RIP Cherushii

On December 2, 2016, legendary SF producer and DJ, Chelsea Dolan aka Cherushii passed away in the Oakland Ghost Ship fire. Her music put a smile on your face and groove to your moves. I had the opportunity to listen to her DJ and talk to her earlier this year in Sacramento. She, a well known and respected artist, came to play Massflow's Summer of Flow making all of us involved feel very special and honored. I only talked briefly with her, but it was enough to know she was a genuine person. I had made a sign with her name on it and asked to get a picture with her holding it. I remember her being so thrilled that she could take it home, which made me so happy. The photo was the first frame of the roll and accidentally cut off part of her name. I was sad that it came out like that, but now that photo seems to hold a different meaning. A life imperceptibly cut short like the first frame on a roll of film. RIP to all the victims of the fire. RIP Cherushii. Thank you and keep the beat rocking. You are missed.

Selections from One Roll : July to November

Hit play and scroll

Carlos in Barcelona

Kasia in Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona

Big Sur Hunnies

Ol' Yeller

Vegetarian

Vitamin D

Walker and Savvy 

Big Sur

Beach babes

Beach

Flash

Big Sur

Duvet

Flash 2

Flash 3

Ocean Beach, SF

Jim 2

Panhandle, SF 

I-80 East, SF

Car Window

Chef Kasia

They're related 

View from bedroom; dusk on wall

LA to Zurich to Barcelona

Flying out of Los Angeles

I don't think I actually thought this trip would happen until the minute I got on the plane to Barcelona. I flew out of LAX and almost missed my flight. They told me my bag would not make it on my plane, but I couldn't argue because I had only 25 minutes to get through security. I just ran through the terminal (which is hard to do with an injured knee) half panicked and half amused. Panicked because I realized all my planning couldn't save me now and amused because I would have a great story to tell Carlos when I got to the boarding terminal. I made the flight and these photos are proof.

We had a layover in Zurich. The airport had one drinking fountain, but lots of art. An interesting observation for someone who had never been to Europe before. Say what you will about the Swiss because I think it is all true. Then again, I never left the airport so I could be wrong.

Carlos; layover in Zurich, Switzerland

Dinnertime

Gud Boy

Our AirBnB was courtesy of a semi-neurotic artist; she was lovely, but in the way that a bee buzzes around a flower lovely. It was the top floor of an unassuming apartment duplex with a sunny deck to drink Spanish wine on. The host's art was everywhere and we immediately became expert art critics. Looking back, I really liked this place. I was a little sad we didn't come back to it after we returned from Morocco. 

Lazy Afternoons in the AirBnB

We stayed up all night and slept most of the mornings away. We learned that the metro opens at 6AM; the first trains usually filled with the juxtaposed mixture of late night party goers and early rising salary men and women.

Neighbors Laundry

Street I want to live on

Barcelona is very livable. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it has something to do with the feeling you get from the city. Maybe its the uniform height of the buildings (I saw only one skyscraper) or maybe its the age of the buildings. The people also seem to have an infectious attitude for loving life.

Either way the city is beautiful and I would like to live there.

"Will you hold my ice cream Kasia?"

Other neighbor doing laundry. Cool skateboards.

Dear Diary,

Sweet little bedroom

Barcelona : Tapas are for lovers

Mr. Popular himself. This was a bank on the corner from our apartment and I was thinking about using their slogan in a picture for a few days. With some wine and some luck the opportunity came naturally.

Tapas are a great excuse to get together with friends to just hangout. It is casual eating, no fancy white napkins are needed, but the food is gourmet. 

Armun took us to his favorite tapas bar "Gatamala" for our first experience in Barcelona. Like most tapas places I saw it was small and cozy. The owner made us feel right at home with her no nonsense hospitality and Spanish humor. My favorite part about her was that she made fun of Armun just like we do. 

I don't take pictures of food, but this is us outside the bar after having eaten a lot of tapas and having drunk just as many cervezas.

Post Tapas. Get it?

Armun at the entrance to Gatamala

Neighbors laundry in black and white

City Street. Walkscore 99.

The most beautiful...

We were trying to find a certain plaza so we stopped for Armun to ask for directions. Then I caught Kasia eye-boning me.

We decided to go up onto a hill above the city to watch the sunset. One bus ride and a short hike later we arrived at a not so secret vista. People go to the spot to picnic, cuddle, or  just to catch their breath away from the sounds of the city.

Pictures of people taking pictures

View of Barcelona. You can see the Barcelona Cathedral and the Mediterranean Sea because of the blessed few skyscrapers.

Spanish Lovers. Just a nice couple enjoying a cuddle that I decided to creep on.

The other side of the hill

Me and Jackson sipping vino. I think Carlos took this one.

The bestest view I ever sawed

Slurricaned

 There is art everywhere in Barcelona, which is another reason the city is amazing. I especially liked these little installations found on prominent street corners. Every neighborhood has different ones to showcase their unique flavor.

I got Kasia to pose under one of my favorite corner signs

Street Art

 If you go see La Sagrada Familia make sure to take a guided tour, it's worth it.

Inside the Cathedral. Looks better in color.

Stairwell in the Cathedral

The stained glass windows presented lots of good light. I made Jackson my model.