Sensi Magazine SoCal - May 2021

MAN OF METAL

Ricardo Breceda’s journey to art

ONE-HIT WONDER The joy of the one-hitter

IT HAPPENED HERE

How King Soopers changed Boulder

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MIND AT EASE Cannabis through the eyes of fashion’s Armen Gregorian

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FEATURES

30

38

High Mind (At Ease) Fashion designer Arman Gregorian brings some je ne sais quoi to cannabis with MAE.

It Happened Here

A Boulder, Colorado, resident reflects on how to move forward after the American nightmare came to her town.

DEPARTMENTS

13 EDITOR’S NOTE 20 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 14 THE BUZZ MAN OF METAL Ricardo News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop ALTER ECO It’s chococentric, sustainable, and yum!

SOBER STORY How one woman reclaimed her life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTIST, DOMINGO ZAPATA

HOLLYWOOD ENDING

Breceda traded in his cowboy boots for a welder.

ONE-HIT WONDERS The joy of the one hitter HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for you

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ArcLght closes its doors.

THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip A BETTER SHOWER Save hangouts around town water and feel good.

EL DUENDE Artist DARK COMEDY It’s time Domingo Zapata to binge Wayne. broadcasts a message of love in Times Square.

PLAN IT Check out your SoCal events calendar for the month of May.

ON THE COVER

MAE is giving cannabis the redcarpet treatment.

See page 30.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAE

52 THE END This CBD skincare line will make mom’s day.

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ADVISORY BOARD

COLORADO Agricor Laboratories Testing Lab Aspen Cannabis Insurance Insurance Services Canyon Cultivation Microdosing Cartology Corporation Cartridge Filling Equipment + Hardware Colorado Cannabis Company THC Coffee Concentrate Supply Co. Recreational Concentrates Emerald Construction Construction Green Edge Trimmers Trimmers Higher Grade Boutique Cannabis Hybrid Payroll Staffing & HR Benefits Jupiter Research Inhalation Hardware Lab Society Extraction Expert + Lab Supplies marQaha Sublinguals + Beverages Monte Fiore Farms Recreational Cultivation Northern Standard History of Cannabis PotGuide Cannabis Culture Source CO Wholesale Consulting Terrapin Care Station Recreational Dispensary Toast Mindful Consumption Uleva Hemp Products Wana Brands Edibles Witlon Inc. Payroll Processing SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Accucanna LLC Desert Hot Springs: Dispensary EventHI Events Flourish Software Distribution Management Helmand Valley Growers Company Medical Infrastructure Specialist HUB International Insurance Hybrid Payroll / Ms. Mary Staffing Staffing & HR Benefits Ikänik Farms Cannabis Distribution Red Rock Fertility Fertility Doctor Wana Brands Edible Gummies Witlon Payroll

NEVADA Eden Water Technologies Water System Technologies Green Leaf Money Canna Business Finanacing GreenHouse Payment Solutions Payment Processing Ideal Business Partners Corporate Law & Finance Jupiter Research Inhalatation Hardware Matrix NV Premium Live Resin Red Rock Fertility Fertility Doctor Rokin Vapes Vape Technology This Stuff Is Good For You CBD Bath and Body NEW ENGLAND Corners Packaging Packaging Curaleaf Veterans Cannabis Project Flourish Software Seed to Sale Green Goddess Supply Personal Homegrown Biochamber GreenHouse Payment Solutions Payment Processing The Holistic Center Medical Marijuana Evaluations PotGuide Travel & Tourism Revolutionary Clinics Medical Dispensary Royal Gold Soil Tess Woods Public Relations Public Relations

MICHIGAN Aronoff Law (Craig Aronoff) Licensing Law Firm Cannabis Counsel Cannabis Law Firm Etz Chaim Attestations Great Lakes Natural Remedies Lakeshore: Provisioning Center Kush Design Studio Cannabis Facility Design & Build LC Solutions Michigan PLLC Accounting/CPA Services Michigan Creative Branding MRB Solutions Human Resources Northern Specialty Health Upper Peninsula: Provisioning Center Oh, Hello Branding Promotional Marketing Perry & Drummy Inc. Commercial Insurance Pure West Compassion Club Caregiver Connection & Network Rair Medical Flower Solutions by Dr. Dave West Michigan: Hemp CBD Helping Friendly Hemp Company Hemp Topicals NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 365 Recreational Cannabis Dispensary: Recreational, Santa Rosa Convergence Laboratories Cannabis Testing Laboratory Green Unicorn Farms CBD Hemp Flower Humboldt CCTV Smart Ag Tech Humboldt Patient Resource Center Dispensary: Humboldt Humboldt Vape Tech Vape Accessories Kushla Life Sciences Cannabis Formulation and Products Red Door Remedies Dispensary: Cloverdale Southern Humboldt Royal Cannabis Company Mixed Light Farming Sonoma Patient Group Dispensary: Santa Rosa Strictly Topical Inc./Sweet ReLeaf Pain Relief Topicals Superbad inc. Premium California Cannabis Uleva Hemp Products Vaper Tip Vape Supply & Consulting Wana Brands Edible Gummies

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EDITORIAL

Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder + Editor in Chief stephanie.wilson@sensimag.com Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor Tracy Ross Managing Editor, Michigan Emilie-Noelle Provost Managing Editor, New England Debbie Hall Managing Editor, Nevada Jenny Willden Managing Editor, NorCal Dawn Garcia Managing Editor, Southern California Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large Mona Van Joseph Contributor, Horoscopes Radha Marcum Copy Editor Bevin Wallace Copy Editor DESIGN

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak Designer Josh Clark Designer BRAND DEVELOPMENT

Richard Guerra Director of Global Reach Amanda Patrizi Deputy Director of Global Reach Tuva Hank Music Director, Sensi Presents Neil Willis Production Director MEDIA PARTNERS

Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

EXECUTIVE

Ron Kolb Founder + CEO ron@sensimag.com Mike Mansbridge President Lou Ferris Vice President of Global Revenue Chris Foltz Vice President of Global Reach Jade Kolb Director of Project Management ADVERTISING

Nancy Reid Director, Team Building, Sensi East Joel Bergeson Director, Team Building, Sensi West PUBLISHING

Jamie Cooper Market Director, Michigan Abi Wright Market Director, Nevada Richard Guerra Market Director, New England Nancy Birnbaum Market Director, NorCal Diana Ramos Market Director, Oklahoma Rob Ball Market Director, S. California Angelique Kiss Market Director, S. California

MEDIA SALES

COLORADO Liana Cameris Media Sales Executive Tuva Hank Media Sales Executive Amanda Patrizi Media Sales Executive Tyler Tarr Media Sales Executive NEVADA Pam Hewitt Media Sales Executive NEW ENGLAND Jake Boynton Media Sales Executive MICHIGAN Kyle Miller Media Sales Executive Leah Stephens Media Sales Executive

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S

EDITOR’S NOTE

Magazine published monthly

by Sensi Media Group LLC.

