izzie + sky // issue 07

IZZIE + SKY

issue 07 // 07•16

+ ART + PHOTOGRAPHY + MUSIC

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wp // izzieandsky.wordpress.com fb // facebook.com/izzieandsky ig // @izzieandsky t // @izzieandsky snapchat // izzieandsky

featuring PHOTOGRAPHY rail explorers 12 summer hiking 16

halsey 88 firefly music festival 94 frendly gathering 102 sweetlife festival 108 summer playlist 148

CREATIVES elizabeth barnett 20 jess chen 24 plantsonpink 30 sarita walsh 34 brandywine bee company 44

FASHION festival fashion 116 UGH! 124 deuce 132 PRODUCTS ape & bird 120 a pen to paper 121 upper metal class 138

TRAVEL smith mountain lake 50 MUSIC zella day 54 zac brown band 58 rooney 62 the ceremonies 66 fitz & the tantrums 70 mac demarco 76 future now tour 80

FOOD pineapple salsa 142 strawberry lemonade 144 DIY barefoot sandals 146

cover art: vanessa bowden

calling all creatives!

Interested in being featured in / contributing for izzie + sky?

Shoot us an email - izzieandsky@gmail.com Š 2016 izzie + sky magazine

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WALLFLOWER DESIGN CO. madebywallflower.com

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ANIA GRZESZEK

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aniagrzeszek.com

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shlomitofir.com 8

SHLOMIT OFIR

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nena & co nenaandco.com

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RAIL EXPLORERS USA

@railexplorersusa hockessin, de

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summer hiking @DEstateparks

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elizabeth barnett w // elizabethbarnett.com ig // @elizabethbarnett

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Photo: Lillie Thompson // lilliethompson.com

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01. Tell us about yourself. Where are you from and what do you do?

I am an artist, mainly painting these days but I trained in printmaking and illustration. I was born in Melbourne, Australia, and am now living in country Victoria an hour outside Melbourne. We moved to the country for some fresh air, to raise our kids and grow veggies and flowers. We have alpacas and chooks and I have a studio that looks out into our veggie garden and the tall gums that surround our house. It's really different being out in the bush when before we lived right in the heart of the city. For one, it’s a lot quieter, which I love! In my down time I love to knit and read.

02. At what age did you take an interest in art?

I have always loved art since I was little. I used to paint beside my grandmother while she worked on her watercolours or pastels. I have really fond memories of her studio/sewing room. I chose mostly art subjects at school and went straight on to study at art school after high school.

03. What’s your favorite medium?

At the moment I am really loving painting acrylic on linen. I also love watercolour, but deep down I have a total love for printmaking (etching mostly) and I hope to return to it one day when I have more time.

04. We notice a lot of plants in your artwork. What made you choose to paint plants?

I was living near this really great nursery when we were in Melbourne and after I had my first baby I was at home looking after him

and I'd walk up to get groceries and inevitably bring home a plant as well. I started painting them more and more and then the paintings became like little oases of quiet in a chaotic world of bringing up children which was fun, and people really connected with them. I love to think that these little interior worlds can be inhabited by anyone and bring comfort and joy to it's owner.

05. From where do you gather inspiration?

Nurseries, friends, magazines, Instagram and Pinterest, and mostly from my immediate surroundings at home.

06. Do you have any advice for artists who may find themselves in a rut where they are unable to find direction or get inspired?

Painting from life really grounds me. Take a life drawing class. Always always carry a notebook and draw as much as you can.

07. What has been the biggest accomplishment of your career so far?

I did a show with The Design Files last year and Loose Leaf (another wonderful local Melbourne nursery) did the green installation for the show and it was so fun and was received really well.

08. Do you have any exciting projects or plans coming up?

I'm working on a show coming up in August at Modern Times in Collingwood, Melbourne and after that there are a few group shows at various places around Melbourne and in Sydney.

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JESS CHEN toronto based tattoo artist

w // jessica-chen.com ig // @__jesschen__ bookings // tattoopeople521@gmail.com

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01. Where are you from and what do you do?

05. Do you ever find it hard to come up with new designs?

I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. I’m currently working as a tattoo artist, freelance graphic designer and co-running a plush toy company.

Some designs are definitely harder to piece together than others, but I haven’t run into much trouble lately. I think it’s because a lot of my clients come to me for a particular style, which I love doing!

02. How did you become interested in the tattoo business?

To be honest, it was quite spontaneous. I had originally gone to school for drawing and painting at OCADU, and pursued graphic design shortly after. I’ve always loved tattoos but never planned to be a tattoo artist. I wasn’t heavily invested in tattoo culture either, but was always visually drawn to traditional Japanese flower tattoos. One afternoon, I saw a posting about an apprenticeship at a new shop in Toronto, Tattoo People, and applied immediately. It kind of just felt like the right thing to do at that time. Little did I know, it was probably the best opportunity that has ever happened to me. Tattoo People has been an amazing studio to learn and work out of. I owe a lot to my co-workers and mentors, as they’ve pushed me to become better every day.

03. Explain the process of booking a tattoo session. Do you draw the artwork for clients’ tattoos? Is there a collaborative effort?

When a client comes in for a consultation, we discuss every single detail of what their idea is. Eg: the size and the type of imagery and style. I sketch out the artwork for my clients’ tattoos and sometimes it evolves into a collaborative effort. I like to go back and forth with my client, to make sure that my sketch perfectly aligns with what they are looking for.

04. How has Instagram played a part in your tattoo business?

Instagram has been huge! It’s crazy how much of an impact it has made on the start of my tattoo career. It’s an amazing outlet to showcase your portfolio to an audience who wants to engage, share and even promote your work.

06. We love the minimalist style that is present in many of the tattoos you create.

Is that part of your personal style? Do you ever do more “traditional” pieces?

Most of my tattoos are based on how I create my paintings or drawings on a canvas. I love simplicity and negative space. I have yet to do a “traditional” piece. They seem like a lot of fun but definitely not my style or how I draw naturally.

07. What do you love most about what you do?

I love being able to draw and paint for a living.

Whether it’s on paper or skin, it’s the most fulfilling experience to be creative on a daily basis. I’ve also met some really rad people while tattooing. It’s been really amazing getting to know all different types of people who come from opposites worlds.

Much of tattooing, in a traditional sense, is about the relationship and bond built between the artist and his or her client. I hope to engage in this aspect more as I continue to learn about the culture and practice.

08. What is your favorite piece you’ve ever designed?

This is a tough question, but I love any piece that involves flowers and collaging. The collage aspect allows for me to be really creative, and I love the outcome every time. My obsession with flowers stems from two things. First, I grew up painting flowers for my mom on a weekly basis. Every Sunday we’d go to the Allan Gardens Conservatory and I’d sit there for hours sketching flowers to practice my technique. Second, the organic nature of flowers allows for it to be the perfect subject on the human body. I love how they can bend and align with the curvatures of the body.

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L O T T E VA N B A A L E N

PLANTSONPINK ig // @plantsonpink + @lotte.lotte.lotte

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01. Can you explain Plants on Pink to our readers?

magical, soothing, high in design and aesthetically pleasing.

@PlantsOnPink is an online gallery where the most beautiful PlantsOnPink images from around the world are exhibited.

05. Tell us how our readers can get involved with Plants on Pink.

02. Plants on Pink is such a unique concept. How did you come up with the idea?

I have always been fascinated by colours, especially combined, and was going through a pink and green phase. Where attention goes, energy flows, and suddenly I saw it everywhere.

One day I rode my bike past a pink wall with some plants in front of it and it suddenly hit me: PlantsOnPink.

03. How has Instagram played a part in Plants on Pink?

Since PlantsOnPink is an online gallery on Instagram, the site plays an essential role in its existence. I think Instagram is a great platform to build a community of people with the same interests. You can go very specific and attract numerous followers who totally dig what you´re doing.

04. What sort of feedback have you gotten from it?

People are all very supportive and cheerful. @PlantsOnPink got described as therapeutic,

Everybody can join in by sending in their own @PlantsOnPink; there are no rules. Obviously not all submissions make it, but I choose those that do, and they are shared with a crowd of over 30,000 followers. Think of all the views you get; it is a way that likeminded people and inspiring artists meet!

06. We hear you had an installation in Brooklyn! How did this opportunity arise and how did it go?

I did! I was approached by Claire and Odile from WantedDesign. They connected me to Visual Magnetics and together with them and @thejoyofplants (on Instagram) I created a 5x2, 5m big interactive installation. People could play around with my wall to create their own PlantsOnPink. An absolute highlight and a dream come true!

07. Where do you hope Plants on Pink will take you in the future?

I hope it will continue to bring me joy, inspiration and fulfillment as it does today! My wish is to travel the world, work on international projects and meet inspiring people.

I can help people and their companies with their social visibility. I'm very visually orientated and know how to build an online community and how to reach out to them and interact with them socially and aesthetically. Don't hesitate to contact me at plantsonpink@gmail.com.

SARITA WALSH saaareeee.com

Meet Sarita, a woman who has become a health and fitness inspiration to many. We spoke to her about her lifestyle and she shared some great pointers on how to work toward a mindful and healthy lifestyle centered on making smart decisions while also allowing room to treat yourself every once in awhile, because that’s just as important!

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On herself and her typical day...

My name is Sarita, meaning “mindfulness” in Pali (a Prakrit language native to the Indian subcontinent), which is perhaps quite apt for where I am in my life today. I was born in Bangkok to Thai and Australian parents where I lived until my teens before moving to Sydney, Australia. For the last two years I’ve been living and working in NYC as a graphic designer where I’ve definitely found myself needing to focus more on finding balance in my life. I’ve had to change what I eat in order to adapt to newly diagnosed food intolerances and have introduced regular workout routines into my daily schedule. In my spare time I enjoy taking photos, working on creative side projects and eating Japanese food... but not necessarily in that order.

I begin most days the same way, in bed scrolling through social media for inspiration before posting a morning IG and snapchat. I’ll often meditate using Headspace and have a cup of tea, usually Twinning’s Lady Grey, Eden’s Hojicha with almond milk, or a cup of my friend Apple’s Marigold or Chrysanthemum tea from Rai Ruen Rom Farm in Chaing Mai. I then head down to the gym in my building to workout. I try and get my circuits done in the morning and leave longer weights or LISS sessions for evenings. After I come back up I blend a breakfast smoothie and get ready for work. I work as a Graphic Designer at a global brand consultancy in Manhattan. I sometimes ride to work over Williamsburg Bridge or brace myself for the L train commute where I’ll plug myself into a podcast. You can find a list of my favorite podcasts here: http://www.saaareeee.com/ journal/2016/3/27/podcasts. I sometimes work quite late but if I can get out at a decent time, my boyfriend and I will sit down for dinner together and catch up on each other’s days. After dinner I’ll spend an hour or so responding to emails and playing with my cat before either going to the gym for an evening LISS session where I’ll watch an episode of whatever series I am currently watching, or my boyfriend and I will watch something together in our apartment.

Before going to bed I’ll write one final post for the day as well as plan out my post for the following morning.

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On her fitness...

I’d wanted to do a cleanse for a while and a friend introduced me to the Clean program. It appealed to me because it wasn’t focused on weight loss, but rather on regeneration and repairing the gut. I’d recently read Giulia Enders’s book Gut: The Inside Store of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ, so this was very much in the top of my mind.

The chief premise of this cleanse is giving the gut a rest while still getting all the calories you need for the day. You do this by cutting out food that is particularly hard to digest or is irritating, such as dairy, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, and many highly acidic foods. Breakfast is a smoothie, lunch is solid meal, and dinner is a soup. The only other key thing to follow is leaving 12 hours between dinner and breakfast.

Within that framework there’s quite a bit of flexibility, which is good because the cleanse lasts for 21 days. It wasn’t actually that difficult. 3 weeks felt like an achievable goal and because I’ve been changing my diet over the last two years anyway, I had many of the suggested replacement items in my cupboard already. That said, I definitely tucked into a cheeseburger at DuMont Burger in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, once it was all over, followed by a blueberry creme cookie from Milk Bar, also in Williamsburg.

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On her favorite recipes...

My favorite recipe would be my banana popsicles. I have developed a major sweet tooth over the past few years and these little gems are a lifesaver. If you’d told me three years ago that my favorite food pairing would be peanut butter and banana I wouldn’t have believed you, but there you go! These often act as a pre-workout snack or as dessert. You can find the recipe here: http://www.saaareeee.com/ recipes/2016/2/7/banana-popsicles. Sadly, bananas are out of the cleanse so perhaps don’t click on the link just yet if you’re thinking about doing it!

I think it’s safe to say that I got value for money out of my Ninja blender. I start most days this way, blending some frozen fruit, a nut milk, some plant-based protein powder and vanilla extract. I occasionally throw in a date or two if I feel like I need an extra bit of sweetness. I have a few recipes I’ve perfected but here’s one of my all time favorites: http://www.saaareeee.com/recipes/2015/11/28/ cinnamon-pear- oatmeal-smoothie.

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On her motivation and staying focused...

To stay focused, one thing I do every morning is scroll through IG and snapchat looking at all the girls who I draw motivation and inspiration from. I also find talking about my cravings helps, whether writing on IG, snapping or just talking to my boyfriend. Tim Ferriss talks about journaling to get out all his angst in the morning, so I guess this is my way of coping. It might not be particularly scientific but I find it cathartic!

A great tip for people trying to get into a healthy lifestyle: progress shots, progress shots and more progress shots. Sometimes we feel crap and it doesn’t seem like we’re ever going to meet our goals but you have to stick with it. Taking progress shots is one great way to see your progress, even if it’s just for yourself. Almost every girl I’ve spoken to who’s been on a successful journey has been through the same struggles early on. It took me two or three false starts before I was able to finally progress from fitness as a forced exercise to it becoming an integral part of my lifestyle. Packing snacks for work is a huge help for me. I like raisins, dates, and raw nuts like almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and pecans. Apart from that, just keep connected with likeminded souls, either at home or through snapchat or IG. Oh, and don’t forget to treat yourself once in awhile, just make sure it really is only once in awhile!

I’m a BIG hip hop fan, especially when it comes to tracks with deep bass. I think it’s really important to play the music you like when working out so that you don’t rush because you’re not enjoying it, so I create my own playlists using Soundcloud and Spotify. This also helps keep my workouts interesting and fresh. You can find my playlists I created for LISS sessions on Spotify, username: saritawalsh.

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On her space...

I’m mildly obsessed with plants so that’s definitely a big feature of our apartment. We don’t have a TV but we do have a pretty special music system. We also have a relatively large dining room table for what is a pretty small apartment, even by New York standards. We love to host dinner parties so it’s kind of essential, and doubles as a great workspace. Probably my favorite place of all though is our bed. If I could I’d spend most of my day in bed. It’s not uncommon that on a public holiday I will spend until well after lunchtime between the sheets on my phone and my laptop with my cat and a cup of tea as company.

