Straw & Smitten [Hayes Valley]

Straw: Carnival Fare

What's more to love than a wonderful Saturday morning, your girlfriends and some 'carnival fare' brunch. I about died when I saw the menu. This quaint little brunch spot has the craziest menu around!  A hamburger with donuts as buns, red velvet pancakes, tons of grilled cheese options and red velvet tater tots. 

YES PLEASE.

Not only was the food fab, but the place was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. I love creative restaurants and I seriously can't wait to head back.

Smitten Ice Cream. 

Of course we had to stop at the outdoor Ice creamery on our way out of Hayes Valley. This place is to die for and they make it right in front of you...... yumm

Brunch at the Brixton

I've been wanting to go to The Brixton on Union St. for a while now and the other weekend I finally got to go! This place is not only a great brunch spot, but its also a great place to grab a drink on a weekend. They have seats indoors and outside and huge doors that open to the street. 

It was such a nice day so we decided to sit out on the patio. We got mimosas, of course, and I tried their eggs benedict. 

Really wanna go back!

Cinco de Derby

When you live somewhere like San Francisco you have to celebrate every little holiday that exists, especially when its a nice day. Sooo of course, last weekend my friends and I met up for brunch and celebrated Cinco de Mayo while at a Kentucky Derby watching party. 

One day I would like to go to the actual Kentucky Derby just for the experience, but this SF version was my cup of tea. My horse, Sabercat,  totally lost, but I wasn't sad because.....

let's just say my day consisted of a grilled cheese bar, mimosa bar, tequila, mint juleps, summer dresses, large hats and 75 degree weather. Not a bad Saturday if you ask me.

The best part? 

Of course the grilled cheese bar and tequila... :)

Can't wait for next year!

Golden Gate Park afternoon

Lately, lady SF has been heating up.. and these past few weekends have been nothing less of amazing. When it's nice outside the whole city comes out and you almost feel bad if you don't go outside to enjoy the sun all day. So, my friends and I decided to head to Golden Gate Park, after brunch of course, to enjoy the beautiful day. We spent the whole day walking through the park all the while enjoying the sites, scenery, and people. It is such an amazing place--probably one of the coolest i've parks I've been in. Not only is there a Japanese Tea Garden, huge museums and paddle boating, but there are bison (literally) roaming around in the middle of the park. I mean, how do you top that?

Cannot wait for another sunny afternoon in Golden Gate! 

When friends visit...

Sometimes nothing is better than having friends come visit for a long weekend. I'm pretty sure I was non stop laughing the entire time.

Here we are at one of my favorite brunch spots in North Beach, Delluva.

We had bottomless mimosas.....

                                                                It was pretty fun....

Then we hiked up the hill to Coit Tower.

the next day we had a little more brunch cause thats what we do..

and we hiked up to Lombard St.

and then we hiked back down to Buena Vista for an Irish coffee.

and of course stopped at the water

struck the DG pose :)

became tourists in Fisherman's Wharf

became locals at Pier 23...

ventured down the Embarcadero

and of course went out on the town!

Such a fun filled weekend! I can't wait for them to come again!