SOLEIL SPRING ISSUE 2019

Carolina Kohn
Lawrence Chang
John Corral
Lk Studio
Sunflowers
Sophia
Altholz
Madame West
Brian Jones
Samantha
Paprin
Morten King
Vera Juliette
DVNNY
Contents
Ketch Wehr
Alison
Belluci
Alexandra
Burst
Richard
Vanderplas
Carson
Jordan
Jerk King

Fernando
Paz

Sunflower
Photographer:
Svetlana Blasucci
@svietasphoto
Makeup:
Joshua Reid
@jtreidofficial
Model 1:
Rachel Marie Thomas
Model 2:
Margaret Elson

Wisteria
Dreams
he
Carolina Kohn
T
year, 1996.
The place, upstate
New
York.
Six year old me sits in a bubble
bath singing The Little
Mermaid at the top of my lungs.
Suddenly, I hear a loud knock
at the door. BANG BANG
BANG! It’s my brother,
rudely interrupting my VIP
concert to my rubber ducks…
how dare he. 20 years later
not much has changed
except the ducks are now
people and I’m gigging 5 nights
a week out in The Hamptons
Singing has always been a part
of my life for as long as I can
remember. Being the youngest
of four, I spent a lot of time
in my “pretend” world, playing
the piano and performing
for my stuffed animals. At the
age of 10, my family moved to
Uruguay changing my life as
i knew it. Being an
awkward preteen I wasn’t
sure what to make of this new
South American world and
definitely felt like the underdog.
This quickly shifted in
high school when I tried out
for my first musical and l
anded the lead. I was cast
as Aida and just like
that I lived and breathed
music. Fast forward to my
early 20s I moved to Paris.
The streets oozing with history
and romance I began writing
poetry and songs on my
guitar. I was truly in my element.
Soon there after my dad
passed away and my whole
world was shattered. Took me
years to admit that. Looking
back now, I was completely
lost and felt I needed a
change. I decided it was time
to move back to my roots and
moved to NYC. The bustling
streets of New York brought
a whole new burst of energy
and excitement into my life. I
finally felt that oh so familiar
itch to create again. That’s
when I moved out to Sag Harbor
and started my first official
musical project, CARMA.
I’d spend days in my bubble
playing the keys, writing songs
and producing. I was hooked.
Around this time I became
very close to China Machado
who ended up being a huge
mentor to me. We’d meet
every morning at her house
over looking the bay. I’d make
us espressos on her crazy
vintage machine that would

end. I like to constantly be
evolving and sharing the
creative platform with different
muses. I’m currently working
on Wisteria Dreams, my
first full length album with my
friend Thomas Price. It will
be released this summer. In
the mean time, you can hear
a sneak peak of my sound by
checking out my spanglish
single, Must Be Loca which
is now out on all platforms.
Who’s name is pearl by
the way, so rude of me not
to introduce her earlier.
Guess one could say
I’m ways busy creating and
in search of my next muse.
I like to stay in movement
and am constantly learning
and evolving. I’m excited
about the unknown and
determined to enjoy this journey,
no matter where it leads.
This freedom, creating for no one and
without boundaries, is when you reach
a true state of musical nirvana.
spit boiling water at you and
we’d talk about anything and
everything. She’d always tell
me stories of her insane life
experiences like the time she
ran away to Spain to marry a
famous bull fighter. Or how
Paris is the best city to be
heartbroken in. She’d talk
about her days out with
Picasso and what it was like
to be drawn by Andy Warhol.
After
these
nostalgic anecdotes she’d
turn and look at me and
ask, are you happy?
She could see a pain inside
me that I wasn’t even fully
aware of. She’d encourage
me to pursue my dreams and
not hold back. It was only
when she passed a few years
after that I really got the courage
to create authentically,
without invisible expectations.
This freedom, creating for
no one and without boundaries,
is when you reach a
true state of musical nirvana.
I started branching out and
collaborating
with
different artists on the east
When i’m not buried under
mics at Glass Studios and
working on projects, you can
find me gigging around the
East End with my bands.
I’m the front woman of a
gypsy jazz group called The
Hot Club of Montauk and a
latin fusion project,
Conga Cartel. There is a huge
artist community out here
in the Hamptons which is
probably why I was so drawn to
it. The city has a lot to offer and
luckily it’s only two hours
away. But nothing soothes my
soul like sitting on a blanket in
the sand and enjoying a sag
harbor sunset strumming away
on my guitar. Who’s name is

@sophdawgart
www.sophdawg.com
Altholz
Sophia
I
started drawing on sneakers in high school, and have always had
a thing for doodling, on anything really.
Post university, I started working at an agency where I pitched to
create 5 pairs of custom illustrated airforce1’s for my CEO, Gary
Vaynerchuck on my free time. Since those first pairs, I’ve created 10
pairs of celebrity chef give aways for the Food Network in October
2018, I created another 20 pairs of Harvard Business school themed
sneakers for executives attending a leadership program in
Cambridge, I was invited to present at a Grammys Gifting lounge for
the 60th Grammys award show in MSG, I have had other unofficial
brand partnerships with companies like Greats, Finish Line, Resku
from Nike, Dove, and Adidas Women, and am excited to see where
these collaborations take me. Other influencers who have my
sneakers are Casey Cott from the CW show Riverdale, Hannah
Bronfman, Mason Plumlee, Alton Brown, Nigel Sylvester, Martha
Stewart, Rachel Ray, Giada De Laurentis and more.
What I’m most excited about is a Business Insider video feature
which will be published in a few months, covers my work and advice
I would give to young female entrepreneurs.
The process is usually simple, people reach out through instagram
or email, and I have them fill out a sneaker questionnaire that helps
me understand what to draw on each pair of sneakers. The process
takes about 5-7 hours of illustration, including all of your favorite
things.
Follow me on IG @sophdawgart and reach out to say hi, or if you
want a pair of once in a lifetime kicks. Feel free to visit my site for
more information www.sophdawg.com

Lawrence
Chang
Designer/ Creative direction:
Lawrence Chang
@lawrence.cm.chang
Model: Carolina Mejias. @carolinaits
Jewelry:
Kris Harvey
@aetheriajewel
Photography:
Haley Varacallo
@haleyvaracallophotography
Makeup:
Caitlyn Wyman
@caitlyncwyman

L
awrence chose to create this rather futuristic look to interpret “ancestry.”
We are the future’s ancestor in this fast past digital world; We often neglect
our rich history and surrender to instant gratification.
This look is created inspired by the “leg O’mutton” sleeve, doublet, and pantaloons,
all historical garments that’s now considered “ costumes nowadays, with
a futuristic twist.
Lawrence believe it is important to preserve the past and forge the future.
We often neglect our rich history and
surrender to instant gratification.

