by Randy Dunbar | Aug 24, 2019
The 13th Art of Television Costume Design exhibition is back this summer for another year of celebrating the artistry of costume designers and their teams. Television’s perpetual evolution through both network and digital platforms gives today’s designers even more opportunity to create bold, memorable characters for a variety of programming. This year’s exhibition will feature a diverse assortment of shows across several genres–science fiction fantasies, contemporary comedies, and historical dramas, to name a few–and as always will include Emmy® Award-nominated programs from the 2018-2019 television season. Look for fan favorites such as Game of Thrones, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Black-ish, plus discover the latest hits like The Masked Singer and Good Omens,
The exhibition is free to the public and will be held in the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles through Saturday, Oct. 26. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
For information, visit FIDMmuseum.org.
by Joshua J. Pinkay | Aug 21, 2019
There is absolutely no shortage of brunch spots in Los Angeles, and why would there be? We’re offered the best setting in the country to be able to enjoy this special weekend meal year-round. In the iconic beach neighborhood that is Venice, CA, we have the eclectic Abbott Kinney district, home to various restaurants, shops, bars and the like all encompassing L.A.’s unique experience. The pleasantly nestled Neighbor LA made sure to hold its own in the brunch offerings of L.A. by introducing a new menu that is sure to please foodies and weekend lush aficionados like myself well into the rest of the summer.
Neighbor is a cozy garden bistro and cocktail bar nestled on one of LA’s busiest streets, Abbot Kinney Blvd. Fashioned from an old house on Venice Beach’s main drag, Neighbor is a fresh and charming social space, featuring a best in class coffee bar, cocktail program and a market fresh menu by Chef Joshua Luce.
Stepping into the warm and welcoming front lounge from the small brick stoop, guests are invited to choose their own adventure: settle in with a coffee, pull up one of the 20 seats at the marble cocktail bar, lean back in the garden lounge, or sit for a romantic dinner in the open air, backyard bistro. Neighbor’s pastel walls and eclectic furnishings invite guests to enjoy good company in a cozy and cheerful atmosphere.
The new menu includes items like “Uncle J’s Fried Chicken” with cornbread, honey, & jalapeno or the California Avocado with seeded toast, pistachio, lime, radish, & chive blossom. Drink items include the Strawberry Rosemary Margarita made with tequila, lime, & agave, and The Baja made with tequila, stone fruit, basil, lime, & chili.
Make sure to check out these and all of the other brunch items at
Neighbor LA at 1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA, now serving Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, and Happy Hour.
by Joshua J. Pinkay | Aug 21, 2019
The LA Conservation Corps (the Corps) announces the launch of Westbrook/Brownstein Green Tech Program (WBGT), an initiative steered by a partnership between L.A. native and NBA superstar Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation and L.A. philanthropist Chad Brownstein.
The program will provide digital job skills to at-risk young adults in the Corps and break down the digital divide by providing skill training for green tech job opportunities to 500 Corpsmembers in Los Angeles.
The Westbrook/Brownstein Green Tech Program will expose Corps members to achievable career paths and provide technology related tools and education. The program will include classes that train students in computer literacy and introduce marketable skills like coding, drone piloting, and computer engineering. The partnership will also fund the second pillar, the Westbrook/Brownstein Green Futures Lab, where new computers and necessary equipment for intro classes will be installed. The third core initiative is the advanced drone piloting career path program. It will be the creation of a quarterly advanced training program designed to position students to enter the game-changing career path of drone maintenance and piloting.
“It means a lot to me to partner with Chad and the LA Conversation Corps on this new project. As a kid who grew up here in L.A., I know how important it is to feel supported and empowered by the community. By helping to provide these resources, my hope is that the youth will be able to see how bright their future can be and expand the vision of what they think they’re capable of” said Westbrook.
An initial donation will be facilitated by Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation and Chad Brownstein; with their robust network and partners, they will continue to fund raise for additional programming.
“It’s an honor to work with Russell who has a track record of benefiting at risk youth. This partnership is a wonderful opportunity to positively contribute to a city we love” said Brownstein.
