LA CANVAS VOL. 2 NO. 4

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Vol 2, no 4 MAY // JUNE 2012 Creative Director / Publisher Dante Colombatti Editor-in-chief Rebeca Arango Art Editor Shana Nys Dambrot STYLE EDITOR ERIN DENNISON Account Manager Matt Olson design jimmy MNOIAN David salazar rachel many photography Christopher Captain Emily Bradley GREG GAINOR MACEO PAISLEY +CREW Marilyn Chiu, MAX EURLICH, Justin Fitzwater, brandon francis, ADRIANE JEFFERSON, DJ Raylus, Stampz, OLIVER CALVIN WHERE 1778 N, Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90031 P:(323) 352-3250 E:PR@LACANVAS.com

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Copyright 2012, by LA CANVAS. All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission in writing from LA CANVAS. LA Canvas makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but is not responsible for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. LA Canvas is not held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions.

CONTENTS

MAY // JUNE

THE DOWNTOWN ISSUE

MUSIC MUSICIAN // KENDRICK LAMAR

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VENUE // AIRLINER

19 20

PLAYLIST // 16 BARS

ART LA STREET ART

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ARTIST // AARON SHEPPARD

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ART EVENTS

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GALLERY // HUMAN RESOURCES

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BOOK // BEAUTY IS IN THE STREET

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STYLE DESIGNER // R.B. OF McD

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STORE // DEN.M BAR

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RADAR // THE NEW CLASS

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EDITORIAL // LET THE BOYS BE BOYS

FOOD CHEF // ILAN HALL

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FOOD SCOOPS // URBAN EATS

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RESTAURANT // UMAMICATESSEN

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BAR // LA BREWING CO.

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DRINK // VOLI ORANGE CRUSH

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LA CULTURE NOTED

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DAY TRIP // K-TOWN

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TECH IT OUT // WORKOUT GADGETS

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MAY EVENTS

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JUNE EVENTS

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LAST LOOK // SHARK TOOF

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CHECK OUT THE EXTENDED VERSION OF THIS ISSUE AT LA CANVAS.COM

NOTE IMG Halfway through working on this issue, I took the plunge, diving from my idyllic Echo Park pad into the dirty Downtown puddle. And I never looked back. But isn’t it scary? Ish. Doesn’t it smell like piss? Always.

Do I live down the street from skid row? You know it. Is that okay? So far. But why would I DO such a thing!? Because Downtown Los Angeles RULES. You guys just don’t know it yet.

And the thing is, Downtown-ers wouldn’t mind keeping it that way. It’s our little secret. So, before we launch into a whole issue of praise for the people and places that make Downtown awesome, let’s keep it real and serve up an appetizing taste of crazy. Here are some true stories from a few of my friends and neighbors.

• So I was sitting at CoffeeBar, sipping an Americano and using their “Wi-Fi,” when Ricky, aka “Pirate the Bum,” walked in and asked the coffee-babes for some water. He greeted every girl, addressing them as his “girlfriend” per yuse. When he passed me he saw that I was on Facebook (embarrassing), so he asked if he could check his account on my computer, to which I obliged. As he went through his friend requests, mine came up and he yelped, “There you is, girl” (double embarrassing). Let the record state that Ricky currently works at “NO” and is indeed “In A Relationship.” // Erin Dennison, LA CANVAS Style Editor, @erin_dennison • When I first moved Downtown in 2003, I lived in a huge loft with a backyard. It was the type of place 200+ people could have a nice gathering. I started patrolling the neighborhood and working hard to keep out the troublemakers. I made a friend with a local homeless man named “Pepper,” who later worked for me maintaining the yard, cleaning the parking lot, recycling and generally doing odd jobs. He is well known and featured in paintings (by Risk) and magazines (Vice and Lowrider). Nine years later, we are still friends and he is a genuine and loving person. // Edgar Varela, Owner, Edgar Varela Fine Arts, @EVFA • I have made the walk to Danny’s Taco Truck on 7th St. more times than I could ever count. Their El Pastor taco has engendered in me something of a mild addiction, and one night last fall the craving was particularly strong. Cut to Olive and 7th: the whiskey bar was letting out and I could smell the sizzling meats from the end of the block. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a tall thin man standing against the wall of the Giannini building in a red dress with his back facing me. He was rocking back and forth jerkily. I thought he was peeing. He was masturbating. He turned around and chased me down the street, dancing seductively, white rag in hand. I did eventually get my tacos though. // Danimal of Comedy Band, The Weekend Pilots, @weekendpilots • Strolling down Broadway one Sunday morning, I saw an inauspicious white guy fast-walking down the other side of the street. A block behind, a panicked woman lugging a roller bag ran after him, yelling “Tim stop! I love you!” As “Tim” rounded the corner onto 7th, she screamed, “Somebody call the police! Somebody tell him I love him!” By the time I caught up with them outside Big Lots, a crowd of Sunday shoppers (mostly women and children) had gathered to watch as she fell to her knees, begging Tim to take her back. “Please, I love you Tim,” she hissed through a gap in her mouth where her front teeth should have been. “Yeah,” Tim spat, “well you’d suck anyone’s dick for a crack rock!” // Dan Johnson, Writer

Well, there you have it. Things are still kind of kooky on these streets—but they really are cleaning them up, from Lincoln Heights and Chinatown to the Arts District and the Historic Core (literally—I nearly slipped once walking behind that sidewalk-scrubbing rover on Spring), and we’re about to take you to every one of those neighborhoods. Some behind-the-scenes highlights from working on this issue include chef Ilan Hall binding himself in saran-wrap so we could stuff vegetables down his shirt, and rapper Kendrick Lamar spontaneously and inadvertently autographing my notebook “LAMAR COMPANY.” I will cherish it forever. // REBECA ARANGO, Editor-in-Chief, @elasticbecky

NOTED STAY DRY What happens when Japanese graphics combine with expert British tailoring and classic American style?

Truly badass, global street wear. This past March, SUPERDRY expanded their LA footprint with a sick new store on the 3rd street Promenade in Santa Monica. While their entire Spring 2012 collection is highly covetable, from the swim trunks to the sunglasses to the leather jackets, these slim-fit powder-coated jeans have us particularly obsessed. Made from premium, ultra-soft Japanese denim and expertly cut, the only question left is: pink, blue or yellow?

1334 3rd St Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 | superdry.com

ART HOUSE La Brea is killing it right now. Between galleries like Lab Art and Merry Karnoswky, boutiques like American Rag and What Goes Around Comes Around, and the famous Shepard Fairey mural, there’s a lot going on smack dab in the middle of town. The only thing missing? A coffee shop— but not anymore thanks to Brad Benson, whose new bi-level coffee concept Graffiti Coffeehouse opens this May. You can expect a quiet study upstairs, live music and artwork downstairs, and delicious Intelligentsia brews all around.

180 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

JOIN THE BRIGADE

The Historic Core has been known for their stellar bars and restaurants for a minute now, but lately it’s been scoring some serious retail points as well. Just a couple blocks away from fellow luxury newbie, Den.m Bar, Brigade LA is bringing high-end designers to the neighborhood with a local touch.

The boutique carries mostly Los Angeles based brands such as Fluxus, LnA and J-Brand, but it’s also home to high-end national and international labels Vivianne Westwood, UGG and New York based Milly. Shopping trip after brunch at Mas Malo? Obviously.

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510 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014 | brigadela.com

LISTEN UP: JJAMZ

Remember when you were a kid, and you would construct special names for your friend groups by stringing together everyone’s initials? Well some people never grow up. Pronounced, JUH-JAMZ, this LA indie-pop super-group started when members of Rilo Kiley, Maroon 5, Phantom Planet, and the Like needed a no-pressure creative escape from their full-time gigs. Despite the goofy name, the band seems to have become more than a side-project—they’ve recently signed to Dangerbird records and have just released a video for their song “Never Enough.” Be sure to catch them for free this May during their Monday night residency at the Satellite. jjamz.tumblr.com

LISTEN UP: MEG MYERS

LUCKY US We have some cool new neighbors Downtown. Lucky Brand Jeans have been bringing us high-end, vintage-inspired denim since 1990, and now the heavy-hitters have moved their headquarters to one of our favorite neighborhoods, the Arts District. The twostory, 46,000 square-foot compound is home to all production and executive offices, as well as design, marketing, and merchandising. During the opening ceremony this past February, Lucky Brand CEO David Demattei talked about the company’s choice to move from Vernon to the trendy Downtown neighborhood, explaining “When we were looking for new headquarters, we wanted an environment that would inspire us and be a part of our culture, and we loved the Arts District.” Yeah, he gets it. luckybrand.com

“Wait, what? / Your band’s playing an abandoned Synagogue tonight? / I don’t think so,” Meg Myers deadpans on “Tennessee,” the ode to her home-state inspired by too many annoying encounters with hipsters in Los Angeles (where she currently lives). Despite her frustrations, she hasn’t left town yet—and despite the mockery, we’re happy to have her. The girl is wicked talented, with a powerhouse voice, sense of humor, and an incredibly emotive performance style that’s downright magnetic. Rock on, Meg. meginthedark.com

TRADING PLACES

We’re stoked on Baco Mercat, one of Downtown’s best new eateries, but it came at a price—the departure of Chef Josef Centeno from Little Tokyo favorite Lazy Ox Canteen. Luckily, super-creative restauranteur Michael Cardenas hired Perfecto Rocher, a thirdgeneration Paella maker, to take his place. Rocher’s new menu keeps all the original Centeno favorites while breathing new life into the place with some fantastic Spanish Flavors, including Chorizos, purees, emulsions and yes—paellas. Yum. 241 South San Pedro St, Los Angeles, California 90012 | lazyoxcanteen.com

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DOT COM

THE DO-OVER W/ ADIDAS AT THE ACE HOTEL, PALM SPRINGS

LA’s BEST ART, MUSIC, FOOD, STYLE AND EVENT SOURCE. Talk about EXHAUSTED. LA CANVAS has been partying hard these past couple of months, and snapping a ton of photos in the process. If you’ve been to one of our events recently, go on over to FACEBOOK.COM/LACANVASMAG and tag your fine self.

COACHELLA BON VOYAGE PARTY W/ MAYER HAWTHORNE + AMERICAN APPAREL + SHAKE THE HAND AT DRAI’S HOLLYWOOD

YACHT + THE LIMOUSINES + CLASSIXX AT THE STANDARD, DOWNTOWN LA

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. ..

