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TaBLE OF COnTEnTS TRavEL 16
Getting Lost Above the Clouds
61
Profile: TJ Tumasse
(in Goat Rocks Wilderness)
Coming back from life as an undercover investigator
28
Bounties of the Danube
66
The Rise and Fall and Rise of Vegan Tattoo
Eating your way through Budapest
The industry’s efforts to create a purely vegan artform
31
A Perfect Day in Budapest
81
Enate Wilderness
If you only have 24 hours...
A photographic exploration of dreams
34
Tel Aviv
87
Vegan-Friendly Fiction
Is the vegan revolution here to stay?
Writing as a form of gentle activism
40
Paradiso Vegano
Falling back in love with Turin, Italy
52
City of Temples
Exploring blended cultures in Kathmandu
8
Editor’s Note
73
Seoul, South Korea
Editor-in-Chief Holly Feral answers the question, “What is Driftwood?”
An introduction to the capital city
74
Truth & Diplomacy
11
Dig on This
Defending veganism without offending the locals in rural South Korea
Managing Editor Michele Truty on activism and her dream job
77
Tips from the Locals: South Korea
12
Travel Q&A with Jojo Huxster
Our travel pro answers your queries
Straight talk from those in the know
78
Dream into Change
56
Vegan Faces
A successful campaign expands Amtrak’s vegan menu
We share some of our favorite profiles from the first year
64
According to...
Travel advice from our readers
86
Book Club Reviews, features, and Goodreads
feAtures
in every issue
19
Jeremie Frémaux’s Tiny Planets
Because sometimes a regular ol’ photo doesn’t do the job
91
North American Nomad
Michael begins his journey
24
Q & A: Nicole J. Georges
Amateur ventriloquist turned professional graphic novelist (with a hint of amateur ventriloquist left over)
96
What’s Next?
What we’re working on for next issue
36
Behind the Stache
A chat with Dan Staackmann and Nicole Sopko, in the house that seitan built
46
Artist on Artist: James Allen & No
A book excavationist and an illustrator on art, culture, and identity
52
81
66 61 46
feeding families / saving animals A Well-Fed World is a hunger relief and animal protection organization chipping away at two of the world’s most immense and unnecessary forms of suffering...the suffering of people hungry from lack of food and the suffering of animals used and abused for food.
We do this by connecting the hunger-meat issues and partnering with groups to: • distribute vegan food to people in need • support innovative food and farming projects • strengthen farm animal care and rescue efforts • develop original research and targeted outreach • sponsor pro-veg and animal advocacy campaigns
Plants-4-Hunger Feeding Programs Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter for information about our Plants-4-Hunger gift-giving campaign, and give the gift of vegan food to people in need without harming animals.
care@AWFW.org
www.AWFW.org
~how beautiful is a world that is healthy, well-fed and kind all at the same time~
Travel and culture for the graduated vegan Issue One · Summer 2015 Visit us online at driftwoodmag.com Follow us on social media
driftwoodmagazine
driftwoodmag driftwood_mag
editor-in-chief managing editor art director associate designer contributing writers
contributing artists style editor legal consultant advertising manager social media contributors
Holly Feral Michele Truty Sarah Cadwell Jade Sturms James Allen, Ilaria Bertini, Margot Bigg, Helen Feliciano-Bailey, Jeremie Frémaux, Michael Friedman, Jojo Huxster, Ahimsa Kerp, Leigh Matthews, No, Janessa Philemon-Kerp, Mark Rainha, Dean Shanson, Carissa Thorpe, Tom Truty Amey Mathews, Kelly Peloza Eve White Sarah El Ebiary Janessa Philemon-Kerp Stan Johnson, Michelle Lee
Driftwood magazine is published quarterly in print and digital editions by Driftwood Media. P.O. Box 28581, Portland, OR 97228 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to above address. Submissions, letters, and queries to info@driftwoodmag.com Newsstand inquiries to info@driftwoodmag.com Advertising inquiries to ads@driftwoodmag.com Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink.
ISSN 2380-3797
Copyright 2015 by Driftwood Media. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the author. On the Cover Editor-in-Chief Holly Feral went all in and got herself a Driftwood tattoo, thanks to Scapegoat Tattoo owner Brian Thomas Wilson. Cover art by Holly Feral, Jade Sturms
DRIFTWOODMAG.COM 5
This issue of Driftwood was made for you by all these lovelies
James Allen
portland, oregon, usa
vegan 3 years, page 46
Margot Bigg
vegan 4 years, page 31
Leigh Matthews
vancouver, bc, canada
vegan 3 years, page 40
Helen Feliciano-Bailey seoul, south korea vegan 1½ years, page 73
portland, oregon, usa
Michael Friedman portland, oregon, usa vegan 8 years, page 91
Ilaria Bertini
alba, piedmont, italy
Jojo Huxster in a van, somewhere in europe vegan 9 years, page 12
No
bogotÁ, colombia
Jeremie Frémaux
oakland, california, usa
vegan 2½ years, page 19
Ahimsa Kerp seoul, south korea vegan 21 years, page 74
Kelly Peloza
chicago, illinois, usa
vegan 10 years, page 87
vegan 13 years, page 46
vegan 10 years, page 36
Mark Rainha
Dean Shanson tel aviv, israel vegan 26 years, page 34
vancouver, bc, canada
portland, oregon, usa
vegan 10 years, page 16
Carrissa Thorpe
vegan 9 years, page 86
Amey Mathews
santa cruz, california, usa
vegan 16 years, page 28
Janessa Philemon-Kerp portland, oregon, usa vegan 7 years, page 28
Tom Truty
portland, oregon, usa
vegan 9 years, page 52
editor, s note
Storytelling is a special power. Rules can suggest behaviors, and punishments can scare people into abiding by those rules, but they can’t change the heart. Stories, the stories of others’ lives and dreams, they can unlock those inner doors. They tear down the space between people and allow them to experience other ways of life. When you’re in someone else’s story, you’re magically transported over differences, even animosities, to experience another person’s humanity. And once you’ve seen into another’s heart, you’ll find that they’ve made their way into yours. Years ago, I looked to journalism to build these bridges, but there was something missing. Journalism reacts. It describes the past. I wanted my storytelling to lay bricks for the future. I wanted to stop reacting to the horrors of the world’s traditions and create new ones. I saw that art had the power to imagine a new world and start building it. I let go and allowed the tenets of art to merge with my approach to journalism, and Driftwood was born. A friend recently told me, “The things you oppose weaken you, the things you’re for give you strength.” I think that perfectly describes the belief behind this magazine.
Is it any wonder our inaugural issue is filled with stories of vegans changing the world by addressing their corner of it, using their unique skills and crafts to promote veganism? We talked to tattoo artists who rallied through letters to get a new transfer paper made without animal products. We met vegan writers who introduce the public to vegan characters they can relate to with their prose. And a graduating college student who became an undercover investigator because he realized that he could, which meant he had to. We vegans are ambassadors and we have opportunities to spread thoughtfulness toward animal rights with every transaction, every conversation, and every stroke of a paintbrush, camera shutter, and pen. Our activism is determined by our unique skills and personalities. My opportunity is to use storytelling to start creating a compassionate vegan world by pouring light into the places it already exists. This is the dream. We’re traveling with our hearts in our hands and our eyes on the stars, celebrating our way to freedom for all beings. Thank you for taking this journey with us, and welcome to Driftwood.
Thank yOu! publishing partners ATX Vegan Drinks CocoBurg Robin Fetter (aka “The Real Vegan Housewife”) Justin, Mohop Shoes Nom Eats Vegan Food Truck Alex Payne Seattle Cookie Counter Jackie Sobon, Vegan Yack Attack The Vegan Roadie’s Dustin Harder Vegansaurus
Driftwood magazine would not exist without the support of our amazing kickstarter backers! Nicole Abramowski James Allen Jerry Allen Len Assante Sarah Barasch Bev Bayer Carey Bear Katy Benjamin Webly Bowles Lisa Brians Karen Brokken Jim Brown Phyllis Y. Brown Michael Bucolic Sue Bucolic The Butters Family Pierantonio Cendron Amy Cook Andy D & Marla D Eric Day
Jodie Deignan John & Sherry Douceur Doh Driver Tyler Durden Eatin’ Alive Suzette Fasching-Easton Vicki Friedfeld Elvis Gardin, Plant Food Artist Francis Gardler Mathew Gauvin Grace & Simon Goddard, Gretchen Ulrich Green Earth Travel LLC Michael Groh Patrick Haid Jenna O Hale Katie Haverstock
Kathryn Hill Keith Iding Kim Isham Annabelle Ison Brian Jolles Taylor Jones Christina Jordan Annika Kappenstein Deb Kay Vicki Kengott Yael Kisel Cindy Koczy Lynda Kurth Eric L. Miranda Larson Michelle Lee Peggy Lee Caela Levy Lisa Lindblom Lise
Deborah Lucas Chris Marco Amey Mathews Josh May Shirley Mayberry Casey Meisenbacher Aleeta Merred Leslie Meyers Greg Misarti Tesa & Matthew Morin Murph Murphy Darryl Newitt Joni Marie Newman Helen P Mathilde P. Elana Pessin Mike & Lani Della Pia Eva Piccininni Stefanie J. Pinard Raina & Aurel
