Fight From Above, live at the Troubadour!

When: Thursday, August 26th at 8:00pm

Where: 9081 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Fee: $10 (tickets can be purchased here)

All ages welcome!

Be there or be lame!

Cradled between lush green trees and an expansive night sky, the enchanting Ford Amphitheatre provided an intimate and inviting backdrop for Koffeehouse’s 4^th Annual “Evening of Independence.”Welcomed by a cascading bevy of stairs, guests pushed through the theatre’s cream-colored doors to find a stage lined with cobblestone details and a captivating view of the night’s musical showcase.

Produced by Koffeehouse Productions, LLC in partnership with the County of Los Angeles, 100% of the concert’s proceeds went to benefiting The Record Academy’s MusiCares program. Created to provide a wide range of services and resources to music people in their times of need, MusiCare continues to be a positive force in the music community. Out to support a great cause and enjoy a line-up of fabulous entertainment, concert goers had the chance to make “Evening of Independence” an event to remember.

The pre-show at the Edison Plaza allowed guests to participate in a silent auction, picnic in the courtyard and bask in the rays of the warm summer day. With performances by up and coming artists like Jayme Dee, Terra Naomi and Freddie and Francine, the transition into the night’s musical talent was a smooth one.

Each and every artist on the main stage left their own extraordinary mark on the concert’s success. Whether it was the angelic acapella of Grammy-nominated Sixpence None The Richer performing “There She Goes” or Island Def Jam recording artist Jon McLaughlin enticing the audience with his piano playing and engagingly heartfelt ballads, the crowd was hooked. Injecting a country twang with a pop/rock spirit, Ironworks recording artist honeyhoney created energetic harmonies that stole the show and left the audience cheering for more. And as the night winded down, the benefit ended with an all- inclusive artist finale that incorporated Verve Forecast/Universal recording artist Katharine McPhee and LA indie-rockers The Daylights, serving as a special, unforgettable touch to a stellar musical experience.

If you missed out on this year’s “Evening of Independence,” not to worry. You can find out more about the featured artists and upcoming Koffeehouse events at www.koffeehouse.com, or learn more on how to help support the MusiCare program at www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy.  Links to participating talent can also be found below. Happy listening!

MAIN STAGE

Tina Guo with Marcelo Cesena
Sixpence None the Richer
Jon McLaughlin
honeyhoney
Katharine McPhee
The Daylights

PRE-SHOW

Jayme Dee
Terra Naomi
Freddy & Francine
Shawn Hlookoff

The Westside’s New Epicenter For Art, Activism, Booze, Live Music, DJ Culture

Featuring Special Performances By Indie Hip-Hop Artist BUSDRIVER, Sister Crayon & Nocando

When: Saturday, August 14th at 7:00pm
Where: 1348 14th Street in Santa Monica, CA
Tickets: $10 advance here or $12 at door

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The CENTRAL, Social Aid & Pleasure Club is an organic meeting center for progressive culture, social activist and globally conscious organizations to hold community meetings, benefits, and rallies, in addition to programming amazing indie music & cultivating the electronic scene on the Westside of LA.   Their mission is to provide tasteful live music, booze and community while creating a hub for special events and hosting the most credible in live music acts and world-renowned DJs.

CENTRAL is located at 1348 14th Street in Santa Monica, CA. The venue is open free of charge for community events and gatherings starting at 4pm. Hours of operation are 4pm-2am daily. For more information and a calendar of events, visit www.centralsapc.com.

It is early morning in Los Angeles, and Joel Arquillos, the Executive Director of a super cool nonprofit tutoring-center for kids called 826LA, sits at a humble desk upstairs in his loft-office-space squeezed between stacks of paperwork, a laptop, two printers, and bookcases filled to the brim with children’s chap books. The adorable, yet profound and well-crafted books, are written by students and published in-house thanks to those two very standard looking but tireless printers.

Downstairs is a Victorian-esque “parlor,” or main-room, that seems right out of a picture.  It is quiet this morning.  The motion-sensor lights flicker on then off then on again as a breeze rustles something, then back off to save energy. Inspiring quotations hang on the wall and beautiful wooden tables and chairs sit clean and empty, awaiting the inevitable afterschool pouring-in of students.  The morning light, like an old Dickens’ book, trickles in softly through windows, and the vibe is reminiscent of an academic-study-hall meets hip-library.

