The Grove

Yesterday, my friend and coworker, Laura, flew to from Austin to SF to spend a week here at this facility to meet a bunch on onsite managers. Trust me when I tell you that after work she desperately needed a keg beer. Our commute from Redwood Shores (where we work) to San Francisco was cut in a third since I wasn't on the bus, so we made is there with plenty of daylight left (first day back to work since the time change and I'm obsessed - other than having to wake up in pitch black darkness).

When she asked where a good place to grab a few drinks was, I honestly didn't know what to say. Since moving here, it's been dark when I finally get home which kind of kills the fun of exploring the city. On the weekends, I usually stay around Castro or The Mission. I was like, "Okay this is ridiculous. I'm finding us somewhere to go". After doing a little research and consulting with friends, I decided on The Grove, located in Lower Pacific Heights. I had actually been here before my first weekend in the city, but I had completely forgotten about it.

Patio seating, beer on tap, good food, unique decor. Sold.

The Color Run

Busted clown tranny. This is really the best way that I can describe how we, Team Jock (and all others who participated in the color run) looked by the time we got to the finish line. It was so much fun, and if you've never participated, I couldn't recommend it more. Long story short, you go wearing all white. Everyone gets a packet full of colored powder which everyone throws in the air at the end of the race making a rainbow cloud covering all participants. That's after you run through the colored checkpoints where race volunteers throw the corresponding color on all the runners passing through.

So imagine me looking like this and of course not changing as I ran my errands. Friends know that I'm not one to change out of my running shorts (with 1/2 inch inseams) or pants (aka tights) after running before heading to to do whatever-I'm-doing around town. Before heading to the bars to meet the rest of Team Jock for a few beers, I had to stop by the post office to ship a few boxes. The bus driver that got me there, all passengers, everyone I passed in the streets, and everyone in the post office was thinking (and some saying) OMG WTF. It's one thing to be in a group looking like this. People ten to assume its for something. Alone, people tend to a) stare b) cover their children's eyes and run c) hand me some change saying, "Don't worry. It gets better".

Chinese New Year

This weekend, my SF friends and I celebrated Chinese New Year by heading down to Chinatown for a bar crawl, drinking Tsingtaos, and mai tais. I loved it - it was fun to get out of the Castro and do something different that I wouldn't be able to do in most cities. The weather was great and it was one of those afternoons where spirits were high and everyone was in a great mood. Also, it didn't hurt that the evening ended in Chipotle...and KFC...and Taco Bell. #nojoke 

Ritual Coffee

Love it.

The past few days here in SF have been absolutely beautiful. Clear skies, 0% humidity, and with highs in the mid 60s, I literally couldn't ask for better weather. Kat (above) has become one of my closest friends in the city, and after (usually) spending Friday nights together, we've gotten into the routine of waking up and getting coffee (and/or pho) the next morning.

Instead of simply going to Starbucks in Castro which is the closest, I let her bring me around the city in her Mini Cooper for a more refined/unique coffee experience. This past Saturday, we stayed in Hayes Valley and went to the Ritual Coffee Shop on Octavia. Per their website:

"Ritual has been a pioneer in this delicious shift in coffee consciousness since we opened our doors on Valencia Street in 2005 and started what some call a coffee revolution in San Francisco. Our goal then--and our goal now--was to craft the very best cup of coffee available anywhere. Period. We've learned a lot over the years, but the care and attention we lavish on our process is unchanged, including tasting every coffee several times before it goes out to our coffee bars and into your cup."

And just in case you were wondering, my mocha latte was everything.

London Boys

As I'm sitting in this Peet's Coffee (eww, chain. I know, right) sipping on my latte and finishing up some work that I didn't get to yesterday, I (obviously) took a Facebook break. Some pictures were added from my London trip, and as I was looking at them I realized that I didn't really talk about the awesome guys that I went with...

