12th & A | Quartersnacks

Reporting Live From the Tompkins Bench

Daily News April 27th, 2011 · 3:55 pm · 14

Who knew E.J. and Jason Dill were in a band together?

While Quartersnacks company policy dictates Flip/iPhone cam clips to be relegated to our weekly “Monday Links” installment (unless they are produced in-house), our editors decided to make an exception to the rule after a two-hour meeting. Not because the respective clip has behind-the-scenes footage of the secret Pappalardo and Gino part currently being filmed on a Seaport replica located on a man-made island just off the coast of Long Island, but for more journalistic and informative reasons.

The latest installment of the “Diamond Days” series serves as a news report on what major events have occured in New York skateboarding throughout the first month of spring. Any absentees would be well-advised to watch it, so they could be brought up to speed. It covers everything from:

– The opening of the season on three-up-three-down, the westside super-spot that is vastly superior to the entire Tribeca Park.

– Slicky Boy’s loss to the T.F. box after a grueling battle with a heelflip tailslide, and thus his inability to claim the proposed $38 reward.

– The rapid growth in marketshare of Dylan Reider’s shoe within the New York region, well beyond Paulgar. (Remember that prediction about shoe companies making more scene-friendly shoes in 2011? Surprise, surprise.)

– The new, *permanent* steel quarterpipe and ledge over cobblestones at 12th & A. (Thanks to California Skateparks for providing the concrete.)

– E.J’s new hair color.

– Billy’s transformation of “Wu-Tang!” into an adlib, used with a tourettes-like frequency, not unlike how Lil’ B and Odd Future devotees blurt out “Swag!” every three seconds.

The one fault of this throwaway-clip-turned-news-report is the lack of music in E.J’s section. While many prominent sections receive their own soundtrack, he was left with mere skate noises. Perhaps a hit song from his (and possibly Jason Dill’s) former band, No Doubt?

(Late) Monday Links & Things

Daily News February 7th, 2011 · 4:00 pm · 10

It seems to have been a slow week for the internet. A big week for being “under the weather” in more ways than one. Need to get back in the habit of posting these in the morning though.

Thankfully, it’s forty degrees outside and nothing is really skateable. Midtown is actually pretty clear, but the one decent spot that you might not get kicked out of up there is still covered in snow.

Forty Degree Snow Report: 12th Street Edition

Forty Degree Snow Report: 54th Street Edition. It’s permanently raining from the scaffolding here.

Forty Degree Snow Report: Alexander Mosley Edition. I’m going to be sure to e-mail him back with a vivid description of our weather to get him jealous.

Forty Degree Snow Report: Fashion / Cargos & Uggs Edition (?)

Not sure where this video is based out of (there’s a lot of footage from around here though), but it’s a solid thirty-minute project by Max Hull featuring Dylan James, Paul Tucci and others. A good way to pass the time if you’re forfeiting efforts at skateboarding for a few more weeks.

Great Song Choices in Video Parts: Volume One. Completely forgot Rick had skated to this, at least prior to a few weeks ago when someone’s maligned conception of “a half hour,” turned into us sitting in an office for three-hours and almost watching the entire Girl/Chocolate Box Set.

Some late-to-the-party news…

Be sure to check out Joseph Delgado’s promo video for NYC Griptape. It’s been online for a minute, but is the first great local part of 2011. Features cameos from Rodney Torres and Shawn Powers.

In case you have been in a place without the internet, Luis Tolentino now rides for DVS and grinds up Houston, Texas handrails with plywood-on-grass runways. Big congratulations goes to Luis, he’s been skating fast as hell, doing his own thing, and channeling New York skating no matter where he is for as long as anyone can remember, so him getting some recognition like that is way overdue.

Aside from the skate spots, and an occasional cool building or two, the east side of Midtown is the most disgusting place in New York during the weekends.

Quote of the Week: “I wish Lady Gaga would make some new songs, but she’s on tour.” — Switch Michael Strobert

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Daily News December 20th, 2010 · 9:52 am · 1

The best video of 2010. We’ll even go out on a limb and say it is better than the Dylan Gravis video. It’s impossible to tally the amount of times the phrase “Have you seen the new Ciara video?” was used to start a conversation this past spring.

On to skateboarding…

Brian Kelley interviewed Keith Hufnagel on his blog about relocating to Los Angeles from San Francisco, skating with Ryan Hickey, and a variety of other topics. He doesn’t seem as eager to showcase his storytelling abilities as some of his peers from the nineties are, but still, it’s a Huf interview, so you should read it anyway.

Upon seeing this kid, Christian Willis, skate in real life last week, everyone agreed that it is probably in our best interests to quit skateboarding and gear energy towards alcohol and other depressants. As if that wasn’t enough, this (now viral) video of a six-year-old destroying the Venice Beach Skatepark is only fuel to the emotional burden that coincides with sucking at skateboarding. However, if you’re into the “optimism” thing, you could look at both of those videos as motivational pieces.

Heelbruise Clothing & Chrome Ball Incident collaboration tee shirt, celebrating the rich history of the VHS tape, for all those with dusty shoeboxes of videos tucked away in a basement somewhere.

As you probably know, Billy Rohan, Vans, and the Maloof Brothers gave away a bunch of free skate gear at 12th & A this past Saturday. Taji conducted an interview with Billy about the generous giveaway on the Full Bleed blog to give some background on this high-end, respectable version of a product toss.

While initially skeptical about the Donovan Strain “Murk Avenue” videos, it’s hard to deny that they’re actually kind of brilliant. The latest one gives some sound advice on how the concept of a “front” can be applied to your modern day financial circumstances.

G. Dep confesses to a seventeen-year-old cold case murder and is facing life in jail. The follow-up interview to the confession has him saying that he didn’t know the guy actually died. See what happens when you do drugs? Child of the Ghetto is still on the lower-tier of regional New York classics, and “Let’s Get It” still knocks though. Watch Puffy scrounge together a G. Dep jail album in light of the insanity.

There is going to be a handful of updates this week to accommodate for last week’s general lack of content. Be sure to follow Quartersnacks on Twitter to stay on top of things making their way to the site. Facebook works too.