San FranCelia

What a week!  I was recently admitted into UCSF Medical Center for low blood platelets, and while scary and random (in medical speak, that’s “idiopathic” to you), I feel like I’m finally on the mend and ready to enjoy the holidays in full swing!  Christmas in San Francisco is great, and if I had to miss anything, I’d have been a very unhappy lady.  With Thanksgiving just past, and Christmas around the corner, I feel like I need to give some great ideas on how to spend this lovely time of year in the City by the Bay.   Union Square is a must visit during the holidays, even in the madness that is “Union Square”, and once I go, I feel that the season has finally begun!

Taking a walk in Union Square is enough to bring out the holiday spirit, alone, but when you get to experience the sights and smells of the area, it’s even better.  Check out Macy’s of Union Square’s annual tree lighting ceremony (tonight!) and take a stroll through Tiffany’s and Saks for your visual delight.  With the weeks of decoration preparation that go into these classic places, simply being there is a way to feel more connected to your inner elf.  I wouldn’t recommend hitting the crazy after Thanksgiving weekend sales, as it’s simply too nuts, and no amount of “exclusive sales” is worth the 4am wake up call or herded masses, as far as I’m concerned.

For a non-traditional holiday feast while you are in the Downtown area, try The Oriental Pearl on Clay and Kearny.  While a wily little Chinatown hole-in-the-wall, their food is scrumptious and will leave you wanting more – must haves are the pork buns and the seriously perfect vegetable spring rolls.  It’s only minutes from the shopping madness of Union Square by foot, but will be so much more pleasant for your sanity than trying to wait in line at one of the Union Square hot spots.  Around Christmas, it feels reminiscent of  “A Christmas Story” where they go out for Chinese when the dogs eat their turkey, except with The Oriental Pearl, it’s much more deliberate I’m glad to say.

If you want to get out of the Square (and hey, I don’t blame you at times), try heading over to another tourist destination (they are so much fun at Christmas time!), Fisherman’s Wharf, where now through the 31^st of December you can view the especially set up “Holiday Festival of Lights”.  It’s a beautiful way to spend your shopping hours, albeit a little hectic as these destinations usually can be.

While I don’t hit up these spots often, as the masses of people generally deter me, it’s always fun during the holiday season to morph into a bona fide tourist and experience what our city is famous for.

Peace and love Xo

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Fall, one of my favorite times of year in San Francisco!  I love the way the City smells when it’s turkey-time and feeling that particular crispness that grips the air.  The chill soon turns into the catalyst for pretending we’re in New England and busting out huge scarves and cute boots.   It’s divine.  It also seems that people are in their bustling winter spirits, giving a sense of purpose to everything done.  San Franciscans take their fall seriously, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.  Some of my favorite activities are even better when the leaves start falling.

To be outdoors but also keep you from freezing, take a trek and go boutiquing in Pacific Heights.  The hills are intensely steep, making the cold bearable.  It’s the only time of year that these hills don’t make you sweat uncontrollably when hiked.  This is such a fun activity this time of year as all of the holiday essentials are out and affordable in small doses.  Visit ‘Heidi Says’ or ‘Nest’ on Fillmore for some great holiday ideas – expensive, of course (being in Pacific Heights and all), but cute.

For a cozy meal in an eclectic atmosphere, check out The Café at Café du Nord.  Next door to the affiliate music venue on Market, they have great sandwiches and gigantic cups of coffee.  Delish!  The best part is if you are catching a show next door, you can finally grab a bite to eat for a reasonable price.  If you aren’t catching a show, it’s a great location for a Mission/Castro shopping break, as well as the obligatory people watching – my favorite.

Since being indoors is something to cherish during these months, I like to hold off during the summer and visit museums and art exhibitions now.  Next weekend, the Second Annual Erotic Art Exhibition comes to the California Modern Art Gallery, and is only $15.  What a fun way to spend a fall day!  I went to the Sex Museum in Paris once, and it was incredible.  The show will definitely keep the blood pumping, to say the least.

I can’t wait to experience more of the City as we delve into winter.   It’s the perfect time to explore and see what hidden treasures are at our fingertips.  While I love summer in San Francisco, the cold is starting to warm on me.

Peace and love Xo

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Health and wellness are two words that we seem to hear a lot of around the Bay Area.  The amazing weather and landscape allow people to be outdoors all the time to experience exercise away from the confines of a gym (although those have their benefits – sauna anyone!).  I think in moments of Zen high atop the rolling hills after a Saturday hike, people come to the conclusion that if they feel this good exercising, it probably holds true that nourishing your body with healthy food will only enhance your live.  At least I’ve thought that before, and of course what I think, everyone else thinks (ha!).  Keeping this healthy theme going, and in an attempt to not just eat healthy but still eat-out every once in awhile, we decided to try Plant Organic, a trendy dinner café on the Embarcadero.

The atmosphere immediately draws you in and gives cause to pause.  Located on the water of the Embarcadero with the lights of the luminous Bay Bridge high overhead, it’s a view of the City that shouldn’t be missed.  With an earthy vibe, it’s a new age in trend, I think.  The rustic feel was accompanied by the soft glow of candles and modern touches.  Very cool scene.  We ordered salads to start and then main meals, and I must advise to split a small salad.  It was so big, that when dinner comes, you’re almost too full.  While I appreciate the size for the money, I hate to waste and want to enjoy the entrée, too.  The salads themselves though, were delicious and fresh.  They have about six options to choose from, which is nice if you don’t want the standard spinach, Cesar, or house.  For our entrée, my vegetarian counter-part ordered the tempeh with pumpkin puree and I ordered the shrimp green curry.  While I was amazed with the tempeh – and wish I’d ordered it myself – the curry was too busy and the shrimp seemed almost a little undercooked for my taste.  The tempeh, which if you haven’t heard of, it is a type of cake made out of soybeans, came with a pumpkin mash that was incredible.  Savory and full of flavor, I was definitely asking for tastes of that.  The green curry, which in itself had good flavor, came with about 7 different veggies, jasmine rice, and the undercooked shrimp, which just, in my opinion, gave it too many flavors that didn’t necessarily go together.  Other than this, everything was very good and tasted fresh.  It’s just a bummer my main entrée was the one I wasn’t thrilled with.

Good service and great ambiance, however, added to the experience of the Plant, so I would definitely go again to try some other dishes.  I’m feeling lighter just thinking about it.  Ah, healthy eating… so worth it.

Peace and love Xo

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