the like magazine issue 006

www.thelikemagazine.compage 1 | Issue 006

Issue 006 [Winter 2013]

On The Cover[ model ] Ashlee Nichole[ photographer ] Nicole Nygaard

The Like Magazine Team

Jesse Alford: Photographer/EditorMaryanne Alford: Writer/EditorVictoria Melshaw: Layout/Editor

Staff Photographer: Tetty SimeonovaAlbum Reviews: Philly the DrunkFashion Writer: Katrina Alís Vaca

The Like Magazine Team

Jesse Alford: Photographer/EditorMaryanne Alford: Writer/EditorVictoria Melshaw: Layout/Editor

Staff Photographer: Tetty SimeonovaAlbum Reviews: Philly the DrunkFashion Writer: Katrina Alís Vaca

Hello again friends!

I greet you from a snuggled retreat of giant comforters, microfiber socks and the loyal company of tuna-fish, the kitty-cat. The lull of winter had just about gotten the best of me when I realized January is already coming to a close...to say I feel ”relief” would be an understatement. While winter tends to bring me a feeling of sadness, LIKE Magazine still managed to bring you the shit!

We are especially excited to present an exclusive interview with band Authority Zero along with an amazing plethora of fashion, photography, and all those special little tidbits that make us, well, us! If there’s one thing that can whisk that icy cold away, it’s issue [006], fresh out of the oven.

Cheers,

Maryanne AlfordThe Like Team


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Dropkick Murphys“Signed and Sealed in Blood”Born and Breddropkickmurphys.com

“The boys are back and they’re looking for trouble!” gang vocals exclaim to open up the 8th studio album by the Dropkick Murphys, and boy are they. They’ve come a long way from being just four guys banging out punk tunes in the late 90’s. Now, they’re SEVEN guys banging ‘em out! These songs are the newest material by the band that I’ve listened to since 2005’s “Warrior’s Code.” That album really turned me off to them. It was like they said “let’s throw EVERYTHING: the bagpipes, mandolins, accordion, banjo, whistles in with loud, distorted guitars and fast drums… oh yeah, everybody yell at all times… on EVERY song!” At least that’s what it felt like at the time, and it sucked cuz I loved everything before that album. With that said, I find myself wanting to hop back aboard the Drop-kick train.

With the help of producer Ted Hutt, the Murphys really constructed a damn fine slab o’ plastic. The rockers make you wanna pump your fist while the folksy ballads make you sway with delight. It’s all woven together perfectly. The pace changes throughout very fluidly and there’s never a moment where there’s too much going on.

A few highlights include: A song with a bit of a honky tonk bomp about a hard living lass (“Out On the Town”), a tune that reminds me of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” (“End Of the Night”), and a story of dysfunctional Christmas gatherings (“The Season’s Upon Us”). Hey Kenny, what’d your nephew get’cha?!

The boys truly ARE back… back in this hater’s heart. *sniffle* LET’S GO MURPHYS!

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Bruno Mars“Unorthodox Jukebox”Atlanticbrunomars.comatlanticrecords.com

This is one of those releases that won’t need much more exposure. But, I don’t care what you say, this boy GOOD! B. Mars is back with ten new songs about his one true vice: the ladies.

There’s nothing too unorthodox about this jukebox. Light rock, funk, and r n’b jams for the honeys. Ahhhhh yeahhhh… they’ll be the death of him but he’ll always come back to them, he explains in the opening track (“Young Girls”). There’s plenty lyrical content of makin’ love. Some nights, it’s simply heavenly (“Locked Out of Heaven”). Other nights are about gettin’ down and dirty, things are raw and animalistic (“Gorilla”). WOO! Someone open a damn window!

“Treasure” is a throwback to the old-school jams of the 80’s and will get the floor jumpin.’ There’s a piano ballad about the one he let get away (“When I Was Your Man”). There’s an ode of bitterness about a “gold digging bitch” named Natalie (“Nat-alie”). Bruno really runs the gamut of feelings and emotions you creatures from Venus put us through on the reg. For real!

Round everything out with a dancehall reggae joint and a jam taking it back to the Temptations and the Delfonics, and there you have it. Good shit for 2013!

Bruno Mars could damn well be the Michael Jackson of a new generation. Just re-member one thing, Bruno: 18 and up!!

