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#753: Camp In Santa Barbara

My photographer friend Diana and I decided to go camping last weekend in Santa Barbara. Little did we know how windy, muddy and cold it would be. Yet despite our lack of sleep, our adventures made up for it.

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#752: Play Host in San Diego

After Jackie and Will’s pomegranate wedding came to a bittersweet end, two fellow wedding friends told me they only had one day left in Southern California. With 24 hours left at our disposal, I played host.

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#751: Wedding on a Pomegranate Farm

Best wedding I’ve ever been a part of. My two life-long friends said “I Do” on a pomegranate farm, inside that tree. No wifi, only friends, all weekend long, UH-mazing.

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#750: Stand on Top of Torrey Pines.

Do you know where one of the best spots is to watch a San Diego sunset? It’s a tough call–there’s so many in this city–but I know one. It’s on top of Torrey Pines State Reserve in San Diego, CA.

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#748: Surf The Original Dog Beach.

I surfed, I dogged, and I conquered. That day the tide was low and my Surfline app reported good surf weather. So with my brick of a Costco 8″ board, I trekked to San Diego’s original “Dog Beach.”

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#747: Keep Austin Weird.

And just when I thought I’d seen it all, life surprised me. Tonight, on a warm summer night in June, Austin’s bat colony decided to take flight in their annual migration from this bridge, where 1.5 million bats flew from in under 3 hours. YIKES!

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#746: Party on a Denver Rooftop.

When your little bro turns 27 and you realize you’re not getting any younger, measures need to be taken. Luckily, we knew a guy with a sweet view to the Denver skyline to throw Kevin an epic 27th.

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#745: Pass A Bottle to Mr. Jones.

Laguna Beach wasn’t all beaches, billionaires and babes. Somewhere in the back of a hole-in-the-wall dive bar called The Marine Room, I found a funky, blue grass band and a man who defied the “Cali” norm.

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#744: Eat A SlapFish.

I’m always on par for challenging my inner taco snob and today I came face to face with my match, the Slapfish Taco. These noshes hail from a tiny dive, so don’t blink because you might just miss them.

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#743: Taco Me Tuesday, San Diego.

Think I found my new mission in life: Try every single taco joint on the West Coast and decide, once and for all, which taco looks, smells and ultimately TASTES the best. Well today, that mission was accomplished.

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#742: Take Every Foodie Liberty Here.

San Diego has been waiting for the Liberty Public Market to open for a while but his lucky duck moved here just in time for its Grand Opening. Today I came, I saw, and well, I half conquered what my belly could hold.

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#741: Join An SD Writer’s Group.

After attending today’s Ocean Beach San Diego Writer’s Group, I learned the ultimate “can’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover” lesson: Everyone has an interesting story to tell, but not everyone is a good storyteller.

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#740: Vote In A California Election.

DO I WANT TO VOTE?! let’s just say, Frank–my ardent, democratic roommate–and I were so excited to vote we named our apartment internet Wi-Fi name accordingly. “Trump Your Own Horn.”

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#739: Rum Smuggler’s Cove.

The Pirates of the Caribbean might be stopping by later. Because here, at Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco the rum is NEVER GONE. The Goonies… no One-Eyed-Willie… no Jack Sparrow would have been proud.

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#738: Brunch At The Cottage, SD.

Perfect Sunday Funday: Dining al fresco, cozying up with a hot coffee, chatting with my old

#737: Catch A Show At The Indie.

It really is true. Great bands become great by starting off in small venues. Walking

#736: Dog-Sit in San Francisco.

I don’t get enough attention. EVER. Play with me. Please!

#735: Yappy Hour At Internos.

Ya know those friends you don’t see for a while, but it’s like yesterday when

#734: Meet a Famous Designer.

She was just as divine as I imagined. And her vine-covered, cottage-esque chateau was too.

#733: Hi-Rise View of Petco Park.

Aunt Mollie and Uncle Ray were in town last week visiting their old stomping grounds

#732: Crave Dunkin’ Donuts In SoCal.

Aunt Mollie will always be the funny, happy-go-lucky, wicked awesome aunt from Boston I remember. “Hello

#731: Explore Cabrillo Nat. Monument.

