the world of figue
For me, it was love at first sight when I saw the naughtily embellished FIGUE army jackets…. So much so, that upon my last visit to NYC, I called upon the FIGUE showroom and begged to see more; more jackets, more everything. And discovered an entire world that appeared as though it were from the Talitha Getty archives. Gorgeous and electric caftans and tunics; outrageous re-purposed army jackets; poetic ponchos; shearling vests and bohemian satchels…. My eyes could not take in all that lay before me.
FIGUE was conceived and is designed by Stephanie von Watzdorf– who was the former designer for Tory Burch– Stephanie brings to every single piece of clothing a magic and flair that is one-of-a-kind and heirloom worthy. It is a certain type of girl who LOVES this particular look/ style/ aesthetic– but IF you are this girl– be sure to check out FIGUE.COM.
i am loving michael chiarello’s coqueta
I am having a full-blown love affair with Michael Chiarello’s Coqueta in SF, right on the Embarcadero– with the lit-up Bay Bridge as its’ back drop. The space/ the views/the menu are equally dazzling + impressive + wildly memorable.
I have ALWAYS been a Chiarello fan since Tra Vigne– and love his inventive culinary flair and incredible showmanship… Let’s be honest, he has been the P.T Barnum of Napa Valley lately with his restaurant/ mega fan base/ cooking shows/ cookbooks/ storefront/ wine brand– and yet Coqueta comes at a really good time for San Francisco + for himself. Coqueta presents Michael as a seasoned, audacious chef with serious CHOPs and a deep desire/ ability to delight his guests.
Key point of note: deep desire + ability rarely go hand in hand.
Coqueta is a MUST.
Posted in my beat
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veronica beard super-bling army jacket
With passion, I collect army jackets– as they are the perfect storm for my persnickety sensibility– a combination of absorbent, light- weight cotton in my favorite color– army green. I have over a dozen in my closet– sourced from every high and low resource: from Army/ Navy Surplus to Celine to Zara to Figue to Paul + Joe to Banana Republic to Calypso to Veronica Beard.
So devoted am I that when my sister Veronica Beard launched her eponymous clothing line with her sister-in-law with the same name, they introduced a collection of blazers with Dickie inserts— they named the hunter green blazer with an old- school cream fisherman sweater Dickie, THE ALEXIS.
Every season they produce an army green something: jacket, blazer, parka, raincoat. Always something interesting and intriguing.
But it always goes back to the army jacket for me– lately I have been collecting army jackets with lots of embellishment. Sort of like my manicure upgrades- I am looking for more OOOOMPH!!! This season Figue and Zara delighted me with their MORE IS MORE embellishments/ patches/ rhinestones.
So when I spied Veronica (Miele) Beard, Veronica (Swanson) Beard’s business partner at Veronica Beard sporting her own super-super blinged out version of their SPRING 2013 army jacket, I begged her to make another for me… And here it is!
Thank you, ladies! I love it!!!
the party’s over… goodbye to tommy toy’s
Last night I had my very last crabmeat wonton, minced chicken lettuce cups, dumplings and mango mousse at Tommy Toy’s– the very same menu that was served at my baby shower; delivered to my hospital bed upon the birth of both my children, served at countless Christmas + birthday luncheons.
There was nothing quite like a Tommy Toy’s CARB-O-CIDE… It was such a delicious blowout loaded with trans-fats + MSG, and days of unwanted bloat. But there was something so wildly infectious about Tommy Toy’s that went way beyond the food. Tommy Toy’s was a throw back to an elegant era where waiters wore bow ties– and in this case gold lame ties, with honor; while theatrically wielding silver dome plate covers. It was such a mesmerizing experience– and we’ve yet to discuss the exotic cocktail menu that was in full swing during lunch.
Yes, it is true that Tommy Toys had grown long in the tooth, but that was exactly what I loved about it.
I hated for the night to end– as a world of sweet memories had come to an end, as do all good things.
Posted in my beat, naughty food
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my latest obsession
Never, in a million years, would I have imagined myself the kind of mother who would take her four-year old daughter to the nail salon. Noooooooo way. But as with so many unsuspecting things that come with age/ maturing/ life– I LIVE to go with Delphina to the nail salon. Honestly, I can’t get enough of it, and apparently neither can she— as evident when we were working on her school project called the ALL ABOUT ME poster board… I almost fell off my chair when the question asked– WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP— my genius daughter responded: ” a nail salon painter.”
I have been going to the same Vietnamese nail salon for almost two decades– I am infamously persnickety about water temperature + nail shape + technician. But recently I have had a hankering for more… Something much more. More look/ charm/ mojo. And it just so happened that my friend Ali (same Ali from last week’s New Orleans post) did too– and emailed me about a super-talented nail artiste, named Mia in the Mission, at SPARKLE NAILS.
Over the course of the past 6 weeks, Ali and I have burned the midnight oil enslaving ourselves to Mia’s most delicate hands– as she has covered our nails in leopard, hearts, glitters, stripes, baby names, rhinestones, starbursts, gold gilt, and iridescence. It has become an out-of-control addiction that I highly recommend.
Posted in my beat, ridiculousness
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