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Fiction Reform“Take Your Truth”Basement Recordsfictionreform.combasementrecords.com

I was excited to listen to these guys when I FINALLY found out about them. I discov-ered that singer/guitarist Brenna Red used to play drums in Civet. She was a badass drummer. She’s an even more badass frontwoman!

Fiction Reform play straight forward punk rock. Tight sounding with some grit, while they sound street yet keep it garage-y. Bitchin’ lead guitar riffs. Especially on “Death Race,” and instrumental that indeed sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a 100+ mph drag race that most likely would end in gnarly wreckage.

They even have some pop sensibilities. “(Don’t) Keep At Your Distance” sounds like it was influenced by the Cars or something.

If you like the Distillers, you will FLIP over fiction reform! Plus, instead of the bad Courtney Love impression Brody did, Brenna actually sings. Kinda has a Cinder Block from Tilt quality to her vocal style.

I don’t think Fiction Reform tours much outside the Southern California area, so let’s all get their album and bug them to get their asses on the road! I wanna see ‘em!

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Fiction Reform“Take Your Truth”Basement Recordsfictionreform.combasementrecords.com

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Fol Chen“The False Alarms”Asthmatic Kittyfolchen.comasthmatickitty.com

Start shadow dancing, everyone. Fol Chen’s “The False Alarms” is synthpop that’s very industrial. And folks, my only frame of reference when it comes to industrial is Nine Inch Nails from back in the day. But, I’ll be damned if these beats and layered keyboards didn’t take me back to “Pretty Hate Machine.”

The album starts off with the title track. The music is eerie as all hell. It’s like walking down a dark road and constantly looking over your shoulder cuz you can feel some-thing’s about to get you, but Sinosa Loa’s soothing vocals reassure you that nothing bad’s going to happen. As if she’s saying: “Here, take my hand. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Things aren’t spooky all the way through. Track 2, “I.O.U.,” feels more uplifting. A little more poppy. Not faster pace or anything. It just feels warmer as they incorporate a groovy little funky guitar part, some xylophone, and a string section joins in to make things orchestral.

Fol Chen work in strings, even harpsichord, throughout giving things a classical feel. There are even more surprises. Things keep going from the spooky to the poppy, up-beat. You’re left guessing what’s coming around every turn, but you can’t stop moving to the beats. This will put you in a good mood no matter how goth you’re feeling.

Pick up your own copy March 19, 2013!

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[ ghost 1 ] Leslie Lonsway [ lead guitar/vocals ] Fausto Padilla [ guitar ] Enoma Asowata[ vocals ] German Alexander[ bass/vocals ] “Sneaky” Josh Tenorio[ ghost 2 ] Jessica Marie Serrano[ hair ] Billy Jones[ mua ] Sheila Renee Kirk[ production assistant ] Ryan Crowe[ interview ] Maryanne Alford[ photographer ] Brian Vogel



Is Ghosts a song of fiction or real life experience?

A majority of our songs’ lyrical content come from our lead guitarist Fausto and our vocalist Ger-man. Ghosts is a semi-auto biographical tale from their lives about how sometimes people we used to be involved with can haunt us. I think it’s something almost anyone who has been in a serious relationship can relate to.

Do your songs tend to be fictitious or based on your life experiences?

Kind of answered this one with the first question but a lot of our material is based off our lives. Fausto and German have a heavy hand in the lyrics so their stories usually come from there. Some-times lyrics will come from books we read, situations our friends are dealing with, or just lines we ad lib as we write the music. We really try not to be too overly poetic with our lyrics, it comes off as not very genuine. Write what you know is the best policy.

What would “Making It” look like for OTENKI?

Success to us would be the ability to make doing what we love as our career. I don’t think a single one of us are dreaming of selling out arenas like KISS but we would love what I called the “Jimmy Eat World” level of success. Have a great dedicated fan base that come out to shows, and support the music we create. I personally can do without all the glitz and “glamour” of rock stardom, but it would be amazing to influence some future musicians.

It is very obvious how great of friends you all are, ever have any band conflict?

All the time! We definitely have our fair share of fights. I won’t go into particulars but we’re brothers and there isn’t a fight we haven’t had. The important thing is that no matter what type of fight we’ve had or what was said, we still come together to play music. Sounds real pious or high and mighty but it’s true. We’re a family and sometimes it gets messy but we still love each other.Have any code of conduct/rules for yourselves as a band?