Most of our bedroom is white and we purposely chose our apartment because of the amazing morning light it affords, which makes is especially hard to get up!

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w // brandywinebeecompany.com ig // @brandywinebeecompany

Logo Design: Meredith Langer

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L

ocated in Chadds Ford, and throughout Chester County, Pennsylvania, sits a small family-run apiary called Brandywine Bee Company.

What do they do? They raise bees and harvest the honey, centering their efforts and focus “on creating healthy and sustainable environments for our bees that produce the best raw honey possible,” says owner Michael Langer.

When he and his wife, Karen, retired three years ago, they decided to give beekeeping a go, quickly moving from three colonies to the 30 hives that they currently run in five different locations.

On top of maintaining their own hives, they also help other beekeepers, and really enjoy doing so. “We provide support to new beekeepers with classes on basic beekeeping as well as hands-on assistance with colony management. We also help establish apiaries with colonies of bees. We raise queens too, and provide any surplus we have to beekeepers in our area. Practicing sustainable beekeeping means that you often have a ‘reserve’ that can benefit other beekeepers.”

On the process of harvesting the honey, Michael says “bees are constantly collecting nectar from plants and

bringing it into the hives. They place the nectar onto frames of wax comb, where other bees are working hard to convert this nectar into honey. Once a cell is full of honey, they keep it protected by covering it in wax so that it is never exposed to air. When a frame is full of honey, it is time for an extraction. We remove the frame and use a special uncapping tool to cut into the wax. The frames of honey are then spun in an extractor, which releases the honey from the comb. From that point, the honey is screened to remove any wax particles and is directly bottled as raw honey. Our honey is never filtered, heated or stored for a long period of time before bottling.”

What is so neat about their company is that absolutely nothing goes to waste.

After harvesting the honey, they turn the bi-products that are leftover into items like lip balm, boot pitch, hand salve, wood salve, and candles, and recently they’ve been testing out soaps. “Honestly, we are constantly taste testing and eating our honey straight up by the spoonful.

Honey varies in taste by season, so it is fun to compare honey from early spring to late fall.” They aren’t the only ones who think so, as Talula’s Table in

Kennett Square is currently featuring their honey on their dinner menu to accompany a cheese course. Additionally, the honey goes great with tea, and can even help sickness! “When my daughter is sick (or feels like she is about to get sick) she is a big fan on making tea with fresh ginger, organic lemons, and our honey.

She skins and cuts the ginger into slices and adds them to a large pot of boiling water with slices of lemon. She lets it simmer throughout the day and adds our honey in at the end. You know she isn’t well because she will be drinking this tea around the clock, and it really does help!”

With all of this talk about bees and their honey, it is important to remember the growing concern surrounding the high increases in the deaths of bees over the past couple of years. “Colony losses in Southeastern Pennsylvania has exceeded 50% over the past few years.

The reasons are complex, but involve the abundant use of pesticides, declining habitat, and significant impact of diseases and pests that sicken colonies. All pollinators, including honey bees, play a vital role with crop production. Bees are also an indicator of our environment,

and some equate the health of bees to the ‘canary in the mine.’”

If you think you’re incapable of helping the bees, stop right there! There are many easy ways in which we can all help at home, by doing just a few simple things. “It can start with your own backyard. Grow pollinator-friendly plants or start a wildflower patch in place of a section of your lawn. Also, sprays that treat your yard and trees can be harmful to honey bees. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a better approach than signing up for routine treatments.

Routine treatments are becoming more common to create the perfect lawn and fight against undesirable bugs such as mosquitos and ticks, but these rampant uses are harmful to beneficial insects like honey bees.”

You can find their products at various local locations, from Kennett Square Farmers Market to Thornbury Farm and the SIW farm stands. If you’re not local, however, don’t worry! Brandywine Bee Company is currently in the process of setting up an online store, and you are also able to make orders via e-mail by using the contact form on their website, brandywinebeecompany.com.

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SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE a photo diary of a relaxing week in the virginia mountains

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ZELLA DAY The Foundry at The Fillmore // Philadelphia, PA Photos: Justin Swan

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ZAC BROWN BAND BB&T Pavilion // Camden, NJ Photos: Kathryn Bethard

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ROONEY The Foundry at The Fillmore // Philadelphia, PA

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THE CEREMONIES w // theceremonies.com fb // @theceremonies ig // @theceremonies t // @theceremonies

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01. To start, let’s talk about “Lovecaught,” your latest single! Congrats! Are you guys excited?

Releasing music is one of the best feelings, because after working so hard and for so long on something, there’s instant gratification in knowing it’s out there.

02. What has the writing process been like for you? You’ve been doing a lot of it!

It varies really, sometimes we bring individual works to each other, and other times we start and finish songs together.

We try to just follow the inspiration and creativity... like it’s the yellow brick road.