Desirae Ramsey Erin Ransom Megan Rascal Beth and Daniel Redwood Dr. Nick Ribush Guy Rittger Alicia Robb Dominica Roberts Morgan & Beatriz Rose Matthew Ruscigno, MPH, RD Luciana Rushing L. Russell S+M Vegan Mia Sāgara George Louis Sheppard Rob Sheppard Lana Shipley
Matt & Anuja Silady Carly Smolak Curt Sobolewski Natalie Sobolewski Amanda Marie Sproule Emily Squadra Sharon Sterling Dana Stoneking Ben Striz Eric Sun Susan & Ryan Seth Tibbott Ingrid & Tom Truty TJ Tumasse Vtopian Artisan Cheeses Tammy Wallace Eve White Heidi White Debbie Zeitman
Dig on this. What's been turning Michele's gears Hiya! Welcome to my little corner of Driftwood. Each issue, I’ll be sharing a trend, an experience, something I’m digging on. If ex-boyfriends’ opinions are to be trusted, I can be pretty cynical and sarcastic. But I can also revel and celebrate, which is exactly what I intend to do here. And one thing I can super dig on right now is this very magazine. Truth is, I’ve taken a few jobs that did not align with my ethics. The rent’s due every month, even for idealists. I’ve edited sport bike and truck magazines—even a paleo book—subjects I can barely stomach, let alone hold in my heart. So it’s a real pinch-me moment here, writing as the managing editor for a totally vegan, independent travel and culture magazine. I get to pay rent by exploring and celebrating the possibilities of a vegan world. And making spreadsheets (which I also love). Making a full-time job out of veganism doesn’t scare me. No fear of burnout from making my passion my career. I’ve been vegan coming on a decade now, and for much of that I’ve worked on various vegan projects, from blogging and bake sales to co-founding the international vegan media conference, Vida Vegan Con. I am compelled to do whatever I can to help communicate that veganism is an accessible, compassionate choice. At the time of this writing, I have 12 tattoos. (No, I’m not done yet.) Of those, eight are critter-related. I didn’t realize it as it was happening, but here we are. My earliest animal tattoo contains no animal at all: an empty birdcage with an open door. It’s big enough that it peeks out from beneath short sleeves, so people often ask to see it—that's right, you ask instead of grabbing and moving my clothing out of your way. Almost without fail, after “Ooh, that’s pretty,” I get "Hey, bird got out.” “He gets to be wherever he wants to be.” It’s a simple answer, yet it says so much and is more often than not a conversation starter about animal rights. Who knew my tattoo could serve as a form of activism? It’s not a slogan, it’s not explicit in any way. It’s just an open door. I guess that’s my style. I’m not much for judgment. I’m not a protest person. I can’t preach my beliefs. They’re my beliefs, my thoughts and actions based on my experience and opportunity. So I’ll just be over here doing my thing, and if you find that compelling, fantastic. Let’s communicate. I like to think I take as good as I give. Now, the assumption here is that we are, as the tagline goes, graduated vegans. My job at Driftwood is not to convince anyone to go vegan. Plenty of others do a bang-up job of that already. Furthermore, my hope is that we’re all ethical vegans here. Not only do we not eat animals, but we don’t use them for clothing, entertainment, or to make that shade of red you can only get with…well, you know. But you know what, let’s take a step back. Maybe you’re not vegan. Maybe you’re into travel and art and you noticed there’s a lot of travel and art within these pages with universal appeal. First, thanks for noticing. We work really hard to make this happen. Second, welcome. Really, welcome. The open-arms kind of welcome. My hope is that you stick around. My hope is that you see the value in compassionate culture, that life can be full without the exploitation of other creatures. That we can have fun and get fancy and celebrate and share and be anything and anywhere we want to be. My hope is that within Driftwood you see an open door.
DRIFTWOODMAG.COM 11
12 SUMMER 2015 › DRIFTWOOD
VEGAN TRAVEL Q&A WITH
JOJO HUXSTER Hey! I’m Jojo, your travel agony aunt! I’ve had a passion for travel ever since I was a teenager spending weekends watching planes take off at my local airport. As an adult (and a vegan) I started exploring the globe with vigor, but my wanderlust never seemed to cease—I was always planning my next big adventure. This January I took the leap to live my life on the road and to travel full time. So far this year I’ve spent time exploring Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, North America, The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary...and my travels are set to take me to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Japan, and more in the next 12 months. I love nothing more than snorkeling in clear blue waters, kayaking, exploring new cities, and eating anything vegan I find en route. I’m passionate about opening up the whole world to vegan travelers, so I’m excited to answer any questions you can think of to send my way!
