Welcome to the official home for all things Jon Davidson.
Photography: David Reamer
XI'AN IN 36 HOURS.
In February of 2019, Kathleen and I visited Xi'an, a 'small' Chinese city of only 8 million people. Though virtually unheard-of by much of the world, Xi'an (pronounced She-On) boasts the world-famous Terra Cotta Army, an incredible 14th-century city wall, and vibrant arts and nightlife.
Accompanied by Tonia and Naomi, two amazing people we ended up traveling with, we quickly fell in love with this underappreciated metropolis while narrowly avoiding death on a tandem bike, eating cabbage off of street planter boxes, fending off pesky balloon animal salespeople, struggling to open wine bottles, and much more. Watch our latest travel video, XI'AN IN 36 HOURS, here! TRAVEL THERAPY.
Do you want to be healthy? Obviously. Get exercise? Check. Lower stress? Improve your relationships? Fight off depression? Check, check, and check.
Try travel therapy. It might be the best decision you ever make. Travel isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. For health. For happiness. Don't believe me? Read my latest blog post, "Travel Therapy." I feel like it's one of the most important subjects I've ever written about, and I hope that after reading, you'll agree. TAKE YOUR TASTEBUDS SOMEWHERE TROPICAL.
Spring Break isn't over yet. It's not too late to take your tastebuds somewhere tropical with one of my three latest cocktails, as seen on KATU's Afternoon Live.
Try a watermelon-infused South Padre Sangria, a Pickled Strawberry Margarita, or a sweet and spicy A Little Paloma Gose Berry Long Way! Click here to check out the segment, if only to peep my sweet shades and too-tight shirt. BEIJING IN 48 HOURS.
Last month, Kathleen and I spent 48 hours in Beijing, China. We toured incredible temples. Imitated birds, goats, and statues. Joined impromptu public park singalongs. Walked upwards of 25 miles. Coughed up multiple lungs. Narrowly avoided eating dried chicken meat floss.
Now, for your eyes only, here is our latest travel video: Beijing in 48 Hours. You'll feel like you were there, or your money back. Click here to watch it on YouTube! YOUR LUCKY TASTEBUDS.
Even though St. Patrick's Day is over, your tastebuds can still get lucky when you treat them to one of my latest cocktails.
How about a Pot o' Gold, a Spunky Leprechaun, or an Everybody's Irish? Check out my latest KATU segment with the one and only Tra'Renee. Click here! CHINA: EN ROUTE FOR THIRTY HOURS.
Kathleen and I just visited China. The trip there took thirty hours. Ever wonder what Kathleen and I do during a 30-hour travel day?
The answer, of course, involves a lot of open-mouth chewing and double baby birding. Watch our China: En Route For 30 Hours video at your own risk. TRAVEL THERAPY.
Do you want to be healthy? Emotionally, physically, relationally, spiritually?
Try travel therapy. Instead of another trip to the pharmacy, the therapist, or the ice cream shop, why not plan a trip to a different continent? I'll be speaking on the proven health benefits of travel at the Holistic Wellness Expo in Vancouver, WA this Saturday, March 9, at 11! LIQUID LOVE.
Valentine's Day has come and gone, but you can still show your tastebuds you love them all year round with my three latest liquid love libations, as seen on KATU.
Watch my latest Afternoon Live appearance in its entirety here: https://katu.com/afternoon-live/lifestyle-health/sweetheart-cocktails MOROCCO IN 72 HOURS.
Morocco is an incredibly diverse country, boasting everything from snowcapped mountains to windswept deserts. In November of 2018, we tried to cram as much Morocco as we could into 72 hours. In that short timespan, we still managed to get lost for hours in the alleyways of Fes, explore a magical blue city, hike to some tiny waterfalls, and fend stray cats off of our restaurant table.
Click here to watch my new video, Morocco in 72 Hours. It's four minutes that you can't get back. FREE SHOW AT LABREWATORY MARCH 19!
I'll be playing a free concert at LABrewatory, one of Portland's finest and most experimental breweries, on Tuesday, March 19!
The show starts at 7. I'll be playing acoustic, and debuting a couple of brand-new songs I've been working on. Grab a pint of LABrewatory's award-winning beer, sit back, and enjoy the show. If beer isn't your thing, try a caffeinated beverage by Dawn Patrol! Admission is $0. I guarantee you'll have fun, or your money back. For more information, or for an easy way to invite your friends, visit this show's Facebook event! 216 HouRS IN SPAIN.
Last November, some of my favorite people and I spent nine days in Spain. We rented a car and drove everywhere, frolicked across mountain towns and beaches, drank vermouth straight, hiked waterfalls, danced at carousels, snored like bears, skipped laundry and bought clothes, climbed castles, and crammed as much ridiculousness as we could into 216 hours.
Don't believe me? Watch for yourself on YouTube! https://youtu.be/R4a4tWCcXeY FREE SHOW IN HOOD RIVER.
Hood River, Oregon, has often been voted one of the best small towns in the United States, due to its natural beauty, abundance of scenery, copious amounts of breweries and wineries, and charming downtown streets.
