Mocca is a hidden gem tucked away on Maiden Lane next to high-end boutiques like Theory and Chanel.

Aaaah, blogging. Now I truly understand why Tumblr has become an increasingly popular platform for sharing information. Alas, I will make more of a concerted effort to update this particular blog on a more consistent basis – even as my days get more and more hectic with a myriad of projects.

I’ve had quite a few good friends, once San Francisco denizens themselves, visit in the past couple of months and it has always been incredibly beautiful outside which leads them to believe that they “brought the good weather with them.” Truth be told, of the estimated 30 days out of the year that are 75 degrees or warmer in SF, most occur in late August through mid-September. Either way, I let them believe that their presence brought on the heatwave and then I take them to a nice outdoor place like Mocca to enjoy the city at its finest.

Mocca is tucked away on Maiden Lane and reminds me of the numerous, quaint little bistros I visited on my week-long excursion through Paris a few years back. Yes, the food is a bit on the pricey side and I would highly recommend asking for a glass to fill up with water from their pitchers (unless you think paying $4.25 for a 16-ounce bottle of Pellegrino is acceptable). However, the ambience, portion sizes, and overall authenticity (not to mention reprieve from the noisy hustle and bustle of Union Square) definitely make it worth the expense.

Below are a few photos I snapped with my iPhone (only to have my friends liken me to a tourist) and edited with Chase Jarvis’ The Best Camera application. Yes, I do need to jump on the Camera+ bandwagon.

An intricate twist on your traditional tomato-basil salad.

Average price = around $15.

Jalapeno cornbread, gelatin, and vanilla sundae by Jean Francois Houdre (Westin St. Francis).

This past weekend, I got to indulge two of my greatest current passions, food and photography, at the annual SF Chefs Food & Wine Festival held in and around Union Square. While I’ve certainly never been a stranger to fine dining from my childhood to the present, I can also wholly admit that only in the past few years have I truly developed an appreciation for the thought coupled with effort that goes into the preparation and presentation of each and every dish at an upscale venue.

For those people that can confidently refer to themselves as “foodies,” SF Chefs certainly did not disappoint. I joined Mika and a group of my close friends for a fun-filled few days of sampling some of the best, most innovative, and tasty cuisine that San Francisco has to offer. For a city that boasts the following statistic – if you dine at a different establishment every single day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it would take you 10 years to eat at every single place – it was comforting to know that we could easily indulge in the libations from hundreds of different outlets on a daily basis during the course of the festival.

For those of you that enjoy and truly appreciate food, I highly recommend checking out FoodFashionista. If you want to look at (and drool over) some full-size photos, check out my Flickr stream.

The amazing bubblegum cupcake. It's even better than bubblegum ice cream.

I can’t really help it; I love cupcakes. Some of my more sophisticated foodie friends have decried their premature demise by writing them off as a trend. However, it doesn’t seem like they’re going anywhere with the long lines you can find at almost any given time outside of Kara’s Cupcakes and, now, American Cupcake which recently opened a flagship store on Union Street.

I first discovered what I believe trumps my own namesake establishment in taste and quality at the first edition of Cupcake Camp that took place two years ago. Hundreds of people brought a variety of cupcakes that they either created on their own or purchased from a bakery. The bubblegum cupcake that one participant submitted immediately piqued my interest but I was reticent to try it out. A friend ended up daring me to and I was pleasantly surprised with how incredibly delicious it really was. That’s what makes American Cupcake really great: They have unique flavors but, more importantly, they get it just right. The frosting and cake aren’t too sugary sweet – a common complaint most cupcakes receive.

Below is a video my friend, Eddie, took of Cupcake Camp. At the 3:24 mark, I’m trying it out for myself and I’ve been hooked ever since:

The great thing, and the differentiating factor, about American Cupcake is that they’ve gone a step beyond the traditional bakery and transformed their store into a hip, modern lounge where you can also enjoy a glass of beer, wine, or tea with your favorite dessert. On top of that, they also offer up a variety of carnival-type treats. I always have female friends visiting from the East and South bay and this is a great alternative to a typical bar to grab a drink – especially since they stay open until midnight from Thursday through Saturday. I’d like to refer to this place as the younger, cooler sister to Kara’s even though I enjoy those too.

