Author: lolitaandthecity@gmail.com

San Francisco: Tourist Time

Friday was our first free day together, where he took me to Blue Bottle Coffee, a West Coast coffee chain that is very precise about their coffee — using glass beakers, scientific thermometers. Each cup is treated like its own experiment and infused with various ingredients like berries, nuts for a more flavorful coffee.  If he had to drink coffee everyday it would have to be Blue Bottle.

View from the tower (you can barely see the Golden Gate Bridge peeking out from the horizon); Various art pieces I found interesting.

The we took a trip to the de Young Museum.  The art scene there is very different, more radical in my opinion or the artists seem to be inspired by found materials..  We were also recommended to go to the tower where you can get a nice 360-degree view of the park and everything else.. The day we went was pretty cloudy but still impressive. From there it was a short walk to the Japanese Tea Garden.

The Japanese Tea Garden is another must-see with all the sculptures, pagodas, and koi. You can even witness a tea ceremony if you make reservations.

Park Chow: Veggie Burger and Chicken BLT. Also a Blushing Dream (not pictured) to drink.

Before heading to Fisherman’s Wharf for the Aquarium we stopped for lunch at Park Chow.  A very homey, tavern-like bistro with a fireplaces upstairs and downstairs. Taking another light rail train to Fisherman’s Wharf for the Aquarium of the Bay, an aquarium devoted to all the animal life in the Bay.

Aquarium of the Bay: a sampling of what lives in the Bay.

Very tiny compared to say the Monterey Bay or New England Aquarium, this one did have two walk-thru tunnels and was very accessible for those without a car.  Initially we had thought about attending an after dark food truck rally but the walk was too far and we were unfamiliar with the area, so we ended up at Ghiradelli Square.  Home to the original factory, Ghiradelli now houses to various shops and at least several chocolate shops where we purchase half of our Christmas shopping.   

Cable Car souvenir tickets can be purchased at end of the line booths.

With our bags suddenly getting heavier we chose to get a cable car back ending the night with dinner at the Restaurant Collection, in Westfield Centre Mall.  We had thought about going to M.Y. China but apparently it was reservations-only, so we went to Cupola Pizzeria, an artisanal pizza place whose wait was shorter.

Cupola Pizzeria: Garlic & Bread Soup; Steamed Artichoke; Torn Pasta “Handkerchiefs”; Margherita Extra pizza.

What’s pretty cool was I gave they my mobile number and they were able to text us when our table was ready. As usual, we ordered way too much food or I did. Our appetizers were a steamed artichoke and garlic bread soup. The torn pasta was the favorite out of all of the things we ordered. The restaurant appeared to be very fancy but was also very down-to-earth; I saw well-behaved children coloring on the back of placemats. With a pizza that was again amazing and still homemade tasting, and pasta that was simply delicious. Full from dinner we headed back to the hotel to start again. But not before buying the last half of our presents at Lupicia, Japanese tea shop.

Saturday morning we waited long enough and had a breakfast of tea and Beard Papa.  This was a treat as New York used to have a bunch of these around the city; now you can only find one on the Upper West Side. We were meeting up with old friends in the Mission District but since we still had time to kill we walked around the Metreon area, even going on the carousel.

Mission Chinese: A Mexican Coke the size of my head and lots of tasty things to eat.

Mission Chinese originated in San Francisco in a family restaurant, eventually opening up its own location on the Lower East Side where the line is often out the door. I consider this real Asian fusion cusine as it’s taking ingredients not normally used but using Asian cooking techniques. They also make vegetarian/vegan versions of certain dishes for those who like animals as friends not food. 

Renegade Fair.

Having a bit of time on our hands before dinner we walked to the Renegade Craft Fair. Being a big crafter myself I wanted to check out the scene; also Twinkiechan was vending there and hoped for a picture opportunity.  Shockingly I saw two Lolitas there was well.

Forbidden rice; shumai; roasted portebello sliders
Mapo Tofu; Sweet and Sour Pork; Vegetarian Longevity Noodle Soup.

