hardly a skip, hop, and a jump from california — guadalajara, mexico is upping its design game. hueso, the all white destination for design and good eats is a perfect example. the minimally rustic vibe is just the spot to hide away from the heat, and sip a paloma or two. we suggest dress that will blend right in (just don’t spill your salsa) — an all white look of course, with some geometric play to save the day. and for our read this there: gabriel garcia marquez’s one hundred years of solitude. it’s sure to enlighten and brighten.
let’s all transport ourselves to amsterdam real quick, right inside the dark and dreamy interiors of the café waldeck. this romantic haven is the perfect place for those long drawn out dates that summer so implores. park your bike out front, and settle in at the bar. now that we’re here, it’s all about that statement-making jumpsuit that fits right in with the café waldeck color palette. to truly get into the euro-spirit, crack open amsterdam stories, a beautiful ode to the city itself.
this lookbook from Bay Area-based producer of handcrafted homewares Melanie Abrantes’ has me hankering for a san francisco rooftop party. Melanie Abrantes’ very beautiful Summer 2016 Collection introduces new, heirloom objects and new materials — like brass — to the designer’s line of home goods focused on showcasing the natural beauty and unique qualities of hand-turned cork and wood.
melanie’s pretty lookbook shoot was inspired by the rooftop culture inherent to city dwelling. The cocktail parties, impromptu gatherings, and relaxed lounging that take place in cities like San Francisco, and in every city around the world. When tight for space the rooftop is the communal gathering spot that is beautiful and has endless options for hosting a summer gathering! their Hayes Valley rooftop was styled with a distinctly California vibe — natural, minimal and modern. melanie collaborated with Ashley Rose Conway who made a gorgeous cocktail for the shoot with gin, elderflower, grapefruit, and thyme. Melanie Riccardi did an amazing job as the photographer, and the shoot was styled by Genevieve Bandrowski. boy, does this ever take me back to my san francisco days!
melanie’s collection is cohesive in its classic shapes and natural materials, and while designing this season’s collection she wanted each piece to be a strong stand-alone object — Each one being an heirloom that someone would cherish and bring out during their most beloved gatherings. she also strives for utility when creating her products. When designing home décor, the beauty of the object is just as important to melanie as its functionality. For instance, the new brass coaster can be used to keep a drink of the table. But is also a sculptural piece that will look beautiful on your table — with or without a drink. pop over here for the full lookbook and you can shop melanie’s 2016 summer collection here.
you had us at absinthe and oysters, maison premiere. we will be at the bar, and if no one wants to join us, with christopher moore’s sassy novel sacre bleu in hand. maybe it’s the potent imported liquor, the new-orleans-on-a-summer-night ambience, or the pastel-hued bar, but we are getting seriously romantic feels from this week’s wear this there. nothing says summer better than a dreamy reformation dress, a stacked heel that may or may not be able to dance you into the eve, and the quirkiest kind of accessories. our latest objet de desire — melissa crowley plume silk scarf.
oh, london! home to so many of those charming little watering holes we could venture into with the possibility of never coming back out. the book club most definitely makes this list. located in east london, its playful charm is reminiscent of making googly eyes at your high school crushes over a ping pong match, only with adult beverages. a grown-up, yet still flirty get-up is just as appropriate, as the summer must read the regulars, by georgia clark. slip the novel into your woven bag, and wink behind your specs at the bartender — we’re goin’ in.
a restaurant based on fine tinned european seafood sounds curious enough to heighten our hunger senses, but pair it with good interiors, and our aesthetic tastes are grumbling. this would describe new york’s restaurant maiden lane. moving into the famous life cafe (yes, the one from rent), the spot is reminiscent of a chic seaman — we may have just made up that a genre but we promise it’s a good one. stumped at what to wear to such a joint? well, let’s start with a navy jumpsuit, and some sunny colored accessories for smooth sailing. our suggested read for such an occasion — none other than the classic moby dick.
moody interiors make for moody outfit choices. good food makes for happy bellies. you get the point. gwen is the new sweetheart of hollywood where one can sip a cocktail among art deco surroundings — only without any of the snobbery. it’s a butcher shop after all. its ambiance can be attributed to oliver and evan haslegrave, an interior design duo from Brooklyn, and its fine meats to top chef master curtis stone. swivel into one of the chinchilla topped bar stools, coat tossed over bare shoulders, and await patiently, yet stylishly, your duck confit!
