Essence LA: September 2015

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

essence Carson: Dareon Grace

Photo by Dareon Grace

If you haven’t been tuning into our blog this month, shame on you. You’re sleeping on some good stuff. Nevertheless, here’s what you missed: All this month we have been giving you a glimpse inside the neighborhood of Carson, CA. We have presented you with various art related events happening in the City. We’ve served you with our dining experience at the new Phantom Carriage Brewery. Now we present to you, Dareon Grace. He’s a Photographer, clothing designer, musician and he’s also a native of Carson. EssenceLA sat down and talked to Dareon about his work as an artist and about his experience growing up in Carson.

Photo by Dareon Grace

“It all started in high school…” he said as we sat down on the shaded front porch of his Carson home on an obscenely hot LA day. Before that, he offered us water, but in true LA fashion, despite the triple digit temperature, Lana LosAngeles declined saying “I have to finish my morning coffee first.” I (Curnie Compton) laughed and shook my head in true “wtf” fashion but I knew in all seriousness this was a hard FACT. I’m sure she’ll agree when I say the day is a much better day for everyone involved when Lana has her morning coffee. But back to Dareon, he went on to tell us about how his love for shooting was a product of him venturing out of his neighborhood to explore and experience the greater Los Angeles city life. With camera in hand and skateboard gliding over the pavement, he explored to neighborhoods like Melrose and Downtown, connecting and interacting with people who were like minded and shared the same interests.

Although much of his work can be considered fashion photography, he says he prefers shooting in places surrounded by a lot of people doing their day to day city shuffle. Besides the city itself, Dareon also says the underground hip hop scene has a big influence on his work. He claims artists like MF Doom and Pharrell Williams have inspired him in many ways. MF Doom for his unique ability to “transfer knowledge” and Pharrell because he identifies with him and his re-imagination of skateboard culture and the way he infuses his music, lifestyle, and passion for fashion. According to Dareon, hip hop culture goes hand in hand with fashion. It has encouraged him to create his brand Imaginary Friends and collaborate with friends and fellow artists to create the brand Clean.

We could not end this interview without Dareon recommending to our essenceLA readers some of his favorite places to go in Los Angeles. Places like the Downtown Art Walk, Fairfax Flea Market are his favorite and of course the beach. One thing that stuck out to us, one of the reasons why we do what we do, was that Dareon too is passionate about connecting other artists who are out here in LA also doing their thing. He told us the networking possibilities and the city’s ability to enable his creative grind are his favorite parts about Los Angeles. He enjoys collaborating with artists who are also passionate and purposeful about their craft. Dareon made sure to let us know about some of these incredible artists, some of which we hope to introduce to all of you in articles to come. "I'm here for there people" Dareon stated and we here at essenceLA are too. We hope that you've enjoyed our exploration of Carson, and we hope you stick around with us as we check out more of our city streets and the creative minds that make them thrive. These are our people, our city, our LA

Photo by Dareon Grace

In addition to constantly adding to his photography portfolio, Dareon has several projects coming up. He is gearing up to relaunch his Clean clothing brand as well as his Imaginary Friends music project and his production company 1937 Films. Hit the play button below to hear part of the interview or check it out on our Soundcloud page. All photos used in this article was take by Dareon. Be sure to check out his work on the links below.

Follow Dareon on Tumblr

Check out his brand Clean.

Follow on Instagram: @Jamaicanxboogie

Saturday, September 26, 2015

LPNSImprov Presents: The MaD JaCKRats

A vivacious cast, opening to an equally vibrant audience, The MaD JaCKRaTS, instructed by Lauren Patrice Nadler, played their 14th show on Sunday, September 20th and invited essenceLA along for the ride. Located in the NoHo Arts District, at the Arts Center's Theatre 68, this was a new venue for The LPNSImprov MaD JaCKRaTS, but their craft and their work in their live and completely improvised show Makin A Movie obviously keeps crowds coming back. Before the start of the show, director Lauren Patrice Nadler asked the audience how many were new guests and how many were returning and we, here at essenceLA were among the very few new audience members sitting within the crowd.

