Homebase Skateshop | 610 Crew | Bethlehem PA » bethlehem skateplaza

while you were sleeping: 10th anniversary premiere of “city without spots.”

homebase — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:24:35 +0000

“Thanks to everyone who came out last night to celebrate a video project that set me on a 10-year path to try and do-right by the skateboarders of the Lehigh Valley.

Skating, traveling and becoming life-long friends with guys like Eric Potts, Andy Mack, Steve Hencheck, James Gleason, Dave Hill, Josh Novak, Matt Kayes, Ray Gurz, Blake Wohrmann, Mike Emery, Jay Sigafoos and so many others is what inspired me to open up Homebase so the 610 could have a shop that cared about the culture of skateboarding- not just the sales. If you were there 10 years ago at the Icehouse then you know how different skateboarding was here and how it felt like the winds of change were blowing through Bethlehem. Those short months in between the premiere of City Without Spots and the day we opened our door were some of the most exciting and trying times of my life but in retrospect 10 years later, I could not imagine and would not want my life to be any different.

There were 3 generations of LV skaters in the room last night and in the end there was $415 in our donation jar- minus the small bills we put in for change- we will be donating $375 to the Bethlehem Skateplaza. Thank you to Andy V for making Equivalents #2, the LVAC for printing the benefit Tee’s, Just Born for donating the projector and again, everyone who came out to show their support.”

Thank you for all your support & love,

- Andrew Po

Equivalents #2: The ‘Za Benefit Issue. Now available at Homebase for a $5 donation the the Bethlehem Skateplaza.

Earlybirds.

Allentown OG’s.

Cody just rode a longboard across the country. Read about it on the Schlooped Facebook.

Watching Mark Suciu “Cross Continents.”

Carnage & Oogie.

Amazing work V.

#WeOutHere.

Please turn of your cellphones.

Reintroducing a 10 year old video to a new generation.

Eric Potts’ part still kills it.

Good people.

Thanks for driving on all those trips Steve.

Thumbs up from Bill.

OG HTM610 CREW. Lots of faces missing from this though.

Take 2 with Eric. . . who just got off work.

Click here to view the embedded video.

HTM610 presents: City Without Spots

See the rest of the photos . . .

10th anniversary premiere of “city without spots” tonight at homebase

homebase — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:06 +0000

Andy Vasquez literally made this happen. He reminded me 2012 was the 10th anniversary of the “City Without Spots” premiere.

V’s been working on the second issue of his ‘zine, “Equivalents” featuring drawings based on the Bethlehem Skateplaza. The ‘zine will be given out on Friday night at the 10th Anniversary premiere of “City Without Spots,” the first local skate video ever made in the 610.

For an AFFORDABLE $5 admission charge you get into the premiere, you get the Andy’s ‘zine and you’re making a DONATION to the skateplaza. All the money raised will go to buy more benefit bricks in honor of “City Without Spots.”

In addition to the ‘zine, we’ll be giving away the Annual Homebase Holiday T-Shirt designed by Andy V to anyone who makes a $10 or more donation WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

That’s a win-win-win-win.

For those who are on a tighter budget (ahem . . . .cheap), then you may enter, get no ‘zine but still make a donation to the skateplaza for $2.

Thanks to Andy V for making all this happen

. Thanks also to Rich Saffron and Just Born for donating the video projector and candy you’ll all be eating. Thanks to Reject from the LVAC for printing the benefit shirts too.

The premiere is also BYOB for those over 21 so bring your coozies.

city without spots: 10th anniversary premiere

homebase — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:51:32 +0000

For those who were there, those who have come into the fold and for those who will be here for the first time. Thanks to Andy V for reminding me what we were doing this month 10 years ago that brought us to where we are now.

Words by Andy Vasquez:

“It’s hard to imagine skateboarding in our area without the skateshop of who’s website you are on right now. Regardless of which shop you prefer to go to, or which shop you identify more with, everyone can recognize one shop that has been the main driving force behind getting the skateplaza built and has been consistently putting out videos to showcase local skateboarding: Homebase.

Now, I’m not sure how aware everyone is with how or why Homebase Skateshop started, but I can tell you from the best I can remember as a 14 year-old in 2002, that Homebase started fresh off of the energy surrounding the video, Hometeam 610: City Without Spots. As this video is about to turn ten years old, Homebase Skateshop and I invite you to join us for the tenth anniversary showing of a video that has served as a great influence in skateboarding and a catalyst for very needed change in the Lehigh Valley.

To go along with the showing of City Without Spots, I will be releasing a the second issue of my zine, Equivalents. The second issue is meant to both celebrate the skateplaza (aka the ‘Za) we’ve enjoyed for a year and a half thus far, and raise money for the rest of the construction on the ‘Za. The zines will be $5 dollars each, and thanks to Homebase, EVERY PENNY OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE GIVEN TO THE SKATEPLAZA FUND. Homebase has offered to pay for the printing of the zine so that this project can raise as much money as possible for the ‘Za. The zine will not be in limited production, in order to raise as much money as possible, but there will only be 75 available at Friday’s event.

