Rise Festival 2014

Go. Experience this event.

Tickets go on sale today at 9am Pacific time for the Rise Festival. I went last October with some friends, and it was truly the most magical — and then one of the most challenging — experiences of my life. But let's focus on the magical. They've implemented changes this year, and they moved locations from the Jean Roach Dry Lake Bed to the Moapa River Reservation, which sounds more promising. They are also hosting it in Pheonix if you can't make it to Nevada.

Find out more about the event and buy your tickets here. Seriously, this is an event you would not want to miss if you have the opportunity to go.

Read on to get my personal experience of the event, and to see photos, and a video. Also, look out this week for the road trip there and back. I mean, might as well make the journey fun too, right?

Seattle Travel Guide

It's been fun sharing all my adventures from this trip! I was really fortunate to have three of the most beautiful days Seattle could ever produce, and to enjoy the weather, the sites, and all the great people I met along the way.

If you're going to Seattle, I put together a reference guide for everywhere I've talked about — and some things I wish I could have talked about — here.

Enjoy, and be sure to share your experiences! 

Seattle, WA: Day Three

My last full day in Seattle was comprised of:

1. Gum Wall — our mark was still there! 
2. Walk down to the Harbor Area (watch out for construction)
3. Ride on the carousel at Miner's Landing
4. Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour using my City Pass
5. Pike Place Market 
6. Bike Ride via the Burke-Gilman Trail
7. Gas Works Park {En route}
8. Fremont Troll {En route – kind of}
9. Full Tilt Ice Cream {En route}
10. Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder {En route}
11. Zayda Buddy's Pizza for dinner {En route back}
12. Bike through the sunset
13. Watch Sleepless in Seattle

For the details of sweet foods, random decisions, bike off-roading, and unexpected adventures, read on.

Glassblowing in Seattle

It's like I've got the whole world in my hands... but actually it's the glass paperweight I made in Seattle at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio.

As I mentioned in my previous post, it was a bit pricey ($150 for a private 30 minute lesson, including the end result of the paperweight) — especially for my budget — but I just felt like while in Seattle, it was something I wanted to learn more about. It was my very big splurge. I was even more motivated and excited after I went to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit. Who knew glass could be so creative and inspiring?

Let's walk through some of the exhibit and the glassblowing process together, shall we?

Seattle, WA: Day Two

Day two in Seattle was equally exciting, but unlike the previous day, there was a lot of impulsive buying and money spending. Mostly on food, attractions, and experiences.

1. It was #NationalDoughnutDay, so obviously a trip to Top Pot Doughnuts was in order
2. Chihuly Garden and Glass — phenomenal/inspiring/amazing/fantastic/favorite etc. etc.
3. Learned glass-blowing at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio
4. Artist's at Play Playground — so fun! Even if you're not five years old
5. EMP Museum / Experience Music Project Museum 
6. Seattle Space Needle — where I caught a fish? 
7. Olympic Sculpture Park
8. Giant Shoe Museum
9. Owl 'n Thistle Irish Pub for some of the "best fish 'n chips" — agreed
10. Kerry Park to watch the sunset

Read on for all the details — like how I caught a fish at the Seattle Space Needle, and what places I would skip or not spend as much time at.

Seattle, WA: Day One

Card designed and sold by Pike St. Press in Seattle, WA

It's been awhile since I've explored a place I have never been to before. A place that I have little to no expectations or previous images of how it's going to be. When my stepmom provided a means of Southwest transportation and essentially a low-cost ticket to anywhere with a deadline of June 16th, I chose Seattle. Because, why not?

I spent three full days there, arriving at 9am on Thursday, June 4th, and leaving 10:30am on Sunday, June 7th.

My lasting image of Seattle is green and blue. Those are the colors I primarily saw from above, and below. I expected the green — actually even more green than I saw — but I didn't expect all the blue.

This trip I really tried to not plan too much, but leave some time to discover. However — because I'm me and love to plan— I ended up doing a lot of research beforehand to have in case there were specific places, tours, or events I'd be disappointed if I didn't see or take advantage of. So basically, each of my three days there ended up being jam-packed. In the best way possible.

The first day in Seattle was a combination of planning and wandering.

First day itinerary:

1. "Free" Walking Tour @ 11am (I say "free" because they ask to contribute whatever you feel at the end of the tour, and they did such a great job that I contributed/paid as much I would on a regular tour, but technically you could contribute nothing). 
2. Pike St. Press where I picked up a couple of cards, including the one above
3. Taxi Dogs for lunch at the Victor Steinbrueck Park 
4. Pike Place Market
5. Gum Wall in Post Alley where my friend and I made a sticky mark
6. Columbia Tower — 40th floor Starbucks and a {free} view
7. Seattle Art Museum [SAM] — {free because of First Thursday}
8. The first Starbucks store at 1st & Pike
9. Watched the sunset back at Victor Steinbrueck Park
10. Went to sleep! (Especially after only getting four hours the previous three nights)

Read on for all the pictures and details.

Pasadena Chalk Festival

Flashback Saturday (I'm making it a thing — #FBSaturday anyone?) to that time three years ago I went with a friend to the Pasadena Chalk Festival. And guess what? It's happening next weekend! So in case you didn't know, now you do. It's a festival, so other than incredible chalk art, they've got food and performances throughout the weekend. When I was there, Grouplove performed (who I didn't initally recognize until I looked up their single "Tongue Tied" later).

Palos Verdes: Terranea Resort

Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes is what I think of as a real getaway without really getting away.

While I was working a recent event here, I got off early and just went out onto the deck to soak up the sunshine on one of their comfortable chairs. It just feels like everything that you thought was really important and had to get done now can really be put off awhile longer. The scenery demands attention in the most non-aggressive way.

Malibu: Solstice Canyon

I just got back from Seattle, WA Sunday and while I'm putting together a more comprehensive view of everything I enjoyed, this week I'm sharing some recent fun excursions in Los Angeles.

We wanted to hike in Malibu, so my friends and I reviewed some options and decided on Solstice Canyon. It's about an hour — on a good day — from the South Bay. The day we chose was a nice balance of sunshine and clouds, so it wasn't too hot.

We chose Solstice Canyon because of the remains of two buildings — which seemed historic and exciting in some way — and the potential sight of a waterfall. With the drought, we weren't expecting much. But we got a lot.

Las Vegas: Mob Museum

If you're going to the Neon Museum (which, to me, is first priority) then you might as well get the combo ticket to the Mob Museum.

Honestly, this museum could take you all day. And it's got every museum exhibit feature design that you could possibly think of to keep you intrigued and entertained throughout each part of the exhibit. I was taking an Experience Design class at the time, so I was paying particular attention to the way the exhibits were designed, and I was extremely impressed.

But other than the actual exhibition design, the information about the mob blew my mind (blowing minds — a mob trademark). The mob was everywhere. Maybe, probably, still is.

Just be careful you don't get caught being associated with the mob like we did (above). At least these are the friends that would be in jail with me instead of just bailing me out ;)