Brohammas

The Trump administration, without passing any new law, has declared a large part of my professional work, not to mention my personal beliefs, illegal. The federal government has stated that any program, policy, or project containing the words diversity, equity, inclusion, or even equality and discrimination, will be (and has been) flagged for defunding and investigation for… discrimination. The…

I was standing backstage while the Descendents were playing and a woman who looked to be in her mid 50’s slid up beside me and asked, “do you know this song?” I replied that I did not. With her fore finger pushed into an assumed dimple she offered, “Milo wrote it about me.” Then she sort-of swayed backward, still looking at me, and I with furrowed brow, went back over to watch the show. I have no…

3216 Santa Monica BLVD Bay Street is exactly what my landlocked teenage self imagined a surf shop to be. There is little to no Baywatch or Beach Boys, but plenty of T&C-ish cartoons drawn by Jeff Spikoli, who appreciates both Tony Hawk and Bob Marley. Or Rather, Peter Tosh. When grown up me rolled through Francesco was low key, friendly, and didn’t make me feel like a square, which was cool,…

The idea of American capitalism and meritocracy is based on competition. Individuals use their skills and efforts to earn, or win, resources. Those who already possess resources are at a distinct advantage. Historically, laws and cultural practice have been utilized to impede Black and Brown people’s opportunities to compete and accumulate resources. The Civil Rights Movement was centered on…

Jack is a lot of things but what stands out is his friendliness. He is unassumingly nice, open, and I believe it. He could afford not to be. He could afford it because this guy has a PhD from Oxford, was on the U.S. National Rowing Team, and founded a lifestyle brand that was featured in Target stores, but above all that, he is just kind of, well… nice. I like that. The Emcee of the book talk…

Happy Battle Surf Co. 4958 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego I didn’t see any Quicksilver, Billabong, or Tommy Bahama. What I found instead was locally shaped boards of varying lengths, a boom box playing cassettes, and best of all, was Mark. Mark Polintan was taping bubble wrap around a board when we popped in. He didn’t ask us if we needed help, he asked, “Did you surf today?” I sheepishly told him…

904 Aviation Blvd. Hermosa Beach When I got out of my car there was a shaggy blonde headed guy with a squirt gun hiding behind a trash can apparently waiting for someone to come out the front door. We gave each other a nod as I scooted past in silence. Once inside I could see that there was no one anywhere near the door and for all I know that guy is still there waiting. There was a man behind…

What does one wear to a polo match? I assume this is everyone’s question, as it was mine, when faced with the possibility of attending an actual polo match. Not water polo, not a Polo outlet store, but actual polo. With horses. The answer, as to what to wear, is a solid, “whatever you want.” Which is somehow disappointing considering my only real relationship to the game is a shirt. If you want…

It is indeed a giant shed 1091 W Morena Blvd. San Diego The place has been around since 2011 but the guy who owns it, “Bird”, has a story that goes back a touch further. https://birdssurfshed.com/bird-huffman-story/ You can find Bird hanging around the shop, which doesn’t matter all that much if all you want is to look at, or buy, boards, because they have plenty of stuff to look at or buy.…

New York, London, LA 1032 N. HIGHLAND AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA I first learned of BDDW through a friend of mine in Philly. That was more than a decade ago and it was instantly evident then, and is true now, that they simply make cool stuff. I chose the words “cool” and “stuff” carefully. To say BDDW is a furniture design shop would overlook the house bottled liquor. To say it is an art gallery…

SOLE FOLKS 4317 Degnan Blvd Leimert Park, LA The Leimert Park neighborhood is generally considered the heart of the conscious Black community in Los Angeles. It is also incredibly cool. Some might say those two are the same thing but in that world of cool, SOLE FOLKS is the coolest of the cool. Sole describes itself as a design incubator rather than a shop, and they are true to that, but what…