CUPPA 05.16.25
Featuring the new tapas place Mijo, Jewish deli Bubbala’s, new soul albums, nostalgic 90's live music, podcasts by besties, and the return of Nine Perfect Strangers.
Hi, I'm Sophie and I hope you are wrapping up an enjoyable shorter week after the Memorial weekend (if you live in the U.S), or the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (if you live in the U.K). I was recovering from a fun weekend with friends in Napa for the BottleRock festival where we saw Justin Timberlake, and Benson Boone (who reminds me of Freddie Mercury)!
In this issue, I want to share a couple of new eateries that offer hard to find cuisine in Marin, and a couple of upcoming community gatherings. In entertainment, there are so many new TV shows with strong female protagonists hitting our screens, funny podcasts hosted by best friends that can add comic relief to your day, plus beautiful new music that can soothe your soul.
CUPPA also got a branded glow up thanks to the talented Sophia Mavrides of Sophia Studio who I highly recommend if you need branding, website, and photography.
JUNE - Gatherings, openings, and pop-ups worth putting some lipstick on for:
• 🍽️ Restaurant Opening - Mijo, 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, 94925, (next to Book Passage), happy hour from 4 pm and dinner from 5 pm.
At last, a Spanish restaurant in Marin County!!! You can pop in for happy hour after shopping at Corte Madera from 4 pm or enjoy dinner from 5 pm (I recommend requesting a booth for 2 - 4 opposite the bar). The craft cocktails served in beautifully cut glassware are delicious, especially the Bee’s Knees! You can choose raw, veg, sea, meat tapas or large plates. My favorites include the grilled asparagus with nettle salsa, farm egg, chorizo, and Manchego crisp, Croquette De Jamon, the Lamb Lollipops with roasted eggplant, and Patatas Bravas are winners. Plus, seasonal specials! The staff are super friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient! It’s currently my favorite spot for date night or happy hour with friends!
• 🍽️ Restaurant Opening - Bubbala’s Neighborhood Eatery, 906 Sir Frances Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 94960
The goal behind this father and daughter Jewish-deli inspired eatery is for everyone to know what it means to be someone’s Bubbala (sweetheart or darling) and “to uplift all who enter”. Well, we felt this when a group of us had lunch there last week and enjoyed the friendly banter with the co-owner Greg Bernson.
Bubala’s offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Highlights include the Reuben sandwich, Chicken Schnitzel (as a main or sandwich), Latke, Disco Fries, Challah French Toast, and Matzoh ball soup. We even ate salads out of ceramic bowls made by Greg himself!
• 💡 Business Club at Groundfloor in San Rafael - Tuesday June 10th, 9. 30 am - 11 am
I facilitate a monthly community gathering for professionals and creatives to connect and take part in a peer mentoring exercise to exchange ideas or problem solve challenges with their local peers. If you are interested in attending, please DM me to grab a seat, and you have the option to stay and co-work in the space afterwards (limited to 20 people).
• 📚 Liberty Road Salon on Thursday June 12th 5 pm, at Credo Beauty, 2136 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, use code CUPPA10 for 10% off info & tickets
I am so excited to be part of the panel for a salon-style conversation about midlife possibilities, purpose, and clarity for what comes next. Featuring Michele Gough-Baril, the founder of beauty brand Iris&Romeo, @ Shira Gill, a clutter expert and author, and myself. The evening will be hosted by Liberty Road community leader and podcast host Nada Jones with bubbly and light bites. The conversation will continue at an optional dinner nearby afterwards (use CUPPA10 for 10% off salon tickets).
If you know someone who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and would appreciate these recommendations and event updates. Please help me spread the word!
What to watch, read or listen to:
These two podcasts are both co-hosted by two sets of best friends that create a sense of relatability, authenticity, and comfort for themselves and their listeners. Their audience feel closer to the co-hosts and more invested in their pods as a result. Their real talk may offer an enjoyable combination of light comic relief and emotional truths to your week:
• 🎧 “Miss Me?” podcast
Two best friends who grew up together and currently live on both sides of the Atlantic (Brooklyn and London) catch up twice a week to have light-hearted and unfiltered banter. On Mondays they discuss weekly themes and questions from listeners, and on Thursdays they share cultural commentary and personal anecdotes that are both funny and moving. These best friends are pop singer and actress Lily Allen (who sang Smile, LDN, Not Fair), and TV and radio presenter Miqueta Oliver. You can listen on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts or watch full vodcast episodes and shorts on their YouTube channel.
• 🎧 “The Teen Commandments” podcast
If you are interested in hearing some comedy banter and amusing real stories by listeners about the realities of raising teenagers (and tweens), without advice from parenting experts, then this pod is for you! The Teen Commandments is co-hosted by BBC Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox and her best friend Clare Hamilton who reminisce about their own teenage adventures in relation to being in the trenches with their own teens. Their Northern English accents and sharp humor remind me of my university days in Preston (near Manchester). In fact, single mum Clare hops on a train from Manchester to Sara’s house in London to record the pod, so it's like a weekly bestie sleepover!
• 📺 Nine Perfect Strangers (Series 2) on Hulu & Prime
The second series about the transformative retreats run by the unorthodox wellness guru Marsha played by Nicole Kidman is off to a good start with a strong new cast including Murray Bartlett (White Lotus), Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Christine Baranski (The Good Fight), and Mark Strong (The Kingsman).
Series two is set in the Austrian Alps where the visitors are arriving and starting to reveal their back stories and struggles. Like White Lotus, it shows the trapping of rich people in exotic locations seeking healing, but there is more mystery around how these characters will help or hinder each other’s demons with Nicole Kidman’s character as the puppet master pulling the psychedelic strings.
Nine Perfect Strangers (Series 2) trailer
• 📺 And Just Like That (Series 3) on Max, Apple TV, or Sky and NOW TV
SJP is back as Carrie Bradshaw and promises a hot and juicy third season! Carrie explores writing fiction while navigating the dating pool and a long-distance relationship with Aidan. Miranda dates a new character played by Rosie O’Donnell, and Charlotte is navigating her daughter dating a ballet dancer. Love it or criticize it, I will always be a loyal SITC fan and always pleased to see what these characters are up and wearing!
And Just Like That (Series 3) trailer
• 🎵 New Music
If you like laid back soulful music, then check out two new albums:
British singer/songwriter Mychelle‘s debut album Good Day. Mycelle’s melodies remind me of another British singer Lianne La Havas, and the title track is about coming back to feeling more like yourself again (I’m sure my Peri crew can relate).
Swedish & Japanese singer/songwriter Yukimi (known as the vocalist for electronic band Little Dragon) debut album For You blends soul, jazz, electronic, and hip-hop. Her culture of growing up in Sweden, having Japanese heritage, and her role as a mother influences her music.
• 🎤 Live Music
If you are a fan of 90’s R&B, like me, then you might have sung along to TLC’s songs Waterfalls, Diggin’ on You, and No Scrub.
Girl group TLC will be playing at the Marin County Fair in San Rafael on Thursday July 3rd, Tickets on sale now. I saw the group En Vogue at the County fair last year and they looked and sounded great, so I’m looking forward to more 90’s nostalgia before the firework display!
SPILL THE TEA: Let me know if you are planning on checking out any of the events or restaurants mentioned, or what you think about any of the entertainment recommendations or have any of your own recs by leaving a comment below. I would love to hear from you!
Cheerio for now,
Sophie