Oaklander Katie Hintz-Zambrano has really got the mother thing down.

Not only is her human child thriving, her business babies—Mother, a multi-platform media brand, and In Good Company, an event company connecting creative women and entrepreneurs—are flourishing, as well.

Indeed, life is good—and busy—for the Nebraska native, who has been happily living in Oakland for the past four years with her husband and 12-year-old son, Diego. (Hintz-Zambrano was a San Francisco resident for 11 years prior to moving to the East Bay.)

So why does a onetime senior West Coast editor at Refinery 29 and contributor to pubs like Vogue, New York Magazine, ESPN, and i-D decide to launch a mom-centric magazine?

“Actually, both of my companies started after seeing a glaring void in the market and having a passion to fill it,” explains Hintz-Zambrano. "Just days after giving birth to my son in 2013, I was looking for information on the internet about some baby issue. Immediately, I realized there was no modern, online parenting destination that I could relate to—a site that was journalistically founded with expert-driven information and beautiful, design-forward inspiration.”

Just like that, Hintz-Zambrano knew she had to create it—not just for herself but for her community and the next generation of mothers. Over time, the magazine has continued to grow and in 2024, The Mother Podcast debuted and was named one to watch by Apple Podcasts (season two is coming soon).

That same drive to create also led Hintz-Zambrano to found her dream conference, In Good Company. It debuted at Fort Mason with 400-plus guests and 20 engaging speakers across a diverse range of industries.

“I would find myself at women's conferences, craving more depth and meaty exploration about the overlap between career, creativity and motherhood,” she says. Since then, “I've gone on to host highly curated brunches, dinners, panels, coffee meetups, Wine Country retreats and gatherings in key cities across the country."

And that's precisely why we’re excited to find out what’s in Hintz-Zambrano’s Bay, from her favorite event venues and restaurants to the shops she loves.

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day! Still looking for gifts? Check out our local picks.

When the Lady Falcon truck rolls up, you know you're in for a yummy caffeine fix.(Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell)

What's your favorite coffee spot?

I love getting a coffee and a bite at Tartine Manufactory (595 Alabama St., Mission-Potrero). The building itself is stunning, and after having a delicious meal, you can check out Heath Ceramics and its newsstand. It feels very San Francisco. I also love Lady Falcon Coffee Club (various), Excelsior Coffee (4495 Mission St., Excelsior), and Blk+Bean at Blk Girls Greenhouse (1700 Center St.) in Oakland. All are delicious and women-owned. Also, on Saturday mornings when I hit the Grand Lake Farmers Market, I love getting coffee at Red Bay Coffee on Grand.

What's your favorite spot for brunch?

It’s hard to beat brunch at Outerlands (4001 Judah St., Outer Sunset) in San Francisco followed by a walk to the Pacific Ocean. I always get something savory, something sweet, and their signature apple cider (served hot).

What's the best mother-son hangout spot?

Grand Lake Theater (3200 Grand Ave., Oakland): We can walk there from our house, and I love the history of the space and their incredibly affordable prices.

The stunning, light-filled Greens in Fort Mason is a longtime favorite of vegetarians and carnivores alike. (Courtesy of @Greens)

What's your go-to restaurant?

As a vegetarian, Greens (2 Marina Blvd., Bldg A, Marina) is a great one for special occasions. I especially love the whole block of buildings it sits within at Fort Mason. They all have these huge, gorgeous windows that look out over the water and sailboats. It’s so special, and one of the buildings, Gallery 308, is where I launched and held my first three In Good Company conferences. For a quick and casual bite, I love Yo Tambien Cantina (205 Hugo St.) in the Inner Sunset (get the Hugo Street Retreat), and DamnFine Pizza (3410 Judah St.), which is deeper in the Sunset. Both are owned by wonderful women.

Where do you go for a culture fix?

