LA CANVAS - THE VACATION ISSUE (JULY/AUGUST 2015)

LA CANVAS hanni el khatib • dylan gordon • gray malin • re/done • joe perri insight 51 • the larchmont • max barsness • little pine • weespin mama gallery • howling • jessica sample

los angeles

the vacation issue

AVA I L A B L E AT: SPORTIE LA AND THE GLENDALE GALLERIA

STAY TU NED

MASTHEAD

1.

Publisher

Dante Colombatti Associate Publisher

Mali Mochow 2.

on the cover 1

Hanni El Khatib •

2

Joe Perri

cover photography by 1

Kour y A ngelo •

2

Joe Perri

CONTACT 1778 N. Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90031

Editor-in-Chief

Director of Business Development

Erin Dennison

Christina Chu

Online Editor

Finance Director

Renée George

Cole Westerholm

Sr. Editor

Video Producer

Lauren Westerfield

Mitchel Dumlao

Production Director

Online Editorial Assistant

Joevanno Diaz

Nicole Frederick

Sr. Designer

Online Contributors

Theresa Liu

Angela Gleason Faith Ann Young Jesy Odio Kimmy McAtee Patrick Cain Sanni Youboty Valeri Spiwak

(323) 352-3250 • PR@L ACANVAS.COM Wanna contribute? Send all editorial submissions to submit@lacanvas.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS $6.00 an issue, $25 a year visit L ACANVAS.com to sign up

Photography

Koury Angelo Joe Perri Dylan Gordon Emman Montalvan Gray Malin Eduardo Figueroa Melissa Danis Contributors

Garth Trinidad Kacy Emmett Rachel Many Vi Nguyen Vija Hodosy Chris Pedler

Design Assistants

Adrian Gonzalez Geovani Arevalo Joseph Nevarez Editorial Assistants

Justin Duong Katherine Lai Noor Gil Nikki Kingman Tyler Allen

Subscriptions Supervisor

Oliver

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Copyright 2015 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.

Table of Contents

L A C A N VA S The Vacation Issue

Issue 29 • V˚5 Ed.5

14

14

music

El Moonlighter

26

24

style

Eat, Pray, Shoot

Hanni El Khatib

Jessica Sample

The indie rock darling and Innovative Leisure co-founder just announced international tour dates on the heels of his third self-produced release, Moonlighter

The travel photographer inspires our collective wanderlust

36

12

12

Noted What to look out for this season

66

The Playlist The smooth house beatsmith scores our summer playlist

40

67

The Kids Are All Right The iconic brand moves its global headquarters to Venice for a triumphant homecoming

Back to the Future 54

Innovative tune-sharing app weeSPIN makes listening social again

70

Calendar July

On the Road Again Dylan Gordon Outdoor photographer Dylan Gordon travels the world in search of community

Wildcard

Scene + Heard Take a peak at our most recent parties, and find out how to stay in the loop

Insight 51

weeSPIN

20

A comprehensive guide to local nonprofits and community building

We found your new favorite jeans

Till Von Sein

19

LA CANVAS Cares Community Watch

The Remix Re/Done

18

misc

72

Calendar August

Till Von Sein Deep (House) thoughts from the Berlin DJ/ Producer

25

46

Tenor is the Night

David Lekach

Where in the World is Joe Perri?

Photo editorial by lifestyle photographer David Lekach

The lifestyle photographer shares his European travel diary

74

The Young Tehachapis

Ry-X Australian export Ry-X teams up with DJ Frank Wiedemann for Howling

27

25

art

The Not-So-Negative Space

45

Retail therapy for every budget

24

Max Barsness

LA Street Art Snaps from our favorite art around LA

30

60

Spots Worth a Detour Due for a daycation? We’ve rounded up a list of our favorite restaurants to catch along the way

61

Humble City Little Pine

Fully Grown

DJ, musician, and dedicated vegan Moby blends ethics, a penchant for oddball architecture, and laid-back vibes at Silver Lake’s latest restaurant

MAMA Gallery New kid on the block: the contemporary gallery tackles the Arts District head-on

62 35

Palette Expander

Food Scoops

Gray Malin

34

food

Chef Max Shapiro proves a fine dining experience without the oppression of the candelabra

Always on the Brightside Fine art photographer Gray Malin puts the good life front and center

22 Max Shapiro

Landscape photographer Max Barsness is Here to Save Us All

28

Trend Matrix

Now Boarding California Watering Holes

Gallery Openings

Let’s not forget that the real privilege of LA life is our close proximity to other delicious destinations

A roundup of art shows to catch this season

64

Sipping Sunshine The Larchmont When a full-blown vacation isn’t feasible, thank your lucky stars you live in LA

•

a note

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

e ri n d e n nis o n

issue 29

the vacation issue

1 MUSEUM

LOS ANGELES

HAMMER.UCLA.EDU

MARK BRADFORD, LIGHTS AND TUNNELS, 2015 (DETAIL). MIXED MEDIA ON CANVAS. 84 X 108 IN. (213.4 X 274.3 CM).

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND HAUSER & WIRTH. PHOTO BY ROBERT WEDEMEYER.

Noted Cabinet of Curiosities

T

hotelcovell.com 

property’s five suites. Each room illustrates a chapter in George’s life, from his childhood in Oklahoma to his time spent in Europe. The hotel is helmed by Bar Covell's Dustin Lancaster, with

wo times for interesting pretend people!

conceptualization by Sally Breer (both of whom

George Covell, a fictional character from

collaborated in scripting Covell’s biography in order

the 1930’s, serves as the muse for Los

to actualize the hotel’s interior design). And while

Feliz’s first boutique hotel. Hotel Covell pays

the venue’s roof bar is now open, if you’re lucky

homage to a notion of Covell as a refined, cultured

enough to have copped a night’s stay, you’re gonna

writer whose travels are depicted throughout the

be busy taking photos of your room.

Sand in Your Shoes

▐░░░░◙░░░░░◘░░░░░◙░░░░▌

Surf's Up maryosbornesurf.com 

mintandrose.com

W



e just can’t say enough about a breathable summer shoe, and Monti G. Benavides would certainly agree. The native

Spaniard founded Mint & Rose a few years back after relocating to LA. The shoe line, mused on Benavide’s Mediterranean roots, bodes espadrilles and sandals available in a range of soft colors and textures, all inspired by the sand and sea of the designer's hometown. From the jump, Mint & Rose’s philosophy has been to ethically manufacture sophisticated shoes with a decidedly modern touch—all priced at under $200 a pair.

Image by Jeff Johnson Curtsey of Patagonia

H

ave you ever been nominated for a Teen Choice Award? Made a cameo on The Tom Green Show? Graced the cover of

Surfer Girl Magazine? Well, Mary Osborne’s done all three. The former pro surfer rose to fame back in 2003 after winning the Long Board Division on the MTV reality series Surf Girls. After her obligatory media rounds, Osborne co-authored a book, dabbled in oceanic activism, and started Mary Osborne Surf Camp. Book a private or small group lesson to learn surfboard etiquette, safety, and sporting basics

Beach Boys

before attempting to hold your own in public this summer. What’s more, the camp is located up in



Ventura, where you can struggle 90 miles away from anyone you know. Um yeah, we can get up— no sweat, been doing this for years.

▐░░░░◙░░░░░◘░░░░░◙░░░░▌

S

beachpartyla.bandcamp.com

like Best Coast, Black Lips, Allah-Las, and our dude Hanni El Khatib. With such a high-caliber list of cool kid cosigns, and the release of their second

ummer’s here, and if you can’t get into

EP Ripper on the horizon, it’s no surprise that the

garage surf-rock, than maybe it’s time to

groovy foursome has secured a Monday night

leave LA. Local boys Beach Party have

residency at the Echo throughout July. Party on,

shared the stage with some pretty amazing acts

SoCal alt bros.

Noted Not All Those Who Wander roarkrevival.com 

C

alifornia lifestyle brand Roark is inspired by the bold adventures of a fictional character by the same name. “Roark,” as documented for the brand’s digital and print zine, moves through diverse terrains,

cultures, and experiences with ease: a figure of legend whose narrative is

woven

into

the

line’s

durable

garments

and

accessories.

True to the brand’s ethos, Roark is also committed to supporting the Help Nepal

initiative,

rebuilding

efforts.

raising Head

funds to

can get involved.

for

their

the

site

region’s

to

find

earthquake

out

how

you

☼ Hokey Pokey

Horse Play



Thievery Corporation, Weezer,

Y

dmtc.com

W

mainlandpoke.com

 hat do the Wallflowers,

ou’d be hard-pressed to find a dish more suitable for summer than poke. The low-maintenance concoction of marinated raw fish is a staple in Hawaii, and is quickly becoming a cult favorite

here in LA. Mainland Poke popped up on West Third Street this past

and Weird Al have in common?

spring, and offers an approachable take on the island staple's exotic

They’re all a part of Del Mar Racetrack’s

sauces. Industry vet Ari Kahan tapped Chef Kayson Chong to conceptualize

22nd annual summer concert series. From

Mainland Poke’s casual, chef-driven concept, focusing on artisan

July through early September, the seaside

ingredients and market-fresh toppings. Pro tip: the octopus with spicy

venue hosts an eclectic selection of live

shoyu sauce might just change your life.

acts to headline its seasonal entertainment roster. Live music not your bag? Then the lavish parties, people-watching, and worldclass horse racing will have to do.

Thoroughbred season is upon us, folks;and thanks to American Pharaoh, it’s really a thing now. Besides, where else were you gonna wear that hat?

“

Pro tip: the octopus with spicy shoyu sauce might just change your life.

“

Photo courtesy of The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Retail Therapy 

carmelapartments.com

W

hen we were your age, Downtown’s reliable commerce options included little more than a Wokcano, King Eddy’s Saloon, and a rogue Coffee Bean closing at 4pm. Whelp, here comes the neighborhood. Just a smooth two years since its announcement,

Whole Foods is about to join the ranks of DTLA’s more recent commercial enterprises like Ralphs, CityTarget, and L.A. Live. The highly anticipated approximately 42,000-square-foot store opens its doors this November at Eighth and Grand, the massive project helmed by Bay Area developer Carmel Partners. The swanky compound is made up of 700 luxury apartment rentals, 120 new subterranean parking spaces, and 8,000 additional square feet of retail space, all of which sits at a South Park/Historic Core adjacent sweet spot. Guess the rumors were actually true.

LACANVAS.COM

Travel Diaries We love Los Angeles. From palm tree-lined landscapes and iconic diners, to local food porn and golden hour cityscapes—we can’t get enough decadent LA imagery.

Occasionally, though, it’s nice to hit the road. This time, we aske d Ang ele nos to ta g #L ACANVAStravel in their favorite scenic views—SoCal and beyond.

Yellowstone, Wyoming @aris16

Arelan, Costa Rica @melmonifi

Baja California, Mexico @wandaorme

Honolulu, Hawaii @samantheeyo

Vicenza, Italy @opium_dreams

Highway 101, California @tylerelainee

Schilthorn, Switzerland @molgoodman

Rio de Janeiro,Brazil @ritalabib

Taste Issue Release Party In celebration of the May/June Taste Issue, we joined forces with our pals over at Golden Box LA for the Taste Issue Release Party. The Hollywood turn

up featured delicious small bites by Nomad Kitchen, a Jack Daniel’s hosted bar, and groovy tunes by DJ Val Fleury and KCRW’s Garth Trinidad.

