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 …

Recent adventures reunited me with one of my loves: train cases. I adore these tiny trunks. I love that when packing, universally one reserves the best of the best and the most essential of essentials for one’s train case. That is just how it is. I won’t belabor the realities of air travel today and how the inconveniences and limitations have negatively impacted the use of train cases. We all know that air travel is one of the top 10 most demeaning experiences a person …

On a whim, I stopped in Progress Boutique in South Park, San Diego. To be honest, I was on my way to Velo Cult to pick up my new Linus Bike, which had been outfitted with a snazzy front rack. I saw a sidewalk sign for Progress and was intrigued.
Located in what looks like a refurbished warehouse now divided into multiple retail spaces, Progress is a great find! This boutique carries home goods, children’s toys, decorative pieces, select furniture, accessories, and delightful treasures. The space contains …