Dog days
Driftwood Bread, Third Culture Bakery, Portland, Potrero Hill listings, Lilo Carlsbad, Cotogna, MORE
WORK • Friday Routine
Miller time
WILLIAM FENIMORE • founder • Driftwood Bread Co.
Neighborhood you live in: Outer Sunset
It’s Friday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Friday morning arrives at 5a with a small dog holding a gaze stronger than my sleep paralysis demon. She is ready for breakfast. I juggle between drinking my tea, vaping on the volcano, and prepping my weekly bread orders. I’ve operated a teeny-tiny bakery out of my home in the Outer Sunset since 2019, and while I didn’t expect it, I have let it take over my life completely, for better or worse. I’ve found the key to balancing a creative business space and a homey living space is to pay scrupulous attention to orderliness, and set myself up for success by prepping everything I can in advance.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’ll gear myself up to mill 150 lbs. of whole grain flour on my eight-inch stonemill, then recipe test some new 100% Sonora wheat and olive oil breadsticks. (I recently found a pair of fully restored cast iron breadstick pans from the 1940s and knew I had to experiment. When they’re dialed in, expect to see the breadsticks at the Outer Sunset Farmers Market.)
After that, I’ll take a short walk to Black Bird Bookstore’s cozy cafe for an oat matcha. Then I’ll wash my car, take a nap, and record and rehearse for a music project of mine debuting soon.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Often I find myself nestled in the arms of Kevin’s Noodle House on Irving St. for some delicious pho, Rose Indian Cuisine on 9th Ave. for incredible vegetarian options, and Third Culture Bakery in Berkeley for their black sesame and ube mochi muffins.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Most of all, I enjoy relaxing with Driftwood’s CEO, Lola (above left). It is during this time I fill her in on quarterly earnings as we make way around Chain of Lakes duck pond in Golden Gate Park. GGP is a super accessible place for a solid mountain bike session in the middle of the city — yet another reason why the Sunset feels like a foggy dream. On my days off I also enjoy attending shows at The Independent, which is perfectly located for a pre-show burrito from The Little Chihuahua. I spend a lot of time across the bridge in West Marin and even as far north as Mount Shasta for when I need to turn back into a monkey à la Animorphs.
Any weekend getaways?
Camping at Samuel P. Taylor State Park is an essential whenever I drive to Keith Giusto Bakery Supply in Petaluma for a grain pickup. It’s so necessary these days to get out of the city when you can, and camping’s been an effective way to unwind under aromatic redwoods. Extra points for stopping at Good Earth in Fairfax to grab any last minute snacks before unplugging. I also have family in Davis so it is nice to see them to escape the hustle and bustle. My brother loves taking me to Temple Coffee Roasters for caffeine and sweets.
What was your last great vacation?
Portland! (said in Kyle Maclachlan’s voice) Stayed at the Clyde (formerly the Ace) Hotel downtown, and rode bikes everywhere. Stopped at Heart Coffee, got a phallic donut at Voodoo, and swam in a river 30 minutes outside of town at Oxbow Regional Park.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I am fortunate enough to have a longtime market customer-turned-friend make me a matching pair of custom guitar amplifiers a short while back. Tim of Milkman Sound builds everything by hand in the Bayview, capturing the eternal sweet spot of the vintage Fender tone. He is to my knowledge one of the last, if not the only, guitar amplifier producers still in the city.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Other Avenues Co-op was the first place to ever carry my bread. Since 2019, they’ve advocated for my product and let me in as a part of the team, and for that, I’m grateful. Described as a “tiny but spunky Rainbow Grocery,” OA has some of the best quality produce in the city, along with an incredible bulk section. If you ever find yourself near the beach, go grab a cold ginger beer and some dried mango slices and tell me it isn’t the best you’ve ever eaten.
WORK LINKS: SF’s iconic Twitter bird blown up in Nevada • Robocab roundup: Xoox to build Hayward plant… Tesla taxis debut… self-driving ID Buzz rides in Vegas… Waymo heads to greater Bay Area • Young graduates are facing an employment crisis • Should business schools really be teaching entrepreneurship?
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Upwardly mobile
Sunny Potrero Hill, with its very specific view of the San Francisco skyline, is a favorite for TV and movie location scouts (see: Ant-Man, Nash Bridges, or Sweet November for a start), and with its mix of classic Edwardians, mid-century multi-units, and glossy new construction, it’s got a whiff of real estate magic, too. Compass reports that in the past year, 33 homes have changed hands there, at a median price of $1.57M. Condo sales are also brisk, with 59 sold at a $1.05M median. Here, three listings to mull for your next big picture move:
→ 131 Missouri St, 402 (Potrero Hill) • 2BR/2.1BA, 1575 SF condo • Ask: $1.995M • top-floor penthouse in Sternberg Benjamin-designed building • Days on market: 20 • Agent: Mike Hood, Compass.
→ 803 Vermont St (Potrero Hill) • 4BR/3BA, 2350 SF house • Ask: $2.998M • renovated 1925 build with McKinley Square view • Days on market: 5 • Agent: Andres Restrepo, Compass.
→ 100 Southern Heights Ave (Potrero Hill, above) • 4BR/3.1BA, 3001 SF house • Ask: $3.5M (down from $3.595M on 05/16) • city and water views, 4 private outdoor spaces • Days on market: 41 • Agent: Justin Goldberg, Compass.
REAL ESTATE LINKS: In Pac Heights, Eric Schmidt snags 3BR $24M apartment • Roger Fields’ 550 California gamble pays off • SF home prices surge… while Santa Clara County’s dip • Residential rent is up, too.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Do You Remember?
Earth, Wind & Fire • Greek Theatre (Berkeley) • Fri @ 830p • sec C, row 4, $545 per
Roots SC vs. Monterey Bay FC • Oakland Coliseum (Oakland) • Sat @ 7p • sec 126, row 1, $140 per
Queerly Beloved Pride • Pussy Riot & BAE BAE • 1015 Folsom (SoMa) • Sun @ 9p • VIP, $122 per
CULTURE & LEISURE LINKS: Haight events hub The Center shutters•1000 Van Ness movie theater rises again• Mint Plaza block party launches in July •TnT Art Lab prepares for Tenderloin opening• Local scribes launch co-op news org Coyote Media.
GETAWAYS • Carlsbad
Carlsbad’s crown
The Skinny: 22-seat Lilo is the culmination of chef Eric Bost and restaurateur John Resnick's transformation of a sleepy Southern California surf town into a culinary mecca. The duo now operates four restaurants (Wildland, Jeune et Jolie, and Campfire) within walking distance of one another on State Street. Lilo, which opened last month, is the quartet’s fine dining entry, and allows Bost to flex like he hasn’t been able to since closing Auburn in Los Angeles during the pandemic.