It also has a thriving music scene, one that I am honored to be a part of this coming Sunday, January 13. I'll be playing a free show at 64 Taphouse downtown at 5 PM. You should come and stuff. For more info, visit this show's Facebook event. IT's 2019. DRINK UP.
Here's what you should drink to ring in 2019.
Better yet, here's what you should drink throughout 2019. Watch my latest KATU mixology segment here, featuring my latest creations, Thymes Square, Year of the Pig, and Not Your Father's Black Velvet. OF WINE AND CHRISTMAS.
Still in the mood for a Christmas cocktail, but in need of some antioxidants and probiotics?
Try my latest holiday creation, the Bourbon Bucha Berry, in collaboration with Underwood and Brew Dr. Kombucha, as featured at unionwinecompany.com and instagram.com/unionwinecompany. CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS.
Sometimes, great Christmas presents come in liquid form.
Check out my Yuletide creations, including my Cranberry Ginger Manhattan and Chestnuts Roasting on a Very Contained Fire, on my latest segment on Portland's KATU, then go give the gift of these cocktails to family and friends. Also, apparently all I wear is my Christmas onesie these days. Watch the segment here! AT BIT HOUSE IN PORTLAND JANUARY 3.
It's official.
This year, the holidays don't end until after my show at Bit House in Portland January 3. I'll be playing with Kivett Bednar, My Friend, The Monster, and Head the Hive. It'll be a night of diverse, passionate, energetic Portland music. Be there. Need more information? Visit this show's Facebook event. STREAM MY SHOW WITH STRYPER. FOR FREE.
Missed my show with Stryper at the Bossanova Ballroom in Portland a couple weeks ago?
Not anymore. Watch my set in its entirety tonight, free of charge. wolfandthunder.com/jd REdUCKULOUS. UNBEAVERLIEVABLE.
The Civil War Game may have come and gone, but the season isn't over.
Well, not for the Ducks, anyway. It's not too late to watch me craft a Reduckulous and an Unbeaverlievable, featuring Eugene and Corvallis spirits, of course. Also, it's not too late to watch me bartend in a Snuggie for the very first time in recorded history. Click here to watch history in the making. FREE SHOW IN THE DALLES THIS THURSDAY. Photo by Kenton Waltz
I'll be playing my first show in my new part-time hometown of The Dalles, OR this Thursday, November 29!
The show will take place at one of my favorite local establishments, Freebridge Brewing, downtown. I'll be playing from 7-9 PM. Did I mention it's free? For more information, or for an easy way to invite those you care about most, visit this show's Facebook event! STRYPER. JON DAVIDSON. PDX. NOVEMBER 9.
The Yellow and Black Attack is back.
Stryper, the most successful Christian metal band of all time, is coming to Portland. They'll be playing at the Bossanova Ballroom next Saturday, November 9, and it's an honor for me to announce that I've been asked to share the bill with them. Best known for their high-energy show, their yellow and black costumes, and hits such as "To Hell With The Devil," Stryper has sold more than 10 million albums, and they're still going strong. Tickets are available for only $25! Visit my Store or buy them below. For more information, or for an easy way to invite your friends, visit this show's Facebook event! LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
My name is Jon Davidson, and I'm an American.
I care about this country deeply. I’ve been to all 50 states, and continue to be amazed by the beauty, the diversity, and the people that make America great. The 2018 election is just days away, and its results hold dramatic implications for our country. It's time to vote. As you do so, don’t be swayed by rhetoric of hate, of fear, or of lies; choose to vote for love, for inclusion, for our planet, and for our future. Long after the ballots have been cast and counted, I will not give up the belief that the United States of America stands for liberty and justice for all. Will you join me? Read the full blog post on Medium. HALLOWEEN COCKTAILS? BUT OF CORPSE.
It's almost Halloween.
Chances are, you need a Morgue-arita or a But of Corpse to go with that costume of yours. Watch Kara of Afternoon Live, Helen of AMNW, and Pippi Jonstocking craft some spooky cocktails on KATU. Click here! DRINK PINK.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
As you wear pink in support, remember that it's important for your drinks to match your clothes. Check out my three pink drinks on KATU's Afternoon Live! #drinkpink To donate to the American Cancer Society, visit jondavidson.com. REAL MEN WEAR PINK.
This October, the American Cancer Society has asked me to be a part of Real Men Wear Pink, an group of male community leaders who don pink apparel to raise awareness and money to help the ACS fight breast cancer and help save the lives of those affected by this deadly disease.
As someone who has lost a friend to breast cancer and lost numerous friends and family members to other forms of cancer, this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. If you'd like to contribute, please visit my ACS donation page. 
NATIONAL PUNCH DAY.
National Punch Day may have come and gone, but don't forget: countless upcoming parties and football games demand a superior punch.
Need some ideas? Check out my three latest creations, including the Grapericot, the Pisqiwi Pear, and Punch? Wine Not?, on KATU's Afternoon Live! Click here. MY NOLA COCKTAILS. AMAZING NAWLINS FOOD. TACKY COSTUMES. SEPTEMBER 22.
On Saturday, September 22, I'll be co-hosting the Costume Mardi Pardi! Halfway to Mardi Gras Pop-Up Dinner in Portland, OR! Bring your friends to enjoy this inaugural event at Indie Cottage PDX on Hawthorne. New Orleanian Ms. Bonnie, of Oh Honey Cookery, will be cooking up 5 different down-home Nawlins dishes for you to enjoy with your Sazerac! Gavant your costumed wonderfulness to Trad Jazz.