This is one of eight locations in the United States under 826 National’s umbrella, offering free afterschool tutoring services to students ages 6 to 18 with a bent toward writing and creativity.  Named after its original address on Valencia Street in San Francisco, it was founded by author/screenwriter Dave Eggers and educator Ninive Calegari. This location in Echo Park is one of two in LA (826West is in Venice) and thrives like a hidden gem behind the walls of its very own Time Travel Mart. 826 Seattle’s is called The Space Travel Supply Company; Brooklyn hosts The Superhero Co.; and, Chicago has The Boring Store (NOT a secret agent’s supply store, I repeat, NOT a spy store!)

See, if you happen to be traveling through time here at The Time Travel Mart in Echo Park, you can buy Pastports®, cavemen perfume, or dinosaur eggs among other materials one might need in another dimension.  If you were to happen upon the store (whether in this dimension or the next), you would probably do a double-take not realizing there is an entire tutoring center, or literary think-tank, hiding behind its wall.  But, the local kids know about it, the staffers know about it, and so do the many volunteers who help bring its mission to life.  The organization is doing anything but hiding.  It’s inventing.  It’s reaching out, and it’s welcoming.

Behind the oddball time travel items, through an inconspicuous doorway against the store’s far wall, this charming nonprofit offers not just free tutoring but workshops  for the kids led by volunteers by the likes of director Spike Jonze or author Jeff Kinney among others.  It coordinates and holds classes for adults too, like writing seminars by Bob Odenkirk or panelist-discussions on professional food-writing with writers like Pat Saperstein of Eating LA and Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly.  Each 826 “chapter” attracts neighborhood volunteers and industry-heavy weights, but anyone can participate if they have knowledge they’d like to share.

There are ongoing events to support and enjoy too, like comedian Paul F. Thompkins’ monthly Dead Authors Readings at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Hollywood, whose proceeds go to 826.  Or the 826’s book club held once-a-month at the writing lab on Sunset.

There are student poetry readings and E-Zines (check out LAGood Times or The Venice Wave), field trips, workshops, launch parties, and fundraising events; basically, 826’s “hip-factor” is totally inspirational.  Their mission is to give one-on-one attention to students and focus on creative and expository writing skills, but when the homework’s done, out come the mental-crayons.

What also sets this nonprofit apart is how Eggers and Calegari saw a need, addressed it, and were bold enough to stay true to their vision.  Utilizing the talents and uniqueness of everyone involved makes it possible and safe for students to hone their own voices, create, write, collaborate, study, and learn with fun and fervor.  Same goes for the volunteers.  Since opening in 2002, the organization has been asked by several cities to establish more chapters.  826 really hit the pulse of a much-needed service.  But since this is not a franchise, planting new locations requires forethought.  Questions need to be asked and communities assessed.  Each chapter, though it follows the 826 National model, is independently functioning.   So when a new chapter opens its doors, it seeks to do more than just build a site for students to meet tutors; it aims to set up shop where its roots are needed and will grow for years to come.  “Kids here in Echo Park who come to the center live in the same neighborhoods as a lot of the volunteers; yet they never really find occasion to connect with each other outside of this place.  So when they’re here,,,” Arquillos says enthusiastically, “it’s like a club house for these adults from the community who are artists, writers, doctors, lawyers, retired folks, and young folks who may live two doors down.”

Arquillos, and a handful of dedicated staff, share their Echo Park office with Mr. Barnacle- the elusive, ornery, in-house publisher of Barnacle and Barnacle Books.  When it’s time for the student-authors to send their collaborations to “the press”, “Mr. Barnacle, unseen and “Wizard-of-Oz-like”, demands originality,” Arquillos explains in all seriousness.  Barnacle, he’s grumpy but impressed by the students and sends their writings to print.  And he is just a part of 826’s unending and inventive charm.  Arquillos glows proudly when describing the organization’s efforts.

When hearing Joel talk about when he “met” 826 Valencia, it sounds not too dissimilar from love at first sight.  He was working in San Francisco as a teacher at the time he got involved. The nonprofit was obviously smitten with him as well, awarding him with 826 Valencia Teacher of the Month. Soon, they asked if he’d join forces with their team, and he leapt at the opportunity, helping to open 826 Boston.  Now, he is based in Los Angeles. “The thing that’s always impressed me about 826  is that I saw a bigger opportunity to connect the community to the kids.  As a former public school teacher, it often felt like my classroom was isolated from the outside world.  One of the things we try to do at 826LA is show students that there’s an audience beyond their school, waiting to hear what they have to say. Our goal is to keep a love for writing and learning alive in the classrooms we visit, at our centers.”

