KelpFest inspires stewardship of coastal ecosystem
The young and the curious had ample opportunity to take a deep dive into oceanic matters on Saturday with the return of KelpFest in Laguna Beach.
An annual event that began in 2010, the festival draws attention to the local kelp forest and its importance to marine life.
Laguna Ocean Foundation serves as the host organization for KelpFest, partnering with other environmental groups focused on protecting, restoring and educating the community about the coastal ecosystem. It seeks to encourage the public to play an active role in protecting the fragile ecosystem, according to Alayna Ader, the foundation's education and leadership manager.
'The beach cleanup that kicked off the event gathered more than 50 pounds of trash from Main Beach in just one hour,' Ader said of Saturday's festival.
As schools go on break and students are off for summer, there was steady foot traffic wandering up to the booths and exhibits at the Main Beach cobblestones.
Among about a dozen participating groups were the American Cetacean Society, California State Parks, Laguna Beach County Water District, Laguna Bluebelt, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Orange County Coastkeeper, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, San Pedro-based Kelp Ark, and the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach.
'KelpFest exhibitors offered ocean awareness education and hands-on STEAM activities for everyone to enjoy,' Ader said 'The event ended with an hour-long 'Algae Walk and Talk,' where participants learned about the different algae species found along the beach and tidepools.
'With an estimated 1,000 people enjoying KelpFest, Laguna Ocean Foundation is confident that the event sparked appreciation for the coast and created future environmental stewards.'
An interactive stand provided a chance for kids to paint flounders and scallops, while also displaying informational panels about marine wildlife.
The Huntington Beach Mermaids also had a tent where children were invited to dress up, flip their fins and pose for pictures.
Live music was provided by the SeaView Serenaders.
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Cosmopolitan
an hour ago
- Cosmopolitan
48 LGBTQ+-Owned Brands to Support in 2025
Pride Month comes and goes every June, and like clockwork, companies drop Pride collections and collabs and stick their hands out for our dollars. Some are more thoughtful than others. Some incorporate an element of giving back to the queer community. Many don't. It's getting stale, and we're here to remind you that there are so many LGBTQ+ founders out there who are doing the work all year round. These brands offer products that are made for the queer community, by the queer community, providing solutions that address issues we face every day. Think: gender-affirming underwear, art prints to declare your home a safe space, garments that match your evolving expression, and even some of that rainbow-clad Pride merch, but with historically-accurate oomph. We particularly appreciate all the LGBTQ+ leadership in the beauty market—so much so we dedicated an entire roundup to our favorite LGBTQ+-owned beauty brands, which offer products and tools to help queer folks present their most authentic selves to the world. You've likely heard of many of them without even realizing they were LGBTQ+-owned, like Solawave, Peace Out Skincare, and Malin + Goetz. And then there are the movers and shakers, like Quickies press-on nails, Barb texturizing pomade made for short hair, or fragrances that are way more imaginative than archetypal perfumes or colognes. And yes, there's an entire section for candles because us queers simply can't live without them. Turn your attention to these 48 brands when it comes time to shop for Pride and beyond. (Gift ideas? Unmatched!) Many of them have give-back initiatives that are detailed below, and best believe we'll keep this list updated as we try more new brands. Al Sandimir, founder of Automic Gold, is a metalsmith and jewelry designer dedicated to making ethical, comfortable, and size-inclusive fine jewelry. All of their pieces are made with real gold and are mostly dainty, minimal styles that you can wear every day. Shop at Automic Gold Brandon Blackwood is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The designer is known for his accessibly-priced luxury handbags that have adorned the arms of celebs like Saweetie, The City Girls, Oprah, and Kim Kardashian. And that's on range! Shop at Brandon Blackwood Shop at Nordstrom Twin sisters, DJ duo, and eyewear designers Coco and Breezy Dotson are a force to be