On this post, a European Bakery to put on your list, a great walk, good things from West Elm, an easy dinner idea and more.
Are you doing any special gatherings this weekend for Easter or Passover? We will have Easter brunch with my dad and Jackson. We always do a French Toast of some sort, fruit salad, and chicken apple sausages. I want us to sit outside, but this spring has been really cool and windy, so we will see.
A few previous Easter tables. I’ll wing it this year, and use what I find in the cabinet with flowers from Trader Joe’s.
Griffin is still at flight school and sends us a lot of stunning photos from the cockpit like this over Oregon the other day. He’s about to take his instrument rating test in the plane and is working on twin engine flying too. It is exciting and also a bit worrying. I try not to stress knowing how much he loves it.
I’ve been listening to old albums on Spotify a lot. This Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb one is so good. It was one of my mother’s albums and I just rediscovered it. Who wouldn’t want to be hugged like that by Barry?
Did you get your taxes in? If it wasn’t for Max this would probably be me.
Sorry we just need all the laughs now. Nature and music is helping too.
My garden is coming along, and my roses are in bloom. I also got to play tennis at my friend Chandra’s charming old school tennis club….
A hike and a European Bakery
A few weekends ago on the one sunny day, we did the Stanford Dish hike with Jackson and Kristin who was here for a short visit. I love that hike and sometimes we will cut it in half and walk back through the Stanford University neighborhood. I love the charming streets and historic homes.
It ends near Stanford University housing and I saw these bikes under the pretty trees. It’s so idyllic. I wonder how it would be to be a student there. (A previous dish hike post with more specifics.)
Afterwards we made the trek to Burlingame to the Backhaus Bakery that has been on my list for a while.
It’s a Viennese bakery in a bright and welcoming space. Max and I said these were the world’s best cappuccinos. We also indulged in a lemon currant scone that was so amazing, I am still thinking about it. Backhaus also has a location in San Mateo with a garden.
This was a bright two story space with a Scandi vibe. I think it’s hard to find the quality of pastries and coffees you get in Europe, and this place is pretty close. It may be their special flour they use and sell that makes a difference. We also had a ham and cheese croissant -also TDF. Next time I want to try the chocolate sourdough and one of the egg dishes. More about them and menu. Like Europe, they don’t do tips, but instead pay a living wage and good benefits. How awesome is this? More companies should…
Spring Things Lately
This was at my local Summerwinds Nursery. The deteriorating VW Bug is just so good with all these flowers and plants. Very Northern California.
Max and I have been eating a lot of wraps and sandwiches. This is lettuce, shredded chicken, with celery, apples, walnuts, a little mayo, salt and pepper. I love using a tortilla charred a bit on the stove as the wrap. It is a fast and easy dinner and nice to have in the fridge. The cool thing about being empty nesters is we do PB&Js many nights too. I appreciate not having the pressure of a full dinner every night!
New things at West Elm
I popped into our newish West Elm in Campbell to get a gift card and saw a lot to like. They are the less expensive little sister to Pottery Barn, and have cute home things at a decent price point.
I bought this indoor/outdoor pillow. I will get another. I can’t decide if I want it on my outdoor couch or entry bench, but it’s on my mudroom bench now – and I like it. These are durable and can take sun and rain. Don’t they have a Hawaiian sort of vibe to them?
This Slope chair is another cool piece that caught my eye and is comfy. Two would be cute with a small table on a porch!
Love the cordless table lamp (in many colors), the outdoor dishes, bamboo food cover, citronella candles, and stripe napkins and raffia lanterns.
Indoor pieces that caught my eye were are this blue Ellis pillow, (lighter in person), this very nice soft two sided rug, and pink pillows I adore in Azalea print and solid in sandalwood (light blush to me), below..
West Elm also has a new collaboration with California designers Pierce and Ward. I particularly like this mix on the bedding. See the whole collection here. Check out the big lovely store in the Whole Foods shopping center in Campbell.
