Los Angeles, CA • The Trails Cafe

Date: 07-28-13
Location: 2333 Fern Dell Dr.
Photography by: Luis Valdizon
Words by: Luis Valdizon & M. L. Morriss
Website: thetrailslosfeliz.com

We had just finished D-WHY's first tour and finally had a little spare time on our side to explore a few places in Los Angeles I've been scouting for us. On that list was The Trails Cafe, a quaint cafe and bistro in L.A.'s scenic Griffith Park. I discovered The Trails on The Selby, one of ours (and I hope everyone's) favorite websites. The blog's founder, Todd Selby, gave an exclusive look inside the cozy hillside kitchen and accompanied the images with an interview with the establishment's pastry chef, Jenny Park (read it here).

The Trails is just the right amount of charming. It awards you the very rare gratification that comes with finding out about and visiting an inviting, albeit distant neighborhood gem. It was quite bright and warm on the day of our visit--we drove to it with our windows down and and our oldies Pandora station turned loud. It was our first weekend back in L.A., so, needless to say, we slept in that day. When we arrived to the cafe around 3 p.m. for a late lunch, the sun sat resplendent and high in the heavens. With its setting politely inside the scenic Griffith Park, The Trails blends in seamlessly within its environment and adds to the list of perks the park has to offer. As we learned via The Selby, all of the baked goods are homemade daily--that's one of the traits we look for and appreciate when hunting out eateries to cover on TCC. I had my heart set on trying their clever take on Eggs in a Basket, but they were sold out by the time we got there. My disappointment, however, was short-lived as I noticed the presence of Stumptown Coffee on their menu and all of the other appetizing items they have to offer. I tried their popular avocado sandwich first. The medley of cheese, sprouts, avocado and vegan "bacon" bits was a treat. Next was their apple pie. It was the type of pie loving grandmother's tip their hats too and that you'd ask for as your last meal. After eating, I became intrigued by the Ouija board table I spotted and grabbed the photo of it you see above--it was the first time I had seen anything like it.

All in all, The Trails is something special. The staff was friendly and kind about answering our questions about the menu and the food was fresh, fulfilling and high-quality. The next time you're in the L.A. area, plan a lunch trip to Griffith Park and tell them TCC sent you. After eating, walk off your full stomach with a hike up the namesake trails to check out the popular Griffith Observatory, where you'll catch a breathtaking view of the City of Angels and find some of the finest space and science-related displays around.

Los Angeles, CA • Jakob Owens Studios

Date: 08-01-13
Location: Los Angeles, California
Photography by: Luis Valdizon
Words by: David Morris
Website: jakobowensproductions.com

The importance of music videos comes second only to the music itself. I have a philosophy that a good music video should have replay value and should make the viewer like the song even more. I have been lucky enough to work and become close friends with Jakob Owens, a young filmmaker/videographer who shares these same ideals. I became acquainted with Jake about two years ago after he reached out to me asking me to check out his work. Not only was I impressed, but I saw great potential. A few weeks later, we met in Arizona to shoot the "We Don't Know" video. Since then, he's shot numerous music videos for me that range in style and theme from action-packed short film ("Flattery" and "New York Times"), to biographical road trip ("2,000 Miles"), to rap-centric and studio-set ("FaZe Clan"). Through them all, I have watched him grow as a director, cinematographer, editor and friend.

Recently, Jake made the move from Phoenix to Los Angeles, where he has set up the official JOP Studios. The beautiful loft with its wooden ceiling, massive skylight and abundant space serves as his home, studio and editing cave. It's only about a month old, but has already been host to numerous photo shoots, video shoots and interviews, including this one with me. Jake is also offering one-on-one editing sessions with aspiring videographers to help them gain knowledge and get ahead. Check out the pictures above and watch Jake's videos at JakobOwensProductions.com. Be on the lookout for new D-WHY x TCC x JOP visuals coming soon!

Los Angeles, CA • Handsome Coffee Roasters

Date: 07-28-13
Location: 582 Mateo St. Los Angeles, CA.
Words and photography by: Luis Valdizon
Website: handsomecoffee.com

There are places that serve coffee and there are places that understand, exemplify and seek to elevate coffee culture. Handsome Coffee Roasters embodies the latter. Their minimalist, refined approach is clear, starting from their branding and interior; however, what sets them apart most from other boutique coffee shops I've visited is their unwavering dedication to a standard most coffee connoisseurs share: no sweeteners, no nonfat or low-fat dairy options and no exceptions—period. Some may call their selection limited because of this, but where some see limitations, I see is an opportunity to demonstrate to unsuspecting patrons that good coffee doesn't mean a convoluted and at times superfluous list of demands. Call it pretension or whatever fancies you, but I think a little elitism within an industry riddled by button-pressing baristas is an ideal worth fighting for.

Hospitality and service at HCR is second-to-none. I let our barista know I've been patiently waiting to try their coffee from the first time I heard of them in my hometown of Vancouver (aforementioned here) and asked if it would be alright if I snapped a few photos of their locale, to which he responded with a welcoming yes. Another one of their staff, an expert roaster by the name of David Lopez, granted me access to the back end of their establishment where their roasting and behind-the-scenes business takes place. Mr. Lopez and I conversed for a few minutes about our crafts and he was even kind enough to allow me to photograph his portrait before I made my exit.

You may not care how your beans are sourced, how they are roasted, the method by which your coffee is prepared or how the final product is executed and presented. That's completely fine—Handsome does all the heavy lifting for you. Unfortunately, living out of a suitcase from state-to-state while we travel the country on tour and staying 35 minutes from the Downtown Arts District while in the Los Angeles area means I won't be able to frequent HCR. But with my very first visit yesterday, an establishment that opened its doors less than a year-and-a-half ago managed to single-handedly reinvigorate my passion for coffee with one perfect cup of cappuccino and outstanding customer service. It's an absolute necessity to stop in if you ever find yourself in the area.

Los Angeles, CA • Hotel Roosevelt Pool Party

Date: 07-20-13
Location: 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA.
Photographed by: Luis Valdizon
Words by: David Morris
Website: thompsonhotels.com

In Los Angeles, summertime is synonymous with pool parties. Over the weekend, we ventured out to The Roosevelt Hotel with my DJ and partner in crime, ETrayn, for his guest set at one of their famous Sunday gatherings. The hotel, which first opened in 1927 and is named after President Teddy Roosevelt, is located in the heart of Hollywood along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theater. The pool area, equipped with cabanas, multiple bars, and a full-order food kitchen, was packed with a variety of hotel guests, partygoers and VIPs. ETrayn played a 90-minute open-format set and kept everyone's attention. From rap, to EDM, to 90s, oldies and beyond, the vibes were radiating on this hot, summer day. If you're a fan of all genres of music like I am, you would have enjoyed it just as much as I did. We look forward to coming back in the future not only to experience another event, but also to explore more of the historic hotel. Special thank you to DJ Blakkout and Keith 2.0 for having us there.