Madame West

industry, the visiting agents
who told me things like, “You
can either lose 50 pounds or
gain 50 pounds, but otherwise
I don’t know what to do with
you.”
After my conservatory classes,
I’d escape with my friend
Will to play open mics around
the East Village, where I found
a new home in cafes and small
venues (many of which aren’t
around anymore). I’d get
tough love from the 50- and
60-somethings who had been
touring their whole lives: “I
thought you were an actress.
Stop hiding behind your guitar
and emote.”
He played synth, and I sang
and played drum machine.
We played a lot of basement
shows in NYC and Philly. We
played Montreal and for some
reason, a live-streamed show
at the MTV offices. Madam
West (a portmanteau of burlesque
film star Mae West and
OG Batman Adam West) truly
formed when we brought
Todd’s friend Mike in as drummer
and started working on a
live sound. Will joined on guitar,
and I snatched up Jory, a
crazy-good bassist and a high
school friend’s little brother,
when he was fresh out of
music school.
When I stopped being butthurt
about not being one of
the cool kids and embraced
who were really are—lovers
of the weird, nerdy, psychedelic,
and neosoul-inspired—
we started getting better
bookings. We found a new
homebase at Bed-Stuy staple
C’mon Everybody, a bastion
of queer and POC artists, hiphop,
indie, soul and jazz. We
opened for Anna Wise and
Milo, played the Knitting Factory,
Highline Ballroom and
Elsewhere (with City Winery
coming up June 1st).
In my spare time, I’m an
By
Sophie
Chernin
manager & lead singer
I
grew up in Downtown
Brooklyn, so I’ve seen the
city change a lot. Park Slope
and Ditmas were my stomping
grounds as a teen, back
when the “old” Freddy’s had
punk shows in a basement
space now covered by Barclays
Stadium. Back Back
then, the Lower East Side was
still your best bet for rock and
punk shows, and hookah bars
on Avenue A were the move if
you were underage
I picked up a guitar for the first
time for a battle-of-the-bands
style show at my high school
in Midwood, Brooklyn.
I played Sheryl Crow’s “The
Book” on my Fender
acoustic. My hands were
shaking, and I had the great
luck to follow a metal band.
I made it through somehow,
and they didn’t shut the show
down even though by the end
of the song, a hundred kids
were waving lighters in the
auditorium.
I went to NYU/Tisch for
theater, but outside of loving
performance, my heart wasn’t
in it. I didn’t like the constant
auditions, the competition and
the drama. I especially didn’t
like the realities of the
When I stopped being butt-hurt about not
being one of the cool kids and embraced
who were really are—lovers of the weird,
nerdy, psychedelic, and neosoul-inspired...
Will and I started our first
band, Feste. He played
mandolin, and I played
ukulele. We’d stay up all night
in Will’s dorm room drinking
coffee and rehearsing.
After school, I started dating
a jazz piano player named
Todd. We’d get together in his
basement space in Bushwick
and play Elliott Smith, Wilco,
Sufjan...the whole dang
indie playlist. We started
composing poppy love songs.
I thought we were cool enough
to fit in with the disaffected
punk kids and shoegaze buzz
bands of Bushwick, so I wasted
a lot of time booking us at
DIY basements and festivals
where the crowd was not picking
up what we were throwing
down. Our “jazzy” sound, theatrical
stage presence and
odd meters were decidedly
not their thing.
advocate for cyclist safety and
better public transit around
the city. As an avid urban
cyclist, I’ve written several
songs about my love of cycling
and riding the subways.
Our song “L” is both a simple
love song and a love letter to
the city.

John
Corral
I began my artist journey as a young child amazed by
the toys ,cartoons, video games and comic
books of the 80’s.
I was impacted by all of that and would scribble or
trace pictures everyday all day.
From there i would just teach myself as I got older how
to make it look better and how to use different
mediums to create my art and I would get compliments
from teachers and fellow students and I would create
pieces for them .

In highschool I was put into the art academics class
and was able to be on my own and was able to create
freely without a teacher giving me the regular course
and created murals and backdrops for assemblys.
As I exited school I have trained myself to this day on
progressing my style and i am still learning new things
everyday and have sold numerous art pieces as well
as designing murals for local restaurants and
designed local wine lables.
I am heavily influenced by popculture,
skateboarding,streetart,music and skulls which to me
represent a part of life and not something that
always represents fear.
@artofbyle
I only hope that every eye in this world will see my art
and just let it remind them of some place or time in
their lives that was awesome and righteous
- John Corral “BYLE”
www.artofbyle.com

Brian Jones
B
rooklyn-based artist
Brian Jones is no
stranger to New York.
Jones is from the Hudson
Valley region of New York,
an area well known for The
Hudson River School.
Inspired at an early age,
Jones took on an apprenticeship
to his father; a metal
sculptor. Jones enriched his
life with various mediums:
experimenting with patinas
on metal, fabricating forms
out of wood and eventually
throwing paint onto canvas.
“It was in second grade that I
realized my life would revolve
around art. It actually started
as a miserable day, I was ill
in bed - home from school.
Around three o’clock my sister
comes running home with
a manila envelope, her feet
barely touching the ground in
excitement - she urges me to
open it. My pastel perspective
drawing of a chair was
selected for my elementary
school’s permanent collection.
As a young kid I could see the
impact my artwork had on my
family, friends, and school. My
desire to create blossomed.”
Repetition bores me, because we’re not
machines - nor will we feel the same way about
a piece a day later, or even a quick glance
later.
Years later, Jones found
himself studying Industrial
Design at the Pratt Institute.
During his time in college,
Jones focused on the
relationship between
form, space and color.
Following school in 2015,
Jones emerged as a designer,
dedicated to incorporating
nature into contemporary
painting, particularly through
dynamic tension and balance
of vivid colors, bold
lines and geometric collisions.
Jones admires the
works of Andy Goldsworthy,
Alexander Calder, Fortunato
Depero, Constantin Brancusi,
and Stewart Davis. Jones has
a steady hand for crisp lines
but can be seen breaking his
stylistic routine, submerged
up to his elbows in paint
around a pinned up canvas.
“I think it is important to
take a step back from your
projects daily. I usually have
5-10 projects going on at
once, all leading in different
directions - with different
styles. Repetition bores me,
because we’re not machines
- nor will we feel the same
way about a piece a day later,
or even a quick glance later.
I hardly feel my work is
complete, but I can step away
from time to time feeling
s a t i s f i e d . ”