With reservations made on Opentable we were able to get into M.Y. China, Martin Yan’s signature restaurant. It looks like it was pitched as a high end version of classic, homemade Chinese food.  There was dim sum dishes, and other typical dishes like Mapo Tofu and Sweet and Sour Pork. Also more pseudo dishes like the mushroom sliders. Despite the frustration of making reservations, it was certainly worth it if you can afford the prices ($25-30 per person). And depending on the size of your party they will have chefs come to your table to watch them make hand pulled noodles.

Our last day was spent at the Dickens Fair, an annual holiday event in the Bay area. Think Dickens-era Renaissance Fair. With bustle skirts, top hats, and Whovians, it was certianly experience. Taking place at local convention center we took the BART to a shuttle to the Fair.  Perhaps if I was in Lolita I would fit more right in, and also sans company of my husband with fellow Lolitas instead. We still had fun walking around and every inch of the place. Each section was carved out of a Dickens novel and it was hard to distinguish attendees and the actors there. There was also a reenactment of the Christmas Carol throughout the convention space. Eventually I got tired of the whole scene, and it was slowly getting more crowded as the morning became the afternoon.  By the time we were hungry the food lines were too long, so we took the train back and walked around while we still could.

Imperial Tea Court: Dim Sum Sampler.

We walked all the way to Ferry Terminal for a small meal and tea to warm up before our red-eye flight back home.

There are a few thanks in order which are to the Bay Area Lolitas who were willing to meet up and whome I got to see. Also to Google Maps for being so precise, and being able to tell me the number of stops and roughly the time to get everywhere. That is a weird thanks but it was a lifesaver.  And of course, my husband allowing me to tag along.  San Francisco is not exactly New York City, but traveling to other places certainly make me appreciate the city more. 

Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity 2/26 – 5/27

Women with Parasol – one of my favorite paintings.

Fashion and the Impressionism movement go hand in hand —  what with artists paying astute attention to how their subjects moves and particularly how their clothing moves before creating a more dreamlike vision.

The Metropolitan Museum opened up the exhibit to the public yesterday – “Impression, Fashion and Modernity.”  They pair various artworks with illustrations and actual pieces to examine how fashion greatly influences art and vice vera.  Already receiving good reviews, this is an event not to miss out.

Something to check out on a rainy day like today.

Impression, Fashion, and Modernity
Feburary 26 – May 27, 2013
The Metropolitan Museum
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028

Cupcake of the Week: Dylan’s Candy Bar

A cupcake fit for a princess: lots of sugar, lots of frosting.

Dylan’s Candy Bar is a store full of candy that we all grew up and loved. It’s kitschy and full of pop, and a tiny bit of a tourist trap. However it doesn’t hurt to shop there once in awhile if you are looking for something specific or a unique gift for a Yankee Swap.  Also you can see winning outfits from Project Runway competition when they raided the store for materials.

Apparently they have expanded quite a bit since I’ve been here last, improving their cafe portion and moving their private room in the basement to upstairs.  Naturally they sold cupcakes.  But not ordinary ones. This “Princess” cupcake was one of three they still had at the end of the day.  The other two was Red Velvet and one with Gummi Bears. Made up of chocolate cake and Sixlets, it’s an ordinary cupcake that has been jazzed up.

Also if you are in need of a sugar high, these cupcakes have a lot of buttercream frosting — as in half cake, half frosting. 

San Francisco: My West Coast Home

How could you not go?

Old news is good news if you haven’t talked about it on the internet yet.  In December, I piggybacked on my husband’s business trip to San Francisco.  It’s been years since I made my first trip to the West Coast, so going back was like going to a West Coast home that I wish was home. 

Surprisingly it would be the first mini-vacation as a married couple as well.
(Note: this post is long but has lots of food and pictures)

What has always impressed me about San Francisco was the weather; nothing like New York and simply fantastic no matter what season. While it was during winter, it was nothing like the biting cold of New York, and for the entire week I mostly stuck to jackets and cardigans, and a scarf for expectionally chilly nights.  Since I was to keep myself occupied while the other half was working, I was determined to not limit my experiences. However I was a bit worried about exploring by myself. So it was extremely fortunate that we stayed at the Marquis Marriott as it was in Union Square and central to everything.  Also I had a smartphone.  And if worst came to worse I would hangout at the Westfield Centre Mall which thankfully didn’t happen. However we did up hanging around there several times.

