spare change date: $175

It's been almost a year since our last spare change date, and our date night jar overfloweth. Between a year's worth of change, and our stoop sale haul, we had $175 to work with. After rolling the coins, and collecting up the stoop-sale-singles, I cashed in at the bank.  

With money in hand, it was time to make a plan.  Ryan and I have been wanting to try Frances. It's supposed to be amazing, and it's only mere blocks from our apartment. Sadly, it was completely booked for the Friday selected for date night. Plan B: Foreign Cinema. 

Although Ryan and I have both been to Foreign Cinema, it had been a while and worth a revisit.  Plus, Yelp claimed that vegetarians go nuts for this place.  After taking one look at the menu, we realized this couldn't possibly be true, with only one vegetarian entree, Ryan's decision had already been made. I had the seared tuna, which was light, fresh, buttery, and delicious. The portions were small, especially the vegetarian pasta, so be warned. Ryan was still hungry post meal. To save a bit of money, we opted to pay the $20 corkage fee and brought our own bottle of wine, which was gifted to us for our wedding.

With dinner over, it was time for some arty entertainment. After scouring the SF Weekly, I found a show at the Marsh Theatre in the Mission. The Scion is a one-man-show examining how societal rules apply to some, but not others, all through the lens of the San Leandro sausage factory murders. I had never been to a one-man-show before and was definitely curious. I enjoyed the show, although Ryan wasn't completely sold. The actor relied heavily on lighting and voices to delineate characters, which I thought was interesting. It runs about 75 minutes and cost $25 per ticket, which, in my opinion, was a bit pricey for the venue.

Post theatre, it was time for desert, with only $10 in our pocket, we had to be frugal. We headed back to the Castro and hit up our favorite cookie joint, Hot Cookie. Seriously, the best chocolate chip cookies in town. We grabbed two, then headed home.

On our walk home, we passed the street string quartet. This foursome is often in front of Cliff's Variety on Friday evenings. Standing there listening to chamber music, you momentarily forget about the frenetic energy swirling around the Castro, and you can just be a part of something beautiful and soothing. They moved me so much, I put $1 in their tip jar.

Once home, it was down to milk and cookies. All in all, a pretty fun date. Plus, we had money to spare, which went right back into the date night jar. 

Dinner: $110.00

Show: $55.35

Cookies: $5.40

String Quartet: $1.00 

Total: $171.75

Back in the jar: $3.25

two photographers

On the recommendation of a photographer friend, we hired Katrina Davis to shoot our wedding. She brought along Luke Keegan, as her second shooter. Katrina and Luke were such a pleasure to work with.  They were friendly, funny, professional, and best of all, nearly invisible. Once we finally saw the pictures, we couldn't have been more pleased. It turns out that our two photographers have very different styles, which led to a beautiful variety in the prints. Katrina's, more ethereal and muted photos are a perfect compliment to Luke's, more saturated and sharp.

Katrina and Luke are the perfect team, and they won't destroy your wedding budget. They are based in Oakland, CA and are willing to travel to Bay Area locations.

Katrina Davis Photography:

Luke Keegan Photography:

Venue: Highland Dell Lodge, Monte Rio, CA

Dress: Paige, by Amy Kuschel, San Francisco, CA

Bridesmaid Dress: Sinclair, by J.Crew

Suit: Hugo Boss

Flowers: Bella Vita Event Productions, Santa Rosa, CA

desert livin'

My husband's family has a great little yurt in Fields, Oregon. I use the term "yurt" loosely, as the only thing it has in common with an actual yurt is the shape. Regardless, it's the perfect respite from our busy and hectic, city lives. Completely off the grid, we are able to disconnect for a few days. This year, we invited another couple to join us as we headed to the high desert of South Eastern Oregon. 

Fields, and the surrounding area, offers hiking, remote natural hot springs, and, for those without a yurt, an abundance of free camping. Because of the lack of light pollution, there is an epic night sky perfect for star gazing. Fields Station, the only commercial structure in the town of 86 people, sells some of the best milkshakes money can buy. 

Desert hiking off of Arizona Creek Road

Sunset at Willow Creek Hot Springs

View of the Alvord Desert from Pike Creek Trail

Getting in a round of Kubb

what's in a name?

Katrina Davis Photography

When I returned to work after my wedding, I reintroduced myself to my kindergarten class with my new moniker, Mrs. Branciforte. After fielding questions about my wedding, many of which were centered around whether or not I was also now a mom, I had one particularly interesting question. One insightful little kiddo asked, "did your husband change his name, or does he have a married name now too?"