When I say we explored San Diego’s Cabrillo National Monument, I don’t mean for fun.

#730: Visit A Bookstore, Built of Books.

Officially named “The Last Bookstore” this quaint Downtown LA bookstore might as well be THE LAST bookstore

#729: Drive Up CA’s Coastal Route.

It’s America’s most popular roadtrip for a reason. Many a honeymoon has been spent, a

#728: Patio Dinner At The Patio, SD.

*Tear* We said our last goodbyes to Dennis tonight. He was leaving his San Diego crew and

#727: Defy Tradition, Drink Apple Pie.

When you can’t have the famous apple pie from Julian, drink Julian Apple Pie instead. Cheers.

#726: Sunday Brunch At Queenstown.

Pro-tip: If your family’s in town and you’re hungry for a nice brunch, take them to

#725: Y You Should Visit The SD Y.

Why visit the YMCA? It’s cheaper with a no-hidden-fees style membership. Has all the amenities

#724: Enjoy A Patio-Side Brunch.

Easy on the eyes like a Saturday brunch at Union Kitchen & Tap.

#723: Run Along San Diego Bay.

I don’t really go to Church. I pray when I run. And tonight the Sun

#722: A Hail Mary of Bloody Mary’s.

Never mind the pickle, what IS that creature? It’s the Hail Mary of Bloody Mary’s. The

#721: Hike A Snake-Infested Reserve.

Friend Megan and I finally caught up after weeks of missing each other. She suggested

#720: Avoid Panic With Pannikin.

No panicking at this coffee shop. With open-air seating and carefree ambiance meets southern California style and

#719: Go Gourmet At Gourmet Bagger.

When you remember that one amazing turkey sandwich in that little hole-in-the-wall-deli in a San

#718: Meet With A NatGeo Designer.

The closest thing to living my National Geographic dream was meeting one of their top

#717: Work For A Flower Company.

I’ve always thought about working for a flower company. So five months ago, the day

#716: Eat A Slice Of Heaven, Or Pie.

Give me all of the toppings. Now. Please and thank you. Nom, nom, nom.

#715: Grow A Mini Succulent.

These succulents are brave little guys, but I think they can survive a summer in

#714: File Taxes As A Freelancer.

Filing your taxes when you’re freelancer slash contractor is a PAIN IN THE ARSE. I’ve done it

#713: Don’t Forget South Park, SD.

Found a new reason to stick around San Diego today: South Park. It’s an underestimated,

#712: Geek Out At TableTop Commons.

Friend, Dennis and I were just looking for a simple, local San Diego bar with a couple board

#711: Scream For Ice Cream.

There’s a sweet side to Newport Beach, California that you don’t typically hear when mentioning Orange

#710: Visit A U.S. Best Farmers Market.

Arguably one of the best farmer’s market in the U.S. (if not THE best, by many),

#709: Cruise Down Hollywood Blvd.

An amusement park in itself, Hollywood Boulevard is a spectacle of ALL sorts. From the Chinese

#708: See the Iconic Hollywood Sign.

Hey, Hollywood! What’s your dream?

#707: Trek To the Griffith Observatory.

After leaving the LACMA earlier this morning in Los Angeles, friend Dennis and I headed

#706: Eat Rosemary’s Baby… Burger.

Two reasons to come to The Mustard Seed Cafe: 1) You were either waiting in line

705: Visit The Lake-Less Silver Lake.

Bad news, guys. There actually is no lake in Silver Lake; it was built around what

#704: Make Honor Roll At Public School.

If you know a bartender here at this bar, you’ll make the Honor Roll. After a

#703: Top of the Perch, LA.

Ahhhh… the best nights are often times the unplanned, spontaneous ones. That happy hour we decided

#702: Hotels Tonight In Koreatown, LA.

A king side bed, a beautiful bathroom, a view to the indoor courtyard and pool,

#701: Parts Unknown: Koreatown.

Of ALL the celebrity-loved, world-class-inspired, 5-star award-winning restaurants and cuisines in the entire LA metropolis,

#700: Coffee @ Grand Central Market.

From almond soy lattes to pupusieras to homemade flax granola to hundreds of international vendors,

#699: See All The Lampposts In L.A.

