Posts in Lifestyle
Fun with the Fam at Shotgun House Coffee Roasters

The brand-new Shotgun House Coffee Roasters in San Antonio is a beautiful addition to the city’s ever-expanding craft coffee scene. Located in Warehouse 5 just outside of San Antonio to the west, this gorgeous gym turned coffee roaster is worth a try. And did I mention that it's dog-friendly?

I visited with my parents, younger brother and his wife, and their pup, Skadoo. Our group spans the spectrum of ‘coffee obsessed,’ and there were drinks on the menu for every taste. We ordered a mocha, almond milk latte, regular latte, and a triple shot of espresso (it was Fiesta, and we’d been out late…what can I say?) One of their specialty drinks is a Dirty Iced Horchata. This house made, non-dairy horchata was a treat, and the lovely bitter espresso cut the sweetness of it in the yummiest way.

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Owners Eddie and Jess share the origin story from their website

"Once upon a time a couple of coffee lovers bought a 1kg shop roaster and began roasting and (illegally) serving coffee out of their Tobin Hill Shotgun House. From there they leased a 1,500 sq ft space in Warehouse 5 (West SA), and - with literally one friend, a pile of tacos, and a little credit card debt - spent the next six months transforming an old gym into a beautiful coffee roastery/shop."

With plenty of street parking close to Warehouse 5 and just a stone’s throw from downtown, make some time to check out this fantastic addition to the San Antonio coffee scene.

The Checklist: Paris and Rooftops

The Checklist is your weekly guide to travel inspiration, tips, and recommendations from around the web.

Last night I got out for a bit and took a photo walk, a practice that I've not been very good at lately. The image above is from Lee's Fried Chicken and Donut's, a pretty great place to get a donut in the morning, or at night. 


The Checklist

Photographer Alain Cornu captures the magic and beauty of rooftops in his series "Over Paris". The images are captured in a 4x5 large format that really brings out the unique charm of the Parisian skyline and all the intricacies that it can sometimes hide. (via PetaPixel)

I've long been a Gear Patrol reader and their recommended lists are some of my favorite. Now the GP staff shares what they never leave home without when they travel. (via Gear Patrol)

Buzzfeed writer Alison Wilmore talks about the "church of traveling light" and how, for her, it's not all it's cracked up to be. I don't particularly agree with all her ideas, but it does raise a lot of questions about why someone would choose to travel light, which I most often do. (via Buzzfeed)

I'm excited to read the new book from Sally Kohn, "The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide To Repairing Our Humanity." Before it comes out on April 10, check out this interview with Afar about the idea behind the book and Kohn's travels around the world. (via Afar)

Ever heard of fika? In Sweden, it's a coffee break that is designed to slow down life and promote the connection between people. Sounds like something I need more of in my life. Learn more about fika via the Huckberry Journal.

The new video from Glen Hansard keeps me watching all day long. Check out Time Will Be The Healer below. 

The Tuesday To Do List

Let's start off by wishing one of my favorite photo/video/magic geniuses, Peter McKinnon, a happy one year YouTube anniversary. If you've not seen any of Peter's videos, you're missing out on some great knowledge and an even greater guy. Check out his channel here

Still got Black Panther on the brain? Check out Travel Noire's list of 5 African Cities You Should Visit If You’re Dreaming Of Wakanda.  

For all those not wearing an Apple Watch, this great timepiece from Form•Function•Form is on sale, as is this one from Armogan.

Gear Patrol takes a deep dive into a fourth generation bootmaker in New Hampshire's White Mountains. 

This map covers all the bases for the fan of English Premiere League football in your life? 

Finally, this look at the New Cathedral in Linz, Germany continuously mesmerizes me. Shot with one of my favorite cameras, filmmaker Martin Lachmair really captures the beauty and solitude of walking through churches in Europe. 

Jack Whitehall Tries To Bond With His Father In Southeast Asia

British comedian Jack Whitehall has long been a favorite of mine. I'm not sure whether it's the posh accent or just his ability to have a laugh at his own expense. In his latest show, Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father, the young comedian jaunts across Southeast Asia trying to recreate the gap year that he abandoned years ago. The twist is that he brings along his father, television producer, agent and author Michael Whitehall, for the ride. 

I've had the chance to travel with my father a bit, but we're pretty much the same person. In Travels With My Father, Whitehall is determined to regress into pre-university life while dragging his 77 year old father along with him. As you can imagine, there's plenty of laughs to be had. 

Caught somewhere between a travelogue, road trip show and family social psychology drama, Travels With My Father actually manages to get a pretty unique look at the exotic locales of Southeast Asia. Sure the plot is manufactured for laughs but the reality of a 28 year-old comedian following his suit wearing, high-minded father around shows the faults of trying to create an authentic "experience."

We all experience the world differently and so we all travel differently. Sometimes getting out of your routine can really show you knew things but it can also lead to some really crazy and uncomfortable experiences. At its heart, Travels With My Father is about a relationship, a fraught one at that. As we see through the adventures, these are two people who barely know each other and somewhere inside, really want to. 

Full of laughs, weird destinations, odd characters and fun moments, Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father is the perfect binge watch for this weekend. It might even make you want to head to Phuket or Cambodia. Or maybe just to call your own father. Either way, it's a good time. 

Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father is available on Netflix here

A Glimpse at the Mystical

I've always been fascinated by the sacred arts of religions from around the world. From the Sufi whirling dervishes to the intricate prayers of Shintoism, the dedication and beauty is something to behold. The Asia SocietyTexas Center recently hosted Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India as they constructed a White Tara (Buddha of longevity and success) mandala sand painting. the event was part of the 2017 Mystical Arts of Tibet tour. Formed with millions of grains of colored sand, the art of mandala is intricate, painstaking and ultimately breathtaking. Accompanied by ceremonies of sacred dance and chants, the construction of the mandala took four days before being deconstructed to symbolize the impermanence of life. 

The word mandala comes from Sanskrit meaning sacred cosmogram. Although they can be performed in different media, including watercolor and woodcarving, the colored sand mandala is  widely known as the most popular form. 

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