>> scenes from san francisco

The General Store in The Sunset: me likes.

Mollusk Surf Shop rules.

Post-run grilled cheese at Outerlands and a quick pop into the Heath Ceramics factory in Sausalito.

>> road trip to santa cruz

Matt and I like taking weekend road trips, especially in the Jan/Feb off-season. This year I kind of have a hankering to go to Santa Cruz. I remember it being pretty great when I was 18, back when getting into a jazz club underage was "the ultimate". Built by Wendy tee ($45); flea market beads; trail jacket ($261); neckerchief ($13); soft sole mocs ($38); California field notes ($10 for set of three); Stanley water bottle ($36); Ella Dish collar and lead ($68); L.L. Bean signature duffel ($135); Blackbird vintage shades ($353).

>> sf moma artscope

The SF MOMA's ArtScope is a pretty great way to procrastinate. It's a visual catalog of the museum's collection that you can explore entirely by using your mouse and rolling over images. You can also do keyword searches. Hours wasted.

>> anzfer farms

I have a new design crush on the The San Francisco studio Anzfer Farms, especially because of these Lock and Key chairs made from reclaimed plywood.

>> arrowed

The arrow saga continues. Think I gotta have these mid-century brass arrow bookends ($145), and obviously this hat—all from Paris Hotel Boutique.

>> what's inside: ashley bruce + griff behncke

Just got back from another delicious weekend in SF. I had to share Griff and Ash's cute-as-sin apartment in The Mission.

Mid-century wicker chairs atop a Madeline Weinrib zig-zag rug.

The Salon.


Obsessed with the Ashley Gray paint on their walls.

Rad save-the-date! Designed by this guy.

Stainless kitchen counter-height table by Ikea. It's a separate base and top, I don't think they sell this as-is. But they should!

Black Tolix stools! Awesome!


Griff's stack of old Gourmet Magazines. The other day they made a flat bread pizza and topped it with creme fraîche, lemon and caviar. Hello, foodies!


Their dining room is still a work-in-progress. But, they've got a slate table (that you can draw on with chalk!) and some Danish Modern chairs going on so far.

Part of Ash's vintage clock collection.

An Ashley Bruce original.

Loved all of the vintage hardware in their place. Hated having to leave.

Yellow Owl Workshop STDs

And here come the wedding posts. First: STDs...that's an obvious abbreviation for Save-The-Dates, right? Anyway, I was turned on to the San Francisco artist Christine Schmidt of Yellow Owl Workshop by our freaking-awesome wedding planners Kelsey and Alison of Alison Events. Working on the STDs was really fun, I sent over Christine an "inspiration board" of what we were looking for and she designed the final product and screen printed it herself in her studio. Yellow Owl is really blowing up (or has blown up?) and are stocking some of the coolest store's shelves in the country. I'm hoping to snag some holiday cards from them this year before they run out. Bonus: they print on 100% recycled paper.

1973 Bloomingdale's Book of Home Decorating

How badly do you want this book!? Imagine all the early 70s goodness in there. And what a great color of purple on the hardcover? Get it here ($125).

Maptotes

When I travel I always throw a few empty totes in my suitcase, and they always get use, whether for it's to schlep tennis balls, dirty shoes, picnic blankets or cameras. Some of my favorites are these from MapTote ($15-$40). They have a great selection of cities, styles and colors—and I think they make an excellent gift too.

Rain Crepes

I literally ate my way through San Francisco this weekend: Noodles in Japan Town, Bone Marrow at Bar Tartine, Rockfish Hash for brunch at Canteen, Buratta pizza at Beretta, more pizza at Pizzeria Delfina and every bit of it was unbelievably good. But the best meal of them all was Nutella and banana crepes eaten outside in the rain. My friend Ashley and I plopped down post-tennis at a no-name cafe and devoured two delicious crepes with cappuccinos. Best. Lunch. Ever.

Bourbon & Branch

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for San Francisco—one of my most favorite cities to visit. I'll be having a cocktail at around say 10pm PST at Bourbon & Branch with my SF-native friends Katie and Mark who will be in town from NYC. When it comes to booze, I trust their recommendations blindly. A few months ago I asked Katie what she was doing and she texted back: "Sipping a Pink Lady through a brass straw somewhere in the East Village." Bourbon & Branch falls squarely into the recent (past few years or so) speakeasy trend. Signs that you're going to one of these bars would be: they require reservations—sometimes even passwords, standing at the bar is strictly prohibited, photography is strictly prohibited and ordering a Cosmo is strictly prohibited. You can also count on bartenders (nay, mixologists) who labor over each drink order until absolute perfection is achieved. Similarly there's The Violet Hour in Chicago, Pegu Club in New York, etc., etc., etc. Some people get annoyed with the rules and the pretense of these kind of establishments, but I actually really like it.

More blogging coming soon from SF, stay tuned.

Rose and Radish moving sale

I'm planning on being in San Francisco this weekend and was making a list of a few Hayes Valley shops I wanted to stop into when I got off the plane. One of them is Rose and Radish, which I just found out is moving locations as of this Sunday. Hello moving sale! Above: Pandora Design Deluxe cutlery set ($13.50 each-50% off). Below: Libeco Suriname tablecloth ($54-40% off); Arcade glass vase (starting at $108-40% off). Check out the rest of the sale right here.

new arrivals at Paris Hotel Boutique

I really love getting "new arrivals" emails from Lynn of the San Francisco-based vintage shop Paris Hotel Boutique. In fact, right when I see them appear in my inbox my heart rate goes up a little. Above is an ultra-rare first edition copy of David Hicks on Living with Taste ($245). Doesn't the cover look just as tasteful today as it did in 1969? Below are two examples of vintage bus signs. The first is an American 1970s Greyhound bus sign ($285), measuring over 50" tall; below that is a 1950's vintage tour bus sign from the UK ($425). Thanks, Lynn!

Yellow Owl Workshop

I've been playing around with different ideas for our save-the-dates and it's hard to find anything that's not letterpress these days. I was turned on to San Francisco-based screen printers Yellow Owl Workshop by our wedding planner and am loving their cards, stamps and custom designs—they're a breath of fresh air.

Je t'aime limited edition serigraph printed by hand on recycled paper ($5 each, $20 for set of 5)

Custom design

Love Cyan limited edition serigraph printed by hand on recycled paper ($5 each, $20 for set of 5)

Love Geometric limited edition serigraph printed by hand on recycled paper ($5 each, $20 for set of 5)

Landscape stamp set of 5 molded natural rubber stamps, each mounted on maple block, ($37)

Bud Vases 3 x 3

It might not be the best time to be talking about bud vases as I can already see the trees outside my window turning from green to yellow, but there's always something seasonal that can be placed in one of these and they make great gifts on the cheap. Above are Japanese Octahedron Vases ($10 each) made with an earthy ceramic glaze. I want a hundred of these! Below are Heath bud vases ($22 each); one of the few remaining mid-century American potteries still in existence. Below those are clear pebble vases ($19) by Sugahara Glassworks in Japan.

Lady in Blue

I spent a good portion of my morning staring at this Anthony Sabatucci oil on canvas of a vintage bathing beauty from Paris Hotel Boutique. I love it. I really want to buy it because I know it will sell quick. Agghh!!! The painting measures 22" by 18" and it most likely dates from between 1950-1960. Stunning colors. Buy it right here ($525), if you must.