Acentric Magazine (Vol. 1, Issue 2) by Acentric Magazine

August 2016

Travel Diaries PERU & COSTA RICA Local Band Highlight MESSENGER DOWN Emerging Artists KALIMUR Local Culture FOOD IN OUR HOOD & THIS OR THAT On the Rise LARKIN POE

editor in chief ANGELICA NICOLLE ABALOS managing editor DAYNA DRUM lifestyle photo editor MELANIE KIM copy editors CARLY EVANS & NINA CALABRETTA contributors

ALLISON DEL FIUM - ZOE DILLMAN - KRYSTINA GABRIELLE ERIKA DANIELA GARCIA - AMANDA HUERTA - BRITTANY ISAACSON SAM LICHTENSTEIN - WHITNEY NEWELL - LORRIE REYES CAROLINA RIVERA - GINA SCARPINO - BRIANNA STACY ZELTZIN VAZQUEZ - EMMA WATTS - ERIN WILSON - KELLY YOUNG

Vo l ume 1 , I s s ue 2

ISSUE 02 August 2016

LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS Angelica Nicolle Abalos, Dayna Drum & Melanie Kim

SHOW OFF YOUR SCENE: MESSENGER DOWN

Brianna Stacy

SUMMER SERENITY: PERU Gina Scarpino

IMPULSE & INSIGHT: COSTA RICA Carolina Rivera

ON THE RISE: LARKIN POE Allison Del Fium

7 8 14 16 18

CO N TE N TS

THIS OR THAT? ALTERNATIVES TO SOME NYC FAVORITES Sam Lichtenstein

FEELS LIKE... SUMMER PLAYLIST Emma Watts

EMERGING ARTISTS: KALIMUR Lorrie Reyes

THE FOOD IN OUR HOOD: JUNK FOOD Krystina Gabrielle, Brittany Isaacson, Melanie Kim, Erin Wilson and Kelly Young

22 25 28 32

cover photo GINA SCARPINO

L IVE PH OTOS

photo by BRIANNA STACY

photo by ANGELICA NICOLLE ABALOS

photo by ZELTZIN VAZQUEZ

photo by GINA SCARPINO

photo by AMANDA HUERTA

photo by ERIKA DANIELA GARCIA

photo by WHITNEY NEWELL

photo by AMANDA HUERTA photo by KRYSTINA GABRIELLE

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 | Contents

LETTERS FROM THE

EDITORS ANGELICA NICOLLE ABALOS Founder / Editor in Chief

I refuse to put out work that I’m not proud of. This magazine is no exception to the rule. Our team has done an incredible job creating the content you see in this print issue and on our website, and all of it is due to the passion each person has for what they do. I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished this quarter and cannot wait to see what’s in store. I hope you’ll stay along for the ride as well. I’ve got a feeling you won’t want to miss it!

DAYNA DRUM Managing Editor

I have two loves in this life: food and words. I have been pursuing the first since the beginning of my existence, and the second since the tender age of 12. By day I’m a newspaper reporter covering everything from crime to children’s plays. But at night when I’ve hung up my press pass, I’m the Managing Editor for this fantastic magazine. I am so proud of what our team has produced and can’t wait to see where we go next. I am committed to making this publication one of the freshest, coolest things you’ve ever seen, so stick around because we’re here to stay.

MELANIE KIM Lifestyle Photo Editor

My life is art, food, and talking about those things. A big part of living is learning to appreciate what’s around you—for me, that’s the wonderful, nasty city of Los Angeles, and all the culture it has to offer, from the cheapest, most heart-warming street tacos to the $10 latte at Alfred In The Alley. And that’s just in my little corner of the world. There’s so much to see, eat, and discuss out there, and I want to bring it all to you in a hot little magazine.