We don’t really have any set rules per se outside of making sure we conduct ourselves in a profes-sional manner when dealing with venues, promoters, press, and fans. Just a general understanding we’re on a mission and it takes all of us doing our part. We also try not to drink excessively before performing. Just always best to be as lucid as possible and give your best performance for our crowds.

OTENKI OFFICAL INTERVIEW


Do you all write the songs collectively? Or does each member write their own parts?

A majority of the music written comes from Fausto. He will spend hours demoing out ideas with Ger-man and then they will present it to the band at a rehearsal. We’ll all jam the idea out and tweak it so it has a bit of flavor from every member. Fausto and German are a talented team and we just sup-port the ideas and add what we can while keeping true to the melody and the feel of the song.

You have had the opportunity to work with some amazing producers and play with some great bands. Anyone in particular left on the bucket list?

Oh man, there are so many talented people we would love to work with. It’s still a dream come true to call James Paul Wisner our producer! However, we would love to work with Aaron Sprinkle, he’s produced Anberlin and Acceptance, both of which are HUGE influences to this band. Then there’s David Bendeth who is an amazing producer who has done some great hard rock acts like Breaking Benjamin and was responsible for Paramore’s record “RIOT!”, we actually talked to him about mixing new songs from our next record. Also as strange as it sounds i would love to work with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. I admire their ability to transform themselves and their last few albums have had this fantastic mix of hard rock, electronica and hip hop. There’s a bit of bravery that is unappreciated in their music. Also we would love to collab with Swedish House Mafia and vocalist John Martin. Also, I would love to work with Sierra Kusterbeck of VersaEmerge for a duet. She has an interesting look and type of voice, it would be badass to see it along side of German’s voice.

As far as bands to perform with we would love to tour with our brothers in Conditions, Taking Back Sunday, Go Radio, There For Tomorrow and of course ANBERLIN. Man, what a dream it would be to share the stage with Anberlin and watch them perform every night.

[ vocals ] Jason DeVore[ drums ] Sean Sellars[ bass ] Jeremy Wood [ guitar ] Brandon Landelius [ photographer ] Jesse Alford[ interview ] Maryanne and Jesse Alford



It’s been just over 10 years since your first debut full length album, ‘A Passage in Time’ was released back in 2002. 10 years is a long time... So long ago that I remember having to cut out the ‘parental adviso-ry’ on the album cover in teenage fear of my parents finding it. Even with it being that long ago, what was all of your reactions to album sales and growing fan base? Jason- That’s awesome man, thanks for the support. The general reaction with all of us was amazement to be honest. We had been playing together for about 8 years at that point so when things started to skyrocket we couldn’t believe it. We’d known we’d worked hard to that point and enjoyed what we were playing, but it was kind of shocking that others started to as well on a much larger scale. We were never what we saw as palatable music, actually just the opposite. It was and has been a great feeling the whole ride with the up’s and the downs, and ultimately an unreal experience. Extremely grateful.

On that same note, when was it you guys thought to yourselves... we may actually be able to make this work?Jason- It was never really a matter of making it work per say, it was more that we were young and just truly en-joyed what we were doing. To us it was already working and exceeding our expectations so when things started to grow we were just like, “wow, it looks like we’re going on tour for a long time boys! Guess that cancels out the day jobs and holy shit we’re really doing this!”. The real slap of reality I suppose was probably in Vegas when we got the initial record deal from Universal. We were going nuts.

What was the first big band you guys opened for that you were overly stoked about?Jason- The first band that we ever toured with was Slightly Stoopid back when they were a three piece playing to 100 kids a night in small clubs. That was a lot of fun. After that was H20 and then Guttermouth on the Punk-O-Rama tour. Those were all great tours. I’d say the first biggest band we played with was Sum 41 and No Use For A Name on the Sum On Your Face tour. Big concert halls and crowds. My personal favorites that I was stoked on would have to be Warped Tour and Pennywise.


Your Zerocalypse Tour just wrapped up, what’s different about touring now compared to 10 years ago?Jason- It’s not a whole lot different for us than it was back then. Still rockin the van and trailer, lacking sleep, and having a blast. We’ve done a couple bus and RV tours, but ultimately still doing our thing indy. Great fans and good times.

From the show Like visited we noticed the passion you guys deliver on stage as well as interacting with fans before, after, and during the show. What keeps Authority Zero pushing more; fans, passion, or a combo of the 2?Jason- It really is a collaboration of both. Without the fans and the energy they’re putting out, it wouldn’t be the same. We’d still and always have thrown ourselves completely into it to the point of throwing up, but that combination of energy transferring from the audience to stage and back is unparalleled.

