Shop - Jeanne Storck

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Discover the Joy of Cookin'
By Jeanne Storck
June 10, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Step into Cookin' (get directions), a
vintage cookware shop in NoPa, and
you'll think you've time traveled to
your grandma's attic. The dusty and
slightly disheveled antique store
ambiance might put you off, but
spend a while sifting through the piles
of china that crowd the creaking
wooden aisles and you might
stumble on a set of snazzy Deco salt
and pepper shakers or a mid-century
melamine Texas-Ware bowl straight
from Betty Draper's kitchen.
Kitchen Aid
Cabinets groan with crocks full of old
eggbeaters, spatulas and wire whisks Photo by Jeanne Storck.
and you have to squeeze by shelves
and shelves of glassware, measuring
cups, rolling pins, copper molds and cookbooks. Name a utensil — say a hand-cranked meat
grinder — and Cookin' will show you at least ten variations.
Opened in 1985 by former literature professor Judith Kaminsky, Cookin' caters to chefs, home
cooks and food stylists hungry for the quality and style of yesteryear's kitchen. To satisfy local
gourmands with their passion for antique culinary gadgets, Kaminsky flies to France several
times a year to scout flea markets and replenish the pantry.
Chat with Kaminisky or her staff to find out what's hot and what's not in the world of vintage
cooking supplies. Customers ask for the perennial favorites — seasoned cast iron pans as well
as anything Le Creuset, the Cadillac of cookware. And who knew people went gaga for butter
dishes? Apparently at least two fly out the door each day.
Chefs can't get enough of the French silver quenelle spoons or tart pans while SF coffee geeks
seek out the classic 1940s Chemex coffee maker for their home brewing experiments. So join
the foodie parade and stop off for a little old-time kitchen culture then pick up a new-to-you
utensil and get cookin'.
About Shop San Francisco
Baseball has had a good run, but you could make a strong case for shopping as our national
pastime. We all like to shop, especially when traveling. In Shop San Francisco, we profile local
stores with unique merchandise. One of a kind, these shops enable you to bring a piece of San
Francisco home with you.
Aria Antiques Hits the Right Notes
By Jeanne Storck
August 13, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Hidden on a back street in North
Beach sits one of San Francisco's
quirkiest antique stores. To find it,
look for the window with the air of a
dreamy prop shop and a gaggle of
mint green marquee letters that spell
ARIA (get directions).
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Inside this little museum of oddities
weathered champagne buckets
mingle artfully with old stage lights,
medicine bottles, anatomical wall
charts and vintage globes. Strange
little boxes of seashells, buttons,
rosaries and keys raise more
tantalizing questions than answers,
and same goes for the baskets of
faded letters and photographs.
Photo by Jeanne Storck.
Owner Bill Haskell scours European flea markets to piece together this delightful menagerie of
misfit curios and objets d'art. Ask nicely and he might keep an eye out on his travels for that
elusive item — the French carafe or Deco light fixture — that you've been dying to find. If you're
a Francophile, Haskell is too, so he can regale you with plenty of Parisian tales.
Travel Deals.
As you browse, melodies from romantic crooners like Tom Waits, Jacques Brel and Serge
Gainsbourg drift through the air, providing the perfect soundtrack to your little antique ramble.
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Lost in Time
Haskell keeps whimsical hours and when he sets off on one of his European tours he simply
leaves a breezy note in the door saying he's out of town, so always call ahead. In the end, all of
his mysterious comings and goings just add to Aria's inscrutable charm.
coast to coast.
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Previously in Shop San Francisco
Atomic Funnies at Isotope
By Jeanne Storck
July 07, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Forget the image in your head of
teenage boys lurking in comic book
shops and head to Isotope (get
directions) where you don't need to
hide your secret love of Spiderman.
This swanky Hayes Valley comic
book lounge invites you to flaunt your
funny fetish as you settle in for a
good long read on their mod red and
white leather couch and cushy
chairs. Neat magazine racks and
sleek bookshelves line the shop and
illustration art graces the walls, giving
the space the air of a chic gallery.
Owner James Sime with his wild
shock of hair, encyclopedic
Image provided by Isotope Comics.
knowledge of comics and unbridled
enthusiasm, advises customers on
the latest and greatest. He stocks the big guys — Marvel and DC — as well as small
handcrafted zines, anime and graphic novels. If you're a newbie, chat with Sime who, armed
with a brief description of your tastes, will instantly pull something from the shelves you're bound
to like.
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Comic Relief
The folks at Isotope put the fun in funnies with a raucous line-up of in-store events. Come on
down for scotch tastings, arm wrestling, bar crawls and book signings. And while you're there,
take a gander at their "awesomely ridiculous" in-house Toilet Seat Museum, which features the
work of ace illustrators on, you guessed it, toilet seats. Okay, so maybe you can't take the
teenage boy out of the comic book fan, but Isotope sure as heck comes close.
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Shop Around the World at Global Exchange Fair Trade
Have an Art Attack at FLAX
By Jeanne Storck
July 09, 2010 at 8:00 AM
FLAX Art & Design (get directions)
has kept creative San Franciscans in
art supplies since 1938 and with over
40,000 items in stock they have what
it takes to awaken your inner
Picasso. Whatever your crafty
passion — painting, drawing, silk
screening, sculpting, carving,
calligraphy — FLAX can help.
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Flax's celebrated warehouse-size
paper room stocks over 7,000
varieties in every size, color and
texture tucked away in vast file
drawers and hanging on racks, sold
by the sheet or by the pound.
Handmade, machine-milled, natural
Photo provided by FLAX Art & Design.
fiber, special texture, deckled,
corrugated, glossy or holographic —
you name it, if FLAX doesn't have it, you'll be hard pressed to find it elsewhere.
Feeling sketchy? FLAX carries classic journals like Moleskine, Miquelrius, Clairefontaine and
Rhodia as well as funkier lines like Attic Journals with their one-of-kind covers fashioned from
old hardbacks. If you like, they'll even handcraft you a blank book using your paper of choice,
assembled by an in-house binder.
Too Cool for Art School
The kids' section at FLAX carries classics like Crayola crayons and Faber-Castell paints as well
as unique gifts to get little heads bubbling with ideas. Don't take home a tacky tee — get them a
groovy tie-dye kit so they can whip up their own summer-of-love shirt. For budding eco warriors,
try the Solar Rover kit, which teaches tots how to build a simple mini solar-powered vehicle.
FLAX offers an ever-changing list of classes for both young and old — everything from how to
make shrinky dinks or paper bag puppets to bookbinding and artist demos. If you're shopping
with kids, they can craft up a storm at the children's activity table while you steal a few more
minutes in that amazing paper room.
Line Up for Hooker's Sweet Treats
By Jeanne Storck
July 30, 2010 at 8:00 AM
We wrote about Hooker's Sweet
Treats a while back when they were
selling their sea-salted dark
chocolate covered caramels out of
antique emporium Perish Trust in
NoPa. Well, now they've found their
own home sweet home with a shop
and cafe in lower Nob Hill (get
directions).
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If you're not familiar with SF's latest
sweet sensation, here's a blow by
blow: a Hooker's Sweet Treat buries
a meltingly buttery pat of caramel
inside a shell of intense dark
chocolate that's dusted with coarse
flecks of Welsh sea salt. Pop this
amazing trio in your mouth and wait
for the shockingly good taste and
texture collision.
Sweet Treat Yourself
Eager to try it for yourself? Stop by owner David "Hooker" Williams' new truffle-sized storefront
where he crafts his signature confection along with a growing menu of other sweet sensations.
At the moment, he's trying out a New Orleans-style bread pudding — a nod to his Louisiana
roots featuring pillows of bread flecked with raisins and pecans enveloped in caramel sauce —
as well as a caramel corn.
Take a seat at the communal cafe table and drink up the store's Victorian vibe — dark
wainscoting, bentwood chairs, patterned wallpaper, vintage wall sconces and a china dresser
sprinkled with 19th-century photographs. Then order up an espresso or French-press from local
artisanal roaster Sightglass Coffee and chase it with one of Hooker's little chocolate devils.
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Soothe the Soul at Clary Sage Organics
By Jeanne Storck
June 04, 2010 at 7:00 AM
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Clary Sage Organics (get directions),
a Pacific Heights eco boutique, takes
its name from the herb clary sage, a
pacifying plant that calms the nerves
and reduces anxiety. So don't be
surprised if your troubles seem to
lighten when you step through the
door. Sure, your pocketbook will
lighten too, but in the end, you'll feel
good about your earth-friendly
purchases.
Husband and wife team Patti
Cazzato and Daniel Kalish founded
the store in 2008. Cazzato brought
retail smarts from a career at Gap
and Levi's while Kalish brought years
of experience as a natural health care
practitioner. Together the duo offers
clothing as well as beauty and wellness products that heal the mind and the planet.
Green Pieces
The Clary Sage yoga line uses 100 percent organic cotton and bamboo fabrics, and the shop
also carries other yoga labels such as Blue Canoe, Prairie Underground and Prana. For apresyoga, look for eco wear such as this Chrysalis Dress from Nau that doubles as a jacket to help
cut those chilly San Francisco breezes, or this pair of Linda Loudermilk cotton denim jeans.
