GET TO KNOW TABLEAU

Thank you for visiting our website — we’re so happy you’re here! Whether you prefer to browse the site for stories or want to flip through the virtual pages of our digital magazine, we know you’ll love Tableau. Each issue is full of inspiring people, interesting places, delicious dining, fun shopping, captivating art, and opportunities to give back.

Happy reading,

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the September/October issue of Tableau…which also happens to be our first anniversary edition!

Over the past year and Tableau’s six issues, we’ve learned that it takes a lot to produce a beautiful, entertaining and informative magazine. A publication that aims to be inclusive, down-to-earth and different while capturing the essence of Orange County — a place that can be anything but those things, sometimes.

Tableau continues to be the little online magazine that could, powered by the talents of some of the region’s most talented journalists, essayists, designers, photographers, artists and editors. I have been honored to work with each of them and owe them a huge collective hug and thank you for lending their time and talents to the magazine.

Appropriately, this anniversary issue is themed around “discovery.” As we continue to discover the ins and outs of producing a magazine, we also have the pleasure of discovering all sorts of new things in and around OC, thanks to our wonderful writing team.

In this edition, you’ll discover everything from fabulous makers that make shopping small fun and exciting to lesser-known nonprofits we know you’ll want to support. We’ll take you to the depths of our coastal waters for the finest wines and on a county-wide tour of the hottest new coffee spots. And that’s just the beginning.

If you haven’t yet, please visit our website at tableauofficial.com. It’s gorgeous, easy to navigate and full of wonderful stories for you to enjoy. And, if you’d be so kind, would you tell a few friends about Tableau? That would be the best birthday gift of all.

With gratitude,

Carrie Freitas

TEAM TABLEAU

Meet the passionate and talented team that brings Tableau to life

Introducing the
TABLEAU STAFF

Miki Akil

After working as a publicist in Hollywood, Miki found her calling in consumer/lifestyle PR. She is a Houston native (who you’ll always find watching the Astros or Texans) with a proven track record of developing powerful marketing communications campaigns. After moving to the West Coast more than 10 years ago, she now calls Oceanside home and lives with her husband, two kitties and pups.

Carrie Freitas

Carrie hails from a newspaper/journalism family on her mother’s side, and a marketing/ printing family on her father’s — which explains why she is both a published writer and founder of Kitchen Table Marketing. She lives in Newport Beach with her husband and is a proud mom of two, and stepmom of three. Carrie is passionate about giving back to her community and supporting LGBTQ+ rights.

Jordan Kruk

Jordan has had a love of writing from a young age, leading her to pursue a career in PR. She started off in B2B marketing in the commercial real estate industry before joining the Kitchen Table team where she quickly discovered her passion for the restaurant and nonprofit industries. Jordan is an OC native and currently resides in Huntington Beach with her boyfriend and their pug, Franklin.

Madi Sutherland

Madi found her love for public relations and social media while studying Communications at California State University, Fullerton. After pursuing her degree, she worked for a digital marketing agency overseeing clients in the tech space before finding herself at the Kitchen Table. Born and raised in Orange County, Madi supports a range of locally (and a few national) based food, design, nonprofit and real estate clients for KTM.

Ashley Hult

While attending California State University, Fullerton, Ashley found her new love of PR and Orange County. Throughout her college internships, Ashley was eager to work with clients in the lifestyle, food, and nonprofit industries post-grad – leading her to find and join Kitchen Table’s team. Originally a Northern California Native, Ashley now resides in Anaheim Hills and continues to explore all of what Southern California has to offer, from fun restaurants and bars to the gorgeous beaches of the West Coast.

Thank You to the September-October issue's
CONTRIBUTORS

Elisabeth Abrahamson

OC native Elisabeth Abrahamson enjoys writing about her beloved hometown. When she’s not creating content, she spends her time traveling (Palm Springs is a local fave!), discovering the best new brunch spots with friends, and watching The Office with her fiancé, Doug.

Marrie Stone

Marrie Stone is a former corporate attorney. Her fiction and essays have appeared or been accepted for publication in Reed Magazine, the Writer's Journal, River Oak Review, Into the Void, Coffin Bell, The Rambler, The Write Launch, and also in Orange Coast Magazine and various online newspapers. She co-hosts the weekly radio show and podcast Writers on Writing, where she has interviewed more than 500 writers, poets, and literary agents. She lives with her family in Laguna Beach.

Sophia Anderson

Sophia is a high school journalist who was born near the beach and has seldom left it since. When she’s not writing or studying, Sophia is spending time with her family: doing yoga in her backyard, going out for tacos, and watching movies in her family’s cozy OC condo. It’s her, her numerous notebooks and her purple Converse against the world!

Michelle Pulfrey

For more than two decades, Michelle Pulfrey has shaped SoCal’s TV news landscape as a senior producer for Fox 11’s “Good Day L.A.” Always on the pulse of what’s new and noteworthy, Michelle also produced the station’s popular “Style File” segment and has written on fashion, beauty and lifestyle for Modern Luxury OC/Riviera. Now, this OC resident brings her talents to Tableau.

Allison Hata

Allison Hata is a freelance writer and editor based in Southern California. She lives and breathes OC, covering food, style, design and culture around town for over a decade. A former editor for Newport Beach Magazine, Allison is passionate about telling stories that capture the fascinating people and places that shape her community. Her work has appeared locally in Modern Luxury, Pelican Hill Magazine, Design OC and more.

Janet Bludau

Janet Bludau was recently voted "Best Landscape Artist of the Year” in a juried, international show. She strives to simplify the shape and line of common landscape and seascape scenes and use her own rendition to venture past what the eye actually sees in nature. She also throws in a fun figurative and still life work every now and again. Janet works from her studio in Cannery Village, Newport Beach.

Jesse Rodriguez

Jesse is a new photographer based in Los Angeles, California. He began his photography journey during the pandemic and has had the opportunity to work with multiple brands and artists since then. He specializes in landscape, portrait and drone photography all over California. In his free time, he enjoys writing and performing music, spending time with his wife, and exploring Los Angeles and its surrounding areas.

Luke Gialanella

Luke Gialanella founded GOVLEARN when he was 11 years old, in the summer after the 2016 presidential election. Finding that there was a lack of substantive civics education for elementary and middle schoolers, he went on a mission to correct that. Creating a website and YouTube channel, Luke is obviously extremely passionate about government and politics and has participated in many mock governments, Model UN, and debate programs outside of school.

Sara Hall

Sara has nearly 14 years of experience at several daily and weekly newspapers, including The Record Searchlight in Redding, The Daily Advocate in Greenville, Ohio, the Newport Beach Independent, and most recently at Stu News Newport and Stu News Laguna. Her work has included photography, writing, design and layout. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and pets.