PLACES TO VISIT IN 2012

Since moving West I've been trying to explore Oakland more, I love the 90's Brooklyn vibe it evokes and I feel like a fixture in the movie The Wackness when I'm there. To my surprise the New York Times listed Oakland 5th on their list of places to visit in 2012. The exploding food scene probably tops the reasons but I'm all for it! Read the NYT list here for more.

CREATIVE GROWTH

Today I finally visited Creative Growth, an Art Center that serves adult artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities with a professional studio environment and gallery. The studio is amazing—there are various stations for the artists to work at: mosaics, tapestries, illustration, etc...and the best part is the works are available for sale. There are some seriously stunning pieces which make you feel especially good dropping in on. Do yourself a favor and visit their main studio in Oakland or smaller gallery in the Mission of San Francisco.

STAY GOLDEN

One of our favorite shops in SF, Reliquary, introduced us to one of our new favorite local designers, Ali Golden. She works mostly in sheers, which is great for fall layering and her color pallet is spot on with cobalt blues and saffron yellows. She has a small shop in Oakland's hot like fire Temescal neighborhood, which is super cute too. Stay Golden Ponyboy, stay Golden.
(Images courtesy of Refinery29)