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INSIGHT GARAGE ART EXHIBIT AT THE INSIGHT STORE, VENICE

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, @LACANVAS.

VISIT LACANVAS.COM—OUR ONLINE CALENDAR HAS EVEN MORE PARTIES, ART SHOWS, CONCERTS, RESTAURANT OPENINGS, SAMPLE SALES AND MORE. COVER THE NIGHT PARTY W/ INVISIBLE CHILDREN AT RUBIX HOLLYWOOD

ON THE BLOG

ROAD TO COACHELLA For this year’s mega festival, the LAC team scored a seriously sweet ride out to the deser t.

Check out the LACANVAS.COM blog to see our road diary and review of the brand new Lexus CT Hybrid. Who knew a brightyellow car could be so dope?

KENDRICK LAMAR

STORY TIME

The camera loves Kendrick, so of course it wasn’t easy picking just a few photos for our story.

Want more? See the outtakes at L ACANVAS.COM and get the sco op on the rapper ’s favorite DTL A spots. Here’s a hint: he likes the original with strawberries and captain crunch.

Not surprisingly, there were more hilarious, wacky Downtown stories than we could fi t in just one Editor’s Note. So we decided to start a whole blog series devoted to them. If something weird happened to you while hanging out in Downtown Los Angeles, get at us— PRESS@LACANVAS.COM.

GET IT ALL HERE

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LACANVAS.COM

ASK ME ANYTHING Is it ever okay to date a promoter/DJ/ thespian/musician/artist/designer?

How drunk are you allowed to get at work-ish functions? How old is too old to be on the family plan? All good questions, and rumor has it the geniuses here at LA CANVAS are ready to start dispensing advice and analysis. Send all your woes over to ASK@LACANVAS.COM, and we’ll hit you back on the blog with a little wisdom—or at least, some shits and giggles.

Rethink time www.nooka.com

Š 2012 Nooka Inc. All Rights Reserved

GRADUATES AT THE TOP OF HIP-HOP’S NEW CLASS It’s SXSW 2012, and 24-year-old rapper Kendrick Lamar is standing before a packed house at the Fader Fort. It’s silent for a second as he throws three fingers in the air, and without further provocation the crowd follows suit—they know what’s coming. His voice raspy, he calmly says, “This is bigger than me. This is life as we know it.” The beat drops. Raised arms bounce to the HiiPower movement.

“HiiPower”—the critically acclaimed, J.Cole-produced single from Kendrick’s first official album, Section.80 —kicks in with a trembling, flute-like synth singing a minor line over a mellow break, simmering with tension that eases only for a moment at the hook. Kendrick was listening to that beat on a flight home to LA, during which he ended up talking MLK, Marcus Garvey, and Malcolm X with Punch, the President of Top Dawg Entertainment (the indie label that built his career from the ground up). With all that swimming around his head, he laid down the vocals the very next day.

STORY // REBECA ARANGO

PHOTOS // MACEO PAISLE Y

Never one to preach unattainable perfection, Kendrick tackles the subject matter—

Kendrick L amar may b e a self-pro claimed dre amer, but he’s far from an

history, race, oppression, leadership, rising above—like he does anything else,

escapist. Rather, he’s hell-bent on authenticit y, an ar tistic purpose dictating

from somewhere real, down to earth, relatable; or as he told Complex: “as a boy

his ever y move. Take the name on his re cords; it ’s the one on his bir th

searching for answers and trying to figure it out.” He drops the line, “I won’t sugar

cer tificate. “I thought, the best way for me to connect with people is to give

coat it / you’d die from diabetes if these otha n-ggas wrote it,” a few verses before

them my full name first, then let the music follow. Let them know that I’m just

launching into his rallying call, “So get up off that slave ship / Build your own

like them, so when I talk about these situations, they know it ’s really coming

pyramids, write your own hieroglyphs / Just call this shit HiiiPower.”

from me, and not a character. It ’s cool to have a character sometimes in your music, but it ’s also good to identif y.”

On stage, the message hits hard — Kendrick L amar is a controlled force with major presence and passion. In person, he’s undeniably sweet— sof t-spoken but self-assured, cautious but confident with an infectious good-kid smile and a lot of love for his hometown. “I ‘rep Compton one-hundred-percent,” Kendrick tells L AC after our photo-shoot in DTL A, “it deserves a new light, and a new feel for a new generation of kids. You know, I go in these high schools and they feel like I’m the leader now— we ain’t had that feeling for a long time in Compton. If I can put that energ y into music, and come back full circle as a positive light in the cit y, let ting people know they can do something with themselves, then so be it. I’m going to be at the forefront of that.”

Section.80 straddles tones from aspirational and proud to introspective on both a personal and generational level, mostly through no-bullshit accounts of life as Kendrick knows it, which sometimes means stories about A.D.H.D, drugs, death and murder. “It’s cut throat growing up in Compton—it gave me an edge for sure,” he explains softly with a slight smirk. “That’s what makes me who I am, the fact that I can identify with streets, while still identifying with being a dreamer—knowing something else is bigger out there. And that comes from having a household with my father in it. I’m blessed as far as this music. Truthfully.”

This past March, Kendrick signed on to a joint venture deal between Top Dawg, Interscope, and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath imprint, though it was by no means the first or only offer on the table. “Everybody’s going to throw money in your face—the money’s always going to be there,” he says of waiting for the right moment to go major. “It was really about who understood the vision of Top Dawg Entertainment as a label and wanted to take it to the next level without trying to switch it up. Everybody’s got to have the same vision—once you lose that, everything messes up.”

And in this case all that money hasn’t messed with much. Recently, Kendrick and the Top Dawg team have been holed up at their original studios in Carson (where he’s been recording since age 16 finishing up his major-label debut, Good Kid in a Mad City. Kendrick says the album will be his most deeply personal yet, and as far as the beats go, (and he’s as meticulous about his sound as he is his lyrics) he says, “I’ve really been keeping it in house — Soundwave, TaeBeast, Willie B. And of course Dre, you know, he’s incredible, we’ve got tons of records. I went in with Pharell and Q -Tip, which came out craz y. That ’s about it; those are the only major super-producers I’ve been in with. And I think I’m going to keep it that way too, I don’t want to shif t away from what I’ve been doing.”

So is Kendrick worried success will change him to the point where fans can’t relate? He used to be, but he’s got it figured out now. “When you get caught up with ever y thing that ’s going on in the music business— and you will get caught up because it ’s a 24 hour job —you have to say: hey, I’m going to take some time for myself to think and spend time with family, people who really just keep you humble, and just chill out for a second,” he says, before adding with a chuckle, “I don’t like to sleep too much though!” The ambitious never do.

VENUE

GETTING LOW IN THE HEIGHTS LOW END THEORY DESTROYS WEDNESDAYS AT THE AIRLINER It’s no secret: Lincoln Heights is the neighborhood where this magazine gets made, as well as home to the famous Brewery Artist Lofts, badass print-master Richard Duardo, and fabulous Italian mega-restaurant the San Antonio Winery.

So obviously, cool stuff goes down here on the North side of the river. But this story isn’t about us, or where we get our sandwiches at lunchtime (Lanza Brother’s Market, y’all). It’s about this spot a couple of blocks away on North Broadway, across from the Bank of America and down the street from the 99-cent store and it’s audaciously positioned competitor, the 98-cent store, where some seriously cool stuff started five years ago and spread itself all the way to Japan—you know, where all the cool stuff ends up, eventually.

of progressive electro that flows seamlessly from hip-hop to glitch to dubstep, dancehall, IDM and any other forms of excessively pear-shaped tune-age, the

You can’t get bottle service at the Airliner, but you can get a 24 oz. can of beer

night attracts a crowd from all over LA, including bros, skater bros, hipster

for $5 (whoever said you can’t deliver two bits of good news simultaneously just

bros, art bros, bros wearing glasses, and a handful of girls in a variety of flavors.

got schooled). The place is long and skinny with two bars on two floors and a small stage upstairs, where the ceiling is low and the air gets hot. You might find

While the night has got ten a lot of at tention for put ting together EPIC

yourself feeling like you’re at a house party, or getting a little warm, in which

surprises—like, that time Thom Yorke dropped in on a line-up with Flying

case you can step out onto the surprisingly large and heat-lamp populated back

Lotus, or, that time James Blake dropped in on a line-up with Flying Lotus—

patio overlooking the classically elegant LH warehouse-scape, for a cool down.

and is now monthly in San Francisco and quarterly in Japan (jealous!), any old

But nobody here cares to be at some glam Hollywood club. That’s not what

DJs Gaslamp Killer, Daddy Kev, Nobody, and D-styles throw down just fine,

it’s about. On Wednesday nights, it’s about throwing on a few extra coats of

and catching resident MC Nocando jump on stage and freestyle is always

deodorant (please?) and getting hit hard with some very low bass. Or, as one

a good show. Just don’t be a n00b and get carried away shaking your butt

Wednesday night right here in Lincoln Heights is really all you need. Resident

tired-of-the-scene, former bottle-popping party boy told me, “It’s all about the

to the dancehall beats—people only wild-out here at that magical moment

music.” We’re talking Low End Theory: the party series started by DJ Daddy Kev

when the beat halves and that deep, dirty, dubstep grime beast is unleashed

that’s been tearing up the subs at the Airliner since 2007. Specializing in the type

from its cage, free to wobble it ’s gnarly self right through the back wall.

STORY // REBECA ARANGO LOCATION: 2419 N. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90031 theairlinerla.com

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PLAYLIST

16 BARS INDIE FOLK-ROCK IS CUTE AND ALL, BUT AFTER TWO AMERICANOS AND A MONSTER YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF BLINKING TOO FREQUENTLY AS YOU STAND IN LINE AT THE BANK WITH BON IVER CRYING IN YOUR EAR. SAVE IT FOR SUNDAY MORNING; YOU’VE GOT GCHATS TO SEND AND NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLES TO “LIKE.” SOMETIMES ANDREW BIRD’S CADENCE DOESN’T CUT IT—SO WE’VE GOT YOU.

