This past weekend, I attended the kick off of Palm Springs Modernism Week.  It was the perfect event for me.  I love mid-century modern architecture and style and I love the indoor-outdoor relaxed living of the 1960s Palm Springs cocktail aesthetic.  I love clothing styles that take cues from that time period yet are completely current.
Although the weather started out with rain, it cleared up to be a beautiful weekend.  I was happy to visit my favorite café in Palm Springs: Koffi Coffee.  Fully armed with a honey-vanilla latte, I …

Have you ever tried a new restaurant that felt like it had been a part of the neighborhood forever? I recently tried Rose Wine Pub on 30th Street in South Park and had that exact experience. I immediately loved the cozy environment and the service and menu earned this wine bar even more gold stars.  It turns out, I had reason to feel like this place had been a part of the neighborhood forever; much of the wood used was reclaimed from an older home in the neighborhood.  …

Cupcakes are scientifically broken into three components as a measure of deliciousness: Frosting (taste and quantity), cake (taste and moistness), and access.  Corner Cupcakes represents the best of cake, frosting, and access.  By moving their cupcake bakery into a mobile food truck, Corner Cupcakes is a ‘neighborhood’ business in every neighborhood.  Corner Cupcakes is accessible for everyone.  By following their Twitter feed, I was able to track down their location today.  What put cupcakes in my mind?  I was thinking about stopping at the Sprinkles in La Jolla but saw …

Honestly, my bicycle is such a flirt! Whenever I ride around town on my bike, I always receive kind compliments about her. She’s a looker, that’s for certain. Since it would be a shame to deprive the rest of the world of her presence, I’ve been riding about town, as the weather allows.
Last weekend I rode my bike to the farmers’ market – called the Mercato – in Little Italy close to downtown San Diego. The day was gorgeous which made for a perfect day to …

Currant restaurant in downtown San Diego thrilled me by offering an appetizer I would never make for myself. Popcorn! I never make it even though I like it a lot. It is one of those things that looks easy on paper. Three ingredients (popcorn, oil, and salt) and one step (heat) result in (pop, pop, pop) a delicious snack. My experience with making popcorn has involved burns from oil popping on my hand, corn getting scorched on the bottom of the pan, the floor sprinkled …

One of the benefits of being a grown-up at Christmas is the opportunity to start your own traditions. This year on Christmas eve, I knew I wanted to take some time from the running and wrapping and do something to celebrate the holiday and relax. I was looking for something that had the feeling of the past, but was also current and exciting.
The US Grant in downtown San Diego has been hip since 1910. While the lobby wears the proper uniform of dark wood paneling and crystal chandeliers, the …

Stationery is a guilty pleasure for me. I love stationery and don’t really need a particular reason to buy it. I love the tactile designs of letterpress in particular. And, spending time in a stationery store is something I love. I realize it is old fashioned in a way that is neither hip nor edgy. But I believe it is cool and modern; terribly so in fact.
I recently had an opportunity to take a peek inside India Ink stationery in Hillcrest, San Diego. Relocated from its previous location on India …

Refined hot chocolate is such a treat.  I love indulging in a cup of hot chocolate during fall and winter evenings.  I have a few favorite haunts to sit and enjoy a cup – but that isn’t always practical.  And, sometimes, I just want to be cozy at home.
But I am picky.  (Selective?)
I don’t care for the highly sweetened hot chocolates that you often find available at the market.  These produce a thin cup of watery chocolate flavored drink.  It can be hard to track down the perfect hot chocolate …

Imagine my excitement when I received an e-mail from Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego announcing that they would be hosting a weekly cheese bar.  !!!!! I do love Extraordinary Desserts – the décor, the desserts, the little odds and ends they sell, and the espresso and hot chocolate.  And now, I can add cheese to the list.  I had previously been to the Union Street location and ordered a cheese plate.  I had been impressed by the selection of cheeses and I liked the option to build your own cheese …

With Fall on her way, I’ve made a short list of the things I am excited about in this new season.  Although Spring is technically when all the baby animals are born and the flowers pop open, Fall has always felt like The Start of Something to me.  Fall has possibility.
I am completely smitten with Yves Saint Laurent nail polish in Ultra Violet.  I love the pure color.  I like how saturated the violet looks because it is a single-note.  No glitter, no opalescence.  It is bold and modern.  I …