Upcoming Events - MASK Launches 50 New Designs

Just when you thought you had seen it all, Mask creates 50 new Italian style mask designs! New designs include black & orange Giants masks (it is opening day today, yea!), Phantom of the Opera masks (always popular), dioramas, half and full masks, feathers, beads, flowers, and every color of the rainbow.

Come check out our new designs & visit us at these upcoming events:

• Saturday, April 23 - Earth Day celebration at the Civic Center in San Francisco (space D58)
• Sunday, May 1 - How Weird Street Faire, a Burning Man event on Howard Street in San Francisco -- we will have an especially weird mask selection!
• Saturday & Sunday, May 21-22 - Boogie on the Bayou in downtown Campbell
• Saturday & Sunday, May 28-29 (Memorial Weekend) 33rd Annual San Francisco Carnaval in the Mission District on Harrison Street

Sinister Smile

Let's Dance

MASK March 2011 Event Schedule

Don't miss two upcoming events next month where you can find MASK (and have some fun!):

• March 5 San Francisco: Brazilian Carnaval Ball, "The Masquerade Ball", at the Cocomo Cafe Club on Indiana Street @ Mariposa from 9:30pm to 2am.
• March 12 San Francisco: Annual St. Patrick's Celebration and Parade at the Civic Center on Sunday from 10am to 5pm (parade starts at 11:30am).

As usual, we will be featuring our handmade Italian style masks, and, as our fans expect, some new designs that will be sure to please! Contact Steve Pogni with special requests for custom masks or to book a special occasion, including masks for fundraising events.

The Long Dance

Devil in Disguise

MASK's New Marketing Flyer

Special thanks to Jeannie and Freddie Marsh-Lott for designing this fabulous flyer!

Venetian style masks for all occasions: birthdays, Mardi Gras, New Year's, Halloween, masquerade balls, Burning Man, Carnival, weddings.

All Italian style masks hand crafted by California artist, Steve Pogni.

MASK Launches Wedding Collection

Posted by Jessica Gopalakrishnan

If you think masks are only worn for Mardi Gras and Halloween, you must be new to our blog and our MASKs! Our fans know that we are always thinking of new ways to channel imagination, diversity and creativity into our art.

When the San Francisco Giants were up to win the World Series last year, MASK was there to support its customers with customized Giants fan masks -- insulated to keep them warm in the San Francisco fog!

This month we are proud to bring our fans a brand new collection of wedding masks -- The Fairy Tale Wedding Collection.

Local legend Steve Pogni realized there was a need and seized the opportunity. "There is incredible value to understanding your customer. Every day I speak with people and incorporate their feedback into our work so that we may delight each customer, as well as cultivate repeat customers."

"Each wedding MASK is hand crafted like a piece of art," Steve continued. "All brides want to feel that their wedding is the most special and unique day of their lives. This collection can transform a common wedding into an exciting fairy tale! The MASKs make an excellent gift for brides maids and groomsmen as well."

The MASKs shown here are available for a limited time. 

MASK does take custom orders.

MASK Gets Hip With Square, Mobile Credit Card App

Short on cash? That's ok because MASK can now take your credit card right at the booth!

MASK has signed up for Square, which is a mobile credit card processing app for iPhones, iPads and the Android. Square was just launched in February 2010 so the concept is pretty new but word is spreading fast. For good reason, too. It's so simple, free to download, and extremely convenient, especially for mobile small business owners.

What is it? Square is a small, plastic cube that plugs into the headphone port on your phone. A slot in the cube lets you pass a credit card through. It then converts the data from the magnetic strip into an audio signal and passes it on to software on the phone. (Read Wired's review online.)

Seriously cool, huh? We try our best at MASK ;-)

What's next? Good questions. Perhaps mobile payment, which doesn't involve any plastic at all. According to Wikipedia, this is a new and rapidly-adopting alternative payment method. Instead of paying with cash, someone can use a mobile phone to pay for a wide range of services and digital or hard goods -- which then hits your phone app account, eg iTunes.

But for now we are loving Square so come visit us soon!

Remember you can find us on Telegraph in Berkeley and at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco 7 days a week (sometimes even in the rain, but call or email us to check our hours just in case).

MASK at Sea of Dreams in San Francisco New Year's Eve

Now this was a blast of an event! It had an incredible vibe, amazing DJ's, and such creative outfits. Yes, it was the fabulous Sea of Dreams. With a big "Burner" following (aka Burning Man fans), it took place in San Francisco at the Concourse on 8th Street on New Year's Eve 2010. 

Steve Pogni decked out his booth to look like a "dream" and we sold hundreds of MASKS to the (thousands of) attendees. People were in love with our latest designs (handmade face MASKS). We'll be back again next year!

Wishing everyone a very happy, prosperous and healthy New Year 2011.

KTVU Puts Steve Pogni and His Halloween Masks on TV

(Posted by Jessica)

Last Thursday, Steve Pogni was on Market Street in San Francisco selling his masks when the Channel 2 KTVU news truck pulled up. The Channel 2 KTVU reporter started talking to Steve and about the Giants (go Giants!).

Channel 2 KTVU loved his comedy-tragedy masks as it symbolizes the Giants season -- meaning it was a season of torment for Giants fans because they kept losing but still the fans kept rallying, and now the Giants are finally winning and have a major chance of winning the World Series, woop woop!!

Sadly, I don't have the TV clip to show you but Steve was on TV for several minutes. If you have the video link, please email me.

They also loved the custom Giants baseball masks (which, by the way, can be found only at MASK kiosks). Not only are die-hard Giants fans loving the matching paraphernalia face masks but it also keeps their faces warm -- let's face it, AT&T Park is not the warmest of baseball parks.

So come by and pick up your Giants face mask -- or Halloween mask -- in our kiosk down near the Ferry Building in San Francisco or on Telegraph in Berkeley weekdays (and see schedule below for special weekend events).

Wishing everyone a safe and SPOOKY Halloween!