Fish Tacos meet Giant Salad.

We arrived early and were able to catch some lunch before I met a local Bay Area Lolita for dinner. He chose a giant salad and I had fish tacos, both ironically at the mall food court but then it had been a long and early flight, so perfectably acceptable.  And since an old college friend of mine worked nearby, she joined us on her lunch break.

It was the best day ever because we were in San Francisco.

We also got dessert at a crème brulee cart.

The Fortune Cookie Factory and familiar facades.
The Great Wall of Cake.
Our hotel was next to Beard Papa and Angelic Pretty.

Full from food we walked to Chinatown and passed by the Angelic Pretty store, which turned out to be dangerously close to our hotel.

Comfort food done right.

After working off our food, I was set for another meal at Mel’s Drive-In, a local chain known for their shakes ands and giant salads (is it a West Coast thing?).  I ordered a black and white shake and a burger, both of which were delicious.  The best were the sweet potato fries.

Legion of Honor Museum

The next day I went to the Legion of Honor to check out a Versailles exhibit. It was actually my first time taking public transportation in San Francisco, and typical me I went in the wrong direction first.  However thanks to a smartphone and Google Maps I was to get on my way.  The only thing about the Legion of Honor, if  you are taking public transportation, was at Golden Gate Park, but what neither my phone or the internet mentioned was there was a golf course at the entrance.  So I got quite confused for a few minutes (literally walking in circles) but then eventually went back on instincts and followed the path up until the museum was in sight.

Part of a Byzantine Chapel.

Unlike New York, San Francisco is very much a driving city but encourages taking public transportation for a more eco-friendly atmosphere. You even get a small discount at local attractions – just show them your pass or ticket stub before you pay admission. Unfortunately they did not allow pictures in the exhibit (not even the sign!) but it was really amazing.  From golden snuffboxes to silver dinnerware to tapestries depicting Louis and Marie Antoinette as Venus and Apollo. In the end it was small but made up in quality, and I imagine that one could only take so much on loan from Versailles. I was also able to check out some of the other galleries where they had a ceiling from a Byzantine-era chapel and were also planning to restore a future exhibit. Rushed back to Union Square to meet up with said college friend for lunch who took me to a local gyro place known for its fries. Then quickly left to change to take a Caltrain, local commuter rail, to meet up with some girls in San Jose.

Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park is apparently an annual event where local vendors and schools buy a tree and decorate it all for the sake of charity.

Taking pictures of food is strange thing out here.

We were even able to take a picture with Santa, which I hadn’t done in a long time but it was free so why not? Then it was to Peggy Sue’s for dinner.  In true Californian fashion I added avocado to my BLT, even though the healthiness surely cancelled itself out with the bacon.  Then not realizing the time we all parted ways to catch a train, which we ended up missing. Someone lived nearby so we camped out and played with their cats for a few minutes until the next train. After which I attempted to use the Uber app to catch a taxi back to the hotel.

Honey Honey Cafe & Creperie: Salmon Scramble with Home fries and wheat toast.

Wednesday I decided to get an actual breakfast, since most of the time I just got a hot tea, and picked Honey Honey Cafe & Crepery because it was near my tourist destination of choice. It’s really cute and has lots to choose from. It was a hard decision but I had a salmon scramble – salmon with scrambled eggs and home fries; it was hard to relax and enjoy my food, since I wanted to eat it all right away.

From there it was a mountainous walk to the San Francisco Cable Car Museum.  I assumed it would be more of a tribute, but turned out to be the epicenter of all the lines. Be warned it may be a bit loud.  If you ever get a chance you should make a stop here — and it’s free.  They do asked for a small donation.

Iconically Berkeley.

I took a cable car back to Union Square and headed to Berkeley to meet up with a New York expat.  She took me to a pizzeria which serves only one type of vegetarian pizza every day. As we sat down there was a local band playing, apparently typical of Berkeley.  Then onto various thrift shopping where I purchased some Celeste Stein tights (which are apparently everywhere out there), two blouses and a recent prize posession, a Gunne Sax skirt. After all that retail therapy it was time for some food therapy with gelato.