I’m afraid of appearing rude when asking about vegan options when I’m anywhere but a large city, especially when I don’t speak the language. Are there any places where I should just not even ask? Might I offend someone by refusing non-vegan foods? Basically, are there places I should just pack extra Clif bars? First, you should always pack extra Clif bars! If there are any gaps in my bag, I stuff it full of Clif bars. I totally understand where you’re coming from with this question, though. I always worry about offending people when I travel. I spend ages reading up on local customs and learning to at least say “hello” and “thank you” before I travel anywhere, but I’ve also gotten really good at explaining veganism, because it’s super important to me and, honestly, there are only so many bars you can carry, y’know? It helps to work out what things you’ll be needing to avoid in the country you’re traveling to. For example, in Thailand, where I am now, you need to worry about egg, fish sauce, and oyster sauce even in the dishes marked “vegetarian,” so you might say, “I’m a strict vegetarian. I avoid dairy, eggs, fish sauce, and oyster sauce,” rather than using the word “vegan.” It’s also helpful to remember that a smile goes a really long way in these situations. People are always more inclined to help you when you smile.
DRIFTWOODMAG.COM 13
Free of Gluten, Soy, & Oil • 100% Vegan In Stores this Summer! • www.uptonsnaturals.com
I hate carrying shampoo in my luggage and will usually just use whatever is in the hotel rooms. How likely is it that these in-room toiletries are cruelty-free? Is it different in the U.S. and abroad? Ugh, I hate carrying toiletries too! It’s especially frustrating when you’re only taking hand luggage and have to squeeze everything into one of those tiny bags and make it close, but honestly, the chances of hotel toiletries being cruelty-free anywhere in the world are slim. I think I’ve only found obviously vegan and cruelty-free toiletries in hotels on my travels twice—and those aren’t great odds. Quite often, the toiletries will be hotel-branded, making it almost impossible to check. My favorite way to avoid these products without weighing down my bag, using up all my liquid allowance (that’s for peanut butter sachets!), or just using them anyway and ending up feeling conflicted about it, is to pick up solid shampoo and conditioner bars from Lush. Lush is totally cruelty-free (and outwardly invested in both animal and human rights issues, which gets them a huge YAY from me). Their plentiful vegan options are clearly marked in the store and on their website. I’m a huge fan of the Jason and the Argon Oil shampoo bar. I flew to London once, so there were a couple of meals involved. I ordered vegan but ended up with dairy ingredients in my food. What are some of the most truly vegan-friendly airlines? I’ve had the best luck with British Airways and Virgin, but I’ve found dairy ingredients in the sides that came with my meal on more than one occasion. (Always read the ingredients on nondairy creamer!) The only things you can really do in this situation are A, take snacks! I never travel without a stash of bars; something high in protein, like baked tofu; and some chocolate. And B, complain to the airline afterwards. They’ll often give you some reward points as an apology, which can help toward your future travel plans/upgrades. Not to mention, it alerts them to the issue. What’s the best app for finding vegan food while traveling? Happy Cow, hands down. Their global database of vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants is unrivaled. I’ve heard complaints recently that Happy Cow’s information is sometimes incorrect or out of date, but it’s important to remember that it’s a usergenerated service, so it’s up to us, as seasoned vegan travelers, to keep it up to date. Other apps I use on the reg include VeganXpress, to find accidentally vegan options at chain restaurants, Barnivore’s app Vegaholic for seeking out vegan booze, and Yelp for finding hopefully veganizable food when there are no obviously veganfriendly restaurants to be found. The Food Empowerment Project’s chocolate list is also a necessity, as I like to keep my cocoa game ethical whether I’m on the road or at home. A veteran globetrotter, Jojo is the voice behind Vegan in Brighton. Have a travel question? Send it to info@driftwoodmag.com, with the subject line Hey Jojo!
4. 5.
, Jeremie Fremaux s
TIny PLaNETS story and photos Jeremie Frémaux
A
s a photographer, my desire is to capture the emotions and feelings of moments, places, and events. In certain situations an atmosphere cannot be cornered into a single frame. Sometimes this is for the best. Other times there is a feeling that is connected so deeply with the physical space I am occupying, and I’m inspired to preserve it. I want to save it for later and share it with others. My tiny planet series is a reflection of these moments. I strive to capture the feeling of being somewhere special, making yourself feel small in such a beautiful instance, at the same time feeling a part of and connected to everything in sight.
These are spur-of-the-moment composite images that I capture with my phone. I can’t convey this in my other photography. My regular photos show only a singular gaze. There’s nothing to hide when I make a tiny planet. This series depicts my recent trip to Southeast Asia. Most of the photos involve bodies of water, since it’s such a huge part of life in that area. I’d never felt so connected to the oceans before, and that’s coming from someone raised in Southern California, 10 minutes from the beach. I was reminded how important it is to treat our planet with respect and care, because small changes can have big effects in areas like these.
Coron, Northern Palawan, Philippines I took an excursion with Tao Philippines. They stress that it’s not a tour. Nothing is planned except our starting location and the final destination six days later. We learned from the crew as much as they learned from us. The connection we all felt to the land around us and the locals who called it home was unforgettable. I wanted to capture a shot of the crew and visitors blending together. Even our seadog, Harry, joined in.