On The Hunt Why not hit refresh on your coffee shop routine and conduct your work sessions at a comfortable bar that hosts Wifi— free Wifi? Well, we did your homework for you and compiled a list of Best Bars with WiFi over at LACANVAS.com.

@LACANVAS

/LACANVAS

@LACANVAS

/LACANVAS

Want more? Get the lowdown on our favorite hidden gems in Culver City, where to cop the best breakfast burrito, under-the-radar spots for dapper menswear, off-the-grid hiking trails, and a homage to our newfound love for LA’s burgeoning poke movement.

LACANVAS.COM

Looks like another hot summer Visit DelMarScene.com

JULY 16 - SEPT 7

hanni el khatib Ëš the vacation issue

KHATIB

0505LAC

THE VACATION ISSUE

El Moonlighter 

Hanni El Khatib brings versatility and old-school cool to the stage.

Text by • Garth Trinidad Photography • Koury Angelo Special thanks to Hudson Lofts

After accruing a few mutual acquaintances, a handful of in-person misses, and plenty of reciprocal admiration, Hanni El Khatib and I enjoyed a first meeting that felt more like a jovial reunion between old friends. The stylish Filipino, Palestinian and all-American rocker presents like a modern stray cat, reminiscent of early Elvis and James Dean—all while remaining a mellow smooth music and graphics fiend (obsessed with Wu Tang and Motorhead, Souls of Mischief and Slayer) beneath the surface. Considered by some to be an overnight success, Hanni’s narrative is one of weighted passion, forged by fear of regret and love of songwriting…and an ocean of hard-ass work.

Following a half-decade-long tornado of tours, albums, and a short stack of underground and media hits like “You Rascal You”(some may recall Shazaming the tune during the Captain Morgan Black campaign, or Season 5 of Californication) the creative director-turned-indie rock darling was stirred with the desire to glide past perceived borders of genre by way of composition and collaboration.

These days, Hanni is still touring in support of his third and latest offering, Moonlight (Innovative Leisure, 2015), an artfully crafted, self-produced album which reveals a slightly subdued and more mature side to the artist’s sound. We stole a few moments together in LA to riff on design, heavy metal, the Bay, songwriting, and Snoop Dogg…

15

MUSICIAN

0505LAC

THE VACATION ISSUE

l khatib I saw Snoop had you as his guest on GGN. That was classic. It looked like he really enjoyed the weed you guys brought him…

sure, I like complex, intense arrangements; but the technical aspect of music or musicianship doesn’t really interest me as much as emotions, mood, and general vibration.

HEK Yeah, the producer said he hadn’t seen Snoop stuck like that in a minute. He fell asleep on camera You had a cushy career as a designer and creative director at one point. It was a trip, though. Everything you at HUF Apparel, back when playing instruments and think he’d be like, he truly embodies that. He’s writing were just hobbies. Why the shift? very generous and sincere. Post-interview, we sat around and talked about funk. He invited my HEK I’ve been playing instruments my whole friends to take photos with him and it wasn’t a big life. I played piano as a kid and picked up a guitar deal. He was like, “grab a selfie with uncle Snoop.” when I was around 10. I never had classes or joined You have an affinity for classic hip-hop and metal and have been able to seamlessly reference both in your sound and imagery. Recent collabs with GZA, Freddie Gibbs... and that Millionaire Mother Medley-Motorhead vs Kelis mash up a few years back was killer. Where does that come from?

HEK Hip-hop, for me, was really predominant when I was 10 to 18 (in the 1990s), due to skateboarding and basically the golden era of rap. It was evident that hip-hop was becoming more mainstream. We had the CMC (California Music Channel) where Chuy Gomez was the host of a video show in the early ‘90s, and they played a lot of underground Bay Area rap videos. I was exposed to Latyrx and Sole Sides, Souls of Mischief, and more Bay stuff like Mac Dre, E40, Mac Mall, RBL. As a kid, the first tape I bought was a 4th & Broadway compilation with MARRS Pump Up The Volume and Eric B & Rakim.

This is all music that shaped my taste as a young person. I wanted to explore music further, so I picked up a guitar; but you can’t really learn rap songs on a guitar, so I got into classic Rock’N’Roll which lead me to heavier things like Sabbath, and that Seattle sound that was happening.

Because skateboarding was my life, I was in the middle of skate punks and skate hip-hop kids, soaking it all up. It wasn’t a mainstream sport at the time, so if you had a skateboard you were cool with that person. I wasn’t closed-minded about anything. If somebody said, “Hey, let’s go see a hardcore show at Gilman,” I’d be like, “I’m down.”

Or if they were like, “Let’s see Souls of Mischief at Maritime Hall,” I was like, “Cool.” And that’s basically what happened.

What was it about heavier rock that drew you in?

HEK Aggressive music speaks to me. It’s something primal that happens. It’s like hearing a good beat and you say, “Oh shit, okay, damn.” It’s about simplicity and the power within that simplicity that can draw you in. That’s what I like in music. Yeah,

FEATURE :

any bands. I played one-off shows and did brief tours for friends, but I mainly kept music to myself.

When I started recording and playing shows six or seven years ago, no one knew I made music. It was a shock. I invited people to a show and they thought it was an art show. My friends were like, “What??”

Being a recording artist seemed really unstable to me. I didn’t think about it seriously until I met Jamie and Nate (Innovative Leisure record label cofounders). I was totally happy and content doing what I was doing. As I started performing more and opportunities started popping up, I began to picture myself ten years from now sitting at my stupid computer filled with regret about not doing it.

I’ve heard your songwriting process is fairly peculiar, in that you’re not a big fan of writing lyrics but love writing music—and the lyrics come when they may. Any truth to this?

HEK Yeah, it’s usually that way: music and melody first. I hate the lyric-writing part. I don’t know why I hate it. But I like making songs and it’s bizarre. I write lyrics to fulfill the mood of the song. Whatever I’m feeling from the music is what the song eventually becomes. My phone is filled with voice memos of hummed melodies and ideas that go back years.

There’s a song on the new record called “Home.”

That music was written around the time of my first album. I’ve been saving those riffs and chord progression structures ‘cuz I didn’t know what the hell to write about. On every album, I wanted to tackle that song; even between albums I would make an attempt. I actually didn’t write the lyrics until twenty minutes before I recorded it. My engineer Sonny Diperri let me lock myself in a small booth with my dog and a blanket, and as soon as I finished I walked up to the mic and we recorded it.

What’s funny is that it’s my least favorite song on this record, but I feel like I accomplished my goal, got it out of my system. But there are lots of moments on Moonlight that are more personal, drawn from my own stories. It’s cathartic to write that way, and for those songs I had to put lyrics first. In the end, though, it’s about capturing the mood. 

Hanni El Khatib

16

KHATIB

0505LAC

THE VACATION ISSUE

hanni el

Moonlight Discography

“Yeah, sure, I like complex, intense arrangements; but the technical aspect of music or musicianship doesn’t really interest me as much as emotions, mood, and general vibration.

2015

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

• Moonlight • Melt Me • The Teeth • Chasin’ • Worship Song (No. 2) • Mexico • Servant • All Black • Home • Dance Hall • Two Brothers

”

17

Out of Office

GOLDENVOICE PRESENTS

 selections by TILL VON SEIN Can you believe summer is already here? Half of 2015, gone. Remy Ma was released from prison a year ago; Deflate Gate was over six months ago. Our W-2s have been filed and our shampoo bottles have been used up. Aren’t you exhausted?

Well, in the spirit of The Vacation Issue, it’s time for a break. Done right, a holiday is a temporary excuse to be the least responsible version of yourself. So grab a book and head to Elysian Park, navigate the elevator matrix at The Standard Downtown to hit the pool, or dig for your passport in its designated safe place— and get out of dodge. Whichever novel activity you choose, make sure it opposes the idea of “working” as directly as possible.

Luckily, our pal Till Von Sein has complied a list of synthy pop tracks specifically for the occasion. After all, it’s Friday somewhere, right?

SADE

DJ GREGORY FT. GREGOR SALTOR

“Mermaids”

Saturday Aug. 8 » Shrine Expo Hall & Grounds

Sept. 29 » L.A. Memorial Sports Arena

Saturday October 3 » Greek Theatre

Sat. Oct. 10 » Shrine Expo Hall & Grounds

MAZE

“Joy and Pain”

“Canoa”

HAPPY HOUR Monday-Friday

LIVE

WITH

3pm-7pm FT.

DJ SPEN TODD TERRY

CHILDISH GAMBINO

“Late NightEmpanada In Kauai” $2 House-made $4 Glass of Wine $3 Beer

“Stone Fox Chase”

NICK MONACO “Ancient Ritual” lele sacchi remix

manno remix

B E AT C O N N E C T I O N

with Special Guest

August 4 » Shrine Expo Hall

August 6 » The Mayan

C A Y U C A S

MY MORNING JACKET DR. DOG FRUIT BATS

Tuesdays

WITH

Bottled Wine Half Off 7

PRINCE

“Breakfast Can Wait”

DAYS OF PUNK

“Let It Go”

HIBOU

Friday August 14 » El Rey

October 13 » Shrine Auditorium

October 13 » Microsoft Theater

Friday October 16 » El Rey

TERRENCE PARKER “Love’s Got Me High” jimpster remix

wn th St. eles, CA 90015 23-1810

Pasadena 121 W. Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91105 p. 626/795.5658

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

1810restaurant.com @1810Restaurant TOMMY GUERRERO

A D A M P O R Ttwitter: “E Sound Edit”

“Gone Again”

GOING OUR OWN WAY TOUR

TIGERSKIN

“Heat”

km027

Stream the full Spotify playlist • lacanvas.com

October 20 » The Roxy

Friday November 20 » Shrine Expo Hall

0505LAC

THE VACATION ISSUE

weeSPIN.com •

VENUE

Back to the Future

Text by • Chris Pedler cool way of discovering your next favorite artist: it adds a whole other dimension to your vacation experience.

LA-based tune-sharing app weeSPIN makes listening social again.

The digital revolution has brought us fast access to any song, anytime, anywhere. No longer do I need to hope some hipster DJ plays my favorite deep cut at three in the morning. I can just click a few tabs on my phone and play it whenever I want.

“But this freedom has hyper-individualized our listening experience,” says Darius Fong, founder of weeSPIN, a real time tune-sharing app based in LA. “Music was the original social media,” Fong says, but now it’s “an interaction between people and their devices.” His app is a prescription for this diagnosis. weeSPIN (available for free on iTunes) allows users to share and discover what’s currently playing and listen in real time with friends. “A jukebox without physical boundaries,” as Fong puts it, weeSPIN already integrates with Soundcloud, and is constantly adding more music to its database.

“Listening together is lovers apart sharing an intimate moment. It’s DJs connecting with thousands of people. It’s coworkers inspiring each other at the workplace. Imagine snowboarding with my friends and jamming to the same beat through separate headphones,” Fong says. “The possibilities are endless.” weeSPIN’s music-sharing extends beyond the folks you already know. Open the app, and you can see what others are streaming nearby. Trending songs automatically populate onto your list. Drop new tunes into your queue and find the next group that you’ll love. This is not just a

FEATURE :

When traveling, it’s fun tuning in to local radio stations to get a sense of the place (case in point: gotta crank The Eagles on the drive to Palm Springs.) Trouble is, most radio’s the same everywhere: Oldies station. Classic rock.

