What It Do // Spurs v. Clippers Playoff Game

This post is way late! Been in my drafts since 2K14! But even though I'm a full year late on posting this, I must because it is that important to me.

I have to consider this day one of the best of my life.  Even though I almost killed myself driving through LA. Seriously though I'm a bad driver and I pulled out in front of a mustang I didn't see but they were like pro brake slammers aaaaanyways I digress.  In spite of that embarrassing driving moment this was the number one day of my life.  OooOO wait. Number 2.  I high-fived Jimmy Fallon once so that beats this out.

I'm a huge Spurs fan.  Like huge.  I have their team logo tattooed on my wrist.  Hardcore right? So one of my coworkers and I always talked basketball.  Spurs made it to the playoffs as did the LA Clippers.  They were playoffs round 1 which is kind of insane as round 1 since they are both way high caliber.  So this angel of a coworker was like "let's go".  Holy effin yes.  So we went.

On the way over we got some great Chicago style sandwiches from a place called Portillo's.  It was my first time there and it was so cool inside and the food was pretty damn good too.

Then it was on to the arena.  I hadn't been to Staples Center yet and walking up to was totally cool.  You see it so much on TV and it's so iconic it was awesome to finally see it in real life.  Of course I had to take a selfie.

Then we walked in, some of the few people donning Spurs gear.  The Spurs were warming up on our side of the court so I was able to get a great view of the love of my life Tim Duncan. Tinashe sang the national anthem so that was pretty fun. The game was pretty neck and neck the whole way. At half time Montell Jordan came out and gave us a great sing along to "This is How We Do It".  Second half, the game remained close.  Then the 4th quarter buzzer rang and it was tied.  At this point I felt like puking.  Still fully confident, but also wanted to throw up.
Overtime.
I cheered even louder against the sea of red shirts. I think my "GO SPURS GO" chant is ultimately what won the game.  At the end the spurs on () and the stadiums home fans were a lot quieter than before.

The walk back to the car was great.  I felt so good on my Tim Duncan jersey and the few spurs fans were chanting the whole way.

The spurs went on to lose the series and it took me a while but I ended up coping ok. LeBron lost so overall it wasn't a horrible season.  Plus this year we are gonna whoop ass so it might not be a back to back but we are taking it back.

GO SPURS GO

October come quick

City Profile // Undisclosed Atlanta

Atlanta has many hidden gems.  Great hole in the wall restaurants, serene nature hide outs, and abandoned buildings.  Explore yourself or ask your other ATL native friends what their secret spots are and you're sure to find something you didn't know existed.  One of my favorite visits so far has been an abandoned prison. (I think) it's technically Atlanta government property so (I think) it is illegal to be on the property but so is the life of an urban explorer.

It's a super interesting place.  Pretty trashed overall and covered in graffiti.  Although some of the graffiti is just tags and penis' some of it is really artful. The garbage and debris everywhere is actually intriguing. There are still old jail cots and cafeteria benches strewn about in pieces.  You can walk down the cell blocks. A lot of the cells are locked shut but have been broken into (irony).

I've visited a working prison and that feeling was kind of shock.  Coming to this abandoned prison it wasn't shock it was a more invested interest because everything about what was happening is unknown to you.  I want to say it was in use in the 90's and then there was a fire there sometime in 2014.

There isn't much else to say and i won't bore you with words any longer.  Below is a gallery of some of my favorite photos from one of my visits.  If you do seek this place out; be safe and bring a flashlight.

Breakfast of Champions // Highland Bakery

This is my all time favorite place to visit in Atlanta.  I have never been disappointed coming here.  Breakfast is the love of my life and Highland Bakery is bae. It's located in the Old Fourth Ward historic district of Atlanta and is really close to a bunch of cool stuff in the A.  My favorite menu item is shrimp and grits because they do a great job with that southern classic, adding a creamy jalepeno cheese sauce and a side of grilled foccacia.  Here is a close up of that goodness

Another menue favorite is the fried chicken benedict.  I'm not a high fan of eggs benedict cause egg yolk weirds me out as well as hollandaise sauce.  This takes the idea of eggs benedict but uses fried chicken instead canadian bacon, gravy instead of hollandaise, and a biscuit instead of an english muffin.  Yeah, it;s crazy and huge and delicious. And when they ask "grits or potatoes", I always go for grits ;)

Sometimes when I bring friends, the insist on getting "The Highland Breakfast" which is totally fine, it's the classic bacon, eggs, grits etc.  But I always tell them, "try something else", but of course my opinion goes unheeded.  To taut them, I get the cilantro corn pancakes.  It sounds crazy and weird and it kind of is but in all the best ways.  The cakes are savory, with little chunks if sweet corn in them.  They are layered with beans and eggs and avocado and salsa.  It's so unexpected and so so so good. 

The only thing that can make breakfast better is an appetizer.  And Highland has that.  It's this cinnamon bun.  OMG.  They mill their own grains here (side note: buy bread on the way out!) and this cinnamon roll tastes wholesome rather than overly sugary.  Mmmm. 

I go here multiple times every time I am in town.  If someone hasn't been before, I make it my mission to introduce them to it.  It is always a hit.

Coffee Shop Diaries // Pannikan

Pannikans is coffee shop discovery #2 in my cross-country move.  I actually found it while driving to Loft Coffee on a Friday and saw a line coming out the door. That's when you know it's good! This gem is located inside an old, big, yellow house just outside of Encinitas in Leucadia (another long trek for me but oh so worth it).

Main Sign. Ya can't miss it.

Chalk Sign Outside

It's very quaint.  They have fantastic outdoor picnic table seating on their lawn, and patio seating on the lower and upper levels.  The indoor seating is quite cute as the wooden walls are well decorated by work of local artists and large letters spelling out "soul" & "love" as well of a wall featuring community flyers for local businesses, artists, and events.  

Sometimes Hot Men Sit and Read Here

So the setting is great, but what about the coffee?! Well it's great! I've really taken to the double almond milk latte, which looks so beautiful in the tall glasses they serve it in.  The iced teas are also great.  While they do serve full breakfast plates I have never partaken in them because their pastry case just calls my name.  And I haven't ventured too far into all the sweet goodness in it because the pie calls my name louder than the rest. Yes, pie.  I. Freakin. Love. Pie.  So many god pies too! They have fruity like apple, cherry, raspberyy or rhubarb.  PLus they have yummy cream pies as well.  It's hard for me to go and not get pie. 

Just Look At This Pastry Case

This is a great place to take people since they have great seating options and food that all will like.  They supposedly have wifi but I didnt see their name listed so I just used my phone as a hotspot while there. So if you are looking to get work done call I'd call and ask beforehand, otherwise Lofty Coffee is great (or I mean Starbucks too). I highly recommend this place as a friend hangout as well as a solo visit. I go solo to relax, write or read.  Also to eat pie.  

The Usual Almond Milk Double Latte & Cherry Pie

I get messy