Paper Planes.

Ya’ll should know by now how obsessed I am by Art; The planes just make it THAT much better. While traveling through Milan Airport in Italy, I found myself placing myself in the art. The colours are beautiful, and somewhat unconventional. Although I had just deplaned an aircraft, I found myself wishing I was jumping into another!

I know traveling can be a bit overwhelming, especially when your in an area, that you don’t know, or speak the language, but take the time to soak up all you can from what you see. It’s worth it.

Jonez

12 Days.

Shout out to myself for putting together this 12 days of holiday movies, at first I was calling it the First annual, but that would imply I would be doing this again. As much fun as I had, I think once was enough. I’m so excited that you guys joined me during the posting of the list, to tell me which movies where your favorite and those must see movies. I found myself looking forward to sharing my top movies, recording my video for the day and I anticipated you guys feedback.

Just in case you missed any of the movies, here a full list in order.

1. The Best Man Holiday
2. Last Holiday
3. The Preacher’s Wife
4. Elf
5. Home Alone
6. Almost Christmas (This/That) This Christmas
7. Get Santa
8. Die Hard
9. A Christmas Prince
10. (Double Header) The Nightmare Before Christmas/Bad Santa
11.The Holiday
12. How the Grinch stole Christmas

Tristan Jonez

Why Wait?

Why wait for 2018? Do it Now.

Recently I listened to a video snippet, and the author told me, why wait until 2018 to make the changes you’d like to make?

And shorty, is right! Why am I going to wait until 2018 to start fresh, when everyday I wake up translates to a new beginning? With the rise of the sun, I am able to decide who I want to be and who I want in my World. Everyone’s manual for living looks different, so I have to find the instructions that work best for me. Find the people who work best, with my vibe, who brings out the best in me. Letting go is extremely hard for me, especially since my mother died. I hold on to folks tight, I look past their wrongdoings at my own detriment and I allow them to stay in my World. I find them sucking the life from me, and once I’ve hit rock bottom only then do I let them go.

This situation, this friendship, this love is NO longer serving me. Its no Longer allowing me to grow, no longer allowing me to be the best version of myself, no longer making me happy. I wish you the best, take care, thank you. I’ve found that speaking this outloud makes the transition easier. Can people change, sure they can, but for my own peace, they have to change elsewhere. Protecting my own energy is my top priority, everyone can and will be second my own self. Eff how they feel.

I’ve had a few light stealers, and I’ve let each and everyone of them go. God Bless ‘Em

Jonez.

12 Days Of

Because I started to explore my own city in December, I am so into the 2017 holiday season! I honestly believe New York just outdoes its self for Christmas/Holidays which in turn has made me feel very jolly about the season. Let’s celebrate with the 12 days of Christmas … In movies. When was the last time, you really sat down and took in a holiday movie on purpose? I honestly can’t remember the last time I did, So I was thinking we could turn this into a group activity this holiday season starting on December 13. I am still going thru a bevy of films, and I am not sure which ones will be picked as our featured film each day but I promise they will be filled with the spirit of the holidays.

I want to make sure I create a list that doesn’t just include movies from the present but we have to have the classics mixed in. Classics such as, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, ‘Home Alone’, ‘Trading Places’, ‘It’s a wonderful life’ and ‘Preacher’s Wife’ to name a few. If I am being honest, I’ve never watched ‘Elf’, ‘A Christmas Story’, or ‘It’s a wonderful life’, so this is going to definitely be a magical 12 days of Christmas for our viewing pleasure.

SideNote: If there are movies you’d like us to watch, send me a note and we’ll squeeze them in!

Tristan J

SuperDuperMuper

I love a good burger joint even though I usually opt for the chicken sandwich. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a burger. Well today, while searching for food, I came across Super Duper Burgers and baybeeeeeeee I’m in love! As routine, I ordered a chicken sandwich, I added pepper jack cheese and their super duper sauce (Laughing) with an order of garlic fries, that comes topped with mozzarella cheese. Boy ole boy! The fries were delicious, even without the garlic/cheese, next time I will try out their trio of dippin’ sauces. I caught myself staring at the burgers as they were being cooked on the grill, and they looked so juicy, so well done (I Love my burgers burnt) I was itching to order a burger in addition to my chicken sandwich, but I knew my eyes was being bigger than my stomach!

