pancakePROFILE: Laundré

Laundré 2401 Mission Street



A little while back, I had the pleasure of meeting, Ariana, the founder/owner of Laundré. For those of you who aren't familiar, Laundré is a dope laundromat meets café (meets flower shop, meets general hang out spot for those in the know).  Located on the corner of Mission and 20th, Laundré offers its patrons a sustainable laundromat experience, as well as an open space to work, drink coffee, and hang. I visited the space when it opened late last year and loved getting to hear Ariana's story. Because I am self-employed, myself, it's always inspiring to meet others who have made the leap towards entrepreneurship, as well as those who are passionate about their work and craft. Every now and then, I like to feature movers and shakers, as well as local community members in SF in a little something I call "pancakePROFILES." Today you get a sticky sweet & inspiration-filled stack featuring none other than Ariana, herself. After the jump, learn more about Laundré and its founder.

pancakePROFILES: Perch SF

Perch 654 Chenery Street

It's been a while since I've done a pancakePROFILE series on the blog, but just in time for Mother's Day, I wanted to introduce you all to the owner behind the sweetest little shop I was invited to, in hopes that you'll make time to visit him and his store, too. If you're not familiar, my profile series is where I interview local folks in the San Francisco area who are doing some cool things (like starting or growing their own business) and making the city a richer place because of it. Truth be told, I encounter so many rad people doing amazing, inspirational things on a day to day basis through my blog, that I'd love to spend more time telling their stories again. Thus, I'm brining this long-too-dormant series back and truly hope that you guys enjoy it. So, let's get started shall we?

pancakeLEFTOVERS: Mel Scouts

I've always been a simple gal when it comes to jewelry and accessories. For me, the more unique the piece, the more I gravitate towards it. When I was younger, I loved going through my mom's jewelry collection to pick out pieces that I would later "borrow" and wear. And the best part about it? No one else had those same pieces. 

A little while back, I came across Melody Yip via the nifty world of Instagram and instantly gravitated towards her curate vintage jewelry shop, Mel Scouts. Through Mel Scouts, Melody fulfills her "restless spirit" by constantly learning about and scouting for beautiful vintage jewelry. Today, in another round of pancakePROFILES, I'm sharing a bit more about the Mel and her passion for curating vintage pieces.

pancakePROFILES: Bun Mee

Foods originating from the eastern hemisphere happen to satiate my palette more so than not. I'm a lover of Japanese food, Indian food, Filipino food, Vietnamese food, and more. While I gravitate more towards traditional asian food, I won't say no to a delicious fusion dish. If we are being totally honest with one another, I never really crave sandwiches. But, when I do, I crave a fresh, spicy bánh mì. Cue Bun Mee - my SF staple when it comes to the perfect Vietnamese stop. I had a chance to connect with restaurant entrepreneur, Denise. Denise left her career in corporate law to follow her passion of running her own business. Luckily for us San Franciscans, that meant opening up Bun Mee.

As part of my pancakePROFILES series, I asked Denise a series of questions from what inspired her to open Bun Mee to her favorite pancake (of course). Curious cats and foodies at heart, read more after the jump!

pancakePROFILES: Azil Boutique

Are you guys ready for the next featured small business in my holiday gift guide series? This week, I'd love for you all to learn more about to my friends at Azil Boutique. For those who may not be familiar, Azil is a charming jewelry and accessories shop located in San Francisco's Hayes Valley and Russian Hill neighborhoods. Filled with dainty and beautiful pieces, Azil is your one stop shop for the jewelry lover on your holiday list. 

pancakePROFILES: Garden Apothecary

So you guys know that I love San Francisco, right? But San Francisco wouldn't be half as cool as it is without all of the amazing people that help make it what it is. Being a blogger in this grand city has given me the opportunity to meet many of the creative, passionate, and supportive people in the SF Bay Area community, including some awesome small business owners who are doing the damn thing.

In celebration of the holiday season, and to show some love to many of the small businesses and small biz owners who have always shown us bloggers support, I wanted to share some special stacks throughout the month (a series of gift guides, if you will). Along with some of my holiday gift picks from these local businesses, I'll also be sharing a couple Q&A's from the people behind the scenes, who are making it all happen.

pancakePROFILES: 10 Questions For.. ME! (Because You Asked)

So, a little while back it occurred to me that I've never really done a proper Q&A post. I've received many emails over the last few weeks, and because I was already planning on doing a FAQ post, I thought that this would be a great way to address everyone's burning questions more efficiently. So, here is the post I promised you all :) Hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better.




