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Craft Magazine Article for BPB

Craft Magazine ran a great article on Bodega Party in a Box! It's in the current "Celebration" issue with Amy Sedaris on the cover. Incidentally, Bodega Party in a Box would make a great Valentine gift.

New Site for Bodega Party in a Box

Kit and I put together a new site for Bodega Party in a Box, that really shows off the kit. We used some of those great product shots taken by Dana Davis. Check it out!

Bodega Party in a Box sells for $35, and is colorful, graphical and fun. It includes a cookbook, a screenprinted reusable shopping bag, 8 invitation cards and envelopes, and big plastic bodega flag decorations. Funds go to to a good cause, and it's a great gift for the holidays, birthdays, housewarmings, etc.

More props for BPB

Erin Cooks wrote a great post about Bodega Party in a Box.

Studio photos of Bodega Party in a Box... coming soon

Wednesday, Kit and I went to Oakland to get the Bodega Party in a Box professionally photographed. We spent a few hours with Dana Davis, who did a great job on the photography, and was so much fun to hang out with. I'm excited to get some better photos of the kit onto the e-commerce site.

BPB press already

Conde Nast Traveler wrote about Bodega Party in a Box this week!

Bodega Party in a Box Launch!

Bodega Party in a Box is finally in print!! You can buy it here. I’ve donated design time for project for many months, and am really happy with the outcome. The Bodega Party in a Box was designed for the Neighbors Project, a nonprofit devoted to improving urban neighborhoods.

The kit’s contents help you throw a party using ingredients from your local bodega (corner store). Bodega Party in a Box encourages people to patronize local businesses, and meet their neighbors. Sales of the kit benefit Neighbors Project initiatives, including the Food & Liquor project.

The kit contains a colorful, entertaining cookbook,

readingbook, originally uploaded by kthrnhdg.

8 fun party invitations and envelopes,

a stylish screen-printed reusable shopping bag,

and genuine bodega flag decorations!

flagtugofwar, originally uploaded by kthrnhdg.

The cookbook features recipes contributed by food-loving contributors, many of them food bloggers,

as well as Chef Daisy Martinez (BoriquaBlog and DaisyMartinez.com). One spread also features an essay by Chef Daisy about her own memories of bodegas.

Fun sections like "Anatomy of a Bodega,"

and "10 Things That Make a Great Bodega" round out the book.

The kit's design is inspired by all the great visual language you see at corner stores everywhere. Independently owned, they often have unique signage, and hand-written text describing delicacies. In my neighborhood, San Francisco's Mission District, there are many Latin and Asian Bodegas with items like fresh tamarind candy, durians, and Argentine dulce de leche. Some practically explode with hot colors and graphics. I love all the fruit bins, cell phone ads, old ATMs, etc. that give each store its personality.

The recipe book takes you on a walk through the bodega. The book's grid is based on the dimensions of your corner store's freezer, with milk, eggs, soda, and other items on the the "shelves." Shelf fronts tell you page numbers and credits instead of prices, and sale signs show recipe titles. Scrawled handwriting conveys recipe titles and more. Throughout the book, quotes and snippets of advice from recipe contributors add voice and personality.

Researching the project, I became fascinated with Mexican cut paper art, and found that many world cultures have a tradition of such art. I created a cut paper-like motif that appears in Bodega Party in a Box items. It includes some of the food items you might find at the corner store, or use at your party. The precise edges of the cut paper design contrasts nicely with the rough-edged high contrast photos.

One design challenge was the fact that our recipe photos and bodega snapshots vary widely in quality, sizing, lighting and style. And recipe text lengths varies a fair amount. The solution was the sort of "shaggy grid" design; it easily accommodates all types of photos and recipe lengths, providing cohesiveness and unity. It also helps convey the feeling of the stores. High contrast monochrome bodega photo treatments are forgiving, and the grid helps unite the food photos.

And creation of the kit was itself an experience in neighborliness -- a collaborative process. Many people contributed recipes, and photos of their creations. Others contributed great bodega pictures. Chef Daisy gave a recipe and wrote a lovely bodega essay. Public relations goddess Jennifer Cohan is contributing PR help. Oscar Printing donated the beautiful, colorful invitation printing. Camputee Press did a great job screen-printing the reusable shopping bags. New Leaf Paper contributed ALL of our lovely paper. Volunteers worked with Kit on spray-painting stencil experiments with the flags (it didn't pan out this time; we may try it again later). The wonderful Food & Liquor team, of course, contributed their expertise. And SF's Red Sea Market, and other stores let our team take lots of photos. Thanks for all your help!!!

Avon Walk San Francisco 2008

Last weekend was the Avon Walk, and it was amazing! A huge pink party through the streets of San Francisco, our starting point was Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park. Barely awake, early on Saturday morning, Maria and I located Susan. We listened to a tear-inducing presentation at Avon's stage, given by breast cancer survivors.

And the walk began.

The first cheerers were up early to encourage us. A little old lady watched from her corner window, waving a pink teddy bear.