I'll be crafting my take on, and demonstrating how to make, the perfect Absinthe Sazerac, as well as three other traditional NoLa cocktails featuring local distilleries. It's my first time co-hosting an event like this, and I'm really excited! Only 20 tickets will be sold for this special event! Your ticket includes Creole-Cajun Sampling Menu, 1 Southern cocktail, OR 2 beers, OR 2 glasses of wine. Additional drinks available for purchase at the CASH BAR. For tickets, click here! For more information, check out the Facebook event. LABOR DAY LIBATIONS.
Labor Day has come and gone.
Fortunately for you, my latest libations are good all year round. Check out my most recent mixology segment, featuring the Stumptown Sazerac and the PB&J, on Portland's KATU, Channel 2! Click here. JAMIE FOR OREGON.
Yesterday, I got to have a meaningful conversation with Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who is running against incumbent Greg Walden for Oregon's 2nd District seat in the US House of Representatives.
We discussed important issues, such as the environment, healthcare, and education, issues that affect virtually every American and that, bafflingly, have become increasingly partisan matters in recent years. Jamie lives not too far from my house in Redmond, and has logged tens of thousands of miles these past few months, listening to the stories and the concerns of Oregonians both red and blue throughout our state's massive 2nd District. She is committed to being a representative that shows up and cares about Oregon, not just a particular party's agenda. I highly recommend you help "drain the swamp" and vote for Jamie in November. NATIONAL RUM DAY.
Rum. It's not just for sickeningly sweet Mai Tais and Zombies anymore. It's actually a versatile spirit that complements an infinite amount of cocktail flavor profiles.
Watch my National Rum Day segment on Portland's KATU for three of my own creations, featuring amazing local Portland-area rums from distilleries such as Rose City, Trail, and Eastside! SO YOU WANT TO CLIMB A VOLCANO.
So you want to climb a bona fide 15,000' volcano.
All you have is a single day and a pair of hiking boots. Not a problem. Ecuador’s Rucu Pichincha is the peak for you. Conveniently located just outside Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, Rucu Pichincha is the fast food drive thru of volcanoes. It’s easy to access and climb in a morning’s time. Trust me. I did it. Read all about the climb and the ensuing bragging rights on my blog. BEAT THE HEAT.
If it looks like summer and tastes like summer, it's probably one of my summer cocktails.
Watch my KATU segment for three recipes for sunshine in a glass, including Im Peach Mint, Probably the Healthiest Cocktail in the History of Ever, and Wildflower. Click here to beat the heat! WHAT IS SUCCESS?
What is success? Is it defined by dollar bills? By fame? By a hit single?
Or is it defined by love? By giving? By authenticity? Watch an excerpt of my interview on From The Hip with Adrianne Gunn, if only for my rad blinking Christmas sweater. NATIONAL TEQUILA DAY.
National Tequila Day may have come and gone, but it's never too late to watch my latest mixology segment on KATU.
Check out all the ridiculousness with Tra'Renee and yours truly, as well as my three new cocktails: Tequila Mockingbird, The Donkey Kicker, and Prickly Pear. Click here to watch it! MARCAHUASI, PERU.
You've heard of Machu Picchu, of course. But have you heard of Peru's other mystical, mountainous marvel, Marcahuasi?
Last month, we visited this profoundly puzzling yet peaceful place, perched at 12,500' in the Andes Mountains, wandering between rock formations that looked like human faces and elephants, and crawling into prehistoric tombs. Were Marcahuasi's strange stone specters formed by erosion, by human hands, or even by alien visitors, as some locals suggest? Maybe you should go see them and decide for yourself. Read about my latest adventure on Medium! MAKE SURE YOUR COCKTAILS TASTE LIKE FREEDOM.
It's the 4th of July. Still don't know what to drink?
Try one of my three latest creations, featuring everything from coffee cherry liqueur to Pop Rocks to Redneck Riviera whiskey. They are all guaranteed to taste like freedom. Check out my latest 'Merica mixology clip with the one and only Tra'Renee on KATU. Click here! COCKTAILS FOR DAD.
This Father's Day, don't get your poor pops another "World's Greatest Dad" mug. Anyone can hit a button and order something on Amazon.
Instead, show him you actually care by crafting him one of my three Father's Day cocktails, which feature local spirits, local mixers, and even local barbecue sauce. Watch my latest KATU mixology segment HERE! SO YOU HAVE A LAYOVER IN ICELAND.
You did it. You bought one of those ridiculously low-priced flights to Europe.
The kicker? An 18-hour layover in Iceland. Now, you’re attempting to plan your itinerary for your brief stay in the Land of Fire and Ice, and you’re overwhelmed with the sheer number of natural wonders that you absolutely can’t miss. Don’t worry. I’ve been in your shoes. Here’s my guide to Iceland power tourism: geysers, waterfalls, rift valleys, craft beer, and even wild horses, all crammed into an action-packed day. Read my new blog post, "So You Have A Layover In Iceland," on Medium! DRINK YOUR EASTER BUNNY.