Jones’ most recent series “Ephemeral
Stability”, explores an illusive fragment in
time. These ever perfect compositions are
in what he calls the “halo period of perfect
stability”. The composition is suspended in time
between balance & chaos. “Suspended”, and “
Falling” are two additional series that focus
on periods of time outside the “halo”. Jones
often works in acrylics, for several reasons.
“I like the quick drying time, its matte finish
& it doesn’t smell up my studio. In some
of my mixed media projects, I will incorporate
air brush techniques, crayons, colored
pencils and pastels for additional weight and
textures.” Jones has showcased his work
in several small shows, pop ups, restaurants
& private collections across the nation.
Jones is determined to have several
shows in NYC in the next years. Additionally,
Jones is part of a tree house collective.
“Composed of friends from all fields –
Artists, Teachers, Improv Comics and
various nine-to-fivers who share a 10-acre
plot in upstate New York primarily for the
design and construction of tree houses.
The abandoned tree farm was realized as
an ideal location for what will one day be an
entire tree house village. The property is cut
through by a creek and boasts a variety of
mature hardwoods and softwoods. The natural
resources are plentiful but funds are not,
making ‘The Root Community’ a perfect
canvas to practice sustainable
design on a small budget.”
www.brianjonesdesign.net
@brian.jones_

Vera vinot
I am Vera, a French American.
I currently live in Barcelona, Spain and
I’m 29 years old. I am a young creative
and still finding my way in art and life.
My main focus and inspiration is the
human figure. I love small details and
working with un intentional marks.
These works here I call figure forms.
They are different then what I normally
do, and they were done to pass time and
help me keep my mind off situations.
Made on 4.5”x9” paper, except three which are
7”x10” on paper. My main tool is the brush pen,
one with black ink and the other with blue ink.
My second main tool is
sparkle gel pens, which only in physical
from one can see how sparkly these
really are. I also used a felt tip marker,
whiteout, and in some i used gouache.
You can see more of this series and
other works of mine on my website
veravinot.com and IG.
They were made in a time frame of 5
months, were I was in between homes
and jobs in New York, California, and
Barcelona.
@veravinot.com
I love small details
and working with
un intentional marks.

DVNNY
DVNNY (formerly Danny Aron) was born and raised in New
York City. Growing up in a metropolis covered in graffiti and
full of creativity is something that continues to influence his
practice. Danny is also an avid skateboarder and
consistently finding creative ways to explore the unique
geography of NYC is characteristic of the way
Danny approaches his work.
He has been drawing, painting, and exploring different
mediums his entire life. His ideas are free form and he
works outside of preconceived notions. Process informs
practice and Danny often covers all traces of previous
layers as he progresses in his works.

His techniques are varied and his art utilizes all
kinds of materials including acrylic paint, metal, markers,
spray paint and various other mixed media. His tight lines
are characteristic of a sharp focus and commitment to an
aesthetic that is his own.
He also utilizes signs and symbols that carry meanings
that are personal but that when viewed by an outsider
have the potential to become universal. At
times he even works outside of this visual language in an
effort to further refine and develop his style.
Creating things has always been his greatest passion
ever since he was 3 years old. As a classically trained
musician studying violin, piano, guitar, drums, and
other percussive instruments, art and music have always
been fused together for DVNNY. Having Grown up in with
these powerful influences, it inevitably cultivated a
never-ending explosion of visual creativity and a constant
wonder to seek his own personal truths, as well as to
discover the greater purpose to life.

O
Samantha
Paprin
O
ne morning, somewhere in the
middle of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, I
had my first “AHA Moment” … giggling to
myself while realizing exactly what my
purpose on this planet is and why was given
the life I was given.
Through life’s trials and tribulations, my
empathy & strength grew as I blossomed
into a yoga teacher and a Reiki Master. Once
I spoke my highest truth into existence,
the universe began flooding my life with
blessings, synchronicities, and guiding
lights to exactly where I needed to be.
I grew up in an Upper East Side Manhattan
household as the black sheep. Don’t get
me wrong I enjoyed an abundantly luxurious
lifestyle; I flew on the Concord when it still
flew in the sky, was chauffeured to middle
school, and often flew on private jets or set
sail on chartered yachts. My sparkly and
miraculous life was semi-charmed and by no
means perfect. My parents divorced when I
was eight, and I spent most of my formative
years living with my father.
At eighteen, I left NYC for college in
California. Already the change in energy,
scenery, environment was a huge
Once I spoke my purpose into existence,
theuniverse began flooding my life with
blessings, synchronicities, and guiding lights
to exactly where I needed to be.
breath of fresh air for someone who grew up in
a concrete jungle. I realized I was never meant
to be a high-powered city woman. I knew then
that my life would never consist of a 9-5 desk
job that left me quarantined to a cubicle.
My vision was much bigger than that.
Throughout college, I wore many masks. I
hung out with the grungy stoners, the Greek
Life community, the jocks, the artsy kids. I tried
it all. Yet, I still was in search of WHO
Samantha Rose Paprin really is, where I ought
to be. I studied abroad in Paris, transferred to a
university in Hawaii and eventually, I dropped
out.
There is so much pressure for young people to
be funneled down this route and itwas tough for
me to go against my family’s wishes, breaking
free from societal restraints &dropping out was
a monumental decision that I am so glad I took
as it has led me onto a path of love, purpose
and adventure. I have been blessed to see
over 40 countries thus far and I am nowhere
near done.has led me onto a path of love, purpose
and adventure.
Having lived in multiple intentional communities,
I experienced life without expectation to
be a certain way, where I was loved and accepted
for every little bit of me. This allowed
me to grow into a far happier human being
than if I had gone down the more conventional
route.