Mixed Green Salad; Root Vegetable Gratin; Sweet Dumpling Squash Ravioli; Vanilla Lavender Creme Brulee

And then I went back to join my husband for a dinner at Annabelle’s Bar & Bistro, a restaurant across from our hotel. The food was very rich and the vanilla lavender crème brulee was simply amazing; you could taste the lavendar all throughtout. Between the ravioli and the gratin, the ravioli won out because I felt the other dish was still a bit too bland for my tastes.

Sea Lions at Pier 39; Golden Gate Bridge

Thursday I hung out at Fisherman’s Wharf for a bit while waiting for my husband’s last business meeting and the start of our mini-vacation. Unsurprisingly the sea lions were still there, not a lot but still a good amount.

Japantown; New People; MaruQ

From there we walked to Japantown for another meeting, where I ended up spending a lot of time trying things on at Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. I made a few purchases at the Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, and a lot of purchase at Daiso, a Japanese dollar store.

Kushi Tsuru: Vegetarian Rolls; Edamame and Potato Croquette; Soba Bento

We then had lunch at Kushi Tsuru, one of several sushi restaurant along the bridge portion of the mall. What I presumed was a small bento was still overwhelming; it would also be the last time I would order soba since I am realizing I’m not that big a fan. Then it was a long walk back to the hotel.

Stay tuned for the last half of my trip.

The Chocolate Bar at Cafe Fleuri

Things have been busy as I am in a wedding of a good friend of mine. And as she was counting down the days, I was traveling back and forth from New York to Boston to help out with the festivities.  Last weekend, I traveled for a bachelorette celebration.

Since there was going to be a lot of late night activity, I booked a hotel for all of us to avoid time constraints and the hassle of missing the trains (Boston’s MBTA shuts down around midnight, unlike NYC’s 24/7 subway system).  The Boston Common Hotel & Conference Center fit the bill, as I was looking for something central and easy to get to.  Behind the Hynes Convention Center and a short walk from Copley Square, this hotel is very unassuming.

At $100 a night for 3 people in the center of Boston it was a steal. When I went I was a skeptic at first since it was the weekend and a quiet corner.  However the room was very spacious compared to some closet-sized hotel rooms I’ve been to.  Since we were literally using it just as a place to sleep it was good for all we wanted.

We all met up at the Langham Hotel to partake in Cafe Fleuri’s Chocolate Bar – a buffet of the chocolate variety.  I ended up taking the Orange Line from the hotel to Downtown Crossing and walked along Franklin Street until I saw the hotel.  While The Chocolate Bar is a seasonal thing (Saturdays September to June), it was fortunate the bride’s bachelorette party was around that time.

For some reason I did not expect a literal chocolate buffet, but indeed there was and like our waiter told us, we “tried everything.”  From crepes to ice cream to tiny little cakes to cupcakes and, of course, a fondue fountain.

First Course.
Second Course
Third Course.

There was even a DJ in the corner for upbeat entertainment as you try to take as many tiny dishes as possible.  As much as I wanted to photograph everything, I also wanted to eat everything so a lot of the food did not get recorded.  The two plates below managed to survive unscathed.  Then again it was a lot of chocolate.

Madeleine and Passionfruit Tart
Some type of mousse with white chocolate chips.

However for an all-you-can-eat buffet it was well worth $40 (tax and tip not included).  This also included unlimited tea and coffee, which I gladly took advantage of to balance out all the chocolate.  Hopefully I will be able to go again sometime before this year’s season’s over. Though for any size groups I recommend making a reservation for prime seating.

The Chocolate Bar at Cafe Fleuri
250 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110

Loli-Date with ParfaitDoll

Last Friday Victoria from ParfaitDoll was interested in coming into the city for an afternoon, so we decided to meet up for some lunch and shopping. She had a determined interest in visiting Ladureé‘s New York location, so I suggested Mon Petit Cafe.
 
Mon Petit Cafe was a restaurant I discovered with my husband as we were on our way to Central Park.  It’s a cute French cuisine bistro that I now take people whenever I have the chance to go uptown.  It’s also a good alternative for those who are unable to get into Alice’s Tea Cup Chapter II location as this place is just a few blocks down Lexington Avenue.

