The Bay Area, the city where the cool breeze hits, is a melting pot of diverse flavors, iconic food spots, and vibrant street culture. From foggy mornings sipping lattes at aesthetic coffee shops to afternoons filled with delicious bites and people watching, the city’s energy is evident in every corner. Dealing with the SoCal heat is not for me, that’s why going to the Bay Area was a work trip I couldn’t pass on—literally. The cool breeze and overcast skies are such a relief. It’s one of my go to cities when I need a break from SoCal. As soon as I get there, the crisp air hits, and it feels like I can actually relax. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to explore the city’s vibe, grab some good food with the team, and soak in the laid back energy if you know what I mean.
Mark Enriquez and I started off our Saturday morning in Sacramento at the Pure 4×4 Outfitters Grand opening in Roseville. Immediately when we got there the atmosphere was laid back, but buzzing with excitement as we arrived. Shout out to Aldrin for letting us use his truck awning and Phil for hosting an incredible event. The event itself had something for everyone — Live music and food vendors lined up with everything from Hawaiian foods, Boba, tacos and the smell alone was enough to pull us in. There were a ton of giveaways happening, with people winning gear and accessories for their rides, which definitely kept the crowd engaged. The highlight of the event was the off roading vehicles on display. Everywhere you looked, there were custom 4x4s, lifted trucks, and decked out rigs, showing off Pure 4×4’s expertise in the off road world. You could tell the community had a lot of love for the shop, with owners proudly showcasing their builds. After being at the grand opening for a few hours, it was that time for us to pack up our booth and head out to the destination.
Photos by: Kevin Guerrero
As the day was winding down after hours on the road, we made a quick pit stop in Tracy, California, to visit some close friends. Then to cap off the night, we decided to hang out with our friend Mark Arcenal, who happened to be in town. He invited us over to this cool looking shop with Porsches inside, where we caught up and enjoyed the moment while he worked on his own Porsche GT3. Meanwhile the two Marks were catching up, I took the opportunity to pull out my camera and take candid photos of the shop environment. It’s not the first time capturing candid moments of Arcenal working on his car. Brings back memories to the time I did some video work back in Laguna Seca of him tracking the 991 GT3 for illest. After hanging out with Mark Arcenal, Mark Enriquez and I left to Lucky Chances to grab ourselves some Filipino food inside a casino. First time visiting this place and it was bomb! Thank you Mark!
The next morning, we met up with Mark Arcenal again at a local breakfast spot called Backhaus located in Burlingame, California. Now, let me tell you—the coffee was great, but it was the breakfast sandwich that really won me over. Served on a Poppy Seed Brioche Roll, it immediately caught my attention, and there was no way I was passing that up. So the three of us had to get it. The food was excellent, and the decor added to the whole experience which I’m a sucker for when it comes to coffee places and eateries. Afterward, we headed to another city to check out a Honda meet. From S2K’s and Modern Honda Civics to classic EG’s and EK’s, there was plenty of cars to see. While Hondas were the main focus, there were other cars there as well. What really caught my eye was the attention to detail on some of the EG’s, it was impressive. After the meet, we made our way to the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in San Jose to check out Daniel Luu and Sole & Laces grand opening retail store. If you’re into streetwear, this is definitely the spot to visit! They carry a solid lineup of Jordans, Supreme shirts, Yeezy sneakers, and other exclusive sneakers, along with some really cool apparel and merch. Most importantly you cannot go wrong with the line of Daniel Lu hats! So if you’re in town, make sure to stop by and cop yourself a hat.
After hanging out at the mall, it was time for us to head back to SoCal. Unfortunately, I wasn’t exactly excited about facing the heat again, but before we made the final stretch home, we stopped at Harris Ranch BBQ for one last meal. This kind of food was exactly what we needed after a long weekend — tender, smoky, sweet, and satisfying. It was the perfect way to end the trip on a high note before heading back into the SoCal sun!