What has been your favorite show to date?Jason- I’d say hometown Warped tour 2004. Unreal and kids just erupted. Also when we Played at Tempe Marketplace in Tempe, AZ 2009 I believe. They had no security, the whole plaza was packed to the gills, we got four songs in and got shut down due to the madness. Kids were going crazy, it was rad.


Would you rather play a show to a small or big crowd?Jason- Both are so different, but there’s certainly something to be said about packing a bunch of kids into a small room and having them right there face to face going off.

If you were to pick one main underlying message you want your songs to tell, what would it be?Jason- To fight for what you believe in, never give up, and live life to the fullest. To start with you and try to make a differ-ence to change our world for the better.


How has the music industry changed since the 90’s?Jason- Completely haha. It’s a digital age now with promotion, albums, album sales, and music in general. Major labels are dinosaurs. It’s all about being independent, working hard, taking the reins, and constantly thinking of new ways to stand out amongst the crowd. Any band can release music these days and skyrocket via the internet. It’s crazy.

In the early 2000’s you played shows under alias names to maintain your Mesa, AZ hometown scene, do you still do this?Jason- Not as much as we use to. Due to lineup changes we have band members living all over the country so it makes it difficult to do impromptu secret shows. That’s a lot of fun though.

How has Authority Zero evolved through the years?Jason- We’ve just grown as a band in general I think. As I mentioned we’ve had members come and go and that has brought in new personalities and musical influence. It’s in many ways helped us to grow creatively and expand musically.

Best gift a fan has ever given you?Jason- Their support! Other than that I’d say a personalized letter expressing what the music means to them and the tough times it’s gotten them through. Priceless

Has your fan base changed through the years or stayed the same?Jason- It’s certainly changed. With new music has come new fans and a new generation as well. All our old school fans have grown up and their kids are now coming to the shows. It’s wild

How has the music industry affected you (both positively and negatively)?Jason- It’s opened up my eyes. We’ve been burned quite a few times in our career with both labels, manag-ers, and agents. So with that you learn. It’s been good in the respect of finding the positive in the negative and growing from it. You learn what to do and what not to do from your experiences.

The Ups and Downs of the Music Industry



[ model ] Shemmai Torres @ Scout[ styling ] Celine Wang[ styling assistant ] Angela Wang[ mua/hair ] Roezi Rebel[ location ] Mutiny Radio[ article ] Elly Vicieux [ photo assistant ] Seth Cantor[ photographer ] Cherise Josephine

The Ups and Downs of the Music Industry


Although many things have undoubtedly changed throughout the past few decades, one contributing element which seems almost relentless can be found in society’s devout interest in music. Whether it’s a favorite band or a unique genre style, prac-tically everyone has something that they love. Within the countless streams of youth and rebels that fill concert halls and arenas all year long, a great and growing majority continue to pursue their interest by finding their own place within the industry. We all feel some great demand to create something memorable, whether it’s for people to simply admire and enjoy or to provide some sense of inspiration to others in our world. This is not without some level of difficulty – interest coming from the music industry isn’t based only upon whether or not you have talent; it’s based more largely upon differences. If there are thousands of rock and pop stars out there living successfully, the real focus of the matter is whether or not you can make your voice and style stand out from the rest of them. An investment into a musician that can capture everyone’s attention almost instanta-neously is the only way that the industry can ensure a solid profit, but do you have what it takes?


At almost any given point of time, it’s easy to walk the streets of Los Angeles or New York and find an aspiring musician performing. For these budding enthusiasts, this is their core source of recognition amongst peers within an industry where everyone wants to be known. Playing small shows in even smaller venues may not seem like the way towards success, but there’s always that hope that this might be the day they’ll get discovered or at least get their name out to a newer crowd. For every successful audition, there’s at least three or four bad ones that are full of instant rejections. It’s a demanding job which doesn’t always pay and equally demands the virtue of patience...until that day you are finally discovered.

