SAN FRANCISCO. Feats and Treats.

Thar she blows. I won't expound this time around. Mostly because I have already have, here and here. We did visit a couple newbies, however, which I will verbalize about briefly. The Grilled Cheese Kitchen and 21st Amendment Brewery are stellar. Simply stated,we had two sandwiches, devoured all of the crumbs and still wanted more. Located right across the street is the 21st Amendment Brewery, which brews some of the most delightful beers I've ever imbibed. If that doesn't clue you in...this is where we began the imbibing part of the trip. Also new for us was Anchor and Hope. We had two servings of the happy-hour oysters which were impressively affordable, fresh, and delicioso. I would've loved to have dinner there, but there is really only so much food you can stuff your face with in four days time. The last newbie eatery for us was Nopa which is truly as good as everyone says it is. Period. The stand-outs were the Goat Cheese, Kumquat, Arugula, and Crostini Appetizer and the Pork Chop Entree. The appetizer was so simple and yet, so memorable, I'm definitely stealing the recipe for my own Summer Socials. Well, I know it's a bit fragmented and full of food and drink, but in the end, that's how it always crumbles, cookie-wise.

TOMO ARIGATO, MR ROBOTO

The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen. "The Mousetrap."

Found an idyllic neighborhood that surrounds a park...just so happens that it's near two delectable eateries. The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen and 21st Amendment Brewery. The latter of which brews one of my all-time favorite libations for Summer time--Hell or High Watermelon Beer.

And were off! at 21st Amendment Brewery.

Next stop...Aphrodisiacs and Delirium at Anchor and Hope.

Wes Anderson Typography.

Party! at the Godspeed You! Black Emperor show.

"Finally." At Swan Oyster Depot.

Accoutrement.

Tartine "Tart Party" at Dolores Park.

Goat Cheese, Kumquat, Arugula, and Crostini at NOPA.

"EAT" at Gott's Roadside.

Ahi Tacos and Extra Cheese-y Cheesburger at Gott's

American Zoetrope, or as I like to call it, Mecca.

9 Irish Coffees, 2 to-go at The Buena Vista.

Saying farewell at Mission Dolores Park.

REDWAY Part 2: The Driving Force Of Nature

Our stop at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery--to aid in the calming of our nerves from almost missing the Animal Collective show deadline of 8 pm--is the best decision we made on the four and a half hour drive to Redway. It was a little piece of heaven, especially luminescent after our tasting. The winery was modeled after the Tivoli Gardens, the basis and inspiration of all modern amusement parks like Coney Island and Luna Park. Places of amusement for both adults and children, a place where there are amenities for the entire family. It is a brilliantly simple logic, there is a pool to entertain the kids while the adults enjoy the sipping. Genius, and these kids are planning a trip back for the upcoming sunny season for a "Summer Dip n' Sip,"and by kids I mean me and my guy.

Animal Collective was divine. New songs filled the show's entire set aside from a couple familiar favorites. All original members were present, including Deacon, who I've seen twice for his solo shows, but wholeheartedly feel that he is at his best when playing in Animal Collective. They all feed off of each others electric energy and then transfer that energy to the audience who display no signs of inhibition in their hypnotic dancing. Especially the hypnotized giraffe costumed friend to my right. Music to my ears. Listen to "On a Highway" and "I Think I Can" by Animal Collective.

We would've loved to stay and experience Redway for a longer period of time but had a prior engagement in San Francisco and subsequently were on the road again the very next morning. However, we made several stops including the cities of, Piercy for Confusion Hill, Leggett for the Drive-thru Redwood Tree, and St. Helena for Gott's Roadside. As an added bonus we had enough time to stop and pick up the new Panda Bear solo album and quite frequently stopped to capture shots of all the fabulously nostalgic signage from the mid-century. While many of these signs are still in use, others have sadly fallen into a state of disrepair -- albeit artful in their decay. These signs doted the landscape begging for our photographic attention as they once, or still do, beg for our patronage.

My first run-in with Gott's Roadside, was quite the moment. I was terribly hungover in San Francisco. Too many variations of alcohol at Aub Zam Zam. Beer, Tequila Shots, and Absinthe do not seem to get along well in my intestinal waiting room. As I was saying, I was HUNG OVER, and my boyfriend recommended Gott's Roadside in the Ferry Building. It took all my being to agree to take the F to the Ferry building. The stimuli making the ride more aggravating than usual, the bells, the bumps, and divots in the road, all made me feel like I was being rolled down a rocky mountain in a shopping cart. This time, we arrived at Gott’s Roadside in St. Helena (formerly known by a name I still prefer; Taylor’s Automatic Refresher) and after a hang over curing Cheeseburger, I was a Taylor's/Gott's devotee for life.  Gott's is a prototypical example of roadside Americana combined with a decidedly green and sustainable approach. With a freshness you can actually taste, Gott’s harvest many of their ingredients locally in St. Helena – allowing you to enjoy a delectable Cheeseburger, garlic fries, and milkshake with slightly less guilt than usual.

Camel Coat--Vintage Diane Von Furstenburg
Blouse--Vintage, St. Vincent De Paul Thrift
Navy Trousers-- Vintage, Ebay
Hat--Vintage, American Rag
Brogues--Vintage, Ebay
Belt- Vintage, Ebay