Christmas in Seattle

Nick and I wanted to do a little trip for Christmas and decided Seattle was far enough away to feel special, yet close enough to not get caught up in the hassle of traveling during the holidays. We seemed to encounter a lot of fellow San Francisco residents with the same idea. We like Seattle because it feels like a smaller, cleaner version of San Francisco, with seasons.

Beautiful produce at the Pike Place Market.


In our winter accessories, just outside of the Seattle Aquarium.


Amazing freshly-made crumpets at The Crumpet Shop. We ate there all three mornings that we spent in Seattle. The staff was super friendly and immediately caught on that we were repeat visitors.


Giant stuffed sea otter outside one of the waterfront shops.


My rain boots certainly came in handy on this trip.

Sadly missing: A photo of me with my awesome friend Abhishek who was kind enough to show us a couple cool places and drive us to the airport. Thanks, buddy!

| iPhone Photos by: Me. |

The Last Third of 2011

It's kind of sad that my last post here in 2011 was about getting a new work bag to celebrate my new job and then I was not to be heard from again for the rest of the year. As much as I loved blogging, it took up a huge amount of my spare time—a type of time that became practically non-existent once I started full-time work as a game designer. My job is super fun, though, and it's hard to complain about long hours when you're making games for a living.

Lately, however, I've become addicted to Instagram and have been using it to document every little memory I could possibly want a quick snapshot for. I realized that while I unfortunately might not have time to type up anecdotes or put together moodboards, friends and readers interested in The Yuppie Lifestyle might still find my on-the-go photo-taking fun. So, I am going to give blogging another go by posting 5 photos from my Instagram feed that sum up the last third of my 2011. And I'll try to post 5 more photos every time I have a great week or do something neat or extraordinary.

This isn't necessarily a resolution for the new year; I'd rather just call it a personal goal. But I do want to thank everyone who bugged me about blogging more—you guys are awesome.

5 snapshots:

A pretty flower at a cute cafe in the Castro.


The view from our room at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where Nick and I spend our Thanksgiving. Our balcony was right over the Bellagio fountains.


Nick and I have been obsessing over ramen lately even though it never seems to photograph well. We love Halu and Genki Ramen. Any other suggestions for SF ramen spots?


One of my company perks is free admission to Disneyland. I didn't like Disneyland as a child but I had more fun as an adult.


Some of the most awesome gingerbread houses I've ever seen. This tribute to the Painted Ladies along Alamo Square was part of the annual Palace Hotel Gingerbread Competition. Funds raised through the contest went to charitable organizations chosen by the winners.

(And yes, I finally jumped on that iPhone bandwagon.)

| iPhone Photos by: Me. |

Nick Goes Skydiving, Part 2

Nick and our friends Andy and Norm went skydiving the other day. Here is some of the useful information that Nick had to share after the experience. But the three of them also had some stories that I imagine are quite unique to the experience of choosing Skydive Hollister for their skydiving needs.

What were some of the odd quirks about the facility?
There were vending machines with frozen pizzas and Hot Pockets. We were like, "Who would get stuff out of a vending machine like that?" We then promptly saw one of the instructors buy a Hot Pocket, and heat it up, and eat it. I don't think people who go into that sort of profession value their health very much.

How much instruction did you receive before getting ready to jump?
Not very much, since we were doing it tandem. Our tandem partners just went over a few easy steps and let us know how it would work. Andy's experience was probably a little different though.* And we also had to fill out 4 full pages of waivers. There was a video they had us watch that we thought was going to walk us through the legalese on the waiver, since we had to initial every section. But it wasn't helpful at all.

What was the video really like?
The first couple minutes were "Skydiving is awesome!" and then this guy with a beard came on to address the paperwork. He didn't actually walk us through it though; it was more like he was providing additional verbal disclaimers. There were 8 minutes of disclaimer and then about another 10 minutes of "Skydiving is awesome!". So the alleged informational video for completing the paperwork was really 40% disclaimer, 60% getting you more psyched up about skydiving. Also, it looked like the video was made an ambiguous number of decades ago.

Did you feel like you were becoming a member of the Dharma Initiative?
YES.