wear this there:modern citizen milla strapless dress; india love goa Vintage Embroidered & Tribal Coin Leather Clutch; zara lapel collar coat;nars velvet red lip pencil from nordstrom; janessa leone calla hat from prism; nastygal break the ice earcuff; and jojo khaki velvet perspex heel ankle boots from ego.
i’ll admit it — i’m a bit of a bottle hoarder. i love saving beautiful bottles and upcycling them into pretty water carafes for serving at dinner parties, jars for fresh soups and salsas i’ve made, flower vases — you name it, i find a reason to reuse them. so when Patrón invited me to share their Art of Patrón Bottle Art Competition i thought, i’m into that challenge — plus it’s one of my very favorite tequilas! the competition celebrates the iconic Patrón bottle and encourages fans and artisans across the country to share their artistic vision, using Patrón’s signature bottle as inspiration, for a chance to win $10,000 and a national platform for their work — a very cool idea. and hey, win-win, because you can mix up some killer margaritas while you’re creating, right? because something has to be done with all that lovely tasting tequila so you’re left with that pretty bottle to start your project!
we decided what a gorgeous terrarium the Patrón bottle would make and set to making that happen. it’s a narrow neck, so we thought how cool air plants would be for this project — they’re small and they can contract a bit to fit through the neck. and, we didn’t want just dirt to show through the green-tinted glass, but pretty pale stones and sand in pinks and greens. using a pair of long tweezers, our stones and sand, an air plant and some lovely pink crystals we created this very ‘green’ masterpiece in a very short amount of time — naturally, sipping some Patrón while we worked. you ready for the challenge? Patrón fans year after year have created incredibly unique pieces of art that honor the tequila bottle — entries have included everything from unique light fixtures and awe-inspiring candle holders and jewelry. This is the third annual competition that kicked off on July 11 and will run through October 14, 2016 — so anyone 21 years and older can visit the Art of Patrón Bottle Art Competition to enter by creating an original work of art or functional item that contains, is made from, or depicts any Patrón bottle or component thereof. so mix up some cocktails and get your creativity flowing!
• photography and styling by natalie shriver for sfgirlbybay.
This is a sponsored post in partnership with Patrón and all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep sfgirlbybay going with fresh content every day.
we’re having a rock n’ roll moment for a second while we introduce you to this week’s wear this there. sketch is london’s cotton candy dining (and high-tea) experience that is all types of british eccentric, and we’re diving right in -— pinkies up! it’s truly 50 shades of pink everywhere you look, from the booths to your boots. a punk rock floral frock, paired with that killer leather jacket, there’s no rules when it comes to dressing, or decorating. think of this as an ode to those fearless brits that paved the way.
is it possible that if we were a chic locale, leo’s oyster bar in san francisco would be us? eccentric coloring, vintage highlights, friendly and inviting. if you aren’t convinced, just peek at the outfit we would wear to feast on oysters with an abundance of our favorite SF pals. some of our favorite pieces include vibrant yellow accessories (these shop shade sunnies are everything), and a killer wooden clutch. this week’s read this there includes an appropriate fiction of a boy who lives within the foliage: baron in the trees by italo calvino — a lifestyle choice we could get behind.
wear this there:zara long jumpsuit with crossover neckline; front row shop yellow suede mules; aesop geranium body balm; georgette crimson 3-way bandana; J.CREW DRAGONFLY CRYSTAL EARRINGS; shop shade lucy shield in yellow; and nasty gal wood if i could clutch.
let’s get tropical this week with an appropriately thematic wear this there. brought to you by le bar botanique of amsterdam, this location is sure to transport you all while you sip cocktails between its emerald-hued four walls (and roof). daydream of being fanned by palm fronds because this is a setting begging for you to put your best stylish foot forward. may we suggest playing up the textures while you playfully flirt with passersby? if not, at least allow us to give you a good book recommendation: the drunken botanist? sounds about right.
wear this there:pixie market green velvet slip midi dress; ego louisa floral print ankle boot; zara bodysuit with long sleeves; Ray-Ban Clubround Sunglasses from anthropologie; chay black safe perfume fromali golden; read this there the drunken botanist by amy stewart; clare vivier flat clutch; and zara pink quilted bomber jacket.
