To all of our friends, family, and community in Denver we regret to inform you we are no longer associated in any way shape or form with The Shoppe: Cupcake and Cereal Bar on Colfax. We’ve been silently attempting to resolve conflicts with our former business partner in the background while they have continued to manage the day-to-day operation of The Shoppe for a little over a year now.

While trying to sort everything out we were advised to remain silent, which we respected. Over this past year we’ve had multiple people approach us with negative experiences and comments in regards to doing business at The Shoppe, and as a result we felt it was our responsibility to come forward in public and announce that we are no longer affiliated with the business. We had a very specific vision for The Shoppe, that image was part of everything we did during our control of the business from customer service, the environment, down to the music that was played and art that hung on the wall. We know that many of you showed your patronage at The Shoppe because we made it a priority to provide a positive experience with good vibes every chance we got, we cannot thank you all enough for the support and encouragement you showed us during that time. We are extremely fortunate to have been a part of the community and family along East Colfax and are both very proud of what we all accomplished. We apologize to anyone that has had a negative experience during our absence and want you all to know that moving forward, The Shoppe is no longer owned, operated, or managed by either of us. The current owner continues to do business under the name, idea and branding we created without our consent. If you continue to enjoy the service and experience The Shoppe provides, so be it, to each their own, we just want you all to know if The Shoppe seems to be a little off as of late, different, or not quite the same, there is both a rhyme and a reason.

Though saddened by what has went down over the past year, we will not let this slow us down. We believe in the Denver community that has shown us nothing but love for the past several years, as a result we are currently focusing and putting our positive energy into our newest venture Super Ordinary, a gallery/community creative space in the Rhino District off 31st and Larimer. We will have monthly shows every second Saturday featuring work from established and emerging local, national, and international artists. The space will also hold other events, classes, lectures, and happenings throughout each month. We also continue to collaborate with other passionate small business owners in and around Denver on a variety of projects from creating fashion and art events to bed and breakfast’s and barbershops. We will do our best to create other spaces and experiences around town that honor everything we have all been building together for the past 7 years.

xoxo,
Tran & Josh Wills

Skateboarding changed my life in ways that I’m just starting to realize now. It’s amazing to see the impact these little shred sticks continue to have on younger generations around the globe. Those wood planks provide an outlet and escape from the world as most people see it… challenging all who take it up to be fearless, creative and resourceful. The physical landscape you occupy and your connection to it is changed forever, a set of stairs, handrail, or ledge becomes more than just a means of passing, it becomes a challenge, a calling, a hunger. You become used to looking impossible in the face and confronting it head on. I cannot think of a better vehicle of self expression to introduce to the youth and people of a worn torn region filled with oppression. More interesting to me is what the future holds in store for all those whom come in contact with something as simple as a piece of wood, two trucks, and four wheels…. you can already see the world being changed in their eyes, they are looking at the landscape in front of them through a new lens with a perspective all their own.

More about : SKATEISAN : More info on the film via : SLAMXHYPE

Read more here.

Illustration by Paul Rogers

First, I think its awesome that this is a video from the article section on Playboy. Had no Idea they were stepping their content game up. Nice move! Second, I think this video is very telling of the modern street artist’s dogma and way of life. To me, it’s a HUGE fuckin joke to think that these people would serve any prison time let alone as much as they sometimes do. Time and time again, I hear stories about kids getting 5+ years for this stuff. Yeah, you can say they live in terrible places like Texas — where you get more time for writing your name on a wall than selling drugs — but I mean, seriously!? This is an odd custom, humans and it’s even more strange that you think throwing a person in jail will make them “learn their lesson” Nope, they just came out unable to participate in society and now they steal shit and sell drugs and beat old women for fun. I’m exaggerating to some minimal measure, but I think you get the point.

On a positive tip, this guy is getting after his “thing” with supreme dedication, like all of us should with whatever we do. That alone, is far more uplifting and inspiring than most of what I read on the electro-webs everyday. Maybe that’s my whole interest in graffiti to start? Self reliance and dedication equals responsibility. Sounds like a good thing to me. Food for thought.

(via @jedotlu )

More DICK CHICKEN here.

This video brings up a lot of interesting ideas for me… First, it’s amazing to see people come up with an entirely new way of doing something and potentially changing human habit forever in the process. Secondly, I just thought about how discovery methods have seemed to change entirely, even over the past 40 years. If you think about the concept of invention — which is a under-considered term today — it was more of a finite thing. Example: I want my bread to be warm and slightly baked but faster than an oven can do it. Alas, someone invents a toaster. A single solution with a finite use. Today invention and technology are definitely transitional. We make things on a whim, which leads to something that leads to something else etc. Example here being the cellphone. In its origination, the cellular phone was obviously considered a somewhat finite thing, but somehow we now have the iPhone. Which to me is nothing of a phone at all and when we stop thinking of it as a phone, it has the potential to become something greater. We now make things that might not be needed and have no real use, but under the pretense of them leading to something greater, we move forth.

Find out more about Laika here.

(Now if someone can just make a good font browser, we’ll all be ok)

I feel like there aren’t many rightfully outspoken people on this topic and within only a few more years, if not already, the topic of September 11th will become more or less, a religious holiday or a reason to feel proud. Nothing more. If anything, I feel as though I’m going against what I believe in, just speaking about it TODAY. It was a fucked up deal and a lot of people who shouldn’t have been, were affected. The thing that really bothers me is the obvious lack of effort to really talk about it with out “god blessing” anyone or “praying for families” etc. You would think more people would question their way of life and really take today as a reason to reflect on their lives and the things they do with it.

Not to belittle the point, but I also find it interesting that there are many worse things that people deal with every day and throughout every year that have a much more negative affect on us all, American or not. Why don’t we celebrate those moments we overcome and take a minute to reflect on those issues with the intent of growing from the lessons they provide. I guess we would need a specific day on the calendar or a statue to remember the value of these things. Something to buy or to hold?

Everyday I read about ground breaking research and factually relevant stories that affect millions of people. Why is it that these are only spoken about under the breath of a few? How is it that our world has become so concerned with feeling proud and worshiping things that we have forgotten what it takes to grow, learn and understand.

I don’t blame religion or capitalism. I don’t even blame political affiliation. I blame each and every person who fails to take charge of their own lives and realize that no matter what you believe or who you are, you are in charge of yourself. Get up and go do something, stop bitching about how unfair things are or how you are owed anything. Find what you want and grab it.

If anything, today is the day to seize opportunity and make something happen. Now do it.

Hop on over to the Brand New blog for a closer look at the project and additional info.

Clae – Russell (above)

Nike – Holiday 2009 Sweet Classic Low (above)

Creative Recreation – DiCoco in Black Patent (above)

Nike - Terminator Hi Jersey (above)

Nike – Summer 2009 Dunk Hi Splatter (above)

Nike – AM1 Hold Tight (above)

I find most of these gems on some super duper blogs such as Highsnobiety, Hypebeast or Sneaker Freaker. These sites cover a wide range of topics surrounding “urban” fashion, or streetwear. If you are in or around MPLS, check out VS Social Standard or Status. When I’m in Chicago, I usually hit up Saint Alfred or Leaders. When I roll through Denver, The 400 or Family Affair (Sorry if I left anyone out). These of course, aren’t the only places to read about or shop for sneakers but make me happy.