On this post, my three days getaway to San Francisco – where we lunched, shopped, and dined in the city. Plus the lovely spring offerings at Sezane right now.
Welcome to the Weekend Meander with Elizabeth and Juliet where we share our finds and other cool things.
I’m just back from a blogging conference and full of ideas, and still on a high from being with talented and sweet women around the clock the past 3 days. I am equal parts inspired, elated, overwhelmed (so much to work on), and also shattered (champagne, food, and laughter, poor sleep). It’s all been the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Juliet and I in the ‘good lighting ‘ bathroom at the conference area.
Three days in San Francisco!
Last Monday Juliet and I joined Cindy, Mary Ann, and Annie, (the three planned it), and a few other blogging pals to convene and chat about strategies and share ideas. Mary Ann, who used to be a San Franciscan, used her connections to get us a lovely conference room with a window and some sweet deals on our rooms at the Grand Hyatt Union Square. She chose some great restaurants as well!
We all had our own rooms and I love this Hyatt with panoramic city views. I like to ask for a room over Union Square, but some are looking out towards the ocean and Coit Tower too. A few of us kept our windows open all night to fall asleep by the lights of the city. Since the hotel sort of stands alone, most buildings are far away and you get expansive views. The hotel is slated to get renovated soon, but it will stay open during it. You cannot get a better location in the city- close to the shopping, Chinatown, and the financial district. You can walk to so much.
I love this view of the hills and the bay in the distance! Every woman needs her own hotel room for a few nights at least once a year!
Conferencing and lunch at Neiman’s Rotunda restaurant
After arriving and checking in on Monday, we met at the One Up Bar on the mezzanine level which has a glass walled bar and cute booths to gather in. We liked it so much we decided to stay and order dinner there. We called it an early night as a few gals had traveled from the East Coast and had been up since 3 a.m. ! Mary Ann had us on strict orders to get to our conference room by 8 a.m. as we had a full day planned and we wanted to get through all our agenda items.
(Photos below via Hyatt.)
Starting at 8, we had goodie bags to open with cute luggage tags, and these nice makeup travel bags by Quince! Cindy customized all our bags, and we also got pretty notebooks, and matching red pens. The perks of having friends who make everything beautiful!
Even our agenda was cute tied with a blue ribbon!
After powering through almost five hours of our agenda we broke for lunch at Neiman’s down the street where we partook of the wonderful popovers and did a bit of browsing…
Above from left – Annie, Cindy, Juliet, me, Noelani, Jennifer, Mary Ann, and Susan. I will link to everyone below!
On the way back we walked by Maiden Lane, one of the most picturesque streets in SF.
Noelani is so good at taking city photos (her blog is La Vie on Grand), so she gave us some tips on looking natural while crossing a street. Not easy for some of us, notably me. LOL. I appreciated the tips from a pro. Juliet was a natural. Wish I took pics of the other gals.
A Chinatown Dinner
That evening we walked to an authentic family style Chinese dinner at R&G Lounge, a Cantonese legend in the city. This restaurant was so good, but let me just show you the amazing dishes. This spot is a must for those who want a great Chinatown meal!
Fortunately we had the use of the Hyatt’s umbrellas. Annie was chic with a vintage Burberry! We stopped afterwards in Chinatown and Jennifer modeled some parasols for us. I should have bought a few for summer walks.
Shopping at Sézane
The next morning we took Ubers to French darling Sézane on Filmore Street for a morning of private shopping arranged for us by Noelani! I adore Sezane and they rolled out the kindest welcome for us, with a beautiful French breakfast treats and cookies.
Mary Ann with Susan tried on this cute t-shirt made just for the SF shop. Annie with the darling Justine tote she took home…
Annie, Mary Ann, and Juliet. Juliet ended up with this great jacket! It looked so good on her.
I also love the Ralph Lauren look of the rope t-strap and this mini bag! I also bought this hair band.
Mary Ann and I trying on shoes . I loved this green suede slide. I ended up buying this short trench- the Bobby Jacket with a plaid lining that has been on my radar for a while! This is the camel color and it’s a size 36 which I guess is 4 US. It runs large though and has a swing shape.
Noelani has the jacket too! I love this flower bag which would be so good with a summer outfit.
We all bought something !
They sent us home with their wonderful candle and their SF Paris shopper bag made just for this store.
If you want to visit Sézane, the shop is at 2028 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, and also Santana Row, San Jose. You can see more and shop online here.
Lunch and our colors!
We had lunch at the charming Cafe de la Presse, a wonderfully authentic brasserie with a newstand (all the cool foreign magazines), just a few block from our hotel. This gem is across from the Chinatown gates, is always buzzing. It’s a good place to grab a cappuccino and breakfast, or lunch. We had salads and quiches and tomato soup. The frisée salad that Noelani had looked so good! Jennifer and Noe below…
Colors by Susan Blakey
Afterwards, we went up to Susan’s room for individual color analysis’s. Susan does these as well as being a style blogger. She kindly did a mini color session for free for us. Noelani, Cindy and I went after lunch and it was fascinating to see what certain colors do to improve or detract from your complexion. Noelani was a winter and I am a rare cool summer. Cindy was a warm winter. ( I hope I have that right.) These multi-color drapes are put on after the single colors, so you can see what palette works for you. Susan makes this fun and really gets joy from helping people find their best self!
To find your true colors, you must do this sans makeup, in a natural light, with a hair wrap. I look scary!
If you want to do this too, Susan lives in So Cal, and you can find more about her color and styling services here.
Dinner at Kokkari
The last evening we walked to the financial/Embarcadero district to Kokkari, a gorgeous Greek restaurant that everyone except me knew about. Kokkari is like dining at someone’s home. I loved the beautiful tables, rugs, and cozy lamps. The bar was piled with lemons, and fresh loaves of bread were being loaded into baskets waiting to be sliced for the tables. I snapped this photo above for my dad who is bread crazy. I have to take him here.
Food was super fresh and very good. I had a Greek salad with chicken, and Juliet and I shared greek yogurt with spiced walnuts and dates for dessert. We also both had a wonderful glass of sparkling rosé. I hope to go back with Max and my dad.
If you want to dine at Kokkari Estiatorio, it’s at 200 Jackson Street (at Front St.) San Francisco, Phone 415.981.0983. They are open for lunch and dinner and ressies are recommended. There is a fun bar scene there too.
Sadly we all left early the next morning. I felt like I made some new friends and feel lucky to know these ladies. It was great to connect with everyone and I am look forward to the time we can do this again! I adore them!
Please visit the blogs of these ladies if you haven’t.
Everyone is uniquely different and I learn so much from these talented women! I am linking to each by their name…
Cindy, Mary Ann, Annie, Juliet, Noelani, Susan, and Jennifer.
A few things shared above and that I love from Sézane….
If you missed last week’s post, a day at Muir Woods, lunch at 16th century style Pelican Inn, Madewell Spring pieces I am crazy about, and a really pretty home to inspire you.
You may also like this post on a San Francisco Coastal Walk.
Wishing you a lovely weekend and a happy Easter to those who celebrate,
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs for more good things…
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
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Good morning Kim,
It looks like you had an action packed, informative three days with many of our blogging friends. I am so sad that I was not able to attend, but I will be there the next time.
I love seeing the conference from your perspective! The views, the food, the shopping! The same but different from Juliets and the other ladies over the week. It looks amazing, I am sure that you learned a ton and we will be seeing the fruits of your labor.
Sezane is one of my favorites, I would have filled my suitcase with new things. I am looking for a new perfume, Juliet mentioned theirs, how would you describe it?
Tell me what you think are the “must haves” for this season?
I hope that you are back at home and resting up before you host Easter.
Have a blessed Easter friend.
xo
We missed you Elizabeth. I have the Sezane perfume. It’s very soft and feminine!
xo
It was such a pleasure to be able to spend time with you in person! What a great recap of the trip…you take fantastic photos. Thanks again for including me in this wonderful gathering, and the link. I hope you and Juliet will come visit me in LA for more color fun and lunch at my favorite French-themed bistro.
Susan I feel the same. SO happy we got to meet in person. I hope we get down there too!