Breaking free of the grips of the matrix
empowered me and gave me trust in my
power &intuition, knowing I’m lead
exactly where I need to be at all times.
where I need to be at all times
I remember applying to my first yoga teacher
training to receive my 200 hours certification.
Thirty days in the Sacred Valley of the Incans
can really change a person. Plant medicine
journeys, heart opening cacao ceremonies,
and energy healing massages from shamans
can EXPONENTIALLY change a person. I
met with mother Aya, Pacha Mama, Spirit;
I began to learn the love of the universe. I
began to realize: I am God. And so are you.
Subsequent to this awakening, I continued on
my journey aimlessly but so divinely
guided.I spent countless hours learning from
healers, shamans, and professors of
consciousness equipped with multitudes of
healing modalities I had never heard of
before. Reiki, Theta Healing, Lomi Lomi,
Ho’oponopono. I have been blessed bymonks
in Cambodia and by Rabbis in Israel- the list
goes on. I dove deep into the spiritual side of
yoga while I cultivated a meditation practice of
my own. In experiencing these
communities, festivals and conferences, I
Each step I have taken since breaking
free of the grips of the matrix has been
so divinely guided.
have found a deep acceptance of myself
through the unconditional love and acceptance
by others everywhere I find myself. Every
bit about me was appreciated, nothing was
judged, and everything was loved.
Breaking free of the grips of the matrix
empowered me and gave me trust in my
power & intuition, knowing I’m lead exactly
This past year has been a whirlwind of travel,
learning, adventures, love and even loss.
I have been blessed to see 10 new countries
around the world including: Israel,Portugal,
India, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China, and
Nicaragua. I have also returned to countries I
know and love. I have experienced living in two
new conscious traveling communities — I told
you, its been a whirlwind.
I am currently in the process of publishing my
first book, a novel geared towards
consciousness for kids. Meanwhile, you can
check out my writing on my blog:
www.samantharosepaprin.com I get real, raw
and honest about the ins and outs of being a
human and a healer. Join me on my healing
journey in real time online!
My mission is to facilitate a generation of
humans who can enter adulthood equipped
with the tools necessary to combat familial,
personal, and past life traumas with the help of
the movement, meditation, and healing
modalities that I have to offer.
My mission is to fully heal
myself, in order to help heal
others.
@samrose.yoga
www.samantharosepaprin.com

Ketch Wehr is a queer
transfeminist artist and illustrator
living in New York state. After
living in Philadelphia, New York,
and Rome (Italy), some time
amongst trees seemed like a
good idea. They make art (comics,
paintings, digital art) and do
commercial illustration and design
for a living. Ketch has a parade
of rescue animals, a magical
partner, and is working on
their first graphic novel inspired
by the process of making art and
the internal struggle we all face
with ourselves.
Ketch
Wehr
whelmed by the world, by the
dark and terrible things
happening in it? If you have the
steam, do something with it. If
you don’t, just draw monsters,
make something ugly or messy,
fill a page with repetitive marks,
do whatever you need to do
so you’re always working your
momentum like a muscle. And
abandon shame if you didn’t get
that thing done today.
As an artist, it brings me a lot of
pride to make work all the time
when I can. But I also know
that evaluating my worth by my
daily productivity is a capitalist
goal that I can reframe and
work against. Is this for me and
my communities? Or something
else?
Who inspires you?
(Stupid question but it’s truly
amazing how people answer
this...not always our mom
or dad)
Right now, reading a lot of
amazing world building is a big
deal for me. Maybe it always
was. I get a lot of great starts
to authors I’ve ended up loving
from LeVar Burton’s podcast,
LeVar Burton Reads. He’s how
I found Charlie Jane Anders’ All
the Birds in the Sky, Gardner Dozois’s
Geodesic Dreams, a number
of heartbreakingly beautiful
short stories by Ken Liu.
I love seeing process updates
from artists I know and love online,
it feels like a community of
folks showing their struggle and
effort, not just exclusively polished
work. Jeanne D’Angelo (@
everlastingfaint) does a great job
at being honest about the work
of making art in relation to social
media. She’s so skilled and prolific
but also doesn’t hesitate to
show frustration with platforms,
the pressure to be *MAKING*
constantly. For me, for many of
us, that’s not always possible,
especially to make things that
are Instagram ready. If that’s not
the goal, that’s super valid.
I love the work of Marnie Galloway,
Jillian Tamaki, Eleanor Davis,
Rebecca Sugar, Jen Wang.
They make beautiful work, and
I’m still aiming to get more comics
and eventually graphic novels
done, but until those books
are more than pencilled, I keep
reading or watching and loving
them and knowing it’s possible.
Where were you 10 years ago,
doing what exactly?
Ten years ago I was living in
West Philadelphia, waiting to
have enough money to pay for
top surgery, working in 3 different
coffee shops, painting large
animals on large surfaces.
Dogless but one year into being
with the love of my life.
Where did you see yourself
before art? How did art find
you?
I don’t have any reference for
a me before art, it has always
been the goal and the focus of
my life. I mean, I also love science
and nature and a mess of
other human interests, but I was
never not going to be an artist. I
was raised reading a lot, my
parents are both very creative
and I loved the children’s’
illustrators I grew up idolizing:
Jerry Pinkney, James Gurney,
Pierr Morgan, David Weisner,
Jan Brett, Barry Moser, a million
others. I thought that was what
I’d do, build worlds full of magic
and detail.
It’s hard to move ahead with
finding how to make illustrative
art, share it, and live off it when
the fields have changed so wildly
between the 1980’s and now.
Now the goals change, it’s about
adapting and finding how to define
success in ways that are
more holistic. Am I proud of what
I’m making? Does this have a
use for me and others? What do
I want to accomplish and is this
getting me there?
What keeps you going even
when there are the dark days
of no hope and no new leads
of work?
I learned a lot listening to the
artists’ consultant and author
Beth Pickens about this. Having
a practice is not about waiting for
inspiration all the time. It’s about
making a volume of work,
because then you can’t lose
momentum too easily. Creative
flow state doesn’t seem
unattainable if you’re making
things often as a habit / life.
I used to be very hard on myself,
but now I know if I make things
today, then I did something, and
it’s easier every day to get more
done, even if it’s not polished or
some grand conceptual thing
every time. Make things, make
more things. Get down, get over-
@ketchwehr
www.ketchwehrart.com/shop

A
Little
Bit
Spicy
in
T
hey don’t tell you that the
hardest part of adulting is
making friends. In my case, I was
hoping to just make at least one.
I walked into the office of my first
post-grad job to find a square
desk of 3 other girls and one new
open spot for me. 2 weeks go by
without breaking much ground
on getting to know these girls.
We’d have random chatter but
no one seemed to want to be my
actual friend. Especially Ellen,
the girl who sat across from me.
She had the highest job of the
3 of us, wore cool clothes, had
a cute desk setup with fun pens
and Glossier Cherry Bombdotcom
in an acrylic desk organizer.
But then one day, ev
erything changed.
I am the kind of gal who
doesn’t hold much in. I like chatting,
I jump into a conversation.
I’m pretty positive that there was
not one teacher growing up that
didn’t tell my parents I was a
suddenly something comes
flying at me, landing right on my
keyboard. A packet of sriracha. I
laughed and thanked her. I knew
we were going to be friends. It
wasn’t soon after Ellen and I had
our first post-drink date at The
Black Ant in the East Village.
The second sign of our friendship
was us getting absolutely
wasted (by mistake) on off margaritas
and tacos.
For the months following
Ellen and I kept the friendship
growing - complaining about
office things, comparing boy stories,
career goals and keeping
each other entertained. In
September of 2018, I decided to
go full-time freelance and left the
company. Oddly enough only a
few months following the entire
company up and moved to Utah
and the New York office was
shut down.
Ellen and I got together and
realized that we both had a lot of
vision started, she’d be into it.
While Ellen was visiting
family I started branding away.
I almost immediately came up
with the name A Lil Bit Spicy,
thinking back to the small, but
unforgettable lunch moment.
It was perfect. We are friends
because we are so alike in the
sense that we don’t hold back
how we feel about things. Our
standards are alike and high.
Our conversations get a bit
sassy...Or as I call it now, spicy.
something online like a blog,
podcast...even just put
yourself out there and post a
photo on instagram. It’s hard to
start anything publicly because
we are all so afraid of judgment
or public failure. But nothing
starts from the top. Excellence
isn’t an act, but a habit. We create
our own happiness because
it’s truly an inside job. Who would
have thought a girl from rural
Tennessee and one from
suburban Connecticut would
come together in New York City
I am tossing you the
sriracha packet.
Excellence isn’t an act, but a habit.
We create our own happiness because
it’s truly an inside job.
New
York
City
By Allison Bellucci
If there is anything I’ve learned
from New York City it’s that you
don’t wait for anything to be
perfect, it’s never going to be.
social butterfly and needed to
work on entertaining the class a
little less during their lessons. So
announcing that I wish I had sriracha
during lunch is pretty typical
in the life of Allie.
I hear Ellen open and
close her desk drawer and sud
free time on our hands. I told her
we should make a podcast. We
had always had really funny conversations,
we were both huge
fans of listening to podcasts and
now we had the time. Ellen was
a little weary, but being a
journalism major, I just hopped
right to it. I knew if I could get the
We are just going for it. We
started recording and putting
episodes up on Spotify. Everything
is a work in progress from
the format of the episodes to the
sound quality. We aren’t waiting
to perfect it to put it out there, we
are enjoying and learning from
the process. If there is anything
I’ve learned from New York City
it’s that you don’t wait for
anything to be perfect, it’s never
going to be. You have to create
the perfect moment, you have to
take the leap of faith, put
yourself out there and push
past your comfort zone.
On episode 2 I brought up how
hard it is to start something
and start a podcast?
If you want to check out
our podcast you can find us on
Instagram @lilspicyinnyc or on
Spotify, Soundcloud and Apple
Podcasts. We love questions
from friends and listeners so
feel free to DM us or send us an
email to
thespicypodcasters@gmail.
com! We are looking for
questions about living in NYC
and your craziest city stories.
Come on this journey with us
and if you’re having any
hesitation about your own,
consider this a sign.

Morten King
Gastro GT
Over plenty ice,
• 5 cl Gin (@vinomaninsta)
• 8-10 cl Rhubarb Tonic (@ohdeertonic)
• 1-2 Dashes Tonic Bitters
(@thebittertruthcompany)
• Garnish with a wee flower
Enjoy!

Taking my
time to miss
Violet
In a chilled tumbler over a large ice
block (or several smaller ones),
• 3 cl Pisco
• 2 cl Genever (@kevergenever)
• 1 cl Dry gin (@kalevalagin)
• 2 bsp Violet liqueur
(@thebittertruthcompany)
• 1 bsp Thyme & Lemon Syrup
(@herbertsyrups)
• 2 dashes orange bitters
Stir patiently for 1-3 minutes, add
more ice as you go
Finish with a splash of Inginius
Tailored Classic Tonic
(@tailoredtonic)
Garnish with a lemon zest and sage
leaf .
Enjoy!

The last Pink
Knock on
wine wood
• 5 cl Small Batch Gin
(@kalevalagin)
• 2.5 cl Rhubarb Liqueur
(@giffard_liqueurs_syrups)
• 2 cl Sake Wine
(@finedrops_sake)
• 2 cl Club Soda
(@broders.dk )
• 1.5 cl Amarone Red Wine
• 3 cl Amuerte White Edition
• 2 cl Chartreuse (Yellow)
(@chartreuse_uk)
• 2 cl Maraschino Liqueur
(@maraska_zadar)
• 2 cl Freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1.5 cl Rose and Lavender syrup
(@herbertsyrups)
Shake with plenty ice
Strain into a chilled coupe
Garnish with Rose of the day
Enjoy!
Shake first 3 ingredients
Strain over plenty clear ice
Top with soda
Float with Red Wine
EnjoyFinish with a splash of
Inginius
Tailored Classic Tonic
(@tailoredtonic)
Garnish with a lemon zest
and sage leaf .
Enjoy!

