Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving was at our house this year!  Though our entire family was not able to be in town to join us this year, we did have a wonderful time admiring the three beautiful little boys pictured above; two of whom were celebrating their very first Thanksgiving.  In the photo above, from left to right are Spencer Hatch and Jackson Hatch, sons of Michael and Alicia Hatch and on the right is Cutter Laramore, son of Kevin and Katie Laramore.  Spencer is 9 months old, Jackson is 2-1/2 years old and Cutter is 5 months old.

In addition to Michael, Alicia, Katie, Kevin and children, also joining us were Sean Hatch, Troy Clark and Renee Newitt.  Sean and Troy brought festive holiday cocktails that combined prosecco, triple sec and ginger vodka, Alicia brought her grandmother’s recipe  yummy yeast rolls, and Renee brought three kinds of pie; pumpkin, pecan and Heavenly cherry pie!  And of course, there was enough pie that everyone could try any one or all three!  I had never tried the Heavenly pie before and it was delicious!

We all feasted and gave thanks for our many blessings of family and loved ones; both those with us and those far away that we missed.

Hatch Family Thanksgiving Menu

Pomegranate Dreams and Sparkling Wine

Onion Parmesan Cheese Crisps

Broiled Prawns with Prosciutto & Basil Leaves

Curried Pumpkin Soup

Martha’s Cranberry Salad in Radicchio Cups

Hot Yeast Rolls

Roast Fresh Turkey with Pan Gravy

Sage & Celery Stuffing with Sweet Italian Sausage

Potatoes Lord Byron

Carrot & Spinach Terrine

Roasted Yams & Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup & Cranberries

Brussels Sprout Hash with Bacon & Caramelized Shallots

Cranberry-Orange-Almond Coulis

Traditional Pumpkin Pie

Southern Pecan Pie

Heavenly Cherry Pie

Fresh Sugared Whipping Cream

Hope your Thanksgiving was happy also!  Please share your favorite Thanksgiving recipe.

 

 

What have I agreed to do??! The bachata??!

Akin to "Dancing with the Stars", the Plymouth Housing Group is organizing a festive “celebrity” dance and dinner non-profit fundraiser called "Seattle Dances" in partnership with Hallie Kuperman and Century Ballroom. Along with seven other local “celebrities” (in our own minds), I will be dancing in this fundraising event on March 13, 2010 with a professional dance partner attempting to win the mirror ball award as best dancer. My competitors include Kathy Casey, Kathy Casey Food Studios, Joyce Taylor, KING5 TV News, Colette Courtion, Calidora Skin Clinics, Steven Goldfarb, Alvin Goldfarb Jewelers, Paul Lambros, Plymouth Housing Group, Michelle Foreman Barnet, Columbia West Properties, and Peter Neurath, Puget Sound Business Journal.

Plymouth Housing Group board member, Lynn Beck, developed the fundraiser idea and it has lots of fun, fundraising elements such as each “peoples’ choice” vote costs $25 and vote casting is eligible both in person at the event and online leading up to the event. All voters’ names will be entered into a drawing for multiple prizes to be awarded the evening of the event. There are three celebrity judges including Peter Boal, Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director, Marco, Hair Stylist and owner of Marco’s Salon and Nicole Vogel, publisher of Seattle Metropolitan magazine.

My dance partner is Marcelo Garcés who leads a salsa dancing, teaching and performing group called Salsa Salvaje in his spare time following his day job at Colliers International. Each of us have a page on the "Seattle Dances" website and here is the link to mine: Cathi Hatch. Eventually, there will be a video clip included on the page that will show Marcelo and me rehearsing for the big competition. Today was our first official lesson and I am still struggling to learn the basic bachata steps so it is a very good thing that there was no video camera in sight!

Do you have any tips for winning a dance competition?

"Active Networking" at the Rainier Club

This morning I had the opportunity to help celebrate the 6^th anniversary of the Rainier Club’s Executive Women’s Group by leading a discussion about the importance of “Active Networking” at their monthly Roundtable Breakfast. The Executive Women’s Group is a monthly gathering of civic, community, and business leaders, that come together for an opportunity to network and discuss relevant topics impacting professional life.