Body Work
In the lotions and potions department, create a calmer you with the REN Glycolactic Skin
Renewal Peel Mask or the Nectar Essences Sleep Spray. And if you're looking for a physical
tune-up, co-founder Daniel Kalish developed the Clary Sage's Wellness Solutions, which offer
tinctures and medicinal teas to help what ails you — the shop's "Wellness Advisors" will guide
you through.
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Pick Up the (Lovely) Pieces at Collage Gallery
By Jeanne Storck
July 23, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Visitors to San Francisco don't
always venture to Potrero Hill, but
this sunny little enclave with its
cluster of shops and cafes along 18th
Street makes for a pleasant side trip.
To get a taste of Potrero's charm,
pop into Collage Gallery (get
directions), where owner Delisa Sage
has been selling an eclectic mix of
new and vintage jewelry and home
decor by local artists and designers
for almost twenty years now.
Perfect Pastiche
The store's allure lies in the
whimsical displays, which draw
different items together in
unexpected ways, just like a collage.
Sage deftly mixes the old, the new
and the unusual and arranges by color and texture; An ode to white features antique parfait
glasses next to a selection of loose chandelier crystals, snowy beach glass and a jumble of
white alphabet letters.
Sage fancies vintage timepieces and features GE kitchen clocks and wind-up Westclox alarms
from the 40s and 50s. She also sprinkles the shelves with old 35mm cameras and sleek old
metal flashlights (all of which still work).
today.
Look for beautiful soaps, candles, glasses and ceramics. Even though I'm not a baker, I wanted
to snap up one of Whitney Smith's baby blue ceramic cake stands with pale yellow birds
perched on the edge and whip up some cupcakes.
coast to coast.
In the jewelry department, Sage displays her large collection of designers gracefully draped on
antique stands and tucked away in drawers. She carries fun typewriter key necklaces and
bracelets by The Weekend Store and for birthday gift ideas, ask about the special showcase of
gemstones for that particular month.
Turn Back the Frock
In late 2009, Collage opened its own vintage clothing annex in the adjacent storefront. Here,
Erica Skone-Reese fills the racks with carefully selected high and low-end consignment and
vintage wear. For women, she's collected a rotating selection of gently worn Betsey Johnson,
DKNY, Free People, Max Studio, Elie Tahari, and Karen Millen. And the men get equal love with
Prada shoes, vintage belt buckles and Oscar de la Renta and Armani blazers.
Shoe Lovers Say Hallelujah at Glory Chen
By Jeanne Storck
May 06, 2010 at 10:00 AM
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If you're the kind of girl who loves
gallery hopping as much as
shopping, then add Glory Chen (get
directions) to your list of must-do's.
At this chic shoe salon on Union
Square, you'll find conceptual (but
comfortable) footwear inspired by
artists and architects such as
Kandinsky, Mondrian, Frank Gehry
and I.M. Pei.
Learning the business from their
father Glory Chen, a shoe
manufacturer in Taiwan, sister team
Joy Chen Kolterman and Vicky Chen
launched their first collection in 2004.
Joy, who studied the fine arts in both
Photo provided by Glory Chen.
Taipei and San Francisco, infused
her passion for Bauhaus and
modernist architecture into each and every line. Now art mavens flock to their edgy flats and
heels.
Heel Appeal
The Glory Chen collection emphasizes beautiful form (think Malaga and nappa leather that's
stitched, dyed and pleated) as much as it does function (rubber soles that stand up to hours of
strolling through SFMOMA). Shoes come in a range of shades from Pop-Art lemon, red and
violet to the more muted earth tones of their new ecology-inspired Re-Creation line. Slip on
heels with names like Fauna and Foliage and you'll feel like you're walking across a very
elegant forest floor.
Glory Chen also carries architecturally-inspired accessories including a Renzo Piano handbag
and a Zaha Hadid tote — as stylishly and solidly constructed as their namesakes' modernist
masterpieces.
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Paper Capers at Kinokuniya Stationery
By Jeanne Storck
June 11, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Paper and pen aficionados trek to
Japantown's Kinokuniya Stationery
(get directions) for the latest in funky
and stylish Japanese office gear.
Originally opened in Tokyo in 1963,
Kinokuniya opened its San Francisco
branch in 1988. Today, the paper
empire counts an additional shop in
San Francisco's SoMa district as well
as San Jose, Los Angeles and New
York.
When you visit, you'll notice
customers tend to browse the
shelves with peculiar intensity. So
many unusual products make it hard
not to stare. Calligraphy brushes and
elegantly designed rolls of traditional
washi paper sit next to bubble-gum
pink Hello Kitty pencil cases, Kimmidoll notebooks and Japanese rubber stamp sets.
Overheard in aisle two: "I don't get what this is." You might feel the same way picking up a
Paperstitch Lock — a stapler all the rage in Japan that "stitches" rather than staples your papers
together. Marvel at the animal-shaped post-it notes or the cute plastic doodads that on closer
inspection turn out to be paper clips,
Write On
The exquisite Midori floral notepapers might convince texting and email fanatics to dabble in the
oh-so-passe art of letter writing. And get a chuckle out of the equally retro airmail stationery with
its adorably jumbled English motto: "Welcome to the Sky of World." Browse the origami papers
in metallic and trippy patterns (or the strawberry scented papers for kids) that look nothing like
your obasan's origami paper.
Be careful in the pen and pencil aisle. Kinokuniya's writing tools have an intoxicating effect and
some shoppers (ahem) get caught up trying every shape and style. Choose from hi-tech pens in
a rainbow of colors with tips that range from the needle-sharp 0.1mm to the big-and-bold
1.5mm. Or refill your mechanical pencil with delicate leads and get sketching in your Apica or
your Yoshitomo Nara notebook — you can always erase your graphite doodlings with a sushishaped eraser.
Try on the Vintage Vibe at DEMA
By Jeanne Storck
June 24, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Fashionistas in love with period
pieces but leary of the dusty racks in
secondhand shops should head to
DEMA (get directions) in the Mission.
When you spy the candy-striped
awning and the vibrantly hued
window displays, get ready to step
into the hip retro universe of Dema
Grim, seamstress extraordinaire.
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Past Perfect
Grim has sewn up her signature
vintage-inspired couture for over 12
years now, updating the looks and
patterns of 50s, 60s and 70s threads
with modern styling and fabrics. Look
for fitted jackets or A-line dresses a
la Doris Day or Audrey Hepburn but
with bold African or Japanese prints
or wild floral motifs. Grim also likes to shake things up with contrasting linings and unique
buttons.
Back to the Future
Grim encourages her following of thoroughly modern Millies to throw in some contemporary
edge with Blank NYC jeans or limited edition, artist-designed tees from LA's Poketo. She stocks
her racks with tops and bottoms from the likes of Michael Stars, Fluxus or Paul & Joe so that
clients can channel the glam of Marilyn or Liz while keeping it current. Finish off with a streetsmart tote made from recycled ad banners or a long floral scarf from Subtle Luxury — perfect for
that movie-star caper in a convertible with the roof rolled down.
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Mother Daughter Fashion Show at Gigi + Rose
By Jeanne Storck
June 03, 2010 at 9:00 AM
For moms with little mini-me's in tow,
newly opened North Beach boutique
Gigi + Rose (get directions) makes it
easy to shop for two with its mix of
women's fashion and girlish delights.
Owner Kristina De Pizzol named the
shop for her two daughters, creating
an ambiance of grown-up elegance
and childlike whimsy.
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For the ladies, De Pizzol stocks
apparel from Free People and the
glamorous threads of Suzabelle as
well as offerings from her own
apparel line, Delilah Crown. Look for
her nature-inspired t-shirts and
camisoles decorated with trees,
birds, mushrooms and pea pods. For
harried moms in need of a little spa
treatment, try lotions and bath salts from Voluspa and Lothantique. And for airy adornment, try
on a pair of feather light Molly M laser-cut balsa wood earrings.
Fille Party
Little misses look sharp in Lucky Wang kimono tops or Kit + Lilli togs and no way are you
leaving the store unless she can try on the sparkly pink ballet slippers and tutu — in the red
velvet draped dressing room with it's cushioned, boudoirish pouffes, of course. And while you're
shopping for yourself, la petite fille can distract herself ogling the pink satin jewel boxes in the
shape of cupcakes, the Madeleine books or the little girl make-up.
Moms, if you're planning on jetting away soon for some summer fun with your little Eloise, grab
some glittery sunglasses for her, and for you, a stylish carry-on from bagmakers Lug, Baggallini
or Vere Tyvek. Top your twosome look off with some floppy, floral-patterned sunhats from San
Diego Hat Company. Then, when you're done, cap off your afternoon of mommy and me by
popping over to neighboring Kara's Cupcakes for one final sugary indulgence.
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I Want Candy at The Candy Store
By Jeanne Storck
August 27, 2010 at 9:00 AM
To feel like that proverbial kid in the
candy store, head to San Francisco's
most eclectic sweet shop suitably
named (of course): The Candy Store
(get directions). This bonbon bazaar
in Russian Hill will set your sugar
pulse racing the minute you set eyes
on all those glass canisters full of
gummies, gumballs, and more.
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coast to coast.
Husband-and-wife team Brian and
Diane Campbell scour catalogs, trade
fairs and local and international
markets for unusual or hard-to-find
treats, so if you can't find a muchloved candy bar from your past or just
need a unique gift, The Candy Store
will most likely stock it.
Photo courtesy of The Candy Store.
