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Layout by Ida-Erika Gencheva8 looks, 3 local upcycle designers, 1 model, 1 location, 1 goal: to promote the upcycle culture. After 7 years of living in NYC, Karmay Ngai, a creative director, model and "Eco Well-Being Blender" has found herself in Shanghai with the...
Womxn In Windows | 2020
In the midst of the LA heatwave, this October the use of public spaces is an ever apreciated part of Cali lockdown. Enculturating yourself this weekend through mid November is Womxn in Windows presenting its second annual exhibition of video works by womxn filmmakers...
Manda | A Tradition of Fermentation
Get to know the sake distillers who became the authority on Japanese fermented super foods
FORT:LA | Witch Houses Trail
Celebrate the greatly diverse architecture of LA’s hobbit homes and witches estates on this Halloween scavenger hunt from Culver City to Burbank, curated by Amber Benson
Creative Career Club | Natalie Alcala
From Fashion Editor to Mommy blogger we take a moment with Natalie Alcala as she takes on cultivating a broad creative community discussing intersecting aspects that has created Creative Career Club
Old School Wednesday: SWV ~ Right Here
SWV ~ “Right Here(Human Nature Remix)” (L)It was a tough decision which version of “Right Here” to go with, but ended up with the Remix. SWV’s original version from 1992 has a little more bounce, and Taj rapping the bridge is textbook early 1990’s hip-hop, but the...
Topanga Glow Up | Canyon Vibes Beauty Edit
This is a perfect picture of our Coastal Canyon life right now- random heatwaves that feel like Summer, while trying to rock Autumn looks because it's October. This in-between weather and the stress of 2020 has me feeling dry, oily and irritable. Our Canyon vibes edit...
Old School Wednesday: Jay Z – Dirt of Your Shoulder
Jay-Z ~ “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” (L)"Said the ladies, they love me, from the bleachers they screamin' All the ballers is bouncin', they like the way I be leanin' All the rappers be hatin' off the track that I'm makin' But all the hustlers, they love it, just to see...
Aliona Kononova | Masked in Fort Ross
The Moldavian designer discovers her eastern roots in a Californian town as she showcases her offering from time in quarantine
London Love | Frankie’s Guide to Food + Culture
Francesca ('Frankie') Reddin is the Communicator // Founder of A+F Creative and Black Book. Frankie is a media consultant with a background in restaurant PR- she weaves cultural histories travels the world via ingredients, dishes and voices. She is focused on a ‘smart...
Old School Wednesday: Tony! Toni! Toné! – Feels Good
Tony! Toni! Tone! ~ “Feels Good” (L)"Mocedes the Mellow, quite a nice fellow Met 3T, hit a rhyme, acapello They had the rhythm and I had the rhyme So then a hit of that one more time It worked out and then they worked it in Tony! Toni! Toné! has done it again"...
The Cobra Shop Redux
Mark The Cobra Snake talks about relaunches his adored Cobra Shop going back to its roots in vintage and his upcoming coffee table project.
Nolwen Cifuentes | Short Film Series
Speaking with the photographer as she debuts her impassioned Short Film Series capturing a slice of LA life
Top 5 | Record Store Day 2020
In honor of Record Store Day 2020 we present our top fave Los Angeles based vinyl shops, from quirky throw backs to next level hidden treasures
QooA Pick | Spill Botanicals x Soji Nails: MANIfest CBD Cuticle Oil
Check out the new drop from sojinails and Sill Botanicals along with our top faves from the nail auteur.
Old School Wednesday: Notorious B.I.G. – Going Back to Cali
Notorious BIG ~ “Going Back To Cali” (L) "If I got to choose a coast, I got to choose the East I live out there, so don't go there But that don't mean a _____ can't rest in the West See some nice breast in the West Smoke some nice sess in the West, y'all ______...
Sideways Infinite: #Quarantini – Ladies Night
Mood: #quarantini ~ Ladies Night The other day, at the end of a video conference, an associate threw out that it was #quarantini time. It caught me off guard, mostly because it was only 11am, and ultimately #quarantini got stuck in my head. I realized how...
Ask Your Gay Uncle podcast: Top 5
Cause sometimes your cool auntie ain’t gonna do it! Getting the rundown of Ask Your Gay Uncle’s Ben Palacios’ top recommendations to enrich your life
Old School Wednesday: The Roots – You Got Me
The Roots ~ “You Got Me”(ft. Erykah Badu & Eve) (L)"That snake could be that chick and that rat could be that cool cat That's whisperin', "She tryin' to play you for the fool, Black" If something's on your chest, then let it be known See, I'm not your every five...
Zac Monday | A Mystic’s Guide to Being an Artist in a Pandemic
As soon as I came up to Los Angeles I began seeking out places to read tarot cards, a nice skill I had in my back pocket, which landed me at a crystal shop in Atwater Village with a very strong Goddess aesthetic. I was there for 5 years, accumulating a small...
QooA Review | Maude Oil no.0
Maude is a modern intimacy company. It's right there in the tagline: "Sex Made Simple". And it's a QooA staff favorite for just that reason. Maude makes minimal, uncomplicated, accessible and really high quality products for use before, during and after sex. But Maude...
Who Are You Without Social Media?
So You’ve Been Disabled on Instagram, worst fear or revelation
Old School Wednesday: Jake One – The Truth
Jake One ~ “The Truth”(ft. Freeway & Brother Ali) (2008) (L) "Big music industry and seldom gettin mention But the few that do zoom in respect me as a legend" - Brother Ali Don’t sleep on RSE’s catalog. This track still plays strong and relevant even after it...
