festival of lights
We’re Hungry for More: af&co. is Officially Expanding to Southern California
We’re bringing our award-winning PR and marketing expertise to Los Angeles and the Southern California region.
We are thrilled to announce that af&co. is officially expanding into Southern California with a brand-new Los Angeles office! For 20 years, we’ve been at the forefront of lifestyle marketing and public relations, shaping the success of hospitality, food & beverage, lifestyle brands, and travel & destination clients. While we’ve long worked in the SoCal market, this expansion marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter – one that fulfills a lifelong dream for our founder, Andrew Freeman, and brings our signature creativity, strategy, and results-driven approach even closer to the heart of LA.
Our new SoCal office means even more buzzworthy launches, unforgettable events, and game-changing strategies for restaurants, hotels, and lifestyle brands across California. Our agency’s proven track record of increasing foot traffic, reservations, and visibility for our clients – along with our nationally-recognized Annual Trends Report, produced in partnership with af&co.’s sister agency, Carbonate, – has set us apart as a leader throughout the west coast.
“We’ve worked in the SoCal market for over 20 years and always planned on opening an official office there. When the pandemic hit, those plans were put on hold. Now, as we approach our 20th anniversary this November, we’re proud to say that the time is right. Thanks to the flexibility of remote work, we were able to be nimble and establish an incredible SoCal-based team that continues to grow, and have several projects in LA.” said Andrew Freeman, CEO and Founder, af&co. “What I’m most proud of is that, after two decades, our agency continues to evolve. With the launch of our LA office, our West Coast presence is stronger than ever. The LA market is rich with opportunities, media, and influencers, and we’re ready to service our clients locally, regionally, and nationally from both of California’s major cities.”
With the opening of our Los Angeles office, af&co. will continue leveraging our deep industry knowledge, creative expertise, and strategic insights to help clients navigate the evolving hospitality landscape. Whether building brand awareness through media relations or influencer marketing, partnerships and activations or generating buzz through social media strategy, we are excited to bring our signature blend of creativity and measurable results to the vibrant Southern California region.
To learn more, take a look at our official press release announcing our expansion: af&co. SoCal Expansion
We can’t wait to soak up the sun, shake up the scene, and bring our creative magic to sunny SoCal, from the Central Coast through San Diego! Check out our menu of services and feel free to reach out if you’d like to learn more, or to inquire about collaboration opportunities at info@afandco.com.
af&co. Father’s Day Gift Guide
Find the perfect gift for Dad this Father’s Day from the Bay Area’s finest
TCHO Chocolate | Bee Happy Box
With flowers in bloom and the warmth of summer returning, TCHO Chocolate has launched a Bee Happy Box, perfect for Dads with a sweet tooth.The box contains three bars of two of TCHO’s most popular plant-based chocolates, Holy Fudge and Dark Duo totaling six, 2.5oz bars. A portion of the proceeds from each box will support the Bee Conservancy.
Celebrate the father figure in your life with this seasonal Bee Happy offering, or for the baker, TCHO has a fantastic fully plant-based baking line with all the chocolatey ingredients needed for a summer of culinary projects.
Klatch Coffee | Bottomless Subscription
This Father’s Day, the Klatch Coffee team is celebrating Mike Perry, the CFO and Founder behind the family-run coffee business that has been going strong for the past 30 years.
The aroma, taste, and ritual of enjoying a cup of coffee is what inspired Mike to start his own business after spending plenty of his own time in coffee shops. Whether you’re craving silky and smooth or aromatic and bold, Klatch Coffee has a diverse variety of beans for father figures to explore and enjoy.
Klatch’s new Bottomless subscription is a perfectly paired gift for the three-cups a day and/or forgetful types. Bottomless has taken convenience one step further by utilizing a scale to detect the user’s regularity of consumption and initiate new prompts and orders when supplies are getting low. The result is a continuous supply of coffee delivered to your door just before you need it.
Klatch online visitors can get 10% off their recurring bottomless subscription if they sign up HERE. As each bag empties, customers can also choose whether or not they’d like to switch their roast or stay consistent, giving dads power over how they start their mornings!
