Infusing grandeur into otherwise drab Mondays with five things/ideas/events for the week:

I.  Oh my goodness, it’s hot. The heat wave that’s slammed the city was welcome over the weekend while I was eating oysters and sipping cucumber gimlets, but now that I’m stuck in an air-conditionless showroom, I’m wishing that Karl the Fog would make his comeback. To beat the heat tonight, I’m making one of the wine slushies from BuzzFeed’s delicious recipe roundup. Now I just have to decide between the Riesling Strawberry and the Rose…

II.  Since I’ll be in the kitchen already, I want to make something light for dinner to pair with my slushie. One of my favorite ways to eat Greek Salad is in quesadilla form. Combining the salad’s rustic ingredients with a sprinkle of mozzarella, chiffonade spinach, and a whole wheat tortilla, creates a satisfying yet health-conscious meal. To add extra decadence, serve with tzatziki in lieu of salsa for dipping.

III.   Art Market is returning to the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion for the sixth time this spring, and kicking things off with a big party April 27th. The exhibition features contemporary and modern art from established and new artists (like this beautiful piece from San Francisco-based artist Griff Williams). For the opening reception, the illustrious Ken Fulk and The Battery have teamed up to create a memorable evening, so get your tickets ASAP! If you’re busy that night, download a free pass to check out the show over the weekend, courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums.

IV.  I’m obsessing over pink and orange since picking the duo as the decor palette for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of San Francisco fundraising gala I’m chairing May 13th. The vibrant colors lend a playful pop - like in this otherwise traditional entryway. After unsuccessfully searching for the piece, I found some equally striking options from Etsy here, here, and here. Or channel your inner Rothko, pick up a blank canvas, and make your own abstract!

V.  Curating the perfect cheese and charcuterie plate is a true art form. There was a time not so long ago when it was the only culinary creation I could produce, and I still pride myself on unique flavor combinations. If assembling isn’t your thing, 7x7 recently published their top choices for cheese plates in San Francisco including my favorite from Spruce, which includes house-made duck prosciutto (drool).

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt