2014, I hardly Knew ye.
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Opened a clothing store. It's funny, most folks know us because of the bars, but those were really just a roundabout path to getting the boutique open. The store is the closest to the original Kinfolk idea that we started with.
2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My youngest sister had a baby boy in the last days of 2013. My nephew Miles is pretty awesome. Happiest baby I've ever seen. Adore him completely, but strangely, bonding with him has further reinforced my desire to never have children. Can't really explain it. But I just know.
3. Did anyone close to you die?
No, and I Don't like this question. Seems like bad juju to even bring it up.
4. What countries did you visit?
Japan, per usual. I continue to love it there, but I definitely need to branch out wth the travel. I have friends in London and Paris that I've been wanting to visit for too long. Might be time to add Europe to my nomad schedule. I also drove from NY to Seattle in November, and it was great. The mountains of Wyoming and Utah, just as the first snows of winter are starting to stick are breathtakingly beautiful.
5. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A home base for my wanderings. It's still my life goal to perfect the wandering lifestyle, but I'm also ready to start fashioning my perfect HQ. Probably not a 2015 thing, but for sure 2016.
6. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None really. Whole thing was a blur.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting Kinfolk94 open. Having it take off like it has. Pulling off the World Cup clubhouse was huge, considering we went from barely open to standing room only, line down the block, for a month. Also, I wish we could have publicized it more, but having Jay-Z and Beyonce there felt like a stamp of approval. Because Beyonce.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Not fixing our interpersonal business crap. Losing our GM. No matter how much success the business might have, I care more about the people, and nurturing their careers and dreams. In hindsight, I tried really hard as a boss to keep him, but didn't really flex my power as an owner to change the part of the business that was driving him out. Lesson learned though.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My blood pressure continues to be wild inappropriate. Considering where I was 2-3 years ago, I can't complain. But there was a week this summer where it got scarily high. Thankfully, it continues to respond to prescribed medication.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
My new truck. Feels good having a vehicle that I can get in and drive off into the desert, or the mountains, or wherever. Key part of my nomadic master plan. Lot more road trips (and camping) in my future. I really love it a lot.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I can't think of anyone specifically, but I feel like I know so many people who are awesome in many different ways, and inspire me constantly. I can remember the time in my life when I consciously decided to only have good people around me, and it's for sure paid off over the years.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
America. From day one, There is no situation that this country hasn't attempted to solve with unceasing brutality. And I get doubly bummed at how the majority of people are just confused more than anything. The number of conversations about Ferguson I've heard where both sides had no Idea what the hell they were talking about just saddens me. It scares me that there are streets full of people who are angry, and know something wrong happened, but have no real way to figure out why or how we all got to this point.
Also, Iggy Azalea.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Getting the Kinfolk clothing line off the ground. Which better pay off, dammit! Making t-shirts is no big deal. Making pants? That shit is 'spensive and risky and weird to even think about. I make pants for fashionable skinny euro-dudes.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. Happier or sadder? Neither. both.
b. Fatter or Thinner? Can't even tell any more. Older, that's for damn sure.
c. Richer or poorer? Both. Bank account on lean status, business making more than I ever thought it would, and should be making more by a pretty large margin in '15. But as the man said.."Mo' Money, Mo' Problems"
15. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Time with friends. Travel. Reading.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working in circles. Arguing in circles. Wasting my breath trying to get through to people who don't listen.
17. How many one-night stands?
zero. There is so much nothing going on in that part of my life. Which is Ok. Not complaining. It's actually nice to finally be at the age where the physical urge doesn't overpower my rational decision making. I don't have the bandwidth for it right now, and that's ok.
18. Did you fall in love in 2014?
See above. Just not in that zone.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Broad City, True Detective, The Knick
20. What did you want and get?
Seahawks won the Super Bowl. Maybe not important in the grand scheme of things, but if I made a list of 10 things I never thought I'd live to see... Legal Marijuana, A Black President, and The Hawks winning the Super Bowl all would have been close to the top. At this point I'm fairly convinced that the rest of my list will fall as well. Alien visitation, and time travel can't be far behind.
21. What did you want and not get?
Platinum Status on Delta. A vacation in Palm Springs.
22. What was your favorite film of this year?
Big Hero 6.
23. What did you do on your birthday?
Nada, as I like it.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A week in Palm Springs. I had a perfect vacation mapped out in my head, and I just didn't make time. Renting a house in Palm Springs with a pool, and spending a week reading by the pool, going on bike rides and cooking steaks on the grill every night.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Same as always. Vintage Ralph Lauren. Most of which isn't even noticable if you're not similarly obsessed. But I figure if I'm gonna wear a boring ass plaid shirt over a pocket-T it might as well be specific. I found an amazing vintage shop in Tokyo that was all Ralph Lauren. Words can not describe the joy.
26. What kept you sane?
Having goals, and knowing I am working towards them.
27. What political issue stirred you the most?
Ferguson, and what's hapeing with the NYPD right now. Not so much the killings of Black Men, but the violent crackdown on peaceful protest, and the militarization of the Police. I truly believe that this country is improving racially. It's a slow bumpy road, but we're working against 400 years of history. It's going to take time. The destruction of our democracy, and the ways that the police have been empowered to stifle any form of legal dissent, racial, political, or economic.That is what's scaring the shit out of me these days.
28. Who did you miss?
Jason. Addiction is the fucking worst.
29. Who was the best new person you met?
No new friends...I ride with day one homies only.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
There is nothing more damaging than the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.
