Crocker Galleria

{Guest Post} New twist on an old concept: Sharing

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:09:58 +0000

Christina Oatfield, Green Zebra Environmental Action Center’s rockstar retail and events manager, is always sourcing interesting and innovative Power Hour topics centered around healthy, balanced and sustainable living. Knowing that she’s got something extra special lined up for this Thursday, we asked her to report on the upcoming topic: Bay Area Community Exchange, a time and resource sharing concept. Spark your interest here, then come in this Thursday, July 28th from 12-1 pm to the full scoop on how you can participate.

{Written by Christina Oatfield of Green Zebra Environmental Action Center}

With economic recession and threats to the environment abound in our world today, many community groups and individuals are pointing to sharing and bartering as strategies that should re-gain importance in our daily lives. Chances are that you or someone you know has participated in an organized food swap or a car sharing program, or works in a shared work space, or regularly participates in sharing in more informal ways, such as in a potluck setting or by lending yard tools to a neighbor. There is now a field of law developing to help people share and an online magazine dedicated to sharing. San Francisco hosted a whole conference about sharing in May–and this wasn’t the first of sharing conferences.

How can sharing help build community, save money and improve people’s quality of life? The Bay Area Community Exchange, a time bank that allows individuals to exchange services on an hour-for-hour basis with other members, has the following to say:

Many of us have friends, neighbors and family members who help us out, but they can’t always be there. A community timebank is like having an extended family to help out. Whether you give a music lesson, take care of someone’s pet, or take someone to a doctor’s appointment, one hour given equals one hour you can then use. The BACE Timebank honors the unique gifts, talents and resources that each of us has to share, regardless of age, employment or ethnic background, such as tutoring, yard work, repairs, running errands, and storytelling. Timebanks also help enrich our lives with things we may not normally be able to afford, like language lessons or massage. Spending time dollars instead of cash, can help you save money for expenses like rent, medicine, and food.

How can sharing help reduce our impact on the environment? Here’s just a partial list of things you could share that would generally reduce their impact on the environment compared to you having one all to yourself (idea list thanks to The Sharing Solution):

cars
garden tools
office space
houses (and all of their contents)
household appliances
books
clothes

And here are some eco-friendly practices that you may not have time for by yourself, but might have time to if you were sharing the work with other people in your household or neighborhood:

having a backyard vegetable garden or chicken coops
compost heaps
home-made food
a CSA delivery

You can find these and more ideas at The Sharing Solution’s website.

Want to start sharing right away? The Green Zebra Environmental Action Center in the Crocker Galleria will be hosting a Power Hour event with Seth Mazow and Rick Simon of the Bay Area Community Exchange time bank on July 28 to get you started! Find out more here.

More than just home decor

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:40:48 +0000

If you haven’t heard of CompoClay yet, listen up.

In keeping with our theme of being at the forefront of social responsibility and eco-friendly living, working and shopping, we would like to extend a warm green welcome to our newest addition, CompoClay. According to the press release from their grand opening in May they are “proof that even in a down economy fresh ideas and revolutionary technologies can thrive.”

The Crocker store will be the eco-friendly home-decor start-up’s second showroom (the first is just across the bay in Alameda). Take our advice and walk through their space… we think you’ll fall in love with their tasteful, eclectic style and affordable prices just like we did.

Also, housed under the same roof as their retail showroom, CompoClay has opened a Green Resource Center where they will promote green causes, organizations and businesses, and will play host to a series of green seminars, conferences, forums and other events focusing on sustainability and environmental awareness.

Website: compoclay.com

Located on Level 2 of the Galleria nearest the Post Street entrance.

Get plugged in. {Your car, that is}

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:24:36 +0000

Post Montgomery Center is proud to be the first Class A {self-explanatory, right?} high rise in San Francisco with Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations. Yep, we’re supporting a cleaner and greener car fuel: electricity.

We started with some research in late 2010 and found that there were big things happening in the Electrical Vehicle {EV} world. It turned out that ten U.S. car manufaturers had begun to roll out new electric car models in late 2010 and would continue to do so in 2011 {you may have actually seen recent commercials for the Chevy Volt}. Along with the new and improved fleet of electric vehicles hitting the pavement, car manufacturers have collaborated with EV charging technology company Coulomb Technologies to standardize all charging equipment {all plugs and all outlets will now match}.