R&B. Snooze button. weeSPIN aims to change all that. Instead of being bound by a playlist you made ahead of time, the app lets you hear what a city’s audiophiles hear—the hyperlocal, undiscovered, next next big thing.

“Each community and clique has its own music DNA,” says Fong. “It’s no surprise that music critics characterize sounds through their cities of origin…Memphis sound, LA sound.” weeSPIN lets you hear the sounds specific to the places you go.

Which is good, because we can’t all be that guy who knows which band is about to be huge. Everyone needs a hardcore music freak as a friend to introduce us to new tunes, to inspire and renew our love of music. If you don’t already have one, weeSPIN will hook you up—and, even better, you don’t have to sit through long rants about how your favorite artist is a sell-out.

We all remember the first time we heard a certain song. weeSPIN wants to bring us back again and again to this moment, and to make our experience collective rather than individual.

“Whether people make music together or listen to music together, it forms a spiritual bond that is inexplicable,” Fong says. “We want to break down barriers of our digital lives, and be more connected to the real world—a true digital-toanalog conversion.”

weeSPIN

19

WILDCARD

0505LAC

THE VACATION ISSUE

Vo on Till

Sein

INTERVIEW :

Till Von Sein

20

VON SEIN

0505LAC

Welcome to LA. Have you frequented the city of angels before?

I came here for the first time in 2013 and since then returned 6 times to play or just to chill. It was love at first sight and I’m always stoked to come back.

on Q+A 

Text by Renée George

THE VACATION ISSUE

parking plus the waiting line was nuts. Eventually I didn’t make it and became even more curious about this party.Friends who played Rhonda before all have been blown away so I’m super stoked to play for them. Their line-ups are so well curated and interesting for all kinds of electronic music lovers.

What’s your latest album drop all about? Any collaborations on there?

I heard you double as a booking agent in Berlin for peeps like Wolf + Lamb, PillowTalk, Nick Monaco and others. How and when did this start?

I tried to keep it as organic as possible and have different guest vocalists like Mr V, Russoul, Kid Enigma, The Black 80s (Hollis P Monroe), Megg y and Diamond Setter. The Album is 50% up- tempo House Music and the other half laid back Soul.

It’s more song than floor orientated in general and I worked with a bunch of guest musicians.

I used to run a skate shop until 2006 and when I quit my best friend asked me to join her at the agency she just started. As I had no other plans at that time I said why not. I had no clue about the work but I’m quite good in logistics plus I was already experienced in doing events and taking care of artists.

What city are you most excited to perform in? Why? I’ve always loved playing in Miami and NYC but I’m really looking forward to Atlanta as I’ve never been there before and Rhonda of course as I’ve heard so many good things about that party being outside and happening in the day time next to a pool...sounds dope!

On that note, what have been some of the monumental moments for you personally as an artist?

Being part of the House of E Funk last year during DEMF with Eg yptian Lover, George Clinton etc. I’m still stoked that Soul Clap invited me to be part of this. Playing a roof top party in Johannesburg in front of 1000 Kids going totally crazy to your music was something I can’t even describe. That vibe, that atmosphere they create down there is fantastic.

How do you execute the balancing act? Are there any specific elements you must abide by to get it all done?

It’s all about time management, discipline and a really good assistant. ;) I try to work in blocks. Taking it easy on touring while working on a project like the album is crucial.When in Berlin I get up super early and work all day so that while I’m traveling I don’t need to stress about all those little details anymore. I have a really good team around me, otherwise it wouldn’t work out.

Who do you want to work with in the future?

Would love to do something with Nick Monaco and Navid Izadi. Syd the Kid and Tinashe would be up high on the list and guys like Brian Ellis and Dam Funk.

Favorite moments of creation: behind the decks, in the studio, etc?

If you had a dream dinner party, who would you invite?

I’m a DJ. I still have “those“ moments every other weekend, seeing people on the floor loosing it to the music I play, wow! I will never get tired of this feeling.

Rick Rubin, Shannyn Sossamon and R Kelly...

Give me some insight on your thoughts about music culture in LA. You just curated the Wanderlust playlist for our globe-trotting Vacation Issue. Tell us a bit about how you put it all together?

Each of those tracks reminds me of a special moment in a special place. Weather it’s something that drove the crowd nuts or me relaxing at a beautiful beach. Some of the tracks I’m listening to since 20 years and others are brand new - a quintessence of my musical taste.

What’s on your playlist at the moment?

Soulection Radio, Sade, Kendrick Lamar, Brian Ellis.

You’re behind the decks at Rhonda this July 4th. What do you know about Rhonda?!

I grew up with west coast Hip Hop. From NWA to The Pharcyde, pretty much every thing in the early 90’s.

I’ve always been a fan of that laid back feel good vibe I find in LA music. Weather it’s Ray Barbee or Dam Funk, there is so much great music out here. I buy a lot of that modern Funk music and still listen to Rap. And you guys have got DJ Harvey, the only DJ I ever saw at Panorama Bar that really blew my mind.

Last but not least, what’s your favorite thing about LA? The weather might be cliche, but well…what more can you ask for? Especially coming from a place like Berlin with those harsh winters.

That feeling of having a blue sky above you all year round might be the best thing ever.

My agent told me I should check it out during a visit and I tried but it was already impossible to find

INTERVIEW :

Till Von Sein

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SPOTLIGHT

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The Los Angeles Spotlights

tastemaker | 'tast,mak r | e

∙ noun

a person who decides or influences what is or will become fashionable Max Shapiro

Ry-X

Max Barsness

Jessica Sample

FOOD

MUSIC

ART

STYLE

Text by • Kacy Emmett

@maximilianshapiro

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Max Shapiro 

FO O D

TA S T E M A K E R

Palette Expander

Max Shapiro’s approach to dinner proves you can experience fine dining without the oppression of the candelabra. Fed up with the typical Michelin Star atmosphere, Shapiro was inspired to start Oxalis (formerly BRK), his underground dining experience encompassing 15 courses of inspired original dishes, libations, and laid back vibes from the comfort of his West Hollywood home. Shapiro’s presence is entertaining: he’s a generous host who lets his terrariums do the talking.

Unlike a lot of transplants to LA’s culinary scene, he’s not trying to get a TV show. His Instagram is devoid of selfies.

He’s in it for the shared experience, a sentiment lost on so many who blur the line between passion and fame.

According to Shapiro, the philosophy behind Oxalis’ menu is simple: “Most people are coming with a date. We want them to feel satisfied, but like they can still have sex after.”

(We’re guessing anyone who’s ever been c-blocked by a vengeful Saag Paneer will probably appreciate the sentiment).

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Guests sign up on a mailing list, and Shapiro vets each and every one himself. From there, he curates a menu and a guest list designed to blend flavors, textures and backgrounds.

Whether you’re a broke millennial or a retired industry professional, there’s a spot for you. His dining room doesn’t discriminate: all he asks is that you show up hungry. Over the course of the evening, guests are treated to a marathon menu paced to the tune of Shapiro’s Spotify and his wine and spirits team, Brian Stewart and Ashley Ragovin.

To give you a taste of what Oxalis has in store, one popular mainstay is the tartare: scallop tartare (scallop, shallot, salt, lardo, pickled green peppercorn) with puffed Japanese rice, placed in a caviar tin with pine nut cream and completely covered in caviar. Ultimately, Oxalis is the perfect destination for those who love a great meal, but want to take serious food less seriously. Trust Shapiro to craft a unique dining experience that everyone can digest.

Max Shapiro eatatoxalis.com

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@ryx

SPOTLIGHT

Ry-X 

M U SIC

TA S T E M A K E R

Tenor Is The Night

Meet Australia’s latest export: Ry Cuming (aka Ry-X), a producer and musician with a heartbreaking tenor.

Like a kind of minister of music, Ry-X accesses the quiet darkness of humanity, and the results resonate in his sound. Each of his projects is an extension of his talent, deeply immersed in separate but equally legit musical realms. Take Howling (Ry-X’s bromance baby with DJ Frank Wiedemann of Âme), a collaboration that currently has the Euro crowd wrapped around its proverbial finger; or Ry-X’s solo work, RY-X, which is (if you’ll forgive the pun) folking unreal. Ry-X also lends vocals to LA electronic trio The Acid. In other words, he has multiple musical personalities—but like, in the very best way.

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His melancholic folk sound has slowly evolved into a club staple with the help of Wiedemann. Their techno/folk approach to Howling’s debut album, Sacred Ground, is a minimal soundtrack of opposing forces that lures listeners into its balance. The pair began making music together after Wiedemann translated Ry-X’s trance-y croon into deep house. Since then, they’ve been inseparable.

Ry-X’s core crew thrives in Berlin, but the musician also has a loyal community that runs deep in LA’s artistic scene.

He teamed up with LA’s Dugan O’Neal to co-direct the video for his single, “Sweat,” and his approach is basically a vegan’s wet dream: raw and organic. Without undo fuss or fanfare, Ry-X has hit his stride. Here’s to his official US debut.

Ry-X ry-x.com

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@jessicasamplegram

SPOTLIGHT

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Jessica Sample 

S T YL E

TA S T E M A K E R

Eat, Pray, Shoot

A good photographer invites you in; a great one convinces you to stay. Jessica Sample’s travel photography resonates with our collective wanderlust. She’s a compassionate guest, invested in her subjects and married to the moment. Sample’s work is part intentional design, part divine intervention. Her work relies on spontaneity, on the inexplicable gems that reveal themselves through faces and fleeting daylight: the last sliver of light in Santorini, for example, or a mariachi band in Valladolid tres sheets to the wind. There’s a sense of discovery in Sample’s work that lends itself to intimate portraits and unconquerable landscapes alike.

After five years as the Deputy Photo Editor at Travel + Leisure in New York, Sample embraced her inner pioneer and made the move back to LA, where the freelance life

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beckoned. There are, after all, worse places to have a free Tuesday. But her repertoire is no joke. Sample’s work can be found everywhere from local publications like Los Angeles Magazine, C Magazine, and L A Confidential, to international big-hitters like Conde Nast Traveller UK, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and The Wall Street Journal. She takes FOMO to the next level, transporting you to a coffee house in Vienna or the tail end of a swell in Mukul. When she’s not on the road, her photography captures the light and space of LA interiors, leaving the viewer with room to breathe. Even her celebrity portraits share a down-to-earth quality, emphasized by the organic nature of her shoots. Of course, it’s no surprise: Sample’s spirit is as light and inclusive as her photos. With each image, we see the reflection of a generous artist—one who seeks to share the moment, rather than dominate it.

Jessica Sample jessicasample.com

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@heretosaveyouall

SPOTLIGHT

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Max Barsness 

ART

TA S T E M A K E R

The-Not-So-Negative Space

Ever the scout, Max Barsness’ prolific photographic project, Here To Save You All, does exactly that. Los Angeles is his tortured muse, the starlet who’s been discovered and abandoned so many times before.

Here To Save You All is rich in emotionally-charged images—from Griffith Observatory to the Kenneth Hahn Recreational Area (we had to look it up, too). You wouldn’t know it judging by Barsness’ intensely moving landscapes, but he’s relatively fresh to the photography scene. He went through a break-up and picked up a Canon—the perfect cocktail for an artistic outlet. Since then, he’s been pouring his heart into the city; and in return, LA has proven to be a responsive subject. His work is evocative, sometimes eerie, but never lacking. Despite the

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wild, deserted nature of his composition, Barsness’ framing is calculated. He doesn’t simply point his camera: he ponders.

