Go to Antiparos which is the island across from Paros. Both are off the beaten “Greece” path of Santorini etc but lovely little islands with adorable stretches of cute shopping and town. That’s the only places I have been. Love that you do these trips, you’re my travel hero. ~Sam
Antiparos night run…
“You have to go to Paros Island my absolute fave. So beautiful and small and the best restaurants along the wharf-any of them will do.” ~Bonnie
My most important Moment of the day!! 
Restaurant on Wharf of
Paros…Elaea(olive tree)
Written on menu-
This tree appeared on earth 3 million years ago.
By the mythology the tree was planted by the goddess Athena in the Acropolis and it became the holy tree of Athens.
In ancient Greece it was worshipped as the symbol of wisdom, peace, and euphoria. Since then it is the pride of the Greek earth.
In our restaurant ‘Elaea’ we choose to cook only with the seed of the holy tree…..
Thanks Bonnie!!
Rachel is 17. Rachel lives in Boston. Rachel has a story that reminds us to appreciate life and keep a positive attitude. She had a serious brain tumor, survived a dangerous surgery and now lives her life giving back.
Here is her story.
Rachel was joined by hundreds on Sunday as we walked along the river in Boston!
Chris Evans even spent part of his birthday with the kids on the walk
Ellen Pompeo Walks for Children’s Hospital Boston
Inspiration: Team Oakley – “Join us in Napa for our Learn to Ride Audi Sportscar Experience at the Infineon Racetrack!”
I spent an entire day with a fun group of daredevils learning to drive with the racecar pros!
Dax Shepard
Mae Whitman and Dax Shepard
The moment before this moment may be the most telling for me…..
After our classroom chat and a few pep talks I found myself sliding the face sock over my staticy hair, shoving on the helmet – a helmet that later seemed to squeeze in the heat with every burn and turn of tires – and then slowly lowering my body into the seat of the Audi V8. I couldn’t understand the nervous energy taking over. I barely spoke all morning. Makes no sense. I’m a speed driver maniac in my prius. This was supposed to be safe.
I suppose there was good reason that the memories came back post drive. Had I remembered climbing through my driver’s side window upside down after flipping a car that didn’t belong to me my sophomore year – well I wouldn’t have hit that 2.5 mile racecourse for speeding times. I would have only had one vision – my friends crying and screaming as I ran over a mile to the nearest house with blood dripping down my leg and instinct taking over the wheel. It took months to drive again after that and Dax I guess you’re right – I didn’t need the memory to help steer me on this course.
Instead, my nervous energy focused on the words of Pro Tony coming through my walkie talkie and of course Dick Trickle, one of the drivers on my inspiring driver list.
I will trickle this course like a mascot.
And I did…..or well tried my very best!
And it was geekzilerating!
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Here’s the list of drivers my friends thought would inspire the best racecar ride. I think I was still pretty jerky. hint – Taryn Owens, passenger(near end of day) – “I think I’m going to throw up.”
James Bannister: Michael Schumacher
Nate Minnis: Ricky Bobby!
Tommy Meyer Klipsch: Dick Trickle! NASCAR Legend!
Anya Varda: Mario Andretti
Heidi Kelso: Jenson Button
Eric Raine Ernst: Barney Rubble!
Jessica Paster: Dale Earnhardt…oh no he crashed and died…Dale Earnhardt JR!!!! He’s alive and gay!!!!
Ellen Pompeo and husband Chris Ivery
Shaun Sipos and Aaron Paul
Mae Whitman and Dax Shepard
Here’s what happens when 30 before 30 went from Angie to Andrea…..
Destination: Europe
Inspiration: Andrea Colognoli documents his 30 days around Europe.
And the story goes…
To understand the story, take a look at the first email I received on asmallworld last November…..
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Hi Angie,
How are you?A friend from LA talked to me about your blog Angies30before30 and how you went on your dream trip before your 30th birthday.
That was SO inspiring…seriously!
As a matter of fact I was planning to go on a Euro trip with my best friend a while ago but we never really got the chance to actually do it. Well, I read some of your posts, got inspired and now we are going to do this in April for reals. Very exciting!
My friend is actually quitting his job to do this trip.
NO fancy hotels, no chauffeured car, no private flights. I LOVE the idea!
Sorry for reaching out to you directly, I tend not to do this very often but I find myself to be so supportive of your whole experience. With that said, I was wondering if you could share with me some of your insights… places I should go visit, people I should go see, …etc. Any recommendations or contacts would be very much appreciated.
My plan is to hit the following 5 cities: Barcelona. Paris. London. Amsterdam. Berlin
Alright, sorry if this was a long read but here is my personal email address:
Thanks in advance for your advice and consideration.
