the Sneakerpedia Project

This is actually a really good idea. I know that there have been attempts at a project like this in the past -there is already the Kicktionary iPhone app but since I don't have an iPhone, I haven't gotten a chance to try it out yet (plus I don't know if it's free). The app screenshots look really good, but the fact that Sneakerpedia is free and is sponsored by Foot Locker means that it has the possibility of getting the critical mass of members and pubilicity necessary to actually build a serious, comprehensive sneaker archive. Though I could say that I wish I thought of it first, just considering how daunting this task would be to tackle alone, I think it's best that it's launching this way. I'm really looking forward to the launch to see what I can add! Wishing these guys the best (and hoping to get on the Beta!)

Though some may say Sneaker Culture is dead, I think projects like this are signs that the true heads are still alive and well, appreciating and spreading love and sole like we've always been.

30: Oh You Fancy, Huh?

11.19.2010 - Upstream knows how to throw a party, and when they do it, they do it up. For this year's Upstream Thanksgiving Party they decided to do a dress-up theme and host the party at Joy's clubhouse. Unofficially titled "Oh You Fancy, Huh?" I knew I wanted to step the shoe game up a notch tonight.

They tell me time is money,

well, we'll spend it together

That goal is pretty easy to accomplish when you have a pair like these in your arsenal. Though sneaker prices aren't where they once were, the Supremes (along with their white counterparts) are still one of the most expensive and most sought after non-limited Dunk SBs. The cement print inspired by the Jordan III is taken to the next level here, yet it's not overdone, placed perfectly balanced on a clean, simple Dunk. I missed out on these when they first released and I missed out when Sneakerpimp.com had a full size run at $300. But when this clean, barely used pair came across eBay, I wasn't going to miss out again. Undisputedly one of the best Dunk SBs of all time, these are still a Top 5 favorite pair in my personal collection.

I run into a catch-22 situation a lot when it comes to my "nice" shoes. I want to rock them because they're so dope, but I try not to rock them too much because I want to preserve their freshness (both literally and figuratively). So the solution? Buy enough nice shoes that you don't run into that problem and run your beaters into the ground. It's an expensive solution and you don't even get to wear each pair as much as you'd like, but that's the price you pay. No compliment makes a sneakerhead smile more than if you follow "Nice kicks..." with "...and they're so clean!"

Nike Dunk Low Pro SB - Black/ Black -Cement Grey ["Supreme"]

+ Fred Perry Zip Cardigan + Van Heusen Button up + David Donahue Bow Tie + Levi's 501 Premium

"Intelligent too, ooh you my sweetheart/

I've always liked my women book and street smart"

I prepared my dad's signature ham for the party. I say signature because the recipe is a family secret -only my dad and myself have ever prepared one from beginning to end. It took a lot longer than I thought it would (as it turns out I was doing it wrong), but I may have developed an improved flavor profile for the dish with the extra steps and drawn out process. Overall, the night was filled with great food and nice clean fun with an awesome group. I wouldn't expect anything less from these guys on a Friday night. Don't miss out on the pics of the food and festivities after the jump.

{Currently in the Speakers: Ace Spectrum - I Don't Want to Play Around}

*Bonus Time!*

ham in the oven

wishbone face off

champion!

Yog

cheers!

brothers

Farnsworth

29: These aren't the droids you're looking for...

11.14.2010 - I often wonder, when it comes to sneaker nicknames, which comes first - the sneaker or the nickname? Obviously the shoe has to be produced before it's actually owns a specific name, but do the designers at Nike purposefully create sneakers with the intent that they will be given certain monikers? Do they draw their inspiration from the pop culture, art, music, etc. references and then design the shoe? Or do sneaker fans give the shoes particular names after they connect the colorways to the things they have seen before?

Here's another example...

Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.

You see the earth tones and you see the bright neon accent -Obi Wan Kenobi may not be the first thing that comes to mind (or Qui Gon Jinn, based on the color of this "lightsaber" ...did I just nerd myself? ...ya I think so. eh, who cares. Star Wars is awesome.) But was that, in fact, the designers intent? These things are much more obvious when they come in "packs" that are intended to be presented with a certain theme (Three Bears Pack) or when a pattern is straight forward (Quagmire).

