Thank you for letting me be myself, SF

beautiful light streaming through Golden Gate Park

Prayerbook Cross in Golden Gate Park, erected in 1894, as a tribute to the "first English language sermon and use of the Book of Common Prayer in California."

Dancing at the Legion of Honor

Pete and the crowd at the closing of the HSB Fest.

We spotted these expressive foil men all over Golden Gate Park.

Can you believe it was over 80 degrees the whole 4 days I was in San Francisco?  I was unable to believe the weather forecast for SF, and thus packed my finest cold weather clothing. Despite being a little warm for my wardrobe, San Francisco could not have been more ideal, move giving, more welcoming. The bands that performed at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest, (which we try to attend every year), held in Golden Gate Park, were phenomenal. I most enjoyed listening to Mark Lanegan sing in his haunting baritone voice, as we sat on a tree stump on the hillside (he did an all acoustic set), dancing to Emmylou Harris (who is still the reigning honky tonk queen), and getting all teary eyed and tender hearted when Ralph Stanley took the the stage and belted out his songs in his highly distinctive high-lonesome voice (he’s 86 years old!). When we weren’t at the HSB Fest, we were walking all over town, eating yummy food, hamming it up, thrift store shopping. The thrift stores were so generous; I was giddy as can be. Gosh, I feel so free in SF. I can dance around town in fancy duds, and noone seems to give me a second look. What a town! Now if only it were always 80 degrees, and had affordable housing.

All of these photos were taken with my Iphone. I’ll admit I was pretty self-conscious about pulling out my phone every 10 minutes to snap photos. It just doesn’t have the same appeal as a 35 mm camera, and I suspect it never will (at least for me).

Outfits: 60s wool plaid shirt dress (Vets Flea Market, LB), 50s powder blue coat (antique mall in the Orange Circle), nude 60s chiffon dress (Vets Flea Market, LB), 60s knit white mini dress (thrifted)

San Francisco: We're Walking

North Beach

Nob Hill

in Alamo Square

Pacific Heights

this antique crochet top is my favorite. there's that orange purse again.

loved this font and the dusty/dirty pink color.

North Beach

Musee Mechanique

I'm beat

Pete and I must have walked about 15 miles the weekend that we were in San Francisco. While there, I was even considering buying some trainers to wear for all the uphill walking, but alas I still couldn’t bring myself to choose comfort over fashion. But walking was probably the best way to see San Francisco. The buildings are so intricately detailed (see all the ladies’ faces adorning the buildings) and beautifully color coordinated. The skies are the most uplifting blue and the clouds hover big and white over hillsides.

It is truly an inspiring town, and all our extensive walking was rewarded with the most yummy eats. We ate at Herbivore, where I had the best vegan dish ever; Chili Pies and Ice Cream, where Pete ate a Chili Pie with frito chips - a New Mexican classic, and I had a vegetarian chili stew , followed by a delicious peach pie, which we shared; and then Dumplings and Buns which serves up some tasty dim sum. The problem with Dim Sum is I can’t stop eating it; I eat some and dim sum more. We ate a whole lot more, but these were the highlights or our feasting frenzy in San Francisco.

We visited parts of San Francisco that we hadn’t been to before including the posh Pacific Heights neighborhood, where we went into Ralph Lauren (with our Goodwill bags), and were treated very well (they complimented my suit too) even though we had no intention of buying anything and it was pretty obvious we were just browsing. I always get that “Pretty Woman” feeling when I walk into an upscale store. Pete was shocked at the prices. “Why would anyone buy jeans for $700?, he asked me, bewildered. Interestingly, in his Goodwill bag, he had a cashmere Ralph Lauren sweater that he bought for $2.99.

We also explored North Beach, where the Beats used to roam! I can’t believe that I had never before visited Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s “City Light’s Book Store.” We spent a good hour in there. I sat in a corner reading from Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” which I have at home, but I felt compelled to read from it there. We ate at a French café, drank whisky at a local bar, and sipped wine from a bottle while walking to Coit Tower. Later that evening, we walked to Fisherman’s Wharf to eat clam chowder and then go to the Musée Mechanique, which was just the most fun. The place is filled with antique hand cranked games, mechanically operated old timey music, and peep show picture viewers.

We learned that you have to be fit to live in San Francisco. We didn’t even really have the option to take public transportation. On account of the festival, the buses were obese with people, and the taxis were all filled up too. We figured we’d just do as the San Franciscans do and walk, but next time I want to bring my bike.

