Thanks to this challenge, I went to @omnivorebooks for the first time today and promptly fell in love. 😍 What better place to get these 2 books (fun fact: the kombucha book was written by my coworker @lactoferment!). I can't wait to go back over the weekend and browse more. 📚

Nikki Collister

@ncollister

I signed up for the #SmallBizChallenge and so far have been to Arizmendi (the BEST scones) and Avedano's (the SMOKEY MOE!) so I feel like I have no choice but to do this alphabetically. 🤷‍♀️ https://smallbiz30.com/

5/2/2021, 4:03:16 PM

Favs: 11

Retweets: 1

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

🅱️! This evening we got takeout from Biriani House, a new Indian restaurant on Valencia St. It was delish (I got chana masala, Alex got goat biryani) and they were extremely generous with their naan. Sorry for no pic, we were too hungry!! https://missionlocal.org/2021/03/biriani-house-more-indian-in-the-hood/

5/2/2021, 6:40:39 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Ok, next one's easy. Cafeto has been our go-to coffee shop while working from home. It's run by two siblings (brother Jose and sister Lupita) and they are the sweetest people ever. A true neighborhood gem. 💎

5/3/2021, 8:57:01 AM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

I can tell this month is going to skew heavily towards bakeries, and I'm very ok with that. 🥐 Today's destination: Destination! A Glen Park fave with tasty empanadas. 🤤

5/4/2021, 9:16:37 AM

Favs: 7

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Epicurean Trader saves the day! Needed more wine (a recurring theme this past year) and we were already going to Cortland to pick up our CSA box, so Day 5 of Alphabetical #SmallBizChallenge worked out perfectly. 🍷

5/5/2021, 6:33:41 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 1

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Day/Letter 6: Flowercraft! Love this nearby garden supply shop. They have all our necessities (today it was compost starter ♻️) plus a great selection of indoor and outdoor plants. Not to mention a resident cat!!

5/6/2021, 5:57:46 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

(quietly reciting the alphabet to myself every day to make sure I'm not messing up)

5/7/2021, 7:19:40 PM

Favs: 1

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Day 7: Livin' the GOOD LIFE @goodlifegrocery. 🌽 Sometimes I feel spoiled having so many amazing local markets in the city. Thank you x10000 to the folks at The Good Life and Canyon Market for keeping us stocked during the pandemic. Why am I squinting so hard in this pic?

5/7/2021, 7:32:53 PM

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Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Day 8: Ventured out to the west side for Hook Fish Co., which comes highly recommended from my friends in the Outer Sunset. Super tasty!! Provided the perfect dinner for tonight's Moby Dick Reading Circle zoom. 🐋

5/8/2021, 6:25:45 PM

Favs: 7

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Skipped a day (Happy Mother's Day 💐) but back in action for Letter I: Ilobasco! Today we got dinner from this pupuseria just a short jaunt down San Bruno Ave. I love an excuse to go to the Portola; anyone got any fave spots here you recommend? #SmallBizChallenge

5/10/2021, 8:18:55 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Letter J: Maybe a cold take for people in the Mission, but Jump Start (coffee/deli/grocery on Guerrero and 24th) is such a great little spot. Picked up chai and bagels this AM, need to come back soon for sandos. Excuse my awkward pic & please just go there! 🙏🥯

5/11/2021, 9:50:04 AM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

K is for Kittea, SF's one and only cat cafe! 😻 I'm so glad they survived 2020 (read local news for the saga), and *so* stoked they recently moved into the same building as my office!! Today was my first time visiting the new cat lounge & meeting resident sweetie Blinx. 🌉🖤🌉

5/12/2021, 4:59:02 PM

Favs: 6

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Coop is here to show you our Letter L #smallbiz: Laughing Monk Brewing! Picked up some beer for a family lunch tomorrow, can't wait to go back and enjoy their spacious outdoor dining area. 🍻

5/14/2021, 8:33:00 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Ⓜ️! Yesterday we went to our old hood and got bulgogi from our fave Korean BBQ place in the city, Muguboka. 🤤 They do excellent takeout but I can't wait to eat there in person again...it's been too long!! Enjoying the leftovers tonight.