reckoned with. Their brand has been around since 2009, stocking luxury sunglasses that ooze cool-factor and individuality. Look no further for your statement sunnies for Summer '25. Shop at Coco & Breezy Shop at Amazon London-based Kurt Geiger is known for designing rainbow-hued handbags and footwear all year long. The brand just dropped its summer campaign featuring Emily Ratajkowski, showing off this year's boho, Route 66-inspired collection. Shop at Kurt Geiger Shop at Nordstrom Ash & Chess is run by queer and trans couple Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham. Their greeting cards are hilarious, and their T-shirts show your support of trans youth loud and proud. They are also the authors of Queer Tarot: An Inclusive Deck & Guidebook and they own the brick and mortar Everywhere Shop in Kingston, NY. Shop at Ash & Chess Cutesy enamel pin lovers, look no further for your Pride goodies. After tentatively closing her shop, we noticed that Bianca, a queer latine designer based in Queens, New York, is back. Choose from pins, patches, stickers, and even washi tape for all your stationery needs. Shop at Bianca's Designs Austin, Texas-based Emily Bryn designs T-shirts (and more) with the goal of 'showing the person across the street that they're safe with you.' That's a mission we can get behind. Her shirts are sourced secondhand and then screen-printed with her design, so each one is entirely unique. Shop at Emsbrynart Lisa Congdon is a lesbian artist who makes all sorts of stationary, home decor, and prints adorned with her queer-inclusive artwork. Welcome guests to your home with this 'You Belong Here' print. Shop at Lisa Congdon Patrick Church is a multi-media artist who reinterprets his paintings onto clothing (you might recognize his 'All Over You' print, which had a chokehold on gay Instagram for a minute). I'm personally a big fan of his swimwear. Shop at Patrick Church There are so many celebrity beauty brands out there, but Halsey's About-Face impressed Samantha Olson, assistant news editor. "My rule of thumb for reviewing celeb brands leads back to one question: Would I love and use these products if the A-lister wasn't attached? With About-Face, I 100% would. The Performer Foundation has a gorgeous satin and skin-like finish that lasts me 12+ hour days, and it comes in 45 shades with different undertones. The brand's Glitter Fix Eye Paints not only stand the test of time, but stun in shifting shades even in the darkest rooms. And the Matte Fix Lip Pencil is one of my all-time favorite liners because of its creamy and easily blendable formula that has minimal transferring." Shop at About-Face Shop at Ulta Alder New York is a queer- and woman-owned vegan skincare brand that launched in 2016 to offer clean skincare products that work for all gender expressions and skin types. They make everything from serums to face masks and facial tools, but I'm a big fan of the classic body bar soap. It has 1% glycolic acid and crushed jojoba seeds for gentle exfoliation. Alder New York's products are verified by the EWG (Environmental Working Group). Shop at Alder New York Introducing my daily hair styling product: Barb pomade. I've been using this for years to shape my baby mullet. The brand recently extended its product line to include a salt spray and a styling cream. I used the salt spray for the first time after a Pilates class—it revived my hair for the day and gave me tons of texture. Shop at Barb Fun fact: Beekman 1802 was founded by husbands Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, who have starred in their own reality show and competed on The Amazing Race. The brand has been featured on Oprah's Favorite Things numerous times—she loves the goat milk formulas that are gentle on sensitive skin. 100% of profits from this year's Pride collection will go to the Ali Forney Center to support at-risk LGBTQ+ youth in New York City. Shop at Beekman 1802 Shop at Amazon Byoma's products are designed to support your oh-so-fragile skin barrier. The price point is accessible, too, which we really appreciate. We named their Moisturizing Gel Cream ($15) as one of the best moisturizers to achieve glass skin. Shop at Byoma Shop at Amazon If you're ready to experiment with faux freckles, look no further than Freck Beauty. Founder Remi Brixton literally built a brand around her OG freckle pen. Reviewers say their faux freckles look natural and blend well with makeup. Shop at Freck Beauty Shop at Amazon Ghost Democracy was founded by Rex Chou, a beauty industry veteran who, after seeing how things worked behind the scenes, knew he could offer customers a higher standard of clean