Los Angeles Brewery Art Walk

Even though I won't be traveling and living out of my car for a while, I always enjoy exploring things nearby that are fun and interesting...especially when it comes to art.  There is a community in the heart of Los Angeles that used to be a brewery and now it's a city in itself of artists.  These artists live and work in the spaces of the Brewery Art complex.

Lucky for us, they open their studios to the public a few times a year for us to be able tour their home/work space.  It's a wonderful tour of amazing artists of all mediums.  I did this last year and blogged about it and I plan to go back.  A photograph I took of the experience was licensed by Palladium Boots to use on their website under their explorations video.  You can see that video HERE.  Along with the art walk, the video mentiones other jems in the Los Angeles area to explore. To find out more about the brewery walk, click HERE.

Even if a vacation seems out of the question for you right now, I bet there are places nearby that you can visit to give you the feeling of being in another world.

Rainy Day Bowling

It's been raining in Southern California for the past few weeks.  Unfortunately, my garage flooded and I lost some items I won't be able to replace but I am thankful for what I have.

On this rainy day, I thought it would be a good idea to go bowling and have some fun.  I haven't been bowling for years and I figured it would be a nice place to be since it's a place where people are always smiling.  There's no crying in bowling, I suppose.  Even if you bowl a gutter ball, it's no big deal and the more you can laugh at yourself, the more fun you will have.  Because really, the sport is silly and there is no way you can be serious playing.  Don't get me wrong, there are some serious players out there but on this night, it was all for fun.

I scored over 100 which was a personal record for me, I think.

Savannah, Georgia

I have a soft spot for Georgia.  My grandparents lived in this state for as long as I can remember so I've had many fond memories of my visits with them in Marietta.  This time around, I hit the coast and spent some time in Savannah.  I love Savannah.  It's such a beautiful city with so many charming buildings, people and the food...well, what can I say?  I basically ate the entire time I was here.

I couldn't stop in the city without a visit to Paula Deen's restaurant, Lady and her sons.  I didn't want to plan the day too much so I just hit the downtown area to see where it took me.  It just so happened to take me to Paula Deen.  In fact, I wasn't the only one who somehow gravitated towards the building.  I arrived around 2pm hungry for lunch and took a card from the host to be allowed in the building.  Once I stepped foot in the restaurant, I was then directed to the elevators to go upstairs to be seated.  What?  Upstairs?  Well, it might seem like a small restaurant but it's jammed packed with people for one good reason.

Butter.

I couldn't make up my mind so I decided to go to the "all you care to eat" buffet.  I am not a big fan of buffets and don't eat at them often but people told me it was good so I had to try.  Well, two servings later, I have to tell you that yes...it was gooood!  I dined on fried catfish, cornbread, collard greens, grits, mac n' cheese, biscuits, creamed corn and to top it all off, banana pie.  Ok, I don't usually eat this way but I just had to.  Thank you Paula Deen!

I usually run off to the next city but decided to stay a few days in Savannah.  I attended the local Moose Lodge's bingo night and toured around the town some more.  I don't know what Paula Deen put in her food but the following day, I just HAD to have it again.  After searching for a parking space for about fourty-five minutes, I finally found a spot and scrambled to find that little slice of heaven again.  I found it but arrived one minute before lunch closed.  It wasn't in the cards for me that day.  Maybe for a good reason.  Instead I toured around some more and decided to head to the famous Bonaventure Cemetary.  As luck would have it, I arrived one minute before closing time so I had a nice view from the gate.  It didn't matter.  I loved everything in Savannah.

Thank you Savannah for your hospitality.  I will be back.

A Visit To Pike Place Fish Market In Downtown Seattle

You may have seen it on television.  The place where fish is thrown and caught by the workers at the fish market at pike's place market in downtown Seattle.  I've been here before, but I always enjoy going back.  I decided to be a tourist and take pictures of the famous sign and guys throwing the fish, but I also wanted to photograph and get to know some locals in the area.

I stopped and asked a few locals if I could take their photograph while they were relaxing on a break from work.  There were a few working at the farmers market, one was a street performer and one was a local that stood in the same spot, day after day.  I knew this because I went on a different day and there he was.

There are several tourists enjoying the area and it is pretty exciting to see all of the produce laid out perfectly with the smell of flowers in the air.  Even though the open air market is full of fish, it is surprisingly clean for the amount of food that comes in and out of the market each day.

I took my time and walked to the park that's next to the market, lounged around to watch the people and took a second walk through the "food mall."  The first Starbucks is located here and all of the tourists have to wait in line for a drink to say they've been there.  Perhaps they weren't aware that they could walk one block to find another Starbucks without a wait.

