Summerland, Love & Kindness, Gloria Steinem, & Cool Fall Pieces

Why Summerland needs to be a stop on your next road trip, David Byrne and cool fall pieces that should be on your radar. Sorry this post is a bit long!

Summerland

On our way back from So Cal last week, here if you missed it, we decided to take 101 instead of Highway 5 back for a change of pace. I was planning for us to stop in Montecito for a coffee (we left about 6:30 a.m.), but noticed Summerland beckoning on the sign right before it. I told Max I have always wanted to go there and see the famous Godmothers bookshop and other home stores. He said, well, why not, let’s check it out. I love that he is always willing to make a stop and explore.

Godmothers

Summerland is literally a blip off 101, right across from the ocean, and it could have been any other gas stop/generic road stop, but it is anything but that. We drove right to Godmothers. This bookshop is beautiful and they consider it a community hub for stories and connection.

When you first enter, you see the Godmothers Gallery that highlights women who have, in their words, shaped culture and expanded what’s possible: authors, artists, scientists, and cultural icons whose work continues to echo. The gallery reminds us that we’re part of a legacy; we’re shaped by the past as we’re shaping the future.’ I love that.

Note Gloria Steinem among others… The pictures go up the staircase!

Downstairs is a wonderfully curated selection of books, packed full. There is a cozy fireplace and an elevated stage for talks. I loved the collection of vintage books, left, and the leafy cafe. There is a cozy spot for children’s books upstairs and more decor, design and cookbooks up there as well. It’s all beautiful and so nicely spread out. It encourages you to browse and sit a bit.

I bought this book, but haven’t begun it yet… It sounds really good and won the Pulitzer for biography about two sisters involved with Alexander Hamilton and the revolution. I also got a gift for Kristin for Christmas, and one of their totes for a friend.

Check out Godmothers’ events and talks and follow them on Instagram here. Make sure you make a stop in here if you are driving on 101!

Summerland’s Home Stores

After Max pulled me away from Godmothers, we walked the street here. Next to the bookstore is a cute spot called Summerland Beach Cafe, which I would love to check out next time. There are three home stores here. The Porch is first with a big expansive porch and lovely earthy home things.

Next door to that is The Well. It looks like a small storefront, but when you enter and turn right you go into a yard that stretches out to encompass five or more cottages, in a half-acre gorgeous garden center. There are loads of wonderful outdoor pots and furniture. In the homes are beautiful sofas, mirrors, art, antiques and more to inspire you and everything is for sale.

Across the street is Botanic, which I didn’t get time to see, but had gorgeous planters and pots. Right here is also a stationery store that shares its space with Sweet Wheel Farms that helps with local food insecurity. They also sell organic baked goods, jams, and veggies straight from the farms nearby. We bought a baby cantaloupe and tangerines. The muffins and bread looked heavenly.

There is also a pizza place and a coffee spot here. If you continue south there are more shops! I need to get back here and explore more.

Bella Dahl pieces for fall

Bella Dahl asked me a few weeks ago to choose something from their collection and I picked this great pull-on chambray skirt and soft sweater. It was cool enough for me to wear it out shopping the other morning. I love both these pieces – so versatile! I hope to wear this look again this weekend with a white t-shirt or tank and wrap the sweater around my shoulders.

The sweater comes in a pretty heather color, a copper (good for fall) besides the light navy. The bias cut skirt is longer on 5’4 me, but perfect at calf length. These are great transition pieces for us as we move into a California fall. I bought Medium in the sweater and a Small in the skirt.

18 hours in Berkeley

The day after we got home from So Cal, we headed north for a night in Berkeley. Friends had asked us months before to see David Byrne and his new band. We stayed a night at the Hotel Shattuck. It’s old school and a perfect location for anything at UC! We checked into our room, had a quick dinner at their Mediterranean restaurant Zino which was good, and Ubered to the venue.

After the concert, we walked back through the campus, barely a mile downhill, with a ton of others and it was a lovely walk. The campus’s Campanile Tower is beautiful lit up at night.

‘Love and kindness are the new resistance’- David Byrne

David Byrne’s “Who Is the Sky?” two-hour show was life affirming. He opened with a song called Heaven on the day that Dolly Parton passed and it sort of set the tone. We loved all his Talking Heads hits, but many of his new songs as well. David Byrne, 74, danced and sang for two hours straight without one glass of water or a break! I was impressed. He sounds the same still too.

This show had an incredible video backdrop that moved with the songs. Byrne lives in NYC, does not drive, and bikes a lot. The video had many scenes from his bike rides, his apartment, nature, and other cool things he digs. His band dances as well as sings and carries their instruments on them. They are non-stop movement and energy. This show was unforgettable and the setting—a warm late summer evening in this amphitheater—could not have been more perfect for a night of David’s music and chat.

Below was a song called t-shirt with some of the best t-shirt logos flashed on screen. Lots of screams and clapping with this one…

At one point Byrne recalled an interview he read where director John Cameron Mitchell said, ‘love and kindness are the most punk things you can do right now, and the new resistance.’ He has embraced that and the audience loved it. In these times, could being kind be the new heroism? As leaders lead with hatred and division, loving each other more might be the answer.

Cue ‘Nothing But Flowers,’ one of the most uplifting songs ever. Let’s be hopeful. Put it on your playlist and let’s go punk 2.0. Get to this show if you can. David Byrne gets us. You can watch a mini version of the concert here on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.

