Bright Sunshine-y Day!

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Oh don't get me wrong, it's still 40 degrees outside, and it's slated to hit 10 degrees tonight, but today the sky is blue and the sun is shining. This weather is definitely putting me in the mood for spring, and with that comes a strong desire to wear all manner of light, springy dresses. Of course, the outside temperatures will not comply with my wishes, and I have a self-imposed ban on shopping until the many dresses I already own have been worn past their prime. Still, just because I can neither wear nor buy spring dresses doesn't keep me from ogling them! Here's a sampling of a few I would love to wear about town.

Lovely Honesty

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Dedicated readers of this blog know that I am a huge fan of a another blog by the name of Heart of Light. I love how honest, thoughtful, and real Rachel is when she writes her posts, and I agree with - and immensely respect - nearly all of the subjects she brings up. Thus, I was very inspired by a post she wrote for another new-to-me blog, A Practical Wedding, about her own experience with her very long-term relationship and her upcoming nuptials. Truly, I am nowhere near ready for marriage, and as-of-yet never have had a relationship such as the one she describes. However, the process she writes of is something I just felt I ought to share, because her sentiment is something that I want to remember and bear in mind, should I ever (and hopefully we all will) meet someone worth that sort of commitment. Check out her post here.

Correction!

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You would not believe the letters to the editor that came in regarding the snaffoo with that eatery on my food crawl-style post about the sausages. They were streaming in by the bucketful! It was all we could do to keep up, muttering our apologies under our breath as were lambasted in letter after letter about blogging integrity and keeping our facts straight.

Just kidding. All I got was an email from my sister informing me I effed up. But I do feel badly about it, as I really like the Rogue Ales Public House at which we actually dined. That's right. The chili cheese dog, delicious beer and terrific bartender/waiter I enjoyed (I enjoyed his waiter-ing service and beer recommendations....pervs) that first eatery in San Francisco was indeed Rogue Ales Public House, located at 673 Union St., between Columbus Ave & Stockton St. I highly recommend you check it out if you're ever in the neighborhood - it'd be a grand spot for St. Patrick's Day as well, if you're planning ahead a bit. On a prior journey to SF, my sister, our cousin and I all very much enjoyed the celebration of our Irish heritage (oh yes, Irish and Sicilian. Sufficiently impressed at the amount of catholic dancing around in this gene pool?)  at this very brewery. This would sound much more impressive if I'd remembered the name of it the second time I ate there, I agree. But really, Rogue Ales Public House has a wonderfully relaxed vibe, and makes for a great afternoon as well as a night out. Go check it out, you won't be disappointed!

Retraction!

Well guys, Playbills & Pageantry, Inc. has been scurrying about our offices trying to fix the problem, but the truth cannot be denied, and we have erred. (Please don't sue, if there actually is a Playbills & Pageantry, Inc. out there - I just used that to sound official. This is just an un-incorporated blog. I meant no offense.) I gushed about a chili cheese hot dog I enjoyed in San Francisco but I referenced the wrong location. The worst part? I didn't think any of the pictures looked right, but I couldn't for the life of me remember where it was that I had been, and now that still holds true. Tsk. So until I get hold of my sister, I can't post an update highlighting the delight of the eatery we actually patronized. Talk about working without all your facts. I know, I don't deserve your trust as readers! But, to try to make it up to you while I suss out the actual facts, here are some beautiful shots of the flower sculptures on display on Park Avenue, that I first read about here. Enjoy this whimsically Alice In Wonderland-esque art, and check back for my eatery correction!

Feasting

My family and friends know I'm an eater. I love food, and I love all kinds of food, so you can imagine how wild I get when I go on vacation and just eat whatever I want whenever I want it. Suffice to say, my visit to San Francisco was precisely that and I ate accordingly. More specifically, I ate sausage. I blame the fact that I was watching a carnivore-themed food crawl show on Food Network on the flight across the sea. But, really, 3 sausages at 3 different eateries over 4 days? Even I know that to be a little excessive. Still, they were all delish, so I have to share with you where they all came from.

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A delicious hot dog with chili and cheese started off the sausage smorgasbord thanks to The Board Room (1609 Powell Street). Yes, yes, naysayers I know a hot dog is not a sausage - I am Italian [specifically:  Sicilian] - but for purposes of this discussion, we will consider it to be one. Mainly because 2 sausages over 4 days at 2 different eateries just sounds sort of standard. I like to be garish and over-the-top with this sort of thing.

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Next, an excursion with friends to a delicious German restaurant in Alameda called Speisekammer (2424 Lincoln Ave.) provided a delicious and authentic bratwurst with kraut and spicy mustard. Coupled with a fabulous beer, German chocolate cake for dessert, and some fabulous laughs-sprinkled conversation, and this little eater was quite content.

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Finally, another set of friends (old and new!) took me to an amazing beer bar called Toronado in the lower Haight (547 Haight St., between Fillmore St & Steiner St). With a tremendous amount of beer to choose from, not only was this bar cozy with delicious libations, it also let you bring food in! Yet another reason why San Francisco is so closely tied in my heart to my current New York City.

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Obviously, yours truly got herself a sausage at the Rosamunde Sausage Grill next door (545 Haight St.) Actually, it was gifted to me being as I did not pay for it. But I did indeed choose it, as could be evidenced by my eyes streaming tears from the Italian sausage (obvi) and the hot peppers, onions, and Dijon Wasabe mustard in which I had my sausage smothered.

Yes indeed, it was a delightful weekend filled with eating mass amounts of food, splendid time with friends, and a very happy me.

Glorious San Francisco

 As mentioned in yesterday's post, I returned home from San Francisco safely, and refreshed, revived and renewed, at that! There is something about that city I've loved ever since my first visit, and it's never been more true than this particular trip. Two dear friends drove up from San Diego to spend the weekend in their northern city, I reunited with them as well as two other of my closest friends. I got pure, unadulterated sister-time, had a delightful roommate reunion, and got to wander aimlessly through the steep hills and winding streets of the magical city that is San Francisco. I marveled at how big and blue the sky can be - it gets to easy to forget how incredible simple sky is when you rarely see more than a glimpse through the tops of buildings. I was grateful for how easy it still was to get around on foot and public transport, while being able to enjoy breezes off the water and sun peeking through clouds in a constantly changing - and ever visible! - sky. San Francisco is definitely a place I'd like to live one day. I hope it get out to live there before my sister and friends decide to change up their own lives and move on, but I've only just gotten to New York and I'm not done here yet. In the meantime I'm happy to continue popping in for visits while I have friends and family with which to explore.Thanks to my amazing sister (The Wise Bean) for such a great trip!

Wear Pink, End Bullying!

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I'm back from San Francisco! And more importantly, I don't know if everyone has heard but if you haven't gotten dressed yet (West Coast readers, anyone?) or if you have time to throw on something pink, do so today. For Wednesday, February 23, 2011 is a chance to show solidarity and wear pink to end bullying. Tell me that isn't a cause worth taking a stand on!