Easter 2019 is a mere 381 days away.
Better get planning. Get a head start by watching my latest Easter mixology segment on Afternoon Live on KATU, Portland's Channel 2. Cocktails include "Excuse Me, There's A Hare In My Drink," and more. Click HERE to watch the segment! GO GREEN.
Friends don't let friends drink green beer on St. Patrick's Day.
Instead, they class things up with a Pepperechaun, Five-Leaf Clover, or an Oregon Prius Bomb. Maybe even a Sober Irishman, if they're driving. Check out my most recent mixology segment on Portland's KATU HERE! CHEERS TO 150 CALORIE COCKTAILS.Craft cocktails don't have to be calorie bombs.
Check out my latest mixology segment on Portland's KATU, Channel 2, featuring three cocktails of my creation that each contain 150 calories or less. Trust me, I counted them myself. Cheers to drinking a bit more healthfully. Watch the segment. Click here. FRUIT.
Just as fruit doesn’t discriminate when it comes to who eats it, true love doesn’t discriminate when it comes to its recipient.
All the religion in the world is useless if it doesn’t lead to love. Love for everyone. Muslim, Christian, Sikh, atheist. Gay, straight, trans. Asian, African, Arab, American, Antarctican. This is the fruit the world needs to see, to taste. Read my latest blog post, "Fruit," on Medium. HAPPY PRESIDENTS' DAY.
Today, I celebrate the first 44 presidents of the United States of America. Men who, despite their ideological differences and infrequent moral missteps, were by and large decent human beings who cared about the well-being of every American, not just the white, male, and rich. Men who would never think to try to use horrific mass shootings to pat themselves on the back. Men who cared more about governing than about golf. Men who could look the evils of racism and misogyny in the face and denounce them as such. Men who didn't have scores of pending sexual harassment accusations against them. Men who understood that making America great didn't have to come at the expense of the rest of the world. Men who handled the rigors of the office with dignity, not with petulant, bullying, grammatically incorrect tweets.
So, here's to you, presidents one through forty-four. LIQUID LOVE.
Missed all the Valentine's tomfoolery on Portland's KATU? Here you go.
Watch me craft three tasty cocktails featuring almost entirely local spirits and mixers, and a little bit of liquid love. Drink up. Click here. AMBASSADORS.
On a rainy night in Novi Sad, Serbia, our rental car got towed. Stumbling into a nearby bistro to figure out how to get it back, we met a server named Nebojša who showed us an incredible amount of undeserved kindness, completely turning our night around. He knew that he was an ambassador for his restaurant, his city, and his country.
Truthfully, we’re all ambassadors. No matter where we’re from or what we believe, others base their opinions of countries, religions, and political ideologies on their interactions with us. It's time we start taking our jobs seriously. Read the full story in my latest blog post, AMBASSADORS. SUPER BOWL COCKTAILS.
Still don't know what to drink for the Super Bowl? Here are a couple ideas, courtesy of my most recent mixology segment on KATU, Portland's Channel 2!
Also, you can watch me mispronounce a spirit, misidentify a distillery, and accidentally utter a registered trademark. Hey, nobody's perfect. Watch all the fun with Tra'Renee and yours truly HERE. FA LA LA LA LOTS OF CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS.
Christmas is the season of giving. It's also the season of cocktails.
Watch Tra'Renee and I have all the fun bringing the Yuletide liquid cheer to your face in my latest mixology segment on Portland's KATU. Click here. CHRISTMAS CHANGE.
Today, I'm heading halfway around the world, spending Christmas alone in airports and airplanes, to begin a new chapter of my life, one without much of a script. I want to follow Jesus, not tell him where I'm going.
I've shared some of my journey these last few months in my new blog post, "Christmas Change." This Christmas, I ask you to take time to listen. Listen to those Salvation Army bells, and recognize the big impact a little change can make. Listen to what that baby in that manger two millennia ago is telling you. Listen to what choices he might want you to make, next steps he might want you to take. Listen when he confronts you with the radical truth that he is madly in love with you, and let that change everything. Click here to read my blog post in its entirety on Medium! PEACE.
Just over two thousand years ago, a baby was born.
This baby promised to bring peace to a broken, violent world. Instead of peace, we have Aleppo. Rwanda. Belfast. Ground Zero. Mogadishu. Charlottesville. Where is this promised peace? Read my blog post, "Peace," on Medium. LEE DEWYZE AND JON DAVIDSON. PORTLAND. DECEMBER 8.
I'll be opening for American Idol winner Lee DeWyze in Portland on December 8!
The show will take place at the Bossanova Ballroom. Doors open at 7, and the show is 21+. We'll both be playing solo and acoustic. Want the cheapest tickets in the land, with no surcharges or fees? Visit my store or click the button below. THANKSGIVING COCKTAILS!
Thanksgiving is upon us. Do you know which holiday cocktails you're making yet?
I have a couple ideas. Check out my latest mixology segment on KATU's Afternoon Live, featuring the succinctly and modestly named Arguably The Greatest Pumpkin Pie Martini In The History Of Ever, and more! RAIN INTO RAINBOWS.
It’s easy to give thanks for things we naturally should be thankful for. Family. Friends. Ice cream. Sunshine. Puppies. Singing Japanese bidets.