On average the US middle and high school class sizes range between thirty-five to forty-three students.  Schools are stretched too thin.  Teachers are doing their best, but coupled with recent school cutbacks, we have a tough situation to manage.  As Einstein said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”  Yes indeed.  But what if the numbers are stacked against him?

In Echo Park alone, there are over 20,000 students.  “It would make no sense to live as an island when there’s so much need and support out there,” Arquillos says. “[LA] is a good challenge. There is a lot of room to grow here.  And there are already a lot of nonprofits and groups trying to bring support.”  826’s approach resonates with kids and teachers.  “We’re first and foremost helping support what’s already happening in school,” he assures.  “We know teachers are overburdened and need help.”

For some of us LA-ites, especially those who commute, LA might feel like it has no center; neighborhoods are far apart, and commutes to work obscure any sense of local belonging.  Well, the conversation is open at 826LA – between students and volunteers and within neighborhoods.  They hope more cities will create their own free tutoring centers, too, because it works.  As Anne Frank wrote, “Parents can only give good advice or put (children) on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.”  That seems to be the defining idea behind the doors of 826: collaboration, involvement, and celebrating.  It’s about putting joy back into learning and celebrating the uniqueness in each child’s voice.  An idea that is not too hidden behind the walls of The Time Travel Mart.

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Connect with 826LA:

Website

Los Angeles, CA - Music. Fashion. Art. Photography. Rocky Horror Picture Show. On Friday, August the 13th, 2010 all of these come together in a fright filled night at the Sugar Art and Fashion Show. For its fourth time, 1981 Collection shocks the downtown LA scene with a fusion of up and coming musicians, photographers, artists, and designers of various medias.

To add to the excitement of this extravagant function a shuttle transports show attendees to a secret location where they will experience the evening’s planned events. Amongst these events is a live viewing and reenactment of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a fashion show consisting of works created by fifteen local fashion and accessory designers. The night will conclude with a spectacular performance by the rising female band, Infernal Vixen. These rockers are all only 19 years old, impressive! For the entire evening DJ Tessa Young will entertain guests with party inducing remixes.

If you’re on the lookout for unique treasures, ten exceptionally talented vendors will be selling their products to the public at this event.

Sugar Cubed will be held at a mystery location in downtown L.A. Event attendees are invited to park in a lot near 2106 Imperial St, Los Angeles, 90021. Here the shuttle will begin pick-ups at 7:30pm allowing time for you to arrive at the venue for an 8:00PM showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The shuttle will continue to transport guests to this secret location every 10 minutes until the show is over.

Want the celebrity treatment? Of course you do! Pre-order your V.I.P. All Access Tickets. This allows you the privileges of free drinks served by alluring cocktail waitresses, a front row seat for the fashion show, and best of all, front of the line access!

Regular tickets priced at $10 and V.I.P. tickets priced at $40 can be found online at 1981 Collection.

So, get ready for a night to remember, and get set to look your best, because Urbansalt.com will be in the house with their style photo booth. Lights, camera, flash! Say style!

Sugar Art & Fashion Show
1981 Collection
www.1981collection.com

From spray-painted graffiti furniture dripping with individuality to sleek bedroom and living room accents, (Sub)Urban Home is a design haven for today’s creative professionals.

With a love for modernism, pop art and urban spaces, owner Ronnie Gene took his years of experience as an interior/furniture designer and an unfortunate stint with unemployment to dive into creating his dream business. Encouraged to seize the moment, Gene drafted a business plan, secured an investment, a business partner and the rest is history.

“I am incredibly fortunate to have what’s been given me, and I realize it’s usually a lot harder for most people. I don’t take any of it for granted,” said Gene.

Injecting a freshness and affordability to the interior design market, (Sub)Urban Home’s showroom targets a new generation of homeowners. While a bevy of furniture stores can be found throughout Los Angeles, Gene felt there was an ever growing clientele consistently being overlooked. They were the skaters turned pro, graffiti artists turned entrepreneur or the musicians and artists who couldn’t quite find the furniture and designs that embodied their style.

