you’re looking for motivation to move to California, specifically San Francisco, spend an hour with artist Chloe Fleury. She made the leap from France about four years ago, chasing a childhood dream to live in the Bay Area. She’s been soaking up the sunshine and sunny attitudes of California residents ever since, with that radiance clearly showing through in her work.
"'SF Girl by Bay' was just a Gmail or Yahoo account name, so I just used that," Victoria Smith explained to us of her now popular moniker. "If I had known it were going to stick…"