Opened a clothing store. It's funny, most folks know us because of the bars, but those were really just a roundabout path to getting the boutique open. The store is the closest to the original Kinfolk idea that we started with.
2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My youngest sister had a baby boy in the last days of 2013. My nephew Miles is pretty awesome. Happiest baby I've ever seen. Adore him completely, but strangely, bonding with him has further reinforced my desire to never have children. Can't really explain it. But I just know.
3. Did anyone close to you die?
No, and I Don't like this question. Seems like bad juju to even bring it up.
4. What countries did you visit?
Japan, per usual. I continue to love it there, but I definitely need to branch out wth the travel. I have friends in London and Paris that I've been wanting to visit for too long. Might be time to add Europe to my nomad schedule. I also drove from NY to Seattle in November, and it was great. The mountains of Wyoming and Utah, just as the first snows of winter are starting to stick are breathtakingly beautiful.
5. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A home base for my wanderings. It's still my life goal to perfect the wandering lifestyle, but I'm also ready to start fashioning my perfect HQ. Probably not a 2015 thing, but for sure 2016.
6. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None really. Whole thing was a blur.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting Kinfolk94 open. Having it take off like it has. Pulling off the World Cup clubhouse was huge, considering we went from barely open to standing room only, line down the block, for a month. Also, I wish we could have publicized it more, but having Jay-Z and Beyonce there felt like a stamp of approval. Because Beyonce.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Not fixing our interpersonal business crap. Losing our GM. No matter how much success the business might have, I care more about the people, and nurturing their careers and dreams. In hindsight, I tried really hard as a boss to keep him, but didn't really flex my power as an owner to change the part of the business that was driving him out. Lesson learned though.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My blood pressure continues to be wild inappropriate. Considering where I was 2-3 years ago, I can't complain. But there was a week this summer where it got scarily high. Thankfully, it continues to respond to prescribed medication.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
My new truck. Feels good having a vehicle that I can get in and drive off into the desert, or the mountains, or wherever. Key part of my nomadic master plan. Lot more road trips (and camping) in my future. I really love it a lot.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I can't think of anyone specifically, but I feel like I know so many people who are awesome in many different ways, and inspire me constantly. I can remember the time in my life when I consciously decided to only have good people around me, and it's for sure paid off over the years.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
America. From day one, There is no situation that this country hasn't attempted to solve with unceasing brutality. And I get doubly bummed at how the majority of people are just confused more than anything. The number of conversations about Ferguson I've heard where both sides had no Idea what the hell they were talking about just saddens me. It scares me that there are streets full of people who are angry, and know something wrong happened, but have no real way to figure out why or how we all got to this point.
Also, Iggy Azalea.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Getting the Kinfolk clothing line off the ground. Which better pay off, dammit! Making t-shirts is no big deal. Making pants? That shit is 'spensive and risky and weird to even think about. I make pants for fashionable skinny euro-dudes.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. Happier or sadder? Neither. both.
b. Fatter or Thinner? Can't even tell any more. Older, that's for damn sure.
c. Richer or poorer? Both. Bank account on lean status, business making more than I ever thought it would, and should be making more by a pretty large margin in '15. But as the man said.."Mo' Money, Mo' Problems"
15. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Time with friends. Travel. Reading.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working in circles. Arguing in circles. Wasting my breath trying to get through to people who don't listen.
17. How many one-night stands?
zero. There is so much nothing going on in that part of my life. Which is Ok. Not complaining. It's actually nice to finally be at the age where the physical urge doesn't overpower my rational decision making. I don't have the bandwidth for it right now, and that's ok.
18. Did you fall in love in 2014?
See above. Just not in that zone.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Broad City, True Detective, The Knick
20. What did you want and get?
Seahawks won the Super Bowl. Maybe not important in the grand scheme of things, but if I made a list of 10 things I never thought I'd live to see... Legal Marijuana, A Black President, and The Hawks winning the Super Bowl all would have been close to the top. At this point I'm fairly convinced that the rest of my list will fall as well. Alien visitation, and time travel can't be far behind.
21. What did you want and not get?
Platinum Status on Delta. A vacation in Palm Springs.
22. What was your favorite film of this year?
Big Hero 6.
23. What did you do on your birthday?
Nada, as I like it.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A week in Palm Springs. I had a perfect vacation mapped out in my head, and I just didn't make time. Renting a house in Palm Springs with a pool, and spending a week reading by the pool, going on bike rides and cooking steaks on the grill every night.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Same as always. Vintage Ralph Lauren. Most of which isn't even noticable if you're not similarly obsessed. But I figure if I'm gonna wear a boring ass plaid shirt over a pocket-T it might as well be specific. I found an amazing vintage shop in Tokyo that was all Ralph Lauren. Words can not describe the joy.
26. What kept you sane?
Having goals, and knowing I am working towards them.
27. What political issue stirred you the most?
Ferguson, and what's hapeing with the NYPD right now. Not so much the killings of Black Men, but the violent crackdown on peaceful protest, and the militarization of the Police. I truly believe that this country is improving racially. It's a slow bumpy road, but we're working against 400 years of history. It's going to take time. The destruction of our democracy, and the ways that the police have been empowered to stifle any form of legal dissent, racial, political, or economic.That is what's scaring the shit out of me these days.
28. Who did you miss?
Jason. Addiction is the fucking worst.
29. Who was the best new person you met?
No new friends...I ride with day one homies only.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
There is nothing more damaging than the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.