“The Corps family is so grateful for and energized by Russell and Chad’s commitment to our Corps members” shared Wendy Butts, CEO of the L.A. Conservation Corps. “For over 30 years, the Corps has championed the belief that building a young person’s confidence in themselves and opening their eyes to their educational and career possibilities can change their world. By investing in the technical skills needed to pursue careers in the growing green sector, Russell and Chad are helping Corpsmembers change everyone’s world.”
Wendy Butts CEO LACC, Russell, and Chad
Russell Westbrook, a UCLA alumnus and Los Angeles native has always been passionate about empowering children in under-served communities. The mission of the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation is to inspire the lives of children, empower them to ask, “Why Not?” and teach them to never give up. The foundation works to help children that are facing hardships of any kind, and when faced with that adversity, fight to succeed and to never give up. Russell Westbrook and his brother were taught to ask, “Why Not?” every time they were told they could not do something. It is this encouragement and strength that Russell and his family want to spread to children across the country. Founded in 2012, the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation is dedicated to supporting community-based education and family service programs while encouraging youth to believe in themselves.
Chad Brownstein has been a leader in LA philanthropic endeavors for two decades, including being an initial member of the 2028 LA Olympic Committee. Brownstein has an established relationship with the Corps, as he previously served on its board as finance committee chair. He has also been involved in positively affecting the lives of over 1,000,000 at-risk youth in under-served areas of Los Angeles.
The launch of the Westbrook/Brownstein Green Tech Program took place Monday, August 19, 2019 at 9:30 AM at the LA Conservation Corps’ John Van de Kamp Center, with both Westbrook and Brownstein participating in a tour of the facilities.
(Photo Credit: LA Conservation Corps)
by Niki Smart | Aug 20, 2019
More and more the general public and even western doctors are realizing that all wounds have a physical AND mental and/or spiritual side to them. For example, the broken knee of a professional football player is only one part of the wound. For true healing to occur, the football player must address his panicked mind and his breaking heart. The same goes for depression and the growing pandemic of anxiety that seems to be consuming the industrialized world. Anxiety itself takes an enormous physical toll on the individual and those around them, including in their workplace, which costs corporations and individuals millions of dollars every year.
Local therapist and healer, Peter Bedard, MA, C.Ht., is set to publish his new book, How to Turn Your Pain into Your Gain, A Simple Guide to Healing. This straight forward, easy to read book will show caretakers how to live more in the present; cancer “thrivers” how to address the deeper causation of their illness; addicts how to be more tuned in to their recovery, and show everyone how to gain from the pain that they experience.
Bedard’s book, coming late 2019, will reveal practical strategies for creating profound wellness. From addiction, to cancer, to healing obsessive patterns, internalized anger, and everything in between, how we think, what we feel, and the spiritual state of our hearts can create wellness or bring us to utter despair. This non-religious, practical, and heart centered approach to healing can supply you the tools you need to journey from suffering to satisfaction – to allow you to gain insight and grow from your pain.
A limited number of FREE copies of How to Turn Your Pain into Your Gain, A Simple Guide to Healing are available upon release. To get on the waiting list, interested individuals should go to www.ConvergenceHealing.com and sign up to Peter’s email list. Be sure to write “FREE BOOK” in the comments section! You can unsubscribe at any time!
I healed myself of all kinds of things the doctors told me could never be healed…and so can you!
– Peter Bedard, MA, C.Ht.
Peter Bedard, MA, C.Ht.
After a near-death experience, Peter Bedard was faced with the greatest challenge of all: Living a life in severe physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. The former dancer soon discovered that the anger and frustration he felt because of his injuries were not only keeping him in pain, but were waiting to teach him the greatest gifts of his life. Now, a celebrated author, consultant, international speaker, and healer, Peter helps thousands of people globally to live a life of full potential while integrating the lessons of pain into balanced living.
Peter has a private practice in Los Angeles, CA. He is a consultant at Stanford University, an international speaker, and the author of his previous book, “Convergence Healing, Healing Pain with Energetic Love” (Simon & Schuster, 2015) . You can find his podcast and several interviews at www.YouTube.com/ConvergenceHealing and his media page at www.PeterBedard.com.
by Randy Dunbar | Aug 18, 2019
AN INTERVIeW WITH Jennifer Blue
The world of Jennifer Blue is teeming with visual ideas—and with her new series, GEN Z, she captures in the most straight-forward manner, the faces of a generation. Her past investigations into image have produced a variety of subjects: Panoptics, Sentient, Hunger, Babe and Pugilists. Her work invariably dances around our notions of documentary, commercial work and art.
What does Gen Z mean to you and what is your relationship to it? I work in the library of a creative college. Recently, overnight, I observed a tsunami of new students wielding a completely different aesthetic and sensibility than their predecessors. Curious, I began to explore these individuals with conversation and camera. At this juncture I believe that Generation Z and myself mutually intrigue and inspire each other.
Shooting in film or digitally? I am shooting this series digitally, in the spirit of the digitally savvy Generation Z.
Is this an ongoing project and will you revisit some individuals as they pass from their Gen Z status? An interesting prospect. Most of my subjects have been captured very spontaneously. Too, the interaction with the subjects, for the most part have been a short-lived, impulsive splash. Yes, I would like to follow through with some of the subjects into the future.
Whose Photographic Work is inspiring you? Rineke Dijkstra
What is photography in the year 2019? I think that most viewers are hyperaware of being manipulated by advertising images. Fatigued with this manipulation, viewers are looking for genuine representations of the diversity of real life in 2019. Observe the increase in nonbinary, non-ageist, non-affluent imagery, due, I think, to the increased appetite for this type of media. 2019 is more of a celebration of documentary rather than commercial photography, in my opinion.
for more BLUE visit https://www.jenniferbluephotography.com/
by Joshua J. Pinkay | Aug 15, 2019
by Dennis Richardson | Aug 7, 2019
(Contributing Editor: Anthony C. Stafford) If you’re seeing a blissful, colorful, vacation-like ad recurring on social media, chances are you’ve seen Vital Proteins‘ coveted Collagen Waters! This hot new must-have refresher is taking over by storm, and SoCal residents can now purchase Collagen Water at Costco, who’s selling variety packs nationwide.
What is Collagen Water?
Collagen Water is Vital Proteins first ready-to-drink product that offers 10 grams of proprietary Collagen Peptides, 3g of sugar or less (from real fruit juice), and reverse osmosis H2O to help you hit refresh on your morning routine, during a cool down after a much-needed sweat session, or as a grab on-the-go anytime, anywhere hydrator. Collagen Water is packaged for convenience and comes in 5 different flavors, including Original, Blackberry Hibiscus, Lemon Ginger, Blueberry Mint and Strawberry Lemon. Delicious!
What does this Collagen Water intend to do as it hits the scene? The goal is to ween everyone off of the not-so-healthy “ades,” and onto something natural, that’s also packed with essential nutrition that the body can use more efficiently. Each drink is the perfect single-size serving to throw in a bag while traveling out and about this summer. Vital Proteins Collagen Water offers hydration, protein, and… That’s right — collagen, as the name implies! Using only high quality, all-natural ingredients, Vital Proteins contains key proteins and nutrients needed to look and feel your best while the collagen improves hair, skin, and nails within just a few weeks! It’s only become easier to make this summer heat bearable, so go easy on yourself with Vital Proteins.
Delicious Ways to Drink More Water
Read on for tips directly from the Vital Proteins team on how to improve and increase your consumption of Earth’s essential life-giving ingredient. (Courtesy of Jenn Randazzo, Associate Director of Education at Vital Proteins)
How can someone know how much water they should actually be drinking? While the general recommendation is to drink eight glasses of water a day (sigh), hydration needs are truly different for each of us! When working with my clients, I encourage them to take a peek at their urine to best determine their hydration status. The ideal color should be a pale, or light, yellow. Dark yellow means you’re probably dehydrated, while completely clear could indicate you’ve maybe drank a little too much. Drinking water is incredibly important because it helps to support the body’s ability to achieve fluid homeostasis, or fluid balance. Along with eating a diet rich in water-dense fruits and veggies, drinking water helps to support optimal hydration and electrolyte status. I always make sure to have easy access to water, whether it’s having a hydroflask on my desk at work or sipping a refreshing beverage in my car, like Vital Proteins’ new Collagen Water.
by Randy Dunbar | Aug 7, 2019
Frequently, we are asked, “is Mexico safe?”, which is ironic considering…but let’s leave politics for the pundits and facebookers. Mexico is a feast, literally of places to visit. From Los Angeles, Mexico City is a three- and half-hour plane ride costing under $300. Hotels, restaurants, museums abound and are all reasonably priced. The people are extremely friendly. Due to its rich culture and history, Mexico ranks first in the Americas and seventh in the world for number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of those is Miguel San de Allende, located 170 miles from Mexico City, and a 10-hour drive from the US border. While the outlying areas of the town and municipality have changed over time, the historic center remains much as it was 250 years ago. The layout of the center of the city is mostly a straight grid, as was favored by the Spanish during colonial times. However, due to the terrain, many roads are not straight. There are no parking meters, no traffic signals and no fast food restaurants. And we are thankful for that. There are weddings by the hour—initiated by the callejoneada, a wedding parade that’s customary in San Miguel. The parade has a mariachi band and a donkey with Tequila shots. Welcome to Mexico!
We have travelled to the west side of Mexico where you will find Puerto Vallarta — a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in Jalisco state. It is known for its beaches, water sports and nightlife scene. Its cobblestone center is home to the ornate Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church, boutique shops and a range of restaurants and bars. El Malecón is a beachside promenade with contemporary sculptures, as well as bars, lounges and nightclubs. Made famous by American film director John Huston. Even though John Huston had visited the town when it only had a few thousand souls in 1929, while navigating up the Pacific coast on one of his innumerable trips to his beloved Mexico, plus another time while scouting for locations for Typee (a movie he never shot), not much had changed when he came back in the early 1960s with a new movie project, “The Night of the Iguana”, and a location for the set called Mismaloya, tipped off by a local entrepreneur. The small town flourished with tourists, especially Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who had a house in town where they would fight, drink, make love and make up. This is considered part of the so-called “Mexican Riviera” a term coined by the Princess Cruise Line.
On the other side of the continent is Mayan Rivera. This is a stretch of Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula. It’s known for its numerous all-inclusive resorts, such as those in the town of Playa del Carmen, and its long beaches. To the south, Tulum is home to yoga retreats and the preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city, perched on an outcrop above a white-sand beach. You could include Cancun, which on the “American side” is about as Las Vegas as a tourist attraction can get. Be warned—you will be dogged and hassled until you relent and enter an establishment. But, if your travel a short distance south, you will come to Playa del Carmen. A party town, this is also where you can get aboard a boat and head to the island of Cozumel. Going further South you will find Tulum—a town that sits on the Carribean Sea. Here, you can experience a cenote — a sinkhole, and there are many. In Tulum, you can experience the Castillo, or castle, which is perched on the edge of a 12-metre limestone cliff, overlooking the Caribbean coast. Negotiating its steep steps is best done sideways, a fact which will assert itself on the way down. There is something magical about the place, and upon setting foot on the warm white sands of the Carribean, it is hard to not jump into sea. And you will. No matter which coast or inland destination, Mexico provides a unique experience for any traveler.
When we think of Mexico, we think “so much, so close!” Any direction you look, Mexico has offerings like few other countries.
by Niki Smart | Aug 6, 2019
WHAT: Eat|See|Hear, the original traveling outdoor cinema series, presents the Oscar-winning 1996 black comedy thriller, FARGO. Set in 1987 Minnesota, the Coen Brothers modern classic follows the story of car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) who has gotten himself in so much debt that he hires two thugs (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his own wife. The Academy Award-winner for Best Picture has gone on to spawn three seasons of the critically-acclaimed Fargo television show. Projected on to the largest inflatable movie screen on the West Coast, the film will follow a musical performance by sleek and smokey L.A. vocalist Glory Daze (the moniker of singer/songwriter Lea Beiley). Food trucks on hand for the event will include Vchos, the Pudding Truck, Rice Balls of Fire, Wise BBQ, and Deli Dr.
WHEN: Saturday, August 10, 2019
WHERE: Autry Museum of the American West at 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
TICKETS: Tickets for Eat|See|Hear are $14 for general admission with advance online purchase or $16 at the door, and $8 for kids aged 12 and under. Children under age 5 are welcome to join for free. The festival also offers tickets to its signature Fashionably Late section for $21 (advance purchase only) which gives ticketholders access to premium seating up front. As always, dogs are welcome to accompany their humans for free.
ABOUT: Eat|See|Hear, a Los Angeles Times signature event, brings outdoor movies, food trucks and live music entertainment to iconic Los Angeles venues each summer. The eighth annual event series presented by SHOWTIME Networks features up-and-coming bands from the local music scene, a range of food trucks and the largest inflatable movie screen on the west coast with the highest quality HD-projection, a 52-foot wide image and professional sound. Select locations include beer and wine bars and all welcome dogs. For more information follow @EatSeeHear (#eatseehear) and visit eatseehear.com.
by Niki Smart | Aug 5, 2019
Immersive outdoor concert to engage communities in a journey of connection
‘Intrinsic Strings’ – A site-specific immersive concert experience will take place on August 24th, 2019 between 6-7.30pm at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City. The free event will integrate live orchestral musicians and virtual reality in a unique setting in an exploration of what brings people together, inspires them and reminds them to appreciate life’s moments. Featuring music by LA-based contemporary film and video game composers; Jeff Rona, Penka Kouneva, Drum & Lace, Emer Kinsella, Allyson Newman and Damir Price, performers will present an evening of introspection with their work and collective insight into how music can act as a vehicle to unite people and create community in large metropolitan areas.
The concert is accessible via a climb of the Culver Stairs, a walk along the switchback trail or a drive to the top of the overlook. Musicians comprised of chamber string players and select unique instruments will be spread throughout the space creating a “musical trail”of emotion. Organizers are partnering with Vresh, a 360° social media company, to integrate 360° visuals containing story concepts of how individuals engage with the city of Los Angeles, creating a “trail of stories”.
Developed by Emer Kinsella of Emersion Music, Intrinsic Strings aims to bring awareness to internalized emotional pressures by encouraging Angelenos to find support and solidarity with one another by embracing and conquering the climb together.
“My hope is to connect individuals through experiential and unconventional concerts to create experiences that cause you to dive deeper and connect with others through the powerful force of music,” says concert curator, Emer Kinsella.
Current sponsors of the performance include BMI, VER-PRG and VRESH.
For more information follow Intrinsic Strings on social media @intrinsicstrings or visit Eventbrite.
by Niki Smart | Aug 2, 2019
Last night, Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the talented sisters behind Rodarte, announced a limited edition capsule collection featuring “Cats!” from artist, Mari Eastman. By collaborating with Master Card (who are committed to championing women business owners), and by having their 5-piece collection sold exclusively through Fred Segal on Sunset with the new blockchain technology involved (which makes the company’s supply chain visible so you can see where and by whom your garment was made), the creative and eco-conscious sisters have a lot to celebrate.
And celebrate they did, with a huge 80’s blast-from-the-past blowout at Milk Studios. There were inflatable pink couches, popcorn and candy-corn stations, a mini game arcade with Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and Master Claw (haven’t seen those games in years), plus a fashion show on roller skates and a short, but wonderfully enjoyable, performance from Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles), who treated the enthused crowd to her hits “Manic Monday” and “Walk like an Egyptian”.
Spotted in the crowd were Rachel Bilson, Ireland Baldwin, Rowan Blanchard, Skai Jackson, Hunter Schafer and Nikki Reed. In other words, a room full of beautiful ladies, all out to show their support.
The Rodarte collection is available starting today, August 2 exclusively at Fred Segal.
ABOUT MADE: MADE began as a designer discovery platform giving rise to some of the top names in fashion today, including Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and Jeremy Scott. MADE has evolved into a cross-cultural collaboration platform pairing fashion designers with talent across passion points. Fusing the worlds of fashion, music, art and entertainment, MADE gives consumers front row access to limited-edition capsules, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and over-the-top presentations, through both large-scale fashion festivals and tailored special events.
Susanna Hoff, co-founder of the Bangles, performs Paul Simon’s Hazy Shade of Winter.
For more information:
http://www.rodarte.net/
https://www.fredsegal.com/
http://ma.de/
http://www.milkstudios.com/studios/losangeles/