*Side note: Eddie also recorded a clip of me saying “yummy bubblegummy cupcake.” Good videographers always capture the pertinent moments. Thankfully, I can’t locate it anywhere on the Web.

The store is stocked with tons of sweets.

I recently purchased a cotton candy cupcake for a friend's birthday and she loved it.

Lemon cupcakes. I'll have to try one next time I visit.

The crowd at Fort Mason Center...

There are few things I enjoy more in life than a craft fair filled with quality, handmade goods. As I’m looking forward to redecorating my new apartment and updating my wardrobe, I always find these types of events extremely inspiring.

This past Saturday, my friends and I attended the 3rd annual Renegade Craft Fair held at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. With over 250 exhibitors hailing from all over the country, there was a lot to take in and admire. Below are photos of some of my favorite items (surprisingly, almost all of the exhibitors wanted you to take pictures of their wares). If you didn’t get a chance to make it out this weekend, the 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale will be returning to the Concourse Exhibition Center this December 18th + 19th.

Note: Judging from the online stores, some of the artists listed below have pulled a bulk of their inventory for this festival. Therefore, some of the items below may not be available to purchase online for a while.

Wood routings from Dave Marcoullier:

Darling robot necklaces from Oh, Hello Friend:

From the amazing folks at Prix-Prix:

Necklaces made from 1950s-era Japanese faux pearls intertwoven with reconstructed silk neckties.

Eco-friendly wallets made from reconstructed silk ties.

Reconstructed shirts from Nous Savons:

Adorable munaluna robot pillow dolls from San Francisco-based artist Meredith Cheng:

1.by.liz bicycle clocks made from reclaimed textiles and recycled bike gears:

Orange Slice jewelry is made from laminate cultivated from sustainably harvested trees:

Isabelle modeling a cute organic print top from Supermaggie:

Handmade pottery by Sara Paloma:

Hand knit puppy and monkey mittens from Zooniwear!:

Belts crafted from vintage materials by Souldier:

Crafty & geek-friendly shirts from Campfire:

They make a shirt for each state.

San Francisco has the best burritos.

Quirky cards and wall hangings from The Frantic Meerkat:

Affordable, versatile earrings by JaymiPop:

Her retro TV display was my favorite showcase at the fair.

Odd yet amusing: Paste Shirts’ homage to Nancy Reagan:

Twinkie Chan’s delectable knits:

Straight from the Mission District: molly m designs:

The third one from the left is a must-have.

There were a lot of screen print posters celebrating bands at the show. My favorites came from Nate Duval:

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Best. Phish. Poster. Ever.

Jewelry from NYC-based designers VERAMEAT:

I call this the "Molly the dog" ring after my friend Kelly's lovable Boston Terrier.

SF-based letterpress designers Mara and Anna’s (Dutch Door Press) stationary and greeting cards:

Finally, the best saved for last: These modular ceramic bowls from Speechless Studios remind me of my grandparents house. They were so hip with their modern, timeless decor:

I AM SENSATIONAL. Yep, this is a Pesto Pizza.

I’ve been going through a bit of a transition lately. Mostly, it’s fueled by the fact that I have been underwhelmed with mostly everything that’s come into my life this year and I’d like to make it better – or worthy of me and my personal standards, at least. Recognizing the fact that I’m the only one that can make positive change possible has forced me to radically alter my habits.

One area I’ve been particularly focused on the most is my physical health. As a result, I’ve abstained from any alcoholic beverages since the beginning of July and have made a concerted effort to eat a mostly vegan diet. Basically, I’m trying to adhere to author Michael Pollan’s now infamous quote: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Oh, and I’ve been going to gym almost every single day. That’s a MUST.

Quite a few people on and offline have bashed Café Gratitude, which boasts locations in both San Francisco and Berkeley, as a pretentious, overpriced establishment. While their food is a bit expensive, I do enjoy indulging there every once in awhile as I appreciate the ingenuity that goes into creating some of their concoctions. I’ve been there three times in the past two months and have always been satisfied with both the taste and quality of their food.

Below are some photos that will give you an idea of what both the food and ambience are like. I do prefer the Berkeley location for the spaciousness and quality of service as opposed to the one in the Mission.

Strawberry layer cake.

Tarot cards await patrons at the Berkeley location.

I AM CHEERFUL. Sesame seed burger.