03. How did the band start?

We met as brothers like “Oh hey, we have the same mom and dad... that’s cool.” Then we played together and we were like, “Hey, Kane, want to join?”

And now we play together and we’re a band.

04. Where are you from? Did growing up there have any influence on your decision to pursue music?

We were all born and bred in Los Angeles. The location didn’t have too

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much influence, but our extended family and friends most certainly did. Listening to music with each other, showing each other bands, etc., and seeing concerts together growing up left a lasting impression on all of us.

05. What is it like working with your brothers? Do brotherly disagreements ever arise?

How do you keep that sort of relationship from interfering with your work?

We most definitely have our arguments, but we’re all best friends, and we were taught from a young age that a familial bond is never broken. When we’re working together, there are no concerns about the relationship interfering... we’ll just hash it out and get back to work!

We’re all very like minded, have similar taste, and are on the same artistic page with regard to the future of the group - I think this is a key part of our ability to work well with each other.

06. How would you describe your music to a new listener?

A lovechild of The Cure, The Beach Boys, Michael Jackson and Echo & the Bunnymen. Or you can just call it pop, indie, alternative, rock, or one of those other words that hold so much deep and specific meaning.

07. What has been the most exciting part of this journey thus far?

A moment that ranks up there is definitely our first performance together as a full 4-piece band at Firefly Festival in Dover, Delaware. Not only was it our first performance together, but also our first time playing a festival, so... it was doubly exciting.

08. If you had to play only one of your songs on repeat for eternity, which would you choose?

We’d probably have to pick “Grace” because we definitely wrote that song, not Jeff Buckley. Of the songs we have out on our first EP, maybe “Straw Hat” because it goes through an emotional journey with dynamics, lyrics, and vibe.

09. With whom is your dream collaboration?

David Byrne.

10. You’ve got some shows coming up in September. Where are some cities where fans will be able to catch a live show?

We’re playing Hands-Off Festival in Austin, Texas, in September, but we’re playing shows all along the way and onwards, in cities from Claremont to

Nashville to Atlanta to NYC.

11. What are the best and worst parts about touring?

Best parts are the constant travel, unpredictable food, and long nights.

Worst parts are the constant travel, unpredictable food, and long nights.

12. What are your must-have tour essentials?

A phone, since in 2016 that acts as your map, book, light, camera, and pillow... scratch that last one - it’s not a good pillow. Toothbrush is optional but very highly recommended.

13. Lastly, do you have any exciting upcoming plans that you can tell us about?

Our lyric video for “Lovecaught” was premiered by VEVO on July 4, and was also on Vevo.com’s Indie Wednesday Playlist on July 6. We are beginning to run street team campaigns around our new music and there will be prizes for people who participate like vinyls, shirts, stickers, etc. You can sign up by visiting www.theceremonies.com and then clicking on “STREET TEAM.” We don’t have a date for releasing new music yet, but we plan on putting more out as soon as it’s finished, so follow us on social media for updates @theceremonies.

You can check out The Ceremonies merch including their Lovecaught jackets at newnostalgia.co.

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FITZ & THE TANTRUMS 9:30 Club // Washington DC Photos: Magdalena Papaioannou

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MAC DEMARCO Electric Factory // Philadelphia, PA Photos: Justin Swan

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FUTUR

NICK JONAS &

E NOW

DEMI LOVATO HERSHEY, PA

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H A L

S W E E T L I F E

S E Y

F E S T I V A L

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FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL dover, delaware

Photos Courtesy of aLIVE Coverage

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Located in the woods of Vermont sits a special place, a place where each June, Frendly Gathering is held. The name is perfectly fitting, as each summer Frendly Gathering brings together people from all over with different backgrounds and stories who are share a similar goal – to have a happy, Frendly time surrounded by others who want the same thing. With the accompaniment of some music and a positive energy had by all, Frendly Gathering was born. We spoke with one of the founders, Jack Mitrani, about the festival and how it began, along with the green initiatives that are put into place each year to protect the beautiful lands where the festival is held.

Photos Courtesy of Ali Kaukas

01. To start, can you tell our readers a bit about how Frendly Gathering began?

Basically it started out as a crew of friends who traveled around the world snowboarding, doing what we loved and really just sharing these experiences on the road. We created an event with a couple bands out in Mammoth and camped for the weekend. From there the Frendly Gathering was born, and then Danny (Davis) and I moved it from Mammoth to southern Vermont. I grew up near Timber Ridge, a now defunct ski resort, and with the son of the owner of the property. Danny went to school at Stratton Mountain School, so southern Vermont was a great location. Tim, the owner of Timber Ridge, graciously offered up the venue to us and the rest is history.

02. What do you hope to achieve with this festival each year?

We aim to have it end up more of a reunion than a music festival, where by the end, everyone’s friends with each other. It’s just a good place to go and meet new people and just kick-back, listen to some amazing music, relax and have a good time. No matter how many more new people come, everybody ripples with the Frendly inclusive energy. Like watching Twiddle play at the campfire, and everyone respecting the band… it’s just great that no matter how big it has grown, it’s still remained to the core of what it stands for.

