by Dennis Richardson
If you’re looking for something fresh and new in Southern California, perhaps a new coffee spot will scratch that itch you’ve got. LA is no stranger to coffee brands or cafés, and with so many options to choose from, there are definitely many favorites near and dear to countless hearts.
Brewing in LA for the last 8 years, Tectonic Coffee is adding a fresh dose of caffeine to the West Hollywood area, and this will be their first flagship café despite their nearly decade-old existence. In what is bound to be the new neighborhood destination for flat whites, delicious pastries, and cozy vibes, Tectonic Café is fulfilling a long awaited dream for its loyal fans.
The new café is hosting a grand opening party on Sunday, January 14th, from 8 am to 12 pm, and will be open every day from 6:30 am – 3:30 pm, starting Monday, January 15th. Attendees can enjoy music and half-off drinks and snacks, while relaxing and getting to know the new neighbor who is bound to be a people magnet.
Tectonic Coffee’s founder, Deaton Pigot, brings a wealth of 25+ years industry experience. As a well-rounded coffee professional, he has a tested palette notably judging on multiple Cup of Excellence panels internationally in countries like Honduras, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica and Colombia. In addition, Deaton has judged on national-level Barista Championships and has coached multiple US Regional and National Barista Champions.
He not only roasts Tectonic coffee beans in LA, but he personally travels to coffee-producing regions to collaborate with local producers and trusted importers, ensuring only the highest-quality beans make their way to America.
As if that were not enough, Tectonic Café is more than just a new place to go pick up your brew, but they also deliver straight to you! Tectonic offers a selection of brews that you can order and subscribe to, with their very own team of experts who will pick out the right variety for your tastes – or allowing you to customize your order to your liking. Subscribers are free to pause, cancel, or adjust their subscription at any time. A new neighbor and goodies delivered home? Count us in!
Tectonic Coffee Café is located at:
1040 N. Fairfax Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
by Dennis Richardson
On Quitter’s Day (January 12), KIND Snacks is launching “Better You by Lana,” a one-day-only immersive wellness pop-up based in Los Angeles, CA, that flips the script on how to start the New Year, with actress, Lana Condor. By launching on Quitter’s Day, the day by which most Americans have quit their New Year’s resolutions, KIND and Lana are inviting consumers to shut out the noise and stress that heightens around the New Year and trust their taste buds.
Health and diet-related New Year’s resolutions rank among the highest set during the New Year. The pressure to “be better” at the start of each year is often matched with confusion. One recent study on eating habits showed that while over 70% of respondents across markets want to be healthier, half of the group found difficulty understanding what they need to do when it comes to making choices about their health. The abundance of noise and confusion creates conflicting messaging around how and what people should eat.
Through the pop-up experience and partnership with Lana, KIND invites Americans to think differently about the pressures we face when making choices about food and wellness. Through the pop-up experience and partnership with Lana, KIND invites Americans to think differently about the pressures we face when making choices about food and wellness. “It is nearly impossible to start the year without the overwhelming pressure and noise of our ‘eat this, not that’ culture that escalates each January,” said Osher Hoberman, Chief Marketing Officer at KIND. “As a continuation of KIND’s commitment to nutrition education and nourishment, we are challenging the status quo and empowering Americans to trust their taste buds to lead them to whole, recommended foods we’re not eating enough of today.”
“Each and every January, we all feel like we should be changing our daily routines to become better versions of ourselves. It’s time to ask ourselves how well these resolutions are serving us,” said Lana. “Better You by Lana certainly sounds like a wellness store in name, but the experience KIND and I teamed up to create is anything but. We will empower consumers to shut out the noise that comes with the new year.”
To visit Better You by Lana, stop by Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade on 395 Santa Monica Place, Unit 146 from 12–9 pm PT. The first 100 people in line will receive a custom gift from Lana and KIND while supplies last.
About KIND Snacks
Since 2004, KIND has been on a mission to create a kinder and healthier world – one snack and one act at a time. Its iconic KIND® bars – made with real, recognizable ingredients – sparked the growth of an entirely new healthy snacking category. Today, KIND has a family of more than 80 snacks that offer solutions for a variety of occasions. All of KIND’s products lead with a nutrient-dense first ingredient –nuts or whole grains – and do not contain genetically engineered ingredients, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.
Inspired by the belief that acts of kindness can be a transformative force for good, the KIND brand seeks to inspire kindness and empathy. KIND was founded by Daniel Lubetzky. To learn more about KIND, please visit www.kindsnacks.com and join us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
1 Grimmelt, A., Moulton, J., Pandya, C., & Snezhkova, N. (2022, October 5). Hungry and confused: The winding road to conscious eating. McKinsey & Co. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/hungry-and-confused-the-winding-road-to-conscious-eating
by Randy Dunbar
Explore the history and impact of the Hollywood Red Scare and its contemporary implications for civil liberties, propaganda, and shifting definitions of American patriotism.
