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inside
contents 9.2018
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Playing Koy
From humble beginnings to his current star-studded status, comedian Jo Koy talks about his road to success, as well as his inspiration and support for cannabis. O n t h e C O V ER :
P ho t o b y J oh n G i l hoo l e y
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features 34
Industry Insider Ellementa Co-Founder Aliza Sherman has created a rapidly growing network for women in the cannabis industry.
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Hemp Adventures Hemp has its place in many industries, so it’s no surprise that it is also used to make skateboards and specialty wheels.
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International Attention Native-born Slovakian artist Veronika Vajdová expresses her thoughts on her most recent cannabis-inspired artwork.
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departments 12 Letter from the Editor news 15 News Nuggets 16 By the Numbers 18 Local News reviews 20 Strain & Concentrate Reviews 22 Cool Stuff 26 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 40 À La Carte 42 Growing Culture 44 NorCal Now! 46 News of the Weird
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Online Exclusive! d Smoking Cannabis May Lead to Brain Aging d New Brunswick Universities Prepare for Legalization
Vol 10 IssUE 3
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Editor-In-Chief Jamie Solis associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Benjamin Adams Editorial Contributors Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Edmundson, Caroline Hayes, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Carl Kozlowski, Emily Manke, John McClain, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf Photographers Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Michelle Aguirre Graphic Designer John Venegas Associate Publisher & Bob Waters Advertising Director Account Executives Alex Brizicky, Angie Callahan, Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Rocki Davidson, Casey Roel, Annie Weber, Vic Zaragoza office manager Mikayla Aguilar Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
Publisher David Comden Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout the Bay area. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
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L ETTER
FROM
THE
EDITOR
Laughter is the Best Medicine
P
eanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots, Abbott and Costello—these are famous pairings that will receive the limelight for all time. Another pair that needs little introduction is cannabis and comedy. Comedy has always been a staple source of entertainment alongside cannabis. Joints and movies, edibles and comedy shows— few will miss the chance to light up before watching movies like Friday or Pineapple Express. Consuming cannabis calms the everyday anxieties of life and replaces them with an elevation of classic entertainment. Together, cannabis and comedy work in tandem to ultimately create one hell of a good time. In the past, CULTURE has celebrated the intersection of cannabis and comedy through interviews with many famous and talented comedians such as Reggie Watts, Tenacious D, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Adam Corolla and comedy duo Cheech & Chong, among many others. Now, we’re welcoming Jo Koy into the mix. Like cannabis, laughter is the best medicine. And like all good pairings, this duo only grows stronger with time. CULTURE’s interview with Koy is an example of how mainstream cannabis continues to grow strong in the comedy scene, as Koy states in response to whether or not he consumes cannabis, “Who doesn’t!” We’re also witnessing the ways in which comedy-centric cannabis events hold a bright future in legal cannabis states. For instance, one is the Lemonhaze Cannabis and Comedy Convention in Washington coming up in October—a magical place where the likes of comedian Doug Benson delights audiences of up to 5,000 industry professionals. After all, all work and no play would make our unique industry a dull one. In the past, comedy shows where cannabis consumption was allowed were done on a “bring your own product” basis. In some legal states, comedians are trying to comply with state laws, while still incorporating cannabis into their acts. A recent example of this was when comedian
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Adam Hartle gave out free joints to his audience at a comedy show in San Francisco, California in August. Although he did share that in order to comply with state law, the giveaway was happening outside the venue, before the show, to adults ages 21 and older—and the kicker? Consumers were not allowed to partake during the show. Unfortunately, this is not the type of comedy and cannabis development that voters in legal states are looking forward to after passing legalization. But not all hope for the future is lost, as the partnership between legal cannabis and comedy is off to a strong start in Canada. Cannabis lounges are increasingly hosting comedy shows. For example, Toronto-based Vapor Central hosts “Stoner Sundays,” while Hotbox Lounge + Shop in Ontario hosts comedy nights every Thursday. Overall, we tend to hold the belief that cannabis has the ability to make just about everything better. When it comes to our entertainment, we’re delighted to bear witness to any trend that is good for the funny bone. Bring on the laughs, and pass the vape! c Cheers!
Jamie Solis Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
nuggetS
The California Fish and Game Commission voted on Aug. 23 to protect the endangered Humboldt marten under the California Endangered Species Act. Several factors threaten the minklike animal, including the prevalence of cannabis cultivation operations in the area. Experts estimate that less than 200 Humboldt martens survive in Del Norte, Humboldt and Siskiyou counties, and
Santa Clara County to Ban Cannabis Cultivation On Aug. 14, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to draft a plan to permanently ban cultivation in unincorporated areas of the county. So far, the county leadership has responded to Proposition 64 with resistance towards cannabis businesses. Supervisors Ken Yeager and Dave Cortese cast their votes in favor of allowing cannabis cultivation. “It’s only going to get better by law enforcement,” Supervisor Cortese said, referring to a regulated market. “If we’re going to fund law enforcement, I
Commission Votes to Protect Endangered Animal from Cannabis Operations
think a good revenue source would be a commercial cannabis ordinance. Paw some of that money right back into [agriculture] preservation, paw some of that money right back into the enforcement activities to get rid of the criminals.” Cortese argued that the county is missing out on potentially millions in tax revenue by not allowing cannabis cultivation businesses.
Northern Mariana Islands House Votes to Legalize Cannabis The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory located near the Philippines, may soon legalize cannabis. On Aug. 8, the territory’s House of Representatives voted 18-1 in approval of a bill that would legalize cannabis for adults ages 21 and older. The Senate approved an earlier version of the bill last May, but the House’s Committee on Judiciary and Governmental
they once freely roamed Sonoma County. “Largescale marijuana cultivation in remote forests throughout California has increased since the mid-1990s, coinciding with the passage of California laws legalizing certain uses of cannabis,” a commission memo read. “Cultivation can impact Humboldt martens through the clearing and fragmentation of forests and the application of pesticides, including highly toxic anticoagulant rodenticides.” Animal rights groups in Northern California are celebrating victory after hearing of the announcement. Humboldt martens were presumed extinct in 1996, but rebounded in the forests of Northern California.
Operations made a few revisions to the bill before filing this updated version. “Therefore, the Legislature finds that it is in our best interest to move marijuana into a regulated and controlled market for responsible adult personal use,” the House of Representatives stated. Now, the revised version heads back to the Senate for approval. Should the bill pass, the Northern Mariana Islands will go straight from having no acceptable use of cannabis to recreational cannabis without first legalizing medical cannabis.
