Square One & Birthdays

Oh Monday, you're not lookin too shabby... Friends are lovely, especially when you get to celebrate their birthday!  Mark & Lilan decided to have the same birthdays, pretty cool huh?  They also decided to go to two of my very favorite places, Big Bar and Square One.  The lovely Florence whipped up some spectacular beverages with fresh squeezed this and scotch that, so fresh!  We then made our way to Square One for brunch where we indulged in Bourbon Pecan French Toast, Citrus Banana French Toast, Bacon like you wouldn't believe, and other eggy-weggy dishes.  Oh happy day my dears.

In other news I went to the bowl last night to see Neko Case and The National, it was amazing.  Neko reallllly knows how to pull at my heart strings, cause there were points in the show where I was teary eyed and blissed out.  Sheer passion and the way here voice carried through the Hollywood Hills?  Breathtaking.  Then Matt Berninger made me wanna stay out super late and put a little somethin in my lemonade in this here Fake Empire.

Time to enjoy my day off, have a marvelous Monday folks!

Kern River

Kern River is one of my favorite places to go during the summer, especially with my fam.  Lot's of picnicing happened and the water was incredibly perfect for jet skiing and drinking wine on the beach.  Of course we had a trip or two to Kern River Brewing Company where they had the delicious Class X aged in Bourbon Barrels, which I will disclose the amount that we consumed over the weekend it was that good.  For being a middle of nowhere town, they have the best grub ranging from awesome Fish & Chips to Bacon Bleu Cheese burgers, and after a long day on the water it totally hits the spot.

This little getaway is so close too!  Only 3 hours from Los Angeles and absolutely gorgeous.  Life is all about experiencing and living my friends, make it a point to get out and see this pretty little world... This weekend I'll be in June Lake and Mammoth, it's gonna be so relaxing I can't wait!

San Fransisco Outsidelands Music Festival

 

A pretty city, a pro-picnicing community, parks like you wouldn't believe, and a music festival nestled in one of my favorite places, Golden Gate Park.  We wound up at the Monk's Kettle sipping some delicious Belgians and Saisons, and I wish we had been hungry enough to eat from their menu.  Later we wound up at Outside Lands, honestly wasn't all that great day one, it was gloomy, freezing, and the walk was much longer than we anticipated.  Plus the two performers we really wanted to see were being diva's and drinking Crystal Champagne and not doing what they were paid to do.  Oh Big Boi and Erika Badu, you suck. 

Thankfully Saturday brought bright blue skies and a Anniversary party to celebrate Toronado's 24th year providing San Fransiscan's with the best beer at extremely reasonable prices.  Don't tell anyone, but I'm starting to like Sour Beers... I enjoyed a few at the party and my predictions of the beer spectrum were true!  I'll explain more about that in a strictly beer post.

Saturday's highlight performers were wonderful, Sia really surprised me with her grand stage presence and sheer cuteness.  The Roots truly were the Ultimate, Rock-rocking it!  I felt like I was 18 again and a hip hop princess in that moment, sigh.

Sunday was a $10 bottomless Mimosa morning, kicked off at Circa where the food was yummy and the day started off right.  Tune-Yards was one of the best performers I've ever seen, miss Merill rocks the loop pedal, layering her own vocals, drums, and Yuke magic!  Everyone was head bobbing to this beauty.  Arcade Fire was amazing as usual, though I wish the sound engineers had made it louder, oh well.  

Back to the real world I go, it's ok though cause Friday it's Hollywood Bowling round one!  I'm already concocting the cheese plate in my head and pairing the wines...  Happy Tuesday!

Alpine Brewery

America's Finest Beer Festival had been canceled, so we decided to venture to an adorable little mountain town and visit Alpine Brewery.  Purveyors of craft brews and masters of scrumptious eats in the most intimate setting.  Beers on tap were very Summer-friendly with IPA's galore, as well as beers possessing adventure.  I fell for the Nelson, a Rye IPA with New Zealand hops and rye maltiness.  The Mandarin Nectar is definitely my drink this by the lake beer, being an Orange Blossom Honey Ale.  It's  an ale infused with organic orange zest and coriander, taking me to swoonsville.     

If you're ever in San Diego and want a fun little field trip, I can't recommend going here enough, beers are decently priced, tasters are cheap, and the food is too good.  Deep fried pickles, sweet potato fries, Pulled Pork Sandwich, and so much more! 

Happy weekend!

Orange County Fair

  

Oh Orange County Fair, I love you.  Once a year you come strutting around with your Let's Eat this and why not deep fry that attitude, and those rides that I used to ride in high school with my besties (what was I thinking!).  It is totally worth going, infact I'm going to make it an annual endeavor.  So the deep fried avocados had me at hello and the freshly made chips wowed my flats off!  Did I mention they have beer? 

The skyway was the perfect way to enjoy the sunset, watching adorable couples pass by, the occasional oversized bear, and the pink sky warm my heart.  I totally wanted to win one of those Despicable Me guys, however came to the realization I really wouldn't know what to do with a giant stuffed animal.  People watching was perfect of course and riding the Ferris wheel was just magical.  Best ride?  The Sky Flyer Swings, move over Soaring Over California!

Oh summer, you're the one.  I can't wait for more adventures...