ingredients at a more affordable price. Beth Gilette, Beauty Editor, is a fan of their Softglow Facial Oil, calling it 'the face oil for people who think they hate face oil.' She says it is featherlight, absorbs into skin quickly, and doesn't feel greasy. Shop at Ghost Democracy Shop at Amazon Good Light is a 'gender-inclusive' skincare brand. Their bakuchiol serum—a retinol alternative—was named our favorite for sensitive skin. Our writer even pointed out that she 'tested this when my skin was going through a bout of major irritation and it didn't exacerbate any of my redness or itchiness one bit.' Their Alphabet Oil has also won a Cosmopolitan Acne Award. Pride Month or not, the brand donates 1% of sales to True Colors United, an organization that works to end youth homelessness. Shop at Good Light Shop at Ulta Queer Eye's resident beauty expert, Jonathan Van Ness, is, first and foremost, a hairstylist. So it made sense when they launched their haircare brand in 2021. The air dry cream is one of my personal ride or die styling products, and our editors have named the brand among the best shampoo for fine hair and the best hair oil for shine. Shop at JVN Hair Shop at Sephora Kim Chi's stamped makeup made her a standout on RuPaul's Drag Race season 8. So, like any smart businesswoman would, she launched a brand. She even manifested it in her season finale. Six years later, KimChi Chic Beauty is stocked in select CVS stores and on Period! For Pride this year, she dropped nostalgic collab with Caboodles. She also makes cutesy beauty tools like this light-up handheld mirror. Shop at KimChi Chic Beauty Shop at CVS You've definitely seen Malin + Goetz out in the wild, and probably didn't even realize it's LGBTQ+-owned. While the brand is most well-known for its body care, I'm here to put you on to its home fragrance. This tomato scent room spray is insanely accurate: It smells like the residue left on your hands after picking tomatoes off the vine. Tomato girl summer anyone? Shop at Malin + Goetz Shop at Amazon Mara has a secret ingredient: clinically-tested algae sourced via wild collecting in France and Ireland. Their Sea Sculpt Body Oil won the 2025 Clean Beauty Award for best body oil. 'The unique blend of marine actives, like plankton and algae, help to improve skin texture, while antioxidants like moringa and kelp seed oil make skin nice and smooth,' says Corey L. Hartman, M.D., founder and medical director of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. Shop at Mara Beauty Shop at Sephora Lauren Gruber, associate commerce editor and one of our resident fragrance aficionados was impressed by Moodeaux. "From the first time I smelled PunkStar, a smoky rose fragrance with a leathery kick, I knew I was hooked. The brand's ethos is all about self-expression through scent, and it truly shows with its line of mood-boosting eau de parfums and fragrance oils." Best of all, Moodeaux funds grants for emerging Black-owned fragrance brands and Black perfumers—no easy feat for a small brand. Shop at Moodeaux Shop at Urban Outfitters Gloria Noto founded her eponymous brand when she was ready for a change after working for years as a celebrity and fashion makeup artist. She created minimalist, multi-use, and gender-inclusive products that she wasn't seeing in the market at the time, like the Agender Oil, which conditions skin and hair. All year long, a portion of DTC sales from this multi-use oil will be donated to organizations like The Okra Project and the Transformative Freedom Fund. Shop at Noto Botanics Shop at Revolve When the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 was asked what setting spray they use, about half of the cast name-checked One/Size Beauty's On 'Til Dawn setting spray. Oh, and Beyoncé's makeup artist used it during the Renaissance Tour (rain shows included!). I rest my case. Shop at One/Size Beauty Shop at Sephora Look, we love a cute zit sticker as much as anyone, but Peace Out is here to deliver results. Sarah Maberry, fashion and luxury commerce editor, is a fan: 'Peace Out's products go beyond cute packaging. The brand's acne healing dots are so effective they've become an essential in my nighttime beauty routine.' Shop at Peace Out Skincare Shop at Sephora Both Maberry and Gilette were quick to recommend Quickies when I asked for their fave LGBTQ+-owned brands. 'As someone who has tried dozens of press-on nails brands, I say with full certainty that Quickies are some of the best,' says Maberry. 