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The number of years that the Sonoma City Council chose to delay its decision regarding a public vote on a citizen-initiated cannabis measure: (Source: The Press Democrat)
2
The number of medical cannabis delivery, manufacturer and distributor licenses that were approved for applicants in the city of San Rafael: (Source: Marin Independent Journal)
16
The estimated number of people who attended the Cannabis Business Summit & Expo in early August:
6,000
(Source: NBC Bay Area)
The percentage of success observed in children with autism who were treated with CBD oil in an Israeli study: (Source: Israel National News)
80
The estimated number of tested cannabis samples, out of every five, that do not meet California’s updated safety standards since July 1: (Source: NBC Los Angeles)
1
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that the state of Florida approved in additional funding for a new medical cannabis office: (Source: Tampa Bay Times)
13.3
The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that the Missourians for Patient Care campaign committee raised to support a medical cannabis initiative in Missouri: (Source: San Francisco Gate)
530
The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that Alaskan officials collected in cannabis tax revenue in the 2018 fiscal year: (Source: New York Post)
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Hannibal Buress WHEN: Sat, Sept. 8 WHERE: The Masonic San Francisco, 1111 California St., San Francisco WEBSITE: sfmasonic.com Looking for a good laugh from a fresh and relevant standup comedian? Broad City’s Hannibal Buress is currently on tour and will be stopping in San Francisco briefly. Don’t let the name “Hannibal” throw you off, because this comedian is nothing like the fictional serial killer. Buress’ hilarious act includes his notorious Bill Cosby routine that was one of the 16
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first to out Cosby as a sexual predator. After writing material for Saturday Night Live, Buress’ career really took off with the arrival of cult comedy show, Broad City. Best of all, Buress is a proud consumer of cannabis—having indicated in an interview that he prefers indica strains and is very picky, which is why he doesn’t usually smoke with fans.
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NEWS
LOCAL
The War on Drugs
Education Elevated
Jojo’s Bill would allow Californian students to consume m e d i c a l c a n n a b i s at s c h o o l By Benjamin M. Adams
A
new statewide measure in California could wipe out the current inadequate and unacceptable situation that forces certain parents to criss-cross back and forth between work and school in order to provide their children with consistent doses of medical cannabis. Based in San Bruno, the Garcia family is leading the way for the other parents in similarly restrictive situations. Karina Garcia’s 19-year-old son Jojo suffers from intractable seizures, which left him confined to a wheelchair and in a near-catatonic state at times. Because of his disability, Jojo continues to attend his local high school at his age. Jojo’s medical cannabis oil contains high amounts of cannabidiol (CBD) and trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is the only treatment that appears to stop his potentially life-threatening seizures. Jojo needs the oil multiple times a day. That’s why his mother is forced to drop what she’s doing to travel to Jojo’s school every day at noon. Medical cannabis is currently not allowed on campus. A new bill has the potential to help Jojo continue receiving his medication while at school, without inconveniencing his family. Sen. Jerry Hill authored a bill that would allow medical cannabis in non-smoking or non-vaping forms on California K-12 school grounds. The bill would ease the situation of the Garcia family and hundreds of other families across the state. “Many of these students need to take a dose of medical
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cannabis at regular intervals, which often includes during school hours,” Sen. Hill stated. “Current law does not allow any form of cannabis on school grounds. These students must be picked up by their parents and taken off campus in order to take their medicine. This is very disruptive to their learning.” Lawmakers chose to name the bill after Jojo. The bill wouldn’t serve as a state mandate, rather the measure would allow any governing board of a K-12 school district, county board of education or a charter school to opt into the policy or to reject it on their own terms. “California Senate Bill 1127, Jojo’s Act, is named for a South San Francisco High School student living with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome who takes medical cannabis to forestall debilitating seizures that prevent him from attending school and leave him barely able to function,” Sen. Hill’s Communications Director Leslie Guevarra told CULTURE. “Taking this medication, Jojo was able to attend high school and received his diploma this summer. He continues to attend South San Francisco High School as part of a special education program.” Currently, the school administration doesn’t recognize Jojo’s doctor’s recommendation for medical cannabis. Some California schools oppose allowing any kind of medical cannabis on campus in case there is a chance of discordance with federal law. In a state like Colorado with recently expanded cannabis laws, the parents or even school staff can administer medical cannabis to students that need it while they are on campus. Six more states, Washington, Florida, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware and Illinois all allow medical cannabis on school grounds to some extent—and none of them have lost federal funding. “SB-1127 awaits a final vote in the California Assembly,” Guevarra said on Aug. 23. The bill passed the Assembly on Aug. 27 and heads to the governor's desk for signature as of lateAugust. The bill has been quite popular. So far, it has garnered the support of Cal NORML, the Board of Registered Nursing, the California Cannabis Industry Association, California School Boards Association, the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California, School Employers Association of California, Southern California Coalition and several school districts and organizations throughout California. c
Named after America’s pointless and fruitless drug war, The War on Drugs doesn’t possess the same negative connotations. The War on Drugs is a Philadelphia-based indie rock band that has developed a strong following over the past decade, winning numerous awards and recognition. This band gained notoriety after winning a Grammy for Best Rock Album last year for its 2017 album, A Deeper Understanding. The same album was nominated for the International Album of the Year award at the 2018 UK Americana Awards. Don’t miss The War on Drugs’ amazing cover of Grateful Dead’s “Touch of Grey.” With a venue on Telegraph Avenue—the unofficial center of counterculture in Oakland and Berkeley—you know you’re going to be in for an epic musical ride. WHEN: Mon, Sept. 10 WHERE: Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland WEBSITE: thewarondrugs.net
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REVIEWs
strain & concentrate Available wherever: Pure One products are carried.
Do-Si-Dos The first inhalation of Pure One’s latest hybrid cartridge had reviewers singing, “Around your partner do-si-do. Around your partner, here we go.” Filled with 100 percent organic and solvent-free cannabis oil, this hybrid strain Do-Si-Dos provided a perfectly balanced effect with enough energy to do a little square dancing, without any racy or anxious feelings. The natural terpenes in this cart were delicious, allowing for an elevated taste that was still true to cannabis. The buttery smooth inhale was followed by a sweet and spicy nutmeg flavor that was reminiscent of carrot cake. The ceramic coil cartridge ensured that every drag was fresh and flavorful, without overheating or burning the oil. Testing at 85.59 percent THC, 0.17 percent CBD and 0.31 percent CBN, Pure One’s Do-Si-Dos is a cartridge you should handle with care. A couple rips should be more than sufficient for even experienced cannabis consumers.
Jamaican Lambsbread Available at: Buddy’s Cannabis in San Jose.
Lambsbread! One of the most classic and loved strains in the world is getting better every year! This particular variety is the Jamaican Lambsbread available at Buddy’s Cannabis in San Jose and boy is it good. Complete and utter creativity is what comes out of this flowery gift; multiple hours of creative flow accompany this strain every time. Whether it is music, art, dance or writing, the Jamaican Lambsbread is the perfect catalyst to that creative energy. A mixture between mint and moss green, the buds themselves are a soft, welcoming color decorated with supple orange hairs and glistening silver trichomes that when combined, capture the quintessential image of the highest quality flower. It definitely can be difficult to perfect a classically loved strain such as the Jamaican Lambsbread, but the phenotype available at Buddy’s Cannabis right now is an extremely solid representation of this historical flower.
