I love walking up 24th Street from BART, especially on a fantastic October day in San Francisco…read more I step out of BART make the "Boston Walk" up the hill to Dolores, sweat flowing down my face like Niagara Falls. Cell phone glued to my ear talking crap to my friends back East. My daily routine. Finally flat land approach Sanchez/24th, pass Bay Castle Cleaners wondering if my laundry is done but realizing I don't have money to pay for it, get to the newstand and see a new stack of papers. Pass by only to realize the cover of the Noe Valley Voice is a bit different. Could it be? I read that issue already...no wait...it has been a month my favorite little paper has come out with another issue. Grab it...tuck it in my Timbuktu bag....walk a bit faster only to stop and say hello to my new favorite people in Noe Valley, the staff at Bernie's (please see them you will be happy you did), finally my door. I bolt up the stairs clutching my Noe Valley paper like a Marina girl with a new Kate Spade clutch purse. Finally run into my bathroom and jump on the toilet knowing I will have some peace to tear into this black and white local literary gem. I savor my time with Noe Valley Voice. Reading it cover to cover. Wondering how I could ever dream of moving from my Noe Valley, because if I did the Voice would no longer be my monthly guilty pleasure.

Oh, I love the Noe Valley Voice for their effort to add a little spice to the otherwise "beige-y"…read morefeel of Noe Valley. They always crack me up with the list of most recent crimes in the area. It's not that it's funny to see that people are getting ripped off, I'm just entertained by anything remotely like "Law & Order." The Voice gives a lot of information that is prive only to the locals in Noe, which gives others a little peek into the sometimes strange, always appreciated politically correctness of the neighborhood. Although I find their articles to be a bit long winded and preachy at times, they do a fair job at reporting both sides of the story. If you write a scathing letter calling the favorite Noe Valley neighbor a "douche bag" they'll probably print it...and then the next month they'll print 50 scathing letters to counter what you've said. Promoting the local businesses is only one part of this paper's purpose. They also encourage community building, which is lacking in so many other SF "hoods." There is a specific need for independent papers. Every neighborhood in the city needs a "voice," after all.

Wow, meatpaper! This is a magazine dedicated entirely to the fleischgeist, with illustrations that…read morecapture our carniverous fantasies. The mag's articles are fascinating, and include interviews with the meat-obsessed, like Chef Chris Consentino of Incanto, butchers and even vegan philosophers. I think the parties might be the best thing about meatpaper, though. I just got back from an evening at Serpentine, where the hipsterati were out in full force and lined up for beef tartare, tender ribs, and duck pate, not to mention a full salumi bar from Perbacco AND vegetarian nibbles from Leif. No one was wanting for drinks either, with wine from Verge and dark and stormies with ginger beer free-flowing. Meatpaper, I love you, and your parties. I have a feeling one day you're going to help me accomplish my goal of eating a hog whole. G'night. I'm going to dream about flying pigs.

Meat is the new black - or so I learned from Sasha Wizansky a couple of weeks ago…read more She is the co-editor of Meatpaper, the new journal of meat culture. What is that you wonder. Hell, so did I. The one thing I know after tonight is that they can throw quite a party. Slow Club was hopping with meat enthusiasts for their opening party, and guess what: They were all skinny peeps. How's that you're asking? Heckifiknow. Somehow they managed to wrangle some fantastic meat and sausage producers to give away their wares for free (and so were the drinks). The magazine yourself you wonder? I like it - definitely worth checking out. Not for the faint of heart or vegans, that's for sure, but definitely a very interesting read. In their premiere issue they are covering everything from meat art to kosher butchering. Guten Appetit.

Last Gasp has been publishing for a little more than a half-century, and they're particularly known…read morefor such things as graphic novels & comic books.  I've bought several of their books over the years and the artwork is great, with really good colors & details.  Meanwhile; there was a book I wanted to order and it was nearly out-of-print.  I ordered it from Last Gasp via Amazon because that price was the best - and the packaging was *terrific*; much better than with most books I've ordered from anyone.

I scoff at Chronicle books! Last Gasp is that eclectic uncle who knows everybody and who always…read moregave you $2 bills and things from foreign lands. Their catalog ranges from the respected to the wierd and they truly represent what it means to be an independent label (as well as community focused). In fact, I just came from their holiday party and I 1) played an old-school Elton John pinball machine 2) saw a sheep with two heads and 3) had someone do a magic trick for me. I heart this place.

