Today’s cold weather has chairs empty and the streets quiet…I don’t mind the chill or the fog, though. It reminds me of childhood; it’s familiar. It feels like home. I find it comforting. Anyway, I enjoyed the quiet streets today- I went for a good 45 minute walk doing work errands- but then promptly brought my coffee and scone back upstairs, next to my heater, where I belong. xo
I’m neck deep in paper, it’s nowhere near 5 and I’m feeling a little extra love for my Blue Bottle Coffee today. Now, if only it were Friday…
In the spirit of the darker days of autumn and winter, I picked out some of my favorite ‘dark rooms’ to share. Glamorous and bold, intense, mysterious and sharp… how does black in interiors make you feel?
Via amourette
I love chalkboards.... Via Pinterest
Via Pinterest via design shimmer
oh my! these herringbone dark wood floors! Via apartmenttherapy
A lunch break stroll:
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been bundled up in Linden alley (it’s a wind tunnel!) waiting in line for my Blue Bottle Coffee (worth the wait), staring up at 315 Linden…secretly wishing someone would just come down and invite me in already, so my dream of working there could finally start coming true! Here’s a peak inside:
According to the Build Inc website, “The building was originally built as a bakery in 1926. In the eighties it was converted to a mixed use of photographers, artists, and residences. By the end of 2004 the entire building was converted to our office space along with a small retail component. In the garage is now the Blue Bottle Coffee Kiosk which has activated the alley and become a hub of the community.” Here’s to good design bringing a community to life. -Coco
There are so many great things about living in a big city, but having a great garden is not necessarily one of them. At least not if you’ve been living in apartments for the last 10 years like I have. But, there is hope!
For example, very locally for me there is the Hayes Valley Farm – an amazing project that is helping to change the way we, in urban areas, think about and interact with the earth and our food. Just last month, our city took a big step forward in terms of urban farming:
…On April 20, the mayor of San Francisco signed a bill that allows urban farmers to grow more fruit and vegetables than they would use for their own consumption. With this bill, the city has taken the lead in stretching the legal limits of urban farming; allowing San Francisco residents to sell their produce to local restaurants. The costs of the permits for converting empty lots to farmland were also lowered drastically. This law is in stark contrast to several other American states where people can be fined for growing too many vegetables. (-Hayes Valley Farm website)
The farm is open to volunteers Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between noon and 5 pm if you want to jump in and get your hands dirty. To read more about the legislation and new mayor Ed Lee’s take on all this, check out the full SF Chronicle article here.
Hayes Valley Farm: 
And even if we don’t make it down to the farm every week, it’s nice to know it’s there. And it’s got me thinking…For starters, thinking about composting my food scraps. This is really important (and mandatory in SF as it turns out!). It helps to provide our farms with nutrient rich soil, which in turn means healthier plants, i.e., more nutrient dense food. It also reduces what we dump into those nasty landfills of ours, and reduces the need for damaging fertilizers. More information about getting your own composting bins (for free) is available at Recology SF. To read more about the benefits of composting, check out this webinar.
Then there is doing our best to actually buy the local produce and support local farmers! This offers us peace of mind about where our food is coming from and supports communities close to us. Its also a great way to eat seasonally- a healthy practice for people and the earth, alike. The Pacific Coast Farmers Market is a great Bay Area resource for seasonal recipes and finding your local markets’ schedules.
Finally, I’m thinking how nice it would be to have some fresh herbs in my own little apartment- the simple act of planting and watering can really reconnect us to our food, reminding us to appreciate each leaf, the flavors and health properties from each unique plant and simply the sunlight, soil and water that is abundant and life giving.
Here are a few ideas for displaying a small indoor herb garden:
I like this vertical pocket version if you have a nice backdoor or wall, perhaps off the kitchen to the back stairs or something, as many apartments here in the city do.
The Sagaform Trio Indoor Herb Planter:
I think this one is great for a counter- a clean simple design that provides for easy watering and has room for your three favorite herbs. I would have to do basil, dill and rosemary I think.
These vintage “Boston Bread Molds” at Terrain would make a sweet counter top planter, too:
While at Terrain, you’ll also find black board marking posts and herb snips for your new kitchen garden:
I think we’re ready…happy urban living friends. eat, live, love well.
xo, coco
Update: I guess great minds think alike! Check out today’s product spotlight from Dwell- adorable indoor grow bottles of all your fresh kitchen herbs!
Less than 15 years ago, there was no such thing as Hayes Valley. There was the Fell St. Exit and there was darkness. Down comes the exit, fast forward a few years (and a lot of construction) and we have Octavia Blvd! Then the park, Blue Bottle Coffee in Linden Alley, chic little shops paying over priced leases (location location!), Bar Jules, a star in it’s own right…and next thing you know, BAM! Hayes Valley. The new “it” SF neighborhood was born.
Here are a few pics of my favorite sights in the neighborhood right now. From top left: John Coltrane mural on Nabilas Store Front. (which happens to have been painted by my very talented boyfriend! See his website here.) Door, Peace Industry Rugs. Bar Jules street front. Wall, Bar Jules interior. View from park. Sculpture in park. Colorful building (and view from my office window!). Blossoms. I <3 Boston Terriers!
Happy Friday my friends! It’s sunny, it’s not freezing, life is good. One more day here at work and then off to what promises to be a wonderful weekend.xo, coco
