Morning Swim.  Photo © Chris J. Russo.

 My feet in Santa Barbara.  Photo Chris J. Russo.

Cycling towards the foothills heading to Ventura. Photo © Chris J. Russo.

I saw U2 play the Beacon Theater in NYC back in 1982, when they were on their “War” tour. Bono would infamously climb on top of a stack of amplifiers and wave around a large white flag, while singing “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” sending a political message through their music even from the start.  I was in my glory — all of 12 years old — dancing with a bunch of strangers to the high energy of a band that gave the 2,800 seat audience all they had.  Sunday night at the Rose Bowl, I saw my 4th U2 concert over the years (Giants Stadium on their Zooropa Tour, and a few years ago at the Staples Center), and this show was probably the best of the best.  Playing for two and a half hours, the band came out with the energy they had back in 1982, and the set design (see that crazy picture above) and lighting was incredible.  With the theme of “360 degrees” — meaning that worldwide, via live streaming on YouTube, people could simultaneously listen and watch the show.  It was an amazing technological feat to put on, and U2, a band that continues to reinvent themselves quite successfully, did it pretty flawlessly.  What was even more impressive to me, was being in a crowd of close to 100,000 people in the audience and looking around to all of the happy faces.  Who were these people? Where did they come from?  Living in LA, I am not used to seeing this many people all in one place, it was startling.  The power of this band, of their music, of their message is unbelievably far-reaching, and thankfully Bono is intelligently using this power in such a positive light.

Seattle Sidewalk. Photo © Chris J. Russo.

Seattle has, hands down, the best coffee shops that I’ve ever frequented.  They are in another league from the Starbucks and Peets of the world because a lot of thought goes into their design as a social spaces to engage in, people watch, and enjoy the passing of time. Go out and support the independents!  Here is a growing list of my favorites in and around the Capitol Hill District:

WATERTOWN COFFEE, 550 – 12th Ave. btwn. Jefferson and Cherry
This is my new very favorite place to write and pass time while in Seattle. Enjoy the great music, casual and comfortable atmosphere, and Vivace coffee by the owners who were two of the original employees who helped start the famous Vivace shop. Free wifi.
watertowncoffee.com

CUPCAKE ROYALE, 1111 E. Pike St. btwn. 11th and 12th Ave.
They opened their doors last July and are the latest in the chain of independently-owned Cupcake Royale Shops. Cool space to people watch in the heart of Capitol Hill, great cupcakes, and Veritae Coffee. Free wifi.
cupcakeroyale.com

VICTROLA, 411 15th Ave. E.
This coffee shop has a soft spot in my heart because I did so much writing here for one of my scripts a few years back. It’s a quiet spot, really interesting people watching and in a really mellow neighborhood. The only drawback is no wifi on the weekends, to enforce live social interaction. What’s that?
victrolacoffee.com

It’s a perfect autumn day in Seattle, Washington. The rain is pouring, the leaves are swirling,  and the coffee shops are buzzing with friendly, beautiful faces.  I am here with my short film, 25 Random Things, that screens in the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival tomorrow at the Egyptian Theater.  I have an ongoing love affair with this great city, as it’s my sixth visit in the last ten years.  They put on an incredible festival, throw amazing parties, and have a wonderful community of film lovers.  It’s great to be here, once again.

Charlie pets a fish at the Hotel Monaco. Photo © Chris J. Russo.

“Flying at a higher spiritual altitude means thinking with more love. Living with more love isn’t lonely; living WITHOUT it is what’s lonely.”   — Marianne Williamson

This photograph was taken during the first week of September somewhere along Independence Pass in Colorado, not far from Aspen, while shooting my experimental 16mm film about the Rocky Mountain landscape. It was a quiet, warm, and peaceful day.