Armistead Booker http://virb.com/armistead Lots more to discover...]]> Virb 2.0 (@armistead) en Thomas Jefferson: "To preserve the freedom of the human mind, every spirit... http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/6083205 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:27:21 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/6083205 A sweet meeting of the hearts today with @christyiam @jamietworkowski... http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/6073761 @christyiam @jamietworkowski @peterlayton @calebclardy... I love walking with our extended family!]]> Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:38:41 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/6073761 Picnic with the famous @wallblank Lincoln. http://twitpic.com/oixmf http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5988028 @wallblank Lincoln. http://twitpic.com/oixmf]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:11:00 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5988028 Hanging with @joelieske in Shenandoah National Park looking out over the... http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5987045 @joelieske in Shenandoah National Park looking out over the mountains.]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:15:30 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5987045 On the train from NYC to Washington with a bunch of Czechs. Pretending to be... http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5977471 http://twitpic.com/ogyqk]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:48:39 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5977471 Taking a new look at family through the @tommytant weekend: http://bit.ly/1iOv47 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5934005 @tommytant weekend: http://bit.ly/1iOv47]]> Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:27:10 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/status/5934005 A New Look at Family http://virb.com/armistead/posts/text/5924644

Chances are you haven't experienced a family weekend quite like everything that went down on October 10-11 in Flagler Beach, Florida. The Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic goes far beyond what the name implies. Since its inception ten years ago, surfers have gathered to ride the waves in friendly competition to remember the beautiful life of one of their own, Tommy Tant. The entire local community rallies around the surf contest, along with Tommy's parents, Tom and Barbara, and his brother, Will. But it doesn't stop there.

Surfers, artists, musicians, photographers, and non-profit organizations come from around the world to be a part of the weekend, each bringing their own unique contributions: murals, concerts, cold drinks, hand-painted hats, film screenings, beach wear, silent auctions, dinner parties, and a million smiles. All proceeds benefit the Tommy Tant Scholarship Fund, which supports surfers and volunteers going to school; donations are also given to Flagler County food pantries, helping families put food on their tables.

I've had the honor of working alongside Will and his family for the past year to produce the marketing materials and website for the 2009 event. Over the past few years, the Tommy Tant has become as much a meaningful reunion and tradition for me as Thanksgiving or Christmas, primarily because of our family (a merry band of misfits) that gathers around the Tants each year. Colorado meets Outer Banks meets Wales meets New York meets South Africa meets Central Florida. My buddy Matt Katsolis produced this video and made this poignant comment to Surfline about filming the paddle-out ceremony in memory of Tommy Tant:

"As the circle opened up to let me in and then enclosed around me I was suddenly surrounded by my closest friends... all smiling and shouting my name so happy to see me. And this gave me a glimpse of what heaven must be like.

At the end of the weekend, Will stepped up to the mic, thanked everyone for being a part of this amazing family, and shared a closing thought from 1 Corinthians: "And now these three remain... faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:52:30 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/posts/text/5924644 Pink Haze http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918362

Surreal.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:52 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918362 Red Sky Over Brooklyn http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918361

Strange thunderstorm.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:51 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918361 Brain Freeze http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918360

Caleb, you drank that iced moccachino way too fast.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:50 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918360 Elisa and Armistead http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918359

At the church fundraiser night.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:49 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918359 Elisa http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918357

Reading on my floor.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:48 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918357 Oh The Fancy http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918355

Harvey knows how to throw a good party... with amazing homemade food.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:47 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918355 Recycled http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918354

Spotted in the 42nd Street Bryant Park B station.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:46 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918354 Ethel Barrymore http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918353

In the 23rd Street R Station. Tile artwork by Keith Godard.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:45 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918353 Mark Twain http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918351

In the 23rd Street R Station. Tile artwork by Keith Godard.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:44 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918351 Thank You Container Store http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918350

NYC apartment organization 101: raised my bed 6 inches, slid 4 container boxes underneath, and doubled my storage space!

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:42 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918350 Towering Heights http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918349

Good flight...got to watch some thunderstorm castles passing by in the sky. Glad we could go around them!

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:42 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918349 Castles http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918348

Good flight...got to watch some thunderstorm castles passing by in the sky. Glad we could go around them!

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:41 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918348 Dinner Date http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918347

Afterdinner discussion between Lauren and Elisa. Such good friends.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:40 -0800 http://virb.com/armistead/photos/5918347