KIND Spring 2024: Celebrating Space and Travel

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SKY HIGH THE 2024 SPACE AND TRAVEL EDITION

The solar eclipse is A pril 8.

A KIND guid e to digging hist ory in elevated st yle.

JOSE BAUTISTA’S LAS VEGAS SOCCER’S NEWEST OWNER ON SIN CITY DELIGHTS S U M M E R

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MARY BERG’S ITALIAN TELEVISION CHEF ON INTERNATIONAL CUISINE

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JAMAICA CONNECTIONS EXPORTED KNOWLEDGE IN SMOKES

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A session with two of the kindest founders in weed

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COMPANY SEEDS AND BLOOMING. Weed Me secured its license as a recognized Licensed Producer (LP) in 2018, marking its entry into medical weed. With the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in 2018, Weed Me transitioned into the huge new market. “Benny and I actually met over a joint,” Kulaga told KIND at their office. “Weed Me’s original story seems like the most natural thing.” Since legalization, the company has experienced nationwide growth, expanding its presence across all provinces. “Everything has to be great,” Presman says.

GROWERS, COMMUNITY, QUALITY. Weed Me’s dedicated to sustainability and accessibility and fosters a thriving business environment while upholding the highest standards of product quality, affordability, and inclusivity. They prioritize product quality over extravagant packaging (though their KIND Winter Fair hats were awesome), allowing them to offer premium cannabis products for any budget. “We make great products for everyone,” says Presman.

“From the new consumer to the experienced smoker, Weed Me’s got you,” adds Kulaga.

“That was our idea from the start.”

Weed Me has an extensive network of over 100 growers across Canada, which enables Weed Me to source quality products while providing exceptional

Central to Weed Me’s ethos is a fullcircle approach; they source cannabis from curated Canadian growers. This guarantees high-quality products and ensures consistency across Weed Me’s entire portfolio. At KIND, we love Weed Me because they ensure that budtenders and shops consistently carry top-tier products bearing their brand.

Terry and Benny are personally involved in the meticulous testing (smoking!) of each product to ensure it meets the standards of the Weed Me brand. They engage staff members in this process and are committed to promoting employee advancement within the company. This underscores their popularity and dedication to delivering products that exceed expectations and reflect their unwavering commitment to excellence.

“We don’t do this on our own,” says Kulaga.

“Weed Me is definitely about team.”

PRE-ROLL FIRE. Weed Me are trailblazers in the recreational cannabis industry, particularly with prerolls and is #1 brand for 3x0.5g pre-rolls format since legalization. Since 2020, their pre-rolls have consistently ranked among the top-5 sellers, cementing their status as Pre-Roll OGs. With a focus on quality and innovation, Weed Me boasts the largest selection of unique pre-roll SKUs on the market. From strain-specific rotating prerolls under Grind to deliciously infused options from MAX, and premium, slowburning blunts offered by WINK, they cater to everyone who loves good weed. True to

this ethos, Weed Me offers pre-roll formats in all sizes—from convenient 10x0.25g packs to indulgent 5x1g blunts.

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value. “We want everyone to succeed,” says Kulaga, adding that his growers undergo thorough checks, facility visits, growing methods, plant progression and testing.

“We treat people fairly and that’s a win for the cannabis consumer. We bring unique strains to market.”

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Weed Me, one of Canada’s most loved cannabis companies, is a powerhouse in the industry. A multiple-time winner at the KIND Awards—last year they took home Best Milled Flower—the brand founded by Benny Presman and Terry Kulaga is a weed smoker’s weed company, which makes sense since both founders enjoy their own product. In recognition of their success and good vibes, KIND highlighted their heroics.

KIND IN THE COMMUNITY, KIND TO THE WORLD. Weed Me has a partnership with Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food relief organization. Since 2022, Weed Me has contributed 8,332 meals per month to the charity—making them an example of how a weed company should interact with the world. Operating at the nexus of hunger relief and environmental preservation, Second Harvest addresses food loss and waste through redistribution, research, advocacy and education. “We want to contribute to the world,” says Presman. “It’s not enough for us to sell weed—we want to be a brand that does good.”

Weed Me continuously does good through each of its brands. Thumbs Up is committed to reducing carbon emissions and achieving a net-zero carbon footprint.

The brand utilizes bio-compostable, biodegradable and recyclable materials that break down naturally without harming the environment. Additionally, Thumbs Up collaborates with organizations to allocate a portion of sales towards nationwide reforestation initiatives like working with “team trees” by Mr. Beast.

“When we started the company (over a joint), we didn’t know where it would take us, but we’re proud of what we’ve built and excited about everything that’s coming,” says Kulaga.

Presman says, “We’ve learned that if you make great products and treat people fairly, a cannabis company can be successful in Canada. It’s not rocket science: it helps if you sell good weed.”

To see the entire Weed Me portfolio, and learn more about their initiatives, see WeedMe.ca.

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T O TA L E C L I P S E OF THE HEART On April 8, the moon will move between the earth and the sun, creating a total solar eclipse, when the skies darken and the sun disappears. “It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that you might not ever get to experience again,” Ilana MacDonald, outreach coordinator for the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, told Global News.

The eclipse will occur on the second Monday in April between mid and late afternoon in Toronto and start as a crescent moon before ascending into complete darkness, when a halo of light occurs behind the sun—creating an appearance one science journalist describes as “a hole in the sky.” The Canadian Space Agency has recommended using glasses while viewing the 1 to 4 minute celestial moment, and our friends at TeaPot have provided glasses for seeing the event that won’t happen again until 2039.

“We’re all connected to the universe so when something really cool happens in the sky, it feels like a good time to come together,” says Paul Weaver, head of cannabis at the Boston Beer Company. The sky will change above all of us on April 8. There’s no better time to embrace one another, and be KIND.

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OUT OF TH Ladies and gentleman, we are floating in space

BY ADAM MCDOWELL

From the age of two, Keisha Schahaff looked up at the stars every night and imagined herself going to space. Down here on Earth, it never seemed like a realistic dream for a girl born into modest means in Antigua. But she kept dreaming it. “I never missed a night. I said, ‘Even if the aliens can beam me up, something is going to get me to space,’ ” says Schahaff, who today works as a health and energy coach. “And it did. Not the aliens, but Virgin Galactic.”

In 2021, Schahaff casually bought a sweepstakes ticket (she doesn’t remember how much it cost), with the proceeds going to Space for Humanity, a not-for-profit dedicated to sponsoring space flights for “purpose-driven leaders.” Then one day billionaire and space mogul Richard Branson knocked at the door of Schahaff’s home in Antigua to tell her she’d won the top prize: a pair of tickets to the edge of space, courtesy Virgin Galactic. Last August 10, Schahaff and her 18-year-old daughter, Anastatia Mayers, became Virgin Galactic Astronaut 012 and 013: the first mother-and-daughter team to venture to space, the first space travellers born in the Caribbean, and among the very first regular people—as in, people who are neither professional astronauts nor rich—to see our planet from 300,000 feet.

From the first space tourism flight in 2001 until recently, launching into the heavens as a private citizen meant paying the Russian

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Federation many millions for a rocket ride to the International Space Station (ISS). While heading to space is still expensive, the stars could be aligning to put the voyage within a regular person’s reach in the not-too-distant future. A macho space race between Branson and fellow billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk has freshly ignited an industry that Morgan Stanley predicts could blast upward to become a US$1-trillion sector by 2040. Branson took the lead when his VSS Unity craft flew its first fully crewed mission to the edge of space on July 11, 2021, beating Bezos’s phallic New Shepard rocket by nine days.

Since then, a partnership between Axiom Space and Musk’s SpaceX has also been ferrying passengers to space.

There’s much more to come, says John Spencer, a Los Angeles-based architect who has worked for NASA and the ISS, and founded the Space Tourism Society. “It’s the moment before the big dam breaks and things really start happening on a much larger scale,” he says. “In the next few decades, you’re going to see this huge—we tend not to use the word ‘explosion’ because, uh, rockets—but a huge explosion of new things happening.”

So if you’ve been looking up at the stars dreaming of blasting off for an out-of-this-world vacation experience, here’s what you need to know.

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I. MISSION PARAMETERS WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR SPACE TRAVEL RIGHT NOW? While the original space tourist’s itinerary of hitching a ride with the Russians is not currently available, for worldly political reasons, the alternative options are blossoming. Want to do some real astronaut work? Axiom Space talks about “mission specialists” rather than passengers; they assist with experiments aboard the ISS. Looking to have a party in the upper stratosphere? Booking every seat on the Space Perspective’s eight-person capsule costs a nice, round US$1-million. And if you’re all about the bragging rights, be sure to reserve a trip that takes you above the Kármán line, the unofficial boundary where the atmosphere is thin enough that you’re widely considered to be in space.

Space tourism has now developed to the point where there’s at least one space-travel agency dedicated to helping voyagers make the most of the experience. “We can guide and advise clients on what to do and where to go, and can introduce them to all of the right people,” says Roman Chiporukha, founder of New York-based SpaceVIP. Its services include helping clients get to space sooner than the two or three years they might have to wait if they approach the operators directly, plus extras like celebrity chef-prepared meals for your trip.