It was an great group: Ryan, Brian, Andre, Jeff, and Clark. All NY residents. All impressive career guys with jobs including words like "hedge fund", "consultant", and "MD" with some of the most prestigious firms in NYC...and then there was me. #ohwell #amitrashy?

A Much Needed London

  

Well I'm back home in NYC, and as I was reviewing pictures from the trip (trying to select which ones to use in my post this morning) I realized how quick it all went. Some of the pictures are from my very first day there, but they feel like they were taken just yesterday. With that said, In my one week there, I had a chance to strengthen friendships, visit/bond with family, and was able to recharge my battery. My friends joke saying that I basically took a vacation from a vacation as I'm not exactly working, but the truth is - NYC has been stressful and really not so easy. This (London) was exactly what I needed.

The pictures above are really just some random pics from the city. Later in the week, I'll post about more specific events: my friend, Andre's birthday, two different areas, Tooting and St. John's Wood, as well as family and (of course) the Queen.

BRB, Y'all!

 

Y'all. I mean...

This past weekend, my friends, Johnny and Patrick, and I went on a mini vacation to Houston to visit our friend, Michael (who just moved there a few weeks ago). We. Had. A. Blast. Michael lives in The Heights, a super cute neighborhood right outside of downtown Houston. I didn't even know that there we're areas like this ANYwhere in Texas. I just assumed it all looked like this. Either way - that's beside the point. Part of the reason we chose this weekend to go was because it was the weekend of White Linen Night in The Heights. I'll get to that tomorrow, but first, I want to share about our experience at the BRB (Brazos River Bottom).

Let me just say that this was a gay bar like NONE other. I knew I was walking into a country themed bar, but I didn't imagine anything like what I was getting into. It was a legit cowboy, hey y'all, Wrangler jean and boot wearing, Stetson sporting, 2 stepping', line dancing kind of establishment. And boy do these cowboys not mess around! Michael and I were being goofy drunk and started ball room dancing with the mass of coordinated 2 stepping lezzies and gays. It wasn't pretty, and after getting ran into several times, yelled at, and countless glares, we called it quits and finished our third or fourth mugs of vodka sodas with our friends.

It's so true - it doesn't matter where you are, as long as you're with the right people it'll be a good time. So thank you Michael, Johnny, Patrick, Matt, Taylor, and Matt for a GREAT night out at the BRB!

Breakfast of Champions

This is it. This is my new favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning. Sundays are for brunch, day drinking, and relaxing, but Saturdays are one of my busiest days. They're now filled with Mended Furniture projects, client house calls, working out/running, a little pool time if I can squeeze it it...and all that before getting dressed and having drinks with friends. To start a day like that, a hearty Whole Foods breakfast with one of my all time best friends, Ryan, is becoming a necessity. I try to mix it up, but it usually consists of fresh fruit, a scone or muffin, and always coffee. It's the perfect start to a perfect day.

Shrimp Étouffée

Wow...it feels like forever since I've posted about food; I've kind of missed it. A lot of the reason is because I haven't had time to make anything worth blogging about. It seems like all we've been eating recently is chicken and salad...and there's only so many variations of that receipt that I can show you guys. It's one of our ways to attempt to get beach ready for the summer. Well, that AND the fact that Beau has now started to work out every single morning AND go running in the afternoon. #getalife.

I'm sure it's no surprise to you that having Shrimp Étouffée for dinner was totally out of the norm and totally delicious. As he promised over the weekend, our friend, Cody came over and prepared this meal for us - what a treat! (Especially since I didn't have to cook at all.) I've had a million variations of this meal, and I have to say, I was QUITE impressed with Cody's. What I really loved about his was that it was subtly spicy. You know what I mean? The spice wasn't overbearing, but you could definitely feel it between bites. Thanks, Cody!

I don't have his specific recipe, so see here for a general Shrimp Étouffée recipe I found online.

Engagement Pictures - Megan and Chris

Happy Monday!