San Francisco: Golden Gate Park

I don't generally drink beer (think it tastea an awful lot like ear wax), but I do sing into the bottle when Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson and performing live in Golden Gate Park! That's what I'm doing here:

There were even more people at this year's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival than last year. To find serenity, Pete and I would retreat to the Lindley Meadow to listen to the music and escape the crowds. We could hear everything perfectly. Listening to the rugged crooning of Merle Haggard and then the sensuous crooning of Chris Issak from a sun-filled meadow was ideal, romantic, and extremely relaxing. We also listened to M.Ward from behind the fence, standing atop a redwood tree that had fallen a very long time ago. We never actually got to see any of our favorite bands, but we always found a somewhat secluded spot from which to listen, and listening is more than enough for me. We did venture into the crowd a few times, and our eyes were always pleasantly greeted with an assortment of interesting folks, and our skin was sprinkled with good vibe particles.

San Francisco is one of my favorite towns, up there with Nashville. I especially enjoy the freedom of San Francisco. If you wanna walk around naked, San Francisco is the place to go. If you wanna have a high time baked on super goo rice crispy treats, SF says "Do as you please." I only indulged in one of these activities.

 Hope everyone is well!

Outfit 1: 60s brown mini dress w/cut outs (vintage), tights (AA), Bass oxfords (thrifted)
Outfit 2: pretty hard to capture a "nude outfit", but 50s nude dress & 50s jeweled cardigan (thrifted).

San Francisco: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

Every time I set foot in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, I become an extreme hippy or maybe I just become another aspect of myself. This was especially true for this weekend’s “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival” that Pete & I attended. We arrived on Friday afternoon just in time for T-Bone Burnett & special guests, The Secret Sisters. Everyone was dancing, marijuana permeated the air, whisky was the liquor of choice, swigged from half pint bottles pulled from pockets. I felt at home, amongst my comrades, and I felt free. Friday was a true adventure, and I’d love to share, but I can’t on account of my “top secret job.” All I can say is, it was the Hunter S. Thompson-esque experience I’ve been both craving and fearing simultaneously. There were soooo many people at this festival, which would normally send me into panic mode, but everyone was so peaceful & kind, and the vibe was so positive. People watched the performances while sitting or standing on the grass of the open meadows, from the hillsides, in trees, or on logs and stumps – anywhere that a spot could be found. The lush green, formidable and diverse trees of Golden Gate Park provided the perfect backdrop for the music. The sound of the banjo through the trees set my heart a racing, and my feet a running to hear it and dance. I most enjoyed listening to the singing of Steve Earle & John Doe, who ended their set with a sing-a-long to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land”, Bonnie Prince Billy whose voice always makes my heart melt, and Hazel Dickens. Hazel Dickens, though in her mid-70s, still has a powerful voice; Her high lonesome sound suited perfectly the atmosphere. She was the last artist that we were able to watch on Sunday. Unfortunately, we did not get to watch Patti Smith perform, because we would have likely missed our flight. Boo! As such, I didn’t wear the 1930s dress I hadn’t wanted so badly to wear. (Note: Just watched youtube clip of her performance, and she was unbelievable, so bummed I missed it). I really can’t even believe this event exists. The line-up of artists was most impressive, and totally free!!!! We’re going to go every year!

While in San Francisco, we also did some thrift store shopping. I went to about 4 thrift stores in the Mission District, the best one being Thrift Town. I only bought a couple of belts, and Pete found a short sleeve Pendleton, but I could tell this store was one to be visited frequently. They had tons of stock and lots of great vintage linen. It very well organized and there was great people watching to be had too. I bought the watercolor maxi dress that I’m wearing in this post at the Goodwill on Mission St. I’m glad I decided to wear this dress instead of the one I had planned on wearing on Friday because it was more fitting for the occasion. The dress danced playfully with the breeze and added to the magic of the moment. I suppose it comes from the 1990s, but it has a very 70s romantic feel. I love the wide collar, the somewhat slouchy fit, and the watercolor floral print.

It’s raining today, which is rare in Southern California, and was unexpected, given the recent heat wave we just experienced. I love the rain though. It suits my romantic nature.

Outfit: vintage watercolor floral dress (thrifted), vintage 60s green coat (thrifted), 90s boots (thrifted)