Welcome To The End of My Rainbow

Hi. My name is Michael Darby , and I am  a father of two amazing children. One day I realized I was a hypocrite. I'd spent years telling my kids that if they followed their dreams and passions, they would have amazing and successful lives. The problem was that at the time, I had never actually done it myself. 
 
It was on my daughters 14th birthday.(my babygirl blowing out those candles that day)
 
Like clockwork, I started my famous "follow your dreams" monologue. My "babygirl" politely interrupted me and asked if I was in fact following my dream?  Now, if you can go back in time to your teens and recall that light bulb moment when you realized your parents sometimes said things they REALLY didn’t know to be fact; well, for my daughter, this was that moment. I realized the jig was up and she already knew the answer. Like most parents would, I went "political" and gave her a response that really wasn't a response (parents know what I mean). I had many sleepless nights after her birthday. I knew I was at a pivotal point in my relationship with my children. I could forever be the hypocrite. Or, I could seize this opportunity to change the course of their lives forever. I chose the latter.  
 
I soon left Seattle to head back home to California to attend Culinary School. ( I still never measure ingredients )

I was determined to show my children that they really can follow their dreams. My dream was to be a chef and to open my own business. Being away from my children was tough but we made it work. While attending Culinary School, several simply incredible and ridiculous events occurred; Such as how I ended up on a movie set cooking for  the actors and crew. (This is the 1st batch of "Havoc" ever made: Blueberry, Candied Ginger  folded into an Avocado cream. 
( a coulple in Venice Beach 2011 eating the first "Havoc" cream)
( Actress Terri J Vaughn  eating a sample of Havoc)

         They loved my creams and started asking "is this your business"? I heard the same question again and again. A few times a week, I would go to Venice Beach and play hoop. I'd see thousands of people from all over the world. So, I decided to make hundreds of samples to get feedback on the quality. I figured an unbiased group of strangers would be a good test market. I charged $1 each and made $140 bucks in cash and tips! The final confirmation came during my audition for Master Chef; when the judges devoured all of my plated ice creams, I knew I had something!

(1st Samples of "Southern Comfort" )

        A few months later, I found myself home for a short visit to see my daughter, family, and my mother for her birthday in April of 2012 (by this point, my son was off to college in Hawaii). I brought ice cream to share with friends who had viewed my Facebook posts of random actors and people eating my ice cream (see above). During that visit, a friend brought me into a Zaw pizza store in Capitol Hill .  While there the subject of my ice cream, which I was rolling in a cooler at the time, came up. I ended up sharing some with the owner and two days later he said "this is the best ice cream ever". Although  I'd never met him and he had never met me, he offered me space in his shop to begin selling ice cream.  Greg loved my commitment and belief that local natural ingredients produced the best product; much like the core beliefs of his company.

It was in that moment that I realized I'd been given an amazing opportunity that seldom comes around in life. So I took it.   We simply did business the old fashioned way...we shook hands! We immediately started sketches and I agreed to put in some sweat equity.

( Actual sketch on paper. (Below) I'm putting in that sweat equity)
 I never made it back to Los Angeles. LICK opened a little over a month later in June of 2012!   In the past few years, we have received incredible validations. In 2013 Seattle Magazine came a few words short of calling this little shop " THE BEST" but it was implied! Thrillist  named us 33 Best in America. I've had some incredible people seed into LICK from day one. I've had people who believed and put faith in my commitment to build something amazing.  In 4 years, most of the work and labor has been done by family, loved ones, friends and customers who simply love the LICK Pure Cream product. But that simply isn't sustainable. LICK needs to scale (grow). We need a BIGGER space for our South Lake Union families,  and  work groups that come to enjoy the LICK Pure Cream  product.(  One of LICK's uber yummy creations the LICKwich™)
( photo courtesy of Kate Baldwin Photography)
( the LICK family rolls deep at all times!)
( Amazing couple that shared some relationship tips)
( Commercial ready " Havoc" - Blueberry Ginger Avocado)

We now have a wholesale program set to service nine retail pizza shops, 2  Cone & Steiner  boutique stores, and 1 assisted living center,  we donate cream to weekly.  Currently we have 3 new contracts pending to provide LICK pints to 2 additional local grocery store chains  and 1 local downtown hotel.  LICK  has gained new national attention by being named The Best Ice Cream in Washington .  In order to meet these new demands, LICK needs more space, a full-time workforce, and better infrastructure.  The one man show has come to an end!
(Caramel Apple : Courtesy of Rina Jordan Photography..she is dope. her link is below)

 Please take a moment to hear from Greg Scott, founder of Zaw Pizza, and I as we talk about our history and the future of the LICK / Zaw relationship: 
 
I am looking to raise the final $50,000 needed for this expansion. I have secured a space in the South Lake Union area of Seattle. We have all of our equipment purchased. The money will be for the remaining TI (Tennant Improvement). This includes interior and exterior paint, some electrical, sound proofing the ceiling, plumbing, and tables and chairs. The remaining will be working capital to cover a few months of salaries and lease payments. This is the last piece needed to fully manifest this dream. With your help, I will have created a reality for my children's children to have infinite possibility!

( This is the LICKwich™ and it's ridiculous!)
( Mentoring some amazing young people from Boys & Girls Club)

These next few lines are as transparent as I can be. Excuse any grammar issues. I'm just being myself here: 
 
I want to be an example of what commitment and integrity looks like for my children in a world where following your dreams and passions are ideas reserved for the few. If I can give them a tangible place they can come to and they know "My dad did this" and because of that ANYTHING is possible! I know this new space will be a springboard for whatever they desire and wherever they want to go in life.
Circa 2000's Note:  A portion of the funds may go to funeral expenses because my kids will likely kill me for using this picture! But it's too cute and they rocked!
       
  This is my chance to create a legacy, not just for them, but for my children's children. It is for children  from the local Boy & Girls Club  who have come into my shop. I constantly tell them  what I've achieved thus far, is a direct result of hard work, seeing obstacles as oportunities, and mostly, support from everyday people who genuinely believe in what I'm going to do. I'm not foolish enough to think otherwise. I would be eternally grateful for the smallest to the largest seed given towards this goal. 
 
Thank you very much, 
 
Michael
( Photo Courtesy of Rina Jordan Photography  )

P.S. I believe as big as I dream.  Those of you interested in an equity stake in LICK please feel free to contact me via the GofundMe portal.