See David Byrne and hear about his new book

David will also be talking about his new book, Sleeping Beauties: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up at City Arts & Lectures on October 11th, details and tickets here. This book discusses innovations throughout history that were forgotten and later rediscovered- and changed the world, much later. He asks how they woke up- and how can we not let this happen to breakthroughs now? This man is a visionary and is all about a better world for us all. We could use more of that right now.

La Note

The morning after the concert, we took the chance to have breakfast a few blocks away at La Note, a beloved French Provençal-inspired bistro that our friend Erin had recommended. Max got the orange dipped French toast and it tasted as good as it looked here. In fact, I was envious. I ordered the blueberry creme fraiche pancakes. They were also excellent, but not as mind-blowing as Max’s.

This place is charm personified, but also popular. We went early – 8:30 on a weekday and had no problem, but there quickly formed a line after a while, so make a reservation, or go on the early side! Also note: the Serena & Lily Outlet is in Berkeley, and with Pegasus Books next door to La Note, it could be a fun day out.

Jeans – thinking about fall

I’ve been seeing a lot of great things for fall. I’m going to be choosy this year and try and truly add just things I need. I always want pants, but realize the pants I wear the most are jeans. I love a unique jean and these two from the Rails site are both on my possible list. Rails makes quality jeans and the denim is always so nice.

How cute is this jean with the hem detail? I also adore this diamond wide leg jean! (My Melanie jacket and Tomoko jacket bought last year at Rails are on sale this weekend.)

Gloria Steinem

How is it we keep losing strong, visionary women at a time when we are led by the worst men on the planet? Good grief, it hurts. On the positive, losing Gloria Steinem reminds us that we have more power and strength than we know. Gloria and Dolly both told us not to take crap, stand up, demand and advocate for a better world for women and equality for all.

Gloria worked tirelessly, until the end, much like Jane Goodall. I have been inspired this week reading about her fights and her words. One quote that stands out to me, as a mother of sons, is particularly on point:

“We’ve begun to raise daughters more like sons . . . but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters.”

Gloria Steinem

I think about that a lot. Are we raising men who will care for us and the planet? Who will do their share equally in a family? I hope my sons will.

We have so much to thank Gloria for. Her Ms. magazine called for change in the workplace and home. “When we started, there was not even a term for sexual harassment,” Ms. Steinem often said. “It was just called life.”

The work of Gloria and others enabled us to own homes, have credit, and ask for equal wages and expect more. We still earn less than men, we still have no Equal Rights Amendment, and we are still the primary caretakers, who do it for free for most of our lives from babies to our parents. There is much to still work for, and the current people in charge want to roll it all back.

Gloria put her home in a trust to be used for gatherings and social circles. The foundation’s website says that the home and its contents will remain “a living organ of the feminist movement.” I think that is wonderful. Gloria has a memoir, An Unexpected Life, coming on September 26th. “In revisiting the equal-rights movements Steinem helped build, she offers wisdom to new generations.” No doubt this will be a monster best-seller. Let’s hope more women get energized by the remembrance and tributes to her. We need more Glorias in this world.

This NYT article on her was a good one.

A few Labor Day sales…

I often mention brands I like, but mostly forget to highlight when they have sales, so this week I tried harder and found some good ones.

Crate & Barrel has a big Labor Day sale and I am finally buying the Atrium cabinet I’ve been looking at for almost 3 years. I’m hoping it’ll look good in my dining space and hold dishes, cookbooks and more.

I also adore this rug from Crate, and this charming super soft duvet cover in pretty colors and on super sale in soft blue and the shams here. Also, not to miss—the best coverlet on the planet (Trust me I’ve had this for ages and it is so soft and pretty and looks wonderful smoothed over the sheets. It’s our summer blanket as well.)

Dermstore has the wonderful Elta MD Spf 46 Face sunscreen 20% off until the 7th. Save more on a set of two. This sunscreen is great for acne and rosacea-sensitive skin, broad spectrum and anti-oxidant. My go-to for tennis and perfect size for travel.

Serena & Lily has up to 40% off everything! My grasscloth wallpaper and bedroom Kimbe paper are also on sale. This Florian paper and this paper in the prettiest green are also beauties, and this one I want for my entry. This mirror is also on my wish list.

AYR has 60% off their last-season pieces (still so many good things.)

My favorite Roz Haircare has 20% off when you bundle a product with another like their Milk Hair Serum and Styling Mousse (I use both!), the shampoo & conditioner, or any of their sets.

The cool cooking shop I mentioned last week, Our Place, has an end of summer sale. They sent me their Ceramic Non-Stick Always Pan just in time to steam some of my dad’s green beans this week. I love that the little steamer with it becomes a colander with handles. I plan to get one for my dad during the sale as his birthday is coming. Their adorable countertop Wonder Ovens that are airfryer/toasters are also on sale in 4 colors. The small one is great for a college kid.

Athleta linen pieces like my black shorts and shirt (beautiful quality) are on sale.

I will add any other notable sales if I missed them!

Other Cool Things

Sick of mascara? You’re in luck. The no mascara trend is growing and women are finding it freeing and fashion is embracing it too. Will mascara be the next pantyhose? One day we were all wearing them and a year later they were over. Hosiery departments were gone. I wish I could have the money I spent on hosiery in my lifetime back!

This Homeworthy tour of an NY city apartment of Sallie Giordano is packed with smart ideas and little tricks like deep blue linoleum, mirrors in the kitchen and more

If you missed last week, I shared Venice’s Abbot-Kinney Blvd, more clean beauty things, the bag I bought for fall, and Dolly Parton.

Have a lovely three-day weekend,

Kim

Please stop by Juliet and Elizabeth’s blogs for more good things. 

Make Mine a Spritzer

Pinecones and Acorns

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