Last week at ASR (Action Sports Retailer) in San Diego more than 400 core surf skate brands converged to show the latest apparel, footwear, swimwear, accessories and more. Just a few of the notables: Volcom, RVCA, Lost, O’Neill, L*Space, Atwater, and Skullcandy’s new collaboration with Jay-Z Entirely. It wsas overwhelming to see everything in just one day, which is all we had time for. But here are some favorites we found!
It was super exciting to see Lightning Bolt back (founded in 1972). The company just re-launched a men’s and women’s apparel line inspired by surf and skateboarding culture. The line originally made ‘by surfers for surfers’ says Jonathan Paskowitz, president of Lightning Bolt, which offers a range of high-quality graphic tees, wovens, board shorts, denim and other accessories ranging in price from $31 to $250.
Dirtball designs eco-friendly skate gear, surf and snowboarding apparel for men, women, and children. And it’s all made in North Carolina from recycled cotton fibers, and post-consumer polyester blends. Some of their fabrics incorporate recycled plastic water bottles—two in each T-shirt, 200 in every jacket.
Rusty, a pioneer in surfboard technology and leading surf lifestyle brand for more than 25 years, just developed collaborated with Green Day to launch a collection of hooded fleece and jackets for men and women with built-in machine washable headphones. Rusty’s Wired Series with Green Day will debut with a handful of fashion-forward styles featuring original artwork from the band’s classic albums on signature Rusty hooded product. The Wired Series featuring HB3 Technology will debut with six styles, available at select surf shops and specialty stores nationwide starting in June. Prices range from $49.50 to $74.50.
Element Skateboards, a sustainable conscious brand, is launching a new iconic series of skateboards, Travel Well to commemorate skateboarding’s historic roots, with surf legend and master woods craftsman Greg Noll. Element’s founder and president,Johnny Schillereff says it’s their way of giving a nod to surfing, a way to thank Greg and his son Jed Noll. The line features three wood-carved skateboards that represent an era in Noll’s history. And there are more cool stylish, and sexy street art series decks by Chad Muska.
For the upcoming season, Billabong ditched last year’s neon-colored boardshorts inspired by the 80’s. “Where we are headed,” says Stacy Carr of Billabong, “is not so much focusing on colors, now it’s fabrics.” And stretch fabric technology is where they’re at (welded, infinite seams that are light, stretchy and eco-friendly fabrics) including Platinum X Quad Stretch, Eco Airlite Stretch of recycled material, Eco Supreme Suede (super soft) and Eco Poly Cotton made of recycled polyster and plastic bottles. And the always popular Signature Series including Knockout Andy Irons, Launch Taj Burrows and Dominate Joel Parkinson
Black Flys est. 1991 is under new ownership. The Irvine based company, home of Black Flys, and Flygirls Eyewear, is one of the few independently owned sunglass manufacturers in the country, and its expanding to include bikes, art and apparel.
We know where to find the best acai bowl in town—and some say on the West Coast! Banzai Bowls, only 5 months old, is a premiere acai café in Costa Mesa that serves nine varieties of acai bowls, as well as organic salads and smoothies. Husband and wife owner Tiana and Joe Bard both live a healthy lifestyle—they surf, hike, and camp—so Banzai Bowl is their dream café.
In case you don’t know what an acai bowl is, it’s a popular breakfast bowl featuring acai blended with fruit, frozen and blended to a thick consistency with either apple juice or soy milk topped with granola. And Banzai Bowls is offering you $2 off a large bowl just for mentioning Greer’s OC through February.
The acai berry is called the Amazon powerfruit with antioxidants, healthy omega fats, protein and dietary fiber. Your choice of smoothies can include acai, fresh bananas, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, shredded coconut, bee pollen, and more. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekends. 488 E. 17th. St. in Costa Mesa. 949.722.8329.
The Awards Academy has voted, the ballots have been sorted and the 2010 OC Music Awards nominees in 21 Academy-selected categories have been solidified. This year’s list welcomes back some OC Music Awards previous winners and nominees, a few fresh faces, and introduces one new category of Best Folk. Included in Tuesday’s announcement are the recipients of both the Orange County Impact and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Orange County punk legends, The Vandals, received the 2009 Orange County Impact Award. The 2010 honor will be presented to Orange County band of 21 years, Sugar Ray, which got its start in the late 80s with five Corona del Mar High School friends performing under the moniker of Shrinky Dinx. It didn’t take long for the group to change their name, sign with Atlantic, and release their second album “Floored” in 1997 which included the hit single “Fly” that was co-written and producer by the band’s longtime friend and now star director, McG. That release shot the band to double platinum. Just two years later, their album “14:59” saw triple platinum. Today the band’s numerous unforgettable hits are still played regularly in rotation on major radio stations across the globe.