Another landmark checked off the bucket list today: Los Angeles’ Urban Light. Ripe for both

#698: Mexican Brunch At KaynDaves.

The little Mamacita in me ALWAYS wants deliciously spicy, pepper-infused Mexican food, no matter what time

#697: Muscle Down Venice Boardwalk.

#696: Visit The Venice of CA.

Hidden gem in Venice Beach, CA. I never knew these charming quiet canals were nestled

#695: Stand on Mount Soledad.

What makes any Monday a little better? A breath of fresh air and skyline views on top

#694: Largest Nude Beach in the US.

Nice hike! Glorious beauty! Hang gliders overhead! Oh… and some serious bare butt surprises! 

#693: Easter Sunday at Scripps Pier.

Being Easter Sunday, my favorite holiday, I wanted to spend it out side burying easter

#691: Visit An Urban Winery.

A TOAST!!!…. To delicious, mouth-watering California wines, in general. To the never-ending grape varieties and

#690: Balboa Park Japanese Garden.

#688: Go Zoom Zoom For Mazda.

Yep, I’m a little obsessed with Mazdas. I had a Mazda3 for 3 years, 3

#681: Play Hooky, Do Brunch Instead.

Ahh, that holy trinity of meals that I can’t ever pass up: BRUNCH. With Mom

#680: Spend Valentine’s Day With Mom.

What’s the best gift to give Mom on Mother’s Day? Not roses. Or chocolate. Orrrr

#679: Be In Two Places At Once.

The U.S. has several spots where you can be in two places at once. Turns out,

#678: Dip Your Toes in the Pacific.

What’s better than watching a San Diego sunset? Watching a San Diego sunset right on the

#677: Run Along Torrey Pines Beach.

Bucket list item complete: I traversed the rocky plain of Torrey Pines State Beach without

#676: Hike Torrey Pines State Park.

Livin’ on the edge. Literally. 

#674: Stay In An AirBnb in San Diego.

Look what Mom and I found right outside our Airbnb in San Diego?! A larger-than-life

#673: Play Tour Guide in San Diego.

Any San Diego local will nonchalantly tell you there is more to this town than just sunshine, beaches

#672: Smell the Stink of La Jolla Cove.

With its gorgeous bluffs and shimmering waters, one would think La Jolla Cove –– the

#669: Visit the Nation’s Best: San Diego Zoo.

Though expensive, the trip was worth every penny of my $90 ticket, every animal sighting (GIRAFFES,

#668: End Your 30th With a Sunset.

Ahh bring me that horizon!

#667: Hi-Rise Patio Bonfire.

#666: Eat Fresh Fish From The Pacific.

Living by the Pacific Ocean, it’s only natural for this pescatarian foodie to crave as

#665: Visit The Mysterious Victoria Beach.

Holy shipwreck, what IS that thing?? A pirate tower? Yep, it actually is. Known to some Laguna

#664: Run The One Thousand Steps Beach.

Eat your heart out, stair master. Today I got double my exercise’s worth and not

#663: Play Frisbee in Waterfront Park.

  

#662: Have A Favorite Airline.

Virgin America. Best airline ever. If not for its excellent flight attendants, stellar airport check-in process,

#660: Spot Your First Winter Halo.

#643: A Charleston Waterfront Wedding.

The BIG day we’ve all been waiting for is finally here! My cousin got married

#641: Deep Fried Southern Thanksgiving

Charleston, SC: the perfect place for a deep fried, delicious, family-centric, intoxicating, turkey-filled Thanksgiving. Wait… make

#304: Be A Foodie, Eat at True Food.

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#Get High On the Pacific Coast Highway, Hike and Drive The Big Sur.

The Golden State holds just about any challenge you could ask for –– waves to

#300: Knock SD off the Bucket List.

I’ve lived in Cali for over 2 years now. You can probably tell; I’ve lived here for

#315: Go Pumpkin Carving in SoCal.

Pumpkin carving, in all its guts, glam and glory. This past Halloween was a ghastly

#303: Visit Taco Heaven: Lucha Libre.

Mouth still watering. Belly still wanting more pickles, salsa and mango slaw. Eyes still as

#57: Stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden and Golden Gate Park.

#: Get a haircut at the Patrick Evan Salon.