03. Can you explain to our readers “Frendly” and the “no ‘i’ in friends” mindset?

We have our own manifesto, 10 beliefs of "Frendship" that serve as our guiding principles: passion, mutual accountability, collaboration, humility, honesty, integrity, inclusivity, selflessness, revelry, and respect. It is part of us every day and at the Gathering we work to emulate that to every person who attends and

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in everything created at the venue.

04. We love that on top of creating a relaxed, fun, Frendly event, there is such an emphasis placed on the environment and keeping the festival as earth Frendly as possible. What are some ways you’re able to encourage festival goers to keep it green?

We actually have a team member who works just on sustainability. She and her team work on recycling, encouraging pack in/pack out and we just added composting this year. All of our on-site vendors are on board with this as well. We don’t allow plastic bottles and encourage everyone to bring their own water bottles for drinking. We would really love to make it a zero-waste festival and each year work at picking away at projects to make that possible in the future.

05. What has been the most rewarding part about watching this festival come together each year? What is the feedback like from those who attend?

They love it. It’s a sense of community. Personally, our favorite people are in one place together: our Frends, our families, other snowboarders, our favorite musicians and all the people who come to the festival each year. It’s amazing. People seem to come back because of that inclusive vibe.

We’re seeing more families with children come and we love to see that too.

06. Lastly, how can our readers get involved for next year’s festival?

Stay in touch with us on our journey through FrendlyPresents.com. It’s our online blog and content platform which we have created to allow our Frends, fans and family to join in on the antics while we are traveling the world snowboarding and planning the Gathering.

Danny and I create content that cracks us up personally but hopefully inspires others to create the same camaraderie driven memories with their group of Frends.

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make sure to watch the recap video: youtu.be/FJLVhZQ2uGk 107

Upon first walking in to Sweetlife Festival, the positive energy was overwhelming – in a good way. Smiles sat on each person’s face, lines were forming at the food and craft vendor booths, and music was beaming amongst the trees from somewhere – one of the three stages present at this year’s festival, located again at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Headliners for this year included Halsey, The 1975, and Flume, and the lineup for the entire day was set to be jam packed full of amazingly talented artists. The sun was shining, and people were ready to go. Sweetlife Festival is a relatively new annual event – it has been around for a handful of years now – and is put on each year by the owners of Sweetgreen, a healthy food company that is rapidly approaching over 50 locations in 8 states in the U.S. They started the festival with the intention of bring music and healthy food options together, and we spoke to one of the owners about the process and about how this event began.

01. Can you explain a bit about the process of how Sweetgreen came to be? How was the concept born, and how did you take Sweetgreen from idea to reality?

We founded Sweetgreen in 2007 out of a need for convenient food options that were actually healthy. We all grew up in entrepreneurial families and had a desire to start a business from the ground up and do something we felt really mattered.

02. How did your five core values come to be?

Our core values define our company culture and act as our north star for everything we do, as individuals, teams, and as a company. As we grow, we strive to make an impact on each community we go into, and to provide each guest with real food that is delicious, sustainably sourced, and nutrient-rich. That has always been at the root of what we have set out to do at Sweetgreen.

03. How have you been able to grow and expand since opening in 2007 to get where you are today?

We now have 45 locations in 8 states, and will be hitting our 50-store mark this summer.

We’ve been very careful with our growth because it’s important that we maintain our intimacy at scale, building unique relationships and supply networks in each market that are sustainable for years to come. More than ever, people want to know where their food comes from, who made it, and how it was raised or grown. We are able to offer our guests the transparent experience that they crave, and the combination of trust, delicious food, and consistent, great experiences build loyalty.

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04. We think it’s so great that you work to educate local kids about nutrition. Tell us more about how you do that and about the positive impact you’ve been able to have on the community.

Our mission is to build healthier communities, and to change the way people think about food. We think about that holistically, from the farms to schools to our stores. We build each Sweetgreen around each individual community. We spend time with our farmers, suppliers, local artists, residents, and kids in the neighborhood to really understand how we can have the biggest impact in each community, and nutrition education is one of our favorite ways we’ve done so to date, impacting 8,000 kids in 50 schools.

05. In a time when so much of what we eat is processed, how do you continually spread your message of health and sustainability?

We have built sustainable and local supply chains that we are extremely proud of, and we’re transparent with our customers about our sourcing. We’ve added sustainably raised steelhead to our menu, replacing salmon, which is a shining example of our food ethos at work. We emphasize how what we eat, where it comes from, and how it was prepared have a direct and powerful impact on our health, the health of our community, and the environment.

We make real food all day every day, and people can see that prep and cooking in our open kitchens, and they see how it makes them feel after they eat it.

06. Where does Sweetlife Festival come in? How did you come up with

the idea to incorporate food and music?

When we opened our second store in Dupont Circle, we didn’t have any customers for the first few days — we thought, this might be it. We started playing music as a way to attract attention and bring people into the store, and we realized that music has a unique power, like food, to unite people and to build community. It’s grown since then into something really special that is so core to our DNA.