Sounds fun. xo
A total pleasure reading this post, especially since I subscribe to most of the blogs of the attendees. Great pictures!
Megan thanks! I am so lucky to be friends with them!
Hi Kim, what an amazing city break with wonderful ladies! I know all of these blogs – I’ve been following Susan at Une Femme for almost 20 years! I love the Sezane items you featured, especially the short trench, very useful.
I’m glad the No Kings day went well last weekend – I haven’t heard yet what the percentage of attendees countrywide was, would be interesting to know.
Patricia, Isn’t Susan awesome ? Adore her and she’s so fun too. I love that trench. xo
What fun to see many women I enjoy reading all together in a favourite city of mine! What a great weekend you experienced, Kim, as well as giving me ideas for another stay there in the future. Here I am sitting in gorgeous sun streaming into my living room this morning, sipping my coffee with a warm Easter hot cross bun , and discovering your treat in my in box. HAPPY EASTER 🐣 INDEED !
Thank you dear Cath! Hope your Easter was lovely. I have a vision of you in the sun with the buns. So nice. xo
What a lovely and inspiring time to spend with fellow blogging peers! I totally get what you mean by it being motivating and also tiring at the same time -I often feel the same way after a girls weekend, but few other things fill my cup the same way. I can’t wait to see what kind of inspiration this conference brings to your blog. Also, I haven’t been to San Francisco since 2017 and I think it’s time to start planning another trip out!
Ps. I too am a soft summer (which I think is similar to a cool summer??).
Amanda I bet they are the same! Do you wear mauves well?
You’re so right about filling your cup. xo
I enjoyed reading this so much! I follow you all and just loved seeing you all together having fun. I am on a wait list for the jacket. Thanks for posting!
Susan you are so sweet! Thank you. I hope you love the jacket. I’ve been wearing mine so much. x
It is sos wonderful to see you enjoyed SF! I love this city and was stationed there for almost a year. Visiting yearly or every 6 months for many years afterward I noted it waxing and waning in energy and getting downtrodden, shabby, sad, and worrisome. You have heartened me in these pictures. There are many changes in the shopping and eating scene these days so it is good to see Kokkari! and Suzanne! I miss Williams and Sonoma on Union Square and hope the revival in that area can be sustained . Thank you for the great photos.
Donnie things are looking great in the city. I think all the cities are hurting since Covid, but slowly businesses are coming back and that is exciting. I hope the revival keeps going. I hear on the news more and more folks are moving to the city too. It’s still my favorite. xo
I enjoyed this look at your SF trip. It makes me want to revisit the city. Love seeing you with your friends at all the great places.
Linda I hope you get there soon.It’s always fun and so pretty.Aw thanks
Hello Kim,
I follow all of you wonderful women bloggers and it is so lovely seeing you all together!! Such a treat…Fantastic photographs thanks for sharing. I just bought my first Justine bag from Sezane as I have been wanting one for years, and it is so perfect.
Have a lovely Easter! xo
Francesca enjoy that bag! I love them so much. Aw thanks. x
Wow, all of my favorites and a couple of new ones to follow!
I’ve known the owners of Kokkari for many years, they are wonderful and it’s a wonderful place! They also own Evvia in Palo Alto so you should try that also, since you are very close!
Valetta I had no idea they had a place in Palo Alto! I am putting it on my list. Thank you.
x
So much fun you had with such a great group of ladies I know several of them, but I think I follow almost everybody!! I’m gonna have to check out that Greek restaurant in San Francisco. I’ve been to that Hyatt before, isn’t it a wonderful place?! I watched your adventures as I was flying home from our Southeast Asia adventure during two of your three days!!
I was thinking of you Martha. All the flight attendants and pilots were hanging out there. It’s such an unbeatable location. Yes you have to get to the restaurant!
Your adventure looks amazing. I really enjoyed following along. xo
It was so great to spend time with you, Kim. Love this recap!
You too Mary Ann. Miss you.
Kim! What a fun time we had … in addition to learning a lot. As you said, we have a lot to do. Ha! Loved your recap, can’t and your cute Sezane jacket (adore the color on you). Hope you had a Happy Easter! xo
So glad I could do it with you. xx