Barsness will tell you himself that LA was a city built without much planning, and his photography gravitates toward that same chaos, embracing its haphazard beauty.

Lately, he’s taken to encapsulating negative space with color—purple mountains and deep, daunting blue skies— in a practice that reflects his own growth. We’re looking forward to his current project: a panoramic series that highlights empty spaces throughout LA (think manmade things, minus the men). Barsness says it best himself: “True art is showing me where I’m going to or where I’m coming from.” On that note, we’ll meet you there.

Max Barsness maxbarsness.com

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BILL ROBERTSON LANE/LEIGHTON AVE.

David Flores

ABBOT KINNEY BLVD./SAN JUAN AVE.

Fin Dac

Cruise through the city to find the latest murals.

MELROSE AVE./N. OGDEN DR.

JC Rivera

Curated By

www.chickenspeak.com @CHICKENSPE AK

MESQUIT ST./S. SANTA FE AVE.

Hueman

N. VENDOME ST./COUNCIL ST.

BEVERLY BLVD./S VENDOME ST.

Morley

Ador and Semor

S. FIGUEROA ST./W PICO BLVD.

SPEEDWAY/BREEZE CT.

Cr yptik

Chase

N. ALVARADO ST./CLINTON ST.

PICO BLVD/19TH ST.

Low Bros

Andrew Hem

IMPERIAL ST./JESSE ST.

W JEFFERSON BLVD./ VILLAGE DR.

The Most Famous Ar tist

Case Maclaim

ARTIST

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Gray Malin—

Lisbon Pool

FEATURE :

Gray Malin

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MALIN

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Always On the Brightside

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Text by • Vija Hodosy

Gray Malin puts the good life front and center, encouraging us to have our cake and “pin it” too.

It’s as if adventure photographer Gray Malin is offering you a glass of champagne. His trademark images say, “Take a seat, relax, have another drink, no day can possibly be that bad.” Debts, bills, traffic, screaming children, early morning construction…leave it all behind. You deserve a vacation. In real life, of course, you’re still waiting for those precious days off to accrue. So you take a long, deep breath, focus in on your happy place—and pull out your credit card.

Malin’s fine art series A La Plage captures aerial photos of the globe’s most beloved coastlines, organically decorated with the variegated patterns of distant denizens below. These customizable prints of “communal happy places” are sold en masse on his e-commerce site, along with everything from Gray Malin surfboards to Gray Malin cell phone covers.

This year alone, he and his team have formed collaborations that stand to shape Gray Malin for the masses. “Pretty much the entire year of 2015 thus far has been pretty game changing,” the photographer explains. “I’ve par tnered with Le Meridien in the

Follow Me art installation series, launched the Gray Malin X Sperry shoe collection, and accomplished Gray Malin at the Parker, which has been a photo series that I’ve been dreaming about since first visiting the hotel in 2007.”

The Gray Malin brand is the opposite of niche: it is universally chill. Neither conceptual nor overly heady, devoid of both concussing abstractions and heavy themes, Malin’s signature is to simply capture dreamy images of the places you want to be. His personal and professional aesthetics were featured on The Today Show, which seemingly confirmed his U.S. market—though, as it turns out, he had already begun to go global. “We have a ver y strong female following within major metropolitan cities in the United States, Europe and Australia. Overall, though, I think both men and women really respond to the fantasy of the getaway in my work…the brand is definitely an inclusive one,” says Malin. “Everyone is welcome to join and share in the moment! I truly believe ‘the beach’ is completely universal in its positive effect on people.

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Santa Monica Strand

“

Whether you’re in Santa Monica, Cape Town, or Dubai, a day at the beach is a day well spent.

” FEATURE :

Gray Malin

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MALIN

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It is the global, communal happy place. Whether you’re in Santa Monica, Cape Town, or Dubai, a day at the beach is a day well spent.”

For most of us, luxury vacations are either infrequent or too short—or relegated altogether to the realm of the pipe dream. So it’s no wonder that our preferred modes of escapism have taken on more accessible forms. E-commerce and social media platforms, together with the global tourism industry, have created a market wherein anyone with a debit card or line of credit can design and purchase their ‘dream getaway’—no passpor t required. Even if your purchasing power is limited to ordering a single Moroccan blanket (you know, the one you would have hypothetically smuggled home from that hypothetical dream getaway), you still have a hand in the demand. And it makes sense: given the fact that most of us have already used up all our sick days, a few hours spent daydreaming and inspiration—boarding are the surest ways through which we can participate in this beloved vacation culture. The ‘Gray Malin Experience’ is available 24/7 to make those dream spaces more accessible. Even better? He’ll ship straight to your front door in three business days or less.

Malin reflects on having cut out the middleman in his ascent to broad distribution. “Beginning at the Fairfax Market and then moving into the digital space with my e-commerce site, I did not follow the traditional art gallery path; so to me, I have been prepping for the commercial growth and expansion into product merchandise since the beginning.”

Which has us asking our piña colada-less house pets the question, “Wait, can you call it ‘fine art’ if it’s never been hung in a gallery?” The short answer is yes. Malin explains, “Each body of [my] work begins

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and ends with the final destination in mind: one’s walls. I am very passionate about interior design.

I love the idea of designing around a piece of artwork rather than adding it in as an afterthought or accessory.” Whether or not interior design is your thing, the aforementioned declaration clarifies that Gray Malin’s fine art photography is not meant for gallery walls, it is meant for your walls. And by skipping the middleman, he’s managed to include just about everyone else.

Malin’s approach proves that regular consumers don’t need gallery curators to tell them which images are worth celebrating—or, for that matter, worth buying. Inclusive, accessible ar twork and its placement in our most intimate habitats illustrates a shift away from the exclusive experience of art as defined by traditional access, which often still sells its applause by the leaf. Selling thousands of units to homes and hotels around the world is undeniably further reaching than what any gallery has to offer in a comparable amount of time. Have we not agreed that art is meant to be shared…and not only that, but also “liked” and reposted? More and more, artists are taking exposure into their own hands, rather than waiting on traditional fine art forums for recognition. After all, myopically judging ar twork based on the manner in which it came to be on display is as subjective as arguing over the “goodness” of the art itself.

Gray Malin’s cosmopolitan distribution of happiness and beauty is endearing and lighthearted. Tough to argue with that—especially since his work isn’t purpor ting to be anything other than what it literally is: joyful imagery of idyllic beach days and pool par ties with the people we love. As Californians, we can all get behind that. 

St. Tropez, Light Blue Beach Chairs

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www.mama.gallery •

GALLERY

Fully Grown

James Georgopoulos, Vacation

Text by • Rachel Many Photo by • Alex Richardson

MAMA Gallery tackles the Arts District head-on.

Ever since MOCA’s highly successful 2011 exhibition, Art in the Streets, the Eastside seems to have fallen rather stagnant where art is concerned, gradually losing momentum in favor of high-priced lofts and trendy storefronts. But with the slow growth of small contemporary galleries like CES and The Box, along with bigger revitalization projects from MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary and Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, it seems the Arts District is once again home to, well, art.

Within this new frontier lies the recently inaugurated MAMA Gallery, a burgeoning art space that’s helping reinvigorate the Arts District’s creative growth. We sat down with founders Eli Consilvio and Adarsha Benjamin to discuss their roots, their evolving program, LA’s art trends, and the serious magnitude of our coffee needs: MAMA is your shared brainchild. How did you two meet? What brought you together to open a gallery space?

We had collaborated on a few projects together in the past, and were working on another exhibition when we realized our true purpose in coming together was to open MAMA. Eli had been working with galleries for the past 20 years, and more recently has been consulting for collectors, artists and institutions. It was a natural move for him. Adarsha had been independently curating and had always wanted to open a gallery as a physical representation of her ethereal visions.

Together, we are earth and water, and its been going great.

Between James Georgopoulos, Amanda Charchian, and Cole Sternberg, you seem to be developing quite a roster of new, cuttingedge ar tists. How do you select your ar tists?

Most of the artists we have worked with thus far [are people] we have known for years, and [we] consider them friends. Recently, we have been meeting some wonderful artists and are looking forward to expanding our roster with some of them. The artist/gallerist relationship is just that—a relationship. Sometimes you like the other person for a myriad of reasons, and sometimes you just don’t.

Take us through the process of curating a show. What is the climate like before and after a big opening?

It starts as a seed, in various shades and colors. An idea, a concept, an artist, an image, inspires something bigger; and from that first starting point, we direct and dissect and get to somewhere that feels really juicy and complete. That being said, we are just really getting started with what and who our curatorial agenda will be. It’s only growing and expanding, and the climate is always fast paced and energetic. Unless we haven’t had coffee—then it’s like Night of The Living Dead over here.

Well, you have already had four successful shows since launching in December! That seems like quite a lot: do you plan on continuing this pace for your future shows?

This is our natural pace. Everything that has happened thus far has been very organic. We have not been either overly aggressive or extremely passive. Things are happening because of the energy we are creating and are being surrounded by. We have had such a great response to our evolving program that we will continue to move forward.

What are you most excited about for the future of the gallery?

Expansion. We are excited to be doing more exhibitions outside of the gallery, including this summer’s installation with artist Cole Sternberg in the Hamptons.

This year’s Paris Photo LA was great fun. We are looking forward to the growth of the artists and collectors we are working with.

Tell us a bit about the space? What drew you to this par ticular location?

Any ar t trends you’re witnessing in L A’s ar t scene?

We just wanted to be in the Arts District proper: not over the bridge, not south of 7th, just plop in the middle. So that helped keep our options down. It started with a building we looked at on 3rd and Garey (which was unavailable), but the owner had another space in the neighborhood we could rent. It was instant good vibes and when we saw the space we knew it was the one. The two brick walls really struck us in the space. They were the original structural walls of a house that was built in 1908 to oversee a vineyard (which is now a warehouse).

We are actually witnessing a few different trends happening concurrently.

There is a leap into the future with post-internet artists like Petra Cortright and Jon Rafman really exploding and representing the digital side of things. And then there is a wave of artists who seem to be seeking refuge from the Internet and social media, and their work is a reflection on that, or a conversation on what the physical reality means to them. They work with their hands and fabricate themselves, like James Georgopoulos. It is such a wonderful time to be in LA.

