Casey Albarran

A personal tour through my record shelf — from bass-heavy bangers and golden-hour grooves to cinematic gems and moody jazz suites. These albums aren't just for listening — they shape the atmosphere. 🛒 Where possible, I’ve linked to Barnes & Noble or the artist's official store to support the people behind the music — and to avoid defaulting to Amazon unless necessary. 🎧 But first, hit up your local record shop if you have one nearby. They’re the heartbeat of vinyl culture, and nothing beats flipping through crates IRL. Thrift stores are great too.🔊 At the end, I’ve included a few starter-friendly turntables and speaker setups, plus nice storage options and accessories.From floor-fillers to focus fuel — this one’s for the music lovers. Enjoy the spin.This will be one of my Evergreen lists that I will update as my collection grows.

I have always loved camping but in order to have a comfortable and fun experience you need the gear. I usually have friends that have all the gear so I don’t have a lot of the big stuff, but I’ve got a good idea of what my dream campsite would have. These recs are super versatile since they can be used for nature camping, festival camping, backpacking, and even emergency situations.

Happy Summer, if there's one lil sweet treat we all deserve, its gotta be a pile of frozen dairy or plant fats! I have always been a sucker for ice cream, for some reason on chilly days oddly. San Francisco has no shortage of sweet ice cream spots. Most are accommodating for gluten free and vegan sweeties. My favorite is Bi-Rite Creamery. I used to love places like Cold Stone Creamery, but here in SF, we support unique small-ish businesses! I actually discovered that one of the spots I was going to include recently shut down for good, RIP Castro Fountain (check out their sister biz, the Ice Cream Bar). I also included DIY options for those not in SF but might want to up their @ home ice cream game.

Born coastal, stayed coastal. I’ve lived all up and down California—from Humboldt fog to San Diego sun—and these are the beaches I’ve actually been to and would recommend. My favorite beach activity is pretty much just throwing down a beach blanket and chillin for hours. Maybe a little drinky, a little smokey, and just soak in that sun. Ironically I don’t really care to get in the water at most NorCal beaches. The water is usually too cold! Nothing beats beach views though. My next beach activity I want to happen is using my SUP at the beach (or on the bay). I’ve never surfed but we have great waves up and down the coast. Whether you’re in it for a dip, a tan, or a little flirt with nature. Who else is ready for summer?

My secret kitchen tools and inspirations. From Accessories to Appliances! Also a lot of eco friendly options. There’s a lot of unnecessary single use waste that comes from the kitchen. I prefer a lot of glass and metal foodware, the less plastic our food and water comes in contact with, the better.

Even though it’s almost every park in SF, check out my favorite parks to enjoy in the city. I usually use my parks to soak in some sun, but we have some hefty spaces with good trails as well.

If you’re new to enjoying music & arts festivals or just need some new gear, definitely check out this list of men’s festival fashion and gear. Everything you need from head to toe. A lot of these items I own and love and others I need to get asap. Sorry it’s a bit late for Coachella, but festival seasons just getting started babyyy. I have a list of festivals in California if you need some recs.

I love exploring art and science museums and galleries in different cities. SF offers some really great opportunities to witness the works of some awesome influential artists as well as skilled independent folks. A lot of these galleries are free to the public, but most of the bigger spaces will require some planning!

A list of my favorite podcasts that are pretty consistent with posting regular new content. News, Culture, Science, etc! All are linked to Spotify but can be found on any podcast app. A lot are Bay Area and California centric but overall great resources.

If you need a good starter kit or some new equipment to care for your plants, check out this list of products I use to keep my plants alive and thriving. I love plants and have brought them with me every time I’ve moved, if I had the space I would probably even have more.

Looking to get and stay healthy? Here's your starter kit for beginning your smoothie game. I have relied on smoothies to get a nice boost of nutrients in my diet. I have worked for smoothie and juice bars in the past and make smoothies for work lunch daily.

Money sucks, but honestly you have to pass Go and play the dang game if you want to live comfortably in this capitalistic society. Especially when it comes to retirement. I try to be ethical with a lot of my spending and saving. These big banks are taking the money we are holding in our accounts and investing it in some dirty stuff like weapons and oil. These recs helps to gamify your money a bit, which is nice because otherwise you're mostly going to watch your money leave your account. Im no expert in this field, but take it from someone who hasn't been in debt since I screwed up on using credit cards for emergencies and spending years paying off the debt with interest. Now I have several credit cards for different uses, and I pay their balances off every month. I didnt choose a lucrative career and I live in $an Francisco, so its necessary for me to spend wisely on good food and experiences, but also save for the future. Hope this helps!

There’s wheat gluten in a lottt of packaged foods. It’s nice to have some go to brands for snacking, pantry essentials, and lil treats. While a lot of these recs seem like healthier alternatives to conventional foods, you should still opt for fresh fruits, veggies, and proteins. However, indulge responsibly!

Check out these unique food spots in SF with some of the best Gluten Free options. Living with gluten issues among other food intolerances is never easy when it comes to eating out with friends or family. My issue is a skin related gluten intolerance called Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Its difficult for me to know whether these restaurants are safe for Celiac, as my condition isnt gut related, but many of them are nice restaurants that have iconic menu items made without gluten. Use the map to find your nearest spot!

Solar panels and lithium ion batteries do not have a perfect footprint, but they can provide you with some energy independence and emergency preparedness. Check out the solar energy tech that you can implement at home, at your campsite, or when the power goes out. I’m also including some articles on other applications of solar tech like rooftop solar water heaters.

As a well seasoned live music goer I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of festivals. They can be expensive but it’s so worth it when you get to dance and vibe to your favorite artists. Check out my favorite festivals from Northern to Southern California. Plan a trip, we have festivals year round! Everything shows up on the map.

These are some of the coolest Asics that I am wearing, have worn, or would recommend! Been wearing this brand since the late ‘00s. I always end up with at least one pair of these classics in my shoe rotations. I went ahead and picked out all the best colors.

Check out 15 weird and awesome fungi that you might find in the forest or your health food store's wellness section, maybe even the produce section.