Heading across the Golden Gate!

My first weekend in the city was an eventful one. Aside from actually moving in, we had Halloween to celebrate in true Jamaican fashion and a birthday to celebrate on Sunday evening! The celebration took place at Mamacita’s in the Marina complete with delicious sangria and — no surprise here — an order of shrimp tacos. After the move this past weekend, Boat Shoe Boy and I stopped by the Tonyanese Taco Van to pick up a quick bite. Naturally, I was a bit skeptical about the quality of the food we were going to get, but I was amazed by how good these things were. I’m talking suspiciously tasty. That being said, I quickly realized how the thought of gourmet Mexican food is kind of a rip off… that’s not to say that Mamacita’s wasn’t good; it was. Plus, the ambiance and youthful vibe naturally add to its premium, but if you’re just looking for food, I think there’s much better cuisine to spend cash on (save your Mexican money for the food truck at lunch).

I wish I could say that I had tons of awesome pictures from that night, but being phone less, I was incapacitated — no photos, no videos and no check-ins (how would I ever know if there was a deal I was missing out on?!).

By Monday, I had accepted the fact that I had forever lost my trusty iPhone and all of the contacts and photos that went along with it. I had called every possible location — Shanghai Kelly’s, Sushi Rock, Bullitt — and no one had a lead. Monday evening I headed down to the corner store to pick up some necessities and decided to pop into Sushi Rock on the way back. I didn’t think there’d be any news, but it turned out the manager had stashed it in the safe for safe keeping. Hallelujah! I can’t quite express the joy, but anyone that knows the pit-in-your-stomach feeling of losing a phone knows how miraculous it is to have it returned (this is not a dramatization).

Needless to say, I feel like things are looking up. I have a lot of work to undertake on my room, but am finally starting to feel at home. I love my neighborhood, I can finally park without having to worry about being ticketed or towed and I’m soaking up the uncharacteristically amazing weather that the city has seen as of late. In summary, I’m happy that I made SF my new home!

xoxo from San Francisco,

After my work in the North Bay on Friday morning, Boat Shoes and I stopped for a quick lunch at the Balboa Cafe in Mill Valley (for the record: delish), before making our way across the Golden Gate and into our new city. We explored our new area a bit, moved a few pieces into Boat Shoes’ new pad and then headed out to meet up with some friends. We walked down to The Brick Yard to catch the end of the World Series, then migrated to Betelnut for an awesome first dinner in the city. I’m a huge fan of small plates and this place definitely did it right — note: their green beans are insanely good! After Betelnut, we made our rounds — MatrixFillmore, Balboa Cafe and Street before we ended the night at the Black Magic Voodoo Lounge where we linked up with a bunch of other people. Definitely a long first night and a good precursor to Saturday’s Halloween festivities.

I did have some pictures to share but sadly, my trusty iPhone lost its way at some point on Saturday night during our Halloween outing. I’m still trying to find it (and crossing my fingers that it’ll find its way home) but this is the only photo that I managed to salvage:

Halloween!

 Luckily, it’s a good one! After running across a shockingly good Cool Runnings-esque leotard in a second-hand store, it was immediately obvious that we were meant to be the Jamaican bobsled team for Halloween. We got some cardboard boxes together and whipped up Boat Shoes’ rather stellar bobsled which ended up being a total hit!

All in all, a very eventful weekend. I’m still hoping that my phone will magically appear (or that a good person found it and is attempting to return it). If not, it looks like I’m going to be in the market for a new phone soon! Anyone out there have an old iPhone that want to shoot my way until I’m eligible for an upgrade? :)

On the agenda this week: painting my room, getting some necessary bedroom furniture ordered (so I can graduate from sleeping on an air mattress to sleeping on a real person bed), and get ready to head to Dallas on Thursday!

xoxo from San Francisco,

I had mentioned a few weeks back that San Francisco was going to be the next move on my agenda. Well, after a thousand emails, a few apartment viewings and a number of trips down to the city, I am happy to report that I’ve found an awesome new home in the City by the Bay! The transition will begin tomorrow evening and we’ll be getting settled in just in time for Halloween weekend in the city.

It had been a long and rather frustrating apartment hunt, but it all worked out quite well. I’m incredibly excited to start the next chapter and enjoy everything San Francisco has to offer. With this huge piece of the puzzle now in place, I feel like I can finally focus on forging my career path and enjoying life in my twenties.

