Category: California

Specialty’s Café & Bakery Closes After 33 Years

I’ve been going to Specialty’s Café & Bakery for work lunches for over 15 years. So when I learned that the San Francisco Bay Area-based chain would be permanently closing their doors after today, May 19, 2020, I was shocked! The reason for the closure? The pandemic. Their website explains that “Current market conditions attributed … Continue reading Specialty’s Café & Bakery Closes After 33 Years →

Like I’ve Been There Before: ‘Friends’ 25th Anniversary Pop-Up Experience in San Francisco

Fans of the hit show, “Friends” will have a blast at the pop-up experience that recently opened in downtown San Francisco! Visitors can enjoy two floors of interactive digital displays, view actual props and costumes used on the show, and step into recreated show sets, like Central Perk and Monica and Rachel’s West Village apartment

I’m Going to My First WordCamp #wcsac

Bonjour! I can't wait to attend my first-ever WordCamp this weekend (September 21-22, 2019) in Sacramento, California. I'll be live-tweeting as an attendee. Find me on Twitter (@bonjourdarlene) and follow along using #wcsac! (Or scroll down to see my Tweets below!) What is WordCamp? According to the WordCamp Central website, "WordCamp is a conference that … Continue reading I’m Going to My First WordCamp #wcsac →

Meaningful Photos: a Mindfulness Practice

Meaningful Photos is one of many science-based practices for a meaningful life curated by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. For this mindfulness exercise, the how-to states: “[Take] 15 minutes per day for one week to take the photos.” Instead I did the following: From my phone's camera roll, I selected nine favorite … Continue reading Meaningful Photos: a Mindfulness Practice →

Picnic By the Pond at Marin French Cheese in Petaluma

The Marin French Cheese Company is located on a dairy farm in Hicks Valley, near the city of Petaluma, California, about 40 miles/ 64 km north of San Francisco. Since they have been at this location since 1865, Marin French Cheese has earned the distinction of being the "longest continually operating cheese company in America." … Continue reading Picnic By the Pond at Marin French Cheese in Petaluma →

Two French Bakeries and the Blue House in San Francisco

In my blog post, "If You're Going to San Francisco, Be Sure to Watch These Videos Filmed There," I described how a blue house in San Francisco inspired Maxime Le Forestier to write a French song entitled, "San Francisco." I recently got the chance to see the house on 18th Street made famous by the … Continue reading Two French Bakeries and the Blue House in San Francisco →

Good Vibes Only at the Seaside Town of Capitola

In Capitola, California, a seaside town about 76 miles/ 122 km south of San Francisco on the coast of Monterey Bay, you can imagine you're somewhere in the Mediterranean! Look at these colorful houses! This picture was taken from the Capitola Wharf. The colorful houses are on the left. Only a few steps away from … Continue reading Good Vibes Only at the Seaside Town of Capitola →

Watching Apollo 11 on the Moon Landing’s 50th Anniversary

Today, July 20, 2019, is the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Many celebratory events are happening this weekend, including special screenings of the 2019 documentary, Apollo 11. I’m not sure why, but coincidentally, the three theaters near me had the same showtime of 3 in the afternoon. Could it represent the three astronauts: … Continue reading Watching Apollo 11 on the Moon Landing’s 50th Anniversary →

Bastille Day SF 2019

Joyeux 14 juillet ("Happy July 14th" because in France they don't say "Happy Bastille Day")! While watching people play pétanque, we enjoyed our authentic and refreshing French beverages: Badoit sparking mineral water with Monin syrup! Santé! For more information: Bastille Day San Francisco - event website