Step 1: Stop by Homebase and pick up Chris’s new pro model, The Chris Cole S.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Step 2: Skate them, film a few tricks and then do your own review of the Chris Cole S.  Be honest, be creative, be funny, skate the plaza, land some bangers then make  the clip however long or short as you want.  Then post it to YouTube as:

Homebase & DC Shoes “Chris Cole S” Wear Test: ______your_name_here______.

LAST STEP: Just for making your own wear test video, Homebase will give a FREE SET OF SHOP WHEELS. Straight up.

Now, just sit back and wait, DC and Chris will personally pick their favorite to win a whole Chris Cole Prize Pack: Zero Deck, Thunder Trucks, Spitfire Wheels, Omit Apparel, Stance Socks and his brand new Chris Cole S Lite shoe at the end of the month of February. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A CHRIS COLE WEAR TEST CLIP: FEB. 29th.

This contest is only for people who buy the Chris Cole S at Homebase- not the entire country!!! There might be 15 entries or their might only be 5 so your chances of winning are HUGE. 

REDISCOVER DC and GET HOOKED UP.

5Boro Skateboards and Homebase’s 5Boro pro, Dan Pensyl proudly presents their newest full length skate video, “Join or Die.” The NYC World Premiere is on February 16th at Santo’s Party House so get your ride to the Big Apple ready now.  The local 610 premiere will be at Homebase on February 24th for those who can’t get to the city.

Congrats to 5Boro’s newest pro’s: Took & Akers. Their debut pro models will be available at Homebase this month.

Who else but Homebase would be doing a local premiere?

Agenda Long Beach was done.  Headed back to LA and got a proper greeting from my older brother and nephew, Desmond.

And the first thing we do in LA is eat at Mario’s, a look-key looking Peruvian restaurant that always has a mob of people waiting to get in.  Probably the best ceviche I’ve ever had.

If you have a lot of stuff to do, I don’t recommend eating Lomo Saltado for lunch.  Meat, onions, french fries AND rice= food coma.

So remember that photo I was looking for on The Hundreds Blog then realized it was all blacked out to protest SOPA?  This is that photo.

Tepper and crew killed the wall of De La Barracuda in honor of Pepper.  RIP

After seeing all the renovation photos on Instagram, I had to stop by the Diamond Flagship store to see everything for myself.  Killed it.

I think my brother only comes to Fairfax when I’m in town.

Did my “research” and checked out all the usual suspects on the block: The Hundreds, RVCA, DOPE, Reserve, Supreme, Flight Club, Hall of Fame and the new Odd Future shop where HUF was.

Damn, dinner already.  California Shabu Shabu.  We need one of these in the Lehigh Valley.

HUF x Haroshi Open Ceremony.

Keith Hufnagel and Hanni from Hanni El Katib.  I had a funny story about this photo all typed up from the first draft of this post but now I’m just over it.  Essentially, I embarrassed myself.

Visit The Hundreds blog to see some truly amazing shots of Haroshi’s work.

Mine do not do them justice.  “Gary” is still for sale by the way.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ollie over a $30,000.00 fire hydrant?  No pressure at all.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You got that John?

Insanely beautiful.

Spitfire Classic.  Still for sale as well.

Butt approved.  Hyped to see this guy’s footage in the upcoming 5Boro video.

This is actually Peter Ramondetta’s arm.

Complete with his tattoos.  SOLD

Tons of industry types and pros were out at the event.  I had the idea of just shooting the backs of the pros I saw but then was over that as soon as I took this one: Kenny Anderson, Daniel Shimizu and Clint Peterson.

Real’s newest pro was there . . . talking to Tyler the Creator.

Ray Barbee and Tommy Guerrero killed it.

Thanks for having us Mackey.

Later Tombo.  Nice shirt!

Salman Agah’s pizza spot is right by the HUF Warehouse.  Met up with Mike Emery there after he got done shooting the Anaheim Supercross.

Midnight drive to San Diego.

Woke up to these two pups. . .

. . . blue skies and a backyard ramp. . .

. . . classic Emery frontside disasters . . .

. . . me killing it.  What is that? A 50-50?  DAMN!

. . . and of course tacos for lunch.

Thanks for having us Chip.

Chip has an original West Coast Chopper . . . before the TV show hype.

Check out San Diego Customs if you need a real chopper.

Chip is moving out so the art is probably all packed up now but he has some gems.

An original Gonz sketch.

Erik Brunetti.

Nothing to do with Occupy Wall St.

Heading to the beach.  Lock the door.

Visited an East Coast homie in Pacific Beach.  Weird beard!

Mandatory beach pic.

Mandatory Yogurtland visit since Pinkberry was too far right before the airport.

Redeye.

Always good seeing this sign.

Now before I left, I saw the Taco Bell “Game Changer” commercial for a 12 pack of tacos.  I made a comment that I could easily eat that.  Kali, said I couldn’t.  Challenge accepted.

#1

#7 & 8

#10, 11 & 12.

Last bite.

I told you so.

Thanks Agenda!  Thanks HUF!  Thanks to the Kastelnik’s.  Thanks Taco Bell.

If you’re out of town and looking for something now- give us a call for shipping info: 610-866-0540

Click here to view the embedded video.

The HUF x Haroshi x DLXSF pack will drop on Saturday January 28th. Our in-store customers will be the first to purchase the pack and after the weekend the remaining items will be available on the Homebase Online Store.

Introducing HUF Footwear to Homebase with the Haroshi x HUF Pro.

Haroshi Spitfire Classic Pullover Hoodie

Haroshi Classic Swirl Baseball T-shirt.  Also available in red and black.

Haroshi Original Box Logo T-shirt.  Also available in grey and white.

Haroshi Krooked Huf Zinger T-shirt.  Available also in white.

Haroshi Real Hydrant T-shirt.  Also available in white.

Haroshi Huf Classic H Snap Back.  Also available in black.

Haroshi Huf Stacked Volley Hat.

See everything after the jump…

Words by Bobby Hundreds off the BLACKED OUT www.TheHundreds.com

“Blackout.

Today, a string of major websites are banding together to protest SOPA, a bill trying to work its way through Congress that is intended to stop online piracy.  SOPA doesn’t sound so horrible, right?  Online piracy is (fun but) bad! (No, I know I know, it’s awesome, but come on guys, it’s bad). The movie studios and media guys are super stoked on it because they’re tired of freeloaders burning and ripping off all their hard work.  They’ve BEEN tired: In fact, here in the States, they already have a law to keep people from doing that (it’s called the DMCA), so now they want to fight the assholes doing it overseas.  Vile crooks like Pirate Bay and bloodsucking bit torrent leeches that Americans like you (and, well, me (shh don’t tell anyone)) visit to download all our (I mean, YOUR) illegal movies and music.  The bill states that to defeat international bootleggers, we must keep all of our search engines and Youtubes and websites from showing them any love.

There’s a slight problem with SOPA, however.  The way it’s written – which is not very well – makes it so that the people creating original content (the studios, etc.) have far-reaching, unbridled, free reign to take out anyone who they have a “good faith belief” is stealing their stuff.  That’s all they need. A good faith belief.  And you’re dunzo! It’d be like if I had a “good faith belief” that you stole my Adam Bomb snap-back so I got to stab you in the ribcage and neck and upper-chest area (and then went home and realized it was in my closet the whole time).

I’m making it sound a lot simpler than it is, but the moral of the story is this.  SOPA, although paved with good intentions, is the road to hell.  The Internet, for all its benefits and burdens, is built upon freedom – free information, free thought, free expression – and by blocking content under something as vague as “good faith beliefs,” SOPA falls nothing short of censorship.  What’s worse, SOPA makes it difficult, if not impossible, for small web-based companies and brands like ours to exist and survive.  So much of The Hundreds’ reality is based on taking advantage of the web’s open frontier.  Imagine if I posted a video with an unlicensed song playing in the background and got shut down for it. And then consider that I’ve already done this, whether knowingly or unknowingly, countless times in the past year.  Imagine how I could’ve written this entire essay without “stealing” everything I learned off of other websites and blogs.  Imagine. Imagine there’s no pizza.

The fact of the matter is that Ben and I should support SOPA.  After all, that’s what we do – create original content. Just like the movie studios and record labels who want to hump SOPA and have like 10,000 of its babies.  We agree – it totally sucks when people rip us off or bootleg our product, ideas, and intellectual property without our permission.  But for one, we believe in the DMCA, which is already doing a pretty good job of blocking pirated content.  For two, we think the SOPA should be re-worked, clarified, and not rushed with reckless abandon when even the White House is bummed on it.  And for C, we kinda like how the Internet is. For the most part, this is the new world disorder and it’s time that the SOPAtriarchs got used to it, got creative, and got over it.  How many times do we have to go over this?  STOP TRYING TO FIGHT THE INTERNET.”

If you have done the adequate research on SOPA and disagree with what is proposed, please contact your representative and make your voice heard!

Yes, I did get work done. Long Beach was actually THE most productive tradeshow yet.  I met up with our best selling brands every hour for both days,  traded business cards with some new brands we’ll be bringing into the shop, scheduled appointments for Agenda NY and made some major moves for Homebase at the Vans booth.

If you already follow me on the Homebase Instagram, Twitter (@Homebase610)or on Facebook then you may have seen some of these pictures.  Nevertheless, please take some time to procrastinate and enjoy hard I work . . . . to make sure no food goes to waste.  Thanks to the whole Agenda Team especially Aaron, Seth and Christine and Ryan and the homies at The Berrics that make these trips (AKA food binges) possible.

Unaccompanied minor. Mishka wanted John to be at the trade  show to debut his Welcome to the Mishka Team part.  He’s actually the skater they are building their skate program around and if that’s anything like how they musicians and artists it’s going to be a wild ride for Lil’ John.