# Eat the lobster roll and clam chowder at Woodhouse Fish Co.

# Wear at least three layers at all times. And own just one wardrobe.

Living in San Francisco means… Never leaving the house with layers. Owning lots of hoodies,

# Get the quintessential farmers market basket.

I’ve had many a farmers market weekends. So many I can’t count. Or remember which

# Drink the holy trinity of California culture: Wine.

Take a seat at any table in California and almost without exception or expectation, you will face

# Eat your way through the city, at a street food festival.

Today was on par with a Man vs. Food episode. My chef roommate, her restaurant crew and

#54: Eat at Sol Food. Get a taste of Puerto Rico.

A former co-worker at Restoration Hardware (hi, Shante!) turned me onto Sol Food. Now I can’t get

#Take Out-Of-Town Guests to Jane For Breakfast.

If you’re craving brunch during the week; want oversized muffins, sweets or treats any time

#89: See the Entire City from the Marin Headlands.

        

# Explore the San Francisco Bay Trail.

One trail. Two very different views. My view last year was a trail squeezed in

# Go on a Crazy, Fun, Whirl-Wind Summer Date.

There are dates (the kind you laugh about over cocktails) and then there are dates

# Do Sunday Brunch at Mission Beach Cafe.

I’m craving this Sunday brunch again since the first time I had it months ago:

#Tackle the Coit Tower (steps).

It’s one thing to plan a visit to the Coit Tower, a Roman-esque monument fixed on the city’s memorable

# Lay Under A Giant California Redwood Tree.

Laying under the world’s tallest tree, the California Redwood, is eye-opening, breathtaking and thought-provoking. Here,

# Visit San Pedro Square Market.

San Pedro Square Market: think of it as an old barn meets Texas roadhouse with

#Off-Road on Mt. Tam, Run a Race Up The Mountain.

It’s a week after the 10K Table Rock Trail Run at Mt. Tamalpais, and my legs still

# Stroll Through the Campbell Farmers Market.

The Campbell Farmers Market in downtown Campbell, CA. It’s a must-stop if you: 1) Are ever

# Take a European Vacation to London and Amsterdam.

How long does it take to do a city… like really do one? Natives or

# Eat From A Backyard Garden.

While house-sitting and dog-watching this week in San Jose for an eBay coworker, they gave

# Dog-sit and house-sit for a whole week.

When I got the offer to dog-sit and house-sit for an entire week, I had

#118: San Francisco Cable Car Museum

#117: Take A Tour Of The Boudin Factory.

#116: Develop Your Own Skype Lingo.

#115: Family’s First Visit To The West Coast.

If, and when, your dad ever calls you on a random, sunny afternoon and asks if you’re

#114: Visit Dad In Long Beach, CA.

Dad called me about 2 weeks ago on a random, sunny Tuesday afternoon and nonchalantly asked: Dad::

#113: Experience Two SF Hallmarks: Dogs & Fog.

I read recently in my newly favorite urban newspaper, The Bold Italic, that cities are like an onion or

#112: Lay Out In Golden Gate Park.

A whole Saturday, not wasted. Happiness. 🙂

#111: Sushi Up At A Hibachi Grill.

First team outing and where do we end up? A well-loved hibachi grill in downtown San

#110: Create Your Own Gym, Outdoors.

In a city like San Francisco where the weather is generally always breezy, nice and

#109: Daily Love Affair With FroYo.

A little post-birthday treat, a little late night dessert, a little love affair with my

#108: Build Your Own Salad At Pluto’s.

I spent a whole month walking past it and bottle-necking the sidewalk outside to peer

#107: Walk All 51 Piers Of Fisherman’s Wharf.

Well, I walked all the ODD numbered piers from 1 to 51 at least. This quest all started thanks to

#106: Find Your Neighborhood Coffee Spot.

They carry Stumptown’s cold coffee brew in the bottle, which I love. The inside feels

#105: Turn 28 In An Ageless City.

I’m a little late in posting this after my actual birthday, January 21st. But hey, here’s

#104: Learn How To Cardio Kick-Box.

Funny, before doing a kickboxing class this evening, I was excited, pumped and inspired with 4

#103: The Perfect Black Bean Burger In SF.

