Treating each other well shouldn’t end just because Valentine’s Day is over, so as a reminder our cards sit next to each other on a kitchen shelf. Her’s definitely more expressive, and mine a bit more conceptual.

Didn’t do a whole lot this weekend, none of the stuff I originally planned as Crystal caught some sort of bug and is in preventative/recovery mode. Even being so, it didn’t stop up from relaxing and opening a couple bottles of exceptional wine. One of which being Brown Estate’s phenomenal 2008 Zinfandel.

One thing I just noticed about wines purchased through K&L Wines is the thoughtful barcode they provide on their bottles. This prevents cellar junkies the need to create their own labels for their own cellartracker database.

Crystal also tested out her Christian Louboutin’s in the office and figured out they were a size too small, she only lasted half a day in them. As a result, she exchanged them for a half size larger.

Finally, I was able to change out the rear derailleur hanger on the Kestrel and throw tires on to my new carbon clinchers.

Just need to take it in for a rear derailleur adjustment and take it for a full test spin. Looking forward to testing out the Reynolds Attack wheelset, should provide all the benefits of a carbon rim and the simplicity of clinchers. No more flatting out and getting stranded 30 miles away from home.

-Wallace

Not sure what it is with me and gadgets, but I love gadgets. Ever since the Nike+ system came out some year or so ago I wanted to test it out. Being a more avid cyclist, I never got one, however lately I’ve been running more then I’ve been spinning and finally picked up a pair of Nike+ compatible shoes I gave it a shot.

Learned the hard way that the system doe not work with my iPhone 3G, or any of the iPods I had lying around so added a new 8th generation iPod Nano to the collection. This thing is fresh - coverflow, video camera, voice notes, over all…it’s smart, real smart. I’m impressed, and actually kind of excited because I might need another!

Took it out on an initial test run and it needs a little calibration, but otherwise it’s plug and play. Cool little system, should keep me motivated for awhile along with Ryan’s suggestion of “Chi Running.”

In other news, oem navigation and xm modules arrived. I wanted to keep the hands free functionality as well as the integrated look and feel of the VW which is why I went with OEM. The XM module came with the RNS2, not exactly sure if I’ll even install it but I also have a Denison IceLink iPod adaptor with DICE cradle en route - hence the second iPod Nano.

Just waiting for my Fakra GPS antenna and the Ice Link and it’s install time. Excited.

As for the XM module…I guess if it comes with a free XM subscription I might as well install it, but if not…look for it on eBay.

-Wallace

This past Monday Crystal surprised me with a road trip of sorts, well…come to find out a rather extravagant…I mean, decadent picnic. A picnic of the most lavish sorts.

It all began with an innocent cappuccino from Starbucks and a hot tub soak.

My instructions were to relax and just go with the flow, for some reason I’ve always had an issue with walking into the unknown. However with Crystal as my guide…I dove in head first. After all, she’s been slyly planning this all week - grabbing serving platters, kitchen gimmicks from Sur La Table and what not. I was told it was something similar to Outstanding in the Field, but not. I was excited, curious, and yes a bit frightened.

Our next stop was Tsar Nicoulai. Something was up…I wasn’t sure what…

After Tsar Nicoulai, we made a pit stop at the Ferry Building where I played “waiting cab,” then Crystal threw something in the trunk and directed me up through the Golden Gate and into Belvedere / Tiburon where we ended up at Paradise Park.

It was here where her plot unfolded, as I had to lug down the cooler and whole bunch of other stuff. I was stunned. An absolutely gorgeous spot where we could really just enjoy each other’s company. Then the goods started to pile up on the table…

Hog Island Oysters & Tsar Nicoulai Caviar?!

Not just a dozen, but a total of 3 dozen?! A mix of sweet waters and kumamoto’s

A testament to Crystal’s thoughtfulness. This may look like any deli sandwich but it’s the ‘Presido” - roast beef, soft cheese all topped off with a handful of caramelized boiling sweet onions.

Hitachino Nest White Ale…if you haven’t yet, you must seek this stuff out.

another picture of the caviar. This was really surprising giving Crystal’s general dislike toward fish eggs in the sushi sense. She had a bite of real caviar at Plummed Horse and it seems she was smitten.

So, was I surprised? You bet. Did I enjoy this? Absolutely. Should there be more? My expectations bar has been upped!