Andrea Colognoli
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I’d like to think of Andrea as my first follower..and I don’t mean on twitter. I mean the Derek Sivers kind in How to start a Movement on Ted Talks.
Anyone who knows me and gets my 2am emails knows Ted.com has become my classroom for inspiration…..
If you watched the TedTalks video, Andrea saw the nut in me and went to go be a travel nut too! Andrea’s emails reminded me that there’s a reason I’m 31 and still talking about 30:)
Andrea sent this note to me 6 months ago, and I almost forgot to forward my emails – I didn’t realize that Andrea truly planned to follow in my footsteps but Andrea persisted and emailed again and again. So I forwarded the emails I had saved from my favorite people. I sent some of my favorite emails that helped make my 30 before 30 trip….
It wasn’t until Andrea sent an email from Barcelona with a photo that I realized, wait….oh Andrea is male. I have a cute boy experiencing my moments!!
Every day when I received another Italian Andrea email, I got a secret rush to read what moment he’d experienced and see Europe through his eyes. My friends loved it because he was cute which made it even more fun! We would send pictures of us……singing karaoke at Camille’s engagement party and he’d send pictures of him in Gaudi Park!
He went and got a tattoo from David Arquette’s friend (Hollywood Mark) in Amsterdam, just like me!
THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
He went to eat dinner at Scrubs star, Sarah Chalke‘s favorite restaurant in Cinque Terre where I was almost two years ago.
Even later, we discovered through some google search that our cute Andrea actually could afford to be taking jets and chauffeurs but instead he chose to see Europe this way.
I’ll leave you with another quote below from Derek Sivers (one I am going to work on) and some photos of Andrea around Europe. If you want to see my pictures in these spots, you’ll just have to read the book!
“Have the courage to follow and to show others how to follow and when you find the lone nut doing something great have the guts to be the first one to stand up and join in. “
Can you name each spot Andrea and his friend hit in the photos posted?
Inspiration: Keyshawn Johnson, “Hang with me for drinks. On Montana.”
Destination: R + D Restaurant
So the story goes….
Janae called me and said we are going to din with Keyshawn. It’ll be hilarious.
I knew Keyshawn was famous in the sports world but I wasn’t quite sure how…..oops.
My friend Carly texted me, “I love your life! Have fun with Keyshawn. He spoke to my class at USC once!”
This is what I found on wikipedia:
‘Joseph Keyshawn Johnson (born on July 22, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN.’
The mascot in me was doing backflips inside. I was excited to share this moment with Janae.
The thing about Miss Twisselman is that she brings out the best in everyone. When I said, “Janae we aren’t going to have to stay long, are we? (I was antsy to have some of my Sunday night for Angie time.) Janae just looked at me and laughed. “Don’t worry Ang. It wont be long. I’m with you.”
Little did I know what I was getting into.
Keyshawn was an entertaining dinner guest….to say the least . He obviously adores Janae and after they worked on a project together they have a great repoire. He made me work to get that kid like smile out though. Thank god his friend Skeet was there to ease the tension as I tried to break through Keyshawn’s Ironman layer.
With Janae though, Keyshawn pushes and teases her for being a publicist but you can tell he respects her. He doesn’t have his own publicist though. He likes to control all of that himself and although he’s quite the public persona, he prefers to keep his personal life private. I was surprised to hear some of the other business ventures that Keyshawn is involved in. “I don’t need other people knowing about that though. You girls already know too much.” He says with a big grin.
We laughed a lot and without even realizing it – closed down the restaurant!
Check! Check off another inspiration.
After those 4 hours, it made sense that Keyshawn inspired Janae. He’s got vision. He’s a businessman. He’s smart. And after meeting him, he’s no doubt a character.
Take this –
I found this Keyshawn quote that made me like him even more:
“This is what matters to me, Not all the big numbers, the fancy statistics. I want to make the plays that count.”
Janae makes the plays that count. She always makes the people around her enjoy and live in the moment. When life is tough, I’m going to remind myself to make the plays count like Keyshawn and Janae.
I couldn’t resist bringing this one back. Congrats Fernando on winning the Barcelona Open!
Destination: Moet & Chandon Tom Munro Book Launch
8445 Melrose Place
Los Angeles, CA
Inspiration: CAA Agent Michael Kives “The number 10 tennis player in the world, Fernando Verdasco, is in LA this weekend, what event should we send him to?”
Actualization: Of course I always try to help Kives, but wasn’t overextending for their tennis player….until I clicked on his wiki page and saw that not only he was the number 10 tennis player, he was adorable and worth some time spent. 