Arcturus OG Live Resin Looking for a live resin loaded with flavor? In search of a smooth, sweet and subtly skunky taste? A terpene machine? Well look no further than the Arcturus OG Live Resin. This masterfully crafted live resin is as beautiful as an expertly cut gemstone, glittering and shining from every angle. The sauce and diamonds texture is inevitably becoming the gold standard in the extract industry, and the Arcturus OG Live Resin does a mighty fine job of showing people why. An exceptional choice for stress relief, reviewers noted that this concentrate is particularly effective at helping eliminate needless worries and focus on the positive. A great choice for those who want to try live resin but never have before, the taste is exceptional and the effects are well-balanced. Essentially, the Arcturus OG Live Resin is the pizza of the extract world: Everybody likes it, and it’s good any time of the day!
Kimber Cannon
Available at: The Green Door in San Francisco.
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Available at: Theraleaf Relief in San Jose.
This is a pre-roll for the ages, a step above top-shelf. A seriously elite and exquisite invention. The Kimber Cannon developed by Garrison Lane has some ferocious firepower behind it and even has the hardware to handle the heaviest of hits. Boasting a fully formed and ergonomic glass mouthpiece, this is a necessary addition in order to handle the 1.5 grams of oil and kief slathered, hand-selected buds in the barrel of this cannon. This is certainly a weapon of mass inebriation, no doubt meant to be shared with multiple large groups of people. Additionally, the Kimber Cannon happens to be saliva-free, which may seem like a surprising notion at first, but there are many pre-rolls on the market that don’t pay attention to those small details, which is just another reason why this is one of the best pre-rolls on the market right now. Get on over to The Green Door, and grab a few before they are all gone!
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REVIEWs
1. Gift a Green Send someone the birthday card that keeps on giving! An herb grows out of the card once you rip off the top and water it. You get to personalize each card with your own picture, your own message and you can add anything you’d like. Choices include arugula, grey dwarf sugar peas, kale, radishes, sunflower, kohlrabi or a mixture of arugula and kale. Then you can mail the card to your destination, or give it to the recipient in person. Personally, we’d choose to plant a different type of seed, but this card is definitely one-of-a-kind. Price: $10-18 More Information: giftagreen.com 2. HUDWAY Glass What is this futuristic sorcery? You’ll feel like one of the Avengers with this high-tech transparent glass screen that looks like a hologram and appears on the windshield of your car. Navigate Google Maps or your favorite navigation system using the HUDWAY Glass system and look through the screen onto the road in front of you. This impressive display unit is practically guaranteed to wow your friends. HUDWAY’s patented design also makes the image from your phone screen appear 20 percent larger. Price: $49.99 More Information: hudwayglass.com
3. Summerland Fruit Fantasy Apple Pipe This finely-crafted ceramic piece is almost too beautiful to use. Its high-shine polished glaze, chic modern appeal and striking titanium white color make it scream, “I was made by a modern designer!” Each apple piece is painstakingly handmade, bearing the inscription “Summerland, California” on the bottom. It’s equipped with a functioning carb and extra-large smoking hole. The bowl is formed perfectly to fit a generous portion of cannabis at the top of the apple. Any seasoned cannabis consumer will instantly know about the D.I.Y. apple pipes that it represents. Price: $95 More Information: kindredblack.com
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4. Sweet Leaf Denim Shirt If Kylie Jenner or Naomi Campbell were to purchase a cannabisthemed denim shirt—this would be it. Beverly Hills-based fashion designer and icon Jacquie Aiche has really outdone herself this time with the Sweet Leaf Denim Shirt. Each shirt is adorned with a large white, black, light pink, whiskey, red or turquoise cannabis leaf made out of pure snakeskin. Aiche’s Middle Eastern background occasionally influences her finished products. Each shirt is available with or without a python collar, and the tops are all handmade in the U.S.A. Price: $1,330 More Information: jacquieaiche.com
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REVIEWs
entertainment
Release Date: SEPT. 7
BOOK
Available on: PlayStation 4
Cannabis: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Marijuana Danny Danko Octopus Publishing Group Ltd. No two words are more synonymous with cannabis expertise than High Times—so when High Times Senior Cultivation Editor Danny Danko pens an introductory book on growing cannabis, it’s best to pay close attention. Hot and fresh of the press, Cannabis: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Marijuana is the simple, straightforward handbook that beginning green thumbs desperately need. From setting up your grow room, to determining the best genetics through every step of harvest, cultivation and more, Danko’s first-hand experience shines through in every chapter of this 144page book. (Jacob Cannon) 26
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MOVIE GAME
Marvel’s Spider-Man Dev. Insomniac Games Pub. Sony Interactive Entertainment On paper, Spider-Man games have always been an exciting idea but in the past, the technology was not quite up to snuff in allowing game developers to create a successful experience—until now. Marvel’s Spider-Man, which won Best PS4 Game at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany last month, is poised to be the best SpiderMan game ever, offering beautiful rendered landscapes that legitimately make players feel like they are the web-slinging hero. The game presents a brand new story and enjoyable combat that evolves seamlessly between varying weather conditions and unique enemy battles. (Nicole Potter)
Avengers: Infinity War Dir. Anthony Russo; Joe Russo Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Just when you thought a Marvel superhero movie couldn’t get any bigger or more character-packed, Avengers: Infinity War is here to show just how huge a superhero movie can be. Incorporating cast members from the Avengers, Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy, the film follows the heroes of each franchise as they take on one of the Marvel universe’s most powerful and dangerous villains, Thanos. Directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Infinity War may be gargantuan, but it never feels excessive or indulgent. Instead, the film brings one the most compelling stories in comic history to life. (Simon Weedn)
MUSIC
Soul Assassins: Dia del Asesinato DJ Muggs Soul Assassins Records Though he may be best known as the longtime DJ/producer of Southern California hip-hop legend Cypress Hill, DJ Muggs has also been releasing a steady stream of solo and collaborative records since the late ’90s. His most recent release, Soul Assassins: Dia del Asesinato, is one of his best albums yet and finds the seasoned producer colluding with a slew of veteran MCs including Raekwon, Kool G Rap, MF DOOM and several others to great effect. Loaded up with the old school, aggressive, bass-heavy beats that Muggs built his career on, the record will impress old and young hip-hop fans alike. (Simon Weedn)
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“We’ve been kind of blessed w i t h t h e s e p e n s r i g h t n o w, s o I don’t have to worry about rolling joints anymore or getting rid of seeds.”
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Photos by John Gilhooley
Comedian Jo Koy continues to charm a n d e n t e r ta i n h i s ever-growing fan b a s e w i t h c o n s ta n t t o u r i n g , a w e e k ly podcast and new comedy specials By David Edmundson Comedian Jo Koy may be the nicest person CULTURE has ever met. The veteran comic greets everyone with an enormous hug, a smile and infectious positivity. Koy attributes a lot of his humor, hustle and success to his mother, who showed him by example that it is possible to go from struggling to make ends meet, to headlining comedy clubs around the world. After spending even a brief amount of time with him you also learn that his other two loves are his son and stand-up. And if you’ve seen his recent Netflix special, Jo Koy: Live from Seattle, you’ll be regaled with countless funny anecdotes about his son and his quest to conquer puberty. Koy was raised in the Seattle, Washington area, and from the moment he saw Eddie Murphy’s Raw in person, he knew what he was going to do with the rest of his life. Sure, there were lean years; he sold shoes at Nordstrom Rack the day after he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This was 15 years into his journey in stand-up. His story is a tale of perseverance and a testament to what you can accomplish if you dedicate yourself to something and give it 110 percent all the time. Now, Koy only continues to reach new audiences and make lifelong fans, selling record-breaking shows across the world and recently receiving the “Stand-Up Comedian of the Year” award at Montreal Canada’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. Koy chatted with CULTURE about being a comedian, the new Netflix special he has in the works, as well as his relationship with cannabis. CultureMagazine.com CultureMagazine.com september september2018 2018
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“I’m shooting my new Netflix special. This time Netflix i s b e h i n d i t, s o I d o n ’ t h a v e t o w o r r y a b o u t t h e b u d g e t, b u y i n g s ta g e c o v e r s , s e t design and directors. I don’t have to wear any of those hats. I get to walk out o n s ta g e a n d j u s t b e f u n n y. ”
When did you know that comedy was what you were going to do in life? I knew comedy was what I wanted to do when I heard Eddie Murphy do Delirious, so 1981-1982. When it came out I was in the sixth grade, that’s when I said I wanted to be a stand-up comedian for the rest of my life. In sixth grade, at 11 or 12 years old, you’re watching Delirious? I recorded it on a VHS tape. I recorded Delirious on there with Whoopi Goldberg’s Direct from Broadway, Robin Williams’ Live from the Met and Bill Cosby’s Himself. I had everything on that tape, and all I did was watch stand-up. I was in love with Eddie Murphy though, so when he went on tour with Raw, he came to Seattle, and I bought tickets for me and my friend William. My mom drove me to downtown Seattle, two 15-year-old kids, she was saying, “Why are you going to see a movie in Seattle, why didn’t you get tickets to see Eddie Murphy in Tacoma?” She had no idea there was a [live show], but she dropped us off at the Coliseum; that was the best day of my life. 30
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Which do you like more? Raw or Delirious? Well of course my heart is going to be with Raw, because I got to see it before anyone else did. This was back when kids didn’t really watch stand-up. It was like an adult thing to do. It was a special moment for me, and that comedy routine will always be in my body for the rest of my being. I remember that whole moment. I remember walking into the Coliseum, I remember buying a sweatshirt, I still remember the name of the production company. I remember that I was so mad that I didn’t buy the T-shirt, and I bought the sweatshirt. The sweatshirt said “Panda Panda,” which was the promotion company that brought the tour there. And then it said Eddie Murphy, it didn’t say Raw and had some Argyle on it. It had nothing to do with the tour. Then
they had T-shirts, that I didn’t buy, and it was just a red T-shirt with a silhouette of Eddie that said Raw. Should have bought that, I think about that every fucking day man. How did your family react when you decided to pursue stand-up? Were they supportive? Well my mom, no of course. She’s an immigrant mom from the Philippines, and now her kid wants to be a standup comedian. For her generation it’s all about having kids, sending them to college, she retires, and the kids take over. I get it when you come from a country where everyone is suffering from poverty, and you arrive in the land of opportunity, the last thing you want is for your kids to struggle. She didn’t think it was really going to happen, and she was right for about 15 years. From 1989 until 2004/2005, so you’re talking about 15 to 16 years of my mom being right. Reminding me every holiday, “Thirtytwo and you work at a fucking shoe store, trying to be a comedian. You’re not a kid anymore.” Then it starts to wear on you, like, “Fuck, maybe my mom is right, maybe I should quit, maybe I should get a full-time job being a mailman.”
You’ve been doing stand-up for over 20 years. How long were you in the game before you felt like you made it? I did the Apollo in 1998 or 1999, and I felt like I made it. I was nine years in, and I’m on national television. I’m on a show that I’ve dreamed of being on ever since I watched it when I was a kid. I remember standing in the shower and pretending I was doing stand-up on the Apollo, and it came to life. So, to me I made it. Financially I’m not making it, I’m broke. For my mom, it was when I did The Tonight Show [with Jay Leno]. She was able to see something on NBC, and this is Jay Leno, the world knows Jay Leno, and here he is introducing her son. So, to me that’s when I made it, 15 years in, and literally that was when I was able to quit all my jobs because I was still working part time jobs when I did The Tonight Show. You use your family experiences for comedy gold. Has there been any pushback? I get nervous sometimes. On my last
special, Jo Koy: Live from Seattle, I talked about my sister getting kicked out at 17. In the special I say she was kicked out of 18, when in reality she was kicked out at 16, but I didn’t want to say that. I remember practicing that joke at Treasure Island before I taped the special, and my mom, who finally made up with my sister a couple years before, and my sister are in the crowd. I remember doing that joke in front of them and being so fucking nervous. I remember getting offstage and my mom hugged me, and my sister hugged me. My sister said, “It really didn’t happen that way.” But I don’t want to say all the shit that happened, but let the audience know that this is generally what happened. I don’t want to make it too serious, so I got their approval, but I was really nervous. What does your mom think of your impression of her? Of course, her natural instinct is to say, “I don’t really say that,” or “I don’t sound like that,” and then I’m
like, “You sound like it right fucking now.” She’s where I got my comedy from, that’s where the natural ability comes from. She used humor when she came to this country to make friends and that’s pretty fucking awesome. Imagine coming here when the country was pretty much white and black. In 1968, immigrant with a military husband and a kid that nobody’s ever seen before. They’ve never seen a mixed kid. What the fuck is that? He’s got Asian eyes, but they’re hazel. What the fuck! My mom had to figure it out, there was no Facebook, she had to meet people on her own and figure out the language. I got my hustle from my mom. My mom used to put together these events with other Filipinos. They would rent out the Knights of Columbus Hall for $200 and invite all these people she met at the mall. There would be a long table of food, and the kids would perform. I saw my mom’s hustle, and I think that indirectly that motivated me, because I saw her do it. CultureMagazine.com
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Has your teenage son, or one of his friends, seen your act? All of his friends have seen it. It’s what they do when they go out on the weekends. If they meet up at a friend’s house, my son will come over and he’ll tell me how Aiden put on my special and they all watched it. Do you consume cannabis? Who doesn’t! We’ve been kind of blessed with these pens right now, so I don’t have to worry about rolling joints anymore or getting rid of seeds. The pens are right there, and they’re all over the place, so I’ve been blessed to go to certain places where you can pick up some cool pens. How do you think cannabis affects the creative process? For me, not at all. Creatively I don’t need that. I do it purely for entertainment value. It’s fun to do it and laugh. I don’t use it for creative reasons, more just recreation. To relax and have a good time.