© 2021 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved.

Southern California has had one tough year.

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FAC E B O O K Like Sensi Media Group to infuse your newsfeed with more of our great cannabis lifestyle content.

TWITTER Follow @sensimag for need-to-know news and views from Sensi headquarters.

I N S TAG R A M Pretty things, pretty places, pretty awesome people: find it all on @sensimagazine

Like so much of the world, we have suffered through job loss and economic decline with restaurants, movie theaters, and prolonged social gatherings closing down. I think we’ve all felt that ache this month more than most. We’re longing for a little bit of normalcy. Now that I’m fully vaccinated, May reminds me why California is the greatest place to live—the perfect weather, the progressive ideals, the art, the music, the film and television industries, theatre, and we can legally unwind with recreational and medicinal cannabis.

I rarely discuss my relationship to this wonderful plant, but I can say that, once in a while, it’s how I address anxiety and stress. My love of cannabis was stoked in my teen years but, like many, I didn’t revisit its healing properties until much later in life. In fact, it began once I came on board at Sensi magazine three years ago. So it had been a decade—or three—and even I realize how much cannabis cultivation had evolved. Like many others in the luxury lifestyle space, I had misconceptions. There was so much I didn’t know about the wonders of Mary Jane and I was eager to learn.

Over these years as a managing editor at Sensi, I have had the great fortune of being reintroduced to the wellness aspects of cannabis, and I have to say, after the year we’ve all had, it has been a major relief.

This month, I’d like to encourage all of our readers to change it up. Try a new gummy. Give that water pipe a go with a strain that offers a little more calm than you traditionally go for. Swap out that glass of wine for a pre-roll or tincture (and be mindful of the way your body responds). Chances are you’ll feel a little lighter, a little happier, and lot less stressed.

Live with passion and intention,

Over these years as managing editor of Sensi, I have had the great fortune of being reintroduced to the wellness aspects of cannabis, and I have to say, after the year we’ve all had, it has been a major relief.

Dawn Garcia @dawngarcia

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LOCAL COMPANY

Guilt-free Indulgence San Francisco born brand Alter Eco Foods—a chocolate-centric, sustainability-directed food company that takes healthy indulgence to an entirely new level—is a company founded on the principles that chocolate should be sinful and good for the planet. Its line of keto-friendly, fair trade, organic dark chocolate bombs are (wait for it) the bomb. And it’s easy to get behind the brand, because when you eat in those luxurious, sweet, buttery bites, you can indulge easy—these bombs raise money to restore forests and are free of sugar alcohols, soy, gluten, emulsifiers, preservatives and GMOs. In other words, it’s dessert without the guilt.

Alter Eco co-founders Mathieu Senard and Edouard 14

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Rollet were trained in business but have both been activists at heart for as long as they can remember.

“Before starting Alter Eco in the United States 15 years ago, we experienced first-hand both profit-driven multinationals and on-the-ground NGOs,” says Senard. Once they began to see the challenges facing humanitarian aid efforts, they decided they would become pioneers in social entrepreneurialism, wielding the business of food to fight for economic and social justice. All of Alter Eco’s products are sourced from farmer-owned coops practicing sustainable agriculture.

The product line includes nut butter bombs, chocolate bars, and truffles. $18 for Nut Butter Bomb Bundle / alterecofoods.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALTER ECO FOODS

Alter Eco Foods serves up environmentally friendly decadence.

CONTRIBUTORS

Eli Dupin, Dawn Garcia

Bringing the Rainfall To You

This new water-conscious shower head has some serious spa factor.

BY THE NUMBERS

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BINGE LIST

REVENGE HAS A NEW NAME

PERCENT Standup comedians who are women SOURCE: https://www.zippia. com/stand-up-comedian-jobs/ demographics/

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PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) COURTESY OF ALTER ECO, MOEN, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

MILLION Moen is a brand known for its innovative bath and kitchen product lines, so the announcement of its Nebia spa shower piqued our curiosity. To understand the value of a shower head that offers both a spa-like experience and water conservation, you should first understand the water waste we contribute to every day.

First think about the moment you turn on your shower head. Chances are you let it run a few minutes until it warms up. According to research conducted by the EPA’s WaterSense Program, running that water equates to 20 percent of wasted water. A low-flow shower head uses about two gallons a minute, or 20 gallons for a 10-minute shower. A standard shower head uses 2.5 gallons a minute, or 25 gallons for 10 minutes. Considering how many countries and states don’t have access to clean water and working plumbing, finding ways to minimize our water waste matters.

The Nebia Rainshower and Handshower Combo uses a unique water delivery system to provide more pressure and double the water coverage of traditional showers, while using significantly less water. This patented spray technology creates the sensation of more water, while actually using 45% less than a traditional showerhead.

That puts it at the top of our list of must-buys. $460 / Moen.com

Tons of U.S. municipal solid waste recycled, 25 million tons of which were composted SOURCE: https://www.epa. gov/facts-and-figures-aboutmaterials-waste-and-recycling/ national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials#NationalPicture | 2018 Report

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MILLION Americans who have received their first shot of COVID-19 vaccine SOURCE: https://ourworldindata. org/covid-vaccinations | April 18, 2021

Wayne is a vengeful new dark TV comedy that will hook you.

Sure, the show is overtly violent and uses fuck in every other sentence, but Wayne is one of the unconventional love stories you’re going to want to binge watch. Just maybe not with any sensitive ears within arm’s reach. YouTube first released the series in 2019 and Wayne found a new home this year on Amazon Prime Video After YouTube made changes to its platform from a subscription-based model to a more ad-heavy streaming service.

Described as a teenage Dirty Harry, Wayne, played by Mark McKenna, and Del, played by Ciara Bravo, are the disturbed teenagers you can’t help but root for. Even if they bash people’s heads in, bite off noses, and come from an incredibly screwed up family, the characters are strangely endearing. Oddly enough, the beatdowns are all justified (mostly) and Wayne and Del have an innocence about them that shines through despite their tendencies towards violence and rage.

