balance

 Another walk to the Golden Gate Bridge to take in the view. Here are a few photos taken from Fort Point and then a cheers to SF with "bright green" Juice Shop juice followed up with an Americano pizza from Tony's Pizza Napoletana for balance.

YES! This Is Happening!

 I walked down to the Ferry Building farmers market, added a few more plants to the sidewalk succulent garden and then found my contributors copy of This Is Happening in the mailbox! I'm thrilled. A few months back I was told that I was selected to be a part of this book and as much as I wanted to share the news.... I just didn't think I could share until the book was on Chronicle's website and I had a solid copy in my hand. Today's the day. :) I have two photos on the cover (2nd row above the N and 3rd row under PE) and then seven photos inside! This Is Happening will be released November 12 (my birthday) or you can pre-order here. 

the seas imagination

 a last minute trip to the Tuesday Ferry Building farmers market for the first Concord grapes of the season. I walked back along the water to take in some new art on and beside the sidewalk. 

inspiration everywhere

The air was crisp and I didn't want to sit inside on a Saturday evening while the rest of the city was buzzing with energy so a friend and I decided go for a long walk through the city. Our walk up and over the hills of SF brought us to the Top of the Mark where I insisted on taking in the city view and we watched the fog slide along the skyline with twinkling lights below that was reminiscent of the starry sky above. Ready to set off on our adventure we passed Grace Cathedral and so many ornate Victorian entryways that have a different beauty at night. Coming up and over one of the steepest streets in the city I noticed little note above. I says "almost there" and it's placed on the second to last step that's about halfway up the hillside just before you cross the road to continue the last set of stairs to the top. We paused and took in the view of the city stretched out below and cable car bell ringing in the distance. Just as I was snapping this picture (sorry about the night phone camera flash) a woman walked by with her dog and said that it was just written a few days ago and that it's "good graffiti"that's almost like a motivational note. I told her about the sidewalk chalk notes I came across for a garage sale a few weeks back that had a similar effect. So much inspiration and often where you'd least expect to find it. 

stroll through Chinatown

Summer colors popping up in seasonal produce and a fresh coat of paint on a little poultry store. The mural above is in Jack Kerouac alley and it's one of my favorites. I just recently noticed the added wheat paste elephant and figure standing atop with an umbrella. 

cool SF summer

warmed up at Off the Grid with laksa, a spicy Malaysian soup with hand pulled noodles, poached egg, and heaps of herbs, spices, and crunchy goodies from Azalina's. I found a new favorite sidewalk drawing of the Golden Gate Bridge nestled between the headlands and trees with a little sailboat cruising by.  

strawberries and a scarf, always a scarf

weekday farmers market trip in shorts, flip flops, long sleeve shirt and a big alpaca scarf around my neck to stay warm and sunglasses to fend off the sun/fog glare. Temperature is usually cooler in the Summer than it is in the Fall so we're always prepared for the wind with a scarf. The produce seems to love the weather, look at those berries and gorgeous mushrooms.

tiny traveler

I had to return for another afternoon of fried catfish with hot sauce and live jazz on Fillmore Street. Lavender and rosemary hedges are in bloom and they have to be one of my favorite things about living in San Francisco. Other flowers are in blooming and these small little flowers with their cheery yellow centers had me smiling. I like to think of the small one that's close to the sidewalk as a tiny traveler setting out on an adventure. These salmon pink tiles and the gentle curve are so sweet and encompassed a grand covered apt. building entryway. 

summer tote

knowing that there would be great music and loads of delicious fried food at the Fillmore Street Jazz Festival I decided to take a long walk there and back to justify the gluttony. Hello, turkey corn dog. Walking along a street I usually drive I was able to stop and take in these lovely Victorian homes and was sure that if I stayed long enough I might here secrets of the passed whispered. I stopped at the market to stock up on frozen raspberries for a tart I wanted to make and finally had an excuse to buy a thermal tote bag. Hooray! I think it's adorable and it worked like a champ to keep the berries frozen on the walk home and all for $1.49. 

SF Summer classics

Gorgeous flowers, specialty foods, and helpful folk at Small Foods. I received a few texts from Mikayla (super talented friend) that called for celebration so I planned a quick impromptu lunch picnic. BLT sandwiches have become a staple of the month or some variation of it and I thought I brown some bacon, toast up the bread, slather it with mayo and a handful of spinach and pick up tomatoes along the walk to meet Mikayla. I stopped a tiny farmers market on the way, but no luck so I popped into Small Foods and they only had tiny cherry toms so I saw potential in a ripe peach and went with that instead. We grabbed fancy soda and a bag of chips before heading to a shady spot by the boats. They had one of my absolute favorite sodas, the jasmine tea ginger ale! After I calmed down from the exciting news about where she saw my work (I tell you all soon) we were able to take in the sunshine and enjoy our lunch and a new favorite summer sandwich the BSP bacon, spinach, and peach. On the walk back across the city I came across an open hydrant and paused to cool down and enjoy it (just so wasteful). 

city streets

days

bright city day

from the flowers and blueberries at the market to the tiles and window displays  

frozen sunset

another Friday night at the street food market with a mango and sticky rice popsicle in one hand and a pork belly bun with turmeric pickled daikon in the other. Came across this impressive white picket  fence on the walk home. 

always

...

no point in pretending

East Bay friends started a movie night tradition where the backyard is turned into a movie theater with blankets laid out and a few couches brought out of the garage that doubles as the movie screen. Spaceballs was the chosen flick and dictated the food theme of ball food, meatballs, mellon balls, and a few other were taken and I've been the dedicated popcorn person so naturally I made these fancy caramel pretzel popcorn balls. I added a few spices and chocolate chips to one batch (I made 3!). I spent a little of the day at Green Apple Books and City Lights. I came across another sidewalk poem/words of wisdom and the artist at work. I was finally able to pass off a few sharpies I'd been saving for him as a token of gratitude.  

double rainbow

the early mornind fog was thick and lingered through my walk to the farmers market making all the colors pop, even the subtle ones... except the seagulls who are apparently clad in SF fog camo. Bundles of lavender brought smiles to almost everyone that passed and my shoes proved to be a little dose of sunshine every time I gazed down. I finally gave in and bought a donut from an indoor vendor and almost blamed it on the fog. Of course the sun came out and shined bright by the afternoon and then a double rainbow appeared, via a neighbors clothesline. 

fancy candy

The Candy Store is a great neighborhood shop with a wall of shelves lined with clear glass jars filled with bulk candy from near and far. The glass counter holds some of my favorite fruit jelly candy and then chocolate bars have their own little area. This time Mikayla and I both bought French treats... I still haven't opened the pale purple "Fancy" violet marshmallow. Here are a few tiles and colors from my walk home and around from the candy run. 

cactus love

San Francisco Succulent and Cactus Society show at the county fair building was incredible. The theme was outer space and I'm already looking forward to the next one and seeing what they come up with next.  I get giddy when I meet people that are passionate about what they're doing and this place was packed with people excited about plants. I bought a few small succulents (pictured third from the top on the right) and learned a few new tricks. 

feeling lucky

 I feel so lucky to call SF home. An afternoon work meeting in the Mission revealed a new street to me. Hello, Lucky street. My favorite bright blue building gate and of course that happy pig painting for the Comida Para Toda Ocasion (food for all occasions). The ornate Victorian home below is not far from the liquor store and tags, but it still transported me. Pretty pastels of the past and vibrant colors of   today fill this neighborhood and are a part of it's charm.