Not all will agree with me, but I do love a man in a double-breasted jacket...the whispy hair and European swag definitely help...
About Town: Sir & Star
Hark! For those of you looking to get out beyond our lady in red and in search of an adventure, I highly recommend the Sir & Star Restaurant at the Olema Inn. The new establishment is the love child of co-owners Margaret Grade and Daniel DeLong who were behind the now perished Manka's Inverness Lodge. The aesthetic is a hip blend of Restoration Hardware meets sporting cabin in the countryside. The menu: locally sourced from West Marin with the dreamiest comfort dishes ("Whole Crisped Bolinas Rock Cod", "A Bouillabaisse of All Things Green and Gold", "A Neighbor's Quail"), sustainably prepared for your delight. Better yet: If you've had one too many glasses of Pt. Reyes Pinot during your meal, you can stay the night in one of their six guest rooms opening this month. See the feature in the October issue of VOGUE (below) and be sure to read this review from Food & Wine.
Moments
The past few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind. Inevitably, I have to address the MAJOR victory (and serious comeback) team Oracle scored at the America's Cup. The Cup was a thrilling time here in San Francisco. Lifelong friends from Newport, New York, Boston and New Orleans came into town to cheer on our sailing friends while we caught up on each other's lives. A plethora of Bloody Mary's were consumed at the yacht club as we marveled over the AC72s foiling past us and needless to say, productivity at work was at an alarmingly low rate. I'm looking forward to catching up on my sleep this week but can't help grin and think: this is what it's all about. There is so much to enjoy in life and the past few weeks are certainly exemplary of that. I feel so fortunate to have the best of friends and the ability to enjoy their company in such a beautiful landscape.After the overwhelming victory last Wednesday, we went to see The Lumineers play. Here is a little clip from what was a magical night of music under the stars. In the middle of the show, the band left the stage to play a few songs in the center of the crowd, it was very special.
A shout out to all my friends here and afar - you guys rock. Life wouldn't be so lovely without you!
Photos above via Business Insider.
Fantastically Fall
Fall is one of my favorite seasons and without question one of the few things I miss about living on the east coast. I'm currently debating whether or not to make the trek back for the Thanksgiving holiday, but after combing through images such as the above, I think I can be easily persuaded. Biting into a crisp Cortland apple, getting lost in a deep conversation among a roaring fire, going for brisk walks on the beach bundled up in tweeds and turtlenecks...these are some of the distinctive moments I miss about the season.
What do you admire about the turn of the season?
About Town: Company & Cocktails in the Blue Bar
My dear friend and I scooted over to The Cavalier just the other day for highly anticipated cocktails and fare at the newly opened British brassiere. Behind the venture is New Zealand native Anna Weinberg, a stylish restaurateur known for a whole slew of successful establishments in New York and San Francisco. San Francisco's own Ken Fulk was the genius responsible for the glamorous design, which provides one with a richly textured aesthetic - french blue walls inhabited by taxidermy and portraits of aristocratic figures in sleek gold frames among a sexy leather banqueted "Blue Bar", hand-painted fox hunt wallpaper by the talented Shirley Robinson and just the perfect amount of light dancing from salvaged cathedral lanterns.
A toast was made over Pimm's Cup cocktails while we were delightfully greeted by an amuse-bouche from Chef Jennifer Puccio consisting of a quail egg accompanied by celery salt and crispy shallot on a perfectly petite bed of greens. As the conversing continued, we enjoyed our main nibbles, she, the Farro and Roasted Beets salad, and I, the Duck Duck Scotch Egg. The waiter suggested I break in to my egg immediately to savor the runny consistency over a bed of spicy arugula and stonefruit chutney. TAKE ME TO BED OR LOSE ME FOREVER. It was sensational.
The thrill let on as the bar flooded with more patrons and Gladys Knight's "Midnight Train To Georgia" embedded deeper and deeper into my soul, taunting me to order another cocktail. I gave in, this time ordering the "Bramble" which easily landed 4 stars on my libation meter. The chocolate delice was sampled for dessert and the last bit of laughter and tales were exchanged as I schemed up our next visit in my head.
Michael Kors S14
"I got intrigued by the idea of convergence," Michael said. "Forties and Seventies. Romantic but tailored. Casual but polished. All that ying and yang."
Ying and yang me please, because this collection is just flirting with cheeky charm. I've always been mad for Michael Kors ready-to-wear, but this collection just sends me over the edge. Structured, yet clean wispy lines, carefree classic pieces with plenty of python, Michael Kors just keeps reinventing the wheel of classic tailoring for the All-American gal. Below, a brief snippet from a review by WWD to keep you gushing:
"It was with his dresses and jackets with manageably strong shoulders that Kors referenced the Forties most clearly. But he offered alternatives to tailoring in the form of spectacular knits, including a dreamy hand-crocheted cardigan and matching dress, and a slouchy cardigan worn over a tank and skirt — as unassuming as it was divine. And for the girl who prefers to wear her casual mien with a little sass: a white fox ring over a cotton boy shirt and shorts."
All images above courtesy of VOGUE. Click here to see images of the fun backstage at the Lincoln Center runway show.
Sugar Magnolias
Recently, my best friend and I hosted a cocktail party which was great fun thanks to proper planning and the perfect guest list. As I flitted about during our fête humming along to "Bennie and the Jets", I made several satisfying observations: cocktails were being habitually refreshed, laughter effortlessly flooded the living room and patio, the charcuterie platter was (as expected) a total hit, and the punch bowl I inherited finally made its debut since its journey out to San Francisco. Life was grand.