Lenny Kravitz’s Paris AD home tour
Lenny Kravitz’s call his Paris Home of 22 years Hotel de Roxie. His mom was actress Roxie Roker, who played Helen on the 1970’s Jeffersons sitcom. He says she was, ‘the love of his life.’ Roxie wanted to retire and live in Paris, and never got to. He says he’s now doing it for both of them. Lenny fuses African, classical, and modern pieces together with finds from his weekly trips to Paris’s Les Puces flea market. Besides his music, he’s been in the furniture business for a long time and knows his design stuff.
He also is very relaxing to listen to, and may be the coolest guy on the planet.
I think like Lenny, I’ll to try harder to, ‘vibrate at the frequency I need, in order to pick up things being transmitted.’
Town Hall in my town and the SAVE act…
Thursday Max and I went to a Town Hall in Los Gatos with two local Congressmen, Sam Licardo and Jimmy Panetta. An energetic crowd (maybe angry and worried is more accurate) of about 400 asked a lot of questions and wanted answers. Sam and Jimmy told us what was going on behind the scenes and what they are personally working on. It was in some ways reassuring. Still a lot of questions and not enough time..
One thing addressed was the SAVE act which has been called a modern poll tax. An estimated 69 million American women and four million men have a birth certificate that does not match their legal name. ‘That means 25 percent of the voting population would have change their birth certificate or pay to get a new passport just to be able to register in a federal election.’
This affects married women, older people, and those in the trans community the most. Read more details here. Both Sam and Jimmy said this likely will NOT pass the Senate, BUT we need to call our Democratic Senators and tell them we don’t want this, so no one jumps ship and votes for it. This page has a link to contact you Senator.
One thing that happened last night I will never forget. Near the end of the evening, a man raised his hand to ask a question. He was not able to speak clearly and was disabled. He asked, ‘What happens when they come for people like me?’ He then clarified, ‘Like the 1938. What will happen to people like me?’
The room went quiet and Sam took a few seconds before he answered. Many of us fought back tears. Sam answered that we would fight against such a thing. Still the man spoke out, his wavering voice asked again, ‘What will I do?’ A few of us answered, ‘We won’t let that ever happen.’
I think I am still sad to think of how he felt and others are scared as well. Here we are, in much the same situation of Germany in that time. Our neighbors, friends, and students are being taken by the government for crimes they claim, but can’t or refuse to prove, with no due process.
Another person last night standing up was a student from Canada who said she is scared to even speak out. Another story was of a small business owner who cannot import things for her bridal business her parents began 20 years ago. The tariffs will end their ability to do business. Decisions are being made in this government with no expertise or forethought, with cruelty and revenge as the driver. Extortion is the main means of negotiation and it’s burning this nation and all we have worked for down.
How did we get to authoritarianism so fast? If we think it will all blow over and not affect us personally, we are sadly wrong. I think all of us who are not in marginalized groups, need to speak up now, and not be bystanders.
Read conservative David Brook’s opinion piece from this week. This is a man who said things will shake out a few weeks ago, now says we need a collective uprising. This should inspire all of us who care. I hope a lot of you will be at the national protests today.
One thing is for sure, together against one man, we hold huge power. If all the universities band together they can be a powerful wall to monitoring of free speech. Same with companies, agencies, and even other nations and NATO.
Many of us who are protesting now, grew up in a time a huge civil rights gains. We know what freedoms were fought for by our parents and grandparents and we hold them dear. We won’t let all that go down the drain with one man. I am hugely inspired by so many of the older people fighting like hell! We need the younger generation too.
Stay strong and don’t stop believing!
If you missed last weekend’s post, it was inside Woodside’s Filoli Mansion, a cute spring skirt and more..
Wishing you all a peaceful Easter and Passover weekend,
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth’s blog this weekend for more good things…
Pinecones and Acorns
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Kim – Thanks for the info on your great bakery. My family is Viennese and I know how scrumptious the pastries are. Keep up the good fight. There are more of us out here than you think.
