Secret Gardens at Singh Farms

If you find yourself in Scottsdale, Arizona come escape in this farm filled with hidden gardens, fresh happy chicken eggs, locally grown produce and artisan foods. Explore the farm, find the pizza and sit back and relax in the garden chairs while live music plays nearby. It's only open on Saturday mornings, and I think might be closed for the summer, so check their site (link below) for details before you go.

Singh Farms | 8900 E Thomas Rd, Scottsdale, Arizona Saturdays 9am - 1pm

a weekend in San Francisco

 Whenever people tell me they are going to visit San Francisco I ask where they are staying and they are almost always staying at some hotel in or near the Tenderloin. Don't do it! Stay anywhere else! San Francisco is a gorgeous city, but it's easy to get stuck in dirty areas or tourist traps (that being said, the Tenderloin definitely has some good bars and trending spots). If you're looking for amazing food, local favorites and a taste of the many neighborhoods in SF, check out these places instead:

Brunch

Outerlands If you're looking for locally sourced American brunch in a cozy, rustic setting by the sea, and are ok with waiting a few hours for a seat, this place is perfect. I usually put my name down then take a stroll to Trouble Coffee, Mollusk and sit by the sea until my table comes up. 

Boogaloos This was my go-to brunch with a twist. I only ever get one thing: Desayuno Tipico. Two eggs over easy, black beans with salsa, grilled plantain cake topped with tamarind sour cream and corn tortillas. 

St. Francis Fountain Best classic diner with the perfect coffee pot coffee. Old school candy shop and ice cream parlor, too. 

Coffee

Blue Bottle Best soy latte, ever. My favorite location is in Hayes Valley--take a stroll in the little park and grab a drink from their roll-up garage. 

Ritual No, they won't ice your latte. Don't even ask. But they will give you the best drip you've ever had. And you won't mind how much you paid for it. 

Four Barrel This is one of my favorite coffee shops not just for the coffee, but for the atmosphere. They also have affogatos. 

The Mill Their toast is AMAZING. Say yes say yes! 

Philz Last, but certainly not least, is my favorite everyday drip coffee. I always get the Tesora with medium sugar and medium cream. Stop by a panaderia on the way if you are going to the mission location. 

Dinner

Caffe Sport If you are going to North Beach and want dinner, this is my favorite spot for seafood in a kitschy atmosphere. It's a little pricey but worth every penny. 

Zarzuela Looking for an affordable, authentic Spanish meal? In one of my favorite neighborhoods? Check this place out in Russian Hill. There's delicious ice cream across the street.

Pizzeria Delfina Best thin crust pizza. To work around the wait - either order take out and eat in Dolores Park or wait for a table to open up at 500 Club.  

Halu I LOVE RAMEN. SO MUCH. This place is not only delicious, but it is Beatles-themed. Last time I went they didn't have their bacon-wrapped mochi, the most amazing thing ever, so be sure to ask in case it's your lucky day!

Drinks

The Phone Booth This is my favorite bar in San Francisco. It is often full of hipsters, so go on a weeknight if you can (I avoided on weekends). There is a pool table and a juke box. A great place to end a night. 

Hotel Biron Best place to meet someone for a glass of wine and some good conversation. It feels very European and is kind of hidden.

Trick Dog Your friends will think you are pretentious, but that's ok because their cocktails are fantastic. Dinner is good here too...I still dream about their kale salad. 

El Rio The best for outdoor drinking, weekday karaoke (I think it's on Wednesdays) and shuffleboard. 

The Homestead Excellent low key high brow place! They have peanuts and old fashions. 

Local Edition If you are downtown, stop in for some 20s paper boy style and delicious cocktails. 

Shopping 

Painted Bird There was a time in my life when I only shopped at this place. It was wonderful. They have a nice range of affordable pieces for your eclectic closet -- thrift and vintage. 

Little Paper Planes Filled with gorgeous, handcrafted goods and their new house-made clothing line. I love everything in this store. 

Acrimony Sleek, Minimal, Fun -- pieces for men and women that will elevate your wardrobe. 

Mill Mercantile Well made clothes in Americana style or Japanese interpreted Americana. 

Yoga

Bikram Yoga Hot yoga in the mission. A nice, friendly studio where you will feel comfortable sweating buckets. 

Urban Flow Great if you are a bit more advanced or want to push yourself to the next level. 

Yoga to the People Donation based with a mission location that looks over the city. Go for the candlelight practice. 

