LA CANVAS V3 1 by LA CANVAS

the anniversary issue

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C A N V A S

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2012 publisher

DANTE COLOMBATTI

editor-in-chief

REBECA ARANGO

art director

ERIN DENNISON

art + books editor

SHANA NYS DAMBROT

online editor

ROSS GARDINER

design + production director RACHEL MANY

designers

JORDAN ROMANOFF MELANIE SMITH

photography

CAPTAIN EMILY BRADLEY RACHEL MANY HEATHER GILDROY DANIELLE DAFOE

account managers

MATT OLSON JANESSA MOLINA

contributers

BECKY YOUNG THOMAS GUNN BARBARA YNIGUEZ

events

MAX EHRLICH KYLE GIANGRANDE JANESSA MOLINA

+crew

COLE WESTERHOLM RONALD PRE JULIE ROTH BEBE PALAGA KRISTA SANTIAGO VI NGUYEN OLIVER

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

C A N V A S

the anniversary issue

MUSIC artist tOKiMOnsta playlist Best OF La 2012 venue Best niGhts OF the WeeK story a COMPresseD histOry OF eLeCtrOniC DanCe MusiC

22 24 29 30

ART La street art artist JasOn shaWn aLeXanDer art events gallery CarMiChaeL GaLLery book BeCKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sOnG reaDer

34 36 40 43 45

STYLE editorial nOveMBer reiGn editorial KiCK Push editorial OnCe uPOn a Winter editorial BRIGHT YOUNG THING introducing neW era designer uniF #trenDinG

48 56 60 70 77 78 83

FOOD chef JOhn shOOK & vinny DOtOLO food scoops niGhtCaPs restaurant MesshaLL bar GOLDen rOaD BreWery drink OLD 28 story JuiCe MaiDs

86 92 95 97 98 106

LA CULTURE nOteD sCene & hearD the guide a year in revieW calendar nOveMBer calendar DeCeMBer last look DaviD FLOres

16 20 103 110 112 120

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C A N V A S

EDITOR’S NOTE REBECA ARANGO editor-in-chief

LA CANVAS Magazine turns a whopping two years old this month (#scorpio). To celebrate, we photographed a birthday cake printed with an image by folk painter David Flores for the cover. And then we ate it. But the sweet gooey revelry is only one tiny part of this spectacular occasion. While red velvet cake is great—though of questionable constitution—the best present we gave ourselves this year is actually a new logo. Paint splat, it’s been real, but unfortunately we just want different things. You see, along with commemorating two years of publication, this issue also inaugurates LA CANVAS Volume Three, allowing us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. Though the truth is, this whole redesign isn’t as much about reinventing ourselves as it is just another step in the long process of inventing ourselves. It’s certainly not the final step, and ideally, as with any creative endeavor, there won’t ever be one. While the look may be new, the function of this magazine remains the same: to serve as an artful documentation of LA’s cultural renaissance, one that was seeded long before any of us got here and is currently in full bloom. Nearly everyone featured in this issue has a particularly strong relationship with the course of LA’s evolution over the past several years. Take Chefs Vinny Dotolo and John Shook, featured on p. 52. When they first opened their restaurant Animal in 2008, it completely broke the mold; now, just five years later, it is the mold. On p. 18 beatmaker Jennifer Lee, better known as TOKIMONSTA, talks about coming up in the Brainfeeder scene—a local community of musicians, producers, and friends that has subsequently become one of the most influential voices in progressive hip-hop and electro around the world. In each and every story, our goal is to highlight how a process or idea has taken shape in conversation with this specific place and time. A lot of people lament that Los Angeles has no history and is consequently unrefined or lacking in culture. But actually, I think the most beautiful thing about this city is how young it is. It’s sprawling and decentralized and incredibly mutable. Few things are permanent, and there’s plenty of space for change. Who knows when it’ll be done inventing itself.

NOTED SUPER VISION

The clever folks behind retro-mod Italian eyewear brand SUPER have already impressed us by designing sunglasses that look good on virtually everyone. So as winter approaches and daylight hours dwindle, the contact-lens-phobic Editors here at LAC could not be more excited about the brand’s new optical line. The collection of clean, simple, acetate and wire frames maintains a neutral palette of black, gray and tortoise shell, while carrying a couple of ombre varieties to match your hair. Discreet, chic, and timeless, suddenly poking your eye with little pieces of plastic doesn’t sound so fun, does it? STORE.RETROSUPERFUTURE.COM

SAUSAGE FEST If flatbread is the new pizza, then sausage is the new burger. And craft beer is definitely the new artisanal cocktail. LA’s fresh crop of biergartens and taverns has been busy perfecting the meaty cylinder with fine gourmet breads and toppings, while tapping a lot of great kegs in the process. Dog Haus Biergarten in Old Pasadena puts a modern American spin on their ¼ lb. sausages, boasting creations like “The Grand Slam”—smoked bacon, egg, and tater tots—and “The Fonz”—spicy Italian sausage with hot pastrami and melted mozzarella. Try Link N’ Hops in Atwater Village for a fancier sampling; they’ve got 24 international brews on tap, plus a selection of complex sausages made from rabbit, duck, pheasant, and even vegetables if you’re lacking in bloodlust. Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank carries lots of vegan links as well, which is odd for an old school pub where you can watch the game and pretention applies only to beer. In West LA, there’s the newly opened Seoul Sausage—a brickand-mortar joint from the winners of The Great Food Truck Race, now serving up Korean BBQ sausage and bottles of Singha. And there’s always the old standby, Wurstkuche, most recently in Venice as well as DTLA. Oktober may be over, but our undying love for beer and sausage is twelve months a year. FOR MORE DETAILS, CHECK OUT LACANVAS.COM

CLEAN MEAN JUICING MACHINE Rumor has it bottled juice is not really all that good for you—pasteurization slaughters everything that is nutritious and beneficial in your fruit-and-veggie-derived liquids. To resolve this problem, raw juice joints are popping up all over LA, but the best stuff is cold-pressed and mason-jar’d in Echo Park by two best friends named Danielle and Sarah, aka The Juice Maids. Specializing in home-delivered custom cleanses and crates, The Juice Maids make detoxing convenient and nutritious while holding your hand through the whole process. And since they make over seventy flavors of raw soups, smoothies, nut milks and juices that change with the seasons, it’ll never be as monotonous or grueling as five days of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. This season, the Juice Maids are pressing two new pomegranate drinks, the Crimson & Clover (pomegranate, orange, ginger and cinnamon) and the Scarlet & Gold (pomegranate with sage and persimmon). But if you’re not ready to make a big commitment yet, you can always pick up a jar of their juice at Intelligentsia in Silverlake or Pasadena and at Graffiti Café on La Brea. SEE OUR FULL Q&A WITH DANIELLE AND SARAH AS WELL AS OUR JUICING JOURNAL IN THE E-ISSUE AND AT LACANVAS.COM.

17 BANDS TO WATCH: GET OUTTA TOWN LOOK OUT FOR THESE OUT-OF-TOWN ACTS IN 2013

CRYSTAL FIGHTERS

HUNDRED WATERS

GRACE WOODROOFE

BURAKA SOM SISTEMA

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA

We’ve been obsessed with these Since we last saw them play the You never would expect it, but Before the sun had even set at Hard On record, UMO’s strange brand of freaks ever since they blew the roof Bootleg in May, this Gainseville this slight Australian girl actually Fest, Portuguese/Angolan electro- modern psychedelia is undeniably off Bardot in March. Based in London Florida quintet signed to OSWLA—a has the gnarliest soulful voice. hop collective Buraka Som Sistema infectious. Live, the New Zealand/ Crystal Fighters’ Basque-influenced completely unexpected career move Better live than on record, her destroyed our ear-drums. And we Portland powerhouse trio was the electro-pop showmanship makes for an experimental art-pop band Iggy Pop cover at Bloomfest this were okay with that.

highlight of this year’s Culture Collide

for one of the most exciting live with jazz and classical influences. summer was a trip.

festival. Singer Ruban Nielson’s

shows around.

Props to Skrillex for keeping it weird.

CRYSTALFIGHTERS.COM

HUNDRED-WATERS.COM

formidable guitar chops FTW. GRACEWOODROOFE.COM.AU BURAKA.TV

UNKNOWNMORTALORCHESTRA.COM

AN ARMY OF THREE Menswear lifestyle brand 3rd & Army is the invention of three SoCal industry veterans who wanted to manufacture well-made street wear at a reasonable price point. Containing everything from shorts to jackets, their Fall/Winter “Native” collection is highly functional with immaculate attention to detail (oy vey, the zippers!). In short, 3rd and Army has everything the California native’s casual luxury-heart desires. 3RDANDARMY.COM

WELL CONNECTED Remember those after parties at The Well you used to get buck to a minute ago? Well you fucked up the walls and ruined it for everyone so they went away. But now our favorite travelling party/ salon/studio/boutique is all grown up and back again with its first official location. Opening this November, the new space will allow you to shop some of our favorite designers, like UNIF, Again, Roark, and Insight, or take a seat in one of the five salon chairs and really treat yourself, ‘cause you’re worth it. Stay tuned to lacanvas.com for a list of their upcoming events. GETWELL.LA @THEWELL_LA

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Q&A: PAPA + SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO

We sat down with the indie-rock and electro acts at FYF fest this year to find out what they're up to.

EXPERIENCE: THE JUICE DIARY

Hunter S. Thompson got f**ked up in Puerto Rico. Our editor got flushed out in the bum.

‘HOOD RATS: TOKiMONSTA

This month’s featured musician dishes on her favorite LA haunts from K-town to West LA.

>> BEHIND THE SCENES: NOVEMBER REIGN LAC photographer Rachel Many takes a peak at the process behind this issue’s big fashion story.

INSIDE: JOYRICH WILD STYLE STORE

Take a look at one of our favorite LA streetwear brand’s latest boutique on Melrose.

IN THE E-ISSUE >> FEATURE: A COMPRESSED BREAK DOWN OF ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC It’s about a whole lot more than some guy wearing a red mouse head spinning bangers at Vegas pool parties. We take a look at the complex history of EDM.

Q&A: NEW ERA

We chat with New Era’s Senior Director Wayne Best on the hat brand’s new art initiative.

EXTENDED: STILL AN ANIMAL

See all the stunning photographs from inside the kitchen at Animal; John Shook and Vinny Dotolo answer even more of our questions.

THE GUIDE: LA FOOD DIARY 2012

Bacon and ice cream and whiskey, oh my! The best stuff we ate around town this year and where to get it.