Season One now streaming on Amazon Prime Video

The Earth is what we all have in common.”

—Wendell Berry

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THE BUZZ

RADICAL CHOICE

BACKGROUND PHOTO BY SNOFLINGA, ADOBE STOCK

The story of one woman’s decision to stop drinking.

Holly Whitaker was living big. She and her group of highly successful female friends were winning at life and they would get together weekly to celebrate their little victories, drown their stresses, and eventually find the perfect excuse for that Sunday brunch—alcohol free-flowing. As time went on, those drinks prefaced by it “being 5 o’clock somewhere” became a questionable pastime, ignoring that it might be a problem.

She justified downing tequila shots and beer chasers at 11 a.m. at a pool bar because she was in Mexico, and that’s what you do. Then she heard a story about a friend with a severe drinking problem who almost lost everything. There was something about the story that seemed eerily familiar. She took a look at her reality and decided it might be time to reassess her life and her addiction.

Her book Quit Like a Woman is a stark and honest look at addiction told with self-deprecating honesty from single-and-owning-it woman. She gets into the details about compromising what she wanted in life and making societally acceptable excuses for consumption as well as the traps of high-class drinking, professional success, and the spiral that led to her inevitably making the choice to face down her demons and go sober. Whittak-

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er realized that when she asked the tough question of whether or not she was an alcoholic, she tried escaping it by self-diagnosing as someone with Borderline Personality Disorder. Multiple therapists quickly dismissed that self analysis and confirmed that what she did have was an addiction issue. Whitaker picked up a copy of The Easy Way by Allen Carr, and by the end of the book she realizes its core lesson: the only way to control alcohol is to not imbibe at all.

Whitaker’s book is a must-read for any woman who has wondered if maybe that bottle of wine a night is really masking something deeper. Quit Like A Woman will revolutionize everything you thought you knew about drinking, social messaging and marketing, and how to take back control of your life. But sober. $18 / Amazon.com, RandomHouseBooks.com

Question: What’s the first place you want to go when travel opens up?

BRIDGET MACKAY

MATTHEW DYSON

ELI DUPIN

Glasgow, Scotland Director of Finance and Human Resources

Reading, UK Screenwriter

Killarney, Ireland (Stuck in LA) Screenwriter, Journalist

___________________

___________________

Shit. Anywhere outside of the confines of London! Especially Granada and Albaicín.

I will run to the airport and go to a proper Irish pub. In Ireland.

___________________

I can’t wait to go to my flat in Alicante and then finally take our trip to California.

“IT’S INSANE TO ARREST PEOPLE FOR SOMETHING THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT’S JUST A WAY TO PUT BLACK PEOPLE IN JAIL.” —Seth Rogan, in an interview in The New York Times

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Fighting for freedom is Join the revolution at norml.org

THE BUZZ

BILITIES

BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF

1 DID YOU KNOW? The average four-year-old child laughs 300 times per day.

2 BY CONTRAST, it takes two months for the average 40-year-old adult to laugh that many times.

3 LAUGHTER IS INDEED GOOD FOR YOU. According to the Mayo Clinic, in the short-term, a good laugh stimulates your organs, increases your intake of oxygen-rich air, activates and relieves your stress response, and soothes tension. Long term, laughter can improve your immune system, relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction, and generally improve your mood.

4 CANNABIS MAKES YOU LAUGH MORE. It stimulates the area of your brain associated with laughter.

5 MORAL OF THIS STORY: you should get high and giggle more.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCLIGHT CINEMA AND PACIFIC THEATRE

It’s good for you.

“At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.”

—Jean Houston

The End of An Era

We say goodbye to one of Hollywood’s great cinematic landmarks.

Hollywood is steeped in history centered around an industry responsible for two experiences that affect the daily lives of everyone in the world: film and television. And for us native Angelenos, going to the movies is embedded into our DNA as a rite of passage. So, when the news broke that ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatre (including the iconic Cinerama Dome that opened in 1963) would not be reopening amid post-pandemic life, we all felt like we got sucker punched in the gut.

The Cinerama Dome is the most beloved architectural oddity of film in all of Los Angeles and the loss of it—and the announcement that ArcLight would be shuttering—has hit hard. While, yes, Cinerama Dome may be brought back to life if some cinephile benefactor rises to the occasion (hello, Netflix), ArcLight which opened in 2002, was one of the few movie theaters that did it right. It offered a full experience that included meal packs (with healthy options), wine, beer, and a craft cocktail bar. The restaurant was worth the trip and the swanky seats made moviegoing a treat. ArcLight also hosted a wide array of screenings and vital Women in Entertainment live panel discussions.

Why have these theatre giants called it quits? “It’s the amount of debt these companies have incurred,” says Jeff Bock, an analyst at Exhibitor Relations. “They couldn’t see a way to profitability over the next couple years. It’s hard to sustain a business like theatrical exhibition with everything still unstable.” Sadly, PPP loans were unsuccessful in saving many companies in LA, ArcLight among them.

With so many uncertainties amid the global pandemic, we’ll sadly be saying goodbye to too many iconic locations in California, and across the nation. Remember them well.

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Artist Ricardo Breceda traded in cowboy boots for a welder. Now, he finds inspiration in his Mexican roots and peace in the act of creating by fusion.

TEXT ELI DUPIN AND DAWN GARCIA

Born in Durango, Mexico, Ricardo Breceda grew up with parents who encouraged him to work hard and find his passion, he and his eight siblings never lacked for anything. Inspired by their work ethic and ability to provide for him and 20

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his brothers and sisters, Breceda grew to learn you can do anything as long as you’re willing to work hard for it.

The rich cultural landscape of Mexico infused Breceda’s childhood.

From art and artifacts to the stories unveiled in

the multi-faceted cuisine of the country, his native land gave him many gifts.

“Mexico is very vibrant when it comes to its culture. There are a lot of beautiful things about it that you can see, taste, and experience. I’ve always been inspired by it.”

With a population of nearly 700,000, the state of Durango is known for breathtaking waterfalls and carved wooden interiors. It’s also the home state of the famed rebel leader, Poncho Villa. Durango is rich in agriculture and its wood

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COURTESY RICARDO BRECEDA’S ART GALLERY, APRIL DIANNE TRAVIS

Man of Metal

making, ranking among Mexico’s most prosperous economies.

