Frugal in the City

My in-laws came to visit us in SFO. We got to stay with them at Parc Hotel, smack in the middle of Market St., across Nordstrom, Gap, Forever 21, and the cable car boarding station. They rented a room for all of us and we got to spend after Christmas in the city. This is also a good time for post-Xmas sales and pre-New Year sales, with every store offering up to 75% mark-downs.



I also marveled at the new Westfield Mall, home to Bloomingdales, opened in SfO just a few months ago. Wonderfully designed building, with winding escalators. But the mall was just too full for comfort (because of the mega sales), I couldn't even begin to look at things. I tried to check out the coat I needed, and saw some interesting ones in BEbe ($120) but I guess, not today. . .




Market Street, though, is interesting with unique finds on the sidewalk. There were the usual exotic earrings and jewelry, scarves and bonnets. But I met an artist (fond of Filipinas--"You are all beautiful!" he said.) who made charms out of spoons. He decoupaged style icons like Jackie O., Bruce Lee, or even Mao Tse Tung, Elvis, even Disney Princesses on spoons and added beads or charms and looped them into a string for an instant necklace, all for $5.



I also found the Korean woman who crocheted her wares on the spot--bonnets ($10), floral scarves ($18) and attachable crochet flowers (3 for $5) in all colors. It took a lot of will not to buy those cute flowers as I convinced myself that I could make those myself. Isn't this every crafter's dream--to sell her wares?



In Old Navy, I got a fur-lined vest in beige by--from $34, on sale at $16. I like the way it feels plush and the way it slims my upper torso. I also bought hoop earrings studded with black tiny rhinestones from $12, which I will wear when I have to look dressed.

Shooting pictures and window shopping were next. The trend for women seems to be baby-doll cut dresses and tops and empire waists. Sounds good to me because I have no waist and this cut sems flattering and feminine. Forever 21's specialty is modern fashion with an edge. The store also has very elaborate chandeliers for ambience and the cheapest accessories (bags from $20, costume jewelry from $4). And if my snapshots look like "snatch-shots," well, that's because they are. (I didn't know if photos were allowed to be taken).




Last stop for me was Sephora. Before getting drunk with all the designer fragrances, I started from the back-end of the store and found the Philosophy line of fragrance and skin care. Their fragrances were natural and fresh: Falling in Love, Pure Grace, Amazing Grace. Their skin care simple and straightforward. My husband treated me to a small bottle of Amazing Grace.





I realized this is why we chose to settle off San Francisco--the city is vibrant, but not as confusing and littered as New York. The weather is always nice and there are so many things to see. The people are a nice mix, lots of Asians. Food selections are endless. We grabbed clam chowder on sourdough for lunch at Fisherman's Wharf and ate in wonderful authentic Chinese and Vietnamese restos. We even convinced the in-laws to try Johnny Rockets for diner food and ambience. We did have room service a couple of times when they were too tired. (Yipee!)

Arguably, San Francisco has the best cuisine in the world as the immigrants surely brought with them the best of their culinary skills and the Coast allows us access to great seafood. Plus the fact that California is still basically agricultural, with a wine valley to boot, rounds out our place for food pleasures.

Locals never really venture out to the tourist areas. But we totally enjoyed all the sight-seeing and eating that lasted about a week. I never thought eating out everyday would tire us out. We were treated to dining out and movies worth the whole year--Rocky Balboa, Happy Feet and Night at the Museum (IMAX), and Pursuit of Happyness. It's time to go home to good ol' Antioch, though.

We were just as excited to come home to good ol' homecooking of sinigang and corned beef and egg for dinner when we got home. . .Yum!