FEATURE :

MAMA Gallery 1242 Palmetto St., Los Angeles, CA 90013

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THE GRAMMY MUSEUM® PRESENTS

Gallery Openings  text by Rachel Many

CHRISTIAN MARCLAY | THE CLOCK LACMA | July 5 – September 7 Christian Marclay: The Clock is a 24-hour, single-channel montage constructed from thousands of moments of cinema and television history depicting the passage of time, excerpted and edited together to create a functioning timepiece synchronized to local time wherever it is shown. The result marks the exact time in real time for the viewer for 24 consecutive hours.

lacma.org

PETRA CORTRIGHT | NIKI,LUCY,LOLA,VIOLA DEPART FOUNDATION | July 9 – September 19 Opening Reception: Thursday, July 9, 6–9 pm Cortright, a Los Angeles based artist, employs a wide range of video, painting, and new media in order to explore the aesthetics and performative cultures of online consumption. The exhibition is an immersive experience, comprised of several large-scale flash animations as well as new video work grounded in the artist’s digital painting process.

departfoundation.org

SHANA LUTKER SUSANNE VIELMETTER DEPART LA PROJECTS | July Opening Reception: Friday, July 10, 6pm

10 – August 20

Inspired as much by historical documents and physical objects as by psychoanalysis and the study of dreams, Shana Lutker’s multi-disciplinary practice is, above all, conceptual. She works in a range of media, from drawing and sculpture to installation and performance, continuously aiming to recontextualize everyday experiences and subjects— with a cunning eye for societal anxieties and assumptions.

vielmetter.com

CITYSCAPE V GEORGE BILLIS GALLERY | July 18 – August 22 Opening Reception: Saturday, July 18, 5pm Primarily focusing on the area’s Mid-Century identity, this group show depicts the beauty in our modern cityscape. Architectural elements are beautifully captured using variations in lighting, dramatic angles, and specific colors, demonstrating the ways in which design and environment come together harmoniously, showcasing the compelling characteristics of these spaces.

georgebillis.com

ROBERT OVERBY CHERRY AND MARTIN | August 8 – September Opening Reception: Saturday, August 8, 5pm

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Despite his extremely prolific and diversified practice, Overby remains one of the best-kept secrets of Post-War American Art. His impressive body of work is characterized by a restless experimentation with materials and processes, often comprised of latex casts of architectural structures.

Architectural casts of doors, windows and facades made of rubber, latex and concrete occupy a space in between sculpture, painting and installation, revealing a conceptual concern for the understanding of the passage of time.

cherryandmartin.com

ALICE KÖNITZ ERIC GERO EDITIONS | August 31 – December Opening Reception: Monday, August 31, 7pm

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N OPEN O I T I B I H 5 EX R 4, 201 E B O T C O THROUGH

Alice Könitz’s sculptures riff on Mid-Twentieth-Century modernist furniture and public art, while her installations of drawings, films, collages, and homemade magazines contextualize her monolithic geometric forms as both a celebration and a critique of design vernacular. Built from inexpensive, readily available materials such as construction paper, felt, cardboard, and plastic, and cobbled together with little more than a glue gun, Könitz’s sculptures offer a handmade intimacy absent in the high modernist forms they emulate.

ericgeroeditions.com QUEER FANTASY OHWOW GALLERY | July 11 – August 15 Opening Reception: Saturday, July 11, 6-8pm OHWOW Gallery presents Queer Fantasy, a group exhibition curated

by William J. Simmons. Featuring work by ten artists, this show seeks to recount and preserve a frequently marginalized history of queer voices within contemporary art. These artists utilize photography, film, painting, sculpture, and large installations pieces to create subjects that offend delicate sensibilities and challenge stereotypes associated with the queer community.

oh-wow.com

More of LA’s best openings • lacanvas.com

WWW.GRAMMYMUSEUM.ORG

DESIGNER

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The Remix The design duo behind Re/Done has figured out the formula for the perfect jeans.

Text by • Erin Dennison Photography • Emman Montalvan The fashion world has taken a close interest in Sean Barron and Jamie Mazur, the founders of L A label Re/Done (formerly Re/Dun), since the brand’s launch just one year ago. In their relevantly shor t tenure on the scene, Re/Done appears to have found the Golden Snitch: the formula behind the perfect pair of jeans. No elaborate dying process or high-tech Japanese denim here: instead, Re/Done celebrates the ultimate heritage brand, Levis, by reworking vintage pairs into relevant, contemporar y cuts. And with some pretty impressive It Girl cosigns from the likes of Bella Hadid, Erin Wasson, and Alessandra Ambrosio, combined with nods from respected glossies like Vogue, Elle, and W WD, it looks as though their already ample wait list is about to get even longer.

For a cool $300 and under (and a bit of a wait), you can bid adieu to irregular waists, crotch bulges, and baggy legs—without having to sacrifice the coveted, worn-in 501 fabric. After a year of trial and error, Sean and Jamie have honed in on a fluid process involving equal par ts careful

FEATURE :

sourcing and precise tailoring. The result? Remarkably consistent quality, made all the more impressive by the line’s swiftly growing customer base.

Buying a pair online is a bespoke experience where the shopper is able to curate size, distress levels, wash, and shape (straight skinny, high rise, shor ts, flare, relaxed straight) to avoid the contrived homogeny of mass-produced denim. The most revolutionary par t, though, is how Re/ Done has found a way to replicate its signature formula on a large scale. With a national presence at Barney’s New York, in addition to a battery of upscale boutiques internationally, the innovative brand has managed to position itself well ahead of its comparatively provincial competition.

If you’re like us, you might still be curious as to the specific alchemy behind their process. And while a visit to Re/Done’s Downtown headquar ters prompted as many questions as it answered (the sea of incremental shades of blue was truly astonishing), we still gleaned some insider info as we caught up with the designers.

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DESIGNER

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Q + A w/ Sean Barron & Jamie Mazur Can you tell us a little bit about your background in the industry?

I’ve been in the fashion industry for over 20 years and have launched previous companies such as Katayone, Adeli, and Joie. Jamie is a total denim enthusiast and has previously had a company called Underground Denim: a mobile sample sale business that targeted college campuses.

How did the concept of RE/DONE come about? What is it about the Levi’s brand that’s so iconic to you?

Levi’s are one of the truly great heritage brands in America—and they are known for the most iconic garment in American fashion. I don’t know how anyone could say Levi’s isn’t an iconic brand.

Vintage Levi’s makes up its own category of collectables. They are known for the most beautiful wear patterns: wear patterns that contemporary denim brands try to emulate through the use of harsh chemical washes, but not the most flattering contemporary fit.

We thought, “Wouldn’t it be incredible to have a modern, consistently fitted vintage Levi’s? Wouldn’t that be the perfect jean?”

Where are you sourcing the original jeans?

We source our jeans from rag houses all across the country. Exactly where is a proprietary secret.

Can you tell us a little bit about the process? How are the jeans reconstructed?

How are you able to do this on a mass scale?

The process is our secret sauce.

We start by sorting through each pair individually when they come to our warehouse, and then selecting the

FEATURE :

most beautiful, interesting pieces to redo. From there, the jeans go to be washed, after which they are taken apart. We then sew them back together.

After that, they are washed again and then they are ready to go. It took us about a year to develop and perfect the process. Initially, people told us it would be impossible to scale, but we seem to have found our rhythm.

Do you have plans to expand out of just Women’s denim? Will you ever explore Men’s?

Yes, we are planning to launch our men’s collection in the late summer/early fall of this year.

What are some other brands you find iconic?

We obviously look to vintage clothing for much of our inspiration. One of our favorites is Saint Laurent (past and present).

Can you see yourself doing current collaborations, or will you stick to vintage?

We see one of our core purposes as a movement to make heritage brands relevant. We have some very interesting collaborations in the works within that vein.

How long are your wait lists typically?

Very long—and always growing.

Well shit, sign us up.

Re/Done

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Set Design Kelly Fondry Styling Juliet Vo Hair Michael Duenas @ Tomlinson Management Makeup Tami Shirey Model Valentina @ NEXT Model Management

STORE

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The Kids are All Right Iconic Brand Insight 51’s triumphant Venice Beach homecoming.

Text by • Erin Dennison Photography • Eduardo Figueroa S o u t h B a y. To g e t h e r w i t h Breakwater (and the majority of its employees), these two are proud to call the Westside home.

And with such strong LA ties, the small team helming the beloved brand has achieved notable success re-launching Insight and ensuring its smooth transition into, and expansion within, the US market.

FEATURE

Through a handful of tailored initiatives like the Garage Artist Program and campaign collaborations with LA creatives, and a series of monthly events at the Venice store, Insight 51 has become a staple in the Los Angeles beachside community.

Enter Bleach Group. The apparel and accessories maker is responsible for Insight’s stateside re-launch, following an aptly timed influx of cash earlier this year thanks to Los Angeles-based Breakwater, a private investment firm in Venice with historical ties to the lifestyle brand. The relationship with Bleach turned out to be a wider strategic initiative, and has since established a secure international growth platform for both Insight and Ksubi.

The California move was a smart one. Insight’s new corporate digs happen to be just down the street from their Venice flagship store, which has been in business since 2006. And while the surf/street-style line was born in Australia, its identity has always been closely linked to Southern California.

Greg Morena, Bleach Group’s CEO, grew up on the south side of Santa Monica— 26th and Santa Monica, to be exact— skating at the park and surfing the breakwater. And Mirko Antich, part of Insight’s creative department, hails from the

FEATURE :

“From a brand perspective, you can never deny your roots— so yeah, Insight was founded in Australia, no doubt,” Morena explains. “We also have a legitimate claim to call ourselves locals here, because we’re so passionate about it, and because we’re enveloped in the brand on a daily basis here in Venice.”

He goes on, “You know, you have to claim your city. So that’s our intention, and that’s what we’re doing now with our designs and marketing—you’re going to see it actualize itself in the product.”

Despite having originally opened its doors in Bondi over two decades ago, it’s clear that Insight’s LA ties are here to stay.

And what began as a relocation of their global headquarters has become the final step to secure what they see, not as a move, but as a homecoming.

We say: welcome home.

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Man-E Jay Makeup Barbara Ynigues Hair Rigo Ortiz Models Caroline Wilson & Maxwell Runko @ TWO Management

These days, Australian lifestyle brand Insight 51 is establishing a mounting presence here in the US, even surpassing its hometown retail sales back in Sydney. The market shift is no coincidence. Insight, along with sister brand Ksubi, moved its global headquarters to Venice Beach in 2013 after falling into receivership, a government safe hold that offers struggling brands a chance to regroup without having to close doors. (In other words, a backing company enters the picture and is granted temporary custodial responsibility, allowing the brand a minute to get sorted).

Bizarrely, Insight 51’s name has almost predicted the trials and tribulations of its 20-year lifespan. “It’s like 51-49. We’re at 51%,” explains Mirko. Greg elaborates: “Think Spicoli, right?

Spicoli got through high school— but he barely got through. You know, we’re lucky. We’re lucky to be in Venice and we’re lucky to have grown up here. We’re winning. We’re barely winning, but it’s a victory nonetheless.”

Styling

Sonny and Cher, Paul and Linda, Stassi and Jax, Ann Boleyn and Henry the 8th…and lately, Aussies and Angelenos. LA’s love for Australia (and vice versa) is no secret. In fact, since 2010, Oz has been the number one source of international visitors to LA—and the enthusiasm appears to be mutual.

With regard to both climate and perspective, these geographically distant cousins have been on the same page for decades; which is why it’s no surprise that they often experience analogous success when it comes to retail markets.

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A Day Off

Recently, we ventured outside of the city for little day trip. Despite living and working here in LA, no one from our team had ever been out to Salvation Mountain. The legendary art installation, created by the late Leonard Knight, sits just above Slab City and a few miles from the Salton Sea. On a whim, we decided to pack a bag, grab some snacks (there aren’t many food options along the way), and drive three hours east in search of a little adventure.

There were countless Instagramable moments along the way: the Cabazon Dinosaurs, the Salton Sea, dozens of palm tree farms, and enchanting abandoned homes, to name a few. After a long day of inspiring visuals, solid stories, desert sun, and the obligatory speeding ticket, we celebrated our return to LA with In-and-Out burgers to the face.