The first time I passed by this spot on my way to the San Francisco Museum of Art, I remembered because they have a happy hour. I know there are plenty of burger places that caters to the after work crowd, but something about the signage was memorable. Because the fries were so filing I wasn’t able to finish my meal, but a few hours later, I smashed it! Even cold, my chicken sandwich was really tasty. I am interested in trying everything on the menu, but first I have to find where the bread they use comes in the Bay Area. It was slightly sweet, extremely soft, and it melted in my mouth. Damn!

When was the last time you fell in love with a sandwich?

Tristan J

PapaSanta

So there’s no possible way you can live in New York, be here for Christmas, and not experience the joy that is Santa Claus at Macy’s! Although If I am being honest I would like to visit with Black Santa at the mall of America, but I don’t believe he was invited back this year. So, I guess I am stuck with Old Saint Nick right here in New York, but I’ll take it.

I thought long and hard about if I wanted to take a solo photo with Santa, or If I wanted to include my five year old nephew in the festivities but I’ve decided to make this holiday season all about me. (Sorry Kayden, maybe next year) I plan on going as early as I possibly can, cuz I cant be fighting with other little kids for the chance to sit on Santa’s lap. And yes I checked, there is no age limit, or weight limit for that matter, to visit with Santa.

Tristan Jonez.

SideNote: What do a person wear for this momentous event?

Art De Modern.

No matter what city I visit, I am drawn to the art museum in that city. Its almost as if my soul is being called by the artist who have painted such masterpieces. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a must see, must experience museum that I throughly enjoyed. Im not sure if museums can be feel good places, but SFMOMA surely was. I found myself falling in love again with Pop, Minimal and Figurative art, and Andy Warhol has captured the essence of my being. Roy Lichtenstein is another absolute favorite of mine! Can I tell you how I’m so not a comic book imaging fan but there’s something about HIS work that just captures my whole entire heart? His work just gives me all the feels I can handle, makes me so warm and fuzzy!

When I tell you I was on the brink of tears, tears y’all, Gerhard Richter had me feeling like I NEEDED his painting with me, in my home. Lord know its priceless, but If I could afford it, I would have placed my bet, then and there. I spent at minimum twenty minutes in a serious trans. I forgot where I was, and if it wasn’t for the scores of people visiting the museum, I would’ve taken off my shoes, and laid out as If I was watching television. Just incredible. I urge you all to visit the museum when you have a chance and just be. Clear out all the noise, and just sit with it. Sit with it as if you’re visiting with an old friend.

Tristan Jonez.

SideNote: Anything Oil on Canvas, Abstract or German artists I just fall in love.

WindowShopping

What’s more December in New York than Christmas on Fifth Ave?

It seems as if every single holiday movie has started with a shot of the big apple during the holiday season. (Although I believe Chicago, rivals NY for this honor) What’s even bigger than Christmas on Fifth Ave… The unveiling of the windows for the luxury shops such as Bergdorf’s, Tiffany’s and Saks Fifth Ave. The sheer joy, that tourist feel when they step up to the window after seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center is unmeasurable. With Project #Decemberinnyc I will be exploring these iconic shops but I’m here only for the windows!

Are You Ready? Then that’s settled, its a date, See you Soon!

Tristan Jonez.

TheRockettes

When was the last time you went to Radio City Music Hall to see The Christmas Spectacular? I want to believe my parents took me at some point in my life but I honestly can’t remember seeing it from my memory bank. Well this evening I went to The Christmas Spectacular and I had an amazing blast. There was a storyline, I thought I would just see The Rockettes dancing for two hours, but nope! I was so pleasantly surprised to see, the show which combined Santa Claus, Nutcracker and an excerpt of the birth of Christ. I do believe it should be seen from multiple angles in the theatre, If I do so happen to make it back to see the show again, I would like to be on the third mezzanine so you would have a wide-angle of the stage. Unless the price was soooooo amazing that I just couldn’t pass up, then and only then would I purchase an orchestra seat.

Because I went to this evening show, I received a Santa Hat! I can’t tell you how excited I was to put that on my head, when santa asked the audience to, it was the beginning of the santa dance number. I felt like a little kid again, dancing and clapping my seat. I didn’t care too much about who saw.

