Patton Oswalt In "Big Fan"....WOW!

The film world as we know it has been completely overrun by the internet trailer. It's not uncommon for a trailer to make me jump out of my seat in excitement, and then the movie does the same thing....only I'm jumping out the seat to escape the horror that is the actual movie. I pray this isn't the latter.

"Big Fan" stars Patton Oswalt (King of Queens and more) and is making the rounds at Sundance picking up all kinds of steam. A well known comedian, anyone who is expecting Oswalt to give a comedic turn in this one is in for a hell of a surprise when he turns on the demons in this twisting film about what it means to be a sports fan

A Ping Pong Club In The Heart Of NYC?

What I would give for this joint to have a sister spot in San Fran...

SPiN New York...a private table tennis club.

A Restaurant With Sneakers On The Desert Menu?

Looking at a hard copy of Scuderia’s menu, there’s one item that is necessary to mention. It’s tucked under the dessert list: “Le Scarpe di Scudera – Limited edition hand painted sneakers made to order. Ask a manager for deets.” What? Sure, Scuderia aims to be hipper and younger than its sister spot, Da Silvano, and we admit to a weakness for restaurant apparel, but we’re talking $6 Wo Hop shirts, not $895 custom kicks! Then again, if a sneaker shop can serve collard greens, why can’t an eatery sell sneaks? (courtesy New York Magazine)

This article proves why I should be living in New York...I could be getting custom made sneaker's at Solefood while getting my fill of Sylvia's fried chicken.

Reebok Opens '80s Themed Store In NYC

Courtesy of NY Magazine:

Reebok launched its first-ever pop-up shop on Saturday, in a two-story, 3,000-square-foot art gallery on Bowery. In honor of next year's 20th anniversary of the Reebok Pump, the neon-splashed space is inspired by eighties New York style and stocked with vintage sneaker styles. The limited-edition designs were inspired by the men's Pump and women's Freestyle shoes, which a Reebok spokesperson called "eighties staples." Stocked with T-shirts printed with "169 Bowery," hoodies by Reebok and Rolland Berry, and waves of candy-colored footwear, the pop-up will introduce a different New York–themed item each week, from a "Bodega NYC" shoe printed with the image of an ATM machine to Coney Island–inspired men's Ventilator sneakers. Reebok also enlisted guest designers to collaborate on sneakers, like graphic artist John Maeda, Dean of the Rhode Island School of Design. Limited-edition footwear starts at $90. 

Click here for the photos.

Sneakers Go Guerilla In NYC

I was lucky enough to spend some time in the Big Apple recently and it revitalized my personal love for New York City… a sneaker store on every block! I love my sneakers and I love the community, but most importantly, I love the way the sneaker community markets itself in NYC.

Despite the fact that you can walk through SOHO and stumble upon 6 shoe stores per block, most of them reek of this ego and arrogance that has begun to plague the sneaker community. I’m all for niche marketplaces and a sense of pride when it comes to a sometimes taboo desire, but a large part of the sneaker community has become so obsessed with holding their space from popular culture, that they fight off anyone who isn’t “one of their own.”

However, certain stores and clans of ‘heads are still doing it right, and they are putting their names out in all the right ways. Normally I’d like to say I sniffed out a hot sneaker spot with my sixth sense, but I first found Classic Kicks first through a postcard style piece in a music shop uptown; postcard ad, check. Then as I worked my way through hipster spots in the east village and then SOHO, I then saw a 2x4 foot plastered between hundreds of movie ads; postered walls, check. As I got hot on the trail of this shoe spot, I got final word from a local who clearly knew what I was thinking for. A gentleman sitting outside a café drinking espresso (uber hip) saw me window shopping next to his seat. He stopped me and told me I’d be interested in a store one block over. When asked why he stopped me, he said a noticed my shoes, (Nike Dunk Lows Dirty Denim). So, word- of- mouth; check.

Finally I stumbled into Classic Kicks and there I was, sneaker heaven. The fresh smell of canvas, patent leather, and nubuck was in the air. Classic Kicks blends the clean- cut, Japanese anime, Technicolor look with New York urban soul, and quickly carved out a soft spot in my heart. Made its way into my top list of spots in this country’s major markets. I walked away with a fresh pair of Fila first editions, and I’m happy to report that guerilla style, street marketing is alive and well in the Big Apple.