New Year's Eve 2016 in Detroit, MI!

New Year's Eve at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI- huge gingerbread house, beautifully decorated!

The Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI is decorated beautifully for the holidays.  They have lots going on for New Year's Eve!  This hotel is highly recommended!  There is a free shuttle that will take you anywhere 5 minutes away from the hotel, this will take you to the beautifully lit downtown Rochester.

Royal Park Hotel
600 East University Drive,
Rochester, MI
Reservations:  844-267-9185

Merry Christmas! Movie Recommendation: The Holiday

 This movie is one of my favorite movies!  

Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, CA

Brewery Gulch Inn - Fort Bragg, CA

This place looks amazing!

www.brewerygulchinn.com

Happy Chanukah - Couples Cooking Latkes

Book recommendation:  The Jewish American Kitchen by Raymond Sokolov

Dining out on Thanksgiving in the San Francisco Bay Area

Today is El Dia de los Muertos, light a candle and remember a loved one.

Halloween and Dia de los Muertos ideas

Live music in Petaluma, CA- Graffiti Restaurant, great happy hour too!

I was in Petaluma today for the Dia de la Muerta parade and some people were talking next to us about how much fun the Graffiti Bar is in Petaluma, CA.  I haven't been there yet, but it sounds fun!

Take a flashlight tour in the evening this Halloween season at the Haunted Winchester Mystery House!

Dining at Smith Flat House in Placerville, CA- delicious and reasonably priced! Eat in a gold mine!

I love Smith Flat House in Placerville, CA.  Delicious risotto, creme brûlée, and food is yummy and reasonably priced for gourmet fare!

The Lodge on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA for drinks - wood cabin feel with taxidermy on walls

In September the Lodge on Piedmont Avenue opened, owned by the same people who have Dogwood.  The menu is meat focused, though they do have grilled cheese sandwiches.  There are animal heads on the walls and a large bear skin on the ceiling.  Some people really like the cabin feel.  I haven't been to this place yet, but want to visit.

Resources:

The Lodge
open Monday to Thursday
4PM to 12am
Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 12am
3758 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA
(510) 350-8470

Mindfulness gift kit includes book, candle, chocolates, and colored pencils

I just sent a mindfulness gift kit to my cousin, it included a daily mindfulness inspiration book from Thich Nhat hang, 2 mindfulness coloring books, a beeswax candle, dark chocolates, and a colored pencil set.

Moments of Mindfulness
Daily Inspiration
Thich Nhat hanh
Parallel Press
Berkeley, cA

"To practice mindfulness is to be conscious of each moment of our lives."  Thich Nhat hang

Coloring For Mindfulness Garden
50 Designs to help you de-stress
Hamlyn

The Mindfulness Coloring Book- Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People by Emma Farrarons

Studio Series
Colored Pencil set
30 Premium Colored Pencils
2014 Peter Pauper Press

All of the above kit contents are from Diesel Book in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA

Scented candles and small dark chocolates from Pharmaca Pharmacy also in the Rockridge district of Oakland, CA.

Art In Nature Festival, 11AM to 5PM on September 20th, 2015 at Redwood Regional Park, Steam Trail

The Art in Nature Festival is a multidisciplinary event at Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, CA.  There will be 12 interactive theme areas designed to express creativity.  Some of the mediums involve dance, sculpture, painting, martial arts, poetry, body painting, circus arts, and theater.  There will be visual arts, storytelling, arts and crafts and a children's area.

Resources:

Art in Nature Festival

When:  11am to 5 PM
             September 20, 2015

Where:  Redwood Regional Park
              Steam Trail

Information:  www.samavesha.org/productions/art-in-nature-festival.  The festival is accessed by a free 10-minute shuttle bus from Merritt College that goes directly to the entrance of the festival.  The shuttle bus depot and parking lot is at 12500 Campus Drive, Oakland, CA.

Recommended Peruvian casual restaurant in Oakland, CA - Cholita LInda

My son and I have been to Cholita Linda two times and he loves it.  Both times we got take out, but looking around, it would be a fun casual date for delicious Peruvian food and drinks!  I love the decor of the place, it is very comfortable and makes you want to sit down and stay awhile!

The restaurant was named after the owners Peruvian born mother, Cholita.  The term is commonly used as a term of endearment in Peru.  Cholita means girl of native or mixed heritage and LInda means pretty or sweet.

In the owners family, food was the courtesy of his beautiful mother or feisty grandmother.  He was the youngest of 4 and spent quite a bit of time with his grandmother, and they'd spend the day at the farmers market, come home and have tea, and then cook a delicious meal and she'd tell him stories.

"A good meal seems to bridge gaps, to warm hearts and somehow connect people."
(from Cholita Linda website)


Resources:
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph Avenue
Monday through Saturday
11:00AM to 10:00PM
www.cholitalinda.com

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Challah French Toast at home - yum!

Happy Grandparents Day

Fall Open House on September 12, 2015 at The Crucible in Oakland, CA- "Tools to Table"

On Saturday, September 12th from 12 to 5:00PM  there is a fall open house at The Crucible in Oakland, CA.  The theme is "Tools to Table" and the utensils and artistry of cooking, eating, and drinking will be explored.  There is food, wine and fun at these open house events!

Classes are offered at the Crucible starting on Saturday, September 12th.  Classes in such things as welding, glass blowing, mechanics, and other exciting things are offered.