OC Music Awards Founder and Producer of seven years, Martin Brown, took home the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2010 a highly respected rock ‘n’ roll expert and long time member of the press will be honored. Jim Washburn has been writing music criticism and review since his start with the Orange County Register in 1983 and is today considered the go-to musical historian of our county. Jim’s impeccable knowledge of Orange County’s rooted music scene and his endearing first hand experiences in creating the legacy are voiced in pen like no other.
This announcement covers 21 of the 24 total 2010 Awards category nominees. Still to come are the Best Live Band and Best Live Acoustic Showcase Series finalists to be announced after the last Showcase on Feb. 17. The People’s Choice Award nominees will be announced on March 1. Make sure to vote online for your favorite band in Orange County.
And the 2010 OC Music Awards nominees are ...
Best Album – Released in 2009
“Asleep in the Wake” - Melanoid
“Beggars” - Thrice
“In Search of Solid Ground” - Saosin
“Palace and Stage” - Dusty Rhodes and the River Band
“Portable Record Player” – Michael Ubaldini
Best Song – Released in 2009
“El Capitan” – The Steelwells
“Tuck (How it Feels Away)” - Aushua
“Oh Goodbye” – The Colourist
“Storm” – Atreyu
“Walk Like a Gentleman” – Eye Alaska
Best New Artist – New to 2009 Music Scene
Blok
The Colourist
I Hate You Just Kidding
She Screams Remedy
The Steelwells
Best Alternative
Aushua
Eye Alaska
Saosin
Stereofix
Thrice
Best Blues
Parker Macy Blues
Mississippi Man
Roman Alexander and the Robbery
Savage City
Walter Trout
Best Club DJ
Bobby Soul
DJ Dan Sena
DJ Oldboy
Free the Robots
Rachael Starr
Best Country/Americana
Billy Kernkamp
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band
The Fallen Stars
Michael Ubaldini
Pawn Shop Kings
Best Electronic
Blok
Break the Circus
Color Theory
Electric Valentine
Free the Robots
Best Folk
Argyle Smile
Barrett Johnson
I Hate You Just Kidding
Matt Kollar and the Angry Mob
Yellow Red Sparks
Best Hip Hop
Blok
Brawdcast
The Dirty Heads
Loose Logic
My Hero
Best Indie
The Color Turning
The New Limb
The Steelwells
The Union Line
Young The Giant
Best Jazz
Dana Parker
Rare Form Band
Riff Raff
Todd Oliver
Translucent Ham Sandwich Band
Best Latin
Boogaloo Assassins
Chris Williams
Miguel Garcia and the Vaquetones
Robert Anthony Aviles
Soul Hustlers
Best Metal
Atreyu
Avenged Sevenfold
Death by Stereo
Pistolero
Throwdown
Best Pop
The Bolts
Cambria Detken
Molly Jenson
The Sequence
Stacy Clark
Best Punk
The Adolescents
Audacity
Chaser
Franki Doll & The Broken Toys
Longway
Best Rock
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band
Melanoid
Thrice
Stereofix
Sederra
Best Surf
Gantez Warrior
Hindu Pirates
Marc B
The Eliminators
The Growlers
Best World
The Dirty Heads
Humanlab
Pilot Touhil
Reel Big Fish
Starpool
Orange County Impact Award
Sugar Ray
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jim Washburn
Our favorite newly discovered T-shirt line is Out of Print, a collection of tee’s celebrating great books through fashion. Lolita, Catcher in the Rye, Atlas Shrugged, A Streetcar Named Desire, Moby-Dick, and more coming soon. For each shirt sold, a book is donated to a community in need through Books For Africa. 100% cotton fitted tee; distressed, softened print. $28.
Artfully done: Eye Candy is a Valentine-inspired art exhibit at the ARTery Gallery at The LAB in Costa Mesa through Sunday, Feb. 21. Featured local artists include Jinx, Amy Bernays, Reza Amir Ardalan, Somer Selway, Rhiannon Marhi, Krystie Sargeant, Sharon Brown, Patrick Nguyen, RxHarpe, Tina Anjozian, DeAnna Rowe, Sean Woolsey, Gaurav Thakral, Sweet Doll, and Ian Van Hamersveld. 2930 Bristol St. in Costa Mesa.
Reggae V-Day: Join “One Love,” a Reggae Festival at Club M in Laguna Beach on Valentine’s Day (Sunday, Feb. 14) from 6 to 11 p.m. for a tribute to Bob Marley’s vibe of peace, unity and love. The evening showcases Grammy-nominated artist, Pato Banton (Best Reggae Album); Rebel Rockers and World Anthem. $30 per person. Purchase tickets at The Mail Stop, 1278 Glenneyre St. in Laguna Beach, or call 949.573-8624, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Club M is at 680 S.Coast Hwy., in Laguna Beach.
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