seems to good to be true — you stop for gas, and find an oasis of pinot instead? napa’s new hot-spot (or hot-stop rather), is tank garage winery — an old service station transformed into a super chic wine country destination. owned by the people from regusci winery, they wanted a more celebratory, casual approach to the wine experience. we say take the same approach to your wardrobe with a knit jumpsuit, and turtleneck combo. you know you’ll want to snap some memories, so eye-catching accessories gotta make the cut. this week’s read this there is the perfect road trip read-aloud, aziz ansari’s modern romance.
wear this there:zara strappi jumpsuit; front row shop oversized leopard wool coat; modern citizen 14k gold dropped bar necklace; h&m turtleneck; read this there modern romance by aziz ansari; aldo blush faux fur sphere cross body bag from asos; zara leather ankle boots with metal heel; credo beauty prat nyc alister stella gray rose nail polish.
from the duo that brought us horse thief bbq at the grand central market comes highland park’s newest hot spot, cafe birdie. designed by etc.etera, the same folks that enhanced hotel covell, the marble and copper tabletops and modern tiles make for one of the most instagram-able spots I’ve seen in a while. but the goodness doesn’t stop at your eyes. founders wade mcelroy and russell malixi offer dinner and weekend brunch menus that will make you drool, with unique craft cocktails for each that might be reason enough to stop by. plus, four equally enjoyable settings to choose from : the main restaurant and bar, an outdoor patio, an outdoor lounge area and a second speak-easy inspired bar in the back.
i’ve returned from my trip to cuba and i’m still editing the gazillion photos i took to share with you, so please induldge me a bit — there’s just too many photos not to share! i thought i’d break down the trip a little at a time because honestly, this trip was so magical, it’s taking me some time to process all that we saw and did. havana, cuba is this strange mixture of colonial, Caribbean, art deco, spanish and americana circa 1950’s all tossed together — it’s eclectic in every sense of the word. it’s one part crumbling decay, one part colorful cornucopia, and one part architecture of a bygone era. as i explain cuba to you as best i can, i may sound discouraging, but i don’t mean to be because the beauty of cuba and the experience of being there far outweighs missing any of the comforts of home. sure, you miss modern conveniences, but you get used to it, and it becomes a lighthearted part of the experience to live like a local cuban and i loved every minute of our trip. it’s about setting your expectations to being flexible, compassionate, open-minded and patient. after all, cuba is a socialist country ruled by a Communist ideology so you’re about to experience something completely different than what you may be used to.
we went to cuba with a tour company called coast to costa and i can’t say enough good things about that experience. i don’t think i could have navigated the complex country that is cuba without their guidance. first of all, there is little to no wifi so if you’re lost or you want to figure out where to eat, you can’t simply log on and check your apps. it’s just non-existent in the streets of havana, unless you go to a major hotel or a wifi hotspot in the centre of old havana. you buy an ETECSA wifi card from one of the gentlemen roaming the streets for about 3 cucs for 1 hour and you stand in one area to use it. it was faster than i might have imagined it would be, but it also went out quite often. so any thought of navigating around town with wifi you can forget. note: try to carry small bills with you because getting change can be challenging. the cuban currency is cucs (Cuban convertible pesos) and our tour company exchanged our money for us when we arrived at the best rate possible, so that was another major convenience of going with a guide. cuba is very inexpensive as well, so your dollar will go far. you can probably get away with spending $50-100 per day on food, drinks, transportation, and a bit of souvenir shopping.
our guides andrew and brandon from coast to costa have been to cuba countless times and know the city inside and out and speak spanish fluently which is invaluable if you don’t speak any spanish (they’re also super fun!). they had drivers to take us from place to place when we weren’t walking the beautiful streets, and on our first day there they had organized a wonderful local guide to show us the city on foot so we’d get a good feel for old havana. from there, it’s pretty easy to navigate with the help of an old school map and a decent sense of direction. and havana is completely safe, even though it may not look like it. laws are strict in cuba so crime is next to nil. the city is centered around various squares and wandering the neighborhood streets in-between is a colorful dream come true. watch for cars, motorbikes, and carriages though because they do not stop for you!