With the growing network of charging stations {ours included} and the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, we are proud to be at the forefront of this new technology. And best of all, we are offering our charging services for free. You heard right, free. So to re-cap: There are two charging stations in our Garage, both are available to the public. Each station is capable of charging two cars at once {a total of 4 cars at one time, and yeah, we know you can do the math}, and one car can get a full charge from our equipment in as little as 4 hours.

Read more about our Charging Stations here. And of course send an email if you have any questions.

Donate Blood. Save lives.

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:38:08 +0000

Giving blood saves lives, plain and simple. According to Blood Centers of the Pacific, each year about 12.6 million units of whole blood are donated in the United States alone. These units are then transfused to about four million patients annually. And just think, one single pint of blood can save up to three lives. Can you spare a pint?

On Thursday, March 10th, 2011 you’ll have a chance. Crocker Galleria is teaming up with CAC Real Estate Management Company’s 111 Sutter Street building and Blood Centers of the Pacific to host the Sutter Street Blood Drive. And, if you need an additional incentive (and a little blood sugar after your blood draw) we’ll be thanking our donors with individual boxes of Leonida’s Belgian Chocolates. Yum. Plus, if you haven’t donated before, you can find out if you are eligible to donate here.

Where: Donor coach will be parked on Sutter Street @ Montgomery Street
When: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Sign up: Schedule an appointment online by clicking here bloodheroes.com, then select Donate Blood and enter in sponsor code sutterstreet.

March Madness Pool

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:49:58 +0000

We’re back! We took a break last year but after several cranky phone calls and emails, we decided to play again. So thank you for your feedback and welcome to our 5th Annual Crocker Galleria 2011 March Madness Pool!

Click here to enter.

Pool ID: 54940

Pool Password is: crocker2011

Your bracket needs to be completed IN FULL before the start of the tournament which is March 15th. Teams will be announced on Sunday, March 13th.

Scores will be calculated daily and can be viewed on the Pooltracker website. The big winner will receive a $500 Crocker Galleria Gift Card and second place will receive one for $250. Gift cards can be used at at any Galleria Retailer/Restaurant. Visit www.thecrockergalleria.com for store listings. For more information on how scores are calculated {Progressive Pick ‘em or a tie breaker situation} visit the Pool Settings page.

If you need further information or have questions, please contact us via email at lindsey@thecrockergalleria.com or nicole@thecrockergalleria.com.

GOOD LUCK!

Cans for Coupons:Food Drive with a twist

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:04:24 +0000

Each day, hunger affects 197,000 people in San Francisco alone. Crocker Galleria would like to invite you to help us take action against this startling statistic by participating in our Cans for Coupons Food Drive. So basically, you help us donate to a good cause and we’ll give you a little something in return. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

We have partnered with the San Francisco Food Bank to run a food drive {with a twist} during the month of March. For each 5 non-perishable items you donate (see list below for stuff to bring in), we’ll give you a Crocker Galleria food coupon good for $3.00 off at any participating Galleria restaurant. There’s a limit of one coupon per person per day, however you can always donate more!

Here’s how it works: There will be two donation barrels in the main Lobby of 1 Montgomery Tower (accessible through the main entrance at 120 Kearny Street or from Level 2 of the Galleria). Food donations are welcome anytime, however in order to redeem your donation for a coupon, you’ll need to present your 5 items to our lobby attendants weekdays between the hours of 1:00 and 3:00PM. Or, you can bring them up to the Management Office weekdays between the hours of 8:30AM and 5:30PM.

The drive is scheduled to run for the entire month of March, however dates are subject to change based on management considerations. For more information, visit our blog: crockergalleria.com/blog

ITEMS TO DONATE:

Canned Fish & Meat
Canned Vegetables & Fruit
Cereal & Oatmeal
Cooking Oil
Dry Pasta & Sauce (plastic jar)
Fruit Jelly
Juice (boxes or cans)
Dried Beans
Macaroni & Cheese
Mayonnaise
Meat Helper/Boxed Mixes
Pancake/Waffle Mix
Peanut Butter
Rice
Snacks (Think Nutritional!)
Soup

Farmers’ Market & Heirloom Tomato Salad

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 06:41:53 +0000

Need an excuse to step out of the office? We can help with that. With the seasons finest fruits, vegetables, ever-so-delicious baked breads and pastries, you 1) pick up the {fresh} ingredients for a healthy & delicious dinner; 2) feel good about supporting your local farmers and 3) enjoy the fresh air outside your office walls. Mark your calendars’ and set your alarm because we’re giving you permission to take a break and treat yourself every Thursday, rain or shine. Cheers to you!