As for price breaks? Not yet. “I don’t think there’s too many discounts being given out in the space industry considering the point we’re at.”

II. CREW IS SPACE TOURISM FOR EVERYONE, OR JUST BILLIONAIRES? In 2001, investment management entrepreneur Dennis Tito made the first giant leap for space tourism when he paid US$20-million to ride on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station. Since then, most space tourists have either been mega rich, or were invited on the basis of their celebrity (hello William Shatner).

But as investing firm Canaccord Genuity observed, you no longer have to be a billionaire to get launched into the high stratosphere and beyond. Mere millionaires

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could theoretically afford many of the tours already on offer, and there are probably lots of them who’d be willing to pony up the dough to “partake in a once-in-a-lifetime space odyssey.”

Chiporukha says the expanding options for space-curious people are leading to more affordable options. And for those who want part of the space experience without the high cost of actually being flung toward the cosmos, there are affordable alternatives including advanced simulators, space camps and zero-gravity flights. “[Space tourism] typically requires you to have a substantial amount of money,” he says, “but a zerogravity flight of $10,000 may be a great vacation for somebody who’s always wanted to do this.”

could say for certain when space flight could be in reach for the middle class.

In the meantime, regular people have ended up in space through sheer luck. Bezos has mused about the possibility of holding some kind of space lottery for Blue Origin tickets.

And of course Keisha Schahaff has already lived something quite like that.

III. TRAJECTORY WHAT’S SPACE TOURISM GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN A FEW YEARS? While space travel remains expensive, passengers view it as a luxury. That puts pressure on space tour operators to make it feel like one. The Soviet-designed Soyuz spacecraft that powered the first 20 years of space tourism may not be known for

KEISHA SCHAHAFF

Space employment could be another avenue for the non-wealthy. Spencer notes that space tourism will lead to space jobs. Someone has to fuel up the rockets and serve up the Tang cocktails. Middle-class people could aim for becoming employees of spacefaring companies as opposed to paying customers.

“There will actually be more people going to space as workers than guests,” he predicts.

But wouldn’t that mean we’d just be sending Earth’s socioeconomic disparity into orbit?

Some, including Richard Branson, have loftier ideas about democratizing space. He predicts costs will come down to Earth over time, just as they did for airplane flight. Which is not to say that space definitely will become “for all,” as Branson has envisioned, or that anyone

their comforts, but the space passenger of today and tomorrow can look forward to more pampering and luxe details, like Blue Origin’s comfortable reclining seats, which are designed to cushion the bumps as you return to the surface. Prada has partnered with Axiom to design new spacesuits. The interiors of Space Perspective’s Spaceship Neptune capsules resemble the VIP room of a nightclub.

Experts also predict longer stays in space (days rather than minutes or hours), with even more exclusivity. There are now multiple startups working on competing plans to open private space stations, some of which are touted as luxury hotels. Spencer envisions space yachts as another future evolution

DISTANCE:: 315,000 FT LAUNCH: July 11, 2021

SPACE PERSPECTIVE DISTANCE: 100,000 FT LAUNCH: July 20, 2021

WORLD VIEW DISTANCE: AROUND 100,000 FT LAUNCH: April 8, 2022

$450K-28M

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VIRGIN GALACTIC

FOUNDERS: Richard Branson. KEY DETAILS: Roughly 90-minute flight with five other passengers to just below the Kármán Line.

IS THAT PAST THE KÁRMÁN LINE? (Are you in actual space?): Almost but not quite. DO YOU NEED TO UNDERGO ON-SITE TRAINING FIRST? (SPACE CAMP HERE WE COME!): Yes — “multi-day.” CAN YOU PEE NORMALLY? No. WILL YOU EXPERIENCE WEIGHTLESSNESS? Yes, for six minutes.

FOUNDERS: Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter. KEY DETAILS: Approximately 6-hour voyage in a capsule holding eight passengers, including 2 hours viewing the curve of the Earth. IS THAT PAST THE KÁRMÁN LINE? (Are you in actual space?): No. DO YOU NEED TO UNDERGO ON-SITE TRAINING FIRST? (SPACE CAMP HERE WE COME!): No. CAN YOU PEE NORMALLY? Yes. Bathroom on board.

WILL YOU EXPERIENCE WEIGHTLESSNESS? No.

$125K

DISTANCE: 328,000 ft LAUNCH: Late 2024

FOUNDERS: Biosphere 2 veterans Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter; astronaut Mark Kelly. KEY DETAILS: 5-8 hour voyage to the stratosphere in an eight-seater capsule carried by balloon; seven launch stations planned around the world. IS THAT PAST THE KÁRMÁN LINE? (Are you in actual space?): No. DO YOU NEED TO UNDERGO ON-SITE TRAINING FIRST? (SPACE CAMP HERE WE COME!): No. CAN YOU PEE NORMALLY? Yes. Bathroom on board.

WILL YOU EXPERIENCE WEIGHTLESSNESS? No.

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BLUE ORIGIN

FOUNDERS: Jeff Bezos KEY DETAILS: 11-minute flight with five other passengers at three times the speed of sound in a New Shepard rocket. IS THAT PAST THE KÁRMÁN LINE? (Are you in actual space?): Yes, just barely. DO YOU NEED TO UNDERGO ON-SITE TRAINING FIRST? (SPACE CAMP HERE WE COME!): Yes — two days. CAN YOU PEE NORMALLY? Yes. Bathroom on board. WILL YOU EXPERIENCE WEIGHTLESSNESS? Yes, for six minutes.

Not publicly disclosed; recent media reports range from:

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DISTANCE: 370 - 460 kilometres LAUNCH: Sometime this year

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FOUNDERS: SpaceX: Elon Musk, Axiom: You’ve probably never heard of ‘em. KEY DETAILS: Multi-day visit to the International Space Station, via a SpaceX Dragon rocket. IS THAT PAST THE KÁRMÁN LINE? (Are you in actual space?): Unquestionably. Full bragging rights. DO YOU NEED TO UNDERGO ON-SITE TRAINING FIRST? (SPACE CAMP HERE WE COME!): Yes — 15 weeks. CAN YOU PEE NORMALLY? Er, kind of.

The ISS has toilets, but you’ll have to adjust your technique. WILL YOU EXPERIENCE WEIGHTLESSNESS? Yes, for most of the trip.

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COST OF VOYAGE

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in space tourism, at least for billionaires.

Because when you’ve already got an ocean superyacht and a private island to show off, what’s next?

IV. RISKS IS SPACE TRAVEL DANGEROUS? COULD I DIE? Oh goodness yes. Depending on your age, you may remember the spectacular disasters that befell NASA’s Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia. Historically, astronauts have faced a 3 to 5 per cent chance of getting blown to smithereens (or some other cinematic demise). If you need help understanding that math, space travel probably isn’t for you.

Let’s just say it’s hundreds of thousands of times more dangerous than air travel.

Consider the safety record of the private space industry (which has avoided being regulated so far in the United States, where it’s concentrated). A Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo crashed during a test flight in 2014, killing pilot Michael Alsbury; seven years earlier, three died on the ground as the company was testing a rocket motor. Blue Origin has crashed one rocket, with no fatalities. And so many of SpaceX’s rockets have exploded—or made a “rapid unscheduled disassembly,” in the company’s words—that there are web pages devoted to keeping track of the carnage (although SpaceX’s only fatal loss to date took place on the ground).

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Space travel, Spencer acknowledges, “is seriously dangerous. We’ve been lucky we haven’t lost any private space travellers, but we will. It’s inevitable.” But for the truly intrepid, the danger “adds another level of mystique to it. Not only have you done something extraordinary by going to space, you were brave enough, bold enough to do it. You had the balls to do it.”

Long story short: Kiss the ground goodbye before you depart, just in case.

V. OBJECTIVES WHY SHOULD I TRAVEL TO SPACE? Besides the bragging rights and the thrill, space experts say a single trip to space can be life-changing on a profoundly spiritual level. “That’s the overview effect,” says Frank White, “space philosopher” and author of The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution. The idea may sound flaky —and at least one space operator has used the concept in its sales pitches—but White says his 50-plus interviews with returned astronauts (including several Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic passengers) has helped confirm that there’s really something to it. “It’s a shift in consciousness and awareness.”

While the exact experience of the overview effect varies from person to person, there are common threads: Seeing the curve of the Earth against the blackness of space, the lack

of borders and boundaries, and the wispy blue thinness of the atmosphere tends to open people’s eyes to the fragility and interconnectedness of life. The experience infuses some space travellers with a refreshed optimism and purpose. Even hard-nosed Apollo program astronauts have said they believe the planet’s political differences could be solved if enough people experienced the overview effect. So for once, maybe it really is about the destination, not the journey. And as a space tourist, your ultimate destination is your future here on Earth.

Space for Humanity, the non-profit that helped send Keisha Schahaff to space, says its mission is to raise humanity’s consciousness by exposing as many people as possible to the overview effect. For her part, Schahaff carries vivid recollections of what she saw out the window of the VSS Unity spacecraft last August. But Schahaff, who considered herself a spiritual person to begin with, says what has affected her even more “is what I actually felt from it. It was such a sensational feeling of peace that I never felt before.” She sensed a connection to a greater intelligence, a wisdom permeating and connecting life and the universe itself. It was a realization of such gravity that it sometimes overwhelms her.

