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Back to the BWCA - Red Rock to American Point via Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

The  kickoff to our Boundary Waters trip started with a cookout in Duluth.   Right along the rocky shores of east Duluth. Burgers and playing in Lake Superior, what could be better for this little bub. We camped at Jay Cooke state park for the night, then drove back to Duluth for some Duluth Grill breakfast. Had we known that we were meeting with Blake and Daniel on the far side of Duluth, we'd have stayed in Two Harbors. But I guess it worked out. Duluth Grill is still delicious. Meadow is now in her, "Why are you taking photos of me" phase. We had some time before getting to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters so stopped in Grand Marais. 
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Work Trip: Flushing Queens, Chinatown and Buffalo Briefly

Well, you didn't think I was done traveling for work, did you? I swear I had a shoot in rural in Bradford, PA. But you'll never know it. I got there late and had to leave straight for Buffalo to fly out to NYC for a shoot on Long Island. I did manage to briefly stop in Western New York State's Ellicottvile. I managed to get back to Buffalo with just enought time to stop for a Beef on Weck at Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen . While I quite liked Baltimore Pit Beef, I think Beef on Weck is even better. An unsung American sandwich hero. It's really about that bun. A cross between a kaiser roll and pretzel bun. Amazing stuff.

Tuska Brothers' Packers Weekend or How We Ate Our Way Through Green Bay

My rad brother hooked us up with a pair of Packers tickets at Lambeau. We've been talking about doing this for years now and it was finally happening! A Tuska Brothers' Packers Weekend. We met up at the bar at Kroll's West where he was already noshing on a sausage and black olive pizza. Are we even brothers? Doesn't he know that sausage always goes with green bell peppers or spinach? We got the cheapest hotel room in town at the Bay Motel and Family Restaurant . It looks straight out of the 50s and I don't think its trying to be cute. To be honest the place is just nice. After settling in we got beer over at Badger State Brewing. Our friend Jordan , who we just met up with a few weeks back in Seattle, designed some of their newest cans. So we had to stop by. That's so cool. After a couple of beers we drove up the bay to Club Chalet in Benderville for an authentic Wisconsin Supper Club experience.

Halloween 2025

It was good to be back home for nearly a full week for a change. I always love to see what Theo builds with his magna tiles. That's a good skittle. I'm not sure why he looks so serious. When we all dressed up as M&M's a few years back we got tons of M&M's. Theo's hoping if he's a Skittle he'll get lots of Skittles.  Again a serious Skittle.  Meadow dressed as Kanao.

Work Trip: Walking Baltimore

I flew into Philly for a shoot out in the Main Line suburbs. With my shoot and hotel way outside the city I skipped exploring Philadelphia proper. After my shoot I had to drive down to Baltimore where I would not repeat that mistake. I guess I was a little burnt out from all this travel. Sorry Philadelphia. I knew exactly where to go once I made it from southeast Pennsylvania to the edges of Baltimore, Maryland. Chaps Pit Beef was a must and it didn't disappoint. Think of it as a lightly smoked and bespoke Arby's sandwich. 10/10 I'd eat it again. I drove in through city streets down to my hotel on the edge of Inner Harbor and Fells Point. Of course I went for a little walk into Fells Point as soon as I was settled in. Fells Point at night felt like a melding of Boston and Cincinnati.

Errands and Pumpkins

Theo's requested breakfast. Smiley breakfast. I bet you can guess what day it is. It's library day, for all who celebrate. FWIW I was still in Baltimore waiting on my flight home. When we were packing for Washington I couldn't find Meadow's raincoat anywhere. Assuming we lost it in the Boundary Waters I searched for a new one that we could get before we left for Washington State. Rain coats aren't really available this time of year so I ordered one through REI. Of course right before we left Meadow found her coat in her school backpack. I figured she could just use the one we ordered when she grew out of her current jacket. So today we picked it up. Theo insisted on trying it on too. Theo also convinced me to buy him a Timberwolves shirt.  How can you say no to that face? Later in the afternoon the kids carved their pumpkins along with Meadow's friend. Meadow's minimalist pumpkin is actually pretty good. Theo decided for Halloween he wanted to be a skittle. ...

The Whole Family Meets Me for a Spokane to Seattle Road Trip

After many failed attempts, we finally made plans for Brooke and the kids to meet me after a job. I couldn't wait to see killer bee and my little runts out in Washington State. I'd been on the road working for over a week at this point. My parents stayed an extra day just to take us to the airport.  Ready to go.  Meanwhile I made it back up to Spokane after a day of shooting 360s down in Pullman. Guess we'll never forget which car is ours.  I laughed when I first saw it. Couldn't wait for Brooke and the kiddos reaction. We stayed the night at the Steam Plant Hotel. I'd stayed here when I shot 360s at Gonzaga University back in the spring. Seemed like a good, cheap option. The rooms are simple and do the job. I liked that this place provided ear plugs but only because the walls are paper thin. I could hear everything our neighbors were saying. I wanted to stay on Minnesota time and made us get up at 6am. I'm sure our neighbors loved that.  I'm sure we loved t...

Work Trip: Pullman, Washington

My next shoot for CampusReel took me back to Washington state for a shoot at, well, Washington State University down in Pullman. After a cross-continental day of flying from Boston to Spokane (via Minneapolis) I drove down to the southeast corner of the Evergreen State. The area between Spokane and Pullman was mostly rolling hills. It didn't look too different than parts of North Dakota. Eventually I made it to Colfax where I stopped and took some pictures. Apparently Colfax is the county seat. The courthouse featured some great deco architecture. 20 minutes later and I was at the Hotel McCoy in Pullman. There seem to be a lot of rad updated motels in Washington.