Some would argue that it’s easier if you’re a local – there’s less challenges to be faced when you’re familiar with the city and the type of people that live there, the type of audience and competition that you might face every day or every night. Yet there are always others that devote themselves purely to the pursuit of the dream; moving out to Los Angeles or New York City as a complete loner with visions of taking the stage and stealing the hearts of the crowds nearby. It doesn’t always end like that; more often than not, people end up becoming struggling musicians who work two part-time jobs to pay for their rent in a backbreaking economy. Some attend college or university, while others focus themselves on art or music school, determined to find their place within an industry. But more truthfully, many realize that it could take several years of hard work and dedication before they’re ever truly noticed. The realization is sobering, but necessary. A career anywhere within this industry is not something that can be approached without a crude dose of realism factored with the truth; fame does not find any musician overnight and for those it favors, it does not present such fortune without a legitimate sacrifice.


The Warmth of White

[ model ] Jenny Jessen @ Most Wanted Models[ mua ] Adela Filtro[ assistants ] Jenny Glennon and Stefan Barwig[ photographer ] Tetty Simeonova


[ model ] Simona Basti[ hair/mu ] Nicole Livaja[ designer ] Siok[ assistant ] Medaka[ photographer ] Emily Montana

#ETA

Abandoned In Style[ model/mu/hair ] Jessie Yang[ photographer ] Derrick Wee Fine Arts



About A Girl[ model ] Marissa Channing[ hair/mu ] Mariah Beard[ photographer/stylist ] Reva May


[ models ] Corey (brunette) Rachel (blonde) from The Rock Agency[ hair ] Shelly Wilson[ wardrobe ] Kendra Katzman[ mua ] Ceejay Iman and Kristen Mussari[ photographer ] Annalise Freytag


Baby, it’s cold outside.[ model ] Ashlee Nichole [ photographer ] Nicole Nygaard


[ model ] Ashlee Nichole [ photographer ] Nicole Nygaard


[ model ] Eri F.[ wardrobe ] Adore Vintage by Le Lektra[ mua/hair/photographer ] Charoula Stamatiadou

I am so 60’s

[ models ] Clara and Alina @birdcage-people[ hair/mua ] Denise Mohr (for Alina)[ photographer ] Carol Sieberg

A Dream Between

Striking Lines[ model ] Narcisa Music @ Scene Model Management[ hair ] Karen Dejesus[ mua ] Nicole @ Noosh[ fashion stylist ] Karen Drummond[ photographer ] Michael K P Robinson


[ model ] Jessica Wright [ stylist ] Nightshade Corsets[ shrug designer ] Sai Sai[ mask ] Avante Garde Lifestyle[ photographer ] Renee Robyn

Photography of Renee Robyn


[ model ] Shandy-Lynn[ hairstylist ] Renato Candia[ mua ] Dianne Jane[ photographer ] Renee Robyn


[ model ] Brandy Lauren[ hairstylist ] Renato Candia[ mua ] Dianne Jane[ photographer ] Renee Robyn


[ model ] Masuimi Max[ designer ] Jupiter Moon 3 Corsets[ photographer ] Renee Robyn



