Metromint Blog

Halloween at Metromint

by Jaime Borschuk, Web & Print Manager

This Halloween, Metromint held an online costume contest for our fans. We were happy to receive a number of costume photos from enthusiastic fans, though we had to select just one winner. Our costume winner is Jenikah. Jenikah spent a week making this beautiful peacock costume by hand! These photos show the costume modeled by Megan Jade:

The Metromint office also held a costume contest among employees.  Founder Rio Miura and President Scott Lowe awarded the grand prize of 1 paid day off work to Jenn Chan, who wore a Bruno inspired Velcro suit that kept her warm, uncomfortable, and sticking to everyone and everything all day long.   Yours truly was declared the 2nd prize winner of a $75 gift certificate to Whole Foods for my Alladin Sane-era version of David Bowie's alter ego Ziggy Stardust, which Metromint President Scott Lowe deemed as "solid." Honorable mentions went to Kiyoe Nakazawa's cheerleading costume, and Tessa Phosrithong's Vampire costume. Go team!

blooms of possibilities

5/13/09
by Michele Thorne, Wellness & Outreach Director

A few weeks ago Jaime, Jenn, and I decided to get out of the office for our Monday morning team meeting. We took a field trip around the corner to Brickhouse restaurant and met over a light breakfast.

The sun was shining beautifully through the big windows and we sat right up front to bask in it. As we were discussing our current projects, I looked up to see three beautiful paintings on the wall, one with a Metromint bottle painted in as one of the subjects. The paintings were created by Hiroko Sakai. She is native to Japan, but lives here in SF now. I decided to interview her via email.

MT: How long have you been painting?
HS: I’ve been painting since I can remember, but my professional art career started in the early 1990’s. In the beginning of my career, I forced myself to “never say I can’t”. Whatever project I got, the first thing I would say is “OK. I can do it!”.

MT: What brought you to San Francisco?
HS: Well, I was in Japan working when I had a medical condition that landed me in the hospital. During that time, I met a man (who was from America) and he encouraged and supported my healing. We had a whirlwind romance and we married in Japan. Shortly after, I moved to San Francisco. I was pregnant when I moved here and it was a huge change. My relationship became abusive and I knew I had to leave. I went to the Asian Women’s Shelter in San Francisco with my 4 month-old baby, which saved my life.

MT: How did you get back to painting after that?
HS: I began drawing to sweep out my stuck emotions which had piled up inside. At first, my sketches were colorless, and then one by one, they slowly came back to my paper. My art was healing.

MT: What was your inspiration to include Metromint in your painting?
HS: I always enjoy doing something fun and playful in my paintings; adapting edgy and/or traditional elements with things that people feel common or familiar with. The painting you saw in the café is called “Mystery” and the inspiration was a parody of the famous statue “Venus de Milo”. I thought it would be fun to add some modern imaginations on her lost arms. Then, I thought Metromint is one of the things that represents a modern, fashionable girl’s life.

MT: Generally, what inspires you?
HS: Life!

Thanks Hiroko! You are an inspiration! Check out Hiroko’s work around town: http://www.hirokosfart.com/Bio/Bio.html

valentine's haiku winners!

2/26/09
by Jaime Borschuk, Web & Print Manager

I would like to thank everyone who submitted a poem or video to us for this contest! It was hard for us to narrow it down to 3 winners, so we chose 3 written haikus and 2 videos. Without further ado, here they are:

Cooling sensations Metromint tickles your tongue No sweeteners, just love --Charlene Jennings

Sorry, Valentine. Metromint has won my heart. I sip. I sigh. Love! --Patricia Gilmore

On Valentine's Day Fill my bath with Metromint Then leave me alone. --PF Dumanis

we love our fans

2/5/09
by Michele Thorne, Wellness & Outreach Director

Seriously, this is the BEST part of my job. Every now and again, we will get a stellar email, phone call or letter from a Metromint fan letting us know how they feel about Metromint, and we remember why we do what we do. Today there was an exceptional example, and I am compelled to write about it.

A few weeks ago I got an email from Jirod Greene, lead singer of Austin, TX rock band The Ars Supernova. Jirod shared with me his love for Metromint, but that's not what got me intrigued. He mentioned that his band founded The Soundwave Organization to donate proceeds from live shows and album sales to worthy causes. The Soundwave Organization, through A Glimmer of Hope and H20 Africa, has already donated enough money to build a well that supplies clean water for a village in rural Ethiopia. Currently, The Soundwave Organization is raising college tuition money for passionate high school artists and musicians living in Austin, TX. How awesome is that? Wait, there's more.

Today, I got an email from Jirod with a link to his blog. I was again humbled and delighted to know how he feels about Metromint! His blog is thoughtful, funny and informative, and we deeply appreciate the love! Check it out, especially the video.

 
After sharing this blog with the office today, I finally got Jirod on the phone and talked to him for a bit. I had to personally thank him and also find out what is the meaning of his band’s name. He explained that the word “ars” is Latin for art, and that a "supernova" is a star that explodes and becomes extremely luminous in the process. Essentially, it dies and is reborn. Hence, “The Ars Supernova”, according to Jirod, means “the rebirth of art”. The message they want folks to know is that they are creating music “outside of the ordinary”. In my humble opinion, they are not only creating music outside of the ordinary, they are raising the bar musically and socially! Thanks for sharing your music and passion about your “must haves” with us Jirod but, most importantly, to you, David, Ross, Matt, Alejandra and Deitrich: shine on y’all!

spicin' up the mail

11/19/08
by Michele Thorne, Wellness & Outreach Director

It is not everyday that I get personal notes, but now and then I will receive a handwritten note from a fan, and I love them. I recently noticed a thick, personalized envelope in my mailbox and, when I opened it up, I was completely blown away! Inside were 16 handwritten thank you cards from the John Marshall High School 5th Period Culinary class students, taught by Ms. Andrea Phillips in Los Angeles, CA. My favorite detail: The cards were created from old cooking magazines.

As if it could get any better than that, the letters were more than a friendly communication. Ms. Phillips let me know that the students’ letters actually help JMHS meet many of their educational standards and school wide learning goals to help the students become effective communicators. One of the letters was from a student named Josue O. who says, “Thank you for giving us some of your product. My favorite was the Lemonmint. I am also glad you gave us this water because both mint and water reduce stress and tension. I’m glad because I’m always studying for tests.”

We wish you all stress-less tests, and to all the culinary students at JMHS, YOU ROCK!