El nido, Northern Palawan, Philippines The trip ended in the small town of El Nido. We decided to climb the local hilltop to look back at the boat we spent our last days on and the islands that we visited. We were led by a local hiker who takes tourists several times a day up sharp and crumbling rock in his sandals. I was glad to have included him in the shot.
Kinabatangan river, Borneo, Malaysia The next highlight was the Borneo jungle. Another ecotourism trip, staying with a group called Uncle Tan Wildlife Adventures. We were on a boat most of the time, so creating a planet on the river wasn’t an option. I really loved how they built their huts and walkways, connecting all of them to the communal areas, so I decided to capture a planet here. Showing a simple way to live while preserving the natural ecosystem.
Sandakan, Malaysia I thought I had it good with farmers markets in California. This was truly plant heaven. Each path led me to more and more fruits and vegetables I had never seen before. After I took this photo I showed it to one of the vendors. That vendor pointed me to another vendor to show them. I ended up going about in circles, connecting with everyone. I get that feeling now every time I look back at this photo. Following the lines and paths to each smile I got after showing them how I see the world.
Hualien, Taiwan I love shapes, lines, composition, light, and using the full tonal range of a camera. This spot was begging me to photograph it. I was trying to get a shot I liked with my fancy camera but didn’t like anything I was getting. I took out my phone to try taking a planet. I left happy.
Jeremie Frémaux runs a unique photo booth company called Snap Yourself, where they "make mere mortals look superhuman.”
Nicole J. Georges
Nicole J. Georges is a world-famous graphic novelist. She travels the globe teaching, draws with senior citizens, and gives voices to pooches. I hung out with Nicole while she worked on her new book, Fetch, a memoir about the dog who has appeared in many of her comics, and we talked about how scandalous daytime television drafted the course of her life.
story and photos Holly Feral
The story of Nicole J. Georges...
You have to tell me all about your illustrious career as a ventriloquist.
Was born on a snowy day in Akron, Ohio. I don’t know if I should publicly dispute Wikipedia’s claim that I was born in Kansas. Before I faked my death and became the new Nicole, I was raised in a variety of places. I was raised by my mom and a couple of teenagers. I was the youngest, so I simultaneously had the feeling of being the youngest child and the only child. My sisters were gone a lot ‘cause they were significantly older than me. So, I had the joy of having laissez faire parenting—which is like, “We’re pretty sure the kid’s not going to die, so we don’t have to do much”—along with the loneliness of the only child. I was also raised by TV.
It was a short career. I had a Charlie McCarthy doll. I did a routine for the talent show in sixth grade, where the majority of the script was inside jokes about my own dog, which my mom helped me write and nobody else really understood. It’s a pretty clear path from there to here, telling inside jokes about my dog on stage. I have been perfecting it. I met Steve Buscemi at a party and that’s what we talked about. He did ventriloquism in sixth grade and so did I.
Which TV personalities raised you? A lot of shows from the '60s and '70s that were getting reruns in the '80s. So, The Patty Duke Show, the Dobie Gillis show. Things like that. So, I have a lot of old-school references now. I liked The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Oh! I love Divorce Court. Also, I loved scandalous daytime talk shows.
Do you remember the voice you would use? It’s actually very similar to my voice. Since then, I’ve done many, many dog voices for my various dogs. Beija, towards the end of her life, got the personality of an insecure teenager. She was a straight girl, too, so she’d be like, “Justin Beiber’s so hot.” She actually really loved Taylor Swift and I didn’t. But then, she turned 15, she got cancer, and I started listening to this Taylor Swift song called “Fifteen.”
What was the young Nicole dreaming of? What other ways did you fill the loneliness? Through TV and feeding my feelings and drawing and ventriloquism. Oh, my gosh, and pets. Capturing various amphibians and reptiles and keeping them in my room.
First, I wanted to be an animator before I realized how much work that actually was. You have to draw hundreds and hundreds of pictures of the same thing. I thought that sounded very unpleasant. The tragic comedy of it is that I draw myself hundreds and hundreds of times, which I’m doing right now!
and union things. I tried to go to a Marxist camp; my mom said no. I couldn’t wait to intern at Farm Sanctuary one day. Oh, and I had a girls’ issues group, that should have been called Riot Grrls but wasn’t because I was too dumb. It was called Girl Positive and the flier was like, “We’re not Riot Grrls!” which is the stupidest thing—that I tried to separate myself from such a cool movement of people that would’ve supported me. For me to take the side of the punk boys I was around. I was like, “Riot Grrls are too extreme! There’s no way I’m doing that!” because I didn’t want to threaten any boys around me by being a feminist. I was like, “I’m a feminist, but not like that.”