What a group of active and engaged women! We discussed barriers to networking, tips and tricks of successful networking, follow up options after meeting new people, social media networking, and networking “don’ts”. Though I shared some of my own opinions and experience in networking through my community associations and in ZINO Society, I was very impressed with the quality of the input and suggestions that was shared by the attendees of the event. There were definitely some thoughts that I can use to network more effectively.

In the photos, I am pictured with some of the attendees including (top photo from left to right) Executive Women’s Group co-chairs, Jenn Ty and Kristi Pangrazio, Rainier Club Director of Membership, Amy Tolzmann and Tina Schaaf. Also attending were Sharon Cooper, Colleen McCann and Marla Beck (middle photo from left to right) and (bottom photo) a group of Junior League of Seattle friends, Renee Bishman, Sara Becker, Jeanette James, Sara Wood, and Tricia Thompson.

Women of Influence a Quintessential Success!

Last evening Ken and I attended the Puget Sound Business Journal Women of Influence event at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency.  It was a sell-out crowd of over 500 people there to be inspired and celebrate with the 16 women who were selected as honorees.  Since I have served on the Women of Influence Advisory Board for the past four or five years and as a judge, it was exciting to be there to see these very competent and talented women we selected feted for their incredible accomplishments in their businesses and in the community.

My very dear friend, Patty Barrier of Barrier Motors pictured above was one of the honorees.  Celebrating her award with her from left to right were girlfriends Betty Rubenstein, me, Tara Stepenberg, Karen Roed, Susan Brotman and Kyle Daniels.  Also celebrating were Patty’s godson Kjell Schei, her husband Jimmy Barrier and my husband, Ken Hatch.

In addition to helping Patty celebrate, it was wonderful to be there to help so many friends celebrate their awards including Nancy Pellegrino, of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Nancy Auer of Swedish Medical Services, Megan Clubb of Baker Boyer Bank, Colette Courtion of Calidora Skin Clinics Inc., Deborah Jensen of Woodland Park Zoo, Martha Choe of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Annette Jacobs of Door to Door Storage Inc. and Angie Lepley of Tangerine Travel Ltd.

Media personality and good friend, Patti Payne and friend and publisher of the Puget Sound Business Journal, Emory Thomas, served as co-emcees for the evening.  Each honoree was introduced and asked to answer a question for the benefit of the audience.  It was fantastic to hear these extraordinary women respond with their articulate and witty answers.

Today I have talked with many people who attended the event last evening and I have heard over and over again how inspiring the evening was and what a great event it was.  The only complaints I have heard about the Women of Influence event today were from people who wanted to attend and didn’t get their reservations in before the event sold out.  A nice problem to have!

Next year?  Qwest Field??

 

ZINO Society November Roundtable Investment Meetings

Our ZINO Society Roundtable Investment meetings this month were fascinating.  We held meetings on both Tuesday evening at the offices of Foster Pepper PLLC and on Wednesday at lunchtime at The Bellettini in Bellevue.  Thank you to each for hosting delicious hors d’oeuvres and lunch.

On Tuesday evening, Colleen Brown, CEO of Fisher Communications, was the featured keynote speaker and shared information about how broadcast media is changing and why she believes that television will continue to be a very large part of our lives in spite of our affinity for our computers today.  The opportunity to transmit information to such a broad group of people at one time is unparalleled.  For advertisers that want to reach the broadest and largest audience, television spots will continue to be the best vehicle for achieving that goal.

We were also pleased to showcase our featured vintner on Tuesday evening, ZINO Society Wine Professional member, Yvonne Swanberg, winemaker at San Juan Vineyards and featured brewmasters, Charles and Roseann Finkel of Pike Brewing Company.

On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to present the oversize funds check to Keith McCall, ZINOpreneur Select Member and CEO of Enroute Systems, our ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum best technology investment opportunity winner.  See photo above.

Our three presenting entrepreneurs for these meetings (pictured above from left to right) were John Friess of journey gym, Daniel McKelvey of SkyTrace, and Doug Strohm of Ballpark Classics.  Also pictured above is Doug Strohm demonstrating his game to ZINO Society guest, Jim Towne while Dave McGinnis, ZINO Society sponsor, coach and screener of Citi Private Bank watches.