Photo provided by LPNSImprov

Upon arrival in the neutral colored and tastefully decorated lobby we were greeted by two smiling attendants behind the front desk and a large clear suggestion bowl and white note paper and pencils. The MaD JaCKRaTS, in true improv fashion form their shows, on the fly, according to audience suggestion. And by the time we arrived there were plenty of suggestion already in the bowl and plenty of excited audience members anxiously awaiting the possibility of their suggestion being used in the show. You could feel the energy in the air and the cast of characters was great about returning that same, contagious energy back to the audience.

The stage was set, colorful and spunky, scattered with various costumes, props and accessories. From elaborate beaded dresses and blonde wigs to nostalgic Nerf guns and break-away pants the possibilities for these courageous characters was endless and the wild audience suggestions forced them to put their creativity to the test. The show was broken up into three segments each surrounding three suggestions pulled from the lobby bowl and completely created on the spot in front of a live audience and a live webcam stream of the performance to other places. Sunday's segment suggestions included 'Iceberg' complete with hilarious Titanic references, 'Trump For President' incorporating robot assistants (Christina Orloff) and impromptu DJ skills from the company's own, Jeremy Howards and 'Superhero Rejects Convention' introducing all kinds of super characters sporting some not-so-super, but equally hilarious powers. Each segment so funny it was impossible for us to pick our favorite.

Photo provided by LPNSImprov

The show was great, each ensemble member bringing something different to the stage each and every time, keeping the audience laughing, and guessing the whole way through. We loved watching the cast work, sitting along the side if the stage listening to one another developing and outrageous story, and simultaneously calculating their next move. Michael Franklin in particular is one that is incredible to watch both on stage as one of his crazy characters or off stage while he is crafting his next dynamic character choice. They are a talented, diverse and quick-witted group of actors and they, in combination with Lauren Patrice Nadler's direction have put together a show that is truly keeping audiences engaged the whole way through. We surely were impressed by their craft and walked away still talking about their work the whole ride home.

The MaD JaCKRaTS are making a home for themselves here at Theatre 68 and have a new, completely original show live for you each 3rd Sunday of every month. If you have the time, their next show, coming up on Sunday, October 18th incorporates the Halloween themes and according to director, Lauren Patrice Nadler's, post-show speech it seems as though the cast might have some exciting things up their sleeves for this spook-themed show. We would definitely recommend you to check them out, and visit their website for more information on them, their work, and their up and coming shows. (Mature audiences strongly recommended.)

We thank The MaD JaCKRaTS for inviting us down to see them all, live in action and we look forward to following along with their work in the future. We know theatre, comedy and improv audiences and fans alike will all enjoy what this ensemble has to offer and we are sure the Arts Center is enjoying having them there.

Photo Provided by LPNSImprov

Monday, September 21, 2015

essence Carson: Phantom Carriage

Photo by Lana LosAngeles

It was a grey, gloomy, wet & sticky day in Carson, as LA got some much needed rain. In lieu of taking multiple showers, there is nothing quite as refreshing as an ice cold beer. Good thing we live in LA where the pints are plenty and many local, craft breweries call it their home. From the nationally acclaimed breweries to smaller brewers who are just getting their tongues wet, LA might be in a major water drought but our beer taps runneth over. Carson is the one of the latest cities to have a craft beer brewery to move in. Phantom Carriage is a local brewery that's relatively new to the neighborhood. It opened up its doors and taps to the public less than a year ago.

First thing that crossed our minds upon coming across Phantom Carriage: A brewery so close to Compton?! We MUST check this place out. Heads up, this place is located in the cut in commercial building with barely any signage. Sort of hard to find, but worth the search. We entered into a dark hallway and were greeted by the sounds of bar banter and rock music. Once our eyes adjusted, we walked into the bar area. The facility was very spacious and contained minimal decor. Though the light was faint, the patrons seemed to liven up the place. It was a Tuesday afternoon so it wasn’t packed, but all of the seats at the bar were taken. The first dope aspect we notice were the high ceilings, the huge towers of barrels located at the rear of the bar and all of the wooden tables and chairs. It actually gave off the feeling of being inside a barrel, which may seem to make a person uneasy, but is was actually a fitting and diggable atmosphere. Another cool feat was the even darker room where horror films are screened. Today’s choice flick: selections from the Tales from the Crypt series. Suddenly stricken by nostalgia, we are reminded of being kids in the early nineties being horrified by the appearance of the Crypt-keeper. So it was only fitting that we sat in this room.