Jokes of course, but I really appreciated all the extra effort and footwork that Crystal put into this day. As we ate the fog cleared up and we were given an unprecedented view of the Richmond Bridge. A real hidden spot, highly recommended if you feel like surprising someone with a picnic as well.

Thanks Crystal!

[ Tsar Nicoulai ]
[ Hog Island Oysters ]
[ Paradise Beach County Park ]
[ via Flickr ]

-Wallace

Valentine’s day began with an early morning fridge cleaning. I had brussel sprouts, a piece of slab bacon, a quarter onion, some left over cremini mushrooms along with a staple of eggs and tater tots. Not sure about you but this sounded like breakfast to me.

Turned out to be not half bad. I think the tater tots had a bit of freezer burn, this is what I get for not storing them in freezer bags after opening them, but the scramble itself is something I’m willing to throw together again.

When I arrived at Crystal’s place I was welcomed with a bounty of gifts, wow…who said Valentine’s was dead?

Out of the mash-up of gifts, this was my favorite - an Eye-Fi wifi SD card. What’s so cool about this card? One is able to snap photos of anything, then when they arrive home the card syncs with your wifi network to automatically upload the photos to your online sharing folder. No more pulling the SD card, or connecting a cable from the camera to one’s computer and uploading manually. Fresh.

-Wallace

For some reason I thought I posted these, but apparently I did not. Late last year I was invited to FRRG’s first annual Christmas party at The Racer’s Group | Adobe Road Winery in Petaluma, Ca. That same evening Olivia was also celebrating her birthday at Apartment 24 in San Francisco. We decided to stay in the city and bring up the R8.

The next morning at some 6am I took the car out by Patrick’s studio in the Dogpatch where we did his photoshoot of him and his freshly restored Vespa. I have to admit pushing the car through empty San Francisco streets was fun, didn’t go into an all out slide but the vehicle is very well balanced and almost too easy to control. Anyways…I wasn’t thrilled with any of these photos, but hope you enjoy them.

[ via Flickr ]

-Wallace

To put it bluntly, yeah valentine’s is a hallmark holiday but I always thought it was a good of a reason as any to celebrate with that perfect half. Although it’s many a man’s winning lotto ticket to find a gal that believes that valentine’s is no special day and shouldn’t be celebrated - it’s always just a little bit disheartening.

It is funny though, we’ve never actually celebrated valentine’s on valentine’s but that’s no excuse to come home and proclaim, “woman, make me a sammich!” In fact, I think last year Laurie joined us for dinner and the year prior we were an ocean apart…although spent the weekend prior in Paris.

This year, “valentine’s” began on Thursday where Crystal came back after having a great day to only find a plain natural colored shoebox.

I think she likes them…

-Wallace

During Super Bowl Sunday, Crystal somehow scratched her eyeball - in the crazy haste she realized that she actually needed new glasses - and so we went to Lenscrafters as they’re able to churn out a pair in ~1hr. She spent some 1.5 hours deciding between two frames and nearly settled on the more classic feminine frame when we jettisoned back because she changed her mind and went for the more masculine, fashion forward frame. We’re calling it the “Boyfriend Frame” and expect it to be all over fashion blogs in 2010.

Well…we’ll see. I like them, and this is one item I will support.

While Crystal’s prancing around in new “Boyfriend Frames,” I opened an bottle of Ballast Point Sculpin India Pale Ale (currently #15 on BA’s top 100 beers), and what they’ve done here is bottle happiness. This stuff was sublime. Grab a bottle if you can, otherwise let me know what you have to swap. I have 3 left.

[ Sculpin Reviews on Beer Advocate ]

-Wallace

I’ve been infected with the “modbug.” The modbug compiles me to modify nearly EVERYTHING, vehicles especially. I thought it went into submission, obviously I thought wrong. Here’s the last photos you’ll see of my Touareg in stock form.

Although the build plan is a whole lot milder then past builds, never the less it will be making its way to Paul at Apex Autobody in the coming weeks. The idea is rather then going full aftermarket, I really want the ABT programme - but having to deal with private intercontinental shipping, possible fitment issues, scarcity of all pieces and not to mention the already absurd cost of anything ABT. Therefore, I’m going with Volkswagen’s OEM Votex Programme.

Paul will color match the lowers of the truck, then color match Votex fender flares

a votex rear spoiler.

matte black out a set of votex bumper guards

and finally a set of DPE’s from Manu. still deciding between 20, 21, or 22″ fitments.