Breceda’s first career was a cowboy boots salesman. But after having his daughters Lianna and Arabi, his inner artist was awakened. When his then 6-year-old daughter Lianna asked him to make her a dinosaur, his life changed forever. That request was the catalyst that launched his life as a fulltime metal sculptor. He traded a pair of boots for

a welding machine, and the rest is history. “The first piece I made was 20feet tall and 45-feet long,” he says. “I made it for my daughter who at the time was fascinated by dinosaurs. This brought her so much joy and it brought joy to others who got a glimpse of it. That inspired me to do more.”

His Outdoor Haven If you’ve driven across Southern California, you’ve spotted a sculp-

ture or three along Highway 79 in Aguanda or in the Garden of Sculptures located in Temecula. Breceda is a skilled metal worker, but his eye for design, movement, character, and life-like creations are what makes his work so unique. A selftrained artist, he did have the benefit of learning to weld from a friend, however in true alignment with his upbringing, from there he just kept doing it until it became second

nature. He believes practice and hard work is why the finished pieces get better and better.

When asked about his fondness of animals— real, prehistoric and mythical alike—and how they ended up being the theme of his work, he adds, “I love nature and the outdoors. It helps my imagination wander and inspires me to create such pieces that reflect my interpretation of what I see,” he says.

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THE LIFE

Breceda works with 26-gauge metal and round rod to create internal frames, and sometimes incorporates stones and scraps into his creations. He finds peace in the process of fusing metal together. “I get into my own world and get to create anything I like,” he says.

“Some of it’s hard work but it’s very stress relieving. Plus, it puts a smile on people’s faces. That’s very rewarding.”

His work has opened the door to a bit of magic in Southern California, lending to the landscape a rather poignant view of life and what is just beyond our line of sight.

To schedule a viewing, visit him online at ricardobreceda.com, stop by to see him and the new sculpture park he’s building in Anguanga. If you want to commission him to create something exceptional and rare for you, all you have to do is

send him a drawing and he will bring it to life.

An artist Q + A What have been your greatest challenges as an artist?

Patience. Not being satisfied with my work. I always want or know I can do better.

Do you have moments where it’s time to pause, or do you just keep moving on a project?

Depending on what I’m working on. Sometimes it is necessary to take a break to either recharge or evaluate if I’m moving in the right direction with the work I’m doing.

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THE LIFE

What are some of the things you love to do when you’re not creating (and when there’s not a pandemic!)?

I love to enjoy my family and friends.

If you could be in a room with any artist(s), who would you choose and why?

Sergio Bustamante. I’ve always been fascinated with his work. He’s a very prolific man and very creative. I would love to ask him many questions on how he begins creating and what brings him to imagine such amazing pieces.

What projects are you working on now?

I’m focused on creating a park in my city, Aguanga, so everyone can come enjoy the diversity of my art.

What is your dream place to see your work prominently displayed?

I want to create something bigger than my work in Borrego Springs in another country or another state.

There is an optimism in your pieces. Is that what you hope people remember?

Yes, I want people to remember the artist that put life and soul into his metal creations. And ultimately, I hope that people can find joy in my work.

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THE LIFE

VECTOR BY GOOD STUDIO, ADOBE STOCK

WELLNESS

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THE LIFE WELLNESS

One-Hit Wonder It doesn’t take much to revamp your mind.

The one-hit wonder. In the world of popular music, it’s a somewhat dismissive term. It’s a slight to the bands and artists who enjoyed one hugely successful song (think “MMMbop,” “Walking on Sunshine,” or “867-5309/Jenny”), then more or less disappeared into showbiz oblivion.

Personally, I would rather have one hit instead of none. And I often can. That’s because at my house, the term “one-hit wonder” is shorthand for the cannabis cocktail hour, when, sometime around 5 or 6 p.m., I smoke one hit and instantly leave all the Zoom calls, texts, emails, pop-up schedules, news alerts and noise of the day behind.

It’s an incredibly liberating feeling. Opening the doors in my head to new ideas, suddenly solving problems to things that just an hour earlier I thought I might never quite figure out, thinking of how I really might finish writing a new book—The Ghost Hotel—this fall, or just kicking the soccer ball for my big dog, Moses, while I move the backyard hose around.

The concept of the onehit wonder is something I discovered researching my first book, The Monster, a

kind of allegory about how we might take control of the ways we confront the monsters in our personal lives—whether they be disease, mental strife, addiction, or alcoholism—by “turning a light on.”

During my research, I met a rolfer who was instrumental in helping my wife and I on the path to better health. Once, after a particularly therapeutic session, I asked him how he managed the cycle of processing all of the hurt he was healing. Or, in other words, how he made sure he wasn’t holding onto other peoples’ shit.

He said, “Every night when I get home, before I walk in the house, I smoke one hit then go hold on to an iron rod in my courtyard until I feel like it’s all gone. Then I can go be with my family for the evening.”

“One hit?” I said.

“That doesn’t seem near enough for all the problems you’re solving.”

But he was already back to focusing on my health— in particular, a lingering knee injury he thought was exacerbated by my reluctance to release my grief over the recent death of my dog Tobear, a barrel-chested, willful, very

TEXT PETER KRAY

funny Malamute-Labrador mix we had nicknamed, “The Mighty Burrito.” The rolfer said, “You need to stop looking at your feet so much when you walk.

Look where you’re going.

Look at the horizon.”

Which is something I still think about when I go for a long walk. Albeit the one-hit thing is what I think about the most. At the time I was writing that book, it slowly dawned on me that I was also writing it to help myself.

It was a period in my life when I wasn’t satisfied with just one of much of anything. And cannabis—along with good beer, bourbon, and crisp reposado—was key to treating every day as part of some extremely casual long-working weekend, something Ernest Hemingway called, “the fiesta concept of life” in his final—and I think finest— book, A Moveable Feast.

The beauty of getting back to one sublime moment or lasting sensation, one perfect pint of cold IPA, one fine glass of pinot noir with fresh pasta, or one fragrant inhale of the sweet leaf to remember the magic of each day was still a couple years down the tracks.

It’s the savoring of things, and sometimes the scarcity, that gives them meaning. It’s by being in the moment that you heighten the pleasure and increase the memory of each event. And it’s so much more enjoyable than the monotony of gluttony—of having so much of something that the only remarkable aspect is of how much you can cram in your garage or stuff in your mouth.

You know that feeling you get when you first hear a song that you know you will love forever, and every time you play it again, it takes you back to the first time you heard it? That’s what I’m talking about.

I read once that when Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys founder and architect of the California surf sound, first heard The Ronettes classic wall of sound masterpiece, “Be My Baby,” he had to pull over to the side of the road because it impacted him so much. In 2013 he told The New York Times, “In a way it wasn’t like having your mind blown, it was like having your mind revamped.”

