Hot time, late summer in the city!

Except for those dreaded Friday nights when all that’s on your buff arm is your reusable canvas shopping bag.

Lumbering home from your hood’s green grocer, you pass that trendy Indian bistro and spy handsome couples in the window on double dates. They’re nursing ginormous chalices of red wine and laughing up a storm, eyes tearing from the tandoori and terribly clever banter. You feel resentful. You like red wine, too.

Take heart, neo nester. It’s …

Tags: al fresco dining , Annie Somerville , cooking , drinks , entertaining , farmers market , Green's Restaurant , grilling , menus , organic , San Francisco , summer , sustainability , wine

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Must be those years as a kid in Palm Springs that instilled my passion for succulent gardens that glow at dusk.

Whether opting for sun powered pathway lanterns or natural candles, you are cutting down on electricity while letting your prized garden bask in the limelight.

Combine them all for a low energy, highly-illuminated spot, where you and the mosquitoes can bite on juicy snacks and drink up the evening breeze.

Here are 10 that make a mark:

The color-changing Chalice solar path lights are said to last up to 30,000 hours (about 15 years) and automatically turn

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Tags: alternative , decor , entertaining , garden , lamps , lanterns , lighting , solar power

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Weddings come in all shapes and sizes but for many people it’s the biggest party they’ll ever host.

The average wedding in the US costs about $20,000. Ours was nowhere near that expensive but it was still a large event and one that took a year in the planning. Little wonder that this post has grown into a two-parter.

As well as the advantages I mentioned previously, the other great thing about our wedding venues was their accessibility public transport. We thought about this from the outset and even …

Tags: eco , entertaining , green , planning , wedding

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If you ask me, there’s nothing more relaxing than the sound of a crackling fire (the same probably can’t be said for Neil Diamond). Yet, I can’t even remember the last time I used my fireplace as more than just a decorative mantle to display frames and books. Really, who has the time to constantly add more kindling, stoke the flames and keep it burning? Here’s an eco-friendly solution to make you smile.

With a sustainable wooden wick, the Dayna Decker Botanika Chandel is specially designed to simulate the …

Tags: aromatherapy , Botanika , candle , Chandel , Dayna Decker , entertaining

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Edith Heath first introduced us to her understated glazed pottery in the mid-forties with a one-woman show at San Francisco’s Palace of the Legion of Honor, where her unusual pieces were picked up for sale at Gump’s of San Francisco.

It was after that success that she opened her factory in Sausalito, Calif. dedicating the past half-century of her life to the craft of ceramics and the skill of the artisan.

This passion, along with the legacy of her work in stoneware clay body and glaze development,

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Tags: Chez Panisse , Edith Heath , entertaining , glazed pottery for the table , Heath Ceramics , serving dishes , stoneware , tabletop

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Every morning before settling in with the laptop, I sip a cup of coffee, eat a bowl of cereal and read the paper at my breakfast bar. And lately I’ve had to ask myself: why am I still sitting on these cheap, tacky stools I got from IKEA in college?

It’s time for an eco-friendly (and lumbar friendly) upgrade, and here are some versatile choices I’m liking.

The rustic weave and strong design of the Earthly Rattan stool from VivaTerra (shown at top) make the perfect fit for those of you …

Tags: bar , barstool , decor , dining , entertaining , furniture , stools , sustainable

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You’re not fooling him, sister.

It’s a pairing more common than takeout Caesar salad and two buck Chuck. There’s even a song about it: you’re a vegetarian and your boyfriend isn’t about to part with bacon in this lifetime. It’s not that he hates the planet; it’s just that tofu deeply worries him. The mere mention of a vegetarian dinner brings your old nickname (Chick’n) back to life for at least a week, or on more exciting nights, a spirited debate about whether mock meat nuggets taste more …

Tags: dining , entertaining , food , recipes , vegetarian

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One look out the window during meal time, and you’re reminded that Punxsutawney Phil won’t see his shadow for some time to come. So, put those seasonally unsuitable plates and bowls away and embrace the subtle beauty of peaceful pastels. The Serene Sol dinnerware will help you see the more soothing side of winter while adorning your tabletop in versatile sophistication. Plus, these chic pieces are made entirely from recycled glass. Looking for a bargain? Spring for the whole set and save $28. (Available at VivaTerra for …

Tags: dining , entertaining , recycled glass , shopping , sol dinnerware , VivaTerra

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Sarah’s piece on Meyer lemons last week got me thinking about some of my favorite ways to use these fragrant lovelies. Abundant as they are this time of year in my area, they can almost be had for the picking (or foraging). Meyer lemons are commonly found in backyards all over the Bay Area, where they thrive in our Mediterranean climate. In fact, it’s practically customary to bring a bag of Meyer lemons as a hostess gift throughout the winter months.

This lemon curd is …

Tags: dessert , dining , entertaining , food , meyer lemon , organic , Recipe

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