A Year in Review: 2011

Roadtrip #1 Stats

• 15,000+ Miles

• Stopped in 50 Cities

• Played Piano in 32 Cities and 8 National Parks

• 5 months of Travel

• Date of Departure: April 4, 2011

• Date of Return: Sept. 5, 2011

After spending 3 months healing from a piano falling on my hand in the middle of NYC, I was determined to make my dream of traveling across America with my upright piano come true. Most people would think twice after having a 400 lb piano fall on your hand, nearly ending your career. But I am a firm believer of "Risk. Fail. Risk Again."

In February of 2011, I bought my first Car with my savings. And no, its not the dream car you're thinking of. This is my first car:

I fitted the vehicle with carpeting, wood beams, and make it feel like a home.

Originally I intended to leave so I could make it to New Orleans before Mardi Gras, but things never work out the way you plan. I also didnt have enough money to go on a road trip. So I took another month to save and by April 4, 2011, I embarked on my journey. (Click on the Cities to see more photos)

Philadelphia, PA

Washington, DC

Playing piano at Dupont Circle

Charleston, SC

The Angel Oak Tree in Charleston

Athens, GA

New Orleans, LA

I fell in Love with New Orleans. I fell in love with the culture. I fell in love with the people. And most of all, I fell in love with the music. There is NOTHING like New Orleans and It is my second home (after New York City).

Check out the New Orleans Photo Album

Austin, TX

New Mexico

White Sands Desert is another amazing sight in America.

I never experience more isolation than this desert. This place was magical and it showed me that there is very much beauty in a vast desert of nothing. See the Story of Claunch, one of my favorite places on Earth.

Albuquerque

See the Conversation with Mohawk Girl in Albuquerque

 Santa Fe

June 2012

The Canyons:

I couldnt decide whether to go to the Grand Canyon or Bryce and Zion. Instead I decided to go to all three. It was well worth the trip.

Grand Canyon

Bryce Canyon

Zion National Park

I played in this amazing field of yellow and purple flowers. This was above 7000 feet in elevation

Las Vegas

Crazy Drunk Folk

Los Angeles

I didnt have the greatest time in LA. I played at Venice Beach and at Hermosa Beach. The majority of my time was spent with my cousins who live out there and driving through traffic.

Driving Along I-1

One of the most amazing drive's on my trip was going along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Beautiful sights with plenty of dangerous curves up ahead.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is certainly one of my favorite small towns in America. I met so many musicians and down to earth people.

San Francisco

Someone spray painted my truck when I was in San Francisco. I was really pissed. But I got over it...

The Redwoods

 Click Here for the Redwoods Photo Album

July 2012

Oregon Country Fair

Check out the Photo Album from the Oregon Country Fair

Portland

First Thursday is a Street Art Fair that they do in Portland every month. The Streets were packed and I set up my piano fairly close to where all the action was happening. I met some really great people including a multi-millionaire who ended up taking us out for drinks afterwards.

Seattle

Seattle was where I ran out of money. I decided that I am going to attempt to travel back home to New York City with only $2.82 in my bank account.

Read How I traveled Across America with only $2.82 in my Bank Account

Coeur d'Alene

Glacier National Park

One of the most beautiful places on Earth. This is another magical and nostalgic place. The history of this planet is engraved in this preserved land.

Jackson, WY

Within the 36 hours I stayed in Jackson, Wyoming, I met more than 25 people and had some really amazing conversations. I didnt even play piano there, but I met so many people by walking around and being the outgoing person that I am.

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Tetons

Salt Lake City, UT

Colorado

Independence Pass

Boulder

The Midwest

Sunflower Field

Chicago, IL

September

New York City

Traveling to more than 60 cities in America made me appreciate New York City that much more. New York has Everything and there is absolutely no place like New York in the entire world!

November 21, 2012

Roadtrip #2 to Florida:

I received a call from an artist i once worked for and he needed someone to deliver his paintings to the Art Basel Festival in Miami, Florida. I was perfect for the job and I figured that while I was getting paid to deliver these paintings why not bring my piano down and play around town?

Check out all the photos from our Florida Journey

Super Storm Sandy: Volunteering at Far Rockaway

I recently took a trip to Far Rockaway to deliver supplies and food to those who lost their homes and I came back with photos and memories that blew me away. Big thanks to Nova and Malin Landeaus for providing us with clothing and food to deliver down there. Also a shout out to my buddy Andres Daza for coming with me to help out. We arrived at B138 Street and saw a street covered in 2 feet of sand. We spoke to someone who was emptying his house and he told us that there were some blocks that went up in flames because their gas tanks shattered. He also told us that when they first came outside there was 4 feet of water everywhere.

We then went to a church where there were people waiting on lines for food, huge piles of clothes everywhere, and people working to help those in need. I've never seen that many piles of clothes everywhere.

Speaking to many of the locals we heard stories that were appalling about the damage and deaths of people in the area.

