many moons

G and i so love our new many moons calendar. it is beautifully designed by jeremy at rendij studio

one resolution for 2012 is getting to know the moon more, and knowing the cycles.  yesterday was a new moon and the transition into aquarious. 

Kaapi Coffee Sangati

In December, G and I started our  Sangati coffee sessions: Brass/Vinyl. Each week we set up shop at the Subterranean Art House in Berkeley and host a charming little event that brings people together in the morning for South Indian coffee and Indian classical records.  We use coffee beans from Bicycle Roasters in SF, Straus organic milk and sugar grown and processed in the USA. Coffee is one of those things I cannot live without and thankfully come from a heritage where coffee is king. The streets of Tamil Nadu are lined with coffee vendors serving hot hot coffee and people stopping just to get a quick dose. As soon as you enter a house hold you'll be asked if you'd drink some coffee kaapi kuidikerail aa?  If you say no, you'll surely be convinced to at least have half a cup just ara cup.  I love the sort of cult phenomenon around it. And I admit that I LOL-ed while watching this. 

Anyway! The point is that G and I wanted to create some of the special coffee moments we've experienced in India and in our Berkeley cottage with our friends. It's a simple part of many of our daily rituals that is beautiful to share together. The collection of Indian classical Records is a reason to come too..

stainless steel pots for pouring of coffee and milk.

Pouring the hot water through the coffee filter. 

Modern Japanese coffee culture meets Traditional Indian.

Just one of the amazing records (and record covers!)

Voila! The finished drink. Served in stainless steel tumblers and davara (the saucer type cup used to pour the coffee back and forth for cooling and frothing). 

the meter pour - G froths some milk. 

hope to see you there! 

happy new year in plants

so i know that each new year i resolve to write more blog posts, but i really think that this year is going to be the one! so far, 2012 has been great full of great projects and good times with close friends and family. i took a walk through the botanical garden last week and got some fresh inspiration for design & garden. the garden is always abundant with color, texture, good smells and astonishing plants. please enjoy the pics and i hope to connect with more of you in the new year. 

stunning spines in the arid house

 120 degree angles: nature's beautiful example of efficiency

the view of the bay from the top of the mediterranean area through shirley watts' installation 

flowering grasses

blooming fuschias in the meso american collection 

cocoa pods in the tropical house. fruits taste like jolly ranchers

 (i tasted them in trinidad  not in the botanical garden! ) 

flowering quince from the chinese traditional medicinal garden

banksia from the australasia collection  

rhododendron arboretum in full bloom