American Apparel

I’ve decided I must have this adorable American Apparel tie-dye hoodie ($46) for breezy days at the beach! The colors are seriously perfection!

TOMS

I finally ordered me some TOMS shoes ($44) in one of my favorite colors — gray — and I can’t wait for these babies get in! With all the walking I do these days, flats have been my go-to shoes, and my heels barely see the light of day. It’s a bit depressing, but luckily there are a ton of cute, walkable options out there. See some of my picks, ranging from the doable to the dream on, when you read more!

How cute are these Kerrington leather ballet flats ($128) from J.Crew? Love the gray, too, of course.

J.Crew

Anthropologie has some fab flats this season. Really diggin’ the Coachwhip Skimmers ($128) in turquoise.

Anthropologie

I have some gold loafers that I’ve had for years and they’ve definitely seen better days. I could see myself replacing them with a comfy pair of gold Sperry Top-Siders ($85)!

Piperlime

File these under the “dream on” category: Lanvin’s leopard-print ballerina flats ($775).

Net-a-Porter

I’m all about the ethnic-inspired embroidered flats. Like Cynthia Vincent’s Tashi Flat ($225). So pretty!

Endless

Still haven’t bought a pair of oxfords. With its slip-on ease and neutral hue, Pour La Victoire’s Cassi Oxford ($205) is just what I was looking for!

Piperlime

Chatting at The Grove.

My roommate has been very good at documenting her/our foodie adventures since living in San Fran. I, however, have not. So I thought I’d share with you what I’ve been noshing on these days. (And thanks roomie for snapping some of the pics!) Check ‘em out, when you keep reading.

The Grove on Fillmore St.

One of the first places I went to when I came up here was The Grove on Fillmore St., where I had some delicious baked mac and cheese. Definitely want to go back!

San Tung Restaurant

Mmm . . . I haven’t had much Chinese food here in the city yet, but I’m obsessed with San Tung Restaurant in Inner Sunset. The original dry fry chicken is to DIE for.

Tacolicious

If you are lucky enough to get a seat in Tacolicious on Chestnut, you should go! The tacos are just the way I like them — small corn tortillas, with a focus on the yummy meats and salsas, not a bunch of “stuff” on them. Next time I need to try the margaritas, they looked amazing!

Chilayo

When you can’t get a seat at Tacolicious, another fave of mine down the street is Chilayo. I get a chicken quesadilla on a corn tortilla and a Corona, of course. It’s small, but packed with delish grilled chicken. And they have an impressive salsa bar. I can’t stay away from the hottest one, even though it’s killer spicy!

Blue Barn Gourmet

Ok, so Blue Barn Gourmet on Chestnut is known mainly for its salads (make your own or from the menu), and they are really good. Next time I’m for sure getting one with grilled shrimp on top, the guy next to me had one that looked and smelled amazing. BUT it also has the best fries I’ve had in SF. I’d say getting a salad with a side of fries is a good way to balance it out . . . don’t you think?

Kyoto Sushi

On Van Ness Ave. is a magical sushi place called Kyoto Sushi, where the Sapporo flows like water at 99 cents a glass. All day, every day. And the sushi is good! Try the spicy tuna tempura roll, it’s a must.

Delarosa

At Delarosa, we had a super yummy pizza with hot salami, coppa, tomato, and diavolicchio (not the one pictured). But next time I’m trying the margherita with burrata — I’m a big fan of burrata!

Jovino

If there’s one thing I crave, again and again, it’s the Firecracker Shrimp Salad at Jovino. Between that and the sangria, I’m good to go! But pretty much everything I’ve had there has been fab.

Pizzeria Delfina

At Pizzeria Delfina, we had a super good pizza, Salciccia, with housemade fennel sausage, tomato, bell peppers, onions, and mozzarella. But the icing on the cake was the homemade gelato dessert.

Sudachi Sushi & Korean BBQ Restaurant

The cool thing about Sudachi Sushi is that it delivers! And it’s pretty delicious. I was blown away by the “special” edamame which was stir-fried in garlic and soy sauce.