SHOW OFF YOUR SCENE

MESSENGER DOWN portraits & interview BRIANNA STACY

LOCAL BAND HIGHLIGHT | Messenger Down

L OCAL BAND HIGHLIGHT

BRIANNA STACY: How long has Messenger Down been together? MESSENGER DOWN: This past February was 4 years since I got this whole thing started! BS: How did Messenger Down start out? MD: I had left an old band of mine, and after writing a bunch of songs I just kinda decided to do it. Nobody was playing the kind of music I was interested in being a part of, so I recorded the first few songs with a studio drummer and played everything else myself. After that, I built a band around that sound and the songs I was writing and, after a revolving door of members coming in and out, I’m just doing it myself again! BS: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music? MD: Ha, “eclectic” I guess. I like asking what people are into and then suggest songs to them based on that. New or old, MD’s sound has ranged from Pop Punk to Synthpop, Metalcore to Trap, and Alternative Rock to R&B. The opening song on my first EP was basically a choir piece. If you like music, I probably have at least a song or two you can jam. BS: You just released a new EP called Cheating Death. Tell us a little more about that. What was your creative process like while writing and recording it? MD: This record is about falling in love with music again. I built up such an addiction to nostalgia and, after scrapping over twenty songs that I thought perfectly captured that feeling, I stopped looking for it and started finding things I enjoyed in the music coming out today. I got to play around with a lot of new sounds and ideas and effects that I hadn’t done much with in the past and getting to play everything in the studio made going in to record even more fun because it was all such a learning experience. BS: What’s your favorite song off of Cheating Death? MD: It’s honestly so hard to choose! Every song on Cheating Death is so different and brings its own ideas and sounds to the table. If I absolutely had to pick right this second it’s either “I’d Hate to Put Words In Your Head, Lend Me Your Ears Instead (Here to Stay),” “No Home for Ghosts,” or “Dead Weight (All Press is Good Press).” But I’ll probably change my mind tomorrow.

BS: What makes this album different from your last release? MD: Literally everything. Besides maybe one song, it’s not even the same genre of music as anything I’ve ever put out before. I’ve always played around with ideas outside of the basic guitar/bass/drums/vocals formula, but in the past, I’ve kept the synths, pianos, strings, and anything else I could figure out how to use to simply being flavors and tastes within a very guitar-driven sound. This time around those instruments are essential parts of the songs, so much that a few almost ended up being written without guitars at all. BS: Who are your top three favorite artists to listen to right now? MD: Right now I’m listening to a lot of The Ready Set, his new album is nuts. Besides that, there’s a musician from Canada called The Runaway Club that I’m obsessed with, and The 1975 has been a pretty constant favorite for the past few months. BS: Tell us about your dream tour. Who’s on the lineup?

“I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN FOR STATE CHAMPS AT ZIGGY’S BY THE SEA, AND AT ONE POINT... THE CROWD WAS SINGING ALONG SO LOUD I COULD HEAR THEM OVER MY IN-EAR MONITORS. IT WAS INSANE.”

MD: I was just thinking about this the other day! One Direction and The Weeknd co-headliner with Panic! at the Disco, The 1975, and Halsey as support. In a dream world I’d like to go on somewhere in the middle... but being real, I’d definitely be opening. BS: What has been your favorite venue to play? MD: It was definitely Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, North Carolina before it shut down. So many memories. If I had to pick my favorite place that’s still open, it’s definitely Greene Street Club in Greensboro, NC or Ziggy’s By the Sea in Wilmington, NC. BS: What’s one of your favorite memories from performing? MD: The memory that stands out to me the most actually just happened earlier this year. I got the opportunity to open for State Champs at Ziggy’s By the Sea, and at one point in [my song] “North Star,” the crowd was singing along so loud I could hear them over my in-ear monitors. It was insane.

BS: What’s your favorite song to perform live? MD: Right now it’s one of the new songs, “I’d Hate to Put Words In Your Head, Lend Me Your Ears Instead (Here to Stay).” It’s got this really groovy, indie pop kinda vibe to it that makes it stand out from the rest of the set. It’s a ton of fun. BS: Is there anything that usually runs through your mind when you’re onstage?

