i'm back from my little gay break. here's what you missed.
it was pride month okay - cut me some slack!
Being gay is a full-time job. You’ve got to always stay tuned to who the reigning princess of pop is (team Sabrina or team Chappell? porque no los dos?), cobble together fits for your weekly Pride event, constantly check-in and spill tea with all your girlies…and still be expected to show up to work Monday morning with the same effervescence and freshness of a chilled Echeverria No Es Pituko Orange Sauvignon Blanc (although recently, I’d say I’ve been getting into silky bright lambruscos). Honestly, with the number of events I managed to pack for the month of June, I might as well have been Gaga’s tour manager.
But looking back at this past month - I have to say I had a lot of fun. And celebrated Pride almost every week with cherished friends. Most importantly, I was outside a lot. It was a lovely reminder that sometimes the best SSRI one can get - sun - can be found for free right outside our doorstep.
So here’s a recap of all the fun events and items I discovered in June (get ready it’s a long one. I recommend reading this post on a browser or in the substack app):
WEEK 1 (June 1 - 8)
Hotpot Pride at Apt 503. We started off strong by shaking some ass at Hot Pot Pride, hosted in Ktown’s very own Apt 503’s rooftop. If you aren’t following or been to one of @hotpotktown parties yet, what are you doing? Since its inception only just a year ago, organizers Jordyn Sun and Ester Park have managed to build a thriving and inviting, multi-ethnic queer dance party. And if attracting some of LA’s hottest gays wasn’t enough for you, HOTPOT always does their part to uplift marginalized and underrepresented queer communities in LA.
The Magical Gallants of Glendale & A Silver Star for Participation. I went running on a casual Tuesday night and stumbled upon a group of Latino men riding their horses down Glendale Boulevard. 10 minutes later on the same run, I come across this silver north star. It reminded me of those star stickers you’d get in second grade for submitting homework on time or not being tardy to class, but 9 times bigger? The mesmerizing aftertaste of this night still lingers in my mind.
It’s Tomato Girl Summer. Speaking of enchantment, I’m still thinking about this Tyler McGillivary tomato shirt that I came across via an chef’s IG reel. It’s currently on sale as I write this substack article…perhaps its a sign to pull the trig!
Charli XCX releases ‘brat’ and claims the spot for biggest musical phenomena of summer 2024. She shut down the haters and skeptics (of which I was one myself) with the release of her sixth studio album and now everyone can’t seem to see the color slime green without whispering the words “you gon’ jump if AG made it.” I plan to write more about ‘brat,’ specifically about its well orchestrated album rollout and why I think it transcended the gay soundscape into the ears of straight people — but that’ll come at a later date. For now, I’ll just keep bumpin that beat to ‘everything is romantic’ and ‘sympathy is a knife.’
I visit the AKILA store on Sunset to look for my new designer glasses. I’m still on the hunt, but I liked the last pair a lot.
WEEK 2 (June 9 - 16)
I read Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez and am reminded of the ongoing repercussions of Hurricane Maria on the island of Puerto Rico due to the United State’s racist negligence. This catastrophe being just another item on the laundry list of affairs concerning the undiscerned exploitation of working class Latinos in the U.S who are vexed into chasing the elusive American dream.
Dua Lipa is the blueprint - quite literally. The jet-setting pop star looks radically optimistic in an aquamarine sheer dress for the Jacquemus ‘La Casa’ fashion show. What better picture to put on your summer mood board than this one of her enjoying a creamy pastel gelato while traversing the streets of Capri. Can someone say endless summer vacanza?
Tove Lo & SG Lewis release ‘HEAT’ - an EP full of sex party anthems and accompanying music videos that will leave you desiring for more than just a taste of euphoric-infused perspiration.
I shoot a cold brew campaign for Boketto’s Instagram page. For those of you who don’t know, I’m also a photographer! Nowadays, I shoot more often for pleasure than work, however, for my full-time job as a Senior Designer at Funkhaus, I got to be behind the camera again and plan a budget-friendly campaign promoting Boketto’s portable cold brew pouch. Here are a few of my favorite shots and make sure to check out Boketto’s cold brew here.
DJ Jason Bentley plays at KCRW Summer Nights Chinatown. Every time I meet someone new in LA, there’s a 90% chance I’ll bring up KCRW public radio. At this point, it’s become ritualistic to tune into ‘Morning Eclectic’ with Novena Carmel at 9am or ‘Freaks Only’ with Travis Holcombe for my late night drives. Not only are Summer Nights free to the public (and still ongoing till Sept 21st) , but my favorite part is Angelenos come together for some good music and dancing. Collective healing through community is a powerful tool.
WEEK 3 (June 17 - 24)
Dua Lipa & Callum Turner eat more ice cream and prove to the public that they are the hottest lowkey couple of the year.
Megan Thee Stallion promotes her new album ‘MEGAN’ with some questionable album cover choices. Truly where are all the art directors this year? Are they on vacation with Dua Lipa? 2024 was tracking to deliver some of pop’s best music this decade, but so far most of the albums released have felt uninspired, frantically cobbled together, and frankly cheap. Talking creative direction only, so many album covers this year have felt so bare and minimal that its basically like serving unseasoned eggs. Or in the case of Meg…we’re seemingly resorting to poorly photoshopped Adobe Firefly AI images? What is going on??
I come across these fun objects and am reminded that piñatas are a form of art.
I see Jessica Pratt in concert at Pappy + Harriet’s and camp overnight in Pioneertown. This was part of my plan to stay in LA for the summer and enjoy more of what the city and neighboring areas have to offer.
The following night, I go raving at a Signal party till 3am. This is the first warehouse party in LA that reminds me of a good NYC club night.
And then the following day, I attend open studios for LA Design Weekend. I visit Public Art Company’s office, become obsessed with Misha Kahn’s resin lamps, and find out furniture studio Waka Waka is just a few blocks from where I live.
WEEK 4 (June 25 - 30)
I see ‘Inside Out 2’ and think about what my own anxiety emotion would look like.
I visit Mayumi Market in Hawthorne, buy two adorable prints and an IBS-related sticker, and become mesmerized by these buckets turned lamps at Document Coffee in Ktown.
I pull up to LA FESTA Vol. 2 hosted by Cheeky’s and Ricotta Bear. If you’re looking for a craft pop-up bar and yummy pizza to bartend / cater your next backyard sundowner, make sure to hit up Andrew and Garrett.
