Welcome Back Part 8

first image: spinearth

First weekend back in town, SPINearth hosted one of their LIVE & LOCAL performances with Ra Ra Riot as a follow up to the band's show with Death Cab For Cutie the night before at Berkeley's Greek Theater. Bright and early on a Sunday morning, loyal fans and the SPINearth crew gathered together for a fun and intimate breakfast picnic/performance in foggy Golden Gate Park.

After the show, I headed over back to my side of the Bay and grubbed on some deee-lic-ious fried chicken salad, strawberry shortcake and frozen lemonade at Bakesale Betty's. Oh my. These pictures do absolutely zero justice to the deliciousness that is Bakesale Betty's. If you ever get the chance to stroll down to North Oakland, pretty please check out this amazing shop. It's impossible to miss: their signature mark is the vintage ironing boards lining the street, each "table" occupied by loyal and happy customers. You will not be disappointed.

Welcome Back Part 5

Some really cool water sculptures in front of the Centre Pompidou

Each time I've come to Paris there is always something new going on in front of their city hall. This time, they had installed a beautiful garden complete with lounge chairs for our enjoyment. One late night (say, 4.30am) while waiting around for the metro to open up, the boyf and I found ourselves quite at home on said lounge chairs. Too exhausted to pry our eyes open any longer, I finally caved in and hailed down a taxi. Best 25 euros I've ever spent.

Cute Parisian style.

C'est moi! Apparently the Spainish are quite limited in their beer selection (3 brews only, ahem) so I quickly clung onto anything better I could find while in Paris!

Coming home from day one of summer sales. H&M practically pays you to take things home! However, the previously mentioned fresh bread made properly fitting clothes rather hard to find. Amen for American gyms!

Oh, and bags of delicious chips without tons of salt made the waistline a tad wider, too!

I realize I have strayed slightly on my normal topics of discussion, but I feel ever so inclined to fill you in on my whereabouts for the last month or so. That said, more will surely come! Enjoy!

Welcome Back Part 3

V. cool splattered paint Oxfords I saw while waiting in line at Musee d'Orsay

Before going to the museum, feeling famished despite the fresh, yes I said fresh, loaf of bread my aunt made every morning for breakfast, yes I said every morning, we grabbed some lunch at a restaurant nearby.

A v. typical meal at French restaurants--roasted chicken and french fries. Sooo good. I tried to take the picture before I took a bite...didn't work out so well. Remember, I said famished.

My Funny Face moment strolling down the Champs-Elysee.

Pants: Mom's Sweater: Random Tank: Wet Seal Belt: F21 Shoes: UO

Welcome Back Part 1

Just what you need after flying for 12 hours. Day one we made good pals with the local bartender at The Dubliner, a local Irish pub.

While roaming the street in the late night/early morning hours in Madrid, we stumbled upon this mime who was full of love (for just about everyone)!

Just before going home for siesta the boyf found joined an impromptu futbol game with some local kids.

Admiring the breathtaking Spanish architecture.

Ready to devour some Abuelos, our favorite shrimp restaurant in Madrid. We averaged this place about 3 times a day, cross my heart. They ended up giving us loads of free vino!

WELCOME BACK to me! It's been over a month since my last post and although the reality of being home again is quickly soaking in, I must say I'm ready to get back to dirtylaundry! In the last month and a half I've kept myself very busy traveling to beautiful places, interning at an amazing development from the creators of SPIN Magazine and exploring some good ol' Bay Area finds all the while trying to operate the new cam cam.
Following will be some of the pictures taken while I've been away from the blogging world.

Enjoy!

Comfort Food

It is not rare to see food and fashion in close distance to one another and seeing how they are two loves of my life, it is only sensible to post something here. In an attempt to avoid the on and off rain today, me and the boyf headed over to the city to visit the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park for the Andy Warhol exhibit (more to come on that soon). We've developed a little tradition as far as days like this go...hop on over to the de Young for some educational-good-times and then mosey our way over to 9th Street to grub at Park Chow. Defined by their rich and wholesome comfort food and homely, cozy atmosphere they've never failed to provide delicious food and fabulous service.
Although we did order some of their less aesthetically pleasing dishes (plus, pictures don't do taste justice) we left more than satisfied. The boyf dined on their pot-roasted ribs--causing great jealously in me since I'm temporarily off the meat--and I enjoyed the veggie lasagna. Like total pigs, we also shared a big bowl of mac-n-cheese (this is SO seriously good you'd be crazy not to try it!!!) and some Great White's to drink. Deciding we'd completely betrayed the boundaries of a proper sized meal we skipped out on my favorite dessert: waaarm ginger cake with pumpkin ice cream. Ahh.
I can't tell you enough how much I adore this place so I highly suggest you take a trip out to the Sunset and chow down at Park Chow.

ps: wow, I really did it with the bold today...