“I feel like every day it’s like I’m still there [in space]. And how do you continue living a regular life after you’ve done such a big thing?”

BY JOSHUA OSTROFF

HIGH ON LIFE WHISTLER, BC

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WHISTLER BLACKCOMB (BC, CANADA) It’d be hard for anyone from anywhere to argue against the sheer audacity of Whistler Blackcomb with more than 200 runs criss-crossing its continent’s-biggest 8,172 acres, more than 33 square kilometres. And nothing quite compares to this resort’s last run of the day, taking the 11-km Peak to Creek run from Whistler summit down to family-focused Creekside Village, a 5,000-foot vertical descent. Or bombing from Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier atop 7th Heaven all the way to the après-ski action in Whistler Village, a famously fun mountain town.

LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORT (AB, CANADA) Don’t let the name fool you, Lake Louise may have a famously blue body of water, but being nestled on the eastern slopes of the Rockies means it’s more than worthwhile making your way there for the frozen white stuff. Not to mention the views from on high.

Lake Louise ski resort now boasts 4,275 acres spread across four mountain faces.

And if that’s not enough, you can get a Big3

CHAMONIX-MONT BLANC (HAUTE-SAVOIE, FRANCE) Picture a prototypical European ski resort and you’re probably imagining Chamonix-Mont Blanc, a sprawling snowsport mecca set high up in the French Alps near the borders of Italy and Switzerland, an hour’s drive from Geneva. An alpine travel destination since the 1700s, this historic spot is currently celebrating the anniversary of playing host to the very first Winter Olympics a full 100 years ago. While notoriously busy, spring skiing is a cheaper, less crowded season—and you can time your trip to Chamonix Unlimited, a six-day rave that takes over the town in late March.

stuff. Comprised of four resorts with a single lift pass (Hanazono, Hirafu, Niseko Village, and Annupuri) and 47 kilometres of groomed runs as well as backcountry access, Niseko’s legendary status is all about location. Specifically, the mountain is located on the island’s southwest coast right in the path of a naturally occurring powder bomb. Hokkaido is also home to geothermal hot springs known as onsen, and the Niseko area has a host of indoor and outdoor baths where you can enjoy the most relaxing way to après-ski. Then afterward you can sip a Sapporo.

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lift ticket that gives access to nearby ski resorts, Norquay and Sunshine Village. With a “winter” season stretching from November to May, the longest non-glacial season in North America, the mountain gets more than 30 feet of annual snowfall on its 100 kilometers of runs.

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Gravity, to paraphrase Dave Chapelle-as-Rick James, is a helluva drug. I’ve been so obsessed with downhill skiing lately that I not only dream about slaloming down slopes at breakneck speeds, I even had a dream about writing this ski article—and woke up with that first sentence (and its 20-year-old TV reference) doing moguls in my head. Thing is, I also woke up in Toronto where skiers and snowboarders say “Ontario mountain” with the same honesty that you might discuss weight with your pregnant partner or hairlines with your just-divorced dad pal. But while we may be surrounded by mere hills out here in the middle of Canada, there are plenty of dream-worthy peaks all across this planet to propel yourself down.

PORTILLO (VALPARAÍSO, CHILE) Up and running since 1949, South America’s first-ever ski resort is a favourite training site for racers because of its southern hemisphere season running from June to September. Or maybe longer—last summer they got an epic August snow dump of 8 feet followed by another 5 feet in September. The high-alpine resort only hosts a maximum of 450 guests, so there’s no lift lines.

ASPEN-SNOWMASS (COLORADO, US) Colorado’s Aspen-Snowmass is like America’s Chamonix-Mont Blanc, with 5,600 acres of terrain spread across four mountains (Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk) feeding snowboarders and skiers down to the iconically quaint towns below. Around since 1946, a lot has changed over the years, including the climate, which inspired their new terrain expansion Hero’s Mountain. Adding 153 new acres and 20 per cent more skiable area to Aspen Mountain, it includes 19 chutes, three glades and four cut trails. But it also provides “a functional hedge against future climate-challenged ski seasons” with this north-facing terrain all located above 10,000 feet.

NISEKO (HOKKAIDO, JAPAN) The volcano-strewn northern Japanese island of Hokkaido may be best known internationally as the birthplace of Sapporo beer, but the planet’s powder hounds know that Niseko is where to find the good

SAARISELKÄ (LAPLAND, FINLAND) The northernmost ski resort in Europe, Saariselkä is located in the northern Finland region known as Lapland, homeland of the Indigenous Sámi people. At an elevation of just 180 metres above sea level, and only 23 slopes to choose from, 15 of which are lit up, the experience here is less about bombing runs than the chance to ski them under the swirling greens and purples of the Aurora Borealis.

ARCTIC/ ANTARCTICA Weber Arctic is run by a family of famed polar explorers, including Order of Canada-winning patriarch Richard Weber, who has clocked more trips to the North Pole than anyone on the planet. Last year’s springtime adventure saw guests staying on a Norwegian ice yacht in Baffin Bay and being flown by helicopter up to the peak before skiing first descents back down to their ocean. And they’re taking bookings to do it again this year.

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LOVE AND SUITCASES

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Nicole Wolff, our Chief Experience Officer and resident Walter Mitty, describes her journeys across the continents with her partner, and how to make relationships work on the road P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y J U S T I N VA N S L I N G E R L A N D

“Go with the flow” is a term I hadn’t incorporated into my travel plans prior to meeting my boyfriend, Justin. Actually, I had never quite identified with a TikTok more than the whole “yeah, I could go with the flow, but what time does the flow start?” kind of gal.

My Type A personality really shines when it comes to trip planning, but what else do you expect from a marketing and events executive? Yes, there are absolutely mood boards, contact lists, folders with copies of passports, insurance and the limit does not exist when it comes to the number of tabs on my trip Excel documents.

Justin and I started dating a month before the world locked down—both avid travellers, it was always a popular topic of conversation in those early days, at the time we didn’t realize it would be nearly 18 months of dating before we were finally able to travel as a couple (thanks, COVID).

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One thing we did realize was that we had very different travel styles, to put it simply.

I titled this piece “Love and Suitcases,” but the reality was he was much more a backpack kinda guy and I had never dreamt of ‘packing light.’ So when the world (and by world, the Eastern provincial borders) finally opened up for us to take our first trip together, we jumped on it. Did I mention this was the first time I’d be travelling with a significant other? And since we didn’t live together at the time, it would also be the longest we’d spend together consecutively. There was a decent amount on the line where things could go very, very right—or very wrong.

Fast forward to today: we passed that first test with flying colours and since then have have been on multiple month-long trips together; travelled by planes, trains, boats and have rented multiple automobiles, driven on the right and wrong side of the road, including two weeks travelling New Zealand in a campervan named Willy—by far the tightest quarters I’d ever stayed in (if you don’t count eight girls in one RV at Boots and Hearts).

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“ Compromise is something you do when you’re in love.”

Did I ever think that at 33, two weeks in a campervan would be my idea of a vacation?

Probably not. And if you ask Justin if he’d ever have ten tabs in an Excel document that outlined our trip? Absolutely not! But I guess compromise is something you do when you’re in love. Not to mention pushing each other outside of their comfort zone … did I mention Justin managed to convince me to do the highest bungee jump in New Zealand last March?

Now how can I help you? Well, if travelling is something you love, it can be important that your partner also enjoys it and ideally the two of you have compatible travel styles.

And that doesn’t have to mean the same thing to the both of you, but you have to have an openness and awareness of each other’s wants, needs and even fears. As a side note, this doesn’t simply hold true for romantic relationships, I can speak from experience to say that it also matters for girls trips, family trips, etc., but with your significant other, this could be the person you travel with for the rest of your life, so hopefully you prioritize figuring it out!

What should you discuss before? Money, while not exclusive to travel, finances are an important topic of conversation. How do you budget for a trip? Do you like to build up your savings and pull from there? Or toss it all on the cc and it’s a problem for future you? Is food and drink an important part of your travel plans? Are you more of a McDonald’s and save the money for activities? Hostels or hotels? Luckily, this is something Justin and I

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are very aligned on, we have a budget, but we don’t let it stop us from doing the things we love—find us the top steakhouse in Argentina and a late night cocktail bar, but then we may skip the odd breakfast or lunch.

Or we book a camper for two weeks, but break every few days in a nice hotel. Which leads me to accommodations …

This was an area where Justin and I started pretty far apart. He spent months on end backpacking which meant getting really comfortable in a shared dorm hostel, whereas I love my personal space and the only shared dorm I’ve experienced was split with six of my closest girlfriends. Our happy medium involves splitting our travels between splurging on the occasional five-star hotel room and balancing that with saving in a private room in a hostel (with a private bathroom!

No negotiation for me on this one).

“ Travel has the ability to push you out of your comfort zone and if you’re lucky, continue to fall in love all over the world.”

