apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Sur la Table has a prep set of a mini Santoku kife and ktchen shears that com in beautiful spring colors of orange, blue, and pink. They go really well with Easter eggs.
http://www.surlatable.com/common/products/product_details.cfm?prrfnbr=16460

Picked up my new (free!) mattress today, and it's sitting on the floor for now while I wait to finish the bed frame. I can't believe how long it's been since I've had a real bed! Started working on the frame today with some plastic ("better than steel wool!") scouring pads and it's looking so beautiful. But there is so much more to go and my arms are already tired! The weather is supposed to be summery warm tomorrow again, so I hope I can find a few hours to spend out on the deck, scrubbing away rust and grime. Yay!

I was in the city for the New Year Parade. Gung hay fat choy! The weather was unbelievable- warm and clear at 8:00 p.m. A good time was had by all.

On another note, Dana, maybe you need to have a Tom Sawyer party for you bed. It's amazing what friends will do for free pizza (Zachary's anyone?) and beer.

Yikes -- the parade was today?

I always time the Chinese New Year by when the local elementary school parades their dragon down the street with great banging and jingling -- it's such a hoot to see all the little African-American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, and East Indian kids running the Chinese dragon. But they must have done it early this year.

Or I don't know what day today is. Bleh. The worst thing about writing is that while you're making up other people's lives, you're missing your own.

doh! You are so right, ebrown... I should have planned ahead and invited over some slave labor! btw, my "new" mattress... is so dreamy. First nights sleep was excellent, and I even dreamt that I wrote a sestina about Ikea. Maybe McSweeney's and Apartment Therapy could get together for a design-themed poetry or writing contest!

Ah, a summer like day in SF. Here's what's going on in NYC.

OK. I'm being such a baddy teasing the Newyawkers about their weather when here in the bay area it's GORGEOUS! Don't blame me because I'm experiencing shaudenfreude.

Ouch! My arms! I'm clearly not cut out for furniture refinishing.

... and the joy of city living is that there's always something to get you up in the morning.

8:33 -- BANG! Car careens up on the sidewalk, takes out three parking meters in front of our building, and drives away.

Husband goes down to give the police at the intersection the license number... confusion ensues, as they're there to investigate a *different* accident that took place about the same time.

Wende, that's crazy! I guess it's Monday.

I am surprised at how sad I am to have tied for last in the art contest! I was totally expecting to get my ass kicked, but for whatever reason wasn't expecting to feel so... hurt. Is this normal? Do I need professional help?

Isn't it amazing how just knowing that you've Been Judged creates disappointment? I almost posted sympathetic noises, then I wondered if being sad for you was just me being moody...

Your bathroom is totally San Francisco -- I may have to buy orange towels in honor of it.

I hope the rules for the next contest are a little more clear... it felt hard to compete without a truly level playing field. I'm really discouraged from entering the Smallest Coolest; it seems like renters (can't paint, can't hire a contractor to gut my kitchen) who don't have tons of money for fancy furnishings are automatically out of the running. :)

Yeah, what's with giving you fewer points because you submitted fewer photos? I thought the rules were TWO PHOTOS, total, kaboom, done!

The renter thing is actually what's stopping me from submitting photos of my bedroom problem (okay, needing to clean the apt is up there, too). The *obvious* solution to my design woes is built-in cabinetry to replace the Container Store modular units, and a little paint to tie it all together... but as a renter... even if we could get permission to paint... shelving has to be so flexible that it can fit into an entirely different apartment later.

aquarabbit. Hey, I can totally empathize with you as a 3-contest veteran. What starts off as a lark starts to feel very personal as the contest progresses. (It's hard not to get caught up in the competition when you're in it!) So, I think it's totally natural to be a little bit bummed at the end when you don't take back top honors. But, really, you don't need anyone's validation. The art looks great in the bathroom. And bottom line: it works for you! So, you are a winner in the end. I have to admit that while I still like to share images of my space and have enjoyed getting (most of the) feedback--positive, negative, constructive; I'm not as excited to share any more images in the context of a contest. I hear ya, Dana. Contest-fatigue has definitely set in for me. But, I've found the feedback to be very helpful and have incorporated suggestions and changed things in my kitchen, bathroom and bedroom since those contests have run.

PS. In my mind, this contest was a level playing field; I liked your entry as much as Salvador's (from NY). As much as I love to see the big-bucks eyecandy entries, I find more gratification in from entries that make due with the limitations of their specific situation: budget constraints; renting vs owning; physical limitations; etc.

Oh thank you, Dr. Wende and Dr. Enrique! I feel much better now after some therapy and a little lunch. You're right, being judged is always hard on one's psyche. With this contest, I was just a little confused about the intent... to show how you used art to complete a look (one example), or to showcase your whole collection of art (whole house, not necessarily one look)..? I stuck with just showing one tiny part of my collection of tiny art (that's hard to say!) so I feel like it was hard to go up against people who entered their entire collections.

Ok! Time to move on with life as it is. Pleasure to be nominated and all that whatnot. I am looking forward to the Smallest Coolest! It will be so interesting to see the variety of entries from (possibly!) all over these many states.

Good! I'm going to Target this afternoon because the vacuum cleaner and the Swiffer Wet-Jet apparently had a suicide pact, so I'm going to check into the orange towel question.