After passing along the event invites, I forgot about that heartthrob athlete….until I walked into Tom Munro’s event and he caught my eye. I couldn’t focus on the walls covered by giant photos of celebrities (some of my faves being Leo, Jude Law and Ashton) and went over to ask if he was Fernando Verdasco.
Fernando is officially now my favorite tennis player and he gave me a new appreciation for his sport. I mean tennis players get to travel EVERYWHERE! Spain to Venice to Australia to Vegas to Palm Springs to Miami….
Quote of the Night: Across the art show we watched another CAA agent flirting and after I told Fernando their love story, with raised eyebrows at the agent and said “Ooooh he wants to KEESS her!”
Do you want to see Fernando? This might be better than tennis - Calvin Klein ad
Realization: I need to watch more tennis. 30 Love Michael Kives. thanks for getting me back in the game.
Kives remember this halloween? ha
Your Moment:
Destination: Coachella, Palm Springs
Inspiration: Coachella Music Festival
It all began when…..
Rachel Krupa: “Angie, are you coming to Coachella? I need someone to have fun with me while I work at the Oasis Lounge.”
Me: “ok…yes.”
Rachel (sensing my loner angie emerging): “Don’t just say yes. Angie, tell me right now. Say you aren’t going to bail.”
Rachel defunked my funk of a mood.
No ticket. No plan. No expectations. Adventure Coachella here we go.
4:00 am Friday night/Sat morn
After quite the drive, we arrive in Palm Springs with our bags, blankets, and 3 dozen donuts.
Yes 36 donuts Miss Page Farmer bought from a teriyaki/donut shop we found on our road trip up – yes the place sells chinese and pastries together.
Page yelled into the drive-thru window – btw she is 2 hrs and 2 red bulls in – “Please sir. We have to go pee. Please open your doors so we can use your bathroom! I’ll buy a donut from you! OK- A dozen!! Fine 2 dozen! Please. How many? Ok 3 dozen. 3 dozen! Final deal.”
The store owner never said a word.
He just stared, shook his head maybe once and smiled very amused at the 3 girls in front of him doing the pee pee dance. He finally laughed, gave in and unlocked his doors.
From these bathroom stalls to a few more stalls along the way…
“now I know how nicole richie did it. She probably wasn’t event drunk, just on 80 red bulls ” – page when she drove wrong way on highway
Those 36 donuts made it though – through the traffic, then the party goers and finally to our Palm Spring Oasis in the maids quarters at the estate of the Merv Griffin!
Where’s merv sleep? He’s dead jen.
12pm Saturday
How did I get my ticket you ask? Mike Gifford bbms and says, “want my vip ticket and parking? Its yours ang.”
Sheesh, Mr. Gifford is a good guy. I am always shocked by this kind of kindness-I know people who sold their tickets for $1000 – JJ Banicki says it’s just that some people give of themselves and are just good down to the core. We are lucky to meet them. Mike is one of those people.
6pm Saturday Coachella grounds
Page was photo queen
Me and Neil chillin
We ran into friend Brandon Birtell chilling on the ground in the VIP. Sometimes inspiration comes at the weirdest time and most random please but I was grateful for a boost of it from my old friend.
“Angie, take your time with your project and don’t give in or give up. Do you know the story of Chazz Palminteri?” Brandon then told me how he met Chazz and Chazz told him this gem of inspiration.
Chazz wrote a script that was very personal to him. Investors came to him offering him money for the script but Chazz wouldn’t sell the script until he was guaranteed the role of Sonny. From $100,000 to 1 MILLION dollars, he kept refusing the offers for years…And then Robert De Niro came to him offered him the money and the role. That movie, A BRONX TALE, was made with Chazz playing Sonny alongside Robert De Niro and the movie made millions!
Brandon’s words stuck with me all weekend. Brandon is another one good to the core.
9pm Saturday Main Stage
At the main festival stage during MGMT, we run into Bryan Greenberg and friends. Before the girls and I know it we are holding hands linked. All 8 of us now actually.
Swerving from the back towards the stage – we were being shocked by an Electric Eel moving to ELECTRIC FEEL.
Like little KIDS on a playground, we let the cute boys pull us through the crowd of thousands. We had no control and tipsily allowed ourselves to just enjoy the ride.
I didn’t want our TIME TO PRETEND to end – so we continued like kids over to the gravitron at the Armani Exchange Carnival party at the airport hangar and then Sunday onto the shoulders of the guy standing behind us at Phoenix – we experienced Coachella in our own Liztopmania.
apparently we weren’t the only ones…
9pm Sunday night
Rachel and I decided our weekend was done. We went in search of Bucky.
We had decided Coachella has to be run by stoners…..
-Page literally walked past 4 gates and into VIP with no ticket and without a single person asking her to see her pass.