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LEKACH

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The Young Tehachapis

by David Lekach

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The Young Tehachapis

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LEKACH

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Styling David Lekach with clothing provided by Lot, Stock, And Barrel

Models @ NEXT Model Management Daisy Clementine Smith Rachel Russell Nicholas Berkofsky Kaleb Ressler

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Space Jam



A wacky way to customize your threads

These days, Mokuyobi Threads (“Mokuyobi” is Japanese for Thursday) has plenty to celebrate. The locally manufactured accessories label touts upbeat, kooky imagery and features bags, backpacks, patches, 5 panel hats, and t-shirts.

The brand’s latest lookbook showcases a futura sensibility with nods to intergalactic inspiration. If you’re a NASA enthusiast (really, who isn’t?), the Space Explorer and Galaxy Planet patches are the perfect addition to your favorite jacket. Cat memes more your speed? Consider copping the Cat Tint 5 panel to signal your feline allegiance to like-minded party-goers.

Mokuyobi’s Fall 2015 collection is slated to drop this August in conjunction with the brand’s art-focused web destination Patch Warp—just in time for industry tradeshows: Agenda

mokuyobithreads.com

Sponsored • Mokuyobi Threads

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On the Road Again 

Outdoor photographer Dylan Gordon has the best stories Outdoor and lifestyle photographers have always found a friend in the open road, and Dylan Gordon is certainly no exception. At just 23, the photographer has traveled the world to document magical landscapes and professional athletes pushing their boundaries, and has returned home with some legendary tales.

With numerous national campaigns, print editorials, and tenure as a staff photographer at the iconic Surfer Magazine already under his belt, it seems as though Dylan is just getting started.

As we enter his Ventura live/ work studio, it becomes abundantly clear that Gordon does, indeed, walk the walk. Half a dozen motorcycles line the left side of the warehouse, while a collection of surfboards serves as the studio’s vibrant backdrop. Boxes of loosely organized Polaroids and 35mms line his shelves, and printed books— both of friends work and personal shots—are scattered around the bungalow’s pragmatic nucleus: the editing station. Two generous, honey-colored couches anchor the right-hand side of the space, where one can easily imagine Gordon and his travel buddies swapping stories.

Altogether, everything is as we imagined it during our initial phone chat with Dylan—a call that ended with us eagerly accepting his invitation to come by and say hello IRL. Hailing from San Luis Obispo, Gordon grew up on a horse farm and skated professionally during his teenage years before setting his sights on Brooks Institute in Ventura, CA. Thanks to mentors like professional photographer Scott Soens, who showed him the ropes with regard to both the skate/surf world and photojournalism as a professional craft, or friends like Troy Mothershead who have been open sources of inspiration into worlds of alternative surfcraft, Gordon was a quick study. Dylan is equal parts

FEATURE :

reserved and adventurous, thoughtful and curious —which is why it’s no surprise that he claims narrative to be the secret ingredient behind his widely published and compelling visuals.

“With the content I create…I know it’s capable of having more value outside of simply living online in one campaign. So, what I really want to focus on is creating projects that have longevity.

When you look at books that document trips from the past… it’s something tangible—you can keep it; you can come back to it.

It’s on the coffee table, it has a sense of place.”

Perhaps i t ’s this thirst for context that obliges Dylan Gordon to dive head first into his subjects—each trip, person, community, or place—in order to really understand the story behind the image. And it’s that same drive to go deep, coupled with an earnest nostalgia for print, that has compelled Gordon to partner with his own docu-style travel journal, Korduroy.t v, which will feature profiles on far away places and the residents that define them.

“It’s about having that intimacy, having that connection. You can use that connection to support the people you want to support. That’s the direction I want to take Korduroy—I really want to push the community aspect when I’m traveling and documenting a place, or an occasion as opposed to simply showing up and consuming or the typical ‘show up and blow-up' mentality of most surf trips.”

After a brief hiatus from paid lifestyle gigs this spring, Gordon’s been kicking back and catching up with Ventura pals, and spending his days camping and photo editing. This fall, he’s headed back onto the open road in support of Korduroy. Next stops?

Ireland, Panama, Vietnam. And then? We couldn’t tell you...and neither could he. 

Dylan Gordon

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“ ...I really want to push the community aspect when I'm traveling and documenting a place...

”

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Food Scoops

Food Scoops | California Pit Stops

California Pit Stops



As far as quality of life is concerned, we’re pretty spoiled here in California. And as “daycation” consideration goes, you’d be hard pressed to beat the destinations right here in our backyard. Since nothing really gets accomplished over the summer, why not schedule a proper break? Grab the homies, “work remotely,” and wait in line at Arco—you deserve it.

From Laguna to Oakland, we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite culinary stops along the 1, the 10, and the 101. Earmark this one, folks; because eventually, you’re gonna work up an appetite from all that scenery.

LAGUNA BEACH BEST VIEW | The Deck Worked up an appetite believing the asshole who suggested taking PCH down the coast? Been there. Make those 108 traffic lights count and treat yourself to dinner at one of the only open-air restaurants in Laguna Beach, aptly named The Deck. The dress code is mellow at this local hang, so go casual and enjoy a light menu of seafood, small bites, and incredible ocean views. Now we see why Jessica stayed in town.

thedeckonlaguna.com

SANTA BARBARA BEST LATE NIGHT SNACK |

Olio Crudo

Olio e Limone’s baby sister, Olio Crudo Bar, is the latest addition to the Morello family’s line of Italian restaurants. The first-come, first-serve spot is cozy, seating just 26; but it also features high ceilings and high-top tables that keep the space breathable. From yellowfin tuna tartare to Scottish salmon carpaccio, the menu offers raw seafood and cooked small bites, perfect for an intimate, late night snack. Pro tip: grab a rare, vintage wine from their notable list and Uber it back to the hotel—you’re on vacation.

olioelimone.com PALM SPRINGS FOR DESIGN HEADS |

Workshop Kitchen and Bar

Nestled on Palm Canyon Drive in the Uptown Design District of Palm Springs, Workshop Kitchen and Bar bodes décor as impressive as its creative take on Americana dishes. The farm-to-table restaurant, helmed by Chef and owners Michael Beckman and Joseph Mourani, works with a dozen farms in and around the Coachella Valley for a fresh, rotating menu of exceptionally thoughtful American classics.

Make sure to indulge in their quirky cocktail list, which varies with market and season. And don’t be afraid to chat up the other quality enthusiasts at Workshop’s massive communal table.

workshoppalmsprings.com

Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm

OAKLAND WORTH THE DETOUR |

HAPPY HOUR

fuseBOX

We appreciate the concept of “earning” it almost as much as we love a good secret. So when a Bay Area homie turned us on to under-the-radar, Korean-fusion spot fuseBOX, we braved the sketchy hood in search of this hidden, and we mean hidden, gem. Sitting on the corner of West Grand and Magnolia Streets, fuseBOX is surrounded by industrial warehouses, chain-link fences sequestering concrete yards, and abandoned (ish?) buildings. Its signage is almost non-existent, so keep your eyes peeled for the life-sized wooden hippo, which sits right out front. Once discovered, fuseBOX will validate the expedition, and reward you with the best Korean Fried Chicken and kimichi you’ve probably ever had. One more delicious reason to visit SF’s cooler cousin.

fuseboxoakland.com

$2 House-made Empanada $4 Glass of Wine $3 Beer

Tuesdays Bottled Wine Half Off

OJAI BEST ORGANIC BREAKFAST |

Farmer and the Cook

Full disclosure: we’ve never had a terrible meal, or time for that matter, while visiting Ojai. The folks are friendly, everywhere you go smells like Dyptique candles, and it seems as though the town was granted a permission slip from God to permanently extend golden hour. But after sitting down for breakfast at the Farmer and the Cook, our admittedly high expectations were exceeded. The all-organic and vegetarian restaurant, store, and bakery are run by a husband and wife duo that operates a 13-acre, CCOF certified farm just down the street. The vegan-friendly menu features an eclectic salad bar and daily soup options, while the lunch and dinner menus often offer Mexican dishes alongside seasonal farm specials on the weekends.

The eatery boasts an exceptionally warm ambiance and the freshest food you’ll ever eat. Don’t believe us? Check their Yelp.

farmerandcook.com

The scoop on LA’s latest eats • lacanvas.com

Downtown 105 W. 9th St. Los Angeles, CA 90015 p. 213/623-1810

Pasadena 121 W. Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91105 p. 626/795.5658

1810restaurant.com twitter: @1810Restaurant

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RESTAURANT

Humble City

Text by • Lauren Westerfield Photo • Melissa Danis

DJ, musician, and dedicated vegan Moby blends ethics, a penchant for oddball architecture, and laid-back California vibes at Silver Lake’s Little Pine.

According to Moby, Los Angeles is split into two camps: “there’s the LA of pine trees, and the LA of palm trees.” We can’t help but agree—and appreciate a rubric for decoding what he dubs “this giant, baffling, byzantine city.”

Moby moved to Los Angeles from New York nearly six years ago, lured by the promise of warm winters, progressive politics, and the freedom to fail. “I feel like [in] the culture of Los Angeles, everybody… has at some point…failed pretty hard.” As a result, there’s “an ethos that’s sort of engendered by that, where people become a little more introspective…[and] draw on inner resources of strength.” Given the fact that Moby is about to open a restaurant—one held to the highest ethical and environmental standards, no less—we can see why he might cling to this aforementioned “ethos of failure.”

Then again, this isn’t his first rodeo.

“In 2002, I opened a couple of little vegetarian cafes in New York called Teany,” he explains. “At the time, I made pretty much every mistake that anyone could make.” Nevertheless, the cafes “did okay;” and they also taught Moby some lessons about the industry— lessons he intends to apply at his new restaurant, a 100% organic vegan eatery in Silver Lake.

Dubbed Little Pine, the venture enables Moby to satisfy myriad interests—from organic food and veganism to architecture, design, and community building—in “one fell swoop.” With characteristic self-deprecation, he admits he “has no idea how to run a kitchen.” His modesty belies a sharp eye for other aspects of the business, however—particularly when it comes to sustainability.

“Producing meat and dairy uses, in some cases, 100 times more water than producing vegetables,” he explains. “I mean, a pound of beef can require up to 10,000 gallons of water, whereas a pound of broccoli takes 90 gallons of water.” At Little Pine, environmental awareness isn’t a branding strategy: it’s intrinsic to everything, from recipes to landscaping.

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Together with his business partner, chef Anne Thornton, Moby’s vision for the restaurant ranges from removing skepticism surrounding a vegan diet to simply “treating people with decency and respect.” As he sees it, “a restaurant…can be a way of not only providing healthy food, but also making everyone involved…feel looked after.” This includes patrons and employees, but also “the people who pick up the trash, and who deliver the food.” In other words, Moby walks the walk: “It just doesn’t make sense to me to compromise principles in the interest of entrepreneurialism.”

Little Pine is slated to open at the end of the summer, housed in “an odd little art-deco battleship” on Rowena Avenue. “The funny thing is, I have a weird architectural blog, and I’d actually taken pictures of the restaurant two years before I bought it,” Moby explains.

Funny—but also fortuitous. “I’m really provincial; like, I love not going outside my neighborhood. Technically, I can ride my bike to the restaurant in about 15 minutes.” Vibe-wise, he’s shooting for “a nice, modern, well-designed, clean, simple, sort of Mid-Century aesthetic,” one that reflects Silver Lake’s predominant style and fills a gap in terms of vegan options in the area. In addition to the food (think palate-pleasing creations like lemon mint pea pâté and cauliflower steak), the restaurant will also feature a retail component. “I don’t quite know what we’re going to sell,” Moby chuckles. “I think it’s going to be pretty random.” Nevertheless, he and Thornton are excited about the possibilities: “We’re giving ourselves the freedom and license to just be as subjective and personal and eclectic as we want to be.”

And really, at a place inspired by the “open, progressive, and tolerant” mindset of the neighborhood, what could be more fitting? “I’m a proud Angeleno for many reasons,” Moby says. “There’s a kind of innate humility here, and I find that it suits me.” Humility is central to his personal ideology—right down to the naming of Little Pine itself. “I really like the word ‘little,’ because it’s humble and unassuming;” and “as much as I love the beach, I find myself really drawn to the mountains, to the Angeles National Forest…to the LA of pine trees.”

For most of us, “Hollywood” may not be synonymous with “humility.”

But for Moby, it all comes back to that “ethos of failure:” to a city built on perseverance, creativity, and the promise of reinvention.

Little Pine 2870 Rowena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039

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Now Boarding

With a robust craft cocktail and mixology scene, Los Angeles is a hub for booze lovers. But let’s not forget that one of the real privileges of our city is its close proximity to other delicious destinations. From San Francisco to San Diego, scope out our picks for places to quench your thirst (and maybe grab a bite or two).

Map Key 01 | San Francisco, CA 02 | Napa, CA

Text by • Vi Nguyen

03 | Santa Barbara, CA 04 | San Diego, CA

02

napa, ca Lucy Restaurant & Bar | lucyrestaurantandbar.com When you’ve grown weary of the grape, settle in at Lucy for a mouthwatering meal and refreshing craft cocktail. All the offerings at Lucy begin in the restaurant’s very own garden, where everything from produce to garnish is hand-plucked on demand. Whether it’s Persian lime wedges or one of eight different varieties of mint, the eco-garden supplies Lucy’s concoctions with some of the freshest herbs, fruits, and veggies around. What to get: Try the “Dali Tai,” a drink made with Sugar Daddy amber rum, Lost Spirits navy rum, house-made orgeat, lime, Combier, and Perucchi dry vermouth.

01

san francisco, ca Oddjob | oddjobsf.com Hidden away in this SoMa bar is a “bar within a bar:” SRO (or “Standing Room Only”), home to whiz mixologist Joey Picchi. Stumbling into Oddjob feels like a tremendous treat—especially because, when it comes to exploring San Francisco, the beautiful neighborhoods and quirky nooks and crannies definitely come with their fair share of peculiarities and hazards. So take refuge at SRO, where Joey works off of prompts given by customers, and is famous for his carefully collected assortment of uncommon ingredients and mixers—an arsenal that allows him to create the ideal libation channeling your requested aura. What to get: at Oddjob, it’s up to you; but don’t worry, you’re in good hands.

03

santa barbara, ca Finch & Fork | finchandforkrestaurant.com This gorgeous Santa Barbara restaurant and bar pays homage to area farms and ocean bounty; and the locals know it. A community favorite, Finch & Fork invites visitors to enjoy the warm ambiance of the restaurant while dining on tapas-style dishes, each proudly prepared using no more than six (exquisite) ingredients.

Similar care goes into their seasonal

04

san diego, ca Polite Provisions | politeprovisons.com After spending the day soaking up rays at the beach, walking into this bar feels like a trip back through time. One minute, it’s all surf bums and sunshine; the next, you’re transported to an elegant, old-time apothecary. A bright, clean interior houses gorgeous detail: meticulous tiling, antique street lamps, and over 46 golden taps with cocktails,

draft beers and select spirits at the ready.

In addition, Polite Provisions has a mindboggling 50+ bitters at their disposal.

Needless to say, if you’re in San Diego, Polite Provisions should definitely be on your hit list. What to get: Order “The East River Defense,” which has Manzanilla Sherry, fresh lemon juice, grapefruit bitters, seltzer & a pinch of sea salt.

cocktails, all handmade with famously fresh ingredients sourced from the Central Coast. What to get: Come for brunch and get their “Maria en Fuego,” a variation on a Bloody Mary with Del Maguey Vida mezcal, house-made Bloody Mary mix, chili and salt rim, grilled pineapple, olives, and celery.

Escala: Spanish for “Stopover” or “Layover”.A A unique stop the heart L.A.’s Koreatown Renaissance.

Escala: Spanish for “Stopover” or “Layover”. unique stop inin the heart ofof L.A.’s Koreatown Renaissance.

Inspired owner OG Chino’s uncommon roots, Chef Chris Oh mixes classic Colombian recipes with Korean flavors love for communal eating drinking.

Inspired byby owner OG Chino’s uncommon roots, Chef Chris Oh mixes classic Colombian recipes with Korean flavors && aa love for communal eating && drinking.

Urban Art Music our marquee family World Class Artists DJs.Stopover Stopover for the food, stay for the experience.

Urban Art && Music byby our marquee family ofof World Class Artists && DJs. for the food, stay for the experience.

LUNCH+ +DINNER DINNER LUNCH

3451W W6th 6thStreet Street 3451 LosAngeles, Angeles,CA CA90020 90020 Los

SUNDAYBRUNCH BRUNCH SUNDAY

InThe TheHistoric HistoricChapman ChapmanMarket Market In

OpenDaily Daily11:30am 11:30am- -2am 2am Open

213-387-1113 213-387-1113

HAPPYHOUR HOUR+ +NAPPY NAPPYHOUR HOUR HAPPY Events/ /Birthdays Birthdays/ /Large LargeParties Parties Events

Koreano• •Colombiano Colombiano• •Angelino Angelino Koreano

@escalaktown @escalaktown #escalaktown escalaktown.com escalaktown.com #escalaktown

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thelarchmont.com •

DRINK

Sipping Sunshine

Text by • Vi Nguyen Photo by • Angel Manuel off busy Melrose Ave., this Craftsman-style cottagemeets-bungalow is cozy and elegantly outfitted with marble finishings and a gorgeous fireplace—and you’d never guess that the building itself is over one hundred years old. When I enter, I’m greeted by head mixologist Chris Kramer, who—as is often the case in LA—started out pursuing modeling before making the switch to hospitality.

Though he is the self-proclaimed Gin Whisperer, Kramer’s contribution to this issue is a bourbon-based concoction aptly named “Made in the Shade”—a twist on the “Kentucky Maid” cocktail derived from the “Maid” family of drinks created by Sam Ross (of NYC’s famed Milk & Honey).

When a full-blown vacation isn’t feasible, thank your lucky stars you live in L.A. With about 40 million tourists making their way to our blessed city each year, you don’t have to go far to escape the monotony of the daily grind. For every skyscraper lacking in our skyline, you’ll find a neighborhood pocket serving up a taste of faraway, exotic lands…or, well, at least a $1 taco.

But LA’s rich culinary diversity, while impressive, isn’t the only thing I would mourn if I left and became an expat in some barren, street cart-less land. What I would really miss are the many dining (and drinking) establishments that whip up killer cocktails—the best, in fact, to ever have graced my taste buds.

Combining bourbon with juicy cucumber, green apple, and fresh mint, the resulting elixir is absolutely sublime.

While sneaking in anecdotes of topless bartending stints in Asia, Kramer explains that taking a sip of the “Made in the Shade” is “like biting into a Granny Smith apple.”

Indeed, one sip and the drink whisks me away to a balmy, sun-soaked day on a Kentucky porch. So why hop on a plane when you’re itching for a reprieve? Stop by The Larchmont and let your taste buds do the traveling instead.

Take The Larchmont, for instance. If you’ve never visited before, you’ll probably walk past the entrance several times trying to find it. Nestled on the corner of a residential street

Made in the Shade 

INGREDIENTS 1

green apple

2

cucumber

3

mint

4

lime

5

20oz bourbon

Combine fresh muddled green apple and cucumber, mint, fresh squeezed lime, bourbon. Shake and strain into a collins glass with column ice. Garnish with a slice of green granny smith apple and mint sprig.

FEATURE :

The Larchmont 5750 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038

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"Top 10 omakase in Southern California"

"Unique dishes dedicated to fusion-style izakaya"

"Best izakaya in the SGV"

-Coast Magazine

-LAist

-LA Times

SUSHI AKATORA 302 ROSECRANS AVE MANHATTAN BEACH, CA 90266 (310) 802-1131

IZAKAYA AKATORA Proud to celebrate 1 year anniversary for Sushi Akatora in Manhattan Beach

WWW.AKATORALA.COM @akatoramb | @akatorala

sushiakatora | izakayaakatora

115 W. MAIN ST. ALHAMBRA, CA 91891 (626) 943-7872

LA CANVAS CARES— 

Urban Arts Partnership Urban Arts Partnership is one of the largest and fastest-growing education non-profits in the country. Founded in NYC 1991, the organization’s mission is to reimagine public education through arts integrated programming. In 2011, UAP expanded to the West Coast with help from LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy and philanthropist Megan Chernin. Since then, the LA contingent has already begun making an impact on the local community.

urbanarts.org @uapnyc

This spring, LA CANVAS dropped by ArTES High School in the San Fernando Valley, where students were participating in a series of end-of-the-year events co-presented by Takehollywood and UAP. Broken up into a series of ‘Master Classes,’ designed to connect professional artists with students and provide feedback and tools of the trade, the program gives students access to arts and culture, and is key to their development as global citizens. The one-day workshops included dance, design, music performance and production,

5.26.15

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6.04.15

theater, spoken word, digital media, photography, visual arts, and a special screening of Shake the Dust, a documentary that featured Breakdance Project Uganda.

“It’s crucial for passionate students to have both an educational and intimate experience with the Hollywood industry, and also learn how to face obstacles with confidence and knowledge,” say Edoardo Ponti and Sasha Alexander, Takehollywood co-founders.

“Working with Urban Arts Partnership gave us the opportunity to share our unique online platform, Takehollywood, with students and help teach them about important career advice that isn’t—and can’t be—taught in the classroom.”

Next winter marks the sixth series of Master Classes, to be hosted with LA partners across the city in music, film, theater, and art. Head to Urbanarts.org to see how you can get involved.

Heal The Bay Heal the Bay is hugely responsible for keeping Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean. The nonprofit pinpoints and resolves environmental issues by using science, education, diligent advocacy, and a resounding call for community action.

healthebay.org @healthebay

A comprehensive guide to local nonprofits + community building.

The progressive organization was founded back in 1985 after the unprecedented feat of cleaning up the Santa Monica Bay. LA activists Dorothy Green and Howard Bennett joined forces to address and rectify the messy (and illegal) situation over at Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant. It was a tall order; but today, the former waste-spewing offender is now a world-class treatment facility thanks to Green and Bennett’s dedicated efforts.

For over 20 years, the results-oriented nonprofit has been successful at regularly moving municipal, state, and federal government and regulatory agencies to act in their interests.

By persistently educating the public on the causes and effects of waste pollution, they are able to take on California’s growing list of environmental challenges.

In June, LA CANVAS joined 1,000 fellow beach lovers in attendance at the Heal the Bay 30th Anniversary Awards Gala at the Jonathan Club in Santa Monica. The event recognized special honorees, including The LA Kings, Golden Road Brewing, and filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite.

SCENE & HEARD SCENE & HEARD

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Break BreakRoom Room86 86• •06/04/15 06/04/15

Konus Konus Launch Launch Party Party

photography by Sungwook Kim & Taehoon Kim. photography by Sungwook Kim & Taehoon Kim.

