Keeping calm and getting creative, businesses are thinking outside the box as they carry on at the start of month three of shelter in place.
Hayes Valley's Gazette delivers French fashion essentials to your door, City Arts & Lectures takes its formerly live programming to YouTube, and Governor Newsom has never looked cuter—he's a bobblehead!
The store's boarded up, but Gazette finds new ways to connect with customers.
Classic Breton-striped shirts available at Gazette, now offering delivery in SF.
(Courtesy of Armor Lux)
For a couple of years now, Hayes Valley's petite brick-and-mortar has been SF's go-to spot for French goodies. You know, the coziest Breton stripes, chicest beauty products, and coolest accessories. Oui oui, French-born founder Charlotte Boedec has all the right connections with need-to-know brands from her homeland. Right now, though, like many small business owners, Boedec has had to reinvent her business in order to keep on keeping on: "Of course, it was shocking to get the news of the shelter in place, but it has been a great opportunity to explore new ways for Gazette to keep connecting with its clientele and to keep on selling."
Taking a cue from restaurants, Boedec implemented her own delivery and pickup service. SF customers can shop online and/or set up a virtual appointment where they can tour the IRL store and ask questions of the stylish Boedec. (Those in need of a bit of retail therapy sans spending are welcome to browse, or e-window shop, as well.) Once a purchase is made, Boedec hops in her electric car and within three hours of adding to cart, your order arrives at your doorstep. Since starting this service three weeks ago, Boedec has been delivering almost every day. Customers have been stocking up on a lot of C.Lavie skincare, sleek bodysuits, and Saint James sweaters and shirts. Many of the items are those featured in Gazette's regular newsletters. The current theme? French essentials for your stay at home experience. Ooh la la! // 334 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), gazette-store.comCulture (and fashion) continues at City Arts & Lectures.
A screenshot from City Arts & Lectures' recent webcast of "Femail: The Art of Sustainable Fashion."
(Courtesy of City Arts & Lectures)
Nowadays no one is queuing up outside the city's Sydney Goldstein Theater to hear a favorite author, artist or politico. Still, the 30-year-old City Arts & Lectures knows the show must go on—on YouTube. The beloved nonprofit's cultural series and KQED radio program is turning both new events and those scheduled before the pandemic into webcasts, which can be enjoyed for free (hey, silver lining) on its YouTube channel. Our current fave is "Femail: The Art of Sustainable Fashion" with Camilla Carper and Janelle Abbott of Femail, an art and fashion collaboration created remotely through the mail. It's moderated by Avery Trufelman of the much-lauded podcast "Articles of Interest," which ponders things like why womenswear lacks pockets and the environmental impact of the textile industry.
Debuting today, Thursday, May 7th at 7:30pm, is a conversation between Jia Tolentino and Jenna Wortham. The two brilliant, insightful, and funny writers—at The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine, respectively—will share their observations about life in these crazy dystopian times, plus what to watch, eat, read, and do. Note: Ticket holders for previously scheduled events are encouraged to forego refunds and, instead, make tax-deductible donations to help support the ushers, technical staff, and mission of the organization. The rest of us can help by donating here. // cityarts.net
Gov love is real! Order a Gavin Newsom bobblehead, help a hospital.
(Rendering courtesy of Bobblehead Hall of Fame)
Finally, we can all hunker down at home with SF native son Governor Newsom. Or at least we can hang with a big-headed, mini-bodied version of the city's former mayor, former MatrixFillmore owner, and current hero for his efforts as a state and national leader at the forefront of stopping the spread of coronavirus. Just a few days ago, the Milwaukee-based National Bobblehead Hall of Fame unveiled Newsom's bobblehead, which can be pre-ordered now for arrival in July. Newsom's mini-me sells for $25 with $5 from every purchase going to the Protect The Heroes fund in support of the 100 Million Mask Challenge. To keep the gov company, we're also buying a Dr. Fauci bobblehead. Oh, Tony, how you make us swoon. //store.bobbleheadhall.com