I AM FESTIVE. Taco Salad with cashew nacho cheese.

I AM THANKFUL. Coconut curry soup with avocado, tomato, cucumber, shiitake mushrooms & cilantro.

I AM MAGNIFICENT. Their chocolate mousse pie is the best dessert.

Kelly showing Adam who's boss.

The other night, some friends and I trekked across the Bay Bridge en route to Oakland (with the exception of Kate, who is now an East Bay resident) to watch our amazing friend Kelly shake it under her new, and endearingly clever, moniker Gigi Topp. As part of Bombshell Betty‘s latest cadre of sexy, supremely confident burlesque dancers, Kelly dominated the set (and our friend Adam, at one point) as Nurse Gigi.

Part of me wishes I possessed the cojones necessary to get up on a stage in a scanty yet tasteful ensemble and entice a crowd of people in a packed night club. This is what Betty, the self-made entrepreneur that affixes Bombshell to her name while performing, teaches the thousands of women that sign up for her San Francisco-based “Burlesquercise” classes and Pinup workshops. Confidence comes from within and has very little to do with body size; it’s the attitude you have about yourself that others will adopt.

Needless to say, my friends and I were mesmerized by the myriad of truly lovely and vivacious women that graced the stage at Uptown night club throughout the evening. So inspired, in fact, that we’ve decided our next girly gathering is going to involve creating sexy outfits comprised of lace, silk, sequins, and whatever else strikes our fancy. Even if we all don’t muster up the courage to take a class and make our onstage debut, a little spice combined with some ingenuity is guaranteed to bring out an inner spark that no one can resist. And that’s what Betty herself would want the most.

The photos posted here are safe for work. The rest, I have forwarded on to Kelly to do with as she pleases. For more information of her future performances as Gigi Topp, friend her on Facebook.

Nurse Gigi to the rescue...

Bombshell Betty.

Gilt's home page.

I’ve been meaning to write about Gilt, an online luxury retail site that offers discounts up to 70% off original prices from top-shelf designers, for quite a while now as I’ve had access for nearly a month. However, what inspired me to create a brand new account for this blog (and offer my readers an invite to try it for themselves) is one of the most genuine and generous members of the San Francisco community, Andrew Mager.

Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Today alone, deals from some of my favorite designers including Marc Jacobs and Vera Wang abound while past sales have included the wares of Diane Von Furstenberg, Gucci, and Jill Sander. If you sign up using this link, http://www.giltgroupe.com/invite/iloveitsf, you’ll get to invite your friends and, in turn, receive a $25 credit when they purchase something (Andrew will get $25 after my initial purchase). Enjoy the site and don’t drool too much over the fantastic finds for men, women, children, and home decor as well. Finally, I recommend shopping as soon as a new alert passes through your inbox as some of the best stuff sells out in a matter of minutes.

Seychelle shoes - one of my favorite lines.

The beginning stages of a True Blood-themed cupcake.

Iron Cupcake San Francisco, a monthly event that takes place at the ever-charming Leland Tea Company, is coming up this Monday and I’ve decided to enter as a baker for the very first time. The theme, for June, is berries and after much deliberation, I felt it was high time to pay homage to one of my favorite television shows – none other than HBO’s incredible original series, True Blood.

I always give credit where it’s due and while my original idea was a bit more vanilla (pun intended), Mike came up with the idea to create something truly incendiary that would tap into the grit that makes the show so spectacular. Without further ado, pictures of our practice round can be found below. I’ll reveal the final results in my coverage of the forthcoming Iron Cupcake because it is, after all, a competition and some things should remain shrouded in mystery.

Oh, and thank you to Mike for offering up his place for baking. We arrived at my place only to discover I didn’t have all the cooking tools necessary. Whoops.

It's the super duper Apple mixer to the rescue.

One more use for the iPad: Reading out the recipe. Much more practical that a laptop.

Preparing to make vanilla cake batter from scratch. My Mom would be so proud that I didn't resort to Betty Crocker this time around.

Sifting the flour.

If there's one thing I can do properly, it's separating an egg yolk from the white.

Here's a better one: Photo by Mike Margolis.

I thought it would be "clever" to use aluminum cupcake wrappers to represent silver - a vampire repellent. I'm still available for hire, folks. Photo by Mike Margolis.