*I was also told that the tandem partner Andy was assigned to was a little more unconventional. His name was Jester. The guys reenacted Jester with a lot of arm-flailing, slurred speech, crazy eyes, and yelling that I can't quite capture in text here. But I can say that there is a video of him getting arrested for illegal BASE jumping available on YouTube. You can view it right here.

| Photo Credit: N. Morello, for The Yuppie Lifestyle. |

Nick Goes Skydiving, Part 1

Last Sunday, Nick went skydiving with our friends Norm and Andy. None of them had ever done it before then. They booked a time slot to do tandem skydiving through Skydive Hollister and while they weren't able to have a camera with them for the portions pertaining to the actual skydiving experience, they certainly had all sorts of entertaining tales which they regaled me with upon their return. I thought skydiving might be the sort of fun adventure that many are curious about but may want more info on, so I asked Nick to help me prepare a piece for people who might want more information about his experience. I'll save the odd quirks specific to their particular skydiving facilitator for another time. This is the part that contains actual useful information.

How would you describe the experience in the air?
It's like being on a really long downward roller coaster ride, minus the uneasy stomach feeling.

Was it scary?
No. If you're considering skydiving, or have made the decision to go skydiving, you're probably already self-aware enough to know what fears you need to be over before going. Tandem skydiving lets you experience skydiving with the safety of being strapped to an expert who will pull open the chute for you. The scariest part was actually the plane ride; you'll be eager to jump out of that thing.

What was the plane ride like?
I had a stranger strapped to my back. One of my elbows was pretty much touching the plane's wall and the other was practically rubbing the elbow of another jumper, and then there was the other plane wall next to him. Right in front of me was a huge chute pack, another tandem partner, and then another jumper. It was impossible to move. And because the plane was so small, it felt like it was being tossed around by the wind the whole time.

So it's not like the spy movies where they get suited up in a big hollow plane cabin and then sit around before it's time to jump?
No, not at all. Though that was what I was expecting going into it.

What types of people would you caution against skydiving, outside of the obvious?
People who are claustrophobic (because of the plane situation), people who are prone to motion sickness (because of the rickety plane and the bus that collects you after you land), and people who don't like sharing close quarters with a stranger (since you'll be strapped to your tandem partner).

What would you recommend people to wear?
Any old t-shirt and pants will do. But make sure you wear tightly-laced, closed-toed shoes. There have been incidents of people losing their shoes in the air.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
The biggest thing was the wait. We didn't know that after checking in for our appointment time, there was still a 2–4 hour wait before actually getting called to get into our harnesses and board the plane. I also was expecting to get to change into a jumpsuit but they just put the harnesses around out regular clothes. Leave your valuables in the car instead of checking them in at "reception". Expect to feel exhausted after the adrenaline rush wears off several minutes after you land.

| Photo Credit: N. Morello, for The Yuppie Lifestyle. |

Sparkly Ribbon

Instead of conventional souvenirs, when I travel, I like to visit the local arts and crafts stores and pick up little knick-knacks that I cannot find at the stores near where I live. While I was in Iowa City over the weekend, I picked up some of this pretty sparkly ribbon from Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby is a chain very similar to Michael's except they also carry fabric and have a very different selection of ribbon. Sparkly things have really been catching my eye lately so this was a perfect addition to my out-of-control ribbon collection. Despite its glittery appearance, it has a soft, almost velvety, texture. I am already regretting that I only bought four spools.

What quirky things do you collect when you travel?

| Photo Credit: Me. |

Peanuts on Parade

Since Charles Schulz spent a great deal of his life in Santa Rosa, there are tributes to him and the Peanuts cast all over the city. "Peanuts on Parade" is an art installation that raised money for art scholarships; each Peanuts character was designed by a local artist. While I was there earlier this month, I tried to photograph as many of the Peanuts on Parade statues as I could find. I later learned that there is this very handy map which tells you where all the statues are located but I think that it was a lot more fun just to drive around hunting for them.

