Localrevibe Magazine | Issue 10 | June 2014 by localrevibe

issue 10 june 2014

functional

vintage loud luggage co. by kimberly gunning

Curious nature

Natural history emporium

beard essentials Growing a business

my phx story

courtney craig

shine coffee

running on caffeine

madalyn nault

local hand made accessories

iron root

burns desert into art www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe

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Creative & photo Director

Media Partners

Chris Kontakis

Fixed Heart Films Kronos Creative

media manager Tina Van Booven

Contributing Writers

For Editorial and Advertising opportunities, please email info@localrevibe.com

Kimberly Gunning Morgan Tanabe Nicole Royse Ashley Brand Alexa Chrisbacher Katie Snyder Janessa Hilliard Localrevibe Media Network, LLC. 7000 N. 16th Street Suite 120 PMB 215 Phoenix, Arizona 85020 Phone 480 336 2507 info@localrevibe.com www.localrevibe.com www.localrevibemedia.com

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Photo by: Chris Kontakis 4

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06 shine coffee Running on Caffeine

08 Iron Root Burns Desert into Art

12 Curious nature Natural History Emporium

14 beard Essentials Growing a Business

16 my phx story

Courtney Craig

COVER STORY

loud luggage co. Functional Vintage

28 madalyn nault Accessories

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l oc a l b u s i n e s s

running on caffeine

shine coffee By Morgan Tanabe | Photos by Chris Kontakis

Phoenix is running on caffeine. No longer do people flock to big-name chains for their bitter espresso and watered down drinks, local coffeehouses across the Valley are attracting a following of their own. The unplugged java joints have morphed into low-key, comfortable hang-outs serving up more than a standard cup of Joe. Shine Coffee is one of these hip artisanal shops. Once known for being a popular food truck, owners Laryn and Christian Blok, decided to open a quaint spot in Phoenix’s historic Willo District. Aside from cravingly smooth brews, the hidden gem offers watermelon mint iced tea, cardamom lattes and delectable pastries. The

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overall vibe combines creativity with ambience in a pretension-free environment. The urban oasis is filled with vintage furniture and walls adorned with work by local artists. In fact, Shine is practically a federation of cool spaces--a “Living Room,” outdoor seating and a “pocket park” are only some of the highlights the airy neighborhood shop offers. While the decidedly eclectic coffeehouse offers a cool place to unwind and get a caffeine fix, it is also bringing a sense of community to downtown Phoenix. “I don’t wait it to be a convenience place, I want it to be a destination place,” co-owner Christian Blok says.

Earlier this year Shine opened a 2,000-square-foot “pocket park” directly next door. The project was part of PHX Renews, a city project aimed at filling vacant lots across the Valley. Blok and his wife raised thousands-of-dollars through a website called Kickstarter to develop the park. “It was open dirt, rocks and quite unattractive,” Blok says. “We wanted to expand and make it nice and more unique. People saw what we were doing and the community wanted us to succeed.” The husband-and-wife team have big plans for the park and shop’s future. Aside from already offering tai-chi classes, Blok explains he wants to begin yoga sessions, sto-

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i don’t want it to be a convenience place, i want it to be a destination place.

rytelling and mini-events. Not only has Shine been a blessing to the community, it has provided a positive outlook for Blok himself. “The concept of community building has been a wonderful experience,” he says. This has been a conduit for me. The majority of people are good and it has renewed my hope in humanity.” Shine Coffee is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed on Sunday. 10 W. Vernon Avenue, Phoenix 85003

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l o ca l a r ti s t

iron root burns desert into art By Kimberly Gunning | Photos by Chris Kontakis

Alexandra Bowers and many others who grew up in the Valley remember a day when their home’s backdoor opened up to the desert—a living and breathing playground full of natural beauty. A time before suburbia cemented our desert floors. The bones and skulls left behind are what Bowers sees—a sad reminder of what it used to be and the inspiration for her art. Owner and artist of Iron Root, Bowers says, “I’ve always been drawn towards old scientific illustration,” mentioning the quality, mark making, observation method and drawing detail. Going out into the field and photographing objects to bring back into the studio to study—Bowers relates her artistic process to that of science-based observation. Originally turned on to the idea of wood burning six years ago during a trip to Home Depot with her dad, Bowers began experimenting with scrap wood and a soldering iron and, “It just sort of developed from there,” she says. Using birch for her work, Bowers wood burns a variety of plant specimens, creating bookmarks, promise tokens and t-shirts from the inspiration she finds in the vast Arizona desert. “It’s a lot like a tattoo,” Bowers explains to those who ask what wood burning is like. “I have to map out with pencil where I want everything to be placed and then I burn the graphite into the wood…Once it’s there, there’s no going back. Just like a tattoo.”

