Tie Dazzle in a Grendel & Co. T-shirt

We’ve been on the lookout for a tie dye master to saunter into our lives for as long as we can remember, and especially since opening the shop. Lo and behold, last weekend, Mr. Travis Meinolf and Ms. Iris Benson not just sauntered, but casually wove their way to us at the Treasure Island Music [...]

That Sonia Rykiel Situation

Sorry to let all you pining ladies down, but that unreasonably fierce vintage Sonia Rykiel sweater tube top with matching arm bands and gold sequin fish scales all over has found it’s exit from the shop. Still and all, I think everyone will agree that its new custodian is looking super so good.

Fired Up! Ready to Go! Who Wants Ice Cream? Come Get It

With now only 40 days left before the election, having so often suggested that it’s your dedication of time—not necessarily your money—that’s needed, and with friends shipping out to the swing states, and my mom signing up voters in Virginia, and my auntie Carol Jean manning the phonebanks, and me reading all these Grace Paley [...]

All Hail Emperor Norton I

This Wednesday, we honor the majesty of the self-proclaimed Emperor Norton I, “Emperor of these United States,” “Protector of Mexico,” patron saint of Discordianism and overall celebrated citizen of San Francisco.
Born Joshua Abraham Norton around 1819, His Highness spent most of his early life in South Africa before emigrating to San Francisco in 1849. Upon [...]

Scientifically Singing, You See

As an addendum to the post below, I further encourage all readers to take a listen and learn a little something from the Singing Science Records. Just when you thought the realm of song had already bestowed all the education it had to give with the Schoolhouse Rock! box set, here Song goes again, gifting [...]

She Blinded Me With Science

After bike-lurking by month after month, year after three years, watching the wildflowers grow on the rolling roof hills and imagining what lies within, the wait for the California Academy of Sciences museum to open is finally, Finally! (close to) over. This weekend, behold the world’s only aquarium/planetarium/natural history museum under one very gorgeous living [...]

Enjoy Drew Christie!

Lisa and her collaborator Susannah clued me in to this delightful short film, “For the Warewolf Have Sympathy,” which they recently came upon in the course of their deep diving into the depths of the life and times of Michael Hurley, seeing as how it’s set to one of his tunes [...]

Now But Not

 
Think you’ve scored yourself a preview of tomorrow’s Treasure Island festivities?
While you’re correct in sensing that this music must have come out of the Bay Area, this whole situation you’re digging actually took place quite a long time ago. And I’m not talking long ago as in the last time Fernwood [...]

Tom Waits Explains All

There must be a reason why I hadn’t yet seen this Tom Waits situation, but I can’t say what it is. 

Oh, and as for that long, unannounced absence from the shop, I would like you all to believe that we got what we had coming. Even though that’s not quite true.

Essential Bullshit

I have exactly one friend in my immediate friend unit who owns and occassionally operates a television set. I tell you this not just to brag, but to brag in particular about having organized my cramped living room furnishings to facilitate conversation instead of passive viewing, and because I haven’t a clue about the latest [...]

Find Us at The Treasure Trove

….not to be confused with “finding us” at one of our Diamond Jubilees. Though, you know, fair usage.
Dear ones—if you find yourself at the mighty Treasure Island Music Festival this weekend, please do come and find us camped out in the The Treasure Trove zone. That’s where we’ll be accepting the cupcakes. Plus! The ever-excellent [...]

Cintra Wilson on Gay Marriage, Proper Respects, Palin and (in Particular) Goth Steez:

“There are certainly worse ways to misspend a youth than living it in a vampire costume.”
With just this little cookie of wisdom, you can begin to see why Cintra Wilson ranks supreme in my personal pantheon of lady arcana holders and extollers of San Francisco’s extreme glory. Commence Profile of Awesome:
A Tamalpais High dropout, schooled [...]

Home Sweet Home…

Yes. Hello. The Ladies of Gravel & Gold are finally home from our glamorous European Vacation. An apology is due to all the fine folks who may have stopped by the shop when we were away. Though we had lofty plans to post a great sign in the window and a [...]

I’m A-Capturing Zee Emma Moment (cue naughty backwards skipping)

Profile of an awesome lady.
We went to Berlin. We met Emma. And a fourth joined our threesome. 

Emma knows things. She knows about evening belly dancing classes, non-creepy co-ed hammams, superior nutritional gummy bears, how to look insanely chic in one single piece of fabric, and….
where to call upon the Bell Man, and…
when to bust out [...]

Event: Clothing Swap-Ping!-A-Ding-Dong

We’re back, y’all! And totally ready to swap tales of adventure as well as items of clothing at the very, very exciting Gravel & Gold, Nile’s back to school Swap Meet! coming up this Thursday, September 18th, beginning around 7 o’clock.
So fellas, ladies, infants, and assorted growing sort, I encourage you all to dig deep into [...]

I Love My Diamond Jubilee!

Since co-founding Gravel & Gold with the amazing Ladies, Cassie McGettigan and Lisa Foti-Straus, I have had the pleasure of being a member of a true girl posse.  Being a part of a girl posse has many benefits, among them is the magnetic and inertial quality of the girl posse itself.  Not surprisingly, awesome girls [...]

An Overdue Appology to the Clocky Man

Dear Mr. Clocky,
I have made a mistake and I am sorry.
You love Clockies and that’s swell. I would like to support your love by apologizing for the lack of Clockies awaiting when you came to call at Gravel & Gold . You see I was not yet aware of the sweet little wheeled ringers and [...]