'People are always amazed to hear the nails they just complimented are press-ons. Everyone always assumed I spent triple digits at a nail salon to achieve such decorative looks.' Plus, Quickies donates $1 of every order to LGBTQ+ foundations all 12 months of the year. Shop at Quickies Viral fragrance brand Snif also impressed Gruber. She says they 'create trends instead of following them,' citing the brand's croissant and maple syrup perfumes, and collabs with content creators like Monet McMichael. And since every single scent is under $70, they're a budget-friendly way to get out of your fragrance comfort zone. Shop at Snif Shop at Ulta You probably already know Solawave's red light therapy wand, but maybe you didn't know they were part of the fam. I recently tried a red light mask for the first time, and the thing is, it requires consistency. The magic of Solawave is that you can easily take it—and use it—anywhere. Also, the brand's LED eye mask won a 2025 Holy Grail Award. Shop at Solawave Shop at Amazon The mononymous Tanaïs describes their fragrances as 'surreal, psychedelic, sultry scentscapes.' Color me intrigued! Their perfumes are formulated from oils, resins, and raw materials sourced from locations near to the founder's heart, like their homeland of Bangladesh, and are designed to transcend gender. For instance: Mati (pictured above) captures the essence of a particular monsoon season by distilling rain-soaked clay in sandalwood. Shop at Studio Tanaïs Drag superstar Trixie Mattel is one of the biggest acts to come out of the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise. She's broke through to the mainstream, with a hotel renovation show (Trixie Motel) on HBO Max, a pop culture recap show (I Like To Watch) with Katya Zamolodchikova on Netflix, and four studio albums. Before all of that, she founded her cosmetics company, Trixie Cosmetics, to bring unapologetically bold and fun makeup to the market. Shop at Trixie Cosmetics Shop at Urban Outfitters Boy Smells fragrances are designed to combine traditionally masculine and feminine notes for a "genderful" experience. The brand aligns itself with queer culture through its fragrance names and packaging, like the cult-favorite Cowboy Kush and Citrush, which looks like a poppers bottle. They make fragrances for home and body, but we're partial to their candles, which put them on the map. Shop at Boy Smells Shop at Sephora Trans and queer couple Al Rose and Ab Gibson started Queer Candle Co. as an after-work project out of their apartment in 2018. Seven years later, they've got a new space in Philadelphia, and it's a full-time gig. They hand-pour clean fragrances, like orange grove (just launched for summer) or their zodiac collection, and decorate the wax with physical elements of the scent. The also offer soy wax melts for flameless warmers. They contribute 10% of profits to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project all year long. Shop at Queer Candle Co. Pride is heavy this year, as there are hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ (particularly, anti-trans) bills floating through state and federal legislatures. Express your frustration by displaying one of Radiant Light Candle Co.'s vessels in your home, which are emblazoned with slogans like "Normalize throwing bricks" (a reference to the 1969 Stonewall Riots, of course) and "Queer people are: resilient, powerful, beautiful, empowered, and sick of this sh*t." After all, Pride is, and always will be, a protest. Shop at Radiant Light Candle Co. The New Savant's candles would make a great gift for any queer folk in your life. They have such creative and joy-inducing scents, like Sapphics in the City, a fruity green scent which a hint of spice from chili and juniper, or Mixed Feelings, a mélange of floral and fruit with notes of lychee, jasmine, and steamed rice. The brand was founded by former (and OG) YouTuber Ingrid Nilsen. Shop at The New Savant Christian Siriano is to Project Runway as Kelly Clarkson is to American Idol. The Season 4 winner went on to become the show's biggest success story. He's been placing people of all genders and body types on his runways for years and has dressed countless LGBTQ+ celebrities for monumental moments, bringing representation to the red carpet. He has collaborated with numerous brands to bring his creations to a wider audience, most recently with Azazie on a bridal/bridesmaid collection. Shop at Christian Siriano Shop Azazie Collab Christopher John Rogers, or CJR, is one of the most prolific American designers of his generation (and he's got CFDA awards—plural—to prove it). He launched his brand through his senior thesis at Savannah College of Art and Design in 2016, and quickly became a force in fashion thanks to his unmistakably bold (often rainbow-hued) prints