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A former art student at ASU and a finalist in Phoenix New Times’ 2014 Big Brain Awards, Bowers says, “Up to this point I’ve been so fortunate to not be stuck in an office 9-5.” Iron Root was formally established as an LLC this past December and, with a new business partner on board, Bowers plans to have her hands in a little of everything but would like to work predominantly on the creative side moving forward. “I think watercolor is where I’d like to go next,” she says.

WWW.IRONROOTWOODBURNING.COM

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all about bringing art into your everyday. Taking simple goods and making them beautiful. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why our candles are made by hand and are meant to become a permanent piece of art in your home, even after the flame is long gone. Just wipe out any excess wax and reuse the container however you fancy.

100% Soy Wax | Handmade in Phoenix, AZ | standardwax.com www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe

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local busi ness

curious nature By Alexa Chrisbacher | Photos by Chris Kontakis

A shop on Roosevelt Row in Phoenix is grabbing the attention of science buffs and art collectors alike. Curious Nature, a fine natural history emporium, sells a range of oddities including skulls, bones, vintage taxidermy and exotic plants. “I’ve always been into science and nature, but so much of it is always hands-off, don’t touch,” Owner Mason Conway said. “When you go to the museum you obviously can’t take [things] home with you, but here you can.” Conway encourages people to explore, touch things and pick stuff up. He says Curious Nature is for people who are fascinated by science and the natural world, whether they are collectors, tourists or scientists. Conway says he loves when people bring their kids in and use the shop as a learning experience. “I’ve always been a science and nature geek since I was a little kid,” Conway said. His passion for exotic animals led him to a career in the veterinary field. Conway spent about ten years working as a veterinary technician and also taught at some local colleges. Although Conway’s roots are in the sciences, he is also garnering fans from the Phoenix arts community. “You can call it art,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of local artists come in and ask if I would be interested in carrying their stuff, but I tell them the only artist I carry is Mother Nature.” Most of the specimens mounted and stacked around the store are brought in by suppliers. Conway says he’s constantly searching for different, exotic creatures to wow his collectors. “I do really try to rotate and I’m always trying to bring in new stuff,” Conway said. “That’s what I think the challenge is with a shop like this ... I have collectors that are looking for new, different things all the time.”

610 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

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l oca l b u s i n e s s

growing a business

beard essentials By Janessa Hilliard | Photos by Marisa Schibilla / thisislifephotography.com

Steve Patsy grew his business out of his beard — almost entirely by accident.

scent properties — but mild, not like cologne, he says.

The Phoenician is the hair-spiration behind Beard Essentials, a local company created to cultivate facial hair from a perpetual five o’clock shadow to full on Santa Claus status.

“The essential oils help repair and fix the skin underneath,” he continues. “And some that are in aromatherapy are good for lifting your mood or creating a calm or energetic mood.”

“I’ve had a beard most of my adult life. I’ll have it off-and-on for like, three months, and then I’ll shave it — my wife hates it,” Patsy says.

Patsy’s one-ounce bottle ($24) is based in organic plant oils and scented ever so slightly with sandalwood, citrus and cedar oils. It’s a fresh, woodsy scent worthy of the most voluptuous beard.

After a solid year of growth, Patsy caved to pressure from his wife and barber, and shaved his beard in May 2013. The ordeal was documented on an iPhone and thrown up on YouTube, where he started to receive comments about the state of his beard and tips on beard growth and maintenance.

Want an “epic beard” like Patsy’s? Even if you’re prone to slow-growing facial hair, there’s only one way to gain a full, lengthy beard, he says. Throw away that razor and let your stubble grow.

www.beardessentials.com

An interest was sparked. Soon Patsy spent his spare time researching all things facial hair, from grooming to health, he says. Finally in April, after a six-month process, he launched his first product: Original No. 1 Premium Beard Oil by his startup, Beard Essentials. A good beard oil should contain two main ingredients, Patsy explains on his company’s blog: base oils (like olive, almond or grape seed oils) lock in moisture and natural oils within the follicles and pores, while essential oils are primarily used for