Candy Darling
The Candy Store specializes in nostalgia-inducing delights like Necco wafers, Zotz, Abba-Zabas,
Beemans and Black Jack gum as well as regional specialties like Turkish Taffy, a WWII-era
nougat bar from New York or the Idaho Spud, a potato-shaped bundle of marshmallow coated in
chocolate and sprinkled with coconut that Idahoans can't get enough of.
Licorice lovers will swoon over the jars of salty licorice from the Netherlands, especially the chalk
sticks — bits of licorice enveloped in a minty-white coating that resemble blackboard chalk.
Anglophiles can take their pick from a big selection of Cadbury's while Francophiles will find
plenty of Nougat de Montelimar, dragees (candy-coated almonds) and cailloux du gave
(chocolates coated to look like gorgeous river stones).
In the chocolate section, rather than carry every cocoa creation out there, the Campbells focus
on unusual items like the old-world Spanish Majani bar created in 1796 or treats from small, Bay
Area chocolatiers like Poco Dolce, Michael Mischer Chocolates and Ginger Elizabeth.
Looking for a gift? Tell the staff what your giftee likes — for example, a four-year-old obsessed
with pink — et voila, they head straight for the pink made-in-France marshmallow wand. A sixyear-old crafty boy? They point you right to the colorful LEGO-shaped candies that actually
stack! And of course, they're whizzes at shopping for older kids too, finding wedding and party
favors or putting together custom-made packages.
Don't leave without trying the bestseller — a handmade marshmallow coated in salted chocolate
made by organic candy company BonBonBar. Take a bite and let the sweetness begin.
It's in the Bag at Rickshaw Bags
By Jeanne Storck
May 21, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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During rush hour in San Francisco,
two-wheeled commuters often steal
the show, whizzing along the city's
many bike routes in a steady stream.
In true SF style, local cyclers have
figured out how to shift from wheels
to work effortlessly. One of their
trusted accessories: a sturdy yet
good-looking bag that carries laptop
and smart phone and slings easily
over the shoulder.
If you'd like to take a little SF cycle
couture home with you, pick up a
snazzy carry-all at Rickshaw in
Dogpatch (get directions). Founded
in 2007 by entrepreneur and avid
Photo provided by Rickshaw.
bicyclist Mark Dwight, Rickshaw
takes its inspiration from Asia's
popular human-powered cart — a vehicle that's all muscle and zero carbon footprint, a lot like
the Rickshaw product.
Wheel World Luggage
In their 8000-square-foot warehouse, Dwight and crew manufacture on the premises using local
fair trade labor and creating little waste in the process. Their Zero Messenger bag reuses bits
and pieces from the cutting room floor and the mix and match detachable pockets make for a
more user-friendly experience.
Visitors to the warehouse can take a tour and then whip up their own bag on the spot with smart
tweed, floral and abstract fabrics from organic designers Mod Green Pod and Spoon Flower or
with nylon Cordura fashioned from post-consumer plastics. When you've finished your custom
tote, pack it up and get your pedal power on.
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Gimme More at Gimme Shoes
By Jeanne Storck
June 25, 2010 at 8:00 AM
The fancy footwear at Gimme Shoes
(get directions) doesn't run cheap,
but its cutting-edge style and
handcrafted quality should make you
feel like a million bucks — and help
you forget the pain in your
pocketbook.
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Proprietors Jerry Warwick and Leigh
Stackpole opened this classic SF
shoe store in 1984 and now run two
shops, one in Hayes Valley and one
in Pacific Heights. Their top-of-theline designer shoes, like their shops,
are built to last.
Heel Me
Photo provided by Gimme Shoes.
The duo regularly scout the fashion
capitals — New York, London, Paris
and Milan — for each season's most au courant footwear and bring their finds back to SF.
Ladies should look for Chie Mihara's sexy slingbacks, French Repetto ballet flats or boots by
Italy's Fiorentini + Baker whose sturdy Italian designs grace the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth.
Men should try the uber-hip lace-ups from Dries Van Noten and YMC, John Varvatos chukka
boots or Chronicles of Never futuristic kickers. And for sneaker freaks, Gimme Shoes carries a
whole array of trendsetting tennies from Adidas, Nike and Puma that should get even the most
jaded hipster off and running.
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Le Sanctuaire: SF's High Temple of Cuisine
Jewelry Joy at Velvet da Vinci
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
By Jeanne Storck
May 07, 2010 at 11:00 AM
With a name that just begs you shout
it out loud, 1-2-3-4 Go! Records (get
directions) packs one of the Bay
Area's best selections of punk and
indie vinyl into a shoebox size
storefront in Oakland
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Owner Steve Stevenson opened up
shop just two years ago on a quiet
retail strip, but his out-of-the way
location doesn't deter droves of vinyl
geeks from showing up to pore
through the record bins. Vinyl moves
quickly so you never know what
gems you'll find when you're here.
Punk Rocks
Stevenson also runs a record label
under the 1-2-3-4 Go! name and he's
put out over 40 releases featuring local and not-so-local punk bands. Some of the talent might
even show up working behind the counter. (Look for musician Shannon of local favorite
Shannon and the Clams.)
While punk and indie top the list, Stevenson also peppers his selection with country, rock, jazz
and blues. Pick up zines like Maximum Rock & Roll and Berkeley-based Cometbus and check
the store schedule for upcoming art shows and in-store performances.
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Word on the street is that Stevenson is thinking about opening a San Francisco location. All we
can say is big indie record stores like Amoeba better watch out.
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Shop Around the World at Global Exchange Fair
Trade
By Jeanne Storck
August 20, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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For an inventive gift that also does a
world of good, take a trek to Global
Exchange Fair Trade Craft Center in
Noe Valley (get directions). This
international bazaar carries products
from Asia, Africa and Latin America,
all of them ethically and sustainably
produced.
Fair Share
You may have seen the Fair Trade
label on coffees, chocolates and teas
— the mark assures that the people
who created the product earned a
decent wage, learned a livelihood
and created the item in an
environmentally-safe manner. The
Global Exchange store carries
nothing but fair trade.
Browsing the shelves offers a round-the-world trip, so sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Worried
the products will lean more toward the folksy/craftsy than the fashion-forward and chic? Some
items do, but many others delight with their inventive manufacturing techniques and simple,
straightforward materials.
Global Exchange sells everything from food to housewares to jewelry. Pick up some organic
Palestinian olive oil soap handcrafted by a West-Bank women's coop or a Moorish-style serving
plate painted with graceful arabesques by Tunisian artisans. Feather your nest with plump
pillows from Mexico appliqued with cats and birds or colorful, boldly patterned duvets, sheets
and bed covers from India.
When it comes to totes, Global Exchange carries the day with minimal, geometric purses made
in El Salvador out of recycled inner tubes; Mexican rainbow-colored clutches from foil candy
wrappers; or durable but stylish messenger bags sewn up from feed bags by Cambodian
seamstresses.
Try some jewelry on for size — a Guatemalan recycled glass bracelet or an Indian wire and
bead cuff. And for tots, the stuffed animals — monkeys, giraffes and tigers handknit out of
homespun wool from Kenya — just beg for a hug.
Panama Panache at Paul's Hat Works
By Jeanne Storck
July 01, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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Thanks to four enterprising young
women, a little bit of old-time San
Francisco lives on at Paul's Hat
Works in the Outer Richmond (get
directions). Opened in 1919, the
shop has turned out high quality
headgear for the city's gents for over
ninety years. In late 2008, faced with
a bleak economy and a dwindling
clientele, owner Michael Harris had
begun packing up the panamas when
in stepped twenty-something
costume and apparel designer Olivia
Griffin, asking about taking over the
business.
Rad Hatters
Image courtesy of Paul's Hatworks.
Griffin, along with good friends and
roommates Abbie Dwelle, Wendy
Hawkins, and Kirsten Hove, apprenticed with Harris and now busily turn out one chic chapeau
after another. The city's fashionistas have taken note.
Visit this little time-machine of a boutique and peruse the shelves stacked high with vintage
hatboxes, feathers, grosgrain ribbon, wooden blocking tools, even a conformateur — a
steampunk-looking metal contraption in the shape of a hat used to measure a client's head. The
new quartet of owners handcraft the shops signature toppers — creamy colored feather-light
straw Panamas and felt fedoras. The Panamas, perfect for summery days, come in two
varieties: the Cuenca which has a looser weave and lower price (around $300) and the
Montecristi which looks and costs dear (up to $1000) because of its superfine weave that can
take up to six months to complete.
Come out for a visit and these dapper dames will crease, steam and mold your panama or
fedora into snappy peaks and brims that will make you feel as suave as Gary Cooper — or for
the ladies, as glam as Greta Garbo.
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Second-Hand Clothes, First-Class Style at Wasteland
By Jeanne Storck
June 23, 2010 at 8:00 AM
For over twenty years, SF locals have
cleaned out their closets and carted
their no-longer loved threads to
Wasteland (get directions) on Haight
Street where buyers fiercely comb
through each pile and lay down cold
hard cash for only the hottest retro
wear.
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Teenage Wasteland
To keep things fresh, the crew taps
into what the kids are sporting on the
street, channeling a young punk/chic
vibe into their hip storefronts in San
Francisco and LA. The Wasteland
buyers' top-of-the-line taste for
Hollywood glam and rock & roll cool
means film stylists, musicians and
movie stars make it their go-to-place
when they want to make a statement.
Photo provided by Wasteland.
Waste Not, Want Hot
You'll find used Balmain-esque safari jackets next to a vintage Rolling Stones 1976 Tour t-shirt
and Gucci and YSL next to weathered cowboy boots. Modern looks make up the mix as well
with previously worn H&M and Zara next to Catherine Malandrino. The staff — fashionistas all —
can spot Louis Vuitton or Louboutin a mile away.
The Wasteland window displays have entered the realm of myth. Neighbors walk by wondering
what the dressers will dream up next: a steampunk vignette? a political satire? A Mad Men
recreation? Whatever the scene, it gets people talking and maybe even into the store to work up
their own fashion fantasy.
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Have a Swell Time at Mollusk Surf Shop
By Jeanne Storck
May 27, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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On the outer reaches of the Sunset
just a few blocks from the crashing
waves of the Pacific, John
McCambridge opened Mollusk Surf
Shop (get directions) in 2005. Today
the Mollusk empire includes satellites
in Brooklyn and Venice Beach but the
success hasn't harshed the shop's
mellow. This rugged little store with
its recycled wood furnishings and
vintage hand-painted sign out front
still channels the laid back, windworn vibe of the beach.
They've got everything a surfer needs
to suit up: shortboards and
longboards designed by top-of-thePhoto by Jeanne Storck.
line shapers, wetsuits, board bags
and Birdwell Beach Britches. If you
don't surf, you can still take home some of the Mollusk mojo with graphic t-shirts or posters
designed by Mollusk artists, or pick up a classic surf movie like Endless Summer.
Surf Lines
Out of the water and on dry land, Mollusk owner McCambridge also makes waves with his art,
turning out ocean-inspired gouache paintings on wood. He’s attracted a crew of fellow artistsurfers loosely known as the Mollusk Family that includes the likes of Thomas Campbell, Geoff
McFetridge, Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter. Check the shop’s back room gallery for
some of their new wave art. Openings usually include groovy music pumped out by bands from
a tiny tree house-like stage in the back.
When you've had your fill of surf culture, stroll down to Ocean Beach and watch the waves or
get a bite to eat at Outerlands or Trouble Coffee.
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Steal a Chocolate Kiss at XOX Truffles
By Jeanne Storck
July 16, 2010 at 8:00 AM
No, we're not talking about those
chocolate kisses. We're talking about
XOX Truffles (get directions), a line
of confections handmade by
husband-and-wife team Jean-Marc
Gorce and Casimira Tobilla in their
North Beach shop.
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San Franciscans love their artisanal
chocolates -- the gold-leafed, sea-salt
flecked, hand-painted artistry of
Recchiuti, Christopher Elbow, Cocoluxe or CocoaBella. But they swoon
for XOX Truffles' rugged good looks.
Gorce, formerly a chef at local
French restaurant Fringale, fashions
each little truffle from dark chocolate
ganache before rolling it in bitter
cocoa powder. The resulting small
earthy nuggets with their rough exterior resemble their French namesake, the highly prized
savory truffle, rather than a sleek boutique sweet.
Loco for Cocoa
Going on its 12th year in business, XOX features 27 flavors ranging from the popular bergamotlaced Earl Grey to red wine, caramel and champagne. They also sell soy vegan versions in dark
chocolate, orange and hazelnut.
If you can't make it to North Beach, Whole Foods and Neiman Marcus carry these cocoa-dusted
treats. And if you're looking for a sweet San Fran-centric gift for the folks back home, ask for the
special packaging in boxes done up in royal red, blue and gold Harlequin-patterned wrapping
paper with wispy gold bows.
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Let Your Style Shine at Bianca Starr
By Jeanne Storck
June 09, 2010 at 8:00 AM
The latest fashion addition to the
Mission, vintage boutique Bianca
Starr (get directions) brings some
serious glamour to the neighborhood.
With the ambiance and intimacy of a
very hip stylist's closet, this tiny shop
mixes affordable pieces with highend designer names such as Prada
or Oscar de la Renta.
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Style Council
Proprietress Bianca Kaplan channels
the bold, dramatic style of her
namesake, rock and roll femme fatale
Bianca Jagger, with vintage threads
perfect for a night out at Studio 54.
As a former nightclub owner herself,
Kaplan has mastered the bold and
elegant party look. For added
inspiration, several images of Mick and the missus dot the shelves.
If Kaplan had a mantra, it might be: 'Accessorize, accessorize" — and she's got the hats,
Burberry bags, Miu Miu shoes and jewelry to prove it. She carries local designer Venus
Superstar's sleek peacock feather headbands and a small selection of vintage baubles.
Give your look a little Bianca swagger with a pair of Ferragamo heels or an over-the-top set of
Gucci python boots. On the big name rack, uncover finds like a pair of Dolce & Gabbana cream
silk pants, a Calvin Klein overcoat or contemporary pieces from Yoana Baraschi or Cynthia
Steffe.
Every month, Kaplan devotes one rack in the store to picks by a local stylist, so you can get
some ideas — and killer duds — from local talent such as Katie Quinn or Rachel Lena Esterline.
Kaplan hosts an opening night shindig to kick off each stylist boutique complete with DJ and
drinks to get the party started right.
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Mystery Mister's Curiosity Shop
By Jeanne Storck
June 02, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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San Francisco's Haight Street, long a
haven for the bizarre and the
beautiful, just welcomed another wild
child to the block with new boutique,
Mystery Mister (get directions).
Owners Rochelle Baker and Graciela
Ronconi, veterans of the local vintage
scene, have stocked their curiosity
shop full of clothing, jewelry and
antiques channeling the eccentric
vibe of a 1920s bohemian speakeasy
or a Victorian parlor.
Like all seasoned vintage dealers
they keep mum about their sources,
which only adds to the tantalizing
aura of their goods. Browse the
shelves and wonder who's the
mystery mister who sported that 19th
century sealskin top hat and what mystery missus partied the night away in the irresistibly
spangly 60s go-go frock?
Curiouser and Curiouser
Ronconi scouts the threads and jewelry — fur collared coats, Pucci-esque dinner jackets and
1940s cufflinks — while Baker, an ace display designer, peppers the shelves with 1920s
illustrated children's books, antlers, anatomical charts, old glass pharmaceutical vials, religious
statues, Victorian mirrors, and baskets full of ceramic doll parts. Look for contemporary oddities
sprinkled in amongst the old such as insects and (shivers) tiny bats suspended in acrylic — the
perfect paperweight for your favorite goth — or turquoise speckled robins' eggs made of glass.
Don't miss (well, you can't really) the floor-to-ceiling poster that trumpets SF's turn-of-thecentury magician Carter the Great. Maybe he's the real Mystery Mister?
For news about the shop's latest arrivals, stay tuned to Mystery Mister's Facebook page.
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Stop and Smell the Fashion At Azalea
By Jeanne Storck
April 30, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Fashionistas Catherine Chow and
Corina Nurimba opened their clothing
store Azalea (get directions) on
Hayes Valley's chic boutique row in
2003. With styles for both men and
women, the shop showcases cutting
edge designers like Comme des
Garcons and Helmut Lang.
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If you're looking for designer denim,
Azalea should be your first stop.
Storm their sales racks for a wide
variety of hipster jeans: 1921, Paige,
Rock & Republic, A.P.C., AG, Nudie,
Cheap Monday and more.
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Azalea's expert in-store stylists are
on hand to help you find your perfect
fit. Once you've got the denim of your dreams, complete the look with tops, belts, jackets and
jewelry. Finish it off by slipping on some big Tom Ford sunglasses.
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If all that shopping tires you out, time for some R&R in Azalea's Beauty Bar stocked full of bath
and beauty products. Or if you're in a rush to get ready for that big night, Azalea's Z Beauty
Lounge offers on the spot mani-pedis to polish off your look.
If you don't make it to Hayes Valley this trip, you can always check out Azalea's offerings online
where the goods are just as tempting.
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Berkeley Bowl: The Salad Bowl of the East Bay
By Jeanne Storck
July 15, 2010 at 8:00 AM
When it comes to organic food
emporiums, San Franciscans head to
Rainbow Grocery while Berkeley-ites
make a beeline for Berkeley Bowl
(get directions) where East Bay
shoppers have been crowding the
aisles and squeezing the veggies
since 1977.
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Husband-and-wife team Glenn and
Diane Yasuda opened the original
store in a bowling alley (thus the
name) and quickly ended up on the
local radar as the go-to source for
fresh and unusual produce. The Bowl
opened a West Berkeley outpost last
year, so if you're in the neighborhood,
stop by for a safari through this
gleaming new food savannah.
Bowl Me Over
Get ready to roam through 35,000 square feet of groceries and if you feel a little overwhelmed or
need to find things in a hurry, ask the cashier for the map of all 17 aisles to speed up your
shopping. Mole? Aisle 7. Pastry dough? Aisle 13.
The produce department boggles the mind with twenty islands piled high with fruits and greens
from all over the globe — rambutan from Guatemala, white turmeric from Fiji or raw gingko nuts
from China. The exotic ingredients will send you Googling for explanations. And the buyers don't
slouch on old standards either — look for ten varieties of oranges, every possible shade of
potato and carrot, and mushrooms from maitake to morel.
The Yasudas, with their Japanese background, have always kept a well-stocked section of
Asian staples like tofu, ramen, miso and more. They even, oddly enough, maintain a British
section where Anglophiles missing their Typhoo tea and sticky puddings can feed their cravings.
For more edible adventure, visit bulk foods to stock up on every variety of nut, seed and grain
under the sun or check the deli counters for Italian sopressatas, ready-to-bake cookie dough or
in-house mustards.
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Sweet Design at the Candystore Collective
By Jeanne Storck
June 16, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Fashionistas step into Candystore
Collective (get directions) and feel a
sweet sensation — like the rush of a
kid in a candystore. But here, instead
of lusting for lemon drops, they're
craving unique indie threads.
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Jennifer Jones, a former designer for
Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma,
opened a pop-up shop in the Mission
in 2004 to promote all the young upand-coming SF designers she knew.
The experience whetted her appetite,
and she decided to go permanent
with Candystore Collective. Today
she continues to scout for up-andcoming artists, seamstresses and
jewelry makers who turn out objects
with heart and soul. And she just
added a shop on Fillmore Street.
Candy Darling
Take some edgy Mission style home with spangly leggings from Laeken, a tunic dress from
Popomomo or a houndstouth-patterned tee from Ahnimura. The store also offers a wide
selection of jeans from Cheap Monday, Denim & Thread, J Brand, Good Society and Found
Denim. Accessorize with an obi belt from Taxi CDC or Marais patent leather Mary Janes.
Jones stocks a wide selection of handcrafted jewelry from designers like Cara Lyndon, Joy O
and Anna Andersson as well as housewares and gifts.
Eco Chic
Equally sweet, Candystore promotes the green life by showcasing Wooly Pockets — large
hanging planters made from recycled plastic bottles that can be grouped together to make living
walls. Look for the lush jungle growing on the Candystore facade as well as another living wall
inside the shop.
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Community Thrift Saves the Day
By Jeanne Storck
August 26, 2010 at 7:00 AM
Community Thrift (get directions)
buzzes with Mission hipsters looking
for deals on everything from threads
to furniture to retro tchotchkes. This
second-hand emporium is a go-to
treasure trove for SF denizens
looking to furnish their apartments
with one-of-a-kind fashion
statements.
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Stop in and walk away with stuff you
never knew you needed: Sigerson
Morrison heels, toys in their original
packaging, remaindered castoffs from
Williams Sonoma, a rare David Bowie
album, a pair of '70s aviator
sunglasses.
For the patient and determined
shopper, the store's huge clothing selection is full of fab finds. Make sure to check the
voluminous, neatly-categorized book section with price tags that rarely exceed two or three
dollars, and don't miss the racks devoted entirely to leather jackets and to top designers.
Really want to save? Try the $1 rack. Or if you're in town on the first Monday of the month, stop
by for the 50 percent off sale.
Sweet Charity
With that vintage Pyrex dish (somewhat dinged but still a find) or that purr-worthy, gently worn
mohair sweater in hand, head to the register. When the clerk rings you up, a portion of the
proceeds goes to a local charity. So shop away and save the world and your wallet at the same
time. When you finish thrifting, check out the famous murals in Clarion Alley just next door.
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Erica Tanov's New Bohemian Style
By Jeanne Storck
July 29, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Step into fashion designer Erica
Tanov's Fillmore Street store (get
directions) and you'll get an instant
snapshot of her style — airy,
romantic and full of gorgeous little
details. From the glass jewelry cases
to the racks of gossamer dresses
and blouses, everything in the shop
channels a delicate, feminine vibe.
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Born and bred in California, this local
couturier learned her craft at Parsons
School of Design in New York where
she launched her first collection. But
the Bay Area lured her back; today,
Tanov lives and designs in Berkeley
and showcases her new bohemian
Image courtesy of Erica Tanov.
lines — which include women's
apparel, lingerie, bed linen and
accessories — in boutiques across the Bay Area and beyond.
Material Giri
Lovers of antique and handwoven fabrics will fall for her garments, which she constructs with
cotton, Irish linen, Japanese eyelet, organza and silk crepe de chine then trims with subtle frills
like French lace or silver thread. She sketches up many of the feminine floral and striped
materials herself.
Her peasant dresses, tunics, camisoles and bias cut skirts fall in clean, simple shapes that wrap,
tie and drape elegantly. And with a fanciful poetic flare, she sprinkles her creations with names
— Gilda, Lila, Tosca and Hazel — that sound like enchanting characters from some dreamy art
house flick. So pick up a frock and step into that romantic lead.
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San Francisco's Fiercest Little Bookstore Chain
By Jeanne Storck
July 28, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Giants like Amazon and Borders
have put the squeeze on San
Francisco's independent bookstores,
but a few stalwarts hang on still. Kate
Rosenberger has beat the odds with
her little trio of quirky book shops —
Phoenix Books (get directions) in
Noe Valley, Dog Eared Books (get
directions) in the Mission and Red
Hill Books (get directions) in Bernal
Heights. Take a stroll to any of these
little literary outposts to taste SF's
indie book culture.
SF Is Book Country
All three specialize in used tomes
with a sprinkling of new material, so
expect to find hot-off-the-presses
bestsellers mingling with bookish
blasts from the past. Each shop stocks its shelves according to neighborhood tastes. Phoenix
Books, the oldest of the bunch, has been dishing up the fiction, nonfiction, and kids books
(sprinkled with philosophy and poetry) for this family-friendly neighborhood since 1985.
Dog Eared in the Mission caters to the hipster literary crowd with a large collection of new and
used fiction, zines, lit mags, graphic novels and a section dedicated to the Beats. Old vintage
chairs here and there among the wooden shelves invite readers to linger and large colorful oil
canvases of old bluesmen hang high on the walls overhead. Their monthly variety show is a
neighborhood favorite.
Over in Bernal Heights, Red Hill has built a great kids section (for a neighborhood recently
dubbed Fertile Heights) as well as art books, cookbooks and used vinyl. The staff creates killer
book displays in the front windows arranged by theme or color — all red for Valentine's Day or a
special Beat montage. Their calendar brims with readings by local authors as well as music,
performances and classes.
If you're passing by any of the shops, look for the brightly colored stalls the staff trundles out
front each morning full of bargains then slow down, browse — and buy a book!
Get Your Goods at the General Store
By Jeanne Storck
May 28, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Add the General Store (get
directions) to your growing list of
crafty design shops to visit in San
Francisco. Opened earlier this year
by Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason
St. Peter, this Outer Sunset boutique
stands just a few blocks from Mollusk
Surf where Mitnik-Miller also directs
the art gallery. In their new venture,
the duo brings a little bit of Mollusk's
airy surf vibe to a selection of
carefully curated housewares, design
objects and vintage clothing.
High and Dry Goods
The store's centerpiece — a plywood
archway inspired by skatepark ramps Photo courtesy of General Store.
— gives a nod to the owners'
freewheeling skate/surf connection.
Mitnik-Miller and St. Peter, both surf and skate aficionados themselves, select items that
celebrate movement and the great outdoors.
Look for furniture by Chairtastic, a two-person operation that rescues and redesigns all those
lost and broken chairs you see on trash day. Pick up and cradle in the palm of your hand the
mini handblown bubble-shaped terrariums by Botany Factory that contain tiny succulent
gardens. Or check out Joey Roth's low-tech/hi-fi audio speakers that deliver complicated sound
via uncomplicated materials like plywood, cork, ceramic and metal.
Take home a white sand hourglass, a geodesic birdhouse, a hardwood case for your iPhone or
a tub trug — a light pliable plastic carry-all perfect for lugging wetsuits or what have you. And if
the Sunset fog rolls in and sets you shivering, bundle up in one of General Store's vintage hand
knit Irish fisherman's sweaters.
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All News All the Time at Issues
By Jeanne Storck
May 13, 2010 at 11:00 AM
A lot of folks say print is dead, but
apparently Noella Teele and Joe
Colley didn't get the message. In
2007, frustrated by the lack of good
newsstands in their Oakland
neighborhood, the duo opened up
Issues (get directions), a magazine
shop with the cheeky motto "P.S.
You should be reading more."
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Open seven days a week, Issues
invites news junkies of all stripes to
get their fix from among a whopping
3,000 titles. Issues stocks everything
from Le Monde to Metropolis, Mother
Jones to Maximum Rock'n'Roll.
Looking for Shark Diver? Check.
Journal of Irreproducible Results?
Check. And if the folks at Issues don't carry it, they'll track it down for you, and ship it to you —
whether you live in the Bay Area or beyond. Browse their Twitter and Facebook feeds for a
steady stream of the latest arrivals and wonder at the never-ending print parade.
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Mags and More
Besides all the newsprint, you'll also find letterpress by Hello! Lucky, zines from local artistes
and scribes, Moleskine notebooks that make perfect travel companions and assorted vinyl and
t-shirts. If you're lucky enough to stop by during one of the shop's frequent events, hang around
and get to know the locals.
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Pulp Fiction at KAYO Books
By Jeanne Storck
August 04, 2010 at 10:00 AM
If you're looking for some light
reading for your next flight — maybe
something completely wacky and
escapist — try KAYO Books in Nob
Hill (get directions). For over a
decade this specialty bookstore has
kept locals stocked up on vintage pop
culture books and magazines from
the 1940s through the 1970s.
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Dimestore Novel Delights
Head straight for the pulp fiction, the
pearl in Kayo's collection, and lose
yourself in the vampish, Bettie-Page
style vixens splashed on the covers
and the deliciously campy copy: "9 to
5 at the office wasn't for her … not
when belly dancing could shimmy her
into the big time."