This nickname thing may not seem like a big deal to the average passerby, but they are actually pretty important in shoe culture. Lets take Jordans for example. If I'm trying to tell another collector which ones I have for sale, I would start by number (as there are 23+ different models of the "Air Jordan"). Say I have a pair of XI's for sale. Which ones? Now, I could say 1) I have "the black and white ones", 2) I have the ones that say "Black/ Royal Blue/ White" on the box, or 3) I have "the Space Jams". Choice 1 is descriptive, but not 100% accurate as there are in fact two different pairs of Jordan XI's that are black and white. Choice 2, while extremely accurate, would be a hassle to say if I had to do that every time. Choice 3 gets exactly to the point. Every collector knows what the "Space Jams" are and even non-collectors can learn the nicknames much easier than they can learn the specific colorways (just ask Kara!) Oh ya, and just in case you were wondering, my Space Jams AREN'T for sale. Sorry.

Some nicknames may be obvious and some may be long shots, but in the end, I'd like to think that sneakerheads come up with the nicknames and that it's not the other way around. I definitely like that designs are inspired, but when sneakerheads connect the dots to come up with shortcut names, it gives us a shoe game within the shoe game.

Nike Dunk Low Pro SB - Khaki/ Baroque Brown -Safari

+ Old Navy Button Up + Levi's 501 Selvedge STF

Figured out how to use the timer on my camera (hella years later). And no, I didn't cheat and just walk outside to take the picture. I actually went to church and to lunch, but just didn't take any pictures there. Plus the Jedi's in the sunset really add to the Star Wars theme, no?

Trying to catch up on posts, but laziness is getting the best of me. More should be coming next week though. We're coming closer and closer to the big NY trip! Stay tuned!

{Currently in the Speakers: Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage}

28: D'oh!!

11.13.2010 - I often wonder, when it comes to sneaker nicknames, which comes first - the sneaker or the nickname? Obviously the shoe has to be produced before it's actually owns a specific name, but do the designers at Nike purposefully create sneakers with the intent that they will be given certain monikers? Do they draw their inspiration from the pop culture, art, music, etc. references and then design the shoe? Or do sneaker fans give the shoes particular names after they connect the colorways to the things they have seen before?

This may sound confusing or even trivial, but maybe an example would help...

Nike SB x Kid Robot x Simpsons

Is Homer Simpson the first thing you think of when you see a blue, yellow and white shoe? Probably not. But look at the shoe again. Then look at the picture again. The blue jeans, the white shirt, the yellow face and arms, the black for his shoes and even brown for his beard.

I guess it might only be the type of thing you think about if you're really a shoe freak. While other people are busy trying to solve problems with global warming, I'm here sitting and wondering where shoe names come from. While the former is certainly more noble, I must say that I enjoy the peacefulness of my existence.

Nike Dunk Low Pro SB - White/Medium Yellow -University Blue ["Homers"]

+ SF Giants New Era 5950 + Casual Industries "Goggle" Tee + Levi's 514 Premium

This Saturday, Kara and I attended a snow sports convention in Santa Clara Convention Center, "Snow Bomb." I wouldn't have gone (or even known) if I hadn't gotten the Groupon a few weeks earlier. Though we really only went because entry included three free lift tickets, we found it to be a good opportunity to get a jump on some of the gear we needed for the upcoming season. Though I find everything I was looking for, I did score that cool DaKine bag for $30. Sweet! Or as Homer would say, "Woo hoo!"

{Currently in the Speakers: Dynasty - Adventures in the Land of Music}

27: '95, Gettin Live

11.12.2010 - On the topic of classic styles, the Air Max 95 is undeniably one of the most classic sneakers of all time. Though they originally released during a time when futuristic styling was the thing, the design has stood the test of time unlike many of the other trendy styles of the same period and has reached sneaker icon status.

no caption needed.

This particular model is a retro (unfortunately) of the first color released. The model is so simple, yet elegant that Nike released it in a myriad of different colored bubbles and accents, featuring the grey fade base and other color combinations as well. Though it was literally "the same shoe in a different color," sneakerheads can't live with just one pair of AM 95's.

Air Max '95 - Cool Grey/ Neon Yellow -Dark Charcoal

+ Express Men Pea Coat + Gap Thermal + Levi's 514 Premium

No special event or special pics for these kicks -just a simple trip to Pho Hoa after Upstream. But hot soup and hot kicks on a cold night still makes for a fun Friday.