“I wanted to create a space that showcases some of these new ideas while creating a comfortable place for exploration and creation,” said Gene. “I tend to push the limits a bit, but not the bizarre.”

Being able to keep a hold on his creative restraints, Gene says, helps him turn his client’s visions into realistic, functional furniture and interior pieces.

(Sub)Urban Home is filled with affordable accessories and edgy designs. Essential to everything sold is quality. Marrying a decent price point with amazing quality was no easy task, but the extensive research on upholsterers and carpenters was well worth it in the end.

“There is this stigma on custom furniture and interior design being very stuffy and expensive, and I want to make it more casual. I AM our customer, and I get them more than they know,” said Gene. “I hope they feel that. I also want them to walk away and be inspired–inspired to think outside the box and be comfortable expressing themselves in their interiors.”

Advice from one successful artistic entrepreneur to the next, take time to learn about the business side of it all. Having amazing ideas won’t count for much if you can’t communicate with your customer base and sell those ideas, Gene said.

“Second, be realistic. There are so many things that we can create and sell, but not everything should be created and sold. Find a way to compromise what you really like with what will relate to people,” he added.

Above all, in the interior design industry, listening is key. Understanding the client, checking your ego at the door and learning how to fuse your expertise as a designer with the practical and not so practical desires of the clientele is essential to creating successful relationships.

“I love helping people. Whatever reason it is they chose to decorate for, I love knowing that I helped them create something they can be proud of. A home is our most personal space, and I am honored that people continue to trust me with theirs.”

For more on (Sub)Urban Home, their new furniture and accessories or just interested in visiting the showroom for yourself, check out www.suburban-la.com.

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Spec Sheet:

Name/Nickname: Ronnie Gene

Birthplace: Omaha, NE

Height: 5′11″‘

Random/quirky facts about yourself: “I was a DJ for 16 years. Was a personal assistant to a celebrity.”

Favorite things to do: “I love to eat, play board games with family, hang out with  my nieces and nephews.”

Most embarrassing life moment: “Working as a personal assistant to a celebrity.”

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Connect with (Sub)Urban:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Chris Rountree enthusiastically spins his fingers upwards as he attempts to tell me the philosophy of wild Up.  The group, which he acts as art director and conductor for, is much more than just a chamber orchestra.  Started in January 2010 by a bunch of post-graduate students looking for a way to fill what they saw as a void in the music scene; wild Up seeks to bring a new and enlivened audience to classical music and orchestral concerts.  “We can do pop music, classical music, street noises, avant-garde music, fluxes music, [and] we can do carrot,” lists off Chris, “When it comes to music, any music is fair game.”  And, they stand by that statement.  Their first performance this past February ran the spectrum of Bach to Stravinsky to Radiohead.

Attempting to break the more traditional view of orchestral music, Chris says, “The classical way of going into the text and bringing out the essence, while it’s good in a lot of ways, causes this kind of robot thing.  Like you’re goal is to sound like a recording, to be perfect and not necessarily engaging.  And we want to be perfect, but we’re gonna’ be engaging too, and we’ll get more from it.”

And to get more from it, the group has opted for a more informal experience, such as performing in unconventional spaces and relaxing the typical concert etiquette allowing the audience to interact more fully with the musicians.  “Music is about connecting with people and what better way for them to do that than to go nuts when they enjoy it, or to be close enough to see our reactions to the music,” says Chris.

Enthusiastically Chris explains that their reinvented format comes with both obstacles and rewards.  “It’s really great for some of these musicians who have been playing about 20 years with no immediate gratification to hear people just go nuts right after a movement,” explains Chris. “Performing in a conventional orchestra you just don’t see that.”  And while it enlivens the performers, it also creates problems as they struggle to hear and stay focused over the cheering and applause, but he acknowledges that that’s just something that comes with their experimenting.

“There was no expectation of the way it would be, so I’ve been open to what it will be and what it is,” says Chris.  And in terms of what it will be Chris says, “Anything goes.  I mean, you can’t sit with the musicians, at least not yet.”  As wild Up plans for their fall season, they hope to take over more unconventional spaces, possibly turning up at Downtown ArtWalk, The Getty, and other venues so keep your eyes open or check out their webpage at: http://wildUp.la.