It’s slightly more difficult, yet important, to give thanks in spite of our circumstances. But I challenge you, and myself, to take it one step further. I challenge you, and myself, to give thanks FOR our difficult circumstances. To recognize that it is because of, and through, hardship that we grow, change, and learn. Read my latest blog post, "Rain Into Rainbows," on Medium! ST. JUDE AUTUMN HARVEST.
On October 13, 2017, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is hosting their annual Autumn Harvest at The Exchange Ballroom in Portland, featuring an eight-course meal crafted by some of Stumptown's finest culinary talent.
One of the items for sale in the event's benefit auction? A personal mixology course, courtesy of yours truly. All proceeds go towards the lifesaving mission of St. Jude, an incredible organization dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic children's diseases and giving kids lifesaving treatment they otherwise couldn't afford. Tickets are still available. Click here to purchase. Or, if you can't attend, you can still click this link and donate! GOOD GRIEF: FINDING STRENGTH IN SORROW.
Sorrow is inescapable. Whether it’s circumstances happening in your own life, or events taking place in this broken world, it’s hard to go any amount of time without a valid reason to grieve.
We go to great lengths to run from sadness, not realizing that we're missing enormous opportunities to grow. Have the skies turned dark in your life? My advice is simple: give grief its day, but grieve with hope. Read my new blog post, "Good Grief: Finding Strength In Sorrow," on Medium. GRACE.
At a superficial level, it’s easy to convince myself that I’m a pretty good person. I call my mother. I sponsor kids in Africa. But when I delve deeper, I see a man who is selfish to the core. A man who repeats the same mistakes. A man in desperate need of grace.
Grace is the single most life-changing truth this planet has ever known. It's the only answer to the brokenness in my heart and the brokenness in this cold world. Read GRACE: A Dying World Comes Back To Life on Medium. OKTOBERFEST COCKTAILS!
So you want to keep the Oktoberfest party going, but switch things up a bit? I recently created and featured three Oktoberfest-themed cocktails on KATU Channel 2's Afternoon Live show in Portland.
Kids, try these at home. But, only if you're over 21, of course. Check out the segment here! CHARLOTTESVILLE.
We all have rights. However, white supremacy is not a right. It is hatred. Plowing a car into a group of nonviolent protesters is not freedom of speech. It is hatred.
The President pussyfooting around yesterday’s terrorist attack isn’t being politically correct. It is hatred. This. Is. Not. America. Read my new blog, "Charlottesville," on Medium! ONE PHONE CALL AWAY.
So you have your pretty little life.
Until that phone call that changes everything. The truth is, we are all one phone call away. One phone call away from a life deconstructed. From watching everything we have worked so hard for crumble to the ground. What is your foundation? Where do you derive your happiness, your sense of meaning? Where do you find your identity in this fragile world that so easily falls apart? Read "One Phone Call Away" on Medium! BOOK MY REDMOND AIRBNB!
I'm excited to announce that after several months of hard work, remodeling, and furnishing, my Airbnb in Redmond, Oregon, is open for booking!
Time to plan that Central Oregon vacation you've been longing for! My place is right in the heart of Redmond, 15 minutes from Smith Rock, 15 minutes from Bend, and 25 minutes from Sisters. Three breweries are six blocks or less from my house, and amazing restaurants and boutique shops are within walking distance. My place has one bedroom and one bathroom, and can sleep five. Also, it has cornhole. 'Nuff said. For all the deets, and to book, visit my Airbnb listing: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20157024 SUMMER COCKTAILS.Summer weather calls for summer cocktails.
Friends don't let friends drink Bud Light Lime Strawberitas. Try the three sunny libations I crafted on KATU Channel 2's Afternoon Live show instead. They feature local spirits from Bull Run Distillery and Rolling River Distillery, and local, organic produce. Check out the segment HERE if the above video player isn't supported. MY TIME WITH LYME.
Today marks the second anniversary of the day I contracted Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
731 days and countless antibiotics later, I’m ecstatic to report that I feel like myself once again. Getting here has been a long and taxing process, though. Here’s my story. I share it not to elicit sympathy for past suffering, but to raise awareness, and to hopefully help and inspire those with Lyme who are in misery and don’t know where to turn. Read "My Time With Lyme" on Medium! FROM SEA TO SHAMEFUL SEA.
This Fourth of July, you may be tempted to ask: When did we lose our way as a nation? Where did we go wrong?
Allow me to answer those queries with another question: When have we actually gotten it right? Oh, that our hearts were as beautiful as our land. Read my new blog post, "From Sea To Shameful Sea," on Medium! BREATHE.
I prefer to live my life at the speed of a cheetah on meth. Life is short, and I don’t plan on wasting any of mine.
Sometimes, though, I wonder if I keep my schedule too full for the unexpected magic of life to take place. Sometimes, I wonder if I need to take the time to breathe. Check out my new blog post, "Breathe," on Medium! FATHER'S DAY COCKTAILS.
This Father's Day, treat your dad to something a little classier than that six-pack of Natty Ice.
Need ideas? Check out my Father's Day cocktail recipe segment on KATU's Afternoon Live in Portland. Click here to watch it! WRECK YOUR WISHING WELL.
