yep

This dude is awesome

Hell Yes

A great collection of 1980's movie marks compiled by Christian Annyas. If only people still took the time to make awesome titles like these, maybe I would like new horror movies more.

Top 4 Miss List

The move date is approaching rapidly. As excited as I am to move to SF, there are quite a few places that I will be sad to say "so long" to. I know a top 5 is more typical and perhaps logical, but honestly I can only come up with 4 that have a lot of personal meaning.

THE COPPER HOG
A good pub where you feel comfortable drinking alone is an important thing to have in your life. I can't even think of the amount of money I have spent at this fine establishment over the last five years or the friends and memories made here. From their solid yet rotating beer list, to their tasty food bits, to their awesome patio and rediculously high ceilings—few places elsewhere can measure up to The Hog. I'll admit, there was a little lull in the success a year or so ago—poor menu changes, price increases, and tablecloths—but they have earned my love and respect back. Whether it's the staff or the regulars, there is always a friendly face to be seen. Patrick and Ian, you will be missed. Thank you, friends.

THE GREEN FROG
Yes, it's another color-followed-animal bar and one of the best at that! Your original peanut-covered floors and intimate stage setting welcomed me to this town like a warm hug. Joe Pug, Jeffrey Foucault, and Hayes Carll were some of my favorite shows in that space. Your absurd cover charges could never really keep me at bay. Your beer list was always something to treasure and having dogs to hang out with while drinking was the best. And then you were gone. A year passed and you sprung up at a new location down the road. The beer is still great, and now you have a full bar which is greater. Plus, the deck and recent BBQ addition makes you the greatest. Stay soulful.

BAYOU on BAY
Your Bloody Mary's and Fried Chicken Po'boys set the standard in my book. Your southern-fried attitude and cajun flavor is something this town needs more of. Cheers and adieu!

UISCE
Pronounced Ishka—not Ishka's—has been another great watering hole. It's been awhile, but boy, were there some good times had there. Logan and Jonny always had the best playlist coming through the speakers—Gaslight Anthem, Bouncing Souls, Dropkick Murphy's, Johnny Cash—as well as their epic Pogues catalogue in the Jukebox. That couch in front of the fire place. Those Washington Apple shots. Stone IPA on tap. That mustard. Damn.

Honorable Mentions:
Archer's Ale House
Boundary Bay (beer sucks, fun atmosphere and good shows)
Chuckanut Brewery
Temple Bar
Honey Moon
Oyster Bar

Old things are new again

My friend and colleague, Branson Anderson, created a pretty comical character and blog based on yours truly during our internship together at Tether Inc. It died down after a few months but looks like he's back at it. Enjoy!

Twenty-Five

I’m turning 25 soon. It’s a strange age to grasp—definitely out of college, a full-blown adult—car loans, credit card debt, career choices, relationships, etc., have all begun to matter more than they ever have before. All the ideas you had about who you were, who you were going to be, where you were going to be, what you were going to be doing—have either changed or are certainly (and hopefully) beginning to change.

I was one of the lucky ones and knew what I wanted to do going into college and have started to cut a career path for myself. All in all it’s a big relief in these challenging times. But sometimes it can feel like it comes with a jar of pickles (yea, Pickle, that game you used to play as a kid), meaning being stuck between work and play as you watch your friends travel and explore, living freely with no clients to keep happy or bosses to impress, and (in some cases) no rent to pay while living with parents or relatives. It’s like you have to either commit to being an adult and live vicariously through those friends, or bail on the career for a few years and jump aboard their travel-train and hold on to the next (and last) few years of honest-to-god youth, exploiting it for all its worth. And then you think “how could I afford to travel if I didn't have a job?” No idea. It’s a mystery I can never solve.

Personally, I deal better with the known rather than the unknown, so usually I am glad to be on a career path. Am I where I want to be in my career though? No. I thought I’d be creating more exciting work or at least be making more money. I am taking steps toward where I want to be and what I want to be doing. Which leads me to sacrifice and compromise—two other aspects of being an adult that can hit you suddenly across the face and leave a bruise. The decisions you make no longer affect only you, they impact everyone around you, everyone you care about. It’s tough to know what or when to make a sacrifice or compromise.

I’m not complaining, or whining—reaching 25 is something that most individuals get to experience and each will deal with it differently. I guess I’m suggesting that it’s a good time to take a step back and reevaluate yourself, your goals, your beliefs and whatnot, and to act accordingly. It's hard to be part of a generation whom thinks the world owes them something, so just start acting and stop waiting.

Wall art

Even though it's been done one-thousand-million times, I still find inspiration in cool signs. I want some large 3D letters in my house. I know they can get tacky—we all know the "welcome" sign in a generic script from some acquaintance's home—but when done well I think they can add a lot of character. Our mother always kept a large copper "M" on a buffet table in the main hallway of our home and I guess it left a lasting impression.

branding

An interesting article on the resurgence of branding cattle with some great similarities to branding a company and designing identities. Love the line about "people getting carried away and [wanting] to do stupid things."

Brand Awareness: Decoding Cattle Brands