Over the weekend, fellow blogger, Krafty Kath (who has a great write up of our excursions) and I headed down to San Francisco to attend Re:Make. Before doing so, we carved out some time to enjoy the sites and take in all the spectacular shopping. This is an account of our first day’s finds.
Our first night we enjoyed crawfish beignets, sweet potato dumplings, and banana fosters bread pudding among other comfort foods inspired by southern and french cuisine.
Ferry Building Marketplace (B)
One of the city’s true gems, the Ferry Building is a plethora of artisan goods and quality wares. It was a challenging first stop with so many delightful things to tempt our budgets but we held fast and only picked up a few keepsakes, leaving something left for all the stores to come.
While we have Daiso in Seattle, they are always a treat whenever you come upon one. Here you can find storage for just about anything as well as daily sundries. We managed to even find a few craft supplies. My total bill came in well under budget.
During the holidays, Gump’s is nothing if not a spectacular compilation of some of the best ornaments and holiday baubles. This trip proved a bit too early in the season but it was still fun to drop in and take in all the curious goods.
In business for over 60 years, Britex is a treasure trove of fabrics with floor-to-ceiling selections on four floors, you will find it hard to leave empty handed.
My first visit to San Francisco was during the holidays. One of the strongest memories from that trip was the large Christmas tree in the center, framed by the Macy building in the background. This time around, we came upon an artisan market. Even with the large groups of tourists, this public space is always a great place to drop by and people watch.
Fans of Tintin and good design will appreciate this well-curated store. Just a couple blocks past Union Square, it is conveniently located and easy to fit into you next trip.
Eccentric is an understatement when describing General Bead. You are certain to have a unique experience while scouring their vast selection of beads and findings. George, the resident cat, will happily keep you company as you make your way through the two floors of inventory.
We were quite thrilled to happen upon Littlejohn’s en route to Flax. I still have fantasies about their English Toffee and salted caramels. This adorable confectionery will be a required stop on my next trip to San Francisco.
Truly one of the most comprehensive and project-inspiring art supply stores I have ever visited. With an entire room dedicated to handmade papers, Flax is a paper lovers dream come true.
This adorable neighborhood restaurant was a welcomed relief after several hours of shopping (it’s a tough life!) I enjoyed fried buttermilk chicken bites, lemonade with mint rose water, and tangelo lemon shaker pie. Kathy enjoyed pork and veal meatballs and sweet potato pie with a handmade marshmallow.
Perhaps the most excited, unplanned discovery of the trip, Photobooth is a treasure trove for photography enthusiasts such as myself. Along with refurbished, vintage cameras, they carry a selection of moose + pine camera bags. I was most taken by their tintype and large format Polaroid portraits, though, and plan to have my own portrait taken next time I’m in town.
Taxidermy, skulls, bones and floral designs. Mechanized insects and taxidermied unicorns. If you’re looking for a unique gift or a conversation starter for your home, look no further than Paxton Gate.
A late seating turned into the perfect conclusion to our first day. While we had many fine dishes, it was the Potato flatbread that was life altering. Their menu changes regularly but fingers crossed the potato bread always remain.
