How often have you looked at your photos in retrospect and felt like the angle was just a little off. Have you ever wished the Golden Gate bridge was just a little more centered and if only you would have stepped just a few feet to the right you would have gotten your perfect shot. Well, it appears two ad students are gonna help a tourist out. I came across this video while researching for a client and thought, “what a clever-cool idea”. Now, I can’t say how well their concept helps you hold a camera and get that perfect pic, but hey at least it points you in the right direction. So props to some fellow ad girls, Utsavi Jhaveri & Mimi Chan.
We love making the most of our weekends and exploring new places in Detroit. I read about this place on the Detroit Foodie blog (which I love – and check every week for new places to explore). So we yelped and braved the melting snow to try out Dangerously Delicious Pies (located in the Third Street Bar in Midtown Detroit). This place is legit (both the bar and the pies). We loved the laid back vibe – good beer, friendly people and vintage games. We went for lunch – which is the best time for us to explore Detroit places with a toddler. We tried the Steak and Cheese savory pie and the Vegetable Quiche (which had a much better name but I can’t seem to remember it). The pastry was light and flaky and the flavors were spot on. I had a sweet hot sauce on the side that was pure gold awesome-sauce. We love places like this – authentic and real people – working to make a place they love. We felt the heart in this food. Weekends are made for Detroit adventures!
The Al Hambra. Built over the course of 600 years, this complex is an awe-inspiring example of human creativity and craftsmanship. The fortress, castle, citadel or palace (depending on what century you are talking about), is perhaps one of the best examples of moorish influence in architecture and design within Spain. The palace court offers room after room of intricate carvings, featuring arabic and patterns within stone, marble and wood. As a designer, the attention to detail was simply breath-taking. While walking through the walls, gardens and courtyards, I imagined the people that dedicated their lives to working on one wall or pathway for years. What would it have been like to spend day after day carving intricate patterns? Was it a mission for God? Was it servanthood to the ruling authority? What do you think?
In 2010, my dad and I took the trip of a lifetime. We traveled all over Spain, visiting the ports of call he was in over 30 years ago while on a tour of duty as a pilot for the Marine Corps. One of our days was spent walking through the Al Hambra, an experience I will never forget.
LA never seems to sleep. So many people, businesses, restaurants, tourists, bars, celebrities, it can be a place that doesn’t feel real. Often when I travel to LA for business, I try to take advantage of waking up early from the time change and work as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I take advantage of some of these amazing restaurants, but I rarely take a moment to just enjoy some of the beauty that LA has to offer. So on my last trip out there, we took advantage of one of the best views in LA and decided to do a working day from the cafe at The Getty Center.
Business Traveler Gold: For the cost of parking, you get a view, dose of culture and super fast wifi via The Getty Center.
The Getty experience is breathtaking. From the tram ride up see magnificent views of downtown LA, the ocean and mountain ranges, it is a moment that will help you fall in love with this city. As an artist, the campus architecture and art collections are second to none. I spent my morning and afternoon sitting in the cafe working on my pitch deck with wall to ceiling windows. In the late afternoon, I watched the sunset on Los Angeles and spent some time in reflection in front of Van Gogh’s Irises. Not only did I get alot of work done, I had a chance to reflect and recharge.
Some traveler tips for this trip.
1. Catch breakfast in Santa Monica: Urth Cafe – order the Sunrise Pizza .
2. For a great burger: Don’t miss Umami Burger order the truffle fries!
3. Always have some fun with co-workers and capture it on film.
4. Bring something back. I bought a wonderful children’s book from the Getty for Mag’s and wrote an inscription to let her know that on every trip I think of her.
5. For free wi-fi with a view: The Getty