The silver punch bowl, now providing our guests with a lethal dose of "Pink Panty Punch" (thank you, Camilla!) had at one time aided my Grandmother and Great Grandmother while entertaining at their plantation home just seventy miles west of New Orleans. Glenwood Plantation (pictured above), was a large Queen-Anne-style house just off Highway 29 that functioned as a sugar cane plantation my Great Grandfather Edward Preston Munson owned and operated. The home, described as "an atmosphere of romantic charm and beauty" on a vintage postcard, was surrounded by magnolia trees and mossy oaks. After the war, the cane-growing business took a hit and the mosaic disease destroyed many of the crops. Slowly, many of the grand plantations fell in ruin. Being the "betwitching" and "tiny heroic woman" (as described below) that was my Great Grandmother Gertrude, she essentially saved the plantation by taking in guests at Glenwood. She was a true southern bell who was known by all for her entertaining. Among the many tales, it is said that she baked 300 angel-food cakes for one party at Glenwood and would lure her guests into the drawing room for her infamous café brûlot after a southern meal around her carved walnut table.
My Great Grandmother Gertrude was profiled in the May 1955 installment of Reader's Digest's "The Most Unforgettable Character I've Ever Met" series. For those that know me well, I too, love entertaining. I never had the pleasure of meeting my Great Grandmother, however I can only surmise that she would truly be one of "the most unforgettable characters I've met". Time to plan my next gathering.
Read on below.
Take Me To Tennessee
I first read about Blackberry Farm last year in an issue of Forbes and instantly became intrigued by this gem in the Smoky Mountains. The 4,200-acre resort defies the conventional concept of a "luxury resort" and boy, do I like that. Think mounted fox-hunting, sporting clays or perhaps their upcoming 'Wine on the Fly' event.
In 1939, while selecting the perfect parcel of land with her husband, Mrs. Florida Lasier of Chicago snagged her silk stockings on a thicket of blackberry bushes, and thus, the name Blackberry Farm was born. Since its inception, the farm has remained family owned and today, is run by proprietor Sam Bealle. Sam grew up on the farm and after an array of impressive culinary experiences and between marrying his wife Mary Celeste and having four beautiful children, took on the task of holding the business. What a business it has become. Blackberry Farm has received a bounty of accolades throughout the years, including "#1 Hotel for Food Lovers in America" by Bon Appetit, "#1 Service in the U.S." by Travel and Leisure and the Wine Spectator Grand Award, just to name a few.
Although I have yet to go, it seems the farm inherently commands romance. I have a vision of taking in the early morning mist from a rocking chair with a loved one, while admiring the Black Walnut and Persimmon trees, or enjoying a quiet soak in the oversized soaking tub in one of their Hill Cottages. It is a place that has had me dreaming for quite some time and I suspect, one that will keep my dreams alive long after my prospective visit.
Photos above are via Town & Country.
About Town: Bulgari at the de Young
The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990
Wednesday evening marked the opening party at the de Young celebrating their new exhibit "The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990". The whos-who of San Francisco and beyond gussied up to toast to the Bulgari archives that will make their official debut this Saturday, September 21 with final display on February 17, 2014. The collection will feature "150 showstopping pieces" along with several breathtaking pieces from the Elizabeth Taylor collection. We all know too well that iconic photograph of Elizabeth dripping in emeralds courtesy of her lover Richard Burton. Her marriage to Richard was one of the grandest romances in history, while also a legacy of her passion for the world's finest jewels.
For the visual scoop on the evening's happenings as well as other parties about town, be sure to follow the fantastical freelancer @missbigelow on Instagram and check out SFGate.
Latest Love Affair
With my Father in town, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to check out the Dawydiak Showroom I've been dying to visit for some time. In the 4th grade, I used to sit on our stone wall with my childhood friend guessing what kind of car was barreling around the corner, based on its unique purr and design I'd sense in my peripheral. Like a top shelf glass of brandy and a cigar, encountering a beautiful car equates to savoring that perfect nightcap. The classics? Those gals just do it for me every time.
My Father and two of his friends accompanied me to the showroom to acquire intel on the inventory. The specialists at Dawydiak are one of the few that offer a vehicle consignment program in the area, in addition to collision care and service for Porsche, Spyker and Vintage imports. Their mantra is "obsessed and proud if it". You bet they are. Having just moved to a new location, the showroom was absolutely flawless, the light filtering in through the garage doors so peaceful it was as if I were floating on a Jaguar XK-E Roadster in heaven. Sam Cameron, the lovely sales gentleman who greeted us, gave us a special tour of the new collision care/service department on the third level - so new, concrete was still drying. Here, the fun continued as we meandered through a sea of imports getting dressed up with new coats of paint, racing tires, custom-made bucket seats in luscious red leather... the list goes on.
Below are the highlights from our visit including the subject of my new love affair, a 1957 Jaguar XK140 in an elegant pearly white (just look at her backside!). For those of you that need to see this baby in action, perhaps this throwback will help (fast-forward to 2:26). Also worth noting, the 1965 Porsche 356 in a custom baby blue with navy interior (also featured above), rumored to be the proud possession of the showroom's owner. Still drooling along with me? Not to worry, the WSJ's article this month can help make all your automotive dreams a reality. Steve McQueen, get back here! Oooooga!
