Eat, Drink + Be Merry. Food, Travel, Photography, Design + Music in Los Angeles and Other Parts of the Earth.

I’m very excited about this month’s trip to Seattle, as it will be my first time in Washington. I love seafood and the Pacific Northwest is a breeding ground for some of the freshest oysters around. Jeni’s cousin just had a baby and we are going up to pay a visit and finally meet the rest of her cousins. We’ll also be photographing our stay at The Inn at the Market for Tablet Hotel’s blog, Tablet Talk. Right after Seattle, we’re driving down to Portland for the third consecutive year – yes we love the food, cocktails and friends we’ve made up there. We’re also reconnecting with a lovely couple that we met backpacking in southern China at their annual crawfish boil. That’s three boils this year! As usual, would love to hear your recs for good eats, good drinks and good times.  If you’re an oyster, I feel really sorry for you haha. And here’s the list of artists for the WonderTune Seattle mix…

Bibio
Blood Orange
Body Language
Broken Bells
Chromeo
Deerhunter
Delorean
Deradoorian
Flying Lotus
Korallreven
Neon Indian
Owen Pallett
The Pass
Sun Airway
Toro y Moi
Two Door Cinema Club
Vanilla
Volta Cab
Washed Out
Wild Nothing

Download WonderTune Seattle.

Again, I have fallen slave to the warm 83 degree waters of the Caribbean. Jeni and I are headed to the Dutch Antilles, particularly the ABC Islands. They are a trio of islands just north of Venezuela, thankfully below the hurricane belt.  They stand for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, but we’re skipping out on Aruba. Bonaire is known for world-class diving and you can dive right off the shore on any part of the island. Curacao is the most populated of the ABC Islands and is known more for the beautiful Dutch architecture. After that, because it was so close, we decided to take a quick flight over to Bogotá, Colombia. I know there is a small stretch of Colombian restaurants on Melrose Avenue but I love that I’m going in blind with no expectations. And I have a feeling I’m going to be flattered by Bogotá. I’d love recommendations for various types of Colombian food if you have any, thanks.

I’m really excited about this mix as a lot of my fave artists have come out with either new singles or albums. A great Stereolab remix of the wonderfully talented Avalanches of Melbourne. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. comes out with another great song with a wailing guitar riff. These guys perform in race car driver outfits and helmets. I’m loving the chillwave sounds of Echo Shade – reminds me of Dam Funk and Washed Out mixed in one big bowl. Freddie Joachim is a master of super chill, hip hop beats and this time he does it with the help of a string arrangement. Holy Ghost! has an incredible ability to make you shake bones and they’re doing it this time with the help of old-school legend Michael MacDonald – don’t judge just yet! I love Javelin! Junior Boys are out again with another album with their tight, dreamy beats. M83 has re-surfaced after a few years and Anthony Gonzalaz is bringing the sax back. I recently started getting into Nicolas Jaar. He reminds me of a modern Matthew Herbert with his intricate, crispy sounds – think Mount Kimbie. The Radio Dept. is probably my all-time favorite band and their cover of the Go-Between’s song is amazing. The musical genius of Toro y Moi and his rendition of Alexander O’Neal & Cherelle’s classic jam. I just saw Washed Out a few weeks back at the Echoplex – wow. Their sophomore album does not disappoint. Enjoy!

The Avalanches – Since I Left You (Stereolab Remix)
Cherokee – Take Care Of You Cherokee
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – We Almost Lost Detroit
Echo Shade – Fluorescent Nights
Freddie Joachim – All I Need
Holy Ghost! – Some Children
Javelin – Lindsay Brohan
Junior Boys – You’ll Improve Me
Little Dragon – Crystalfilm
M83 – Midnight City
Mayer Hawthorne – Work To Do
Memory Tapes – Offers
Monster Rally – Chaska Beach
Nicolas Jaar – Keep Me There
Other Lives – Dark Horse
The Radio Dept. – Bachelor Kisses
Real Estate – It’s Real
Thievery Corporation – Where It All Starts
Toro Y Moi – Saturday Love
Vetiver – Can’t You Tell
Washed Out – Soft

Download WonderTune Bogotá.

If there’s a city I can keep returning to, it would be Mexico City. Mexico City holds a place in my heart and stomach. The food is amazing, the city is buzzing and the people we’ve met are simply genuine. It was more than 3 years ago, that I proposed to Jeni and as a tradition, we’ve decided to continue staying at Thomas Flechel’s Casa Comtesse, a quaint guesthouse/apartment in the charming Condesa district. When people ask me what Condesa is like, I immediately think of New York’s East Village, but not with yellow taxis, but the green and white Volkswagen Beetle taxis. Stay tuned for savory pics of al pastor straight off el trompo (the spit), the renowned cuisine of Chef Enrique Olvera and Chef Patricia Quintana and the millions of colors that make Distrito Federal (D.F.) so alive. I can’t express to you how much I love this city. Have a great 4th of July and thanks  for reading.

In this WonderTune compilation…

Active Chlid
Araabmuzik
Balam Acab
Bibio
Blood Orange
Bon Iver
Boom Clap Bachelors
Breakbot
Cults
Germany Germany
James Blake
The Rapture
SBTRKT
Starfucker
Vetiver
The XX

Download WonderTune Mexico City (D.F.) here.