Old fashioned winter wonderland carousel in Berkeley, CA!

One of our winter traditions is to visit the Tilden Park Cariusel in Berkeley, CA. Tonight, Santa Claus is here! There is the carousel, santa, lights, snacks, hot chocolate, etc.

Victorian Christmas festivals in Nevada City, CA

Visit the Victorian Christmas festivals in Nevada City, CA! Nevada City Chamber Of Commerce

Recommended holiday movie, “The Christmas Card.”

I recommend the holiday movie, “The Christmas Card,” filmed in Nevada City, CA. The movie tells the story of a soldier with no family who, while serving in Afghanistan, receives an anonymous holiday card that touches him deeply, while on leave back home, he travels to Nevada City. Check out the Victorian Christmas festivals in Nevada City on various Wednesday’s and Sunday’s in December. Nevada City Chamber Of Commerce

shattuck Plaza in Berkeley, CA Holiday event- free!

On many Friday nights in Berkeley, CA there are free events at the Berkeley Plaza! Tonight is a holiday event with music, festivities, etc.

Mary’s Italian Family Cookbook - recommended

I had lunch with my family today at Mary’s Pizza Kitchen in The Walnut Creek, CA. Mary Fazio opened Mary’s Pizza Shack in the Sonoma Valley in 1959. This cookbook tells the story of the real Mary behind Mary’s- a woman who created a business to keep her family together and ended up feeding everyone like family. It’s a tale of ambition and dedication, of generosity and Pizza, of hand-rolled gnocchi, Sunday dinners, and four generations. Mary’s Italian Family Cookbook By Toto & Peggy Albany and Anna Albano - Byerly. Original recipes by Mary Fazio, Founder Of Mary’s Pizza Shack from the Sonoma Valley Wine Country.

Recommended entertaining book- The Wildcrafting Brewer

I found the book, The Wildcrafting Brewer, Creating Unique Drinks and Boozy Concoctions from Nature’s Ingredients by Pascal Bauder. I found a fun recipe for root beer in the book: Rootbeer 1 gallon water 2 tablespoons of sassafrass root bark 1 tablespoon sarsaparilla root or 1/2 teaspoon of wintergreen leaf. 1 teaspoon of dried licorice root Small piece of ginger root 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar Yeast, (wild or champagne/ wine yeast beer yeast would work too.) Brown sugar 1 cup granulated cane sugar 1 tablespoon undiluted molasses for light brown sugar or 2-3 tablespoons unsulfured molasses for dark brown sugar.

Recommended book- Lone Wolf Leatherworking

This book would be a great gift or a wonderfful book for the bookshelf! Lone Wolf Leatherworking- A Complete How To Manual By Michael Gartner

The Stanford Theater, classical and independent, built in 1920's- Palo Alto, CA

The Stanford Theater 221 University Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 Stanfordtheater.org

The Rose and Crown Pub in Palo Alto, CA is a UK style pub=- cozy!

The Rose and Crown Pub is near University sTreet in Palo Alto, CA. It has cozy English pub decor with a large selection of Belgian bottles and Draft Craft Beer. The Rose and Crown 547 Emerson Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 (650) 327-7673

Alameda Theater and the Cinema Grill, Alameda, CA

The Alameda Theater features history nights featuring movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany, this week I am seeing The Star is Born with a date night with myself! The Cinema Grill features outdoor ding with cushioned couches and heat lamps! Afterwards, I will enjoy a stroll on historic Park Blvd. My father was stationed in Alameda so I enjoy the town, though haven’t spent much time here in the fast few years. The Cinema Grill features regular and gluten free Chicken Kimchee nachos with grilled chicken, tomato, Serrano, Kim Cher, cheddar, sriracha cream, and scallions. Cinema Grill 2301 Central Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 (Right next to the Alameda Theater)

2018 Dia De Los Muertos Celebration- San Francisco

Tonight, November 2nd, is the 2018 Dia de Los Muertos Festival Of Alters.  It takes place in Garfield Park in the Mission area of San Francisco.  The procession is at 7:00 PM.  There are alters set up all over the park.

Halloween Hootenany at Berkeley Plaza

We are at the Berkeley Plaza on Shattuck street near Allston in Berkeley, CA.  We are at the Hootenany, with a Bluegrass band.

Tables and chairs were provided.  We had sandwiches from Paris Baguette in the Plaza.  Our friends had Chipotle which is across the street.

Recommended old fashioned barber in Oakland, CA

I recommend Dax Lee’s Barber and Apothecary in Oakland, CA.  I took my son there today for a haircut.  I like the wood floors, American flag perched proudly in the back wall, and old fashioned barber chairs.

I highly recommend Erin!  She is skilled in long, short, straight, and wavy cuts!

Yesterday, when I stopped by to make the appointment, I picked up some hair oil and conditioner from O’Doud’s Apothecary.

Odoud’s Apothecary
Conditioner
98 Moore Street Ste. 1
Brooklyn, NY. 11206
832-795-7526

Dax lee’s Barber & Apothecary
DAXLEES.com
1707 Webster Street
Oakland, ca.

Recommended post-partum products and gifts- Earth Mama

I love the earth mama products for pregnant and new bungalow mamas.   Earth Mama makes great gifts too!