there are of course, hotels big and small to stay in but we opted to stay in people’s private homes which are called casa particulares because the money then goes directly to cubans rather than the government. our hosts were as kind and gracious as can be, and breakfast was included. our hosts served us piles of fresh fruits like pineapple, watermelon, guava and papaya; eggs, ham, french bread and sometimes a crepe or a hotdog thrown in for good measure. also, sweet hot coffee with warm milk. i’m going to be clear here – set your comfort expectations a bit lower than usual if you plan on staying in a casa particular because these lovely people live quite poorly and very simply, in very clean, but sometimes crumbling old colonial homes. the electrical wiring is crazy looking and the power sometimes goes out. the toilet may break (and be sure and bring an extra roll of toilet paper because it’s a luxury there) and hot water may or may not be working. it’s just the way it is in cuba, and you can’t expect it to be like home. beds can be hard, too. we had both a really hard bed and then a softer foam mattress. when we told andrew our tour guide that our accommodation was a little less than ideal, he moved us immediately — one of the great things about being with a tour company is they have backup resources available and coast to costa really delivered making sure we were well taken care of. we traveled in a group of 18 and got to know some really lovely and interesting people from all over the country which was the bonus part of our trip!
there are also not a lot of convenience stores (if any), so in addition to toiletries, pack yourself some snack foods like nuts, chips, power bars etc. our casa particulares hosts offered us bottled water and sometimes beer for about 1 cuc each, and coast to costa made sure we had fresh bottled water, too. i was also told to bring hot sauce and salt because the food can be bland. we had a lot of great meals, and some that were just so-so and some that took hours to come to the table. you’re on ‘cuba-time’ which means there’s really no method to their madness and you just have to roll with it. cuba is an experience not to be missed and considering the political climate of late, i think it may be wise to go sooner, rather than later because the doors could close, or the atmosphere could become considerably more touristy and commercial depending on which way the political winds blow. the last day we were there fidel castro died which was a quite moving and surreal historical moment to experience while traveling. the city became somewhat subdued and then entered into nine days of mourning with no dancing, drinking or celebrations of any kind, so we probably left at just the right time as i’m not certain what stays open and what closes down for the period. i hope you can visit this incredible, vibrant and beautiful city soon. more to come on our travels outside the city of havana to stunning trinidad, Cienfuegos and Viñales. i’m sure i’ve forgotten a few details, so please ask away!
a few places not to miss:
• Paladar Doña Carmela is a charming restaurant on the outskirts of havana with a private back garden patio (beyonce and jay z ate there!). we had the most delicious seafood luncheon there.
• have a cocktail where ernest hemingway used to imbibe at Hotel Ambos Mundos – take the elevator to the top floor for fantastic views, but walk down the stairs to take in the gorgeous tiled floors. also check out his other two favorite watering holes, floridita for a daiquiri and La Bodeguita del Medio for mojitos.
• we had an amazing family style meal at restaurante partenon in Miramar (a little out of the way, so take a taxi). the tapas were delicious!
• for the closest thing to a flea market experience visit the plaza de armas for some great vintage books, posters and antique trinkets like jewelry, cameras, pins and watches. it’s fine to negotiate prices here, too.
• La Fábrica de Arte Cubano is a ‘concept’ type space — part art gallery, nightclub and restaraunt. if you watch anthony bourdain’s parts unknown on cuba (which is agreat watch prior to your trip anyway) you’ll see a taste of it.
• if you need to chill, grab one of the pre-1959 classic car taxis for a ride around the city (it’s about 50 cucs for 1 hour). we took a 1957 hot pink Chrysler new yorker for a ride and ended up at the hotel nacionale for daiquiris on their outside patio (complete with wild peacocks) at sunset. the perfect end to a day on your feet.
• also, check out the new york times 36 hours in havana for some great recommendations.
what’s more magical than paris this time of year? the lights lining the champs-élysée, and parisian lovers nestled deep in each café’s corner. in case you’re wondering which café exactly you should be nestling in, we are swooning over the city’s chicest spot, brasserie barbès. the four-story croissant destination is unlike any other, and its interiors are just what you would want from the city of love. after a two-year renovation, it’s finally welcoming patrons back in for a warm latte, and maybe even some escargot. our wear this there includes an easy-on-the-eyes palette, and our read this there is david sedaris’s paris-based novel, me talk pretty one day.
