california dreamin'

Though I returned to Philadelphia almost a week ago, I have been both busy and lazy since then and doing the best I can to adjust from vacation mode to life as I know and a city with it's final grip on winter. If I said I was having a hard time of it you may sympathize with me or perhaps scoff at such luxury problems. Either way I will still share with you here some highlights of my delightful escape west. I hope to hold on to that sunny San Francisco feeling at least as long as the substantial wheel of Mt. Tam cheese I flew home with lasts in the fridge. Though truth be told, it's disappearing fast. I suppose there is some small consolation in the fact that February is over in only one more day. Also, since I have been home I saw the first shoots of spring bulbs breaking their mighty green tips through my burlap winter garden cover. Hurrah!

up, up and away

hello san francisco, so nice to see you again

much needed japanese lagers after a long flight

korean taco at namu gagi

golden gate

first sights in san anselmo

a welcome late afternoon wine and cheese hang with the lady of the house

sunny living

a first of many glorious sunsets

bright nook

morning coffee

hearth

exploring roy's woods

among giants

mr. wallabee

mt. tam production at cowgirl creamery

whipping winds at drakes beach

the newly opened olema's

olema's

pacific gulls

picnic on mt. vision

brunching at the barefoot cafe

downtown fairfax

marin farmer's market

a bustling market

drinks at cavallo point

the farley bar

muir beach overlook

bolinas beach

camera obscura at the cliff house, sf

bolinas

hog island oyster company

sutro bath ruins

soma street food park, sf

fish, sausalito

cocoagraph headquaters

what poppy wants, lurkspur

last sundown

journal writing before taking off

up up and away!

on of my favorites by william eggleston 

By the time this post is automatically published I should be sky high and in the beginning hours of an exciting journey to what some people refer to as the best coast. As a born and bred north easterner, I am not sure if a can completely agree with the saying but I will admit, Northern California stole a piece of my heart a very long time ago and it has had a hold on me ever since. I believe this trip will be my 7th or 8th return to the Bay area and it never ceases to excite me. I have been fortunate to always have family or friends to visit when crossing the country to this enchanting, craggy, fog-laced Victorian gem of a town. That is, until about four years ago. But at the end of this past year dear friends of mine relocated to glorious Marin County and I knew immediately I needed to book a return. So off I go for a short week on the other coast, soaking up as much sun, sea, salt air, wine, hills, forests, fog and friendly faces as I can. You can follow my photo-journey via instagram. Until next time, I leave you with a handpicked collection of some favorite vintage ads, postcards and travel posters of San Francisco, the Bay area and beyond. Enjoy and au revoir!

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