A mon seul desir

When we were Young

amanea — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:29:25 +0000

Summer Festivals are here… I saw an add for a festival that had many bands I knew including Jane’s Addiction. Rukiya and I felt this was exactly what we needed, even though we had not been in a music festival in over 10 years it just seemed like the perfect youth revival plan… “Bottle Rock 2013″ here we go!

Ah yes… remembrance of a younger me going to the Big Day Out in Australia with my BFF, feeling so cool, fighting our way to the front, going from stage to stage …

Well… We weren’t the only one going for a revival… or maybe I just saw thing differently when I was younger… cause the crowed at bottle rock felt quite… mature… Or maybe it was just that we were Jane’s Addiction fans…

Oh well we still had a blast. Jane’s Addiction was alright, no encore it seems the crowed and the group just did not mend despite Perry drinking wine out of the bottle. Ben Harper was phenomenal however a real magic moment with an outstretched encore. We also saw Kings of Leon, who did a clean set, songs like the album, nothing ground breaking but nothing catastrophic either.

My Favorite moment of the evening was still going to the restaurant after the concert and hearing some younger guys trying to teach a poor couple about Dave Navarro except they had mistaken Dave for Tommy Lee and adding “yeah… he was in this band like a long time ago… like… in the 90′s” sic! yep… we’re like… ancient now!

Jane says raise your hands! Perry and Dave still looking good

Sublime Ben Harper

Clean cut Kings of Leon

We Bottle Rock!

We had a nice day

amanea — Sat, 04 May 2013 03:46:42 +0000

Part of the OMG the weather is beautiful in San Francisco quickly enjoy it will be too lat tomorrow program, the Ladies planned to skip classes in the afternoon and hop on a ferry to Sausalito!

We don’t do it often, but what a treat to be able to jump on a ferry cross the bay and enjoy Mojitos by the water…

Ladies are on board!

Gorgeous weather

My favorite… the Golden Gate

So beautiful in the sunset

Sacramento

amanea — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 02:17:42 +0000

Finally after 4 years in California I finally made it to the Capital… Sacramento. People in San Francisco do not talk a lot about Sacramento… it’s a direction on the highway when you go to Tahoe… Other than that… well… nothing much really… I think the only funny tidbit I received was when I first arrived, the family I was staying with their neighbor was dating a guy from Sacramento and they both told me… “you’ll see men from Sacramento…. well… they are just weird!”

In hindsight it seems particularly funny…

So how did Frenchy enjoyed Sacramento? Well it got bonus points because the weather was fantastic… I get very excited when I can wear my summer dresses. I got to ride in an old British car… made me feel quite hype… and I enjoyed some down time, reading under a tree, quite a favorite pass time I have not enjoyed in a very long time… Unfortunately Golden Gate park is a little too friendly, if you stay alone with a book under a tree, chances are some lost young hippy de-vival will come and talk to you… and try to convince you what you really need is go with him on some farm somewhere and grow your own vegetables…

Anyways Sacramento had a nice slow vibe.

The Proud British Car

Still going strong

Classic Sacramento

A Glass of Rose by the American River

Palm Trees!

Muir Wood Retreat

amanea — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:19:36 +0000

We are adults, we have adult jobs, adult rent, adult problems… but really at heart we never feel our age, and so all this weight of adulthood can sometimes take its toll on us. That is when you need to take a break, step back and re-root yourself, reconnect with who you are, what your heart desires, shutdown the noise.

This is exactly what us weekender lady of leisure decided to do. There was pampering, a fair amount of drinks and some soul searching in Muir Wood.

Muir Wood

Redwood Cathedral

We crossed the bridge… No Gephyrophobia in that crowd!

in the woods! Hiking!

The little river that hosted our soul searching

Yeah secret spot

Tiburon

Modern and rusty

amanea — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:56:01 +0000

The nice spring days are upon us. Most people say all that is missing in San Francisco is good weather… But if we had that we would have a lot more people around and the rents are expensive enough as it is.

This city has a distinct feel when you can actually walk around and appreciate its architecture. Each neighborhood have their own specificity, one of my favorite walk is below the bay bridge. It’s an interesting mix of Modern and post industrial rusty vestige.

Rusty Pier with Bay bridge behind

That 50′s Feel

Our Loch Golden Gate park Monster

amanea — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:41:16 +0000

Sunday.. a somewhat foggy weekend but with patches of clear weather. A different shade of green in the park but most importantly the discovery of new friends. We knew the ducks, Canada goose and other stupid pigeons we now know there are also carps and… our very own Loch monster… well really an escaped turtle.

I really enjoy being located so close to the park.

It’s matting season…

The monster shows it’s face at the surface of the water

Sakura!

Happy in front of the sakura!… now where is my nihon shu!?

We also have a windmill… a gift to the park… I assume from a dutch family

Easter

amanea — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:56:13 +0000

Easter with Heather… We had our getaway planned… We were to enjoy a fabulous meal in Napa… On our way we tried to stop in Sausalitos to see Tall Ships, one of which was used on Pirates of the Caribbean… Unfortunately we got the schedules mixed-up, and ended up arriving just as it was closing.

Ah Well… At least we truly enjoyed a fabulous meal at Bottega in Youtville. I am tough to please, and have higher expectations when I visit more pricey establishments. Bottega had only one down size, no French Champagne, but the reason behind it is fairly reasonable, the owner serves Italian cuisine and therefore only serves Italian and American Wine.. which for red and white makes sense… but for Champagne… I really have never tried anything that remotely compared.

That aside, the food was excellent a perfect balance I would highly recommend the potato gnocchi they were divine and the polenta was so creamy! We also tried the duck 3 ways, the confit was fantastic (magret could have been sliced thinner and the skin a little more grilled). Bonus, ask to be seated at the terrace (much better than the light deprived inside) it is covered and has a view of the surrounding hills and small garden.

Overall it has my seal of approval!

Tall Boats… with the aura of Johny Depp somewhere

Heather by the glycine

Garden in Front of Bottega restaurant

Jonny Fritz & Heartless Bastards @ The Great American Music Hall

amanea — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 03:09:55 +0000

Saturday Concert at The Great American Music Hall.

Jonny Fritz has a very impressive voice with a lot of range, he was playing with just a violinist, also very talented. It was my first time being exposed to their music and I would highly recommend checking those guys out, honest Americana music with a pure voice and interesting lyrics.

Heartless bastards… really enjoyed the opening song “the Mountain”, unfortunately by the 4th song, it started to feel somewhat repetitive. The singer has an interesting voice, but it felt she always came back to the same “owhs and ahs”.

Jonny Fritz

Jonny Fritz and The in-law… well an in-law

Heartless Bastards

Hearts for Vday

amanea — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:44:58 +0000

Valentine’s Day is once more back with its load of hearts, cheesy cards, roses and chocolates. This year I spent half my day as a volunteer for the Heroes & Hearts Benefit for The San Francisco General Hospital.

This event was at the AT&T Ball park

AT&T Park

Golden Gate Heart

Heart of Giants… pretty cool

My favorite

DUGOUT! I probably stepped on sweat and spit from the Giants…

A day at the Park

amanea — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:48:49 +0000

Spring in San Francisco, it doesn’t last long as it is usually the premise for the summer fog, so when you are blessed by a beautiful day you make the most of it. Luckily I now leave next to a park, so I got to go on a romantic stroll, with first stop the “water chicken” (American coot) to give away the stale bread.

Then just roam around and discover new places. The Golden Gate is a fairly big park so plenty to discover still.

Canada Goose

Miniature Boat!

Punk Duck