“For me, not at all. C r e a t i v e ly I d o n ’ t n e e d [ c a n n a b i s ] . I d o i t p u r e ly f o r e n t e r ta i n m e n t v a l u e . It’s fun to do it and laugh. I don’t use it for creative reasons, more just recreation. To relax and have a good time.”
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You released your last special Jo Koy: Live from Seattle on Netflix; what makes the streaming service such a great fit for stand-up? That’s the blueprint right there. I don’t understand why networks haven’t copied this blueprint. Netflix changed my life, changed my career. I knew that I needed to get on Netflix, and they said “no” to me so many times. So I just invested all my money, and financially paid for my special. I knew that
if we didn’t sell this I’d be broke, so thank God I had a good manager and agent that believed in the project and were willing to invest as well. I had enough confidence to think that I was going to be able to sell it, even though Netflix said they didn’t need it. So, I shot that shit myself, with no potential buyer. Just praying that someone would buy it. We shopped that thing around for a few months, and we finally put it on Netflix’s table, and they bought it. Changed my life. Aside from touring, you also host a weekly podcast called, “The Koy Pond.” Do you find this to be an extension of your comedy, or a way to do something new? I love “The Koy Pond,” because I get to show off my ad lib skills, my improv. I do it onstage, but I love to do it in conversation. So that’s what that is all about, I go in there unscripted without a topic, without anything. I literally walk on and let it roll, and wherever that conversation takes us, that’s what we’re posting that night. So what’s next? I’m shooting my new Netflix special. This time Netflix is behind it, so I don’t have to worry about the budget, buying stage covers, set design and directors. I don’t have to wear any of those hats. I get to walk out onstage and just be funny. I don’t have to worry about getting offstage and having to eat a butter sandwich because I’m broke. c jokoy.com
LIGHTNING ROUND Richard Pryor or George Carlin? Carlin, only because I got to see him live when I was 15 at Bally’s. Soccer or football? Both suck. Pineapple on Pizza; gross or yum? Disgusting. It’s cold, why is it on there? Name a movie that makes you cry. My Life with Michael Keaton. Die Hard; Christmas movie or straight action movie? It is the greatest Christmas action movie ever. Batman or Superman? Batman. Cats or dogs? Dogs. Are you kidding me? Cats suck. Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore? Happy Gilmore all day. People who back into parking spaces— monsters or geniuses? Geniuses. Favorite cannabis strain or product? Chocolate chip cookie edible. CultureMagazine.com
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Industry Insider
Curating a Community
E l l e m e n ta C o - F o u n d e r Aliza Sherman continues t o d i s r u p t m a l e - d o m i n at e d industries with a fresh female focus By R. Scott Rappold
Aliza Sherman isn’t a typical cannabis consumer or industry professional. She’s 53, a mother of three, a pioneering website designer and author of a dozen books. But in a male-dominated industry, it’s the fact she is a she, and a woman of experience, that sets her apart just as much as her accomplishments. “There are a lot of complex things that I need to be dealing with that the typical stoner culture does not cover,” she said. It was this disconnect, a lack of resources for women about cannabis, which led her in 2016 to co-found Ellementa, a global network committed to sharing information about cannabis for women, by women. There are already local chapters in 42 cities, as well as a robust website, ellementa.com, dedicated to this mission. And if Sherman’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she’s done it before, as a pioneering web designer back in the ’90s who helped connect a generation of women with a new thing called the internet.
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“ T h e s e a r e t h e k i n d o f t h i n g s t h at o l d e r w o m e n are facing and the first thing [doctors] want to do is slap some opioids on you . . . They want t o m a s k t h e u n d e r ly i n g i s s u e s a n d t h e y d o n ’ t w a n t t o d e a l w i t h t h e w h o l e b o d y. ”
T.
The Cybergrrl
In the early 1990s, the internet was a male-dominated network of chat rooms and message boards. Typing “women” into search engines usually meant X-rated results. “There was a lot of academic stuff, a lot of scientific stuff, a lot of hobbyists and gaming oriented things, geeky, nerdy stuff, but there wasn’t anything on female health, on childcare and family care. So it was really just irrelevant to women,” she recalled. It’s a small wonder then, that women accounted for just 10 percent of internet users. Sherman, trained in HTML, had begun using the internet as a hobby, but she decided to launch cybergrrl. com, which led to webgrrls.com, a network of resources for women that grew to more than 100 local chapters and 30,000 members. Her websites, launched at the exact right time to be at the forefront of the internet boom, have been credited with helping innumerable women take part in that boom. Newsweek magazine in 1995 named her one of the “Top People Who Matter Most on the Internet,” with Sherman representing one of only three women on the list. “I see the same exact same parallels now for cannabis. There’s very little relevant information specifically for women and women’s needs, particularly older women,” she said. “It’s intimidating. It’s scary, and in a lot of places it’s still illegal, so women don’t know where to turn for proper information, and women’s lives are so complex.”
A.
A Healing Medicine
Growing up in the ’80s on a steady diet of anti-cannabis propaganda, she only dabbled in cannabis as a youth and not at all as an adult. Flash forward to her early 50s and she was suffering from chronic pain, insomnia and other negative health impacts of aging and menopause. She had tried all kinds of holistic medicines and herbs, and
when she moved to Alaska, a state with medical cannabis, she had an “a-ha” moment. “Here I am into all these alternative remedies and here is the most effective alternative remedy, and I avoided it out of fear,” she said. Cannabis, and particularly cannabidiol (CBD) products, provided relief that no pills could. “These are the kind of things that older women are facing and the first thing [doctors] want to do is slap some opioids on you . . . They want to mask the underlying issues and they don’t want to deal with the whole body.” Along with Co-Founders Melissa Pierce and Ashley Kingsley, Sherman launched Ellementa as a “global women’s cannabis wellness network.” There’s the website, weekly profiles she writes about women in the industry called Her Canna Life and a robust consulting business, helping cannabis companies reach and design products for women. She hopes these efforts, like Webgrrls for the internet, can help more women succeed in the industry. “The cannabis industry is still nascent enough in order for women to gain a foothold, to have a voice, but the reality is the window of opportunity for women to truly make a major impact in this industry is narrowing and closing,” she said. “The more that big money, old money, big pharma money, venture capital comes in . . . those who hold the major purse strings are all male.” But there are other groups, such as Women Grow, with Photo by Suzanne Sutcliffe Photography
that emphasis, so most of what Ellementa does is focused on consumers and their health. At monthly meetings in 42 cities, women pay a nominal fee to take part in group discussions, product presentations and information sessions, organized by an Ellementa contractor working on commission. There are usually 20 to 40 participants, all women, to keep it a safe space for an honest and frank discussion of women’s health issues. And while women of all ages are welcome, many tend to be older and maybe haven’t used cannabis in decades but are looking for answers. “My needs are very different from a 20-year-old. Women make the major decisions about health care purchases in their households. Whether they’re taking care of their children, their partners, their aging parents or themselves, they are usually the ones with the fingers on the pulse of what can help their families, their loved ones, themselves, to feel better,” Sherman said. “Our focus is on helping people feel better, on getting better information about cannabis and CBD out there and more relevant information for women on our particular needs.” As for whether Ellementa can do for the cannabis industry what Webgrrls did for the internet, and whether women can be truly equal in this industry, she sees plenty of room for progress. “When women are equal to men in the world, that will be the day that women will be equal to men in any industry. I think there’s a lot of opportunity still for women, but I think there are still a lot of barriers,” she said. c CultureMagazine.com
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Hemp on the Halfpipe Skateboard manufacturers offer skaters sustainable boards and gear made from hemp By Kiara Manns
T
he integration of hemp into mainstream production appears to be right around the corner as more and more companies take it upon themselves to abandon traditional practices of production that are more harmful to the Earth. The cultivation of industrial hemp, once a common practice, has been hindered throughout modern history by federal laws that placed the plant in the Schedule I drug category despite containing nonpsychoactive components. Before its prohibition, hemp 36
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was often used for paper and textile products dating back to the 18th century and beyond. Progression in legislation and an evolving perspective on the benefits of hemp now allow companies to have the chance to supply sustainable products. Consumers of every market will soon be able to opt for eco-friendly options in their lives. Whether they are clothing, housing or goods, choosing industrial hemp products helps to break preexisting stigmas while showing kindness to the planet. The active sports industry proves to be no stranger to industrial hemp as some skateboard companies have decided to incorporate the crop into the production of skate gear such as wheels, decks and whole boards. Check out some of the brilliant franchises embarking on the exciting journey toward a sustainable future through hemp.
