Serenity and inner solace — one step, one breath at a time — The Weekend Wind-Down is a series from The Bold Italic highlighting ways to explore the Bay Area and wind down from your stressful week. If you have an idea or tip, email us, or DM us on Twitter or Instagram. If you have ever wondered what is the sound of…

Where dancing feet meet a San Francisco beat at American Bites — This article is part of My Favorite Corner of SF, a feature series that pays homage to a special place in the city. How many lamentations have I shared with friends about how North Beach just isn’t the Italo-Bohemian hotspot it used to be. No question, tourism, and socio-economic factors…

A ‘greenhouse’ for the soul hides in plain sight — I feed on solitude the way bees feed on nectar. It’s my energy recharger, my soul-sustaining nutrient. Even living in a dense city, I can find a favorite sanctuary of mine less than a mile from home. I share it with the bees, butterflies, birds, other denizens of nature, and…

Zen-practicing neuroscientist discusses the flow and center of no-self, common to skills like tango and surfing. — There is no dearth of evidence, scientific and anecdotal, about physical activities’ health effects on body and mind. The euphoria-inducing dopamine release, the elevated endorphins, and the chemical cocktail that changes brain waves inducing the physiological glow and flow, have been much discussed.

“Sparks carry within them the wish to be relieved of the burden of brightness,” writes poet Mark Strand. — When I read Mark Strand’s poem I thought I could have written it—if I were a poet. He touched on precisely how I feel about writing. Not just the fact that the sparks come and go of their own volition, through no willfulness of my own. …

Historia de un estallido de melancolía y tristeza inducido por el tango — Mi buena amiga, María Lelia, una argentina a la que conocí en una milonga cuando vivía en Buenos Aires, estaba de visita en los Estados Unidos durante un mes. Rápidamente nos habíamos hecho amigos. Ella es el tipo de persona que sonríe incluso cuando no está sonriendo. Sus ojos brillan…

Histoire d’une explosion de mélancolie et de tristesse induite par le tango — Ma copine, Maria Lelia, une Argentine que j’ai rencontrée dans une milonga pendant mon séjour à Buenos Aires, était en visite aux États-Unis pendant un mois. Nous étions rapidement devenues amies. C’est le genre de personne qui sourit même quand elle ne sourit pas. Ses yeux pétillent et sont toujours…

Story of a tango-induced burst of melancholy and sadness — My good friend, Maria Lelia, an Argentine whom I met in a milonga during my time living in Buenos Aires, was visiting the States for a month. We had quickly became friends. She is the kind of person who is smiling even when she isn’t smiling. Her eyes sparkle and…

Storia di un’esplosione di malinconia e tristezza causata dal tango — La mia buona amica, Maria Lelia, un’argentina che ho conosciuto in una milonga mentre vivevo a Buenos Aires, era in visita negli Stati Uniti per un mese. Eravamo diventati rapidamente amici. È il tipo di persona che sorride anche quando non sorride. I suoi occhi brillano e sono sempre gentili…