Pick up a mystery by noir master Jim Thompson or some hardboiled crime fiction from Charles
Willeford. Then browse old issues of MAD Magazine, DC comics, or sci-fi and western fiction.
KAYO also carries novelizations of old movies and TV shows. Care to read some I Dream of
Jeannie or Flying Nun fiction anyone?
Period Periodicals
Look for stacks of magazines tucked away in corners that date from the 1950s and '60s and
include a little something for her — Woman's Day, House Beautiful and McCall's, and for him —
The Dude.
Vintage mass-market paperbacks are shelved under lurid and inspired section headers:
"Catholic Guilt," "H-Bomb and Other Bad Things," "Red Scare" or "The Unexplainable." Camp
filmmaker John Waters swears by the reads at Kayo Books — and really, what more of an
endorsement do you pulp fiction fanatics need?
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Suit Up in Style at Al's Attire
By Jeanne Storck
August 12, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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Nestled among the Italian bakeries
and laundries on a quiet back street
in North Beach, Al Ribaya sews up
vintage-inspired clothing for both
ladies and gents. Walking into his
tailor shop, Al's Attire (get directions),
feels a bit like stepping into a time
machine. You'll find yourself
surrounded by stacks of antique
hatboxes, bolts of fabric piled to the
rafters, swatch books, and vintage
wooden shoe and hat molds.
Sew Fine
Racks of garments line the walls —
many of them ready-to-wear, but the
rest serve as patterns that shoppers
can pick out and order custom-made.
Ribaya and his team take
measurements then help select material, trim and buttons. Some of Ribaya's blast-from-the-past
models include denim work shirts, railroad engineer jackets, and straight-up suits for men plus
snappy frocks, car coats, and trench coats for the ladies. He also does tweed caps as well as
shoes — wingtips, 1930s and '40s work boots, and even spats. You name your fantasy vintage
garment and Al probably has a design to fit you. Word has it that Tom Waits is a fan.
If you're in town for just a short while, you might want to stick to the ready-to-wear since fittings
with Al can take a few back-and-forths. But if you've got time, take a tour through Ribaya's
models and the cute-as-a-button button selection and start dreaming up your own smart suit.
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Gravel and Gold: A Mission Gem
By Jeanne Storck
May 14, 2010 at 9:00 AM
If you're shopping for something
uniquely San Francisco, look no
further than Gravel and Gold (get
directions). Owners Cassie
McGettigan, Lisa Foti-Straus and Nile
Nash channel the bohemian spirit of
Northern California circa 1970 into
their carefully-curated boutique.
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Godmothers of their own little craft
mafia, the trio runs a network of West
Coast makers. They suss out luxe
handmade housewares, stationery,
clothing and jewelry fashioned from
earthy materials meant to last. Look
for lots of wood, leather, paper, stone
and metal.
Take home some sparkling Cali sunshine with hammered gold hoop earrings from Point Reyes
jeweler David Clarkson or pamper yourself with organic, wildcrafted soaps from Berkeley's Jana
Blankenship. Moon calendars, agate beach necklaces, plush leather bags, Swedish clogs,
handknit sweaters and scarfs — all of it shouts Craft with a capital "C."
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If you want to get your own craft on, G&G sells nifty tools of the trade such as top-of-the-line
imported screwdrivers, German pencil sharpeners and pocket-sized scissors.
today.
The store's centerpiece, a long black walnut table designed by Marin furniture maker Art
Espenet, greets visitors with a panoply of products. The table also serves as an impromptu
classroom where perfume designer Yosh leads workshops on custom scents and witchy
herbalist Dori Midnight shares recipes for healing potions and elixirs.
coast to coast.
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The Fine Art of Fashion at La Boutique
By Jeanne Storck
July 14, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Galleries and antique stores line the
quiet streets of San Francisco's
Jackson Square so it's no surprise
that the newest addition to the
neighborhood, La Boutique: L'art et la
Mode (get directions), specializes in
art as well — wearable art that is.
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La Boutique's owner, Swiss-born
Carole Harari, worked as a
merchandiser for clothing store H&M
before deciding to strike off on her
own, opening a San Francisco-based
showcase for European clothing
designers. Her new shop features a
large airy first floor and mezzanine
with dark wood floors and minimal
furniture, save for a few chosen
antiques and flea market finds that
add an arty flair.
Foreign Affairs
Harari's collection includes mostly German, French, and Swiss names at the moment with a few
brands that might be familiar to American ears such as Martin Margiela's MM6 line and Zadig &
Voltaire. She also looks for up-and-comers like Swildens, a new line from Paris by young
designer Juliette Swildens whose romantic, rock-n-roll-inspired frocks have graced the likes of
Carla Bruni. Look for flowy dresses by Valentine Gauthier trimmed with delicate beadwork,
frocks and tops from trendy Vanessa Bruno, and shoes from Avril Gau.
On the accessories front, La Boutique carries Swiss jeweler Baie d'Erelle's thin chain necklaces
draped with delicate trinkets and plush leather bags by star designer Jerome Dreyfuss who just
opened his own shop in New York. If you're feeling extravagant, try on some of the dramatic
bauble-bedecked bracelets and necklaces of Shorouk (which actually made an appearance
adorning fashion icon Miss SJP herself, in Sex and the City 2).
In with all of this artful fashion, Harari mixes artwork from European talent — Swiss painter
Veronique Marmet graces the walls at the moment. La Boutique also plans on using the space
to host music and fashion events.
So this summer, save yourself a trip to Europe and try the next best thing — a stroll through the
racks at La Boutique.
By Jeanne Storck
August 19, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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Molecular gastronomy enthusiasts
with a desire to whip up liquid
nitrogen ice cream or mozzarella
spheres should head to Le
Sanctuaire (get directions), a
showroom of hi-tech cooking
instruments and ingredients near
Union Square. Owner Jing Tio keeps
famed chefs like Thomas Keller and
Michael Mina in sous-vide machines
and stocks mysterious-sounding
compounds like sodium alginate and
calcium chloride that leave most
home cooks scratching their heads.
Posh Spice
Tio, the son of Indonesian spice
Photo provided by Le Sanctuaire.
traders, sells a spice line called "see
smell taste" proffering direct-fromthe-farm bounty like Tahitian vanilla, pink Pangasinan salt or Ethiopian berbere. Jake Godby of
scoop shop Humphry Slocombe heads to Le Sanctuaire to find Indonesian cubeb peppercorns
for his mouth-shocking pepper-mint ice cream and Mourad Lahlou of Aziza regularly stops in to
stock up on saffron and vadouvan (a French-influenced curry).
Kitchen Science
You'll find dishware by Ferran Adria, chef of Spain's famous elBulli restaurant and molecular
gastronomist par excellence, as well as cryovac machines, immersion circulators, mother-ofpearl caviar spoons and handcrafted Hering porcelain — everything top-of-the-line and priced to
match. While Le Sanctuaire's client list includes mostly restaurant industry types, passionate
home cooks looking for that high-end, hard to find tool or ingredient can make an appointment
to step into the culinary inner sanctum.
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Silky Silhouettes at Lia Kes
By Jeanne Storck
July 08, 2010 at 7:00 AM
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Israeli fashion designer Lia Kes
landed in New York in 2000 with just
$100 in her pocket. In no time at all,
she'd knocked out a t-shirt line that
made a splash in the city's top
boutiques. Using a simple but sexy
design for her signature tee, Kes
removed one shirtsleeve and
replaced it with feathers or fringe.
The versatile top could dress up or
down and women went gaga for it.
Kes got busy building a full collection,
and today the likes of Kate Hudson,
Kim Kardashian and Chelsea Clinton
sport her pieces.
Bringing Sexy Back to San
Photo provided by Lia Kes.
Francisco
In 2009, Kes moved her store to San
Francisco (get directions) and now dreams up her latest creations from a studio in the back of
the shop. She describes her aesthetic as "classic with a twist thrown in," so look for minimal
silhouettes and subtle hues — basic blacks, whites and grays spiced up with brief flashes of
color, slits, cutouts, pleats or just a drape of fringe. Her sweeping off-the-shoulder shapes and
bias cuts transform simple into stunning.
The ladies love her clothes for their chameleon quality. A button-down shirt with a sleek open
back works in the office with a jacket thrown on, then in the evening remove the jacket, flaunt the
sexy cut-out, et voila — cocktail time.
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Mangia at Molinari Delicatessen
By Jeanne Storck
July 22, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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Local foodies interested in sampling
the latest in artisanal salumi should
hit up Boccalone in the San
Francisco Ferry Building or head to
dinner at Incanto or Pizzeria Delfina.
But to try some salame or coppa
that's been a San Francisco tradition
since 1896, squeeze in a trip to
Molinari Delicatessen (get directions)
in North Beach. This family-owned
business has been turning out Italian
cured meats and deli items — and
lots of old world charm — for over a
century.
Look for olive oils by the gallon, dried
pasta in every shape and size,
espresso coffees, wines, and sweets
like panettone, amaretti and Baci
chocolates. The Italian pantry products might not rank as the country's most exotic (you can get
Illy espresso and De Cecco pasta just about anywhere) but most people don't come here to
stock up on tomato sauce. They come for the sticks of salame that hang from the ceiling — and
the deli.
