Tag: Los Angeles

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LA Music

Raising The Bar With Hank Fontaine

Hank Fontaine, Central Park

Hank Fontaine is ready for revolution.

On New Year’s Day, the Los Angeles musician trumpeted a public call for creative reformation:

You’re a creator? Awesome. Create. This idea that you’re supposed to be a living, breathing “brand” is gross and someday it’s gonna look really dated. Whether you paint, write, sing, or complain, own that it’s an extension of your soul, not “content” that you excrete on a daily basis like a robot. Can we please make 2020 the year that branding dies?

Hank Fontaine is a powder keg in an industry bursting with soul peddlers thirsty for fame and power. He refuses to be contained. He is content to stay honest to himself, his whims and his art. Conformity does not interest him in the least. Fontaine is a restless soul forever on the prowl for inspiration, both a citizen and student of the world. Ten years of touring as a guitarist; a lifetime of transience. For the time being, he’s existing in Los Angeles, eschewing that plastic Stepford Wife nonsense.

Living in the City of Angels has only deepened his determination to bring authenticity to his craft, encouraging others to follow suit. He walks the walk. After four years as half of sibling duo The Fontaines, touring with Dylan Gardner and Valley Queen, and resetting his path with a couple of singles, Fontaine released his first solo album in 2019: The Globalist Agenda or: Welcome To Frogtown. It is an eclectic tour de force.

Fontaine’s sound is impossible to pigeonhole, and he likes it that way. There are some echoes of retro influence, particularly in Fontaine’s guitar licks, but his lyrics are firmly rooted in the 21st century experience. He effortlessly weaves elements of Harry Nilsson, early Billy Joel, Supertramp, and Electric Light Orchestra in his sound, through the filters of English music hall, New Wave, and breezy California surf rock. Although Fontaine is primarily known for his guitar chops, he is a powerful and emotive vocalist who croons, growls, whispers and fearlessly falsettos.

Photo: Alice Teeple

Hank Fontaine’s strength lies in his curious voyeurism and refusal to mould himself to a false concept. He takes that kid-in-a-candy-store approach to sound, reminiscent of Odelay-era Beck. His self-penned Spotify bio cheekily mocks the industry push to brand musicians, which he sees as a limiting force on creativity. Not a single song on this album sounds like any other, but all work together in a sonic crazy quilt as varied as the people who influenced them. The Globalist Agenda was inspired by people Fontaine met while living in the Frogtown neighborhood of Los Angeles.

“I like to pretend to be other people when I’m writing. I think that’s gonna get me in trouble someday,” he quips.

Fontaine’s love of Seinfeld shines through in his observational lyrics: always wryly wondering, “what’s up with that?” This is best exemplified in his debut single, Bad Love, which sounds like a powerful breakup ballad, but was in fact about a time he got cut off in a Trader Joe’s parking lot. “I asked, what happened to this person to make them like this?” Fontaine explains. The ethereal, forlorn Hope Don’t Leave Me Now was inspired by a compulsive lottery ticket gamber at his local 7/11.

The album was a collaboration with his friend and producer Jason DeMayo. The pair recorded all the instruments together, one at a time.

“It was a very freeing way to work that I never tried before,” says Fontaine.

Fontaine headlined the Troubadour in LA to celebrate the release of The Globalist Agenda, and then took off the rest of 2019 to focus on writing. He’s in NYC for a few months doing an artist residency, working on a new EP of songs he wrote in his hometown of Paris.

Keep your eyes and ears on this one in 2020. Hank Fontaine is just getting started.

You can purchase The Globalist Agenda Or: Welcome To Frogtown here:

https://hankfontaine.bandcamp.com/releases

You can stream it here (but consider buying it, he’s completely independent):

Can’t Give It Up Single

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Categories
Beauty Featured Health LA Wellness

Barber Surgeons Guild: A Portal to Haircuts Past and Future

Barber Surgeons Guild: A Portal to Haircuts Past and Future

A step into the Barber Surgeons Guild is a step into the past. The barbers look ready for a prohibition-era night on the town in button-downs, vests, and the occasional fedora. The back wall is a ’20s-era man-cave with lounge seating, a wall of period books, and a readily available collection of whiskeys. Yes, you’re welcome to grab a glass. From the chairs to the barber capes to the tile walls and light fixtures, there is an effort to transport you to another place and time. 

Keep going far enough, though, and you step right back into the future. The back of Barber Surgeons Guild is a state-of-the-art hair restoration facility offering a variety of services for its clientele. Robotic hair restoration, PRP, scalp camo, and more–if you want more hair than you have, or are worried about losing what you’ve got, they have the tools to help. 