I went to the Portland Zine Symposium thinking I would just run into vegan zine after vegan zine.
Then I wanted to be a psychiatrist or psychologist who helps pre-op transgender people. On daytime TV, after my reruns from the '60s were over, were a lot of trashy talk shows. In the '80s and early '90s, there were a lot of shows about Sex Change! It was super scandalous. And from those shows, I learned that these people existed and that there was a process you had to go through before you were allowed to get these surgeries or take these hormones. I thought maybe I’d be part of that process and get a job as a psychiatrist who helps people get clearance to transition if they want to. I’ve always been attracted to the underdog and I’ve always had a real soft spot for gender nonconforming people or gender-variant people. I felt lucky that I wasn’t trapped in the wrong body. I also wanted to be a club kid after watching those shows and they were also portrayed as wacko. I wanted to be a club kid called Miz
Understood with long, blue braid extensions and crazy platform shoes. I think the guests on those shows, they went on those shows so they could try to put a little humanity to the face of this experience, and it worked for me. I think that’s why I’ve been attracted to low-paying, nonprofit jobs for most of my life.
What was your first experience with nonprofits? In high school, I did Food Not Bombs. I did that for four years, which is pretty extreme for a high-schooler to commit to four years of anything every weekend. But I was really interested in social justice from that age forward. I quit high school and I was organizing things for Rock The Vote called Rock the Nation. I organized a zine conference. I traveled around the country, going to political tribunals
No, no one’s vegan anymore. Yeah, it’s not a hot issue anymore. There are a lot of vegans in Portland, but in the circles I travel in, I’m generally the only vegan. I haven’t run into a vegan zine in a very long time. I always wanted to show people through my art. I wanted to show them a character who is gay so maybe that will come into their minds if they have to vote or do something that affects gay people. They may not actually have a close relationship with a gay person, but they maybe feel like they do from reading my work. The same thing with vegan stuff. I show it as not being a drag. I’m not starving to death and it’s not that hard. I live in Portland, and if you can’t be vegan here, there’s something very deeply wrong with you ’cause it is the easiest place in the world to be vegan. Especially in 2015. I went vegan in the '90s in Kansas, eating, ugh, who knows what I was eating.
What inspirations do you have now?
Are you still doing Invincible Summer?
My vegan art inspiration is Sue Coe, who I love very much. I like Lynda Barry. I like Pheobe Gloeckner, I have an Audible account that I love. I love listening to this poet Eileen Myles read her poetry. I love this woman named Geneviève Castrée, who lives in Anacortes. I love her art. I like old illustrations. I recently read some books by Donna Tartt. I’m not convinced that she’s not a man. All of her characters are men in the books I read. I like Jennifer Eagan. I like LoisAnn Yamanaka. I like comics written by women in the '70s and I like really traumatic coming-of-age stories by women of today.
I would. The hard thing is, I hardly have time. Since the last issue, I’ve been around the world and a lot of things happened but I just don’t have time to deal with that. It’s unpaid for the most part and just for fun. I volunteer with senior citizens and I make a zine about that, which I do almost every week. It’s called Tell it Like It Tiz! We did a Kickstarter a couple of years ago to make it into a book, but we haven’t put out a new zine of that, so I have hundreds of pages of notes from going to the senior center, sitting there and just drawing about their lives, and they’re just in a file folder. I want somebody to make a movie about my book and I’m trying to manifest that. Calling Dr. Laura. I’m not doing anything besides telling people that to get it done.
What are you dreaming of these days? I want to do a book called My Straight Year after [Fetch], which is about moving to the middle of nowhere and giving this retro idea of being straight a go and how that went for me. I would like to do a couple of kids’ books. I want to do a kids’ book called There’s a Sloth in my Bath, about a sloth in a bath. Stuff like that.
Well, I’ll put that in the story and see who bites. All the vegan movie producers that want to work with a right-on vegan, here I am!
What would be the last chapter of the Nicole Georges book? Aside from wanting to be Jane Goodall, I still want to draw children’s books ’cause it seems easy. I would just be like Maurice Sendak and keep drawing until I’m dead. I hope that my hands don’t give out before then, ’cause they’re kind of tenuous right now. I just want to keep drawing and having a good time. I want to have animals but not too many. I would raise a monkey, but there’s no need for me to, and I don’t believe in exotic pets, so… If an orphaned gorilla showed up at my door and it needed me, I would take him in. I do want to find a way to help animals in a more significant way. That’s been my ulterior motive for so long that I’m ready for it to be a more exterior motive. I’m actually wheeling and dealing a little bit to try to team up with somebody somehow to go to Africa and use art for good. Like, if Jane Goodall’s organization could pay me to do anything, I would be all in.