and dramatic silhouettes. He's dressed Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, and Kamala Harris—some of the most powerful women in the world. Shop at Christopher John Rogers Shop at Saks Collina Strada is, in its own words, "a platform for climate awareness, social awareness, change, and self-expression." The brand was founded by Hillary Taymour, who has said in interviews that Collina is her alter ego. Taymour is a leader in sustainable fashion and her brand has experienced organic customer growth and awareness as a result. Her exuberant, fluid collections are inspired by animals and nature—the Spring/Summer 2025 runway show was titled "Touch Grass." Shop at Collina Strada Shop at Nordstrom Conner Ives, a 2020 Central Saint Martins graduate, has been cutting his teeth in fashion for more than a decade (Adwoa Aboah wore one of his gowns to the Met Gala in 2017). He is also the mastermind behind that 'protect the dolls' T-shirt that went viral this year. It's $75, and all proceeds from the shirt are donated to Trans Lifeline. Shop at Conner Ives Kingsley Gbadegesin is a Nigerian-born designer based out of New York. After stints at Versace and Loewe, he founded his own brand to recalibrate his creations around the "Black, Queer, Femme body." Shop at Shop at Ssense Kirrin Finch makes menswear-inspired apparel designed for a range of female, androgynous, and non-binary bodies. The brand was born out of Brooklyn-based couple Laura Moffat and Kelly Sanders Moffat's struggle to find well-fitting clothes that aligned with their personal style. Shop suits, button-down shirts, ties, pants, and wedding attire. Shop at Kirrin Finch Brooklyn-based Luar was founded by Raul Lopez in 2011 (Luar is Raul spelled backwards—you're welcome), garnering due acclaim in the past few years thanks in part to its focused effort on handbags. Beyonce attended the brand's FW24 show wearing a metallic silver Ana bag to watch her nephew Julez (Daniel J. Smith Jr.) make his runway debut. Beyond accessories, the label's roots are in subverting classic sportswear styles. Shop at Luar Shop at Ssense I've been obsessing over Palomo Spain's subversive collections for years (and recently, finally purchased my first piece). The house pulls inspiration from designer Alejandro Gómez Palomo's native region of southern Spain, where it is based today, and London, where he studied fashion. His collections often convey a queer narrative. "All of Heaven's Parties," the Spring/Summer 2025 collection, asked why intrinsic emotions like lust and desire are so often deemed sinful, and imagined what they might look like in divine paradise, staging the show in a cathedral. Shop at Palomo Spain When I dream up my queer wedding day, Tanner Fletcher is involved. Along with their perfectly coquettish ready-to-wear collections, they're known for bespoke suits, gowns, and creative garments somewhere in-between, that put queer couples at the forefront. Shop at Tanner Fletcher Shop at Ssense Telfar Clemens needs no introduction. He created the "Bushwick Birkin," the bag that had us all refreshing stock and setting Instagram drop notifications during COVID lockdown. The bag has taken many different forms since, from an Eastpak backpack to an Oprah-approved puffer bag. My favorite of the moment? Telfar's collab with Melissa, easily the most stylish clear bag choice for stadium concerts. Shop at Telfar Shop at Amazon For some Pride with a capital 'P' merch that's march-ready but not putting $$$ into the hands of a corporation, turn to The Phluid Project. We're big fans of this 'Can't Spell Stonewall Without the T' shirt. Plus, your purchase also supports The Phluid Foundation, which has raised over $1 million to support front-line workers at LGBTQ+ grassroots organizations. Shop at The Phluid Project TomBoyX makes underwear that anyone can feel comfortable in, regardless of gender expression. From the beginning, they've dedicated special attention to the waistband, to make sure it's silky soft and won't roll or dig in. The brand was founded in 2013 and they've gotten more popular and expanded their line to accommodate customers' needs since, including safer alternatives to binders. Shop at TomBoyX Shop at Amazon Wildfang is one of the most accessible and reliable gender-neutral clothing brands that I've found. I love the workwear-inspired pieces, like these jumpsuits or this utility skirt. Shop at Wildfang Shop at Nordstrom Woxer creates gender-affirming underwear and base layers for queer bodies. Essential work! They focus on perfecting fabric blends to meet customer needs, like their signature modal for comfort and breathability or flex active for confidence at the gym. The brand recently launched its first swim collection including a bike short silhouette trunk, and fun fact: Most models on the site are real customers. Shop at Woxer Shop at Amazon
