San Francisco

Yes my friends, you are looking at a picture of pieces from the highly anticipated Rodarte for Target line for sale weeks before the official release.  And how do you get your hands on such coveted pieces before the masses?  Well, dear reader, that entirely depends on if you are lucky enough to be in New York, Washington DC, or San Francisco this weekend. Target is hosting Target To-Go, a 3 day only pop-up shopping experience starting today, where residents can shop for holiday gifts in an innovative and hassle free manner.

How does it work?  Well you simply walk up to the pop-up sidewalk shop, pick out what you want, fill out an order sheet, and then take it to checkout where each item will be presented to you, all wrapped and ready to go. In New York, if you buy over $100 of products, they will even deliver them right to your doorstep for free! Hours are 10am-8pm, NYC at the High-Line (13th and Washington), DC in Georgetown (M St. NW and Wisconsin Ave) and San Francisco at Mint Plaza.

We sent our friend Samantha to check out a media preview yesterday (and get us some Rodarte).  She reported back that the experience was super easy and fun- even on a freezing cold day in New York!  So what can you hope to score this weekend?  Check out the full list at Target.com/ToGo and below for some highlights and pictures. (more…)

As I’ve mentioned before (and before, and before), I have quite an addiction to cupcakes. In my mind, no vacation is complete without a cupcake crawl, and I always seek out and plan my route before my arrival. My San Francisco vacation was no exception, as I visited four cupcake bakeries; believe it or not, we even missed a few, and I actually learned there IS such a thing as cupcake overload!

Cako Bakery

Our first stop was newly opened Cako Bakery, located in bustling Union Square. Cako’s interior is minimal and teeny-tiny, so we decided to buy our cupcakes and run. Cako’s cupcakes are huge and beautiful, but overpriced at $3.50/cupcake. I sampled the Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcake; the peanut butter buttercream topped with crunchy salted peanuts was a delicious combination, but the cake was uninspired and boring. Cako offers many traditional flavors, as well as fun varieties like S’Mores and Andes Mint Chocolate Chip. (more…)

When it comes to cocktails, San Francisco and New York City arguably offer the best in the country. With the resurgence of classic cocktails and speakeasies, there were many appealing establishments to choose from during my recent getaway, but unfortunately, limited time! Here’s a few of the best places I visited during my time in San Fran!

San Francisco’s most notable speakeasy is Bourbon and Branch. As stated on their website, “Bourbon & Branch is a glimpse back on the 1920′s and the era of Prohibition when the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverage was outlawed. You’ll experience the ambiance of that time in an actual speakeasy that operated illegally at this location from 1921 to 1933.” Reservations and a password are required, as well as a list of rules to follow during your time at Bourbon and Branch. While it sounds strict and stuffy, B&B is anything but; the servers and bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable, beyond talented, and  more than happy to offer their wisdom and advice to craft the perfect cocktail for you! From the amuse-bouche to delicate cloth cocktail napkins, nothing is overlooked! Their menu is extensive and slightly overwhelming, but I finally settled on the Millionaires Cocktail (dark rum, gin, apricot brandy, lime juice) and the Clermont Affair (rye, Amaro Nonino, whiskey barrel aged bitters and clove tincture float). They also have an extensive array of whiskeys, bourbons, rums, and tequilas. Finally, do some wandering around, as there are hidden doors, rooms, and even exits to be discovered. If you have only one night in San Francisco, make sure you visit Bourbon and Branch. It’s a destination not to be missed. (more…)

Located in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins proved to be a solid hotel choice on my recent San Francisco vacation. The hotel itself is in of the quieter areas of the city, so if you’re looking for something more removed from the crowds and lights of Union Square but still in a convenient location, this is a great option.  It’s a short cable car ride (or hilly walk) to Chinatown, Union Square, and the Ferry Building, among other hot spots. (more…)

Opened in summer 2007 in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, South is a food and wine bar that’s all about delectable “down under” food — one of the first restaurants that I’ve ever heard of to do this. Founded by chef Luke Mangan, wine maven Liz O’Connell and restaurateur Anna Weinberg, you’ll find diverse dishes to pique your curiosity and expand your palate.  (With dishes like Tandoori Quail with Cucumber Yogurt and Herb Salad and Braised Victorian Lamb with Celeriac, Pomegrante, Baby Chard and Olive Tapenade – how could it not?) (more…)

San Francisco is one of my favorite cities to visit and quite honestly, the perfect getaway for a city gal like myself – romantic or not.  Recently, I was lucky enough to visit SenSpa, which is a truly lovely retreat tucked away in the Presidio (near the Marina district, Fine Arts Palace, the Golden Gate Bridge and Lucas Films complex).  On a rainy San Francisco day earlier this month, I was happy to cab my way to the cozy, relaxing experience that I somehow knew SenSpa would provide – and took my significant other along for his very first spa experience. (more…)

Dining at San Francisco’s La Mar Cebicheria Peruana is perhaps the closest one could hope to dine straight from the sea.  This seafood restaurant is located at Pier 1 1/2 on the Embarcadero – an open bright space that overlooks the ocean from which it sources its food.  However, those schooled in Spanish may notice a slight grammatical error in the name. The Sea is actually translated as el mar, taking the masculine modifier.  This oddity reveals the second characteristic of this restaurant, which is that it’s not named after the sea as one may first assume, but after the street on which the original establishment opened, Av. La Mar, in the Miraflores district of Lima.