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sCene & hearD IF YOU WEREN’T HAVING A GOOD TIME, YOU WERE DOING IT WRONG...

c r eatu r e d r eams

THE LA BEATMAKER KNOWN AS TOKiMONSTA MAKES FANTASY HER REALITY

JENNIFER LEE MADE THE NAME “TOKIMONSTA” BY MASHING-UP THE KOREAN WORD FOR RABBIT AND THE ENGLISH WORD FOR FRIGHTENING CREATURE. THE RESULTING IMAGINARY BEAST IS MORE THAN JUST A MONIKER; RATHER, IT STANDS CONCEPTUALLY ICONIC OF LEE’S INSTRUMENTAL ELECTRO-HOP. SOMETIMES CHILLED-OUT AND TRIPPING ON LAZY LA-WONK, OTHER TIMES THREATENING WITH SPACE-AGE ELECTRONICS AND JAZZY DISSONANCE, HER DYNAMIC, TEXTURALLY RICH SOUND BOUNCES ON THE TENSION BETWEEN OMINOUS AND BENIGN. LESS RELENTLESS THAN DANCE, MORE MUSICAL THAN HIP-HOP AND MUCH STRANGER THAN POP, THE MUSIC APPEALS TO EDM-FIENDS AS MUCH AS IT DOES INDIE-HEADS. AND LATELY, THAT VERSATILITY IS KEEPING LEE BUSILY BOUNCING BETWEEN THE INTROSPECTIVE JOB OF PRODUCING MUSIC AND THE EXTROVERTED ACT OF RE-CREATING IT LIVE FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. Dubbed “the First Lady of Brainfeeder” by label/collective founder

engagement. The live re-arrangement of her music is about spontaneity,

Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus, Lee was there at the Low End Theory’s

dynamism and rhythmic play; it’s a different perspective on a musical style

inception. Raised on a diet of classical piano lessons, underground hip-hop,

that can sometimes stray dangerously close to monotonous.

metal, and dips into the rave scene, Lee was always into music, but it wasn’t

Performing with little more than Ableton and an AKAI APC controller,

until college that she started making beats. One night, a friend took her to a

Lee’s live set-up embraces the latest techniques to emerge following decades

hip-hop showcase at Project Load Circle. “I did a beat cipher—you play a beat,

of evolution in electronic sequencing, starting with hip-hop turntablism. Her

and people nod their head if they like it,” Lee tells us from the K-town apartment

record production process is equally modern; Lee samples herself playing

where she set up her home studio. “That’s where I met a lot of the Brainfeeder

guitar, clarinet, and piano, or sources vocal and instrumental performances

people, like Ross G and Flying Lotus. It was during the very early days of Low End

from contributing musicians. Everything then becomes a loop-able, slice-

Theory—hardly anyone was there. It was more of a homie hang-out, we were all

able, rearrange-able block of time to be played with, preferably at home alone

just friends, so Flying Lotus asked me to be a part of the crew. I didn’t bug him,

in her pajamas. Even her recent collaboration with Philly songstress Suzi

I didn’t care about getting signed. I never thought I’d be doing this as a career.”

Analogue was a solitary affair. To produce the psychedelic electro-hop LP

Yet just a few years later, Lee finds herself at LAX nearly every

Boom—released last summer as a free download through Scion A/V—Lee

Friday, flying out to perform in Hawaii or Moscow or Japan. This past summer,

and Suzi swapped beats and accapellas over the Internet, making all of their

she travelled by train across Canada with Diplo, Skrillex and Grimes; and in

creative decisions via iChat and texting.

Janurary, she’ll be boarding the Coachella Cruise with Hot Chip and Yeasayer.

Despite the futuristic methodology, Lee remains somewhat rooted

All these gigs are in no small part thanks to the rise of EDM, which has

in tradition. The second piece of equipment she ever bought was a turntable

made it so electronic music producers can perform to sold out stadiums from

for sampling, and now she has a healthy collection of jazz records on hand.

behind tables of knobs, wires and laptops. As Lee recalls, “it wasn’t always

But exactly where the river flowing from jazz to hip-hop to electronica has spit

cool to like electronic music, or ‘techno.’ But now it has validity. Every artist

her out is difficult to define. “It’s almost like there are no direct lines between

on Brainfeeder is becoming more and more known little by little.”

genres any more. When there was jazz and there was rock, they were very

And like so many of her Brainfeeder peers, Lee is ready to take

different. But now you have things like electronic music—what is electronic

things to the next level. Her first full-length album comes out next year

music? Is hip-hop electronic music? Kind of. Is dubstep hip-hop? Kind of. If it

on Ultra, home to festival-headliners like Kaskade and Deadmau5. Though

has a guitar, does that mean it’s rock? I don’t know.”

they’re the kind of artists she frequently opens for, she doesn’t entirely

And does it matter? At it’s most basic the TOKiMONSTA may just be

fit in. “I don’t know how to explain to people that I’m not really a DJ. I’m

a formidable bunny, but there’s an even more complex depiction on the cover of

trying to perform the music, which entails orchestrating it live.” Rarely built

Lee’s debut EP, Cosmic Intoxication. It’s a fantastical four-armed figure with a robot

around epic drops or ruthless throbs, Lee’s live sets aren’t designed to

head and exposed human ribs, holding vinyl records in one pair of hands and giant

sustain a high-energy dance floor, which occasionally confuses people. She

pills in the other, exisiting somewhere between human and machine. And in the

isn’t asking her audience to get lost in the pulse; instead, she’s looking for

realm of dreams ruled and built by TOKiMONSTA, everything is fair game.

text REBECA ARANGO photo HEATHER GILDROY hair + makeup LEIBI CARIAS

Best OF La 2012 A lot of music was unleashed on Earth over the past twelve months, and we can proudly say that this city made a significant contribution to that noise. So here’s a list of our favorites. Because who needs Brooklyn anyway.

“Inside Outburst” Mad Planet

“G-Com” Greenhorse

“This Head I Hold” Electric Guest

“Blood Keys” American Royalty

“Terrorist Threats” Ab-Soul

“One Second of Love” Nite Jewel

“Fisherman” The Peach Kings

“So Cruel” Last American Buffalo

“Until the Quiet Comes” Flying Lotus

“Swimming Pools” Kendrick Lamar

“A Familiar Mood” John Tejada

“Time To” Analogue Monsta

SCAN HERE TO STREAM THE FULL PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY

Fear the WeeKenD

LA’S BEST LIVE MUSIC AND DJ NIGHTS, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THFSSMTWTHF TW SS SM M TW FS

SMTWTHFS HFS S WT MT S S

HOLLYWOOD

ECHO PARK

Wait, are we outside? Bardot feels like the parlor of a derelict old manor that lost its roof in the apocalypse, conjuring up the sort of moody romance that makes sipping red wine and scowling apropos. Also, you can smoke in there. More importantly, the sound is excellent and the size is intimate, making it the ideal venue to get an up close audio-visual peak at some of the best up-and-coming pop musicians from around the world every Monday at School Night.

The practice of sample, synth and sequencer-based music production is more versatile and ubiquitous than ever, applied to styles ranging from hip-hop to indierock and esoteric to mainstream. CYP2 celebrates that diversity by bringing in some of the world’s most exciting artists currently operating under the electro umbrella— of which there are A LOT.

SANTA MONICA

DOWNTOWN

If you’re joining us from 2006, here are some things to know: whole wheat isn’t really good for you, the handicapped basketball player from Degrassi is now a credible rapper named Drake, and DJ culture has proliferated far beyond the reaches of the extravagant Hollywood club scene. And the best place to dance west of Vermont may just be Thursday nights at the Central S.A.P.C. in Santa Monica. The venue’s flagship DJ night, Versus, is curated by top electro blogs Dancism and Gotta Dance Dirty. Skip the power hour and snuggle up with a craft brew by the fireplace instead. Fancy beer with your techno? Actually, we call it EDM now.

Outwardly no more than a kitschy old Mexican restaurant squatting awkwardly among high-rises, with the tables tossed and the lights turned down, La Cita is transformed into an authentic LA nightlife treasure. Every Thursday night, LA’s top DJs come through to show you how to dance right, but if it ever feels wrong, there’s always a sprawling back patio to escape to. Here’s to hoping the tides of development sweeping DTLA never uproot this bizarre little joint.

DOWNTOWN

EAST HOLLYWOOD

IT’S A SCHOOL NIGHT O BARDOT Every Monday Night O Free with RSVP SOUNDS LIKE: Hot Chip, VV Brown, Father John Misty itsaschoolnight.com

DANCE RIGHT O LA CITA Every Thursday Night O Free with RSVP before 11 pm SOUNDS LIKE: Dillon Francis, Classixx, Dam Funk danceright.net

>>>

VERSUS O THE CENTRAL Every Thursday Night O Ticketed/Door Cover SOUNDS LIKE: AC Slater, D. Ramirez, Dillon Francis centralsapc.com

CHECK YO PONYTAIL 2 O THE ECHOPLEX Every other Tuesday night O Ticketed/Door Cover SOUNDS LIKE: Grimes, Crystal Fighters, Das Racist checkyoponytail.com

LIL DEATH O ONE EYED GYPSY Every Sunday Night O Free SOUNDS LIKE: Overthrow, Clicks + Whistles, Funerals lildeath.com

RESIDENCIES O HARVARD & STONE Every Tuesday Night O Free SOUNDS LIKE: Last American Buffalo, the Peach Kings Harvardandstone.com

The One Eye’d Gypsy is a decidedly creepy club, and on Sunday nights, it gets even creepier. Lil Death lures the freaks out with a whole night of goth-disco for video game enthusiasts and witch house for ren-fair vets. If that doesn’t sound fantastic enough, know that the photo booths allow for fire-breathing poses in front of burning vehicles and light-saber battles before Lisa Frank-level neon castles. Good luck finding your debit card/sanity on Monday.

If a stiff glass of bourbon and bitters falls short of a nostalgia trip, Harvard & Stone is prepared to sprinkle the experience with some live music magic. Tuesday nights, the beloved east Hollywood bar brings in the best in local throwback bands. Ideal for lovers of Americana, acoustic instruments, and simpler times.

V E N U E

A COMPRESSED

HISTORY

Electronic Dance Music has an unjust reputation in the USA, thanks in no

a life long relationship with technology has made it so a growing array of

small part to an Emo with a MacBook and a jaded Canadian guy with a mouse

instrumentation and sounds are produced every day, while the ability to

on his head. Skrillex’s much-lauded sound conjures images of a Michael

create entire records on a laptop has allowed the genre has a quicker

Bane directed "Jurassic Park" vs. "Transformer"s hardcore pornography

evolution and larger output in a shorter space of time than any other.

spin-off. And deadmau5’s latest album is the only record a Cross-Fit jock that flexes around Vegas pool parties tanning himself with lard would ever need.

But up until the recent surfacing of Dubstep—which you could say officially jumped the shark when it appeared on Taylor Swift’s “I Knew

Somewhere in the transition from Electro-pop to Dubstep (and Europe

You Were Trouble”—Dance music was very much a niche genre in the

to America), dance music was tarred with an entirely new brush, and

US. It was persistently linked to both drug and homosexual culture,

its rich and diverse history has been boiled down to, “it’s just stupid

and given America’s very vocal division between these two topics i t’s

kids in neon fur eating E and flailing around to a bass drum.” And

no surpri se that i t took so l ong to hi t the mai nstream.

while that might be true in certain circles, the reality of the world’s fastest evolving genre of music is far more complex and sophisticated.

