Saturday, March 31 - Back in the Bay Area!

Ugh, a 7:55 flight this morning, but alas I am finally back here in San Francisco. It's an exploratory mission this time, in hopes of finding an apartment so I can move out here in May. That's the plan, at least--let's hope I can find a place.

Upon arrival I hooked up with my friend Danielle from Chicago and her friend Katie who just moved out here in June and shopped around the Mission and Hayes Valley for most of the afternoon (what a way to start the trip!). I am in love with both areas, and Katie's apartment near 17th and Church is exactly what I'd be looking for. Small, of course, but with two massive bay windows and a tiny little porch for the kitten. Plus a rooftop with a great view of the entire city.

Several highlights today:

Stopped into Get Lost on Market for a pocket map of SF since I forgot mine at home (again--I think I have at least three of them back home). Also picked up the new Mundane Journeys book, but have not had a chance to read it yet.

Sunhee Moon for boutique clothes (a little too spendy for me so I encouraged Danielle to buy instead).

On the way there, we stopped into Rayon Vert--momentarily--a store I definitely want to get back to when I finally have an apartment to furnish. Great collection of beat-up old stuff in a very interesting arrangement of space. I loved the aesthetic there. The store I wish I had. No website, but they are at 3187 16th St. at Guerrero.

Alabaster in Hayes Valley with it's rambling collection of carefully selected home goodies. My favorites were the resin coral repros (for under $20!), the antique bottles with (real) coral and sea urchins soldered to the stoppers, and a trilogy of three-foot statues of the head of David high up on some bookcases (which I found out later were resin and actually quite light as I had wondered what would happen if someone accidentally bumped into those shelving units). 597 Hayes St.

Friend, another home store chock full of all the current trendy items including a wood bird mobile that I coveted but refused to ante up $60 for. The old "I could make it myself" excuse. 401 Hayes St.

Momi Toby's Revolution Cafe, a neighborhood coffee house named for the great-great-great-great grandmother of Poncho Villa's cook (or something like that, they weren't really sure) that sells coffees, teas and treats and even beer and wine (a half carafe at happy hour is a mere ten smacks). The place feels like it's been there forever and I felt like I would want to spend a lot of time hanging out there if I lived in that area. 528 Laguna St.

Inside, a modern furniture store hosting an impressive batch of mixed media pieces by Chris Stokes, an architect who uses found scraps of paper items, old press-type, xerox transfers and drawing and painting to make really delicate, detailed compositions. His work made me think that I could definitely reduce the scale of my pieces and use less stuff, and perhaps end up with an aesthetic that is more refined (and easier to do in a small apartment, to boot). Danielle bought one, and if I was not moving here soon I would have too. The price was right: $375 and they were all originals in museum-quality mats and frames--a great bargain. 149 Gough.

Dinner at Blue Plate down in the Mission, then bed. I'm beat.