’tis the season for toasting! first, we’ll be saying cheers to the holidays and the next thing you know — it’s ringing in a happy new year! i like to imbib with vintage cocktail ware — it just makes celebrating that much more festive. i checked out chairish to see what i might ‘clink!’ with, and they’ve got an abundance of glassy goodness. and, some fun vintage buckets to serve up your champs with class. i saved up a bunch of my favorites — glassware and cocktail accouterment just for you — and just in the nick of time to dress up your holiday parties in style.
• This post made possible in partnership with chairish but all opinions and thoughts are my own. thanks for the supporting the brands that make sfgirlbybay possible.
at long last i’m back with cuba, part two! so sorry for the delayed post, but there were so many photos to edit, it took me a while to get through them all — and as you can tell, i still had a hard time sharing just a few. cuba has got to be one of the most picturesque places you could ever visit, and it’s hard to put your camera down. if you haven’t seen my post on my trip with coast to costa to havana, it’s right here, and now we’re traveling on to Cienfuegos near the historical bay of pigs — a beautiful beach on the island’s southern shore, and then to the charming city of trinidad — one of best preserved colonial towns in central cuba. we’re also visiting the lush, gorgeous national park that is Viñales valley, and the quaint, idyllic farming community there.
our tour group with coast to costa hit the road from havana en route to Trinidad, but on the way we stopped in Cienfuegos on the Caribbean coast of south central Cuba. we stopped in at a paladar — private homes in cuba where residents cook a family style meal for you, which is not only a culinary treat, it also enables cuban citizens to earn money through private enterprise. coast to costa took us to a dreamy paladar smack dab on the bay of pigs — we immediately jumped from our vans and into our bathing suits and right into the ocean for the most delicious swim. fidel, our host even brought mojitos to us as we stood knee-deep in the warm waters of the bay of pigs. he followed that up with the most delicious seafood lunch served seaside in his beautiful home overlooking the bay. after filling our bellies we swam and napped on the beach for a bit and then headed on to trinidad — one very lazy, but memorable day at the beach.
we arrived in Trinidad at nightfall and checked into the dreamy three-storied casa particular (private homestays in Cuba, somewhat like an airbnb) just above, complete with a courtyard fountain and rooftop terrace. we got settled and went on a rambling walk through the cobblestone streets of Trinidad (where comfy shoes are imperative!) to the escalinata (staircase) above Plaza Mayor and sipped a cocktail that is as hard for me to pronounce as it is delicious — The canchánchara, a yummy concoction containing cuban rum, honey, lime and topped with a dash of soda water. divine! we woke to a beautiful breakfast served on our casa particular terrace and then spent the day roaming and shopping the colorful streets of Trinidad. the food in the Trinidad cafes we tried weren’t anything worth sharing specifically, but dining and yummy cocktails with our coast to costa travel mates made up for slow service and just meh food — we were so completely surrounded by charm and great company that i honestly don’t think any of us really minded much.
The next day we visited a beach called Playa Ancón, but we heard technically as Americans, you can allegedly get in trouble for visiting the beach. we had no such trouble and were greeted by a gentleman who offered beach chairs for a few cucs and grabbed beach towels from a cute little palm frond hut. it’s a picturesque little beach near a hotel with soviet block architecture and a distinctly russian vibe. there’s a snack bar with somewhat limited snacks, but it’s all quite delightful, nonetheless. to finish off a lovely day, on the way back to trinidad proper we stopped at an amazing pottery studio called El Alfarero Casa Chichi, run by the Santander family for six generations — it’s a great place to stop for a few locally made cuban souvenirs.
after a few tranquil days in trinidad, it was time to return to home base and we headed back on the road to havana. but not without a wonderful stop for surprise mojitos in Cienfuegos at a cute beach cabana called punta gorda — a must stop for the best mojito i’ve ever tasted and pretty views of the coastline.
