Bras, sushi and booze

About a year ago, I interviewed Heidi Zak, who owns ThirdLove with her husband, David Spector. You may have seen ThirdLove via Facebook or other online ads, but many don’t realize the bra company’s presence in Chico. For those not yet in the know, ThirdLove challenges Victoria’s Secret and other bramakers with its half-cup sizes and priding itself on little details that provide extra comfort.

I bought my first ThirdLove bra about four months ago after years of swearing by Victoria’s Secret. The experience was strange at first, as the company is online-only, but the customer service was great and they offered a month to try a bra before charging me—that sealed the deal. I’ve worn it almost every day since.

When I spoke with Zak, her company, headquartered in San Francisco, employed 45 local customer support folks and was housed inside the old Wanderful offices in downtown Chico. Now, City Manager Mark Orme says it’s the fastest-growing company in town—there are now 150 people working there(!). It just held a grand opening for its new home at the Chico airport (complete with an indoor slide!) this week. I hope to see more cool things from them. Check ’em out at thirdlove.com.

Sushiland news For those who want a fresh roll after a good workout, you’re in luck—if you’re a member of In Motion Fitness, anyway. On Monday (July 23), that gym’s in-house eatery, Cabana Cafe, will begin selling sushi boxes prepared daily by Japanese Blossoms, according to a recent Facebook announcement. The popular sushi spot also sells its prepackaged rolls at New Earth Market.

Meanwhile, downtown sushi hotspot Rawbar is now hosting “industry nights” every Monday, with a special menu and discount pricing for anyone in the restaurant industry—just bring in a paystub to prove it. (Of course, you can order off the regular, non-industry menu as well.)

My boyfriend, Chuck, and I checked it out this past week and the special menu is short, but offers the sushi chefs, kitchen and bartenders a chance to get creative. Even though I’m not “in the industry” as Chuck is, the pricing was enticing—$5 specialty cocktails, $15 for a six-piece sashimi plate.

Bonus points go to Rawbar for switching to paper straws as a way to combat plastic waste, a movement started locally by Hula’s Chinese Bar-B-Q and joined by a number of other establishments, including Aonami Sustainable Sushi, Bacio Catering, Broadway Heights, Lucky Poke, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Chico State’s Associated Students. For more on it, and to take the challenge, go to strawlesschallenge.com.

Training available In other restaurant industry news, the Chico Police Department, Butte County Behavioral Health and the Butte Youth Now Coalition are holding several training sessions focused on not overserving people booze. The sessions, scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday (July 25-26), are free for those in the restaurant, bar and liquor/grocery store business, but registration is required. If interested, go to surveymonkey.com/r/SL6HQYG.