Sideways Infinite: Dissonance
Mood: #Frustrated I don’t know about y’all, but lately I’ve had a lingering low-grade headache. Cognitive dissonance definitely has me frustrated and flailing. As I embrace the suck of it, I’m hoping that the struggle leads to some valuable growth and understanding....
Classic White | 10 Crisp Labor Day Looks
OK, real talk–what are you wearing for your socially distanced Labor Day plans? From picnic to pool party we have got you covered. I used to get stressed that I had to frantically wear all my white pieces before the door closed after Labor Day. But we don't follow...
Old School Wednesday: LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out “Don't call it a comeback, I been here for years Rocking my peers and putting suckas in fear Making the tears rain down like a monsoon Listen to the bass go boom Explosion, overpowering Over the competition, I'm towering...
Mr. Freedom’s Journey to Replica
Nearly 50 years since innovating glam rock style, English brand Mr. Freedom continues inspire and cultivate stylish relevancy into the 21st century
Jim Gordon | The Greatest Rock N Roll Tragedy
For a long time, I’ve been sort of obsessed with the career of Jim Gordon. The studio system of the twentieth century created a very interesting scenario wherein certain session musicians seemed to appear on every hit song of their time. In LA, We’re talking Carol...
Clean Beauty | Greatest Hits
If you’ve shopped for any beauty product recently, from lipstick to shampoo, you may have noticed new labels that call out certain products as “clean beauty.” But what does “clean beauty” really mean? Is it the same as organic? Natural? And what are the benefits of...
Old School Wednesday: Digable Planets-“Rebirth Of Slick”
“Just sendin’ junky rhythms right down ya block We be to rap what key be to lock” I have to admit that I wasn’t all that into jazz until I started listening to tracks like this one from Digable Planets, and then crate digging the tracks that are sampled. Better late...
Coming to terms with Quar 2.0
Finding A Sense of Self As The Summer Ends
Sideways Infinite: Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt
Welcome to Sideways Infinite, a series of mood playlists by MVSW. Each episode contains eight tracks. Where possible, the links are shoppable vinyl or really interesting merch that you can also find in our shop. Episode: Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt Mood:...
Late Summer Mix | Water Sport
A mixture of some pop, alt, garage rock, ambient, choral, and bolero
Lady Parts Love | Female Health & Wellness
Let's face it ladies, vaginas are high maintenance. Am I right?! It's like you get one vaginal issue under control, but then the treatment for that issue creates new issues! Like when you take antibiotics for a UTI and it kills all the 'good bacteria', giving you a...
Old School Wednesday: Slick Rick-“Childrens Story”
The other day, I had the news on for some background noise and I heard one of the reporters say “Here we go”. I know they probably said it in a forced dropped octave newscaster voice, but anytime someone says that phrase, I hear Slick Rick’s voice saying it and like a...
Bodewell
Learning to love your skin
Fire & Air | Food that Soothes
Utilizing the practices of eating food to heal the soul
A Layman’s Guide to Visualizing 10 Dimensions
Disclaimer I initially posted this as a series of Instagram stories, which people found surprisingly entertaining given the nerdiness of the subject matter. I think maybe my total lack of expertise made it more fun and easier to understand. So, a disclaimer: this...
Leo Season | Lion Vibes Sunrise to Sunset
Oh haaaay it's the time of year again- when the Lions come out of their den to shine brighter than ever. I'm sure you've been following on the Co-Star app, but this month is intense, kicking off with the Lion's Gate on 8/8. It's been described as a stellar gateway...
August 2020 | Celebrate the 8
Into the Leo and the celebration of 8, Health, Security, Finances and touches of Kundalini
Centerpiece Arrangement | Al Fresco Wabi Sabi
The move to create that ultimate summer al fresco dining set up is to really rely on thoughts of opulence and excessiveness in our own pace. Fortunately we are in a great place to indulge in our own time to work on the most impactful displays. Recently MUJI the go to...
Mother Earth’s Plantasia | Sun, Soil, Water, Jams
If you aren’t familiar with Mort Garson’s 1976 album, Mother Earth’s Plantasia, you’re likely wondering why this is the first vinyl offered in the QooA shop. If you ARE familiar with the 1976 masterpiece oddity, then it should make total sense. Garson’s Plantasia has...
Tricia-Noël Burke | BLACK MOON BOOK
Speaking with the Artist/Photographer on his reactionary book that helped him cope as, “Our world changed forever by the most elemental gesture; touch.”
The Fault Line Meditation
A Palm Springs public arts piece confronting anxiety and decorating the scars of earthquake traumas
Black Dahlia CBD | Sugar High
See how Black Dahlia CBD creates their Bergamot CBD lolipop as we chat about charity, anxiety, and the Sowden House
Pinnacle Pins | From Pinterest to Pyer Moss
Get to know LA based stylist and creative bringing activism back into pin making
Ourika Soap | The Simple Pleasure of Bathing
Getting back to basics and bathing for the indulgent ritual
James Mountford | TOUCHED
Speaking with the Artist/Photographer on his reactionary book that helped him cope as, “Our world changed forever by the most elemental gesture; touch.”
Headed Towards Red Rocks
Trailing through a re-found Americana
SUM – Cement, Oxidation, and Sweet
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