My Portfolio

KELLY ALEXIS LEWIS
P O RTFO LI O
2011
I MAKE ART & TYPE PLAY NICE.
black & white. sugar & spice. night & day. work & play. opposites? perhaps. but each pair is also a perfect match.
same goes for art & type, images & ideas, design & content. they work best together, so I work with both. the result?
articulate artwork. picturesque parley. a melody of meaning. communication that connects.
A
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A R T/C R E AT I V E
D I R EC T I O N
E D I TO R I A L
M A N AG E M E N T
PU B L I C AT I O N
REDESIGN
G R A PH I C D E S I G N
& L AYO U T
PH OTO
I L LUS T R AT I O N
BR ANDING
& IDENTIT Y
CO PY W R I T I N G
& EDITING
S TAT I O N E RY
& PR E T T Y S T U FF
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
01
COV E R CONCE P T/
DIR EC T ION / DE S IGN
CLIENT/PROJECT
OC Weekly: Art Director, 2007–2010
SUMMARY
SERVICES
As Art Director of OC Weekly, I developed and designed each week’s cover and feature; created and
directed all original art, illustrations and photo shoots; managed the staff Layout Editor and Photo Intern;
and oversaw the paper’s design, production and brand. I designed more than 150 covers, collaborated
with more than 50 artists, won 10 design awards, and redesigned the paper and its art department.
• Concept & development of visual themes
• Direction & development of visual content
• Direction of photo shoots & illustrations
• Original illustration & graphic design
150
1
C OV ER S
ME
+
50
+
A RT IST S
10
AWA R D S
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
the question. “He took me to Hawaii last year
for our three-year anniversary,” Doll says.
“He took me to a secluded beach in Lanai. As
I was sunbathing, he turned around with a
video camera, an anniversary card and a ring.
. . . He videotaped it.”
Caught by phone 20 minutes before boarding a plane for her honeymoon, Doll declared,
“We had so many people come up to us and
say it was the best wedding they had ever
been to. It was the greatest day of my life.”
“Yeah, it was unexplainable,” Jenson
gushed. “I was expecting Franki to look beautiful, but I wasn’t expecting that. I walked up to
the altar, and my knees buckled.”
Aw. But hey, what do you expect from a
guy who captured his own “propose-cute” on
video? From a Feb. 17 (updated Feb. 21) Heard
Mentality blog post.
PITCHFORK YOU!
CLIENT/PROJECT
OC Week y Comprehens ve redes gn/res ze
SERVICES
SUMMARY
Pitchforked, But Proud
• Pub cat on redes gn & temp ate product on
produced a comprehens ve redes gn/res ze o OC Week y n Jan 2009 and another res ze n Feb 2011
• Ed tor a strategy & brand dent ty
be ow The redes gn brought the overa sty e o the paper up to date w th bo der onts mproved
Matt Pond responds to reaction to their reactions. “They don’t any new ground but has a genial warmth.
like
me
and
they
don’t
want
people
to
The
opening
“Speck”
exempli•of Leaves’
Art d
rect
on & ed tor a d rect on
eg b ty and new web-re ated e ements br ng ng readers to
webscritic
te and
hisour
toughest
andour webs te content nto
me,” he says. “There are people
fies this: “Up above, I see specks of silver
talks about what’s worth like
that
work
there
that
like
our
music,
but
in
the
evening
sky/Specks
of
gold
in
the
•
Cover
&
eature
des gn
pr nt My deta ed gr d-based temp ates created cons stency
and
e
fic
ency
reduc
ng
product
on
t
me
learning from those rips they’re not going to give it to those peo- river running from the deep moonlight/
BY REYAN ALI
VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 28
ocweekly.com
TOP
5 ONLINE
TACO
TRIAD;
o put it gently, Pitchfork’s opinion of Matt Pond’s work has been
less than positive. Since the New
York-based singer-songwriter and his
band (known collectively as Matt Pond
PA) got going in the late 1990s, the juggernaut indie-rock site has graded several of their records. Scores have mostly
been on the upswing with each ensuing review but still decisively remain
within the lower rungs of their grading
scale. The Green Fury (2002) scored an
especially measly 1.8, 2005’s Several
Arrows Later got a 4.0, 2007’s Last Light
a 3.7, and last year’s The Dark Leaves
earned a 4.8. Each review came from a
different writer, and each was painful in
its own way, occasionally throwing out
faint praise.
A smattering of the daggers contained within said reviews: Green Fury
contains “tepid” songs, akin to “an
extravagantly wrapped Christmas present with socks and underwear inside”;
there is no “actual friction amidst such
downy arrangements” on The Dark
Leaves; Last Light was “another Matt
Pond PA album steeped in adult alternative at its blandest”; and his voice has
been compared to those of Dave Matthews and Counting Crows’ Adam Durwitz—and that’s not a good thing.
Pond is familiar with Pitchfork’s
viewpoints and does little to mask his
» OCWEEKLY.COM
Bur, Baby, Bur
BELOW: NOTup front
COUNTY
TAQUERO0808 |THE
MOXLEY CONFIDENTIAL |
THE MOST-READ STORIES ON OCWEEKLY.COM FOR MARCH 2-8
1 BLOG
YOUR TYPICAL
HEARD MENTALITY
T
HOLE IN THE WALL
inside
» 03/11-03/17
» 2011
» GUSTAVO
ARELLANO
online »
GENDERSHE CUISINE
2741 W. Lincoln Ave., Ste. B,
Anaheim, (714) 220-9500;
www.gendershecuisine.com.
Costa Mesa Councilman Jim
Righeimer could give Wisconsin
Governor Scott Walker a few
lessons in taking on public-sector
unions. By R. Scott Moxley
10 | ¡ASK A MEXICAN! | OMFG
CUD MEXICO RLY SUE US 2 GET
SW BACK?!??!?!
By Gustavo Arellano
Ten Signs You’re an Aging Gamer
2 SLIDESHOW
NIGHTLIFE
Uncommon Burlesque at Commonwealth Lounge
3 BLOG
HEARD MENTALITY
Trent Reznor to Score and Star in ‘Abraham Lincoln:
Vampire Hunter’
12 FEATURE
W
STICK A FORK IN IT
CHUCK OLDFIELD
12 | MICHELLE WOO | Soka
University was founded by a
Buddhist sect that preaches
peace—so why are so many
former professors alleging it
practices the opposite?
2011 OC Music Awards: Arrivals
07
10
32
53
62
OCWEEKLY.COM READER FEEDBACK
44 | TRENDZILLA |
25 | EVENTS |
—“Arthur Dent” responding to Gustavo Arellano’s March 2
Stick a Fork In It post “Tapatio-Flavored Fritos Now Available at
Costco, Coming to a Store Near You”
|
|
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|
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45 | CONCERT |
31 | REVIEW |
TED AWARD-WINNING ARTIST JR COMES TO PHANTOM GALLERIES
IN LONG BEACH.
31 | HOLE IN THE WALL |
45 | MENTAL NOTES |
12 |
49 | CONCERT |
39 | REVIEW |
NAVEL GAZING |
STICK A FORK IN IT |
HEARD MENTALITY |
BLOGS.OCWEEKLY.COM
50 | CONCERT |
44 | ART |
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Jorge Negreros
Senior Graphic Designer Jay Brockman
EDITORIAL
Editor Ted B. Kissell
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Staff Writers Matt Coker, Chasen
Marshall, Nick Schou, Michelle Woo
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Music Editor Lilledeshan Bose
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Contributing Writers Leslie Agan,
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EDITORIAL ART
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ocweekly
OCWEEKLY com
COM
W
food »
Twittered
Taco
GENDERSHE CUISINE
I
PHOTOS BY JC VERA
BLOGS.OCWEEKLY.COM/STICKAFORKINIT
ocweekly
com
OCWEEKLY COM
—BRANDON FERGUSON
OCWEEKLY
.COM |
14 | feb. 25-march
3, 2011 |
19
GREATEST BAND MANAGER EVER
philanthropist (yup, “witty”) whose
family honors his love of the written
word while laughing out loud to Collins’
remarkable work, which you might have
read in The New Yorker and The Paris
Review. Witty? You bet! Also ironic, idiomatic, smart and deadpan fun. Collins
will lecture, then sign his books. Tell him
Martin sent you.
