>> 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.

>> dwell on design 2011

I just got back from this year's Dwell on Design exhibition in downtown Los Angeles, which was a pretty good showing! The guy up there in the Sleeper get-up is spray painting the rhythm of random people's heart beats and then auctioning off the artwork for charity. Here are few pics of items and designs that caught my eye.

A+R's genius Hot-Pot BBQ by Black + Blum and great wireless portable speakers also at the A+R booth.

Rewired and re-purposed shoe lamps (?) and Heath's house number plates, which are to die for.

Minimalist loose-leaf tea strainer and ceramic speakers by Joey Roth.

Molo Design's lighting booth was pretty dreamy and loved this pendant cage lamp.

Public Bikes out in full-force!

LOVED these cast honey bears by Lesley Anton. So cute!

Nice lookin' hammocks. Nice lamp?

Charley Harper + Todd Oldham, so great.

>> plumes

Hermes Home has some spectacular new items, including two items I'm drooling over (both with feather motifs), the above porcelain ashtray ($630) and this 25" x 25" pillow cover ($680). Just kinda sorta pricey unfortunately.

>> helloooooo turkey

Things to give thanks for: striped cabin crewneck sweater ($68); Plymouth mini bottles ($4); rosemary...mmmm; football; harvest table runner ($98); clementines; butcher's apron ($29); green and blue baker's twine ($18); Vince Guaraldi in the background.

>> banned in china!

My friend Ashley texted me from China last night, "Your blog is blocked in China! They don't want any of their peeps getting good design ideas!" I'm fairly certain this isn't out of the ordinary, but still, it made me feel like a total rock star. In honor of China's DESIGNwatcher embargo:

Bamboo fruit basket ($150); Accordian dragon ($1); reusable plastic chopsticks ($48 for four pairs); Brushstroke plate ($145); Pagoda lantern ($125); Alpha water tumblers ($150 for two); Guang Sang Tea ($3).

>> very nauti

I LOVE these plastic cocktail anchors ($20 for set of twenty) from the new brand Nauti & Co.. They also make a sterling silver version that I wouldn't mind spearing an olive with now and again ($175 for six). Inheritance is carrying the line in L.A., and I may just head over there tomorrow.

>> the spoils of etsy

During the process of writing this post, I bought the first item, sorry. Blue blanc + rouge wooden flag ($30...but sold) circa the 1930s; 1960s Roly Poly cocktail glasses ($195 for six); lucite and wood magazine rack ($100); vintage aviators ($12).

>> it was a dark and stormy night...

In protest to the light and sunny weather, we served Dark 'N' Stormys last night for a few peeps new in town. I know that technically Barritt's is the way to go on the ginger beer front, but we tried out the Aussie brand Bundaberg, which was pretty tasty and readily available down the street at The Oaks.

Gosling's Black Seal dark rum ($20); Bundaberg ginger beer ($2.25 per bottle at The Oaks); Shun premier paring knife ($100); Ice bucket ($145); Birch cutting board ($50); vintage kitchen matches ($2); ice tongs ($8); Striped vans ($52); Ujala lamp ($148); lobster swizzle sticks ($1 each); The Meters album, for track 11, "Stormy" ($14).

>> dogs days of summer

Emeco Heritage Rocking Armchair ($875-$1,745); McClure's garlic dill pickles ($14); glass juicer ($12); classic cotton hammock ($99); Peterboro bike basket ($34); Fatboy dog bed ($139); Propello desk fan ($145); oval hurricane ($18); My Dog Skip ($10).

>> out of vogue

It seems like all the good scores are in Orange County. Recently I was turned on to this vintage modern shop, Out of Vogue in Fullerton, Ca., which I've heard has been a source for many a Mad Men set. Great store and the prices aren't awful. Above is a vintage Heath Ceramics "Sea and Sand Set" ($385) and an eight piece Michael Lax Copco cast iron cookware set ($275). Order by phone (714) 879-6647 or get into the 3,500 sq foot showroom at 109 E. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832.

>> simple summer goodness

Fair trade fire sticks ($4.50) handmade in Guatemala from the stumps of Ocote trees; recycled enamel bbq ($195) akin to a traditional west African cooker; recycled glass storm lantern ($11).

>> lost & found is online

Good news for non-L.A. people: Lost & Found, the home, men's, women's and kid's store on Yucca that I live dangerously close to just launched their online store! Check it out!

>> cocktail hour at the pool

Campari soda (recipe); The Savoy Cocktail book ($20 new); 1950s Italian bar cart ($2,400); Kisses 7" single ($7) or here on iTunes; red Supergas ($70); Spaghetti stool, 1979 ($335); Perrier tumbler ($12); beach blankets ($48); Bird-Electron portable speaker ($80); paper straws ($3); Gaucho boardshorts ($58).

>> balloon shakers

LOVE these hand-blown balloon s+p shakers ($80 for two) that you can also use for spices. Designed by architect Masayuki Kurokawa and produced by a Shotoku Glass Co., who originally created lightbulbs in Japan. Coolness.

>> suki cheema placemats

Dope. Available as tablecloths and napkins here. More soon!

>> picnic in the park

I know it's only Tuesday but I'm already set to picnic (and drink Whiskey Sours) while we screen North By Northwest on Saturday night at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

King-sized 40 oz. Thermos ($25); custom LL Bean boat and tote ($45); SLVDR sweatshirt ($84); Oliver Peoples sheldrake optical frames a la Cary Grant; TOMS denim Lindsley slip-ons ($85); Utility Canvas quilted throw ($145); Preserve recycled and reusable on-the-go cutlery ($5 for set of 24).

>> nothing but blue skies

Public D1 bike ($600); Best Made Co. Axe ($200); Happy Socks ($10); Magritte by David Sylvester ($35); Partners & Spade and Fresco studios' (which monograms Goyard's bags) table lamp (TBD); Sydney Albertini Dipped Pasta Bowl ($250); Tretorn Skymra women's sneaker ($70).

>> geometric fruit bowls

Powder coated steel is surely the material du jour. I'm loving these fruit bowls by Peter Hils ($48 each). They arrive flat and can be shaped like origami in several forms. 11.5" diameter.

>> merkled pot rack

How cool is The Merkled Pot Rack ($325)!? It's made from salvaged steel loom ends collected from a weaving company ten blocks from the Merkled's Portland studio. Apparently the powder coated Merkled Pot Rack can hold the lightest whisk to the heaviest cast iron skillet. It comes in the standard L-shape for corner installations or a U shape for over an island and in white, orange or the above ice blue.

>> lisa bengtsson baronessa trays

Gorgeous ($65). Perfect for use as a table topper or serving tray. Measures 18" diameter and made from sustainable wood.