Dirty Martini Society

So it's been two months since the "Big Move" to SF. These first eight weeks I enjoyed catching up with various DMS members for drinks, dinners, and wandering about the city. Taxis were the the main choice of transportation besides walking, and soon it began to add up. As with most of the world the past couple of months (or maybe a year now) has been an economic rollercoaster. With that in mind I set out to find other modes of transportation that didn't involve gas or a never-ending meter. Enter the Bike Kitchen. SF is full of bikers, some friendly, some not so friendly. On a sunny day I would secretly wish I was one of those care free souls biking to Dolores Park to lounge the day away. However, being young, broke, and fabulous there was absolutely no money in my budget for a bike...(happy hour is important ok!) That's when I decided to check out the Bike Kitchen. The BK is a co-op shop in the Mission that allows you to work on your bike using donated tools and assistance from volunteer staff members. If you decide to volunteer you can earn a year long membership after completing 6 hours of service. Once you hit 12 hours of service you earn "digging rights." This allows you to build a bike from donated spare parts in the shop for $30! I couldn't pass up this deal, so last week I signed up as a volunteer and in the next week or so will start to work on a bike I've already named Le Femme Nikita. Soon I'll be riding to Happy Hours around the city in style and getting awesome cardio in.

After a particularly busy day at the office I arrived back at my flat in the Mission to a minor heat wave. A gallon of water and a half-read copy of Vogue later I decided to venture out into my neighborhood for some good comfort food. Tacquerias were out of the question as I feel like burritos have become a staple since moving to the new place exactly two months ago today. Chinese food sounded equally ungratifying, and as I rounded the corner of 24th and Bryant I rememberd that my favorite little brunch place was open on weekdays as well. St. Francis Fountain, San Francisco's oldest ice cream parlor (est. 1918), is a great place to get a Guinness Ice Cream float along with a classic burger and fries. Admittedly, until yesterday I was only a brunch regular ordering the My Chef Jess and sipping a Manzanita (apple juice and champagne...yum!). However, it's pretty obvious that I'll be dining there on the regular for both dinner and brunch.