Cheers to the next phase!

xoxo,

I can hardly believe it, but Vegas is right around the corner! I’ll be leaving Thursday and jetting off to Nevada for a long-awaited reunion with Boat Shoe Boy. Like I’d mentioned before, I’ve never actually been to Vegas so I’m beginning to draw up a mental packing list for the trip. Now, I’m only going to be in the city for three days and three nights and while I know the benefits of packing lightly, I have a feeling that I’ll be overpacking for this excursion (the curse of two X chromosomes). Obviously daywear is going to be vastly different from nightwear; plus, with a Jimmy Buffett concert on our agenda, my grass skirt, oversized hats and leis have to make the packing list.

The smaller of the two hats I have to pack! :)

So, for Vegas-ites, or those who visit frequently, what am I missing?! I always feel like I’m overpacking and then realize that I’ve actually just packed incorrectly — too much of the wrong thing and too little of what I actually need/want. The weather’s supposed to be between 86 and 90 degrees this weekend so I assume shorts, wedges and tank tops are appropriate for day time; dresses and heels for at night; bathing suit for poolside lounging.

I still have no idea what restaurants we’re planning on hitting up, but I’m beginning to think about our daytime plans. I feel like every conversation I have about Vegas revolves around nighttime activities, but I know there’s a ton of stuff to do and see during the day.  For anyone else that’s in the same boat (looking for inexpensive daytime activites), I found some fun suggestions but would love some more:

- Bellagio Conservatory– free admission and it’s open 24/7!
- Gallery of Fine Arts  – $15, $10 for students
- Shopping at Caesar’s Forum Shops, at the Grand Canal Shoppes or the shops at Mandalay Bay
- Drive to Red Rock Canyon, take the scenic loop — not on our agenda since we don’t have a car

Also, check out this site (Las Vegas Review Journal) for info on what to see and do during your excursion. As an aside, has anyone seen Blue Man Group? I can’t lie — my interest is piqued!

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOL8-qIYemg]

Love from CA,

Heading to SF

Since I had to handle some work in San Francisco on Thursday, I decided to make the trek as productive as possible. Boat Shoe Boy headed down, too, so we could check out some apartments and enjoy the uncharacteristically amazing weather. After my morning meeting, we grabbed lunch at Swan Oyster Depot in Nob Hill. We were in the area checking out his future (hopefully!) apartment and he suggested Swan for a classic San Franciscan lunch. The place has been around since 1912 (in the same location) and clearly has a reputation — there was a line out the door when we showed up and people continued to line up behind us. The wait was definitely worth it, though — oysters on the half shell and a pretty awesome bowl of clam chowder will definitely make up for a bit of lingering outside.

Swan Oyster Depot

We spent the remainder of the work day working from a coffee shop in North Beach where we could plug in and get work done. I had scheduled a time to check out an apartment that night and had committed to staying in the city until at least 930P which gave us plenty of time after work to explore!

North Beach

Love this place.

After getting some much-needed work done, we made our way to Balboa Cafe for a glass of wine while Boat Shoes caught up with some old friends. We wandered around the area for a bit to explore before making our way to Nob Hill to grab dinner at Pesce. Pesce was recommended to us by one of Boat Shoes’ former co-workers and I can confidently say that the recommendation was a good one. Delicious and creative small plates; all incredibly well done. We ended up with the crab tower, the scallops, the octopus and the salmon bruschetta and I don’t know that we could have ordered better. Everything was delish.

After dinner, we made our way to the apartment that I had my eye on. I responded to an ad on craigslist and couldn’t have been more excited to see the spot. The area is perfect, the apartment set up is awesome and the roommates sound pretty incredible… the only downside? There are tons of people vying for this space; the chances that it will actually work out are a bit slim, but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for it. Hoping/praying that the stars will align on this one!

After the viewing, I made my way back to Sacramento for the night and couldn’t have been happier to get some sleep. The day was awesome from start to finish, though, and made me even more excited about my upcoming move. The fact that Boat Shoes was there was definitely icing on the cake, though. Knowing that we could potentially be living a mile (or even less!) apart is way too exciting. There are so many fun things I’m waiting to do and so many places I’m dying to check out. The move really can’t happen soon enough! Send your positive energy this way — I’m gonna focus it all on nabbing that apartment. :)

Love from California,

Oh, San Francisco. (2007)

You may remember my dilemma from late last year/earlier this year. I was trying to pick a new city to start the next chapter of my twenties and I was debating: a move across the country to politically-driven DC or always-exciting New York? A move within California to vibrant San Francisco or sun-laden San Diego or LA? An international trek to Africa or the Middle East to work with some organizations on the ground? There were so many options that I was considering and nothing holding me back.