The name “Barber Surgeon” might sound strange, but it comes from a tradition more than 1000 years old. In the middle ages, doctors or physicians had a lot more in common with a medical school professor, a family doctor, or both. If you wanted surgery, you had to go to the other medical professions, the only ones who traveled and carried the knives needed for surgery–barbers. For hundreds of years, the jobs of haircuts and surgery were shared by this strange class of professionals, even being enshrined in English society with the creation of the Company of Barber-Surgeons in 1540. 

Ari S Goldberg
Ari S Goldberg, owner of the Barber Surgeons Guild.

The tradition, of course, fell off with the rise of the physician-surgeon and the surgeon-surgeon, but the archetype was fascinating for Ari Goldberg, the founder of The Barber Surgeons Guild. The company has two locations: one in Los Angeles and one in NYC. Downtown spoke to him about his unique business hybrid. 

Downtown: Yeah, so you have a very unique aesthetic for a, I don’t know what the LA location looks like, but for the New York location I really liked the…it felt like a kind of 1920s theme.

 

Ari Goldberg: Yeah. The classic barbershop.

 

DT: How did that aesthetic come about?

 

AG: I think it’s just rooted in what we wanted to create with the brand. The vision was to combine consumer and medical. And then, from a brand perspective, I wanted to create something that was very much like a heritage program, like kind of a Double RL. It was rooted in history and timeless was a word that came up a lot. It all plays off of timeless. Or we would always say like a gentleman’s lounge. And then when you look at the history of the barber surgeon, you know, it’s a real thing.

 

DT: So why combine those two? Do you have a background in hair regrowth?

 

AG: No, I do not. My background is in marketing. My expertise is very deeply rooted in advertising. My initial starting point was to expand my career and my investment portfolio. I was interested in the convergence of consumer and medical. There were a lot of consumer brands but not so much the medical component.

 

DT: What inspired you to do that?

 

AG: I really just kind of seen the market opportunity. You know, I was the guy that cared about health and wellness and cared about style and appearance. I know there’s a lot of other guys like me. And having a healthy head of hair is obviously something that’s paramount, something of interest to a lot of us. There are a lot of snake oil salesmen out there on both the consumer and medical trends, and both come up with products and services. And I really wanted to create a brand that was good for the people around us–that had medical research and science to back it up.

Barber Surgeons Guild

 

DT: How do you convince people that you’re the real deal?

 

AG: Well, I think having a business partner that is a doctor was a big thing for me. I wanted this to be backed by medical research and science, you know, not some kid in Silicon Valley with that idea. Um, so that was it. Uh, you know, all of the ladies are verified. You know, we don’t sell snake oil, you know, “you put this on your head and your hair magically grows.” Like, it just doesn’t work like that. There’s no topical solution that you just rub on and magically you have a full head of hair. That’s why I’m trying to offer the full arsenal of products.

 

When we started the process, I said to them, you know, I don’t care about price right now. I want to create the highest quality products. That’s what we wanted to do as a brand.

 

DT: What specifically are you looking for in a barber?

 

AG: I think we’re looking for someone that’s obviously a master at his craft, who cares about it. You know, I think what’s great about the guys in (our shop). You know, they really see themselves as artisans and craftsmen. They take it seriously, which is great. We want them to be super personable and easy to talk to. We want them to have a trusting kind of bond with the client. A lot of times, especially as guys are starting to lose hair, it becomes a very sensitive subject. So we want someone that kind of shoots you straight, but you know, does it with a soft touch. And we want guys that are knowledgeable and interested in the products and services that we offer so they can educate the client on the options and the additional things that are available to them.

 

DT: what do you want people to know about your business?

 

AG: I want them to know that we created this for ourselves and for our friends and family. You know, we use these products every day. We want to create a product that we were willing to use, not something that we could just give to the consumer for the highest profit margin. It’s like you gotta be the customer you want–you gotta use the stuff too and believe it’s the best. And you know, we’re going out of our way. I use it every day because as far as I know, it is the best product out there. I get my hair cut (at Barber Surgeons Guild) because I think we have the best barbers. I think, in a way, it came from a selfish place because Justin and I are two guys and this is what we wanted and we knew that there were other guys out there like us and you know, we could formulate something around that.