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my phx story

Courtney Craig “Ew” was one of the first words I heard when I told people I was moving to Downtown Phoenix. Yep, seriously. They would ask, “Is it safe?” or “What’s even down there?” My parents were even guilty of this vision of Downtown, two people who have lived in the Valley since the 1970s, and worked/played in Uptown Phoenix in its early booming days. As unnerving as those questions sound now, at the time I really couldn’t blame them. Downtown Phoenix was just starting to be “revitalized” after years of what seemed like dormancy. It didn’t help that I grew up in Scottsdale and graduated from ASU – a school full of transplants who (7 years ago) would say, “Phoenix has a Downtown?” Yep – that comment also seriously happened. Outside of sports arenas and concert venues, most of the people I knew seemed to see Downtown Phoenix as a barren wasteland. AN EDUCATION During my time at ASU I changed my major three times – I was never really a gal with a plan. I just kind of went with things as they came my way. Luckily, by the time I was a Senior I found something I could stick with – video production. My first real introduction to Downtown Phoenix 16

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happened when I got an internship at a video production house near Roosevelt Street. It was one of the coolest offices I’d ever seen. At lunch I’d hear people talk about First Fridays, the different art galleries, local bands, etc. After a few weeks, I started to realize there was a big sense of community Downtown – something I’d never really experienced in North Scottsdale. At the time, some classmates and I desperately needed a topic for a student documentary and I thought it’d be great to tell the story of First Fridays. That’s when I was introduced to two people who were greatly responsible for that sense of “community” I felt: Greg Esser and Cindy Dach of Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation. After 10 minutes with Greg, we realized our story was not in the evolution of First Fridays, but in the rapid revitalization of Downtown that was happening right under our nose. With Greg, we stood in front of a big map of Downtown Phoenix as he pointed out empty lots, unused buildings, and told us stories of the surrounding historic homes. Then, he told us their plans for Roosevelt Row. He went into detail about the importance of live/work spaces, the art walk, and

“filling in the spaces.” Born and raised in the suburbs, I never even heard of a live/ work space. He told us they studied other urban cities like Portland, Chicago, Austin, and Denver, and the importance of making Downtown Phoenix “walkable.” There was a moment in there where I thought, “Yeah, why aren’t we like those cities? Who is in charge of all this?!” That’s when I realized, derrr, it’s the community that will ultimately make plans like this successful. After a few days in the editing room replaying interviews with Greg, the owners of Welcome Diner, Carly’s, Tammie Coe, and some Phoenix policeman, I knew Downtown Phoenix was far from “Ew” and I wanted to be there to watch it grow. But I still had my senior year to finish and a couple of months planned in Europe for my ‘I’m not ready to get a real job’ phase, so Downtown Phoenix went to the back of my mind for awhile. MY TRANSITION After graduation and my trip to Europe it was time for me to make a plan for my life. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to live, but I did know that I did not want to stay in North Scottsdale or Tempe. I knew I needed a change of scenery and wanted something different for myself, especially after getting a taste of thriving, su-

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per urban cities of Europe. About the same time, my step-brother Sean moved to Arizona from Illinois and really wanted to get into the art scene. I told him Downtown Phoenix could be a great place to start, knowing about First Fridays and Roosevelt Row. He needed a roommate and that’s when I decided on Downtown Phoenix, thinking it was as close as I could get to that eclectic and communal feel those European cities had. So, we set ourselves up in between Roosevelt and Portland streets near the light rail. After a couple of safety lectures from my parents, and a couple “gifts” of mace later, I knew all the skepticism was bologna and that I made the right choice. As an Arizona native who grew up in the hot, hot suburbs where we fried eggs and grasshoppers (yes, grasshoppers!) on the empty sidewalks, I was not used to people being out and about in their neighborhoods, actually walking around outside talking to… (get this)… other people. I lived on one of the quaintest streets I’d ever seen in my life. Within walking distance there were historic red brick houses, green parks, coffee shops, salons, restaurants, and a dry cleaner. Was this real life? My brother Sean seemed to be just as content, he was already networking with artists and getting gigs. Downtown Phoenix was proving to be a place far better than any European town. It was a place we had the opportunity to change, to watch grow. It was also a place we could grow our careers.

restaurants, concerts, and events on the weekends. We go to bars inside old historic homes before stumbling (safely) home down the street. We can plant in community gardens, we can shop at a large, twice weekly farmer’s market, we can conveniently rent bikes from bike shares on street corners, and we can find dozens of things to do without having to get into our cars. The convenience of living Downtown is something we all know and love, something most other Arizona cities do not have in the same way. I also know I am safer Downtown than in most other areas of the Valley. Downtown Phoenix has come a long way since I moved here 6 years ago, and I know it will continue to evolve into one of the greatest Downtown areas in the U.S. by the time I have a family. Now, when people hear I live Downtown, they first thing say to me is “That’s really cool. I love ______ and _______ down there. And, have you been to __________? I hear it’s awesome.”