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
Popular Charleston listening bar expanding to Charlotte
Groovers Listening Bar, a Charleston-based music venue featuring DJs who spin vinyl records, is expanding to Charlotte. Why it matters: It's by the same owners as nightclub Trio and cocktail bar Blue Door in South End, Eric and Kate Gussin. They're teaming up with another South End bar owner, Orlando Botero, of Must Be Nice and Broken Promises. The vibe: Groovers will have a stage for live bands and a DJ booth. You'll hear a mix of 70s, 80s and 90s music intended to make you dance and sing along. Disco DJs will spin live vinyl and later in the night, the party will ramp up. Its menu will feature hot dogs by Lizzy's Glizzys, grilled cheese sandwiches, plus craft cocktails. "Every now and again, we get an itch to go out 'til one or 2am but don't necessarily want to be at Trio, even though I love Trio," co-owner Eric Gussin tells Axios. Between the lines: Trio is an EDM venue with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. By contrast, Blue Door is known for its molecular gastronomy, music is not the centerpiece, and the demographic skews a little older. Groovers "has the high-level hospitality and production of Blue Door, with the entertainment and fun dancing vibes of Trio," co-owner Kate Gussin tells Axios. The big picture: The Gussins are a key part of the transformation happening on South Mint Street, in an increasingly popular pocket of South End. Groovers (1510 S. Mint) will be next to Blue Door (1508 S. Mint) and across from Trio (1513 S. Mint). On the same street, you've got Gamecock sports bar The Horseshoe, sushi restaurant YUME, and soon, Tyber Creek pub's new location. Flashback: The name "Groovers" is a nod to the building's history on Charleston's Calhoun Street. While researching the property, Kate says she learned that in the mid-90s, it housed a bar called "Groovers" that "was really the first place in Charleston that people were starting to DJ." They loved the name and its history, so Groovers was reborn into what it is today. Zoom in: Every Thursday night at Groovers Charleston, they host a "flip through" party. Their DJ brings 800-1,000 records and people can flip through them, put one in the queue, and the DJ will mix and spin it live. The Gussins hope to bring the same kind of party to the Charlotte location if they can find the right DJ.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
New 10-week free concert series, 'The Pitt,' coming to downtown Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A brand-new live music series is set to become the soundtrack of summer in downtown Pittsfield. Beginning June 13, The Pitt—a free, 10-week Friday night concert series—will take over Dunham Mall, offering a mix of live music, food, and local craft beer. Giant pigeons and Campbell's tomato soup can displayed in Springfield Presented by Hot Plate Brewing Co. in partnership with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and several local businesses, the weekly event aims to energize the downtown area with performances by artists from Montreal, Boston, the Pioneer Valley, and the Berkshires. The series will run every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., providing a consistent and vibrant hub for community gathering and live entertainment. 'This series is all about showcasing independent artists and artisans, and bringing some new energy to our downtown community,' said Mike Dell'Aquila, co-founder of Hot Plate Brewing Co.. 'We're thrilled to bring this caliber of talent and culture to Dunham Mall.' In addition to live music, attendees can enjoy local food and beverage offerings. Hot Plate Brewing Co. will operate a beer garden on-site, while Handcrafted, a newly opened Pittsfield-based restaurant, will serve up a rotating menu of food options throughout the series. The lineup, which spans genres such as indie rock, soul, and electronic, is curated to highlight both regional talent and international creativity. Organizers say the event is not only an opportunity to showcase local businesses and artists, but also to build a stronger sense of community in the heart of downtown. The Pitt is free to attend and open to the public. Organizers encourage residents and visitors alike to gather at Dunham Mall and make the concert series part of their summer routine. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