Photo by Lana Los Angeles

After establishing our base camp, we proceeded to the bar to order food and drinks. The bartender was super helpful and informative. He told us that they were known for their house sour brews and that they also have some guest selections. Appreciating their affordable baller-on-a-budget prices, we decided to order a flight to sample all of their house beers. Our conclusion: we hated the sour beers. They weren’t our thing. However, we definitely do recommend some of their other house selections. Our top choices were the Hoppy Leapwood, which is a Saison Farmhouse Ale and the Nightwatch which a dark and hoppy IPA brew. Both of these selections pleased us so, it was only necessary to order a full pint after the flight. The food we ordered was also very pleasing. We had the Turkey Melt and Grilled Cheese and each sandwich came with a pickle and the house chips. The Turkey melt was set off by their sweet house jam causing our tastebuds to be overjoyed by this marriage of sweet and savory. The Grilled Cheese was also complemented by the house jam, one of the best Grilled Cheeses we have had in a long time, and the perfect classic snack to go along with our already nostalgic lunch.

Overall, we had a really great experience at the Phantom Carriage. If you ever find yourself in Carson, especially in the month of October, it is definitely worth checking out. One thing that makes us want to go back is that their house brews are constantly rotating on tap, which means you can experience something new every time. They also have some exciting events coming up that go along with the Halloween theme including a Pop-Up Beer Dinner on the 15th, a Monster Making Paint Night on the 22nd and a Pumpkin Fest Carving Contest on the 25th all of which we strongly recommend checking out. The already spooky feel and the fantastic selection of ice cold beer we have no doubt Halloween here would be time well-spent. With it’s commercial building location and the subtle character, this place is the perfect fit for the understated and curated town of Carson, California.

Flyer Courtesy of Phantom Carriage Website

Monday, September 14, 2015

essence Carson

Carson, California, incorporated as a city in Los Angeles County on February 20th, 1968. The city is the youngest municipality in the South Bay region and rightfully sloganed the "Future Unlimited." It is home to some of LA’s staples, such as California State University at Dominguez Hills and the Goodyear Blimp. In addition to our blue and yellow, airship, sky-neighbor reminding us to have a ‘good year’ all year long, and unbeknownst to many LA natives and visitors alike, Carson is also home to many local and underground artists, several art-related attractions, and delicious and exciting new restaurants.

Over the course of the next few posts, essenceLA will be exploring the well paved streets of Carson, and while trying not to get lost in the numerous blindingly white and gray scaled, commercial factory establishments, we will discover what to do and see here on the scene from the calm, earth-toned city streets to well manicured and flat campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills. This quiet, suburban city has some hidden gems to explore, as well as residents who are involved in making art that speaks to our generation. We will explore what is it's like growing up in here through the eyes of Carson bred photographer and clothing designer, Dareon Grace. Also to honor an urban millennial custom of indulging in craft beers and small plates, we will eat, drink, and hopefully be merry at the new Phantom Carriage brewery (INSERT LINK HERE).

This quiet retreat is filled with bright green trees and strip malls, containing popular chain stores and restaurants. It is a very culturally diverse neighborhood that is bordered by Compton, Torrance and Long Beach.. It is a prime example of a Los Angeles dwelling that harbors unique artists and their artistic and cultural movements. Carson is simple and charming, and is one of those rare, residential areas of Los Angeles that isn’t taken over by apartment buildings. Although it lacks grand murals and elaborate sculptures, the true, endless art innovations are possessed by its inhabitants, who personify its individuality within the diverse neighborhoods of Los Angeles. We look forward to exploring the “future unlimited” and sharing it all with you.

The photos featured in this article were taken during a day trip we took to the Carson area, roaming the streets and snapping pictures with our phones as we went.

To start you off, here is some music my local Carson rapper, Jelani Sipho. Hit 'play' below or click here to check out some more of his work.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Events In September

Summer might be winding now, but the amount of events surrounding LA's art, culture, and history are steadily happening. Here at essenceLA, it is our duty to present you with said events occurring in various parts of the city. Here are a few that are on our radar. Be sure to check our September Events page frequently for newly added updates.

WATTS THEN AND NOW

Aug 11, 2015 - Jan. 28, 2016 Carson, CA