A Toast to ZINO Society sponsor, the Pan Pacific Hotel

Earlier this week, Mary Holmes, ZINO Society Business Development VP, and I met with Pan Pacific Hotel General Manager, David Sullivan.  The Pan Pacific has been an important sponsor for ZINO Society.  Over the past year, three of our targeted Investment Forums were held there:  ZINO Life, ZINO Green, and ZINO Marketplace.  Each event showcased expert keynote speakers and panelists and 12 entrepreneurial companies that participate in that particular space.  In addition to additional investments made by individual angel investors, a small investment fund was put together for each event and awarded to the best investment opportunity showcased.

Each Investment Forum was very successful and the professionalism and hospitality shown by the Pan Pacific Hotel management and staff to the ZINO Society members, presenting entrepreneurs, angel investors and guests for each event was stellar.  We received many compliments from the attendees of each event and in every case, one of the stars mentioned was the Pan Pacific Hotel.

In the photo above, Mary and David raise a glass to toast our future partnership in 2010.  I look forward to sharing more details with you soon.

What's Up in Kunath Corner?

This blog post is in addition to my earlier one about networking at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in the “Church of Kunath”.  The impresario himself, Mike Kunath,  a portfolio manager, principal and founder of Kunath Karren Rinne & Atkin is pictured above with his infamous corncob pipe.  I stopped by the “Kunath Corner” last week to check in with Mike and ZINO Society member, Dr. Michael Steiner and his beautiful Entlebucher Mountain Dog, 6 year old, Anton. 

Michael Steiner has a dual practice as both an opthamologist and plastic surgeon, so provides both a full range of ophthalmic services plus his specialty is a skillfully performed plastic surgery of the eye lid, blepharoplasty, (also called eyelid lift, or eyelid tuck).  Anton goes to work with Michael, visits art galleries and especially is a good hiking dog.  During his visit to the Fairmont Lobby Bar, Anton was a perfect guest, lying quietly at his owner’s feet unless invited to pose for a photo op.  See photo above.

Dr. Michael and Anton were also guests at the Dog Days of Summer Party hosted by ZINO Society at our home in September. 

Baseball Luminaries Raise Funds for Toys for Kids

Last evening Ken and I attended Rick Rizzs’ and Dave Henderson’s “Toys for Kids” Ninth Annual Dinner and Auction at the Bellevue Harbor Club. The event was founded by baseball luminaries and the audience was sprinkled with several including former Mariner’s catcher, Dan Wilson. We sat with Tom Goodenow, a luminary in his own right and CEO of the Harbor Club. See photo of Ken and Tom above.

For the evening, the Harbor Club was transformed into a perfect venue for a silent auction, seated dinner and live auction for 200 people. Every area of the club was used effectively for displays or dinner seating. The auction items included many baseball memorabilia items with signed baseballs and bats featured prominently. Tom, along with his daughter, Sarah played major league positions in the success of this event. See the special recognition Tom received from Rick Rizzs and Auction Chairman, Bill King; his own Mariner’s jersey with his name and the number 1 pictured above. In addition to providing the venue, Tom bid frequently to ensure that each live auction item went for top dollar. Bellevue Harbor Club General Manager and hospitality expert, Otto Sperka, and his well-trained and personable staff served an excellent dinner. Featured wines were from John Bell, Willis Hall owner and winemaker who was on hand to pour his wines. President of the Harbor Club Board, Barbara Nelson, was also on hand to support the event.

In addition to raising money through the silent and live auctions to buy holiday toys for children that would otherwise not receive a gift, the evening also included recognition of the RBI Club “Moose Clausen” Community Service Award which is awarded to someone within the Mariners’ organization who has made significant contributions to the community. Howard Lincoln was the award winner and he shared a story about how important his Boy Scout Master had been in his life in encouraging him to find ways to give back and help others and that his one regret is that his Scout Master wasn’t there to see him receive the award. His Scout Master died last year at the age of 101. With Howard’s past successful leadership of the United Way of King County annual fundraising campaign, Ken and I had the opportunity to work with him during one of the eight consecutive years when we were Alexis de Tocqueville Society Co-chairs. We remember him putting in a huge amount of time and effort to make that year so successful. We were both very pleased to see him receive the well-deserved special community service award last evening.