I think this type of scavenger hunt would be a fun activity to do when traveling with kids. Here in San Francisco, we have something similar with the "Hearts in San Francisco" installation; there are large heart sculptures all over the city as part of fundraising for the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. In 2010 there was the "Elephant Parade" in London to benefit Asian elephant conservation and in 2008 there were "King Bladud's Pigs" in Bath to raise money for city improvements. What other cities have a version of this type of art installation? Do you have something similar in your city?

| Photo Credit: Me. |

My Childhood Stamp Collection

I visited my parents' house last month and while I was there, I rediscovered my stamp collection that I saved from when I was a little kid. I explained to Nick that instead of just cutting the stamps out from envelopes, I soaked them in water to dissolve away the adhesive so I could peel off the envelope backing and get just the stamp by itself; then I'd let the stamp dry flat before putting it in my special album for displaying stamps. He thought that was pretty hardcore.

I know my stamp collection doesn't have any actual value from a stamp collecting perspective because none of the stamps are in original pristine condition. They've all been used and have all been marked by the postal services in the mailing process. But as a kid, I didn't care so much about the value of the collection as the idea that these stamps represented places all over the world and journeyed to me from countries that I might never visit in my lifetime. I think the stamps look pretty together even though they've been marked.

What do kids collect nowadays? Are sticker and stamp collections too old school for newer generations?

3 Russian River Valley Wineries to Visit

A couple weekends ago, Nick and I went up to Sonoma County to celebrate our one-year anniversary. If you're looking to do something a little different in the wine country instead of the wine train or the big-named tasting rooms along the main highway road that goes through Napa, I'd definitely recommend hopping among small wineries farther west. We even had to cross this rusty one-lane bridge—something I thought only existed in movies.

We'd set out to visit Hawley Winery because we loved the 2008 Viognier we'd served at our wedding and we'd visited their tasting room in downtown Healdsburg during our honeymoon. This is a photo of some of the crazy signage we encountered while weaving our way through the smaller wineries tucked in Russian River Valley. At that point I felt less like I was in the wine country and more like I was in Tulgey Wood.

(I'm going to disclose right now that I am in no way an expert of wine. I simply know enough about what I enjoy in wine to articulate what I like and don't like about the wines I taste. I look for whites that are crisp without being too tart, smooth while still having structure, and not super dry. I don't like reds as much but will be drawn to ones that are not too tannin-y and have a creamier finish. My advice to regular people when buying wines is to ask yourself whether it tastes good, or you think it would taste good if you knew more about wine. Don't buy wine that doesn't actually taste like something you'd enjoy drinking.)

Hawley Winery I think at this point I've tasted enough of what they've put out in the past three years to say that this is my favorite winery. It's run by a father and his two sons, one of whom conducted our tasting. We were the only ones there, so he even gave us a sneak peak of their next batch of Pinot from the barrel. It was really cool to know that the relatively small, barn-like building full of barrels was literally the entire stock if their next release. What we bought there: 2009 Zinfandel, 2010 Viognier, 2010 Sauvignon Blanc.

Nalle Winery Austin Hawley recommended that we go here next if we were interested in another father-son production. Apparently Dad Hawley and Dad Nalle went to school together before settling in Russian River Valley to make wine. This one had quite a few more visitors, but we were still welcomed by Andrew Nalle for a laid-back tasting. What we bought there: 2008 Chardonnay, 2009 Pinot Noir.

Porter Creek Vineyards While at Nalle, we met a lovely couple who coincidentally live in the same zip code as we do, and they recommended Porter Creek. Porter Creek has a cute little shack that they use for a tasting room and lots of big, pretty roses. There was a friendly and inclusive vibe even when the room got a little crowded. What we bought there: 2008 Zinfandel, 2009 Chardonnay.

Here are more photos from our rainy trip.


| Photo Credit: Me. |

Beautiful Baked Goods at Ottolenghi

Despite all the hullabaloo about French pastries, the most beautiful bakery I visited during my trip was in London. Ottolenghi was a delight to the senses and yet another place I wish I had near home. Just look at how their baked goods appear to be oozing with deliciousness.

