Archive for San Rafael
Twitter Tribe Goes to Vin Antico in San Rafael
Posted by: | CommentsThis past week the Marin Twitter Tribe (aka Marin Mafia Moms, Marin Lunch Bunch, People who Tweet and like to Eat) descended upon Vin Antico in San Rafael.
I have to admit, I had never heard of Vin Antico before Twitter. Thanks to Twitter I discovered this wonderful little gem in downtown San Rafael.
Vin Antico uses local, mostly organic food. They cure their own meat and make their pasta by hand.
I was impressed with the turnout of our lunch group on this very rainy day. I told the restaurant to expect 10-12 people, we ended up with 18! For many of us this was our first time at Vin Antico (example of how the power of social media brings new customers to restaurants). I heard many people (including myself) say they would be back!
Thanks Vin Antico and Chef Justine for the wonderful food and the great experience!
If you are a restaurant that would like 10-20 paying customers to come dine at your place, 10-20 customers who will offer FREE amazing word of mouth advertisement about your establishment to thousands of people via social networking then contact me (@Sally_K) to coordinate a TweetUp at your place (and maybe even offer me a complimentary drink or gift card… Thank You’s go a LONG way with me. Hint Hint). 
Hello! Did you read that? 10-20 paying customers who are going to be your evangelists! What more could you ask for? I seriously do not understand why there are still restaurants who are not tapping in to the power of social media to connect with their customers and future customers. If you’re not sure how to do that, I can help you.
The World’s ONLY Comedy Show in a Futon Store
Posted by: | CommentsAnother reason why I love the Bay Area so much! We have the coolest futon store ever! Mary’s Futon is hosting a comedy show in her store! You actually get to sit on the futons while you watch comedy. I’ve been before and it’s a great show! This time one of my favorite comedians, Julie Goldman will be there!
The show is on Sunday, June 13th, 2010. Doors open at 6:30pm.
More info here: http://marysfutons.com/Futon_Comedy_94903.html
All Beverage proceeds benefit Spectrum LGBT Center of Marin
Join us for our no-host bar before the show,
And help us celebrate Paula Pilecki’s Birthay!
*warning strong language in video
More Smiles from People Who Tweet and Like to Eat
Posted by: | CommentsWe had another TweetUp lunch at Thai Smile today (long story why we went to Thai Smile twice in a row but hey it’s good and cheap… $10 each). I had the Pad See–ew Stir-fried flat-rice noodles with Chinese broccoli in garlic bean sauce. Yummy! (Thank you @WhatsCooking for the suggestion!)
Not sure what to call our group that is forming. The Twitter Ladies, The Women of Twitter, The Marin Mafia Mom’s & Co, Twitter Lunch Ladies and Occasional Man, People who Tweet & Like to Eat <– oh I like this one!
We had a new guest man today: Mike Wolpert. We met Mike thanks to FourSquare. Peggy & Hannah have been competing to be Mayor of Café Gratitude and for quite some time have been stealing the mayorship back and forth from each other and then out of nowhere last week this guy named Mike Wolpert steps in and takes over mayorship. The Marin Ladies of Twitter Who Tweet & Like to Eat while checking in at FourSquare were up in arms that their mayorship had been taken by this stranger! So we did what we do best and stalked him on Twitter.
So today the People Who Tweet & Like to Eat met at Thai Smile again but it was a semi-different crowd this time. We had @PoButler, @Fun_Master, @MomnTwins, @Sally_K, @WorkFromWithin, @DianeFischler, @WhatsCooking, @MikeWolpert and a non-Tweeting friend of Hannah & Peggy named Becky who @momntwins (Hannah) tricked in to coming (I think she is trying to convert her in to being a Twitter addict). Becky was nice enough to take this photo of us!
The People Who Tweet & Like to Eat are planning to go to Pacific Catch in Corte Madera next Wednesday, 5/12 at 1:00pm. I heard the Pacific Catch in Corte Madera was the best location out of all the Pacific Catch’s around. If you are in the neighborhood please feel free to join us for lunch!
Lots of smiles at Thai Smile today
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We had an informal mini TweetUp at Thai Smile in San Rafael today. A few weeks ago some of us started talking about Thai Smile on Twitter and decided we should have lunch there. Somehow that turned in to lunch for 11 or 12 not sure just know we were squished around a table for 8. J It’s all good! I love my Twitter friends.
This was a lunch full of Marin’s Powerful Women! I was honored to be sitting with all these fun and inspirational women! Look who came out to have lunch with us: Nancy of @ATOMsanRafel, Diane of @dianefischler, Lissa of @LissaRankin, Tara of @TaraFirmaFarms, Lisa of @LisaKiftTherapy, Peggy of @PoButler, Hannah of @momntwins, Cathy of @CurtisFinancial (who came all the way from the East Bay to join us), Marilyn of @Fun_Master, Michelle of @DrMichelleXO, if I forgot someone please shoot me now. 