Susan, They are so good. Aw thank you so much!
We too read David Brooks column in the NYTimes. It really is something when a conservative like Brooks says it is time to take to the streets. We are doing so today, Saturday, as part of the nation-wide protests. We will be at our County courthouse square along with hundreds of others. Maybe even thousands from our small, mostly rural county that is heavily red.
Antoinia, I agree it was a shock to see him advocate for this. Yay for being out there for democracy!
So good to read your post today. I cried at reading the comments from the man at your Town Hall though. No one in this country should feel this way, but it’s certainly warranted. It’s so scary & maddening & I just feel full of dismay over all the Republicans who have decided to go along with this. But I have a small spark of hope over all who are pushing back. On a lighter note, that bakery you visited sounds wonderful! My husband & I were in Southern California last weekend to see our son & stopped at the Porto’s in West Covina for a delicious lunch & pastries to go. Good times!
Michelle, I know I think about him and how did we get to this point in our nation? And I like you think where are Republicans and how can they sleep at night knowing they condone it all. I think like you say, we will slowly see more and more push back.
Oh I have to our Portos on my list.
xo
Kim, I don’t agree you with you politically but I appreciate the information on the Backhaus Bakery!
Molly, these discussions have gone way, way beyond “politics.” Either you believe in treating people with respect (including the disabled and the elderly), or you don’t. Either you believe in morals and ethics, or you don’t. Fine to have discussions about immigration policies, but so, so not fine to just abduct people on the street. Even US citizens are now receiving notices by email saying that it is time for them to leave the United States. Is that ok with you? Because it’s certainly not fine with me. I could go on and on about the way that this administration has disrespected people and obviously has no interest in morals and ethics, but it is just not acceptable. And support for this nonsense is being complicit with all of this. Plain and simple. No Kings in the United States!
Lisa, I agree completely! Well said, and Kim too. The news is exhausting. It’s heartbreaking, the lack of respect. I believe he’s gone mad and it seems no one cares!
It is Cheryl! I agree. x
Lisa, thank you. Could not agree more. You put it perfectly here.
Lisa M,
So well said. I’m copying your reply and going to memorize it for a perfect response to any supporter of the current POTUS I come in contact with.
Kathy
Thank you for the beauty, inspiration and civic concern. You always find the perfect tone and mix! It concerns me that I see few younger people protesting and speaking out. Yes, you are a younger generation from my perspective. We must all stand for that man in the town hall. I think a general strike is in order but so are pastries and roses. Beauty fuels us. Onward!
Penelope, You are very kind. That means a lot. Thanks so much.
Yes the man in the town hall. We can have beauty and justice too! xo
I watched the AD video on Lenny Kravitz’s Paris home and was quite stunned by the beauty and design, his curated collection of art and furniture. Thank you for sharing that with us…
Also the town hall you attended where that disabled gentleman spoke up sent shivers down my spine. It’s totally terrifying what is happening….
Kim please keep up the good work.
I enjoy your posts :-))
We have to hope (and pray) that things are going to change soon, before it’s too late.
We are having our federal election here in Canada on April 28th. There is a candidate who has a similar agenda to the President, so it is a very crucial time here too.
Leslie
Hostess of The Humble Bungalow
Kim, The amount of work you put into creating your thoughtful posts is very much appreciated. I enjoy the Northern CA tours so much. You always find such wonderful clothing and beautiful home decor to share. I especially appreciate your heartfelt comments about the heartless chaos enacted by the current administration that is carried out at both the federal and also the state level for many of us. A collective uprising does seem like a good idea if it could be organized. Until then protests, town halls and ongoing legal battles will hopefully continue. It will take a long time to undo the harm already done. Please keep up the good work and thank you.