In the months leading up to our wedding, many people asked me if I would be changing my name. As I answered in the affirmative, I felt like I immediately had to justify my decision as feminist judgment rained down.

I know that many women are bothered by this fact. Why should the woman alter her identity, go through the hassle of standing in line at Social Security and the DMV, change emails and banking information, update Netflix and Facebook? Although I can see both sides of the coin, I take a traditionalist stance on this particular issue. For me changing my name marked a new beginning and a new phase in my life. I wanted to have that unifying element with my husband, it makes me feel like we are truly a family. 

Also, my new initials are KGB.  Isn't that reason enough?

surprise! it's secret san francisco

It's been awhile since I planned a surprise date for Ryan.  So, feeling motivated, I got to work mapping out an urban hike that would highlight some of San Francisco's most off the grid, secret spots.  

Spot 1: Mojo Cafe

We began the adventure by hiking up Divisidero for breakfast at San Francisco's first parklet.  Mojo Cafe is equal parts cafe and bike shop.  The parklet has great outdoor seating and after awhile you even stop noticing the traffic noise.

Spot 2: Andy Goldsworthy in the Presidio  (Free!)

After fueling up at Mojo, we continued north towards the Presidio.  We accessed the park through the Presidio gates, then immediately hopped on the Lover's Lane path.  The first Goldsworthy piece runs adjacent to the path.   Wood Line, curves through the eucalyptus forest and feels like being in a fairy tale.  Tree Fall, the second piece, is housed in the historic Powder Magazine building across the parking lot from the Disney Museum.  It's an impressive 900 pound eucalyptus branch, covered in clay, and suspended from the ceiling.  Tree Fall will be on display for at least five years.

Spot 3: Pet Cemetery  (Free!)

Next up was the Presidio Pet Cemetery.  I was excited to wander around the creepy headstones of pets past.  Sadly, the cemetery, once shrouded by a grove of eucalyptus, is now under the new Doyle Drive.  Although they will be saving the cemetery for future visitors, it is currently closed during the construction process.  You can, however, get a peek through the chain link fence.  

Spot 4: The Wave Organ  (Free!)

This unusual art instillation is at the end of a jetty adjacent to the San Francisco Yacht Club.  Waves crashing against pipes emit sounds through tubes.  It's a unique, and pretty much unknown spot.  Since the tide was out, we didn't get the full effect, but we will definitely be back.  There is a nice little beach, and some benches.  Seems like a great place for a picnic.  

Spot 5: Ina Coolbirth Park

Sandwiched between Russian Hill homes, this skinny park has great views of downtown, and plenty of benches to rest and take it all in.  The park makes a great pit stop after huffing and puffing up the hill.

Spot 6: Cable Car Museum  (Free!) 

Sitting on the corner of Mason and Washington is the Cable Car Museum.  It's a nice little tribute to an iconic mode of San Francisco transportation.  Vintage cars are on display, as well as a jazzy 1980s movie about the cars.  It's also cool to see the gears, in constant motion, as they move the cars around the city.

Spot 7: Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory  (Free!)

Just around the corner from the Cable Car Museum is the hole-in-the-wall fortune cookie factory.  Elderly men and women hunch over machines that squirt out, then cook, dough.  The cookies are all stuffed and folded by hand.  Unfolded cookies are free for the eating, and a small bag of five cookies will cost you $1.  To get a larger bag with naughty fortunes is $4.50.  At the time this weirdly seemed too rich for our blood, but we were later kicking ourselves for not splurging on the adults only cookies.  To take a picture inside the factory is $.50.  

We wrapped the day up by grabbing a Thai pizzetta at Fly Bar on Sutter, the location of one of our very first dates.  After 13 miles and 9 hours, we were zonked.  Not a bad day discovering some of San Francisco's more hidden secrets.  

Know before you go:

Mojo Cafe:

• Cash only
• Menus pasted to outdoor tables actually quote prices that are about $1 cheaper than actual price.  Tricky, tricky.

Andy Goldsworthy:

• Tree Fall is only open during certain business hours, or by appointment.

Pet Cemetery:

• Closed during Doyle Drive construction.

Wave Organ:

• Best during high tide and a full moon.  If the tide is out, it's just a bunch of useless exposed pipes.  

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory:

• Splurge for the naughty fortunes.