Unwind the revival
• 3 cl Gin Originale (@malfygin)
• 2 cl Akvavit (@ahusakvavit)
• 2 cl Blanco Reserva Vermouth (@vermouthpadr)
• 1.5 cl Violet Liqueur (@thebittertruthcompany)
• 2 Dashes Olive Bitters
• Absinthe rinse
Rinse your chilled glass with Absinthe. Stir ingredients with a lemon zest
and plenty of ice. Strain into glass over a large rock of ice. Garnish with
a dehydrated lime wheel (@frugtskiver.dk)
Enjoy Top with soda. Float with Red Wine. EnjoyFinish with a splash of
Inginius .Tailored Classic Tonic
(@tailoredtonic)
Garnish with a lemon zest and sage leaf .
Enjoy!

Francisco de
Orellana
• 5 cl Amazonian Gin
(@amazoniangin)
• 2.5 cl Dorado Amargo Suave
Vermouth
(@vermouthpadro)
• 2 cl Ginger & Hibiscus Syrup
(@herbertsyrups)
• 1 cl Cherry & Coffee Syrup
(@erlkoenigcascara)
• 2.5 cl Freshly squeezed lime juice,
for that sour layer
• 2 Dashes Creole Bitters
(@thebittertruthcompany)
• 2 Dashes Olive Bitters, to tie it all
up. Stir with plenty of ice
Double strain into a chilled coupe
glass (@topglassware) over a
large rock of ice. No Garnish
Genus rosa
vesper
• 5 cl Dry Gin (@illusionist_gin)
• 1 cl Vodka (@mamont.vodka)
• 2.5 cl Berry Tonic Syrup
(@absurttonic)
• 1 Dash of Grapefruit Bitters
(@kjaercompany)
Stir with plenty ice
Strain into a chilled coupe,
over a cube #cubesincoupes
Garnish with a dehydrated
grapefruit wheel.Serve on a
bed of rose leafs
Enjoy!
Enjoy!

Alexandra Burst
G
rowing up with divorced
parents, my time was split
between my hometown of
Wall Township, New Jersey
& New York. I lived at home
with my mother and older
brother during the week and
attended school, then spent
most weekends traveling to
NYC or the Hamptons to visit
my father and his partner.
I always felt a sense of
curiosity about NY life and
ended up going to a boarding
school on Long Island for all
of high school. I got my first
job working at a restaurant in
NYC at the age of 17 and immediately
fell in love with the
fast paced lifestyle. I also started
my love affair with alcohol.
Attending culinary school in
upstate NY at the Culinary Institute
of America was a dream
come true. I had envisioned
my life as a chef for years and
knew that if I wanted to see it
through, I needed to go to the
CIA. It was there that I learned
to hone my skills in the craft
of culinary arts; I also battled
my full-fledged addiction. It
wasn’t until I graduated college
and landed back in the
Hamptons that I finally decided
it was time to get sober.
Getting sober set me on a
path of self-discovery. Almost
by divine intervention, at the
same time that I first gave up
alcohol, I started practicing
yoga, which was monumental
for me in learning to love
and appreciate my body. After
my first real break-up, I
decided to travel to Bali,
Indonesia and complete my
first Yoga Teacher Training.
I had no intentions of ever
teaching yoga, but soon discovered
the gift I had been given
& knew I needed to share it.
Coming back out East that
following season, I didn’t
know what I was going to do
for work. Newly sober from alcohol,
I was hesitant to jump
back into restaurant life & the
universe conspired to take
care of me, presenting me
with the opportunity to teach
yoga on a weekly basis. This
was my first welcome into
the wellness industry. While I
continued to dive deeper into
my sobriety, for the first time
in my life, I started to feel
a sense of grounding. The
constant back and forth of my
childhood left me feeling like
I didn’t belong in either NY or
NJ and once I got sober and
became a part of the community
out on Long Island,
I felt as though I had finally
established
roots.
Learning to take down the
walls I had built up around my
heart for years was a process.
In doing so though, I was able
to heal. Opening myself up to
the world was scary at first. I
had to feel things I had stuffed
away for so long; I also had to
learn things that I had missed
over the years while intoxicated,
like how to go on a date
and how to say “no.” I had to
learn about setting boundaries
with bosses, friends and family.
I also had to learn how to
be social without my beloved
crutch. Through it all though,
I’ve come out stronger and
finally feel like I am the woman
I was always meant to me.
Overcoming an addiction also
shaped my career and provided
me with a direction in
life. During my journey to a
healthier lifestyle, I lost a total
of 61 pounds, completely
transitioned to a plant-based
lifestyle and left the restaurant
world… for now. I decided
I wanted to further educate
myself on the lifestyle I was
leading so I studied
plant-based nutrition. Every
single step I took over these
past five years, every choice I
made has lead me to this exact
point in time and I couldn’t be
more grateful. I am currently
a full time yoga instructor, energy
healer and virtual health
& wellness coach. My mission
is to help people heal through
plant-based foods, energy
work and the practice of yoga;
three things that helped me
in my own healing journey.
After nearly a decade of working
in kitchens I finally realized
that I never again wanted to
work for someone else. Life is
too damn precious to be doing
anything other than something
you love. Committing to
a life of health & wellness not
only helps to hold myself accountable,
but it also enables
me to help people on a larger
scale. I whole-hearted believe
that God or the universe or
whatever you believe in helps
those who help themselves.
The moment I decided to put
my own health & wellness
first was the moment my life
began to change for the better.
I now understand that the
answers I had so desperately
been seeking for years,
always were within and that
is true for all of us. When I
am able to quiet down and
connect with myself,
all else falls into place.
My mission in life is to help
others not only be able to
get to that space, but also
understand the true value
of it. You have to feel in
order to heal and that all
starts from the inside out.
It’s real work we are doing
together and not something
I take for granted.

