When you meet Karen in person, the first thing you notice is the contrast: a big, radiant burst of personality wrapped up in a tiny body. Her joy is immediate and contagious, the kind that fills a room without trying. Being with her feels like sitting down with a friend you’ve known your entire life—comfortable, safe…
February 02, 2026
Where Family, Tradition, and Community Meet: The Heart Behind Nicole’s Growing Business
While searching for women to celebrate and highlight through a local women-in-business group, I came across Nicole, one of many who responded to a call for community storytelling. After a few interactions and an in-person meeting, it quickly became clear that this connection was something special. What began as a prof…
The month of February is bittersweet. There is so much to celebrate — Galentine’s Day on February 13th at Jasper Row, my parents celebrating 50 years of marriage , and getting to see Wiz at the Paramount Theater. And then there is the quiet weight February carries too. Valentine’s Day marks 11 years since my nana …
I met Brooke briefly a few months ago when my mom and I stopped in on a quiet, rainy November afternoon, curious about what had taken over the space that once housed a dingy brewery—and before that, a long-standing Chinese restaurant, and even earlier, a steakhouse. Long before any of that, though, the building was a…