DC. (2011)

New York! (2011)

Within a few months I had it mostly narrowed down. After realizing that the unpaid internships offered by organizations throughout sub-Saharan Africa weren’t going to help me pay off my student loans, I was either going to be based in DC or migrate down to San Francisco. After visiting DC in March, I fell in love! So many friends from graduate school moved to the District and were loving the youthful energy, the drive and the idealistic twenty-something NGO crowd. San Francisco, however, has always been my second city. Growing up in Northern California with family all over the San Francisco Bay Area, we made frequent trips down and regularly hit up the city for shopping trips or for a day of meandering. Aside from the hills and the nasty parking, it’s always been a city with which I’ve been very comfortable.

SF.

After meeting Boat Shoe Boy, his preference was clear (though mine was still a bit up in the air). He mentioned wanting to move to SF to settle — at least for the next few years — while his business goes through its growing phase. Now, after much deliberation and job hunting, I have finally made the decision to make a move down to the City by the Bay. I’ve never lived in SF, but the vibe is incredible — academic institutions, nonprofits, vintage shops and farmer’s markets sprinkle the city while weekend trips to Napa and Tahoe make for an easy getaway. For the record, I’m not doing it for Boat Shoe Boy — no, that just wouldn’t be my style — but it definitely played a factor in my decision-making process (who voluntarily gives up a Grade A partnership?). I’m excited for the next chapter and very excited to give San Francisco a whirl! It’s not a bad deal being in my mid-twenties, either… if I’m ready for a change of scenery within the next few years, DC and Tanzania are still waiting. :)

Boat Shoes & I at Bay to Breakers (2011).

As a side note, I’m currently looking for a place in SF, whether that means hunting with another girl (or multiple people) or grabbing a room within an already established place. If you know of any awesome people looking to relocate in October I’d love to hear about them!

Cheers to the next chapter,

Mesa Grill, Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd., LV

I love, love, LOVE Bobby Flay’s cooking style. The whole gourmet Southwest cuisine concept is something that I find extremely appealing. The menu is creative — rough cut tuna nachos, ancho chile-honey glazed salmon, and sides like roasted corn with chipotle aioli (can this possibly compete with Picante’s?) Can we say mmmm? On top of that, it’s been recommended by a few very trusted sources, so I have no doubt it’s superb!

 China Poblano & Jaleo by Jose Andres, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

I’ve only eaten at one José Andrés restaurant ever (The Bazaar at the SLS in LA) but I was instantly in love with how creative and well-executed the menu was. Andrés has two restaurants in the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Vegas (plus 1 secret restaurant, é) to cater to Vegas-goers’ luxe appetite. While Jaleo is an upscale tapas restaurant, China Poblano has an interesting mix of Mexican and Asian (dim sum & tacos). From what I understand, é, Andrés’ secret restaurant is inside Jaleo and is home to a single table for eight. There are two seatings per night and reservations are made a great while in advance (prix fixe menu is $150pp-ish). While the concept of a secret restaurant sounds cool, I’m rather intrigued by the delicious (and more reasonably priced) China Poblano menu.

B&B Ristorante, The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV

Admittedly, I wouldn’t normally pick an Italian restaurant when dining out. I am quite possibly the only person that’s not a real fan of Italian cuisine (not a huge fan of pizzas and pastas), but I am a fan of [Iron Chef] Mario Batali (B&B is the brainchild of Batali and his partner, winemaker Joseph Bastianich). I find him kind of a paradox and I’m always beyond impressed when I see him think up and execute his meals on Iron Chef. Leave it to the Food Network to pull me in.

Bartolotta, Wynn, Las Vegas

There’s only one reason that I’m draw to this restaurant: it has an awesome vegan menu prepared by acclaimed vegan chef, Tal Ronnen. I’m sure meat-eaters would be interested in the rest of the offerings, too, but there’s something about well-done vegan food that I can’t resist!