LOCAL BAND HIGHLIGHT | Messenger Down

L OCAL BAND HIGHLIGHT

MD: Honestly, not very much these last few shows. I usually have a million things going on in my head, but lately, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been able to just go up, have a good time, and at least try to remember to say everything I need to between songs. BS: Do you have any upcoming shows? MD: We just finished up a few shows in July

in the North Carolina and South Carolina area in Greenville, Raleigh, and Charlotte. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at hitting up a few tours to end the year. A lot is in the works. FOLLOW MESSENGER DOWN : Twitter: @MessengerDownNC Instagram: @MessengerDown Facebook.com/MessengerDown

photo by ERIN WILSON

SUMMER SERENITY

PERU

Do you ever look at photographs of a place online or in print and think to yourself, “How the heck does a place this beautiful and serene even exist”? For the first part of my summer vacation, I found myself in Peru and the entire time I was there, I found myself wondering how a place so incredibly stunning existed, and that I was living it every day. Everything from the country’s capital, Lima, to trekking through the Andes Mountain Range to Machu Picchu just blew me away. I’d like to think I’ve been to a lot of incredible places in my life, but Peru blew all of those out of the water. It was so beautiful and pure in such a rustic way. If you ever find yourself wanting to go somewhere to immerse yourself in a different place and culture, consider going to Peru. It’s a beautiful country that’s pretty cheap to travel in. But make sure you hike through the Andes Mountains and weep on the steps at Machu Picchu over its inexplicable beauty. You’ll thank me later.

words & photos GINA SCARPINO

TRAVEL DIARIES | Peru

T R AV EL D I A RY

IMPULSE & INSIGHT

COSTA RICA

Taking a vacation by yourself is not something a lot of people do. I’ve always been interested in visiting other countries and experiencing different cultures. As a grown up, there are always many obstacles that stop you from taking that perfect vacation whether it’s money, responsibilities or coordinating others’ schedules. Last month, I embarked on an adventure. I came across this great deal that was so good I needed to prove it was a scam... only to realize it wasn’t. I bought the tickets, expedited my passport and figured I had the time, money and freedom so why not?

TRAVEL DIARIES | Costa Rica

T R AV EL D I A RY

My first night in Costa Rica, I decided to stay close by the beach and relax and explore that town and then start my road trip towards the Highlands. The next morning there was a gecko in my room above my bed post. I was up by 7:30 am, no alarm needed, and I casually looked around because, for a split second, I almost forgot where I was. I woke up to the sound of the waves and couldn’t wait to try the coffee there before my swim. How have I never done this before? This part of the country consists of a few winding roads and a handful of open-air bars and restaurants. There are no traffic lights though I had to stop a few times for monkeys and roaming cows crossing the road. No chain stores. Limited Wi-Fi. People drive beat-up cars or ATVs because no one cares what kind of car you drive, and hitchhiking is common. The locals are friendly. There are no addresses here; typical directions to someone’s house were along the lines of “Take a right at the big mango tree, drive 500 meters past the gated house with the pink roses.” I had a few places I knew I had to visit. Rio Celeste was one of those places. According to the local legend, after God finished painting the sky, He decided to wash His brushes in these waters and that’s why it has the sky blue color. I like this theory much better than the truth. I read about this small town called La Fortuna with a volcano right in the center of it. I stayed there for two days. This charming little town was my favorite out of all the towns