I became interested in trying Peruvian fine dining in the States after returning from the country last month and having widely read that Peruvian cuisine is poised to be the “next big thing.”  Peru’s star chef Gastón Acurio is certainly leading this culinary movement by bringing his popular restaurant to its first American outpost in October 2008 (La Mar is also open in Mexico DF, Santiago de Chile and rumored to open in New York and Las Vegas eventually). I dropped by the establishment for dinner when I was in San Francisco most recently, and it was certainly an enjoyable and memorable dining experience. (more…)

One of the things I really love about San Francisco is that it’s the ultimate gift-giver’s destination. There are so many amazing stores here, filled with treasures I’ve never seen anywhere else – it’s one of the retail highlights (and best-kept secrets) of this lovely city.

A case in point is the lovely Rose & Radish. The shop brings together the owner’s two passions: flowers and art. Which, if you think about it, isn’t as odd a mix as it might seem at first. The results certainly, are anything but. They create some of the most gorgeous flower arrangements you’ll ever see, and they combine it with an art gallery space and a shop to create a space that’s truly extraordinary. Fortunately for those of you outside the Bay Area, they also have a wonderful website.

Rose & Radish just opened a new exhibit called Fête, designed to celebrate summer and the festivities that go along with this time of year. It’s also a preview of their upcoming online registry – something I would have died for back in my wedding planning days.

The owner of Rose & Radish has a really amazing eye for all things unique, beautiful, or just plain fun, and the shop is stocked to the rafters with pieces I’d love to own or give. (more…)

I recently got a chance to check out bluemercury, a new spa and apothecary that is growing at lightning speed, and just popped up in the San Francisco area. Created by Marla Malcolm Beck, the concept is pretty much sheer genius and I’m smitten. The shop/ apothecary section of the store consists of a large, but incredibly well-edited selection of skin, makeup and beauty products from lines like Darphin, Red Flower, Laura Mercier, Trish McEvoy, Bumble & bumble- the list goes on and on (and on).

I have to admit that I’m a major beauty product snob at this point in my life, and I was jaw-dropping-ly impressed by the range of lines this relatively new shop has on offer. The reality is that a lot of these lines are really picky about what shops they’ll put their products into, so the fact that bluemercury has scored such amazing lines when it’s relatively new on the scene is incredibly impressive. I’m told that the company founder personally tests all products before letting them into the store and that she still personally interviews every staff person. Believe me, when you step into the store, it shows. (more…)

When I was in grad school, a friend and I had regularly scheduled after-class outings we referred to as “beer and cake”…basically, an afternoon snack consisting of any sort of alcoholic beverage and a sugary treat of some kind. Because, really, what can make a bad day vanish faster than cozying up to a big pile of sugar and a big glass of alcohol?

After I finished school, the “beer and cake” outings sort of went by the wayside, which is a crying shame if you ask me, as I’m pretty sure “beer and cake” just might be the secret to world peace.

So, imagine my complete and utter delight when I discovered a spot in San Francisco that caters to my long-loved “beer and cake” outings! Citizen Cupcake, strangely located on the top floor of the Virgin Records store in San Francisco, offers some of the city’s best cupcakes, along with a delightful martini and wine list. Seriously, how much better can life get??

Owned by Citizen Cake, an upscale restaurant/bakery that’s very well known in the city, Citizen Cupcake imports the same fabulous baked goods from the main location out to their cupcake shop. You can choose from all sorts of yummy options, but my absolute favorite is the Lem-ania cupcake, made with cream cheese frosting and filled with fresh lemon curd. Or, if you’re having a chocolate craving, you really can’t miss with the Rocky Road, made with devil’s food cake and topped with chocolate frosting and chocolate-covered marshmallows & walnuts. Are you drooling yet?

Their martinis are made with soju, a Korean version of sake that has a mild flavor I’d compare to vodka (but with a slightly lower alcohol content…perfect for mid-afternoon cocktails). My faves are the Thai One On (made with fresh ginger and lime), and the Pomegranate Cosmo – both are completely refreshing and delicious.

If you’re in the city and looking for a little afternoon pick-me-up, Citizen Cupcake just might change your life. Citizen Cupake is located at 2 Stockton St., Fl 3 in San Francisco.