It was the first time I was there on a weekday at lunch hour and it was bustling with locals.  We were seated quickly, I chose an Omelette du Jour, which was red and green peppers with fries while Victoria went with a Croque-Monsieur.  Overall the meal was good, but I prefer their quiche than the omelette.  For a tea and meal it came out to under $20, pretty good for New York pricing.  Which that extra cash can be used for Ladureé.

Macarons in the window are not for eating, but the boxes are certainly for purchasing.

Ladureé, the inventor of the macaron, landed in New York two years ago and now you can often find the line out the door.  Thankfully we did not have to wait long and were able to browse with attentive shopgirls nipping at our feet.

Accidentally ate the rose macaron before I thought of taking a picture.

Macarons are $2.80 each and you can order it in a decorative box or a bag. The art on the boxes range from their classic Ladureé logo to limited edition box art featuring Hello Kitty, Tsumori Chisato, Disney, etc. So when in doubt, always go for a box.  They also sell truffles, chocolate, and gelato with a macaron, as well as a gift section with notebooks, scarves, candles and the like.

My growing Laduree box collection.

 Again also a few blocks away from Alice’s Tea Cup, and Laduree is my side trip place when I early for a brunch at Alice’s. On another note, I had the guts to ask about any news on their SoHo location, but for right now they could only say it could possibly open in the fall. Cross your fingers!

Then we strolled through Central Park and warmed up in UniQlo, eyeing the new Sanrio collaboration.  It’s nice to hangout with a fellow Lolita one on one, as well as get to show them some of my favorite places in New York City.

I Spy DIY

via HonestlyWTF

New York Fashion Week has just begun, and while we all can’t get inside the tents at Lincoln Center nor wear the high-end designer brands, we can at least look like it.

And I don’t mean schlepping to Chinatown to buy fakes (because people who matter can often tell).

Sometimes all it takes is a glue gun, some creativity, and a trip to Micheals. I love sites like ISpyDIY, HonestlyWTF, Violet LeBeaux, and sometimes Cupcakes and Cashmere because they offer a lot of tutorials on making editorial-worthy projects with simple materials.  ISpyDIY and HonestlyWTF tutorials focus on items and projects that could be easily seen in a magazine spread but you could also make yourself with a few tools.

And they look just as good.

DIY is an ongoing trend amongst Lolitas and general fashion followers who want to make outfits even more unique and personalized. Not only that but incorporating DIY items can reignite your passion for Lolita fashion if it’s been fading for awhile.  It also can be inexpensive (depending on the project). And of course a fun project to show off to your friends and family.

In Gothic Lolita Bibles and JFashion mooks you can find patterns for dresses and accessories.  However sometimes they require a higher-level of sewing skill I don’t have. I do however crochet and knit quite a bit, and when wearing Lolita coordinates I try to include more handmade accessories for a more personalized touch.  Well done handmade accessories are not only small projects you can devote a day to, but they are often simple enough that anyone can do.

Plus it’s nice to brag about something you’ve made.

Here are a few of my favorites that are on my “Nothing-To-Do” list.

For those who crochet/knit, sites like Ravelry, Lionbrand, and Caron are great free resources for patterns (Note: For access to Ravelry and Lionbrand you would need to sign up for an account; plus side it’s free).  And if you are looking for specific patterns look towards Etsy and eBay – especially when it comes to finding vintage patterns and the like.

FYeah Lolita has a post on a long informative list of tutorials I simply can’t compete with.

Do you have any projects you’ve been meaning to work on? Whether it be a massive sewing project or something you’ve been meaning to try? 

YOLO – Recaps and Resolutions

A photo collage of 2012 from left to right in no particular order: Met Simon Doonan; hosted a summer potluck; Saw the My Little Pony Project; Went to AnimeBoston as press; Got Married; Started up an Etsy shop; Met some Bay Area Lolitas and Twinkie Chan; Celebrated the end of 2012 with a new career goal.

 Resolutions are really not meant to be kept, but act as guidelines to strive for. And always at the end of the year you should always give yourself an “A for effort.”  Even if you do not fulfill all of them.