That’s the way I feel when I enjoy my one hit at the end of the day. Then I walk out onto my patio to look at the big, blue beautiful world, as I smile and wonder about it all.

A B O U T T H E AU T H O R

Peter Kray is the author of The God of Skiing. The book has been called “the greatest ski novel of all time.” Buy it here: amzn.to/2lmzpvn

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h

is

w

c

en

all wom g n i all o love cannab

CONNECT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS IN CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE

TOKEATIVITY.COM/CONNECT

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THE LIFE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mona Van Joseph is a professionally licensed intuitive reader in Las Vegas since 2002.

Author, radio host, and columnist, she created the Dice Wisdom app and is available for phone and in-person sessions. mona.vegas

HOROSCOPE

MAY HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you?

TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH

APR. 20-MAY 20

TAURUS

It’s time to accept that what you bring to the world is about to be acknowledged and appreciated. Be brave.

Present your amazing ideas, and they will fall on the right ears. Embrace the challenge.

to be called back because of your skills, patience, and experience. Cooperate with the right people, and doors will open.

JULY 23-AUG. 22

LEO

SEPT. 23-OCT. 22

LIBRA

You have been more productive in the last three months than most people—and it shows through the excellence and experience of your new skills. You’ve discovered the thing that works for you. Now you get to move forward.

There’s a stepping stone that’s either an opportunity MAY 21-JUNE 20 to teach you what you don’t OCT. 23-NOV. 21 GEMINI know or bring you to that Cooperation is the word of the next level in your career or SCORPIO month. Get people to agree, love life. Either way, you will Things are lining up for you sign, and commit without un- be introduced to the A list. to be very specific with your means to end goals. It might dervaluing you and how you be time to think about where can help them. Agree only to AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 your skills would translate total commitment without VIRGO compromise this month.

May is not the action month into a different industry. The for you to prove your med- universe is ready for you.

JUNE 21-JULY 22 dle; it’s the month to be preNOV. 22-DEC. 21 CANCER pared for what happens in Many good choices will pres- June. Gratitude goes a long SAGITTARIUS ent themselves this month. way. Step into that awesome You’ve just been rewarded by information previously withYou will be one of the people spotlight this month.

TAURUS, BE BRAVE. PRESENT YOUR AMAZING IDEAS, AND THEY WILL FALL ON THE RIGHT EARS. EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE.

held from you. Get very clear ognizing the people who are on what you really want and good and kind to you withbe ready for an opportunity out asking you for anything. to present itself in July. Patience has served you well. FEB. 19-MAR. 20

PISCES

DEC. 22-JAN. 19

CAPRICORN

It’s time to allow something a little more creative into your life. It could be as simple as investigating things for others because they don’t have the time or playing bass guitar on call for local bands.

Make sure it’s joyful.

Be the queen or king of cooperation this month. Your new beginning will present itself; you will be noticed for what you may do. Right now, be as helpful as you can without gagging at the political circus around you.

MAR. 21-APR. 19

ARIES

Communication is essential AQUARIUS this month. Update your conYou have incredibly high nections on social media and standards for yourself, align with the people who and sometimes those stan- represent your future, not dards fall over to the peoyour past. What you begin in ple around you. Start by rec- May will flourish in July.

JAN. 20-FEB. 18

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HIGH MIND AT EASE Fashion designer Armen Gregorian brings some je ne sais quoi to the cannabis industry in his new, chic brand MAE. TEXT DAWN GARCIA PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MAE

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Growin g the Industr y.

Upcoming shows are: Oklahoma City, OK May 27-28 Detroit MI, June 25-26 Chicago IL, August 6-7 Biloxi MS, September 17-18

Shop, Learn, and Network at the Nations Leading Cannabis Conference and Expo.

Tickets at CannaCon.org

W

hen it comes to image, the cannabis space is in constant evolution.

A brand that is luxurious, approachable, lifestyle-centric and chic is the goal for which so many brands strive. High-end brand MAE fits in flawlessly—because it started on the runway.

Launched by fashion designer Armen Gregorian, founder of former fashion label Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, MAE stands for Mind at Ease. Inspired by his daughter, a love of sophisticated design, and that peaceful cannabis vibe, MAE offers product that’s understated, elegant, and incredibly discreet. The high-end design comes thanks, in part, to the brilliance of the renowned Joe Doucet, known for elevated design and luxurious materials. Any cannabis connois-

MAE OFFERS A PRODUCT THAT'S UNDERSTATED, ELEGANT, AND INCREDIBLY DISCREET. THIS IS THE DIRECTION CANNABIS SHOULD BE HEADING.

seur who loves fine things will fall instantly in love.

A bold statement hits you the moment MAE product arrives.

The box looks like what one may expect from a brand such as Tiffany’s only instead of Tiffany blue, it’s a deep, rich MAE red. It’s the contents of that box, however, that will captivate any true lover of fashion and design.

A red sculpted hand holds MAE’s patented product, The Palm, which is compatible with all 510 cartridges and burns through an entire half gram cartridge with a single charge (standard miniUSB charging cable included).

Sift through the contents of the box and you will be grateful MAE has put this much effort into making cannabis not just elevated, but glamorous.

All of MAE’s products—a sleek ashtray, a multi-tiered grinder,

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the subtle CBD Cartridge Zero, the Puffbar necklace, a pipe with a simple, unique filter made so linear and simply—are refined enough to be submerged into your best high-end handbag or even the pocket of your favorite pants. This is the direction cannabis should be heading.

The messaging of MAE exudes the je ne sais quoi so often found on the runways of Paris, New York, and Barcelona. The brand is open to the industry in a way so many can relate to—through personal experiences with the plant.

Bringing the element of high-end fashion to a burgeoning cannabis industry and implementing Gregorian’s personal experiences and expertise over the span of his career simply means a beautiful new world is born. And MAE is a beautiful new product indeed.

Sensi had the opportunity to interview MAE’s founder Armen Gregorian to get the story behind the man and the brand.

What prompted your desire to enter the cannabis space?

From 1975 to 1979, I was an avid supporter and user of Mary Jane, as many were at that time.

