As both an artist & entrepreneur, I am a steady, fast moving force, motivated to achieve excellence. As a strong community leader, mixed-media artist, writer/publisher & restaurateur, I work hard to accomplish my dreams & to help others to achieve theirs. I am comfortable knowing that at the end of the day, our imperfections are what make us unique & I like that…because it’s genuine.Often credited with leading the revitalization of San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, my initial purpose for coming downtown was to create community. Today, the Gaslamp is regarded as the gem of Downtown & the Dining & Entertainment District is flourishing. When we first toured the area in the early 70’s with my husband Jim Croce, it was, run-down, dirty & teeming with unsavory characters, not unlike “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”. There wasn't a single restaurant or live music venue & that day we decided we would have to build one! For the past thirty years, Croce’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar has been a tribute to my late husband, Jim Croce, who died in a plane crash on tour. In 1987, I met Jimmy Rock on table 21 at Croce's & we married Thanksgiving 1988. Since then, we are partners in all ventures & adventures. We wrote "I Got a Name: The Jim Croce Story" together completing Jim Croce's biography in 2012. Sadly, our lease in the Gaslamp Quarter ended on December 31, 2013. The silver lining is that we have created our fabulous venue Croce's Park West in Bankers Hill at 2760 Fifth Avenue.Croce’s Park West offers a welcoming retreat for our neighbors and visitors. We serve a contemporary menu with American tapas, half portions and full dinners. Our patio has an extended cabana-style awning and opens into the bar room, for happy hour specials, specialty cocktails, 14 beers on tap and our award-winning wine list. We have 5 very distinct areas to enjoy Croce’s Park West – Patio, Lounge, Cozy booths, open dining, and banquettes. The Expatriate Room offers live music almost every night of the week.