1. So what's with the blog name? How did pancakeSTACKER come about? 

When I first started thinking about blog names, I originally thought that I would just use my first name and leave it at that. Then flashbacks of grades K-12, as well as all four years of college, and just life in general, came flying at me. Shonda? Shawnda? Chandameer? Chandamaheer? Yeah, all of those are wrong. I realized no one would be able to find my blog if I named it that, and people would wonder what a "Chandamheer" was. Still, I wanted to make it something personal that would tie in a bit of me with a bit of my passions. Then I realized that an infinite amount of things go with Stacker, which happens to be my last name. (You'd be surprised how many people don't realize Stacker is my last name.) Legos, pickles, blocks...all these things can be stacked. But what is the best stack of all? Pancakes, hands down. So that's when my blog came about. Pancakes tie in my love of food and Stacker ties in the personal style.

2. We know you like to eat, so how do you stay in shape? What do you do?

First of all, while I am extremely, extremely flattered that you consider me "in shape," I must admit that I am FAR from it. At best, I am just.. a shape. For as far as I can remember, I have always liked to eat. In high school, my friends and I organized a pizza eating contest and I took home the title for the girls. Since I was young, I was always pretty active. Don't be fooled, however, I am ridiculously uncoordinated when it comes to any sport. BUT, I must mention I am a Grade-A dancer and will beat you in a dance off...maybe. In college, it was the same thing. I ate a lot and people wondered what unnatural force took over my body as I scarfed everything down. Truth is, a lot of it has to do with my genes (thanks mom and dad!!), but at the same time, I really value my health and do try to eat relatively healthy when I can. So when I do work out, I really enjoy Zumba and Yoga. Yoga keeps me sane and helps push my body and Zumba is just fun!



3. What is your favorite food? Least favorite?

Oh, you know this is a tough one. I love, love everythinggggg...except for mushrooms and octopus because both really freak me out. I grew up eating a lot of seafood and so almost anything you'll find in the sea is a winner in my book. More specifically, I think I could eat sushi or Japanese food every single day for the rest of my life and not ever get tired of it. I used to have a huge sweet tooth, and while I still do, I'm much more into savory flavors these days. Indian food is also delicious and I'm not afraid of spice! I pretty much like to eat it all. Oh, but wait, my least favorite food, and I know I'm going to get a lot of hate mail for this one, is pasta. I just don't really like it, but I will still have it every now and then.

4. I'm so curious, what is your ethnicity? 

I get this one a lot too. People always ask me, "Where are you from," to which I reply, "America." Then they ask, "But what are you," to which I like to answer, "A human being, what are you?" I just always think it's funny, I'm not sure why. Anyways, I am proud to say that I am a halfie, more specifically, I'm half Black and half Filipino. This is my papa bear and this is my mama bear. I have to say, it's a pretty awesome mix and I love every single bit of my culture.



5.  So, what is it that you do? 

I used to work in fashion sales for a long, long time and then last year I took a new position on the advertising side of a print media publication here in San Francisco. It didn't quite work out, however, and I found myself really uninspired and quite unhappy. I moved on and I currently work for a PR firm in the city where I do Digital Media for clients -- which basically means I do social media all day long! I write editorial content for a variety of clients clients (consumer, tech, beauty, etc.), analyze engagement, and act as a social media resource for our firm. I also offer freelance work in this area, so if you are looking for someone to create content or manage your social media platforms, I'm you're girl.

6. And what else do you like to do aside from blogging? 

I'm actually really nerdy. I studied English World Literature and Spanish in college and enjoy analyzing text far more than one should. I love to read, but more than that, I love to write analytical essays. Weird, I know. Aside from the stuff you already know about me, I'm pretty much your normal gal. I love to hang out with my friends and just laugh. Laughing is my favorite. And, because it's my favorite, I love watching hilarious comedies (Bridesmaids - just about died, Friends - I own all 10 seasons, Modern Family - riot, Bad Girls Club - guilty, guilty pleasure, but so hilarious).



7. Where are your favorite places to shop, eat, explore in the city? 

I do a lot of my shopping at the usual mall spots, but San Francisco has an amazing selection of vintage clothing all over the place. For vintage, I like to dig through the racks at Held Over or Wasteland in the Haight, but really there are a ton of great stores there that I suggest poking into. For food, my favorite brunch spot is Red Door Cafe because it is amazing. But, I love tacos and Mamacita in the Marina has some amazing shrimp tacos that should not be missed. I am still trying to find a sushi place worth frequenting, but for my LA readers, my favorite spots include Monsoon (amazing happy hour) and Roll House for melt in your mouth fusion rolls. I generally like to explore all neighborhoods around town, but a good place to start is Hayes Valley. Colorful, diverse, great shopping, delicious food - it's a great neighborhood to explore on a sunny day.