Longchamp "Le Pliage" Tote Bag ($145) - Nordstrom

After searching high and low the last few months for the perfect laptop bag, I finally gave in and bought myself a Longchamp. Scoff as you may for shamelessly joining the club, it’s not an easy task finding a bag that’s one, big enough to fit my 15-inch laptop in a sleeve; two, isn’t so big the laptop slides down into a horizontal position; three, sturdy enough to withstand the elements (the straps broke on my last bag, RIP); four, has a shoulder strap and a zipper to protect the contents; and five, not in the $300-400 range like most of the good quality leather totes I looked at. So there you go, if you’re on the hunt for a no-frills but good-looking bag for your laptop, the Longchamp “Le Pliage” tote is a great option.

My recent obsessions have included three things: braids, comfy flats, and orange coffee. The caffe l’arancia at Bread and Cocoa is an espresso drink with cinnamon, vanilla, and orange, and it’s delicious without being too sweet. My new comfy flats are fittingly called “Fabulous,” by Corso Como ($99), and they have gel insoles and memory form, which make them great for running from bus to train and back again. And the braids have been a nice way to keep my bangs out of my face while I’m growing them out. It’s seriously so easy, and is gentler on my hair than bobby pins. These are just a few of my latest obsessions, hope to get back on a regular posting schedule soon!

Ethereal iPhone pic by Steve, husband of Stephanie Fay - stephaniefayblog.com

The blog is officially Sharp in the City! Check out my new About Me Page.

Life has been wonderful, stressful, busy, beautiful and exciting. I have missed blogging (here, that is), but once things settle down into a rhythm, I will be back in full swing. After the jump, what I’ve been up to lately:

First off, our friends Steve and Steph were house-sitting in San Fran, and Steph did a mini photo shoot of the bf and I in the magical Lincoln Park (near the Sutro Baths). We are so lucky to have such sweet, gifted friends! Stay tuned for more photos!

I went to my first hockey game! It was the Sharks vs. Canucks, and even though the Sharks are my hometown team, the bf is a hardcare Canucks fan…so I tend to find myself rooting for those Canadians.

First hockey game!

We spent Sunday in Carmel and I had really good luck in the shopping department… Hope to put up a post soon on my finds!

I <3 Carmel.

I’ve been doing some freelance work for SanDiego.com, and my latest article was about a gorgeous bridal boutique called Here Comes the Bride. I also recently wrote about the ladies of Carter & Cook Event Co.

Here Comes the Bride, By Tara Sharp

Speaking of brides, my wonderful bride-to-be friend Heather just sweetly included my engagement gift in a recent blog post.

I reunited with a friend from high school, Crystalin, and discovered she’s a fellow food and fashion blogger! Visit her fab site when you get a chance.

And finally, I’ve been busy, busy, busy at work. If you’re interested, check out some of my recent posts:

“Refresh Yourself” With This Coke Slogan Quiz

Before and After: An Airy Home Renovation

Roundup: Up, Up, and Away!

The Card Shop: Cute Tape

Minutes to Healthier Relationships

Roundup: Ruffles, Ruffles, Everywhere!

DIY Wine Cork Board

My favorite sunglasses; Teresa's adorable purse

A couple weekends ago we had some wonderful old – and I mean that in regards to how long we’ve known them – friends in town and spent the time together relaxing by the beach, shopping, eating wonderful food and painting. I thought I’d put up a couple of tiny watercolor paintings I did that were inspired by our accessories lying around. (I did these in my pocket watercolor Moleskine – love!)

Chain Wrap Watch ($108) - shopbop.com

I have issues with jewelry. I always see people that can pile on the pieces just right, but when I try to emulate the look, I always end up taking most of it off before heading out the door – usually sticking to a simple necklace and my faux diamond earrings. One thing I’m especially in need of is a nice watch, and now that I’m a slave to the clock – running between multiple means of public transit every day – I feel it’s time to purchase that staple piece of jewelry.

La Mer’s wrap watches, like the chain one pictured, really appeal to me. With their layered bracelet-like look, I wouldn’t have to decide which pieces to put on, just throw on the watch, and I’m good to go!

So good, and so close to my office!

I’m a loooong way from discovering all my new fave chow-down spots in San Francisco, but I have found a few good ones! They are mostly places I’ve found during my lunch breaks, like Bread and Cocoa, which happens to serve tasty hot sandwiches right down the street from my new office. Check ‘em out, after the jump!

Bread and Cocoa – The sandwiches here are hot, crunchy and melty, just the way I like them! Elements like pesto and focaccia bread are done just right, and my lunch buddies have never complained (raving about the chili as well).