In a much less wordy conclusion, come out on Friday to celebrate the past, our friends, the Za, and the future of the ‘Za. And goddamn are we gonna scream when Eric Potts 50-50s that hubba.”

tis’ the season for giving back.

homebase — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:33:57 +0000

I know we’re bombarding you with SALES! and DEALS! for the Christmas shopping season (Hey, gotta keep these doors open you know) so it’s definitely a refreshing change of pace to tell you how we’ve been asked to GIVE BACK.

Two friends of Homebase have anonymously donated 2 brand new complete skateboards and a skateboard deck to some younger, needy skateboarders this Christmas so we want you to give you the chance to help someone you know out.

Here’s How You Can Help a Skater in Your Life:

Do you know a skater under the age of 15 who loves skateboarding?
He or she skates everyday and rides the most beat up set-up non stop without complaint?
Do they have parents who support their skating but maybe lost their jobs or simply can’t afford to buy them a new set-up because times are tough for a lot of Americans right now?
Maybe they help others learn tricks, help clean the skateplaza and are a positive part of your skate crew?

Please tell us their story and why you feel they deserve to get hooked up with a new set-up. E-mail it to Homebase610@gmail.com along with their’s or your contact info, any photos or links to video footage for them skating if that’s available.

We will be contacting the skaters right after the New Year so please take some time to think of who might really benefit from this generous donation.

In the same spirit of giving, Homebase will be buying two Bethlehem Skateplaza Benefit Bricks in honor of the 2 donors, the winning skaters and their friends or family who wrote in on their behalf. Have you given back to the skateplaza and bought a brick yet? They’re now for sale online and easier to purchase than ever.

*Hello Burrito has also stepped in and will donate gift cards to the winners as well.

THANK YOU!

we’re giving out free stuff. who doesn’t like free stuff?

homebase — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:02:58 +0000

With all the spending you have to for other people over the Holidays why not get something for yourself . . . FO’ FREE. How can you get some FREE STUFF? Well, I’m glad you asked. . . .

Did you buy a Bethlehem Skateplaza Benefit Brick? Either through the new online purchase page or by mailing in a check. Just bring in your receipt or confirmation letter to Homebase BY THIS SUNDAY and you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a FREE BAKER DECK! (FYI: There are only 2 people currently entered in the Baker Deck raffle . . . . those are some damn good odds.)

We’ll be doing a different raffle every Sunday for a different prize for all those who support the Bethlehem Skateplaza. Just stop in with that receipt or confirmation letter. We want to make sure you know your donation to the skateplaza is truly appreciated.

Could you also use a $100 Homebase Gift Card? Of course you could and we’re giving one away on December 15th on Main St. for our Live Advent Calendar performance.

What will the performance be? Will it include breaking dancing, Christmas carols, Frosty the Snowman costumes, candy and dreams-coming-true? Maybe all of the above?

Not to mention we’re giving out FREE Homebase Gift Bags to the crowd and some lucky people will get the Homebase Holiday T-Shirt.

Keeping you in the Christmas Spirit and there’s more to come. . .

homebase live advent calendar performance. . .what’s a live advent calendar?

homebase — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:30:09 +0000

I’m sure there are all kinds but the Advent Calendar I’m familiar with is a little book with a picture of a building that had 25 windows. Each window could be popped open giving up a little piece of candy for each day I patiently waited for Christmas. So what’s a Live Advent Calendar?

It’s a Downtown Bethlehem Tradition. Starting on December 1st, each day at 5pm a different DBA business will host a performance and give out special surprises to the audience gathered in front of the historic Goundie House (Map It: 505 Main St.) on Main St. until Christmas Day.

Homebase will be sponsoring Thursday December 15th. At 5pm we will hand out 50 Gift Bags and one gift bag will have a $100 Homebase Gift Card so you have to be there to win.

Each Gift Bag will have a Homebase Holiday T-Shirt made specially for the Live Advent Calendar performance. We’ll also have information for the Bethlehem Skateplaza Buy-A-Brick Fundraiser too.

Our performance won’t be quite as traditional as some of the other shops but it’s definitely going to get you in the Christmas Spirit. Without giving away too much, we’ve remixed some Christmas carol classics and set them to a more modern tempo. Thanks to Cap Cee & Mister Dynamite of Audio Dynamikz, Angel B & Blasky Menance of Dark Lion Entertainment and the Versatix dance crew for putting in so much work into this performance.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll see me breaking it down with the homies from Versatix too. . . .