Salame Mia
Line up with the crowds at lunchtime for the bestselling sandwich — the "Renzo Special" piled
high with prosciutto, coppa, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto. If you want to avoid the
ire of the sandwich maestros behind the counter, make sure to select your roll from the bread
bin (we recommend the focaccia) before stepping up to the counter. Think about taking home a
salame then grab a soda — a San Pellegrino Limonata or a San Benedetto blood orange. Pack
your picnic to Washington Square Park, sit back and mangia!
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One-of-a-Kind Design at Rare Device
By Jeanne Storck
May 20, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Browsing the shelves at Rare Device
(get directions) feels like shopping
your own personally-curated corner
of Etsy, meticulously stocked with la
creme de la creme of indie craft and
design.
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Rena Tom, a jewelry and graphic
designer, opened the original Rare
Device store in Brooklyn in 2005 and
eventually ended up relocating the
mother ship here to San Francisco in
2007. She now partners with noted
Bay Area artist Lisa Congdon on a
shop stuffed with "stuff that's good for
you and your home." Their aesthetic
leans toward the beautifully
handmade with bonus points thrown
in for organic, recycled or local
components.
Photo courtesy of Rare Device.
Good For You, Good For Your Home
In housewares, you'll find space-age alarm clocks from Lexon UK and industrial designer Sam
Hecht, a sleek wooden mortar and pestle from Sweden's Sagaform, a delicate glass sake set
from Roost, or Scandinavian-inspired ceramic tiles by Xenia Taler.
File under good for you: wildcrafted soaps by Juniper Ridge; Earthlust's flora and fauna covered
metal water bottles; rose gold rings by Amy Tavern and antique-inspired necklaces by Ach Ach
Liebling along with felt iPod cozies from Japanese gadget designer Abitax.
Be sure to check the print bin for reasonably priced pieces from artists and craftspeople such as
Matte Stephens and Yellow Owl letterpress along with a good selection of pieces by owner Lisa
Congdon herself. A small gallery in back rotates new artistic talent in monthly.
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Dandelion: Where Gift Ideas Blossom
By Jeanne Storck
June 18, 2010 at 8:00 AM
When it comes to finding a last
minute present, San Franciscans
head to Dandelion (get directions).
This old school gift store in Potrero
Hill has rescued hard-pressed
shoppers for over forty years with its
vast selection of clever and stylish
goodies.
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Owners Steve Fletcher and Carl
Croft opened in the summer of 1968,
calling the shop Dandelion after one
of their favorite items — a lucite
paperweight with a dandelion floating
at the center. They liked the whimsy
and magic of the blossom, a spirit
that's guided their inventory selection
ever since. And yes, they still carry
the dandelion paperweight.
Gifts that Keep on Giving
Cliche yes, but the store really has something for everyone. Browse the kitchen items for coffee
gadgets, dishware, gourmet jams, condiments and candies for the foodie in your life. Tea
fanciers will rave if you bring them home one of the over forty flavors of French Mariage Freres
tea, and the bar section carries sleek cocktail accoutrements for the lounge lizard back home.
Make them swoon with bath and beauty products too beautiful to use from Michel Designworks,
Fragonard or Swedish Agg-Tval.
Fletcher and Croft imbue their gift giving with a green philosophy, advising shoppers to buy a
present that will last over the years, like an Olbrisch leather bag from Berlin or Roji cast iron
teapots from Japan.
If you want a gift that's uniquely San Francisco, try the elegant elizabethW scented candles
made right here in Russian Hill or check the shelf of California cookbooks and grab a title by
local food stars Alice Waters or Thomas Keller.
For kids, try a classic book like Babar or Beatrix Potter. For crafty boys, a Kikkerland ruler or for
little miss perfect a Wendt & Kuhn wooden angel figurine.
Get the Latest Scoop at Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous
By Jeanne Storck
August 06, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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Summertime usually means hot days
and double scoops of ice cream, but
in San Francisco, where fog can
blanket the city June through August,
the ice cream is the only part of that
equation you can count on.
Fortunately SF has been churning
out creameries right and left. We've
got Humphry Slocombe, Bi-Rite,
Three Twins and now the spanking
new Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous (get
directions) in Dogpatch.
Opened by pastry chefs Ian Flores
and Anabelle Topacio, the shop
serves up a dozen creamy
concoctions each day with a mix of
classics like vanilla bean, chocolate
chip, coffee, and mint cookie as well
as more exotic flavors like candied ginger or jasmine tea. Flores and Topacio churn all of their
ice creams and cook all of their sweets from scratch, using local, organic and seasonal
ingredients. They even make the waffle cones, which they bake and mold on a machine
imported from Italy.
Give Me S'More
Dig into a scoop of Ballpark (an homage to America's favorite game) and discover bits of peanut
and chocolate-covered pretzel and a delicious malty flavor that comes from local Anchor Steam
beer. I fell for the Candied Violet — a dish of old-fashioned romance with flecks of bright purple
sugar-coated petals swirling in a field of vanilla.
Candy and cookie addicts can pick their oh-so-sweet poison from glass canisters full of peanut
brittle, chewy caramels and peanut butter malt balls or from dishes of chocolate chip pecan
cookies and chocolate chip muffins. Fans of the classic banana split (an elusive dish in healthcrazed SF) should try this ice cream extravaganza topped with caramel, hot fudge, butterscotch
or pineapple sauce then sprinkled with Valrhona chocolate crunchies or toasted almonds. Once
you've ordered, scoot yourself to one of the cafe tables and let the sweet sweet sugar rush
begin.
Luxury Leather at Mulholland
By Jeanne Storck
July 21, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Born right here in San Francisco, the
story of luxury leather goods
company Mulholland (get directions)
captures a little bit of that
freewheeling, adventurous spirit this
city does so well.
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The company got its start in 1984
when Jack Mulholland — adventurer,
architect, wildcat oilman, traveler and
leather saddle maker — invited sons
Jay and Guy to create a line of
leather sporting goods that embodied
their own thrill-seeking lifestyle. The
trio started the business in their
basement, turning out simple
accessories like fly reels, fishing rods
Image courtesy of Mulholland.
and shotgun cases that they packed
along on their own outdoor
expeditions. Their craftsmanship became a hit among customers looking for stylish but tough
gear. Since then, Mulholland has expanded into luggage, outerwear and footwear and recently
opened a retail showcase on Union Square.
Leather Man
The shop carries motorcycle jackets, liquor flasks and duffel bags custom made for the daredevil
(or the guy that at least wants to play the part). Mullholland's men's wallets combine no-frills
functionality with understated flair and its durable briefcases and laptop bags mean business. All
of its products carry a solid price tag, but then sturdy good looks never did come cheap.
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A Craft Quartet at Prairie Collective
By Jeanne Storck
August 11, 2010 at 10:00 AM
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Peer in the window of design shop
Prairie Collective (get directions) to
get a glimpse of country in the city.
From the screen door with its fire
engine red frame to the lofty walls
and ceilings framed by beams that
seem straight out of a Midwestern
barn, this shop makes you dream of
simple pleasures and wide open
spaces.
A modern craft cooperative, Prairie
Collective combines the talents of
four friends with a shared aesthetic
— Alethea Harampolis, Jill Pilotte,
Annabelle Miller and Lia Thomas —
whose combined credits include
Design*Sponge and Rose and
Radish.
Photo courtesy of Studio Choo.
Design Minds
Harampolis and Pilotte make up floral design Studio Choo, gracing the shelves of Prairie
Collective with gorgeous vases of blooms dripping with dahlias, roses, ranunculas or daffodils,
depending on what's in season.
Miller calls herself Magpie & Rye and stocks the display cases with housewares like English
quilted pillows and accessories like her own Native American-inspired jewelry.
Lia Thomas of Cloak & Cabinet Society brings needlepoint pieces, quaint paint-by-number
postcards and her grandmother's gorgeous rock collection — green malachites and geodes
glittering in old jars above the big old red kitchen sink in the back of the shop.
What happens when all of these design minds start working together in one space? A
constellation of craftiness. Look for seed bombs, wildflower guides, Opinel knives, beeswax
candles, handmade arrows, letterpress cards, silkscreen prints, muslin bags of lavender, aprons,
handcrafted soaps, sleek compostable picnic ware and more — all of it arranged on weathered
wooden tables and dressers. A visit to Prairie Collective will inspire you to run home and bring a
little of the beautiful outdoors in.
Shop Local and Eco at RAG Boutique
By Jeanne Storck
June 30, 2010 at 8:00 AM
For a taste of local, eco-friendly
fashion, visit Hayes Valley design
collective and co-op RAG (short for
Residents Apparel Gallery; get
directions) where founder and curator
Blakely Bass features over 70 strictly
Bay Area designers. A certified green
business, RAG focuses on
sustainable style.
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Rags to Riches
An incubator for local talent, RAG
rents shelf space to up-and-coming
entrepreneurs who then sell their
items on consignment, thus making
their entree into the design biz. Bass
works only with artisans who
Photo by Blakely Bass.
handcraft or manufacture their items
in fair-trade factories in California —
so you can rest assured anything you purchase has produced little waste, kept fuel miles low
and boosted the local economy.
Try on some of Miranda Caroligne's edgy re-constructed sweaters, dresses and jackets sewn
up from a mix of new and used threads or check out the chic hemp tops and sweatshirts by
Funk Divine. Check the racks for Fluffyco. whose creations include homegrown tees like this
typewriter number or accessories like this sweet mini donut wallet.
today.