What we have here is a hugely compressed overview of each of

America just happens to have dropped in at a particularly low point.

the five main subcategories that make up the enormous genre of "Dance Music." In each subcategory we’ll give you an extremely

While the basic ideas that drive the current wave of Western art are sourced

b r i e f h i s t o r y, a l o o k i n t o t h e o r i g i n s o f t h e s o u n d , a n d s o m e o f t h e

from the past, dance music has consistently pushed itself forward. Forging

artists responsible for defining the music.

text ROSS GARDINER photo RACHEL MANY

OF ELECTRONIC

DANCE MUSIC hOuse

teChnO

ORIGINS: Chicago circa 1977

ORIGINS: Detroit, mid-80s

DEVELOPED FROM: Loose ends of Disco, Soul, Motown, Funk, and the

DEVELOPED FROM: Chicago House, Kraftwerk, Bronx Hip-Hop, and MIDI

rays of sunlight in Ibiza.

and microchips.

NOTABLE ARTISTS: Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, Paul Oakenfold,

NOTABLE ARTISTS: Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Richie

Pete Tong, Danny Rampling, John Digweed, Judge Jules, Faithless.

Hawtin, Underground Resistance, Sven Vath, Carl Cox, Jeff Mills.

T H E A R R I VA L O F H O U S E M A R K S T H E P O I N T AT W H I C H P E O P L E

CO MIN G CREEPIN G OU T OF U N DER G R O U N D DETR O IT IN TH E

started dancing to electronic music. It was born in a Chicago club

mi d-80s, Techno took a whi l e to fi nd i ts voi ce. In the e a rl y da y s the

called Warehouse where resident club DJs spun late, beat-heavy

sound was bei ng dri ven enti rel y by computers; the pro g ra mmi ng o f

S o u l . E v e n t u a l l y, t h e y t o o k K r a f t w e r k ’s m a t h e m a t i c a l c i r c u i t r y

earl y tracks seemi ngl y navi gated by the machi nes. Su c h w a s the s a d

and soldered a Roland 808 beat directly onto its Motherboard

state of the manufacturi ng i ndustri es i n Detroi t at the ti me .

using the ailing embers of the Disco scene. “Energy Flash” by the unknown young bedroom producer Joey Beltram Whereas it remained relegated to niche basement clubs and gay bars

hit the UK in 1991, and—despite the artist’s confesssion that he was

in the US, in Europe House music truly found its home. Through

trying to create a House track—the record was regarded as the first to

UK clubs like the Hacienda and Shoom, House immediately started

characterize the dark, beat-heavy Techno sound. And the timing couldn’t

clapping the eardrums of a post-Thatcherite British youth culture that

have been better; as the drug-fueled Second Summer of Love that defined

had fallen out of love with guitars and become entranced by drum

House music’s early popularity in the UK fell into a depression, Techno

machines, samplers, Ecstasy, and summers in the Spanish Islands.

was there, waiting. A thirst for darker, more complex club music triggered a mass DJ exodus from the US to Europe (specifically Berlin), allowing

From the stabbing pianos and powerful diva belts about "freedom"

Techno to proliferate far beyond its Mid-West origins.

o f t h e e a r l y 9 0 s , t o t h e t i g h t e r, k i c k d r u m - d r i v e n , s y n t h - f u e l e d funks that followed, House music was always upbeat, its one

Techno basslines tend to be ambiguously tonal, free from hooks and

and only goal being to make people dance. House influenced

riffs, and its drums carefully layered like orchestral string sections. In

everything that utilized synthetic beats and sounds after the

Minimal Techno you frequently find yourself floating in a vast empty

mid-80s, and every song that uses a dominant beat to shift feet

scape of reverb between each perfectly timed beat, surrounded

is in debt to the basic frameworks it set for club music.

by clicks and beeps buzzing like flies.

DruM ‘n’ Bass

tranCe

ORIGIN: London/Bristol circa 1988

ORIGINS: Germany, early-90s

DEVELOPED FROM: Dub, Breakbeats and early Techno.

DEVELOPED FROM: Techno, House, Europop and Hardcore.

NOTABLE ARTISTS: Goldie, LTJ Bukem, Fabio and Grooverider, early

NOTABLE ARTISTS: Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Tall Paul, Faithless, Armin Van

Prodigy, Trevor Nelson, Alex Romane.

Buuren, Sash!, Armand Van Helden.

ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS ‘JUNGLE’, DRUM ‘N’ BASS WAS FIRST

THE MOST COMMERCIAL ARM OF DANCE MUSIC THUS FAR,

inspired by the popularity and production of House. Jaded by its

Trance was just as at home egging on joyriders to do another wheel spin

unrelenting optimism, producers from London and Bristol’s growing

in a parking lot as it was throbbing the sand on an Ibiza beach party.

urban scenes began experimenting with dub, breakbeats and the little bits of Techno that had started to come through the fence.

F o r s o m e r e a s o n t h e D u t c h s e e m e d t o h a v e t h e b e s t e a r f o r Tr a n c e music. This could have something to do with being sandwiched

I nitially closely associated wit h t he UK cr ime s cene, it was por tra ye d

b e t w e e n t h e U K a n d G e r m a n y, t w o o f t h e b i g g e s t m a r k e t s f o r

a s a hos tile, aggressive sty le t hat s car ed many people away. T h e

H o u s e a n d Te c h n o , a s w e l l a s t h e i r p e n c h a n t f o r a b i t o f E u r o p o p .

s heer pace of the drums (160- 170BP M) and t he kidney r uptu ri n g

A d i s t i n c t l y E u r o p e a n s o u n d , Tr a n c e n e v e r s e e m e d t o l e a v e t h e

d epth of the dub bass lines coupled wit h t he gr af f it i and ‘g a n g ’

continent and instead installed itself in the first generation of

c ulture that seemed tagged t o it was int imidat ing t o t he Bri ti sh

" S u p e r c l u b s , " t h e S p a n i s h i s l a n d s , a n d i n b o y r a c e r ’s t a p e d e c k s .

p ublic. The DJs and MC s kep t under gr ound f or a while, s haping th e i r s ounds , th robbing the floor, and keeping it s olid s t eel.

Tr a n c e i s o f t e n a c c u s e d o f r e m o v i n g a l o t o f e x c l u s i v i t y a n d class from dance music. Its almost formulaic sound that mixea

It wasn’t until the mid-90s that Jungle, now Drum ‘n’ Bass, had started

reverberated

to poke its head above ground. Outfits like LTJ Bukem, the Prodigy,

female vocals about heaven and clouds was an obvious recipe

string

sections,

biting

bass

lines

and

soaring

Fabio and Grooverider, and perhaps the genre’s most well known

for commercial success. It was the first style of dance music to

artist, Goldie, had softened the sound, developed its voice and created

make melody its focus, and that certainly resonated with the pop

something that simultaneously hit the heights of the British charts yet

masses in the late 90s.

remained firmly rooted in the rich subculture. Trance also mixed perfectly with ecstasy, with those big fat kick drums pushing the glitter through your veins as you run your fingers through the clouds. It was also the first genre to completely remove the veil of circumstantial secrecy that surrounded the DJ. The man with the headphones choosing records was now a superstar, and was thus permitted to shout “Are you ready Brussels?!” down a microphone at a stadium fu l l o f swe a ti n g Be l g i a n s b e fo re h e d ro p p e d h i s sp a rk l y atomic beat.

eLeCtrO ORIGINS: Late 90s, early 2000s, France. DEVELOPED FROM: Techno, House, Pop and Indie Rock. NOTABLE ARTISTS: Daft Punk, Justice, Simian Mobile Disco, LCD Soundsystem, deadmau5, Digitalism, Soulwax, Air.

IN 1997, AS DRUM ‘N’ BASS WAS IN ITS UNDERGROUND RENAISSANCE, Trance was at the top of the charts, and Techno was stuck in Berlin stripping its sound back down to a minimal state, Parisian outfit Daft Punk released their 1997 album “Homework,” a record that represented one of the biggest shifts in dance music’s relatively modest history. By 2004 Electro was everywhere. And the French did Electro like no one else. Paris was producing some fine underground artists who could fuse together all of the complimenting aspects of House, Techno and Pop. Ed Banger Records was the pioneering French label for Electro, releasing records by Justice, Sebastian, Cassius, and many more. Electro was the genre that brought the United States back into the frame. After a two decade hiatus, North America was making up for lost time very quickly, producing acts like LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Hercules and Love Affair, Chromeo, and the poster boy of

Reading this article, researching the outfits and listening to

the moment, deadmau5. The music was hitting the airwaves and

the tracks isn’t going to teach you much more than some words

swaying the disco balls of venues that normally played indie rock.

a n d s o m e s o u n d s . To a p p r e c i a t e d a n c e m u s i c o n e m u s t d a n c e . And that dancing should happen in a basement club with an

Electro is characterized by the strength and power of its bass line.

overdriving soundsystem with sweat spitting down onto your

Unlike Techno and House, it often feels like the kick drum is being

f a c e . Yo u r eyeballs should be doing backflips in their sockets and

tugged along on the big bass hook. The tracks are far more vibrant,

yo ur blo o d ting le inside yo ur v e i n s . Yo u s h o u l d s t o p d a n c i n g o n l y

generally produced as stand alone pieces of music not to be tucked

to pee, and stop smiling only to talk to the police.

neatly into sets. They’re shorter too, often coming in at under five minutes, and normally accompanied by a very tidy radio edit. Although

D a n c e m u s i c w a s c r e a t e d b y p e o p l e t h a t envisioned a brighter

Electro is on the backswing now, it’s still a genre that has the ability

future, and they sought to express that vision through music. That

to fill an eclectic dance floor like no other since House.

was what it did 35 years ago, and it’s still doing it today.

NEED TO FIND NEW GALLERY LOGO >>>

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY ORDER LA-BASED PAINTER JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER COMES INTO HIS OWN

text SHANA NYS DAMBROT photo RACHEL MANY

I DON’T H AV E T O PRETEND I DON’T D R AW COMICS. W H AT E V E R I DO IS M Y A R T. Of Two Minds. Momentum. A Resurrection

to Nothing and Grace. The titles from Jason Shawn Alexander’s newest series tell the story of a crucial

transitional moment in his career. On the eve of a major exhibition at Miami-based 101/exhibit’s newly inaugurated

Melrose gallery, Alexander finds himself in a relatively peaceful state of mind. It’s not surprising considering

his recent marriage, move to an expansive studio on a

leafy side street, all but sold-out show last year and hefty monograph publication that followed. But what’s even more mentally balancing is the painter’s embrace of his

alter-ego as a sought-after graphic novel and indie comic

illustrator. “I’m not separating my worlds anymore. I don’t

have to pretend I don’t draw comics. Whatever I do is my art.” In fact, the new exhibition, titled “{sic},”

goes so far as to include both new mixed media works on canvas and panel alongside original-ink pages from,

among other things, a forthcoming Batman graphic novel. (End Game is due out November 14th through DC

Comics.) The truth is that as hard as he pushes himself in

developing his unique style of abstract/portraiture mashup, he’s done at least one big graphics job a year ever

since his stellar work on early iterations of Dark Horse Comics’ Hellboy. He’s been working on End Game and

{sic} more or less simultaneously since Spring; and asked whether it’s helpful or confusing to work on both at the same time, Alexander finds a way back to his main

artistic impulse. “I’m into storytelling, so it’s always less confusing when it’s my own story I’m depicting, instead of

illustrating someone else’s. Next year I’m finally starting my own graphic novel, though I’ve been thinking about it for years. It’s the same impulse that first drove me to explore painting—I just want to make my own art.”

