History of The Tip
Truth is, Lord Langhorne or Nigel in his heyday could have deftly pulled the civic levers to ensure the new Embarcadero trolley circumvented the Tip. But younger, hungrier businessmen — rapacious real estate sharpies, to be precise — had been eyeing the choice waterfront location for months, ever since it was rumored that an aging, addled heir allowed his chihuahua — the selfsame who would go on to be the heir’s heir — to “sign” all the Tip’s official documents with a blue-inked paw.
For the speculators, dethroning Nigel and seizing the Tip was like, as one of them recounted years later, “taking confectionaries from a baby.” And so, by order of the City and County of San Francisco, the Tip was condemned.
It may have seemed to some like the demise of gay life in San Francisco. In the end, of course, it was only a pause. And as the tanneries of Castro Street started to shut down or move to Pleasanton, enterprising gay and lesbian entrepreneurs seized an opportunity to migrate out of downtown, to begin building an entire gay-friendly neighborhood, of homes and taverns, theaters and shops, far from the censorious gaze of the “reform” politicians just then beginning to infest a once-pliable city government.
It wasn’t long before Nigel departed this mortal coil. And while it would be poetic to say his passing was occasioned by a broken heart caused by the loss of his beloved Tip, it was really occasioned by a reckless and unquenchably persistent appetite for opium and absinthe.
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Highlights of the Hartman collection
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The origynal Original Ray’s
Work + News
Jay Chiat Awards
Duncan Channon’s "Nicotine Equals" campaign strategy, intended to awaken parents to the teen vaping epidemic, got the judges attention at this year’s 4A’s Jay Chiat Awards.
“We’ve changed!” says Big Tobacco
Guess what, all? The industry that’s responsible for more death and disease than any other and continues to peddle six trillion cigarettes a year is now your friend. Go figure.
A wanderlust-worthy rebrand
Inspired by the shapes and colors of dream destinations, DC rebrands Viator for a new wave of planning-adverse adventurers.
A new spin on IPA packaging
Most IPA cans today look like they were designed by the dude that did the Iron Maiden albums. All skulls and green lightning, giving full testosterone and acne vibes. So when tasked with driving a new look for Golden Road’s Ride On series, we banged a uey.
Kona Big Wave goes even bigger
After a decade of leading creative for Kona Big Wave, DC’s “Bring the Aloha” campaign relaunches the brand for a broader audience, moving beyond its craft roots to a priority position in AB InBev’s premium beer portfolio.
InnovAsian finds balance, and big results.
A blend of content creators and traditional photoshoots was the perfect recipe to increase InnovAsian’s engagement on social – without breaking the budget.
DC appoints first Managing Director, Kumi Croom
A game changer since her arrival six years ago, Kumi will lead account and project management and continue to shape DC’s culture and client relationships.
Empathy over stigma
DC is honored to have been selected by the state of CA to tackle one of the most challenging issues of our generation. And to be covered in AdAge.
This Golden Road work isn’t good
People always ask: You good? But that indicates a pretty baseline, “just okay” type of good. DC’s new campaign for Golden Road asks a question that aims a little higher from a city that does the same.
El Secreto esta en el balance
Nuestro nuevo comercial para la cerveza Mango Cart de Golden Road establece una conexión alegre entre la tradición Mexicana de bailar mientras se equilibra una cerveza abierta en la cabeza con el sabor de la deliciosa cerveza con infusión de mango de Golden Road.
Drink to the future
Organic wine industry pioneer, Bonterra Organic Estates, bolsters brand leader status with a future forward, fashionably chic campaign from DC.
Test it. Treat it. You can beat it.
COVID fatigue is real, but so are the treatments. Pushing through that barrier with a sing-along? Now that’s contagious in the best way.
InnovAsian finds balance, and big results.
A blend of content creators and traditional photoshoots was the perfect recipe to increase InnovAsian’s engagement on social – without breaking the budget.
TikTok campaign breaks records
e.l.f. celebrates self-expression and individuality with beauty products for every #eyeslipsface through the most viral organic TikTok campaign ever created.
When the clinic’s a carnival
How do you convince a particularly hesitant group of Californians to get vaccinated for Covid-19? With free games, music, food, slushies and a great big Ferris wheel.
Brow besties, IRL
To re-energize their brow line, e.l.f. rolled out a digital campaign with real-life besties and beauty influencers Roxette Arisa and Yesenia Hipolito, and celebrated with a fabulous dinner produced by DC.
Coachella x Tattooed Chef
DC’s experiential team partnered with Tattooed Chef—bringing the brand’s edgy, purpose-driven ethos to life at Coachella’s 2022 return.
Beautyscape in the Bahamas
Created by DCLA for e.l.f., the fifth installment of the award-winning influencer program is now underway in the Bahamas. And garnering more heat than ever.
CBS x Alfred Coffee · Emmy Awards
DCLA partnered CBS Studios with Alfred Coffee to reach Emmy voters and garner support for Star Trek: Picard. The timely work tapped into the diversity and inclusion central to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision.
Gap · Dress Normal
Gap asked us to build consideration and generate trial for their newly launched “Dress Normal” brand platform. Thirty influential Instagram photogs helped us do just that.
Nabela Noor for e.l.f.
DCLA created a can’t-miss launch event for Bangladeshi-American sensation Nabela Noor’s collaboration with e.l.f. Cosmetics.
Gap
With the Be Bright campaign, we secured the rights for Gap to be the official concert tee at the summer’s hottest music festivals.
Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando leveraged DCX’s stable of influencers to reach the difficult-to-reach teen and tween audience — and succeeded 40 million times over.
e.l.f. 2020 Halloween activation
Duncan Channon’s LA team kept the halloween spirit alive by bringing a spooky holiday pop-up straight to beauty influencers’ homes.