Bounties of the DAnube
Eating your way through Budapest story Janessa Philemon-Kerp illustration Amey Mathews
From goulash to stew to stroganoff, traditional Hungarian fare is typically meat- and dairycentric, but vegan travelers visiting Budapest will find a surprising number of satisfying and affordable meals. Budapest, often called the Paris of the East, is a city rich in culture, history, and excitement. The majestic Danube River splits the city into two parts: Buda to the west and Pest to the east. Green hills with tree-lined cobblestone streets are awash with old castles; hotels and grand homes span the Buda side. Pest is the flat, commercial, touristfilled, bustling heart of the city with nightlife and row upon row of street vendors and shopkeepers. Aside from its timeless, genuine atmosphere bursting with awe-inspiring museums, bridges, baroque architecture, ancient thermal baths, and a captivating old-world feel, this charming, historic city is dotted with vegan-friendly restaurants and cafĂŠs, and if you know where to look, vegan options can be found almost anywhere.
where and how to eat
Local stalls and markets have an abundance of fresh seasonal fruit, vegetables, herbs, and bread. Baskets of bread are fresh-baked every morning and cost less than 30 cents. Any local market will have a quick snack for the peckish traveler. If you’re looking for a more specialized vegan-friendly shopping experience, the Bio ABC market is a good option. While not all vegan—it carries items like local yogurt and dairy cheeses—you’ll find bulk grains, spices and herbs, beans, vegan cheese, European nut and dessert spreads, and local produce. Don’t be afraid to ask the staff for help translating the ingredients of products to ensure they’re vegan. Most indoor markets, like Spar and Tesco, sell the splendor that is Mexicorn. Yes, Mexicorn in Hungary. These delightful little bags of flavored crunchy corn will satiate the strongest hunger; the most addictive and wonderful flavor is the spicy Mexican variety. These little nuggets are
salty and slightly spicy. I stock up whenever I can, and would consider importing if I wasn’t so lazy/ broke. The ingredients aren’t in English, but I’m pretty sure they contain MSG and are not good for you in the slightest. Regardless, they are my favorite snack when traveling in Eastern and Central Europe. The Hummus Bar is a Lebanese-inspired café chain, where you’re given a complimentary amuse-bouche of fresh lemonade when the temperature is soaring, and hot mint leaf tea when it’s chilly. The Hummus Bar is not exclusively vegan, but it is mostly vegetarian. Fresh and tasty hummus and falafel arrive at your table within minutes. With multiple locations, this is a really affordable spot with great service, big portions, and filling food. Man Natural is an ideal spot for people who enjoy a raw diet. It’s an all-raw, vegan, casual deli with bowls of various vegetal goo on display in a cooler. Point to what you’d like to try and your
meal will be brought to you minutes later, served with raw crackers. And fresh juice options are available. There are no signs or indication what items are, and the staff when I visited spoke no English. To enjoy eating here, you must be a brave tourist. A stomach of steel won’t hurt, either. Édeni Vegán Étterem (étterem = restaurant) sits on the Buda side of the Danube. With walkup counter service, you’ll be met with little English, so this is another point-and-order spot. While it's possible to end up paying more than necessary, the food here is more traditionally Hungarian, and very filling: Potatoes, vegan sausage, and sauerkraut make up a satisfying plate. Édeni is a little out of the way from the bustling Pest center, though if you purchase a Budapest travel card (a great idea for your first time in the city), the thermal baths visit included with the card is a 15-minute walk away. Napfényes Étterem is an almost-all-vegan (honey alert!) full-service restaurant in a partly
restaurants & Stores mentioned in the article Bio ABC Market Múzeum Körut 19 Édeni Vegán Étterem Iskola u. 31 Man Natural Garibaldi u. 5 Napfényes Étterem Ferenciek tere 2 Spar Supermarket various locations Tesco various locations The Hummus Bar various locations
underground (you have to step downstairs to enter) dark, narrow hall and looks like it could have been an old wine cellar. The menu is extensive: six pages of appetizers, salads, babgulyás (hearty bean soup), entrées, pizzas, salad bar, an ice cream bar, a rotating dessert showcase, and specials. A little spendy for Budapest, it would be considered a steal in most other cities. And you’ll quickly forgive the price—the portions are enormous and easily split. Classic Hungarian fare is served here. Think potatoes, savory pancakes, cabbage, and soup. The baked desserts are perfectly sweet and balanced, when fresh. I have found freshness here is a game of chance. One time the vanilla custard was out of this world, the best dessert ever, and the following time it was a bit stale. The ice cream varieties are fun and unusual. One flavor particularly stands out: The green apple is like a creamy, cold apple Jolly Rancher. It’s either atrocious or refreshingly tasty; it’s hard to tell which. One of my favorite aspects of Napfényes Étterem is the small retail section, carrying vegan meats, cheeses, and milks to go. drinking in budapest