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One of the other big questions is do you vacation? Or do you travel? You might think these are one in the same, but I believe they are quite different. And of course you can balance the two, but some people will spend every vacation day at an all-inclusive resort, sipping Mud Slides at the pool bar, whereas others immerse themselves in the culture, rent cars and pack in the adventures. Not to say you can’t do both, we often do, but it’s important to be on the same page.

Every one of these topics are conversations Justin and I have had (and truthfully continue to have every time we book a trip). Is travelling with your partner always sunshine and rainbows? No, but that wouldn’t be real (or fun). Travel is an incredible way to learn about yourself, your partner and your relationship. You can see how a person solves a problem (have you ever been lost in a foreign country with no cell service?), how they handle pressure, how they treat other human beings (kindness, always please!) and how they navigate complex situations. But most importantly travel has the ability to push you out of your comfort zone and if you’re lucky, continue to fall in love all over the world.

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BEN POBJOY WANTS TO BE A MAGNET AND VA C U U M F O R M A G I C Canada’s record-breaking marathon runner on Freedom, the Travel Bug and How the World is his Muse PHOTOGRAPHS BY BEN POBJOY

In 2023, Ben Pobjoy ran 242 global marathons, setting the Guiness Book of World Records while doing, what he calls: “Documenting the earth.” An inspiration, Pobjoy is a runner, but also a learner, an explorer, a photographer, writer and someone who enters places few have tread before him, always with an open mind. “I use marathons as a creative medium to document the world,” Pobjoy told me. “The pandemic was a catalyst for me not to take life for granted, learn wisdom and derive teachings because, while the

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world is flawed, it’s worth caring about—it’s our home and we have to take care of it.”

Pobjoy spent a year on the run, knocking off unassisted marathons everywhere from Colombia to Mongolia, Egypt to Japan, Morocco to Peru. Everywhere he went, he took pictures. “I wanted to be in the raw, unfiltered world,” said Pobjoy, who took all of the photographs on this page. “I spend so much time online where everything shown to me is from an algorithm, that I wanted

total intimacy. When you make yourself available to the world there are so many opportunities for magic and serendipity.”

The magic, says Pobjoy, was abundant, but so too were the similarities we all share.

He says that most of the people he met basically ignored him and that people all over just want to work, take care of their children and live simply in peace. Travel, for him, reinforced his basic belief: that people are inherently decent and more connects us than drives us apart.

“The world is a big, fun, funky and wild place and I like to see how different people exist differently, but yet are so much the same,” says Pobjoy, now back home in Toronto, but adding that his feet are once again beginning to itch. “I try to look for the good, not ignoring the bad, but there’s something to be learned everywhere. I think from travel there’s lots we can glean from the world, the gratitude and ingenuity of the communities I visited was incredible.”

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“T H E R E ’ S N O P L A C E LIKE IT ANYWHERE I N T H E W O R L D .”

Satisfy Your Soul in Jamaica on the Bob Marley Tour “Bob Marley is somebody extraordinary,” says Chris Blackwell, who introduced Marley to the world. Speaking with Blackwell, who produced some of Bob Marley’s biggest records and, as the founder of Island Records, popularised reggae outside of Jamaica, sends shivers down my spine.

Blackwell, after Marley was shot in 1976, hosted the iconic performer to recover in his villa above the Blue Mountains and, in addition to producing U2, Cat Stevens and the Spencer Davis Group, discovered Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse and Toots & the Maytals. He was called one of the greatest record executives of all-time by Variety and he hosted me for rum at his resort in Jamaica called Strawberry Hill.

“I love Jamaica—the people, the music, the culture—and that love, you can be certain,

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runs deep,” said Blackwell, portrayed by actor James Norton in One Love, the new Bob Marley biopic film. “There’s no place like it anywhere in the world.”

At Strawberry Hill, visitors can rent the “Gong” room, the actual place where Marley rested before playing his famous Smile Jamaica post-assassination attempt show.

It’s a bucket list destination and standing on Bob’s balcony, overlooking Kingston and the Caribbean Sea, you can almost feel Marley’s spectral, near-mythic presence. Standing on top of the world, channelling Bob Marley, the spirit of travel is reassuring: it’s a moment in time to rest and acknowledge accomplishment. It’s a chance to be neither coming or going but to simply appreciate what we have. I asked Mr. Blackwell what he misses most about his friend.

“The way he behaved,” said the record executive. “The way Bob was with people, he was blessed, and I never heard him do anything other than be a totally decent guy in all things—the way he treated all people.

It’s a tragedy he couldn’t be persuaded to fix his toe.”

Bob Marley passed away in 1981, but he’s back in the public eye thanks to the film, by Reinaldo Marcus Green and the continuing efforts of his family, including Ziggy, Stephen and Cedella, all performers that we’ve featured in KIND. Touring Jamaica for Marley’s 79th birthday, I couldn’t get over my gratitude: we all work hard, worry about money and our families and experience triumph and failure, yet taking a moment to experience the rivers

ONE LOVE: Bob Marley, in his green Adidas track

GRATITUDE & with JOY Junior Marvin, Jacob Miller suit, pictured

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and Chris Blackwell, from left to right. Below, a statue of Marley at the Bob Marley Museum.

“ I L O V E J A M A I C A—T H E P E O P L E , T H E M U S I C , T H E C U LT U R E — A N D T H AT L O V E , Y O U C A N B E C E R T A I N , R U N S D E E P.” and waterfalls, the food and, of course, the weed, felt personally rewarding. I found myself closing my eyes, experiencing bliss.

“There is no place like Yaad,” said Balram Vaswani, owner of Kaya Herb House, the first recreational dispensary in the Caribbean, which has three locations in Jamaica.

At Kaya Herb House, where Vaswani gets everything right, consumers are able to purchase weed grown on the premises and then consume it amongst the facility’s bustling bars. Like the KIND events that allow legal sampling, it feels like the most normal thing in the world to smoke good legal weed outdoors amongst like-minded friends.

“

“We believe we’re setting the template for how to grow, sell and promote the culture of kaya,” said Vaswani, who gave KIND a tour of his Ocho Rios property, including his

organic greenhouse, then rolled up a fattie while he explained the roots of his business.

“Kaya is the seed of a new Jamaica, and we run our business with wisdom, pride and respect for all. Ganja must never be used to drive us apart, instead we’re a bridge to bring people together.”

Vaswani is partners with Lorne Gertner, the Canadian cannabis pioneer behind Tokyo Smoke who’s been actively promoting the plant and the country since the 80s. It was Gertner who introduced me to Bali, as he’s affectionately known, and Lorne who told me—after I received particularly grim health news—Jamaica will leave me spiritually renewed.

“I wouldn’t be who I am without my love for the island,” says Gertner, an investor in Kaya Herb House, which cultivates original strains

like Kingston Lemon Skunk, Sting A Ling and Island Girl, which lives up to its description, leaving me feeling “happy, energetic and creative.” “It’s a place that’s given me so much through the years,” Gertner told KIND. I toured Jamaica from the Bob Marley Museum, where you can still see the bullet holes in the wall from where Marley was shot (and buy weed at the Marley dispensary) to Tuff Gong Studio, the iconic building where Jay-Z, Lauren Hill and Snoop Dogg have since cut tracks. Reggae plays incessantly, sweetly, and the food (oxtail; rice and peas; saltfish; festival) is something I won’t forget.

I had many memorable meals at Palate, the restaurant at the ROK Hotel in Kingston, where Chef Volae Williams became a friend.

He made curry lambchops and we shared some Red Stripes and he told me what he loved about Jamaican food.

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“ T H E WAY B O B WAS W I T H PEO PL E, H E WA S B L E S S E D.” “The reason you love the food here so much is because of its freshness,” Williams told me, adding that when he wants fish, he simply calls his fisherman buddy who heads out to sea. Nothing is ever frozen and, when he creates from his memory, he thinks about his childhood on the island and also how to innovate traditional Jamaican cuisine. “I love making Jamaican food for tourists because I want to expand for them what this food can be,” said Williams, who also makes a Jamaican twist on eggs benedict with calaloo that’s at once sweet, tangy and divine. “It’s fun to meet people from out of town—and have my Jamaican food blow their mind.”

The mindblowing Jamaican tourist spots, which were enjoyed by our Prime Minister in January, touching off a low-level scandal as he stayed at a luxury villa owned by a friend, range from the very high end to truck stop pattie spots that will make you call your mother and tell her you’re happy to be alive.

One day Bali sent his driver to take me to Tryall, a tucked away Montego Bay resort where guests such as Madonna and former US President Bill Clinton are granted the anonymity to be free. With its golf course

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and ocean villas, luxury is so embedded into every detail that the lobster roll I ate on the beach made me pinch myself: is this how people can really live?

