Yearly Archives: 2010

My parents wear Land’s End like a uniform. Classic khaki pants and button down shirts. I’ve appreciated the sturdy American brand for quite some time. The new Land’s End Canvas line is an appealing, more affordable alternative to J. Crew (which seems to me to get more expensive every day – even with 20% off…

Family friends with excellent taste report having an amazing time learning fly fishing at Clearwater Lodge in Northern California. Originally built in the 1920’s to house workers at a power station – the arts & craft lodge has been decked out in style and is equipped with a gourmet restaurant.

I brought home this Illume candle from a quick visit to the Mission on Monday night. The gardenia scent is more pepper-y than floral, I like it quite a bit.

Viet is about to head off to Indian on a charitable mission: I am going to Northern India near the Himalayas for 5 weeks in June-July and wondered if you had any suggestions on a practical but comfortable and stylish outfit? I am volunteering with some health clinics over there and doing some independent travel.…

It’s amazing what a few plants can do! I’m in the midst of transforming the somewhat barren patio into a shade garden extraordinaire. I loaded up on red and green hostas, ferns, impatiens, lettuce and kale at Sloat Gardens on Saturday. Enough for two packed planters – to be thinned as things spread – and…

I loved The Elegance of Hedgehogs! You can’t really go wrong with a swanky apartment building, existential phenomenology (go college!) and Paris. Come for the cute title, stay for the excellent writing.

This event never disappoints! The 2010 Black & White Ball was another classic evening in San Francisco, an amazing time for a great cause. We took the subway down to civic center – being mistakenly congratulated as a bridal couple a few times along the way! Arrived at nine, met with our group on the…

This was a jam-packed, lovely weekend in the city! On Friday, we rode bikes across the city with Margaret to go to Friday Nights at the de Young. This time, they were kicking off the opening of the impressionist exhibit with a French prix fixe menu and a French/gypsy/klezmer band called Japonize Elephants. First, drinks…

A classic over-the-top movie gown – sweeping feathers and satin. Paired with a Swedish-style braid. Technically, it was blue and shed like mad…enough that Ginger Rogers was called “feathers” for years…but still! It’s from one of my favorite Astaire and Rogers movie – Top Hat – when they were “dancing cheek to cheek.”

One of my favorite vintage shops on Haight Street – Decades of Fashion – is headed by Cicely Ann Hansen, a local celebrity and a frequent star at the Black & White Ball. In 2008, she made the front page of the Chronicle’s Datebook for her feathered outfit. I found my silver gown at her…