So for my birthday yesterday we went to Piperade, Gerard Hirogoyen's restaurant. Definitely worthwhile, but definitely a special occasion place ($$$$).
Two appetizers: a Dungeness crab thing, and a very snazzy goat-cheese-stuffed piquillo pepper:


These were both, of course, delicious.
Second is the most exciting one of my birthday "presents"; they're delivering a new stove tommorrow. Yaaay! We got the landlord to agree and bought a Summit range.