Billy Collins at the Newport Beach
Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport
Beach, (949) 548-2411; www.city.
newport-beach.ca.us/nbpl. 6:30 p.m.
$50. —ANDREW TONKOVICH
[THEATER]
Wear the Pants
Twelfth Night
Some 400 years after his plays were originally composed, messing with Shakespeare
is not only acceptable for contemporary
productions, but also frequently a must.
Twelfth Night has already been tinkered
with in She’s the
MORE » Man (considered by
ONLINE many to be the highOCWEEKLY.COM
light of the Amanda
Bynes oeuvre), so
it’s not like Fullerton’s STAGEStheatre is
committing some type of sacrilege with
its performance of the romantic comedy,
which purports to be “infused with new
music” and “extreme physical comedy.”
That may seem like an odd fit, but the original text of Twelfth Night is plenty wacky as
it is, featuring cross-dressing as a vital plot
element and taking place during the titular
“merrymaking” (read: copious booze) holiday. It’s basically the Elizabethan equivalent of, well, an Amanda Bynes movie.
Twelfth Night at STAGEStheatre, 400
E. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton,
2 m8 p.m.;m
22
(714) 525-4484; www.stagesoc.org.
also Fri., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. $17-$20.
a
| film
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food
» music»« music
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3, 2011
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CAPT’N MIKE’S FISH FRY & CHICKEN
RESTAURANT 815 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa,
BY PAUL SAITOWITZ
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[CONCERT]
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$3 beers
DIRTY MONEY! FREE!
Demvs
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Fuggedaboud
B S CH
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Newport Beach. This adorable little bistro has
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kellyalexislewis com | hello@kellyalexislewis com | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave Huntington Beach CA 92648
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ocweekly
Dem
vs
. Uss.
Fuggedaboudit!
Wood-fired pizzas and panini knocked down with
liters of very good Belgian beer. The noodles are
the sleeper hit, and the burgers are very popular. $$
AMELIA’S ON BALBOA ISLAND 311 Marine Ave.,
grub*guide
| |month
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2
00-00,
2011
the county
county
» food
22
feb.
2011
contents
feature
2 | |month
00-00, 2011
the county
calendar | |
food
» music»«|music
OCWEEKLY
COM | |feature
36
feb. 25-march
3, 2011 | contents
food
|25-march
film
|3,culture
« | letters
..com
music |
THE ABBEY 306 Main St., Seal Beach, 562-799-4246.
—
iza Graves, guitarist and pribrought Mediterranean flair to Newport Beach
ALL’S FAIR
mary mouthpiece for Long
for nearly 50 years. The pasta is fresh and cooked
perfectly al dente, and the seafood dishes never
Beach punk combo Civet,
cease to impress, particularly the calamari (try the
recently reached a transformative
calamari Irma: stuffed with crab and served in a
realization. The Suicide Girls loosucculent cream sherry sauce). The staff is friendly
kalike with a weather-beaten voice
and attentive, and the patio table makes for one of
the most delightful dining experiences in town. $$$
came to understand that Civet
AURORA
2307 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach,
didn’t need to be an all-female out949-642-1073. This small Mediterranean/Middle
fit to portray their punkish antiEastern joint has a refreshingly different vibe from
rules-and-regulations ethos. In
your
run-of-the-mill local restaurant. It’s dark and
—
lounge-y yet inviting, and the staff is top-notch.
fact, rules of any kind only seemed
You can grab a gyro or sandwich, enjoy some
— been aimto hinder what she had
fresh-made sangria, or groove to the tunes from
ing to accomplish all along.
W
the jukebox or the occasional live performer. The
Civet, which Graves formed with
Mediterranean melt salad strikes the perfect balW
ance between healthful and indulgent, and the
her younger sister Suzi Homehummus and pita will fill you up quick if you don’t
wrecker more than a decade ago,
pay attention. $$
had always been envisioned as an
BAYFRONT CAFE & RESTAURANT 3412 Via Oporto
all-girl act. When its rhythm section
Ste. 103, Newport Beach, 949-675-3779. If you’re in
the mood for light, flavorful Mediterranean, this cozy
of Jacqui Valentine (bass) and Roxie
dockside café will serve you well. The hummus,
Darling (drums) quit last November
dolma and taboule are appetizers fit to be entrées,
on tour while the group was the
and the selection of fresh juices (apricot, peach,
opening act for Nashville Pussy,
sour cherry) are tantalizing. There’s a beer selection, as well, if you’d like a more adult beverage to
the pangs of finding newM
members
accompany your spanakopita. And, of course, there
opened Graves’ eyes to a different
is a smorgasbord of kebabs ranging from spicy
approach. She found that
ground beef to gyro with yogurt and tomato sauce.
Mdoing
things her way meant throwing
The falafel with fava beans is a treat! $
M and opening
BAYSIDE RESTAURANT 900 Bayside Dr., Newport
on the town partying, and “Summer of
down all conventions
Beach, 949-721-1222. Executive chef Paul Gstrein
Hate,” a rollicking tale of growing up in a
the doors of herM
band to the less-fair
M sex.
puts an intoxicating twist on New American cuisine
punk-fueled environment. “We really felt
“We’d had a lot of different girls in the
at this Newport Beach staple. Classic dishes such
free in the studio,” Graves says. “This may
band, and we realized that instead of just
as quail and foie gras are livened up with the addiW
tion of a scallion pancake, shiitake mushroom and
not be as polished as our last record, but
focusing on girls, we wanted to find the
Asian barbecue glaze. Those wanting the full prix
people seem to be into it. There were no
best drummer and bass player for us,” she
fixe can order the three-course menu, with a soup;
says. “So now we have two guys in the band, rules behind what we were able to do, and
entrée choices such as soy-glazed Atlantic salmon,
that’s the way music should be.”
and it’s honestly the best lineup we’ve ever
beef culotte or sautéed tiger prawns; and a dessert.
The rotating art exhibit, nightly jazz performances
Graves and Homewrecker penned all
had. Besides the music, when there are four
and stylish décor provide the perfect setting for one
the songs, with the former handling the
girls in the band, it gets competitive. . . . Our
of the area’s most forward-looking chefs. $$$
bulk of the lyrics. The two grew up in
chemistry now is really great.”
BLACKBOARD BISTRO 1198 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal
Graves’ independent streak crossed over Long Beach writing songs with their stepBeach, 562-596-9556. An upscale diner on PCH with
very good variations on eggs Benedict, plus the
father playing the drums behind them.
to the recording of Civet’s latest release,
county’s
favorite French toast. Check the namesake
Though 27-year-old Graves is five years
Love & War, issued on Feb. 22. The raublackboard for the best bets for dinner. $$
older than her sister, they always had the
cous, high-energy set is a guttural spitball
BLUEWATER GRILL 630 Lido Park Dr., Newport Beach,
W out of it together.
M
desire to make a career
draped in anthemic choruses—just the
CA
NMK
H
Y & CH CK N
949-675-3474. It’s all seafood all the time at this
upscale chain establishment. The catches are fresh,
way Graves intended. Rather than working While their
Mrelationship is generally very AU AN
and the chefs are not stingy with the portions. The
warm, the ebbs and flows of working
with two big-name producers (as they did
Oyster Bar serves up delicious clam pots and oyster
with family mixed with countless hours
with Julian Raymond and Howard Willing
shots, and the kitchen’s Bluewater Classics include
—
trapped in a van in some foreign place can
on 2008’s Hell Hath No Fury), the band
beer-battered fish and chips, panko-fried shrimp, and
a massive Australian lobster tail. An extensive sushi
make for some less enthusiastic moments.
chose to go it alone in the studio, trusting
bar delivers some excellent raw choices, such as the
“I guess there is some Liam and Noel in
their own talents to get the vision across.
H (sweet
A shrimp).Y
unagi (freshwater eel) and amaebi
us [as in the Gallagher brothers of Oasis
“On our last record, the production
The adventurous can even rent an electric boat and
fame/infamy]. You can’t see it onstage or
was so large and the sound wasn’t exactly
have their meal dockside. $$$
BUON GUSTO 4911 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach,
anything, but if you spend enough time
representative of us,” Graves says. “We
562-494-7593. The name and most of the menu may
around us, you can see it,” she says. “I
wanted to record ourselves in a way that
be Italian, but it’s Italian by way of Greece, with
W we like and who we really think that’s naturalM
with siblings. . . . On
captured what
octopus, lamb and feta cropping up on the menu.
the whole, I love being in a band with her.”
are. It can be difficult without an outside
BYOB and no corkage means you can drink what
AM$$ A ON
you want without the markup.
For now, Civet plan to spend the majorear to help you figure things out, but we
THE CANNERY 3010 Lafayette Rd., Newport Beach,
ity of the next year on the road crossing
feel good about it.”
949-566-0060. One of Newport Beach’s finer seafood
North America and making trips to Japan
The set was tracked in an Orange
TERRA NOVA RESTAURANT AT THE WYNDHAM
restaurants, this Rhine Channel f
and Europe. With the new, emboldened
County studio over a few weeks with a
DA
A
O
3350
Avenue
of
the
Arts,
Costa
Mesa,
714-442-8593.
G
MO
O OlineupNG
OUN
MN NItNG
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OCW K Y COM
used to have an all-you-can-eat $10 pasta bar at
and a great record to promote,
longtime friend engineering behind the
which you chose
yourCOM
pasta, sauces and meat to
N relaxed
OMM
Nthey’re&excited.
OM
N
O D N NG OCW
K Y
boards. The atmosphere was
and
be prepared by the chef à la minute. Those days
“This should be a big year for us,”
party-like, allowing for the creative energy
are gone, replaced by a $10 choose-your-own
Graves said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to
to take the band in whatever direction
pasta dish. The idea is the same, but you have to
m
W
M
om
$$$ w
pay for seconds. Parking validated!o
takem
everything in and enjoy it.”
they wanted. The result was 14 songs of
WEI’S CHINESE RESTAURANT 17046 Magnolia St.,
power street punk recalling the brute force
Fountain Valley, 714-842-9778. New owners have
CIVET
of Motörhead, the exhaust-fume vocals of
play with Hounds and HarlotsU
at Alex’sMOON
Courtney Love and the big, snappy choBar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach,
ruses of Rancid. Standout tracks include
GET MORE OF ORANGE COUNTY’S BEST DAMN DINING GUIDE AT OCWEEKLY.COM.
SEND COMMENTS & COMPLAINTS TO: [email protected].
ww.alexsbar.com. Sun., 9 p.m. $5. 21+.
“L.A. Nights,” a song owed to an evening
m
Seeing Stone Temple Pilots at this
m
point in history is not just a concert,
it’s nearly a Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
843 w. 19th st. Costa Mesam
m
attraction. Yes, much-maligned
lead
949-642-0600
21
m
m+
www.detroitbar.com
singer Scott Weiland is still mkicking. Thursday, Febm24th
Yes, they’re back together despite
a breakup and Weiland’s stint in
YO LA TENGO
Velvet Revolver (some of the rest
Friday, Feb 25th
of the guys in the band started a
group called Army of Anyone, but
STATIC FRIDAYS
you probably missed that along
Saturday, Feb 26th
with most people). They released
their first album since 2001 last year,
and appear to be back on track afterABSTRACT WORKSHOP
m
rescheduling some shows last fall. Sunday, Feb 27th
Yeah, it’s been a long time since the
SoCal-originated band hit it big with KARAOKE!
tunes such as “Plush” and “Inter-m Monday, Feb 28th
W
state Love Song,” but between this
and the recent reformation of%SoundJAMES FLETCHERM
garden, 2011 may be the newN1991. Tuesday, Mar 1st
Stone Temple Pilots at Fox
M
Pomona Theatre, 301 S. Garey Ave.,
Pomona; www.foxpomona.com. LIVE MUSIC! NO COVER!
Wednesday, Mar 2nd
on en
he oun y
e u e
8 p.m. $49.50-$52.
All ages.e e
$3 wells
—ALBERT CHING
FREE D NNER ON US
coastal oc
949-645-2875. This place is with the times, selling
fish and chips to a Mexican audience. Does the
culinary mash-up work? We say yes. The creamy
refried frijoles make a great dip for the fish, while
the rice isn’t stale—the best possible compliment for
Mexican rice. Order a side of corn tortillas, and you
can create monster fish tacos that are part-English,
part-Mexican and all Orange County, baby. $-$$
DALAT BISTRO 16525 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley,
714-839-8338. The huge menu can be hard to get
through; look at what other diners are eating. It’s
packed for a reason: try the salmon with crispy rice
or the grilled dill salmon (cha ca Thang Long). $$
FULL MOON 9965 Ellis Ave., Fountain Valley,
714-963-3214. A cute neighborhood sushi-ya serving
Americanized rolls and bento-type entrées (teriyaki
chicken, etc.) to the locals in Fountain Valley. The
house specialty is the crunchy roll. $
GEORGE’S BURGERS 17991 Euclid St., Fountain
Valley, 714-963-1774. The archetypal OC burger
shack, with a few nods to Mexican food, some
steaks and good greasy-spoon breakfasts. Stick
with the combos advertised in the windows. $
LE V CUISINE 17431 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley,
714-593-8511. One of the best Asian-European fusion
restaurants in Little Saigon, you can pair your cha
gio (Vietnamese spring rolls) with your spicy tuna on
crispy rice or have an old-fashioned French dish. $$
MAGNOLIA CAFE 8988 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley,
714-842-2844. The non-Disneyland answer to the
question “Where can I get a Monte Cristo sandwich?”
Be aware the portions are gargantuan. Eat in a classic diner setting, with an average patron age of 61 and
waitresses who are at the half-century mark. $-$$
MAI THAI RESTAURANT 17938 Magnolia St.,
Fountain Valley, 714-963-4929. This strip-mall Thai
place has some of the better crying tiger in OC. Pair
it with papaya salad and pad kee mao for a trip to
Capsaicinville. $$
MYUNG DONG KAL GUK SU 2512 Walnut Ave.,
Ste. 1, Tustin, 714-734-7789. Myung Dong Kal Guk
Su is one of those food specialty restaurants with a
laser-guided focus on making only a few things and
making them well. Its experts focus on kalguksu,
hand-cut noodles. The dish isn’t just part of the name
but is the first thing listed on a menu that has fewer
than a dozen items, a majority of them noodles. The
namesake noodles—as pale as Japanese udon and
as wide as Italian linguine—have a smooth texture
and ghostly translucence all their own, with a softly
pliant bite and mouth-filling warmth. $$
PHANS 55 6000 Scholarship Dr., Irvine, 949-724-1236.
Its website trumpets the fact that the restaurant is
clean, which means Fullertonians and Irvinians who
are nervous about Little Saigon can get their pho,
bun and salad rolls in an accessible—but expensive—location. $$
RED CLAW 9475 Heil Ave., Fountain Valley,
714-531-3500. One of many Cajun-seafood places in
the vicinity of Little Saigon, Red Claw is crowded,
messy, hectic and wonderful. Go during happy hour,
when you can quench the thirst brought on by all
that salt with $2 beers. $$
THE RETREAT AT THE SPA 695 Town Center Dr.,
Costa Mesa, 714-850-0050, ext. 135. At this hidden
corner in a posh spa, Cody Requejo and his buddy
Dave Mau will serve you inspired sushi and TexMex, exactly in that order. $$-$$$
ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL 13652 Jamboree
Rd., Irvine, 714-508-7990. This chain proves that you
can do mass-produced Italian food and not have it
taste like Olive Garden. $$
STONEFIRE GRILL 18727 Brookhurst St., Fountain
Valley, 714-968-8300. Stonefire Grill is part of an
expanding chain of places that specializes in huge
salads, pizzas and fire-grilled meats in an environment that’s an upper-scale version of BJ’s. The
salads are the best option. $$
Civet ditch the all-girl punk-combo concept
and release their best effort to date
Stone Age
taken over and redesigned the menu to appeal
to a wider audience (read: more chow mein than
Shangdong), but you can still get the old standbys
such as pork with dried tofu—just ask $$
central oc
BEST CH LE RELLENO Now With Boys!
