Events at Urbanic

Hi everyone! In yesterday’s ‘Day in the Life at Urbanic’ post, I mentioned that some of our back-end creative work that we do is for the events that we host at Urbanic. When Joshua and I first opened the shop, we knew going into it that we wanted events to be a foundational offering of what we were about as a brand. We both love hosting, but even more so, we love watching people come together to get creative and social, forming new relationships in a fun environment. There are so many of us that sit behind a computer all day long, and we wanted to make sure we were creating special opportunities for people to connect and celebrate. Over the past 8 years, we’ve hosted Summer Socials, Winter Socials, blogger meet-ups, book release parties, and have recently added workshops to the mix! Click below for a peek into some of our calligraphy classes!

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When we first got these events going they were a TON of work. It was work that we wanted to put in, but extremely hard on our schedules to juggle everything and do it at the creative level that we envisioned. Over the years we discovered that bringing in like-minded sponsors and partners made the whole process so much better on every level! Our collaborations have allowed us to work with the most amazing planners, photographers, florists, caterers, videographers and media sponsors. I’m not going to lie, the events are still a huge undertaking, but the work of all of these talents together makes for the best events! You can click here to see photos from some of our past Urbanic events and if you’d like, and click here to see videos. I’ve attached one of my faves into this post below from a Summer Social.

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More coming up tomorrow with 10 tips on opening up a retail shop!

– Audrey

 

 

 

 

Hello!Lucky: San Francisco Guide

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It can be tricky planning a trip to a city chock full of restaurants, shops, and coffee stops. If you’re anything like us then you love a day spent perusing the places the locals love. San Francisco is a vibrant city with some of the most contrasting enclaves, and this is what makes it so special. We are excited to share our go-to spots nestled in a few of our favorite nooks. â€“ Eunice and Sabrina of Hello!Lucky

THE MISSION

Eat

Foreign Cinema– Amazing food and even better ambience. This is our go-to for group dinners.

Lolo’s– Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere. Jalisco spices with California vibes.

Lolinda– Argentinian cuisine. For dinner- or head upstairs for rooftop brunch.

Trick Dog– The best bar food you have ever had, drinks to match.

Flour + Water – Delicious with a cool ambience and the Dough Room, their private dining room, it’s a fantastic venue for special occasions

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Stable Café– Lovely outdoor patio with WIFI

Four Barrel– You will find a line outside almost any time of the day, and yes, it’s that good!

Shop

Voyager – Women and men’s fashion & accessories from local craftsmen.

Bell Jar– Great for gifts! Women’s fashion and home decor.

Taylor Stitch– Lovely and locally made men’s fashion.

Paxton Gate – A quirky cabinet of curiosities full of fascinating finds such as a taxidermy unicorn, a wall of pinned insects, and drawers full of nifty rocks and minerals.

See/Do

Mission Bowling Club – Family friendly until 7!

Urban Putt – SF-themed miniature golf with cocktails, burgers and pizza. Family friendly until 8!

Dolores Park/ Mission Dolores- A jungle gym with a view. Something you and the kids will enjoy.

 

HAYES VALLEY

Eat

Rich Table – A block away from the hustle & bustle of Hayes- wonderful space & food.

Smitten Ice Cream– Tasty and trendy- surrounded by boutiques, beer gardens, and juiceries.

Bar Jules – a cozy little café that serves delicious plates created from local and seasonal produce.

Sip

Blue Bottle Coffee– Down an alley, in a garage kiosk, you will find one of the best fresh cups of coffee.

Ritual– Another great coffee shop!

Biergarten– Great spot for lunch! They serve German brews & cider, sausages & pretzels.

Shop

Welcome Stranger– Cool camp themed boutique for men.

Rand & Statler– For the fancier things in life.

Reliquary– Every time you enter it’s like Indiana Jones’ greatest adventure!

Lavish– Lovely paper goods and gifts shop.

 

NOPA/ WESTERN ADDITION

Eat

Nopa– Make a reservation for dinner or hop on their family table. Try the burger and a blue bottle martini!

State Bird – This spot has gotten a ton of attention since its opening so grabbing a table isn’t easy. Not exactly a last minute restaurant, but well worth planning ahead!

La Urbana – Delicious modern Mexican cuisine.

Mojo – A great place to grab lunch & has a patio.

Little Star Pizza– Not your average pizzeria! Their deep dish is a game changer.

Sip

The Mill – You will question the $4 toast until you try it. The is the type of coffee shop you could hang in all day – but bring a book or a friend, it’s a wifi free zone.

Madrone Art Bar – It’s a fun place for a cocktail, and they have themed nights like Motown Monday.

Shop

The Perish Trust– Old treasures and new, The Perish Trust is a place to feast your eyes! Right next door to The Mill.

Rare Device– Great finds by local artists! Cards, prints and home decor.

 

HAIGHT/ASHBURY

Eat

Off the Grid– It’s a seasonal gathering of food trucks at a cul de sac off Haight. Offerings stretch from dinner to dessert. There’s live music to get things moving!

Alembic – This menu is not your average, with options like bone marrow and pickled quail eggs, your adventurous side will thank you.

Magnolia Gastropub – A great microbrewery and restaurant – great atmosphere and food!

Second Act – This market is located in the old theatre, it’s a compilation of vendors selling an array of food & drink.

Haight Street Market – They have a deli that makes great sandwiches & a place to rest your feet.

Sip

Club Deluxe – Pizza, drinks, & jazz.