I visited. It’s home to one of the most famous volcanoes in Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano. What drew me to this town was the history behind it. In 1968, Arenal erupted, destroyed 3 towns. The surviving town was renamed La Fortuna (The Fortunate). You can see the now dormant volcano from any vantage point. About an hour north of La Fortuna, I found the Maleku Tribe, an indigenous tribe in the town of Guatuso. About 600 people live on the reserve, and some of them invited me in and told me a little bit about their culture and traditions. They even spoke to me in their native language, Maleku. I spent my life staring at TV screens, laptops, and smartphones. Hell, I can’t even go to sleep without the sound of the TV in the background. I felt stressed, uninspired, and disconnected. It seemed I had to travel halfway around the world to find inspiration. Many of the people I encountered on this trip told me I was brave, especially as a female. But for me, it was more about being impulsive and not overthinking everything. I made memories to last a lifetime, and I’ve only just begun to feed my curiosity the way I want to. Some advice I can offer would be to, do your research. Make the best of your time there by planning ahead. And most definitely do things you wouldn’t do at home, get out of your comfort zone. I’m already thinking about my next destination. Where would you go?

words & photos CAROLINA RIVERA

ON THE RISE

LARKIN POE Over the past decade, two sisters have been on a journey that has included success, transitions, and a continuous passion for music. Larkin Poe is more than just a sister duo; they are a folk rock band that knows who they are, where they came from and they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afraid to show it. Rebecca and Megan Lovell started from a childhood focused on the fundamentals of music playing and writing. As young musicians living in Atlanta, Georgia, they were given the opportunity to see first-hand the vibrancy of the bluegrass genre. Originally working with their eldest sister in a band known as the Lovell Sisters, they centered their musical attention on their southern roots. The Lovell Sisters found success within their five-year run and were given opportunities to play venues such as the historic Grand Ole Opry. As time went on, the band found itself in need of change. It became evident that both Megan and Rebecca were committed to making music their life, a decision their eldest sister could not fully commit to. With the decision to end the Lovell Sisters, Megan and Rebecca found themselves with a desire to switch gears, ultimately forming Larkin Poe. Now as Larkin Poe enters into their sixth year as a musical act they have had a wide range of success. With the release of five EPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and two full-length albums they have gained attention for

their unique sound. In addition, their musical and personal relationship with Elvis Costello has allowed the band to captivate audiences all around the world. Before Larkin Poe took the stage as an opener for Costello’s recent tour, I was able to discuss with the musical duo what the last few years as a band has brought them. With a positive attitude toward life and music, Larkin Poe shared information regarding their journey from their previous album Kin to their latest album Reskinned and what the future may hold for them. ALLISON DEL FIUM: What prompted you both to get into folk music when you were growing up? REBECCA LOVELL: We went to a blue grass festival when we were thirteen and seeing people performing on stage with spontaneity and looking like they were really enjoying it, really captured our attention. Growing up playing classical music was a great fundamental place for us to startespecially in terms of learning how to practice and train your ear. But seeing that kind of vibrancy was really inspiring so we were taken in by it. MEGAN LOVELL: I think we were really lucky to get involved in that kind of music and have that base to grow off of. RL: It was a good five or six years that we played blue grass and through that process we picked up more electric instruments. Megan now exclusively plays lap steel. Then I picked up the electric guitar and suddenly we were able to unleash some of those edgier sounds that we heard in our head and incorporate those sounds into the new album, Reskinned. ADF: As sisters, this obviously adds a unique dynamic to the band. How do you guys go about your writing process and recording together? RL: It is ever-changing in how we manage our musical process. I think getting older with each other and having our relationship mature and especially as we mature as artists is one major factor. We write together on some stuff. I find that I write probably a bit more in the group and Megan is more of our musical director. ML: We are kind of Irish twins. We are really close in age so we have grown up just always together. We get along really well and yes, it takes work and having a sibling with you adds another layer of complication, but it’s a good kind of complication. ADF: As far as the new album Reskinned goes you have a pretty distinct sound, incorporating the folk tone but now with rock ‘n’ roll elements. Who played a role as musical influences as you both wrote and recorded the new album?