The Crucible
Oakland, CA
(510) 444-0919
info@thecrucible.org

wedding and receptions among the towering redwoods at Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek, CA

We were at Camp Campbell this summer and they were having a wedding.  This place has a gorgeous outdoor chapel built among the redwoods.  The lodge is gorgeous too, much more beautiful than you'd expect a YMCA camp to be.  Yet, this camp has donors from all over the Silicon Valley, so it is more like an upscale hotel than a camp.  The cabins are very rustic so I would not recommend having guests stay at the camp.

Resources:

Camp Harmon
16275 Hwy. 9
Boulder Creek, CA
95006

Chabot Space and Science Center programs for adults and couples in September 2015

The following are programs for adults and couples at the Chabot Space and Science Center this fall 2015:

Lost in Space

Challenger Learning Center Adult Learning Center Missions 

Saturday, 5th, 7-9PM

Grab a flight suit, strap on a helmet, and experience the thrill of a NASA simulated space mission to Mars!  Arrive on time:  the agenda is tight to Mission Control.

Wine, beer, and light snacks provided.  Flyers must be 21+.  

Supper Club

Love Mission

Saturday, September 12th

6-9PM

Enjoy dinner under the stars before being whisked away on a space mission to Mars!  The evening includes romantic music, beer, wine, and sweets with your sweetheart..Dinner by Red Door Catering.

Thursday nights at the Presidio Officers Club in San Francisco- fire pits, cabanas, live music, drinks, etc.

Every Thursday since April 2nd until October 29th, the Presidio Officers Club is open to the public for the "Twilight at the Presidio."  There is cabana side cocktail service, adirondack chairs, fire pits, live music, and views of the sun setting over the San Francisco Bay.

See presidioofficersclub.com for more information.

Picnic at the Presidio Officers Club, every Sunday through November 1st, 2015. Food from food trucks!

One of my summer bucket list items is to visit the Presidio in the city on a Sunday and have a picnic there!

See http://presidioofficersclub.com for more information!

best and healthiest burger place in San Francisco Bay Area- Roam burgers- in Lafayette, and Union St.,SF

I love Roam Burgers!  I was just at the Lafayette, CA location with friends and my son this past week.  The beef is grass fed, plus they also have buffalo and turkey!  The milkshakes are created from Strauss milk and are delicious!  I was in San Francisco yesterday and noticed there is a Roam burger on Union Street too!

Yum!

My mom loves the skewer of three buffalo patties!

View from the top of Larkin in SF - Romantic Spot

Embarcadero Waterfront Restaurants

McNears Beach - Great place for picnics, parties, day trip, and events! Gorgeous!!!

We went to McNears Beach yesterday and it was a beautiful day!  They have a large picnic area that can be reserved for large groups.  There is a pool, grassy area, and snack bar.

Beautiful beaches in Marin County, CA - China Beach

We went to China Beach in the Marin County of CA.  It was gorgeous!!!  It feels so secluded, but it not too far from San Rafael and has some amazing historical buildings in addition to the scenery.

China Beach
Marin County, CA

Stay and dine on a riverboat at the Delta King Hotel in Old Sacramento, CA

I've walked by the Delta King many times while visiting Old Sacramento.  This hotel is an actual river boat, as well as bar, restaurant and hotel.  One day I'd like to dine and stay overnight onboard this gem.

Resources:

The Delta King
1000 Front Street
Sacramento, CA

(916) 444-5464

deltaking.com

Favorite Breakfast and Lunch place in Danville, CA- Sideboard Cafe

I love the Sideboard Cafe!  My son and I have gone many times, and it is a great place to hang out with your dog on the outdoor patio.

Sideboard Cafe
Danville, CA

I picked up a bag of their handmade granola last time I was there to take home.  It contained oats, peanuts, almonds, cashews, pepitas, amaranth, local honey, oil, and salt.

wine tasting at Cerruti Cellars at Jack London Square in Oakland, cA

I enjoyed a glass of wine with relish from Tudal Family Winery, Cabernet Sauvignan, 2011.  It was delicious!  I want to visit the tasting room at Jack London Square!

Lover's Point - Pacific Grove, CA

Yummy gluten free chocolate chip cookies- perfect for a spring picnic!

I found some delicious gluten free chocolate chip cookies recently!  They are crisp and delicious!

Tate's Bakeshop
Chocolate Chip
Gluten free
43 North Sea Rd.
Southampton, New York  11968
631-780-6511
www.tatesbakeshop.com

In the charming village of Southampton, there is a bakeshop called Tate's Bake shop.  The dream of a bakeshop started when 11 year old Kathleen King began making cookies to sell at her family's farm stand not far out of town.  Now, in a cozy colonial era building there is a bakeshop framed in flowers, Tate's bake shop!

Happy Mother's Day! Ideas for celebrating mom in the San Francisco Bay Area

Legion of Honor

Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park

Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park

Men's natural products

These are some of the natural men's products that work just as well as conventional ones:
(I guess there could be a debate about this, but they are certainly healthier!)

Every Man Jack
deodorant
aluminum free
cedarwood

To be continued........

Healthier snack substitutions - eat this instead of that.....

Pretzels-Newman's Own Organics has thin pretzel sticks that contain organic wheat flour and brown rice flour, and no corn syrup.  On the other hand, Rold Gold Pretzels contain regular flour and corn syrup!

Jack London Square, Classic Car Show - May 2015

We had a great time walking around the car show at Jack London Square.  Here are some pictures of a few of the classic cars at the event: