Slake Your Cultural Thirst

There's a new read in town that will, pardon the pun, which is intended - SLAKE your cultural thirst. It's called SLAKE.

From their website, here's a little bit about them:

This summer, a fresh voice takes root in Los Angeles with the debut of SLAKE, a new quarterly journal co-founded by former L.A. Weekly editors Laurie Ochoa and Joe Donnelly. SLAKE is devoted to the endangered art of deeply reported narrative journalism and the kind of polished essay, memoir, fiction, poetry and portrait writing that is disappearing in a world of instant takes and unfiltered opinion. SLAKE marks a return to storytelling.

Designed with an artist’s eye and published in a full-color, perfect-bound format, SLAKE sets a new template for the next generation of print publications — collectible, not disposable; destined for the bedside table instead of the recycling bin; and so seductive in its looks and content that readers will find it irresistible. Online, SLAKE stories will be easy to navigate on any platform, and will be one of the first websites designed from scratch to take advantage of the display capabilities of the iPad.

Most important are the voices of SLAKE, some of the nation’s finest writers, photographers and artists who live in Southern California and bring to SLAKE their own individual visions of Los Angeles and the world beyond. Contributors to SLAKE‘s debut issue include Luke Davies, Mark Z. Danielewski, Jonathan Gold, Geoff Nicholson, Jerry Stahl, Sandow Birk, Michelle Huneven, John Albert, John Powers, Judith Lewis, Iris Berry, Steven Kotler, Daniel Hernandez, C.R. Stecyk, Pleasant Gehman, Arty Nelson and many more.

I am pleased and honored to have contributed several photos to illustrate Iris Berry's piece about the erstwhile Tropicana Motel - one of punk rock's most important hang-outs.

Look for readings, gallery shows and other events with SLAKE writers and artists throughout the summer in Los Angeles.... such as the ones listed below!

Slake: Los Angeles Launch Party! Join us Thursday, July 22 at Track 16 in Bergamot Station for an evening of readings, music, art, food and drink. Art from Slake‘s first issue will be displayed and available for purchase. There will be pie. 7 p.m. 2525 Michigan Ave., Bergamot Station, Santa Monica 90404. (310) 264-4678. www.track16.com.

Stories Books, Thursday, August 5. Readings from some of Slake‘s greatest Eastside contributors. 7 p.m. 1716 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90026. (213) 413-3733. www.storiesla.com.

Vroman’s Bookstore, Friday, August 13. Readings from several Slake contributors, including correspondents from Slake‘s Pasadena/Altadena bureau: John Powers, Jervey Tervalon, Michelle Huneven, Jonathan Gold and Erica Zora Wrightson. 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91101. (626) 449-5320. www.vromansbookstore.com.

Bootleg Theater, Tuesday, August 24. An evening of music and readings. Still developing, but save the date. 2220 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles 90057. (213) 389-3856. www.bootlegtheater.org.

Book Soup, September 8. A night of Slake readings. 7 p.m. 1818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069. (310) 659-3110. www.booksoup.com.

Check back at slakemedia.org for more events as they develop.