Flying Pigs and Atelier Crenn

I read with interest Elle Magazine's recent profile of chef Dominique Crenn's new San Francisco restaurant Atelier Crenn. 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:

“I wish everyone could have the luxury of realizing their dreams, if only for a short time,” 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.”

Elinor Diamond of Eel & Ermine

Eel & Ermine 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 enjoy visiting.

Dee Harley of Harley Farms Goat Dairy

A visit to Harley Farms Goat Dairy 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 tours, cheesemaking classes, and seasonal farm dinners. In addition, drop-in visitors are welcome daily to browse the farm's fantastic shop, sample and buy its award-winning cheeses, and even cuddle a goat or two.

The Beach Chalet: A labor of love and "literal" legwork

Don't be fooled by the great location: San Francisco's adjoining restaurant/brewpubs Park Chalet and Beach Chalet 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.)

Stella & Dot's Jessica Herrin on going beyond "mile two"

Burlingame-based custom jewelry company Stella & Dot recently nabbed the No. 67 spot on Inc. Magazine's annual list of the top 500 quickly-growing companies. I especially loved Inc.'s accompanying interview 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.

Covet Boutique's Adrienne Wiley nominated for Woman Entrepreneur of the Year

If you liked my interview with Covet Boutique's Adrienne Wiley, you should head on over to the Women's Initiative website, where she's recently been nominated for the 2010 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award!

Sally and Jessica of Philanthropist, Part 2: Head-to-Toes and Personal Faves

Sally Fowler and Jessica Moment of Philanthropist Boutique aren't just amazing businesswomen-- they're also fun, down to earth, and impeccably dressed.

After our main interview, I pulled each aside for a quick outfit head-to-toe, and some personal questions about San Francisco, lifestyle and career.

Jessica and Sally of Philanthropist Boutique

Last month I met with Jessica Moment and Sally Fowler, the co-owners of Philanthropist, 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.

Adrienne Wiley of Covet Boutique

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 Covet Boutique, a lovely shop in the Inner Richmond that sells locally handcrafted jewelry and other accessories.

Sunhee Moon on the perfect SF outfit

I've always admired the clean, classic clothes made by Sunhee Moon, the designer who owns two boutiques in the Mission and Pacific Heights. But I only recently learned about her total commitment to San Francisco.