We wish. We hope. We dream. We never do. All the while, that baleful bandit known as routine robs us of our time, and we are left to wonder where we went wrong.
It's time to stop wishing and start doing. Read my new blog post, "Wreck Your Wishing Well," on Medium. THE DEEP END.
Words matter. We only get so many of them before we run out of breath for good.
How many of our precious few moments of life do we spend in meaningless, superficial conversation? How many people who are placed in our path do we miss out on the opportunity to truly know? To truly love? To truly bless? It's time to get out of the shallow end. Read my new blog post, "The Deep End," on Medium. THREE DAYS IN SAN IGNACIO, BELIZE.
So you’re not quite ready to don your squirrel suit or pick up your crampons and ice axe, but you’re in need of some adrenaline-inducing adventure?
Try Belize. Belize is the ultimate weekend-warrior adventure hotspot. While lacking the towering volcanoes of its neighbors, Belize is packed with entry-level adventure. Caves, sinkholes, jungles, and barrier reefs. In the heart of Belize’s mountainous region lies San Ignacio, a town of almost 18,000. It’s Belize’s second-largest city, and a great launching pad for all kinds of outdoor activities. My friend Kachine and I spent three days in San Ignacio in May of 2017, determined to cram in as much as possible. Read about everything we did in my latest Adventure Of The Week! TWO DAYS IN BAÑOS, ECUADOR.
Baños is the undisputed outdoor adventure capital of Ecuador.
Whitewater rafting. Ziplining. Canyoning. Mountaineering. Mountain biking. Oh, and a swing at the end of the world. You want it? Baños has it. Adrenaline on tap. In February, my good friend Brad and I spent two days in Baños doing all the things. Read about our adventures on Medium or on my Adventure of the Week page! FIVE DAYS IN PHUKET.
Planning a trip to Thailand? Or, sick of all the snow and grey and in need of a mental escape?
Waterfalls. Beaches. Sunsets. Shenanigans. Check out the five highlights from my visit to Phuket, Thailand this last November. It's my Adventure of the Week, here on my website or on Medium! GOODBYE, 2016.
Goodbye, 2016. You’ve been an interesting year, to say the least. A study in contrasts. Peaks. Valleys. I won’t be shedding too many tears as I watch you leave forever.
Read my full eulogy on Medium! NEW YEAR'S EVE COCKTAILS.
Missed me crafting three New Year's Eve cocktails I've created on Portland's KATU Channel 2's Afternoon Live show yesterday?
Check out the segment and the shenanigans on KATU's website HERE. Happy New Year! PEACE.
Just over two thousand years ago, a baby was born.
This baby promised to bring peace to a broken, violent world. Instead, we have Aleppo. Where is this promised peace? Read my new blog, PEACE, on Medium. HIKING THE BAHAMAS.
There are two good times to go to the Bahamas. Whenever, and anytime.
However, when you think of world-class international hiking destinations, The Bahamas probably don’t immediately come to mind, and for good reason. The Bahamas are world-renowned for beaches and palm trees, not trails and mountains. Two weeks ago, we set out to find all the trails Grand Bahama Island had to offer. Then, I wrote about it for my Adventure Of The Week! Read more on my website or on Medium: CRAWLING IN THE DARK.
If there’s one thing that makes sense to me in this life, it’s that nothing makes sense.
What’s this life for? Where is the meaning we thought we knew? When will anything play out the way we thought it would? When will the struggle end? When will redemption win? When will we find the answers? We are crawling in the dark. Read my new blog post, Crawling In The Dark: The Gospel According To Hoobastank, on Medium. A SLAVE TO THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.
I'm stuck.
I'm a slave to the almighty dollar, stuck in a barely bourgeoisie bubble of comfort and cowardice. What would it take for me to step out in faith? To quit my job, to sell almost everything, and to move to a place with a lot of need? To give my life, and my money, in service to others? Would I finally learn to rely on God, to give him control of my wallet as well as my heart? Read my messy journey in my latest blog post on Medium! MY PHOTOS. ON YOUR WALL.
Have you ever wanted to buy my photos?
Now you can. Downloads, prints, canvases, mugs...you name it, it's for sale, and pretty reasonably priced, too. Head to jondavidson.smugmug.com/ or click on the My Photography tab above! CLIMBING SAHALE MOUNTAIN.
Have you always wanted to climb a mountain?
Sorry, Portland residents. Just because it has "mount" in the name doesn’t mean Mt. Tabor qualifies. I’m talking about a bona fide mountain, with glaciers and rock climbing and marmots and such. Want a taste of what such a mountain is like without quivering in your Salomons and fearing for your life the entire way? Then, my adventurous friend, Washington’s Sahale Mountain is for you. Check out my latest Adventure Of The Week here on my website or on Medium! FREEDOM: IT ISN'T MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Freedom isn’t multiple choice. It doesn’t merely apply to those who look like me. Who believe like me. Who talk like me. Who think like me. It applies to every American.
For today, at least, my prayer is that Democrat and Republican, Christian and Muslim, Red Sox fan and Yankees fan, and rich and poor can put aside our differences, celebrate our shared freedoms, and go blow a bunch of money lighting off fireworks. Happy birthday, America. Read more of my latest blog post on Medium! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
We need more, more, more.