What made you get into photography?Sketching, painting, building… I’ve always been an artist. I had a lot of ideas in my head, and I couldn’t articulate them to others the way I was seeing them, so I finally just tried to do it myself. Canon or Nikon?I started off with a Nikon D80, but switched to Canon 5D when I went full frame. No particular rea-son, both cameras have wonderful pros and cons. It was a matter of availability at that moment. I still use the D80 for underwater photography. Would you rather shoot indoors or outdoors?Studio work is where I am happiest. Some would say I’m a bit of a control freak, but I find when I shoot on location I feel very restricted. I’m stuck with the background that is behind my model. If I shoot it in studio, I can create my own world for the subject. Favorite shoot to date?Ah, I had a beautiful model from Montreal coming up to Edmonton to do a shoot together. She’s very talented, and very skilled so I had to think up something unique for her. I eventually came up with Shibari rope bondage and kittens. Definitely my favorite casting call to date. I love animals, so when my studio was taken over by fluffy baby critters, I was ecstatic. Have you always lived in Alberta?Mostly, I took a temporary leave of absence and left to go to Ottawa to pursue a career in fire per-forming. Loved it, definitely an amazing experience, but I missed the long summer sun of Alberta. If you were to move anywhere, where would it be?I would keep moving! I love being mobile. I enjoy having a base, but I’m certainly happiest when I’m changing locations every month or less. I love Montreal, LA, Vancouver, and Houston, so it would be hard to pick just one!Not everyone knows how much time goes into editing. On average, how much time do you put in per photo?That certainly depends on the image. I spend usually a minimum of 2 hours per image, but it can go up to 30 hours or more. Favorite music to listen to while editing? Or, does it depend on the mood of the photos?It’s certainly combination of both as I have a huge appreciation for beautiful music. I usually enjoy a lot of chilled out music and some R&B when I’m doing beauty retouching. When I’m getting more creative, I can be a bit more of a metalhead. I can happily sit down to some heavy guitars spend hours in front of my computer just letting the sounds influence my fingertips as I create. In the end, it’s whatever gets my productivity going.You also model; what came first, photography or modeling?I was scouted when I was 13 years old to a modeling agency. It’s been fun, but I am semi-retired now. Photography has pretty much taken over my life the last 3 years and I love it. How is it working with other photographers when you are in front of the lens? Do you ever find yourself suggesting how you would take the photo?No, I generally won’t say anything unless I’m asked. I don’t feel it’s my place to suggest anything if I’ve been hired as a model. What are your thoughts on Instagram and how camera phones are developing?Anything that gets people creative and sharing is great, regardless of the medium. I have 2,000+ photos on my phone that if I hadn’t had a camera with me at all, I would have no capture of that memory. Nothing will replace a larger sized sensor, but I’m very grateful that the quality of camera phones is as good as it is. Instagram is a great place to get inspired!Do you plan to shoot4lyfe?That is hard to say. Currently, I would say yes, but who knows! I will always be creating artwork, so it’s a question of what medium it will be in the future. What inspires your work?There’s a very long list. Mostly though, I would say contemporary paintings and comic books. I love iconic, timeless, and stunning men and women with a bit of the supernatural to them. If it wasn’t for (blank), my photography would be completely different.Ooh good one. Hmm. If it wasn’t for Photoshop, my work would definitely be different. To me, the retouch process is like putting the paints to a sketch outline. I love sitting down at my computer and just letting the music and photograph take me away while I create. When I was a little kid, I would “manipulate” photos that I took by cutting out parts of some images and gluing them to others. It probably drove my parents crazy when they were looking through a family album and there was a giant cat stuck to a family photograph.

[ model ] Samantha Letendre[ hairstylist ] Jeff Louis[ mua ] Candace Melanie[ stylist ] Cherie Howard[ photographer ] Renee Robyn

[ model ] Myra Bell[ hairstylist ] Christina Demeter[ mua ] Sable Smith[ headdress designer ] Orange U Creative[ photographer ] Renee Robyn


[ model ] Myra Bell[ hairstylist ] Christina Demeter[ mua ] Sable Smith[ headdress designer ] Orange U Creative[ photographer ] Renee Robyn


[ model ] Olivia Dantes[ story ] Kalyn Kendig[ photographer ] Jesse Alford

Red Garden


And she’s sick.

But not in the sympathetic weaker state, no, She has a black mystery inside her faceShe spews it up and swallows her penance right back down But enjoys it for every fallen leaf she has found

And she walks through her rose garden.

Every cold winter death excites and frightens her. She never cared for interaction with the subhuman species but the logic of the trees provides her with some griefYou see, when Marissa plays out in her garden she accepts the rain, wind, and cold she’s come accustomed to. Something about the way she can break it and it always grows back. Some-thing about the way it would eat her alive if she gave up her malevolent lifestyle and fell into the grass.

Something.

Sometimes she wills her plants to kill her, take the nutrients from her body and fill her. Some sense of meaning aside from the atrocities she commits. A sense of meaning she gets from her garden so she’s not SICK. But Marissa her skin so cold, her face never old; knows this is the only life inside of her.

Every step she ever takes only breaks her concentration, in that garden. She’s silent and her heart never beats but she swears she feels a beating drum in her chest when she sits down in that garden.

But she will still retreat back into her mansion tomb where blood feeds her youthful pores and love is nothing but sliced whores, and life is eternally long and young; But before too long she lingers back into the trees where beauty is life and her sickness is just a need.

When Marissa tends to step out of her mane, mascara laden mansionShe pulls apart the wisps of wind that gathered round itYou can tell by the way she ascends her feet don’t touch the pavement without a crackled companion


Every Christmas cookie and bottle of holiday cheer tried to destroy you but you pre-vailed...well, you survived. So, as you gear up to get back to or start anew your healthy lifestyle; I recommend jumpstarting the process with a cleanse. Thanks to Organic Av-enue I embarked on my first ever all juice cleanse. No boos, caffeine, or carbohydrates for this girl! Just three days of me and fresh squeezed all organic juices. Now I know the task may seem daunting or even a little overwhelming, but I can assure you the reward greatly outweighs the challenge.

