If you're going to San Francisco... ~ Now And Zen Music Fest

A wonderful surprise for my birthday weekend was a music festival at the Golden Gate Park! Every year radio Alice 97.3 throws a big end-of-summer free concert in Golden Gate's Sharon Meadow. This year their line-up featured Hedley, Tristan Prettyman, Phil Philips (yes America's newest sweetheart), Ed Sheeran, Matt Nathanson and Alanis Morissette. Needless to say I was pretty stoked. I was looking forward to seeing Philips and newest favorite Ed Sheeran. They did not disappoint. It was clear to see what the hype was all about with Philips' powerful melodic voice, while Sheeran's smooth and dreamy vocals cradled the entire crowd, women especially. Nathanson, who's now a native of San Francisco, had the crowd going with his comic antics and of course, all too familiar tunes.

The sun made me wish I had my island clothes with me! Nevertheless we all had a great time laying on the grass, munching on our picnic food, lining up forever for a popsicle (watermelon and mint, it was worth it!), catching up with my dearest friend Chica (also my travel buddy, we've been together in 3 different continents the past 3 years, how cool is that), hanging out with hometown friends who've made SF their home and simply enjoying the entire scene. I truly couldn't ask for more. ♥

Golden Gate Park's Sharon Meadow

Hillside Picnic

Golden boy Phil Philips.

Chica and the popsicle

Eya

Watching from the tree top is cool too

Peace, love and good vibes!

We're heading to the East Coast and the SF series will be back in a couple of weeks. In the meantime watch out for other travel logs! ♥

If you're going to San Francisco... ~ Farmer's Market

The mere fact that the Ferry Building gets blogged twice in this series shows how fantastic it is. Saturdays, like I previously mentioned, is the weekend farmer's market where local farmers sell their amazing organic produce (I tasted the sweetest tomatoes, scored Padron peppers) and some of the city's best food trucks show up (yummy Mexican fish tacos and tamales + sweet lavender lemonade). And it just so happened that this particular Saturday was also my birthday :) what a treat!

The Ferry Building

Jewels in the sun ~ yellow, red & PURPLE bell peppers!

Organic Broccoli

The cutest pumpkins ever!

Curried Mango salt, anyone?

The perfect day

The perfect date(s) (with my girlfriend Chica partially hidden in the background)

The perfect birthday! :)

If you're going to San Francisco... ~ Hayes Valley

Scenes from a happy Friday.

A lovely gentle Anusara class with Darcy Lyon which my travel weary body sorely needed.

The perfect french toast for brunch at La Boulange.

A walk around Hayes Valley's picturesque neighbourhood, checked some of their lovely shops.

And finally an "exciting" drive along Dolores St., a beautiful palm tree lined that goes up and down the hills of San Francisco.

Yoga Tree studio on Hayes St.

Lovely Hayes Valley

The perfect french toast at La Boulange
(check out the creamy egg custard at the bottom of the toast!) 

La Boulange

Just one of the many pretty Victorian houses on Dolores St.

looking back

los angeles, winter 2009





i wish i had taken more photos of l.a.. this lack may have been because of the fact that i didn't do much walking and exploring while we were there. or maybe because my only intention in going was to see my seafaring little sister who was docking at long beach for the day. looking back i realize there is an oldness to the place that i find unexpected and charming. authentic 50's diners... sweet carousels... record stores... the santa monica pier that conjures stories from old storybooks.

and i truly wish i had taken more photos of that.


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Listening to: Death Cab For Cutie - Grapevine Fires