Bikers for Boobs were out en masse.

As were Dudes for Boobs,

And, uh, these guys.

At frequent rest stops, support crews plied us with food and drinks, pink swag, and lots of encouragement. They were amazing. It really felt like people were thankful we were walking. It helped us keep moving when we were tired.

Saturday was perfect for walking -- not too hot or cold. The view from the bridge was beautiful.

Cars and motorcycles done up with messages, streamers, balloons, etc. blared music along side the road to keep up the energy.

Some walker teams wore costumes.

Cheering committees woo-hooed around every corner. We took in beautiful views of the Sausalito and the waterfront.

At the next rest stop, a policeman pointed down at us sitting on the lawn, yelling "Freeze!" It got our adrenaline going. Ah cop humor. Several police departments, including San Jose's, generously volunteered to help with the walk. Some even made up special pink shirts for the event. They were so much fun, and kidded around with us through the whole walk.

Jason met up with us after Sausalito, and accompanied us for part of a mile. We ate lunch at a rest stop, and walked through some wetlands where white birds were nesting. Arriving at Mill Valley, we reached Saturday's goal, the 13 mile marker. My knees were so happy to stop. Jason drove us home.

After an evening of icing and resting, we were ready for more on Sunday.

Starting at Chrissy field, we skirted the waterfront for a while. Climbing Nob Hill, restaurant patrons clapped and high-fived us. Some held out bowls of candy.

These Elmo cheerers were around every corner on Sunday; they drove around so they could keep up with us all day. Other groups did this too.

After descending to Civic Center for a rest stop, we walked through SOMA, and by interior design shops in Potrero Hill. Axis Cafe gave out refreshments.

Walking, rather than driving, through so many parts of the city provided new, street-level perspectives on the neighborhoods.

Butterfly lady cheered us up steep Potrero Hill.

 

After climbing and descending the hill, we arrived at a special destination, the Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center. It was touching to see one of the specific places that benefits from our walk. The people who met us there seemed so happy to see us walking.

Trudging through the Mission District, we lunched in Dolores Park. Avon gave good nosh throughout the event. Walking through the Lower Haight, along the panhandle of the park, and into Golden Gate, we finally came full circle, to Speedway Meadows.

Our welcome was loud and enthusiastic -- Elmo people were there, as were the Dudes for Boobs, many people's families, and so many others.

All the walkers kind of paraded back to the stage, with cheers all around.

Post-walk, Maria and I rewarded ourselves by eating a bacon avocado cheddar burger, and giant milkshakes at Sparky's.

What an experience.

This walk had 3,200 participants and raised over $7 million, a new high for San Francisco! Team Udder Chaos raised over $9,000 of that. Some of that money will go toward immediate help for people in the Bay Area.

Thank you so much to everyone who supported my efforts to raise money. I thought of you throughout my walk. You are generous and wonderful.

Some people have asked me if it's still possible to contribute. It is, for a little while longer; please click here to do so. I'm still trying to achieve my goal of $3,500.

Team Udder Chaos Update

So the Avon Walk is in 3 days. I can't believe it!

Team Udder Chaos is excited. We suffered one major setback though. Marcia recently had a freak accident at her work; some building materials fell on her foot, and she was injured. Fortunately, she'll be ok, and will be able to walk normally soon. But unfortunately, she won't be able to participate in the walk. We'll miss her.

I've been training over the last weeks, but have been a little negligent in my posting. One great walk was with Jason at Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. We were surprised to find that there's an absolutely beautiful redwood forest nestled between some hills there. Also, I don't really associate deer and bunnies with Oakland, but they too made an appearance.

Thank you again to everyone who has contributed to my walk. It's been really touching to get such support. My total is now $2905. Your generosity will be a great help to people suffering from breast cancer.

Soon I'll be posting with news from the actual event!

Redwoods and Banana Slugs

Soda Gulch, originally uploaded by devittj.

The weekend before last, Jason and I went hiking again, to help me train for the Avon Walk. We hiked Purisima Creek Preserve, near Half Moon Bay, on a friend's recommendation. Our friend was right -- this is one of the most beautiful places in the area. It was a perfect day out -- 70's, and much of the hike was in the shade of tall redwoods. The water of the creek by the trail sounded refreshing, and there was a cool breeze.

We saw our first banana slugs; they actually look like bananas. They're kind of cute that way. We saw 4 in all.

Banana Slug, originally uploaded by devittj.

Further along, the trail meandered up a hill, and became an idyllic sunny path fit for Winnie the Pooh. We saw birds, including a quail atop a small tree. And many butterflies.

Butterfly Thistles, originally uploaded by devittj.

 

Portfolio

After about 2 years of not having an online portfolio, I'm feeling the pressure to put some work up again. I created a bare bones online portfolio the other day, in record time -- you can see it here. I'll probably create something more robust in the future. Above is an image from the Bodega Party in a Box I've been designing for the Neighbors Project, for the last many months. It's going to print this week I think.