*since this blog is half about shopping I’m going to try to share more about my shopping excursions. Behold, the first attempt.

Anthropologie sent me a card for 15% off for my birthday, so last Sunday I went to find stuff to spend it on.

Magnified Corolla Dress
I had seen this dress before but passed on trying it on, because it looks like a sack on the hanger. The photo is a bit blurry, but the watercolor-esque print feels blurry in real life too. As it turned out I loved the vibrant colors and the asymmetry, but not enough to pay full price.

Pom Flower Shift
Usually I try to stay away from crew necks, but I loved the oversize print so I had to try it. It was a size too big, but I still got the essence of it. This dress is really nice. Like, REALLY NICE. I could tell by the weight of the fabric. But it’s also so nice that I don’t know where I would wear it. And it’s so beautiful I wouldn’t want to dress it down with accessories. This wasn’t on sale either, so was a no-go.

Doyle’s Desk Tunic
This one has been on my wishlist for a while, but I actually didn’t like it when I tried it on. There was just too much volume in the wrong places. I tried going down a size but the volume was still too much.

It does, however, look wonderful underneath the To A Tee Blazer. For some reason the blazer is only available in orange online, but I’d love to go back for the gray version. It was the perfect combination of structure, but with a knit, sweater-y feel.

In the end I didn’t buy any of the four items above. I bought a dress and sweater that were both on sale. The concept of my Fashion Food Pyramid was at the forefront of my mind, so armed with 15% off I wanted to get the best deal possible. Unfortunately I didn’t take any photos, but they’re actually visible in the photos posted above.

*

After shopping a friend and I had dinner at Grub on Valencia St., and I loved the interior so much I have to share some photos:

I love the texture on the utensils and the colorful table!

They brought us lemon and lime wedges, and raspberries to flavor the water.

The Fashionista Lab

More buzz from Sundance! We can’t wait for THE TROLL HUNTER, either. Check out this review  from the Spout blog on IndieWire.com (see original article here).

Sundance 2011: “The Troll Hunter” is a Fantastic, Fun and Potentially Accidental Satire

There are obvious comparisons to be made between “The Troll Hunter,” a Norwegian found-footage-style mockumentary, and films like “Blair Witch Project” and “Cloverfield” (check out Eric Kohn’s rave review). But don’t let the thinly treading trend worry you, because this one is easily the most entertaining of the bunch. I also consider it a closer relative to last year’s underrated low-budget sci-fi movie “Monsters,” not in terms of plot or style but because this film similarly does quite amazing things with its apparently low production cost. The trolls do at times look pretty silly and Harryhausen-esque, but that is mostly due to the difficulty in accepting such fantastical creatures in a movie otherwise meant to feel like documentary. Those disappointed by “Monsters,” by the way, will appreciate how much more action and spectacle is to be found here. Far less character development, however.

Another reason I wish to reference “Monsters” is because of the political satire subtext of “Troll Hunter,” concerning Norwegians citizens’ criticisms against power lines running through the nation’s landscape. While “Monsters” has been slammed for being overly blatant in its border/immigration metaphors, the corresponding political allegory of “Troll Hunter” is so far from transparent it might have in fact been accidental. The fact that the use of satirically edited footage from a press conference in the very end is said to have been a last-minute decision (it had to be given that it occurred a year after the film was shot), there’s reason to believe filmmaker Andre Ovredal ever intended for such a comic commentary on current events.

Still, I wonder if the satire was always there and then it kind of turned a corner with the sudden use of real news footage. One of the best things about “Troll Hunter” is how beautiful the Norwegian landscapes look on screen. It might be some of the best-looking digital cinematography I’ve ever seen with regards to capturing gorgeous scenery. And before the power lines are even mentioned or shown, it’s clear that the trolls serve as another kind of blemish on an otherwise amazing backdrop. They’re ugly and threatening, not unlike power lines (and offshore oil fields, which aren’t seen in the movie but which are called The Troll Fields).

But then eventually actual electrical towers show up, huge and monstrous themselves. The young documentary filmmakers are told by Troll Hunter Hans that they’re not in fact power lines, but part of an electrical fence system put up to keep the trolls confined and the people of Norway safe. Just as is stated out of context in the press conference, the people may complain about the towers’ existence, but it’s for something the people wouldn’t rather do without (in reality electricity, in fantasy safety from being eaten by trolls). So both the creatures and the towers are representing the same thing, which is the towers, only differently than how they’re really explained.

