Sep 11, 2008

San Francisco and Napa Valley


The inside track to Napa Valley
For those who love life, seek out adventure and are willing to take the road less traveled.

Are you heading to the eye of the American wine industry anytime soon? Napa Valley. The creme de la creme. If so, then here is a little cheat sheet on where to go and what to do. Most people from around the country first start their voyage from San Francisco; so while you're here, check out a few of these great little tidbits on the restaurant and cafe scene. No one will believe you knew of these places:

1. Piccino Cafe, Historic Dogpatch District, 801 22nd St., SF, CA 94107, (415) 824-4224: Small friendly place to get an incredible cup of coffee; and, if it's later in the day, Italian thin-dough pizza. Yum, yum.

2. Just for You Cafe, Historic Dogpatch District, 732 22nd St., SF, CA 94107, (415) 647-3033: One of the best full-breakfast places in San Francisco. Casual, of course.

3. Bar Crudo, Downtown, 603 Bush St., SF, CA 94107, (415) 956-6396: Here you'll find some of the finest sushi in town, along with some of the best beer in the world. This place is really small. I am talking the size of a large closet!

4. Nopa, 560 Divisidero St., SF, CA 94117, (415) 864-8643: Great Euro-American cuisine coming together. Friendly staff, fresh and exciting food. Great wine list, and the mixed drinks are some of the best in town.

5. The Front Porch, Mission District, 65 29th St., SF, CA 94110, (415) 695-7800: Think you're hip? Think again. This crowd defines hip. Some of the best southern 'soul' food in San Francisco. The fried chicken is a must. With a beautiful glass of red burgundy, you've got it!

Okay, enough of some of the hot spots in San Francisco. There are a couple of ways to get to Napa. Golden Gate Bridge heading north is by far the prettiest way. However, if you want to cut off 20 minutes of your time, take the Oakland Bay Bridge.

Staying in Napa? Here are a few places to check out for rooms. Reservations a must.

1. Petit Logis Inn, 6527 Yount St., Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-2332: Small, six-room European-style hotel, but big on luxury. Fantastic location to walk to shops and restaurants.

2. River Terrace Inn, 1600 Soscal Ave., Napa, CA 94559, (707) 320-9000: Much bigger hotel located within blocks of downtown Napa. Great access to venues. Truly a great value operation given what most hotels charge in this town.

When it comes to dining in Napa Valley, here are some of the best places to eat in the Napa Valley.

Breakfast: Bouchon Bakery, 6528 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-2253: Forget the bacon and eggs. This has to be the best bakery in America. Everything is to take out. Outdoor tables when weather is nice. You can't eat enough croissants. Picnic sandwiches also!

Lunch: Angele Restaurant and Bar, 540 Main St., Napa, CA 94559, (707) 252-8115: A Napa Valley classic with a French flair. You know you're eating in the right place when half the patrons are local.

Dinner: Bistro Don Giovanni, 4110 Howard Lane (just off Hwy 29, north of Napa), Napa, CA 94558, (707) 224-3300: This is the place for great atmosphere, people watching and certainly food. Classic Italian with the best quality American food elements. A big winner.

My picks for wineries...fewer is the optimum word. The biggest mistake is to go to too many wineries. Pick a few good ones and do other things. I found that the best quality wineries were actually on or off the Silverado Trail, and not on Highway 29 that runs up the valley.

1. Darioush Winery, 4240 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 257-2345: Lush, lavish, hard to beat. Outstanding wines across the board. No reservations required.

2. Shafer Vineyards, 6154 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 944-2872: Beautiful, secluded winery. The reds are some of the best Napa produces. Reservation required.

3. Regusci Winery, 5584 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 254-0403: One of the last great family-owned wineries in Napa. Great wines, friendly staff. Get a sense of what Napa used to be like. No reservations required.

4. Silverado Vineyards, 6121 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 257-1770: With wine prices through the roof, Silverado delivers on its promise to make great affordable wines. No reservations required.

5. JAQK Cellars, (415) 398-1630: Fantastic designed bottles, fantastic wines. As this new winery builds it's physical operation in the near future, it now offers great wines through its Web site. You can sign up for updates at the Web site or find out more on its Facebook page.

Joel Templin, a 1991 graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Stout's art program, co-founded HATCH DESIGN, a company based on the belief that the best design is honest, hands-on and human. Clients include American Eagle Outfitters, Apple, Coca-Cola, Hilton, Pepsi, Starbucks and many others. This entity, Hatch, was born to enable him to do more than just help clients build brands; it was designed to allow him to create and grow Hatch employees' own brands as well. JAQK Cellars is the first idea to crack out of the egg. It couldn't be a more beloved first hatchling. Read reviews by the Daily Traveler and YumSugar. And read his profile in the Winter 2007 alumni magazine here.



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posted by UW-Stout @ 1:54 PM   0 comments

Aug 12, 2008

Entrepreneurship

Five secrets to entrepreneurship

1. Trust your instincts. Your experience and intuition guide decision-making and can ultimately make you more efficient and responsive.

2. Talk to as many friends, colleagues and community leaders as you can about your idea. Each person brings a new perspective, and perhaps one you haven't thought about. It's a great way to test your concept to see if it sticks.

3. Be self-sufficient. My graduate studies at the University of St. Thomas really equipped me with the framework of running a business, from financials and budgeting to strategic planning. For most of us, this stuff can be boring and a bit of a challenge to absorb, but you'll find it priceless as you move forward with your initiatives.

4. Build a network of friends and colleagues that are both critical and supportive. You'll want solid advice and feedback, no matter how hard it is to hear sometimes.

5. Lastly, have fun. If you enjoy what you are doing, it will manifest in your work.


Michelle Ollie is co-founder and president of The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vt. She graduated from Stout in 1992 with a degree in industrial technology. Read her profile in the Outlook alumni magazine here.


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posted by UW-Stout @ 5:16 PM   2 comments

Aug 11, 2008

Leadership Development

Five tips on leadership development

1. Never compromise your character or integrity.

2. Never stop being a student. Be a student of your business and be a student of people. Learn from all the leaders around you. Identify the leadership traits you admire and those you don't. Practice the traits you admire and make sure you don't exhibit the behaviors that you abhor in others. I have been surrounded by many great leaders, and some that were not so good. I have learned something from all of them.

3. Develop your own personal leadership style. While you should learn from others, make the leadership style your own. People know if you are trying to fake it, so be genuine.

4. Assume a leadership mindset from day one. Don't wait until you are appointed to a leadership position to begin using your leadership skills. I've never seen a person in my company told to stop acting like a leader, regardless of their level in the hierarchy. Assume the role.

5. Network. Network both in your industry and outside of your industry. Cast a wide net and nurture your relationships. Nobody can truly be a leader by being alone in their efforts.



Brian Colianni is executive director of customer service operations for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, based in Bangkok, Thailand. He has worked for Ford Motor Co. for 29 years. Colianni was hired by Ford directly upon graduation from Stout in 1979 with a degree in industrial and vocational education. Read his profile in the Outlook alumni magazine here.



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posted by UW-Stout @ 8:56 AM   0 comments