SF/Bay Area | vmac+cheese

Recent Snapshots

Posted on April 16, 2012 by vmacandcheese

Here’s what I’ve been up to over the past two weeks or so, as told through my phone…

1. It’s been intermittently rainy here in the city, and of course the one day I ventured out prepared for it (boots and all), the skies cleared and the sun started shining. Ah, well! At least the Madewell boots saw some action.

2. Another day on the bus, peering out the window — definitely not so sunny!

3. Everything is blooming here. It makes walks around town so pretty and colorful.

4. Lunch at Out the Door. I’d never really noticed this light fixture above the communal table before — but I like it.

5. French Chantilly lace samples from my wedding dress. This is one of three fabrics used on the dress.

6. Ranunculus currently keeping me company in my office. Ranuncs are just so cheerful and ladylike, don’t you think?

7. I was lucky enough to get a last minute appointment at our wedding venue so I could show my mom while she was in town. This is the terrace of the penthouse, where we’re hoping (weather permitting) we’ll be married. Check out that view!

8. Having a blowout Italian (read: carb) dinner with my mom at Capannina.

9. Another little ranunc from the bunch. It amazes me that nature can make something this pretty and intricate.

10. Brunching with my mom at Castagna. Strange space, amazing food. We had the best quiche ever there. The brothers who run the place know their way around the kitchen like whoa.

Filed under: Beautiful Things, Just thinking..., Photography, SF/Bay Area | 7 Comments »

Why haven’t I seen it before?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by vmacandcheese

Scenes from the weekend and a little story…

On Saturday we were walking around near the water, letting our lunch digest and searching for a place to have an afternoon cocktail (I mean, obviously), when this girl ran up to Joe and could barely spit out the words, “OH MY GOD! Aren’t you that guy from The Notebook???” I thought she might hyperventilate.

We were both shocked for a second, and then Joe goes, “Uhh, sorry, no.” The girl didn’t look too convinced as we walked away.

Cue him Google imaging pictures of Ryan Gosling for the rest of the day to compare. He may or may not have repeated the title of this post at least there times.

For the record: I conceded that the jawline could be similar but, yeah…other than that, it’d be like saying that I look like Rachel McAdams. Joe had gotten semi-dressed up for our big day on the town (he was definitely channeling Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love), and with sunglasses on, I guess that girl thought the resemblance was uncanny. So thanks, anonymous stranger, for boosting his ego. You made his day.

It occurred to me later that maybe she thought he was James Marsden or Kevin Connolly, though, trust, he doesn’t look like them either. I may have to spin this and tell him that she probably thought he was James Garner. Otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it. The day someone thought he was Ryan Gosling. Oy vey.

Filed under: Photography, SF/Bay Area | 20 Comments »

In Vino Veritas

Posted on March 12, 2012 by vmacandcheese

I must be having way too much fun or something, because I have another weekend’s worth of pictures to share! I’m kind of liking posting snapshots of what I’m up to over the weekends with you guys. You like too?

1 — Friday night sunset. We had dinner on Chestnut St then called it an early night. It had been a long week!

2 — Saturday was very low key (it was a book reading/napping kind of day), but on Sunday, we made it up to Napa with friends. The weather held up and despite the rainy forecast, it was actually mild and decently sunny. The red tulips at Hall were out of this world pretty!

3 — We lunched at Redd Wood, a new pizzeria at the North Block Hotel, and sister restaurant to Redd. I went weak in the knees for this huge brass pendant lamp that hung over a marble service station. Can you see the reclaimed filing cabinet they’re using to house silverware?

4 — Redd Wood’s menu was varied and delicious. I loved the sausage pizza we tried. We all left full and happy!

5 — The North Block Hotel grounds. Joe and I have stayed here once and really liked it.

6 — Edison bulb mania inside the restaurant. Love.

7 — Outside our first winery stop, Sequoia Grove. Our friends hadn’t been there before, and we had a great time sitting outside on the patio enjoying a bottle. The dreary weather forecast meant the place was basically deserted. We weren’t complaining!

8 — The winery dog. He drools a lot, and his name is Mr. Biggles. (Of course it is.)

Photos end after this, because, well…by this point we were all having way too much fun to remember to take pictures. (Aaaand I’m feeling it today. Talk quietly, ok?)

{Image Credits: Photos 2, 7, 8 from Ben’s instagram; all others by me}

Filed under: SF/Bay Area | 15 Comments »

SF Spring

Posted on March 5, 2012 by vmacandcheese

Let’s talk about how amazing this weekend was. Because honestly?? I did NOT want it to end. The weather in SF was un-freaking-believable. 70s. Sunny. Not a cloud in the sky (evidence above!). Here’s what my weekend looked like:

1 — A Saturday afternoon stroll along the Embarcadero. We stopped for wine and snacks on the patio at Epic, and walked all the way down to the ballpark. It was too warm and lovely not to!
2 — Earlier in the day, I finally made it to The Brixton for brunch. We scored a prime seat, right next to the patio doors, so we could easily people watch but not feel like we were eating on the sidewalk. Had the best fried chicken salad ever (I went big). Joe had two Bloody Mary’s (he went very big).
3 — Even earlier, we’d started off our Saturday with a late morning stroll on Union Street. I can never resist snapping pictures of the gorgeous pillows in the windows of Krimsa. It always makes me want to get all new throw pillows for our entire house!
4 — Something about this sign always gets me. Walking around downtown you’re bound to get some typography inspiration.
5 — I was very amused by this interpretation of my name. Only at Starbucks.
6 — The sunset made the Bay Bridge look almost golden. Pure magic. The phone could not come close to capturing the color.
7 — But it did accurately capture how beautiful the sky looked in the late afternoon. Beautiful cerulean!

In true SF fashion, today it’s extremely foggy and and 47 degrees. Oh, and there was an earthquake this morning that shook the windows and jolted me awake at 5:30am. Hello, Monday! I don’t care what anyone says, after 9 years, I’m still not used to them!

Filed under: Photography, SF/Bay Area | 19 Comments »

California Girl

Posted on February 27, 2012 by vmacandcheese

Non-photoshopped pics. Monterey really is just that gorgeous.

I had one of the best weekends in recent memory!! Saturday specifically — my friends and I started the day with a huge brunch, a visit to a local Monarch butterfly sanctuary (sounds random, but trust, this was seriously cool), then a tour down 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach. How have I lived in California for almost 10 years and never done this?? It was spectacularly beautiful. We capped off the afternoon enjoying Bloody Marys next to a fire pit at the Inn at Spanish Bay, with perfect views of the ocean. Amazing.

And now, it’s back to work…although if I’m perfectly honest, I dread Mondays a lot less these days!

Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Filed under: Photography, SF/Bay Area, Travels | 21 Comments »