Shop

The Booksmith– Lovely bookstore where you can also get your paper fix!

Tantrum – A quick walk from Haight will land you at this circus themed kids boutique in Cole Valley. It can’t be missed!

Crossroads – One of the many consignment stores on Haight. If you feel like hunting there are always treasures to be found!

Mystery Mister – Great mix of carefully curated vintage clothes and curiosities.

La Rosa Vintage – Another fantastic spot for well curated vintage clothes.

See

The Conservatory of Flowers Very Alice in Wonderland.

The DeYoung Museum– For fine art & they have wonderful exhibits.

The Academy of Sciences– A great science museum with a planetarium, aquarium, and rainforest.

Stow Lake– A boathouse with rowboat rentals.

 

Where to Stay & How to Get Around

Stay

There’s is no better way to be immersed than to stay at an Airbnb. You will get to experience the real spirit & charm through an authentic San Francisco home.

Get Around

We are one of the best cities for public transportation! Muni & Bart make commuting a breeze, take Bart in from the airport and use Muni around town. If that’s not your thing, get techy and download one of the many rideshare apps- we recommend Lift, Sidecar, and Uber.

 

Enjoy your visit!

Hello!Lucky: Imogen’s Pink and Gold Birthday Party

Eunice’s daughter Imogen circled the sun for the first time in style. The theme was pink and gold – inspired by our DIY crowns! The pipe cleaner crowns were fun, easy, cheap, and a huge hit! They were also a party favor so anyone interested could wear their crown home. – Eunice and Sabrina of Hello!Lucky

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DIY crowns were made from tinsel stems and jewels from General Bead. Party décor included pink candy striped straws, star cups and napkins, gold foil balloons, and gold star confetti.

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The cupcakes and cake were from Sift. The cake was chocolate with salted caramel in between the layers – we sprinkled edible gold stars over it for a little something extra! The menu also included a cheese plate, PB&J sandwiches, homemade gingerbread stars, fruit, and grapefruit mimosas.

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Preparing for Baby No. 2, Part 2: Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Hi Friends! Despite our hopes otherwise, I once again developed cholestasis with this pregnancy – so our midwives decided to induce me a couple of weeks early. I’m actually writing this post ahead of time – so hopefully our new little baby has arrived by now (I’ll be sure to share any news on Instagram!) and I’m heading out for a few weeks to spend time with our new little person! But first, I wanted to share one final post about an experience from my pregnancy with Sophie. I actually wasn’t planning to share this side of my story. But I’ve drawn strength reading accounts from other women regarding their pregnancy or postpartum experiences and I thought my story might help some of you out there. So here goes. This post may be TMI for most of you, so if you’re not interested please feel free to skip!

As I mentioned before, I developed a condition called cholestasis during my pregnancy with Sophie. If there’s one thing that I learned during my first pregnancy, and now with my second, it’s that my body does not do well with extreme hormone fluctuations. I had rough first trimesters with 24/7 nausea during both of my pregnancies, and my liver decided to go on strike with cholestasis during the late third trimester – so I’ve now had to be induced for labor early on two occasions! Unfortunately, labor is pretty much one giant hormone overload – in my case with some extra prodding and lots of pitocin. I don’t know what it’s like to go into labor naturally, but my body did not react well to the induction and labor the first time around.

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I won’t ever be sure if it was the cholestasis or the induction, but after Sophie was born I developed hyperemesis gravidarum. I’ve never heard of anyone else developing postpartum hyperemesis – it typically occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy – but the symptoms were all the same so I don’t know what else to call it.

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The Stone Wall

Fall is right around the corner. Right? It still feels like summer in DC, even though we’re nearly halfway through September. But when it does eventually arrive, fall in DC is usually gorgeous: clear and crisp and bright. So my plan is to start shifting away from summer cocktails and start talking about fall cocktails, a bit crisper and darker than what you’d find in the summer. I find that beer is a great ingredient for these sorts of transitional cocktails: heavier, richer, but still effervescent. So this week we’re playing around with some fun lambic beer for our season opener, the Stone Wall. – Andrew

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Illustration by Shauna Lynn for Oh So Beautiful Paper

The Stone Wall

1 1/2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Apple Cider
6 oz Peach or Raspberry Lambic Beer
3 Dashes Aromatic Bitters

Combine the bourbon, cider, and bitters in an ice-filled highball glass. Top with the beer and give the glass a gentle stir. Enjoy!

Lambic beer is part of a special family of beers – wild beers, mostly brewed in Belgium but a few over here in the States. Most beers today are fermented using strains of cultivated brewers yeast, but for many centuries before the discovery of yeast beers were fermented by wild bacteria and yeasts. Lambics are still made this way, exposing the raw ingredients of beer to the open air and letting wild strains work their magic. The result is a sharply tart and dry brew, so most lambics are flavored or fermented with fruits to sweeten and balance the sourness. (They’re not stocked in every liquor store, but ask around and check for big pint-sized bottles on back shelves. They’re worth a try.)

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So the Stone Wall – a play on the very classic and perfect-for-fall Stone Fence – combines sweet, oaky bourbon and sweet, mellow apple cider with a lip-smacking, sweet-tart blast of fizzy lambic. The lambic’s summer fruit notes help add sweetness, balance, and a sense seasons changing. Plus, it’s still tall and cold and carbonated enough to feel refreshing if the weather’s still as muggy as ours. You know, versatile.

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper