THE
TEAM ERIK HALE PADRE Three years ago I stood in my backyard, smiling, gazing upward, thankful for the possibility to take a new path in life. Even though LOCALE was still only a concept, my business cards were printed at home with those awful perforations and our “mock” magazine looked like a 7th grade art project, I could not have been happier or more excited about the future. Our success in Orange County can only be attributed to our team’s hustle and sacrifice. I am a California boy. However, the town in California I come from still has a population of 1100 and a blinking yellow light manages traffic. Launching a magazine, even an established one, in a town of 1.7 million definitely tested my confidence. I guess when the tallest building in your home town is a water tower, a city skyline like San Diego will naturally be intimidating. I have always loved San Diego. Given a directional option when leaving Orange County, I have always preferred South. As our team met with business owners in every part of the county my trepidation quieted. The people we met were warm, welcoming and congratulatory. There must be something about the climate and location that makes locals happier. Thank you for welcoming us to your city. We have our fingers crossed that you will love LOCALE, and we will do our best to produce an amazing guide that helps you “Live like a Local”. I am looking upwards and smiling again.
ASHLEY HICKSON
MIKE TODD SMITH
AMY HOOD
JENNIFER HOOD
CLIPPER
CHARGER
LAKER
DODGER
Mike is a California local to the fullest. Growing up his time was split between being raised in Laguna Beach with his Mother and spending weekends with his Father in Del Mar. By living in both the OC and SD, Mike acquired an early love for beach living. Attending the University of Arizona, Mike made a living by starting an event production company while getting his degree. He took this knowledge with him after he graduated and moved back to Laguna to pursue multiple careers. After working in real estate, Mike ended up partnering with two good friends to open ECCO Restaurant in Costa Mesa. From there, he moved to Palm Desert and started another company with his family, LUXE Electric Cars. After three years in the desert, LOCALE called and Mike answered. When not on the streets spreading the LOCALE love, you can find him surfing in Cardiff or out on the town with friends.
Amy is a tiny blonde who loves a good laugh, great tattoos, and only the best rock n’ roll. When she is not racking in unsuspecting prey at the pool hall or spewing stats at bar patrons unlucky enough to have cast bad light on the name of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, she is dreaming about classic cars, watching mind-rotting sci-fi television on Netflix, instagramming the pants off the world, speaking at superhuman speeds, defending her Smashball Championship title on the beaches of Balboa Peninsula, or working at Hoodzpah Art + Graphics, a design firm she founded and runs with her twin sister, Jennifer. You can find her at wegothoodzpah.com, or amyhood.com.
Jennifer Hood is a mildly tortured creative based out of Newport Beach, CA. She is the co-founder of creative firm Hoodzpah Art + Graphics with her twin sister Amy Hood. When not scribbling words, doodling lines, or manipulating anchor points, she’s tinkering on a piano, going comatose via Hulu overdose, reading smelling an issue of Esquire on the beach, attempting to hustle pool to no avail, or singing a pitchy rendition of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” at the local karaoke bar. According to The Velvet Underground, Jenny’s life was saved by rock ‘n’ roll. That’s disputable. Jennifer and Amy are happy to be designing LOCALE Magazine, and managing the online web content. wegothoodzpah.com dribbble.com/jenhood
Born and raised in New Jersey, Ashley Hickson had made yearly visits to her family in sunny Southern California, quickly realizing that there wasn’t anywhere else she would rather live. After graduating from Chapman University in Old Town Orange, Ashley pursued her dreams and began the journey of helping create LOCALE Magazine. Often referred to as Erik’s right and left arm, Ashley is THE go-to-girl for everything LOCALE. She enjoys being an intricate piece to LOCALE’s puzzle and is proud of the downto-earth, innovative magazine. For advertising, marketing, accounting, and to find out where Erik is, call LOCALE Magazine and Ashley will answer all of your questions.
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| Holiday 2012 Issue