I had a martini and watched the sun set and, looking out over the water, ordered a second. I was miles away from home in a dream land when suddenly No Woman No Cry started to play. No phone, no computer, no deadlines, no problems: I was transported and forced myself to take a breath and just be. Jamaica has been in the news, Bob Marley movie aside, for America denouncing its high violence rates and placing the country on a Level Three tourist advisory. Jamaica’s Prime Minister responded in shock, saying that his country was currently experiencing a 22 year low in criminality. There are certainly places, just like in Canada, where tourists should not go, but it bears mentioning that every parish I visited, from Cane River to downtown Kingston, Bob Marley Beach to Emancipation Park—where I saw a free outdoor concert on Bob Marley’s birthday—was trouble free. I smoked with locals at Kaya Herb House and went to dinner twice at Mystic Thai, a trendy restaurant in Kingston

REDEMPTION SONG: The author, in his KIND bathing suit, feeling no pain.

whose Buddhist owner Kareena Mahbubani instantly became a friend for life.

“Things are different in Jamaica, more personal, powerful, spiritual, and it affects everything here, the food, music, the culture,” she told me one night over lamb stew and fried shrimp served in the kind of sexy environment that’s become a hit with both locals and tourists. At Mystic Thai, the bartenders fix bespoke cocktails and my vegetarian friend rejoices—she finally found a place she could eat. I grew during my time in Jamaica and my kids made me promise that the next time I go, I’ll take them. I told this to Chris Blackwell, and the 86-year-old laughed.

“I’m glad you had a good time in Jamaica, but I’m not surprised,” Blackwell told me when I came home from vacation and couldn’t shut up about my time there, still playing Bob Marley every day. “There are places that people visit for the food or the beach, but also places that people come to because they need something richer. You can get food and sun anywhere. There are things in Jamaica that you won’t get anywhere else in the world.”

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A premium craft cannabis company out of Leamington, Ontario is emerging and growing some of the highest grade cannabis.

FOLLOW THE SUN TO SMOKES S P UR M IMNEGR 22002243

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“Plants are fed only natural well water, sunlight and the highest quality nutrients.”

Spanning ten acres of state of the art greenhouses in Leamington, Ontario, master grower Mikey Roots plays joyful Roots and Culture Reggae music to his plants. “Everything here is grown with love and from that, you feel it in our joints,” says Mikey, leading KIND on a tour of his vast, immaculate greenhouses, best in class facilities where premium Smokes Joints are grown and made. Mikey, born in Toronto, has lived and grown in Jamaica during the winter months prior to this project—where he’s smoked with Sir Bunny Wailer in his own home, dabbed out Peter Tosh’s son Stephen Tosh, and shared his personal high grade with Kymani Marley (Shottas) on more than one occasion. He has dedicated his life to his craft with over 25+ years of experience breeding high grade cannabis for the legacy world.

“Every Smokes and FatCat is handcrafted personally by me with organic hemp paper and has to be perfect, because it’s the cannabis I’d smoke with friends in Jamaica,” Mikey told me, as we passed a Cherry Pie OG Kush joint back and forth.

“I have to be sure that every joint functions perfectly and is made with the best possible materials. It is my artwork every step of the way from seed to smoke.”

The smoke—white ash, terpene-laden (Mikey told me there’s 177 terpenes in each joint), deliriously pleasant—is Mikey’s passion project.

The weed Smokes and Fatcat grown for its prerolls is entirely proprietary to the brands. All the genetics are created in a world class, in-house breeding program from Mikey’s 25+ years of strain hunting and breeding projects. For Mikey, whose cannabis plants can grow ten-feet-high and are fed only natural well water, sunlight and the highest quality nutrients, growing

and consuming cannabis is a gift. His plants are hand-trimmed, hang-dried, and cured to perfection; and their strains— Tropical Punch, a 1:1 CBD blend and Cherry Pie OG Kush, a cross between San Fernando Valley OG Kush and Mendocino Cherry Pie—are exclusive to the brand Smokes. “Everything that goes into our plants is clean,” says Mikey. “This is my life right now. Everything I have mastered goes into this weed.”

FatCat is a half gram Fruity Haze single joint, and Smokes are the five 0.6 gram multi-pack joints in Cherry Pie OG Kush and Tropical Punch 1:1, which come in a plastic case that was especially designed for the product. The case, the size of a deck of cards and perfect for transporting, are the kind of disruptive detail Smokes is steadily becoming famous for. Double Jointed, another product launching in April, are two half gram OG Kush joints.

Taken together, the tour of the facilities along with the excellent product demo led KIND to conclude this was a brand to watch.

Double Jointed launches in April and Smokes and FatCat brands are available now. For more information, see thesmokes.ca and thefatcat.ca.

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V E G A S, Toronto Blue Jay great buys a soccer team in Las Vegas

B A U T I S TA and tells KIND how Sin City gets down

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Barry’s Prime in Circa Resort & Casino

Reaching José Bautista in his new home away from home in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl, the right fielding former slugger for the Toronto Blue Jays—the Bat Flip King that Got the Jays Back into the World Series in 2015—is feeling the love. Las Vegas’s newest sports owner, Bautista purchased the United Soccer League’s Light FC at the start of the year, and knows both soccer and Vegas are hot.

“It’s definitely an exciting time in an exciting place to be relaunching a soccer team,” Bautista told KIND just before watching the Chiefs wrest victory from the 49ers before Taylor Swift and the largest audience in television history. Before the game, José told me his phone hadn’t stopped ringing with friends asking for seats. “I’ll take care of my people, but I’ve only been an owner for four weeks,” Bautista told me. “My superpower was limited to the field.” José said he has a lot of work to do in Las Vegas, and though he

enjoys the supper clubs and lounges, he’s in Las Vegas to work. “I just want to roll up my sleeves and build something awesome,” he said. “I want to capitalise on all the attention and build something lasting for fans.”

The Super Bowl was just the tip of the spear of sports mania shaping Las Vegas. Now that sports betting is mainstream and the Las Vegas Knights won the Cup; now that the Raiders, who moved to Vegas in 2020, are decent and the As might be heading to town from Oakland, Sin City feels like the sports capital of the world. José Bautista told us what he plans to add to the mix.

KIND: Seems like both Vegas and soccer are having a moment.

José Bautista: Huge growth, absolutely, with both things.

KIND: Are you a big soccer guy?

JB: I never played organised but as a sports fan, like everyone, I got excited by the World Cup and then there’s certain athletes—like Messi, if you don’t know him you’ve been living under a rock.

KIND: Did you talk to Messi or Beckham before getting into the market?

JB: They’re not on my speed dial, but they’re my colleagues. Obviously they’ve been successful and are great competitors. They’ve been great for the game and, you know, I want to do the same thing.

KIND: What’s the feeling currently in Las Vegas?

T-Mobile Arena, home to the Las Vegas Knights

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Delilah Lounge at the Wynn

JB: Crazy, absolutely crazy. Everyone’s calling me for Super Bowl tickets but I let them know what I can and can’t do.

KIND: Can you get a ticket?

JB: I’m going, sure.

KIND: If I flew out right now, could you get me in?

JB: Just because you own a team here doesn’t mean they give you a stack of tickets. The truth is I’m rolling up my sleeves working.

Owning a team is a lot of work.

KIND: Is it easier hitting home runs?

JB: We’ll see. I’ve only been an owner for four weeks.

KIND: You’re now the Chairman of the club, and the team’s primary investor.

What did you like about this deal?

JB: Sports are a passion of mine and I’ve been getting a feel for the marketplace, looking at what’s happening with the other clubs and other owners, and Vegas, you know, clearly is becoming one of the world’s best destinations for sports. It’s still really early days, but so far I like what I see.

KIND: What started as a trickle with the Knights now feels like a full-on sports tidal wave. The Super Bowl is one thing, but so are those ubiquitous Jamie Foxx and Wayne Gretzky ads for the gambling app for MGM.

JB: Las Vegas has always been a great sports town. From the classic boxing fights to what you’re seeing today with the Super Bowl and all the excitement around the Las Vegas Knights. They’re a great club and it’s no mystery. It’s fun in Las Vegas and there’s so much tourism. People come from all over to Las Vegas and I just want to give them something else on their list to see.

KIND: This is our travel issue and now you’re Mr. Las Vegas. Where would you send KIND readers to go?

JB: I’m not a big partier. Going out now for me is about socialising or meeting people.

For me going out is an opportunity to learn.

KIND: Going out is an opportunity to learn?

The Las Vegas skyline, accentuated by the MGM Grand

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JUST DID IT: Bautista, at the ceremony in Toronto when his number was retired in the Level of Excellence.

I’ve never heard that sentence before.

KIND: I thought you didn’t party.

JB: I used to party more, but I’m a team owner. I have to get up in the morning and work.

JB: It’s Vegas. We’re never going to be Disney World.

KIND: You’re hosting a reunion of Kevin Pillar, Marcus Stroman and Edwin Encarnación. Where do you take the guys out on the town?

KIND: Give me a few more recommendations. Where should the super fanatics go who got your bat flip tattooed?

JB: Barry ​​ Downtown Prime is a great place to eat. I’ve had a lot of good times there, great food. I like Encore Las Vegas, lots of athletes stay there, it’s comfortable and I used to like the Rao’s pop up in Caesars Palace, before that closed.

JB: T-Mobile Arena. It’s a great environment to watch the Las Vegas Knights and there’s really all kinds of stuff. I like the Delilah Lounge at the Wynn, and just the iconicness of the skyline and the MGM Grand.

KIND: Makes me want to catch a flight.

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JB: I just want to field a winning team. At this point, I’m not spending money on any of those things. I want to invest in the team and put a winning team on the field.

KIND: And if your guys win the Cup? Are you going to let them flip their shin guards?

JB: If it’s a game winner—they can flip anything that they want.

Tickets to the Las Vegas Lights, who began their season in March, are currently on sale at lasvegaslightsfc.com.

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Pure Liquid THC Diamonds mixed with tasty terp blends to deliver some of our hardest-hitting carts to date. Platinum Punch is a fruity, gassy, icey blend of some of our favorite exotic terps. Winner of the summer 2023 Endgame in-house selection - a guaranteed banger, flavour sensation with some of our highest THC% to date (90 - 96%).

Endgame Mosa x Blood Orange 510 Two fan-favourite powerhouses crossed into one ridiculously tasty 510 cart. Mosa and Blood Orange come together to offer a delicious, sweet, fruity flavour in this sativa-dominant hybrid cart. This cart is a certified fan favourite and has been Endgame’s best-selling product to date. Endgame cartridges have ceramic coils, so they taste great the whole way down.

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CLIPPER

SWEET JUSTICE

New Twist on an OG

Sugar-Free Root Beer with CBG(iggles) Clipper Features & Benefits: Removable packing tool makes Clipper a smoker’s best friend , always releasing new designs to collect, refill with Clipper butane for unlimited light / Why Buy: Clipper, the World’s #1 Reusable Lighter, combines sustainability with style. Ditch disposable waste for a dependable flame in a sleek design. Choose quality, reduce environmental impact, and ignite your adventures with Clipper.

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OP S CR T O I NB GE R 2 20 02 24 1

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Palmetto Infused Pre-rolls – Vanilla Mello and Neon Fruit Palmetto’s latest infused pre-rolls have arrived with mouth-watering new flavours! Indulge in Palmetto’s Vanilla Mello Infused Pre-Rolls, serving a luscious blend of creamy and sweet vanilla goodness. For those craving something tangy, Palmetto’s Neon Fruit Frenzy Infused Pre-Rolls will take you on a total flavour trip that’ll zip through a realm of zany fruit flavours.

VERSUS

Palmetto Pals: Meet your newest pals! Palmetto PALS just dropped in two tasty new flavours: Blue Cheese for a dank, berry-cheesy kick, and Strawberry Cough for a sweet and skunky flavour trip. Grab these slim-style pre-rolls that serve up delicious flavours and on-the-go good times!

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Versus Full Spec BC Purple Kush and Sweet Island Skunk & New Vape Hardware Discover unparalleled value with Versus true-to-strain full spectrum vapes. Whether it’s the classic Sweet Island Skunk or the renowned BC Purple Kush, Versus vapes employ hybrid extraction for heightened terpene expressions. Paired with all-new innovative 510 hardware these vapes aim to amp up flavour, reduce clogging, and a smoother smoking experience. Perfect for unwinding after a long day or catching the big game, Versus vapes always deliver a victorious vaping experience.

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“Food is my favourite way to show someone how I feel about them,” Mary Berg told KIND as she walked us through her cookbook, In Mary’s Kitchen. Down to earth, innovative and wizardly with ingredients, Berg told KIND what’s cooking this spring.

KIND: What’s the first barrier the budding home chef needs to remove in the kitchen to get started?

MARY BERG: Take that pressure off! I’m a firm believer that there’s no such thing as a mistake in the kitchen.

KIND: Are there ingredients that highlight the spring?

Beloved TV chef takes us inside her cook book for new flavours

MARY BERG IS FIRE IN THE KITCHEN

MB: Citrus. Adding citrus to whatever I’m making reminds me that the sun is just around the corner.

KIND: What four things do you always keep in stock?

MB: Lemons, butter, fresh herbs and three types of cheese.

KIND: What are three great Canadian restaurants that you love?

MB: My go-to spot in Toronto would be Union on Ossington. Their menu changes frequently and the vibe is perfect. In Montreal, Bar St-Denis is a must, and in Calgary, I’ll eat at Ten Foot Henry and order their tomatoes with whipped feta as soon as I sit down.

KIND: You always look so free in the kitchen, how do you make cooking fun?

MB: In the kitchen, I’m my most chill self. It goes back to that whole “no such thing as mistakes in the kitchen” mentality. Trying is a good thing!

KIND: It seems like your popularity grows each season. What’s your end goal for your food career?

MB: Take the stress out of the kitchen and give you recipes that will make you feel like the total rock star I know you are!

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WARNING: The smoke from our cannabis can get you hiiigh. But isn’t that point? We don’t believe in shortcuts - we grow the way nature intended. We use premium genetics, and our plants bask in the sun, drink pure rainwater, and are harvested and cured by hand. Our focus is on quality, and we only offer the kind of cannabis that we would smoke ourselves. Smooth, flavorful, and potent. We know you have choices, but our commitment to growing the highest quality cannabis is unwavering. Experience it for yourself.

3SAINTS.CA / @3SAINTS

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MEDITERRANEAN SALMON INGREDIENTS FOR THE SALMON 1½ lb salmon fillet, skin on

INSTRUCTIONS 1

½ cup dry white wine ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided 1 lemon, zested 3 garlic cloves, smashed and coarsely chopped

2

1 small handful dill 1 sprig oregano 1 sprig rosemary ¾ teaspoon kosher salt

3

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

FOR THE FETA PICKLE

4

¼–½ red onion, thinly sliced

5

1 garlic clove Finely grated kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper

SERVES 6

Place the salmon into a shallow baking dish or zip-top bag. Pour in the wine and ¼ cup of oil and add the lemon zest and garlic. Hold the dill, oregano, and rosemary in your hands and clap or lightly rub them until they smell fragrant. Add them to the salmon along with the salt and pepper and flip and toss to combine. Arrange the fish flesh side down and place in the fridge to marinate for 15 minutes to 1 hour.

Meanwhile, make the pickle by adding the onion and garlic to a large bowl and seasoning with a pinch of salt and pepper. (If you’re a person who loves onion as much as I do, feel free to use the larger amount.) Pour in the lemon juice, vinegar, and honey and toss to combine. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the garlic and onion to lightly pickle while you prepare the rest of the vegetables and feta.

Halve the tomatoes, dice or thinly slice the cucumber, and cut the feta into roughly ½-inch cubes. Add to the bowl along with the olives, capers, and extra virgin olive oil and pepper to taste. Toss to combine, then set aside while you cook the salmon.

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Remove the salmon from the marinade and dry the fillet off with a few pieces of paper towel. Drizzle the salmon with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and place onto a baking sheet or in a large baking dish. Season with salt and pepper and roast for 15 to 18 minutes or until the fish flakes easily when a fork is inserted into the center of the fillet and twisted.

1 lemon, juiced...

6

Set your broiler to high and broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until the salmon is lightly golden. Transfer whole to a serving dish or slice and plate.

For complete recipes, see KindMagazine.ca.

7

Finish the pickle mixture with the chopped dill, parsley, and oregano and spoon over the salmon.

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C H I C K PA R M M E AT B A L L S INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Olive oil 1 yellow onion, finely minced kosher salt

1

Freshly ground black pepper 3 garlic cloves, divided

¼ cup milk

1½ cups finely grated Parmigianoreggiano cheese, divided

2 3

4 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, divided 4 tablespoons finely chopped basil, divided 3 teaspoons finely chopped oregano, divided 7 oz cocktail bocconcini, divided

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Set a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until tender and lightly golden brown. Grate in one garlic clove, cook for an additional 30 seconds, then remove the onion mixture to a large bowl and set aside to cool completely.

1/3 cup fine breadcrumbs

1 lb ground chicken 1 egg

SERVES 4

4

5

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved ¼ cup dry white wine or water 1 can (27 fl oz) crushed tomatoes

6

In a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and milk and set aside to allow the breadcrumbs to hydrate, about 10 minutes.

Add the chicken to the cooled onion mixture along with the egg, the breadcrumb mixture, 1 cup of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 tablespoons each of the parsley and basil, and 1½ teaspoons of the oregano.

Season with ¾ teaspoon of salt and some black pepper.

Using your fingers almost like rakes, gently and thoroughly mix everything together, being careful not to squeeze the mixture in your hands, as that would lead to tough meatballs.

Place twelve bocconcini onto a work surface and set the rest aside. Divide the meatball mixture into twelve equal pieces and flatten each one into a circle. Place one ball of bocconcini into the center of each circle and fold the meatball mixture around the cheese, pinching to seal. At this point, you can transfer the meatballs to a plate, cover, and store in the fridge for up to 1 day.

Turn the heat under the pan on to medium-high and add 2 teaspoons of oil.

Working in batches if needed, sear the meatballs until golden brown but not yet fully cooked, flipping once, 1 to 2 minutes per side...

For complete recipes, see KindMagazine.ca.

