wouldn't take much convincing.

If we ever had to move out of the city, it wouldn't take much convincing to get me to live in wine country. Here's why:

Some old friends, Jeff and Natalie, with adorable Pippa, were in town for a wedding so it was a great excuse to pack in the car (one of which was a convertible Mini Cooper, thank you Zip Car!) and head to Sonoma. The Fremont Diner, I have to say, is just about perfect. I can't wait to go there on a warm summer night someday. Picnic tables outside on a dusty lot with gourmet diner food, set amongst the lovely scenery of wine country. Yes, please.
- MM

Heaven is a better place today.

Brian Hoffman, you have made this world a better place, and now making Heaven a better place.

I tip my hat to you, and say thank you for leaving the impression you have on me, in the  5 encounters I had the privilage of.

Per your request,

a perfect day

You ever have one of those days that's just perfect, you hope you'll always remember it? Me too.

The sun was shining all the way out to Ocean Beach, so we spent the morning in the outer Sunset at Trouble Coffee and the General Store, a super cute little shop with all kinds of things I want to purchase but don't need. The block of 45th and Judah is just a little pocket of goodness. Jason even found an old drafting table for only $10 at a garage sale since we definitely need more furniture in our apartment. But you can't deny a bargain-shopper his architecture-related bargain.

That night, we met our friends Kelly and Noah for pizza at the Cheese Board in Berkeley and then the Fleet Foxes show at The Greek Theater, an incredible outdoor venue on the university's campus. Did you know that when my husband watches a really good live show, he laughs out loud, as if he can't believe his ears? happy happy day.

-MM

pre-concert cocktail

Our friends recently introduced us to the Moscow mule, a lovely little cocktail that is the right amount of sweetness (not very) and only takes about 60 seconds to make. The perfect preparatory drink before we see the Fleet Foxes at The Greek in Berkeley. Cheers!

Moscow Mule
1 shot vodka
8 oz ginger beer
Slice of fresh lemon

Pour over ice. Drink.

the rushtons come to town

Our very first visitors from Missouri, Mark and Jamie, came to the city for a bright and sunny holiday weekend. Although it never got bright, nor sunny (until they left; see last photo), we had a great time showing them as much of San Francisco as possible in 48 hours. We covered the entire city on bikes (18 miles!), ate ourselves sick (Masala Dosa, Beretta, Heart, Suppenkuche, Dynamo Donuts, Marnee Thai), and tried to keep Mark and Jamie from freezing to death. I think the weather was a bit of a shock to their systems, but they pulled through it. You see, Jason and I are a lot of fun. Who's coming to see us next?

- MM

My Lucky day.

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This morning I wandered down to my favorite coffee shop in the Sunset before heading to the east bay. Trouble Coffee and Coconut Club had just finished their Parklet, and to no surprise they have raised the bar of thought, creativity, and craftsmanship for other Parklets to come. Of all the amazing places in this city, none of them inspire me the way this place does. Today I was taking a photo of the topographic map center piece that was framed by this amazing aperture of a divided tree trunk when a man, Lucky, approached me and ask if he could see the picture. I obliged, which led to him reveal he made the piece. I'll spare you the rest of the details as I couldn't give justice to how and where the entirety of our conversation, but it was great, just really great. By the time our conversation of resin, sand dunes, light, Chinese mayors, thermal expansion, mail rooms, and martinis had ended, he had taken an object out of his pocket and sat it next to my coffee and told me to give it to someone special. It was a 4" x 4" 50' contour version of the piece I had photographed.

Now if only I knew someone special...