Must See TV.

Just might be the funniest shit out right now. Set up that TiVo, program that VCR, whatever you need to do..

Funky Fridays #183.

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Follow Through.

Great to see this guy following in the footsteps of our forefathers.




Soooo much better than what passes for footage these days.

Get out of my dreams, get into my cartography.

There have definitely been some hours spent on this find lately. The Big Maps Blog is heaven for a map nerd such as myself. The time and detail in some of these is unreal. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge proponent of technology, but having something in your hand that you can look at and see different styles and regional influences will always be a special thing. Click on over there and for damn sakes don't forget to zoom in if you know what's good for you.

Bear with us.

Friday the office headed up to Bear Mountain to meet up with the 32 am team who was in town for the Grenade Games. Spring has arrived in the local mountains albeit with a couple of dumps interspersed but Bear is definitely at it's peak as far as features and fun are concerned. Hobush definitely kills it (dude in the white tee and green facemask) and is a nice dude with a good attitude to boot. Definitely going places.

Earl.

Armor All.

Tape Tuesday.

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"The mixtape game’s master storyteller, J.Period, is proud to present The Best of Nate Dogg -- an epic tribute to the fallen King of G-Funk. Commemorating the one year anniversary of Nate’s passing, The Best of Nate Dogg features an all-star lineup that reflects the worldwide impact of Nate’s musical talents. The Best of Nate Dogg also marks the first-ever West Coast hip hop tribute from Brooklyn-based J.Period, originally born in Los Angeles. For more info:http://www.jperiod.com/natedogg."

Ditch Diggler.

Sadly, the annual WHTCN company retreat at the wonderful Stratton Mountain with glorious accommodations at the always charming Red Sled Inn has been cancelled indefinitely. Due to budget cuts and employee relocation the meeting is no more. No more rock quarterpipe sessions, no more Thanksgiving wrap lunches, and no more "key is under the mat" hospitality.



The Queens WHTCN operations have relocated to the wonderful state of California: home of In N Out Burger, daily year round 75 degree temperatures, and a beach within spitting distance. The charm of WHTCN was the bi-coastal daily reports of madness, so relocation measures have caused fears of "World's Colliding" since the powers that be are now within proximate residence.



However, we tempted fate and planned an LA session beginning at Tomato Pie Silverlake to discuss the current state of iPhone apps, internet comedy, and the return of full bodied sugar drinks. Although TPLA does not serve true "Tomato Pie's" as they serve at Maruca's Tomato Pie's at the Jersey Shore (which is one of the best slices I have have ever had and is my wife's favorite)...



Maruca's Tomato Pie's: 1927 Promenade, Seaside Park, NJ 08752

...and their version of a "Grandma Slice" is so far from the true definition; but what they do serve there is good. It's total shit that they claim to make what they do, but what they do make is very good. I only wish they would give what they do make it's own name rather than claiming some other EC bullshit.



TPLA "Grandma Slice", Tomato Pie Pizza Joint: 2457 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027



True "Grandma Slice", Rizzo's Fine Pizza: 3013 Steinway Street, Astoria, NY 11103



So after a post slice session at Pinkberry with full bellies we headed over to the infamous Griffith Park Ditch, home to some of the best no-bust bank to curbs in town and a sweet downhill carve which leads to the pro section with features I'm still figuring out how the previous ABDs have gone down.




The varsity section with the tall ledge, tree jump & bank to ledge drop is pretty gnarly. Crazy to think what has actually gone down there. We kept it pretty mellow in the JV section but had tons of fun anyways. Need to import some parking blocks to get a line going. Def a fun session. Gotta go back soon but only after the ditch dries after this past weekend's rainstorm.



And big big thanks to DMC for the new GIRL gear and ETNIES kicks. So incredibly hyped on a new set-up. It may not give me GUY type flair to tackle the ditch, but I can always pretend.




Getting to skate frequently is a luxury that will soon be gone. However, I try to take as much advantage as I can and get out almost every day.