However you should have accomplished at least one.

The only real resolution I would like to keep is to live life for the experience and get a good story out of it.  Because this was really a raison d’etre I have followed for most of my adult life.

It was the reason I chose the college I went to.
It was the reason I moved to New York City.
It was reason I got into Lolita fashion.
It was one of the reasons I created this blog.

You have probably noticed the voice of this blog has changed a bit the few times I’ve written.  In the future things won’t be too different – at least I hope not.  There will be less events posts and more event coverage posts. I hope there will be more quality posts. Perhaps more “what I think about the fashion” posts. 

And of course, lots of food posts.

Do you have any realistic resolutions 2013?

Cupcake of the Week: Cako

This is a special “Cupcake of the Week” as I’m in San Francisco for the week. Cako is a local cupcake bakery in the Bay Area. They have your regular flavors like red velvet and vanilla to the more eccentric like maple bacon and pink lemonade. Also something called a “Rich and Famous” – essentially chocolate ganache frosting with chocolate cake.

2012 Holiday Window Displays in NYC

Window Browsing is Better than Shopping.

Holidays are often the best times for tourists with chance to see New York City during their vacation.  For New Yorkers its also a time to brood and avoid all the any plans that involve remotely going near main points of traffic.

However there is one that thing that both tend to enjoy is the holiday window displays.  People line up and wait just to see what will light up and what new themes stores have come up with.

Like the ice rinks that open, the special markets that open during this time of year, stores get into the season by decorating their windows with images that inspire anyone to take their camera out. I personally recommend starting midtown and walking up. Depending on the time of day you can visit them all in one day – be prepared to brave crowds and have your walking shoes on.

Barney’s New York displays have been in the news when they announced a collaboration with Disney.  As fitting for the “Electric Holiday” Collection, Barney’s is lit up like a neon tree with screens showing an original animation featuring Disney characters like Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, Tiana, Cruella DeVil, etc. along side real-life faces like Sarah Jessica Parker, BryanBoy, Lanvin’s Alber Ebaz, Cathy Horyn, Naomi Campbell, etc.

Thu Dec 6 – Wed Jan 2 
660 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065

Bergdoff Goodman also has a jazz theme that is becoming a fan favorite of mine.  With scenes of a party underway to a scene from a circus act to a couple dancing the tango, one can’t help but take a picture to bright up your day.

Thu Dec 6 – Tue Jan 1 
754 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Bloomingdales takes you to the circus with scenes from Cirque du Soleil: A World’s Away.  There are luchadors wrestling, ribbon dancers flying through the air, and carousel in the sky.

Thu Dec 6 – Mon Dec 31
1000 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Henri Bendel illustrate jazz age scenes with mannequins dressed in period fashion made of unusual materials like coffee beans, newspapers, an cupcake liners. This display was a collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum and features a place card in each window of the source of historic inspiration.

Thu Dec 6 – Tue Jan 1
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Lord and Taylors – See Santa visit the sights of Christmas around the world and New York City. With scenes of Central Park Zoo to a Christmas party to a scene of snowfall in Japan.

Thu Dec 6 – Mon Dec 31
424 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10018

Macy’s – The famous department takes a more traditional route by depicting the story of “Yes Virgina, there is a Santa Claus” on the 34th Street side.  On the other explores the “Magic of Christmas.”

Thu Dec 6 – Mon Dec 31
151 34th Street
New York, NY 10001

Saks Fifth Avenue – As fitting of the famous department store, there is a two-minute light show to go along with the displays from 5 – 10PM everyday.  Depicting a tale about a Yeti that lives on the roof of the store.  Meanwhile on street-level, one can enjoy nostalgic scenes of children playing – something we all wish we could still do.

Wed Dec 5 – Mon Jan 7
611 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Tiffany & Co. – If you’re significant other can’t take the hit, perhaps they should take a look at these windows.  Depicting a traditional scenes of Christmas trees with little blue boxes with white ribbon surrounding the tree, to doorsteps of rings covered in snow, to a simple silhouette of a couple in love.

Thu Dec 6 – Wed Jan 2
727 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022