wrapped and ready
In response to the chilly winds and heavy fog we’ve been seeing in the city, I’ve fallen in love with Louisa Parris‘ color-blocked scarves. Inspired by the Bay Area and named after SF staples—you’re looking at the Clipper (top) and Noe 
(bottom)—Parris’ scarves consist of bold palettes that would complement neutrals, bright solids, and small-scale patterns. In the midst of all the gloom, you can bundle up and lift your spirits with the pop these beauties impart. The large swath of fabric allows you to get creative and use them as wraps, turbans, or whatever else your heart desires. I dream of matching either style with a black princess coat, dark wash denim, and a pair of suede platform pumps.
(Photos, via Louisa Parris)
on the shelf
My favorite part of summer vacation is the chance to sit back and catch up on my extensive reading list (which includes poetry collections, novels, non-fiction, literary journals, and magazines). I probably have a hundred books sitting at home that I’ll eventually get to, which doesn’t include all the books I haven’t even bought yet. The task of reading all the classics and keeping track of contemporary literature is quite daunting, but summer always gives me hope that someday, I’ll only have one more page to read.
I’ve been getting my fix of era-specific fiction with On the Road by Jack Kerouac (late forties), and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (sixties) which I finished in about two days. SF literary magazine Zyzzyva has also been keeping me riveted with its exceptional stories and poetry; the publication is defined by its contributor limitations of being a west coast writer. I’ve been glued to the pages of its Spring 2012 No. 94 volume (not shown above) and can’t wait to get my hands on back issues. I’ve also been reading the likes of Frank O’Hara and Anne Sexton lately, since I’m currently on a poetry-writing spree and can’t seem to write anything else.
daisy daze
tuning in
Last week I enjoyed a relaxing visit at home for 4th of July celebrations, and in the midst of scheduling a haircut, camping out for fireworks, and whipping up delicious (instant) vanilla pudding, I picked up an assortment of vintage vinyl. An afternoon stroll around town turned into a hunt for gold as I discovered and subsequently sifted through dusty records in one of Calistoga’s consignment stores. I was in heaven as I pored over boxes and squinted at shelves full of rock classics. My favorite finds were Elton John‘s “Greatest Hits,” the Eagles‘ “Hotel California,” and Hall & Oates‘ “Rock ‘n Soul Part 1,” though the haul also included albums from David Bowie, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, and the Rolling Stones.
I started a record collection a couple of years ago when I bought my boyfriend a turntable for Valentine’s Day. Though we don’t usually use it on a day to day basis (how would I accumulate last.fm plays?) it’s always fun to break out some tunes the old-fashioned way. There’s nothing quite like the hissing, crackling, and popping of vinyl on a turntable, and sometimes I leave the needle circling around for awhile just to listen to the sounds.
