With over 1300 reviews on Yelp, an appearance on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, and a long line that often snakes down the block, I won’t try to argue that Swan Oyster Depot is one of San Francisco’s best kept secrets. But I will tell you that I still meet locals who don’t know it, and I…
All Posts
A Quick Detour to Muir Woods
A few months ago, I felt the need to get out of the city, to explore, and wander a bit. It is possible to have more than enough of San Francisco. Enough of the honking, enough of the smells of the city, enough of the pushing and shoving on the bus, and enough of the…
The Curated Commute — A Young Doctor Called to Calcutta
The Curated Commute is a series where I pick interesting podcast episodes or other audio treats to accompany you on your commute. Hopefully they’ll entertain you and maybe even help you learn a little something while you’re en route… *** Today’s podcast features a young doctor who receives a surprising phone call on what seemed to…
What Every First Grader Needs to Know About Sweden
Today, I have something a little different than usual for you, and it stars my oldest nephew! His nickname is G Fox (Fox is our shared middle name) or sometimes just G for short. So that’s what I’ll call him here. I’m a VERY proud aunt to my sister’s four kids (7, 4 1/2, 3, and…
10 Uniquely Scandinavian Souvenirs
Lately when I bring something home from a trip abroad, it’s almost always been something consumable that won’t end up taking up space on a countertop or buried in a box only to be discovered again years from now. I like to think of myself as a bit of a minimalist, and I thought I’d gotten…
Cloudberries + Bread Cheese = A Quintessentially Finnish Dessert
This dessert is about as simple as them come, but surprisingly tasty, and I’ve been told that it’s truly unique to Finland. Cloudberries themselves aren’t unique to Finland. They can be found all over Scandinavia and parts of northern Canada (according to Wikipedia), but apparently this particular preparation is uniquely Finnish. The Super Simple Recipe Ingredients Bread…
5 Funny Old Texas Postcards
Some things never change. These cowboys and cowgirls have every bit as much gumption and attitude as any modern day Texan. Maybe more! These idealized Texans of the past made me think of the closing lines of a combative article that Larry McMurtry wrote recently for Texas Monthly. […]
6 Cherry-Picked D.C. Restaurants from Washington Post’s Food Critic
Please forgive the pun. Spring is such a beautiful time to visit D.C., and it’s practically synonymous (in my mind) with cherry blossoms. After I got back from a decidedly chillier version of spring in Scandinavia, I came across these beautiful pictures of D.C. cherry blossoms and just couldn’t resist sharing them or being a little cheesy about…
Little Known Treasure Trove of Spanish Art in Dallas
Today is a busy day at my alma mater, Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. As I type this, the dedication of the Bush Presidential Library is taking place with all living Presidents in attendance. It’s a big deal for a university to get a presidential library, but like the former President himself, it’s not…
Daffodils, Fur Hats & Still Frozen Seas, Spring in Scandinavia
Coming straight from frozen Helsinki back to a warm and sunny SFO was a surprise, in the best possible way. Much like spring itself in Scandinavia was a surprise to me. It’s a combination of sunny skies, blooming yellow and purple bulbs, wipping winds, and still cold temperatures, even including ice in Sweden, Norway,…