Looking back fondly at that era, I always think of the icons Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix, which gives me a sense of nostalgia. As I got older, I transitioned into being a wine drinker—to which my daughter suggested I try cannabis instead. After trying a bit of today’s flower, I couldn’t believe how much it had changed from the 70s. This sparked the creation of MAE. Because of the green rush in the U.S. market, we are seeing 34

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“COMBINING CANNABIS, SOMETHING SOCIETY HAS DEEMED INHERENTLY BAD FOR YEARS, WITH THE FEELING OF LUXURY AND SLEEKNESS HAS THE ABILITY TO EVOLVE THE SENTIMENT AROUND CANNABIS COMPLETELY.” —Armen Gregorian

more and more gatekeepers in the fashion world include cannabis in their latest collections. Coming from a fashion background, I’m aware that it will always reflect what is happening in our culture and society. The fact that cannabis was becoming somewhat trendy and influential in other markets like fashion intrigued me and I wanted to expand on it.

MAE is as fashion-forward and sleek as a cannabis product can get. What was the thought process behind the brand development?

After copious amounts of research both in-person and online, I found that the accessories department of cannabis was lacking. Subsequently, looking at the enormous success of Beboe’s products, I knew that there was a market of luxurious cannabis users. Combining cannabis, something society has deemed inherently bad for years, with the feeling of luxury and sleekness has the ability to evolve the sentiment around cannabis completely.

Additionally, Joe Doucet’s sleek design concepts create a luxurious feel and that’s exactly what I wanted for MAE. He is a prolific designer with deep-rooted experience working with big name brands like Mont Blanc, Nike, and BMW. I knew that if I was going to bring world-class cannabis accessories into the market, I had to enlist the right person to design them.

Tell me about the color red and what it means to you as a designer, cannabis enthusiast, and marketer?

What I love about the color red is

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MORE INFO

MAE by Armen Gregorian mae.la @mae.us

that it carries so many different sentiments. I wanted to carry its diverse range into MAE. MAE is for everyone, whether you are the cannabis connoisseur, a first-timer, or even skeptical about the industry. Just like red is for emotions, I wanted MAE to be for cannabis users.

What inspired the water pipe design and filtration system?

(It’s amazing) I wanted to design the best pipe on the market, something that would get the job done well but was beautiful in design—and discreet. The transparent glass gave it that elegant look factor.

How did you develop the grinder?

We developed the grinder in our partnership with Joe Doucet. As a team, we wanted to create all of our products to be beautiful yet discreet. The amazing duality of MAE’s grinder is that it can be left on your coffee table to fit seamlessly into the design of

“I OFTEN LOOK BACK ON MY MEMORIES WITH MARY JANE WITH A GREAT SENSE OF NOSTALGIA. I WANTED EVERYONE TO FEEL THAT WAY.” —Armen Gregorian

your home but also get the job done right.

Along with the message of “Mind At Ease,” is there a little Mae West inspiration in terms of that old Hollywood nostalgia for elegance and distinguished style?

I often look back on my memories of Mary Jane with a great sense of nostalgia. I wanted everyone to feel that way, while also having that extra sense of luxury. Old Hollywood exudes elegance and class, which is incorporated in Mae’s overall brand and collaboration with Joe Doucet.

What mark do you hope MAE makes in the industry?

I’m hoping people will be drawn to MAE’s luxurious feel and specially-crafted products, take a chance on the industry, and change the perception around cannabis. I want Mae’s consumers to be proud of the products they buy and show them off, rather than stash them away in a drawer somewhere.

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SANTEE, CALIFORNIA. GRUNDY, VIRGINIA. MADISON, MONTANA. MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI. METEOR, WISCONSIN. COLUMBOS, OHIO. BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN. RED LAKE, MINNESOTA TACOMA, WASHINGTON. GOLETA, CALIFORNIA. BART TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA. SALT LAK CITY, UTAH. BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA. CRANDON, WISCONSIN. OMAHA, NEBRASKA. ARVADA COLORADO. TINLEY PARK, ILLINOIS. KIRKWOOD, MISSOURI. DEKALB, ILLINOIS. SKAGIT WASHINGTON. COVINA, CLIFORNIA. GENEVA AND SAMSON, ALABAMA. CARTHAGE, NORTH CAROLINA. BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK. COLLIER TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA. FORT HOOD TEXAS. SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. APPOMATTOX, VIR GINIA. HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO. MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT TUSCON, ARIZONA. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. COPLEY TOWNSHIP, OHIO. CARSON CITY NEVADA. SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA. IRWINDALE, CALIFORNIA. CHARDON, OHIO. OAKLAND CALIFORNIA. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. AURORA, COLORADO. OAK CREEK, WISCONSIN. COL LEGE STATION, TEXAS. NEW YORK, NEW YORK. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. BROOKFIELD WISCONSIN. CLACKAMAS, OREGON. NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT. WEBSTER, NEW YORK. SOUTH VALLEY, NEW MEXICO. SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. HIALEAH, FLORIDA. SAYLORSBURG How do you move PENNSYLVANIA. WASHINGTON, D.C. FORT HOOD, TEXAS. ISLA VISTA, CALIFORNIA. SPRING forward when TEXAS. MARYSVILLE, WASHINGTON. PORTLAND, the AmericanOREGON. MONTGOMERY, PENNSYLVANIA TYRONE, MISSOURI. WACO, TEXAS. CHARLESTON, Nightmare comesSOUTH CAROLINA. CHATTANOOGA, TEN NESSEE. LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA. HARRIS, TEXAS. to your town?MONETA, VIRGINIA. ROSEBURG, OREGON COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO. SAN BERNADINO, CALIFORNIA. KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN HESSTON AND NEWTON, KANSAS. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS. WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. It happened here.