I was impressed with the passion for the mission that so many showed last evening. The word “luminary” has two meanings. The first is a person who has attained eminence in his or her field or is an inspiration and there were several there last evening. The second definition is a body or object that gives light and considering what each attendee was doing there last night in helping to raise money for needy children, I think we can safely say that everyone in the room last evening qualified as a luminary!

Club Cielo Soars!

Today Ken and I toured the new Escala Midtown condominiums and Club Cielo at the invitation of the developers, John & Bonny Midby and their son, ZINO Society member and PONCHO Board of Trustees member, Eric Midby.  Eric greeted us curbside and personally took care of valet parking our car below in the 8 level underground garage.  See photo above.

What an exquisite building!  The details are truly painstakingly amazing.  As we entered the main lobby, the finish on the koa wood wall behind the reception desk which soars up the entire grand staircase looked as smooth and shiny as butter.  Individual side chairs and side tables were works of art.  One of the side tables had a pearlized lacquer finish that was sensuous to the touch.  The many different chairs from Italy are all richly designed and upholstered with sumptuous fabrics.  The custom carpet is playful, yet sophisticated with its bright colors and oversize designs.

There are two ways to get to the health club and spa area that are up one floor; either via the curved and elegant grand staircase (see photo above of John, Bonny and Eric Midby at the base of the stairway) or in a small jewel of an elevator with an incredible floor of curving inlaid metal within polished semi-precious stone.  The spa is restful yet boasts a psychedelic design on the walls that appears to undulate.  The workout room contains all first-class exercise equipment and two resistance pools and is bright and inviting as it overlooks Fourth Avenue.

Other amenities include a rustic, yet elegant wine cellar that seats 18 for dinner and beautiful wood lockers, a theatre equipped with the most comfortable chairs I have ever sat in and surround sound, a bar and dining room  adjacent to an immense exterior terrace complete with an oversize fireplace and a non-shadow producing awning to keep rain out but let light in.  The Midby’s have an incredible eye for detail and I have not seen anything in Seattle where each tiny detail has been so carefully executed.

We saw several other friends today who were looking at some of the available condominiums including PONCHO Board member Carmen Gayton and ZINO Society member, Randy Squires.

Club Cielo is the only private lifestyle and social full-service health club to open in Seattle in the past two decades.  Membership enquiries are being handled by Cynthia Johnson, the membership director.  I am especially looking forward to our ZINO Society holiday party on December 2^nd which is entitled “Stairway to Heaven” and is one of the very first public events in the new space.  We are planning lots of surprises including food, music, seven winemakers, and beautiful people.

The Show Must Go On!

On Thursday evening, I attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet “Director’s Choice” performance at McCaw Hall.  The dancing was superb as always.  It was fun to see two new productions that I had not ever seen which were Petite Mort with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and choregraphy by Jiri Kylian and The Seasons with music by Alexander Glazunov and choregraphy by Val Caniparoli.  Both new works were fascinating and Petite Mort had the added quirkiness of the dancing occurring with fencing foils and black ball gowns on wheels.  In addition, PNB danced another favorite, West Side Story Suite with music by Leonard Bernstein and choreography by Jerome Robbins and one that I have seen several times and still don’t care for which was Mopey with music by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach and The Cramps and choreography by Marco Goecke. 

From my abbreviated description above, everything sounds as if it was a normal night at McCaw Hall.  However, it was anything but normal that day.  I received a call in the afternoon from the PNB Executive Director, D. David Brown, letting me know that McCaw Hall and most of the Seattle Center had been without power almost all day and that there was a chance that the performance would not happen.  It was nip and tuck until the very end when the power finally came on only 17 minutes before the show was to begin.  Peter Boal, the Artistic Director of PNB, says it best to the attendees of Thursday night’s performance in his brief email note which is below.