Specialty’s Café & Bakery – I’ve partaken in both the sandwich and salad offerings here, and loved them both! Big bonus, you can order online and then pick up your lunch, as soon as 15 minutes after you place your order. I’m also very tempted by the pastries, which look mouth-watering. The spicy Thai salad is soooo good and the peanut dressing actually has a kick to it!

Tartine Backery & Café – We stumbled upon this adorable Mission eatery by accident – the pizza joint we wanted to try was only open for dinner – but discovered quite the hoppin’ spot! The paninis were well worth the wait, but HUGE. Easily could’ve shared one between the two of us. And any place that puts Gruyère on sandwiches holds a special place in my heart. Must make the trek there again one of these weekends…

Sellers Markets – All I had here was a humble grilled cheese with cheddar and jack cheese, but it was enough to whet my appetite for more of this downtown restaurant’s menu offerings. So many good things! The oven-toasted sandwiches, the gourmet salads, the “Phuket in a Bucket,” the outdoor seating to soak up the “sun,” I could go on.

I’ve only been here a couple weeks, so I can’t wait to find more gems in this foodie-friendly city! How ’bout you? What are some of your faves?

celebrity-gossip.net and inasoltani.com

For those Jillian fans out there – who are still e-mailing me, btw :) – the green sleeveless dress that she wore to Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney’s wedding is Ina Soltani (thanks Jillian!). The same designer of this dress she wore to The Proposal premiere a while back. And actually, Dana over at The Possessionista, was the one to solve that mystery. If you’re a Jillian fashion junkie, check her out if you haven’t already!

Anthropologie's February 2010 Catalog

Last week we went to Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA in Del Mar, and it was incredible! I laughed, I gasped, I put my hands in front of my face…what those people can do with their bodies is crazy!

The circus has been EVERYWHERE lately, and I love it. The February Anthropologie and Bloomingdale’s catalogs were both big top-themed, and I’ve been seeing vaudeville touches in photos by The Sartorialist, recent runway collections and on the usual suspects, à la Anna Piaggi. (It’s also reminded me of past circus-centered episodes from two of my favorite shows – Bones and Pushing Daisies.)

After the jump, the inspiration. Next post up, the clothing!

Generra Fall 2010 - style.com

I’m a big fan of ruffles and I’m glad to see this trend carry on for another season! I already have several ruffle-adorned tops, but I can always make room for more…or perhaps branch out with a ruffled skirt or dress like the Generra one above?

Some of my favorite ruffled pieces, after the jump.

San Fran, here I come!

So…I may need to change my blog’s name in the near future! Next week, I’m moving back to my old stomping grounds – the Bay Area. I accepted an editorial position with a *sweet* company in San Francisco (more deets to come), and I’m positively ecstatic! I’m jumping into a new, exciting chapter of my life. I will miss San Diego, especially the food and the friends – BIG emphasis on the friends. All of the sweet Facebook and Twitter messages have really touched me, and once I get settled I hope to have many SoCal (and farther!) visitors. I may be a bit too busy to blog extensively for the next couple weeks, but I’m not abandoning SharpinSanDiego – I promise! In fact, I hope to revamp the site soon, so stay posted!

Oh yea, and thank you to all ya’ll who have voted for me for #influenceSD! I really appreciate your support. And there’s still a month left, so tell your friends!

cirquedusoleil.com

While watching the underwhelming Olympics opening ceremonies, all I kept thinking was, “just wait until they bust out the Cirque du Soleil!”…but instead we got beat poetry. I love Canada, but the country is home to one of the coolest, exciting, fun, beautiful entertainment events ever, and it didn’t even utilize it!

I may not have seen it on TV, but I’m going to see it in person tonight! Wahooo! We’re going to KOOZA at the Del Mar Fairgrounds…and I can’t wait to see the show that’s deemed a “return to the origins” of Cirque du Soleil.

From left, coffee/cinnamon roll combo, turkey sandwich and almost grilled cheese.

I can’t believe that I haven’t put a post up yet about Con Pane! I used to be a five-minute walk away from this amazing Point Loma bakery, which was both awesome and dangerous. Now I’m more like a 20-minute drive away, but it doesn’t stop me.