PIKE, OHIO. BELTSVILLE AND BETHESDA, MARYLAND. ORLANDO, FLORIDA. DALLAS, TEXAS ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN. BATON ROUGE,TEXTLOUISIANA. MUKLITEO, WASHINGTON. CITRONELLE ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE ALABAMA. BURLINGTON, WASHINGTON.PHOTOSTOWNVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA. BROWARD, FLOR ELLIOT WHITEHEAD IDA. SCHOFIELD AND ROTHSCHILD, WISCONSIN. CINCINATI, OHIO. FRESNO, CALIFORNIA KIRKERSVILLE, OHIO. LINCOLN, MISSISSIPPI. SANDY, UTAH. EATON TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVA NIA. ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. CLO VIS, NEW MEXICO. PLANO, TEXAS. ANTIOCH, TENNESSEE. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TEXAS. TEHAMA, CALIFORNIA. AZTEC, NEW MEXICO. HIGHLANDS RANCH, COLORA DO. BENTON, KENTUCKY. MELCROFT, PENNSYLVANIA. PARKLAND, FLORIDA. YOUNTVILLE CALIFORNIA. SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. SANTA FE, TEXAS. SCOTS DALE, ARIZONA. TRENTON, NEW JERSEY. ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA ABERDEEN, MARYLAND. FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA. ROBBINS, ILLINOIS. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SEBRING, FLORIDA. ASCENSION AND LIVINGSTON, LOUISIANA. AURORA, ILLINOIS. POWAY, CALIFORNIA. CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. HIGHLANDS RANCH, COLORADO. VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA. GILROY, CALIFOR NIA. EL PASO, TEXAS. DAYTON, OHIO. MIDLAND-ODESSA, TEXAS. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. ORINDA, CALIFORNIA. SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA. MIRAMAR, FLORIDA. PENSACOLA, FLOR DA. JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. WHITE SETTLEMENT, TEXAS. GRANTSVILLE, UTAH. MILWAU KEE, WISCONSIN. ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN. ROCKFORD, ILLINO SUNRISE, FLORIDA. MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA. BUFFALO, MINNESOTA. ATLANTA, GEORGIA. BOULDER M AY 2021

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I

was struggling to write an article about a breakup with my yoga studio when my daughter called to tell me there was an active shooter at the neighborhood grocery store that we have frequented almost daily for 25 years.

I abandoned the prose (which no longer mattered) and hopped online to learn what I could from live news reports and social media.

It got worse and worse. I stumbled on a live video, then switched it off when I saw bodies. We heard rumors of six people dead. Then the official report: 10 humans gunned down, some as they were bagging groceries and helping customers navigate the self-checkout system (as they had so many times for me).

I told my kids to be prepared

because surely, we would know at least one victim. We did.

realize, of course, that we were all aging together, as oblivious to the wrinkles and gray hairs on each WHAT WAS LOST other as we were to our own.

Teri Leiker was a fixture at our King I mostly hated the time I spent at Soopers, and she made a difference King Soopers, to be honest. When in my life. She was always smiling, I was a working mom, Sunday visibly happy about making sure afternoon meant piling my cart my groceries were bagged properhigh with carefully planned and ly. We made small talk. When I was selected food to feed my family all crabby (admittedly too often), she week. It was the first place each of tried to cheer me up. I could meamy kids rode their bikes to without sure the depth of my bad mood by me or their father to accompany whether she was successful or not. them (and I was a nervous wreck She usually was, at least briefly. both times). When they went off When you go to a place for 25 to college, I wandered the store years, the people there become like aimlessly, completely perplexed family. Teri wasn’t the only workabout how to feed only myself and er at the Table Mesa King Sooptrying to figure out what single ers who seemed to love her job. I people eat. I imagined myself used to joke that the workers there spending purgatory pushing a cart never quit and never aged. I didn’t through those aisles, indecisive and (continued) M AY 2021

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we are not girls

we are not tokens

we are not statistics

We are Altalunas, the women of cannabis. We are here to lead.

You're invited to join us. alta.lunas Costa Mesa, CA • Boston, MA • Washington, D.C. PHOTO CREDIT: Nathan Dumlao

desperate for sustenance, buying Chef Boyardee Beefaroni because it was there and reminded me of my childhood.

It’s about all of us, of course.

My community is suffering shock and grief after this shit that plagues our country—the shit that could never happen here—came THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS to our town. We don’t know what But this isn’t about me. It’s not to do with our personal grief, about any of us who rush to pubour broken connections. Some lish when tragedy strikes. I was find comfort in comments full of annoyed, at first, that so many of prayers and heart emojis. Othmy friends posted on social meers will join physical vigils, some dia about their relationship to the more political than others, and store, how many times they’d fre- find solace in the solidarity. I’m quented it, how it could have been going to one tonight because I them or their loved ones. This can’t be the person who grieves isn’t about you, I wanted to say, alone—not for this one. because sometimes I try to bury We will light candles and cry my sorrow in unjustified righand probably hug (even though teousness (and it never helps). we’re not supposed to). We will

honor 10 dead souls, and we’ll promise never to forget. We’ll debate gun control and maybe talk a bit about mental health, post more thoughts and prayers and emojis.

Then we’ll do nothing again and watch in horror as history repeats.

And when it does, at a shopping mall or a school or on a random street in the next town that will be forever remembered by a massacre, people like me will rush to put words to the unspeakable and offer up their affiliation with the scene of the crime as a reminder that this could happen anywhere.

The shock. The grief. The words that make no difference. This is life in America.

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Thanks to Artist Domingo Zapata, New Yorkers can look up for a reminder of joy in the heart of the city.

TEXT DAWN GARCIA

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTIST, DOMINGO ZAPATA

Times Square Is Full of Love

The distinguished and formidable Spanish-American artist Domingo Zapata has a big message for New York City in an exhibition that is all heart.

Zapata’s latest installation is a digital billboard and a 5-story mural in the middle of Times Square. It’s the single biggest piece of artwork to ever be displayed in the city and what is says is simple yet powerful: I Love You More

Than Time. The message of love is transformative—especially in times of uncertainty—and as the nation slowly seeks to find what the new normal will look like, the timing of Zapata’s installation feels sympatico.

Throughout his career, Zapata has been in and out of the spotlight.

From being embraced and shunned by the art elite to making tabloids, his passion for creating,

fatherhood, and bringing good into this chaotic world outweigh anything for which he may be criticized—and praised.

He lives and breathes the art he creates.

“In Spain, a term that is connected to flamenco, is called el duende.” says Zapata. “Poet Federico Garcia Lorca described this term as a fairy that lives inside of your soul and evokes art. If you have el duende, you are an artist because you can fully express yourself, bring up memories from the past, and also remain hopeful for the future.”

About the piece in Times Square he says, “El duende is very important to me and I believe it is inside of my soul and enables me to produce art. Having the opportunity to create the largest painting in the world and the largest mural in the history of New York is incredible. Times Square is such a magical place and being able to express digitally this message of hope during the pandemic is very special.”

The installation is evidence of the healing power of love, positivity and kind words. Let’s hope the words “I love you more than time” will resonate long after 2021.

A B O U T T H E AU T H O R

Hailing from Palma de Mallorca, Domingo Zapata has gained international recognition for his distinctive and eclectic style, and has even been described as the new Andy Warhol. His work is energetic, poetic, emphatic, and emotive, and his blending of mixed media has an air of both Warhol and Basquiat. He’s worked with some of the most well-known brands in the world, from Steve Madden to Alice and Olivia.