Two weeks post cleanse I’ve found myself veering away from caffeine, minimizing alco-hol intake, and a highly depreciated sweet tooth. I feel cleaner, purer, and one with my body. It was not only a physical journey but a mental and spiritual one as well. I highly recommend taking the leap into the unknown and challenging yourself here! It was such a rewarding experience that I look forward to doing again.

Congrats, you made it through the holidays!

Organic Avenuewww.organicavenue.com


Trying new things can cause lots of anxi-ety. Thoughts of so-called failure can be overwhelming. Yet the good news is, there’s nothing to prove! You can try this out, and if you feel like you need more food, you can have it. If you crave something else and you want it, you can have it. If you feel “strange” and want to stop, you can. Yet what you may find is that every little step counts toward your overall health. Every bit of fresh, ripe, organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and seaweeds adds to your health. Even if you only do one day or half a day, it’s a great start. You’re creating a new food foundation for yourself—a more nurturing, nutritious and loving way of being with food.

Organic Avenue is an idea that I conceived 10 years ago during my journey toward choosing a vegan lifestyle. During my initial days of raw food eating and cleansing, I conceived of a business that would help provide access to a LOVE* (Live. Organic. Vegan. Experience) lifestyle and wanted to make it convenient, accessible, affordable, and fun. Throughout my journey of learning I felt disappointment and deprivation. When I read labels and saw there were ingre-dients that were unacceptable, I would place them back on the shelves. Or when I would pick up a clothing item and see it was made of animal parts (cashmere, wool, leather), I would put it back using discipline and my commitment to LOVE*. Through this experience I knew in my heart that others would not go to these lengths. I knew people would find the lifestyle difficult and therefore they wouldn’t commit to it. So, I envisioned Organic Avenue as a store, brand and online experience with community, product, services and support that would make the lifestyle accessible. This way others would be able to experience and then embrace this way of living, too. Organic Avenue is my heart and soul’s mission to help people, animals and the environment.

How did Organic Avenue begin?

What are some tips for first timers?


BruschettaVictoria Melshaw, food blogger for www.thelastplate.com

Bruschetta for me has always been a fun easy way to start the evening off. It’s a great ap-

petizer that doesn’t make you feel heavy or too full before or meal. I highly recommend this

dish for a fun evening with friends or a great way to start off a nice yummy dinner. Enjoy!

Ingredients4 roma tomatoes2 cloves of garlic6 large leaves of basil4 medium size mozzarella ballssourdough baguetteolive oilbalsamic vinegarkosher salt/ fresh cracked black pepper


RecipeI start off by halving the tomatoes and drizzling a small amount of olive oil and kosher salt on each half. Place on a baking sheet/tray lined with aluminum foil face up. Start your oven onto a broil. Now is a great time to cut your sourdough baguette into 1/2 inch or 1.25 cm pieces. I like to cut mine at a 45 degree angle, but to each his own. Place them on a cooking sheet (also aluminum lined) and place in oven along with the tomatoes. I like the bread to toast up a little so the balsamic doesn’t eat away at it and make it soggy. As far as the tomatoes, they just need to soften up a bit and let the natural juices come to the surface.

In the mean time, mince your garlic and set aside. Remove your tomatoes and bread after about 5 minutes in the oven. Leave the bread so it’s ready for the toppers. Dice the tomatoes and place in a bowl with garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I like to use a couple splashes of the vinegar and double the oil. The tomatoes and garlic need more time to marinate than the other ingredients, so don’t be a afraid to let them sit for a minute of two.

While they marry, dice the mozzarella and mix thoroughly with your other ingredients. Lastly, roll the basil leaves and chop finely. Crack a little fresh black pepper and kosher salt and mix gently. Use a spoon to lump a healthy size amount of the yummy mixture onto each pre-toasted bread bites. Broil for another 5 minutes and keep an eye on them, they can be great or over-done in no time!

If you’re peaking in your oven to see if it’s ready, look for the cheese to be melted, but the leaves not burnt. That’s usually my sign that it’s time to eat. At this point you’re ready to pull them out, let cool, move to a serving dish and enjoy!

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