www.thiscouldbephx.com

NOW, AND WHY I LOVE IT HERE Flash forward to now – where I am suddenly a part of the urban community I always wished for. I see the same people walking to, from, and inside local Downtown businesses every day. Many of those people are my friends, and some are becoming my family. We ride the light rail or bike the many Downtown

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f e atu r e d

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Functional Vintage

loud luggage co. By Kimberly Gunning | Photos by Chris Kontakis At the local car shows, Brently Easten’s old Volkswagen bug began drawing a crowd—Not there to see the car, but the vintage suitcase in the trunk, doubling as a boombox. An artistic hobby turned company, Loud Luggage Co. was soon born. “I always had a thing for old suitcases. I just like the way they look,” Easten explains. Growing up working on old cars and stereos, he says, “The cool thing about those old cars is they have vintage chrome radios.” Most people take them out to put in newer-age CD players, he says, which devalues the car and changes the aesthetic. 22

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After tossing around the idea for quite awhile of transforming a vintage suitcase into a stereo, Easten tracked down an old suitcase, bought the biggest subwoofer he could find, and cut apart and glued pieces of plaid shirts to the inside. That first stereo generated interest at the car shows he visited, and he began to take on requests to build vintage suitcase stereos for others. Four years later, Loud Luggage continues to sell these works of art, and Easten’s friend Brandon Passey has recently joined the team to help keep up with growing demand.

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these things have seen so many different stories, loud luggage gives them new life.

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“I don’t just slap them together,” Easten says about his stereos. Mass production and money generation has never been the driving factor for Loud Luggage, “This is like art to me and I really love to do it.” Both with daytime jobs, Easten and Passey take on the Loud Luggage venture from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening. The stereos range from vintage lunchboxes and suitcases they have found, to custom pieces with materials provided by the buyer. “We don’t just get run of the mill suitcases. We look for the most eclectic and unique and vintage as we possibly can,” Passey says. “These things have seen so many different stories,” Easten adds. Loud Luggage gives them new life. All hand-assembled, “It’s plug and play,” says Easten. The rechargeable boomboxes have inputs for an owner’s smart phone, iPod or MP3 player. They can also be customized for RCA plugs and USB ports. Easten says he would eventually like to be able to produce entirely American-made products. Recently, they found a California-based battery company that will soon be making custom, quality batteries for Loud Luggage, and he has other local companies in mind that he would like to work with down the line for the other pieces. “It’s been a lot of work,” Easten says. A hands-on learner, he has most recently been learning Photoshop skills in order to increase visual presence and sales online. Loud Luggage vintage suitcase boomboxes are sold on the company’s website as well as at greenHAUS gallery + boutique off of North Third and East Roosevelt streets.

WWW.LOUDLUGGAGECO.COM

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l o ca l m a d e

madalyn nault Accessories By Ashley Brand | Photos by Chris Kontakis

Madalyn Nault found she had a love for sewing when she was young and that love has followed her through out her life. As her style changed, her crafts and hobby changed as well. These days her inspiration comes from the rise of vintage and old-fashioned clothing, designs, and shops here in Arizona. Her passion has lead to the development of a brand of vintage, handmade accessories that she sells online and at local retailers. “I hand make one of a kind purses from vinyl and unique fabric. Many times I repurpose vintage fabric or find interesting prints to use,” Madalyn says, “I’m sure I could make it easier and buy multiple yards of new fabric I like, but I love that each piece is special and limited. Everyone is different and there are so many beautiful things to be inspired by I couldn’t possibly choose. I want people to feel that they are special and unique by getting a piece that is special and unique. It’s really exciting and a big deal to me to know someone has chosen a piece I created to take on their journey, their adventure in life.” Each piece Madalyn makes is crafted using unique materials, ensuring that each one is different then the last. By offering to make custom pieces as well, each vintage-inspired item has an air of exclusivity and personality.

want to make sure that it’s following this brand that I’m trying to build,” Madalyn says. Her purses can be purchased at www.madalynnault.com. The clutches, purses, and wallets run from about ten dollars to fifty dollars and make great gifts to accessorize with. Madalyn will also be part of the 2nd Annual Brave Wings Fashion Show on June 28th at The Venue Scottsdale. Also check out Clothes Minded in Ahwatukee, Here on the Corner in Tempe, Adelaide Boutique in Ahwatukee, and Salon 7 in Phoenix to find Madalyn’s creations here in the valley.

www.madalynnault.com

“This year I’m really focusing on getting an online presence and just building my actual brand. I

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