Zapata has even collaborated with Pope Francis on a mural. dzapata.com / @domingozapata

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THE SCENE CALENDAR

LEFT: MESOPOTAMIA: CIVILIZATION BEGINS BELOW: REIKI + SOUND HEALING IMMERSION

Now–Aug. 16 The Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades getty.edu/visit/villa/

In a rare look at the ancient world’s first cities, The Getty Museum and Louvre come together to share Mesopotamian artifacts spanning thousands of years of creativity and innovation.

Reservations required.

Magic Asphalt: Drive-In Comedy Under the Stars

On the Calendar

As more Californians get vaccinated, venues and events are opening up across the state.

TEXT DAWN GARCIA

May brings us one step closer to the summered California, already full of its famed sunshine. But this May much of the state is finally going back to living life with a bit more ease.

Museums are re-opening, restaurants are beginning to seat indoors, and public spaces are slowly opening back up as millions continue to get vaccinated. May seems promising in more ways than one. Dig into this calendar of events for the month and please check for updated COVID-19 protocols.

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Now–May 8 Magic Castle Parking Lot, 7001 Franklin Ave, Hollywood Tickets $100-$125. nightout.com

Indoor comedy venues may still be closed, but this outdoor comedy

extravaganza will bring back the laughs.

Purely Abstract May 8, 11 a.m.

Las Laguna Art Gallery, 577 S. Coast Hwy, Unit A-1, Laguna Beach laslagunaartgallery.com

Feast your eyes on hundreds of works of abstract art—from acrylics to assemblage to encaustic and traditional photography— at this special artist ensemble exhibition.

Reiki + Sound Healing Immersion May 17, 7 p.m.

Elka Yoga & Wellness Center, 4166 Voltaire Street, San Diego Tickets $35. eventbrite.com

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) BY DAWN GARCIA, DIMA BERLIN

Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins

THE SCENE CALENDAR

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) BY LINDSAY LOPEZ, KRIS L. ANGEL

TOP: LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL BELOW: EAT / PLAY

The combination of Reiki healing and sound baths brings together the universal elements of water, earth, air, and fire as a platform for meditation and centering. And singing bowls, tuning forks, chimes, chanting and more, give the soul the revival it needs.

Long Beach Crawfish Festival May 21–23 Rainbow Lagoon, Long Beach Tickets: $5-$83. longbeachcrawfishfestival.com

When you can’t go to New Orleans, Long Beach brings the Crescent City party to you. Master Chefs will prepare true Louisianastyle crawfish along with Cajun potatoes, corn on the cob, and tangy remoulade dipping sauce. Come hungry and ready to groove. And eat so much crawfish you’re licking your fingers for days after!

Immersive Van Gogh Downtown LA (TBA) May 27, 2021–Jan. 2022 vangoghla.com

Artichoke Festival Summer (exact dates TBD) Monterey County Fair & Event Center artichokefestival.org

EAT / PLAY Now–Fall Throughout Southern California

While venues still work to open back up, we encourage you to spend time at our local beaches,

rollerskating or bicycling along the coastal boardwalks, dining at local restaurants, and visiting more museums as they announce re-opening.

Dance At Dusk May 26, 7:30 p.m.

Music Center DTLA musiccenter.org

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P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E G R E E N U N I C O R N FA R M S

Green Unicorn Farms Fills the Gap These low-THC flower experts offer trust, quality, and reliability.

G

reen Unicorn Farms was born at the tail end of 2019 when its fouders saw a gap in the market for a brand that could deliver consistent, quality, affordable CBD hemp flower online to customers all across the US. Green Unicorn searches far and wide for the latest and most popular CBD strains to add to its curated selection. The result is an ever-expanding menu of low-THC flowers to meet the needs of this rapidly growing product category within the CBD industry.

For Green Unicorn Farms, education is key, which is why the company goes

the extra mile to provide as much information as possible to help guide its customers’ journeys. Green Unicorn even offers an AI shopper on its website to help first-time buyers find the right products, with the ultimate goal being to help people living as a better version of themselves by offering a wide range of wellness products that can be used from dusk till dawn.

The founders of Green Unicorn Farms, Christopher Leonard and Robert Hising, have years of experience helping build and grow brands in the cannabis and CBD space with their agency Cannaverse Solutions.

The insights they have gained from this experience help them navigate the many challenges a new company faces when launching into a competitive marketplace.

Green Unicorn Farms doesn’t stop with low-THC flowers though. The company has ambitious goals for the high-THC cannabis market as well.

With a fun and approachable brand architecture, the company is currently evaluating potential licensing partners in states such as New York and California. Eventually, the plan is to offer a full-spectrum of cannabis and CBD products that can be found in both regulated and unregulated markets nationwide.

In order to give back to the community, Green Unicorn Farms has partnered with Sweetleaf Collective to launch ALTRSM compassion flower.

All proceeds from the sale of ALTRSM products through Green Unicorn Farms’ website support the Sweetleaf Collective, which helps low-income terminally ill patients access free medical cannabis.

Green Unicorn Farms Low-THC Flower Experts greenunicornfarms.com M AY 2021

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THE END

Made For Mom, Built For Everyone Pick up this CBD skincare line with a plan for Mother’s Day.

Empower Body Care was founded by Trista Okel in 2004 in her kitchen. A long-time advocate of recreational and medicinal use of cannabis, Okel made CBD oil in her crock pot to help her mom manage pain. Long before the influx of cannabidiols in casual conversation and big box stores, Okel understood the benefits of CBD and the plant’s power to help people reduce discomfort and lead more enjoyable, fulfilling lives.

The topical oils she made for her mom soon led to some of Okel’s 52

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friends asking her to make some for them, and her line of CBD skincare was born.

Okel played with various herbs and ingredients to get the right combination. Once she perfected her blend and started making larger quantities, she decided to live by the messaging behind Empower by engaging in advocacy and community organizing. The company has committed to donating a portion of every sale to help houseless communities and fund LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights. Okel also

believes in full transparency and she has forged a close relationship with East Fork Cultivars, one of the first USDA-certified organic hemp farms in the United States that’s Sun + Earth certified. The result is ethically grown, safe CBD that’s vigorously tested for cannabinoid content and contaminants.

The product line consists of luxury body cream, topical oil, body lotion (lemon verbena, peppermint juniper, lavender bergamot, cedar bergamot), and soaking bath salts. $12-$48 / Empowerbodycare.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMPOWER BODY CARE

TEXT DAWN GARCIA

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