The drinking scene in Budapest is made for people like me: lovers of wine spritzers, mini drinks, and corn-syrup-free mixers. Hungary is a region made for wine, and the plethora and price of wine bottles testify to that fact. White wines are perhaps more common, and especially refreshing on hot Hungarian days. Wine spritzers, known as fröccs (pronounced “fru-ch”) are popular in Budapest and can be ordered to your preference in many bars—just specify the ratio of wine to seltzer water. One trick I learned from a new Hungarian friend: Most bars can add homemade flavored syrups to your spritzers, and
when given this choice, take it. The elderflower syrup is of particular sweet and floral note. If you like gin and tonics, here they’re made with local tonic served in glass bottles and, if possible, more crisp and clean-tasting than anywhere else in the world. Ruin bars are specific to Budapest. After the regime change occurred in the 1990s, locals slowly began taking over old, decrepit spaces and making them into weird yet adorable bars, usually lit up with globe lights and a curious atmosphere. Most I’ve visited don’t serve food, but the drinks are very special, and like most everything else, very affordable for tourists. in a pinch
As you can see, there’s no need for smashed backpack granola bars while traveling in Budapest. Even in a pinch, you can be served well. From fresh fruit in street stalls to fresh-baked bread and Alpro banana soymilk in the city Tesco, from vegan sausage and cabbage (káposzta) rolls to vegetable pancakes rolled with potatoes, vegan cream, and tomato-paprika sauce, the vegan fare here is basic, filling, and memorable. They even have pizza on almost every block, especially in the Pest districts. The pizza joints I’ve visited have been very accommodating when veganizing a pie—one thing to remember about Hungarian (and other Central/Eastern European countries) pizza is that fresh corn is a common vegetable topper. And like pretty much everything else, you should give it a try, because it’s really good. Janessa Philemon-Kerp plans events, eats tacos, and travels around the world, sippin' on white wine spritzers. Amey Mathews is a yoga instructor and the blogger behind Vegan Eats and Treats.
The Driftwood book club
Get in on the conversation! Join us on Goodreads and help others discover books that delve into topics relevant to vegans. We want to expand our library to include those gems of vegan literature that extend beyond cookbooks (although cookbooks can be included). Vegan authors, vegan characters, animal rights themes—let’s talk about 'em! Log on to Goodreads.com and join the Driftwood Bookclub group.
rEvIEw Will Travel For Vegan Food by Kristen Lajeunesse reviewer
Carissa Thorpe
More than a travel memoir about crossing state lines, Will Travel For Vegan Food crosses the lines of firmly guarded comfort zones. Spurred on by a sudden, inexplicable longing to break away from her desk job, 28-year-old Kristen Lajeunesse sold most of her belongings, let go of the boyfriend whose time she realized was up, bought and outfitted a G20 Chevy Sportvan, and hit the road. She set out to eat in every all-vegan restaurant in the continental United States and create the kind of life she’d been reading about: one where she could work for herself, from anywhere. Initially intent on a solo mission, her personal journey takes a detour when she meets a guy at a vegan meetup before leaving and invites him to join her, picturing an epic van-dwelling love story in their future. She quickly realizes her mistake. And though it takes her a while to assert and reclaim her need for independence, the decision soon opens her to countless new experiences, people, ideas and–most importantly–new perspectives about herself. Fans of the blog by the same name beware: This is a narrative that delves deeper than any menu. Lajeunesse explores her shifting worldview and the highs and lows of living and working on the road. She tells it like it is in a familiar and inviting tone, as though you’re old friends catching up over a post-trip soy latté (when it’s finally safe to laugh off the bumps and bruises, overshare without shame, and detail all the letting go, loss, forgiveness, and growing up that your late twenties can bring). This book is a great read for anyone afflicted with wanderlust or who has loved, lost, or felt a longing to go looking for themselves, vegan or not. Carissa Thorpe is a journalist, a singer, and the founder/ director of Vegan Summer Camp, set to launch in 2016.
ZInES Travel zines to throw in your backpack! European Vegan Superstar traveler and Vegan in Brighton blogger Jojo Huxster pulls together ingredient information for you, translating into 32 European languages. Buy snacks and groceries with confidence—no egg or milk ingredients getting by you! Jojo also includes translations for leather, silk, and other animal materials, and a comprehensive guide to E Numbers (numbers corresponding to food additives). And 20% of the cover price goes straight to The League Against Cruel Sports! veganinbrighton.bigcartel.com
New Orleans in Green’s 2014 Vegan-Friendly Restaurant Guide Melissa Bastian, the blogger behind New Orleans in Green, wants to share her New Orleans with you. The guide is broken down by neighborhood, and within each section Melissa shares both vegan and veg-friendly options, letting you know what to watch out for and highlighting her favorites. She also includes a quick roundup of Nola’s most vegan-friendly joints. neworleansingreen.blogspot.com
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