In October 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee called on Hollywood figures to testify about allegations of Communist propaganda in American films. Although the committee never found evidence of this, the film industry responded by becoming the first mass employer to adopt a blacklist against employees whose political beliefs ran counter to prevailing ideals.
Making its West Coast debut at the Skirball Cultural Center with newly added artifacts, Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare shines a spotlight on the proceedings, investigations, motives, and choices of those caught in the crosshairs—including the many Jewish creatives and executives who suffered under and enforced the blacklist.
The result is an emotionally complex and compelling exhibition that demonstrates how the politics of Hollywood can shape the entire country.
Now on view till September 3, 2023
Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare is an original exhibition created by and on loan from the Jewish Museum Milwaukee.
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 440-4500
info@skirball.org
by Dennis Richardson
If you’re looking for something to do as we approach the last few weeks of Summer, there’s one event on the horizon that will end the season with a bang — combining art, fashion, tech, cannabis, and community for the ultimate celebration.
Tomorrow Isn’t Promised (TIP), the Mexican and Boricua-owned creative agency focused on supporting creators from marginalized communities, will be launching their first apparel collection on Saturday, August 20th — making it the first endeavor into merchandise for the business — while kicking off a celebration bringing their community together.
Created by Founders Geza “G” Frey and Lucy Crivelli who are best known for their work in sneakers (working with the likes of Adidas, Nike, and most recently, tech start-up Aglet), TIP is now bridging the gaps between the Cannabis, Tech, and Fashion industries through art and content. Their agency has not only helped build a pathway for creators to tell their stories, but has also offered an opportunity for creators to grow in their roles — helping others build brands of their own, today.
Started in 2020, TIP has been quietly building a foundation with community at the forefront, and the upcoming collection, named “GENESIS” is a reflection of all their hard work coming together. The GENESIS apparel collection will be available for purchase for the first time at the launch event and available online after, with additional limited pieces. “’GENESIS’ was the name we thought of when building this collection, and this event. It’s the beginning but also the culmination of all of our work over the years to start a new beginning,” Lucy said about the upcoming launch.
TIP’s original artwork will be displayed throughout the event and highlighted in what is Geza’s first-ever art show. Originally from Allentown, PA, G moved to his second home in Inglewood, CA to pursue his creative dreams. He is the Creative Director and Artist Originator behind the brand’s mark, TIP Camo. The Art Gallery is being brought to life by Puma, to feature a 1/1 TIP x Puma Slipstream sneaker and these artworks from August 20th through the end of the month.
The event is being built with the help of SoCo House Productions owned by Stephanie Cuevas and Brittany Elizabeth Events owned by Brittany Chow. “We couldn’t have asked for a better team of women to accomplish this with. It’s always been about bringing in the people we value and playing off of each other’s strengths to bring this all together. God really made that happen with GENESIS,” said founder G.
In partnership with Say Treees, TIP Supply will be collaborating on their first Cannabis Strain, also named GENESIS. “Another first for the team, but a must for the family! Say Treees – Jahni Denver, [they] stand for the things we stand for, our values, pushing culture forward, and lifting up others. It was a no-brainer figuring out who we wanted our first strain collab to be with,” G said about the collaboration. The Strain will be available for tasting and testing at the TIP Launch event and in local LA dispensaries.
Additionally, the first 150 guests at the event will receive TIP’s first ever POAP NFT in collaboration with Voice HQ. As a gift back to their community TIP is choosing 1 NFT holder at random to receive a 6-month supply of Topo Chico courtesy of the brand. The event will be held at Gallery 90220 in the heart of Los Angeles. “Being raised in LA, it was important to bring this back to my roots and the community that has helped us and supported us along the way. And David Colbert the owner of Gallery 90220 has been a long-time friend and collaborator for TIP, he has always supported TIP’s mission to insert culture, color, and inspiration back into the industries we belong in,” said Lucy.
TIP’s GENESIS launch event is for everyone ages 21 and up, and it’s not too late to RSVP. Upon doing so, a confirmation will be sent out providing details like address and time of the event.
Follow TIP Supply for more information and to keep up with future developments.
by Randy Dunbar
The drive to the Griffith Observatory is always a fun-filled drive. It is where Vermont Avenue meets the hills as one passes the rich homes of Los Feliz, the open spaces where the coyotes roam, the Greek Theater and up the hill to the Observatory. On a recent Friday night, the drive was interrupted by the twinkling of lights on the left—and a parking lot full of parked cars! Turns out, it was The Cinespia Drive-In at The Greek Theatre, a drive-in movie presentation in Griffith Park.
Make it an “Only In LA” event (an event that is popular but you need to be on some very hip list to know about it), but it looks like great fun. On April 17, the film Hairspray will be played against the backdrop of foliage and landscape. Here’s what we know:
Sat, April 17, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT Doors at 6:30 PM It is $45 per car.
Limit 4 customers per car.
Patrons must remain in their car, masks must be worn when using restroom.
Bring food and drink, no alcohol permitted. (ah huh)
Occupants of your car must be members of your household.