Extreme dork photography complete with a tripod.

Experimenting with different quantities and positioning of berries - all in the name of science. Photo by Mike Margolis.

Extreme dork photography, part 2: Me with a Canon 77mm 500D zoom lens that took the shot at the very top. Photo by Mike Margolis.

Using an immersion blender for the berries. In the future, we will not be using whipping cream.

A delicious medley of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries simmering on the stove unfortunately did not create the desired effect.

Taking a break while the cupcakes bake and indulging in some reflective photography.

I would not recommend making corn syrup from scratch - ever.

Delicious but doesn't quite look right. The frosting didn't come out either. Next time around, it will.

Two raspberries in the middle achieved the desired effect for the inside of the cupcake. Yes, it represents gory guts and blood in honor of the vamps.

Custom painted Nikes from Demise Apparel.

I went to a private Catholic High School in the East Bay Area suburbs and was required to wear a uniform four days per week. On “Free Dress Friday,” students were allowed to wear anything they wanted (within reason, of course). My friends and I would usually shop for clothes at the limited number of retail outlets in the area and would often, to our horror, show up in the same or eerily similar ensemble. To this day, none of us will set foot in Gap or Banana Republic. Clearly what we were all missing were events that celebrated independent design like THREAD Show.

I first discovered THREAD back in 2008 and have attended ever since. This year, my friends Jeffrey and Ava DJed both fashion shows while dozens of local independent designers displayed their wares at discounted prices. I picked up a restructured ’80s-era dress from Taxi CDC, which is based in Los Angeles, and was happy to learn that Free Gold Watch, an independent company that was operating out of a garage in SF, has now expanded to a storefront location in the Haight and is carried in many local boutiques. Below are a few of the highlights from this past Saturday at the Concourse Exhibition Center:

The first booth to catch my eye was Garden Party Clothing.

Garden Party Clothing.

A rack of restructured pieces courtesy of Taxi CDC.

Me posing with my chosen dress from Taxi CDC.

Free Gold Watch booth...

Free Gold Watch.

Wall art from Free Gold Watch.

THREAD Show's main floor...

Earrings from Anicka Designs.

Anicka Designs...

Los Angeles-based designer Beata Dirycz combines bold patterns with flattering designs.

Beata Dirycz.

The folks at Sezio's booth created custom screen print designs all day.

The best-dressed attendee I saw all day was hanging out at Sezio.

Sezio Del Norte.

My buddy, Dustin Mitchell (@indiequick), helping out with the screen printing.

The guys may have burned a shirt or two

The Girl and the Rhino.

I almost picked up one of these cute Kami Shade swim suits.

Dewi Jewelry consists primarily of intricately woven thread.

Dewi Jewelry.

The golden cherub above the front entrance welcomes patrons to Fat Angel.

*Update* Fat Angel has slowly morphed into my very own modern day version of Cheers. I spent the entire weekend (as well as a better part of the past week) there chatting up the bartenders and sampling their delicious food. New photos have been added after the jump…

Two of my good friends live in the high-rise condo complex right behind The Fillmore and I noticed, by way of their Facebook and Twitter updates, that they constantly hang out at Fat Angel which is located on the ground floor next the main lobby of their building (aptly named The Fillmore Center). When one of them posted about the Happy Hour specials on their craft beers and vast selection of wine, I knew I had to check it out and discover for myself what all the hype was about.

I met my friend, Dustin, for a drink before we headed out to to see The National. I was immediately intrigued by the decor including a pipe organ mounted above the bar. As it turns out, the owners salvaged a lot of what constitutes the interior from an old church in Napa Valley. The selection of beverages was creative, diverse, plentiful, and best of all, affordable. Alas, since I was driving that evening, I opted for Kölsch beer, a German specialty brew. Though we didn’t have time for food, the menu options (including garnishments like maple bacon butter) looked especially appetizing making me wish I didn’t eat dinner earlier.

For those who favor more of a laid back atmosphere, this is the ideal place to hang out before or after a show at The Fillmore, Kabuki Theater, or Yoshi’s.

Their chicken pot pie is simply to die for...

Some of the brews on tap.

Aritsan flatbread pizza...

Dustin with a Kölsch.

Chandelier with pipe organ in the background...

These bar stools are a lot more comfortable than they look.