ML: I think it’s an amalgamation of a lot of different people when it came to influences because we like a lot of different kinds of music. RL: I think that it has some Jeff Buckley influences, as well as Black Keys and Jack White influences. I was listening to a lot of Jack White. There is something very appealing about how he presents musical ideas and lyrics, and it is very punk-blues. I think I was trying to channel vocalists who spit more and are more aggressive and rhythmic with their vocals. ADF: How would you describe Reskinned both musically and personally to where you guys are right now in your lives? ML: There is a story behind Reskinned. We had Kin, our first album, and we were touring in Europe in support of the album and that year we were playing Glastonbury. Universal Music Music Group came out to one of our shows and they really liked Kin. They wanted to take it onto their label. We said we were really proud of that album but it did not sound like who we are now as musicians. They agreed and allowed us to write five new tracks and we picked our favorites from Kin and that is what Reskinned became. It’s a melding of Kin and new.

“I THINK AS AN ARTIST EVERY SONG YOU WRITE YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT YOURSELF.” RL: I think as an artist, every song you write, you learn something new about yourself. And, for us to go back through and have the opportunity to go and cherry-pick the songs we felt were the strongest off of Kin and then swoop back in with this new knowledge and sound was amazing. I also think emotionally we made a lot of shifts from Kin to Reskinned. Just growing up, we had things to talk about, new changes in our lives. I think as we get older you can’t help but have different perspectives on life. It is a coming of age project. ADF: For you, what songs on Reskinned are your favorites? ML: There are always the different favorites. There is the one that is the favorite to listen to and then there is the one that you like to play live. “Problem” is probably my favorite to listen to on the record. I am really proud of how that track turned out. We recorded it in one night in

ON THE RISE | Larkin Poe

Atlanta and there was something really freeing about having a time crunch and only being able to record things once for the track. As far as performing goes, I really enjoy performing “Blunt” live. We have been doing a really cool stripped-down version on tour.

think about being visible people and visible role models for kids. Showing the importance of being able to play and express yourself.

RL: “Blunt” is my favorite song on the record. It’s also Elvis’ favorite on the record. It has a bit of an edge to it. I think lyrically it pushes a boundary we haven’t pushed before. I think my favorite to perform would be “Trouble in Mind”; I am still smitten with this song.

RL: We have more tour dates coming up and then we will be heading to Europe to get back on tour with Elvis. We will then kick off another month of Larkin Poe dates. For now just touring in support of the album. I think as an artist that is how you really get your music out. We are excited for this album to be out finally and see where this all goes.

ADF: How has the response been in regards to the album and especially you as a band?

ADF: As far as the future of your journey goes, what are your plans for this new record?

In a world where instruments seem to be a ML: Overwhelmingly positive. People are fantastic. dying art form, with the increase of electronic music and highly produced tracks, bands such RL: Really nice. I hate to say it but I think in as Larkin Poe continue to push live musical today’s day and age it is fairly unusual to have performance back into the spectrum of public musicians perform truly live. I think as a general importance. As women who emphasize the rule the idea of having a person who plays their art form of writing and performing one’s instrument live and who writes the songs and own music, they have become a voice of especially to have that person be a woman, it encouragement. Now with a brand new album stands out a bit. And while we hate that and we out, Larkin Poe is beginning to make a huge don’t want that to exist, we are still excited to mark within the music landscape. words by ALLISON DEL FIUM press photos courtesy of RH MUSIC

L OCA L CU L TURE

THIS OR THAT? ALTERNATIVES TO SOME POPULAR NYC FAVORITES

So you’re coming to New York City. You’ve chosen a Broadway show, picked all of the most famous restaurants… now take a step back. While Times Square and Soho have their charms, here are some alternatives to the tourist traps of the city, and some Instagrammable spots for you to impress your friends with (because come on, we all do it). words & photos SAM LICHTENSTEIN

LOCAL CULTURE | This or That?

YOUR PLAN: CENTRAL PARK

ALTERNATIVE: PROSPECT PARK When you think of New York City parks, Prospect Park isn’t one that immediately comes to mind. Located in Brooklyn, Prospect Park boasts 585 acres that include lakes, waterfalls, a zoo, a large nature conservatory, and seven baseball fields. If you’re visiting during the warmer months, paddleboats are available to rent in one of the many waterways throughout the park. The park is within walking distance from another New York highlight, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. The gardens are a must-see in the spring when the cherry blossom trees are in bloom.

YOUR PLAN: Museum of Modern Art

ALTERNATIVE: MoMA PS1 Located in Long Island City, Queens, MoMA PS1 is one of the largest art institutions in the U.S. dedicated to just contemporary art. The museum is affiliated with the more commonly known MoMA, which is in Midtown Manhattan. MoMA PS1 is not as large as some of the other more famous museums in the city, but it is definitely worth a visit. There is not a permanent collection, but instead, there are several long-term installations and exhibition opportunities for young artists in the city. Make sure to explore every room in the mazelike building, and don’t forget the amazing bookstore.

L OCA L CU L TURE

YOUR PLAN: BATTERY PARK

ALTERNATIVE: IRISH HUNGER Alright, hear me out, because I MEMORIAL was skeptical, too, when I first heard about this area in lower Manhattan. Finished in 2002, the memorial is landscaped with stones, soil, and native vegetation that were transported directly from the western coast of Ireland and it contains stones from all of the counties of Ireland. The area will truly make you feel like you’re not even in New York anymore. Walk through the memorial to see an impressive reconstruction of an authentic Irish cottage of the 19th century.

YOUR PLAN: STARBUCKS

ALTERNATIVE: JOE COFFEE When stopping for a caffeine fix, head over to one of Joe Coffee’s ten locations throughout New York City. My personal favorite location is the Union Square spot, which serves doughnuts from The Doughnut Plant, one of the best doughnut spots in the city. A latte is a bit more expensive than average, but the quality of the coffee and friendly service makes it worth it.

Whether it’s your first time to the Big Apple or your thirtieth, these spots are a great addition. If you take the time to explore the city and all it has to offer, soon you’ll have your own favorite local spots!

LOCAL CULTURE | This or That?

P L AY LIS T

LIFE ITSELF // Glass Animals LASER GUN (FT. MAI LAN) // M83 HOLLOW LIFE // Coast Modern KAMIKAZE // MO CHAMBER OF REFLECTION // Mac Demarco MIRACLE // The Darcys YOU ARE THE RIGHT ONE // Sports FEELS LIKE MAGIC // Sports LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GO! // Govs 4EVER! // LANY HEADSPACE // The Wombats ON MY OWN // Made Violent WHAT AM I BECOMING? // POP ETC FREAZY // Wolf Alice GIBRALTAR // Beirut SEMAPHORES ON THE LAWN // Little Comets HOTEL CALIFORNIA // Swim Deep BAJA ( ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU) // Vista Kicks MARCELINE // Vista Kicks playlist & illustration by EMMA WATTS

photo by BRITTANY ISAACSON

EMERGING ARTISTS

KALIMUR words by LORRIE REYES photos by BRITTANY ISAACSON

There was a list of over 100 band names that hit the cutting room floor before Kalimur frontman Brett Steinberg settled on a name that meant nothing. But after linking up with bandmates Alex Trouern-Trend and Jonah Propfe, Steinberg’s handy list couldn’t quite capture the true essence of what they stood for—the genuineness, and sometimes intensity, of their lyrics and the passion for putting out music they truly feel.