More right swipes on Tinder. More likes and loves on our Facebook posts. The best makeup, jeans, bike, phone, car, house, whatever. Still, when we get what we want, we want even more still. We battle with depression. Loneliness. Suicidal thoughts and actions. As prophet/comedian Louis C.K. puts it, “Everything is amazing, and nobody’s happy.” Have we lost the ability to be satisfied? Check out my new blog post, "Enough Is Enough," on Medium. https://medium.com/@jondavid…/enough-is-enough-952b043dffc0… COPENHAGEN FOR DUMMIES.
Going to Copenhagen, Denmark? Short on time?
Have no fear. Consult my exhaustively incomplete guide to this enchanting city, affectionately titled "Copenhagen For Dummies." Check it out on my Adventure Of The Week page or on Medium! MR. TRUMP, YOU'RE AN IDIOT.
Mr. Trump:
You’re an idiot. Actually, idiot doesn’t even begin to sum you up. Monster might be a better term. Just when I thought you couldn’t sink any lower, you have. Congratulations on doing your best to capitalize politically off of the heinous tragedy in Orlando. Patting yourself on the back and issuing an I-told-you-so on Twitter in the wake of 50 needless deaths? Classy, Donald. Classy. Want to implement your racist, Hitler-esque proposal to ban Muslim immigration? It wouldn’t have helped. The shooter was born in the US. Read more of my latest blog post on Medium! Fists over flowers.
Fists over flowers. Hate over heart.
It's my latest blog post, on why I believe socialism will never succeed in America. Hint: it's not why you might think. Want to help make America great again? Check it out on Medium! https://medium.com/@jondav…/fists-over-flowers-d65b62bee948… SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TOMORROW AND TODAY.
I'm stuck. Somewhere in between tomorrow and today.
I know there must be a balance between living for today and planning for tomorrow, but I'm having a hard time finding it. Perhaps you can relate. Read my latest blog post on Medium. HIKING SANTORINI.
Think Santorini is simply a place to relax and soak up the sun? Think again.
It's also a hiker's paradise, replete with stunning cliffs, active volcanoes, and multicolored beaches. Check out my three favorite hikes from last month's trip to this stunning Greek island in my new Adventure Of The Week! DUST AND PROMISES.
a sneak preview of a song from my upcoming album, Hymn.
Forgiveness. It’s undeserved. Unexpected. Unmerited. It’s a landslide of mercy that can change our lives forever. I’ve made enough mistakes already to last me a lifetime. The forgiveness I’ve received, and the meaning that’s been found in this mess I’ve made of my life, is what inspired “Dust And Promises,” a track off of my upcoming album, Hymn. Check it out, for a limited time, on SoundCloud, along with several other tracks off of my other albums, for free. Here’s the link: https://soundcloud.com/jondavidsonmusic/dust-and-promises. For more music, visit my music website. HOPE.
I hope, therefore I am. I hope for a lot of things. Some of my hopes are realistic. Some, not so much.
However, I believe that hope is only truly hopeful if it’s out of this world. You see, I have high hopes for a future that lasts forever. A future free of death. Of tears. Of pain. Of neck pain. I hope desperately for a day when all things will be made new. Check out my new blog post, Hope, on Medium! CLIMBING NORTH MAROON PEAK.
Not all Fourteeners are created equal.
For the uninitiated, a Fourteener is a mountain over 14,000' in elevation. Colorado has 54 of them (or 53, or 55, depending on whose criteria you subscribe to). I've climbed 47 of them. I'm trying to climb them all. A couple weeks ago, I flew out to attempt North Maroon Peak, one of Colorado's most difficult mountains. I succeeded, despite ice, cliffs, and fat, hungry marmots. Read about it on my Adventure Of The Week page! MY MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING DEBUT!
I'll be making my debut as a motivational speaker on Friday, October 23, at a CircleUp networking event in Portland!
I'll be speaking on the value of interpersonal connection, what it's meant for my career, and how it can revolutionize your life and business goals. The event will take place at 6 PM at Nemo Design on SE 18th and Belmont St. Tickets are available HERE, and this event is open to the general public! ONE THING.
All of us, whether rich or poor, famous or anonymous, have our one thing. One thing that matters more to us than anything else. One thing we put first. One thing we pour our time, money and energy into.
What is your one thing? Check out my new blog post on Medium! https://medium.com/@jondavidson/one-thing-2a988b404978 CLIMBING MT. YORAN.
A month ago, I climbed Mt. Yoran, an extinct volcano in the heart of Central Oregon's wilderness east of Eugene.
Have you climbed all the easy stuff in the Northwest? Dog Mountain, Mt. Defiance, Mt. St. Helens? Are you looking for a peak that provides a taste of what the more difficult Cascade volcanoes are like, without a lot of the danger and arduous effort? Yoran luck. In fact, Yoran idiot if you don't climb this peak. Okay, I'll stop. All puns aside, Mt. Yoran boasts scenic forests, gorgeous views of Diamond Peak and Divide Lake, and a short, sharp, exciting Class 3/4 summit scramble that flirts with significant exposure but never leaves you one mistake away from an untimely death. Read about the climb on my Adventure Of The Week page, or on Medium! THE PRODIGAL FATHER.