@SFDoug heard us talking about our plans on Twitter and asked if lunch was for women only. We said of course not and invited him. So Doug was the lucky guy who won the Player badge on FourSquare for checking in with 3 or more people of the opposite sex at the same time. Doug you owe us a drink for or something. Maybe at Rick’s Wine Cellar…
It was great fun! Thanks everyone for coming out! The food was delicious and affordable.
Here are some of our Thai smiles.
Where's Doug?
Kate Clinton is Coming to Marin on May 2
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The wonderfully funny Kate Clinton is coming to Marin! Kate is hilarious. I saw her perform a few years ago. I know the tickets are selling fast so I wanted to get this up before they run out.
This show is a benefit for Spectrum LGBT Center in Marin for their Youth Leadership Action Program. The Youth Leadership Action Program trains youth to be leaders to make their schools safe and inclusive learning places for all.
The performance is on May 2nd at 6pm at the Osher Marin JCC.
To purchase tickets go to: http://spectrumlgbtcenter.org/Kate-Clinton.html
Listen to Kate talk about her upcoming performance at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael on Sunday, May 2nd.
Tickets: www.spectrumLGBTcenter.org
(Kate said .com she meant .org)
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Coworking, Chiropractors, Delis and Jewelry
Posted by: | CommentsI’m having so much fun coworking at BZhive! I’m really enjoying getting out of my home office and working with others. Today I met with a client in the conference room, teaching her all about benefits social networking.
I also discovered (actually remembered) that BZhive is located in walking distance to one of my favorite deli’s! This makes me happy because as you know, I like to eat. BZhive is also in walking distance to my Chiropractor. This also makes me happy because I like to feel good and getting regular chiropractic adjustments makes me feel good. You should try it!
@fun_master popped in and snapped a picture of us working in the conference room.
Another fun fact I learned about BZhive is that Hila (co-owner) is an artist and makes some pretty cool things she sells on Etsy. I hope she brings in some of that jewelry for me to see.
BZhive is the new coworking office space in San Rafael. Come in and check it out. They have lots of community events happening in the evenings (most are free).
Cool Bike Shop: Bike and Beans
Posted by: | CommentsFrom guest blogger: Celia Graterol of Mountain Biking Marin
Bikes & Beans, formerly located by the 7-11 near China Camp, has moved to a brand new and bigger location while still close to China Camp thus being very convenient to stop by before or after riding China Camp. In particular if you like coffee, bike talk with knowledgeable people, and good deals on bikes and parts.
100 El Prado, Suite 2 (near China Camp State Park)
San Rafael, CA 94903-2857
Tel: 415-507-1992
Check them out!
I like stopping by to get my coffee fix since I am not drinking beer these days. The stores offers a cozy place to hang and yummy coffee and I keep hearing great reviews about the Commencal and Jamis bikes Justin (the owner) sells in his this store.
I also like the selection of cool hip bike clothing… I have gotten a pair of cool shorts that made me feel like a hot shot 
And the best of all, I like it that Justin kept decorating the shop with local artist work (some of his own work!). This mural is right by the bike mechanic shop area!
Coworking Day 1 – Busy Bees
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I spent today at BZhive, the new coworking office in Marin.
I decided to try out the Hive for the next month and I plan to share my stories of the Hive and all the busy bees with you.
At the hive today I had a great brainstorming session with @fun_master, @BrainMaker & Hila (the queen bee at BZhive). Lots of exciting events coming up at the Hive in the next few months.
I love the idea of coworking and group intelligence. I’ve been doing it for years virtually with my virtual accountability partner (and coauthor). We use Skype chat to check in daily about our goals, to discuss challenges, to work on our business & marketing plans and to brainstorm solutions & ideas.
Group intelligence puts everything you do on fast forward. I see this when I brainstorm with my accountability partner and others; I see this when I’m networking online with the Business Divas; I see it on Twitter, Facebook, etc. I can also see this happening in the coworking environment.
I just have to get used to the face to face interaction. (I’ve been working on my own since 2002). I mean with Skype chat I can get up and walk away in the middle of a conversation to check what’s cooking in the oven or to take a potty break and the person on the other end has no idea I’m multitasking, but with in person coworking I have to be fully present during the conversation.
Actually today while we were talking, I got up, paced around a bit and went over to the dry erase board to fully erase it (pet peeve of mine – dry erase or chalk boards that are not fully erased). I told my coworkers to get used to me walking around a lot while we talk.
I think I am going to like this coworking experience, it just might take me some time to adjust and find a good balance between coworking and cocreating because I could sit (or walk) around all day cocreating ideas with people but sometimes I’ve got to stop and actually do the work.
I did come home from coworking today happy and fully energized! I think I’m going to like this coworking thing.
