25 days

So a dear old friend asked if I would help out a friend of his (Sara Young) that was embarking on a journey to meet individuals across the country in 15 cities spending 25 days in each one. It sounded like such an incredible project how could I say no? To explore a city through the eyes of it's inhabitants is a treat I've always treasured in my travels so I thought it was my turn to return the favor. To read her version of the evening head on over to 25 days.  (can I say her review of the night is incredibly glowing and really so sweet and made me a wee bit uncomfortable as I just don't see myself that way. Thanks Sara!)


I just had one difficulty... Sara the gal I was to meet asked me to take her to my favorite place. Really? Wow... hmm. What the HELL is my favorite place! This question is made more difficult seeing that I often have a love/hate relationship with this city. I'm no longer the ebullient twenty something in lust with San Francisco and filled with romantic notions of her new found (and might I add chosen) home.  Should it be architecturally significant? Should it be emotionally significant? Personal history significant? The questions kept coming and I was no closer to an answer... then once I could finally break through all the superfical questions I came upon the... Where do I really enjoy myself everytime I visit. While there are quite a few of those I also added... where would Sara be able to see what I see as a true cross section of San Francisco. Perhaps that is not what she asked me but well... I guess I can't help but put myself in her shoes. So I broke the rules a little bit and chose two.

First stop was 941 Geary. While the White Walls/Shooting Gallery were my first choice purely because they had been around longer and I had been there more often but they weren't having a show and 941 Geary was and essentially it's the same crowd (and the same owner the one and only Justin Giarla) which to be honest is half as much fun as the shows.We of course brought a few beers and brown bagged it as we walked around the gallery to view the show. Nothing ever pretentious at these galleries, just a good time had by all and incredible incredible talent to be seen.

Second stop Bix. Why Bix... well why not. Bix is one of the reasons why people love to dine out in this town. The Martinis, the jazz, the walk down the alley to then step in through a couple of dark doors that open to a luminous volumnious space. To feel like you stepped back in time to a place where people care about the way they dress (I've always loved to dress up and it bums me out to see people at the Opera in their Birkenstocks and ripped jeans.) And that painting of the ballerina kissing the clown makes my heart sing everytime.


So at the end of it all, I did notice a few things. There are quite a few things that I love about this little/big town which I too often overlook. And that first question of whether it should be architecturally significant or not well, they aren't some of the cities new architectural gems taking us at least into this century (I have no problem stating that San Franciso has a little addiction with it's history which it should be proud of but when that pride stands in the way of growth and letting the future in we all cease to grow and become our better selves.) but they have a few classic characteristics.


Both are entered through an alley and both open up into large glowing spaces from dark narrow streets. Both are built with real honest to goodness brick something us Californians can be a bit nostalgic for since it is now a no, no. Bricks and seismic activity are not the best of friends which gives each space both a permanence in their years and yet an inherent ephemeral character through their structure. Alright I'm obviously getting a bit romantic and far too nostalgic for my comfort zone but well there it is. 

Thanks Sara for allowing me the chance to take a second look at this city I live in and for inviting me to be apart of your project. 

project: 25 days
maps drawn by yours truly
photos are screen shots from mapjack (soooo much better than google street view, check it out! unfortunately it's still only in a few limited cities)

Archizines

Did you know there were this many Archizines out there? Yep, neither did I there's a whole lot more over here.

Vuokko

I've always had a fondness for Scandinavian design but have been partial to the Danes since that is where I chose to live for a year during school. But the Finn's held a certain fascination from the time my Architectural History Professor in Denmark said we would be walking across the lake to visit Alvar Aalto's Summer home. This was happening in April so you can imagine how perplexing this might have been for a gal who's grown up in California and Florida her whole life. How was it possible that this lake would be frozen enough in late Spring to walk on?!


I think anyone who could live in this frozen tundra and be creative perplexed me. That and their impossible to pronounce names (to my english speaking ear anyways) reminded me of illustrated fictional characters from childrens books. Besides the roster of well known architects and their homes I was privy to tour I discovered a couple of textile/fashion design houses. The iconic Marimekko of course and on my own I dicovered the contemporary Ivana Helsinki. So of course when I came across Vuokko in my most recent Apartamento (seriously get your hands on this issue!)I was instantly smitten.


Her style, her way of thinking and designing, and of course that gorgeous home of hers designed by her husband, Antti Nurmesniemi. 

That gorgeous green sofa and piles of pillows made from her textiles. Oh and her glasses;) I LOVE her glasses. 


Photography: Kaarle Hurtig

Wednesday night is alright

I forgot my camera last night so I hope you don't mind some iphone shots of the Cuesa event at the Ferry Building taken by my lovely and generous date Melissa of CCS architecture. If you haven't been to one of Cuesa's cocktail events can I just say the price soooo justifies the event. Highly organized (nothing worse then a poorly organized event) you'll be able to taste several cocktails in miniature (which is important if you want to walk out of there instead of stumble) Each bar or restaurant is sponsored by a spirit and they have the challenge to present it to you in a creative a delicious cocktail. A great way to get a few new cocktails to try at home under your belt.

I know who my girl crush is!