Dear Friends –

Theatre artists always say “the show must go on,” and this last Thursday night, it did, thanks to the generous patience, good-will and understanding of so many people, not the least of which were our wonderful audience members who attended the show. 

As you can imagine, it was a trying day for the staffs of PNB and McCaw Hall (as well as the rest of Seattle Center), with City Light assuring us that the power was going to be restored at 6:00…then 6:30…then 7:00….  What a relief when the lights came on at 7:13! 

We are so grateful that you stuck with us, and hope you felt that the performance was worth the wait.  We look forward to seeing you again soon – We’ll try to keep the lights on for you.

Sincerely,

Peter Boal

Artistic Director

Pacific Northwest Ballet

My message to Peter and David and the entire artistic and administrative staff and dancers of PNB is:  The show was worth the wait!  Thank you for maintaining such high standards of excellence even under the most trying circumstances.  Pacific Northwest Ballet truly is a cultural jewel in the international dance world and especially in our community!

 

The Four Amigos

Today I attended the  26^th annual YMCA of Greater Seattle A.K. Guy Award Luncheon.  The A.K. Guy Award Luncheon was established in memory of A.K. Guy (1892-1983), president of G.O. Guy Drugs, a community leader and dedicated volunteer who served on the YMCA Board of Directors for many years and is presented annually to an individual or couple that exemplifies the ideals of the late A.K. Guy.

As a member of both the YMCA of Greater Seattle Association Board of Directors and the A.K. Guy Award Committee, I have been involved in the selection of the award winner for several years.   2009 is the first year that the award has been presented to four unrelated individuals and the awardees are:  Larry Gossett, Roberto Maestas, Bob Santos and the late Bernie Whitebear.  Their activism for social justice and civil rights has changed the face of leadership in the Puget Sound region.  Their vision for fully integrating minorities into the area’s social, economic and political life has inspired generations as well as helped create Seattle’s reputation as a place where every individual can make a difference.

The tribute was inspiring as presented by super heroes above, “Hornet” and “Captain America” who had named each of the award winners as new Super Heroes.  YMCA of Greater Seattle Board Chairman, Jane Lewis, presented each man  with a crystal award with Bernie Whitebear’s brother accepting on behalf of Bernie (see photo above).  And as Larry Gossett ruefully admitted, Bob Santos stole the show by singing (in key) the Louie Armstrong favorite, “It’s a Wonderful World”.

"A View to Kill"

Last evening, around 85 ZINO Society members and guests gathered at the beautiful new Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue Condominiums for a James Bond-esque cocktail party including martinis (stirred not shaken), an amazing magician, Bobby Medina’s small combo including a saxophone, and wines courtesy of ZINO Society Wine Professional member, Stella Fino Winery. There were several debonair, tuxedo-wearing Bond, James Bond look-alikes in attendance including Bob Crimmins of Poker 2.0 and Adam Stein of IMOS, and Bond girls galore!

William Justen, principal of The Justen Company, which envisioned the new condominium development with OPUS NW, greeted the guests and welcomed them to the event. We referred to him as “M”, James Bond’s boss, and he had several special double 00 agents available to take guests on tours of the building. ZINO Society members Dean & Stacy Jones, of Realogics and also involved in promoting the new condominium development were enjoying the evening also. Included among the celebrants were Bond Girls Sheila Otter, Kate McKinney, Susan Weaver, Danna Johnston and Cathi Hatch pictured above and Kathleen and Mike Mitrovich with ZINO Society Director of Sales and Marketing, Robin Moore, also above. By the way, who was that Bond girl with the long blonde flip?

Networking at the Fairmont Lobby Bar . . .

There are always a number of business people wheeling and dealing in the Fairmont Olympic Lobby Bar almost every weekday from around 4:00 -7:00 pm.  Mike Kunath is the identified leader of the “Kunath Corner“, also known as the “Church of Kunath” by his friend, Ken Hatch.  Occasionally, following a business meeting in the lobby, I will stop by for some conversation and a glass of wine.  When I was in there earlier this week, not only did I run into Impresario Kunath himself, I also saw my husband Ken Hatch and Anna Schafer, winemaker for aMaurice Cellars and ZINO Society Wine Professional Member (top photo) and Chris Nakea and Megan Rabin of Nakea, Inc., both members of ZINO Society, and Matt Walters of Grape Leaf Hospitality (bottom photo).