after a day back in havana, we got back on the road for a short drive and a day trip to the Viñales valley, about a three-hour drive from havana on the highway and then a winding, but really scenic drive up and into the valley — so well worth the drive. we made for the prettiest rest stop ever, above the beautiful pastel pink Hotel Los Jazmines and then met our team of horses for a ride along a lush green trail to a tobacco drying farm where we learned how to roll cuban cigars — such an authentic and unique adventure! i was slighting intimadated to get onto a horse after many, many years, but they were gentle if not a little meandering, but knew the way so it was all perfectly safe and so much fun.
from the tabacco drying house, we rode the horses to the tiny blue house in the photo just below where our kind hosts madly squeezed sugar cane juice in something akin to vintage wringer washing machine. they then mixed up yet another divine cuban cocktail for us — they hollowed a freshly picked grapefruit, added a dash of honey, then the sugar cane juice and topped it off with cuban rum. the more you squeezed the grapefruit, the more grapefruit juice was released for the freshest drink i’ve ever imbibed.
after a horseback ride back up the valley trail, we headed towards our last stop — a late lunch at the incredible organic farm and Viñales restaurant Finca Agroecologica El Paraiso. if you should ever have the unforgettable pleasure of visiting the Viñales valley this is a must-visit, not only for the delicious homemade, family style meal, but for a tour of the inspiring organic farm and one of the best sunsets i’ve ever waited for. and that was our last stop before heading back to havana. if you’d like to find out more about traveling to cuba, check out my havana post, and hop over to coast to costa’s site to find out about their upcoming trips. i can’t say enough wonderful things about their tours and would highly recommend going with a guide while cuba is still rather new for americans and pretty much uncharted territory. they’ll take you on an adventure you’ll never forget, and make you feel safe and well-cared for along the way!
Shortly after my trip to Cuba with Victoria, I ventured over to Panama City for a quick couple of days before returning home. My hotel of choice: the American Trade also known as one of the Ace Hotels. Today I’m sharing some snaps I captured of this exquisite property.
Located in one of the most beautiful landmark buildings in Casco Viejo (old town), the American Trade Hotel retains much of its historic charm with modern luxuries mixed in.
Each of the terraced rooms looks out onto the charming town surrounding the property or offers views of Panama Bay and the Pacific.
The bar, cafe, dining room and patio were perfect spots to refuel. I almost didn’t want to venture anywhere else. Local and seasonal ingredients, fresh seafood, juices and cocktails…it was all delish. Loved the sweet corn pancakes for breakfast.
And there’s also an outdoor pool on the second level to cool off from the humidity. Perfect views of the old town from here.
The lobby, with its seating areas and stunning tile work, was perfect for people watching. Especially when the piano man performs in the evenings.
My favorite part of the hotel: the library (pictured at the beginning of this feature). You can catch up on some reading and enjoy drinks from there. Perfect spot to retreat and rest up after a day out on the town. I also think it happens to be the best decorated part of the property and I’m pulling some interior inspiration for my own home from there.
If you’re venturing off to Panama, a stay at the American Trade is highly recommended. There’s plenty of great amenities to enjoy on site and within walking distance are even more great restaurants, boutiques (especially for Panama hats) and other historical and cultural points of interest.
after a six month reno, the paddington inn reveals itself to be the “it” place to grab a four top and just be adorable while you eat. the space is a smorgasbord of visual stimulation from the Christiane Spangsberg artworks spanning an entire dining room wall, to the nude and forest green hues. this sydney locale is just further proof that the australian aesthetic is on point, and only going to entrance, and impress us further. this week’s wear this there follows the paddington inn’s lead with an elegant but quirky twist. the read this there is from one of our favorite authors roxanne gay, her first book bad feminist was so damn good, we can’t wait to devour this one!
this week we’re bringing it home for our wear this there, right to our local favorite — gracias madre. this west hollywood haunt has the dreamiest interiors (and gluten free tortillas) that will stick with you long after you’ve left. their use of tiles gives us serious feels against an otherwise minimally bohemian space that you’ll want to recreate in your own home. we say mix up the cool girl style with a bright yellow frock and a short pom pom heel — the spicy marg won’t be the only fuego moment. a good pair of frames, and the perfect tote bag will have you fitting right in with this chic crowd. this week’s read this there is the Frida Kahlo: The Gisèle Freund Photographs, the works of Gisèle Freund who was welcomed into the mexico city home of legendary couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