I love, by the way, how Ovredal ridicules the people who easily accept the government’s defense and explanation. He has it revealed that the power lines do not even connect to the people, running instead in a circle, and never questioned why by the men monitoring the system. There also seems to be a bit of religious satire going on in the film, stuff about trolls really disliking Christians, which they’re able to smell more than atheists. I’m not sure how these jokes fit in politically, though, and would love to hear from any Norwegians out there who have a better idea or vantage point.

Anyway, “The Troll Hunter” is first and foremost a fun and highly entertaining monster movie, more thrilling than “Monsters” (yet less engaging, for me, I still prefer “Monsters”) and more tongue-in-cheek than most other horror/sci-fi mockumentaries. Highly recommended.

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Follow Christopher Campbell on Twitter (@thefilmcynic)

buzzbo San Francisco

High, low, middle and no brow art collide.
Mission Loc@l

I like being comfortable.

Thankfully I don’t believe that you can’t be comfortable and chic at the same time. Needless to say, I also don’t believe that you can’t wear black with brown.

This particular day I was still in my pajamas when I got a text from some friends to meet them in a cafe. Not quite ready to leave “pajama mode” I threw on a maxi dress and some moccasins. And a sweater I had been thinking of giving away, but which turned out to be perfect.

Sweater: Banana Republic
Dress: Max Studio
Moccasins: Minnetonka
Bag: camel skin, bought in Morocco
Ring: bought in Paris

The Fashionista Lab

My San Francisco Mommy

San Francisco Silent Film Festival

These full-zip Merino wool hoodies are really nice!  Two side pockets, YKK zipper, and Pushbike logo on the front! The cycling cut hood is tapered in at the sides for improved visibility while riding. The sleeves are extra long and feature thumb holes. There are 4″ side zippers you can zip up if you need a little more movement while riding.  These are available in men’s and women’s. 0. Made for us by Earth, Wind & Rider.

Cycling Apparel in San Francisco

EAST BAY – At long last, Oakland has gone ahead and put together a restaurant week; and it starts on Monday! A bit more freestyle than its SF sib, restaurants decide if they want to do , or fixed-price menus and some of them add tasting events to the mix. Find out who’s doing what here. [EaterWire]

CIVIC CENTER – Since Gayle Pirie and John Clark have carved such a nice rep for Foreign Cinema‘s brunch, we weren’t surprised to see their hot dog joint, Show Dogs will start serving breakfast Monday. Now take a look at them apples. [EaterWire]

WESTERN ADDITION - On Tuesday, Mojo Bicycle Café does Supper Club again. It’s 3 courses: chicory soup with poached egg, Death & Taxes braised short ribs or Gruyere, shiitake and barley stuffed poblano pepper, vanilla bread pudding with Mexican hot chocolate; for . Reservations recommended.

OFF THE GRID – SFoodie is really keeping our fingers on the heart beat of OTG this week. “Metal-slash-punk head” Shellie’s Brass Knuckle will be bringing several ambitious sounding sandwiches this Saturday. Tru Sake will start a food truck sake pairing program from nearby Jackie’s Vinoteca and Café. And that controversial Blue Bottle coffee cart? Not dead yet. [SFoodie]

Bay Wolf is offering a 3-course lunch and a 3-course dinner for Restaurant Week. [Photo: Bay Wolf website]

Eater SF

​My favorite stories from the blog this week:1. Food truck drama episode no. 1: John Birdsall talked to the owners of Twirl and Dip, the ice cream truck, about how the city’s paperwork-scr…
SFoodie

Potlatch is an all-volunteer, nonprofit, literary event for the readers and writers of speculative fiction. At Potlatch, people talk to each other and participate in panel discussions about reading and writing speculative fiction. You’ll find conversations at the program events, in Algonquins (spontaneous member-generated programming), in writers workshops, in the consuite, in the halls, and in elevators. Each year, Potlatch donates proceeds to literacy and literary organizations, including Clarion West — an intensive six-week workshop for writers who are preparing for professional careers in science fiction and fantasy.

Potlatch 20 will be held at the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale, California during the weekend of March 4 – 6, 2011. Registration is now open (through Paypal or by mail). The general membership rate is currently , so register now! To get an idea what Potlatch discussions are like, check out these links to past Potlatch panels and Books of Honor.

SF in SF