“With all those names in the list of 100, none of them really felt like they stood the test of time,” says Steinberg. “I thought, ‘OK I know of a couple different bands that have made up words.’ And every time I hear the word of their band, I associate the music and who they are and any experiences you may have had with the music and with that name. “So with Kalimur I just wanted to create something aesthetically pleasing, both when

EMERGING ARTISTS | Kalimur

Trouern-Trend reached out to Steinberg via Facebook and said he was ready to put everything he had into a band. But a week before having to perform a slew of shows, including a mostly metal crowd at a battle of the bands at Webster Underground in Hartford, the piano-driven, alternative pop rock band were in desperate need of a drummer. And although Trouern-Trend wasn’t able to verbally describe the Pokemon-loving and “recent avid bird watcher” to Steinberg, he urged them to meet. The self-taught drummer, Propfe, proved himself almost instantly, listening to Kalimur’s songs religiously in his car and learning them in a short period of time. “It was definitely not our tightest performance, but everyone ended up going nuts and it was one of my favorite shows that we’ve played to date,” Steinberg remembers. “We met some awesome people and we were able to kind of work the room. Even the people who were there to see hard rockers and metal bands were actually really excited about what we were doing. “[Propfe] really saved us. He learned his songs as quick as he did and it just worked out. We’ve been going extremely hard with it ever since.”

you hear and when you see it. And then it kind of absorbs its meaning from the music and the experiences people get from the music—and hopefully interacting with us.” Before the Connecticut-based trio could come up with the name, Steinberg and Trouern-Trend had to meet. Their first encounter at a mutual friend’s University of Connecticut graduation party, where they both currently attend, set the stage for the solo artist and guitarist to collaborate. They met again a year later while Steinberg was performing at an open-mic night.

That includes embarking on Kalimur’s first official tour to date after the release of their second album Redemption on Jan. 25, which follows their April 2015 debut album Ghosts We Used To Know. Redemption, the 11-track coming of age story, was recorded last summer in a Connecticut basement, and shows both how one falls, but also how one can be redeemed. With elements of electronic music, funk rock, and pop, Kalimur’s second release seeks to create something rare. “For this album, we always had the intention of making something unique—that it wasn’t just a bunch of songs, but a bunch of songs that made sense together,” says Steinberg. “There’s this melodic thread that starts at the beginning

that’s very apparent and it’s very apparent at the end. “There is a theme of rising and falling, but also of finding the silver lining in those experiences by redeeming them and going forward with what you’ve learned.” The album cover, which is designed by an artist named Edgar Hernandez whom the band found on Instagram, shows a house beginning its descent off the edge of a cliff into a sea of trees. In reference to the cover art, Steinberg explains, “So there’s this despair originally when you look at it, but when you look at it longer you say, ‘Well, it hasn’t fallen yet.’ And it’s not broken, completely. And that’s what the album really is. It’s this house that’s falling off a cliff, but it hasn’t fallen yet. And there’s a hope and the fact that you can redeem that, and that you can pull the house back on to the cliff and repair whatever’s cracked—because it’s not broken yet.” Kalimur’s North East Coast tour had the trio, along with touring bassist Morgan Gammell, hit new cities like Washington D.C., with stops in New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island before they ended their tour back home in Connecticut.

“ANYTIME WE WRITE, WE TRY TO BE HONEST... EVERYTHING THAT WE PUT OUT IS A REPRESENTATION OF WHO WE ARE.” FOLLOW KALIMUR ON SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @KalimurBand Instagram: @KalimurBand Facebook.com/KalimurBand

THE FOOD IN OUR HOOD

JUNK FOOD

Americans all have one kind of food in common, no matter where you go: junk food. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up in any corner of this country, you’ll find one, whether it’s cold, hot, greasy, fried, or cheesy. Here are some of our favorite places to pig out. Sorry, Michelle Obama.

LOCAL CULTURE | The Food in Our Hood

LOCA L CU LTU R E LOS ANGELES, CA

MILK Milk is an ice cream and baked goods stop that reflects L.A.’s style: take what’s good, and do it better. Milk’s signature treats are giant macaron ice cream sandwiches, which are high quality in both of its ingredients and all of its flavor combos. Parking is difficult, but it’s worth a little walk. Pictured are the strawberry shortcake bar, and the strawberry and red velvet macaron ice cream sandwiches.