{Currently in the Speakers: Debarge - Stay With Me}

26: '90 Weekend pt. 2

11.6.2010 - Sneakerheads' tastes vary depending on age, hype influence, budget and etc. But I think all shoe collectors can agree that a collection founded on Air Maxes and Jordans is a solid one. One of the more comfortable retro Air Maxes in my opinion is the Air Max 90. While most runners fit a little narrow and snug, the AM 90 is nice and roomy which is helpful for us aspiring athletes (and sideliners) with wider feet. The style has carried well through the years and the shoe remains a popular choice for retro seekers young and old.

Python in the wild... ok not really

This particular Air Max '90 was released with the Python Pack which also included an Air Trainer One. I was never really a fan of the Air Trainer until recent years. Now that they don't have too many new colorways, I regret not picking up more when they were readily available. Probably not from the same pack though... Too much overlap.

In either case, this AM '90 has been my go-to "neutral" sneaker over the years. Like I said before, I didn't really put a lot of stock in black sneakers in my collecting heyday. Anytime I wore an outfit that required black sneakers it was either these or Chucks (I always save my Jordans for more special occassions). Being the Nikehead that I am, these got a lot more play.

We went to go watch my cousins' football games today, then hung out at Lion Plaza for Pho and pastries after. Though it was cool, there wasn't a cloud in the sky -perfect combination for both football, warm soup and hanging out with the family.

tried to take a glasses reflection picture..

looking down at these

Nike Air Max '90 - White/Medium Grey - Light Graphite ["Pythons"]
+ New Era SF Giants World Series 5950 + Gap Long sleeve + Levi's 514 Premium

For all the sneakers I have in my collection, I'm really surprised I don't have more AM 90's. The Infrareds have been on my buylist for a while, but it seems that they retro them every few years, so I'm not really in a rush. In either case, I think these sneakers are really underrated and could really use some cooler color schemes like these to bring them a little more shine.

{Currently in the Speakers: Debbie Deb - Lookout Weekend}

Pho..... Mo Pho.

25: '90 Weekend pt. 1

11.5.2010 - Sneakerheads' tastes vary depending on age, hype influence, budget and etc. But I think all shoe collectors can agree that a collection founded on Air Maxes and Jordans is a solid one. One of the more comfortable retro Air Maxes in my opinion is the Air Max 90. While most runners fit a little narrow and snug, the AM 90 is nice and roomy which is helpful for us aspiring athletes (and sideliners) with wider feet. The style has carried well through the years and the shoe remains a popular choice for retro seekers young and old.

Escape to the jungle... ok not really.

This particular Air Max 90 dropped as a part of the first Escape Pack, along with an Air Trainer SC and an Air Force II High (which I'm still looking for, if you know anyone). The colorway proved so popular that Nike later released both an Air Force I Low and a Dunk SB in the same scheme.

I don't exactly remember where I got them, but I definitely remember where I've been with these shoes. They may not seem like much, but it really is the experiences I have with the different pairs in my collection that make them special to me. Each pair has a different story, and put together, my collection is like an archive of where I've been, what I've done and sets up, more importantly, where I will be going.

Nike Air Max '90 - Natural/Black - Greenend Brown ["Escape"]

+ Old Navy Button Up + Levi's 514 Premium

{Currently in the Speakers: Curtis Mayfield - Move on Up}

24: Today Was A Good Day

11.3.2010 - One of the reasons this post has been delayed so long is because I honestly just didn't know what to write. These are one of my favorite shoes in my collection and so much happened today that the task of putting this blog together just seemed so daunting. In the end, I decided that I just wanted to let the pictures tell the story. Today was a good day and I couldn't have been wearing better shoes for the occasion.

many a battle, these shoes have fought...

but finally, we were victorious.

First a background on the sneakers. Well, to start, they were free. Yeup. Not stolen. Not a gift. Just free. How, you may ask, did I score a pair of Flashes for FREE? Well, it was 2003. I was watching a pair of Forbes on eBay (my grails at the time, and another one of my all-time favorite shoes), but I was in class when the auction ended and missed them -they ended at something around $250 which was a decent steal at the time. I e-mailed the seller and told him I could offer him $270 and I could pay him cash since I lived in Riverside and he lived in Moreno Valley or Temecula or somewhere like that. It was a longshot, considering $20 wasn't a lot more than what the auction ended at, but much to my surprise he agreed.