Better save that date!

just born & the ‘za: a win-win situation

homebase — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:34:29 +0000

After the SB Chronicles premiere we picked the winning raffle ticket for the Blueprint Cruiser complete Just Born Candy donated to help us raise money for the Bethlehem Skateplaza. The raffle was able to raise $100= 2 more benefit bricks for the skateplaza. DID YOU BUY A BRICK YET?

Luke Deschenes wasn’t able to make it out to the premiere but he was quick to being in the winning raffle ticket after the news got post on the Homebase Facebook. He went home with his brand new cruiser, a sweet t-shirt and an 8 POUND bag of Mike n’ Ikes!

Thanks to Rich Saffron & Just Born for being the first local corporation to step up and do some real grass roots supporting of the 610 skate scene and the skateplaza.

procrastinate now: did you miss the omit demo?

homebase — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:44:27 +0000

Were you waiting in this line?

Click here to view the embedded video.

The clip has been out for a while but just in case you missed the Omit team shredding the plaza live or in HD. . . . here’s the clip.

I guess they will slowly be leaking the street footage that filmed out here since it wasn’t in the tour video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

One of the tricks was in Kyle Fredrick’s “Welcome to the Team” clip.

It was an honor getting to see all those guys skate, get to know them and now be able to say Homebase was apart of Omit’s first tour ever. Regardless of what you think of Chris Cole and Omit, those fools are good people.

Thanks to everyone who came out and Omit’s full line of apparel is available at Homebase now.

procrastinate now: rainy day procrastinating

homebase — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:11:59 +0000

Rain, rain, go away. . .

Hoping to see Matt Pepe’s edit from the Skateshop Showdown Exist hosted at the Reid Menzer Skatepark this past weekend soon.

Click here to view the embedded video.

That Official. From Matt Roberge

Click here to view the embedded video.

Toupee Fiasco. From Matt Roberge

Click here to view the embedded video.

Low Expectations. From Jake Reppert

Click here to view the embedded video.

Get Siked . . . and get better Ben!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Falling Star. From Ray Mercado

Click here to view the embedded video.

29882194

Anthony Parsi. From Kinetic Skateshop

Click here to view the embedded video.

10 Tricks with Ambler’s Kevin Liedtke. From Matt Pepe

Click here to view the embedded video.

Bonds 16. From Geechy

while you were sleeping: the omit northest drive-by stop at homebase

homebase — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:30:34 +0000

So it’s been a week since The Omit crew was out at Homebase and it’s still pretty mind blowing to think about it all. I can’t wait to see the footage and photos Omit will eventually put out documenting their first tour but for now, here’s a little compilation of the photos and footage already floating around the interweb.

If you came out then you know how amazing Chris Cole and the rest of the guys were- on and off their boards. Truly nice guys. (Photo by Pepe)

Yes, they were about an hour late getting to the shop for the signing but crushing local street spots is a pretty legit excuse. (Photo by Zahradik) See all his photos HERE.

They arrived and happily signed autographs and took photos with about 200 kids.

The signing lasted almost 2 hours but they made sure everyone got everything they wanted signed like true professionals.

Chris even gave away free Omit swag to anyone who donated to the Bethlehem Skateplaza. We raised $150 on the raffle wheel so that’s 3 Benefit Bricks for the Bethlehem Skateplaza from Omit.

Mandatory Homebase/Omit Group picture.

Then they put on an insane “demo” at the skateplaza til dark. Demo is in parenthesis because it was more of a session.

Kids were free to skate alongside:

Chris Cole. 180 switch feeble 180 (Photo Blabac)

Jimmy Carlin. Frontside flip over the rail. (Photo Zahradnik)

Kyle Fredrick. Backside flip.

Ed Duff. Flip boardslide.

Trevor Colden. Nollie heel noseslide. (Photo Zahradnik)

I was happy to stand and cheer for all the tricks they collectively stomped out . . . and Instagramed.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Omit Demo Footage. Clip courtesy of ExploitationVM

Click here to view the embedded video.

Omit iPhone Demo Footage. Clip courtesy of B-Space.

Cole shut it down.

Then signed more autographs for the kids.

After the demo the Omit crew and some of the homies from Homebase had dinner at Lap Lupita, talked about skating, girlfriends, OCD, traveling and spots they want to come back to skate. I’ll be more than happy to have these dudes back in the 610 anytime.

After a huge meal they even checked out a few more street spots with Jesse before heading down to Reign.

Damn, that’s some serious motivation to skate.

Thanks to Chris Cole, Jimmy Carlin, Trevor Colden, Kyle Fredrick, Ed Duff, Mike Blabac, Ant Travis, Pat Heid, Omit Apparel, my Homebase Crew for all the assistance, Max Zahradnik, ExploitationVM, Matt Pepe, Ben Taylor, Jesse Gangwere and everyone who came out to support OMit and another Homebase event.

See ALL the photos after the jump. . .