Carolina, Thank you. I really appreciate this. I agree it is going to take a lot of grassroots and work to get things back to what they were. I think more people are joining us every day. x
Leslie, I thought he was great too. I know I have been thinking about the man at the town hall all week.
Aw thanks so much. I know I hope every day we can go back to the nation we had and the good that we did.
Hope Canada stays strong. xo
Great post as always! We live in the same ‘hood, I’ve been to that West Elm *AND* that SummerWinds this week! So don’t be surprised if I tap your shoulder some day…
Will look for you at the next Town Hall and protest, so sorry I missed the one on Thursday! Somehow my Liccardo newsletter got stuck in the onslaught of terrifying emails I receive these days.
I’ve been emailing my neighborhood list about “Democracy Summer” and we now have lots of neighbors who are committed to showing up at the various protests with as much vigor as we plan our block parties! Thanks for always inspiring us, in so many ways.
Valetta, Please say hi if you spot me! We are so lucky to be in the Bay Area. I almost missed Sam’s email too.
Wow love the Democracy summer idea! How good to have neighbors who feel the same.
I will see if I can do something similar here. Hugs to you.
whoa… I just was on a roller coaster with this post. A lovely walk through Stanford (I was there yesterday…), a lemon scone and coffee and boom to 1938 Germany and the similarities that are occurring right now. THIS is life so far in 2025: tiny glimmers of joy in the midst of this horrific trump administration. It is like taking a walk on the beach and filling up with gratitude for such beauty and freedom and then turning on the news and watching our country and democracy going upside down.
Thanks, though, for the great read and reminder how amazing Northern California is.
Happy Easter
Dianne, sorry for that! Life is crazy in this nation. Take care and
Keep up those nature walks. Hope you had a good Easter too.
You do realize that shopping at Whole Foods is like shopping on Amazon and is fueling Bezos as he bends his knee in support of Trump, right?
I don’t shop there! I have written about that- and that Bezos also owns Shopbop and Zappos.
Kim! I agree with you wholeheartedly…what is happening is so scary! I always love your heartfelt posts.
xo
annie
Aw Annie, thanks. So good to know we all feel the same. xo
First, I’m a long-time reader who doesn’t comment very often, and I want you to know that I love your taste in everything. Also, your posts on what to do in the Bay Area are great; I love walking. Second, I share your views politically, and I am so worried. This administration is waging war on everything I hold dear. Your blog helps me feel a little better. Thank You!
Jill, Thank you so much.. What a kind note. I am feeling the same.Hang in there.
I truly believe there are more of us than them, and this will all fall apart as they are all incompetent. I hope! xo
Forty plus years ago, when my husband and I married, I did not relinquish my “maiden” name. It was just one more wedding task on a long list, and I didn’t get around to it. I figured I would do it when we had kids. When our daughter was born, for security reasons in the hospital her last name and mine HAD to match, and then the hospital billing got messed due to our having different surnames. I was ready to capitulate and go through the process of changing my name. My husband said, “Why should you have to do that? People need to realize things are changing.” Who would have believed that all these years later the SAVE act is the insane reason I’m so grateful he talked me out of it?
Sarah, That was a good thing I think!! I love how evolved your husband was about it too.
Wouldn’t it be a hoot if women started keeping their names because of this dumb law? Andd like your hubs said, why not?
I actually never changed mine either, only my drivers, and a few years ago, they began flagging me at the airport and I had to change it.
I would tell women now not to do it!
Good evening Kim~
I am sorry to comment so late. It’s been a L-O-N-G week here and I have to play catchup today to be ready for Easter tomorrow.
I love this walk and you know I love a good bakery. In face one of the things I was doing today was laminating dough to make almond bear claw pastries for Easter. I just finished making them.
I watched the LK video a few days ago! That Paris apartment is FABULOUS and I am typically not drawn to “modern” furnishings. And that piano!!! Didn’t you love all of the photos of his mother and his grandfather.
Look online for his house in Brazil, it is equally amazing!