Gott’s Roadside | Cheeseburger Kits
Have a burger bash for Father’s Day with Gott’s Roadside’s James Beard-awarded burger. Gott’s Cheeseburger kits (serves 4-8) are shipped nationally overnight via Gold Belly in insulated packaging for ultimate freshness and include all the burger fixins’.
AFICI | Aficionado Club Membership
AFICI, a fine dining destination in San Francisco has recently launched its bespoke spirit membership program, the Aficionado Club, and it’s the perfect gift for Dad this Father’s Day.
Designed to be accessible to both the cocktail connoisseur and budding mixologist, the Aficionado Club was created to provide guests with a unique opportunity to explore the world of spirits and expand their palate. At a one-time $300 entry fee, the Aficionado Club offers members three private barrel selections (crafted exclusively for AFICI), highly-allocated spirits and priority access to mixology classes led by Bar Director Nicholas Bonney.
While the Mixology Classes are complimentary for Aficionado Club members, they are also open to the public, with tickets available for $80. On Friday, June 16 from 5-6pm Bar Director Nicholas Bonney will share his favorite tips & tricks and walk you through creating three specialty cocktails at AFICI. Secure your spot and make special memories with your Dad.
Mr. Espresso | Steeped Coffee Bags
Pick up Mr. Espresso Steeped Coffee Bags (8 bags per box) for the coffee geek or adventurous camping dad.
Oakland based coffee roaster, Mr. Espresso has roasted beans for 45 years over oakwood, for which Oakland is named. Mr. Espresso’s oakwood roasting technique produces heat with a high moisture content, which is ideal for slow roasting because it increases the retention of natural oils and produces a complex, full-bodied espresso with less acidity.
Valette Wines | Sauvignon Blanc
This Father’s Day, inspire a love of wine in Dad by gifting him a quintessential summer Sauvignon Blanc from small-production wine brand, Valette Wines!
Valette Wines is the passion project of Sonoma County’s award-winning Chef-Vintner, Dustin Valette, of acclaimed Healdsburg restaurants Valette, and The Matheson. Valette Wines was born out of his passion for wine, food and flavor – showcasing legendary small production wines out of Napa and Sonoma Wine Country.
Hanukkah Celebrations Across the Bay Area
Hanukkah may begin December 18th, but we have festive Hanukkah specials starting now! Celebrate the Festival of Lights in style
across the Bay Area this year.
San Francisco
1 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Hanukkah, alternatively referred to as the Festival of Lights, or chag ha-ooreem in Hebrew, is an annual celebration at One Market Restaurant. With New York style delicatessen pop-up concept turned permanent, Mark ‘n Mike’s, the restaurant celebrates Jewish cuisine on a daily basis. But this year, their Hanukkah offerings are expanding even further.
In honor of the eight days of Hanukkah, One Market will be featuring a menu of eight new latkes with ranging ingredients. Appropriately named the Festival of Latkes, this nearly month-long offer will run from December 1 – December 23 and will be available during lunch and dinner service.
Some of the highlights include a Philly Cheesesteak Latke with thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized onion, and provolone, a Florentine Latke with poached egg, sauteed spinach, and hollandaise, and a Wild Mushroom Latke with Emmental cheese, crème fraiche, and chives.
For those looking to branch out beyond OMR’s variety of latkes, Mark ‘n Mike’s menu includes a showstopping Pastrami Reuben and Mark’s “Better than Bubbie’s?” Matzo Ball Soup during lunch and dinner.
2272 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 9411
Canela Bistro and Wine Bar is once again rolling out a prix fixe menu for Hanukkah! Feast with a Spanish-inspired meal kit, offered dine-in and to-go. To-go: Pick up Sunday, December 18th from 3-5 p.m. Dine in: Sunday, December 18th – Friday, December 23rd. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
East Bay
3770 Piedmont Ave Unit B, Oakland, CA
Come to the heated outdoor patio at Pomella on the first night of Hanukkah for the ceremonial lighting of the menorah, fresh latkes and donuts. Timing: Sunday, Dec. 18, 6-8pm.
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