I do love a good, juicy beef burger or savory turkey sandwich, but lately, I’ve

#102: San Francisco’s Crookedest Street, Lombard Street.

At the ripe, old age of 27, I discovered calves that I didn’t know existed. My

#101: Run Early Along The Embarcadero.

Nothing like an early morning run to get the blood pumping! But don’t make the

#100: A Virginia-Style Wine Tour.

#99: Get Ocean-Side Lunch Seats At Cliff House.

I didn’t know what I was agreeing to when I said a “lunch date” at

#98: Start A Postcard Wall.

One great life hack my twenty-somethings have taught me: when you decorate on the wall,

#97: A West Coast-Style Christmas.

A light jacket for warmth, salty ocean air, decorated palm trees, a lit up Ferry

#96: Get A Tech Job In Silicon Valley. And Love It.

There’s no denying that landing a job in social media –– and at a tech

#95: Impromptu Concert At The Ferry Building.

Carolers singing at the footsteps of the San Francisco Ferry Building. Hark the Herald Angels

#94: Stand Atop The Marin Headlands.

*Cue background music from the Titanic soundtrack, “I’m The King of the World.*

#93: A Whole Day At Seattle’s Pike’s Place.

#92: Eat, Not Shop Through Black Friday.

Tasty & Alder’s in Portland, Oregon: the supreme brunch spot. And what a better way

#91: The Best Greek Yogurt In Seattle.

#90: Trek To The Original Starbucks.

Tinier than most Starbucks chains I’ve been in, this original location was underwhelming and equally

#89: X-MAS Tree Lighting In Portland.

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree!

#88: Get Lost In Powell’s Bookstore Portland.

I had heard about this famous bookstore in Portland that stretched a block wide. Now

#87: Friends-Style Thanksgiving In Portland.

This past Thanksgiving was not a typical turkey day. I spent it doing an extended family

#86: Pre-Thanksgiving Party In SF.

No better way to spend the holidays with good people, good drinks and a good

#85: Thrift Through The Fillmore.

It’s a classic pursuit; this lengthwise traversal of San Francisco. Its 90-something micro-hoods have inspired

#84: Catholic Mass At Grace Cathedral.

No matter which Cathedral you go to in the city, just go to one, at least

#83: Score An Apt in Nob Hill, SF.

When I moved here on a whim from the East Coast in July 2013 with

#82: San Francisco’s Exploritorium After Dark.

There’s really two sides to the Exploritorium on Pier 15. One side you see during daylight:

#81: Get A Black & White Photo Taken.

One of my favorite photoshoots ever! Black & White taken with good friend @DianaClock at the Kari Orvik Tintype

#80: Eat Mexican Food In The Mission.

It’s probably a “duh” bucket list item to hit up The Mission in San Francisco for

#79: Live Only In Bridge Cities.

I’ve just discovered, I’ve only ever lived in bridge cities. Cities by the coast, hugging a shoreline,

#78: See The Gritty Side Of San Francisco.

What’s your favorite abandoned spot in San Francisco? Some are break-in-able, some open to the public,

#77: Make A Cork Board From CA Wine Corks.

I’ve been wanting to make a cork board for ages… The do-it-yourself, cork-by-cork kind that takes

#76: The Surf Town Of Santa Cruz.

#75: Hang Ten At The Santa Cruz Surf Museum.

In my next life –– the one after world traveler –– I want to be

#74: Six Degrees Of Separation In SF.

After four hours of networking, hob-knobbing and mingling at the Social Media Club of San

#73: Late-Night Roadtrip To Wine Country.

Last night, two friends, Brittany and Paul, and I took an impromptu, last-minute road trip to

#72: Rise Early, Do SF-Style Brunch.

The rest of San Francisco already is. There are few things you must know about the

#71: Halloween At The Cal Academy Of Sciences.

The California Academy of Sciences is NOT usually the place you’d expect to find: Earthquakes and

#70: Carve A Pumpkin, West Coast Style.

It seemed like a brilliant idea at the time to carve a pumpkin and then

#69: Crash A Stanford Football Game.

Recap of the night: crash a home game, have a blast, do the student cheer,

#68: Bring A Chili Tradition To The West Coast.

#67: Live In A Stanford Grad Dorm.