Fact: I am not a professional photographer nor do I think I am
Fact: I do not have a $2000 camera with 4 lenses with which I can take the most amazing pictures

Chris, Megan, and I drove up to Afton Villa Garden in St. Francisville yesterday to take engagement pictures...well...I took their engagement pictures. The three of us are not engaged. You know what I'm trying to say. Either way, I never thought the experience would be so much fun. Half of my morning was spent in tears because I was laughing so hard at either Megan trying to change outfits outside, Chris' goofy faces ruining pictures, or just watching the two of them pick on each other. It was great.

I know these are not professional quality, and Beau is going to need to Photoshop the actual pictures she chooses because of lighting issues, but I think I did a pretty good job. The best part (obviously food related) - Chris and Megan treated me to lunch at The Mag...SO YUM.

Save the Date - Megan and Chris

Mesty is getting married!! Megan Estey is one of our oldest and closet friends. You know - the kind that literally come over in PJs on any given night of the week (wine in tote) that requires no extra attention whatsoever. She'll stop by for the evening and talk to either Beau or myself as we work on furniture/design work. She's part of the fam; we love her.

There was a moment in time when I thought for SURE that Mest was going to end up moving in with us in 25 years when we're all 50ish after she gave up looking for love. This may seem like a dig, but I don't mean it like that at ALL. Megan is wonderful and has SO MUCH to offer, but for some reason she just wasn't meeting the right guy (their loss). Well..that all changed when she met Chris, her now-finacee. Not to be weird, but Chris is the bomb.com (yeah, I said it). He's great for Megan: thoughtful, kind, funny,...and he's helping us with our back yard! We're so happy for the both of them. If you're reading, we love y'all!

Now - what do you think about the Save the Date that Beau created? Megan and Beau came up with the idea of creating a postcard instead of making a typical Save the Date (I want to shorten that to "STD", buttt....). Now only would this save a little extra cash by not having to buy envelopes, but it's also a more unique option that we haven't seen too often. The rest of the wedding paper will be more formal, but they decided to keep it fun with the Save the Date.

If you're interested in a quote for custom design work for your wedding/party/graduation/etc., please email us at TheMendedNest.com!

THIS is What I Need

Dying. I am dying this morning. Last night, Beau and I went to Fernando's, a Mexican restaurant in Baton Rouge to meet some of Mesty's finance's friends. Remember - Megan Estey (Mesty) is one of our closet friends, and recently she got engaged...YAY! We've never had a chance to meet Chris, her fiancee's friends so we all wanted to get together so that we're not all meeting each other for the first time during all the wedding shenanigans. Do I even need to say that I had several cervesas there?

Afterwards, Beau went home, and I when to another friend's restaurant opening. It's called The Breadbox. OMG. Is you live in BR you must go - it's right on Essen near Ichiban. The food is so, so, so good! We got to sample several items from the menu, and I didn't have one thing that was even mediocre...it was ALL fantastic.

I have to say, I was very impressed with myself. By the end of the night I was in no condition to drive, so I took a cab home. (for readers in major cities - remember I live in Baton Rouge. I had to call a cab and wait 20 minutes) Totally worth it. The thought of getting a DUI scares the crap out of me, and I'd rather pay $20 for a cab ride ANY day over thousands in lawyers fees for a DUI charge. Short story long, I woke up in dire need of a big cup of coffee...and I'm out of milk! I need need need need my coffee! I may vomit on the way to work. At least it's Friday!

A Red Affair

Last night, Beau and I, along with several of our close friends, attended "An All Red Affair" at White Oak Plantation. This event, hosted by Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, was put on to recognize HIV awareness, specifically honoring three families for their contributions to our Baton Rouge community. As with any occasion planned and executed by our friend, Jeanne McCollister, we all thought that the event turned out great! The theme was to wear black and red - a combo I usually detest, but we pulled it together and had such a fun evening full of laughing, dancing, eating, and drinking. Oh I'm sorry - did I mention all of the food was prepared by renowned Chef John Folse. Who's jealous?