8. What kind of camera do you use for photos you take? 

I use a Canon EOS Rebel DSLR. It's a great camera and a wonderful starter for anyone who wants to make the leap from a point and shoot to a dslr. Alternatively, I've also had a few their Powershot point and shoot cameras in the past and definitely recommend them if you want a great camera but are on a budget. Lately, I've been using my iPhone 4S to take a lot of photos when I don't feel like carrying around my big dslr. It takes amazing photos as well and I'm pretty addicted to all the photo editing apps!



9. What is your favorite part about blogging?

Aside from being able to share my passions with everyone, one of the most rewarding parts of blogging is the ability to connect with blogger buddies. I cannot even tell you how many amazing friendships I have made through blogging. It's wonderful getting emails or comments or tweets, you name it, from people who just want to say hi or from people who love reading your blog. It's a good feeling. I read every single comment and while I admit it sometimes takes me a long time time to respond, I'm thankful for all the support. Having a community of people who share the same interests is awesome.

10. What advice do you have for someone who wants to start their own blog? 


DO IT. Really, if you want to blog, you just have to go for it. Be genuine about it. Don't set out to blog because you want to be famous, either. Blog because you love it. People can tell when you put TLC into your blog. Provide good content and clear pictures. We're all visual people and when you have a good layout, clean content, and clear pictures, people will want to keep coming back. Also, don't be afraid to say hello and get out there. Go to events, introduce yourself, and just enjoy. While blogging has definitely turned into a business for some, it's important to remember that it's fun too. Try not to take it all too seriously. Oh, and most importantly, have goals and dream big. If I listened to everyone who thought that blogging was silly, pancakeSTACKER would have never made it past the pan ;)

Jacket: Urban Outfitters; Jeans: Free People: Necklace & Crossbody: H&M; Button Up (c/o), Bracelets, Ring, and Flats: Forever 21; Photos by: Tim Wong

Okay. Now you officially know more about me than you ever really wanted to know. To be fair, though, you did kind of ask... I tease. Anyways, all questions about how I do my hair, favorite beauty products, and how I do my makeup/what I use on my face, will all be addressed in future posts! So those are some things to look out for! If there are more burning questions you have for me, please feel free to comment below or email me. I'll do my best to get back to you all! 

pancakePROFILES: 10 Questions for Yosh Han of YOSH Olfactory Sense

While circling the table that was home to the magical bourbon ball cake pops at the Industrie Denim Launch Party, I was fortunate enough to meet San Francisco based perfumer, Yosh Han. We bonded over those delicious balls and got to talking about ourselves. Yosh, whose perfumes have been featured in notable publications including Vanity Fair (USA/Italy), Vogue (USA/Italy/Germany/Russia), Glamour, Allure, and Elle (just to name a few), takes pride in using the finest ingredients from all over the world to create special artisanal fragrances and vibrational perfumery. I was so intrigued to find such a creative and successful mind, that I had to ask Yosh for an interview. Luckily for me and you, she gladly obliged.


1. Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what brought you to San Francisco, and what do you do here?
I love experiencing new cultures, so I've moved around a bit. Growing up in LA, I felt I a calling to be near the mountains of Colorado. When I wasn't skiing, I worked in a perfumery. After 4 winters, I moved to Europe for the next 3 years traveling all over using The Netherlands as home base. The next two years, I relaxed on 100 acres in horse country in Northern Virginia. While I was living there, a friend of mine asked me to move to San Francisco to open the Pirate Store in the Mission. How could I resist? On a whim, I decided to make Pirate Perfumes. Soon other artists, writers and boutiques asked me to make their perfumes. One thing led to the next and now I have my own independent business designing perfumes that retail around the world.


2. How did you get into the perfume industry? How did you know that this is what you wanted to do? 
It was by accident really. I walked into a store in Aspen and knew immediately that I wanted to work there. The Chinese character for my name YOSH means 'aroma' so one could say that it was kismet that I became a perfumer.


3. How do you go about creating your perfumes? How long does the process take, and what inspires you when you are creating your scents? 
My perfumes are based on moods and personalities. The newest one, Sombre Negra, means Black Shadow. I felt inspired by our shadow selves - the side that we're supposed to hide. But really, how can we be expected to be happy all the time? 


4.  What is unique about your perfumes? What makes YOSH different and special? 
Each fragrance is attuned energetically and resonates with chakra energies and numerology. I used both natural and technology based materials.

5. What’s your advice on picking the perfect scent for yourself? And do you have a favorite perfume?
In the past, people had one perfume that became their signature scent. But the trend now is to wear different fragrances depending on your mood, season or fashion. My favorite in my collection is Ginger Ciao - it has black coconut, ylang ylang, night blooming jasmine, sandalwood and ginger. It's tropical and sensual.


6. Now that 2011 is coming to a close, what are some goals you would like to achieve for YOSH in 2012?
I hope to expand to the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan.