5/15/2021, 8:44:54 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Halfway through the alphabet and a little more than halfway through #SmallBizChallenge! Yesterday we opted out of home cooking again and got lamb & chicken wraps instead at Novy, a family-and-women-owned Greek restaurant in Noe Valley. It was cold outside but bustling inside! 🥙

5/17/2021, 10:36:54 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 1

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Thanks to this challenge, I went to @omnivorebooks for the first time today and promptly fell in love. 😍 What better place to get these 2 books (fun fact: the kombucha book was written by my coworker @lactoferment!). I can't wait to go back over the weekend and browse more. 📚

5/19/2021, 6:34:15 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Letter P, of course, is Pinhole Coffee on Cortland. A wonderful neighborhood gathering place PLUS you'll almost always meet a friendly doggo in the parklet while you wait. 🌈 Today's photo brought to you by Alex on his morning coffee run.

5/20/2021, 12:15:34 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Q was a tough one! After some searching, we found Quê Huong Vietnamese Deli on Irving, and I'm glad we did! Love me a good banh mi at the park.

5/22/2021, 2:40:56 PM

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Next up, Russian Hill Bookstore, which is severely underrated IMO. Alex says it has the greatest selection of Gene Wolfe books of any bookstore he's been to (and we've been to a lot of them 😛). #SmallBizChallenge

5/22/2021, 2:51:13 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 2

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Today for letter S we visited Silver Sprocket for the first time! It's full of awesome indie comics, zines, and art, lots by local artists. Check it: https://www.silversprocket.net/about/

5/23/2021, 9:15:20 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

I've been looking forward to letter T, because I haven't been to a record store in so long. 😭 Thrillhouse Records in Mission Bernal finally fulfilled the dream. They're completely volunteer-run(!) and have great stuff. Picked up some vintage Steve Miller Band, $5 each.

5/24/2021, 8:22:55 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Letter U! This is another one we've been thinking about since the beginning of the month. Uncle Boy's was our go-to burger spot in the Inner Richmond. Now that we live across town, every trip there is a special treat. OG Burger + fries = 💯 #SmallBizChallenge

5/25/2021, 7:16:40 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Yesterday we picked up Vega for dinner and I was so excited about my pasta that I forgot to take a photo! So I stopped by on my morning walk to sneak a quick pic. Fun fact: another V biz down the street, VinoRosso, is owned by the same folks. 🍷

5/27/2021, 9:07:13 AM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Another Bernal mainstay as we approach the end of alphabetical #SmallBizChallenge: Wild Side West! Best backyard patio in the city, hands down. Feeling grateful for beers and good company on the eve of a long weekend. 💖

5/27/2021, 10:27:03 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 1

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Tonight was Xanath, an EXTREMELY CLUTCH ice cream joint in the Mission. This was my first time here, even though I've walked by plenty of times. I got the Mexican vanilla bean ice cream, Alex got saffron ginger. 🤩 Definitely a new favorite.

5/28/2021, 8:18:57 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

Another cross-town trip for Letter Y: an extremely filling lunch at The Yellow Submarine (my first time here!!). Amazingly, I think this has been the only overlap with @B_Quizzle, who also did the #SmallBizChallenge alphabetically! ✌️

5/29/2021, 3:51:18 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 1

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Nikki Collister

@ncollister

We did it! Sunday brunch at Zazie marks the end of alphabetical #SmallBizChallenge (but definitely not the end of supporting small biz in SF). Visited lots of old favorites, discovered several new spots, and now have a long list of others to try out. Thanks for following! 🧡

5/30/2021, 11:05:51 AM

Favs: 6

Retweets: 1

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