Wallet-Liquidating Month

It's the time of the year when a binge of birthday gift-giving liquidates my wallet! My sister May, my cousin Fiona, my best friend Fernando (the knuckle-head who obviously has not been updating his blog for ages), and my designer friend Estrella all celebrate their B-days this month. Usually I would have given my sister a gift card from The Gap, Banana Republic, or J. Crew. But I realize she might not be able to make an immediate purchase off the current line and she might have to wait. So I ask if she would mind receiving cash instead. My cousin Fiona is on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to ideas for gifts. She is the last person for whom I should buy apparel or accessories. So I resort to consulting her wishlist, which usually contains literature on interior design. The current titles include Dwell Magazine, Interior Design, the chic Elle Decor. Since the gift of a magazine subscription does not usually begin for another 8 to 10 weeks, I might just take her out to a dinner at the local hip Slow Club, a promising restaurant and bar in a loft with eclectic music, and features New American cuisine. A pan-seared halibut is brought to life with a pea puree, while an avocado cream crowns a juicy chicken breast that's paired with blue-lake green beans. Just the thought of these entrees make me drool now. Fernando is now a dad of a cute 10-months-old baby and a self-taught cook, he would probably wish for a breadmaker or a set of knife from Williams Sonoma. Last year the now hyped-up Peruvian joint Limon, which concocts some of the best cerviche in town, dropped the ball of my reservation for Fernando's big night with no explanation, apology, or any rescuing gesture. So I haven't been going back there for a year but have brought my business to its rival, Fresca, with much warmer service and a richer Peruvian flavor with undertone of citrusy sauces. With all that is going on, plus the upcoming San Francisco International Film Festival, which I have mentioned previously, and in which a few films catch my attention, I certainly wouldn't have much money left in my pocket.