After much deliberation, I picked out a pesto and chèvre muffin for a take-away breakfast. I think their other locations might be bigger but one we went to in Belgravia was teeny-tiny. We ate our breakfast while sitting on the edge of a flower planter because we tried to get into the immaculately-kept park at the end of the block but discovered it was locked and only for residents. This did not take away from experiencing the amazingness of the savory muffin.

| Photo Credit: Me. |

Souvenirs for His Wardrobe

After writing about some of the clothes I bought in London, a reader asked that I write about Nick's finds as well. Nick got two new shirts from Ted Baker, one of our favorite London-based labels. They are good for guys who need more slim-fitting items.
| left. Ted Baker, Mabley dogtooth print shirt | right. Ted Baker, Upping gingham check shirt |

What I love about Ted Baker are the little details they put into the clothes that you can't even see on the product photos on their website. One of the shirts has this pale purple stitching just on the inner edge of the collar and a tiny strip of lining with a floral pattern. Since it's a casual shirt for which you'd leave the top button undone, you can catch glimpses of the floral pattern when the shirt is worn.

| Photo Credit: top. See links provided; bottom. Me. |

How to Enjoy Macarons in Paris

The first night that Nick and I were in Paris, we stumbled into one of Georges Larnicol's shops, simply because it happened to be open. The shop had shelves and shelves of amazing chocolate sculptures and the walls were lined with bulk bins filled with various confections. They also sold petit macarons, which were exactly what we were looking for. They were being sold by weight at 4.50€ for 100 grams, which roughly translates to 70¢ each here, or a pretty sweet deal. Since there are a couple Maison Larnicol locations near Metro stops in central Paris, they became our go-to for macarons throughout the trip. We tried a handful of different flavors, with our favorites being the chocolate and the natural (plain marzipan) flavors. They were everything I'd hoped a macaron in Paris would be.

For comparison, we also tried a chocolate macaron at the world-famous Ladurée. The setting was much more posh, the macaron was a much higher price point, and we thought the Larnicol chocolate macaron was better. The chocolate is really brought to the forefront in the Larnicol macaron whereas in the Ladurée version, it seemed more like a macaron lightly flavored with chocolate.

In conclusion, my guide for how to go about enjoying macarons in Paris is as follows.

• You still have to go to Ladurée and try at least one for yourself. The ornate interior at the Champs-Élysées location is already an experience.
• Try one from the neighborhood bakery near wherever you are staying. Paris is all about appreciating how self-contained the neighborhoods are.
• Get your fix at Maison Georges Larnicol where for a pocket full of Euro change you can get a handful of mini treats. Swing by on your way to a picnic, stock up on them as snacks for a day of sightseeing, and grab one last bag for the plane ride home.

| Photo Credit: Me. |

How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Versailles

Nick and I were lucky enough to have great weather the day we visited Versailles. I think that if the weather is wet and dreary, there's not really any point in going because being able to enjoy the gardens is really the highlight of the visit. We didn't really have any plans other than getting on the train in Paris and heading over there, but I think by happy coincidence we ended up stumbling into the best itinerary.

Get there at around 10:30 in the morning and get the 18€ "Passport" from one of the ticket machines. At this time, all the tours will be packing into the main palace and the golf cart rental stalls will be open but not busy. Rent a golf cart ("electric car") from the stall in the Water Parterre area and follow the prescribed route to Petit Trianon, admiring the Apollo Fountain and the vast tree groves along the way. Don't worry about the amount of rental time you are incurring because, after all, you are on vacation and the fun you'll have is totally worth it (especially compared to riding the lame tram).

Pull over beside the field of grazing sheep in the hamlet for a photo op. Then make sure you get over to Petit Trianon right before it opens at 12. Hardly any visitors will be there at this point so you can enjoy exploring Marie Antoinette's little retreat in relative peace (and use the loo without waiting in a huge queue).

Get back in the golf cart and follow the route to the Grand Trianon. Since we were there during the off season, there wasn't really much to see botanically so this was just a quick stop for us.

Follow the route back and return the golf cart, then find a place to get some take-away food. There are a few places between the main entrance and the Grand Canal that have sandwiches, pastries, or ice cream for sale. (You can also get some picnic-y foods before you enter; we'd picked up a handful of petit macarons in the morning before the train ride.) Have lunch on the steps overlooking the grounds. (Unfortunately the majority of the statues in the garden were covered in bags when we were there; this was the only downer of the visit.)

After lunch, pack up your dessert and head over to the Grand Canal. By this time, the rowboat rental stall will be open. Rent a rowboat and make your way to the middle of the canal where you can eat your dessert among the swans and watch little doggies playing in the grass alongside. Just remember that the farther you drift out, the farther you have to row to get back.

By the time you've returned your boat, the bulk of the tour groups will have dissipated and the main palace will be much much less crowded. Finish up your visit there and you'll be nice and close to the main gates, where you can exit and be on your way.

Here is a helpful website detailing the rentals available at Versailles.

| Photo Credit: Me. |

The Restaurant that SF Needs to Import from London

Amongst posh boutiques and little bakeries on Marylebone High Street there is a restaurant where even in the rain, there is a queue outside on Saturday morning waiting for it to open. Getting in line made me feel a little like I was back at home in SF—where all the beloved brunch spots have a wait on weekends—but the food at the Providores and Tapa Room was unlike anything I've ever had before.

Nick and I managed to get a couple of the best seats in the Tapa Room—the ones at the window facing out onto Marylebone High Street. I got the Turkish eggs, which were two poached eggs atop a bowlful of thick, whipped yogurt and melted chili butter. Never in my wildest poached-egg obsession would I have thought to serve them in a bowl of yogurt and butter but ever since I've had them I seriously cannot stop fantasising about this dish, with its buttery yogurt and its spicy and buttery butter. Nick got the Thai basil and lime waffles that were topped with a perfectly complementary jalapeno chutney; savory waffles are another thing I need more of in my life. A menu like this is exactly the sort of thing that SF foodies would queue up in the rain for. Readers: Do you know of anywhere in San Francisco where I can get Turkish eggs or savory waffles?

| Photo Credit: Me. |

Going to the Market in Paris

In Paris, it seemed that little fresh food markets popped up in every neighborhood. I am so jealous of this and desperately wish there could be a little farmers market every week in Potrero for me to get my week's cheese and veggies. This is the market that appeared one morning a block away from the apartment we were renting in the Bastille neighborhood.

Another market we visited in Paris was the one right under La Motte-Picquet/Grenelle Metro station (open Wednesdays and Sundays). Unlike the Portobello Road Market, where there are distinct sections for antique housewares, vintage clothing, or food, at the Marché de Grenelle everything is jumbled together—at one stall could be baskets of bread; at the next, some leather coin purses; and the next, piles of fresh fish. Our pointing and hand gesturing skills were really put to the test here where all the sellers we encountered only spoke French. We shared a good-natured struggle with a nice old lady selling olives and dried herbs as we tried to convey how much tapenade we wanted to purchase. In the end, she kept pointing at the receipt and the tapenade and talking excitedly in French, which we could only take to mean she had given us a break on the price on account of taking pity on us, because the tapenade was ridiculously cheap.

The best part about the Marché de Grenelle is that after you make your lunch purchases, it is only a short walk to the Eiffel Tower, where you can enjoy a lovely picnic on the grass (as seen here). We bought a loaf of bread and a small wheel of soft cheese to go with our tapenade and ate everything with our hands because we forgot to bring a knife from our apartment. Nick and I agreed that the picnic was our favorite part of our visit to Paris.

| Photo Credit: Me. |

Souvenirs for My Wardrobe

Several people who have seen my trip photos on Facebook have asked me about the clothes I am wearing in them. It seems that my friends are more interested in looking at my outfits than at the places I visited, which is why I love them. Here are some of the clothes I purchased while in London.

| left. French Connection, Mine and Yours dress | middle. Zara, Pleated Skirt | right. H&M, Striped Dress |

These are all available in the States right now as well. For labels that are based in the UK like French Connection, buying in the UK is a better deal than getting what's imported here. The dress above retails for £135 (currently about $220) in the UK with the tax already added in; yet, in the States, it retails for $258 plus tax, which I think is a little overpriced. For other European-based stores like Zara and H&M, cost is pretty much the same whether you buy in the UK or here.

| Photo Credit: See links provided. |

Going to the Market in London

One of my favorite things to do when traveling to a foreign city is to go to the local open-air markets. To me, this is a fun way to see a part of what the locals are up to on a regular day. These photos were taken at the Portobello Road Market, which is a huge open market with vintage items, fruits and veggies, prepared foods, and antiques. (Thanks for the recommendation, Gabe!) Since it claims to be the world's largest antiques market, it does get a little touristy, but that doesn't mean that the fruit and flowers for sale do not still look beautiful. Get there at 9:30 on Saturday morning, when all the antique dealers have already set up shop and the food stalls are almost ready. By 11, hordes of people will be gravitating to the area.