Meg and Andrea for putting together such a Rad Zine based on their even radder (yes I made that word up but really it's the word rad we're talking about here obviously infinitely malleable) blog GAGC.Can't wait until my copy drops through my mail-slot.


p.s. LOVE their logo too by the way.

A great example...

I was doing a little spring cleaning and deciding to get rid of piles of magazines about the house... as I was paging through my old Dwell's I came across this house/home in Singapore that I had fallen so hard for. I still love it! I love the contrast between the front historical facade and the rear modern one. This happens so often here in San Francisco too with our strict code on historical structures. And that Kitchen with that impossibly large dining table and open to above. That Kitchen! I must have that kitchen. And that enormous rear door, I'll take that too. Alright just give me the whole house already. I'm moving in!


via Dwell

True South Brewery

Happy Monday!

Remember that lovely office space I posted about not that long ago. Dianna Snape, the photographer of that space has captured some incredible spaces. I personally gravitated towards this humble brewery. But I'm still perusing her portfolio. Lot's to love.

Arthur Bispo do Rosário

In case you missed this incredibly talented artist's work over on Album Carioca I thought I'd repost it here. His body of work had an instant emotional connection for me. 

His life, kind of tragic... well by my standards perhaps not his. While I think his work speaks for itself I do wonder if we have as a society an unhealthy fascination with unstable and eccentric artists. And on the other hand perhaps his refusal to blend with society allowed him a wonderful wonderful way of viewing the world which he shares with us. Ahhh.... fell into my own trap didn't I, romanticizing the ill of mind. But who am I to judge what is the illnesses the of mind.

via Album Carioca 
photos via Imaginario Poetico

Sea Ranch: the surrounds

Looking back from the bluff to where we were staying. It was foggy most mornings but cleared up by midday. The fog can sometimes get to me in the summers in San Francisco (which is why you must plan short getaways all summer long) but here it just felt moody and romantic. 



The Sea Ranch Lodge was literally a couple minutes walk from the condo. It was surely part of what made the stay so lovely because as much as I love to cook it's nice to know you can go somewhere special for dinner and so close. 
They currently have plans to remodel. I hope they find a way to keep those fantastic mailboxes and those exit signs! (below)




Our first day we walked the beaches. Something about combing for creatures at the sea's edge just makes me feel like a kid all over again. Not to mention endless inspiration in shapes, colors and forms.

Seriously! Could someone make me a ring or necklace that look just like these barnacles and mussels? I'd also like a dress of seaweed please. 




We finished our walk by climbing out on some rocks for a picnic. We were on one rock and some harbor seals were out on the other. We watched them and they watched us.


All the gorgeous flora.



The Sea Ranch Chapel.




Our last day we had our picnic above the beaches just off the trails. 




We can't wait to return.

Unit #9 - part two

The Kitchen had everything we needed. Even a french press! We could have cooked a world class meal in there. I also love the mish mash of everything hanging on the wall. 



The dining room with on of Moore's models at the end of the table. These really made me miss my models from school I no longer have because of an unfortunate incident. 




The view from above looking down on the window seats. I could have sat there all day and night and watched the sun and then the stars and never left. The Mister felt the same.  




The bedroom we slept in was walled in glass on both sides I woke up several times to just stare at the moon on the sea and anxiously awaited the sun's return. Even though every morning was foggy it usually burned off by mid-day. 




The loft bedroom above.




And one more shot from above since it's difficult to see but all the "working" parts of the house were encased in volumes, the kitchen, the bathrooms, etc. I was trying capture that here as I'm standing above the kitchen but, I'm not so sure I did that so well. 


I guess this means you'll have to travel there and see it for yourself. It sleeps comfortably 4 adults and would be perfect for a family or group of friends too. Sea Ranch Escapes handles the rentals and it's literally a 2 minute walk from the door.

Unit #9 - part one

Okay, so per usual I took far too many photos and the editing process is always overwhelming. So we'll have to do this in parts, Hope you don't mind. Here are the first few images of the Moore Condo we stayed in at Sea Ranch right at sundown. It was this beautiful golden color every evening and we rushed back to watch every day. Seriously, if we never left the place we would have been completely content. Another trip up there is already on our minds, only question is when.

3 years and counting...

So the Mister and I took off for the weekend and celebrated our 3 year anniversary at Sea Ranch. It's so incredibly lovely up there and we were in desperate need of quality alone time as our work schedules and additional activities have had us not seeing much of each other lately. We spent many hours hiking the beaches, having picnics with the Harbor Seals, running into old friends, touring a maginificent new modern home (more on that later), and watching the sun drop in to the sea (actually the fog but the sea sounds nicer) every evening  before heading our for dinner. It was glorious. 


We stayed in Charles Moore's condo #9 and I took loads of photos so I'll be sharing them later this week. But today is the actual day of our Anniversary so Happy Day Mister! I'm so incredibly lucky to have such a caring, generous and supportive Mister like you!

Drawn to Devour

A fun discovery this past Sunday from a darling couple who came to the bloody mary class was that of a friend of theirs Dan, of Drawn to Devour. Aren't his watercolors delightful. I especially love the humorous plays on the receipts and menus. 



Personally, I'm a gin drinker too.



The pieces showing space I'm particularly drawn to as well but well you knew that. I love me some Plow and I haven't been to the Beast and the Hare but with a dish like that I think I'll have to plan a trip stat.