And about that art. There’s a reason the 101/ exhibit show is called {sic}. It’s a grammatical notation meaning, “yeah I know it’s wrong but that’s how I want it, warts and all.” In fact, he’s learning to love those warts, because they result from the experimentation he’s doing with his own comfort zones. Aside from the parallel embrace of his outstanding, uniquely expressive and cinematic graphics sensibility, in the realm of his fine art painting itself, he’s pushing his boundaries in form and content harder than ever. Always intrigued by deeply personal themes of love, desire, loss, death, anger, and redemption, it’s important to Alexander that as he matures as a person and a painter, he expand his narratives and technique into more universal, political, and poetical territory.

“In the run up to last year’s show I was anxious, irritable, uncomfortable.” And that made for some arresting work. But in a way, the sort of art-therapy aspect of channeling all that volatility into the paintings helped Alexander process that discomfort. So to his already emotionally charged pieces in which figures appear and reappear across compositions, economies of space and scale are upended, and abstraction and figuration forced into a violent and awkward truce, he’s adding not only more and more purely gestural texture and color, but also a grip of non-traditional materials. He also found himself rejecting some of the more incendiary confrontations and confessions, because, he was forced to admit, he just isn’t that mad about stuff anymore. It was important to him to be honest in following that through into the new work. “If you’re not genuine, people can see it. It’s too easy to just go for the shock. I guess I just worked through it. The next level is to go all the way beyond myself.”

{sic } remains on view at 101/exhibit Contemporary Art Gallery located at 8920 Melrose through November 26th 101EXHIBIT.COM JASONSHAWNALEXANDER.COM

GALLERY OPENINGS JONEONE: A BEAUTIFUL MADNESS Fabien Castanier Gallery November 3 - December 2, 2012 Opening: Saturday, November 3, 7-10pm For his first solo show in the US (raised in NYC, he’s lived in Paris since the mid-80s) JonOne draws from the energy and freedom of painting in an urban landscape, translating his roots as a graffiti artist into a unique form of abstract expressionism akin to Pollock and de Kooning, infused with freestyle movement and color. castaniergallery.com

Join us for our

GRAND OPENING!

MARCO BRAMBILLA: CREATION (MEGAPLEX) Christopher Grimes Gallery November 3 - December 22, 2012 Opening: Saturday, November 3, 6-8pm This anticipated new work by Marco Brambilla takes a spiraling trajectory that begins with a big bang and continues through embryonic inception, Eden-like bliss and decadence, and culminates in annihilation—only to then interminably re-invent itself against a hyper-realistic landscape of clouds and burning cityscapes, all constructed from samples of hundreds of Hollywood films. cgrimes.com MARION LANE: NEW PAINTINGS LAUNCH LA November 17 - December 22, 2012 Opening: Saturday, November 17, 5-8pm In these paintings Japanese kitsch meets French rococo (with a nod to 1970’s Americana). Not as random or frivolous as it might sound, it’s an attempt to provide a reason for an eyeball to pop, stop, go back, and start again. This freewheeling eyeball is so elusive and yet so enjoyable, giving rise to the pleasures of sight for all to enjoy and contemplate. launchla.org DIANA THATER: OO FIFI: PART I AND PART II 1301PE Gallery November 17, 2012 - January 12, 2013 Opening: Saturday, November 17, 6-8pm In these incrediby powerful and cerebral works first shown 20 years ago, the focus shifts between the pure visual delight of the phantasm, to the individual colors that make up the image, to the physical apparatus of the projector, to the architecture of the space, enveloping the audience so that they may, in Thater’s words, “see the way projectors see.” 1301pe.com KATIE GRINNAN’S ASTROLOGY ORCHESTRA The Integratron, Joshua Tree Saturday, November 17, 2012 Three performances between 4:30-5:30pm This multi-platform performance project uses astrological systems to map out the artist’s birth chart from the perspective of the planets in our solar system, creating a template for unique circular stringed instruments of various materials, each representing a planetary perspective and tuned to the respective frequency, which the audience plays simultaneously as a symphony. Presented by LAND. nomadicdivision.org ALEXANDER KROLL: THE FLORIST, THE LOQUAT, AND YES CB1 Gallery November 18, 2012 - January 6. 2013 Opening: Sunday, November 18, 5-7pm Kroll makes feisty and engaging abstract paintings, which are simultaneously structural and intuitive; informal and hyper-considered; gestural and geometric, precious and explosive. Exploring contradictory aesthetic positions, the work trades in beauty, decay, and complexity. His compositions are both sensual and intellectual in their deftly choreographed, veiled allegory, and the emotional exuberance of his brushwork. cb1gallery.com PATSSI VALDEZ: MEMENTOS Offramp Gallery November 18 - December 23, 2012 Closing Reception & Holiday Party: Sunday, December 23, 2-5pm New gouaches, ceramics and site-specific installation from Valdez, who is best known for her colorful paintings and early performance work with the avant-garde art group ASCO. Her paintings depict inspirational and emotionally charged events and places in both real and imaginary environments, which are meaningful and symbolic of the personal and collective Chicano experience and vibrant aesthetic. offrampgallery.com CHRISTOPHER ULRICH: THE RECKONING La Luz de Jesus December 7 - 30, 2012 Opening: Friday, December 7, 8-11pm Ulrich is a painter of surreal, iconographic images, influenced by the richness of ancient mythology, the mystery of alchemy, and the vastness of cosmic reality. The final chapter in his acclaimed and feared Christ Chronocrater Cycle finally arrives at La Luz de Jesus, delighting both new initiates and disturbingly dedicated long-time fans of his PopSurrealist shadow world. laluzdejesus.com

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

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L O ST IL L U SIO N S November 17 - December 10, 2012

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KEEPING UP WITH THE CARMICHAELS

AN URBAN GALLERY’S LABOR OF LOVE GOES NATIONAL text SHANA NYS DAMBROT “It was an accident.” Carmichael Gallery officially opened in 2007,

No doubt they have a point, as access to traditional-format gallery success

putting down early roots in West Hollywood after a run of pop-up curatorial

increasingly takes a toll on the vibrancy of the outdoor art some brand-namers

projects. Since then, they moved to Culver City, hit the art-fair circuit, and even

feel compelled to keep producing. It’s clear the visual culture struggles with

opened a new satellite in Manhattan. But back in 2007, Seth Carmichael was

the genre’s fast-paced evolution—how to appreciate it, value it, write about it,

just looking for a creative outlet, something more personally satisfying than the

discover it, keep it fresh. And once again, almost by accident, the Carmichaels

film business. He knew some street artists and had big ideas, but soon realized

find themselves at the cutting edge of a strategy for the situation—as Simmy

his lack of art-world experience would mean he and his wife would have to do

was saying, not only shepherding street art into the high-end mainstream, but

it themselves. “One thing led to another and in less than a year Elisa and I had

simultaneously bringing non-street artists into their curatorial mix and treating

opened our first permanent space.” After a few seasons of unforgettably unique,

it all the same, on the level playing field everyone says they want. Elisa explains

large-scale, frequently installation-based exhibitions by street artists from around

that “at its core is a change in our own tastes. We are evolving and I think our

the world, Carmichael moved to the Culver City gallery district, where the program

collectors are evolving with us. It’s a very exciting time.” Just this past September they realized a long-time dream of

has gotten markedly more diverse in media and style ever since. Gallery Director Simmy Swinder concurs. When Elisa and Seth

opening a space in NYC, continuing their cross-pollination of genres and

approached her, she had what she describes as “a very limited knowledge of

geographies. Gallery fans can expect a bi-coastal balance including shows

the urban art world. But I think this was a bonus for them. I came on board

with Mark Jenkins, Aakash Nihalani, Sixeart, Stinkfish, Bumblebee and

during the early stages of the expansion, and they’ve encouraged me to bring

others with street-art backgrounds; but also Adam Parker Smith, Lisa Solberg,

in artists as well,”—but without ever abandoning the street art they’ve long

Olve Sande, Matthias Manner, Joan Salo and others with no connection to

championed. That said, Seth has noticed some problematic rifts opening up

that world—all of which mirrors the Carmichaels’ own story. When Seth was

in the community. “We got involved at a very inspiring time, when great artists

18 he met a Seattle graffiti artist named Whirl. Years later, he had an office

who had been working for years in relative anonymity were finally starting to

around the corner from Deitch Projects and went to amazing exhibitions by

get real exposure. Today the genre has been heavily co-opted by the media

Barry McGee and Os Gemeos. “For the first time, I made a direct connection

and a new generation whose education begins and ends with Exit Through

between the art of my youth and the contemporary art market. It was really

the Gift Shop.” Elisa goes further, saying, “I think the best street art today is

eye-opening. I had grown up in D.C.’s graf and skate culture and had also

being made by artists whose work isn’t particularly commercial and doesn’t

been exposed to classical art and contemporary galleries; but it was Whirl’s

necessarily translate well indoors. Perhaps this has always been the case.”

work that stuck with me and has had the greatest influence on how I’ve ended up where I am today.” Now all we have to do is try and keep up.

5797 WASHINGTON BLVD CULVER CITY, CA 90232 CARMICHAELGALLERY.COM

G A L L E R Y

PLay What yOu Can

text SHANA NYS DAMBROT photo GINA RIBISI

BECK’S ART-HEAVY SHEET-MUSIC ALBUM REQUIRES SOME ASSEMBLY Back in the day, like the 19th-century day, music publishers were

album that can’t be played has already engendered skepticism from the music

not the artist-centric labels they later became. They were distributors of songs

media; but on the other hand, a plucky YouTube explosion seems inevitable

in printed sheet-music format, sold directly to performers who made their own

once fans take snail-mail delivery on December 7th.

unique arrangements of the material. Now the release of the curious Beck

Yet while Beck deconstructs the idea of the record, he goes crazy on

Hansen’s Song Reader takes fans of Beck’s malleable, rhythmic, stylistically

the “liner notes.” The whole thing is lavishly illustrated by contemporary artists

polyglot indie rock on a ride in the way-back machine, all the way to a time

including Guero album artist Marcel Dzama, with both accompanying lyrics-

when hearing music meant finding a musician.

inspired narrative images and expressive flourishes in the typography itself,

Song Reader is not a CD, and there are no mp3 files and there is no

more than worthy of its imprint from the reliably progressive McSweeney’s

vinyl; instead, there is a hard cover case containing a 108-page book comprised

publishing house. And Beck himself is no stranger to conceptual and

of twenty individual booklets instead of tracks. Each booklet represents a single

performance art. His grandfather was the great ex-pat Fluxus artist Al

song, but you only get the sheet music. As the statement explains, it’s “an

Hansen, who pioneered a DIY un-commodification of modern art; and a

experiment at what an album can be, [it] enlists the listener in the tone of every

young Beck spent serious time with him in his studio. While a range of visual

track... Bringing them to life depends on you.” That’s right, if you want to hear

approaches from folk art to underground comics and font design enliven

the songs, you’ve got to play them yourself—or get the cute musician across

the book, the overall gestalt is a vintage old-timey style, a sort of hipster

the hall to play them for you. To Beck’s loyal fans long awaiting a follow-up to

modernism characterized by a retro, quirky, awkward, self-consciously hand-

Modern Guilt and The Information (and no, his original songs for PlayStation’s

rendered, nostalgic imagination. But if you want to listen to it, get going—

“Sound Shapes” platform don’t count), this could be a bit frustrating. This

you’ve only got a month to learn the ukulele.