The timeless story of the Prodigal Son isn't really about the son at all. It's about the reckless grace of the Prodigal Father.
Read my new blog post here: https://medium.com/@jondav…/the-prodigal-father-ab170def26e4 TODAY's FoRECAST: ONE HUNDRED AND WHINE DEGREES.
Today's Forecast: One Hundred and Whine Degrees.
It's hot. Shut up about it already. Check out my latest blog post on Portland's current heat wave on Medium! listen up: everyone has a story.
Listen Up: Everyone Has A Story.
It's my new blog post on the beauty of being an ear, not a voice. Check it out on Medium! FOUR CRAFT BEERS FOR THE 4TH OF JULY.
Love it or leave it, craft beer is here to stay. With over 3,000 craft breweries spread across all fifty states, it's safe to say that craft beer has become an integral part of the American beer story. New to drinking craft? There's no better time than summer to get your feet, and tongue, wet on microbrews.
This Fourth of July, celebrate America's spirit of independence and creativity by showing up to that barbecue with one of these four stellar summer ales. Read more on my Craft Beer page! HUAYNA PICCHU, PERU.
Last month, I hiked Huayna Picchu in Peru, one of Outside Magazine's 20 most dangerous hikes in the world.
I lived to tell. And write. Read about our Huayna Picchu climb here. It's my latest Adventure Of The Week! LOVE, SELFISHLY.
OPENING FOR TANTRIC ON APRIL 1.My band Silversafe and I will be opening for multi-platinum rock band Tantric at the Tonic Lounge in Portland on April 1!
This show is not an April Fool's joke. It's actually going to happen. Portland's own In The Aether will also be on the bill. We've got the cheapest tickets in town available, with no fees, surcharges, or shipping costs of any kind. To buy, click the button below! TANTRIC/SILVERSAFE 4/1/15 TICKETS Religious freedom? sorry, you don't qualify.I NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE MY UPCOMING ALBUM A REALITY.
For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to record an album of hymns. Throughout my life, hymns have spoken to me in a powerful way, in a way that most other songs cannot. They have spoken louder this year, as I've been faced with some significant struggles. So, now that I'm a fully independent solo artist once again, and am free to record whatever I want, I've decided to create a new album, simply entitled Hymn.
This album will contain six timeless hymns that mean a lot to me, hymns such as "It Is Well With My Soul," "Before The Throne," "I Have Decided," "Nothing But The Blood," and more. I've put my own spin on these hymns, staying true to the emotion behind them but arranging them in a unique fashion, running the gamut from electro/pop to one arrangement that simply features bells, drums, and vocals. Hymn will also feature six hymns that I've written myself, hymns that have been borne out of my experience as an imperfect believer in a fallen world. Hymns that you, too, can hopefully identify with and sing. These are songs you may have already heard me play live: songs like "What Kind Of Love Is This?", "Father," and "I Need More." Recording an album isn't cheap. Start to finish, Hymn will cost upwards of $12,000. I've already recorded much of this album, but simply don't have sufficient funds for the rest of the recording, mixing, mastering, manufacturing, and promotion costs necessary for this album to be released. Check out my Kickstarter project and video by clicking HERE. Thank you so much for your contribution to this Kickstarter project. It really does mean so much to me. THE KILLER IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.
There is a killer in your living room.
Read my latest blog post here: https://medium.com/…/the-killer-in-your-living-room-8402471… It just might save your life. 21 from 10.14.
In case you missed them, I've posted my 21 favorite photos that I took in October 2014, from places like California, Colorado, Utah, and Oregon.
Check them out on my Photography page! YOU CAN STILL CHANGE THE WORLD.
Remember when we were kids? Back when we were little people, we had big dreams. Dreams of changing the world. Dreams of leaving a mark on history.
Then, life happened. I have good news for you: you can still change the world. In a very real way. Read my latest blog post here: http://jondavidsonmusic.blogspot.com/2014/08/you-can-still-change-world.html TANTRIC AND JON DAVIDSON. JULY 23.
I have the privilege of opening for the multi-platinum rock band Tantric on July 23 in Portland at the Hawthorne Theater. You have the privilege of attending for only $13.
Want cheap advance tickets without all those silly surcharges? Click HERE. Hope to see you at the show! OPENING FOR HELLOGOODBYE MAY 17.
I'm excited to announce that I'll be opening for Hellogoodbye and Vacationer at Hawthorne Theater in Portland on Saturday, May 17!
Hellogoodbye, a pop band best known for its certified-platinum hit Here (In Your Arms), is in the middle of a US tour in support of their latest album, and I'm honored to be sharing the stage with them. Wanna go? Grab your tickets HERE for the absolute lowest price anywhere, with no fees, service charges, or shipping charges whatsoever. For more information, or for an easy way to invite your friends, visit this show's Facebook event. FROM SIXTY TO ZERO.
One month ago today, the snap of an Achilles hit the brakes on my life. However, I need to remind myself that although my leg may be in disrepair, my heart still works just fine, and maybe it's time for me to think about other people more.
Read my latest post, From Sixty To Zero, on brew-explorers.com. |
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