07. How is Sweetlife Festival helping you to implement your core values?

The Sweetlife Festival celebrates and brings to life our mission to bridge passion and purpose, and to build community around healthy eating while doing it. Through Sweetlife, we aim to bring people together over a shared love of music and food.

08. Tell us more about the festival and how you select the food vendors that participate. So often at festivals, the food options consist of fried or unhealthy foods. We love that a main aspect of Sweetlife Festival is the incorporation of healthy food vendors.

Yes, that’s a fun part of this for us. Sweetlife is a great reminder that you can have fun and be healthy. It’s an amazing opportunity for us to partner with local chefs and restaurants that we admire who are doing their part to bring nutritious and locally sourced food to the DC community, and to serve elevated concessions at the festival.

09. Your store designs are super

unique and pleasing to the eyes. How do you implement your core values into the design process?

Each store is unique and is designed in a way that highlights the existing infrastructure in its natural state. We choose interesting spaces that evoke transparency; we don’t cover anything up, whether it’s exposed brick or ceiling beams. The design is simple and monochromatic, so the produce pops, and we bring in a bit of nature with real plants and trees. Each location features an open kitchen, where guests can see the produce being prepped and cooked from scratch each day. I think walking into a Sweetgreen feels special— there’s a distinct vibe, and there's a sense of community between our hard-working team and our guests that make it a unique experience.

10. If you were new to Sweetgreen and were walking into a restaurant for the first time, what is the #1 item on the menu that you’d recommend?

I would recommend something from the seasonal menu. We change our menu five times a year to highlight the best of seasonal ingredients, so there’s always something new and local to try!

11. Do you have any goals for the company for the next few years in terms of growing and continuing to spread your positive message?

We are on the path to feed more people better food and have a positive impact on the food system and the health of this country. We plan to continue on that mission by expanding to more cities, creating more sustainable and transparent supply chains over the years to come.

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@annikalm97 @kali8771 @enumps3 @ness15_ @kbarrowman28 @ecrames_24 @jennifermhernadez @kristinawoodward @keck_yeah

@swebs16 @r.parkinson @szaimee @adora.ble

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@jensensmi

@gabbybeach

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@yaygarita @sunstoney

@jackie.williams06 @megscalhoun

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@mitchelllbertram @rafisunset

@misssabrinaa @viccccctoria

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Ape & Bird apenbird.etsy.com

festival essentials If your late summer or early fall plans are lucky enough to include a festival of sorts, keep these Etsy shops in mind to get you prepared and ready for the action.

A Pen To Paper apentopaper.etsy.com

Ape & Bird apenbird.etsy.com

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DEUCE Scraped knees and bruised elbows aside, this look had us feeling nostalgic for the youthfulness of decades past.

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UPPER METAL CLASS In a world that is so often plagued by negativity, it is delightfully refreshing to hear about a company that so honestly gives back to the community and does something to help others. Upper Metal Class, a jewelry company based out of Portland, Oregon, does just that. We spoke to owner and designer T about the company, from why she decided to start the business and why customers love her pieces, to her fascination for architecture and her desire to give back to the community.

w // uppermetalclass.com ig // @uppermetalclass

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hat is so neat about T’s company is that Upper Metal Class sort of just… happened. It wasn’t something that was planned. It was her pure talent that helped the company really fall right into place. “In 2010 I was between careers deciding whether to pursue a job behind the scenes in commercials and film production or as a wardrobe stylist. I ended up taking a few jewelry classes for fun so that I could make pieces I wanted to wear, with no intentions of making it into anything more than my personal collection.”

From there, she captured the interest of others. “I made pieces that had an effortless style with subtle design details understood by people who love understated minimalism. Soon after, I started to receive jewelry requests from friends, family, and even people I didn’t know!

They all wanted the same things. I realized there seemed to be a demand for the jewelry I loved making, so I started a small online shop and from there it just took off.”

“Mid-century modern, art deco, gothic, and Victorian… I love all styles,” says T, describing the many styles of architecture that she loves that have so frequently been the inspiration behind her pieces. “I just love the use of line, form, workmanship, and design on such a large scale. My current line called the Linear Collection is based off of lines and shapes and the balance between them.”

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The architectural inspiration has surely proven successful, as these lines and shapes have kept loyal customers returning time and time again, while sparking even more interest and bringing in new customers along the way. “My main specialty is creating wearable minimalist pieces for daily wear. I make jewelry and holders that are versatile, effortless, and work for just about any style. My aesthetic is designed to complement and enhance a look without being overpowering.”

Another great part about Upper Metal Class is that T carries all different types of jewelry, from necklaces and bracelets to rings and earrings. Interestingly, they all start in similar ways. “Generally the process for making jewelry is fairly the same. For me it starts with an idea and a few sketches. Most of the time my ideas morph into something else as part of the creative process. I usually spend some time fabricating the design and playing around with different ideas as they come up. After I'm happy with a design it goes into the mold making and casting process, which is how we are able to get multiple pieces of the original jewelry.”