New York City’s Barber Surgeon Guild is located at 345 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013

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Categories
Featured Fitness Health

Learning to Love your Body: 3 Simple Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic

Inner Critic
Olivia, a DOGPOUND LA trainer

by Olivia Poling, a personal trainer at The DOGPOUND‘s Los Angeles location

Photo Credit Bryan Espino

Ladies, tell me if this sounds familiar: you walk into your favorite department store wallet in-hand, ready to buy the PERFECT pair of jeans. You confidently stride over to the rack and sift through the piles until you find “your” size. Then it’s off to the dressing room – you know, that weird-smelling, slightly-disgusting little box with bad lighting – but no matter, with all the optimism in the universe you step into that “perfect pair” of jeans, pull them up, and start to button them.

But wait a minute… something’s not right…
“Are these tighter than last time?” 
Your heart begins to race. Panic sets in. 
“Oh my god. No, no, no… somethings wrong.  These have to fit.” 

But alas…after zipping and buttoning them closed it’s clear that on this day, at this moment, these “perfect” jeans are far from perfect…and a healthy dose of that confident optimism you had just a moment ago disappears in the blink of an eye.

But even worse… now you have to make the walk of shame.  You have to walk back out onto the floor and find the next number that accusingly reminds you of how “not perfect” you are. 

All the while your inner critic tosses out snarky little barbs from the sidelines of your mind. 
“How could I let this happen?” 
“What’s wrong with me? Am I’m not beautiful anymore?” 

This inner critic we all have living inside of us is an insidious monster that constantly nitpicks everything we do. 

UGH! No wonder this drives us half nuts. 

And this isn’t an isolated case either, according to dosomething.org approximately 91% of women report being unhappy with their bodies. 91%!

This problem is epidemic, but how do we inspire body positivity alongside a healthy lifestyle. 

Here are 3 small ways you can begin to silence your inner critic and learn to love YOUR body.

Inner Critic

1. Understand your body is part of who you are, it’s not ALL of who you are.

Your body is part of you, but it doesn’t define who you are. Don’t lose sight of the fact that our lives are rich and dynamic with a multitude of passions, relationships, talents, likes, dislikes, and values. 

Focusing on your whole self–not just listening to your inner critic tear you down–will help build your confidence, and confidence is always in style and it’s always sexy. No matter what you’re wearing or your size.

2. It’s OK to want to make changes, just make them for the right reasons.

On any journey in life, fitness, health, or learning a new skill, everyone travels at their own pace.  No one is better than you, some people are just further down the line on the journey. That doesn’t mean that you won’t get there someday.  So, stop comparing yourself to people who have been at this for a long time.  

Focus on YOUR journey.  Start with small steps and take a minute to reward yourself for each successive milestone – maybe start by adding more veggies to your diet, exercise a little harder or a few more times per week, drink more water, get more high-quality rest.  

Trust me: small, consistent changes pile up quickly and, over time, you’ll achieve (and even smash through) your wildest expectations.  

This won’t just help you physically–your mental health will thank you for this more rational approach as well.

3. Embrace the journey, while learning to love who you are.

Despite what our modern society tries to convince you of nothing ever happens overnight, the best things in life are worth the time and the effort you put in.  So, learn to enjoy the process. Be kind to your body and your mind. It not only will make you stronger on the outside but on the inside as well.

I promise you, if you’re consistent and remind yourself of these 3 simple things every day, you’ll notice changes in your body as well as your attitude towards yourself in all aspects of your life. 

And, it might just be enough to silence your inner critic once and for all.

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Categories
Culture Entertainment Featured

BOWIE: A Photography Exhibition for One Legend Created by Several More

Since David Bowie passed away in January of 2016, tribute art collections, concerts and other events have helped fans and colleagues pay their respects. Now, in Maui, Los Angeles and the Morrison Hotel Gallery here in NYC, some of the best music photographers to ever pick up a camera chronicle the career of the late icon in their BOWIE exhibition.

Photographers Mick Rock & Bob Gruen
Photographers Mick Rock & Bob Gruen. Photo: Courtesy of Dan Bassini

Legendary photographers Duffy, Gerald Fearnley, Lynn Goldsmith, Bob Gruen, Guido Harari, Markus Klinko, Geoff MacCormack, Terry O’Neill, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Masayoshi Sukita and others combine their photography portfolios of David Bowie to create an exclusive, one-of-a-kind look into his life, love and pursuit of Rock ‘N’ Roll stardom. This exciting and nostalgic tribute is beckoning foot traffic from die-hard fans and celebrities alike, with recent gallery appearances by actress Mena Suvari and musician Billy Morrison.