SPACE & TRAVEL

PA N T R Y P U T TA N E S C A INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 yellow onion, finely diced kosher salt

1

Freshly ground black pepper 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 4–6 anchovy fillets 3 tablespoons tomato paste ¼ cup dry white wine or vodka, optional

2

1 can (27 fl oz) crushed tomatoes 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 lb dried pasta, any shape

3

½ cup chopped kalamata olives ½ cup sliced roasted red peppers ½ cup sliced oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes 3 tablespoons capers 6 oz oil-packed tuna, drained

4

3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, plus more for serving 1 tablespoon finely chopped oregano, plus more for serving Excerpted from In Mary’s Kitchen by Mary Berg.

Copyright © 2023 Mary Berg. Photographs by Lauren Vandenbrook. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

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SERVES 4 to 6

Puttanesca is a true pantry dish—the recipe was literally created to use up whatever you’ve got hanging around. Tomatoes and garlic form the base of the sauce while capers and olives provide a little brininess and red pepper flakes add spice. Additional ingredients like onion, booze, anchovies, sweet peppers, and tuna are all things that I have on hand, but feel free to swap in any sweet, spicy, briny, or funky ingredients you think would work.

Place a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat and add the oil. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened and lightly golden brown. Stir in the garlic and anchovies and cook until the anchovies break down, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to bring the flavors together.

Deglaze the pan with the wine and cook down for about 1 minute to reduce the liquid by half. If you don’t have any wine on hand or are avoiding alcohol, deglaze the pan with ¼ cup water. Carefully pour in the crushed tomatoes, stir in the red pepper flakes, and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cover the pan with an off-kilter lid to allow steam to escape.

While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season well with salt and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain the pasta and set aside.

5

Stir the olives, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers into the sauce and season to taste with more pepper. You should not need more salt as the anchovies, olives, and capers are all quite salty. Add the pasta, tuna, parsley, and oregano and stir well to combine. If the sauce is a little thick, add the reserved cooking liquid about ¼ cup at a time until the sauce has a silky consistency.

6

Serve immediately scattered with more oregano and parsley, if desired.

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INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR Infused drinks inspired from all over the world C O C K TA I L R E C I P E S B Y A D R I A N S T E I N , D O P E C O C K TA I L S PHOTOGRAPHS BY URSHA RAJAH

TIKI TACKY HAWAII Pineapple, although not inherently Hawaiian, is recognized today as a fruit of the islands. It’s used as edible displays in luaus, garnishes on tropical cocktails, a popular scent for lotions, a decadent flavour in desserts and a symbol of Hawaii. The fruit is considered Hawaii’s gold and is rich in vitamin C, bursting with a tropical, juicy sweetness that is sure to make anyone’s mouth water almost instantly.

Try using fresh pineapple as a dessert or palate cleanser after a meal! WHAT YOU NEED: Pineapple Juice Dope Mocktails Limonene Cordial Pressed Lime Coconut Water Tacky Tiki Garnish

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S PA C E & T R AV E L

YERBA BUENA MATÉ, ARGENTINA In Argentina, maté is a way to bring people together. At any time of the day, in all areas of Argentina and between different social classes, yerba maté drink are very popular. Although maté has many health benefits as a beverage, like its pleasant stimulating effect and detoxifying and antioxidant properties; the reality is that maté in Argentina is more of a historical tradition and a form of social interaction. It is an inseparable part of their culture and traditions. YERBA MATÉ: Dope Cocktails Sour Diesel Agave Syrup Matcha Green Tea Dehydrated Rose Buds

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TK S PA TK C E & T R AV E L

MOROCCAN MINTZ HIGH TEA, MOROCCO When most people think of Morocco, they probably imagine a camel ride through the Sahara Desert, or perhaps picturesque scenes of villages against a backdrop of rugged mountains. But there’s another side to the country that’s just as alluring: its centuries-old tradition of hospitality that is on full display during the elaborate tea ceremonies. Tea ceremonies may be more commonly linked to Japan or the ornate British high tea that many enjoy on visits; but a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony is something you want to experience for yourself. WHAT YOU NEED: Fresh Mint Lemon Verbena Edible Flower Petals Dope Mocktails Honey Syrup 10mg THC, CBD & CBN Lavender Bitters

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BALKAN JAM SESSIONS, THE BALKANS Balkan-style yogurt, also known as set-style, is a creamy, rich delight with a distinct tang. Originating from the Balkans, it’s traditionally made by fermenting milk in large containers, resulting in a thick, spoonable texture. Each serving is packed with probiotics, supporting gut health. Intrigued by its unique preparation? Discover how this cultural staple can elevate your culinary experience. Jam can be a super fun ingredient to use in drinks, specifically your dope cocktails. You can directly use jam as a sweetener. But if you’d like to get creative, you can name jam- based syrups by combining jam with equal parts water. You can also blend, layer or muddle the jam. WHAT YOU NEED: Balkan style yogurt Dope Cocktails Fig Jam Syrup 25mg CBD, 5mg THC (bottom layer) Peach/Apricot Compote (middle layer) Edible Flower Fresh Fig Garnish

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WE CAN STILL KEEP IT FUNKY A N D S E X Y. Chromeo roars back grooving over two decades of making hits. By Alex Nino Gheciu With over 20 years together, Chromeo have one of the most functional working relationships in the Canadian music scene.

The Grammy-nominated Montreal duo’s secret is their love language: smirky, slinky, wordy electro-funk jams that bring the party. It’s also their willingness to practise musical non-monogamy, collaborating with everyone from Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Keonig to French Montana over the course of five albums, several of which have hit the Billboard 200 charts. But now, David “Dave 1” Macklovitch and Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel are ready to focus on each other again. Their new full-length, Adult Contemporary, hears them keep their circle tight, locking into their own chemistry over 14 preposterously groovy tracks boasting just one feature — close friend of the band La Roux on “Replacements.” The album is a meditation on mature relationships and their dissolution, touching on codependency (“CODA”), picking up stuff from your ex’s place (“Personal Effects”), and post-breakup restlessness (“Ballad of the Insomniacs”), the latter of which especially resonated with this freshly single writer.

Here, the Funklordz offer a therapy sesh on making relationships work and getting your groove back in your 30s and 40s.

KIND: What up Chromeo! The new record slaps. Your last couple albums had tons of features, but Adult Contemporary is mostly just the two of you. Why is that?

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David “Dave 1” Macklovitch: We’ve always wanted to try something different and flip the script from one album to the next. The last couple were very collaborative, where we really opened our studio to a lot of people and found cool ways to incorporate other features into our music. But on this one, we just wanted it to be us, keep the circle really tight, and do something that would speak to our old-school fanbase that’s been growing with us for two decades, and who are now all adults. Hence the title. It’s a shout-out to all those fans who are further in life now, but we can still keep it funky and sexy.

KIND: How does one do that? I’m 38. I’m struggling to keep it sexy.

Dave 1: Nah, you’re sexy.

KIND: I don’t think so.

Dave 1: I think it’s just about keeping music a part of our lives, because a lot of people replace music with podcasts as they get older.

When you’re young and you go out, music plays a huge role. Maybe it’s about finding a space for danceable music in your life.

KIND: I gotta admit, this album really hit close to home for me because I’m currently going through a breakup. There are a lot of songs on here like “Lonesome

Nights” and “Ballad of the Insomniacs” that feel like they were written about me. It feels like I’m on The Truman Show.

Dave 1: That’s what we’re saying! If you’re an insomniac, where’s the party at? Hopefully you can relate to it, but it also shows a lightheartedness to it because all of our songs have a little bit of humour in them. So it’s making light of heartbreak, where it’s not just throwing you into a spiral, but it’s like, yo, we can laugh about it.

KIND: Yeah, it did help me laugh about my situation a bit, which I appreciated. Can you give me some advice? It’s tough going through a breakup at 38.

Dave 1: Nah dude, you got this. It’s your new beginning. It’s your sexy era. You can’t stress about it. If it’s not in the cards, move on.

But also, if you get your swagger back, that person might come back as well if they see you all groovy.

KIND: Maybe that’s the secret. I’ve gotta get my groove back.

Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel: I just had a breakup after nine years. I’m 46. I’m loving it.

It’s your new era, you know? Get it.

KIND: Oh man. That’s a long time.

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Tell me about your situation. How did you get through it?

P-Thugg: [Laughs] Can we send you a therapy invoice? Just enjoy it, dude. It’s freedom. It’s a chance to get the right person.

then it’s too much sad. You’ve gotta make music about sad things that are kind of funny, you know? That are groovy and dance-y.

It’s better this way.

KIND: Yeah man. I’ve been listening to too much Staind. “It been a whiiiile…”

KIND: Freedom! I guess that’s one way to look at it. That song “Replacements” is hitting me hard, though. “Time again, I find replacements, but they still feel like you.”

Dave 1: Yeah, but that’s why we make songs, for you to feel less alone when you go through that shit. That stuff is universal, but it just doesn’t get sung about too much. Like, there’s never been a song about post-breakup insomnia. No one makes songs about an ex forgetting their iPhone charger at your house. It’s the really random everyday stuff that inspires us to make songs. If you’re going through this and all you’re hearing is Usher’s “Climax,” that’s not gonna provide relief to your current situation.

KIND: It’s true, man. All the songs I’ve been hearing on radio are just about love and having sex.