This past month Konus, the elevated This pastmonth, month Konus, the elevated This past elevated streetwear brand streetwear brand helmed by designer Dax streetwear brand helmed byatdesigner Dax Konus held their launch party Koreatown’s Hall, held their launch party at Koreatown Hall, their86. launch at Koreatown Breakheld Room The party unisex shopping hotspot Break Room 86. The unisex shopping hotspot Break Room 86. by TheInstagram unisex shopping experience was hosted It Kids experience was hosted by Instagram it-kids experience was hosted by Instagram it-kids

sponsored: sponsored HIGHLIGHT : :

Feral Creature, Ellen V Lora, and Flamcis, Feral Creature, Ellen V Lora, and Flamcis, and featured a live fashion show, open bar, and featured a live fashion show, open bar, tunes by DJ Nure, light bites by Roy Choi, tunes by DJ Nure, light bites by Roy Choi, and a solid VIP gifting suite. and a solid VIP gifting suite.

Konus Launch Party Konus Launch Party www.konusbrand.com www.konusbrand.com konusbrand.com

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SCENE & HEARD

0505LAC

THE VACATION ISSUE

Liberty Space • 06/07/15

TOMS + Liberty Concept LOOK: SHOP: GIVE

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photography by Tyler Allen

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Back in June, TOMS Eyewear posted up at Liberty Fairs Concept for LOOK: SHOP: GIVE, an innovative pop-up shop over on West 3rd Street. The retail spot featured a full selection of optical frames and sunnies, as well as photography snapped by TOMS Creative Director John Whitledge and stories from the field by members of the TOMS team. The month-

HIGHLIGHT :

long activation was created in collaboration with innovative, location-based music app weeSPIN, together with Mainland Poke, Jack Daniels, Vita Coco, Aquahydrate, Magnolia Bakery, The Juicy Leaf, and Svedka. With every pair of eyewear purchased, TOMS helps give sight to a person in need.

TOMS + Liberty Concept | Look: Shop: Give toms.com

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Art Postwar Black Los Angeles @ Hammer Museum

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Bar Fernet Branca Music Series @ Harvard & Stone

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Concert Ellie King @ The Troubadour

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Concert Machine Gun Kelly @ House of Blues

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July

Art Opening Petra Cortright @ Depart Foundation

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Concert FMLYBND @ The Wayfarer

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Concert The Ting Tings @ The Fonda Theatre

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Theater T he Phantom of The Op era @ Pantages Theatre

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PARTY Summer Nights in the Garden @ Natural History Museum

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Event Volunteering 101 @ 826LA Echo Park

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Event Firework Spectacular w/ Smokey Robinson @ Hollywood Bowl

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Film Cinespia: The Goonies + Fireworks @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery

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Event 626 Night Market @ Santa Anita Park

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Event Renegade Craft Fair @ Grand Park

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Art Opening Queer Fantasy @ OHWOW Gallery

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Film Back to the Future @ Centennial Square

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Party 4th of July Block Party @ Grand Park

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Sports L.A. Galaxy vs. Toronto FC @ Stub Hub Center

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Music Hip-Hop Logic: The Role of Hiphop in 21st Century Education & Poetices @ Hammer Museum

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Concert The Bird and The Bee @ The Vibe

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Comedy The Open Mic Comedy Show @ The Satellite

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Art Opening Christian Marclay’s The Clock @ LACMA

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Concert XXL Freshmen Tour @ Club Nokia

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Concert Soak @ The Echo

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Bar Brain Party Trivia Night @ Alex’s Bar

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Art Ocean Plastic Pollution @ Hammer Museum

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Comedy Bon Qui Qui @ House of Blues-LA

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Happy Hour $5 Selects @ The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

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Event Birthday Celebration Kick-Off @ Sushi Akatora-Manhattan Beach

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Music Live Music Tuesday’s @ Bar Mateo at Zinc Cafe & Market

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Art Curator Talk on Elizabeth C. @ Hammer Museum

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Concert Charlie XCX @ Pacific Amphitheatre

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Concert JD McPherson @ Santa Monica Pier

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Concert The Kite String Tangle @ The Echo

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Event Sinatra’s 100th Birthday Celebration @ Hollywood Bowl

Event Stag’s Leap Library Wine Dinner @ mar’sel at Terranea Resort

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Party Freakout Thursday @ Los Globos

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Concert Little Boots @ The Echo

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Theater Monty Python’s Spamalot @ Hollywood Bowl

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Concert Freddie Gibbs @ House of Blues-LA

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Food Farmer’s Market @ Pershing Square

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Happy Hour $ 1 Oysters @ EMC Seafood & Raw Bar

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Event Step and Repeat Kick-Off @ MOCA

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Music Grand Ole Echo @ The Echo

Art Opening Cityscape V @ George Billis Gallery

Event Special Olympics World Games LA 2015 Opening Ceremony @ LA Coliseum

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Event US Open of Surfing @ Huntington Beach

Event Monday Mayhem Game Night @ Angel City Brewery

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Concert Beach Party @ The Echo

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Concert Imagine Dragons @ Honda Center

Event Sunset Walk + Tour @ Griffith Observatory

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Event Moves After Dark @ The Music Center

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Sports 2015 Reebok Crossfit Games @ Stub Hub Center

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More events in real time • lacanvas.com

Art Art Talk: Tongues Untied @ MOCA

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Party Cruel Summer @ The Standard West Hollywood

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Happy Hour $ 5 Mexican Pizzas @ Más Malo

Concert J Cole @ Staples Center

Film Street Food Cinema: Clueless @ Exposition Park

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Festival Low End Theory @ Shrine Expo Hall & Grounds

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Art Opening Bloom by Young Chun @ C.A.V.E Gallery

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Film Cinespia: Apocalypse Now @ Hollywood Forever

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Festival Hard Summer 2015 @ Pomona Fairplex

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Event Classic Car Show @ Pomona Fairplex

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Event CicLAvia @ Culver City

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Art Opening Robert Overby @ Cherry and Martin

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Bar Sunday Bloody Sunday @ La Cita

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Concert Whirr @ The Echo

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August

Sports Dodgers VS. Nationals @ Dodger Stadium

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Concert Wiz Khalifa @ Hollywood Bowl

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Concert Basement @ The Observatory

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Event Nerd Nite @ The Mint

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Concert Hot Chip w/ Special Guests @ Greek Theatre

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Concert Milky Chance @ Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall

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Happy Hour $ 7 Dishes @ Madera

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Food Crudo Hour @ Culina

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Concert Of Monsters and Men @ Greek Theatre

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Concert The Suffers @ The Roxy Theatre

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Film Flux @ Hammer Museum

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Concert Kehlani @ The Roxy Theatre

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Event Downtown Artwalk @ Various Locations

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Concert Tame Impala @ Hollywood Forever Cemetary

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Concert Cayucas @ El Rey Theatre

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Art Kahlil Joseph: Double Conscience @ MOCA

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Music Bring Your Own Dance Moves w/ DJ Carlos Niño & Friends @ Music Center Plaza

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Event Sundance Next Fest ‘15 @ Theatre at Ace Hotel

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Concert Fortunate Youth @ Levitt Pavilion LA

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Event KCRW’s Summer Nights @ Chinatown Central Plaza

Event HUSHcast: The Night Laggers VS. L.A.M.P @ Ricardo Montalbán Theatre

Concert Erykah Badu @ Hollywood Bowl

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Art Design Collective @ Hammer Museum

Festival FYF Festival 2015 @ Exposition Park

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Party 80’s Mixtape Dance Party @ The Echo

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Event Sunday Sessions @ Grand Park

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Event Echo Park Rising @ Echo Park

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Film Breakfast Club @ The Autry

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Art Opening Alice Könitz @ Eric Gero Editions

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Event Spin Standard Ping Pong @ The Standard Downtown

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Concert Taylor Swift @ Staples Center

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Concert Mumford & Sons @ The Forum

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Music Origami Vinyl’s Record Club @ El Prado Bar

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Happy Hour $ 2.50 Bowling @ X Lanes

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Concert Raekwon & Ghostface Killah @ The Belasco Theater

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Film 2001: A Space Odyssey @ The Hollywood Bowl

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Film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off @ Alfredo’s Beach Club

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Event Game Night @ Grand Central Market

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Concert Ariel Pink w/ The Mynabirds @ Santa Monica Pier

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Event Friday Night Wine Tastings @ Barnsdale Park

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Concert MSTRKRFT @ Regent Theater

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Party $ 5 Selects @ The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

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More events in real time • lacanvas.com

Concert Miguel @ Majestic Ventura Theatre

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Party Cruel Summer @ The Standard West Hollywood

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Event Exhibition Tours @ The Hammer Museum

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Concert Jill Scott @ Greek Theatre

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0505LAC

THE VACATION ISSUE

joeperriphoto.com

LAST LOOK

Where in the World is Joe Perri?

Joe Perri went through over 40 rolls of 35mm film during his first trip out of the country. The photographer— armed with a travel backpack filled with basic essentials, clothes, two small 35mm cameras, film, books, and a few blank journals— traveled through Iceland, Italy, Barcelona and Paris this past spring. He captured some pretty idyllic frames along the way, landing back on US soil a changed man.

Sound too good to be true? We get it. Then again, after being charmed by Icelandic wild horses, Parisian hostesses, a gaggle of friendly Spanish skateboarders, and the sprawling Italian countryside, you just might find yourself won over by bucolic nirvana, too.

Perri is a narrative junkie living in LA, where he relocated just over two years ago after growing up in South Florida. He began taking photos in high school, fueled by a passion for storytelling. Throughout his relatively brief tenure as a fulltime photographer (it’s only been about five years), Joe has shot everything from outdoor lifestyle to fashion, and has an uncanny knack for finding and capturing intimate moments.

Which place gave you the most energy? Which place made you think?

Barcelona, Spain definitely gave me the most energy. The streets were always packed with people enjoying life: eating, drinking, conversing, etc. It was easy to walk outside every morning and pick up on that energy; the culture was thriving and rich. Iceland, on the other hand, was a place where you would get lost in your thoughts. It was so vast and quiet; sometimes, I wouldn’t see another soul for hours. It was solitude in the best form—and I enjoyed every second of it.

What was the best part about going alone? Did you ever wish you had someone else with you?

The best part about going alone was having solitude, and being able to move about and function at my own pace. It gave me the opportunity to think and spend time in the moments that really fulfilled me. Every so often, though, I felt the photo wouldn’t do the place or moment justice, and having someone else there to experience it with me would have been nice. Next time!

What’s the best part about coming back?

We caught up with Perri in a well-lit corner of Hollywood’s Café Solar. A few hours of travel stories and hundreds of pictures later, we decided upon our Vacation Issue cover.

Chatting over salmon and coffee, Joe thoughtfully recounted his adventures for us.

Was it difficult to choose when to put the camera down and live in the moment?

The only struggle I really had was hoping that I shot enough film at each location. I felt so caught up at times—because there was so much that I had never seen or experienced before—that I probably missed some moments. But, sometimes, the memory is satisfying enough.

LAST LOOK :

I was pretty disconnected from my friends and family, so being able to come back and share my stories felt great. Sleeping in my own bed and staying still for some time was such a relief as well: a month of traveling every single day totally drained me, but nothing felt better than going through all the film…I didn’t remember everything that I had shot, so seeing all the images felt very nostalgic. It felt as though I was reliving my trip all over again: same excitement, same thrill.

Joe Perri

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