Stay tuned for more adventures in coworking.
Coworkers Buzzing Around the Bay
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After my visit to the new, cool coworking space BZhive in San Rafael, I asked the owners Hila and Dani if they would be interested in sharing some of their favorite Bay Area places with me.
Here are some of the places owner and artist Hila buzzes around the bay to when she is not working:
Where is your favorite place to hike or bike in the Bay Area?
Terra Linda/Southern Novato Hills – different trails, mostly the “shortcut” from Terra Linda to Sleepy Hollow (San Anselmo).
What do you love most about the Bay Area?
The weather, the air, the view, the people. I’m coming from a relatively hot and humid climate (Tel Aviv) so the weather here is just perfect. I only wish the beach and the water were warmer. The people here are much more relaxed and patient. Above all we love San Francisco- one of my favorite cities if not “the” favorite. gracious and gorgeous. I love it especially when it’s gray (which is most of the time) it gives it just the perfect bittersweet taste of melancholy.
What is your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?
The Slanted Door in SF love the the food the scene and view.
(I think Hila and I have similar taste. I love this restaurant!)
Favorite Coffee/Tea shop?
Cafe Gratitude especially the one in Berkeley. I’m grateful for a great food- especially the sweets… and you know you are safe there- it’s all vegan! (Another one of my favorites.)
Favorite park? Bon Tempe Lake (From Fairfax)
Favorite place to shop?
Crossroad Trading. Favorite location is Irving st in SF. I like the idea of recycling and exchanging. AND what great finds! (I’m telling you, I think Hila is my long lost sister.)
Read more about BZhive in the MarinIJ.
Be sure to follow BZhive on Twitter to keep up with the latest happenings at the hive.
The social interaction and possible collaboration that comes when people get out of the home office can also make people more productive, according to a 2008 study by Stephen Humphrey, formerly a management professor at Florida State University’s business school.
“People who work interdependently with others have better performance ratings, lower stress, lower turnover intentions, and greater work and organizational satisfaction,” the study found. – Jim Welte, MarinIJ 2/7/10
Stay tuned you just might see me working out of BZhive one of these days.
CoWorking and Social Media in San Rafael
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been so busy working and sallying around the bay I haven’t stopped to take the time to blog. Where do I start?
Yesterday, I woke up with a neck spasm and a headache. I just felt out of whack so I called my chiropractor and made an appointment. Wow, I really needed that adjustment. I’m happy to report that I am feeling 100 times better today!
I scheduled my chiropractic appointment right before the open house at BZhive (they’re located within a half a mile of each other in San Rafael) where Patrick Schwerdtfeger was going to be speaking about Social Media. It worked out great. I had my adjustment and was feeling fantastic, ready to meet new people.
BZhive is the new coworking space in Marin County. I was curious about coworking and wanted to check it out. I’d read about the coworking idea in the book, The Whuffie Factor and have been intrigued by it since then.
BZhive is cool! I want to work there. It’s an open office space environment where you can have your own work-desk in an area shared with other entrepreneurs. The owners Hila and Dan seem to be really friendly and fun people.
The BZhive open house was catered by Sonoma Latina Grill in Novato. I learned their food is local, organic and delicious! The tortillas were homemade. The light and crispy chips were served with a Hominy Hummus, guacamole and super fresh salsa. They serve good, clean, nutritious whole food. I spent most of my time next to the food table.
<—Here I am (eating) while talking with @fun_master and @quepol (the co-owner of Citizen Space in San Francisco).
After we finished eating the amazingly delicious Sonoma Latina Grill spread we moved in to the open office space area to hear Patrick Schwerdtfeger talk. I was impressed. He knows his stuff and he was a great speaker. (He’s cute too). I learned some new useful tips for social networking that I hadn’t tried before and came home inspired to implement them. Patrick is the author of Webify Your Business. I bought the book and have already read through chapter 12 since I got home last night. If you get a chance to hear Patrick speak don’t miss out on it. It was well worth my time. I stayed after and chatted with Patrick for a bit. He’s real. It was so refreshing to meet someone working in the social media field who is genuine and authentic. He tells it like it is and doesn’t try to put out there that he is better or more knowledgeable than you.
I really enjoyed meeting and listening to Patrick Swerdtfeger. After his talk I went up and asked him if public speaking just came natural to him or if he was in Toastmasters or something. Turns out he is the president of his Toastmaster’s club. I’m the VP of Public Relations for mine. Patrick was a wonderful public speaker. I told him I wanted to be just like him when I grow up (we happen to be the same age).
PS. Thank you to @LeighShev for telling me about this event. And thank you to @fun_master who is always willing to sally around the bay with me and try new things. I don’t know if I would have gone last night if it weren’t for Marilyn agreeing to go with me.
Edited to add Patrick’s mini video from his talk at BZhive:
