Issue #3 March: Beyoncé Makes Spaghettii Look So Good 🍝
Beyoncé’s new album, an iconic peking duck, and highlights from Sedona, AZ
While some people are celebrating Easter 🐰 this weekend, I’m celebrating Beyoncé 👑. She dropped her new album, act ii COWBOY CARTER, on March 29th after five years in the making. I haven’t been able to focus on anything else so let’s just get into it 🤠.
Listen 🎵
act ii COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé
Beyoncé has been giving me life for almost three decades. I’ve been a fan since there were four members of Destiny’s Child. I dressed in silver for her Renaissance concert three times in three different cities. Prior to Renaissance, I had seen her live four times, including the history-making Beychella. I remember exactly where I was when she dropped her self-titled album with no marketing and then later Lemonade with an accompanying film. I cheered her on in Obsessed during the fight scene and cried when she spoke about her miscarriages in Life is But a Dream. This is all to say, there was no chance I wasn’t going to love her new album, but damn, I was not ready. Even after 27 years in the 🐝Hive, I’m never ready. Calling the album country barely scratches the surface of its complexity. She literally sings opera in “Daughter” and then raps in the next track “Spaghettii.” Her ability to grow and change as an artist and performer is truly remarkable. Favorite tracks include “Protector,” “Bodyguard,” “Jolene” (+ Dolly’s intro), “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus, “Riiverdance,” and “Sweet ⭐Honey ⭐Buckin’.” This is unequivocally a “Beyoncé album” and none of us are worthy 🐴.
Eat 😋
Mister Jiu’s (Chinatown, SF)
Nothing says celebration like the peking duck 🦆 from Mister Jiu’s. Their ducks come from Liberty Farms, which I just learned have been providing ducks to Chinatown for three generations! In a two-week process, the ducks are dry-aged, smoked, and then roasted to crispy skin perfection. It’s served with thin pancakes, house-made peanut butter hoisin, fresh veggies, and duck liver mousse. It’s definitely an iconic SF dining experience ⭐. Note: they offer the duck as one of the protein options on top of their tasting menu pricing, but you can also order it a la carte for parties of two in their high-top seating area.
The Laundromat (Outer Sunset, SF)
There’s quite a few bagel shops popping up in SF, but I think The Laundromat takes the cake (err… bagel) 🥯. They sell to-go bagels and cream cheese in the morning and turn into a sit-down pizzeria at night. I haven't been for pizza yet, but the bagels are the best I’ve had in SF. Soft and chewy and just the right amount of salty, I would probably enjoy them plain and cold. But I would never do that because their smoked salmon and dill cream cheese is incredible. They have about 10 types of bagels and out of the ones I tried, egg everything is my favorite.
Drink 🍸
Starlite Lounge (Union Square, SF)
Those who have been in SF for a while may remember the old Starlight Room atop the former Sir Francis Drake Hotel, which closed during COVID in 2020. The hotel has been renamed the Beacon Grand and the new Starlite Lounge just opened last month with fun new decor, but the same stunning 360 views of the city. They serve classic cocktails like the Romolo Pimm’s. Nothing makes me feel older than knowing a cocktail I used to drink in my twenties is now a “classic” 😂. My friend got the Cable Car Redux that came with Karl the Fog ☁️. They also serve small bites, which we didn’t try, but others around us seemed to enjoy.
See 🖼️
Fashioning San Francisco and Irving Penn at the deYoung Museum (Golden Gate Park, SF)
Two fashion exhibits are showing at the deYoung Museum. Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style explores the history of fashion in SF and features over 100 pieces from designers like Dior, Chanel, McQueen, and my personal favorite, Comme des Garçons. There’s also an AR experience where guests can “try-on” couture pieces for a photo. Downstairs is Irving Penn, a collection of 175 photos from his iconic 70-year career, including Vogue and other fashion outlets. I also spotted a young Yo-Yo Ma portrait standing with his cello almost as tall as him 🎻.
Watch 📺
If I got to pick my own Netflix movie category, it’d be “quiet films about people living their lives and finding beauty in our sad world.” So when my coworker raved about this Oscar-nominated film after seeing it, I knew I’d love it too. The movie centers around Hirayama, a toilet cleaner in Tokyo who enjoys listening to vintage cassette tapes of Van Morrison and Otis Redding during his commute. He follows a pretty standard routine everyday, watering his plants, photographing the same tree, and looking at shadows of trees 🌳. We don’t even hear him speak until about 30 minutes into the movie. His life is interrupted by an unexpected visit from his niece. We start to get hints of perhaps a difficult past left behind, but nothing is explicitly revealed. We only have Hirayama’s facial expressions and music selections to infer.
Visit 🛫
Sedona is the ideal long-weekend trip for those who are “outside-y”– people who enjoy a casual hike for the aesthetics, but also want to relax at the spa in a cozy robe and drink juice. It’s a two-hour flight from SF to Phoenix and then another 2-hour drive up to Sedona. My friends and I stayed at the Enchantment Resort, which felt like staying in the middle of a national park 🏞️. We were surrounded by the beautiful red rocks right next to the Boynton Canyon Trail. We spent a day around Sedona with a thrilling Pink Jeep Tour of Broken Arrow followed by lunch at Mariposa and wandering around Tlaquepaque Village. For dinner, we went to Hummingbird at Mii Amo, the sister resort to Enchantment. The next morning, we hiked Boynton Canyon and reached the Subway Cave (those who have a severe fear of heights may want to reconsider). The reward, however, is a breathtaking view of the canyon unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. After the hike, we spent the rest of the day relaxing at the spa and ended our last night with dinner at Che Ah Chi. Pro-tip: download AllTrails because service can be spotty while hiking and no one wants to get lost or attacked by a javelina (j/k) 🙃.
FAQ ❓
Q: Where can I grab a tasty brunch in SF without the wait?
A: Imagine walking into a brunch spot on a sunny weekend and being seated right away. That’s exactly what happened at Kothai Republic in the Inner Sunset. They serve Asian fusion spins on brunch classics like huevos rancheros, but with bulgogi beef, along with the typical fare like french toast and eggs benedict. Their dinner menu serves up a tasty kalbi I would say is a San Ho Wan dupe. It’s also a great place to bring out-of-town friends since it’s near Golden Golden Park and the shops on 9th St.
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