Hearts in San Francisco

I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco, but I did leave many amazing friends and memories. Fortunately, I've been back a few times since I moved away...and ironically, the two good friends I made in DC moved to San Francisco, so now there are even more people there to visit. I keep saying I'll make a list of all my favorite spots for them, but it's such a daunting task. When you've lived somewhere there's so much, it's hard to edit. And, I don't have any high quality photos because of course when I was there I didn't document my day-to-day! I'm getting much better at that now, but in the meantime I dug up some photos from my phone from recent trips to give you a taste of my old haunts. 

Where are your favorite spots in San Francisco? What should I include in my upcoming post?

I love this photo - captured at my favorite bar: The Phone Booth in the mission

Here I am, in the Haight, my least favorite neighborhood

Details

After I moved out of the Mission, my best friend moved to Twin Peaks and now frequents the place I always meant to try : Sun Fat Seafoods

The view from Twin Peaks apartment. Gorgeous

With my best buds - at the Mint singing karaoke. Check out Oscar's blog: Confessions of a Boy Toy

One of my favorite shots of one of my favorite friends!

This is called a burrito. La Taqueria is the BEST. 

Running in the park. The one without the sun

The Bart

I love my Bay Area coffee

My favorite place to eat ramen with friends: Halu in the Inner Richmond

Laguna Beach Daydreaming

Laguna Beach, a bit of history

Laguna Beach is a place that most people experience as a myth. On vacation, on television, on film -- the beachside community is often visited but very few people stay. It was originally ruled by the Tongva people, then Mexico, until it was won by the US in the Mexican-American War in 1848.  Officially founded in 1887, Laguna Beach is now home to nearly 23,000 people. It’s a home to artists and bohemians, surfers and real estate agents, the wealthy and the working staff. And a good friend of mine that I recently visited for a long dreamy vacation. 

The waves crashing into the rocks at Laguna Beach

 “...as a child of that deathless search, particularly by persons who devote their lives to painting or writing, or for some place where beauty and cheapness and a trifle of remoteness hobnob together in a delightful companionship” -Hildegarde Hawthorne, describing Laguna Beach

Hiking in Laguna Canyon, just before nightfall

What to do in Laguna Beach

Even though Laguna Beach is relatively small, there is a lot to do even if there isn't an art festival going on.  There's hiking, dining, shopping, surfing, dancing and creating (like KMala Studio's Wine + Watercolor workshops!). You can also just spend all day at the beach. My day usually went like this: running on the beach, taking Mr. Bailey to the local coffee shop, stopping by my friend's studio, exploring, working on my projects for Etxe, then meeting my friend for dinner or drinks. Sometimes we'd go dancing, sometimes we'd watch movies and chat. The weather was perfect every single day. 

This is my first attempt at making a watercolor map. I promise, they will get better. Laguna Beach, CA

Here are some of my favorite spots: 

1. Laguna Coffee Co - 1050 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 - This is a real neighborhood gem. I loved the chill atmosphere and the fact that I could sit on the patio or inside for long periods of time reading or working on my computer. There's a nice mix of people that frequent this spot, so you'll get a good feel for the community. On the weekends they have live music. 

2. Hiking in the Canyon - ask a local - I was lucky to have a guide! We hiked on the south side of the 133 highway up to the top. There are breathtaking views of the ocean. We even had a moon view!

3. Driftwood Kitchen & Stateroom Bar - 619 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 - If you are at all a fan of brunch you cannot miss this dining spot. Everything is delicious and it overlooks the beach. Fine dining and sunbathing? yes. 

4. Sourced: a California Collective - 950 Glenneyre St, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 - Half retail space and half offices for creative businesses, this is a really unique spot that is super inspiring. You will want to buy everything in this store!

5. Broadway - 328 Glenneyre Street, Laguna Beach,CA 92651 - My friend raved about this place and we somehow didn't go until my last night. She didn't exaggerate! This restaurant/bar has amazing cocktails and delicious desserts. They also have rotating art on the walls that is just as fabulous. 

6. Brussels Bistro - 222 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 -  This is where we spent most of our NYE and it was perfect. Just the right amount of people and great music. It's a bistro during the day and an 'european electro music' club on Friday and Saturday night. 

Oh! I almost forgot -- Cafe Zoolu! I had one of the best meals here thanks to my friend's mom's recommendation. It's normally filled with reservations and is a bit pricey, but really all you need to do is sit at the bar and order the calamari. It may ruin all future calamari orders as nothing will be as delicious, but it is totally worth it. 

