This coffee shop has been well loved as the worn, comfy couches show. I consider that a plus in a coffee shop. Outlets abound, and except for a small lunch rush, it was pretty quiet over the couple of hours a friend and I spent there. The bakery case was only a third full at
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I tried this intriguing cocktail during my first show at the Great American Music Hall, which is an intimate space for a concert. Even the back of the venue doesn’t feel far removed from the musicians. Plus, the gorgeous architecture is worth a visit all on its own — if only they allowed SLRs into
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Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Zinfandel 2011 Paso Robles, CA The nose of this wine needs brightening, but that may be my fault for not using my aerator for the first time in a while. The scents are bound tightly together. It wants to be smoky, but it’s closer to cedar; the chips are on the
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Bottle Cap is whimsical on the outside, full of bright shiny colors that pulled me in right away. Inside it’s just as mod-appealing — crazy art in bold colors adorned the walls, and the blue patterned tables made me smile. My table for 4 with a reservation was seated promptly. The menu is New American
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TOPO Piedmont Gin Chapel Hill, NC ABV 46% I have mentioned this gin before on this blog, when I took a tour of the distillery. But this is the first TOPO spirit I’ve had my hands on a bottle of and thanks go to Esteban, TOPO’s spirit guide, for the parting gift at my farewell
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Goats in Villages Shiraz Pinotage South Africa Note: No vintage I could see. The artwork on this bottle of wine and the playfulness of the distributor’s name — Goats Do Roam — charm me. For Trader Joe’s, this is a high-end bottle at $9.99. Smells like blackberry gumdrops with a hint of licorice. I haven’t
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I met a friend at Olea at 10:15 on a Friday morning, and I was surprised it was nearly empty. I didn’t think that happened anywhere in San Francisco! Perhaps brunch is only popular on the weekends. The restaurant was charming, reminding me of a small country kitchen.  My friend was delighted they offer coffee
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Leopold’s Gasthaus 2400 Polk Street Russian Hill, San Francisco Entrees: $16–$20 Website Welcome to my first post on a Bay Area restaurant! I didn’t take any pictures of the interior or exterior — I wasn’t sure I was ready to blog at the time we dined, but apparently I was. So let’s roll right into
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