FOOD NETWORK

First of all, when I woke up Wednesday morning there was a Tornado Warning for Newport Beach.



By the time I realized that the weather police were not joking, the threat had apparently passed. Anytime they interrupt The Price is Right I know that they must mean business.

Anyway, then I drove down to Matt's in San Diego. It was Restaurant Week this week - so which 5-star dining establishment did we decide to visit?


A little Italian place called "Domino's". (We actually didn't discover that it was Restaurant Week until Thursday)

As you guys may have heard, Domino's decided to switch things up and start serving real pizza for the first time in 50 years. The new recipe is good - I thought it tasted much better than their old stuff. Matt liked it too but he also can't remember there being anything wrong with the old Domino's pizza. I'm not sure if that's more to blame on a taste bud deficiency or memory problem on his part.


Anyway, Thursday we had a meeting at Iron Horse Jeans and then grabbed dinner at Hash House a go go.


Matt: Mashed Potato Cheddar Burger and Fries


Me: Sage Fried Chicken and Bacon Mashed Potatoes

My brother recommended it. Good food, nice atmosphere, lots of sort of weird/different menu choices, huge portions - 0484 approved.

FINALS REDUX

Matt and I celebrated Martin Luther King Day at the Laker game last night.


We thought it'd be good matchup. It was the first time they'd faced each other since last year's Finals.


Dwight played well - especially in the first half.


But Kobe struggled all night - but so did that crybaby Vince Carter.


Special edition kicks for MLK day


Luckily Farmar came through for the Lakers. Matt's counting down the days until he takes over Fisher's starting spot.


Apparently Leo and Bar are back together. I don't know what she sees in that guy. First of all, his hat is not fooling anyone - he doesn't even have a college degree... or his own graphic design business... or a kick-ass blog. So whatever.


Good day for Shannon - he got the official invite for next month's Dunk Contest in the morning and then went for a career high twenty-two.

MILE HIGH

Matt and I spent the week working in Denver.


TUESDAY: Left OC at dawn. Matt flew from San Diego and was on United Flight #0484. Needless to say I was jealous.


Packed for Denver like there would be a blizzard. As you can see it was actually unseasonably warm.


Invesco Field


Coors Field


We picked up some equipment at Lighting Services Inc. ...


...and got to work.


Iron Horse Jeans product samples


WEDNESDAY: A few sites from Downtown Denver






Delectable Egg - Best breakfast in Denver. Although we didn't eat there this trip because we were sort of swamped with work. Instead Matt had stale bagels every morning and I ate microwaved Campbell's soup from our hotel lobby.


THURSDAY - We were scheduled to fly home on the 14th, but our client held us hostage we willfully and cheerfully agreed to stay an extra day in order to help out with a few more things.


FRIDAY - Flew back to California. Looking through these photos on the plane I realized that I missed capturing some of the best parts of the trip: the time I spilled Fruit Loops in our van, when Matt and I got a parking ticket, the time I spilled soup in our van, when Matt got us lost and then wrongfully blamed my navigational skills, and one afternoon, after several extremely long days, when Matt and I were sitting in a room working and I accidentally fell asleep mid-conversation with him and he yelled at me.


SATURDAY - Home sweet home. Cavs at Clippers. Can't believe my boy Blake is out for the season. Such a bummer.

UNITED 440 - SNA/DEN

Matt and I are headed to Denver tomorrow at dawn.



Home of Chipotle, Tattered Cover and The Birdman.



I'm hoping to avoid frostbite - keep your fingers crossed.

FLICKR

Few iPhone pics from this past week.



Went down to San Diego to do a little photoshoot for Iron Horse Jeans.


Lunch


Photos


Dinner


More photos



New Black Card, I mean Plum Card, came in the mail. Old one was getting pretty beat up. Plum is the new Black anyway.



Dwight Schrute + stress ball = best Christmas gift ever

XMAS

I think we finally got all the company holiday cards and gifts shipped.









Kit Hinrichs, a partner at Pentagram, which is basically the world's most esteemed design group, produces a special Typography Calendar every year.



Each month is laid out in a different typeface and features information about the history of that particular font. In addition to all the usual holidays, the calendar also notes all of the respective type designers' birthdays.



We picked up a case of these to give to our clients and agencies we work with.



And yes, it is early January and conventional wisdom might dictate that these holiday cards and gifts are a bit late.

But we like to think of them as early Martin Luther King Day gifts. It's all about perspective.

NAT GEO

Our boy Ryan went out to the South Pacific recently.

He brought back a few photos.









Ryan and Matt were roommates throughout college. Immediately after graduating, Ryan started taking extended trips all over the world. I don't blame him - after having to live with Matt, I'm sure anyone would need a long vacation.

You can check out more of Ryan's photos here.