Life After Coffee

// mark finster

[markfinster]

I created this Google Map for a trip to Tokyo in November 2014. Thanks to a mobile wifi device (provided by our lovely Airbnb hosts), we were never more than a few blocks from delicious ramen! 

[markfinster]

Weekend roundup.

[markfinster]

South Bay LA, at night

[markfinster]

The Shipwrecks of Playa del Rey

I find the whole thing rather puzzling... 

I’ve heard weird stories of “maritime law” allowing folks to moor 100 yards from the beach, a short distance but enough to escape the long arm of the law (apparently). Which sounds all fine and good until a swell comes and wrecks your boat.

And once washed ashore, the city doesn’t seem to care. Why aren’t they hauled away? There are 3-4 of these things wedged in the sand right now, and the most we’ve “done about it” is put up some caution tape. Weird...

[markfinster]

iOS dumping of photos

[markfinster]

California-grown coffee scores #27 on the Top 30 Coffees of 2014 by Coffee Review.

I visited Good Land Organics in August 2012 (and wrote about it here). This experience led me to quit my desk job and move to a coffee farm in Hawaii (also wrote about that here). 

Huge congrats to California growers of awesome.

[regressingforward]

This past September my girlfriend Michelle and I drove up the West Coast for a few weeks to visit some old friends. I took along my camera and drone and put together this video.

People

Eric Ethans- We moved down to San Diego together when were 19, he now lives in Tahoe after the success of his juice company SUJA

Lee Leatherman- Son of Leatherman multi-tool founder Tim Leatherman, Lee lives on a farm in rural Oregon

Foster Huntington- Successfully navigating the world of social media, Foster now consults with select companies and self-pulishes books to fund his projects. After traveling the US in his VW van, he’s returned home to Washington and turned his focus on creating his dream compound.

By Cyrus Sutton

Featuring Foster Huntington Eric Ethans Lee Leathermen Michelle Marchese Joe Curren Ryan Lovelace

Music Arklife "Some Unheroic Hill" arklifemusic.bandcamp.com

Additional Footage Donnie Hedden Reis Paluso

Artwork Andrew Groves Miscellaneous Adventures miscellaneousadventures.co.uk

[markfinster]

Beautifully done Cyrus Sutton

[mobylosangelesarchitecture]

so, it’s true. after 6 years of owning and renovating and renovating some more and living in the most interesting home in l.a (which is saying something, as there’s no shortage of interesting homes in l.a) i’ve sold wolf’s lair and moved on.

wolf’s lair was built in the 20’s on 4 acres overlooking almost everything: the reservoir, the hollywood sign, griffith park, the observatory, hollywood, downtown, and on clear days catalina and the channel islands, 40 miles away. then in the 60’s john lautner re-designed and re-built the guest house (which i posted pictures of about a year ago).

it was and is an amazing place. a bucolic and storied 4 acre hilltop retreat in the middle of a city of 15,000,000 people.

so why did i sell? simplicity.

i loved wolf’s lair. but it was just too elaborate for one simple little guy (aka: me).

if i’d started a cult or a family(and trust me, i’ve tried to start both)it would have been the perfect home. basically i wanted something simpler than a mountaintop castle.

oh, over the last few years i took a bunch of random pictures of wolf’s lair. and as we all like some good voyeuristic architecture & design porn, here are some of the random pictures (including deer, coyotes, and some of my houseguests and their knife wielding kids. oh, and one picture of wolf’s lair when it was first built in the 20’s).

go to moby.com for the full set, here »

voyeuristically yours,

moby

[markfinster]

"A Bohemian Surf Shack in Topanga Canyon" via Remodelista

Dreamy McDreamerson

[markfinster]

Tokyo is an amazing city. Had the pleasure of visiting for a full week and will be returning ASAP.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/69132770@N07/sets/72157648921291387/

[markfinster]

Saturday Shop Ride. Every week at 8am (on Saturdays). www.topangacreekbicycles.com

[teamdreambicyclingteam]

Col d’ Aubisque…

…With Col Collective 

[markfinster]

Take me cycling!

[markfinster]

Lots of coffee shops in LA ... lots of videos about 'em ... Bar Nine LA is one of the best. See MAP (↑↑) link at top of page for location ... including more coffee shops and breweries.

[markfinster]

All remaining SoCalCross events added to 'EVENTS' calendar (see top ↑↑)

[markfinster]

I'll be in Japan for the next week (and will be missing my bicycles dearly) ... A parting shot of Thomas Aquinas College from Halloween Weekend's camping trip in Ojai. How is this a real place?? See ya next week -

[markfinster]

Ojai! Weather! Camping!

[markfinster]

Ojai pre-rain // Halloween Ride