Routines, 2025
Sotto Mare, Davidson & Licht, La Espiga de Oro, Sea Ranch, MORE
ABOUT FOUND • Routines
FOUND Routines chronicle how notable Bay Area residents — across industries, neighborhoods, and interests — spend their days and nights, from the first meeting to the final nightcap or weekend getaway.
The best routines are vibrant snapshots, full of personality, useful intel, and actionable recommendations. Collectively, they paint a picture of lives well spent in and around the city. Know someone who would make a great FOUND Routine? Hit reply or drop us a line at found@itsfoundsf.com.
Here now, a handful of our favorite Routines from 2025.
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Pie guy
TONY GEMIGNANI • chef/pizzaiolo • Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Slice House, Capo’s, Dago Bagel
Neighborhood you live in: Fremont, CA
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I try to start the day with a walk or jog around 430-5a before checking emails and working out. I get a lot of emails, not just for business, but from people all over the world asking questions about recipes and dough. Then I check on the fruit trees, vines, and anything else growing and in season on my property. I usually hit the road by 730a.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’ll begin with a stop at my bakery, where we make the dough for our North Beach restaurants. I’ll also check on the sourdough bread before making my way to Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. There, I’ll meet with chef Oscar to go over operations and any new recipes I have in mind for the restaurant. After some Zoom calls, it’s time to get behind the line and start on the wood-fired oven where we make Neapolitan pizzas. I also stop at Capo’s, where I meet with my chef and management team before the restaurant opens for dinner. I’ll stay in North Beach until about 7p and finally head home to see my son before he goes to bed.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
In San Francisco, Tadich Grill. It’s an old-school spot that my wife and I love to go to. I always get the octopus salad with an extra slice of garlic bread. My North Beach favorites: Tony Nik’s Cafe and Gino & Carlo’s for cocktails; Sotto Mare for fish, especially the sand dabs; Original Joe’s for cocktails and dinner; Firenze by Night for house-made pasta; Caffe Trieste for my morning espresso or latte; Victoria’s for pastries; and Liguria Bakery for focaccia in the morning.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I have Warriors season tickets, and we love going to Giants games when we can bring my dad, who’s 83, and loves baseball. I’m in a car club called Satan’s Angels, and show cars all over the area, from Nevada City to Santa Rosa. You’ll also find me at the Goodguys Car Show in Pleasanton.
Any weekend getaways?
We like Sausalito, Napa, and Petaluma for day trips. In Petaluma, we’re going to Keller Winery and are staying at Metro Hotel & Cafe, where you can spend the night in an Airstream camper. Strike Zone has sports memorabilia and comic books, and Nostalgia Alley is a cool retro video game store and arcade with OG video games. For food, we like the old-school diner Sax’s Joint and Della Fattoria Cafe.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A 1941 Cadillac LaSalle.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Davidson & Licht in Walnut Creek for jewelry and watches. They have an amazing staff who are extremely professional and courteous and go out of their way to find what you’re looking for.
Photo: Mark Fiorito/Gamma Nine Photography
–1/29/25
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Doggie diner
SARAH HAN • mutt correspondent • Muttville Senior Dog Rescue
Neighborhood you work in: Mission District
Neighborhood you live in: Oakland
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Wednesday is one of the busiest and most fun days to be at Muttville HQ. It’s an intake day, when we take in new senior dogs from shelters or guardian surrenders. After the newbies are checked in by the intake team and checked out by the vet team, they’re introduced to the rest of our muttley crew. We’re a cage-free shelter, meaning dogs can choose to roam, snuggle with volunteers and visitors, or find a quiet space to settle on their own.
From 11a-4p, we open our doors to the public. People come in to adopt dogs, pick up fosters, or just spend time with our pups. We also have community events on some Wednesdays, like Cuddle Club sessions for people 62+ and humane education programs for kids to learn about senior dogs. I’ve overheard so many visitors call Muttville the best place on earth. Can you say that about your workplace?
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m working on the newsletter and social content to spread the word about some upcoming events, during which adoption fees for our mutts will be waived. Muttville recently rescued our 13,000th senior dog! Yes, it’s a huge milestone — but we know there are so many more to save. We’re hoping for another big adoption weekend soon.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m heading to Mama in Oakland on Wednesday to celebrate my partner Tim’s birthday. It’s the perfect midweek birthday meal for my Italian-food-loving other half. My other food stops this week are in the Mission: picking up Guatemalan tamales at La Espiga de Oro, stopping in for koji salmon bento at Aedan, and a raised crumb donut from The Jelly Donut.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I hope to catch some Oakland Ballers games this summer. I’m all about their underdog spirit. Come on, their mascot is a possum named Scrappy. We are all Scrappy!