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Spec Sheet:

Name/Nickname: Christopher Rountree

Birthplace: Anaheim, CA

Favorite things to do: “Go to the beach, people watch, read, spend time with my friends, write and make music.

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Connect with wild Up:

Website

KOFFEEHOUSE MUSIC PRESENTS ITS 4TH ANNUAL “EVENING OF INDEPENDENCE” CONCERT BENEFITING MUSICARES® SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010 AT THE MAGICAL FORD AMPHITHEATER

Featuring A Night Of Singers, Songwriters and Music By Katharine McPhee, Jon McLaughlin, honeyhoney, The Daylights, And A Special Reunion Performance By Sixpence None The Richer

(LOS ANGELES July 16, 2010) – Koffeehouse is proud to present its 4th Annual “Evening of Independence” benefitting MusiCares® on August 7, 2010 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. The evening will feature the most talented emerging artists and special guests with featured performances by Verve/Universal recording artist, actress KATHARINE MCPHEE, Island Def Jam recording artist JON MCLAUGHLIN, national recording artists HONEYHONEY, Los Angeles Indie-rockers THE DAYLIGHTS, GRAMMY-nominated SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, who will be reuniting at The Ford after a six- year hiatus as well as a special performance by award-winning cellist, TINA GUO accompanied by Marcelo. The event will be hosted by ESPN, Current TV and Yahoo! Sports’ correspondent and host, ANGELA SUN.

Koffeehouse’s 4th Annual “Evening of Independence” is in official partnership with Los Angeles County Arts Commission and is sponsored by ABC7, KPFK 90.7fm, Univision, LA Weekly, LA18, and Fusicology. One hundred percent of the evening’s net proceeds benefit MusiCares, whose mission is to provide a safety net of critical assistance for musicians in times of need (www.grammy.org/musicares.com).

“When we started these intimate showcases in my backyard nearly seven years ago, we had no idea we would be participating in the promotion and production of so many high-profile concerts and music festivals years later,” says Koffeehouse Founder Jeremy Koff.  “We’re extremely honored to have worked with so many talented artists and take pride in giving them a platform to share their extraordinary ability with the music industry.”

The pre-show will take place in The Ford’s Edison Plaza courtyard from 6:00-7:30PM and will feature a silent auction, picnicking and performances by some of LA’s most talented emerging artists including Terra Naomi, Freddie and Francine, Shawn Hlookoff and Jayme Dee. Picnic baskets and wine are permitted during the pre-show in the Ford’s entryway as well as in the Ford Amphitheatre itself.

Previous Koffeehouse “Evening of Independence” concerts have featured artists including Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Alex Band (The Calling), A Fine Frenzy (Virgin), Rocco Deluca & The Burden (Ironworks), Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon), Tyrone Wells (Universal), MoZella (Universal), Trevor Hall (Geffen/White Balloon), Ryan Star (Atlantic), among many others.

Tickets to Koffeehouse’s 4th Annual “Evening of Independence” are $25 if purchased 7 days or more before the show and $30 thereafter. VIP tickets are available for $100 which includes pre-paid parking at The Ford, access to the VIP lounge—which includes an open bar and food, a mention of you or your company in the official event program, a gift bag full of goodies and the best seats in the house. Discounted student tickets and group tickets are also available. Doors open at 6:00PM. The pre-show runs 6:30-7:30PM. The main show starts at 8:00PM.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.FordTheatres.org or by calling the Ford Box Office at (323) 461-3673.

Additional sponsors include Mike Sullivan’s Toyota of Hollywood, Pink Taco, Wolfgang Puck’s Iced Coffee, and Fender Musical Instruments Corp.

Ryan and Allison are a recently engaged couple like any other. They’re just letting the world plan their wedding!  Two weeks after Ryan proposed, Allison – an editor at the Los Angeles Times Magazine – brought an idea to her editor about starting a blog where her readers have the ultimate say on all major wedding decisions.  She went for it!

Now Allison starts her journey as the official Anti-Bridezilla on her Plan My Wedding blog. Readers will vote on everything from her china to her bridal gown to her first-dance song with Ryan.  Lucky for her, Ryan, known as “The Fiance” on the blog, is in full support!

Log on to planmywedding.latimesmagazine.com to see what’s been decided and how you can help with upcoming votes.