“There He Go” Schoolboy Q

“Come on a Cone” Nicki Minaj

“I Got It ” Mikkey Halsted

“The Recipe” Kendrick Lamar

“Make It Big” 9th Wonder

“U Ain’t My Daddy” Iggy Azalea

“The WIld” Kendall Elijah

“Round Of Applause” Wacka Flock Flame

“Fitta Happier” Quakers

“Power” Das Racist

“My House” Big Sean

“Boyfreind” Justin Bieber

Scan the QR code to stream the extended VERSION OF OUR PLAYLIST AND CHECK OUT LA CANVAS’S PROFILE ON SPOTIFY. 20

STREET ART SEND US YOUR STREET ART PHOTOS: PRESS@LACANVAS.COM

UNKNOWN BENJAMIN

PHOTOS // EMILY BRADLEY

UNKNOWN

PASTEY WHYTE

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BANKRUPT SLUT

OBEY

BENJAMIN

CYRCLE SCREWTAPE crosswalk bomber

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ALTER-EGOS AND NEON APHRODITES PA I N T E R A A RON SH E PPA R D L IGH TS U P LOS A NGE L E S “Did you see the dog eating out that one girl? I’m worried you can’t see it

that happen.” Then right at the end of his MFA program, Ciff Benjamin of

right away, and someone will buy the picture and hang it in their kitchen,

Western Project, in town for another event, was brought to see Sheppard’s

and one morning they’ll be sitting there eating cereal and suddenly see it and

work, and was blown away. He couldn’t stop thinking about it, and soon inked

flip out!” Actually I had missed it the first time, but when Aaron Sheppard

the deal. “Aaron is continually smart and surprising. His intuition is spot on.

brought it up, I had another look and there it was. A bright pink bulldog and

Sexy fails as a description, and the work is deep. He is a seriously formidable

a raunchy maiden on her back, one leg hooked over a wall or window ledge

artist.” Aaron’s studio-mates Downtown are Dion Johnson, who also shows

that is both painted and built off the canvas in cardboard. Another bawdy

at Western Project by complete coincidence; and Jaime Scholnick, whose

goddess stands, straddling, her be-gartered right leg bisecting the space

solo show opens at CB1 Gallery in September, and who ultimately convinced

above the wall, negating how it reads in the other girl’s story. The whole

Sheppard to come here, to “the best place to make art, Downtown L A.”

surface is a mottled fleshy symphony of pinks and the eye cannot hold it all at once. No wonder I’d missed the dog the first time. Along the left side, a

Aaron speaks eloquently about constructing and projecting identity, religiosity,

diffuse cloud of neon light bleeds from behind the painting’s ragged edge.

sexuality, and a counter-factual historicism. His filter is the culture’s love of

This and a small number of other new works are on view at Sheppard’s

fame and/or pornography, mixed with the romance and perversion of classical

gallery, Western Project in Culver City, through May 5th.

allegorical portraiture. His lavish materiality finds a narrative function for neon light tubes, thick heavy paint, and extreme mannerism in his mostly

Sheppard came to LA from his native Nebraska via DC, NYC, and Las Vegas,

nude figures, forcing people to deal with the inconvenient object and not

enjoying close-up views of cement factories in at least three of those. “If I

just the idea of it. “After about ten years, you have to change the bulb!” May

were a musician like I’ve secretly always wanted to be, I’d live in Venice.” He

18th he shows a long-distance collaborative work, having to do with bio- and

actually did have a band in NYC named Peter & the Pan-Sexuals. “My drag

geo-manipulation at Jaus in Santa Monica. This intriguing cross-platform

name was Barbie Q and I was enjoying NYC, taping my junk into panties and

project is curated by the same person that introduced Aaron to Jaime some

heading to work every night, but after 8 years there, I wanted to go to grad

ten years ago. There’s a really good story about a strip club in Brooklyn, but

school. I wanted three years to just paint, and James Pink at UNLV made

let’s leave some mysteries for him to paint about.

STORY // SHANA NYS DAMBROT PHOTO // DANTE COLOMBATTI

Visit aaronsheppard.net, western-project.com, and jausart.com, for more information, images, and upcoming shows.

ART EVENTS

GALLERY OPENINGS ALLISON SCHULNIK: New Work Mark Moore Gallery May 26 - July 7 Opening: May 26, 6-8pm Allison Schulnik uses thick, ooey-gooey pigment and visceral abstraction in her ominously folksy paintings, often based on childhood memory. She brings this shadowy vision of a haunted world with her when she works in sculpture and, increasingly, video. markmooregallery.com CRESCENT CITY: Gallery by day. Opera by night.

Atwater Crossing May 10 - 27 The Industry enlisted 50 artists from every discipline to create the mythical landscape for Anne LeBaron’s experimental, electronicainfused hyperopera, “Crescent City.” It comes to life in an industrial warehouse space where the installation of its epic sculptural sets is its own reward. theindustryla.org

GET HER! P R ES ENT S

INSTANT A POLAROID EXHIBITION

EDWARD WALTON WILCOX Merry Karnowsky Gallery May 26 - June 23 Opening: Saturday May 26, 8-11pm Edward Walton Wilcox is a modern-day Romantic who loves nothing more than channeling the darkly allegorical landscapes of Old Masters from the Flemish and Dutch traditions, teasing out gothic, folkloric symbolism in stories of isolated figures in remote, wintry settings. mkgallery.com JIM MAHFOOD: LA Ink Stains Book Release Dance Party Titmouse Animation Studios June 16, 8pm Black, White & Grey prom attire is required for the much-anticipated release of the first printed collection of Jim Mahfood’s Los Angeles Ink Stains. It’s a Who’s Who and a What The #$*! of LA’s urban art scene.

Think Peanuts on MDMA. Admission price gets you in, gets you a copy of the book, and free booze. jimmahfood.com LACE BENEFIT ART AUCTION 2012 Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions On View: May 3 -15 Silent Auction & Party: May 16, 7-10pm The annual signature event where patrons have the opportunity to purchase 100+ original artworks by some of the most important established and emerging artists working today, organized by a team of guest curators, and featuring a legendary party. welcometolace.org MATT FURIE & MICHELLE DEVEREUX New Image Art June 2 - July 7 Opening: June 2, 6-9pm Painters Matt Furie and Michelle Devereux take different routes to escape reality—but they both manage to get away. While Furie’s comics-and-graffiti-influenced drawings are thorny and whimsical, Devereux paints stoner-fantasy mash-ups in a sweetly traditional style. newimageartgallery.com MICHELLE ANDRADE: New Work Charlie James Gallery June 2 - July 14 Opening: June 2, 6-9pm Michelle Andrade’s work is a journalistic exploration into the everyday sprawl of the mundane. Her brightly colored, whimsical drawings draw the viewer in, but a closer look reveals her personal anxieties, struggles, and insecurities. cjamesgallery.com TOO OLD FOR TOYS, TOO YOUNG FOR BOYS OHWOW June 30 - September 1 Opening: June 30, 7-9pm Curated by Alex Gartenfeld, this group exhibition examines the way tweens have influenced adults’ viewing habits. Featuring Ronnie Bass, Debo Eilers, Jay Heikes, Josh Kline, Barney Kulok, Donald Moffett, Jo Nigoghossian, and Aura Rosenberg. oh-wow.com VINCENT SABELLA: Unsettled Edgar Varela Fine Arts May 18 - June 16 Opening: May 18, 7-11pm An exhibition of new and recent work by painter Vincent Sabella, curated by LA CANVAS Art Editor Shana Nys Dambrot, and featuring the collections Extermination, A Hollywood Story, and Bear on a Hot Tin Roof. Sabella’s uniquely personal take on pop culture charms and unsettles with humor, poetry, and bravery. edgarvarela.com

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GET MORE OF L.A.’S BESt OPENINGS AT LACANVAS.COM

POLARO IDS BY: RADEO

June 23-August 11 FEATURED ARTISTS:

RADEO, SAWA, CHRISTOPHER BLAUVELT, CHERRY THOMPSON + MORE OPENING RECEPTION: SATURDAY JUNE 23rd 7-10PM LA COMPOUND ADDRESS: 830 TRACTION AVE. #2G DTLA, 90013

www.LaCompound.com

GALLERY

SHOW AND TELL HUMAN RESOURCES SEEKS PERFORMANCE ART FOR CHINATOWN OFFICE

Independent galleries have a hard enough time selling tangible objects of desire and quantified value like paintings and photographs, so one devoted mainly to presenting performance art would have its work cut out. Yet that challenge did not daunt the five friends who founded Human Resources in Chinatown’s small but densely-populated gallery district near Chung King Road almost exactly two years ago. HR is performance artist and 2012 Whitney Biennial feature Dawn Kasper; musician, composer and filmmaker Devin McNulty; philosophy student and software genius Eric Kim; his sister, Kathleen, a civil rights attorney and violinist; and musician, performer and professional investigator Giles Miller. Between and among some of them they often create and perform original art and music—but the truth is, Human Resources is as much a collaborative work of art as it is a gallery. They program by consensus, and two years in and with a calendar programmed through Fall, they still show real excitement about making the otherwise strange and potentially forbidding experience of per formance ar t comf y and accessible, especially for new audiences. As Eric Kim explains, “We try to bolster a community that we want to be a part of, too.” LA is symbolically seductive, but, he continues, “it’s not really a fully realized ‘hub’ for new performance art... but that can change.”

A year after they launched on Bernard Street, they moved around the block to Cottage Home Street, into a renovated movie theatre on an otherwise sleepy residential block. Complete with dressing rooms, projection-centric architecture, light and sound set-ups, a ticket-counter, and of course, a huge clean white room, the new space marked a turning point for HR, and since then their programming has grown and gone national. Yet their primary focus remains not only “exposing under-shown local artists, but also reviving an important genre, partly by remaking and broadening its audience base.” Gamely but perhaps just the least bit ruefully, he remarks, “We have never been tethered by preconceived notions of what running a space entailed. We do some regular object-based shows. That was not our intention but we get good proposals, and sometimes we just can’t say no.”

STORY // SHANA NYS DAMBROT Get on the mailing list at humanresourcesla.com, and follow them on Facebook for the latest news on shows and events.

