The Future of A Taste of Dawn
ATOD Magazine has been quiet lately, and I wanted to explain why.
I’ve been running this magazine on my own for twelve years. I’ve been able to hire freelance journalists and writers, have the greatest photographers ever, but the design, layout, upkeep, articles, creative direction, marketing, posting … it’s all a one-woman show.
This magazine was born out of a deep desire to see restaurants I grew up with in Los Angeles stay open.
In the 2010’s, people in this gorgeous and chaotic city crowded eateries, bars, restaurants, hotels, and events as a normal way of life. And when one restaurant I used to go to in Santa Monica (Icugini) closed, I was devastated because it was located right across the Santa Monica Pier and it had the best peach Bellinis ever (with actual peach in the champagne glass). I also had been there countless times for lunch, dinner, and drinks with clients over the years. It was a staple — until it wasn’t. In 2011, Los Angeles was still recovering from the 2008 real estate bubble burst. Lifestyle habits were changing, consumers became increasingly more savvy and aware of dietary restrictions beyond the known “nut allergy” inference on menus. Consumers wanted options and the refusal to adapt caused many restaurants to shutter.
When we come together, we RISE together.
That is what led to the creation of ATOD. This is a city I love, but seeing restaurants close their doors has been one of the toughest realities of the city over the decades. Fast forward to 2025, and hospitality has taken quite the plunge into uncertainty. Ever since COVID, the industry has struggled to maintain the service and quality it once offered willing patrons. Today, the cost of food and going out has nearly doubled and a nice night out tends to be one of remorse. The meals aren’t as beautiful, the meat isn’t as fresh, the produce not nearly as bountiful, the service questionable, and yet the prices continue to increase at a rate that’s impossible to keep up with.
While this magazine has focused on luxurious hotels, Michelin restaurants, and once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunities, I can’t help but remember what started this journey way back when. It wasn’t just closing restaurants; It was a lack of true representation in a city designed around cultural diversity. Mainstream media coverage often misses the stories about the taco spots run by families, the local gallery that hangs art by local artists, the oddities, the surprises, the fact that you could go almost anywhere in Los Angeles and feel that buzz of possibility brimming on every corner.
Los Angeles is a city that is alive. California is a state that embodies that … and I feel it’s about time we get back to the romance, the authenticity, and the honesty of hospitality, art, design, and travel.
What does this all mean for the future of ATOD Magazine? It means we are raising the bar once again. It means the stories will be heartfelt, the travel will be affordable, the dining will ooze with love, and the experiences will remind us all why the hell we can’t abandon the potential of a place so rich in its engrained creative tapestry.
I know, it’s a lofty idea but anyone who knows me knows I love a good challenge.
So ATOD Magazine is going to be taking a little breather while we search beyond Los Angeles to find out what else is out there. Our focus will remain on California, the West Coast, and New York, as well as celebrating the diverse beauty of places abroad. We will be discussing the way the current national political climate has impacted our ability to embrace cultural diversity – AND we plan on dismantling the very idea that silence is acceptable. (It is not.) We will be merging three publications into a center of community stories, hopeful artists, second (and third and fourth) chances, and it’s long overdue to share stories of humanity.
It really has been a while, and for that we sincerely apologize. I promise it’s not for nothing.
While taking this very long pause, I have invested in education and institutional policies to better understand how important maintaining the cultural integrity of this publication really is.
Thank you for sticking with us during the very long pause. To end, I want to include our Vision and Mission Statements for our company, Rise Together Media. This is what we stand for.
Vision Statement: To transform the media landscape by elevating marginalized voices, telling authentic stories, and reshaping how society sees culture, identity, and justice.
Mission Statement: We are a storytelling platform rooted in equity, representation, and artistry. Through journalism, digital media, and community partnerships, we rise together — dismantling stereotypes and creating cultural impact.
Live boldly,