Granny Smith Sports Granny Smith Sports grew from the minds of Nick Griffith, David Blanchard and Greg Osusky in San Diego, California. Together, the three partners agreed on developing skatewear in such a way that would integrate sustainability and durability. “We don’t have to sacrifice the environment to enjoy the best performance” they share on the Granny Smith Sports website. “Just because the standard is there doesn’t mean there’s not a more eco-friendly and sustainable way.” Designing boards made with hemp has several advantages. Not only is the plant easy to replenish, taking only six months to grow and mature, cultivating hemp involves no deforestation. With an anti-plastic mindset, Granny Smith Sports provides skateboards and aids in the preservation of our oceans. The composition of the Sprout Cruiser for instance is 80 percent hemp and 20 percent plant resin. Consumers can rest assured that they are investing in a board that is 100 percent plant-based. “We at Granny Smith take pride in our hands-on process of crafting quality with sustainability” they explain. “It IS possible to have real durability with a plant-based product.” The company proudly crafts its skatewear to follow a plant-based lifestyle and to make a more positive impact on the environment.
“ I f o r m e d HEMP Z OO t o g i v e s u s ta i n a b l e options to people t h at c a r e a b o u t o u r planet and children’s future.”
Vibronic Hemp Wheels How does one make a 100 percent plant-based skateboard more eco-friendly? Roll in a set of plantbased wheels for a completely sustainable ride! Vibronic Hemp Wheels proves that hemp can be incorporated into practically any product. What began as a family business in 1953 evolved into the current Rubber-Tech Inc., a company in the rubber industry. With roots from this family company, Vibronic Hemp Wheels blossomed into an innovative brand that sought to create a new way of going down the halfpipe. As a division of Rubber-Tech Inc., the founders of Vibronic Hemp Wheels set forth to bring a “unique product” to the sports market. Vibronic Hemp Wheels often makes custom wheel designs and aims to be a leader in advanced and sustainable development. Manufactured in the United States, the wheels give back to both the Earth and the economy.
HEMPZOO Although HEMPZOO is only a little over a year old, having officially launched on April 20, 2017, the
company has made great strides by partnering with like-minded businesses to bring consumers planet-friendly products. HEMP ZOO Founder Jasen Russell has been involved in the cannabis industry for more than a decade. After the loss of his brother in 2006, Russell took it upon himself to fully commit to the budding industry, later leading him to begin HEMPZOO. Like many other eco-friendly entrepreneurs, Russell hoped to create an alternative option that would be more conscious of the environment. “I formed HEMPZOO to give sustainable options to people that care about our planet and children’s future,” he explained. Looking to collaborate with like-minded companies, Russell partnered with other franchises including Granny Smith Sports. “We collaborate making custom eco hemp skateboards for big and small businesses or individuals looking for a unique Earth-friendly product. I work with many companies and supply hemp materials to make my custom products.” On the official HEMPZOO website shoppers will find Granny Smith Sports boards, Vibronic Hemp Wheels and hemp-made protective gear. Among the variety of hemp merchandise are knee and elbow pads featuring canvas that is composed entirely of hemp. The pads are custommade in the United States and have proven durability. c CultureMagazine.com
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Frame of Freedom Artist Veronika Vajdova finds inspiration in the need for political change By Simon Weedn
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wenty-sevenyear-old Glasgow Caledonian University student Veronika Vajdová has been painting and creating art her entire life. However, it wasn’t until she began submitting pieces to the Natural Cannabis Company’s annual High Art competition, a cannabis-themed visual art contest, that her work began attracting international attention. Her contribution to the 2018 installment of the competition, Metamorphosis, was among the most interesting and beautiful pieces submitted, and the piece garnered a great deal of praise from her peers. Recently, CULTURE had the opportunity to catch up with Vajdová and hear about her art, her inspirations and the message she is trying to get across with Metamorphosis.