N OC
—
—ALBERT CHING
| letters
| the|county
| feature
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| feature »» calendar
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calendar «
contents
feb.month
25-march
3, 2011
00-00,
2011| |35
1
saturday>
ELECTRO
TACO ASYLUM
OCMA BEST LIVE BAND FINAL
After enduring the marathon listening session that is the OC Music Awards, one thing
comes across loud and clear: Orange County is no slouch when it comes to producing talented bands. Sure, there were a few stinkers in the seven-concert run-up, but
the ones that stood out made the inconvenience of spending nights in packed, sweaty
venues worth the effort. And now, the top bands will be performing at this year’s
showcase. Friday’s show in particular, which presents the contenders for Best Live
Act, has nicely culled the talent from this competition. Included in the lineup are metal
band Railroad to Alaska, indie band Kiev (not to be missed) and the always entertaining avant-rap spectacle of Blok.
OCMA Best Live Band Final at the Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd.,
Santa Ana, (714) 957-0600; www.galaxytheatre.com. 8 p.m. Free. All ages.
Name your favorite funny poet, whom
you’ve heard crack wise on A Prairie
Home Companion—and we’ll bet it’s Billy
Collins. See and hear the former U.S.
Poet Laureate at yet another great event
at Newport Beach Library Foundation’s
Martin W. Witte Distinguished Speakers
Lecture Series. Be further entertained
pronouncing the name of the late local
BLOG ON » MUSIC
MENTALITY
xHEARD
MATT POND PA
perform with Rocky Votolato and Ray
Torres at Chain Reaction, 1652 W. Lincoln
Ave., Anaheim, (714) 635-6067; www.
allages.com. Fri., 8 p.m. $13 in advance;
$15 at the door. All ages.
ROCK
[email protected]
May the Best Band Win
Poetic Conceit
will eliminate the bands through rounds, with
eral of their records. Scores have mostly his work sounds like those artists. In
right,” he says, noting how he grew up
the first one ending on March 2. (Side note:
been on the upswing with each ensucontrast, he prefers invoking Tom Petty, in New Hampshire. “[Writing about
Rolling Stone got the band’s name right, but
ing review but still decisively remain
Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young as
nature is] the only way I know how to
initially had their hometown as “Fullterton.”)
within the lower rungs of their grading
songwriters he might not sound like but talk about people. You
Wdon’t have to go
The eightM
bands who get past the first
scale. The Green Fury (2002) scored an
aspires to become as good as.
[to nature]. You can just sit and curseM
round will go into a studio with a major proespecially measly 1.8, 2005’s Several
Pitchfork does have some valid
your small New York City apartment
ducer, and then another voting process will
Arrows Later got a 4.0, 2007’s Last Light gripes with Pond’s music, and an outand wish you were somewhere.”
This
column
was
compiled
from
Heard
Mentality
blog
narrow the
field to four. After that, the remaina 3.7, and last year’s The Dark Leaves
sider identifying an artist’s faults goes
Sometime soon, Matt Pond PA will
ing
will
showcase
their talent in front of Rollearned a 4.8. Each review came from a
far in fleshing outposts.
the work’sFor
context.
wrap
up
and
release
a
new
EP.
There’s
more news & daily updates, visit:
M at The Dark Leaves, his angelic
ing Stone editors and music executives, who
different writer, and each was painful in Looking
an excellent possibility it will be filled
will decide the finalists.
its own way, occasionally throwing out
rock lacks an emotional nakedness
with descriptions of forestry; there’s also
The last two bands will battle it out for the
faint praise.
that turns the bestBLOGS.OCWEEKLY
folk and indie rock
a decent.COM/HEARDMENTALITY
chance that Pitchfork will give
award, the cover and an appearance at the
A smattering of the daggers coninto an unfathomably deep connection
it a look. “I don’t even care about bad
Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 9. The wintained within said reviews: Green Fury
between songwriter and listener—a
reviews anymore. They’re kind of cool.
ner be the first unsigned band to be on the
contains “tepid” songs, akin to “an
revelation transported from one person
Once
Myou get beat up enough times, it’s
cover. They won’t be unsigned long: A recordextravagantly wrapped Christmas presto another via song. His portraits of
like, ‘Fuck it.’ It’s a part of being tough,”
ing contract with Atlantic Records is also part
ent with socks and underwear inside”;
nature are beautiful and idyllic but lack
says Pond, maybe learning from these
of the grand prize. From a Feb. 15 post.
there is no “actual friction amidst such
a bluntness or inflection or je ne sais
trials. “If you’re going to make music,
downy arrangements” on The Dark
quoi that could give them inescapable
you’re gonna have people that don’t like
Leaves; Last Light was “another Matt
definition. Pond’s metaphors and visuit, no matter who you are.”
Malbum steeped in adult alter- W als resonate with the force of a light
&
Pond PA
MATT POND PA
BLOG ON MUSIC
native at its blandest”; and his voice has
wind instead of a hurricane.
HEARD MENTALITY
perform
with
Rocky
Votolato
and
Ray
been compared to those of Dave MatBut Pond has his positives, too. Even
W Adam Dur- when
Mhis melodies don’t stick, his songs
M This column
Torres at Chain Reaction, 1652 W. Lincoln
was compiled from Heard Mentality blog
thews and Counting Crows’
posts. For more news & daily updates, visit:
Ave., Anaheim, (714) 635-6067; www.
witz—and that’s not a good thing.
contain a rich shine, and his breathy,
allages.com. Fri., 8 p.m. $13 in advance;
BLOGS.OCWEEKLY.COM/HEARDMENTALITY
Pond is familiar with Pitchfork’s
careful singing suits his scenery well.
$15 at the door. All ages.
viewpoints and does little to mask his
Pond’s organic imagery doesn’t break
INDIE
|
[CONCERT]
Billy Collins
HOT LATIN LGBT NIGHTS
sat/02/26
[POETRY]
T
KARAOKE
«
LIFE AFTER AMERICAN IDOL
fri/02/25
*
Pitchforked, But Proud
DANCE
»
17
grub*gu de
page OCWEEKLY
page
page
|
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| the|county
| feature
| letters
| feature || calendar
| film
| culture
| contents
contents
food
| film
| culture
ocweekly
com| |
the county
calendar | |
food
» music»« music «
..COM
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
*calendar
JAMES DEAN AND HIS TWIN BROTHER
music »
HOUSE
x
»
17
page
MONDAY
Dem
vs
. Uss.
19
Fuggedaboudit!
See us shake in the wild distortion of the
THE STEELWELLS ROLLING TOWARD THE
water’s waves/Still I know you in the
COVER OF ROLLING STONE?
darkness shining from a mile away.”
