Wine Tasting with Kate Webb

One of the things I enjoy most about this experience is the ability to share our experiences with others. Sure, there's a lot of hard work involved in starting up a business but there are fun moments too such as when vendors come around with free products for us to sample. One such moment is here. Our designer, Kate Webb, was on hand when Brad "the wine guy" came around for us to sample some latin american wines. Not only did I enjoy having Kate experience this with us, but I also valued her input on the selection being presented.

Starting Your Own Business

If you were to ask me how to open up a restaurant, I could only tell you what our journey has been and I can assure you that although you will follow similar paths, your own journey will be different. You may actually place the horse before the cart where we have placed the cart before the horse on several occasions. It's not that we planned it out that way-it's the way that it's turned out. Either way, mistakes happen and when they do, you just have to keep going and not get stuck or lose your focus. Just find a way around them or through them and keep on going. Any time spent focusing on mistakes is time lost and wasted. Learn from mistakes, try to avoid them for next time (or for the next business) and keep moving ahead. The journey is the goal ... but so is the business you plan on opening. Don't get distracted from the job at hand.

I always tell others what I always tell myself, "Stay Focused."

New York City Muralists Wanted

Sara Odam and George Constantinou measure the 'canvas' behind the bar.

We recently sent the following email out to those on our BogotaBistro.com subscription list:

WANTED: ARTIST/MURALIST FOR OUR BACKYARD
"We are looking for proposals from muralists to paint our backyard wall with a latin theme. We don't have money to pay but you will get exposure and credit for your work. This will be your canvas which can be added to your portfolio. Think about it: How many restaurants
out there are going to give this kind of opportunity to an artist? Send in those proposals!"

I think we may have found our muralists. We've seen the portfolios of those who replied and we're excited about seeing what they come up with. One artist in particular, Sara Jean Odam, simply just showed up at the space expressing an interest. She emailed us a sample of her work which I think could really work in the bar area rather than in the backyard. We met with her tonight to go over some more of her ideas and to present her with the possibility of working on the space behind the bar rather than on the wall in the backyard. I think the plastered wall will be challenging but I think it presents an exciting opportunity for a creative individual to work with it. After looking at some of Sara's ideas, we both fell that she is on to something.

"Run with it, Sara and show us what you come up with." We'll be meeting again next week.