B O

MCSWEENEYS.NET

BECK.COM

NOVE MBER REIGN HAVING JUST WRAPPED THE NEW SHORT-FILM THIS CIGARETTE, FILMMAKER LAUREN GRAHAM AND MODEL JENNY PARRY BECOME MUSES FOR PHOTOGRAPHER DANIELLE DAFOE

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Kick

Push

PHOTOGRAPHY GRANT YOSHINO STYLING TON AGUILAR

MODELS BRANDON @ VISION + TORIAN @ PHOTOGENICS

OPPOSITE PAGE HAT BY VANS / JACKET BY OBEY / PANTS BY LEVIS / SHOES BY VANS

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THIS PAGE HAT BY SUPREME / SWEATER BY DC SHOES / SHORTS BY LEVIS / SOCKS BY THATYOUNGDEFSHOP.COM / SHOES BY VANS

ONCE U P O N A

W i n t e r

PhOtOGr aPhy STEVEN YATSKO M a K e u P FA I TH BARTRUF F M O D e L s L I LY & A LE X @ FO RD

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OPPOsite PaGe SWEATER BY GROWZE

this PaGe TOP BY GROWZE

A P L AC E BELONG S F OR EVE R TO W H O E VE R CL A IM S IT HARDEST, REMEMBERS IT MOST OBSESSIVELY, WRENCHES I T F ROM I TSEL F, SHAP ES IT, RE N D E RS IT, LOVE S IT SO RA D I C A L LY THAT HE R E M A KES IT IN H IS OWN IM AG E .

I S A P L A C E I N W H I C H A B O O M M E N TA L I T Y C H E K H OV I A N LO SS M E E T I N U N E ASY S U S P E THE MIND IS TROUBLED BY SOME BURIED BU S U S P I C I O N T H AT T H I N G S B E T T E R W O R K H E R E , B E N E AT H T H E I M M E N S E B L E A C H E

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SWEATER BY AMERICAN APPAREL

this PaGe JACKET BY GROWZE OPPOsite PaGe SKIRT BY GROWZE / SWEATER BY AMERICAN APPAREL

AUTUMN 2012 | LAURA AUSTIN www.rhythmlivin.com

BR I GHT

YO UNG TH IN G p h otog ra phy M AGDA WOS INS KA s tylist M ARIS SA JOYE PEDEN h air & m a ke up JENNA KRISTINA p h oto assista nt RAYM OND M OLINAR

DRESS BY AGAIN SHADES BY NASTY GAL EARINGS BY DANNIJO RING BY BONA DRAG

TOP BY GREYLIN NECKLACE BY NASTY GAL

TOP BY HARLYN NECKLACE BY DANNIJO

HAT BY BEC ANDBRIDGE TOP BY NASTY GAL NECKLACE BY PAMELA LOVE

intrODuCinG: neW era

text ERIN DENNISON

NEW ERA TURNS HEADS TOWARDS THE CREATIVE MINDS OF TOMORROW

“New Era Introducing” is a global creative project showcasing unique talent from across the world.

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION FOR LAUNCHING “NEW ERA

The project gives artists the opportunity to make a statement using a blank New Era 59FIFTY as their

INTRODUCING”?

canvas. Those judged to show the most innovative designs go on to form a touring gallery exhibition and

We wanted to do something to communicate New Era’s

are published in a limited edition New Era Introducing book. LA CANVAS caught up with Wayne Best,

significant point of difference in the marketplace—self-

New Era’s Senior Director of Sales and Marketing in Action Sports, to get the scoop on the new initiative.

expression—by providing a platform for the young, creative minds of tomorrow to express themselves. HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAVE PARTICIPATED? “New Era Introducing” started in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and ran in eight countries in 2011 and 2012: the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, South Africa, and UAE. We went to places that we had never reached before, like Cape Town, South Africa and Dubai, UAE. Following the success we enjoyed in EMEA we decided to bring it the project over to North America. We’ve now expanded to include four US cities (NYC, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago) and will be wrapping up the 2012 North American Project with a final exhibition in Toronto, Canada, my home town. HOW DID YOU CHOOSE MARCONI CALINDAS AS THE WINNER? We were really focused on finding the most uniquely creative piece of work from the many outstanding submissions. We were looking at not only the art itself, but the story behind it. We asked the artists to document their process, so they had the opportunity to tell a story, which you can check out on our site. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS DESIGN? The inspiration behind his piece was bullying and the demise of a young person who ended up taking his life because of it. Calindas wanted to capture the experience and demonstrate the message through his work. His piece of work was very timely, corresponding with the current conversation on bullying in the media and its impact on our youth. WILL THE HAT RUN AS A LIMITED EDITION? We’re actually looking to identify a couple of the artists who participated in the creative project and coming out with some wearable pieces based on those. We did not want to limit the creative output from the artists for this project by requiring that their submissions be wearable. The results have been inspiring and I’d encourage everyone to check out their work at www.neweraintroducing.com. WILL YOU BE RUNNING INTRODUCING AGAIN NEXT YEAR? Absolutely. It’s an evolution that will grow and change every year. We want to see more emphasis on building a creative

community and providing a platform for creative minds. You can expect to see another gallery tour complimented possibly by workshops and mentoring elements in next year’s project.

Q & A

NEWERAINTRODUCING.COM

hi s er

s& s

h Once upon a time, there was a boy and a girl who shared a love for DIY and the occult. Naturally, they joined forces, marrying those aesthetics into a brainchild: UNIF. Sold at heavyweight retailers like ASOS, Nasty Gal, Karmaloop and Urban Outfitters, UNIF is one of the few LA brands whose industry cred is caught up with their street. LAC sat down with real life couple, Eric Espinoza and Christine Lai, to find out what makes them tick.

HOW DID UNIF COME TO FRUITION? DID YOU DESIGN

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE UNTIL YOU WERE ABLE TO

YOUR FIRST SHIRTS WITH A COLLECTION IN MIND?

QUIT YOUR DAY JOBS?

Like a lot of people, we both started making clothing at

A couple of years. I wouldn’t say we quit our day

a young age, and UNIF was just an evolution of that.

jobs, we just upgraded.

Since it was our first time around the block, it didn’t start with a “brand” in mind. It was just a creative outlet.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR UNIF? There are a million things we want to do. We’ve

WE LOVE THAT YOU TWO ARE A REAL LIFE COUPLE.

been talking a lot lately about the path of our

HOW DID YOU BEGIN DESIGNING TOGETHER?

expansion, but we’re being smart about it. You

We worked out of the same building for a couple

don’t want to get too big for your britches, you

of years, that’s where we met. At the time, I was

know? We’re growing our international distribution

working on UNIF and Christine was designing for

and talking retail locations. We have a month long

another company. Then we ran away together.

pop-up shop on Fairfax that runs into November. We’ve never really done anything like that before,

WHAT’S YOUR PROCESS? DOES EVERYTHING BEGIN

so that’s kind of exciting.

WITH A SKETCH? Not everything. Christine and I have very similar

5 THINGS YOU LOVE:

brains in this regard. Neither of us likes to sit

Ice cream, puppies, good weather, finding money, people.

through a million processes, so we just skip to the meat and potatoes as quickly as possible. Lots of

5 THINGS YOU HATE:

talking and arm movements and tape.

Ice cream, puppies, good weather, finding money, people.

WHICH ONE OF YOUR TEES HAS BEEN THE MOST

SUBTITLE ON YOUR FUTURE MEMOIRS?

PROVOCATIVE?

“If you’re reading this, you can read.”

One? That’s tough. Give me something, anything, and I’ll find someone who’s offended by it. I think

COPS OR HIPPIES?

some people sit around waiting for something that

If you don’t have anything nice to say...

they can take offense to. What a waste of time. I don’t think anyone here is easily offended unless

TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA?

there’s some kind of ugliness behind it. There’s no

Sure. Just stick a ton of traveling in there somewhere

ugliness behind what we do, if you find it offensive,

and we’re good.

it just means you don’t have a sense of humor.

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still an

ANIMAL

THE CHEF DUO BEHIND GROUNDBREAKING LA EATERIES ANIMAL AND SON OF A GUN ON OWNERSHIP, INDEPENDENCE, AND FOLLOWING YOUR INSTINCTS

text REBECA ARANGO photo PHILLIP KIM

About ten years ago, culinary school buddies John Shook and Vinny Dotolo left

still used really high quality ingredients. We didn’t think LA needed another

their home state of Florida to crash an aunt’s house in the Valley. Legend has

Chez Panisse. We can’t all copy Alice Waters because we’re in California and

it they were unemployed and on the verge of skipping town when fate finally

we don’t want to do too much to the food—like not be allowed to puree our

intervened with a job. Fortunately for Los Angeles, John and Vinny stuck around

lettuce. I know it’s a beautiful head of lettuce, but that doesn’t mean we have

long enough to open two innovative, risky, and ultimately nationally acclaimed

to leave it like that—fuck it, who cares. And that was kind of the idea here, let’s

restaurant concepts. And today, they can’t imagine themselves anywhere else. LAC

do whatever we want and have our own voice. We still do. A lot of people didn’t

sat down with the chefs to find out a bit more about how they changed the dining

believe that it would work in Los Angeles, but now there are people using this

game, convincing a good chunk of us to eat veal brains in the process.

as the model to open their restaurants here, which is really flattering. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT MODEL A BIT?

WHEN DID YOU GUYS DECIDE TO BECOME A TEAM?

