Point and shoot
STAN LEE • photographer, video producer
WORK • Thursday Routine
STAN LEE • photographer, video producer
Neighborhood you live in: Highland Park
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I could be working on a production/photoshoot or at home doing some sort of post-production or pre-production. I have a comically big monitor (57-inch) that helps me multitask. As of this Thursday, I’m staring at it, getting ready to set up a photo shoot for Imbibe Magazine, as well as editing some photos for a couple of clients.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m cleaning and prepping my gear today for a busy week ahead. This Sunday and Monday, I’ll be leading a team to film content for The Chef Assembly, led by Mike Traud. After that, I’ve got a photoshoot for Imbibe’s January issue, and a few new restaurant openings to photograph.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Looking forward to eating and photographing my friend Debbie Lee’s brand new modern Korean restaurant in Highland Park called Yi Cha. This weekend I’m attending Be Bright Coffee Melrose’s 3rd birthday. They serve my favorite cold brew in town. Be Bright Coffee is run by husband and wife duo Frank and Michelle La. Frank is the 2024 U.S. Barista champion. I’ll also visit Steep LA, a tea shop in Chinatown.
Any weekend getaways?
I took my new Rivian R1T on a road trip to Santa Barbara. I stayed at the Mar Monte Hotel, a Hyatt property right across from the beach, where I spent mornings and evenings walking up and down the shore. Between beach strolls, I explored some of Santa Barbara’s best local spots, starting the day with coffee at Dune Coffee Roasters, grabbing lunch at Pang Zi Noodle Shop, and enjoying brews and smash burgers at Third Window Brewing. Dinner highlights included fresh seafood at Clark’s, hearty fare at Dom’s Taverna, and a cozy evening at Bettina savoring their incredible pizzas.
What was your last great vacation?
Earlier this month, I flew to Taipei for a friend’s wedding and had an absolute blast. The city was buzzing with energy, late nights, and nonstop good food. Between the wedding celebrations, I made it my mission to explore as much as I could. I hit a few coffee spots, starting with Oasis Coffee Roasters, then the sleek and award-winning Simple Kaffa inside the 101 (Taiwan’s tallest building), and The Folks. Naturally, I had to make the pilgrimage to Din Tai Fung for some legendary xiao long bao.
A friend introduced me to PEACEWAVE, a Taiwanese-Japanese izakaya with cool vibes and fusion dishes that kept surprising me. One of my favorite nights was at the Kavalan Whiskey Bar — beautiful space, smooth drinks, and the perfect way to wind down after a packed day.
Where are you donating your time or money?
My partner and I have donated to A Fund, Inc, a non-profit that helps Kentucky women and other humans who require access to healthcare. Another organization is CHIRLA, a non-profit pro-immigrant advocacy group.