Any weekend getaways?
Every summer, we try to make it to Sea Ranch. We never stay at the same place twice, alternating between renting a home on the coast and in the woods. This time, we’ll be on the coast, steps away from Walk on Beach. My favorite thing to do at Sea Ranch? Nothing at all. It’s bliss.
What was your last great vacation?
We had an amazing time in Chicago this spring. It’s one of my favorite cities and one of my favorite seasons to visit. Everyone is so happy to be outside after the winter — you can feel their joy. We did all my favorite things: visited the Art Institute, went on the Chicago Architecture Center’s River Boat Tour, indulged in a ton of delicious food, explored neighborhoods on foot, and went to the massive Ravenswood Manor neighborhood-wide garage sale. The highlight of the trip was getting a personal tour of Smashed Plastic, Chicago’s only vinyl record pressing plant.
Where are you donating your time or money?
I’m lucky to live within walking distance of Sausal Creek Watershed. On Sundays, I volunteer with Friends of Sausal Creek to help restore and maintain native plants at the Bridgeview Trail and Pollinator Garden. Clearing brush and invasive plants is hard work, but it’s so satisfying to see the areas we’ve restored thriving and blooming.
–6/13/25
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Traveling brunch
JILLIAN KNOX • artist & stylist
Neighborhood you live in: The Mission
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
It’s pretty low-key — a lot of maintenance with the studio, cleaning, organizing, checking orders, putting things back, coffee. Usually, I’m ordering a breakfast sandwich from Rad Radish.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m working on a project that starts shooting on Monday. It was confirmed two days ago, and it’s a five-day shoot, which is nuts. But I’m excited about it because it’s a creative agency out of my hometown (Washington, DC), and I’ve been wanting to work with them for a long time. It involves lots of online ordering, all of which arrives at my house today through Sunday, which is going to be insane. My neighbors are going to be like, “What the fuck?”
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Yesterday, I went to the Museum of the African Diaspora for a talk, and then all my friends went to Minnie Bell’s in the Fillmore. They don’t really have that many vegan options, so I had some collard greens. My usual spot is El Chato in my neighborhood. I just love what they’re doing. They’re so community-oriented, the food is lovely and beautiful, and the wine selection is really good.
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
On Sunday I’m hosting Black Brunch Club. George McCallum started it years ago, and ever since it’s been a traveling brunch. I hosted it last year, and we had about 50 people show up, which is crazy in my apartment. This round, we’ll see, but that’s the adventure. It’s a potluck, so George assigns categories to people, and they all bring something sweet, savory, salad, or wine.
Any weekend getaways?
We love going to Mendocino for staycations up there. My friend has a place in Sea Ranch, so usually I can persuade him to let us stay. I usually just cook, because his house is so nice and cozy. I bring a ton of groceries, and I’m recipe testing, experimenting on new things.
What was your last great vacation?
We went to Michoacán for Day of the Dead, and that was amazing. My husband’s family is in Acuitzio, and that was the first time I got to see where his mom and dad grew up, and his grandmother’s house — all the homes are adobe. I highly recommend going to Pátzcuaro for Day of the Dead. It’s the most culturally rich experience. Everyone is decked out, there’s so much art, and so many vendors. I also really liked Tzintzuntzan; the historical cemeteries are there, and all the graves were decorated with so many marigolds. Even driving or walking around, you’d see truckloads of marigolds.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I love eBay, and I love vintage Gucci, so I’ve been keeping my eye on a couple of pairs of shoes. ShopRelove is also amazing — they have a lot of pre-owned, pre-loved, high-quality vintage.
There is also a record company that’s so cool called Nudie Records. They do vinyl, and everything gets pressed in Canada, but they record and master and all that locally. I found a few albums that I really like — a psychedelic rock album and two spaghetti western records. One of them has mariachi vibes.
Photo: Karen Santos Photography.
–4/2/25
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.
–7/27/25
Other Notables!
DONATO CABRERA, The California Symphony, 09/26/25
MARTINA KOSTOW, Team Kostow, 08/01/25
EVAN KINORI, Evan Kinori, 03/12/25
JEN BERLINER, Patagonia Provisions, 04/09/25