For art, I love SFMOMA (151 3rd St., SoMa), the de Young (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., Inner Sunset) and the Legion of Honor (100 34th Ave., Outer Richmond) museums, BAMPFA (2155 Center St., Berkeley), MoAD (685 Mission St., SoMa), Creative Growth (355 24th St., Oakland), Asian Art Museum (200 Larkin St., Civic Center), the Oakland Museum of California (1000 Oak St., Oakland), the Eames Institute (1330 S. 51st St., Richmond), and galleries like Jessica Silverman (621 Grant Ave., Nob Hill) and Johansson Projects (2300 Telegraph Ave., Oakland). I’m also excited about the soon-to-open Courage Museum in the Presidio. For smaller indie films, I like to see movies at Landmark Theatre on Piedmont Avenue.

The Kamperett boutique in the Mission is filled with dreamy clothing, accessories, and more.(Courtesy of Kristen Murakoshi)

What are your favorite shops?

These spots are all amazing—and all women-owned. For fashion, the hands-down best label coming out of San Francisco is Kamperett (3686 20th St., Mission). Their by-appointment boutique is so beautiful and often has cool window installs and vintage furniture on display (and for sale) alongside the dreamiest clothing. A Case For Making (4037 Judah St.) in the Outer Sunset is such a gorgeous and unique art shop that’s renowned nationally for its handmade watercolors. Lots of artists I profile on Mother (including Cleo Wade and Alex Elle) actually get their paints from there. Metier (575 Hayes St., Hayes Valley) is iconic when it comes to vintage and contemporary jewelry. Sherri Evans and Trina Papini who run it are SF veterans and have done so much to put the city on the map. Fashion-wise, Sherri McMullen has done the same with McMullen (3687 Sacramento St., Laurel Heights)—she’s introduced so many buzzy new designers to San Francisco (and the U.S.), like Christopher John Rogers and Diotima. Her curation is impeccable. For plants and gifts, Blk Girls Greenhouse1700 Center St.) in Oakland is a total vibe, complete with a killer soundtrack, delicious coffee and tea to enjoy while you’re shopping, and a cool area to lounge in. To buy and sell cool second-hand kids clothing, Noomoon (536 Irving St., Inner Sunset) is a gem in the city with a very unique design.

What's your favorite day trip in the Bay Area?

I love Sonoma—and stopping by Valley Bar and Bottle (487 1st St.) and Valley Swim Club (18709 Arnold Dr). I also love staying at MacArthur Place (29 E. MacArthur St). In [St. Helena and] Calistoga, I love Faust (2867 St. Helena Hwy) for a tasting and taking in the beautiful settings and staying (and soaking) at iconic Indian Springs (1712 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga). Healdsburg is hard to beat—with a tasting at Flowers Vineyards and Winery (4035 Westside Rd.), and staying at The Madrona (1001 Westside Rd). Other places I love include Abbott's Passage Winery (777 Madrone Rd., Glen Ellen), anywhere in Sea Ranch, Pt. Reyes, Petaluma, Tomales…and the list goes on and on.

Flowers Vineyard in Healdsburg is one of Hintz-Zambrano's favorite event venues.(Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell)

What are the best local venues for events?

I love the Ferry Building, Chandran Gallery (459 Geary St., Union Square), and 1 Hotel (8 Mission St., Embarcadero) in San Francisco, and Flowers Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg. The women who manage these spaces have been incredibly supportive and collaborative in helping my event dreams come true.

I also recently hosted a brunch for 14 in the front area of Park Tavern (1652 Stockton St.) in North Beach—they used these gorgeous green velvet tablecloths to cover our table, and I can’t stop thinking about them. They were beautiful. It’s a great option for smaller events—plus, they have two other venue rental options upstairs.

What are your favorite places to get outdoors?

Going to see the redwoods either in the East Bay or up north, walking around my sweet neighborhood, riding bikes over the Golden Gate Bridge, walking on the cliffs with ocean views near Timber Cove and Sea Ranch, getting a tour of Fibershed (7 Main House, 14000 Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd., Pt. Reyes Station) or Toluma Farms (5488 Middle Rd., Tomales), and anywhere along the Pacific Ocean.