VINNY: I would say it’s cooks’ and chefs’ ingredients, things that are rich

JOHN: In culinary school, twelve years ago. Our third week into school.

and flavorful. We cook with a lot of different ethnic influences, things

VINNY: We just kept this weird dream alive that we would open a restaurant some

that we eat on the street when we’re not working. We’ve spent just as

day, and it came to fruition a little over four years ago. After about two and a

much time together eating as we have working, so it’s more influenced

half years of working for other people, we forged out on our own with a catering

by what we like than what customers want.

business, which is a little bit young to start doing that, but we learned a lot.

about owning the restaurant; we don’t have an investor saying, “You have

And that’s the great thing

to have a cheeseburger on the menu because I love cheeseburgers.” We WAS IT THROUGH RUNNING THE CATERING BUSINESS THAT YOU DEVELOPED THE

just didn’t want to get into that game. I love cheeseburgers too, but then

CONCEPT FOR ANIMAL?

you get into the cheeseburger battles, and then that’s all people eat at

JOHN: I would say that Animal developed from us hanging out in this space. We

your restaurant and everything else falls by the wayside. I mean we sell

were here for nine months before the restaurant opened, hanging out every day.

25 bone marrows and 10-12 orders of brains a night, and we only have

VINNY: And trying to decide what Los Angeles needed, culturally, as a food

50 seats. That’s good, that’s awesome to be able to get people to eat that.

city. It needed a place with a younger spirit and a more casual atmosphere that

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF HAVING A MENU OF SMALL SHARED PLATES?

this year—melons, all the heirloom melons, and the stone fruit. I just found

VINNY: A lot of people don’t know how to eat. And I think that’s why tasting

that there have been so many inconsistencies. As a business we try to target

menus are so valid, they’re controlled—everyone gets the same amount. It’s

consistency more than anything. We get people that come from all over, so

much harder in a shared plate environment. Some chefs think about it and

you want to be able to provide a really consistent product from those people

some don’t—but it’s something we’re constantly looking at. One of the most

who have heard or read about this restaurant. Like one week the peaches

frustrating things for me is to come out here and watch people eat. I saw a

were insanely delicious and the next they were dry. That’s the difficulty with

lady the other day eat our chicken liver toast and I saw her take off the onions,

using local farms, they might not have the chemicals and pesticides that

scrape the chicken liver off the bread and eat it by itself. And then you never

provide consistency like with what’s been genetically modified. It makes a

know, they’ll go home and write some yelp review that says “the chicken liver

dish harder to do; it makes it harder for the cooks to use their intuition.

toast sucked!” and it’s like—you didn’t even eat it right! WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT GROWING UP? ANYTHING THAT’S YOU GUYS JUST GOT BACK FROM THE FARMER’S MARKET. ANY NEW INGREDIENTS

ENDED UP ON ANY OF YOUR MENUS?

YOU’RE PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT?

JOHN: I loved eating fried chicken, and we have the fried chicken sandwich

JOHN: I think you go in and out of things depending on where you’re at in life

at Son of a Gun. The smoked fish dip at Son of a Gun definitely hits home,

and who’s around you and what’s going on at the market, so obviously things

and the BBQ Pork Belly at Animal—we grew up in Florida eating barbeque

come and go. You might use recipes you haven’t used in five or ten years.

and cole slaw. But being here in LA, all the Hispanic cultures have opened

Right now I’m dying to use squash, because we haven’t had it for so long.

our eyes to using a lot of chilis, which down in Florida we would have never.

Then winter vegetables are going to roll around and I’m going to be like, man I

VINNY: I grew up in a very Italian-American sort of household. Every Sunday

can’t wait for stone fruit, I can’t wait for tomatoes. We use the farmer’s market

we’d have Sunday sauce, or eggplant Parmesan, or lasagna or baked ziti.

so it’s not like we have tomatoes year round.

Stuff like that, very “Jersey” Italian-American. We don’t do much of that

VINNY: There are a couple of things I’m excited about right now. There are

cooking at all, but I love that food. Maybe one day we’ll have one of those

these little mouse melons that look like little watermelons that some local

kinds of places, it’s definitely on our radar. It’s a fun style of food to eat and

farmers are growing. I’ve also had this love-hate relationship with a few things

you don’t see that much of it done well.

BONE MARROW HAS BECOME A PRETTY TRENDY MENU ITEM IN LA. HOW SHOULD

herbs. And then toast, which is kind of classic. It’s hard for people just to eat

IT BE DONE, IDEALLY?

bone marrow, I actually don’t like to eat that much toast with it, but I think some

VINNY: It tastes to me—and I was always obsessed with this and my mom would

people like to mask it with the bread.

say “don’t eat that”—like the fat on a steak, but creamier. JOHN: A little bit more buttery, and melting. There is good bone marrow and bad

WHAT WISDOM DID YOU GAIN FROM RUNNING ANIMAL THAT WENT INTO OPENING

bone marrow for sure. It has to be cured right. Ours is in a bone cut long-ways,

SON OF A GUN?

not like typical bone marrow.

JOHN: You learn from each restaurant. The mistakes that we made here, obviously

VINNY: We serve it with chimichurri—a classic south American sauce that’s

we tried not to make them over there. We learned so much from this place, this is

traditionally paired with steak. It’s really acidic and bright, made with fresh

the first time that we ever were chefs at any restaurant, let alone owned a restaurant.

So we learned a lot about running a business, and that helped structure Son of a Gun.

ARE YOU PLANNING A THIRD PLACE?

VINNY: A lot of people say it’s much harder to open your second restaurant, but I

JOHN: We are. Three, four, five, nine, ten, a hundred...

thought it was much easier. We started out with a lot more systems in place over

VINNY: The hardest thing is to find good people to work for you. I think that’s the

there. For instance, here, we had said you’re allowed to wear black t-shirts to

case in any industry, I don’t think there’s anybody who’s an owner or leader in

work, and then a server showed up in a Raiders jersey. No, that doesn’t work—it

any sort of business who won’t agree—it’s not getting the idea or the groundwork

has black in it, but that’s not what we meant. It was much easier to get everybody on

that’s the hard part, it’s finding the right people to execute the idea.

the same page over at Son of a Gun, we started out with the sort of things that it took us a while to grow into here, like a recipe book. It felt like a much smoother process. And then we made a couple of mistakes there that hopefully we won’t make at the next place.

niGhtCaPs There’s nothing like a surreptitious midnight stumble towards a food truck, taco stand, or hot-dog cart. Devouring unhealthy food under the cover of darkness delivers a thrilling satisfaction. Plus, it can be very romantic (sharing a buzz and a burrito is an intimate bonding experience). But when hunger strikes later than you were expecting, sometimes occasion demands candlelight, cloth napkins, and most-importantly, a place to sit. WEST HOLLWOOD o JONES OPEN TILL 2 AM DAILY VIBE: A dark, bustling and stylish rock-and-roll bar, this WeHo staple serves up modern Italian-American eats. GRUB: The BBQ Chicken Pizza feels especially apropos after midnight, and the Apple Pie A La Mode is even better than your mom mom’s. BOOZE: Look no further than the cocktail menu. Tequila lovers should try the Hendrix, a pear and basil margarita. twitter.com/JonesHollywood

“Break Bread. Share Wine. Feed the Soul.”

SANTA MONICA + DOWNTOWN o PACIFIC DINING CAR OPEN 24 HOURS DAILY VIBE: Established in 1921, walking into either Pacific Dining Car location is like stepping through a wormhole to a time before Eames and Ikea. GRUB: Where else can you get a steak at 2 am? PDC is all about the beef—house cured, cut, and re-portioned for the late night menu. BOOZE: Red meat goes with red wine. PDC has a list of 300 bottles from around the world. pacificdiningcar.com

SILVERLAKE + DOWNTOWN o MALO + MAS MALO OPEN TILL 2 AM FRIDAY + SATURDAY VIBE: Hip and modern, the original Silverlake Malo is low key and intimate while Mas Malo impresses with a designer remodel of an old DTLA jewelry space. GRUB: The shrimp and bacon or beef and pickle tacos each make for excellent munchies. Get both. BOOZE: The Piñata Smash is a perfectly explosive fresh margarita made with pineapple, cilantro and Serrano chile. malorestaurant.com

WEST HOLLYWOOD o DAN TANA’S KITCHEN OPEN TILL 1:30 AM DAILY VIBE: A true Hollywood classic with big red booths, red-check tablecloths, and red blazers on the wait staff, Dantana’s is currently celebrating 47 years. GRUB: Traditional Italian-American all the way. Go ahead and carbo-load with a pile of spaghetti or eat your feelings with some Veal Parmigiana. BOOZE: Anything goes, but why not keep it old school with a martini or an old fashioned? (A spiked Shirley Temple sounds right too.) dantanasrestaurant.com

ECHO PARK o TAIX KITCHEN OPEN TILL 1 AM WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY VIBE: With flat-screens for sports and a stage for bands, this big-ol’ French restaurant’s lively front lounge attracts a mixed bag of characters. GRUB: The late night menu lists satisfying snacks like mussels and fries, a French dip sandwich, and the ultimate French grilled cheese: Le Croque Monsieur. BOOZE: Taix has a full bar plus a refreshingly well-priced wine and beer list. A half-glass of Moscato is always a sweet way to wrap things up. taixfrench.com

FAIRFAX o ANIMAL OPEN TILL 1 AM FRIDAY + SATURDAY VIBE: Stark, casual and friendly, this spot is all about the food. GRUB: The BBQ Pork Belly sandwich really is as awesome as everybody says, but we hope you’re tipsy enough to try the veal brains. BOOZE: No chardonnay here—instead, a carefully curated selection of exclusively European wines means it’s time to get your adventure on. animalrestaurant.com

GET MOR E OF L.A.’S BEST FOOD SCOOPS AT LACA N VAS.COM

600 S. Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90014 www.artisanhouse.net 600 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 213.622.6333

213.622.6333 artisanhouse.net

OrGaniK entertainMent Presents

MOnDay, DeCeMBer 31 PasO rOBLes, Ca

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DO the MasheD POtatO

text REBECA ARANGO photo RACHEL MANY

BOURBON SWIGS AND CHEDDAR GRITS AT LOS FELIZ DINING OUTPOST MESS HALL: AMERICA’S LATEST AND GREATEST GASTRONOMIC STRONGHOLD In restaurant lingo, the term “New American” is as sprawling as

Mess Hall’s quirky drink menu is divided into “Citrus / Refreshing”

the cultural and geographic entity it references. It can describe a menu that

and “Aromatic / Boozy,” making the overwhelming task of choosing a cocktail

includes heirloom tomato flatbread (oblong pizza), buratta with haricots

just that much easier. Head bartender Erik Lund (of Rivera) gets all the

verts (Français for green beans), and strange cuts of meat once mastered by

giggles by calling a Pisco and Absinthe drink “The Hallucinogenic Whimsies

Eastern European immigrants and now served with Latin salsa.

of Banana Man” and a Whiskey, Cynar and Benedictine one “The Downtime

Yet at the same time that it’s fashionable to feed from the proverbial

(Between Euphoria or Bitter Disappointment).” While Lund’s beverage

melting pot, nostalgia for “Old America” is expressing itself with equal

program boasts an impressive collection of whiskey, bourbon, and scotch,

culinary fervency. Just think of all the gourmand variations on grilled cheese,

he also keeps craft kegs of Yankee Brews and nice bottles of California wine

donuts, burgers, mac n’ cheese, and cupcakes that have been swarming Los

around if brown spirits aren’t your style.