Earth Mama

No Petroleum, Parabens, or artificial fragrance

Earth Mama Angel Baby LLC
9866 S E Empire Ct.
Clackamas, OR
97105
USA
503-607-0607
EarthMama.com
Babylosscomfort.com

Halloween Parade on College Avenue in Oakland, CA

Today was the Halloween Parade and trick or treating  on College Avenue in Rockridge, CA.  This is an annual tradition for the Rockridge community, and my son has been doing the parade since he was a baby.

Get Down With Detroit

Motown, the Motor City, the D. With its history and culture and great places to hang, this happening hot spot can’t have just one name!

The Inn at 97 Winder

With accents like marble fireplaces and ornate chandeliers, the 10 rooms of this converted 1887 mansion- a throwback to Detroit's earlier heyday- radiate glamour. theinnat97winder.com _______________________________________________________________ Baker's Keyboard Lounge theofficialbakerskeyboardlounge.com Pair a night of top-rate traveling acts and local talent with soul soothing food (smothered pork chops, saucy barbecue ribs) at the city's oldest mass cluh, an intimate 84 year old joint just off of Eight Mile. _______________________________________________________________ Takoi takoidetroit.com Originally a food truck in the shadow of Detroit's iconic Michigan Central railroad station, this energetic Thai eatery rose to cult status, thanks to impeccable eats inspired by the markets of Southeast Asia. Don't miss the kitchen's standout Khao soi (curry and coconut noodles.) _______________________________________________________________ Lady of the House ladyofthehousedetroit.com Detroit native Kate Williams is putting this former pub on the map with unexpected dishes, starring regional purveyors and locally sourced produce. A not-so-subtle nod to female power. Your drink may arrive in a goddess stemmed goblet. _______________________________________________________________ Eastern Market eastern market.org Everything delicious about Detroit is ripe for the picking in this spirited commercial district. Find food trucks, curated murals, and shops peddling everything from poultry to pet accessories! _________________________________________________________________ Motown Museum motownmuseum.org The music that defined Detroit, Motown was born right in Detroit at Hitsville, the record label's first headquarters. It now houses a museum where you can learn about the label's history and even sing a few bars of your fave Supremes tune in the studio where they recorded.

Movie recommendation, Out Of Africa

I love Karen Blixen’s house in Out Of Africa.  This movie highlights the identity and life of a home in a woman’s heart.

Recommended cookbook, The Foreign Cinema Cookbook, by Gayle Pirie and John Clark

“This highly anticipated cookbook offers readers a chance to savor the best of Foreign Cinema with 125 recipes, rich storytelling, and 200 lush color photographs. “

Recommended book about nutrition: The Nourishing Traditions Book Of Baby and Child Care by Sally Fallon Morell and Thomas S. Cowan, MD.

In 1996, Mrs. Fallon Morell published the best selling Nourishing Traditions, the cookbook that launched her career in alternative health.  Sally Fallon Morell, MA is founding president of the Weston Price Foundation (www.westonaprice.org.)
I recommend the books Nourishing Traditions as well as The Nourishing Traditions Book Of Baby & Child Care.

Movie recommendation, Away We Go

For years, I have loved the movie, Away We Go.  It is an ageless story of the transformation and change that occurs when a family begins, of any number.  They travel to different cities looking for a home.  In the end, they settle in an old bungalow type home inherited from a grandmother.  It is old, worn, on the water, and beautiful!

Favorite organic maple syrup- Coombs Family Farms

My favorite maple syrup brand is Coombs Family Farms brand. They also have a space on their blog for recipes. 

“Small is a big idea.”

Coombs Family Farms

Coombsfamilyfarms.com

They use health spouts to reduce the impact on their trees, vacuum tubing to add efficiency, and reverse osmosis to reduce their carbon footprint.

Paisan Italian Restaurant in Berkeley, CA

Paisan Italian Restaurant in Berkeley, CA is our dog Mo’s favorite restaurant.  It has an indoor covered patio for rainy and/ or cold and foggy nights.  My son loves the spaghetti and meatballs.  I love the patio lights, wood , canvas, and brick natural covered patio area.  When I am here, I feel like I am on vacation.  We bring my son’s homework, games, or books with friends or on our own, and stay awhile!

Favorite bakery in Oakland- Sweet Bar Bakery

My son and I are at Sweet Bar Bakery in Oakland, CA.  It is my son’s favorite place for chocolate in the entire San Francisco Bay Area!  I like the gluten free chocolate dried cherry raisin cookies!

Sweetbar Bakery
2355 Broadway
Oakland, CA
94612

(510) 788-4997

Cole Hardware in the Rockridge district of Oakland, CA

My favorite hardware store in the San Francisco Bay Area is Cole Hardware in the Rockridge area of Oakland, CA.  I especially love the choices for lightbulbs and other old bungalow hardware needs.  It is super dog friendly and they give dog treats to my dog!  I recently purchased a pair of hummingbird feeders and they worked great!

Cole Hardware
Daily 8:00AM to 8:00PM
(510) 463-2653
Colehardware.com
5533 College Avenue
Oakland, CA
94618
(A few steps from Rockridge Bart!)