Back in NY, I was able to keep my kits pretty crispy for up to two months from park skating while here a new set-up can be destroyed in two days from casual street sessions. Boards look like they have been run over by tanks and wheels look like a medical photo for hemorrhoids with a touch of anal warts. Disgusting.



Perhaps after I can gain some income, I can do like Neen Williams does. He builds a few set-ups and brings what he needs according to the session like golf clubs: an 8.0 for ledges, an 8.5 for gaps + stairs etc. I would be happy to have one park & one street set-up. Or maybe I should just break out my white wheel only mold and pick up an extra set of cherry red wheels for the curb sessions.



But thanks again for the hook-up. It will amazing to have a new set-up for one of my favorite parks ever for our Easter Holiday with the family. Union Hills, AZ.

Funky Fridays #182.

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C.R.E.M.E.

Back on the blog game. I finally checked out the Charles and Ray Eames documentary. When it first came out I almost drove to LA to some misto artsy farsty theater to see it, but then never got around to it. So last night I Netflix'ed it and watched it on the TV in my living room. Way easier than an hour drive and having to tolerate hipsters and I guarantee they wouldn't have had frozen Thin Mints either.

Definitely worth checking out. Even if you never have realized it, you have used at least one of something they have designed in your lifetime. I know I have used their airport chairs more than I care to admit.

Tape Tuesday.

Download.

Now Open.

I wish. Nothing like Tae's Tre and some Red Curbs to get the day going.





Finally went to Salman Agah's pizza joint. It was okaaaaaaaaay. Well, pretty good- decent for a Los Angeles pizza shop. I don't want to be some pizza snob and complain, "Oh, NY pizza is the best because of the water" etc etc. But pizza outside of NY always tastes funny. All the core ingredients are there, but usually the crust lacks a certain flavor & moisture you get from a NY slice; not to mention the sauce and cheese can often taste sour.



Perhaps because the slices have been sitting around at the shop since there's no real "foot traffic" in LA, everyone drives to everything blah blah. But there's something special about walking into a pizza shop around lunch and having to wait for a pie to come out and get a fresh slice from a steaming pie straight out of the oven. Maybe next trip I'll def order a fresh large for a re-review. We'll see...


Polito's: 38-12 Broadway, Astoria.

I don't need fancy pizza. I don't want truffles, panchetta, or spinach on there- just dough, sauce and cheese. It was nice to be able to walk into my corner spot, eat lunch on my way to the train, no utensils just a slice and a Coke. It's not that much to ask for, is it?


Sal & Carmine's: 2671 Broadway, UWS Manhattan.

And why can't pizza places out here have normal names like Vinny's or Joey's? Someone recommended a place close by called Lucifers. Go fuck yourself with that shit. I should set the place on fire to teach them a lesson.


Sac's Place: 2541 Broadway, Astoria.

Can someone also please explain to me why there's no Italian community here? No Little Italy? Just seems kind of strange. Every major city should have it's major ethnic cultural communities: Chinatown, Little Manila, Little Italy etc. As much as I tried to take advantage of it while living in Astoria. In retrospect, I should have eaten one more Italian Combo or had one more calzone.


Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli: 33-12 23rd Ave, Astoria.

Oh, I'd fuckin' kill somebody for a chicken roll or rice ball. All East Coasters enjoy yourself. I pretty much just eat at home these days or enjoy the occasional Hawaiian BBQ because I can't eat burgers every day and Mexican food is so whatevs. Fuck Burritos.



Rudy's, San Gennaro Booth 2011- 174 Hester Street, Little Italy, Manhattan.

Funky Fridays #181.

Shoulda got in the fucking van. Def missed out on dump of the year. May be the first season in a long time I don't make it to the hill. I should go outside and nose press a puddle to keep my streak going.



Fun tickets are kinda slim these days so fancy activities are few and far between. But at least I got this guy to take care of. Sup Rocky. Thanks for not pooping on the carpet last night.



But can't really complain. It's 70 everyday and I have these spots within skating distance from the apt to get busy on.








I still wax the shit out of my baby ledge though.




Maybe one of these days I'll get some work.