Me after three cocktails at Broadway

Eric Gerdau's Horizons at Broadway 

My feed and seaweed on the beach 

Salt Fine Art Gallery on PCH

Ah, so much fun in Laguna! I kept tagging my instagram photos a found location someone else made up -- 'fun and sun in Laguna'. I'm not sure how anyone gets work done here because I can't really put anything above sunshine. This is why I don't live in SoCal anymore--I need my winter! Seasons! But, with the end of winter almost upon us, here I am daydreaming about Laguna Beach. 

xoxo, 

Stephanie

Very SoCal. 

Have you been to Laguna Beach? Where are you favorite spots? 

This is a sneak-peak of a project I'm working on. Check back soon for more!

in the studio: bay area edition

I arrived on a Thursday night to my old home, San Francisco. The 7x7 miles by the bay that everyone has an opinion about. Few are from San Francisco and those that are aren't always able to stay. Many pass through and ride the waves that go in and out, like the freezing tide at Ocean Beach. 

My time in the city was unique--I started out working in nightlife, taught art classes, wrote articles for monayyy, and eventually helped create a startup fashion company. I lived above a wine shop, lived above a vintage boutique, lived above a pop-up French restaurant and had uber cool friends in the clubs, sew shops, coffee shops. Little by little I met the friends that will last forever. (Ironically, when I moved to DC I made friends that then went on to move to SF - funny, huh?)

Some of my friends in the Bay Area have since moved away, like me, and some have stayed. While I was in town I stopped off to visit a few that have since moved into some really amazing studio spaces to continue working on their craft. Bayview, Glen Park, Oakland--I was all over. It was really, really great to catch up with people that continue to inspire me even though they are on the other side of the country. 

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CLINTON PARK

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I've spent countless hours in Clinton Park's old location in the heart of the mission and was beyond thrilled to visit Steven and his team at their new spot at Yosemite Place. Steven is one of those people that sees right to the soul--and if you click you really click. He's a true craftsman that will teach anyone that is willing to learn and he taught me a lot about patternmaking, jeans making (ok, I've only done that once), rivets, flatlock stitching, constructing a garment, and of course, denim denim denim. He makes beautiful things, and helps other people make beautiful things. His new space is filled with natural light and cones of thick thread, with stacks of gorgeous Japanese flannels and twills just waiting to be handled. I was in heaven. 

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INYO

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Next I got to visit Rachel at InYo. We originally met at Clinton Park and bonded over a desire to create something people really want. People really want her InYo leggings! It's been really cool to see her growth over the past year. Despite the headaches that come along with clothing production, Rachel is the most up-beat, optimistic person I know. I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next...

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YOSEMITE PLACE

This is Yosemite Place, it is huge. It houses artists, designers, developers, makers...there's a whole slew of people doing creative things in this place. The building is very industrial and I especially loved the concrete floors and the way the light flooded in through the loading dock. Oh loading docks, have I spent some time with you! (that was at the clothing company). Each floor is like a little maze. Follow the right path and you'll find something really interesting.

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TROUBLE COFFEE

Across the street is a Trouble Coffee. Do not take pictures inside. Do linger and have a three hour conversation with the Barista. 

This is what South San Francisco looks like. 

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DDCC

Photo by DDCC

I also got to catch up with Diana of DDCC, an active wear and lifestyle brand that creates clothes that will actually inspire you to work out. She gave me advice on an application I was working on and we talked about our past, our present and our futures. I really enjoy her outlook on life and it's always a pleasure to hang. 

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PLT

Photo by PLT: O/O/A/K-- Winter 14

The next day I was able to spend some time with another friend, Lirany of Pretty Little Thing. Lirany creates stylish, whimsical jewelry for the artist at heart. She's one of my favorite people because she embodies everything that is great about the West Coast AND the East Coast. We had a deep conversation about life and agreed on a new year's resolution: this is the year of YOU. That means YOU. Go do it - whatever it is you want to do - your way.

This year.

Don't wait. 

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Why all this Bay Area stuff? Because I love NorCal! While DC is where I live and hope to grow with a community of creatives, you can never have too many people in your life that inspire you to keep doing what you do. 

stay golden, 

Stephanie

In a Clinton Park original unisex blazer over layers: long socks, J Shoes boots, The Loft white button-up, American Apparel shiny leggings and... I forget who does the long sheer thing, but it is awesome. I basically wear it everyday. Shot by Rolend Gumanas at Yosemite Place. 

DTLA: mocha mexicano, artisan goods, market madness, sushi + hidden jazz bar

Now that I live on the East Coast, I try to make it out to the West Coast at least a few times a year. I was pretty lucky this last year and got to spend a good chunk of time on the West Coast, including downtown Los Angeles. 

Art gallery found on walk to work on Olive near 10th street. 

