Ferry Building.

Everyone in San Francisco knows about the Ferry Building Farmer's Market.  Dan and I went yesterday to get produce for the week, as well as have our knives sharpened.  We also had Chilequiles for breakfast from Primavera.  (Second week in a row, actually.)

They were phenomenal.  Also: we're cute and make each other laugh.  Good times.

Dan's Birthday.

Dan and I threw a little shindig at our place for Dan's birthday last night.  Our friends are fantastic, Dan got plenty of great stuff (and attention!).  We both had a blast, and I feel so lucky I got to honor my phenomenal partner.  I am impossibly lucky and so in love.

Lucca Ravioli.

An amazing thing about my neighborhood is all of the specialized food.  Food that isn't just made, it's crafted.  Made in small batches by passionate people.  Which is probably why I end up shopping at four or five groceries or markets every week-- each place has something unique, excellent or special.  This week's delightful spot is Lucca Ravioli on Valencia.  They're an Italian specialty shop that has all kinds of jarred Italian delights, loads of amazing cheese, breads and sauces made in house.  And the ravioli and tortellini (and all the other fresh, handmade pasta) is ah-mazing.  Seriously, it's just so much better than the dried stuff. 

Last night we had their pumpkin ravioli with leeks, mushrooms, browned butter and sage.  Dan's a lucky dude.

Tartine.

Everyone in San Francisco worth her salt knows and loves Tartine.  It's one of my Top 10 You-Have-To-Go-When-In-San-Francisco spots.  It's regarded as one of the best bakeries in the entire city-- with amazing French pastries and bread.  It isn't a stuffy kind of place-- more rich, sumptuous, and rustic, just like the pastries.  Dan and I had a late breakfast there yesterday.  It's fabulous luck to live just a few blocks away.

We split the morning bun-- my very favorite!

Air Plants.

I've been on a bit of a decorating kick lately.  I don't know whether it's the spring-like weather or the fact that I've lived in my place for six months and haven't decorated it a lick until now.  But I've been doing a whole mess of (little) things to make it more beautiful and feel more like home.  One of the things I've wanted in my new place is some greenery.  But something simple, also, since I tend to kill plants pretty easily.  Ouila!  Air plants!

All they need is a daily misting, so they're really simple!  From Paxton Gate, in San Francisco.

Romantic Street Art.

As someone with a fundamental problem with authority, and as a hopeful romantic, these signs make me exquisitely happy.  I love the idea that someone has so much love that they have to paint it all across public spaces.  It is an important step towards autonomy and toward reclaiming our world, our public spaces and our lives in the name of love.  What's better than that?  Nothing, that's what.

From the internet.
 

From in front of my house!  We woke up one morning, and it was right there, right below our front gate.

Raincoat.

It's very odd that I live in a place with so much rain and general precipitation and, until recently, didn't own a raincoat.  What?!  The other day, I was cleaning out my place and discovered a Patagonia gift card with credit still left.  So I picked up this little baby:

Patagonia's Torrentshell Jacket

It packs down so nicely!  See?

Seems like it'll be perfect for travel, since it's lightweight and stows away easily, which is always a major plus.  I plan to bring it camping this spring!  (And maybe to rainier climates this summer, hint hint!)  Of course, the day after it arrived, it rained in San Francisco, so I was ultra-happy with my purchase.  It works great, and the color makes me so happy, even when the weather is really crappy.

Glen Canyon Park.

I had never really explored the neighborhood of Glen Park in San Francisco.  So my sweetie and I decided to have a mini-date to go on a mini-hike through Glen Park Canyon.  After almost ten (10!) years of living here, it was high time that A. I explored someplace new, and B. that I made it to this little canyon, full of people and dogs.  It's set back, close to public transit (BART) in a cute neighborhood filled with beautiful homes, adorable shops, and loads of dogs.  Walking, new things, each other and some cute pups: perfect combination for a little date.

 

   

Afterward, we strolled through the neighborhood and stopped in a cute cheese shop to pick up some necessities (Gruyere swiss and Nutella for crepes tomorrow morning).  We even have plans to go back for a dinner date sometime.  Great discovery!

Marimekko Umbrella.

I bought this adorable umbrella from one of my favorite travel stores, Flight 001, in San Francisco, before going to Japan.  I was warned that there can be some fierce summer showers, and I wanted something a bit more sturdy than my old Walgreens umbrella.

In Kyoto, at night, on one of the drizzly summer days we experienced.
It’s light, easily packable, and stands out in a crowd, certainly.  The winters in San Francisco can be long and very rainy, so it’s nice to have such a cheerful way to keep the damp away.

I’ve had it for ages now, and it’s such a well-designed piece that it’s become one of my favorite accessories.

Louise Bourgeois.

I’m not sure if I have anything more to add to what the Guardian had to say, but great celebration and gratitude is in order for the extraordinary Louise Bourgeois.  She lived such an amazing life and created some of my favorite sculpture of all time.  Her work engaged with some of the great themes of women’s lives and reveals an emotional vulnerability of which I am in awe.

I am deeply fortunate to have some of her pieces in my city-- on the roof garden of SFMoMA.  If you're in San Francisco, I strongly recommend going to see her piece, right in front of the Blue Bottle Coffee kiosk.

I was also lucky to see her work in Tokyo at Ropponggi Hills.

Farewell, beautiful woman.  And so many thanks for the incredible body of work you leave behind; I treasure so dearly the experience of witnessing your work.

Zucchini.

Northern California always has fantastic produce, but summertime is by far my favorite season for farmer's market-ing and trying new recipes with unusual or new finds from the market.  These globe zucchini from the Ferry Building market are delicious, a little sweet, and were delicious both roasted with balsamic vinegar and in zucchini pancakes (you can find a good recipe for that in Barefoot Contessa at Home).

 

Look how cute it is!

Four Barrel Coffee.

If you're going to San Francisco... go to Four Barrel Coffee.  It's my very favorite coffee in the Bay Area (maybe the world), they have exceptionally nice and talented baristas, and a really lovely, low-key atmosphere.  It's one of Dan's and my favorite places in our neighborhood and one of the first places we look forward to going when we return from a trip.

I bring Four Barrel coffee to friends and family who aren’t lucky enough to have coffee this amazing two blocks from them. Plus, Four Barrel has Dynamo Donuts (a local donut shop that has flavors like lemon pistachio and vegan chocolate spice).

It's one of the things I would miss most if I ever move out of the neighborhood.

About Me.

Hi! My name is Christy Tennery. Here is my blog. Welcome!

I live in San Francisco, in the lovely Mission District, where I like to eat, explore, find, salvage, create, repurpose, ponder, teach and learn. I've lived here nine years.  I came here for college when I was eighteen and simply never left.  I also spent a few months in Ontario, Canada, some time in Lima, Peru, and I travel frequently.

I am a human rights and environmental activist, a yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner, a poet, baker, and forever student. I dabble in all kinds of homemade projects and currently make malas (Buddhist prayer beads) and have an etsy store (littlefeets.etsy.com).

Photos of my adventures can be found here: flickr.com/littlefeets

This blog will evolve over time, I'm sure, but will certainly focus on the beautiful things I find, like, do, see and make. As a yoga teacher, I have a strong habit of practicing gratitude, and this is just another way of being grateful. Because why have something amazing if you can't share it?

So much love,
Christy