Here’s an interesting twist on the the whole
Strangely, he’s more incisive away
battle-of-the-bands concept: The editors
at
from the guitar. The Brooklyn resident
artists|sounds|shows
MENTAL
NOTES
» DANIELLEinBACHER
Rolling Stone picked 16 bands to compete
wrote The Dark Leaves in a cabin in
a contest for Best Unsigned Artist. TheFranki
grand Doll Walks
woodsy Bearsville, New York, and he
prize includes the coveted cover of theDown
maga-the Aisle
discusses his fascination with nature
herepinked-up, punk-inspired rockers of
zine itself. Fullerton’s The Steelwells are
with great clarity. “I can’t be comfortT
Franki Doll and the Broken Toys have
always given off a tight-knit vibe, like that of a
resenting OC in this throwdown. The magazine
able in the city. It doesn’t fit my skin
coed street gang or even a family. As of Feb. 20,
Franki Doll and drummer Jenson Avery
singerwith
will eliminate the bands through rounds,
right,” he says, noting how he grew up
actually are family—they were married onstage
at the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana.
the first one ending on March 2. (Side note:
in New Hampshire. “[Writing about
The coolest part? At 7 p.m., the couple
up the wedding celebration to the
Rolling Stone got the band’s name right,opened
but
nature is] the only way I know how to
public, and after that, Doll became her own
wedding singer as the band performed—
initially had their hometown as “Fullterton.”)
talk about people. You don’t have to go
along with Flock of Goo Goo, Champagne
Blvd., Stay the Night, The Throw Aways,
The eight bands who get past the first
[to nature]. You can just sit and curse
Stitched Up Heart, Broken Patron Saints,
Nothings and Chasing Zero.
round will go into a studio with a majorSweet
proyour small New York City apartment
Jenson chose their third anniversary to pop
question. “He took me to Hawaii last year
ducer, and then another voting processthe
and wish you were somewhere.”
for will
our three-year anniversary,” Doll says.
“He took me to a secluded beach in Lanai. As
narrow the field to four. After that, the remainSometime soon, Matt Pond PA will
I was sunbathing, he turned around with a
PITCHFORK YOU!
camera, an anniversary card and a ring.
oc
ing will showcase their talent
in front ofvideo
Rollwrap up and releasecentral
a new EP. There’s
. . . He
videotaped it.”
Caught by phone 20 minutes before boardM be filled &
— ing awho
ing Stone editors and music executives,
an excellent possibility it will
plane for her honeymoon, Doll declared,
“We
had
so many people come up to us and
W
M
will decide the
fi
nalists.
with descriptions of forestry; there’s
also
say it was the best wedding they had ever
coastal oc been to. It was the greatest day of my life.”
it was unexplainable,” Jenson
The last two bands will battle it out for“Yeah,
the
a decent chance that Pitchfork willMgive
gushed. “I was expecting Franki to look beauM
but I wasn’t expecting that. I walked up to
award, the cover and an appearance
attiful,the
it a look. “I don’t even care about bad W
Matt Pond responds to reaction to their reactions. “They don’t any W
new ground but has a genial warmth.
the altar, and my knees buckled.”
me and they don’t
want people to Music
The opening
of Leaves’ “Speck”
exempli-9. TheAw.
But hey, what do you expect from a
Bonnaroo
Festival
on
June
winreviews anymore. They’re
kind
ofand
cool.like
—
his toughest
critic
me,” he says. “There are people
fies this: “Up above, I see specks of silver
guy who captured his own “propose-cute” on
what’s worth like
M
that work there that ner
like ourbe
music,
but first
in theunsigned
evening sky/Specks
of gold in
video?
a Feb. 17 (updated Feb. 21) Heard
the
band
tothebe onMentality
theFrom
Once you get beattalks
upabout
enough
times,
learning
from those
ripsit’s
they’re not going to give it to those peoriver
M running from the deep moonlight/
Mblog post.
BY REYAN
ALI ple to review.” He stopped
keeping
up
See us shake
wild distortion long:
of the
cover.
They
won’t
bein the
unsigned
A THE
recordlike, ‘Fuck it.’ It’s a part ofMbeing
tough,”
STEELWELLS ROLLING TOWARD THE
on Pitchfork reviews years ago because
water’s waves/Still I know you in the
Mfrom a mile
COVERpart
OF ROLLING STONE?
he would “read theming
[to] the
point of
darkness
shining
away.”
contract
with
Atlantic
Records
is
also
says Pond, maybe learning
from
these
o put it gently, Pitchfork’s opinHere’s an interesting twist on the the whole
self-torture. It’s kind of a joke because
Strangely, he’s more incisive away
ion ofto
Mattmake
Pond’s work
has been whatever we do or I of
concept: The editors at
do, they’re
the guitar.
The Brooklyn
the not
grand from
prize.
From
a Feb.resident
15 post.battle-of-the-bands
trials. “If you’re going
music,
Rolling Stone picked 16 bands to compete in
less than positive. Since the New
going to like it. It’s like a directive at the wrote The Dark Leaves in a cabin in
a contest for Best Unsigned Artist. The grand
York-based
singer-songwriter
and his like
place.” For example, Pond posits that
woodsy Bearsville, New York, and he
you’re gonna have
people
that don’t
prize includes the coveted cover of the magaband (known collectively as Matt Pond
Dave Matthews and Counting Crows
discusses his fascination with nature
zine itself. Fullerton’s The Steelwells are repPA) got going in the late 1990s, the jugare used as tools of derision in this
with great clarity. “I can’t be comfortit, no matter whogernaut
youindie-rock
are.”
M site has graded sev- context, especially as he doesn’t believe able in the city. It doesn’t fit my skin
resenting OC in this throwdown. The magazine
INDIE
hile Orange County has
always hosted an embarrassingly small African-American
5 BLOG
community, actual Africans are
Tapatio-Flavored Fritos Now Available at Costco,
»22
Coming to a Store Near You
beginning to arrive on our shores in
.COMMENTS
in back
other
stuff
waves. Most of them find comfort
Letters
25 CALENDARin Anaheim: You can Doing
youron
own Ethio- Hey, You!
dine
“What the hell is a tapatio?”
You know what Philip
Grub Guide
nails isn’t so tough. By Vickie Chang
Glass needs? A roller-derby
name. at Tana, eat Kenyan at Kenya Concert & Club Guide
pian
45 MUSIC
Savage Love
31 FOOD
Norwegian
Café, evenelectrorockers
snack on
Eritrean treats
Datarock release a
Habuya in Tustin
massive, collectible single.
represents the perfect prefecture.
at Merhaba.
OCWEEKLY.COM / SLIDESHOW
on the cover
By Paul Saitowitz
By Edwin Goei
Morangak
Five
But the memorable
most fascinating
restau- The School On a Hill
has the Seoul of OC’s Little Korea.
moments from the
By Gustavo Arellano
Music Awards.
rant of theOC
bunch
is the month-old
By Brandon Ferguson
39 FILM
Exene Cervenka
Gendersheis Cuisine
in
Anaheim,online
the
approachable, acoustic—and
The new adaption
News & More
still totally punk rock.
Dining & Food
of Jane Eyre stresses the pursuit of
county’s first
Somali restaurant. If
By Lilledeshan Bose
independence. By Karina Longworth
Music & Culture
This year’s Grrl Fair
PHOTOS BY JC VERA
it
looks
like
a
banquet
hall—fake
should be grreater than ever.
44 CULTURE
Jonathan St. Amant’s
By Gabriel San Roman
» cover credits
roses in vases, bright-red
mantles,
ninjas rule the Hibbleton Gallery.
The Orange
Jacopo Rosati
Laila Derakhshanian
By Dave Barton
Effect go live. By Adam Lovinus
napkins folded
like fans and carefully placed inside glass cups—it’s
oc weekly staff »
because owner Habiba Abdi has
a catering business of the same
name, and old habits die hard. It’s
not
the easiest
place to navigate—
OLE
IN come
THE
ALL
orders usually
out wrong, not
» GUSTAVO
ARELLANO
all the menu is explained—but the
food! I haven’t been so satisfied
with a meal since Thanksgiving’s
TACO TRIAD; BELOW: NOT
third helping.
YOUR TYPICAL TAQUERO
Abdi’s suqaars—sautéed chicken
GENDERSHE CUISINE
or beef on beds of cardamom2741|W.
Lincoln
B, | music |
| foodAve.,
| film Ste.
| culture
||
4 || month
march 11-17,
» contents « letters | the county | feature
..