Almost tried to trade jackets with this guy.

Mandatory “Hey!  I’m flying” photo.

Ryan Ward works for The Berrics and is usually the first person I see when I land in LA.  Thanks for picking us up homie. 5 minutes after landing- mandatory In n’ Out stop.

Spanish Latte at Urth Cafe around the corner from the to keep from going into a food coma.

West coast red curb session.  Where’s the footage John?

Felt like home.

MOCA wallie without any street art in the background.

Cruising through downtown LA you find some random spots.

Starbucks bs ollie.

Noseblunt for Geechy.

Jason Lee spot. This is at a courthouse or some kind of official building and some BMXers were sessioning it without any problems except for the fact bums were sleeping on all the good transitions.

You won’t find these in Bethlehem unfortunately.

Mandatory “traffic sucks in LA” photo on the way to Agenda.

LBC

Pre-Agenda.

To the left, Lil’ Wayne’s new clothing company for skaters is setting up.

West coast friends.

Open Sesame. A Steve Nesser approved Mediterranean spot.  Kind of looks gnarly but its real good.

Tough decisions must be made on trade show trips.

Peanut butter and chocolate brownie to end the first day.

Time to go to work . . . .

Breakfast is an important meal . . . even more important when its in the hotel’s VIP suite.

Instagrammin’ and Instagrammer.

I think one person designed every convention center in the world.

The Berrics Agenda. See almost any pro in their natural environment.

REDISCOVER DC.

I should have taken a picture of Chris Cole holding his new shoe, the Chris Cole S Lite but I didn’t.  This blog post sucks.  It’s really light though . . . come pick it up at Homebase now! (hint, hint, nudge, wink)

Working on a little idea with DC to give you some free stuff for trying the new DC footwear.  While I was doing that, John was talking about getting DC shop flow . . .

Tombo’s been working hard for 5Boro.

Join or Die. Premiering in February and yes, we’re doing an in-store premiere.  You already know.

Notice anything different?

Congrats Took!

Congrats Willy!

What up Holmes? Chase is still lurking around the CONS booth even though he doesn’t work for them anymore.

Like I said, you can see any pro skater in their natural environment.  Deluxe had an airsoft shooting gallery where you could shoot targets for prizes.  John won a deck.  Andy Roy shot people.  I was scared. So was Tombo, since the 5Boro booth was right across from Deluxe.

Mighty Healthy is coming up.

Captain Cooke.

Dabs Myla. Google them.

More on HUF x Haroshi later.

Hands down one of my favorite skate brands- Fourstar.

RVCA was a good idea.  Maybe ESWIC will be better.

Diamond Supply Co is always stepping it up with new accessories because you have enough t-shirts.

Dinner with family from L-R-G and new homies from Y&R.

Lost the food photos but who cares right?  This is the hood Snoop came up in.

I wanted to go to the Stussy x Heel Bruise event but it ended before dinner did.  Guess we’re going to see DMX at the DGK x Skate Mental party.

Lots of abbreviations here: MGK was opening for DMX.  He’s sponsored by Y&R.  The Y&R marketing head is an old homie from LRG so a long story short- I had champagne with a sparkler in it.

So did Fabian Alomar.

Two designers I look up to:  Nick from Diamond and my older brother from L-R-G.  Guess which one is my brother.  Look careful- its tough.

ARRRRF, ARRRRRF.

I’m sure you’ll know of MGK soon enough.  I thought he put on a good show.

No, I do not have a picture of Andy Roy “attacking” or “trying to hug” DMX.  But thanks to TMZ . . .

Thanks DGK.  Thanks Skate Mental. Thanks drink tickets and free sparkler champagne.

Without too much explanation, I missed breakfast and went right to lunch at Super Mex.

Worked all day on Day 2 then met John and the other skateshops for the bus ride to The Berrics.

Avoid hectic session and go right to the In’ n Out truck.

Yes, you have seen this picture but it doesn’t mean that its any less awesome.

Double double, coke and a skateboard mainly used as a table on this trip to The Berrics.

I review food and Ripped Laces reviews skate shoes.  Stick to the shoes homie, get off my burger.

Berra & The Chief.

Chase has a new toy to film with.

Same tricks as last trip but off the gnarlier rail.  Frontboard kickflip out.

This guy flew down from SF for one thing and one thing only . . . . Supercross.

Koston & Steve from Mishka.  Sorry I haven’t sent you the photo yet man.

Bosses. Aaron runs Agenda.  Ryan runs The Berrics.  Koston play golf.

Get out.

Fried chicken and waffles after eating In’ n Out?  Sure.

Never miss a chance to eat at Roscoe’s. Don’t jaywalk in front a cop to do it though.  You’ll end up running into Roscoe’s like a crazy person so you don’t get caught.  So I’ve heard it happens . . .

Just looking at that meal gives me the “itus.”

HUF x Haroshi Party & San Diego next post . . .

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.

See the rest of the photos . . .

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.