Edenopolis
Richard Vanderplas
Chef Richard is a global food researcher specializing in traditional recipes. He travels for four to six
months a year learning home cooked food passed down from generation to generation from local
families. During the summer months he owns and operates a boutique wedding and event catering
company in NYC, offering and honoring those traditions for his guests.
Pernil
Recipe #1 - Puerto Rican pulled
pork sandwiches.
These are one of my favorite
sandwiches of all time to make.
For me, it all started when
my father took me to Puerto
Rico when I was a kid. I was
driving with him along a dusty
road in a small surfing town
called Rincón, looking for
something to eat. There were
chickens crossing the road (I
don’t know why) little kids riding
horseback instead of on bicycles,
old men sitting in lawn
chairs smoking and listening to
loud music while gambling, and
every house was painted a different
color of neon. I was thrilled.
We pulled into what appeared
to be a driveway of someones
house. “This don’t look like a
restaurant dad” I said. I saw a
small sign outside saying something
in Spanish that I couldn’t
understand, but it had a picture of
a steaming leg of chicken next to
it drawn in chalk, this reassured
me and my belly. We went inside
and the smell was an almost
overwhelming and intoxicating
blend of what seemed to be
con, citrus, and herbs of some
kind. We ordered. “Dos sándwiches
de cerdo!” the heavyset
and sweet seeming women
behind the counter bellowed.
“Para dos gringos!” She then
added. We got our food. I started
eating and was blown the fuck
away. “Holy shit!” I said. “Watch
your language!” My dad replied.
For many years since this day, I
have researched pulled pork in
Harlem restaurants near where
I went to collage at CCNY, and
at any other place I can find. Of
the many renditions I have tried,
this is the one I am stuck with. It
is a variation from the Dominican
Republic, but is still very similar
to the one I tried that fateful day.
Directions:
Buy one huge piece of pork
shoulder. It should be at
least four to six pounds and
MUST have a bone running
through itDo not accept slices.
Do not accept boneless or butterflied.
You need one with a thick
layer of fat on top, with the skin
on. The butcher will try to give
you the run around, do not let
him chop off any of your fat, or
accept any substitutes. Make
a dry rub. The rub should have
exactly one butt ton of each
of the following in equal parts:
Smoked paprika, sugar,
salt, and black pepper.
Additionally, add a little bit according
to personal preference
of: Cinnomon, hot chili flakes,
cumin, and coriander seed. For
bonus points substitute your salt
with smoked salt, but its no biggie.
Rub a dub dub that pork.
Get it in there. Really go for
it. When you are done, give
that but a slap. Its necessary.
Cut a few onions into about four
thick slices each, and lay them
on the bottom of a roasting
pan or dutch oven or whatever
you have. The point of this is to
create a heat barrier for your
lovely pork so it does not burn
on the bottom. Take two WHOLE
garlic wheels with the skin on,
and just place them in the pan
on the side. Gently place your
pork on top of the onions making
sure that the onions are supporting
it. Take a whole bunch of
cilantro with the stems on, and
cover the pork with them like
some sort of herbal blanket.
Cover the pork with either tin
foil or the lid of your dutch oven
after putting a few small cups of
water in.
Cook this baby all night long as
low as you can put your oven.
Below 200 degrees is best, but
if it goes just to 200 thats fine,
just make sure you don’t cook it
more then ten hours. If it is 165
degrees you can do 24 hours.
It should be super falling apart
when its done. When it is done,
uncover it, and gently place it
(it will fall apart be careful) on a
rack and dry it with a towel, then
blast the heat at 500 degrees to

crisp it up a little. Now its done,
let it sit on the counter for twenty
minutes before pulling it.
Take the juices, strain them,
discard the onions, garlic, and
cilantro, and reduce the liquid
by 1/2.
Make or buy some aioli. Take
a can of chipotle peppers and
blend them. Add some of that
same pork spice mix. Once you
have a spicy paste, mix some
of it to taste with your aioli. That
is your sandwich sauce.
The night before when you
put your pork in you should
have pickled some red onions
(man you should have red this
through first.) To do that, thinly
slice red onions, and juice
a bunch of limes. Massage
the onions with the lime juice,
a little sugar, and salt. Press
them down under the liquid,
and let them sit overnight. The
next day they will be neon pink.
Those are a sandwich topping.
Buy martin’s potato rolls or
some equally good potato roll
(does not exist.) Pull your pork
and drizzle the pork liquid into
the meat with a few swigs of
apple cider vinegar. Slather the
mayo on BOTH sides of the
bun. No skimping. Put an
outrageously large portionof
pork on the bun. A little bit
of onions, and some fresh
chopped cilantro.
Recipe #2 -
Greek spinach
feta pies with
yogurt
cucumber sauce.
Eve and I went on our yearly
travels in 2015 to Spain, France,
Amsterdam, Italy and Greece.
When we were in Greece I worked
as a consultant for a restaurant
on the island of Crete called the
“Soul Kitchen.” We had a little
apartment on this the largest
of the Greek isles. It is known
for badass men and women
who fought back the Nazi
invaders who attempted to para
troop down on the island. Basically
they slit their fucking throats
as soon as they landed.Hitler
gave up and left them alone. We
stayed here for two months and
every morning for breakfast we
ate spinach pies at a different
restaurant every day. We tried
so many variations of this amazing
dish it would make your head
spin. Layered like a lasagna,
swirled into a braid, squares,
triangles, pockets, you name it.
The point is, if we ate it every
day for two months it must be
good. Here is the variation I have
stuck with over many years of
refinement for my
catering
business.
ENJOY!
This sandwich goes well with
some plantain chips and a Fanta.
Directions:
Take two huge boxes of
spinach and quickly wilt it in
batches. You will need WAY
more spinach then you think,
because you will be
squeezing 90% of the water out
before you make the pies. To wilt
the spinach, take a large
fry pan and make it
super
hot.
Using some metal tongs,
fill the pan way over the
top with spinach, and
slowly turn the spinach just
until it is wilted. Cook it as little
as possible, no more then one
minute. The point is just to make
it so you can squeeze the water
out Take all of your wilted spinach.
over to the sink. A golf ball size
at a time, take the spinach between
your hands and squeeze
that water out like you are trying
to strangle someone to death.
Once you are done, you should
have a hilariously small amount
of spinach compared to what
you started with. ake that
spinach and chop it up a few
times. Put it in a bowl and add an
equal part of good quality greek
feta cheese, lightly crumbled. You
should have chunks of cheese.
Add a few swigs of olive oil, salt,
pepper, fresh oregano, and the
zest of 1/2 a lemon, but no juice.
Mix this all well, that is the filling.
Take your phyllo dough out
of the freezer for about thirty
minutes before using it as
it will be too brittle and crack.
Spanikopita
TOpen the package carefully, and
slowly unravel it. Once it is flat on
the table, get your bowl of mixture,
and a mini ice cream scoop.
One sheet of phyllo makes one
pie. There are usually about
twenty sheets in a pack. Take
one sheet, and on the bottom left
corner put one scoop of mixture
about one inch from the corner
diagonally. Fold the corner over.
The scoop of mixture should
now be covered with phyllo, with
the corner pointing in towards
the center of the page of dough.
Now fold the bottom side over it,
now the top, then the side. Keep
going and shape it into a two
by two inch square by the end.
Gently push the mixture down
each time you fold it so it
spreads throughout the square.
It should not be wrapped tightly,
and have air vents on the
sides. Do not seal it with water,
just put them dry into a tray
when done. The steam has
to be able to escape or they
explode and look like crap.
Take a baking tray and grease
it heavily with olive oil. Take
your pies and cover them in olive
oil. A lot of olive oil. Roast
them in a 350 degree oven until
both sides are crispy, turning
them over once in the middle
of the cooking. They should
be golden brown. You might
need more oil halfway through.
Once they come out, let them
cool. They are MOLTEN HOT
in the middle. Your guests will
burn their fucking faces off.
Take some thick greek yogurt and
shred some cucumbers into it.
Mix lemon zest, olive oil, salt,
and pepper. This is your dip.
Cut them in half
diagonally before serving, each
big pie is two pieces. Serve on
a wooden cutting board with
the bowl of sauce on the side.
ENJOY!
This goes will with a bowl of
marinated
olives
and greek red wine.