Farmers’ Market, open every Thursday 10AM – 3PM

Before it’s too late, enjoy the season’s finest heirloom tomatoes, recipe below.

Heirloom Tomato Salad (adapted by Williams-Sonoma)

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

6-8 very ripe heirloom tomatoes, in variety of sizes, shapes, and colors
½ tsp sugar
Salt to taste
2 green onions
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp minced fresh {or dried} oregano
Balsamic vinegar
White wine vinegar
3-5 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions

Slice tomatoes, capturing the juice in the bowl. Layer the tomatoes on a platter, sprinkling them with
sugar, salt to taste, green onions, garlic, oregano, and the captured juices as you arrange them.

Finish with a sprinkling of balsamic vinegar and sherry vinegar to taste and then drizzle with olive oil
to taste. Let stand until ready to serve or for up to 2 hours.

Serve accompanied with course country bread for sopping up the juices from the tomatoes

Green Streets Cleaners

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:23:48 +0000

Stay Clean. Be Green.

Discovered. A local family owned high-end dry GREEN dry cleaning service. Would you like me to
repeat that? Wait, it gets better.

• They deliver. No deep dish here, but it’s calorie free!
• Laundry. As in they’ll do your laundry FOR you. genius.
• On site alterations, every Wednesday.
• Want to open a corporate account? You can do that {here}
• BONUS: receive 10 cents for every wire hanger you return. Hey, that can add up.
• In a rush? Here are your options: same day, overnight or next day. How does that sound?

Karibu Kenya

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:50:05 +0000

Unbelievable. Not one, but every gem found in this quaint boutique comes {handmade} from Kenya. With each purchase you are supporting small businesses, fair trade groups, cooperatives and the artists of Kenya. Now that’s a reward all in itself. Founder of Karibu Kenya, Coco Banks is hands down one of the most gracious and genuine individuals, who’s passionate about making a difference. Learn more at http://www.karibukenya.com where you can follow her blog, check out upcoming events as well as shop online. Get ready to be inspired.

Planning ahead, let’s talk Holidays.

This year’s holiday party; avoid wearing the same LBD {little black dress} or necklace as your coworker with one {or two} of these beauties, guaranteed to have people swooning over.

Looking for a hostess gift? How about this lovely wooden pair, perfect for serving salads {serving utensils + small salad plate} and to complete the gift, throw in a colorful dishtowel and a recipe card filled out with your favorite salad recipe. A gift like this, you may have just scored a free pass for all future parties.

Traveling to the in-laws this holiday season? Or perhaps you’re looking for the perfect gift for the traveler in the family. Then I would {highly} suggest you check out the Sandstorm bags, just be prepared to want one for yourself. Safari-grade messenger bag for him and the wine cooler canvas bag for you.

More Fun {fair trade} finds

*Le Collane di Betta Collection: Ghana Chocker

MemXpress

admin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 05:26:15 +0000

Maybe you haven’t planned out your holiday shopping, let alone pulled out your Halloween décor but let’s face it, that time of the year is just around the corner and there’s no avoiding it. How about we make it easy for you? That’s what we thought. First, you’ll need is a photo of your little one’s first toothless smile or your significant other smearing wedding cake all over your face – ok, those are just examples but you get the picture. No pun intended. However, if you have a specific design, say your wedding monogram, you can apply that to any product. Now, take either a photo or personal design and customize anything from glass cutting boards, coasters, mugs, stainless steel water bottles (and the list goes on) for someone you want to share a special memory with.

Here’s an idea. Photograph an ingredient from your favorite dish. For me, I would choose lemons from my mother’s infamous lemon pasta. Next, work with MemXpress to customize a cutting board or apron with the photo selected and within no time, you’ll have the perfect {& useful} gift for the novice chef. For the finishing touches, take the customized gift, wrap it with all the special ingredients (i.e. lemons, pasta, cheese, etc) and voila, there’s one person checked off your holiday shopping list.

Mugs: perfect for drinking your morning coffee or tea and dipping your after dinner cookies into