-The Coachella atm spit out $80 to me with a receipt that $100 was taken from my bank account along with a $2.50 service fee(ok smart stoners?)
Our train changed tracks when we ran into Robin Garvick.
Robin yanked our Sunday and brought us back to Funday.
From the moment she yelled, “Rachel Krupa! Angie Banicki!” We felt the switch….from wind down to wind up.
As we laughed with Robin and that big happy smile, she handed us the tequila shots that became the tipping point of our night.
Here’s the toast that flipped it-
And then we found Buky. Who’s Buky?
Buky is the guy who waits in the Coachella parking lot for 20 minutes because his friend needs a ride and can’t find anyone. Buky was also hosting a post Coachella party that had already started. Bucky waits and waits…but not without a little fun. When said friend calls, lost and crying for help, Buky puts on the speakerphone so his car full of people can hear the manboy admitting his fear!
Buky made us laugh till we cried in the back of that escalade. Buky was the Coach of Coachella.
1pm Monday Krupa’s Car
Team Krupa and Banicki depart the All Points Coachella Oasis and head back to reality.
We left knowing we are on the right track in our life adventure
Destination: Hollywood Starline Tourbus
Inspiration: Keith Rivers from the Cincinnati Bengals, “Go on a hollywood star tour!”
When Janae called to say we were going on the star tour for her next 30 before 30 moment, we both knew we were in for some laughs and quite an experience….
For 2 hours we were going on Mission Sightsee LA!
For 2 hours we were going to ride on a bus and hear about the town we’d been living in for years.
For 2 hours we were going to see where celebrities lived. ha.
You laugh. That’s your inspiring moment?
Try it. I dare you. Rewind the clocks and experience LA through newcomer’s eyes.
Janae brought along 5 cute boys who made Mission Sightsee LA 30 times more fun – Tom Tom, Tony, Geordie, Ben and Jesse, we’ll call them The Entertainers.
Here are some highlights of what we learned and why we laughed -
Sightsee tour Moment- check. Mission completed- check. Inspired – check.
We laughed.
We were reminded of some of the greatest talents who lived.
We were reminded of our first experiences in LA and how far we’ve come…how much we’ve achieve and what we plan to achieve.
Uh Angie -you’re 31? Why are you still doing 30 Before 30?
30 Before 30 is the story of how I, Angie Banicki, put my career on the line and headed out on an adventure around Europe for 30 days before my 30th birthday. Me – small-town dorkypants gone Hollywood publicist – gave in to gut instinct and risked all that I had worked so hard to achieve in search of inspiration and purpose. I started by creating a list of the most inspiring and influential people in my life and then gathered their favorite moments to construct my journey. I went to Europe with a peek – a snapshot – into the most precious memories of others.
And who wants to stop getting inspiration, right? So I continued with the moments and started the blog so that I could keep going while I finished writing the story of my European journey that had started it all….
I’ve decided to graduate from my 30 Before 30 and become professor like Dad Banicki. I will make it my assignment to help create these special moments for others…..by reaching out to the inspiring people in their lives and tracking down the people who they want to inspire them.
I want to show how you can create a 30 Before 30 or even an 80 Before 80 – like Grandpa T. A passion project to help you get through troubled times, gain knowledge about yourself by experiencing someone else’s meaningful moment, or just make some fun out of life….and show it doesn’t have to be in Europe:)
30B30 Victim/Recipient #1 = 29 yr old Janae Twisselman starts this week – with moments from Keyshawn Johnson, Grandma Rose and Papa, and skater, Stevie Williams.
Here’s how it works and our Day 1 – My Mission Moment
Destination of the moment – Santa Monica and Muscle Beach
Inspiration of who and what got us there – Grandma Rose and Papa T, who are a big part of Janae’s life, send us to the place they met and fell in love
Actualization of what happened – Jj Banicki provided the BeBackstage CD of inspiring songs for the drive down to the Westside. We visited grandma and grandpa’s first home in Santa Monica. Rose and Papa T are two peas in a pod. From Papa’s room full of books of photographs he’s taken over the years to Rose’s stories of their grandkids – they inspire you to find true love! Janae and I then headed to Venice to watch the muscle men like they liked to do! We had a lot of laughs along the way.
Realization describing what lesson came from the moment – I pulled this quote out of Mom’s Inspiring Quotes Bowl the morning we began – When people show you who they are, believe them. Maya Angelou
Janae has been a constant cheertweeter of 30b30! She made me believe in myself and when she emailed me that she was in a funk, I knew it was time to pay it forward and remind her why I believed in her….and so did that muscle man on the boardwalk:)
Your moment completes the DIARY – Visit the Venice boardwalk and observe some muscles. Or ask your grandparents for something that inspires them and go do it:)
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