Who have you seen in the “Kunath Corner” recently? 

 

A Feat of Meeting and Eating

Yesterday afternoon, Ken and I met with Norm Porter, developer of a new first-class golf and wine resort in Peachland, British Columbia called Ponderosa and Allen Shoup, Founder and CEO of Long Shadows Vintners at the Bellevue Harbor Club. The 425 acre Ponderosa in Peachland development, located just South of Kelowna, B.C. overlooking beautiful Lake Okanagan will include a Greg Norman designed golf course, a  luxury hotel, condominiums, single family and trophy homes, a tennis center and world-class wineries.  The golf course is under construction now and is expected to be complete in 2011.

Allen shared his vision and information on what he has accomplished at Long Shadows since he began in 2003.  Impressively, he has developed partnerships with some of the leading winemakers in the world to produce seven different wines which showcase the viticultural excellence of Washington State’s Columbia Valley, which have consistently scored higher than 90 points by wine aficionados and tasting experts in leading wine magazines in the world.  Four of the wines he has produced with famous winemakers include Feather in partnership with Randy Dunn, Pedestal with Michel Rolland, Poet’s Leap with Armin Diel, and Sequel with John Duval.

Mary Holmes, ZINO Society Vice President of Business Development, joined us mid-meeting to meet Norm and greet Allen with photo albums of some of the signature ZINO Society social events and the ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum where we showcase 28 entrepreneurs and select two best investment opportunity winners of the ZINO Zillionaire Investment Fund that we raise and award each year. 

Following our meeting, we adjourned to John Howie Steak, in the new Shops at the Bravern development in Bellevue, to enjoy an incredible dinner and fine wine. We were joined by Robert & Sue Holmes and Allen’s wife, Kathleen Shoup.  Chef Owner and ZINOpreneur, John Howie, greeted us and welcomed us to his newest restaurant sending us a velvety cream of porcini mushroom soup with truffle oil and crème fraiche as an Amuse Bouche.  Along with the basket of his fresh-baked breads and rolls, all produced at the restaurant, including an excellent warm and cheesy Gougere, the entire evening was a culinary success.  We raved about the Caesar Salad prepared tableside with just the right proportions of extra-virgin olive oil, egg yolk, anchovies and croutons tossed with crisp romaine and Ken and I were especially impressed with the excellent French Onion Soup for which John said that he uses a three day veal stock preparation as the base.  Several of our guests enjoyed the combination of steaks from American and Japanese Wagyu beef.  Lisa, the Wine Director, took great care of our table; opening and pouring the many Long Shadows wines that Allen had brought along to share with us.  My favorites were the 2005 Pirouette, a Bordeaux-style blend, and the Sequel Syrah.  We ended the evening with exquisite white chocolate and butter cream truffles, a parting gift from restauranteur extraordinaire, John Howie.

Tribute to RJ. Welcome to Ben.

It has now been two weeks since RJ Humphries, who served as the ZINO Society Director of Entrepreneur Development has been gone and I have been intending to write a blog post ever since.  It has been great to have RJ as part of the ZINO team for over the past year and I appreciate all of her efforts on ZINO Society’s behalf.  I know the entire ZINO Society management team joins me in wishing  RJ the very best of luck going forward as she spends some time deciding what her next life adventure will be, whether it be additional schooling or another job opportunity!  RJ has many friends and admirers among the ZINO Society staff, members, sponsors and entrepreneurs and we all miss her already, but I am happy that she has decided to join ZINO Society as a member so we will all be able to continue to see her at upcoming events.   

RJ’s departure has allowed us to do some internal restructuring At ZINO Society and implement additional careful stewardship of our resources.  Rob Brown, ZINO Society COO, has taken over the responsibilities of managing the dealflow and entrepreneur relationships along with some help from part-time interns.  We are happy to welcome Ben Reiber, University of Washington MBA student, as our newest part-time intern.