David Bowie Photograph Collection
Photo: Courtesy of Zack Whitford

BOWIE follows the late rock star from his shy beginnings as David Jones through his Ziggy Stardust and Thin White Duke eras before following him throughout the rest of his illustrious career and life as the very definition of “celebrity.” From vulnerable moments in the dressing room to instances of invincibility on stage in front of speechless, adulating crowds, this collection of some of the most telling photographs of the artist reveals every brilliant shade of The Man Who Fell to Earth.

The exhibition runs from February 23rd to March 23rd in the Morrison Hotel Galleries in Los Angeles, New York and Maui. All exhibited photos are for sale.

Categories
Featured Travel

Five Scenic Pools to Cool Off in This Summer

Gansevoort NYC Scenic Pool

When the snow starts to melt and the birds start to chirp, our minds inevitably wander upon the prospect of some good, old-fashioned summer fun. Here are five of our favorite scenic pools around the world to cool off in:

Gansevoort NYC Scenic Pool

  1. Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC, New York

Featuring 360° views of Manhattan and the Hudson, and located in our very own Meatpacking District, Gansevoort’s rooftop pool is a trendy spot to soak in some rays. Don’t forget to grab a cocktail from their Plunge Rooftop Bar + Lounge.

The Curtain Hotel Scenic Pool

  1. The Curtain, London

East London’s Shoreditch neighborhood is full of hip spots, but The Curtain Hotel raises the bar with a Moroccan-inspired, scenic rooftop pool. Open to hotel guests and club members, the pool is heated and open year-round, with a myriad of food and drink options by their resident bar & restaurant, LIDO.

Hollywood Proper Residence Scenic Pool

  1. Hollywood Proper Residences, Los Angeles

Nothing quite says LA like a scenic rooftop pool in Hollywood. Sat atop 21 stories, the rooftop of the Hollywood Proper Residences features all-around views of the Los Angeles skyline, live music events, poolside cabanas and plenty to eat & drink at the Filifera bar and lounge.

Immersion Spa Scenic Pool

  1. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City

Soaring 32 stories above the streets of Atlantic City lies the two-story Immersion Spa at The Water Club, The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Group’s $400 million luxury accommodation. The Water Club features five different pools, including an infinity pool 300 feet above sea level and a window-lined Lap Pool offering some of the most scenic views in the city.

Panamericano Hotel Scenic Pool

  1. Panamericano Buenos Aires, a member of Worldhotels, Buenos Aires

Neighboring the Obelisk and the Colón Theatre in downtown Buenos Aires, Worldhotels’ Panamericano hotel offers up a hefty dose of luxury cool atop their checkerboard-tiled luxury rooftop pool, featuring some of the best views the capital city has to offer.

Photos courtesy of properties

Categories
Dining

CAVA

Healthy eating doesn’t automatically have to mean flavorless kale and a juice cleanse, nor does a quick meal need to qualify as fried food. Say hello to CAVA; the combination of fresh food and speedy service.

If you’re ravenous or start to salivate as you read this, don’t’ worry, there’s plenty of opportunities for you to pick up a CAVA meal in the city. Following a grueling training session at Barry’s Bootcamp – we’re still recovering, thank you very much – Downtown visited the brand’s Union Square branch for a green boost.

The CAVA model was created with efficiency in mind. Pick a salad base from a variety of options, add a choice of meat, some rice if you want it, a range of exotic vegetables and saucy add-ons, including hummus and tzatziki. Finish off with crispy corn strips on top and you’ll never want a plain old Caesar salad again.

Although the concept may sound rudimentary, the food is anything but. One of the main aspects of any NYC foodie venue is its level of ‘instagrammability’ and CAVA is #nofilter. Garden-fresh and compelling with a Mediterranean zest, your meal will look as beautiful as it tastes.

The brand is grab-and-go friendly, built for NYC speed, with two locations in the city. Download the in-house app and you’ll be able to add credit for pre-orders, as well as personalize your meal and drink ahead of arrival.

Speaking of things to quench your thirst with, foodies can also cherry-pick from a range of cold juices, classic Pellegrino sparkling water and other liquid delights including unsweetened tea.

Order and pay through the app, set a pickup time and get your goodies. The ultimate lunch place if you’re in a hurry, need multiple meals for yourself and work colleagues, or simply just don’t like waiting in line for your food.

Healthy, quick and easy; it’s the CAVA way and we love it. And others are too. CAVA is available in seven states throughout the US, Los Angeles being their most popular city — they’ve just opened a 7th spot at the University of Southern California! So if you find yourself on the opposite coast, you’re still able to enjoy the fresh concoctions from CAVA at multiple locations. Now, when it the third one opening in NYC, is all we ask?

Check out where to find your CAVA in NYC or beyond right here.