Small Business Awards Ceremony wrap-up

05.12.11 - 3:11 pm | Ben Hopfer |

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Virginia Ramos, the Tamale Lady, accepts her award for feeding the people of San Francisco since 1993.

Hans Art, the original hippie mechanic, celebrates 42 years in business

The worker owners of Arizmendi share all aspects of the business

Shannon Brundiek, manager of Discount Building Supply, keeps fighting the chains

Kayren Hudiburgh, co-owner of Good Life Grocery, thinks if she can pay her taxes, Twitter can, too

Kate Sofis of SFMade celebrates with La Cocina director Caleb Zigas

Mission Statement's Vanessa Gade wears the jewelry that she designs

Molly Tyson of Chloe's closet offers affordable kids clothes in Bernal Heights and the Sunset

Julian Davis, Ross Mirkarimi, Kate Sofis, and Viginia Ramos pose with the Guardian's Bruce B. Brugmann

Ross Mirkarimi congratulates Sharon Ardiana of Gialina, readers choice for favorite restaurant

The Bay Guardian's annual Small Business Awards party packed the upper room at Public Works May 11, with the winners and assorted friends and allies (including Sup. Ross Mirkarimi) enjoying the celebration of entrepreneurship and community. The hit of the night was Virginia Ramos, the Tamale Lady, winner of the Spirit of the Streets Award, who had the room spellbound as she talked of her life and her love for San Francisco. And it was clear that the diverse group of individuals and businesses all shared a strong belief that small, locally owned businesses make San Francisco great.

Comments

How many of these businesses advertise with The Guardian?

Isn't there an ethical dilemma involved in giving awards to the very people who pay your bills through buying advertising?

Posted by Lucretia Snapples on May. 12, 2011 @ 6:20 pm

Just in case anyone else is wondering about award selections

Sigh. I know our dedicated troll Lucretia doesn't actually read our print version, but I'm going to respond here in case anyone else is wondering about this.

Our small business winners are chosen like this: editors make their picks and the readers vote for the reader's choice awards. Some winners with advertise us -- most don't, as far as I know. We don't exclude people from the running because they run ads with us -- our goal is to honor the best businesses in SF. Also, that would be stupid.

Lucretia, I know this goes without saying, but get a life -- this was an inappropriate post to spill your haterade onto.

Posted by caitlin on May. 13, 2011 @ 9:37 am