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Self Portrait
To start off, can you give us a little background on yourself and how you became interested in painting and graphic art? Well, I’m originally from Slovakia, and I’ve always been interested in art, but in my family it wasn’t always something I was encouraged to pursue. So I always kept trying to find something else I was interested in, because everyone was telling me that art was just something you do as a hobby, and I ended up studying medicine. However, after studying for a few years I realized I was spending more and more time on art and that it was something that interested me a lot. So, I decided to quit medicine, found a 3D Animation and Visualization course in the United Kingdom, and so that’s where I am and that’s what I’m studying currently. Recently, your piece Metamorphosis was picked as a finalist for the High Art competition. Can you tell me a bit about the painting and what inspired it? The topic this year was “freedom,” and I come from a country where marijuana is illegal, and in the U.K. it’s the same situation. So, with Metamorphosis I wanted to say with it was that there are way too many things that I feel should change and that nobody seems to be dealing with the situation. Instead, everybody is connecting the idea of change to something bad. In my country, you can hear people talking about how legalization, even
for medical marijuana, would just lead to more people taking other drugs, and no one realizes that we already have other legal drugs. If you just think about alcohol and how much trouble it causes in families, and it is something legal. So, what I was trying to say with that piece, is that change doesn’t have to be something negative; change can be beautiful, and it can lead to something positive. What has been your experience submitting to High Art so far? Well, it’s been a few years since the contest started, and I think I submitted my art to the first or second year of the competition. Back then, it was actually the first time I had the courage to submit my art to a competition, and I think I became a finalist that year. I was shocked that I made it that far, and it’s one of the things that pushed me to make the change from medicine to art full-time. You mentioned that in Slovakia and the U.K. cannabis laws are still pretty restrictive. Do you see attitudes starting to change over there especially with successful legalization efforts in Canada and the U.S.? Well, people do talk about it, especially if something happens in bigger countries like the U.S., Canada or Mexico. You can see that some people who just a few years ago wouldn’t have thought about it or have an opinion that would be completely negative are no longer thinking in negative terms
Metamorphosis
“ Y o u k n o w, w h e n p e o p l e ta l k a b o u t their experiences with marijuana and c r e at i v i t y, t h at ’ s i n s p i r i n g t o m e . ” about it. I think what’s helping is people going on YouTube or the news and talking about their own experiences with medical marijuana. Especially when people talk about their experiences with chronic pain or illness, it makes people think about it more. Is cannabis something that inspires some of your work? You know, when people talk about their experiences with
marijuana and creativity, that’s inspiring to me. Every year I check to find out when the High Art competition is happening, because I always love their topics and find them to be very inspiring. It’s usually just one month that people can submit their work, and I just love browsing through other people’s art and checking it all out. There’s just something about the High Art community that’s so nice and relaxed that it inspires me too. c www.deviantart.com/weroni
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Instructions:
An Apple a Day By Laurie Wolf
N
owadays, there seems to be very few apple varieties available in most markets. However, a quick drive to the countryside for apple picking will offer up various other varieties of apples, many of which are still growing on centuries-old trees. As September marks the beginning of apple season, make a trip to apple country to get your hands on some of the freshest fruit available—apples are good for you, particularly when they are in season and handpicked by you. Our favorite baking apples are Jonagold, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Braeburn. Embrace the season, and delight your taste buds with this recipe for Granola Baked Apples. Since we are infusing these apples with cannabutter, you have increased your chances for keeping the doctor away!
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Makes
6
Servings
Granola Baked Apples Ingredients: 3 apples (Braeburn apples are suggested) 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 1/2 cups granola, any variety
2 tablespoons cannabutter, cold 1 tablespoon butter, cold 1 teaspoon cinnamon Pinch of salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
Photos by Bruce Wolf
Maple syrup
1. Heat oven to 340° F. Cut the apples in half, core them creating a cavity, and rub the cut surfaces with the lemon juice. 2. In a small bowl combine the granola, brown sugar, cannabutter, butter, cinnamon and salt. With clean fingers, work the topping until the butter is evenly incorporated into the granola. 3. Place the apples on a baking sheet. Fill each cavity with equal amounts of infused granola mixture. Bake until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown, about 30 minutes. If desired, drizzle each apple with maple syrup before devouring.
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GROWING CULTURE
Urban Herbs A v isi t t o o n e o f t h e la r g es t u r ba n c u lt i vat i o n si t es i n t h e U . S . By Ed Rosenthal
I
t wasn’t long ago that the idea of growing an acre of cannabis in California was just a fantasy. But in 2016, citizens in California voted affirmatively on a partial legalization initiative. Now we can see the short-term results. Commercial cultivation sites have since expanded from Mendocino-type gardens typified by large plants, and each had a yield of 10 to 15 pounds. Back in the day, cultivators were able to harvest relatively large crops, while staying within the plant limit, which usually ranged from six to 49 plants. Indoors, a 100 light facility with a canopy of 1,500 to 2,000 square feet was considered large. Those are antiquated numbers now. In California, the law allows outdoor farms to contain at least one acre or more. There are a number of outdoor farms in legal counties, but most of the large ones are in rural areas, where there is ample space to spread out. However, in an urban area of California there was an acre-plus lot that had just been cleared of derelict buildings. The soil was suspect. Before it was cleared, abandoned cars and old machinery had been dumped there. However, the land was level enough to cover it with 20-gallon bags irrigated using a drip system. The new owners were planning to construct a greenhouse on the land, but that was only in the planning stages. The space was not scheduled for improvement after the growing season was over. However it needed some modifications before it could be used. City water
Once the plants were set outside they suffered from sunburn (bleaching), and nutrient imbalance including magnesium and potassium. 42
The stakes were tied together and then the netting was attached. Finally the branches were tied to the netting. No branches stuck out from the rows, much like the way wine grapes are trained.
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would have to be hooked up, which wasn’t much of a problem. However before plants could be planted, a chain link fence marking the perimeter was needed in order to make the lot visually impenetrable. Rather than buying pre-filled bags of soil, the cultivator decided to buy bulk soil and have laborers fill the bags from a soil pile dumped in the middle of the space using shovels. As the bags were filled, they were set in place and then planted. Once the containers were in place, the stakes and netting were installed. The stakes crossed each other and were tied. Then the netting was attached to the stakes. Finally, the branches were spread apart and attached to the netting using twist ties. Unfortunately, the final garden design was not followed and the netting was set at an oblique angle to the sun. As a result, portions of the plant that would have been in sunlight were partially shaded. The correct angle would have been for the plants to face north and south,
A plant tied to the netting. Photo taken about a week after the plants were set.
perpendicular to the sun. This becomes especially important in the fall, when the sun drops in relationship to the horizon, casting longer shadows. The cannabis plants had been growing under lights for several months before being planted outdoors, but the intensity was low so the stems were somewhat stretched and the leaves were small. The six-inch containers were slightly root-bound. The situation wasn’t critical and the roots would be able to grow into the new planting mix. It turned out that the planting mix was not ripe, so the plants were held back a little for the first two weeks by pH instability, causing unavailability for some of the micro-nutrients. Another problem that the plants faced was sunburn. The plants had been growing indoors under HPS lights, which emit no UV light. The old leaves were easily sunburned as a result. In spite of all these problems, the plants adjusted to their new environment and the newest growth showed that the soil problems had been resolved. c
Ten days after the first photo, plants have recovered somewhat, and new growth is healthy.
Looking down a row. 3,000 containers were planted. They are irrigated using drip emitters.
Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.