Carson
Jordan
A
ny other job can exist solely as that— just
a job,but because of societal implications and
stigma, my job is not just what I do—it’s who I am.
Although I’ve only been stripping full time for half
a year, I find myself feeling limitless in my growth
and progress. Most other jobs don’t come with the
aspect of dancing, joyfully and freely or in a set,
dedicated routine, for money. Most other jobs do
not give opportunity for the type of camaraderie
that stripping does—I mean, how often do you
get to cheer, and I really mean cheer, on your coworkers?
I’m a stripper for many reasons, one of
which being the ability to create art and dedicate
my days to my dreams. Another being that there
are so many opportunities for joy and adrenaline
through dancing with or next to others.
Just like any other job, there are downsides. There
are days when I’m not in the mood to speak to
others, and being that stripping is an extremely social
job that can be really difficult. There are days
when I’m tired, but when does anything considered
work not wear you out sometimes?
Unlike any other job, my job comes with a higher
risk of sexual assault and stigmas. My job comes
with the risk of losing friends who do not support
or respect you. I’m privileged in that my family
has supported me, while others fear telling their
parents for risk of being disowned. My job also
puts me in situations of uncomfortable questions,
shame, and ridicule.
you have and they haven’t trusted you enough to
tell you. (If you wonder why I’m using the term sex
work, it is because sex work encompasses many
different jobs. You’re welcome to use Google to
learn more about the term.)
My job, stripping, is a type of sex work. With that,
I want to leave you with some rules and etiquette
you should practice if someone does trust you
enough to tell you they’re in sex work.
1. Never ask someone how much they make.
Would you be comfortable sharing your salary or
tips earned with a stranger?
2. Never ask the specifics of how people earn
money. If someone wants you to know, they will
tell you.
3. Never assume that the sex worker you’re
speaking to is uneducated. Many sex workers are
very educated, and all sex workers are extremely
smart.
4. Never assume a sex worker hates their job any
more than you do. Again, if someone wants to tell
you that they hate their job, they’ll let you know
without you intrusively asking.
5. Pay us for your projects. Sex workers do an
amazing amount of work—marketing, promoting,
screening, emotional labor, and physical labor of
working. Our time is valuable.
6. Include us at the table if your project is about
us. Let us tell our own stories. It isn’t your job to
speak for others as an ally, it is your job to uplift
our voices.
While you might tell yourself you’ve never met a
stripper or sex worker before, it’s most likely that

Sal Giorgio-
Jerk King
I am, and always have been a lover of all things MEAT! From summer cookouts, to traditional
Italian cured meats and salami, to long slow smoked brisket, ribs, and obviously jerky. Years
of working in the restaurant and hospitality business left me wanting a change. I always
loved working with food but I did not have the passion for the typical restaurant experience
and wanted to branch out in another direction.
I have been making jerky for years in small batches for myself, my friends and family to
snack on. What started out as a hobby became a passion as I found I can make delicious
jerky that is tastier and healthier than typical store bought brands.
Research into the BIG BRAND jerky companies taught me that most of these brands use
a lot of extra junk in their products that I did not want to eat. MSG, artificial flavors, additives,
and excessively high sugar content in many of these brands turned me off from what I
thought was a healthy snack.
I set out to make a better alternative to the store brand jerky with big bold original flavors.
Current flavors include Apple Kicker, Brazilian Steakhouse, Original Steak Sauce, Keto
Meato: Cracked Pepper (no sugar added), Hot Jerky, and Limited Edition Venison BBQ.
JERK KING JERSEY has:
No MSG
No artificial flavors
No artificial colors
No additives
No Nitrates or Nitrites
Fresh, Organic, non-gmo, all natural ingredients.
KETO Friendly (minimal sugar, or no sugar added)
Find JERK KING JERSEY on Instagram, facebook, Etsy, and Twitter, where you can order directly
and find out more about upcoming Craft Shows, Festivals, and events.

Editor’s Letter
This issue is a small reminder about the artists who try to be
seen naturally. The New York issue. In middle school you
didn’t know any better. In high school we had no control over
who we were. Art was an escape from that or other things that
kids found comfort in. The best feeling right?
Then we all went to college to “find ourselves”.
What the flip does that mean?
I’m here working four different jobs in an industry I love but
constantly proving myself. Bettering myself. I found myself by
failing over and over again. Can you look yourself in a mirror
and say you failed? Do you tear up? Does your chest start to
tighten up, that’s what failure feels like. Anxiety ridden and art
found me because I kept failing. There was no other way to
come back. It’s always found me and picked me back up.
Best,
Svetlana Blasucci
Editor in Chief @Soleil_Magazine
Instagram: @Svietasphoto
www.svetlana.photography