In this unique episode of our OG’s and Young Guns Series, we invited renowned poets Nia McAllister and Tureeda Mikell to BTFR to interview… each other! about their experiences as literary artists.

Peña Pachamama was recently deemed a San Francisco Legacy Restaurant– and for a very good reason. For 25 years, founders Quentin and Eddy Navia have cultivated this Bolivian vegan restaurant, bar and performance space into a

San Francisco residents Anna Chiu and Valerie Santillo are fashion designers, business partners and close friends. Together they started KAMPERETT, a womenswear label whose name is an inspired blend of their mothers’ maiden names. They focus on designing elegant yet effortlessly chic pieces for

In 1960’s San Francisco, the “Color Movement” swept across the city’s architectural landscape. Victorians and Edwardians were painted in bright fanciful colors as an homage to the psychedelic colorscape of the LSD experience. Inspired by this, architectural color designer Bob Buckter, aka Dr. Color, carried this movement into the 70’s and on. As his style transformed over

Matt Hollis is the Principal and Lead Architect at MH Architects. This San Francisco Native got his start in design as early as childhood, learning building from his father and graphic design and illustration from his mother. Having also lived abroad in Japan, Hollis developed a

We kick off our Home and Design Series with siblings Tracy, Kelly and Johnathan Dearman– titans of the San Francisco Bay Area real estate scene. The Dearman Real Estate Group was founded by Johnathan, though the origins of his family’s business go back to the 1950’s when his grandmother, Bertha Flemming, provided real estate services throughout the

As always, we end our series with a bit of food! This week we sat down with Cherith Spencer, baker and owner of Namesake Cheesecake in Menlo Park. Her business started when she was given singular access to the secret cheesecake recipe of a dear family friend

Barbara Bogatin is a master cellist, a teacher of meditation and music, and a Bay Area native. She attended the Juilliard School, receiving both a Bachelor and Master of Music. She’s played for the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under Leonard Bernstein,

Victoria and Paul Ehrlich are a musical power couple. Both classical string instrumentalists, the two have played in top orchestras across the Bay Area. Vicky plays cello and has been with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra for nearly 40 years.

Nicolas A. Garcia is the Director of Pocket Opera, a chamber opera company in San Francisco. Garcia has been extensively involved with Pocket Opera, first as a performer and then as General Director after the passing of its founder Donald Pippin in 2021.

When thinking of Harlan Hays, music almost immediately comes to mind. His whole life all he’s wanted to do is sing. Growing up in San Francisco, Harlan had access to the rich musical world of his home city and asked his parents to join the San Francisco Boys Chorus (SFBC) when he was only 8 years old. For nearly 25 years he’s been part of SFBC

Beautiful, athletic and graceful, ballet dancers have discipline that is unmatched by most other professions. Dancers at San Francisco Ballet have just this and more. Our guests this week dance with SF Ballet, Max Cauthorn a Principal Dancer and Luca Ferrò a member of Corps de Ballet. The two have both originated roles and soloed in classics, all with keen artistic sensibility and intense athletic technique. While Max began with SF Ballet School at age eleven and worked his way through the ranks, Luca ventured far from his home in Novara, Italy to be part of the company. Though dancing with one of the best ballet companies in the world has been a remarkable achievement for these young men, they are nonetheless humble, hard working and kind.

Meet Max Cauthorn and Luca Ferrò!

Michael Belle is a Tenor with the coveted San Francisco Opera Chorus. Starting with a trade for free voice lessons, Michael was drawn to the artistic life of a classical musician. From singing the chorus in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Porgy and Bess to performing leads in productions across New England, Michael’s career only bloomed until landing a spot in the world famous San Francisco Opera Chorus in 2009.

Michael’s time at the San Francisco Opera has been one of much change. The traditionally elite European Opera culture has begun to dwindle, making way for a more ethnically and musically diverse one. As such, he’s gotten to sing in ethnically diverse casts and works by non-European composers. Michael is proud to help usher this new era for classical music.

Meet Michael Belle!

Stanlee Gatti is San Francisco’s premier event designer and art administrator. Known to be one of the best of his trade, Gatti’s designs are unique, innovative and artistic. He challenged the city’s traditionally conservative taste in public art by bringing Keith Haring sculptures to the Moscone Center, and threw some of the city’s most lavish parties. In 2008 Gatti founded the SF-based art and design fair called FOG FAIR that has grown to become one of the preeminent art and design fairs in the nation.

Stanlee has a beautiful and quiet charisma about him. His creative and curious mind has allowed him to turn the idea of event planning into an art itself. Enjoy our exciting interview with him!

For more information about Stanlee, please visit: http://www.stanleegatti.com/

Meet Stanlee Gatti!

Innovative designer Julienne Weston is a Bay Area native and founder-owner of Weston Wear, a fashion boutique in SF’s Mission District. A lifelong dancer, Julie combined beautiful clothing designs with flexible dancewear using cotton lycra, a nearly undiscovered fabric at the time. With her dance-fashion concept, Julienne established Weston Wear in 1981. For 36 years, she designed and manufactured her eclectic collection of sensuous apparel, with inspiration from European prints to thrift shop finds. San Francisco had a very strong fashion manufacturing industry at the time, and Julie was at the top of this field throughout her career.

Julienne closed Weston Wear four years ago and is currently making one of a kind creations from her collection of fabrics and market finds. We were elated to interview this creative designer in her studio this fall.

Meet Julienne Weston!

John Anderson is as lovely and charming as his home state of Texas, his taste in residential design just the same. As principal designer of John K. Anderson (JKA) Design, John takes a personal approach to every client’s home, listening to their needs and desires so that every client’s unique flair can shine through. His experience spans more than 25 years of residential design in San Francisco, working with Eminent Bay Area designers like Steven Volpe and Orlando Diaz-Azcuy. Since his studio opened in 2005, John has created timeless designs that beautifully blend his client tastes with his eclectic blend of mid-century, modern and classic design principles.

The San Francisco Bay Area has a deep and rich architectural history. John and his design team at JKA Designs celebrate and honor it with grace. We were thrilled to interview him at his North Beach studio.

For more information about John Anderson and JKA Designs, please visit: https://www.johnkanderson.com/about/

Meet John Anderson!

Dorian Webb is an award winning designer and artist specializing in jewelry, home decor and luxury art. She is inspired by her desire to elevate daily living through design and aims to exemplify, celebrate and support black excellence through her high quality products and community focused actions. She is also a frequent lecturer and panelist at universities, design schools and business conferences where she speaks about her entrepreneurial philosophy and artistry. Dorian currently sits on the board of directors for the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco.

Dorian is tall, elegant, and striking. Her jewelry is no different– directly reflecting her ancestors, nature and community, Dorian’s art encompasses elements of the natural and spiritual world in the most stunning ways. We felt lucky to interview her this September. Enjoy!

For more information about Dorian Webb, please visit: https://dorianwebb.com/pages/behind-the-design-inspiration-is-everywhere

Please meet Dorian Webb!