Thursday, July 30, 2009

Spanish Toast






Spanish Toast is something I learned from my ex roommate's ex boyfriend, Jaume. He was from Catalonia, Spain and showed us this delicious recipe one morning. It is nice to look back on all of the fun things you experience by having roommates. Like the time one of them used my coffee grinder to grind up marijuana for special brownies.

Spanish Toast

Ingredients:

Hearty bread for toasting (sturdy sandwich bread or baguette)
Farmers market quality tomatoes
Nice tasting olive oil
Sea salt

Toast your bread. Drizzle olive oil on top of each slice. Cut your tomato in half and rub one half of a tomato over 2 slices of bread. Get all of the juices on it. Sprinkle with sea salt.

You're going to love it. You can have it with breakfast, as we did this morning with soft-boiled eggs, or you can have it any old time. It might be nice at dinner with a bit of garlic on top.

Bon Appétit!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Surf Fridays!

photo by Doc Ball
"After the Storm" 1938


Text reads, "We had surfin' to take care of everything. Long as there's waves, why, you didn't have to pay for those." Doc Ball talking about surfing during the Great Depression.

This photograph blows me away, I love it so much. I have a subscription to Foam Magazine, and found the gem in the current Aug/Sept. issue. There are some other delights in this issue, such as an interview with Deanna Templeton and an article with Mr. Captain Fin himself, Mitch Abshere - talking about his new film, You Scratched My Anchor.

You know, before Doc Ball passed away at the age of 94 in 2001, he remained quite active. I learned that he kept to a strict diet of lots of vegetables, vitamins, faith and skateboarding. Let it sink in - the man skateboarded while he was in his 90s.

Stay young now and always! You hear? Pinky swear!

xo

Friday, July 17, 2009

Surf Fridays!

"Drift is going to be about “off the beaten path” things in surfing..." Joe Conway


Yesterday marked the launch of the new, North American version of Drift Magazine. She is a beauty, there for all of us to enjoy and provide many a daydream. PineappleLuv caught up with a very busy Joe Conway, Drift's editor.

Joe, as the Editor and no doubt pouring your heart and soul into it, what does Drift Magazine mean to you?

What does Drift mean to me? Over the past few years it became increasingly apparent to me that something amazing is happening in surfing. People are doing incredible, creative, inspiring things in a really unique, independent way—all revolving around surfing. I think the thing with this “movement,” if you want to call it that, is that people are finding ways to do what they want in life, creating community and finding fulfillment, which all some how relates to what we experience out in the water on a daily basis.

Whether that means making art, taking photos, putting on events, starting a small business, shaping your own boards, taking up a cause you feel strongly about, writing, making a film, playing music—anything, really—I think it’s all tremendously positive.

What do you want it to mean for the surfing community?

With Drift, I want to create a venue for people to share what they’re doing or what they’re into, because from what I’ve seen there are people who feel the same way all over the world. Connecting those people and spreading inspiration and stoke (why does this always sound so funny when I write it?) is the ultimate goal.

How did the North American version come to be?

Right now Drift is exclusively online. Howard Swanwick, the publisher in the UK, started Drift as an online publication and moved it into print for six issues last year. With the economy going south, it’s just become so difficult to do print—we’re also keeping an eye on the environmental component and print is never the most ecological option in that respect—and it was either a matter of letting the magazine go or simplifying things and taking it back online. For now, we’re stoked to just be doing it, creating something totally different from what’s out there in media.

How often will Drift be published?

We’re going to release “Feature” articles in our online reader as fast as we can put them together — we were fortunate enough to work with Joe Curren and Dane and Belinda for the first two, an incredible way to start. The idea with the reader that we created is to give photographers and artists the best possible format to display their work online.

It’s not print—we realize that, but we think we’ve managed to put together something that’s a solid alternative. The plan is to put out at least one print issue each year, hopefully a fully curated book of some sort, and if the opportunity to go into print presents itself... Ahh, we’ll figure it out.

What is your favorite place to surf in Maine?

My favorite place to surf in Maine? Good question, and I’d like to use it as an opportunity to address the issue of where we’re located. Yes. We’re based in Maine. Unusual, I know, but fitting if you ask me. Drift is going to be about “off the beaten path” things in surfing, so I guess it makes sense that we’re off the beaten path.

My partners and I—Jim and Justen—have all lived and surfed all over the place, the fact that we came into this magazine while living in Maine is basically a coincidence. It’s cheap, low key and the surf is good, empty and cold. All of these things are good when you’re trying to start something like this in a down economy with no corporate financial backing.

The good news is also that, in this day and age, we’re not really anchored in one place or another because we have contributors in California, Oregon, Washington, Mexico, BC, Lake Superior (now THAT’S hardcore), up and down the East Coast, Hawaii, Brazil, South Africa, the UK and Australia. Notice how I skillfully avoided divulging my favorite spot?


What tunes or albums were most frequented in your playlist while finishing the first edition?

Favorite albums throughout the launch process? Great question. I’ve been relying on some old favorites and a little new stuff. One album that never gets any rest is Neil Young’s “Everybody Knows this is Nowhere,” the title track can open my eyes no matter how little sleep I’ve been getting. Rolling Stones “Beggar’s Banquet” is another one.

