COW HOLLOW’S NEW ORGANICS
Northern California-based certified organic food company Urban Remedy opened its first San Francisco store in mid-November when it lifted the curtains on its new Cow Hollow shop (1957 Union Street). The store features certified organic, non-GMO, and low-glycemic cold-pressed juices, grab-and-go meals, and snacks.
Why make Union Street the company’s first city location following its initial two stores in San Rafael and Mill Valley? “Union Street is the epicenter for health and wellness in San Francisco,” said Urban Remedy CEO Paul Coletta. “We are excited to connect with the local community and offer the best in organic meals and cold-pressed juice.”
Favorites include an Asian-inspired Zen Salad (kale, napa cabbage, almonds, carrots, cilantro, and a ginger sesame dressing), spring rolls (with brown-rice wrappers), and zucchini fettuccine (sans carbs with pesto sauce).
The Nov. 15 opening kicked off a month-long social media contest in which the company urged customers to snap pictures of their Urban Remedy products and tag @UrbanRemedy for a chance to win a three-day juice and food cleanse. Urban Remedy (urbanremedy.com) is open Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., and from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekends.
UNION STREET FANTASY OF LIGHTS
For nearly a quarter century, Union Street merchants have been stoking the holiday spirit with their annual Fantasy of Lights event. It’s a great mix of entertainment, hands-on activities, music, and more. On Dec. 6, it’s that time again.
The beautiful old Victorians on the street will be gussied up with holiday lights, welcoming not only thousands of visitors and locals but also someone named Santa. What’s in store for you?
There’s the free Union Street Holiday Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride (3–5:30 p.m.); cupcake decorations in front of the Cudworth Mansion (2040 Union Street, 3–5:30 p.m.); Santa arrives at the Cudworth Mansion at 5:30 and will stick around until 7 p.m. so you can have your little ones’ pictures taken with him; the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program will collect donated toys for needy children (look for the collection barrels at this event and throughout the holiday season); plus caroling (meet in the courtyard of The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin, 2325 Union Street, at 1 p.m.), jugglers, live ponies (er, ersatz reindeer), face painters, balloon artists, costumed characters, singers, and more.
You can take part Saturday, Dec. 6, from 3–7 p.m., on Union Street (between Van Ness and Steiner).
And keep coming back to Union. From Dec. 6–13, participating merchants will hide a toy elf in their stores for people to find. If you find the elf, you can enter a drawing to win a $500 Visa gift card. Happy holidays.
PAM BAER LAUNCHES FOR GOODNESS SAKE
We fear that more than a few people who discover the website forgoodsake.org will be looking for a fine Japanese alcoholic beverage. But that URL actually concerns something more important, a new organization called For Goodness Sake. Founded by philanthropist Pam Baer, For Goodness Sake is a new social enterprise that promotes charitable giving through its mobile gallery and e-commerce site. It aims to connect brands, consumers, and nonprofits while enabling people to give at any level.
The company, due to launch nationally in 2015, curates a collection of products for sale and donates at least 25 percent of net proceeds to the underserved and to health, environmental, and educational initiatives.
For Goodness Sake got its rollout Nov. 18 with a keynote speech by Pam Baer and a welcome speech by her husband, San Francisco Giants President Larry Baer.
MAYORPALOOZAS HELP PUBLIC LIBRARIES CELEBRATE
San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee and former mayors Gavin Newsom and Willie Brown Jr., helped Friends of the San Francisco Public Library raise nearly $160,000 for new initiatives. A Fund-a-Need auction featured the under-construction The Mix at SFPL, a new learning laboratory for young adults at the main library downtown. Attendees were able to bid on a number of unique opportunities, including golfing at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay with Mayor Lee, having a vintner-inspired lunch with Lt. Governor Newsom, or joining former Mayor Brown at Le Central for lunch.
The Nov. 11 event was held in the newly renovated ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, which donated the use of the space for this event.
MEXICAN MUSEUM PAIRS RIVERA, ROCKEFELLER
Fort Mason’s Mexican Museum announced that it has named the first two galleries at its future home at 706 Mission Street after two iconic art families. The Diego Rivera Gallery and the Nelson A. Rockefeller Gallery were named in honor of the fathers respectively of Guadalupe Rivera Marin and Ann Rockefeller Roberts, who endorsed $3 million capital campaigns for the galleries.
In a statement about honoring her father, the former vice president and noted art collector, Ann Rockefeller Roberts said, “The Mexican Museum’s new permanent home will attract an even broader range of national and international audiences, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Latino culture in the United States and around the world. I am extremely honored to be a part of this important endeavor, and I look forward to experiencing the new gallery named in honor of my father.”
Guadalupe Rivera Marin agreed in September to serve as co-chair of the museum’s Arts and Letters Council with Edward James Olmos and become an honorary member of its board of trustees.