2
00-00,2011
2011
spikedcalendar
rice—are
the
type
of food
Anaheim, (714) 220-9500;
that makes you eat so much you’re
www.gendershecuisine.com.
likely to stretch something inside
that shouldn’t be stretched. The
hile Orange County has
sambusas are really samosas, but
hosted an embar- HOLE IN THE WALL
reviews|listings bigger,always
flakier and accompanied by
» GUSTAVO ARELLANO
rassingly small African-American
a fragrant green-pepper chutney
community, actual
Africans
TACO TRIAD;
BELOW: NOT are
Bur, Baby, Bur
that scalds. Baked
in-house
YOUR TYPICAL
TAQUERO is the
beginning to arrive on our shores in
bur, Somali fry bread as sweet as 2741 W. Lincoln Ave., Ste. B,
Anaheim, (714) 220-9500;
waves.
Most
of
them
find
comfort
problematic, as the tortillas are often as
pan dulce and as savory as a French
www.gendershecuisine.com.
in
Anaheim:
You can
dinewith
on Ethiostiff as an overstarched
The issue is
roll—tear
it open
to stuff
what- hile Orange County has
The Haven shirt.
Gastropub
W
always hosted an embarpian
atinTana,
eat
Kenyan
at Kenya
creators try their hand at a
most noticeable
when
you
order
the
$18
ever’s
front
of
you,
or
use
it
for
rassingly small African-American
gourmet taco stand
Café,
even
snack
on Eritrean
treatscommunity, actual Africans are
EDWIN
GOEI
eight-taco sampler. OnBYthe
first
taco you
sopping.
Most
of the
tables seem
beginning to arrive on our shores in
waves. Most of them find comfort
at
Merhaba.
eat, the tortillas
will
bethesomewhat
pliant;
to feature one heap of spaghetti (a in Anaheim: You can dine on Ethiodon’t envy
the work
Haven Gastropub wunderkinds—Greg Daniels, Wil
pian at Tana, eat Kenyan at Kenya
Butofthe
most
fascinating
restaubut the prolonged
exposure
toof air renders
relic
Italy’s
conquest
of the
HornCafé, even snack on Eritrean treats
Dee and Alkesh
Patel—have ahead
them. They’re planning a second outpost
at Merhaba.
rant
of the but
bunch
is the
month-old
the last fewin dry
and
a good
of Africa),
better
is the
hilib ari, But the most fascinating restauPasadena;
at the stale,
Camp, theirrequiring
latest project, Taco Asylum, enjoys the adoration
rant of the bunch is the month-old
Gendershe
Cuisine
in
Anaheim,
the
bit of mastication
before
can swallow.
bone-in goat stew, gamy and glori- Gendershe Cuisine in Anaheim, the
of the Haven faithful
as well you
as attention
from those curious about its novelty. But
first Somali restaurant. If
county’s
firstsavory
Somali
If county’s
I expect after
Taco
Asylum tocrowd
fi
gure
out
ous and as
asrestaurant.
birria.
the been-there-done-that
disit looks like a banquet hall—fake
PHOTOS BY JC VERA
sipates, after the magazines and newsparoses in vases, bright-red mantles,
it
looks
like
a
banquet
hall—fake
how to fix this
time
perhaps
Abdi even masters the sweets—napkins folded like fans and carepers stopover
talking about
them, (or
they’ll need
staying power. They’ll need to convince
fully placed inside glass cups—it’s
roses
in vases,
bright-red
resort to more
traditional
tortillas),
her lassis
contain
almondmantles,
milk, because owner Habiba Abdi has
the rest of
the world to look pastcorn
their
$5-per-taco price tag. And if the opinions
catering business of the same
napkins
andofcare- aname,
just as Haven
fipeople
gured
out how
almond folded
slivers like
andfans
chunks
of a few
I’ve unscientifically
sur- to make
and old habits die hard. It’s
veyed are any indication, it’s going to be
not the easiest place to navigate—
fully
placed
inside
glass
cups—it’s
its once-shaky
theistoast of the
mango, while the halwo, silky
an uphillgastropub
battle once the honeymoon
orders usually come out wrong, not
over. A typical summation of the place was
all
is explained—but the
because
owner
has food!theI menu
Orange Circle.
with
a public predisa
and strong
with Habiba
nutmeg,Abdi
is made
“Well, it’sBut
good, but
it’s a $5 taco.”
haven’t been so satisfied
It’s not just the friends I asked. When
with a meal since Thanksgiving’s
aweekly
catering
of theout
same
posed to paying
to complains
nothing
butbusiness
usually sells
withinthird helping.
every onlinenext
review either
about for tacos,
the price or defends it, it’s an indication the
Abdi’s suqaars—sautéed chicken
and then
old habits
diethe
hard.
there’s a bigger
challenge
here. With
theknots for hours. name,
days. And
there’s
friedIt’s or beef on beds of cardamomtwisted into
fight is against
the ingrained expectation
Besides, you want to taste every
that tacos are supposed to be cheap. Thank
rice—are the type of food
not
the easiest
navigate—spiked
ambitious
mise
d overhead, the
mashmash,
theplace
nutty to
chapatti,
nuanced gourmet ingredient you paid
Taco Bell
and Del Taco for making
tacos en place,
that makes you eat so much you’re
for. To be sure, the chefs prepare every
a commodity more than a food. But Taco
likely to stretch something inside
orders
usually
come
out
wrong,
not
I don’t think
it ascan
afford
tobycharge
anyin a style indicating a alot ofcrispy dish that looked like a that shouldn’t be stretched. The
component
Asylum,
you might
have guessed
now,
thought, work and effort. Between the
is not a typical taco stand—a species far
all
the menu is explained—but the sambusas are really samosas, but
more but tasted like a green-onionbigger, flakier and accompanied by
less, but will
it surge
onward
the folds, some fillings are
removed
from the corporate
chains andafter
the flour-tortilla
latke
successful than others. The octopus is
hole-in-the-wall taquerías. It is a designer
green-pepper chutney
food!
I haven’t
beenofsoGendershe
satisfied athatfragrant
tender
and flavorful by itself; in a omelet.
taco,
taco shop,On
with a fl
at-screen
television
scalds. Baked in-house is the
hype subsides?
one
particularly
slow
The riches
it’s elusive, easily overpowered by sharp
tuned to its own Twitter feed. It boasts a
bur, Somali fry bread as sweet as
with
a meal
Thanksgiving’s
problematic,
as the tortillasplentiful,
are often as
kalamata
olives and feta. It’s the same
library of eclectic draft TV
and
weeknight,respectable
the Twitter-fed
was
static,
are many,
itssince
charms
its pan dulce and as savory as a French
stiff as an overstarched shirt. The issue is
for the beef heart, bullied by sour radish
bottled beers. It sells thin, burned-looking
roll—tear it open to stuff with whatthird
helping.
most
noticeable when you order the $18
homemade chips
dusted with
a caustic
ever’s in front of you, or use it for
with no updates
except
for
those pickles
left and peppers to become nothing
dishes
divine.
eight-taco sampler. On the first taco you
more than tasteless, rubbery things. An
smoked serrano-chile powder, designed
sopping. Most of the tables seem
Abdi’s
suqaars—sautéed
chicken
eat, the
tortillas will be somewhat pliant;
unctuous
pork belly would taste marvelto make
moreperson.
beer. The menu is
to feature one heap of spaghetti (a
[email protected]
hours before
byyouabuyPR
What
some
but the prolonged exposure to air renders
otherwise just tacos and only tacos, vaguely ous as an appetizer drizzled in sauce, but
relic of Italy’s conquest of the Horn
or
beef
on
beds
of
cardamomthe last few dry and stale, requiring a good
bánh mì-inspired add-ons of cilantro,
in inspiration, but global in aspiof Africa), but better is the hilib ari,
have calledMexican
self-aggrandizing
andtheothers
bit of mastication before you can swallow.
daikon radish and carrot pickles send a
ration. There’s not a morsel of carne asada,
goat stew, gamy and glorispiked
rice—are
the totype
of food bone-in
I expect Taco Asylum
figure out
mixed message and become all you
taste.
of refried beans
or a crusty-lipped
ous and as savory as birria.
smart, nowa speck
seemed
strangely
neither.
how to fix this over time (or perhaps
The curried paneer taco is faultless,
bottle of Tapatío.
