#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.”
#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!
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.”
#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.
#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…