Dave 1: Fuck that! Who wants to hear that when they’re going through this? You want to hear two schmucks going through the same thing as you, but wrap it up in a groovy package. Because if sadboi music sounds sad,

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P-Thugg: Okay, get some iPhone accessories.

Plant them in her house. Leave stuff there.

Dave 1: Yeah, leave your personal effects behind and then casually say, “Hey, I forgot my things there.” One item at a time, though.

Don’t grab them all at the same time.

Dave 1: Fuck that shit. That’s not going to help you. Turn that off. Now’s not the time.

P-Thugg: “Yo, I forgot my passport.” “I forgot my charger.” And then go back. It gives you an excuse to talk to her again.

KIND: How do I get my ex back, though?

Dave 1: That’s one strategy. The other strategy is to really pretend like you don’t care. And

“ IF YOU’RE AN INSOMNIAC, W H E R E ’ S T H E PA R T Y AT ? ”

P-Thugg: Oh wow. [Laughs] You went from one to the other. You just did a 180.

Dave 1: Alright listen, is this going to go in the interview? If you’re going to print it, we’ll give you advice.

at one point, you’re going to actually care less. If they really don’t want to be back with you, you’ll feel a little bit inaccessible and then they might come crawling back.

P-Thugg: You’ll either start believing it and you won’t care anymore, or it will work so well that she’s going to come back feeling left behind.

KIND: Yes. Of course.

Dave 1: It’s a win-win.

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P-Thugg: At this point of the interview, we might as well be the Lovelordz. [Laughs]

KIND: Man, tell me how that song “Personal Effects” came together. It’s super relatable because my ex left all her stuff at my place and keeps texting me like, “Can I come pick up my sweater? Also, how’s it going?” It’s confusing me.

P-Thugg: See? She’s playing the trick on you!

By the way, that means she wants to see you, because if she really had beef, trust me, she’d be like, ‘Yo, it’s not worth it. Keep the curling iron.”

Dave 1: If something scandalous happened to me in my relationship and I forgot something at their crib, I’d be like, ‘Yo, you can keep it. I’m done.’ But the song came about when I was on a flight and I heard the pilot say, “Don’t forget your personal effects on the plane.” And just the way that those words sounded I was like, ‘That can so be a Chromeo song.’ Honestly, there’s really something weird that happens, when an initial hook or phrase comes to me, there is a part that I don’t fully understand. And then I’ll give P the concept, the general melody of it. And if he’s into it, then I’ll work it.

KIND: You guys have had a working relationship that’s outlasted most marriages.

What’s been the secret to making it work?

P-Thugg: I leave synthesizers around, so Dave has to have me back in the studio.

[Laughs] He leaves notepads around with good lyrics, so he has to keep coming back.

Dave 1: I do leave those around. You know, it’s a lot of trust and a lot of working together for the same goal, knowing that we’re on a mission together. We find a way to work to get there together. And because there’s only two of us, it’s easy to problem solve. There’s no triangulation. If something doesn’t work, we’ll talk it out. Sometimes when there’s a larger band, people gang up against each other. We don’t have gangs to gang up against each other. [Laughs] So it’s just manto-man, we work things out.

KIND: Right on. There’s no one else’s back to talk behind. Since this is for a cannabis magazine, you know I’ve gotta ask if y’all smoke weed.

Dave 1: P, talk your cannabis shit, bro. I only tried CBD gummies last year, but P knows the product.

P-Thugg: Yeah I smoke. I’m a daily smoker, but I’m not chronic like that. I only smoke before going to bed. And if I can get my hands on it, most of the time it’s hash only. I don’t like weed so much; it’s like a stimulant these days. I grew up smoking hash a lot in Montreal, especially because it came from

Morocco and we’re all Moroccan, Lebanese, French. French people only smoke hash.

Dave 1: Is hash hard to find?

P-Thugg: Yeah, it’s really, really hard. In Canada it’s easier, but in the U.S. it’s impossible.

I’ve been in the U.S. for 17 years. You can’t find hash here. You ask and they look at you like you’re an alien.

Dave 1: Do you smoke hash?

KIND: Not much. Hash knocks me out. But I guess that’s why it’s good for going to sleep.

P-Thugg: That’s why it’s better. For me, it’s really my way to zone out before going to sleep or else I’m an insomniac. It’s literally like the song. [Laughs.] If I don’t calm down, it’s literally like, where’s the party at? It takes me like an hour to just chill out, send my last email, put a documentary on and zone out. Or else my brain keeps going. It just doesn’t stop.

KIND: Bro, I’m having that problem right now. My brain just keeps going and going and going.

P-Thugg: Try hash, bro. Try hash.

Adult Contemporary is out now. For tour dates, see Chromeo.net.

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Rollie Pemberton, the former Poet Laureate of Edmonton, stumps for musicians to keep their merch money and has been making records since 2005. Influential, progressive, electronic and hip hop, the musician has stayed ahead of the times with his cutting edge sound, scratches, lyrics and politics. “Travel changes your outlook on the world,” Rollie told KIND, before his album’s April release. “I grew up with plenty of people who still haven’t left Edmonton, and I know how lucky I am to get to immerse myself in different cultures.”

These are some of the cities where Cadence Weapon likes to create.

LONDON, ENGL AND. “I find it rejuvenating. The culture in London—the music—is so strong that I find it incredibly inspiring. It feels like my home away from home and I love UK drill and grime music. On my last trip, I listened to Getz, who has a new record out this week and I still listen to Beth Gibbons and even old Portisehead songs. It’s insane, in the streaming world where you just pump out content, to hear Portishead records that just get better each track, and still sound timeless. Shoutout to Mary’s Living and Giving in Hampstead, whenever I’m in England I always pull up to their vintage shops.”

MONTREAL, CANADA. “One of my favourite places in the world

and still home to one of my closest collaborators, Jacques Greene—the prince of that city. It’s just the best place for cool little shops and I love this obscure second-hand store that’s owned by this woman with amazing taste and I always find something really cool. Back when I lived in Montreal, my life felt like a TV show. Grimes lived down the street and I’d go to her house to watch movies. We watched Some Kind of Monster about Metallica.”

B A R C E L O N A , S PA I N .

“I love it here. I played the Primavera Sound Music festival and it was one of the dopest experiences of my life. The way you get to be so close to the other artists was insane. I remember many years ago meeting Nick Cave backstage at Primavera.

He’s a really big influence on me and, at the time, we were labelmates on Anti, and he had the Grinderman record out. He asked me what I thought about them and I said, ‘They’re cool.’ He was like, ‘I fucking hate them.’ I was like, ‘OK!’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. “I love L.A. and I’m going next week. I feel like the lifestyle is so special there. There’s this misnomer that people think L.A. is all Hollywood glitz and glamour, but it’s the grimy, nasty shit that makes it special—the different taco trucks and the more far flung areas. And the food, oh my God, the food.

My wife is Persian and we go to Westwood and check out the restaurants and I have a lot of friends in Atwater Village, that’s a cool area. And shoutout to Sleeper, the best curated vintage place in the world. It’s on Sunset Boulevard at Echo Park and LA, you can’t help thinking about all the rap songs when you walk on its streets. I try to give that spirit to Canadian stuff in my music.”

H A M I LT O N , O N TA R I O .

“I love living in Hamilton, such a great, artistic, super welcoming place. I feel like it’s Canada’s best kept secret. We moved here during the pandemic and are now able to do things we weren’t able to do in Toronto, like own a home, start a family.

We live close to Ottawa Street and there’s this antique mall that’s just super fire and shout out to my local bookstore, The City and the City Books, I always get love when I step in there and, if you buy my book there [Bedroom Rapper], you’ll get an autographed copy. I signed them all.”

B E R L I N , G E R M A N Y. “My home away from home. I have a lot of friends there, it’s kind of like Montreal on steroids and a place that encourages people to be their full selves. You can be as freaky as you want to be—whatever it is, Berlin has a subculture for it. Of course the music is strong, a lot of techno and electronic music, and just really innovative sounds and designs happening all over. One of my current favourite artists lives there. She goes by Discovery Zone and she’s just doing really interesting things. Berlin is a place that won’t judge.”

ZURICH, SWITZERL AND. “People think of it as a boring financial place but, I was surprised by how artsy it is. I made a lot of good friends there and didn’t want to leave. My friend’s club was dope, it’s called Bar 3000, such a cool spot.

I was DJing and playing disco, funk and electronic music, really old school, and you could smoke indoors and it went to 7am. I was like, ’Damn, this shit is really lit,’ maybe it was 4am—it felt like 7.”

PORTL AND, OREGON. “One of the very best places for me to play.

I feel like they get what I’m trying to build and all the freaky artistic people are just cool and really interesting. Plus everybody is super friendly and they have really dope vintage shops. We played there with Hot Chip last year in the spring and it was lit.

Shoutout to Kissing Booth, a vintage store that’s very well curated, very thoughtful and stylish—really, like the city, very just … dope.”

Rollercoaster by Cadence Weapon comes out April 19. For tour dates, including Osheaga, see CadenceWeapon.net.

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Cadence Weapon, on the heels of releasing Rollercoaster, the Polaris Prize winning artist’s sixth record, tells us about his first favourite cities to create

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