Abdi even masters the sweets—
that
makes
you
eat
so
much
you’re
resort to more traditional corn tortillas),
however. So is the wild mushroom taco.
Taco Asylum, in fact, bottles its own
her lassis contain almond milk,
just as Haven figured out how to make
The latter is the most balanced of the
hot sauces, one of which contains the
almond slivers and chunks of
likely
toits
stretch
something
inside
once-shaky
gastropub
the toast
of
the
bunch, and therefore the best, even
if the
ground-up flesh of the ghost pepper,
mango, while the halwo, silky
TACO ASYLUM
BLOG
ON
FOOD
Orange Circle. But with a public predisfried chickpeas included for texture have a
also known as the Bhut Jolokia, the hotstrong with nutmeg, is made
that
stretched.
The
posed to paying
next
to nothingIN
for tacos,
tendency
to fall out before the first
bite.
Ashouldn’t
chile in the
world.
You don’t
use theCosta
weekly but usually sells out within
STICK
AbeFORK
IT and
2937 S. test
Bristol
St.,
Ste.
B102,
Mesa,
f
there’s a bigger challenge here. With the
funky, good braised lamb tastes like somesauce as condiment as much as you dare
days. And then there’s the fried
sambusas
are
really
samosas,
but
thing you’d
want to eat withBLOGS.OCWEEKLY.COM/STICKAFORKINIT
warm mashed overhead, the ambitious mise en place,
others towww.tacoasylum.com.
use it. The sauce and the ghost
mashmash, the nutty chapatti,
(714) 922-6010;
Open
I don’t think it can afford to charge any
potatoes, and the duck feels more like carchili pork taco, which has the raw chile
a crispy dish that looked like a
bigger,
flakier
bylatke but tasted like a green-onion
less,
but will and
it surgeaccompanied
onward after the
nitas than
the pork in the ghost chili
pork,
whittled
down to threads
as thin
as fila- $5-$6.
11 a.m.-11
p.m.
Tacos,
Beer.
hype subsides? On one particularly slow
which, in turn, owes its success to the
ment, exist purely for the entertainment
omelet. The riches of Gendershe
a fragrant
green-pepper
chutney
weeknight,
the Twitter-fed TV was
static,
microcubes of rendered pork cracklings
value. The Haven boys know this. They
are many, its charms plentiful, its
with no updates except for those left
rather
the ghost pepper
or the pork.
milk the gimmick to good effect
the
dishes
divine.
|| calendar
|| music
|hours
| |21
| onculture
|thanphotogenic,
food
film
culture
feb.
25-march
3,is2011
calendar » restaurant’s
food
« film
month
00-00,
2011
1
Baked
in-house
the
before
by
a PR person.
What some
All are music
the prettiestthat
tacos scalds.
Facebook
and Twitter.
Cushave called self-aggrandizing and others
you’ll ever see, with not a leaf of garnish
tomers are encouraged to record thembur, Somali
fryseemed
bread
asneither.
sweet as
smart, now
strangely
out of place, but arranged on customselves eating it, wincing, choking, crying,
made sheet-metal platforms that are helpwhile their friends hoot and holler. To
problematic,actually
as the
are
BLOG ON » FOOD
less inas
preventing the grease frompan
drib- dulce and as savory as a French
take uptortillas
the challenge and
applyoften
A FORK IN IT
2937 S. Bristol St., Ste. B102, Costa Mesa,
xSTICK
bling out of the taco and onto your table. If
any amount of the sauce on the tacos will
stiff as an overstarched
The issue
open
to stuff with
(714) it
922-6010;
www.tacoasylum.com.
Openwhatthere’s oneis
other thing that needsroll—tear
tweakdo nothing but leave theshirt.
back of your
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tacos, $5-$6. Beer.
ing, it’s the flour tortillas. The texture is
throat scorched and your internal organs
most noticeable when
you
order
the
$18
ever’s
in
front
of
you,
or
use
it
for
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
contents contents
letters letters
the county
food
« film
| culture
3, 2011
the county feature
feature calendar
calendar » »
food
« film
culture
music music | feb. 25-march
..
month 00-00,
2011| |21
1
eight-taco sampler. On the first taco you
sopping. Most of the tables seem
eat, the tortillas will be somewhat pliant;
to feature one heap of spaghetti (a
but the prolonged exposure to air renders
relic of Italy’s conquest of the Horn
the last few dry and stale, requiring a good
of Africa), but better is the hilib ari,
bit of mastication before you can swallow.
bone-in goat stew, gamy and gloriI expect Taco Asylum to figure out
ous and as savory as birria.
how to fix this over time (or perhaps
Abdi even masters the sweets—
resort to more traditional corn tortillas),
her lassis contain almond milk,
just as Haven figured out how to make
almond slivers and chunks of
its once-shaky gastropub the toast of the
mango, while the halwo, silky
Orange Circle. But with a public predisand strong with nutmeg, is made
4 SLIDESHOW
EVENT
ple to review.” He stopped keeping up
on Pitchfork reviews years ago because
he would “read them [to] the point of
self-torture. It’s kind of a joke because
whatever we do or I do, they’re not
going to like it. It’s like a directive at the
place.” For example, Pond posits that
Dave Matthews and Counting Crows
are used as tools of derision in this
context, especially as he doesn’t believe
his work sounds like those artists. In
contrast, he prefers invoking Tom Petty,
Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young as
songwriters he might not sound like but
aspires to become as good as.
Pitchfork does have some valid
gripes with Pond’s music, and an outsider identifying an artist’s faults goes
far in fleshing out the work’s context.
Looking at The Dark Leaves, his angelic
rock lacks an emotional nakedness
that turns the best folk and indie rock
into an unfathomably deep connection
between songwriter and listener—a
revelation transported from one person
to another via song. His portraits of
nature are beautiful and idyllic but lack
a bluntness or inflection or je ne sais
quoi that could give them inescapable
definition. Pond’s metaphors and visuals resonate with the force of a light
wind instead of a hurricane.
But Pond has his positives, too. Even
when his melodies don’t stick, his songs
contain a rich shine, and his breathy,
careful singing suits his scenery well.
Pond’s organic imagery doesn’t break
SAMMI DOLL
02
A LT- W E E K LY
R E DE S IGN / R E S I Z E
AY
w
ON CA
N w
m
w
&
03
A R T DIR EC T ION :
PHOTO S HOOT S
CLIENT/PROJECT
OC Weekly: Cover & special issue photo shoots
SUMMARY
SERVICES
As Art Director for OC Weekly, I hired and managed all of our freelance photographers. I directed most
photo shoots through advance art briefs, but for these and other special issues, I directed the shoots in
person, managing crew and materials, including hair/makeup artists, wardrobe stylists, props, models
and location. I typically handled all post-production and photo manipulation as part of the cover design.
• Concept & development of visual themes
• Planning & coordination of crew & materials
• Direction of photo shoots, studio & on location
• Post-production & design &/or consultation
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
04
A R T DIR EC T ION :
ILLU S T R AT ION
CLIENT/PROJECT
OC Weekly: Illustration direction & design
SUMMARY
SERVICES
As Art Director for OC Weekly, I was dedicated to seeking out and recruiting an ever-expanding
assortment of illustrators whose work would communicate and complement our wide variety of cover
stories. Over the course of a few weeks — or usually just a few days — I worked intimately with each artist
on preliminary concepting, sketches and revisions, then incorporated the art into my final cover design.
• Concept & development of illustration subject,
style, appearance & execution
• Artist recruitment & assignment direction
• Final cover/feature design & editing of artwork
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
05
DIR EC T ION / DE S IGN:
S PECI A L I S S UE S
CLIENT/PROJECT
OC Weekly: Best of OC 2008 & Best of OC 2009
SUMMARY
SERVICES
OC Weekly’s annual “Best of OC” is the paper’s largest and most design-intensive issue of the year.