7. What is your favorite place in San Francisco for: Food? Drinks? Shopping? People Watching? And…any other hidden gems from our city that you would like to share?
My favorite places...

CHOCOLATE:

http://www.recchiuti.com/ -- Love the rose caramel

http://www.tcho.com/ -- The factory tour is amazing - the smell of chocolate is so decadent!

http://www.charleschocolates.com/

http://www.elbowchocolates.com/ - The caramel rosemary is to die for

TEA: / Coffee - We have coffee snobs / local roasters here

http://samovarlife.com/ - They have a tea called ocean of wisdom, which I love --- custom blended for the Dalai Lama!

http://www.bluebottlecoffee.net/

http://fourbarrelcoffee.com/

RESTOS:

http://www.piccinocafe.com/

http://pizzeriadelfina.com/

http://bouletteslarder.com/

http://www.outthedoors.com/

http://www.nopalitosf.com/

http://www.uvaenoteca.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kappou-gomi-san-francisco

My go-to-hole in the wall:

http://www.shalimarsf.com/

Food / Art  gallery:

http://18reasons.org/

COCKTAILS: 

http://www.alembicbar.com/ - They have one called Gilded Lily with real gold in it. My friend, another perfumer also has a fragrance called the gilded lily. Funny coincidence.

http://www.ryesf.com/

http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/

GIVING BACK: - these are my main pet charities

http://826valencia.org/ ---The pirate store!

http://youthspeaks.org/voice/

http://www.japansociety.org/

http://www.theteachersalaryproject.org/

Oysters:

http://swanoysterdepotsf.com/

http://www.hogislandoysters.com/

Great produce (other than whole foods):

http://www.yelp.com/biz/bryans-grocery-san-francisco

I buy all my seafood here. It's the best.

http://www.rainbow.coop/

Amazing for bulk - especially herbs, loose teas and natural body care products.

Great charcuterie -- This is one that we filmed...I love the smell of pork here.

http://fattedcalf.com/

Best fro yo & ice cream:

http://www.fraicheyogurt.com/

http://biritecreamery.com/

Best cheese:

http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/cowgirl_creamery.php

http://www.cheeseschoolsf.com/

8. San Francisco has recently turned up the volume in style and fashion. What do you think about San Francisco style and how does it play a part in your life? Do you ever style your outfits based on a perfume you’re wearing that day?  

San Francisco style is really low key. There's pressure to not wear any labels but still look fashionable. This means that we support independent designers but have a refined sense of quality and style. It's quirky but also bold. It's important here to look good without looking like you made a big effort.

I encourage people to choose their perfume first - before they get dressed because when you do that, you acknowledge how you're feeling in the moment. Most people are harried, late, stressed trying to getting to work in the morning. Then they look in the mirror and are horrified by their fashion crises. But if you stop to acknowledge your mood first, then choose the fragrance, it just sets the energy for the day or evening. If you're feeling flirty, you might wear a sensual fragrance. Then you can choose your wardrobe more easily. 

9. This is a silly question I like to ask everyone for my interviews because I feel it’s very telling. If you could be any kitchen appliance, which one would you be and why? 

At the moment, I'm absolutely in love with my Nespresso machine. I only wish George Clooney were here to make my cappuccino for me every morning.

10.  What is your advice for others who are interested in starting their own businesses?

Young people take rejection personally. But I've learned that the answers are often in timing and not personal at all. So when someone says 'No' what they mean is Yes, but later.  But most people, if they hear the word no, take it like it's a death sentence. But for me, I find a way to find the Yes. 

BONUS: And of course, what is your favorite pancake flavor and why?

Butter, real maple syrup and fresh strawberries. 

All images c/o Yosh

Yosh's perfumes can be found at Barneys New York, Lucky Scent, Henri Bendel, many haute perfumeries throughout Europe, and now exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue in Dubai. I had the pleasure of sampling a few of Yosh's scents and I have to tell you, they are absolutely entrancing. For those who are looking for their own signature scent or the perfect gift for someone special, Yosh also creates custom perfumes and colognes! If you would like to get in contact with Yosh or have any questions, feel free to email me or check out her website here. 

And as an added bonus, Yosh is offering two vibrational perfumery workshops in the upcoming year.

"In this workshop, we will smell aromatic essences and explore perfume design: composition and editing. We will cover a bit of history and basic technical info on top, middle and base notes. We’ll also talk about fragrance families. Based on intuition and chakra energies, each participant will create their own Aromatic Attunement in a flacon or roll-on bottle."

Saturday, Jan 7th at 1:00 - 4:30 PM and Sunday, Feb 17th at 9:30 AM - 1PM

A very special thank you to Yosh for taking the time to answer all my questions! Stay tuned for more interviews to come next year! Don't forget to enter my giveaway with JewelMint & StyleMint for your chance to win a piece of your own choosing!