a realistic bay area fall bucket list

+ my favorite underwear brand made new colors.

what fall in san francisco feels like

Yesterday, I went swimming for the first time since Hawaii, where I started each day with an ocean swim.

I don’t know what took me so long to get back in the water.

Actually, I lied—I do. I just felt stuck in a gluey pit of inertia. The drudgery of slathering sunscreen on my body, pulling a latex cap over my brittle sun-damaged bun and mentally pushing through the first minute of cold water shock sounded like hell.

September has been a hard month. I got to a point where I was sickened by my own screentime and sighing and being Behind On Everything. So I forced myself to go to the pool.

The swim itself started out fine, and then it was amazing.

I hopped out feeling like my lungs were clearer, more oxygenated. On the drive home I played some Frank Ocean with the windows down as the chlorine water in my hair dripped down the back of the neck. I felt tired, but at peace. I felt good.

In the shower, I was scrubbing my calves and noticed brownish bits of dead skin sloughing off. It was gross and satisfying. It dawned on me that the swim probably loosened the buildup of dead cells and oils and dirt.

Then, I was a woman on a mission: I cranked the water temp all the way to H, wrung out my small exfoliation towel and started scrubbing my limbs like I meant it.

My skin turned red as little rolls of dead skin kept forming. I couldn’t believe how much came off. Was my summer tan just GRIME this whole time??? I collected a few of the clumps off my arm and smashed them together into a tiny putty ball. Looks like Play-Doh, I thought, flicking it down onto the shower tiles and watching it circle down the drain.

I came out of that shower with a renewed determination to get my shit together and make the most out of the next 8 weeks. This is my favorite time of year—and when the Bay Area feels the most magical, I think.

I paid off a parking ticket, filed some pet insurance claims, and started writing this list. My emphasis is on “realistic”…I know I’m not going to do 100 things, or go apple picking.

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1. First order of business—schedule my flu vaccine and covid booster, because I don’t wanna get sick this winter. Literally nothing on this list matters if I get sick and can’t have any fun. Also, we <3 public health on this newsletter.

2. Get a proper Korean spa body scrub at Pearl. There are parts of my back I couldn’t reach with my exfoliation towel. It’ll be calming, cleansing, and I’ll contemplate taking the spa issued uniform…

3. I’m starting to think about my birthday plans, and right now the only thing I know I want is Michelle Polzine’s heavenly Russian honey cake. I’m not quite sure how to get my hands on one since her cafe closed, but she sometimes accepts orders via DM. [done]

4. Go through my film photos from the year and get a few printed and framed. I’ve been meaning to do this but always procrastinate.

5. Do some work at Sirene, a rustic mermaid-y cafe in Oakland. Last week I stopped by for a while and had the “Freak of Nature” oolong tea, which smells EXACTLY like buttered shortbread. I enjoyed it, and want to do it again. [done]

6. Polish and clean my jewelry, especially the sterling silver pieces. Once the weather gets cold and I’m always in sweaters, sparkly accessories ARE the outfit. [done]

7. Buy two pumpkins at Monterey Market. Choose ones with personality. Every pumpkin has a different look. [done]

8. Walk along the Berkeley Marina in a chunky cashmere/merino sweater while listening to the Big Little Lies soundtrack.

9. Ride my bike.

10. Book an acne extraction + skin peel appointment with my skin guy, Daveed. He is such a warm person and skilled esthetician and never makes me feel bad about my skin concerns/insecurities. I’ve been going to Seven Thirty since 2018 and always recommend them to my friends and family. [done]

11. Watch the Harvest Moon on 10/6 (tomorrow!!) from my bedroom window. [done]

12. I’m telling myself, I need to send at least TWO Cleanout Kits to ThredUp.

13. Take BART to the Mission, get an orange tonic from Coffee Movement, walk around the Heath Store and Newsstand, followed by lunch at Tartine Manufactory (always good eavesdropping on tech bros here).

14. Visit OCMA for a museum day and bring a book to read in the cafe/museum garden.

15. On a rainy day, watch a movie at Rialto Cinema in Elmwood and douse my popcorn with the complimentary nutritional yeast. Afterwards, wander to Casa de Chocolates and pick out a beautiful tray of 6 bonbons and maybe a Mexican hot chocolate. I always associate this chocolate store with the magic of the holiday season.

16. Do small clothing repairs myself, and anything else bigger I can’t manage, bring to my tailor.

17. Date night at Bon Delire, with wine and steak frites and a basket of fresh baked madelines and loitering around the pier afterwards!!!

18. I should send Raymond an email, we’re due for a coffee catch up.

19. How do you get a meal at Plow without waiting 60+ minutes?? Their lemon ricotta pancakes make me SALIVATE. I’m thinking, go on a Monday morning?? Is getting there at 9:30am too late??? Has anyone figured it out? [done]

20. Expand my broth/soup repertoire. Growing up, my parents would always make the most nourishing Chinese broths that involved hours of simmering pork or beef bones. I know I really ought to learn these recipes because they are generational treasures, but honestly I can be really impatient with learning new recipes—the first time is always the hardest. But with my grandmother’s recent passing, I guess I feel more urgency around being a Keeper of Family Tradition. For traditional Cantonese cooking, I think Made with Lau is the best resource online (my parents agree, he’s pretty great!).

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What’s on my retail radar:

• Oddobody finally restocked their beloved cotton bralette and new colorways in pink and green! I’ve been WAITING for this—the fabric thickness/support level of these bralettes just works so well for me personally. I’m getting this green + pink set. My prediction is that Oddobody will expand into more loungewear soon…they’re on that Cou Cou Intimates arc.

• Ciao Lucia has a 25% off sitewide sale, which reminded me that the White Lotus Piper dress still exists. Of course, I had to browse the silk selection and this embroidered trim green skirt has my name written all over it.

• Emma Rothkopf released a new fall collection this week, and it gives me the same rush I used to feel about Doen collections 5 years ago. It’s a tight edit of California-cozy sweaters, cardigans, and crisp cotton blouses.

I would love to hear about your hyperlocal fall traditions and rituals. Is there an activity you do every year? A regional event that encapsulates the magic of fall for you?

xo viv

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Thanks for being here. You can find me on IG and TT. My wardrobe pieces and recs are saved here—unless it’s vintage, of course ;) I may earn a small commission from purchases made through affiliate links.