After getting a morning snack at the Portobello Road Market, I highly recommend heading over to the Borough Market for lunch. The Borough Market is a vast food market in the most perfect setting for such a thing; the market is under railway viaducts super close to the London Bridge and right behind the Southwark Cathedral. It is so packed by lunchtime that in some areas it is hard to move, but here, you can find everything from freshly-pressed pear-and-mint juice to cheese that's been soaked in red wine to meringues the size of your face. From a stall right next to the gateway between the market and the grassy courtyard of the cathedral, I got this amazing "toasty cheese sandwich" with leeks, scallions, and a huge pile of cheese inside.

After you get your food, eat it in the courtyard while admiring the trees and the architecture of the Southwark Cathedral. Then walk it off along the River Thames. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

| Photo Credit: Me. |

An American in Paris

There's been a stereotype that French people are snooty and rude, and that they are unfriendly towards Americans; I was a little bit worried about this before I left because I don't speak French. The most useful piece of information I read before visiting Paris was that in reality, French people value politeness so greatly that it is a huge insult to accuse someone of not being well brought-up. French people are absolutely super polite. At every restaurant and shop I entered, each staff member I made eye contact with greeted me with a bonjour ("good morning"/"good afternoon") or bonsoir ("good evening"/"good night") and merci, au revoir ("thank you, goodbye") when I left. People who even just slightly brushed past one another on the Metro would say pardon to each other.

I think that keeping these customs in mind will definitely make your visit to Paris a very pleasant one. Saying bonjour/bonsoir with a big smile whenever you make eye contact with someone is visibly appreciated there. To order something, say je voudrais ("I would like") and follow up the item with s’il vous plaît ("please"). For less basic communications, I asked parlez-vous anglais? ("Do you speak English?") and most people replied that they knew a little, and didn't mind using it since I'd already tried speaking in French. Follow up everything with a smile and merci.

Now that I am back, it's actually kind of weird to have to re-adjust to how people don't smile at one another nearly as much here. That's definitely what I will miss the most about Paris.

| Photo Credit: N. Morello, in collaboration with me. |

Hello! I'm Back.

I'm back from my exhausting but fun vacation in London and Paris. I'm still sorting through all the photos and collecting my thoughts, but I'll be rolling out the details of my trip and travel tips for these cities over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, here is a photo of the little picnic we had right in front of the Eiffel Tower. I am so happy that we had nice enough weather to do this.

| Photo Credit: N. Morello, in collaboration with me. |

Golf and Cocktails: This is Not Normal, Even For Us

Over the weekend, Nick and I attended the 2011 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Apparently the group that invited us is the only sponsor that the PGA allows to throw cocktail parties right along the green during a tournament. Bill Murray came by and started tossing (our) beers into our picnic area; luckily all the cans were caught and no one was injured.

Cameras were not allowed on the course, sadly, but after seeing all the celebrities we were interested in seeing, Nick and I took off to the nearby Monterey Fisherman's Wharf for some calamari and chips, and then to the beach to watch the sunset. Here are some photos from the trip. (The top photo is completely undoctored—everything was really that blue.)

P.S. If you have been enjoying the content here on The Yuppie Lifestyle, please like this site on Facebook! You can do so by either clicking the "Like" button in the sidebar on the right under "Other Places on the Web" or by visiting the Facebook page and clicking "Like". You'll get updates in your News Feed (I think) and lots of gratitude from me (for sure). I'll also try to post coupon codes for yuppie-oriented labels. And if you've already liked The Yuppie Lifestyle on Facebook, you can still like individual posts by clicking on the "Like" button in each post footer. Thanks and ♥.

| Photo Credit: Me. |