Further accessorize with RAG's selection of handmade jewelry including this luscious agate
pendant from Little Hunter. If you're tired of checking the time on your smart phone, go for the
crafty retro look of Vividot's watch necklaces.
coast to coast.
In the home decor section, perk up your nest with an affordable painting or silkscreen print from
3 Fish Studios whose subjects range from robots to mid-century modern furniture or pick up an
elegant silkscreened throw pillow from Casa Murriguez.
Whatever you pop in your shopping bag, you'll take home a little bit of handcrafted love and give
a boost to an aspiring designer.
Trigger Your Fashion Sense at Revolver
By Jeanne Storck
July 02, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Revolver (get directions), a newly
opened clothing boutique in the lower
Haight, channels classic Americana
— complete with plank floors, solid
wood furniture, antler displays and
jeans hanging on wall hooks straight
out of a Midwestern farmhouse. But
while the vibe might read rugged, all
those durable goods pack loads of
style. Look no further than the
chandelier hanging overhead or the
art gallery tucked in back for
evidence that this shop delivers on
both quality and cool quotient.
Dressed to Kill
The shop carries classic, understated Photo courtesy of Revolver San Francisco.
jeans and lots of raw denim for both
men and women. You'll find San
Francisco's homegrown label Tellason as well as Denham the Jeanmaker, a clothing line based
in the Netherlands that turns out classic, quality denim as well as little numbers like this elegant
double-breasted jean jacket. Accent your urban frontier look with postmodern moccasins and
hunting boots by Yuketen or minimalist wallets from Makr Carry Goods' fashioned out of natural
bison and deerskin.
City slickers can try on a streetsmart 100% cotton blazer from General Assembly or doff a
dapper hat by Bailey's of Hollywood. If you need some stylistic inspiration, browse the store's
shelves for books by cutting-edge Swiss art publisher Nieves or hip Japanese lifestyle
magazines that should provide killer fodder for your next fashion statement.
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Too Cool for School at Upper Playground
By Jeanne Storck
August 05, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Fans of skateboarding and street art
flock to Upper Playground (get
directions) in the Haight for edgy
tees, hoodies and sneakers. Opened
in 1999, this hipster boutique has
grown up and gone big time with
shops in Seattle, Portland, Los
Angeles, New York and even Mexico
City.
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Upper Playground has made a name
for itself by picking up artists
overlooked by conventional galleries
and letting them turn their work loose
on the shop walls as well as on the
street-savvy products, from baseball
caps to bags. Look for the boldly
colored, graffiti-inspired designs of
the shop's busiest stars — Sam
Flores and Jeremy Fish.
Skater Style
Ceiling-high shelves hold carefully folded shirts in all sizes and motifs and everything sports the
Upper Playground label and logo — a portly, long-toothed walrus. Sneaker freaks can pick up
limited edition illustrated kickers or get a fierce-looking Jeremy Fish-designed tee with any of the
twelve Zodiac signs.
The store even carries onesies for the hipster baby in your life, along with eye-popping
homeware like pillows, shower curtains and glassware emblazoned with images that will get
your houseguests to sit up and notice. Check out UP's Dinner with the Parents collection which
helps the skater set get respectable for dressier occasions with smart apparel like houndstooth
hoodies or straw fedoras.
Before you go, make sure to step next door to catch the latest in edgy art at Upper Playground's
gallery Fifty24SF.
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By Jeanne Storck
August 18, 2010 at 10:00 AM
When you hear the name Velvet da
Vinci, you probably think "lush" and
"artistic" — qualities you'll find in
spades when you step into this Nob
Hill gallery (get directions). Owners
Mike Holmes and Elizabeth Shypertt
have curated some of the best
international jewelers and craft artists
since 1991.
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Bewitched and Bejeweled
Jewelry fans with a taste for the bold
and the beautiful will revel in the
wildly inventive selection on display
here. Velvet da Vinci artists expand
beyond traditional metals to work
with materials like rubber, enamel
and fabric. Look for the industrial,
machine-shaped rings and chokers
of Elisa Bongfeldt inspired by wheels, cogs and ball bearings, Susie Ganch's brooches that
resemble neural networks or her equally atomic molecular bracelets. For unconventional
materials, see what Ulli Rapp can do with neoprene.
Make sure to check out the work of popular long-time gallery artist Tom Hill whose wire
sculptures of birds sit perched about the gallery looking like vivid 3-D sketches that jumped
directly out of his illustrator's notebook. He even covered the front counter with drawings of his
avian creations — the perfect invitation to browse the delicate baubles on display and let your
imagination take flight.
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Share the Wealth at Viracocha
By Jeanne Storck
June 17, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Curiosity shops have taken San
Francisco by storm in recent months.
We've got Accident & Artifact,
Mystery Mister, Loved to Death and
now Viracocha (get directions). More
than antique stores, these little
emporiums of strange sell vintage
with an eye for the offbeat and the
odd.
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Owner Jonathan Siegel calls
Viracocha a "design time machine"
where everything old is new again
and shoppers can give a little love to
discarded objects. Just inside the
front door, a leopard skin fur and a
Lionel Ritchie album lounge in a red
porcelain bathtub. Other finds include
a vintage Czech doctor's kit, upright
pianos, an old turnstile from a sports stadium and giant lamps from the Trocadero in Paris.
Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice
Swiss army blankets lead a second life as sturdy bags with old horse riding straps as handles. A
local harmonica player, Jimmy Sweetwater, builds unique lamps from cast-off material like an
old Osterizer blender or the bits and pieces of defunct harmonicas. Even the walls of the shop
have a previous life; Siegel paneled them floor to ceiling with salvaged redwood siding and old
pallets, giving the space a rustic feel.
Siegel pumps up the creative energy in the shop. During the day, the turntable glides from Piaf
to the Righteous Brothers to Corey Hart and in the evenings, in-store readings, music and
theater keep the place jumping. Siegel has turned the space into one big community center,
staffed by an army of friends and volunteers, all of them happy to spend a few hours celebrating
the strange and the rare.
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Get the Design Deets from Zinc Details
By Jeanne Storck
August 25, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Everywhere you turn in Zinc Details
(get directions), beautiful objects beg
you to open your wallet and take
them home. This Pacific Heights
design shop has been tempting
clients with sleek, modern home
accessories and furniture for over
twenty years.
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Owners Wendy and Vasilios Kinirism,
both environmental design grads
from Berkeley, trot the globe looking
for chic objets to beautify the
domestic landscape. With a sharp
eye for functionality, clean lines and
intriguing colors, the duo gravitate to
Japanese, Scandinavian and Italian
artisans, with masters like Saarinen
and Philippe Starck sitting side by
side with pieces from under-the-radar ateliers.
Puttting the Fun in Functional
Look for Alessi demi-tasse cups that appear lifted from a cafe in Milan; Finnish glassware and
ceramics from Iittala in vivid floral and striped patterns; or bold printed linens from Marimekko.
Design House Stockholm offers whimsical Nordic pieces — coat hooks shaped like waves, a
winter hat pleated like an accordion or tongs shaped like calipers.
today.
When you're done ogling — and spending — you can pack your design finds and take them
home in one of these playful lacy polypropylene shopping baskets.
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I Want Candy at The Candy Store
Yosh Olfactory Sense
By Jeanne Storck
April 30, 2010 at 12:00 PM
In a world of celebrity perfumes,
Yosh Han's fragrances are a breath
of fresh air. Less about flash and all
about subtle sensation, this local
parfumeuse designs scents that
wearers can slip on and feel
transformed.
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A free spirit, the Taiwan-born Yosh
moved to Aspen, Colorado after
college for the sole purpose of
learning to ski. She ended up
apprenticing for two years to a local
perfume maker and now works from
her San Francisco studio creating her
own line of artisanal eau de toilettes.
In addition to her regular product
Photo by Steve Wiederholt.
line, Yosh designs custom-made
scents uniquely tailored to a client's
tastes and personality. If you can't afford the one-on-one Yosh time, sign up for the perfumemaking workshops she offers in local boutiques.
Scents and Sensibility
Just as Chanel has its No.'s 5, 19 and 22, Yosh has unique mathematical potions all her own.
Each of her scents carries a value corresponding to a fragrance family: floral, fruity, green,
woody, spicy.
Sottile 1.61 subtly blends tea roses and lily of the valley. U4eahh! (say it out loud) 2.43 bursts
with pomegranate, aloe vera, cucumber, pear and waterlily. Perhaps her most romantic, White
Flowers 1.41 offers a wedding bouquet of gardenia, tuberose, freesia, lilac, sweat pea and
narcissus with hints of pettitgrain and Siberian fur — the description alone enough to make any
bride swoon.
Yosh sells her creations everywhere, from Fred Segal to Barneys to Paris's Colette, online and
at several San Francisco retail stores. If you want to experiment a bit before committing to one
scent, dabble in Yosh's liquid magic with her Sweet Suite sampler before taking the plunge.
About By the Way
Getting advice is easy. Getting good advice is hard. Jeanne Storck knows San Francisco better
than the back of her hand. In By the Way, she shares her expertise, offering do's and don'ts
designed to save you time and maximize your enjoyment. If you find her tips helpful, don't keep
them to yourself. Share the wealth. And please email Jeanne your own tips.

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