tune for tuesday // on an on

One of my very favorite things to do is to drive around the city (or, in my case, be driven). Windows down. Music blaring. Perhaps it is because, prior to life in San Francisco, open window weather was so rare, so special. Or perhaps because, as non-driving city dwellers, riding in a non-cab is considered a momentous occasion. Either way, it is simply one of my greatest joys in life.

Last night, Dave and I had the pleasure of renting a car to drive our dog, Margot, to 'camp' before we departed for yet another Chicago trip. Of course, I had a playlist all ready to go.

The first track on said playlist? On an On's 'The Hunter.' It was so dreamy, so fun, so perfect for a warm summer evening drive that I couldn't help but play it over and over and over. We never made it to track two.

And now that I have seen the video, I adore this song even more. Doesn't this make you want to headbang? I mean really, when was the last time you let your hair down and thrashed? It feels amazing and I highly recommend it.

But maybe not while driving :)

This song makes me so happy.

And off to Chicago we go!

and this is where i used to live.

I fell for San Francisco so quickly that it seems I forgot how much I once loved Chicago. The architecture, the lake, the el, the city parks. It's a spectacular city in its own right. And even with the fog and rain (which I must have brought with me from San Francisco; sorry Chicago), it was mighty nice to be back last weekend.

I flew in for my dear friend's bachelorette party and it was a blast. I have a special love in my heart for bachelorette parties that involve good food, great friends, and not a single tacky party favor in sight. Nope. Not a one.

Here are some crappy iPhone photos from my very short trip. Photographic masterpieces they are not. But they make me oh so happy.

tune for tuesday // generationals

Trying to fit five days worth of clothes and shoes into one carry-on suitcase is a challenge, to say the least (for me anyway). Packing for the weird and unpredictable weather that is Chicago in the spring? Nearly impossible.

So as I stand in front of my closet, staring, endlessly pondering, I've been listening to the new(ish) Generationals album on repeat.

I must say, this song might just be saving me from a mini-breakdown :)



In other news, I'm going to Chicago this week! Heck yeah!

snippets

Some snapshots from a particularly gorgeous week here in San Francisco....

^^^ perhaps the most beautiful strawberries I have ever seen, and definitely the sweetest

^^^ weird california plants, seen on a walk through nob hill

^^^ early morning at golden gate park  

 ^^^ word.

^^^ sunny days and skyscrapers. two of my favorite things.

^^^ more farmers' market goodies

^^^ I cannot get over how pretty it is here. 

^^^ biergarten drinking 

^^^ record store day

^^^ impatiently waiting for pizza at delfina (it was worth it)

^^^ bread, cheese, crushed red pepper, and salt. more of my favorite things :)

^^^ spring in full force

big sur // the best of california forever

As little as one year ago, if you had told me I would be living in California and doing things like driving down the coast to spend a few days in Big Sur, I would have never believed you. If you had then told me those would be some of the best days of my life, I would have laughed in your face.

But here I am, and one thing is clear: I am a California girl at heart. Wisconsin and Chicago, I still love you; but I undoubtedly belong here. Who knew that this spectacular little piece of the world would have such a profound effect on me? Certainly not me. Frankly, this love affair came out of nowhere.

And it just keeps getting better and better.

Big Sur has a little something for everyone, and everything for me. Literary ties (Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck), live music (Grizzly Bear at HMML), hip hotels (Glen Oaks), tall tall trees (redwoods), sweeping ocean views (everywhere), delicious food (Nepenthe), and nature hiking (ok, not my favorite thing, but Dave loves to hike and I love him).

PLUS, on the way back to San Francisco, we drove along the edge of the Salinas Valley, where my favorite book takes place (East of Eden and, for the record, it looked nothing like how I pictured it). We also passed through Castroville, the "Artichoke Center of the World," which I found pretty thrilling. Dave was far less enthused about this segment of the trip as we are still eating artichokes. But seriously, I scored 10 artichokes for $2! What a steal.

Simply put, our time in Big Sur was magnificent. Every single moment. Even the ones where it was so dark and so quiet that I longed for the familiar sound of an ambulance siren or garbage truck just to know I was still on earth. Because even in those (admittedly scary) moments, you could still see every single star in the sky.

Big Sur, you stole my heart.