I met with the seller near campus in Riverside and we got to talking about shoes and skating and just a lot of other random stuff. He asked if the Forbes were for me, and I said ya, I've been wanting these shoes for a long time. He was happy to hear I wasn't just another SB hype reseller trying to make a buck by flipping them. "If that's your size, I have another pair of kicks I've been skating in, and I don't really want anymore if you want em..." I was thinking he'd be giving me an old pair of Etnies or DVS or something, but I wouldn't deny a pair of free shoes. My eyes went wide when he pulled the pair of obviously used Flashes from his truck. They didn't have a box either (obviously), but they were free. The second SB series was still fairly new at the time and DS Flashes, Lodens and Sharks weren't fetching much more than $150 online, if that. I didn't even really want them except for the fact that they were Giants colors. I'm really glad that I got them though, because, as I said before, they're one of my favorite shoes in my collection. I told him I didn't have any change, but he said it was cool, he'd just take $260. So Forbes and Flashes for $260... Not a bad deal if you ask me.

Coincidentally enough, this was just a few months after the Giants had lost to the Angels in the World Series. Being a Giants fan in Southern California at that time was not much fun, but my friend Allen and I took it in stride. We'd be back and the next time we're gonna win it. Almost a decade later, I was at the parade.

San Francisco flooded the streets with black and orange

and not because of Halloween

The experience was indescribable. Just being a fan of a team that won a championship, I had so many friends and even acquaintances who knew I was a diehard Giants fan congratulating me. I really feel like all those years of fan-ship have come to fruition -we finally got what we've been waiting so long for. Combine all that with almost a million other people who all feel the same way, all crammed standing-room-only in front of San Francisco City Hall... As I said, indescribable.

We're really lucky that Clark met Jassy because she's a serious Giants fan and Clark probably wouldn't have come to the parade if it hadn't been for her (take a second look at his hat! haha!). Clark's cousin/my old friend Veronica hooked up a tour of the Gordon Biersch Brewery in the afternoon. A long walk down Market Street, a quick stop at Burger King, an erroneous detour on the BART (we went to Richmond by accident and no one knew til we got there =X) and a ton of traffic later, we were at Gordon Biersch! It's pretty cool to have popular companies headquartered in our backyard in San Jose... (Is Gordon Biersch as well known nationwide as it is locally?)

The brewery tour was a lot more awesome than I ever dreamed it would be (and I expected it would be pretty awesome). It was definitely infinitely more interesting than the winery tours I've been on. There is so much science that goes into making beer -biology, chemistry, physics... Comparing beer to wine, beer is like soup and wine is like water -so many ingredients and so many more variables that can change the flavors. Then factor in the science that goes into the process... When you learn how something is made you can really appreciate the finished product that much more. As exhausted as we were from our early start and long day thus far, we were into it.

If a shoe-head had an official beer,

it would definitely be Dunkelweizen

Clark, JR, me, our tour guide

(and our free souvenir glasses!)

After the brewery tour, we decided to get something to eat. Since we were already so close to downtown, local fare was the choice of the night. When someone suggested Hukilau, we all immediately agreed. Awesome idea.

Directly across from Hukilau in Japantown is the local boutique brand Cukui. They've been getting a lot of attention considering how young they are, and deservedly so. Cukui does a good job of differentiating themselves from the common "street wear" brand. Unlike other brands who just seem to take a "clever" idea and turn it into a random t-shirt, Cukui's themes and styles are all cohesive, as a fashion line should be. You definitely know a Cukui design when you see it.

We ran into JR's friend Dan, part of the Cukui team. It was my first time in the store, but it definitely won't be my last. It's a beautiful thing supporting local businesses not because of obligation, but rather because you prefer them to the mainstream big box blah blah that other establishments offer.

Nike Dunk Low SB - Orange Flash/ Black ["Flashes"]

+ New Era SF Giants "World Series" 5950

+ Majestic SF Giants World Series Champions Tee

+ Levi's 501 STF

The Giants finally winning the championship was beyond exciting, the brewery tour was beyond interesting and educational, and finally visiting arguably the most popular local boutique we have here in San Jose was beyond inspirational. Today was a good day... no, it was beyond good. Today was a great day. Good friends, good food, good drinks, good times... Great times.

{currently in the speakers: Journey - Don't Stop Believing}