Jenny and I saw Vetiver recently and their label-mate Papercuts opened. We’ve been pretty into them ever since, it’s great 60’s style psych-pop, with some updates.

When I need to relax a little I have these two albums, “Jazz Samba”-- Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, and “More of that Guitar Country” by Chet Atkins. Two random dollar bin finds, but they’re so good after along day. The key is to listen to stuff on vinyl while you’re working because then you have to get up every 15-30 minutes to flip the record over. It lessens the office atrophy.

Joe rockin' the 5 mil in Maine
photo by Bryan Thomas

Ahh, good advice indeed. Thank you very much for your time and thoughtful answers, Joe, and for the quality and hard work you will be putting into this publication. I know there is an entire community ready to dive into Drift.

Joe is truly the best. If you want to check out more of his creative endeavors, you'll find him at Wool, Wood and Whiskey and at The Pine Haven Collective. And don't forget, Joe is the talented one who did this amazing piece.

---

You can also follow @DriftSurfing on Twitter.

---

Last but not least, check out this nicely written piece on the Mattson Benefit in the first edition.

Happy weekend everyone!!!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Noir Beach





It was a hot afternoon in the city. The girl and her dog decided to get out of town and head over the hill to the place known as Half Moon Bay. Jay would meet them there later after his business at the skate park. With only a sweater, sunglasses, lipstick and a leash, the two vagabonds hit the highway and made it to the water in 30 minutes flat. Good timing, she thought. Someday she might live here, but for now, a visit would do. Checking out the scene, all looked fairly quiet. The dog did his own surveying out the window. After some time on the wet sand, they both looked at each other and said, Let's go. The phone rang. It was the man calling. He said he was on his way to the brewery - would we meet him there? Sure, sure, we'd be delighted. A stout for the man, a summer ale for the lady, a bite of hamburger for the dog. As the sun set into the Pacific Ocean, the night became black and sweet dreams were not far behind.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Photos from the Mattson Family Art Benefit

Ray Barbee wowing the crowd. Ray is also a photographer and contributed a photograph to the auction.

View from the sidewalk of the crowd inside the Surfindian

Winning bidder of Ryan Tatar's photograph

San Diego shaper, Josh Hall

Beautiful boards and artwork

Artist Chivo, the winning bidder of a piece by Kyle Field

The winning bidder of work by Heather Brown

The curator (wink, that's me) and Jessica Nichols. My necklace and earrings are by Rusty Petals.

Beautiful photos all mounted on wood

Patron of the arts, Daniel Santovin

At last, the photos are available here! If any of the artists would like any, I'd love to e-mail them to you.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Bodysurfing

The other day I was thinking a lot about bodysurfing and how pure that is. I think it was in the film Archy that a surfer in San Clemente was saying that a few generations ago, kids started out learning how to bodysurf before learning to surf. That sounded kind of cool to me. My dad grew up bodysurfing in Long Beach and taught my brother and I how to do it when we were kids. It's a fond memory.

Bodysurfing is a thrilling little ride. Sand rubbing on your skin and all in your twisted suit. Jumping back in. Throwing yourself at the wave. Everyone can do it!

I'm going to do it again.

Well, then this beauty came out. Bodysurf #3. Ryan Heywood, who are you exactly?

These stole my heart.

Isaac Brest - Puerto Rico

Travis Harder - California

Nathan Phillips - Hawaii

anonymous - Australia

For more, please look at Bodysurf #1 and Bodysurf #2. You can submit your own photo to Ryan, too. I love community projects.

This is who Ryan Heywood is.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Cool Things

Handfangs
Geoff McFetridge screenprint

From interviews with Geoff McFetridge:

Q: How much does your environment play into your art?

A: I like to be in a place that is easy to occupy. I do not want to fight for my space in it. California is a place for dreamers, drifters, people staggering and wandering. You do not have to worry about bumping into anything, or anyone.



Ray Barbee Meets The Mattson 2

CD and DVD (by Tyler Manson) available now on Solitary Arts.


Friday, July 03, 2009

Extended Family Show at Corduroy


Fun new show at Corduroy starts tonight! I love all of the artists in the show and I love the people at Corduroy. Wish I could be there. Someday, Portland, Maine...someday.

More info on their blog.

Surf Fridays!

Hwy 166

Board collection at Pancho's in Pismo

Tour of Moonlight Glassing

Peter's Paint

My new board

Swami's

Heavenly water temp

Sano surfer

Sunset at Sano

Sano camper

Road trip. Hope to see you again soon, San Diego. You were good to us.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

My Local Lineup features the Mattson Family Art Benefit


We're back from San Diego and man, what a special event the Mattson Family Art Benefit turned out to be. The art and the music was fantastic - and there were 600 people that showed up throughout the night!

We have a wonderful community - all of the artists will be thrilled to know that they made the night a big success for the Mattson Family and the Mattsons are so happy. Also Chris Rule and Masa Rogers at the Surfindian rock!

This weekend, we'll be downloading a bunch of photos from the event and create a Flickr link to share with you, but you can get a great idea of how the show went from My Local Lineup's video here. Enjoy!

p.s. I'll post a pic of my new surfboard this weekend! Got a little tour of Moonlight Glassing and surfed Sano on the way home. So much to catch up on. xo