Well…that’s about it! Should be fun.

-Wallace

Every since I was a child my mother made a similar soup/stew. I especially enjoy this soup when the weather is less then sunny out, it warms up the soul so to speak. This recipe is quite modified from the original, especially with the addition of short ribs - I believe the original was vegetarian. Without any more delay you will need:

4-6 slab cut short rib sections
6 small waxy potatoes, or yukon gold - they don’t fall apart when boiled.
5 carrots
1 small cabbage
1 medium onion
1 28oz can of whole peeled tomatoes
2 packages of vegetable stock
1 beef bouillon cube
butter
rosemary, sage, and bay leaves to taste
3 shots of bourbon, or red wine.

Put a stock pot on the stove and melt some butter, you can use olive oil if you want to be healthier, then sear your short ribs. I only used 4, since I’m cooking for two.

Once the short ribs are seared all around, about 1min - 1:30min per side, remove and set aside. I like to “crisp” up my vegetables before adding stock. Throw in the onion first, it will deglaze the pot - salt & pepper as well as add your herbs to taste. Then the carrots, potatoes and let this simmer for 5-8 minutes.

Add some red wine to deglaze, if you do not have red wine a bit of the vegetable stock will work fine. Now add the tomatoes, put back the ribs, the chopped cabbage, and fill the pot with stock. Finally put in a beef bouillon cube, stir and let it low simmer for the next 3-4 hours, occasionally stirring and seasoning. I throw in the bourbon in the last 10 minutes just because.

That’s all there is to it.

-Wallace

This is a familiar view huh? Reminiscent of pre-adecadentexistence days. Living out of a suitcase only sounds fun for the first handful of times, anyways last weekend we spent the entire weekend in San Francisco due to ZAP, however we made sure to take every advantage in doing so.

We stayed at Le Meridian which allowed me to run through soma and enjoy Blue Bottle cappuccino’s almost at will in the Ferry Building. The temperature brisk and the air dense, made for optimal running conditions - my preference anyways.

Some of my favorite spots we went to were Nihon Whiskey Lounge, and Cav Wine Bar which had a phenomenal gnocchi.

However it wasn’t until Sunday that we had a completely open schedule. After checking out we met up with Olivia, Walter and Jill at Huber Keller’s Burger Bar.

Many people have left Burger Bar in a funk so I walked in really expecting nothing, but a classically trained French chef such as Hubert Keller opening a restaurant in homage to his adopted country? I think that’s applaudable and in a way romantic.

Now, the burgers - I’m really not sure what other people expect when they walk in here, fine dining maybe? white table clothes, candle light, a 5 piece orchestra, and french waiters? The place serves burgers for sakes, and an architecturally correct one at that. The patty is properly cooked to medium. Juicy. The cheese is melted, the bacon crisp till the last bite and the bun soaks up the moisture, juice, and remains intact until the last bite. That’s quite an accomplishment in my opinion, and how every restaurant burger should be. Hubert, you have my patronage. Excellent burger, and perfectly executed fries - bonus points on using heinz ketchup and simple yellow mustard in squeezable plastic containers. Nothing fancy, and just what I want in a burger.

After our morning shenanigans we decided to continue the day with afternoon shenanigans. Per Olivia’s suggestion, and to continue our theme of exploring smaller San Francisco neighborhoods I showed Crystal around the Fillmore. Our first stop - of course Marc by Marc Jacobs.

The Fillmore has changed quite a bit since the last time I spent an extensive amount of time here. One of my past favorite restaurants is still here, and so is Harry’s Bar where many a memorable evening was spent. However new tenants such as in:water flowers, and O & Co olive oil company sprung up and added to store front selection.

One of the things I didn’t do last year was snap a whole lot of photos, sure I took more photos then the average person but I didn’t feel motivated or inspired in any way. This year, I want to change that.

As I was re-learning my camera, Crystal gave crepes a second chance. We had a banana and nutella crepe at crepevine and although I enjoyed it, I’m not so sure about Crystal.

Finally as we left the city, we spotted this on the HWY80 on ramp off of Van Ness. San Francisco rents keeping you down? Pick up Urban Camping, it re-defines the term “staycation”

We enjoyed ourselves, and it was a much needed break as much as a welcome end to a very hectic month. So here we are in 2010, 11 more months to go and I’m looking forward to each and every one.

-Wallace