WEST COAST | CALIFORNIA - DAY 1

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Before I type away on this post, I just wanted to make it aware that this is my first of a three-part series of my time out in the west coast. There will be a lot of similar photo's of the same individuals, people, landscapes, food, scene, etc. I want you to soak in the experience how I saw it. Hope you like it. Enjoy!

For the first time ever in my life, I traveled to the beautiful west coast of California to visit my lovely and gorgeous friend Tara. I packed my bags, my camera, got on a plane, and jet-setted myself to an area of constant sun and beaches. Really needed a change of pace from the aggressive city lifestyle and slow things down a bit. Life is precious, you know? Anyways, you're probably wondering about who is this girl I posted a bazillion photos of, "so who's Tara anyways?" Obviously she's in the photos above BUT she's also a wonderful, fantastic, light hearted, and adventurous woman that I kinda-sorta knew / randomly met at Delilah's (one of my go-to spots in Chicago) during her cross country road trip! I won't write much but will list top 10 things all in random order of Day 1...

  1. El Matador Beach is truly beautiful (look at my photos above!). We spent the entire evening walking down the beach, see couples do engagement photo's. climbing rocks, and even running under them before the wave hit the shoreline. This was on my #1 thing to do on my "to-do list."
  2. Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway to pick up Tara from work to get lunch and all while blasted song's like this and or this. Had the worst time finding her gas tank button to refill the tank!
  3. I didn't bring any shorts and thought it was a MAJOR FAIL but I saw everyone else wear jeans, so I got used to it. Sorta MAJOR WIN(?!)
  4. Sat on their porch drinking coffee watching the sun rise. This sounds odd but I miss having a porch/patio. Basically hung out there A LOT.
  5. Their house smelled AMAZING. You guys should really get a Our Kandles. I'm getting TWO.
  6. I had to get a nail clipper and hair spray at RiteAid because the nails were getting annoying and constant sun makes my hair droop like whoa. Yeah, they laughed at me for this, haha.
  7. When it was night, I was used to the "cold weather." Coming from Chicago, it was GLORIOUS.
  8. Went to get coffee downtown at Marie Shannon's and the girls behind the counter looked like post-American Apparel employee's who's happy prancing days are over hating their job now and just serving amazing delicious coffee and bacon empanadas. Oh, they were so good. 
  9. Going back home together, we blasted/sang songs like this and or this. Not ashamed, I know the lyrics to the first song.
  10. Bought the first meal/drinks at The Misfit even though I was on vacation, Tara wasn't so happy about this. Oops! Nice boy, ya know?

BKB CHICAGO | TACOS & TUNEUPS + MEMORIAL DAY MIXER

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May has been busy at BKB Chicago and I got to cover two fun events - "Tacos & Tuneups" and "Memorial Day Mixer"

I'll start off with "Tacos & Tuneups." It was cold / rainy but I was surprised to see the amount of people still working out and getting their rock climbing on. Can't forget to mention Clif Barwas giving out free bars to the community, The Salsa Truck selling their great tacos, and Heritage Bicycles was providing discounted on the spot tuneups. Those chorizo tacos you see up there...yeah, that was mine. Could've had TWO more, easily!

"Memorial Day Mixer" was probably by far my favorite event ever shooting. I only say this because of the amount of involvement the facility / staff took on with the climbing community totally integrating belay buddies to get free tattoo's to apply on yourself and the crate stacking competition. It was amazing how the females of the competition were slaying the boys on crate stacking! I would like to try at it some point and I'm sure it's super mentally and physically challenging. 

I'm looking forward to the events and photo shoots I have lined up. Can't wait to show you guys what I have upcoming. 

TAME IMPALA & MINI MANSIONS

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Last Friday I stopped by the Riveria Theatre in Chicago and took some amazing shots of Tame Impala and Mini Mansions. I actually never shot photos before at The Riv and it was all new to me. Crammed up on stage left with security guards overwatching the crowd who are drugged up or drunk, I met so many genuine photographers from other media firms whiling waiting for the bands to start (Chicago Tribune, Chicagoist, etc - all super nice people). I was literally a solo freelance fish in the sea of photographers and held my ground.

The facility has this strict rule of taking shots of the first three songs and that's it. After that, camera's are away - no joke. In the time span of three songs capturing the band's performance, you're completely focused on the shots you can get and the music dissolves as background noise.  They opened up "Let it Happen" then into "Mind Mischief" and it was incredible. After shooting photos of both bands, I enjoyed watching the rest of the set from afar - mind you I was a hot sweaty mess from the jam packed stoned/drunk crowd. Alcohol wasn't even on my mind at that point.

I can't wait to shoot more photos of bands, events, and whatnot. I'm starting to really enjoy this photography thing with bands, etc. 

BKB CHICAGO | LADIES NIGHT x MIZUNO x POWERBAR

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Topping off the last LADIES NIGHT @ Brooklyn Boulders of Chicago, Mizuno x PowerBar set up shop and hung out for the evening. LADIES NIGHT happens every Wednesday and purely dedicated to the ladies out there in Chicago at a super discounted rate. On top of that, cool sponsors come in and usually have something to give out for FREE. Cool, right? I pretty much just hung out by the PowerBar table and ate two bars worth off samples. Essentially just made it my dinner. The 'Peanut Butter & Caramel' was so addicting. 

A message to the women out there who are on the floor -- you are all seriously killin' it on the rock walls! Keep it up ladies.

LILI K. | MEET THE MUSICIAN

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Spontaneously looking to catch a moment to take photos of something/someone, my close friend Brittany Julious happened to be casually having a conversation with Lili K.  at the Apple Store on North Michigan Ave.  Filled with friends (spotted CELINENEON in the crowd!) and bystanders curious of what's going on, Lili K's soulful voice accompanied by her band  resonated throughout the store. Yes, even got the Genius bar to sing along with her! With inspirations from Ella Fitzgerald to Erykah Badu to Sharon Jones - she sheds that flare of it all. Her music has been on my playlist lately and I really love her song "Refreshing" (esp the house version which she did LIVE as their last song). Check her album "Ruby" released by Chicago's very own - FreshBaked Records. Seriously, go buy it! You won't be disappointed.