the Seeking Women of Interest Project

Name: Kristin

Occupation: owner-operator at Zen Bistro, wayfaring thespian

Passionate about and why? I am passionate about creativity and connection! It has been the great pleasure of my life to create a place where people can be nourished, in many ways. We work hard to be the change we want to see in the world.

Any special activities or hobbies? If I am not at Zen Bistro, lately, I am probably at rehearsal. Having taken a decade hiatus, I have found great joy in returning to the stage and getting involved in local theatre. It turns out a restaurant and a theater are not such different places.

Do you have a mentor? I am honored to have a number of mentors. But the person I ultimately look to for advice and support is my brother, John. He has a particular way of distilling information into practical mantras. For example, “Perfection is un-obtainable. Excellence is maintainable.”

Who is a female that you admire and why? My mom. She is wildly creative and she gives ceaselessly to others. She was a teacher for thirty years and made an incredible impact on her students’ lives. “Miss Kim” is a local celebrity, basically, and I couldn’t be prouder.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) by Simon & Garfunkel

Do you have a favorite artist or author? My favorite author is David Sedaris. I met him at a signing where he drew a portrait of me (“It’s you, nude, from behind!”) and gave me the hair conditioner from his hotel room. This sounds like a fever dream.

How do you see yourself at 40? …at 70? At 40, I think I will be surrounded by all of my loved ones, lounging on picnic blankets in the sun. At 70… I hope for the same thing. I have a gratuitous amount of phenomenal people in my life and I relish being in their company. My life is so enriched by the wonderful people I am blessed to know. They make my life better and I hope I do the same for them.

What do you love most about yourself? I love the way I love the people I love.