After finding out that living with a co-worker NEVER works out (Pro-tip: don’t live with people you work

#66: Bruise Your Ribs Before A Half-Marathon.

One could only imagine the sheer, agonizing pain of bruising a couple ribs. It hurts

#65: Free Concert In Golden Gate Park.

#64: Run The Stanford Dish.

Feeling a little like Forrest Gump in this quick snapshot, yet still ran my little heart out nonetheless. The

#63: Be A Kid Again At Great America.

Rachel and I were masters of the selfie and the kid rides.

#62: Pack California On Your Wall.

It’s much harder than you think. To pack everything you’ve ever imagined about California –– the

#61: The “Little Italy” Of CA: Sausalito.

Be careful though. You’ll probably visit and want to stay forever. Sausalito, a 30-minute ferry ride across

#60: Jog Through San Francisco.

A typical Saturday affair.

#59: Put An Avocado On Everything.

Here in California, if you say “avocado,” you’re golden. One roll off the tongue, and you’re usually

#58: Join The Food Truck Revolution.

The food truck phenomenon has taken the country by storm, and apparently the South San

#57: Run Coyote Point, Edge To Edge.

Greetings from paradise! A runner’s paradise, that is. Sweaty, panting with staggered breaths, rain-soaked, completely butt-covered

#56: Meet A Stranger On A Plane, Leave With A Friend.

This past Sunday’s 11-hour, two-stop-layover plane ride was a testament to my growing travel resilience

#55: First Train Ride On The Caltrain.

My favorite train ride ever. Under-rated with over-whelming (and endless) travel opportunities.

#54: Live Outside SF.

Sometimes to start over and make it in a new city, you’ve got to live

#53: Visit The Ferry Building Farmers Market.

The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: On any given Saturday in San Francisco, you can feel

#52: Play Tour Guide In SF.

It’s always exciting have visitors in town. But, a word to the wise, get to

#51: First Bus Ride On The Muni.

Tough Commute.

#50: Scope Out Every SF Hood.

Before you call one “home.” If you don’t, you’re either really lucky. Orrrr you’re really

#49: Tackle Apt Hunting Like A Full Contact Sport.

Tackle it with a helluva thick skin and chutzpah. Do that and you just might not

#48: Zombie Coffee @ The Zombie Runner.

At first, I was salty at trying new coffee spots in Palo Alto. But after walking by and

#48: Get A Job At Stanford.

When someone or some company gives you that lucky break, you take it. Right then

#47: Make Your First SF Meal Authentic.

I’m a little late in recording my first meal –– being four weeks and many

#46: Move To San Francisco On A Whim.

Trust me, moving to San Francisco when you’ve never even been here before is a

#45: Last Month Of East Coast Living.

I’m getting my fill of all things East Coast before I move west to San

#44: Rock It At Rock-It Grill.

I met these ladies recently at an Alexandria Singers audition. Think I found my pack.

#43: Run Around The Lincoln Memorial.

One of my favorite running trails of all time, the grassy, gravel and asphalt-filled trail

#42: After Hours At Kramerbooks Afterwords Cafe.

Late night or early morning, this restaurant-meets-bookstore Kramerbooks Cafe is one of my favorite small

#41: Visit The Donut Heaven… On Earth.

Northside Social, an old restored painted red farmhouse-turned quaint coffee shop from the early 1900s

#40: Hot BDAY Party In Hot-Lanta.

#39: Catch Sunrise On the East Coast.

Always been a bucket list item. Now I’ve finally done it.

#38: Sip Lattes At Misha’s Coffee Pub.

 

#37: Audition For Glee, Or Something Like It.

Of that 4-Item bucket list I was going to accomplish this year, first thing to check off: Singing.

#36: Make 27 The Year To Remember.

I found the secret to keeping new year’s resolutions. Starting them on your birthday. Lucky for

#35: New Years Eve In The Nation’s Capital.

What a great night!!

#34: Vote In A Presidential Election.

It’s the 2012 Presidential Election and Obama is running for the head honcho spot. I’m ecstatic at

#33: Start A Pumpkin Chili Tradition.

Thanks to my former college roommate, Jackie (yup, the credit goes to you, Jax!) I was

#32: Get Inspired To Move West.