Angeles lately. Is childhood just trending, or have we sophisticated urbanites

In the kitchen, Chef Keith Silverton (of Dominick’s and Water Grill) cooks up a farm-to-table menu of regional American favorites like Maine

developed a deep-seated hunger for classic American comfort? Either way, if you fondly recall BBQ and mashed potatoes; braces-

Lobster Mac n’ Cheese and Texan BBQ Brisket. Meaty dishes like the Hog

clogging backyard nibbles into corn on the cob; or even just watching the

Chop—a hearty center cut served with grits, greens and Tabasco butter that

Brady Bunch on TV, a trip to Los Feliz eatery Mess Hall will surely leave

could lure even the most die-hard chicken-fiend into the pig pen—may reign

your nostalgia-spot deliciously tickled. Drawing name and aesthetic from

supreme, but Mess Hall doles out its fare share of local veggies too (kale

the US military, Mess Hall is a utilitarian space made elegant through soft

salad, anyone?). Plus, lighter entrees like scallops with corn succotash and

lighting and a richness of textures. Polished metal stools are lined up against

gnocchi means dinner doesn’t always have to be a gut-busting affair. However,

reclaimed wood tables while exposed rafters and steel beams date back to

we suggest you don’t get too carried away with the diet thing. Trust us, saying

1929. Outside, a tree-encircled patio feels fantastically secluded. Take several

no to a mason jar full of banana cream pie would be a—huge—mistake.

swigs of bourbon, inhale the aroma of smoked meat, and you might just forget you were ever in a densely populated city to begin with.

R E S T A U R A N

4500 HILLHURST AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CA 90027 MESSHALLKITCHEN.COM

POintinG the Way text REBECA ARANGO photo RACHEL MANY

QUICKLY BECOMING LA’S PREEMINENT CRAFT BREWERY, GOLDEN ROAD EXPANDS ITS ATWATER HQ INTO A BEER-LOVER’S PARADISE Even if you’ve been really, really busy this year, it’s unlikely you

For Golden Road, packaging was a no-brainer. Cans are way more

survived 2012 in Los Angeles without encountering a can of Golden Road

sustainable and recyclable than bottles, plus they’re actually better for the

beer. The independent brewery’s stunning 16 oz tallboys of Point the Way

beer. Then came the flavor. Along with brew master Jon Carpenter, Meg and

IPA and Golden Road Hefeweizen hit stores in mid-2011, introducing LA

Tony designed their first two varieties (the IPA and the Hef’) to fit seamlessly

to its first ever widely available, locally produced craft beer. In just one

into LA’s climate and lifestyle. “Every town or region has its own flavor set that

year, Golden Road has managed to concoct sixteen different brews and

it gravitates towards. Here, people want beers that they can have a few of, that

produce more volume than any other start-up in craft beer history. Today,

they can drink fairly quickly—more refreshing beers. And it’s not so much like

they’re busy installing new German equipment, increasing their fermentation

you walk to your corner pub, put down a few and then walk home—people are

capacity to 60,000 kegs, and expanding their flagship pub and restaurant to

driving places.” With that in mind, Golden Road’s mainstays are all 4-6% beers

include a private speakeasy-style bar called Chloe’s and a big wrap-around

that are highly flavorful, super accessible and easy to drink every single day. But every now and then they snap and make something a little crazy

beer garden. In other words, they’re killing it. The whole thing started a little under two years ago, when beer

too, like their Burning Bush IPA. Part of the brand’s Custom IPA series, Burning

enthusiasts Tony Yanow (of LA bars Tony’s Darts Away and Mowhawk Bend)

Bush is an 8% beer made from smoked malt with a nice hoppy presence, now

and Meg Gill (formerly of Oskar Blues and Speakeasy Ales & Lager) crossed

available in a can for the first time. Sometimes you can get a taste (or a Growler

career paths and found they shared identical ideals about the magical

full!) of Golden Road’s rare draught-only recipes, like the tequila barrel-aged “El

golden beverage: that it should be really local, in tune with regional tastes,

Hefe Anejo” or the Valentin French Saison, at their Atwater pub. The lofty, open

and served fresh to the market. At the time, LA had only a few small craft

space is the perfect spot for weekend day drinking or a leisurely lunch. And Golden

breweries outputting a limited number of kegs—nothing you could pick up

Road’s seasonal kitchen helmed by chef Adam Levoe is as culturally conscious as

at the grocery store. But that was about to change.

their brew house, serving up more delicious vegan options then you’ve ever seen

on a pub menu. Kale rolls with your IPA? Only in California. 5410 WEST SAN FERNANDO ROAD LOS ANGELES, CA 90039 GOLDENROAD.LA

B A R

BaCK in FashiOn THE ARTISAN HOUSE OLD 28 IS A SIMPLE, ELEGANT REMIX OF A CLASSIC BAR STAPLE text REBECA ARANGO photo CAPTAIN

Whoever named the Old Fashioned back in the late 1800’s

on the specialty cocktail menu on your way out in our market. So for

had incredible foresight. It’s probably one of the oldest American

example, say you like the Old 28, I could have a conversation with you

cocktails—a label first qualified as a concoction of spirits, bitters, water

and show you how to make it. It’s very easy—anyone can do it.” Brad’s

and sugar—still en vogue today. The beauty of this traditional whiskey

take on the classic Old Fashioned showcases one of 2012’s most popular

or bourbon drink is that you can order it pretty much anywhere and

liquors, Bulleit. Slightly sweeter than it’s corn-bred brother Bourbon,

expect to receive something at least halfway decent. More importantly,

Brad uses Bulleit Rye, brown sugar, and Italian Luxurado Cherry liquer

you can easily make it at home in a snap, which is exactly what Artisan

to make Artisan House’s Old 28. Finished with a fragrant grapefruit peel,

House bar manager Brad Robinson wants you to do. “The whole concept

the Old 28 goes down even smoother than Pedialyte.

behind the bar at Artisan House is that you can buy everything we have

But we’ll let you be the judge.

RECIPE One dash brown sugar Two splashes blood orange bitters

One quarter-ounce Luxardo Cherry Two ounces Bulleit Rye Grapefruit peel

D R

Muddle the brown sugar and bitters into a paste. Swizzle over ice with Luxardo and Bulleit. Pour into a glass with ice. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.

I N

600 SOUTH MAIN STREET

LOS ANGELES, CA 90014 ARTISANHOUSE.NET

Open daily 11am - late 515 West 7th. st. LA, CA 90014 213 985-4332 www.masmalorestaurant.com

the GuiDe A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2012 FOOD PYRAMID

With its great concentration of yoga-toned kale-guzzlers, LA probably buzzes at a higher level of nutritional consciousness than your average American city. But fear not chlorophyll-phobs—there are still dark forces peddling the decadent, the comforting, and the devilishly delectable. This food pyramid, a visual representation of some of the best little things we’ve tasted this year, is admittedly skewed towards the latter dietary trend. Just don’t eat it all at once.

BACON 15.

The OG Maple Bacon Donut comes from

FRIED 10.

The Escondite’s spicy fried Buffalo Mushrooms

Don’t be fooled by the pretty purple color—Blind

DTLA’s Nickel Diner. A revelation in the individual

with ranch dip are downright explosive. Devour on the

Barber’s Black Jack is a real whiskey lovers drink.

fields of bacon, donuts, and maple, one customer

patio for a great view of DTLA, or snag a booth inside

BLINDBARBER.COM

called it simply: “Enlightening.”

for some live music. (Insider’s tip: there’s a parking lot.)

NICKELDINER.COM

THEESCONDITE.COM

Mess Hall is all about the brown spirits. The

Brown Derby is a simple mix of Buffalo Trace Pioneering the next generation in burger

9. While Susan Feigner has a whole list of irresistible

technology, Burger Haven’s McCormick Alley neatly

14.

snacks at Street, these Laundry Day Fritters are by

surprisingly complex flavor.

distributes flavor across a grass-fed beef patty via

far our favorite. Inspired by a NOLA tradition, the

MESSHALLKITCHEN.COM

a clever bacon stout jam.

tasty fritters filled with red beans, rice and andouille

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sausage can also be made vegan.

13.

Bourbon, grapefruit and honey that delivers a

ICE CREAM

EATATSTREET.COM The Lobos Truck concocts the fearless comfort

Strawberry Balsamic? Blueberry and goat-

food of our most extravagant dreams. Take the Wa-

The perfect happy hour snack: Polenta Croquottes.

cheese? Truth is it was way too difficult to choose

chos, like some sort of poutine-nacho mash-up

Enjoy these gooey, crunchy morsels with a glass

just one creation from our favorite LA ice cream

gone mad, they’re waffle fries toppled with buffalo

of Soleto’s house sangria. Best dipped in the

joint, Neveux Artisan Creamery.

sauce, bleu cheese and of course—bacon.

accompanying truffle sauce.

NEVEUXARTISANCREAMERY.COM/

LOBOSTRUCK.COM

I N N OVAT I V E D I N I N G . C O M / R E S TAU R A N T S /

12.

SOLETO Popcorn has never been better than under

As we approach this pyramid’s chlorophyll

apex, we find a truly bizarre categorical hybrid.

the skillful watch of Tar & Roses chef Andrew

Duck Fat Fries. Seriously. Fries with smoked

Kindkreme’s deep green “Fresh” vegan ice cream,

Kirschner. Aleppo pepper, brown sugar and bacon

salt, sweet onion sugar, and raspberry mustard.

made with kale and cucumber, is refreshingly sweet.

make these little guys impossible to stop eating.

Pair with a round of craft beers.

KINDKREME.COM

TARANDROSES.COM

BEERBELLYLA.COM

11.

WHISKEY

Don’t be afraid: bacon and chocolate are

CHLOROPHYLL

fantastic together. Vosges Haut Chocolate knows what’s up, so pick up a Mo’s Bacon Bar at Whole

Rock and Reilly’s has one of the most extensive

1. Flush it out. Served up in mason jars, the Juice

Foods or check out their Beverly Hills boutique for

and rare whiskey collections in the city. Moreover, their

Maids offer home-delivered custom cleanses and

even more exotic creations.

whiskey cocktails are so delicious you could use them

crates, but you can also pick up one of their drinks

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to ween your little sister off Smirnoff ice. The Ginger

at various spots around the city.

Bitch is sure to bring out the red-head in all of us.

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CLEANING UP

your

A C T

THE JUICE MAIDS TALK SETTING UP SHOP, HEALTHY EATING, AND COLONICS The joke at Juice Maids is that Danielle and Sarah started it by accident. After several years of bouncing around NYC post-art-school, where they had been busy renovating lofts, curating art shows, and running a performance-art collective—among other schemes—the two best friends eventually ended up here in LA. One day, a yoga-teacher friend of Danielle’s gave her a Norwalk juicer, one of the best cold-press machines on the market. Less than two years later, the friends have turned that one piece of equipment into a full-fledged sustainable enterprise. And they don't even use any plastic. After trying a Juice Maids cleanse for myself, I caught up with the entrepreneurs at their Echo Park workshop to get a bit more insight into business of juicing.

