My Busy weekend with Meetup in Barcelona

 I have been living in Barcelona for the past three years, and I have used the app Meetup sporadically to widen my network and make new connections.  I used to use it somewhat when I was in the States (during my dad blogger days, the NYC Dad Group was based on Meetup, and so was the Chicago Dads Group)  In Barcelona, I have done some language exchange groups, eaten dinner and lunch at various restaurants around the city, gone to a couple of online seminars, and even gone to a couple of concerts with a group of complete strangers.  This weekend happened to be one that had a whole lot of Meetup going on, so I decided it might be fun...

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Instruction Manual For Nothing at The Chiquita Room (ends Feb 28)

As is often the case in Barcelona, cool things and places are just around the corner, but you have to keep your eyes open.A couple of weeks ago I was having Ramen with a friend, and as I came out of the restaurant, my friend went right, I went left, and happened to look at the storefront next to the Ramen shop.  It looked like an art gallery, and there was a little sign that said "Instruction Manual For Nothing." in Spanish.  Intrigued, I tried the door, and while it wasn't open, someone came to let me in.The exhibition is a collaboration of two artists, Xavi Rodriguez and Blanca Vinas.  Both artists use chance, randomness, and a sort of childlike...

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Nicki Green's Firmament at the Contemporary Jewish Museum

 A little bit of bragging is in order. My cousin Nicki Green has her first solo exhibition of her work at a major museum.  It opened last week at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.  The show is called Firmament, and is on through Feb 2, 2025.From left: Nicki Green, Drifting Upon Swollen Water (Gavriel), A Slack Unthreading (Raphael), Perforated in the Night (Uriel), Fruitful Vine 2 (Michael), 2024. Courtesy the artist and CULT Aimee Friberg.  She also has another related exhibition Eye of the Fountain at gallery CULT Aimee  Friberg that runs through November 16 also in San Francisco  Her work is ceramic based, and celebrates and explores liminality and the interplay between Judaism, trans identity, and transformation.  The press release says it a lot better...

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Nu, May is Jewish American Heritage Month. Who Knew?

 I certainly was not aware that May is Jewish American Heritage Month.   I knew that February was Black History month, and that March is Women's History Month, and that Pride Month is in June.  I didn't realize that Jewish American Heritage  was this month.  (By the way, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is also in May.  Which makes sense, because if you count from 2000 years ago, Israel (Judea) is officially Asia. May is also Older Americans Month.  This is the time that Israel, Florida, and the Jews all align as one.  Did I mention Chinese food on Christmas Eve?  I was about to.  It is all coming together!Some of the many prominent Jewish Americans.  I am...

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RIP Dave Hollis

Dave Hollis and his daughter Noah. I was punched in the gut recently when I heard the news that Dave Hollis had recently and suddenly passed away.  He was an influencer and writer and father (4 kids)  whose work I have admired for the past 4 years.   I never met him personally, but I consumed enough of his content (book, podcast, social media) that I felt like I knew him. Dave had apparently entered the hospital for heart related concerns, and despite his exercise and fitness regimen (he was a regular runner, and had recently competed in his first physique contest), something was apparently wrong and had gone undetected.  He died suddenly.Read Dave's Obituary Here.It’s a funny thing about Social Media—...

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Angus Nelson's Mid Year Gut Check: Don't Try

Angus can be found on the internet at http://www.angusnelson.com I have forgotten how inspiring and awesome Angus Nelson can be.I've seen him talk a few times at Dad 2.0 and some other blogging conferences.  I've had a few one on one conversations with him, and had a great breakfast with him a few years ago when he was passing through Chicago.  He's thoughtful and inspiring and great and smart and (all that jazz)This past year, he and his family rooted themselves up from Nashville where they were living and moved to Lisbon Portugal.  I don't know the whole story why, other than he wanted a change, he needed a change, and this was a change. I follow him on Instagram and...

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The Greatest Adventure of My Life

14 years ago today, my wife and I said "I do" to each other in a restored dance hall in Yonkers, NY, and I can honestly say it has been the greatest adventure of my life.  Our wedding invitation.I say that without hesitation, or perhaps with a tiny bit of hesitation-- I mean I want to be accurate right?  Perhaps there was some other adventure that I embarked on that was bigger?  I've been on a few of them.  Driving down to Venice Florida to start clown college, not knowing a single soul there.  Driving cross country to the Dell'Arte school without having been there before, to figure out how I was going to learn to live in rural Northern California. ...

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