I got a random phone call a couple weeks ago from my old best friend,

#31: Write For Your Local Paper.

It takes a lot of great people to pull together a good local magazine or

#30: Mid-Year Vacation To The Beach.

Sometimes… when you’ve had a crazy couple years and all you want, and need, is

#29: Get A Job With Hamilton Beach.

A PR-Grad-Turned-Copywriter, it took me a while to find copywriting heaven… Who knew a 2-week temp

#28: Drink Your Way Through A Pub Crawl.

I can’t remember all the stops, but I do remember the last one: Starlight Cafe

#27: Spend July 4th On The Water.

Watching the July 4th fireworks from a boat, ferry, or harbor is the best to

#26: See Foster The People Live.

That feeling when you score concert tickets to a long-time favorite band, Foster The People,

#25: Meet An Appalachian Trail Hiker.

Can you believe that a simple man can hike the Appalachian Trail –– from Springer Mountain in

#24: Dance Salsa At Havana 59.

Salsa dancing. Watching it is awesome. Learning how to do it? Something else entirely. I’ve watched

#23: Old Town St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

As they saying goes (plus a little mad lib), “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya…

#22: Corn Hole On A Rooftop.

What happens in spring in VA: oversized roof patios, corn hole, beer pong, card drinking games, sunnies, croakies,

#21: A Weekend Getaway To NYC.

That feeling when… you know you’re in Yankees territory, it’s really winter outside, and you’re really glad

#20: Turn 26 In Your College Town.

I’m back in my college town. And I just turned 26. But I’m not in

#19: Join A “Geeks-Who-Drink” Trivia Night.

Well if you can’t beat the geeks, join ’em! Three hours later, I realized why

#18: Attend Your First Indian Wedding.

Indian weddings are often multi-day celebrations of feasting on delicious ethnic food, enjoying the colorful décor,

#17: Richmond Brunch Fave: The Nutty Monkey.

Nope, it’s not a mirage. Yep, they probably couldn’t stuff any more in, even if they

#16: Run A Half-Marathon In 40˙F.

IF AND BEFORE you run a half, just remember: It’s NOT for the faint of heart. Everything –– the

#15: Halloween Costume: Taco Bell Hot Sauce.

Naturally, being a treehugger and eco-friendly person, I dressed up as the “Verde” Taco Bell Hot

#14: Belly Up To Belly Timber.

I mustache you a question: “What’s your favorite garnish on nachos?” Ours was black beans, no guacamole,

#13: Furnish An Apt On A Broke Budget.

I didn’t make a lot of money when I lived in Richmond, VA. But resourceful and ambitious, I used whatever

#12: 15 Reasons Why I Moved Back To My College Town.

Did you know there’s more to your college town than meets the college student’s eye?

#11: Get Running Therapy In DC.

What’s the best way to clear a writer’s mind? On a run. On cobblestone streets and packed sidewalks. In

#10: A Lucky, Wedding-Filled Summer.

Returning home from New Orleans was heartbreaking but in hindsight, I found the silver lining in

#9: Leave New Orleans, Heavy-Hearted.

The city I don’t want to forget: New Orleans. It’s Day # 30. The mileage meter

#8: Start A Half-Bucket List.

Dear Nay-Nay & Lou Lou (Roomies): Can we try to accomplish some of these things in

#7: Hear All That Jazz on Frenchmen St.

Kirk, the New Orleans drummer, told me about this “Frenchman Street.” But I didn’t realize

#6: Interview A New Orleans Foot Tapper.

Hey Kirk,       Let’s be friends. When you make it big, look me up.

#5: Live On St. Charles Street.

The address we always wanted… is finally ours! After 3 weeks of scoping out Craigslist, cold calling

#4: The City That Care Forgot.

Good mawnin! You’d be surprised, but way down yonder here on St. Charles Street it’s actually

#3: Ode To Jazz And Treme.

You might want to sit down for this. It’s about my one-week crazy-filled stay in Treme,

#2: Travel 1,069 Miles To Sanity.

Dear next Rest Area:          Please magically appear on the side of

#1: Lose A Job, Start A Blog.

An Open Letter to the Unemployed and Heartbroken: I recently started this travel blog after