Happy Holidays Folks

Jonez.

Showtime Apollo!

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a show at the Worlds’s Famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem! Can I first, just tell you guys how it felt to be in a place where so many great and talented artist have gotten their start? Like I was in awe of where I was, but the moment was not lost on me. I was fully in that moment, as I could have been. I can’t tell you how many times, I was up late night trying to watch amateur night, awaiting the acts that move on to the next round. OMG! I was at the Apollo Theatre! Although I have no bucket list, If I did, I just crossed one more thing off. Again, I have to thank my coworker turned friend, Chinoah, for the opportunity to see a global monument! (It is to me)

Secondly, Can I tell you how bad I felt to boo someone? It was horrid, cuz we are all so conditioned to believe everyone deserves an E for effort, but that is definitely not the Apollo Way! If you are not popping off, by those first few chords, then your ass is going to get boo’d. I want to believe that everyone knows this is a possibility, even if YOU believe you are the best singer that has ever lived. However sitting in the front row, the ones who were boo’d, I don’t think they even thought of that happening. I’ll admit, I got into the spirit of the Apollo, and I boo’d someone, Hell I even stood up and boo’d them! I know this type of behavior isn’t accepted anywhere, but at the Apollo its your duty to do what you have to… and I HAD to!

Of Course I forget to ask when the episode would air because I was just so caught up in making sure I was present in that moment. What I do know, It will be airing on primetime on FOX. So look out for me, I’ll be coming to your television screen very soon.

Tristan Jonez.

L.A Blues.

In 2009, I went on a vacation to Los Angeles, with a coworker and her two friends. I fell in love with the city, the people and the vibe of the city. Six Months after that vacation, I moved to Los Angeles full time. Although I didn’t stay in the city long, LA will always mean so much to me. The memories I created from the time I visit, to the time I moved there will always make me feel warm and fuzzy.

Recently I went back to LA, and my four hours visiting there did not disappoint. I started off my visit going straight to my absolute favorite, place in California, which is Santa Monica Pier. After the midday flight, without grabbing something to eat, I found the nearest food truck, and OMGEEEE! Upon first bite, I wanted to cry tears of hunger/joy. I thought I was solely ordering a chicken quesadilla but I received ‘crack’ rice and refried beans topped with parmesan cheese. A meal to die for, I ended up eating my meal and chatting with a seagull.

Next up, Santa Monica Beach and the Pier. There’s always something about being near water, that makes me feel invincible but calms every stressed muscle I have. I probably would’ve stayed longer at the Pier but the Seagulls are so aggressive, I was scared one was going to yoke me up and throw me off the pier.

Its something about being on the other side of the country, cuz I had an amazing glow from the California sun. I am always blessed to be able to jump on a plane and go wherever the wind feels like taking me.

Have you guys been to Los Angeles? If so, what’s your favorite place?

Tristan J

Fright Festival

So this year I was fortunate to have a friend care about me enough to invite me to fright fest at Six Flags Great Adventures in Jackson, New Jersey. As you all know, I am not a fan of group activities, so my first thought was to say no thank you, however I surprised myself by confirming that I would be in attendance. We were scheduled to go the night before Halloween, but it was forecast to rain all day, so I was playing it by ear. It did rain, the morning of but luckily, all the clouds cleared out by mid afternoon, with the park opening at 5pm, there was enough time for the rides to be dry. There was a total of eleven people in the group, did I mention they were coworkers? Well yes, it was, so I broke two of my rules in one night.

Disclaimer, I am not a fan of scary ish. I have been known to scare easy, so lord only knows why I agreed to go. There was a few times, I was so scared I could pee my pants. The problem, the zombies, creepers and clowns are only in certain parts of the park, so you actually do forget they are there. Until one is scaring the shit out of you, then its too late. There’s the fog that comes out, which makes it ten times worst than what it really is.

Although the park was semi packed, we did not have to wait in line for a ride, until our last ride which was the Superman. And I rode the Kingda Ka twice. Did I mention how cold it was? Geez! So Imagine being in a rollercoaster flying through the air, with your stomach dropping at every turn… fun! I know! Six Flags is fun no matter the time of year, but make sure you pencil in Fright Fest for your next adventure.

Tristan J

SideNote: Don’t forget to grab a funnel cake with Strawberries before you leave.