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

I.  When I woke up this morning and realized it was Pi Day, I immediately knew that I had to post a pie on Monday Merriment. The only problem with this plan is that I’ve never made a pie… At least of the sweet variety. Browsing through my recipes, it occurred to me that a pizza pie is just as pi-ish as a dessert pie, and takes far less time to make. Particularly when employing a pre-made Vicolo cornmeal crust as a base (find them at Mollie Stone’s, Whole Foods, and Marina Market). The toppings are anything your heart desires, but for mine I’m going breakfast for dinner by cracking a few eggs over bacon, shredded mozzarella, shaved parmesan, shallot and fresh herbs. Here’s the rest of the recipe for Breakfast Pizza. Complete your meal with an effortlessly chic Cipriani bellini (I keep a few of the white peach mixes in my fridge to pair with champagne and gin).

II.  Pi isn’t the only celebrity worth celebrating this week - St. Patrick is up next on Thursday, which has me contemplating all things green. Especially for decor. The infusion of living pieces into interiors schemes is currently on the forefront of design (think vertical garden walls). But it’s difficult to base a palette entirely on plants. Enter the assistance of unexpected elements… One of my best friends in law school routinely told people that “Lucite” was her favorite color. As silly as this may seem at first blush, she was entirely on-point in focusing on a material as a color. And a couple who threw one of the most uniquely beautiful weddings based entirely on green and copper (for everything from the bistro chairs to the boutonniere wire) would agree. Check out the feature on 100 Layer Cake for tips on how to throw a luxe industrial-inspired dinner party/wedding/shower.

III.  As some of you already know, on Friday I signed a lease for Table + Teaspoon’s new San Francisco headquarters on Market Street. The former gallery space is absolutely striking - requiring only a few key pieces to amplify the light and airy aesthetic. After ordering three chandeliers to hang from the exposed rafters, vintage Louis XIV chairs and Mongolian Lamb Fur benches for showroom lounging, plus a few necessary (read: boring) items, I moved on to searching for startling things to electrify the space (which I more commonly refer to as “something kinda weird”). As soon as I found these African feather Juju Hats at St. Frank on Sacramento, I was hooked. The texture will play perfectly off the gallery’s concrete flooring and white walls. If you aren’t in SF, Etsy sellers have comparable options in every color you can imagine (neon yellow will be my next splurge).

IV.  While we’re discussing interior design, I’ve also recently become smitten with these Ralph Lauren Safari Camp Chairs. Ever a fan of symmetry in seating, the masculine-yet-graceful leather butterfly chairs make a playful addition to otherwise traditional rooms. If Mr. Lauren isn’t in your budget this month, a lovely cognac-colored version is available for a fraction of the six-thousand-dollar price tag here.

V.  When I imagine the penultimate in elegance, it’s easily Cecil Benton’s image of women indulging in tea wearing Charles James ballgowns from the Met Collection. Which makes the ultimate in elegance Steven Meisel’s updated version with mohawk-clad women donning Oscar de la Renta’s Spring 2011 couture. Luckily, Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley, who curated the current exhibition at the de Young, concurs - as evidenced by the entire room he devoted to a recreation of the iconic photograph. If you haven’t had a chance to view Oscar de la Renta the Retrospective I can’t recommend highly enough that you get yourself to the museum immediately.

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt