illyannam

08 Jun 2014

New York’s FREE Summer Concerts are Amazing This Year

Against the affidavits from my East Coast friends that I’d “love New York. It’s no bullshit, just like you. People in California get offended by you because they’re too sensitive…but you…you’d fit right in. Don’t you want to rekindle your Puerto Ricanness?” I have never been to New York. To

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21 May 2014

Rescue Row: The Officially Official Pet Rescue City Block in San Francisco

I grew up in a house with three indoor cats (two rescued ferals + one neighbor abandoned) and two outdoor ferals. Eventually we also rescued a Golden Labrador, Beau, from the same aforementioned neighbor. They decided to move and leave the dog behind in the front yard with no access

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21 May 2014

Reel M’ Inn: Portland’s Bar Food Extraordinaire

What could possibly distract you from the embarrassment of your traveling companion knocking over two pints of beer onto the table, floor, and your army jacket while every…one…in…the…room…watches…you? Reel M’ Inn’s fried chicken and jojos is what. Don’t believe it could be that good? Just ask Sean Brock, he proudly

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30 Apr 2014

Cookiebar: Alameda’s Ice Cream + Cookie Youth Rebellion

  Being a David Chang ball-fondler, at first I thought Cookiebar’s logo and the name were a little too close to resembling Momofuku’s Milkbar. This minor detail kept me away longer than it should have. On our way home from recreational meandering, I finally went in. All of the employees are under 30-years-old.

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02 Apr 2014

Parada 22: The Puerto Rican Pop-Up in The Mission

Parada 22 is a brick and mortar in the Upper Haight that neighbors its cousin, Cha Cha Cha.  And cousins they are, literally, for Cha Cha Cha (and Boogaloos) is owned by restaurateur Philip Belber who is a cousin of Parada 22 owner, Gloria Pinette.  For the last six months,

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26 Mar 2014

Food & Farm Film Festival: 18 reasons to spend $15

Not entirely 18 reasons, but we can thank 18 reasons for next month’s Food & Farm Film Festival. It’s the time of year where our eyes are delighted to gaze upon the pops of color finally revealing themselves at the farmer’s markets and along outdoor trails. It’s spring. Which is a

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11 Mar 2014

$1.29 bouquet of Daffodils for a Spring Wedding…

In an earlier post, I mentioned taking advantage of Trader Joe’s annual spring $1.29 bouquet of Daffodils and using them for your arrangements at your wedding. Yesterday I went to get arugula at TJ’s and saw the flowers sitting in a basket outside and I immediately bought two bouquets. The woman behind me

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11 Mar 2014

How to See Highway 1 By Bus: Eating and Traveling Bits of California’s Coast

I’m independent and I don’t own a car. If you’re a traveler like me, then you probably try to exhaust all resources before renting a car becomes an option. I find that you can sightsee more when you’re not worried about driving on a winding road along treacherous sea-hugging cliffs. I’m always

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