DTLA 

DTLA is short for downtown Los Angeles. When I was in college at USC, I lived on Figueroa and Pico, or Fig and Pico. I never, ever used the train that came in from the South Bay, but did occasionally use the Dash to get to campus. I never knew where that train station by my house went, but in the past year I've used the blue line a few times to get to work (when I was staying in Belmont Shore). Now there are a lot more public transportation options downtown, especially with the new metro, and uber rides in the downtown area are pretty cheap. Of course, if you want to go out of downtown you definitely need a car...baby steps -- it's LA! 

The rooftop pool at my Airbnb

Downtown is no longer a ghost town like it used to be when I was in school. There have always been pockets of activity, but now there are long stretches of art galleries and restaurants. I used to go downtown for destinations like the Smell, Seven Grand or the Edison. Now I can literally just wander and stumble upon gems without a pre-determined destination. I prefer to stay in downtown when I'm in LA--it's close to my LA offices for work and a central place friends can meet me (or pick me up :). 

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Tierra Mia Coffee

on my way to get coffee on 7th street 

A few years ago Tierra Mia Coffee opened up on Spring at 7th Street and has since expanded to Northern California. The Latin-inspired coffee shop features house-roasted beans, single-origin espresso and unique drinks like the horchata latte and mocha Mexicano. Ulysses Romero created the local chain with the Hispanic market in mind--and has been expanding ever since his original location in South Gate.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, 38% of Californians are Hispanic and 51% of K12 students are Hispanic. There are more Hispanics in California than in any other US state or the District of Columbia, and most are Mexican. Why does this matter? Because Tierra Mia is trending and I suspect other Latino-themed or inspired experiences will be on the rise. Also, I'm Mexican! My great-grandparents got married on Olvera Street and it's awesome to see the Latino experience celebrated and accepted as normal instead of shunned or pushed out, as it was in previous decades (and still is in some areas). 

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Artisan House

If you're looking for a cafe, market restaurant or bar, check out Artisan House. It's a large industrial chic space with outdoor seating and a weekend buffet brunch. There's Monday night jazz and acoustic Sundays, as well as art up on the wall. Currently hanging is a photography series by Eric Cacioppo. #Buslife is a collection of photographs taken with a Samsung Galaxy s3 using the VSCOcam app from Cacioppo's daily bus trips to work. 

Fatherhood by Eric Cacioppo on view at Artisan House on Main and 6th street. 

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Articulum General Store

Near Artisan House is a new artisan goods store that features independent and local designers. I spotted my friend's block printed toiletry bags! The shop feels like a showroom with a carefully curated selection of unique products--from indigo-dyed pouches to handmade jewelry to charcoal soap. This is the perfect place to pick up a gift for a friend or special piece for yourself. A much needed addition to this part of DTLA! 

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Grand Central Market

Grand Central Market has become much more...how do I say...bourgeois? Take a walk through the market and you'll see the diversity of LA and it's range of inhabitants. It's intense and it's raw and it's not like any other urban market because it really includes  a little bit of everyone. You have the Ferry Building in SF, Chelsea Market in NY and Union Market here in DC, but those all cater to a really particular type of person - the kind that can shell out $7 for a slice of cheese. Grand Central Market is not that. You can shimmy up to a Chinese-diner and sit amongst first-generation Mexicans speaking Spanish in their local dialect. Or wait in line for 2 hours to try Egg Slut with uber-hip Korean teenagers. It's all there--whatever you want, whatever floats your boat. We had Thai street food from Sticky Rice and it was amazing. I also got a boba with red bean paste. YUM.

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Komasa Sushi

There are a ton of great sushi spots in DTLA, but my favorite is probably Komasa Sushi. I like that you can get seated pretty quickly if you are only two and you can sit at the bar and watch the chef prepare the sushi right in front of you. It's super fresh and melts in your mouth. They are also close to the mochi place. YUM x 2. 

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The Blue Whale

My friend has been telling me about this jazz bar in Little Tokyo so we had to go when I was in town. It's in the other part of Little Tokyo where that ramen place is. There's usually a cover (~$15) but you're guaranteed an amazing show. We happened to catch two sets by Rachel Flowers and other jazz musicians. Flowers put on one of the best performances I have ever seen. The space is super intimate and the sound just reverberates around you. Her voice is angelic without being cheesy and her command of melody via keyboard, piano or flute is just incredible. I was pretty blown away, and inspired. Oh, and she's blind. 

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So there you have it, some places to check out next time you are in #DTLA. And don't say I didn't warn you about apartments--buy them now. It won't be semi-affordable to live downtown for long. 

dreaming of sun in snowy DC, 

Stephanie