A living wage…something else I was just talking about. I get so irritated by all of the tipping stuff, frequently the tips on the little machine go up to 35%. I don’t mind tipping for good service but I don’t feel like I should have to tip where I purchase dog food, or gum shoes, etc. Companies need to pay their employees.
That little tennis club is so sweet. I love the old school look.
Love your new pillow and all of your “finds” at WE.
Have a blessed and a very happy Easter!
xo
P.S. I am sorry to read about that poor man who wondered what would happen to him. So sad.
Those pastries sound so good. I hope you had a lovely Easter ELizabeth. So agree we need a living wage-less tipping all over.
The man at the town hall broke my heart. How did we let our country get here? xo
Fantastic post. Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Hi Kim,
So many things to respond and acknowledge.
Love the Bee Gee’s I always kind of had a crush on Barry Gibb. I think I had the Guilty album but must have gotten miss laid in one of the many moves. We saw the Bee Gee’s on November 14 1997 in Las Vegas, NV also Celine Dion was present for one song. One Night Only, my Bear still has the tee shirt. It was sad when many of the brothers passed away. Barry was interviewed on Sunday Morning I think last year.
I hear you loud and clear on Griffin, giving you a constant hug.
The Stanford Dish hike and walking back through old Stanford University has to be so special. Seeing the bikes lined up is idyllic.
What a yummy looking cappuccinos, I like how Backhaus thinks, they have their heads skewed on right. SMART! Treat people right, pay the most you can, stops constant turnover.
West Elm great things. If you entertain often outdoors the Bamboo food cover is good looking.
The VB Bug is so neat, I had a 1969, ready to fall apart probably when I bought it. Then in 1970 I had a brand new Super Beetle with a sunroof.
The adorable Saratoga Tennis Club is charming.
Lenny Kravitz is something very good. I like a man that adored his mother/grandmother. My AD has not arrived yet.
The Town Hall and the disabled man that was having difficulty speaking tugged at my heart. I hear what he was trying to communicate. He must feel so isolated and afraid.
We are in such a hard place. I will take a listen to what David Brooks had to say. He’s a pretty conservative guy. He used to be on Meet The Press.
Barry Gibb was always a hottie! I think I have seen that concert you went to on PBS! Wow how wonderful. I love that cafe too- and wish more would do the same.
How cool you had a Super Beetle. You really were the California girl!
We need more Lenny Kravitz’s in the world. Let me know what you think of David.. Hugs
Hi Kim, like others, I was brought to tears by the comment of the man at the town hall. As another Canadian reader mentioned, our election day is very soon. We have been forewarned in Canada, and I only hope that enough people have learned the lessons coming out of the US. My husband and I will be early voting on Monday.
Happy Easter!
Patricia, Can you believe that? We were trying to hold it together when he spoke.
I’m so glad Canada is staying strong. x
Love, love, love your blog! So many interesting things to read, see, and ponder. Great job, Kim. You inspire me.
Thanks so much Linda!
HI Kim — Another wonderful post! Loved your previous post too, but the comment box seemed to be missing for me. Wanted to say that I popped over and snapped up that denim Madewell shirt — an additonal 50% off now! It will be great for spring and summer here in Maine. Hope you had a wonderful Easter and have a great week!
Thank you Molly! Oh I adore that shirt.. Hope you enjoy it. xo
Hi Kim,
Another thoughtful post. I always learn something from you!
Lenny Kravitz could not be any cooler, (or gorgeous). And his home too.
Viennese pastries are to die for. Often served with whipped cream. Yum yum yum!
I ate my fill of GF almond pastries these past few days. What a treat.
Re the gov’t: We MUST keep being LOUD and vocal, and we just can’t let down our guard ever again. I will continue to protest for the rights that are being taken away. This is not the time to look away. Keep up the good fight and thank you for reminding others.
XO Heidi
Isn’t he great? Yes we have to keep being vocal like you said! xo