words & photos MELANIE KIM

COSTA MESA, CA

CAULDRON ICE CREAM Cauldron Ice Cream is a liquid nitrogen ice cream shop which has an important claim to fame: the store created the first puffle ice cream cone to hold their delicious frozen flavors. The ice cream store provides a variety of flavors with a multitude of toppings for their customers to consume along with several recommendations of popular combinations. A signature dessert for Cauldron is the “H2O Rose”—a pink ice cream scoop shaped into a flower.

words & photos ERIN WILSON

FAIRFIELD, CT

MILKCRAFT Milkcraft is a small batch creamery located on the Brick Walk in Fairfield, Connecticut. I find myself driving an hour and waiting in the long lines all too often because I just can’t get enough of this stuff. Milkcraft offers unique, rich flavors of ice cream served in either a bubblecone (a literal waffle cone) or injected into a glazed donut (yes, it’s as good as it sounds). Then you can choose to add extra toppings ranging from pocky sticks to toasted marshmallows. Once your order is in, you can watch them make your scoop right in front of you using liquid nitrogen! Once you bite into the creamy ice cream and warm waffle, you’ll never want any other ice cream again. Milkcraft is definitely a mustvisit destination if you find yourself in the area!

words & photos BRITTANY ISAACSON

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Z CIOCCOLATO In North Beach, San Francisco, just on the outskirts of what some call “Little Italy,” Z Cioccolato is a candy store specializing in authentic Italian sweets like fudge, caramel, gelato, salt water taffy and other candy. This place is heaven if you have a sweet tooth that can’t be satisfied. The fun appearance of the small shop combined with the genuine deliciousness of the sweets makes Z Cioccolato truly the sweetest spot in North Beach.

words & photos KELLY YOUNG

LOCAL CULTURE | The Food in Our Hood

COSTA MESA, CA

SIDECAR DOUGHNUTS Sidecar Doughnuts is a gourmet doughnut and coffee shop with two locations in Southern California: Costa Mesa and Santa Monica. The company began in 2012 and is committed to creating excellent and innovative hand-crafted pastries and beverages. Sidecar Doughnuts builds a strong relationship with their customers through social media and the “local doughnut shop” vibe of friendliness surrounding each storefront.

words & photos ERIN WILSON

LOS ANGELES, CA

ALFRED COFFEE Out of Alfred’s six locations, this one has the cutest and most Instagrammable neon and decor. Oh, and the coffee is quality, too. They have Stumptown cold brew on tap and serve Yeastie Boys bagels. The baristas say their $10 latte is their best drink, which is barely at the top of their menu’s price range. I suggest just a normal latte because their house brew is good. It really is in a nice little WeHo alley, so park on the street and walk.

words & photos MELANIE KIM

WASHINGTON, D.C.

&PIZZA It’s not uncommon to walk past an &pizza in D.C. at two in the morning to find the line all the way at the door— that was my first encounter with one of my favorite pizza places. Based in the Washington, D.C. area, &pizza creates customizable pizzas, with three different types of dough, five sauces, and three kinds of cheese—the house mozzarella is gold. They even make their own sodas— no Pepsi orCoke here. My favorite is the Pear+Fig Elixir flavor. Their staff creates your pizza in front of you a la a Chipotle-style line and then slides your pizza into a rotating oven that takes you to the cashier for pick up. What I love about this place is that my taste for pizza has evolved from the regular cheese and pepperoni. When I go to &pizza, I get a chicken pesto, chickpea, and broccoli pizza with garlic sauce and house mozzarella—crazy good. Stop by next time you’re in the D.C. area!

words & photos KRYSTINA GABRIELLE

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LOCAL CULTURE | The Food in Our Hood

L I V E PHOTOS

photo by BRIANNA STACY

photo by BRITTANY ISAACSON

photo by BRIANNA STACY

photo by GINA SCARPINO

photo by ERIKA DANIELA GARCIA

photo by BRIANNA STACY

photo by KRYSTINA GABRIELLE

photo by ZOE DILLMAN

photo by AMANDA HUERTA

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