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NORCAL NOW! event listings
ZHU, Sept. 8 Grammy-nominated artist Stephen Zhu is one of the world’s top DJs, playing an after-hours mix on BBC Radio that helped launch his single “Faded” to number three in the Billboard UK Singles Chart. See the enigmatic ChineseAmerican DJ perform his stunning new album Ringo’s Desert Pt. 1 in his home state of California. Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco zhumusic.com/tour
Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival, Sept. 8-9 Now celebrating its 23rd year, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival attracts up to 40,000 tourists each year. Bakery and restaurant booths, plus prominent local chefs will be peppered throughout the event, and 100 percent of the profits are donated to Project Open Hand, a nonprofit that provides food and compassion to people living with HIV/AIDS. Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco sresproductions.com/ events/ghirardellichocolate-festival 44
featured event
The Wailers, Sept. 12 Formed by former Bob Marley & The Wailers band members Al Anderson and Junior Marvin in 2008, The Wailers carries on the legacy of the legendary band that introduced the world to reggae. The Wailers’ EP Miracle was nominated for a Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2012, and now you can enjoy the band in person—minus Bob Marley, of course. The Chapel, San Francisco thechapelsf.com The Aquabats, Sept. 17 Skank your heart away with one of the most colorful and bizarre American ska bands. For those who are unfamiliar with The Aquabats, this band is self-described as the “Devo of Ska,” complete with matching superhero outfits, masks, goofy antics and synthpop elements. Slims, San Francisco slimspresents.com Oktoberfest By The Bay, Sept. 21-23 It’s not quite October yet, but Oktoberfest is coming a little early to the Bay Area. There will be nonstop beer pouring, singing, dancing and plenty of German
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Korn, Sept. 12 Nu metal crossed the bridge between heavy metal and mainstream music during the ’90s, from Limp Bizkit to Linkin Park, and many would say that Korn itself blazed the way. Lead vocalist Jonathan Davis’ vocals are downright chilling to the bone, often bringing up the darkest, deepest angst of early adulthood. The Masonic, San Francisco korn.com/tour and Bavarian foods and delicacies. Don’t miss the 21-piece Chico Bavarian Band that will be headlining the event. Pier 48, San Francisco oktoberfestbythebay.com Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, Sept. 27 St. Patrick’s Day is long gone, but you can celebrate Celtic punk and Irish culture all year long. Both bands possess a similar folk/punk sound, so expect bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, oversized sideburns, flat caps, excessive tattoos, suspenders, booze and Irish pride.
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco billgrahamcivic.com Fear Overload Scream Park, Sept. 28-Nov. 3 Featured on Forbes, CBS, ABC and Fox, Fear Overload Scream Park has become a local fan favorite each Halloween season. This year, two new attractions will open, the cold and clammy Washroom and the sanitariumthemed Amnesia Ward, where you can see if you have what it takes to stand in the front of your group. Bayfair Center, San Leandro fearoverload.com
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News of the
Weird
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
LEAD STORY—RECENT ALARMING HEADLINE Infamous South Beach street artist Jonathan Crenshaw, 46, attracts a lot of attention in Miami among tourists, who watch him paint on a canvas—using his feet. Crenshaw does not have arms and is homeless. Profiled in a local newspaper in 2011, Crenshaw told of a difficult childhood (he also claimed Gloria Estefan had given birth to 200 of his children). He landed in the headlines again after stabbing a Chicago man with a pair of scissors on July 10. According to The Miami Herald, Cesar Coronado, 22, told police he had approached Crenshaw to ask for directions, when Crenshaw jumped up and, using his feet, stabbed Coronado. Crenshaw’s story is that as he lay on the pavement, Coronado punched him in the head—so he stabbed him, tucked the scissors into his waistband and walked away. Police found Crenshaw, who has a lengthy arrest record, nearby and arrested him. BOLD MOVE Faith Pugh of Memphis, Tennessee, had a date to remember on July 14 with Kelton Griffin. Her casual acquaintance from high school “just out of the blue texted me and asked me to go out,” Pugh told WREG-TV. They took her car and stopped at a gas station, where Griffin asked Pugh to go inside and buy 46
him a cigar. But while she was inside, “He drove off. I came outside and my car was gone,” Pugh said. Shortly, Pugh received a text from her godsister, telling her Griffin had just asked her out on a date. He picked up the godsister in Pugh’s car and headed to a drive-in movie. “He didn’t even have any money,” Pugh said. “She actually paid their way to get in the drive-in just so I could get my car back.” Pugh alerted the police to the car’s location, and they arrested Griffin for theft of property. “I hope he’s in jail for a long time,” Pugh said. MYSTERY SOLVED On Jan. 25, 71-yearold Alan J. Abrahamson of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, went for his regular pre-dawn walk to Starbucks. What happened on the way stumped police investigators until March, reported The Washington Post, and on July 13 they made their findings public. Images from a surveillance camera show Abrahamson walking out of his community at 5:35 a.m. and about a halfhour later, the sound of a gunshot is heard. Just before 7 a.m., a dog found Abrahamson’s body, lying near a walking path. Police found no weapon, no signs of a struggle; he still had his wallet and phone. Investigators initially worked the case as a homicide, but as they dug deeper into the man’s computer searches and purchases over the past nine years, a theory developed: Abrahamson had tied a gun to a weather balloon filled with helium, shot himself, and then the gun drifted away to parts
september 2018 CultureMagazine.com
unknown. A thin line of blood on Abrahamson’s sweatshirt indicated to police that “something with the approximate width of a string passed through the blood on the outside of the shirt,” the final report says. As for the balloon, investigators said it would likely have ascended to about 100,000 feet and exploded somewhere north of the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean. BRIGHT IDEA It’s time once again for minor league baseball promotion fun and games! This time, however, the Montgomery (Alabama) Biscuits managed to tick off a whole generation of baseball fans. The Biscuits announced Millennial Night on July 21, featuring participation ribbons just for showing up, a napping area, selfie stations and lots of avocados, reported Fox News. While some Twitter users thought the promotion was insensitive, others were more philosophical. Dallas Godshall, 21, said, “More than targeting millennials, it’s sort of targeting older generations who like to make fun of millennials.” Pitcher Benton Ross weighed in: “If it’s insensitive, maybe they should just have thicker skin.” REVENGE, TEXAS-STYLE The Austin AmericanStatesman reported that on June 17, RV park neighbors and longtime adversaries Ryan Felton Sauter, 39, and Keith Monroe got into a heated dispute about an undisclosed subject. Later that day, Monroe saw Sauter leaving Monroe’s RV and asked him why
he had gone in without permission, to which Sauter replied, “You’ll see why.” Going inside, Monroe soon spotted a 3-foot-long rattlesnake. “I freaked out,” he said. He used a machete to kill the snake, which strangely was missing its rattles. Turns out Sauter had bitten off the snake’s tail, with its signature warning sound. Sauter has been charged with deadly conduct and criminal trespass. PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS Tina Ballard, 56, of Okeechobee County, Florida, was arrested in North Carolina by Linville Land Harbor police on July 16 after fleeing there to “hide (her pet) monkey so that state officials could not take that monkey from her,” assistant state attorney Ashley Albright told WPBF News. Ballard’s troubles began in May, when the spider monkey, Spanky, jumped out of a shopping cart in an Okeechobee Home Depot and grabbed a cashier’s shirt, “leaving red marks on the cashier’s shoulder and back.” In June, Fox News reported, another Home Depot employee spotted Spanky in the parking lot, having escaped Ballard’s truck and dragging a leash. Spanky was spooked by the store’s sliding doors and bit the employee on the arm, grabbing her hair and running away. The employee gave chase and eventually caught Spanky, but not before suffering more bites and scratches. Spanky was in the car when Ballard was arrested and extradited back to Florida; the monkey will be placed in a primate sanctuary.
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