Sprung on Spring
Just as spring implies, today was a new beginning for me. To be honest, the creation of this blog was inspired by the events of the past week where I felt the need to go back to being the urban explorer I once was.
So this morning I woke up bright and early and headed to the Starbucks in Kensington. Normally I would much rather go to an independent coffee shop, but the Kensington branch is an exception because they feature the Clover Brew System.
The brewing technique is so unique, you feel like your grandmother prepared it for you on her vintage stovetop. Instead of the barista simply filling your cup from the drip coffee machine, they grind your individual coffee beans and process it through the Clover machine, which in turn prepares a super high tech version of my favourite french press coffee. It's a definite must-try for coffee lovers - but beware: It's only available in 3-4 starbucks locations in San Diego county.
So I picked up my perfect cup of Joe, and headed downtown to go to the Museum of Contemporary Art. A few weeks ago I was bummed to have missed the opening of the Sensory overload exhibition, and I've been wanting to head down there ever since. The great thing about the MCASD is that there are usually 4-5 artists, with at least one that is going to appeal to you. Plus it is free to anyone under 25! Today the exhibit that appealed to me was the Madame Curie exhibit by Jessica Steinkamp.
Giant moving tree branches with spring blossoms are projected onto the walls of the main exhibit room. You can't help but feel you are in an artistic Warhol style 70s movie.
The flowers on the wall gave me a true feeling of spring, so I had to leave the indoors promptly to continue on my adventure in the sun.
I was planning on heading to Cafe Zucchero to get my favourite pistachio gelato, but was reminded by the lack of parking and massive crowds that today was Saturday, and therefore MERCATO DAY!
I am a fan of eating organically and locally, and therefore a HUGE farmers market fiend, and of all the farmers markets I find this one to be the biggest and most diverse.
As cliche as it is, what better way to celebrate the coming of spring, than by buying an inordinate amount of flowers.
For those of you who love flowers but never buy them from fear of its price, or worse yet buy the grocery store bouquets that wilt in a day, I would highly advise you to be more adventurous. Today I brought a total of 4 bouquets for $15, the average price of a mediocre bunch of flowers from Albertsons. But the importance lies in whether you would rather buy this:
OR all of these:
I got 3 different bouquets of the various violet flowers and added a bunch sunflowers for a boost of color ($10), a moroccan hued bouquet ($2), and the most beautifully fragrant flowers (the name of which I can't remember unfortunately) ($3). The best part was that the sweet guy tending the stall gave me two complimentary roses- which I left for my wonderful roomie as a gift.
The greatest problem I faced was my lack of vases so I placed the roses in a wine bottle (which has great value to me because it was from the night my boyfriend asked me to be his girlfriend). Since the unnamed fragrant flowers wouldn't fit in a bottle, I cut the top off an empty milk carton, wrapped in wrapping paper and placed the flowers within. I was quite chuffed with the end result, and will definitely be doing this again.
After the farmers market I grabbed some almond macaroons, and the remainder of my coffee and walked to the Bay. I then grabbed some Aguachile from the Mariscos taco truck in Barrio Logan and had a picnic on the grass in South Park.
It was the best day I have had in ages and as you may have noticed I did it all on my own. Most times its great to spend the day with your friends or significant other. But sometimes a date with yourself is absolutely necessary.
Well I'm off to a screening of the new Jane Eyre at Hillcrest Cinemas.
Till the next time my darlings.
Ciao!
So this morning I woke up bright and early and headed to the Starbucks in Kensington. Normally I would much rather go to an independent coffee shop, but the Kensington branch is an exception because they feature the Clover Brew System.
The brewing technique is so unique, you feel like your grandmother prepared it for you on her vintage stovetop. Instead of the barista simply filling your cup from the drip coffee machine, they grind your individual coffee beans and process it through the Clover machine, which in turn prepares a super high tech version of my favourite french press coffee. It's a definite must-try for coffee lovers - but beware: It's only available in 3-4 starbucks locations in San Diego county.
So I picked up my perfect cup of Joe, and headed downtown to go to the Museum of Contemporary Art. A few weeks ago I was bummed to have missed the opening of the Sensory overload exhibition, and I've been wanting to head down there ever since. The great thing about the MCASD is that there are usually 4-5 artists, with at least one that is going to appeal to you. Plus it is free to anyone under 25! Today the exhibit that appealed to me was the Madame Curie exhibit by Jessica Steinkamp.
The flowers on the wall gave me a true feeling of spring, so I had to leave the indoors promptly to continue on my adventure in the sun.
I was planning on heading to Cafe Zucchero to get my favourite pistachio gelato, but was reminded by the lack of parking and massive crowds that today was Saturday, and therefore MERCATO DAY!
As cliche as it is, what better way to celebrate the coming of spring, than by buying an inordinate amount of flowers.
For those of you who love flowers but never buy them from fear of its price, or worse yet buy the grocery store bouquets that wilt in a day, I would highly advise you to be more adventurous. Today I brought a total of 4 bouquets for $15, the average price of a mediocre bunch of flowers from Albertsons. But the importance lies in whether you would rather buy this:
OR all of these:
I got 3 different bouquets of the various violet flowers and added a bunch sunflowers for a boost of color ($10), a moroccan hued bouquet ($2), and the most beautifully fragrant flowers (the name of which I can't remember unfortunately) ($3). The best part was that the sweet guy tending the stall gave me two complimentary roses- which I left for my wonderful roomie as a gift.
The greatest problem I faced was my lack of vases so I placed the roses in a wine bottle (which has great value to me because it was from the night my boyfriend asked me to be his girlfriend). Since the unnamed fragrant flowers wouldn't fit in a bottle, I cut the top off an empty milk carton, wrapped in wrapping paper and placed the flowers within. I was quite chuffed with the end result, and will definitely be doing this again.
After the farmers market I grabbed some almond macaroons, and the remainder of my coffee and walked to the Bay. I then grabbed some Aguachile from the Mariscos taco truck in Barrio Logan and had a picnic on the grass in South Park.
It was the best day I have had in ages and as you may have noticed I did it all on my own. Most times its great to spend the day with your friends or significant other. But sometimes a date with yourself is absolutely necessary.
Well I'm off to a screening of the new Jane Eyre at Hillcrest Cinemas.
Till the next time my darlings.
Ciao!
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