For those of you that are Vegas vets — whether you live there or frequent Sin City — what are your dining recommendations? Where do we have to go?

All thoughts and recommendations are encouraged!

xoxo,

I mentioned earlier this year that despite my love of travel, my experience exploring the US is pretty limited. My joint trip to DC and New York in March was my first time exploring the East Coast and it made me realize how much the US has to offer in terms of regional diversity! That being said, this year is all about exploring the United States. I got my DC, NY, LA, San Diego and (multiple) Tahoe & SF trips in this year and there are a few more biggies on the calendar for the fall!

The next trip I’m planning? A jaunt to Las Vegas in October! I know, it’s absolutely ridiculous to think that I haven’t been to Vegas yet. 25 years old and a California native, yet it was never really on the top of my list. With Boat Shoe Boy traveling throughout the month of October, we decided to link up for a weekend in Vegas while he’s there. The best part(s): 1) I got a roundtrip ticket for around $200 on Southwest – score! — and 2) Jimmy Buffet is playing while we’re there. We have yet to get tickets but that’s most definitely on our agenda. While I’m not the hugest of clubbers, I’m excited to explore the city and see what it’s all about! Side note: if you have two tickets to Jimmy Buffett that you’re looking to get rid of, please contact me!

After Vegas, we begin prepping for our November trip to Dallas! I’ve never been to Texas, but after hanging out with an SMU alum, I’m convinced that it’s going to be an incredible city! My view of Texas was always quite narrow — card-carrying NRA members with handlebar mustaches and Ford trucks roaming the state. I realize that that’s incredibly stereotypical and ridiculous to lump the entirety of Texas into that category, but I think it’s a common misconception amongst West Coasters (and probably everyone else in the world). However, with SMU’s Homecoming in early November, there couldn’t be a better time to make a trip out there and get a feel for what Dallas has to offer!

Our December trip is still a bit up in the air, but there’s a serious chance that we’ll be heading to New York for the holiday season! I’ve only been to NY during springtime, so I’m more than a little excited to experience the city during the holidays!

In any case, lots of fun trips planned and a lot to look forward to. Still on my US must-see list: New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, Nashville, Scottsdale & Denver!

xoxo from California,

Tanks are in!

No group excursion can truly be complete without matching garb, right? With a fun crew taking over the Frangipani Beach Resort in one short week, we decided to design some matching tanks (it’s a twofer: ups the cool factor, plus makes for easy identification of group members after one-too-many rum punches). While I think they look pretty awesome right now, they’ll be 2394820 times cooler once they’re tie-dyed! As luck would have it, we have a pre-school teacher in tow and will be relying heavily on her Grade A tie-dying skills to take these bad boys to the next level.

Can't wait for the tie-dye party!

I’ve never personally tie-dyed before, but word on the street is that it’s a pretty involved process. For anyone trying to tie-dye their own shirts (or visors, fanny packs, shorts, etc.), check out information on Tie-Dye Basics from the Dharma Trading Co. Gotta love a step-by-step guide!

Can’t wait to sport these on August Monday!

xoxo,

Looking to design your own matching goodies? Check out CustomInk.com!

Nine short days!

I’m more than a little excited about my upcoming Caribbean adventure. In 8 short days, I’ll be jumping on a plane at Sacramento International and in 9 days, I’ll be checking into the Frangipani Beach Resort and hanging out with Boat Shoe Boy & Co. on the oh-so-gorgeous beaches of Anguilla! With the departure date looming, I’ve realized how little shopping I’ve done for this trip. Not that you need to head to the Caribbean armed with a couture wardrobe, but a fair share of cover-ups, summer dresses and beachy attire is definitely a must! My poor fedora met its end this weekend (drowned in a pool of Bud Light and then stomped on by drunken passersby) so it’s definitely time to invest in a new one.

Fedoras: yay or nay?

While I normally mentally prep for trips far in advance (I tend to think that planning is half the fun!),  I’ve spent very little time planning for this particular excursion. Having spent insane amounts of time in Anguilla, Boat Shoes and his fam are practically bonafide islanders and definitely have the inside scoop on what to do, where to eat and places to scope out… there definitely won’t be any time wasted on anything overhyped or subpar!

I’m definitely looking forward to a week of warm Caribbean water, pretty beaches, morning kayaking and some sweet island beats. Nine days until I’m blogging from the islands!

xoxo,