I developed the theme and artwork for four Best Of issues, produced three, and won LA Press Club
awards for two (2008: 1st Place Design, 2009: HM). “Her work in the Best of OC package shines –
maintaining an interesting, consistent approach throughout the huge feature,” wrote the judges.
• Concept & development of visual theme
• In-depth direction & editing & photo shoots
• Compositing of photo illustrations & additional
illustration design for cover, headers, logos, pages
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
06
E DI TOR I A L DE S IGN :
FE AT UR E S
CLIENT/PROJECT
OC Weekly: Feature Design & Layout
SUMMARY
SERVICES
LA Press Club named me Designer of the Year in 2010: “Kelly’s designs are sharp and engaging. She uses
the black & white format of the weekly to its fullest with nice typography and excellent detail.” I also won
1st Place Design (LA Press Club: 2009, 2011) and 2nd Place for Best B+W/Two-Color Layout (Maggie Awards,
2007). With my editorial design, OC Weekly also earned two Maggie Awards for Best Tabloid (2010, 2011).
• Publication redesign & template production
• Editorial strategy & brand identity
• Art direction & editorial direction
• Cover & feature design
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
07
LOGOS + PHOTO
ILLU S T R AT ION S
CLIENT/PROJECT
OC Weekly: Logo Design & Photo Illustration
SUMMARY
SERVICES
I designed logos and produced photo illustrations for almost every issue of OC Weekly, either in the
form of cover type or feature page headers corresponding to the cover design. I also created logos to
carry through the entire paper or special section for several special issues a year. For other issues, such
as “Octomom” (below) or Best Of OC, my photo illustrations functioned as the feature design itself.
• Creative concept & development
• Branding & identity
• Graphic design, layout & typography
• Photo & vector illustration & compositing
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
08
NE W S PA PE R
TA B LOID DE S IGN
CLIENT/PROJECT
Ventura County Star: Weekly tabloid, Time Out
SUMMARY
SERVICES
Following my redesign/resize of Time Out (see next page), I became the lead designer responsible for
coordinating with the editor to plan the issue, manage the pagination, design the weekly cover and
feature pages, and supervise other staff designers on their layouts. For this and other issues, I also
coordinated with the staff photo editor and photographers on original photo assignments.
• Direction & development of visual content
• Cover/feature design, page layout, pagination
• Direction of photo shoots & illustrations
• Creative & technical supervision of staff
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
09
NE W S PA PE R TA B
R E DE S IGN / R E S I Z E
CLIENT/PROJECT
Ventura County Star: Redesign of weekly tabloid
SUMMARY
SERVICES
I produced a complete redesign/resize of Time Out, the weekly culture and entertainment tabloid of
Ventura County Star newspaper. This Style Guide (below), which I created for the staff designers, details
the new templates, styles, structure and design guidelines that streamlined our production process and
created visual unity. The overhaul targeted younger readers with new, web-related content and style.
• Publication redesign & template production
• Editorial strategy & brand identity
• Art direction & editorial direction
• Cover, feature & logo design
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
10
NE W M AG A Z INE
CR E AT ION / DE S IGN
CLIENT/PROJECT
Chicago Shakespeare Theater: bill Magazine
SUMMARY
SERVICES
I created a new, custom glossy magazine for Chicago Shakespeare Theater that functioned as an arts/
entertainment publication, marketing piece, and playbill in one. I had 3 weeks to develop and produce
the first issue. As founder, I shaped the publication’s brand identity, structure & templates. As editor &
designer, I formulated, assigned, wrote, edited & designed each issue from beginning to end.
• Magazine development & brand identity
• Art & editorial direction, cover & feature design
• Reporting/writing & editing/proofing
• Production/ad management
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
KELLY ALEXIS LEWIS
ART DIRECTOR | DESIGNER | WRITER
RESUME
2011
SPECIALTIES
A
A R T/C R E AT I V E
L
E D I TO R I A L
(
PU B L I C AT I O N
G R A PH I C D E S I G N
p
PH OTO
0
BR ANDING
x
CO PY W R I T I N G
<
S TAT I O N E RY
D I R EC T I O N
M A N AG E M E N T
REDESIGN
& L AYO U T
I L LUS T R AT I O N
& IDENTIT Y
& EDITING
& PR E T T Y S T U FF
HELLO
EXPERIENCE
I Make Art & Type
Play Nice.
Art Director
Features Designer,
Travel Editor
Publications Manager,
Founding Editor/Designer
Managing Editor
LA Press Club
OC WEEKLY — VILLAGE VOICE
WINDY CITY / METROSPORTS /
Southern California Journalism Awards
I am an art director,
MEDIA (SEP 2007 – SEP 2010)
VENTURA COUNTY STAR
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPORTS
• Designer of the Year 2010
graphic designer,
As Art Director, I developed
NEWSPAPER (FEB 2006 – SEP 2007)
THEATER (FEB 2000 – JAN 2006)
MAGAZINES
• 1st Place Design 2011
writer and editor with
and designed each week’s
As Features Designer, I
As Publications Manager,
(JUN 1998 – JAN 2000)
• 1st Place Design 2009
14 years of experience
cover and feature; created
designed front and inside
I wrote, edited, designed
I assigned, wrote, edited and
synthesizing art and
and directed all original art,
pages for a variety of sections.
and managed the theater’s
designed features and other
Maggie Awards
ideas for creative
illustrations and photo shoots;
As Travel Editor, I planned,
various communication
content for the company’s five
The Magazine Awards of Western Publishing
publications, projects
managed art budgets, staff
assigned and edited freelance
pieces, including playbills,
monthly regional action sports
• Best Tabloid: Art Direction of winning issue 2011
and people.
Layout Editor and Photo Intern;
and wire content and wrote
teacher handbooks, catalogs,
magazines, both locally and
• Best Tabloid: Art Direction of winning issue 2010
Current Projects
and oversaw the paper’s design,
copy for the section.
newsletters, stationery,
remotely from Denver and
• Best B+W/Two-Color Layout: Finalist 2007
Since September 2010,
production and brand.
Major Accomplishments
brochures and signage.
Chicago offices.
I have been working as
Major Accomplishments
I Produced a complete
Major Accomplishments
Major Accomplishments
Art Direction of various winning illustrations
a freelance designer,
I produced a comprehensive
redesign/resize of the paper’s
I created “bill,” the theater’s
From the company’s Chicago
by Jim Rugg, Brian Stauffer
conceptualizing,
redesign/resize of the
weekly arts and entertainment
own program magazine. As
office, I guided the New
• Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2010
designing, writing and
publication. I also devised
tabloid. I trained and supervised
founding editor and designer,
York magazine through
• PRINT Magazine Regional Design Annual 2010
producing creative
administrative systems for
other staff designers on the
I formulated, assigned, wrote,
new ownership and content
• American Illustration 29
communication pieces
the editorial art department,
new templates, style guide
edited and designed each
overhaul, developing a new
for individuals and
including asset management,
and production processes;
issue; and oversaw each issue’s
freelance network of writers,
organizations, including
contact database, assignment
and coordinated and designed
ads, budget, production and
production schedule and
posters, postcards,
contracts and workflow
all art, covers, layouts and
printing. I also developed the
customized local content
business cards,
procedures.
pagination.
theater’s first in-house graphic
B.A. HONORS, 1998
brochures, branding,
design department, systems
Major: Writing / Minor: Art History
stationary and other
and archives and supervised
Best English Major in Writing, 1998
collateral.
staff designers.
AWARDS
EDUCATION
Northwestern University
SKILLS
ADOBE
ADOBE
ADOBE
ADOBE
ADOBE FL ASH
WORDPRESS
HTML
MICROSOFT
INDESIGN
PH OTO S H O P
I L LU S T R ATO R
D R E A M W E AV E R
ADOBE FIREWORKS
3.2.1
CSS
OFFICE
HHHHH
HHHHH
HHHH
HH
H
HHH
H
HHHHH
kellyalexislewis.com | [email protected] | 310 621 1986 | 915 Orange Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92648