One of the last remaining letterpress print shops in SF if not the very last. They take pride in…read morepreserving a manual printing process and their shop is an amazing resource for learning as well as picking up their curated stationary and art supplies. There is something quite cool about mixing ink and printing using plates, it's all easily visible from the front of the shop. If you know what blackwing pencils are they have them here and so much more. Fancy scissors, tons of erasers, and all kinds of writing instruments that have selected based on their history and functionality. Definitely worth stopping by to browse, you'll see stuff from all over the world. I would say these are more for the conneseiur and are priced as such and even though I didn't get anything I was tempted by some of their unique rulers. They also sell cards and posted that are printed in house, the prints would give your interior a nice analog vibe.

Was taken here as a part of the Heath Ceramics Workshop Tour on Friday, as its in the same building…read moreHeath Ceramics occupies. Probably never would've found it otherwise. Interesting place if you're in the vicinity. If you are in need of custom printing, some art supplies, or want to see some really old printing machines, come by. They can also give you estimates online as well. I bought a multi-colored pencil here for just $2.00. It's an interesting place to spend a few minutes, if you find yourself nearby, say after shopping at Heath. The staff is super nice too.

Unresponsive customer service. Been trying to cancel magazine for 21 days. Via fb, website and…read morerecommended email address. Very disappointed. Unethical business practice regards to auto charges renewal, although says they will advise in advance of renewal.

VegNews RULES. Let me count the ways:…read more 1) It's hella pretty to look at. That's important. I mean, why are you reading my reviews? BECAUSE I'M HELLA GOOD LOOKING. 2) It publishes the BEST RECIPES SRSLY WTF DELICIOUS. These lovely people can veganize ANYTHING, ice cream to bbq ribs to shortbread cookies to food from around the world. I know their tag-line is, "more than recipes" and it is but damn, the recipes. SO GOOD. 3) Probably most importantly, it makes veganism seem attainable even if you're not a white guy with dreads (god love 'em but really PLEASE STOP). Veganism needs magazines like VegNews to bring it into the mainstream, showing the public that veganism is for everyone. It doesn't belong just to old hippies or scenesters with tattoos, it belongs to ALL of us. ANYONE can be vegan and VegNews makes it cool, fun, hip, ATTAINABLE. Hearts & stars for that. Other things I love in no particular order: the vegetarian city guides (I srsly consider booking a ticket each time I read one and then look at my bank account and realize I'll probably die alone in a cardboard box eaten by one of my 52 foster dogs who also live in the box OMG MY DAD WAS RIGHT) and the new products section (aka, I KNOW ABOUT STUFF BEFORE YOU DO AND THEREFORE AM A BETTER PERSON). It's just all around bees knees awesome and if you're vegan, vegetarian or even veg-curious, you need to subscribe yesterday...you can do it quickly on their website http://www.vegnews.com. Or find out where to buy it on the newsstand here: http://www.vegnews.com/web/pages/page.do?pageId=7. Or holler at me and you can borrow one of the 50 copies I have scattered around my bedroom because I buy things and then forget I have them and then buy them again. ANYWAY.

The Sleel Gummies worked surprisingly well for me. Usually if I take any prescription or OTC sleep…read moreaid it helps me fall asleep but it doesn't keep me asleep for very long. Plus I don't wake up the next day feeling groggy.

Amazing plant workshop with Melissa! Our team of 32 people recently had a kokedama workshop and we…read moreall had a blast. From booking the event, coordination details, and executing day of, Melissa was informative, professional, and very easy to work with. I think everyone learned something and had a lovely time getting their hands dirty. Would highly recommend any experience with The Plant People!

Morbid Curiosity is a San Francisco-based zine that you must read to believe. TRUE, first-person…read moreaccounts of the unwise, unpleasant and unsavory. Nine years old and a San Francisco institution. Read about assisting a suicide, starring in porn, spinal injections, learning to embalm, stalkers, dead landlords, corsetry, the CIA Public Information Office. . .it's all here. Not for the faint of heart, but then, you aren't faint of heart anyway, right?

I used Eric to create a promo piece that can be easily updated to send out every month. Working…read morewith Eric was a very collaborative process. After going back and forth on a few designs the final design came out great.