In The Crib Watching Larry King Live

January 25th, 2021 · 12:00 am · 4 Comments

A late night pandemic savior. Photo by Zach Baker.

Though it’s far from the most #trending skate spot these days, a plan for the renovation and expansion of Union Square was unveiled last week. Just give us a couple République-style planters in the back, don’t kick us out of them, and the city can keep the next two skateparks they were gonna build. Thanks!

Good vibes in this one: “Vlog #1” via Josh Paynter, featuring all winter footy around the city. Footage can never do justice to that backside noseblunt at the L.I.C. D.I.Y. — that one was wild. Bed frame and subway clips are a hoot too :)

We’re living in a high-flying golden age of Instagram compilations on YouTube: Brandon Scott A.K.A. NevaSkimp, Sage Elsesser + Kevin Bilyeu, all just this past week.

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Weekend Viewing: ‘Baker 2k’

December 18th, 2020 · 5:29 pm · 3 Comments

Nothing like 5 P.M. on a Friday in mid-December to post something new ♥

To cap the year off, Zach Baker put the finishing touches on Baker 2k — a holiday film that seizes the “video magazine” format of yesteryear and primps it up for our frazzled social media brains.

In a series of vignettes, we get the remaining morsels of pre-pandemic European skateboard travel, parts from Dallas Todd + Emilio, Antonio third-eye-open over the Flushing grate, a portrait of the Museum of Natural History as it returned to skateboard prominence, and a check-in on Staten Island’s ABC ledges nearly two decades after they have receded from skateboard prominence.

Dustin Henry shows up early with what is quite frankly an iconic slice of skateboard choreography.

I asked Zach if he wanted to “write a thing” about his year-long project…

“Nope. Grateful to anyone who watches the whole thing.”

Josh Velez’s Quaranteam Part

October 20th, 2020 · 12:00 am · 6 Comments

Anybody selling hard goods can attest to the “skateboard boom” that began in the lockdown months. People who had not picked up a board in years because life got in the way were buying new completes because, like, wtf else was there to do?

But what about those who never let life entirely get in the way of skating? For them, this past spring was a tidal wave of free time that no gainfully employed adult skateboarder thought they would experience until they were retired with bad knees. It was a pass to be 17 again, at least for a bit.

As outlined in 2019’s outing, Josh has been on a half-decade streak of filming parts mostly on his two days off from work a week. For a sizable chunk of 2020, there was no work, so this year’s is an extended edition — complete with cameos from some extended QS family members who haven’t popped up in an edit for deep.

Edited by Eric Cruz. Appearances from Connor Champion, Kevin Tierney, Troy Stilwell, Zach Baker, Kadeem Walters, Ty Lyons, Meatball, Ryan Santiago, Cyrus Bennett, Haffa, Antonio Durao, Ron Parker.

J.R. Smith Already Without A Shirt

October 12th, 2020 · 12:00 am · 4 Comments

QS is by no means a Laker enterprise — just trying to be supportive of any and all events that lead to joy in the life of shirtless icon, J.R. Smith. Also L O L L L L L L at him having as many titles as the entire New York Kn*cks franchise.

Theories caught up with a bunch of New York skaters to ask about their spot hunting stories from the initial COVID shutdown in the city. Those days when Natural History, CBS and Big Screen were all a go at once were magic amongst the shit ♥

Alex Klein wrote a piece on his friendship with Keith Hufnagel over on GQ.

Lurker Lou’s new part, “Lou Flowers” is now live ♥

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An Orb Descends Into the East Village — A #tfreport Special Report

July 1st, 2020 · 2:20 pm · 9 Comments

Words by Zach Baker

ET is in town, so he was special guest at the warehouse, which was exciting. Anything different at the warehouse is exciting. He wanted to go to Hoboken skatepark afterwards, so we did.

We bought a 12-pack of Modelo on Washington Street, and then I showed ET where they invented the Jersey barrier. We jumped the fence at the park, got kicked out, and then chilled with this brolic scooter kid on the pier until it rained.

We sat in the car and waited for his girlfriend to pick him up, while I drew the skatepark.

Then, I went to the city to meet EJ at Tompkins. It was like 6.

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