LOCATION: 410 Cottage Home St Los Angeles, CA 90012

29

BOOK

OCCUPY

PARIS

BEAUTY IS IN THE STREET: A VISUAL RECORD OF THE MAY 1968 PARIS UPRISING Ooh La La meets Occupy LA in this elegant and powerful new publication proving that even street riots can’t keep classic French style down. In May 1968, Paris was literally on fire, exploding with populist ideas connecting progressive student intellectuals and the exploited working class on the common ground of injustice at the hands of state-supported oligarchs. They were zealously anti-Vietnam War, too. Art schools like the Sorbonne, and the Latin Quarter, where artists and students congregated, were among the most volatile locales, along with parks, civic plazas, and even banks. There were street barricades, occupations, tear-gassing, and accusations of police brutality. Powerful politicians like De Gaulle and Pompidou were for ced to respond and eventually resign. Of course, the same thing was happening for different reasons in Watts in 1968. And since October 2011, it’s been happening with the Occupy movement in places like New York, Oakland, and, of course, Downtown LA. Beauty is in the Street packs 270 gorgeously printed pages with the complete history of the entire Paris episode and its context. Reading French helps, but isn’t necessary. It is translated, but the emotions and pressures transcend language, as the best visual and graphic art does. Favoring a Matisse-style cut-out font or stylized writing, and using mostly single colors—black, red, or blue on white—their best posters would say things like, “Nous sommes le pouvoir (We are the power)” which is clearly reminiscent of the We Are the 99% memes. Here’s my personal favorite: “Bourgeois vous n’avez rien compris! (Bourgeois you have learned nothing!)” There are calls for freedom of the press, freedom of information, and for “Travailleurs français, immigres, unis! (Workers both French and immigrant, unite!),” and loads of references to the “pouvoir populaire.” With a surprisingly coherent, crisp, and sophisticated artistry to the graphics and slogans collected, this book is a thorough and lovingly crafted tribute to the creativity of the Parisian would-be revolutionaries.

Beauty is in the streets, again.

STORY // SHANA NYS DAMBROT

Published by Four Corners Books and distributed by DAP. http://www.fourcornersbooks.co.uk /beautyisinthestreet.html

31

LET THE BOYS BE BOYS Photography: Greg Gainor Styling: Adam Arcos

Art Direction: Jared Tate Johnson Hair/MUA: Barbara Yniguez

On Her: Coat by Aqua / Shirt by Kill City / Shorts by Gap / Belt by H&M

On Him: Tie and suspenders by Diesel / Shirt by Roark / Pants by Levis

Zachary White and Hannah for NEXT Model Management Opposite Page: Pants by Kill City / Shoes by Dr. Martin

Pants by Droite / Shoes by Deena & Ozz y / Shir t by H&M

Coat by Droite / Vest by Carapace / Pants by All Saints / Cardigan by / Roark Shoes by Kenneth Cole

On Her: Jumpsuit by Diesel / Shoes by Aldo On Him: Tank by American Apparel / Suspenders by Diesel / Stylist’s Own Pants / Shoes by Frye

On Her: Bathing Suit by Malia Mills

On Him: Tank by American Apparel

R.B. of McD MAKES LEATHER GOODS INSPIRED BY DTL A Nothing feels more luxurious than well-made leather, and not too many things are sexier than androg yny— if you ask us. R.B. of McD is made and manufactured in Downtown Los Angeles, and its Creative Director, John McDavid Lehman III naturally draws inspiration from his favorite neighborhood. Wallets and bags are made to function in a variety of ways: clutches fold into wallets and straps are detachable, with all but one style being unisex. As a third generation Angeleno and son of two creative parents, Lehman comes by his design chops honestly. Pragmatic as he is artistic, John started designing the collection based on his daily needs. He wanted something both versatile and durable, so he designed a wallet to fit his onthe-go lifestyle. The initial prototype quickly turned into several styles and colors, and R.B. of McD was born. We caught up with Lehman to chat with him about Downtown, Los Angeles fashion and what’s next for R.B. of McD. STORY // ERIN DENNISON rbofmcd.com

PHOTO // CAPTAIN

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE DOWNTOWN SPOTS? We drink and eat downtown, ever y where from Perch to Seven Grand. I think we’re going to see more of that development in the neighborhood. People operating at the top of their game, I’m excited to see more of that, and hopefully some more mom and pop bars — even spots like the Gorbals [Feat. on p. 44]. Less suits, more independent cre ative s with an urban /busine s s flare.

HOW HAS DTL A BEEN YOUR MUSE?

So far the neighborhood has really stayed true to that.

Downtown has absolutely influenced the line. We’re the underdogs. This is Y O U ’ R E C U R R E N T LY I N Y O U R T H I R D S E A S O N my home and I’m tired of us being forgot ten. I hate the my th that our fashion

WITH SIX DESIGNS. WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE LINE?

is really lazy and slouchy. One of the things I like about our style is that we It would be great to develop some more silhouettes have a freedom to the way we dress—it ’s ef for tless. You go to NY and you over the next couple of seasons. However, I do see how they get down. They look great but it ’s like, how much time did you want to stay focused—that’s really impor tant to put into that? I wanted to create a brand that ’s versatile, that allows you me. Something I’m really proud of is that everything the freedom to wear it how you want, and that fits the urban L A lifest yle. in the collection has been touched by five sets of DESCRIBE YOUR DEMOGR APHIC. WHAT KIND OF AUDIENCE DO YOU CONNECT WITH? Subscribing to a specific demographic is a tricky thing. If I cast too wide a net, I might lose focus of the brand. But from the start I said that R.B. of McD would not just be for folks that view fashion/style from the same lens as I do. At its core, my brand is for those with a versatile aesthetic. I view our bags as an investment, so it wouldn't be fair to design one-note pieces. These are classic silhouettes that can adapt and grow with the defining trends. Thus, one could say that the brand transcends any one demographic but is fully available to the individual.

hands at the most. Each person is very focused on what they do. You can’t maintain that at a Barneys and Saks level. When people invest I want them to know that a lot of passion went into their piece; ever yone that touches the bags is passionate about leather, the brand and the details. That aspect, I don’t want to change. Looking forward though, I’d love to have more fun marketing.

C oming up with some more web content and new creative campaigns to really explore the line and its relationship to our city through branding.

Live. Create. Inspire.

A space filled with memories, designer collectibles and a variety of items that fit any style of budget.

Hudson | Rory Beca | One Teaspoon | Joie | Patterson J. Kincaid

1410 Abbot Kinney Ste. 101, Venice, CA 90291 310.399.3988 - gossamershop.com - facebook.com/gossamershop

STORE

SELF MADE DEN.M BAR BRINGS TAILORED LUXURY TO DTLA

The process goes a little something like this, Richard explains: CUSTOMIZE & PERSONALIZE: When you set up your appointment ahead of time or just walk in, you’ll meet with one of our experienced tailors who will take you through the process of designing your very own jean from beginning to end. Here, we begin the fabric selection process where you’ll choose not only the type of denim but also the color and any additional accessories (sewing thread color, zippers, buttons…your imagination’s the limit!). Or, you can skip all that and use the base models we have on hand. We offer everything from super strong (and a bit rough) Cone denim, made in North Carolina, to soft Did you know that Los Angeles is the denim capital of the world? Word—well then it’s about time we got a customized denim shop. Walking along 7 th street in Downtown’s trendy Historic Core, you might not even notice an unassuming new retail space, but that hasn’t stopped Den.m Bar from becoming so popular that there’s already a waitlist to fulfill custom orders. The idea is simple: total customization. You pick the material, style, wash, and details, and then Den.m Bar’s expert tailors cut and sew premium denim to your exact measurements.

You’re free to, as they say—DO YOU. After trying his hand in fashion design, Den.m Bar founder Richard Wang concluded it wasn’t his thing, but wasn’t entirely ready to tap. Seeing a hole in the denim market, he decided to Carpe Diem and open up shop. With the best materials, expert construction and total customer satisfaction, Wang was ready to execute his innovation. Using premium denim from North Carolina and Japan procured by local DTLA distributors in conjunction with veteran seamstresses, Wang’s algorithm for success is also what makes Den.m Bar uniquely LA.

and stretchy denim from Kurabo, Japan.

CREATING A MEASUREMENT PROFILE: We then measure you in 10 areas to get a comprehensive set of measurements from your waist and hip size to the circumference of your ankles.

CONSTRUCTION: With the measurements in place, we then chalk and cut the patterns by hand to make your own individual pair. It takes up to 19 different pieces, cut one at a time, to make your jeans. The pieces are then given to our master sewers who put it all together.

DELIVERY: Our turnaround time is 7-10 working days. You can come back into the store for final fitting and pickup (highly recommended), or we can deliver your finished pair for FREE through FedEx. For just north of $200, you can cop a perfectly tailored pair of jeans, customized down to the zipper color. Currently, there are a handful of styles to choose from (2 Women’s, 3 Men’s), but they’re also able to whip up special requests for all you type A’s.

Within their first week, the shop pulled in around 5 orders a day,

and business has grown exponentially since. One might think that opening a flagship, high-end denim shop just a stone’s throw from Skid Row was a gamble at best. However, we’d like argue that it just proves what we already know: the Historic Core is about to blow up—something that Wang and his partners get. I mean, there’s a JUICERY for fuck’s sake. And while trendy restaurants and bars are thriving, it’s about time we stepped our retail game up.

Shouts to Den.m Bar employee Zachary White, who’s featured in our editorial on p . 30!

LOCATION:

STORY // ERIN DENNISON

111 W 7th St Ste R3 Los Angeles, CA 90014 denmbar.com

41

RADAR

THE NEW CLASS 12 INNOVATIVE LA CREATIVES TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON

ELIZ A BETH KOT T | En tr epr eneur

MICHA EL HERSE Y | A r t Dir ec t or

OLIVIA LOPEZ | Blog ger / Tas t emaker

closetrich.com, @closetrich

michaelhersey.tumblr.com, @michaelhersey

fashionsalade.com/lust t forlife, @ wanderlust t t

You may know her from: The Zoe Report

You may know him from: The End of Love

You may know her from: Her blog, “Lust for Life”

Current project: Online boutique, Closet Rich

Current project: In talks to decorate Nick Cannon’s

Current project: Vintage boutique, The Caravan

Most played track on your iTunes?

directorial debut, a modern day House Party.

What inspires you most?

S orr y iTune s — I’ve ab andone d you for Sp otif y.

What inspires you most?

Vintage clothing, counter culture, traveling, esoteric books,

“Couleur Café” by Serge Gainsbourg.