REBECA ARANGO

LAC: What got you guys into juicing in the first place?

was disgusting and it took forever. She wanted

you get to that place where you’re feeling good, it’s

DANIELLE: I’m a yoga teacher, and I had been

spirulina in EVERYTHING. That was the last time

the best feeling. I’ve gotten more relaxed about the

consulting and helping people with raw food, plus

we let someone make up their own recipes. At that

type of cleanses I do—like I’ll eat vegan and raw

I had a blog about raw food for a long time, so

point we decided to have a set menu.

for a couple of days with juices, than do three or

that’s what got me into juicing.

DANIELLE: After that the phone just started ringing,

four days of juice and then go back to vegan and

and suddenly we had this whole business. We totally

raw with juice. Lately I’ve been more into that kind

LAC: How did it turn into a business?

outgrew my apartment really quickly, there were

of cleanse than say, green juice for ten days.

DANIELLE: After Sarah moved out here, we were

boxes of produce everywhere and we were spending

just scheming up ways to work for ourselves. I was

hours a day at the farmer’s market. Then we got

LAC: That’s much more manageable than the

teaching Yoga full time, so that was kind of like

written up in Daily Candy and the phone would just

master cleanse.

working for myself, but Yoga full time is INTENSE.

not stop ringing. And now we’re doing wholesale.

DANIELLE: I get calls from people all the time being like “Oh my god I did the master cleanse it was

And then my yoga teacher friend gave us the juicer, so we came up with this. I remember Sarah

LAC: Do you both eat raw or vegan?

the most terrible thing, It was fucking awful. It was

was like, “Do you really think people want that?”

SARAH: I’m a meat eater, whiskey drinker—the

horrendous.” Because it’s not a good cleanse, it

SARAH: We had no plan, no idea if it would work,

whole nine yards.

doesn’t nourish your body in any way. When you’re

no money, no recipes, no nothing. We had $5, if

DANIELLE: You eat well though. I go through

drinking straight greens, that’s amazing. You’re

that. We could buy some vegetables.

phases. Sometimes I don’t eat meat, sometimes

pumping your organs with minerals and oxygen

DANIELLE: Our first client came from my blog. We

I do, sometimes I eat fish, and sometimes I’ll do

and vitamins. But the master cleanse is all about

didn’t even have a websit. We just put up a tab

a cleanse. We’re not perfect, but we definitely eat

deprivation. A lot of times people crash and burn

on my blog, and the next day, someone called up

well. We drink lots of juice and lots of smoothies.

hardcore on that cleanse, and they’ll end up gaining

wanting to do a seven day cleanse. So we thought,

SARAH: Yeah, we eat well. I’m not interested in being

weight, because you get off the cleanse and you’re

oh, woah—maybe we can do this! Then it took

a vegetarian, but I am interested in eating well.

starving and you just want to stuff your face with food.

us eight hours to make what we make now in a

DANIELLE: Quality foods—that’s something we’re

half hour. It was like two days of juice, and Sarah

both

LAC: When I did your cleanse, even the day after

hand-wrote all the tags.

pesticides or genetically modified. And we’re both

the cleanse, I didn’t feel hungry at all. I felt very

really into local stuff. Eventually we want to source

strange. Not in a bad way.

LAC: At that point, were you just making up the

everything from local farms. The majority of our

SARAH: Yeah a lot of people get freaked out about

flavors as you went along?

produce now comes from Southern California,

eating again, and they kind of don’t want to.

SARAH: Danielle had a good idea because she

but we’re working this “farm to bottle” thing as

had been juicing for herself. And we’re big home

we build relationships with local farmers. But

LAC: Yeah, I felt like "maybe I could just do this

cooks, so we have a pretty good grasp on what

everything is organic, everything is cold pressed,

forever." After my first day I felt great because I

tastes good and what’s interesting. We developed

and we don’t use any plastic.

had been eating mostly vegan/raw for a couple of

really

into—stuff

that

isn’t

covered

days leading up to it. I felt so clean! But halfway

a lot of our recipes by deconstructing salads. Fruit and basil is always really good in a salad, so of

LAC: How often do you guys cleanse?

through the second day I thought, I really need

course it would be good in a juice.

SARAH: She does it like four times a year. I tried it

to eat something salty. So I called you and got a

DANIELLE: But our first client hated the juice.

once and I hated it. Oh god.

veggie juice, the handsome devil, and it was so

Because she ordered crazy shit; she made up all

DANIELLE: When I first started juicing, I was on a

amazing.

the recipes herself.

cleanse like every week. It’s not for everybody, but

DANIELLE: Yeah, we call that one pizza juice.

SARAH: We just had to do what she said and it

I love it. The beginning is always hard, but once

LAC: Yeah! But the next day I felt like shit and after

do a colonic or take laxatives. And you never know

that I couldn’t drink anymore savory juices at all.

what you’re going to be like until you start. If

DANIELLE: Yeah, it’s the ups and downs of

you’re really toxic, a heavy smoker, heavy drinker,

cleansing. It’s very emotional and weird stuff

eat red meat all day and don’t eat too many

happens with your body. One day you’ll want

vegetables, chances are you’re probably going to

something and the next you’ll think it’s disgusting.

be going to the bathroom a lot, but you also could

Some people do really well with that, but some

get constipated too. Everybody’s different.

people have a very hard time. SARAH: We very occasionally have people call and

LAC: Colonics sound scary.

just ask to stop.

DANIELLE: Colonics are the bomb. You feel like you

DANIELLE: It’s very challenging. It can be an emotional

weigh 80 lbs. when you walk out of there. Imagine

thing and people aren’t always ready for that. It's like

taking the biggest crap of your life, how good you

going to therapy; you’re trying to get something out,

would feel. Enemas you do at home, and you have to

so there will be uncomfortable periods.

have an enema bag and do it in your bathroom, and they aren’t nearly as satisfying, but they work. But a

LAC: So when do you think you’re done cleansing?

colonic is SO much. If you’ve never done one, you’re

How do you know if you’ve detoxed?

supposed to do three in one week. The first time it

DANIELLE: Well, it’s really up to you. If you’ve

takes a while, because there’s stuff that could have

never done a cleanse before I always recommend

been in there for a really long time. Some people

five days, because it usually takes those first two

think that the body can flush that naturally, that you

three days for your body to get in the swing of

don’t need to force anything. But it is just water and

things. And if you’re still feeling bad or sluggish,

it can never hurt to get a little extra poop out.

you should probably keep going, because you still have detoxing to do. You have to cross this hump

LAC: Do people call you often freaking out about

before you get in the swing of things. And if you’re

their poop?

still feeling bad or sluggish, you should probably

DANIELLE: All the time. All day long. I don’t care—

keep going, because you still have detoxing to do.

that’s probably like 20% of the job, to talk about poop.

You have to cross this hump before you get the

I tell them, it’s going to be okay, just go to Whole Foods,

high, cleansed feeling, and then you just know,

get some smooth move tea. People will call saying,

you start feeling good all of a sudden. The longest

“I’m not pooping, but no fucking way am I getting

you’re supposed to juice fast is 92 days. We have

a colonic,” because they’re just not into someone

a woman right now who’s doing 75 days. We have

seeing their butt. But you have to do something,

someone else who’s doing 30 days.

because that’s the whole point of a cleanse.

SARAH: Usually the people who go for a really long time are trying to cure something. We have people

LAC: To get the poop out.

who call who have things like Lyme disease or

SARAH: Really glamourous.

serious health issues.

DANIELLE: At least we’re not giving the colonics.

DANIELLE: We just prepped this cleanse the other day for someone on Gerson’s therapy, which is a

LAC: Yeah, it smells great in here!

really strict juicing protocol for people with cancer.

DANIELLE: I refer everyone to my girlfriend Jessica;

So if people who are sick or dealing with something

she has a clinic in West Hollywood. I don’t know

call us, we specialize for them. And they call us

how she does it. It comes out of a tube and it goes

because they know our juicer is the best.

through a glass window with a light behind it—it’s on display. And she can look at it and say, okay

LAC: Okay, so the last thing I want to talk to you

well you’re not chewing your food properly, you’re

about is bowel movements.

not drinking enough water or when you do, you gulp

DANIELLE: Poop? Yeah, I love talking about poop.

it. She’ll be like—did you get really drunk three

Women generally tend to have more of a problem

nights ago? She can tell. She’s told me that people

with this, because we store all of our emotional

have come in and she’s seen entire French fries

stuff in our stomach. Men

never have an issue

come out, completely undigested. She’s a holistic

with constipation during a cleanse, they’ll be

nutritionist so she’ll give advice like, you need

like—holy shit I can’t stop pooping what do I do?

more greens or to chew slower or drink more water

But some women have a really hard time. I usually

throughout the day. You can’t lie to her.

THEJUICEMAIDS.COM

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Last LOOK: DaviD FLOres text THOMAS GUNN photo CAPTAIN

EVERYTIME DAVID FLORES FINISHES A PAINTING, A RED BULL GETS ITS WINGS

David Flores arrived in our office a few weeks ago amid a cloud of talc-fresh hype about him and his artwork. Recently selected by the energy gods at Red Bull to be the first artist to redesign their now iconic can, he did so with his own brand of East LA(tino) nu-folk art kitsch. “It was such a huge honor to win, it really was,” said the artist as he sat, incongruous to the paint splattered, disorganized foyer of the LA CANVAS office. An extremely polite, soft-spoken man, Flores seems like the sort of gentleman that trims his nails tight and rocks a single open button. Initially his work with Red Bull seems to be a curious decision for both artist and business, but a closer look explains a lot about why this partnership works. An Austro-Thai company in origin, Red Bull has diverse cultural roots, and given the influence of the Latin American community in the United States it was no surprise that they opted to celebrate an artist that strongly embraces his cultural identity. Flores’ work looks at traditional Mexican folk art from the perspective of a first-generation American. Within his art is a strong bond to his rich, yet detached heritage, and one which he appears to feel a stronger affiliation with than his family’s adopted homeland. “I love the colors in Mexico” he proclaims, “The food, the art, the clothing. It’s just so vibrant.” From the perspective with which he views the culture, to the thick brushstrokes that seem to swell on the page, there is one theme that is ever present in his work: mortality. Mexican culture has a well-documented relationship with the dead. Flores chose the Day of the Dead festival as the theme for this prize-winning art piece. But this is not an isolated theme in the artist’s repertoire. Death haunts each of David’s pieces, either directly, in the form of skulls and ghouls, or indirectly in subtle cultural references to spirits. Despite the passing of life being a central theme to his art, now is a great time for David Flores. His work is set to gain a lot of exposure from his collaboration with Red Bull, and there are surely going to be so many more opportunities for the artist to showcase his transplanted look at Mexican culture in the very near future.

ARTEDFLORES.COM

ERIC HAZE, ARTIST / DESIGNER NEWERACAP.COM/FLAGBEARERS

WeS C WI NTER 2012 S HOT B Y A NTON R ENB OR G wesc. com