One of the biggest aspects of Upper Metal Class is their work with various charities and non-profit organizations. For T, much of her motivation to help others is sparked from her family’s story. “Times weren’t easy for my family when I was a child. My mother survived the Vietnam War and

lived in a refugee camp, and then was lucky enough to be sponsored by a family to bring us to the U.S. She came to the U.S. with me in her stomach, along with my two brothers (one sick with leukemia) and my uncle who all came to start life over, learning a new language, culture and lifestyle along the way. When we found out my brother was sick, it was the doctors and the nurses of the Children's Hospital who for many years all helped to cure my brother of his cancer. If it wasn't for those kind people who took us in and gave us new opportunities we wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't be doing what I enjoy most, which is creating and sharing my designs with everyone. It was a gift of opportunity that was given to us and I feel in return I must do the same in whatever ways I can. The income I make with my jewelry has enabled me to be able to donate to organizations I hold dear to my heart and I am able to donate my time to care for people in hospice and animals in the humane society.”

On top of that, T truly cares for her customers, and was recently particularly touched by a story a customer shared with her. So much so, that she named a piece after the customer, Niki, and now all proceeds from the Niki Necklace go to Life Center Northwest. “One of my favorite designs is not really the most popular, but it holds a great part of my heart. About a year after I started, I made

a necklace that I initially called the “Concrete Necklace” because it looked like a little chunk of concrete. I received an email from someone who wrote me a very touching message telling me the story about her life and how that necklace has meant so much to her. After hearing Niki’s story of her family of holocaust survivors, her passion for helping chronically-ill teens, her own genetically-inherited health issues, how important the Concrete Necklace had become to her, and her truly inspiring outlook, we renamed it the “Niki Necklace.” All profits from the Niki Necklace go to Life Center Northwest to raise awareness about the need to register as an organ donor to help save lives.”

You can learn more about the company while looking through the beautiful pieces at uppermetalclass.com. There are always new fun pieces in the works, and a particularly exciting collection is currently coming together. “I’m working on a new collection that I’m very excited about, but I don’t like to talk much about it since part of the process always ends up changing or evolving into something else. One of my favorite new pieces will have an option to add personalized engraving in either cursive or block letters. I’ve found that people are always looking for an added sweet touch to give as gifts for their loved ones and I am so happy that this will be the perfect thing for it.” A perfect idea by a perfectly giving company.

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pineapple salsa ingredients: whole pineapple

bell peppers (any color) roma tomatoes red onion limes cilantro (optional)

how to:

to create the bowl, cut the pineapple in half. carefully cut around the inside of the pineapple to create a hollow section to place the finished salsa. you need to dice 1 cup of the remaining pineapple, 1 cup bell peppers, 1 cup roma tomatoes, 1/4 cup onion, and 1/3 cup cilantro (optional). mix ingredients together and squeeze the juice of two limes on top. add salt and pepper to taste. we found that the salsa tasted best when placed in the refridgerator for about half an hour! that way all of the flavors have a chance to mix together. serve in the pineapple half for a creative display!

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strawberry lemonade

ingredients:

6 lemons (or fresh lemon juice) fresh strawberries sugar water

how to:

heat 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. then remove and let cool to room temperature. blend the strawberries until smooth in a food processor. mix strawberries with sugar water and then add 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice. in a pitcher pour in strawberry lemon mixture and add cold water. add ice and stir well. make sure to serve with fresh strawberries or lemon slices!

barefoot sandals

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materials:

string (three colors) beads tassels (can use string to make)

how to:

01. cut each color four feet long 02. fold in half 03. make a loop for one of your toes and tie it into place 04. braid the string a few inches until the braid reaches your ankle 05. make another knot so that the braid doesn't unravel 06. tie the remaining string around your ankle 07. add tassels, beads, etc!

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summer playlist

01. Everybody Loves the Sunshine // Takuya Kuroda 02. Inner City Blues // Marvin Gaye 03. Feather // Nujabes 04. Tompkins Square Park // Mumford & Sons 05. Traveller // The Weather Station 06. Circling // Nils Frahm 07. River // Ibeyi 08. Location // Khalid 09. Embrace // Hayden James 10. Could // Elderbrook 11. Unsatisfied // The Replacements 12. Dead of Night // Depeche Mode 13. Bury It feat. Hayley Williams // CHVRCHES 14. Cold Water feat. Justin Bieber & MĂ˜ // Major Lazer 15. River // Bishop Briggs 16. Capsize feat. Emily Warren // Frenship 17. Bros // Wolf Alice 18. The Ocean feat. Shy Martin // Mike Perry 19. Pain Told Love // Tribe Society 20. Anything // Catfish and the Bottlemen

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eunoia

n. Derivative from the ancient Greek word eĂşnoia, eunoia literally translates to beautiful thinking. It also connotes the possession of a well-balanced mind, which exhibits goodwill and kindness.

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Oceans // Kate Watson You are an ocean with tides of mass highs and lows.

You think this makes you too inconsistent— too imperfect, but you are awe-inspiring with how you ebb and flow.