I really enjoy Seattle.  It's a big city without the feeling of a big city.  I tried to visit SAM (Seattle Art Museum) but each time I took to trip, they were closed.  Perhaps next time.  There are several things to do in this city and if you come for a visit, I hope you like seafood.

I have a lot more photographs to share from the market, but perhaps in another blog.  For more of my photographs of humans in their habitat, click HERE.

11 FREE Things To Do That Will Make You Feel Good

My favorite word.  FREE!  It's not that I don't like the word PAY, but FREE gives you a warm feeling inside.

Like this FREE glass of ice water from Wall Drug! What a treat!

Even though there is little risk, you will receive great rewards by doing things that are FREE.  I like to seek out free activities, especially when traveling since just stepping into your car is like setting the pay meter down in a taxi.  It's going to cost you.  You don't have to travel to get the same rewards and benefits that you will get on the road by doing free things in your local area.

Yesterday, I started chipping away at my garage to complete my goal of selling or donating everything inside of it.  I sorted through most of my clothes in bins and got rid of 90% of them.  I packed them up and donated them yesterday.  What a great feeling that was!  I am going to do this little by little this month in order to achieve my goal of living with a lot less.  It feels so much better.

On that note, I started thinking of other things that are free that can give you a good feeling.  Here are a few you might want to try out this weekend:

1.) Give it to a new home.
You know that you are not going to wear that tshirt or pair of jeans that are in the back of your closet or stuffed in the back on your drawer.  Pack it up and donate it.  Thinking that someday you might be able to fit in it again is only taxing on the brain that you are not good enough as you are...right this moment.  Just ditch it.  By the time you fit into them again, you will want a new pair, or someone else's old pair. The same idea goes for furniture, cars, "treasures," and your general "stuff" you have that takes up your life space. Or, have a clothes swap party with your friends!  You will end up with FREE clothes.

2.) Get some culture
Most museums have a free day during the month.  At our local Long Beach Museum of Art, Fridays are FREE.  You can find free days in your area by clicking on the city.  There are free museums in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco,  New York City, and other cities that you can search from HERE.

3.) Go Camping
Camping seems like a cheap way to travel, but there are costs associated with it.  You can find free places to camp if you own an RV by clicking here, or if you have a tent, you can find free sites here.  Get away from your home base for a while to clear your head.

4.) Help save a marriage
Offer to help out for a night with your friends kiddos so they can go out alone together. If you don't have kids, you might have a new appreciation for why you don't see them as often.

5.) See a concert
Summer time screams free concerts!  There are musicians everywhere wanting to perform for you.  Concerts in the park, musicians on the streets, performances at coffee shops.  They are everywhere.

6.) Get outside
It's wildflower time!  They are popping out all over the place!  Time to get out of your house to go see them.  It's like a free garden for you to admire without all of the work. Go to the beach, visit a free park, look at some trees, breathe the fresh air.

7.) Learn something new
Libraries are FREE.  You can sign up and check out as many books as you want.  Learn something new.  Have you always wondered about the history of your city or why people thought it was cool to wear neon colors in the 80's?  Ditch the computer and do it the old fashioned way, walk or ride your bike to the library to see for yourself.

8.) Become the CEO of your life
Write down your personal mission statement.  Goals are best achieved when you take the time to organize your thoughts and write down what you really want to accomplish in life.

9.) Get Creative
There are free art classes out there.  Learn how to paint, draw, or sculpt. Not sure where to start?  Take a stroll at a local art fair or art walk that happens most every week in your town.  See what others are doing and if something looks interesting to you, talk to the artist.  You might just meet a new friend in the meantime.

10.) Take Pictures
If you own any type of digital camera, taking pictures is FREE.  Get out and explore your neighborhood looking for things that seem interesting to you.  You will see everything in an entirely new light.  It will get you outside and force you to see things in a way that you didn't before.  Get close, look at new textures, look at the ground you are walking on, look up at the sky. Once you are done, send a few pictures to friends to let them know you were thinking of them. Or get silly and set the camera on a timer and jump around in the shot to see what happens?  It's a guaranteed smile, especially if you do this in a crowd. Want to learn from a professional? Get inspired and attend a FREE smug mug meeting in your area to listen to a professional speak.

11.) Volunteer
Clean up the beach, feed those in need, or help homeless animals.  Use your time to help others in need.

I hope this list sparked up some ideas in your head to get out and enjoy something free.  What do you like to do that's free?