I love everything about this place, which usually puts me in a predicament as I never know what I should get. Should I go the breakfast route with a steaming cup of coffee and a melty, gooey cinnamon roll? Should I get the sweet bread plate, which comes with several fresh slices of my choice, raspberry jam, butter and cream cheese? What about the chocolate bread?? Or the Gruyère and chive bread?? Or the SANDWICHES?? Yea, it can be stressful. Most of the time, I can’t deny the turkey sandwich. I get mine without the lettuce on the olive oil rosemary bread, with turkey, sun-dried Roma tomatoes and pesto-infused olive oil instead of mayo. And I always pair it with a cold coke. Since they don’t have ice, the soda cans are uber cold, and just taste better here than anywhere else.

Couple tips: Be prepared to wait in line on the weekends, and they take cash only, but don’t freak out, there are at least 4 banks right down the street. Currently, there is only one location, waaaaay down Rosecrans St., but keep an eye out for the new Con Pane in Liberty Station!

My dear friend, Ms. Pearce: soon to be a fellow blogger!

I feel justified in shamelessly promoting myself for two reasons: First off, I just wrote a post about all my lovely blogging friends, and secondly, I was up until all hours of the night selflessly helping a friend with her first blog. (JK, Lisa, you know I love it!)

But seriously, I heard about #influenceSD, a new media awards event, from my friend Anne at Bolt PR – which is nominated for the Agency of the Year award, BTW – and I think it’s great! I’m always curious about what other San Diego bloggers are up to…and now I have a whole list of them to check out! Also, if you want to vote for me in the Best in Lifestyle category, that would be nice as well.

Thank you to everyone who reads my ramblings!

Love this photo by The Sartorialist! - thesartorialist.blogspot.com

I just updated my Links section, and it reminded me how creative and entrepreneurial my friends are! I visit most of these sites on pretty much a daily basis, not just because I know the bloggers behind them, but because they are well-executed, informative and inspirational. 

After the jump, some blogs/sites created by my photo takin’, music writin’, graphic designin’, surfin’, fashion wearin’ and cake bakin’ buddies! 

Creative Swell

The Concrete Catwalk

Review Stacks

Treats To Share

Envirosurfer

Stephanie Fay Photography

Café Chloe's amazing pommes frites are only $4 during happy hour!

I’d thought I’d take this Monday, while I’m sitting at work reading all of my friends’ Tweets and Facebook statuses about how AMAZING this weather is and how AWESOME it is to have the day off, to share my favorite happy hour spots in San Diego. And hopefully I’ll be at one of them tonight.

After the jump, the deets on the deals.

Café Chloe (Mon.-Thurs. 4-6) – East Village: My picks would be the $4 pommes frites with trio of dips (best fries in town), the $5 tarte flambée (I’m a big fan of anything that includes bacon and caramelized onions), and the $5 macaroni and pancetta gratin (I believe I’ve mentioned it before, like here and here).

Wine Steals (Mon.-Fri. 4-7) – Point Loma: So the regular happy hour includes $4 glasses of wine Mon.-Fri. and $2 slices of pizza Mon.-Thurs. BUT my favorite deals are actually Sun./Mon. Sundays they do $10 wine flights of the wines they are trying to get rid of, and man is it a lot of wine! Just make sure you get there before they run out. Mondays they do no corkage fee on bottles bought in their store (normally $5), and $2 pizza slices all night. And I have to say, the pizza at wine steals is the best I’ve had in San Diego, especially the pepperoni, white and vegetable. **Update: Apparently they have taken off the $2 slices all night deal, but the slices are only around $2.50 or $3.00 regularly.**

Point Loma Sports Grill & Pub (Mon.-Fri. 4-7) – Liberty Station, Point Loma: Two words. Wing Wednesday. Three wings for $1, minimum of six wings ($2) per order, all night long. The wings are quite tasty, but the best part is getting there while happy hour is still going and scoring the 1/2 off apps special. There are no words for the deep fried cheese curds. Order them, or you’ll forever regret it.

The Turquoise (Sun.-Thurs. 5-7) – North Pacific Beach: Delicious $3 tapas and $3 glasses of sangria? Yes, please. And I believe on Thursdays you can get pitchers of sangria or beer for $10. I’ve had good and so-so experiences with the food, but the sangria has never let me down. The place also has great live music.