Padres demand and the business calendar ↗
Quoted on playoff foot traffic, seasonality and keeping guest pricing consistent.
PRESS & PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS
A few times
someone asked.
Running a business gives you plenty to talk about: a Padres playoff run, feeding air traffic controllers during a shutdown, a new collaboration or showing up for the neighborhood. Here are some of those stories.
HILLCREST / 2012–2017Hillcrest was
Hillcrest was
part of the job.
I grew from busser to bartender to general manager at Uptown Tavern. I was heavily involved in LGBTQ+ community activities there, including events and fundraisers.
Uptown was part of the neighborhood. Pride, community events and fundraisers mattered there, and being involved mattered to me. That stayed with me as I moved into running other businesses.
Explore the Uptown years ↗INTERVIEWS & NAMED COVERAGE
In the conversation.
Stories that name or feature me, with context on the work discussed.
Preparing for a postseason crowd ↗
A broadcast segment featuring my perspective on adjusting ordering and staffing for a home playoff game. The link opens the full episode with its transcript.
Spill the Beans × Prince St. Pizza ↗
Named coverage of the pizza-bagel collaboration, connecting the two brands through a limited-time product.
Feeding the people watching the skies ↗
Reporting on meals I helped provide to local air traffic controllers during the government shutdown. Additional coverage of the food-support initiative.
Don’t forget the FAA ↗
An interview about supporting air traffic controllers with food from The Smoking Gun and Spill the Beans during the shutdown.
Meals for air traffic controllers ↗
Additional named coverage of the same food-support initiative, including the collaboration with the chef and a supporting partner.
Planning for the unexpected ↗
Quoted on staffing, supplies and guest demand when baseball, tourism and weather overlap.
A local partnership for the Blue Heart Foundation ↗
An interview about working with Extraordinary Banana Pudding to support a local business and a youth-serving nonprofit.
Extraordinary Banana Pudding × The Smoking Gun ↗
Additional coverage of the same community collaboration, including my comments on introducing guests to a local business.
THE BUSINESSESPlaces people
Places people
write about.
Coverage of the brands and guest experiences I’m part of. These features recognize the businesses and wider teams.
Among San Diego’s best bagel shops ↗
Spill the Beans is included in the magazine’s bagel-shop guide. This feature recognizes the business and its products.
Reader bagel picks ↗
Spill the Beans appears in a reader-recommendation roundup.
An arcade addition in the Gaslamp ↗
Reporting on The Smoking Gun’s arcade addition as part of downtown’s growing restaurant-and-games scene.
The Smoking Gun arcade opening ↗
A feature on the new arcade and its connection to the restaurant and bar experience.
First look: The Smoking Gun & Spill the Beans ↗
A launch feature about the two adjoining concepts, their food and drinks, and the team behind the spaces.
THE UPTOWN YEARS / 2012–2017
Community in practice.
Venue and community coverage during my time at Uptown. These sources document the wider team’s involvement.
Uptown at San Diego Pride ↗
Pride coverage includes a photo caption identifying the Uptown Tavern and Energy 103.7 float. This documents the venue’s participation during my time at Uptown.
Dining Out for Life ↗
Names Uptown Tavern among participating venues supporting the LGBT Community Center’s HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs, during my time as general manager.
Mama’s Day fundraiser ↗
The organizer’s announcement lists Uptown Tavern among the participating restaurants for its May 2017 fundraiser supporting meal delivery to people affected by AIDS or cancer.
Recognized community support ↗
The Center’s annual report lists Uptown Tavern among its donors. This is recognition of the business, rather than a personal donation or award.