I'm also completely rearranging the living room, just because It Was Time.

Tomorrow, I'll grab Open Threads early and post the 2/26 meet-and-greet info -- we should definitely do the place Enrique suggested, figure 5-ish after Ebrown's thee-ay-ter. I want to double-check that the place isn't suddenly closing for some weird event, and yesterday was spent buying the husband new goalie gear.

anyone know what sort of bolt situation I should use on Plaster/lathe walls? going to hang some curtains up and I got the oldie walls in my apt...

Dana, Wende, and Enrique, I'm so in tune with you vis a vis the contest. I love my art. That's why I live with it. It includes things I've had since my student days, splurges when I was "rich" and those "if-I-don't-get-that-I will-not-want-to-continue-with-my-life-as-it-is" things. So sharing in the contests is really hard. It felt watching my child not get chosen when kids are choosing sides. But believe me I love seeing the offerings and feel privileged to see them. I'm stealing shamelssly for the manor in my dreams. And after all, this little community wouldn't work if we didn't share.

Hey SF-ers... If you don't want to do the Redwood Room (it IS a bit pricey), we could always do some neighborhood bar. (I mentioned the Redwood Room first because of its proximity to ACT and it's probably the hotel I'll be at that night. But that shouldnt be the only reasons for choosing it as the spot...) The smaller neighborhood bars are always more fun than the glitzy establishments. Or--and here's a wacky idea--The Tonga Room at the Fairmount? Tropical drinks, puu-puu platter, lounge band on a barge, tropical rainstorms every 30 minutes. What could be better than that? It's been 14 years since I've lived in the bay area; I'm sure you all have better suggestions for neighborhood places...

oh, the Tonga Room is just as pricey as the Redwood Room. There are lots of little bars around ACT, but it's not my neighborhood... so lemme put some thinking into this and see if I can come with anything. We can always meet at the Redwood Room, have one fancy drink and then move on to something less pricey...?

hey, guys, I'll go anywhere. Is there anything near the boutique where Dana had her show? It was on Market and I seem to recall a French café nearby? Or am I hallucinating?

veddy interesting

I'll also do some looking around tomorrow, then. I'm at a point in my current project where it's possible (nay, advisable) for me to get out of the apt for a change. ACT-land is my neighborhood -- but I don't know bars because, since I live here, if I want a drink, I go HOME.

Inspired by Dana, I went into a towel-buying frenzy at Target... tomorrow is also Brighter Bathroom Day.

Oh Wende, please post photos!

Hey, can anyone tell me where I can get some goood pancakes in San Francisco at like 9:30pm on a Tuesday night? I'm talking NOT Denny's or Ihop... I'm talking yummy fluffy don't-be-depressed-because-its-love-day-because-pancakes-will-alwasy-love-you pancakes. Any ideas?

hey kids, there's a comments thread on the NY side
to process that art contest . . .

I think it's a good time for feedback
for the future

aquarabbit. When I lived up there, I would always end up at Sparky's Diner (Church St in the Castro) for after-clubbing breakfast. If you're looking for a "floor show" with lots of local color, Sparky's is always a hoot--especially after 2am. I think It's Tops (upper Market St near Duboce triangle) has evening hours. And they make good, hearty breakfasts. The Pinecrest Diner on Geary is a dive-ier option, but the crowd can be sketchy. Here's a listing of late-night food spots (not all of them serve 24-hr breakfasts), but I think it may be out of date as some of the spots have closed. http://www.posthoc.com/24hours.htm

Thanks Enrique...! We were actually headed toward Sparky's last night, but the V-day crowds were nearly mind numbing. I settled for sushi, but it wasn't anywhere near as comfort inducing as pancakes...

btw, the *best* pancakes I've had in ages are from a little neighborhood diner right here in the posh downtown of Los Altos. They have these multi-grain pancakes that taste just like blueberry muffins.... mmmmm!

I've always been a sucker for the pancakes at Bette's Oceanview Diner on 4th St in Berkeley!

http://www.worldpantry.com/bettes/home.html

PS I read in an airline mag yesterday that one of the founding chefs at Bette's is partner in Cowgirl Creamery--my fave SF artisnal cheesemaker (located at Pt Reyes Station).

Bathroom photos will appear when I'm satisfied with the result -- new towels that go with the talavera accessories have given me the urge for a new shower curtain and wastebasket, as well as some additional shelving to move all the color-appropriate accessories in there.

One nice thing about renting -- because you can't gut, a complete redo is like $100 of Target frenzy. (Yeah, I could buy "quality" towels -- but I'd still hate them in a year.)

Revising 14 chapters took 14 hours yesterday, so I'm behind on everything. Bleh.

Aquarabbit - you have me hungry for pancakes at 2 in the morning! Do you remember the name of the place in Los Altos with the multi-grain pancakes? I'm in the South Bay and they sound yummy.

Hey Courtney... I think it's just called the Los Altos Coffee Shop..? It's downtown on Second Street near the corner of Main Street, next to the Boulanger. It's so low brow for Los Altos, total diner decor, cash only... great pancakes! My office is about a block away, so anytime you want pancakes for lunch, let me know! :)

Thanks aquarabbit! I may take you up on that offer sometime :-)