Community. Los Angeles is pregnant with possibility.

meeting new people,film, and my college professors.

Beverage of choice?

Most played track on your iTunes?

Most played track on your iTunes?

Water for day and a slightly dirty vodka martini for night.

“Pret t y Flacko” by A$AP ROCK Y, on Spotif y.

My cool answer is “No Dig git y” by Black Street.

Favorite Downtown spot?

Favorite Downtown spot?

Flower District.

One Eyed Gypsy.

But in realit y it ’s “By Your Side” by CocoRosie.

Favorite Downtown spot?

Spring Street.

JARED TATE JOHNSON | Designer / Ar t Director

ME AG AN JUDK INS | Pr oducer / A r t Dir ec t or

K ENT A BOKO | Hip-Hop Musician

dearraymer.com, facebook.com/dearraymer

meaganjudkins.com, setmindsonfire.blogspot.com

thesur fclub.com, @kentmoneymusic

You may know him from: Dear Raymer

You may know her from: Alternative Apparel Campaigns

You may know him from: The Surf Club

Current project: Redesigning Dear Raymer as a

Current project: Writing /directing her first short film.

Current project: Eyes Wide Shut mix tape

brand and resource for Los Angeles ar tists.

42

What inspires you most?

What inspires you most?

What inspires you most?

Fe arle s sne s s, color, love, comp as sion, failure,

Life. You never know what to expect. Even if you

Connecting with peoples’ unconscious, and the

lucid dreaming, fashion, culture, sex.

map out your whole next day it’s filled with surprises,

way [things] move.

Most played track on your iTunes?

let downs and pick-me-ups.

Beverage of choice?

Florence & The Machine. I ran the L A Marathon

Most played track on your iTunes?

Grape Soda and Absinthe.

and listened to her Ceremonials album on repeat.

“Cashmere Thoughts” by Jay-Z.

Favorite Downtown spot?

Favorite Downtown spot?

Favorite Downtown spot?

Sustain Juicer y.

Lit tle Tok yo, MOCA , Chinatown, The Downtown

LA Live. There’s so much life there all the time with different

Independent Theater, Grand Central Market.

people and cultures; I just always appreciate the energy there.

MA RISA SPINELL A + A RIELLE VAVASSEUR | En tr epr eneur s / De signer s

GR ANT JAMES | Dir ec t or

raulguerrero.net, @ fiascomagazine You may know him from: Fiasco Magazine

penelopeandcoco.com, @penelopeandcoco

You may know him from: Madonna’s documentar y

Current project: Creative Director for Raul LeRose

You may know them from: Penelope and Coco

on Malawi, titled, I Am, Because We Are.

Current project: Unisex and men’s foot wear

Current project: Father John Mist y music video

T h i s i s u n a c c e p t ab l e… a t r a c k b y S w e di s h

What inspires you most?

Most played track on your itunes?

pro ducer K leerup fe aturing Robyn c alled

Materials: be autiful le athers, hardware, fabrics

Jonathan Wilson, “The Way I Feel.”

“With Ever y Hear tbeat.” I’m playing it right now

etc. and the people who wear our brand — get ting

and it currently has 275 plays.

a glimpse of someone with a strong point of view.

Beverage of choice?

Most played track on your iTunes?

My hear t says cof fee but my mind is telling me

Marissa: I’m more of a Pandora listener—sometimes I

water. Just like an R. Kelly song.

discover music that I otherwise wouldn’t have listened to.

Favorite Downtown spot?

Arielle: when I get tired of my 19 92 albums I’m

C r o c ke r C l ub , t h e A r m o r y, S u s t a i n Ju i c e r y,

usually listening to the radio.

Purgator y Pizza (location for my new music video

R AUL GUERERO | St ylis t / Fashion Dir ec t or

Most played track on your iTunes?

Favorite Downtown spot?

BabyCakes on East 6th street. Talk about inhaling oatmeal cookie sandwiches. Even J-Lo goes there— and she’s ver y fancy.

Favorite Downtown spot?

milkt films.com, @g james6

Beverage of choice?

TNTs — a.k.a. Tequila N’ Tangerine (with some muddled mint).

project for Father John Mist y).

The Association and Bot tega Louie.

PHOTO // JAIME BEECHUM

TAY LOR DUNFEE | Pho t ogr apher / A r tis t

LINDA LOVEMA DE | St ylis t / En tr epr eneur

RYAN O’CONNELL | Writ er

taylordunfee.com, instagram.com/n/ tsdvision

love-made.com, @ihear tlovemade

thoughtcatalog.com, @ thoughtcatalog

You may know him from: His abilit y to consume

You may know her from: Founder of LoveMade

You may know him from: Thought Catalog

massive amounts of whiskey, making on a daily

Current project: LoveMade x Stussy

Current project: Top Secret

What inspires you most?

What inspires you most?

Traveling and exploring dif ferent cultures.

Shoegaze, crazy people, Joan Didion.

What inspires you most?

Most played track on your iTunes?

Beverage of choice?

I surround myself with amazingly creative people,

Anika —“I Go to Sleep” (Stonesthrow).

Iced tea, 15 - dollar juices.

so I get inspired ever yday.

Favorite Downtown spot?

Favorite Downtown spot?

Most played track on your iTunes?

Virgo for shopping, Varnish for drinking

The Smell, Jalisco’s, L a Cita, Phillippe’s.

A lot of mix tapes from local L A guys.

and L az y Ox for dining.

basis, and love life on the reg.

Current project: Top secret NYC collab

Beverage of choice?

Jameson on the rocks.

43

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DAY TRIP

K-TOWN CRAWL

Okay, so by now we’ve established that Downtown LA is tons of fun, but when everything you need is within walking distance, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut (if you can’t remember the last time you went West of Alvarado, you might have a problem).

Luckily, one of our favorite ‘hoods, Koreatown, is just a quick metro-ride away. Day trip, anyone?

STORY // REBECA ARANGO ILLUSTRATIONS // ERIN DENNISON

BEST KOREAN BBQ MOO DAE PO II moodaepobbq.com

BEST HOLE-IN-WALL EATS MOUNTAIN CAFÉ

3014 W 7th St Los Angeles, CA 90005

3064 W 8th St Los Angeles, CA 90005

BEST KARAOKE PALM TREE KARAOKE

IOTA If Willy Wonka were a real-world baker rather

palmtree-la.com

than a fictional candy maker, Iota would be his

3240 Wilshire Blvd Suite 401

joint. This big, glistening storefront on Western

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Ave will have your sweet tooth aching from down the block— but if not, just wait till you stroll through the glass alleyway filled with beautiful

BEER BELLY They had you at “craft beer bar,” but duck fat fries!? Obviously, you need those. While eating at our favorite gastropub in all of K-town every day is probably not the best idea, everyone can use a little indulgence every once in a while…especially when it sounds like maple grilled cheese sandwiches, pork belly skewers, and deep fried Oreos. Drool.

house-made pastries, impeccable baked goods and irresistible cakes. Coffee fanatics can get down too —Iota roasts their own beans in a gleaming red tower using the most cutting-edge technology, plus they’ve truly perfected the art of the hand-drip. You’ll want to hang out for a bit, maybe for a coffee or tea class at one of Iota’s upstairs laboratories, or just out on the massive back patio where the Wi-Fi roams free. And as if all that weren’t magical enough, just wait till you get a green tea latte with a panda-bear swirl. Wow.

beerbellyla.com

iotacoffee.com

532 S Western Ave

528 S Western Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90020

Los Angeles, CA 90020

BLIPSY BARCADE As a kid, you probably killed it at Pac Man. Or maybe Donkey Kong was your thing. Either way, it’s about time you took a little drunken nostalgia trip, and Blipsy Barcade is just the DeLorean for that. Twenty-five cent video games and

TAKE A LOAD OFF

cheap beer? Possibly as close to heaven

If you’re not familiar with

as you can get.

the Korean Spa experience,

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kn o w this: it ’s r ela xin g, effective,

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Hanging out in one of R Bar’s dark wooden booths is like being

Wi Spa is a large, lovely

holed up in an old pirate ship—minus the terrific ocean views.

wellness emporium with delicious food that can be purchased

This password-protected dive is the perfect spot to drown your

wallet-free via a wristband system. You can loaf around in the

sorrows in whiskey on a Wednesday or even kick it by the jukebox

tubs all day for just $15, or get yourself any number of body

with all your mates on Friday night. All you have to do is follow

treatments and massages for less than $100. Crystal Spa keeps

@RBARLA on twitter to gain access to this private pirates’ lair.

a similar price list, uses exclusively Aveda products, has flat

facebook.com/rbarktown

screens for extra entertainment, and even Wi-Fi for those of you who just can’t stop checking Facebook (#guilty). Both spas

3331 W 8th St

are co-ed and have multiple saunas (clay, jade, salt, ice rooms

Los Angeles, CA 90005

SHATTO 39 LANES Once all the Space Invaders have been shot, the fries have all been eaten and you’re finished playing out your wildest pirate fantasies, there’s only one thing left to do: bowl.

Shatto 39 is a big old-fashion alley that stays open ‘til 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

And with both games and beers at around five bucks a pop, why wouldn’t you close it down?

and more) with different healing and detoxifying powers. Go ahead, sweat it out. crystalspala.com

wispausa.com

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shatto39lanes.com 3255 W 4th St Los Angeles, CA 90020

47

CHEF ILAN HALL COOKS UP OUT-OF-THE-BOX IDEAS AT HIS DOWNTOWN EATERY,

THE GORBALS

STORY // Rebecca Arango PHOTOS // Captain

wo years after winning Top Chef, Ilan Hall surprised everybody and opened an odd little restaurant in the back of the Alexandria Hotel in Downtown L A. Named for the immigrant Glasgow neighborhood where his father grew up, The Gorbals is a no-rules blend of Ilan’s personal and professional backgrounds, drawing on everything from his Jewish/Scottish/Israeli heritage to his time spent mastering Spanish flavors at Casa Mono in NYC. We sat down with the Chef at his spot on 5th and Spring to talk technique, cuts of meat, and fried chicken skin.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO OPEN YOUR FIRST RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN? I o riginally w ante d to op en i t by the b e ach, bu t I w as living here alre ady, so I got a tour just for shit s and gig gle s. I actually live d here for a summer a ye ar and a hal f b efo re that — b e c aus e I w as on a g ame sho w — and i t change d s o much, and I love d the lof t sp ac e and ever y thing. S o I w as l o o king aro un d, an d t he f ir s t day I s aw t his w eird sp ac e inside o f t his building — p e ople were ver y surpris e d that this is w here I cho s e fo r i t to b e. Bu t I love d Spring S t, and I knew i t had a lot of p otential.

DID YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME RENOVATING THE SPACE? No, actually it took about t wo months. My business par tner and I did a lot of it ourselves. I built the big table in the center, and we made all these tables, sanded and stained them. These stools, we made with some architect friends of ours the day before we opened. We were tr ying to figure out how to do it on the cheap. They’re big and heav y and loud when they fall, but they’re already car ving out the shape of peoples’ but ts, so they’re good.

FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT DOWNTOWN? I like a lot of the really inexpensive lunch places in Little Tokyo. I love Shin San Gumi, and Daikokuya—both Ramen places, both really really good. And there’s lots of good Mexican food—I like the place down the street on Spring between 6th and 7th, Mai Kitchen. I like Baco Mercat, Wolves Mouth. Oh, and Mediterranean City Grill—you don’t really get much falafel in LA. And I love Kitchen 105, which now exists on weekends here at the Gorbals for Brunch. They do a great job—pack it out.

ANY NEW CULNIARY STYLES OR TECHNIQUES YOU’VE BEEN INTO LATELY? I’ve been doing a little bit of *sous vide, but not a lot. We poach our eggs in that, and our meats once in a while—we were doing short ribs in it. We’re using more Indian spices lately, like Vadouvan, and I’m getting into cinnamon and clove. My friend Ethan had this amazing pressure cooker that wasn’t being used, and he gave it to me, so right now we’re braising pork for Poutine. It’s a serious machine, you have to hand-tighten all the bolts—it’s no joke. And it’s dangerous, because the pressure builds, and if you just unscrew it it’ll explode. Kill somebody.

WHAT’S NEW ON YOUR MENU THIS SPRING? We have beautiful asparagus right now, so we’re doing grilled asparagus with deep fried eggs. And, avocados are awesome, which is weird because on the

* A method of cooking food sealed

east coast they’re only good later on. We’re doing just avocados, blooming

in airtight plastic bags in a water

cilantro and roasted carrots with coriander and kumquats. It ’s one of my

is not unusual—at an accurately

bath for a long time—72 hours

favorites— one of our lightest. Also there’s a cream garbanzo soup, which I

determined temperature much lower

might start doing with green garbanzos, because they’re really nice right now.

than normally used for cooking, typically around 60 °C or 140 °F

WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT GROWING UP? ANYTHING YOU’VE RE-INTERPRETED? My Dad would roast chicken, and I loved it, but I always hated the breast, so I would eat the wings and the thighs, and then I’d also just eat the skin of f the whole thing—it ’d be like a race bet ween me and my mother. I’d get so pissed if at night she’d wake up and take the skin of f the chicken and eat it.

So I’ve had an obsession with chicken skin since I was a wee boy—but it’s also traditionally Jewish to use that in place of bacon. [Ilan has a Gribenes, (fried chicken skin) let tuce and tomato sandwich on the menu] WHAT’S YOUR PROCESS FOR COMING UP WITH NEW DISHES? I’ll get inspiration from a new book, or I’ll see an ingredient—it can come from anywhere. I love this one Vietnamese market called Far East Supermarket, they have lots of Chinese stuff, weird herbs and vegetables. I usually go there for duck and quail eggs, but I’ll also just go there to see if they have any cool weird stuff.

Sometimes I just go to the supermarket. But I’ve also been reading some cool books lately—I just got one by Phaidon called Coco. It has ten huge chefs and their ten favorite contemporary chefs. It’s great, lots of recipes, and a lot of modern stuff. I don’t get to eat out that much, so it’s good to see what people are doing.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTO STRANGE CUTS OF MEAT? It ’s p ar t of my culture. S cot tish fo o d has a lot of it, and traditional E astern Europ e an Jewish fo o d has a lot of it. People s ay it ’s a weird combination, but it feels natural; they have similar climate s, and similar ide als for fo o d: making it last, making it stick to your ribs — using the le s s exp ensive cut s and bringing as much flavor out of them as p os sible.

FAVORITE DISH ON YOUR MENU? I have a couple. I like the beef tongue; we braise it, confi t it, and then grill it—it’s cooked three times and served with a simple Romesco sauce with peppers, tomatoes, almonds, olive oil, garlic and red wine vinegar. And the marrow—it was the first dish I came up with for the Gorbals and it’s still my favorite by far. All the fl avors are the same, it was always with mushrooms, walnuts and malt vinegar, but now we grind it up and make a crust that we bake onto the actual marrow, and serve with parsley and toast. But our menu changes so much that I’ll always have a favorite of the week.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? We’re working on a new space right now—we’re waiting to sign the lease. It’s a joint ef for t— I’m not going to be the chef—with my friends Elia Aboumrad [Top Chef Season 2 finalist] and Uyen Nguyen [Pastr y Chef of Guy Savoy in Las Vegas]. It’s going to be Modern French inspired by Classic French. They’ve both worked under the best Michelin Star-rated French Chefs in the world.

LOCATION: 501 S Spring Street, Los Angelesc CA 90013 l thegorbalsla.com

FOOD SCOOPS

URBAN EATS

STORY // MARILYN CHIU

A Round-Up of Downtown LA Eats with Stress Free Parking SAN ANTONIO WINERY

PARK: FREE parking lot PEEK: Between railroad tracks and warehouses, the winery regally rises up like an out-of-place marvel. There’s a cheerful, fully stocked store with a tasting room in the front, and an elegant, yet homey dining area in the back serving Northern Italian food.

PERK: This winery was originally built from boxcar sideboards in the early 1900s by Italian railroad workers who made and sold wine on their days off. They now host free guided tours daily where you can learn all about winemaking. sanantoniowinery.com 737 Lamar Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031

PHILIPPE’S THE ORIGINAL

PARK: Two FREE parking lots, and plenty of street parking PEEK: It’s been in this very spot since 1951, and so have their French dipped meat-wiches. Beef, turkey, or lamb, with stingingly hot mustard and coleslaw—doesn’t get any more vintage than that.

PERK: The French dip was born in 1918 when owner Philippe Mathieu accidentally dropped half a French roll into a sizzling pan of meat juice when making a sandwich. The customer took it anyway, and it became all the rage. philippes.com 1001 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

BLUE COW

PARK: FREE with validation in structure at 350 S. Olive St PEEK: Springing off the insanely popular DTLA sandwich restaurant, Mendocino Farms, Blue Cow goes for farm-fresh, yet fun with the spiced lamb meatballs on house-made lavash and curried cauliflower with house-made naan. Both house-made breads are seriously seductive.

PERK: You can sit on the patio in the midst of DTLA’s amazing highrises, or inside one of the restaurant’s cozy and hip cabin-like nooks. bluecowkitchen.com 350 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071

GUISADO’S

PARK: Plenty of street parking, meters expire at 6 PM PEEK: “Guisado” means “braised” in Spanish. You can get anything from braised chicharrones (fried pig skin chips) to steak picado in your tacos. Try the sampler of six—it looks like an edible kaleidoscope and keeps the whole meal interesting.

PERK: The place next door grinds cornmeal from whole corn kernels; Guisado’s takes the masa and makes tortillas to order, one corny handful at a time. guisados.co 2100 E Cesar Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033

STARRY KITCHEN

PARK: FREE with validation in structure at 350 S. Olive Street PEEK: Chalked onto their blackboards, the menu changes every two weeks, but any choice of filling between their delicious French baguettes makes for a funky and delicious Asian fusion sandwich.

PERK: They started as an underground kitchen. starrykitchen.com 350 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071

ARTISAN HOUSE

PARK: $2 Valet before 4 PM PEEK: Half gourmet market, half restaurant, Artisan House grows fresh herbs on the roof and is the perfect place to grab a salad or sandwich for lunch, or some wine and cheese for a late afternoon snack.

PERK: They have a $5 happy hour menu, live jazz Monday nights with the Campfire Trio, and acoustic Sundays with the Icy Hot Club. artisanhouse.net 600 S Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

LITTLE BEAR

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PARK: Plenty of street parking, or $5 lot PEEK: Along with Belgian beers, Belgian fries, and Belgian waffles, Little Bear has plenty of Belgian entrees like waterzooi and some biscuit-esque gougere sliders with fried oysters and duck confit.

PERK: Little Bear hides in a narrow, dark street in the Arts District, is open till 2 AM, and has a late-night menu richly composed of grilled cheese sandwiches and moules frites. It’s where people go before hibernating. littlebearla.com 1855 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

RESTAURANT

GOING BIG UMAMICATESSEN BRINGS TOGETHER FIVE KITCHENS AND A BAR FOR ONE DOWNTOWN MEGA-RESTAURANT You could say Umami Burger has already made its burger-lipped imprint on Los

WHY DID YOU PICK DOWNTOWN AS THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR UMAMICATESSEN?

Angeles, boasting six locations from Los Feliz to Hermosa. And now Downtown

When we look for new locations, we look for great neighborhoods. The

has it’s own expanded version of the chain: UMAMIcatessen—a 6,650 square-

Downtown scene has been growing for years and there is a really good energy

foot space on Broadway and 9th. No longer just a burger joint, Umami is now

there right now.

a coffee shop, a donut bakery, a bar, and—you guessed it—a delicatessen.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NEW DISH ON UMAMICATESSEN’S MENU? There are five new dining components at UMAMIcatessen. The Cure offers kosher deli dishes, like pastrami, knishes, and matzo ball soup.

I think we have the best donuts in Los Angeles.

Chris

Cosentino’s PIGG is a porky, refined sidekick to Umami’s beefy burgers, with an

HAVE THE ALTERNATIVE ITEMS BEEN WELL-RECEIVED?

eight-ham tour of the world, canned pork rillettes spread, and a ruby-red raw

People really love the Matzo Ball soup, knishes and pastrami at The Cure.

ham crudo. The Back Bar, with Adrian Biggs at the helm, shakes up cocktails

We have some people coming in just for our donuts from & a Donut. Chris

echoing the cosmopolitan Broadway nightlife of the bourbon and bitters days.

Cosentino’s PIGG has been a huge hit—people have really enjoyed his around

There are even savory Umami cocktails, like the Bourbon Pig: bacon fat washed

the world in 8 hams.

Bulleit bourbon, Angostura bitters and sugar served with a fried pig ear. At the end of the meal, choose from a unique listing of fried-to-order donuts,

HOW OFTEN, AND TO WHAT DEGREE, WILL THE MENU CHANGE?

including the sweetly soaked Tres Leches cake donut and the decadent FG&J

The core menu will stay pretty constant. We have a pretty lengthy secret

foie gras donut. Finally, Spring for Coffee, coaxed from its original location on

menu at UMAMIcatessen. People should come in and ask their server what

Spring Street, ties everything together with a solid cup of joe. LAC caught up

to try. There is always something surprising available.

with founder Adam Fleischman to find out what’s next for his Umami Empire.

STORY // MARILYN CHIU

BRAINAISE—AN AIOLI WITH BLENDED PIG BRAINS— WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA AND HOW DO YOU DESICRIBE IT TO PATRONS WHO MAY NO BE OPEN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY PIG PARTS? The Brainaise is all Chris Cosentino’s. He is really known for using the entire pig from head to tail. It’s not for everybody, that’s for sure, but for people who want to try something new, I think they’ll be surprised by how delicious pig brains can be.

SO THERE’S UMAMI BURGER, 800 DEGRESS, AND UMAMICATESSEN. DO YOU PREDICT ANOTHER UMAMI-BRAND CONCEPT EMERGING IN THE FUTURE? UMAMIBURRITO? You’ll definitely see more of The Cure and PIGG in the future. We are launching a products company very soon. Right now, you can already buy our ketchup, Umami Dust, Umami Spray and our Umami Master Sauce to take home with you at UMAMIcatessen. You’ll see us start rolling that out nationwide very soon. You never know what will be next. We’ve talked a lot about barbecue and other ideas.

Umami-B-Q? Seriously, we can’t wait. But until that magical day, we’re thinking UMAMIcatessen’s ever-changing donut list alone will be enough to keep us satisfied. BBQ donut? You never know.

LOCATION: 852 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014 umami.com

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BAR

ONE HUNDRED STRONG THE LA BREWING CO. SERVES UP A HUNDERD BEERS ON TAP IN A HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD SPACE The Chapman building on 8th and Broadway is celebrating its hundredth

comfor t, with garlic Parmesan fries, sliders, and spicy chicken wings all

anniversar y this year; built in 1912, the building was once among the most

fresh, well priced and undeniably tasty. While a selection of 10 0 beers on

lavish of its kind, boasting a mahogany-paneled lobby and a coveted address

tap can seem over whelming, Verdugo’s bar tenders are there to help you

in the Downtown Theatre District. The Chapman’s 2007 restoration, a modern

out. “Downtown, beer is the new wine. People are le arning more about

update elegantly preser ving its turn-of-the-centur y bones, marks a notable

beer and respecting it a lot more. And it ’s the same as wine; you’ve got

step in the ef for t to bring back Broadway, with hip spots like 213’s Broadway

to know how to pour it, how to serve it, and how to explain the dif ference

Bar and crave - wor thy burger emp orium UMAMIc ate s sen subse quently

bet ween an IPA and a stout.” The L.A.B.C. also keeps a comprehensive

joining the ranks. The latest watering hole to brave Broadway? A comfortable

wine list as well as a full liquor bar, and the coz y upst airs is slot ted to

and classy bar and restaurant called the Los Angeles Brewing Company.

be an organic cocktail bar with a weekly selection of fresh fruit libations.

Af ter taking over an enormous storefront at the foot of the Chapman flats,

Though the grand opening was this past April, Verdugo is by no means done

owner Ralph Verdugo found himself on an archeological dig. “This was the

with the space. He’s got plans to turn the basement—which has prohibition-

first Bank of America,” says Verdugo, who designed the space himself, opting

era tunnels running into it and houses a massive bank vault covered in

for a classic, understated look punctuated by bits of histor y. “All the marble

machine-gun holes — into a speakeasy-st yle lounge with live music; plus,

they had was thrown away and stored in the basement somewhere. When

he’s creating a cigar room in a corner of the upstairs lof t. But for now, the

I discovered it, it was in really bad shape, so I sent it out and made the

Los Angeles Brewing Company is the per fect place to grab all your friends

tables.” The 10 0 -year old tabletops aren’t the only re-purposed items at

(you can fit a lot of people in there) and set tle in for a Saturday af ternoon of

L.A.B.C.; Verdugo also recovered all the light fixtures, as well as old gauges

spor ts, sliders, and a lot of great beer…or cocktails, if that’s what your into.

and wine barrels, which are now displayed as ar t in the front entrance.

STORY // REBECA ARANGO But this is the 21st centur y af ter all, and so the old mingles with the new—

LOCATION:

HD projectors hang from the lof t y ceilings so you can watch all the games

750 S Broadway

at once on towering screens around the room. A dog-check system allows

Los Angeles, CA 90 014

PHOTOS // CAPTAIN

you to drop of f your four-leg ged friend at the front, where he’ll play with

PHOTO // BEN GIBBS

the other dogs while you chow down. Food is spot- on modern California

labrewingco.com

57

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FRENCH VANILLA KEEP YOUR GUT IN-CHECK POOLSIDE WITH A VOLI

ORANGE CRUSH Just because D owntown is like 20 mile s from the be ach

doesn’t mean high-rise loft dwellers have no use for swimwear.

We’re forecasting that this year, summer in DTL A will be, as usual, all about the rooftop pool parties (The Standard on Sundays? Duh). And really, who’s trying to chug beers and then lounge around with no shirt on? That’s just reckless behavior.

INGREDIENTS: -1 oz Orange Vanilla Voli -1 oz Fresh Orange Juice -Splash of Diet Sprite Glass: Martini Garnish: Orange twist Shake and strain Voli and orange juice, top with a s plash of Diet Sprite.

APPROX CALORIES: 94

So, while keeping it classily un-clad up by a sky-high watering hole, we’ll be opting for some sophisticated, low-calorie vodka cocktails. Voli Vodka, crafted by the master distillers of RoulletFransac in Cognac, France, is a multi-distilled spirit that has up to 25% fewer calories than your average premium Vodka. Plus, it comes in a mixologist-friendly slew of all-natural flavors.

This particular concoction, made with easy ingredients you can find at any corner store (orange juice and sprite), is the perfect afternoon elixir. It’s like a refined screwdriver with a sweet creamsicle flavor from the Orange Vanilla Voli, and a bubbly kick thanks to the splash of Sprite. Warning:

volispirits.com

you don’t need a lot of these to get a buzz on, but at about 94 calories a drink, feel free to sip on them all day long.

59

TECH

TECH iT OUT SURE, YOU MADE A SECRET NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION TO START WORKING OUT MORE… BUT THEN YOU DISCOVERED FIVE SEASONS OF INTERVENTION ON NETFLIX INSTANT AND BECAME PERMANENTLY GLUED TO THE COUCH. IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF US. WELL, THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A SHINY NEW TOY TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE DRUDGERY THAT IS EXERCISE, AND WITH SUMMER FAST APPROACHING, IT’S REALLY ABOUT TIME WE PULL OURSELVES TOGETHER. CHECK OUT A FEW OUR PICKS FOR THE BEST TECH TO GET YOU OUT OF THAT FLANNEL ROBE AND BACK INTO THOSE TERRY CLOTH HOT PANTS. // JUSTIN FITZWATER

WORDLOCK 5-DIAL PADLOCK - $10 (PRICE VARIES) Leaving your bag alone when you’re at the gym can cause quite a bit of anxiety. Even with a padlock it can be hard to find a place to keep your key while you’re working up a sweat. The Wordlock 5-Dial Padlock is a combination lock with a twist (no pun intended). Rather than numbers, the combination uses letters, allowing for 100,000 possible letter combinations. Choose a 5 letter word that’s easy for you to remember, and you’re ready to focus on your workout without worrying about your things. wordlock.com

GRIFFIN AEROSPORT ARMBAND $19.99 If you have an iPod, chances are you can’t get through a workout without it. The latest iPod Nano is the perfect size, and even has a convenient clip, but there’s not $ 13 9

always a convenient place to clip it. The Griffin Aerosport

Training on your own can be a difficult task, especially if

Armband has a sof t, stretchy band that comfor tably

you lack motivation. The Adidas miCoach works as your

wraps around just about any arm (up to 17 inches),

own personal coach, tracking your pace, distance, elapsed

and provides easy access to the screen, por ts and

time, stride-rate and heart rate. You can attach any MP3

controls. Guaranteed to lower your chances of falling

player and miCoach will pause the music any time you

on your face next time you’re switching tracks on the

need a reminder to speed up or slow down. It may not

treadmill. grif fintechnology.com

ADIDAS

MICOACH

PACER

MONITOR

-

exactly be the “scream in your face” kind of trainer that some of us need, but maybe having a motivating voice in your ear can help silence the whiney one in the back of your mind. finishline.com

NIKE+ SPORTWATCH WITH GPS POWERED BY TOMTOM, $169 Nike+ technology has evolved quite a bit since first making an appearance in 2006 as a collaboration between Nike and Apple.

Created as a way to track time, distance, hear t rate, pace and calories burned during a workout, The Nike+ Spor t watch GPS takes ever y thing that makes this technology great and adds much more. Aside from the previously mentioned features, it also tracks your hear t rate and, with GPS built in, can track your mapped route, allowing you to plan or track your workouts, share them with friends online or see the most popular routes around the globe. nikerunning.nike.com

FITBIT ULTRA – $99.95 The Fitbit Ultra is another great activity tracking device for those looking to monitor their daily fitness routines. Small and easy to clip on to any piece of clothing, it tracks steps taken, miles travelled, calories burned and the amount of time each day that you were sedentary or active (separated into lightly, fairly or very active).

It even tracks you during sleep, providing detailed information about your sleep cycle. With the built-in clock and stopwatch,

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there’s not a lot this tiny gadget can’t do! fitbit.com

FINIS SWIMSENSE PERFORMANCE MONITOR - $199 Swimming is one of the best ways to work out many areas of your body at once, WII FIT - $99 (DOES NOT INCLUDE WII CONSOLE)

but it can be hard to track more than the number of laps you’ve swum. The Finis Swimsense Per formance Monitor is a waterproof gadget using accelerometers

Who wouldn’t rather stay home and play videogames? With the

and magnetometers to analyze your workout while you swim. Pace times,

Wii Fit Balance Board you can do just that and still get in your

distance, stroke count /rate, distance-per-stroke and calories burned can all be

daily exercise. The balance board has been popular for a few

tracked and used to improve your performance for better results. finisinc.com

years now and continues to be so. With a low price point and enter taining sof t ware, it ’s a great way to shed some pounds from the comfor t of your own home. Get in a good workout and you won’t have to feel so bad about all those hours of playing Super Mario and Zelda. wiifit.com

SONY WALKMAN W SERIES 2GB /4 GB - $59.99 / 79.99 Running and weight-training are quite of ten sweaty af fairs. Most MP3 players are sturdy, but don’t claim to be waterproof—most MP3 players are not the W Series Walkman. Designed to be the “per fect workout par tner,” this Walkman comes in either 2GB (50 0 songs) or 4GB (10 0 0 songs) models and happens to be water-resistant. The device is also wire-free and provides 8 hours of play time on a full charge. If you forget to charge it, plugging it in for a mere 3 minutes will give you up to 60 minutes of use. store.sony.com

ZEO SLEEP MONITOR - $99 WITHINGS BODY SCALE – $159 Not a lot of people realize just how important a good night of sleep is to your overall health. The Zeo Sleep Monitor is a lightweight,

Being “fit” has different meanings to different people. For some, it means building

adjustable headband that uses TruTrak to track your sleep quality (REM

muscle and toning up, for others it means losing a few waist sizes. If you’re the

and Deep sleep). There’s also a built in alarm that wakes you at the

lat ter you’ll need a decent scale, and the Withings Body Scale is the per fect

optimal point in your sleep cycle so you wake feeling refreshed. Using

weight-loss tool. This WiFi enabled scale connects to the internet to track your

the iOS/Android mobile app, you’re given comprehensive information

weight, fat mass and BMI, allowing you to view the data from your computer

about your sleep patterns and more. There’s no easier workout than

or smar tphone. There’s even an option to link the scale to your Twit ter feed.

a good night’s sleep. myzeo.com

What bet ter way to keep yourself motivated than by broadcasting your progress instantly to your friends and family! withings.com

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MAY CONCERT

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Tennis @ the Troubadour

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CONCERT W

COMEDY

Coldplay @ Hollywood Bowl

2

David Sedaris @ UCLA Live, Royce Hall

CONCERT

3

MUSIC EVENT

TH

KCRW First Fridays @ the National History Museum

THEATRE

The Pianist of Willesden Lane: Lounge Friday @ the Geffen Playhouse

ART EXHIBIT

Aaron Shepard (last day) @ Western Projects Gallery

4

S

5 6

PARTY

2nd Annual Kentucky Derby Viewing Party @ Los Angeles Athletic Club

CONCERT

Check Yo Ponytail 2 w/ Tiga, Damian Lazarus + more @ the Echoplex

CONCERT

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FESTIVAL

The Los Angeles Music Video Festival @ Downtown Independent

7

EVENT

Cage the Elephant @ the Mayan Theatre

PAPA @ the Echo

FOOD FESTIVAL SUN

A Taste of the Eastside @ Los Feliz Bandsall Art Park

CONCERT

Metronomy + Ben Browning (Cut Copy) @ the El Rey

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Annual Venice Garden & Home Tour @ Venice Beach

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Death Cab for Cutie @ the Hollywood Bowl

The Drums @ the El Rey

Bloc Party (DJ Set) @ Drai’s Hollywood

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Radiolab live @ Royce Hall

CONCERT

Drake @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine

FESTIVAL

Mindshare 50 @ Various Venues Downtown

THEATRE

Chicago @ the Pantages Theatre, through 5/27

FOOD EVENT

Sammy’s Woodfire Pizza Grand Opening @ Studio City

ART EVENT

ARTWALK @ Downtown LA

GALLERY OPENING

PARTY

CONCERT

Love Drug @ the Bootleg Theatre

Ghettogloss Presents Twilight at the Club @ Secret Lair

ART EVENT

French Invasion @ Fabien Castanier Gallery

Spring into Life Auction benefiting Selfless LA Soup Kitchen @ Think Tank Gallery

PARTY

4th Annual On the Go Beauty Mother’s Day Celebration @ Thompson Beverly Hills

CONCERT

Nick Waterhouse @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts

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FOOD FESTIVAL

Vegan Beer and Food Fest @ the Roxy

CONCERT

KCRW Presents Rufus Wainwright @ the Orpheum Theatre

PARTY

Low End Theory @ the Airliner

PARTY

DTLA Prom @ the Alexandria Ballroom

CONCERT

Jack White @ the Troubadour

CONCERT

Devendra Banhart @ the Observatory

COMEDY

Facebook @ UCB Theatre

ART EVENT

Venice Art Walk @ Venice Beach

PARTY

ART TALK

The Twelves @ Drai’s Hollywood

Italian Art and Fashion @ the Petersen Automotive Museum

COMEDY

Reggie Watts @ The Fonda

ART EVENT

COMEDY

Dear Raymer Art Show @ Dear Raymer House

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Dum Dum Girls @ the Echoplex

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Sarah Silverman @ Largo

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My Neighboor Totoro @ the Cinefamily

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It’s A School Night @ Bardot

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Funky Sole @ the Echo

FILM FESTIVAL

CONCERT

Salute Your Shorts @ the Downtown Independant

Lianne La Havas @ the Bootleg

FESTIVAL

Silverlake Jubilee @ Silverlake

PARTY

Dam-Funk @ the Mondrian

CONCERT

Harriet @ the Bootleg

CONCERT

Portugal the Man @ Royce Hall (UCLA)

CONCERT

The Internet @ the Echo

LACA N VAS.COM -YOUR EV ERY DAY SOURCE FOR TH E LATEST EV EN TS.

JUNE

FILM FESTIVAL

Los Angeles Film Festival @ Downtown LA

CONCERT

JJAMZ @ the Satellite

THEATRE

ART EVENT

War Horse @ the Ahmanson Theatre, through 7/29

ARTWALK @ Downtown LA

ART EXHIBIT

Made in LA @ the Hammer

COMEDY

The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo

CONCERT

CONCERT

Mayer Hawthorne @ the Wiltern

Coco Rosie @ Luckman Fine Arts

ART OPENING

Edgar Payne: The Scenic Journey @ PMCA

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The Magician + Plastic Plates @ Dim Mak Studios

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“Los Otros” @ the Mark Taper Forum, through 7/1

FILM FESTIVAL

CHARITY EVENT

YAS-A-THON Benefit for ThinkCure! Cancer Research @ YAS Downtown LA

PARTY

Hollywood Fringe Festival @ Multiple Venues

Sunday Bloody Sunday – Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar @ La Cita

STYLE EVENT

A Taste of Elegance Fashion Show @ TenTen Wilshire

COMEDY

First Fridays w/ the Weekend Pilots @ Improv Comedy Lab

CONCERT

CONCERT

Lana Del Rey @ the El Rey

THEATRE

White Arrows @ the Troubadour

The Adams Family @ the Pantages Theatre, through 6/17

PARTY

Simian Mobile Disco @ Avalon Hollywood

THEATRE

National Theatre Live: Frankenstein @ the Downtown Independent

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CONCERT

LMFAO with Far East Movement, The Quest Crew @ the Staples Center

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MUSIC FESTIVAL

Make Music Pasadena @ Old Pasadena

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THEATRE

Million Dollar Quarter @ the Pantages Theatre, through 7/1

CONCERT

Foster the People @ Gibson Amphitheater

CONCERT

The Avett Brothers @ Nokia Theatre

EVENT

Dwell on Design @ the Los Angeles Convention Center

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CONCERT CONCERT

Liars @Liars the Fonda @ the Theatre Fonda Theatre

PARTY

Dance Right @ La Cita

EVENT

X Games @ LA Live Event Deck

EVENT

Opening Fireworks Celebration @ the Hollywood Bowl

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LAST LOOK

SHARK TOOF THE ULTIMATE INSIDER OUTSIDER “I’ve been a graffiti artist since 1985—it’s been my whole life. People like to say it’s fresh and new— but it has history, and you’d better bring real skills. The quality of your compositions needs to be pronounced, and your iconography needs to be original. People think I’m harsh, but I just tell the truth about what I see. I hate because I love.” That’s vintage Shark Toof, and he has the talent to say shit like that, and the temperament to take the heat. “When I was growing up we smashed all day, we killed busses. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d spend my life doing what I love.” He grew up on the East Side of LA, with painter Gajin Fujita and a loose crowd of other art-minded vandals. “Downtown and over to Rampart District was literally the Wild West. It was Mad Max on crack. We had skaters, bangers, taggers—everyone was out to jack everyone. I saw things that would blow your mind. My mom worked a block away from the Belmont Tunnel. Back then it was deep gang territory, and I’d practice all the writing styles, I loved it. And it all still relates.” Street to gallery to street, there’s never any question when it’s by Shark Toof, even if there’s no great white in the picture.

His next solo show is at The Cave in Venice in October, with a small preview in a group show at Thinkspace in May. And his first major book comes out from Zero+ this July (Full disclosure: I wrote the essay). His newest work is inspired by a recent trip to South East Asia. “You can’t hate these, they’re so pretty! You can’t hate pretty things unless you’re an asshole.” Called the Ping Pong Show, the collection is lush and lavish and sexy, fraught with dense detail and saturated colors. “The sex industry there is rampant. But you know, up close, it’s not really all that clear who’s being manipulated. I like my work to ask more questions than it answers and let the viewer decide. Who is really benefiting? Is it mutual? The culture is passionate about everything they do—the food, the clothing, the tourist trap shows, even dump trucks are painted, nothing is without its art. That’s what I want to bring back here with me.”

STORY // SHANA NYS DAMBROT

PHOTO // CAPTAIN

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Check out sharktoof.com and zeropluspublishing.com for news and destruction.

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COVER // SHARK TOOF

2012

We A c t iv ist J A S O N L E E S HO T B Y ANTON RENBORG w w w. w e sc . c o m