California
Californian Vintners Are Putting Weed in Their Wine
Weed wine is always found in an unlabeled bottle with a blank cork and I try not to get too excited or aggressively ask for more. My advice to wine enthusiasts who enjoy a decent marijuana high is to just stay cool and pray that some of this wine lands...
Did a Murderer Just Give Himself Away on Yelp?
On May 3rd, a 36-year-old Iraq war veteran and college student named Maribel Ramos was reported missing by her family, after failing to turn up to several events in Santa Ana, California. A couple of days later Maribel's roommate KC Joy started posting...
Californians Are Dying to Go to Colma
Colma is a tiny town south of San Francisco, where nearly 2 million people are buried. Colma, which spans about two miles from one side to the other, is a necropolis. Necropolis is a word derived from the Greek term 'nekropolis,' which translates to...
The Dos and Don'ts of Coachella
This was my third time attending Coachella, so by now I've seen it all—from Rave Dad to a technologically reincarnated Tupac Shakur. For those of you who are going for the first time next week, or are just insane and returning for week two, here are...
Ben Kilpatrick's Tri-Coastal Photography
For this week's Mahal, I got to talk with Ben Kilpatrick about what it is like to travel the country, photographing on and off his skateboard. Check out some of his most recent work and read our conversation about how NYC and LA inspire different kinds...
The Red Marriage Equality Sign on Your Facebook Profile Is Completely Useless
It's a big week in the fight for “marriage equality,” which is what most gay activists want us to call gay marriage. Right now gay activism needs all the help it can get. Know what’s not helping? Changing your Facebook profile picture to a silly red...
Living, Learning, and Going Long with Gypsy Boots, America’s First Hippie
I met Gypsy Boots in 1970, before I knew he was the nationally famous founder of the hippie movement, and became friends with him in 1995, nine years before America's archetypal holy fool passed away. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about him—what he...
John Kilar's Photos Will Get You Thrown in Jail
John Kilar, the photographer who took the pictures for "Venice Beach Is a Paradise," let me have a look at his portfolio. I'm now seriously considering flying to California and committing some kind of minor crime, just so I can stay there for a couple...
Teenage Evangelical Skaters in California's Desolate Exurbs Shred with Jesus
Lanky, lovable goofs Garrison and Kevin love Crass, skateboarding, changing their haircut and color, and Jesus. 'Only the Young,' a new documentary, follows the sweetest kids you'll ever meet.
Venice Beach Is a Paradise
If Los Angeles is the place where dreams go to die, Venice Beach seems to be the neighborhood where the nightmares of old curmudgeons come to life. Terrify the life out of your parents by sending them John Kilar's photos and telling them they're your...
How Do You Feel About Condoms in Your Porn?
California's controversial Measure B forces porn stars to wrap their P's in C's before sticking them into V's, B's, or what have you. How do ordinary people feel about that?
You Sell Me Drugs, but Are We Friends?
With decriminalization of pot comes the death of a ceremony that I hold so dear. Having weed delivered becomes like having Chinese food delivered, and you sure as hell wouldn’t want your delivery guy to eat a wonton with you before he left.