Things werent very organized and there was definitely a shortage of people there to help. We met with these 2 girls who also had some supplies and went over to B15 where we heard they didnt get any aid. While walking through the area we spoke to some locals who let us set up shop on their property. We gave out toilet paper, food, hygiene items, clothes, and batteries.

White Sands, New Mexico

I didn't actually play my piano in White Sands National Monument but it was a wonderful experience and I took some awesome photos.

Zion National Park, Utah

Similar Posts:

• Glacier National Park, Montana
• Independence Pass, Colorado
• Playing Piano on a Cliff in the Grand Canyon
• Playing Piano inside a Redwood Tree

Glacier National Park

 

The Lonely Piano in New York City

A photo album of a new miniature piano I got in March 2012. All of these photos were taken at SOHO in New York City.  

Piano in the Streets: A Photo Story

An Album of the many cities I've played my traveling piano on the streets

Playing in Grants Pass, Oregon

Santa Cruz, CA

Hermosa Beach, CA

Las Vegas, NV

San Francisco, CA

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Austin, Texas

New Orleans, LA

San Francisco, CA

Venice Beach, CA

New York City, NY

New York City

NYC with 2 pianos

San Antonio, Texas

Santa Fe, New Mexico

See the New Orleans Photo Album

LOVE Park in Philadelphia

See the Philadelphia Photo Album

Miami, Florida

Seattle Washington

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Portland Oregon: First Thursday

Portland Oregon

Portland

Madison, Wisconsin

Berkley California

San Francisco, CA

Salt Lake City

Santa Cruz

Virginia City, MT

Washington DC

Washington DC

Brando's Friends

An Album of the many Dogs Brando Met while Traveling

This is Brando:

These are all his friends Across America:

On a beach in Northern California

At the Dog Park in New Orleans

At the Dog Park in New Orleans

Lazy Dog in the New Orleans heat

Lost Dog in New Orleans

Big Dog, Small Dog

Puppy V.S. Kitten in Santa Fe, NM

21 Year old Dog I met in Albuquerque, NM

Quirky Chihuahua I met in Washington, DC

Pirate Dog I met in Athens, Georgia

Cute Young Bulldog

10 Funny Billboards and Signs We Saw on the Road (Pt 1)

This is an ongoing collection of Funny Billboards and Signs we saw while traveling Across America. I thought this was a very clever Billboard.

Hell... I'd Forgotten about that. There were tons of these religious billboard in Georgia.

"I saw this guy in an Orange suit and he looked like he needed a ride..."

As if Republicans have all the Answers to our problems... Yeah right.

Dont be Afraid to Let your Farts be Heard

Saw these road trippers while heading to New Orleans

Dine College. Where your Future Begins (Are you sure about that? Look At this place!)

I was pretty shocked when I saw this. It treads on the border of Funny and Really Not Funny at all.

I'm Busy Now... Can I Ignore you some other time? I saw this one at a Drive Thru.

This is funny because someone actually put the time to set these signs up. I was a bit hesitant when I walked on his property to take this photo.

Playing Piano in Prairie Creek Redwoods, California

Playing Piano in America's National Parks

Mardi Gras 2012- New Orleans

People We've Met: A Photo Album

An Album of the many people We've met and Talked to all across America.

Met this man and his daughter in Philadelphia

Met this juggling man in Athens, Georgia

Jammed out at Kevins house in Atlanta, Georgia

Jamming on the streets of New Orleans

Played with this bass player in New Orleans

Aprica sang a few tunes with me in DC.

Met a few barefoot travelers in Athens, Georgia

Jammed with this Kentucky man in Athens, Georgia

Played with a violinist and a girl who played the saw in Athens, Georgia

Met this group in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

These people were from South Dakota.

Met Steve at a Starbucks Parking lot in Washington State. He played a few tunes on his guitar and we sang together

Met this cute baby in Portland Oregon.

Jammed with this sax player in Iowa. I even met his parents too.

Met this crazy group in Des Moines, Iowa

This guy sang with me in Berkley California

This guy was insane! Met him in Berkley, CA

Spoke to this homeless man with the beard. He rapped for me and told me that he was schizophrenic.

Met these great people in Grants Pass, Oregon.

I met Brannon in Charleston, South Carolina. He's a good hearted man.

Met this lovely old woman when she was sitting on her porch in New Orleans.

Met these guys in Vegas.

Crazy drunks in Vegas. This guy actually played some piano!

Spoke with these flute players in Santa Fe.

This man was a traveling musician as well.

Girl with the Mohawk.

Man who bikes around the world.

This is Foster. He was homeless. At least he looked homeless, but he had a cell phone and hooked me up with some connected when I arrived in Austin.

Met this humble man in Portland, Oregon during the First Thursday Festivals. The conversation you see we're having inspired me so much. And reminded me about the power of helping people.

Met Steve the Harper in Glacier National park

Met this wonderful couple while I was in Aspen for 2 days. They really helped me out and I was so thankful that I met them.

Met this bunch in Boulder, Colorado. Great people.