It’s Time to Jingle the Bells in San Francisco

It’s December and 2014 is coming to a close.  It seems to happen every year, one year ends and just one day later we have a new year filled with opportunities and adventures.

Although the San Francisco Bay Area does not lend itself to a white Christmas with bells jingling in a one-horse open sleigh, we can still do the deed west coast style by closing the year Italian style with the following possibilities for December:

Have you been naughty or nice?  Don’t leave the answer up to Santa this year.  You don’t need a stranger that you only see once a year telling you if you’ve been naughty or nice because it doesn’t necessarily matter when it comes to gifting for the holidays. Just keep this phrase in mind:  “Made in Italy” is always in good taste.  Did you ever notice that the iconic Italian colors red, white, and green are a perfect complement to traditional winter holiday colors which are of course red, white and green!

It goes without saying, if you are flush with cash, go visit the fabulous Italian designer boutiques.  Not only are the Italians coming, as Fiat announced in their ads, but many high end Italian brands have already arrived.  Throughout San Francisco’s Union Square District shops representing Prada, Bulgari, Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, and Valentino have been enhancing the urban shopping experience.  I know for a fact that these luxury brands are all within easy walking distance of each other in an area my husband calls “The Italian Block” (An in-depth look at “The Italian Block” will be featured in an upcoming article.)

If you would prefer to purchase lovely ceramic objects d’art, my all-time favorite shop is Biordi Art Imports.  I never fail to find a precious item in this decades-old shop located at 412 Columbus Avenue in North Beach (www.biordi.com).  Biordi Art Imports was founded by Emilio Biordi in 1946, offering 68 years of customer service.  The proprietors truly have a fine appreciation for Italian Renaissance style Majolica.  Stunning dinnerware and decorative accessories are artistically poised on shelves throughout the shop.  Objects are selected from old traditional Majolica centers of Italy in Deruta, Faenza, Montelupo, Siena, Caltagirone, Castelli, Pesaro, and Vietri.

The City of San Francisco takes its name from Italian friar Saint Francis of Assisi and is where the National Shrine of Saint Francis is located.  The parish itself dates back to 1849 and the current church, built in 1860 (rebuilt in 1919) is at 610 Vallejo Street.  It is officially designated San Francisco Landmark No. 5.  The Church of Saint Francis supports the Catholic Charities Christmas Volunteer program which might be the best way to celebrate the holidays.  Share good deeds and good fortune with the less fortunate by volunteering. Volunteer opportunities could include playing Santa or making and putting up Christmas decorations.  For more information on honoring the season of giving, visit www.catholiccharitiessf.org.

While you are in the neighborhood, remember to stop at A. Cavalli Café for one of their famous espresso and cappuccino delights. This is the real deal.  I remember Cavalli and Company when they sold rows and rows of Italian publications and music, magazine and books.  It has been a symbol of Italian culture in San Francisco since the late 1800s when Libreria Cavalli was considered the community gathering place.

And you can smell the coffee at home by stopping off at Graffeo, one of North America’s oldest family-run companies of artisan coffee roasters.  Graffeo was founded in 1935 on the streets of San Francisco’s Italian culinary capital, North Beach.  Inhale the aroma of their freshly roasted beans at 735 Columbus Avenue in San Francisco.  Consider a gift of Graffeo for coffee-loving friends.

As a person of 100% Italian ancestry, I can unabashedly recommend gifting (or self-gifting) any of the dolce at my favorite San Francisco bakery, Victoria Pastry Company.  Located at 700 Filbert Street in San Francisco’s Little Italy and in business since 1914, this decades-old master of confection is the best.  The princess cake, tiramisu and cannoli are mind-bogglingly delicious.

Take time out to enjoy this time of year with family and friends at one of the best holiday parties of the season.  On Saturday, December 13, the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club will hold its annual Club Christmas Dinner Party.  Located at 1630 Stockton Street, this Italian fraternal organization traces its roots back to 1917 and has been at the Stockton Street location since 1936.  Everything about this event is traditional Italian at its best.  For more information, go to www. sfiac.org.

So, whether you have been naughty or nice, close the year 2014 and look forward to 2015 with some festive red, white, and green.