Pancakes and Winkler

Regular weekend or long weekend, they should all start out with pancakes!

Post pancakes, we headed out of town to see the brand spankin' new skate park they built in Winkler, Manitoba. We didn't realize there was a storm the night before, so the park needed some clean up action when we got there...

After a good sweep, this bowl was ready for action!

So was the rest of the park! Number one son with a big ollie.

50-50

Over the wall... Like you mean it!

Big front side air to flat!

Bumped in to Matt and Mat!

Matt with a backside disaster.

At first glance, you would think this was some sort of bail shot, but no... Local skater Chris was whipping up these early-grab-Christ-air-type-deals to flat. Landed? Yes!

The park is great. The day was sunny, hotter than hot and then we had what seemed like a four minute warning of dark clouds before the sky dumped sooo much rain! How much you ask? This much!

Hey...small town Main St. fun! Stand on the curb and hope to get splashed in traffic. Mission accomplished during this Ram race!

Thank you Winkler! That's that!

Make good choices

Met up with an old friend the other day and we took a stroll through his neighborhood with our cameras. I grabbed this shot of him for an up and coming story we're working on.

That's all you get for now! Stay tuned!

You're seeing green...

...I'm seeing red. No not really, but just looking at this green wall makes me think of the lyrics to the unrelated Descendents song "Green".

A small sampling from some shots I did for my friend Amanda the other day...Amanda and her bike.

Amanda!

That's that!

Back pocket

As always...no apologies for the delay, but it is about time to we started catching up with some posts. Usually we strive to keep things all current affairs and all, but we're starting off with some photos I've been keeping in my back pocket for quite some time.

We were on our way out of town one night, earlier in July. There just happened to be an automobile enthusiast get together going down at the legislative grounds that night, so we made sure to take the "long way" out of town.

First car I spied with my little eye was Mario's 64. Mario was no where in sight, but his car is always a reminder of the 64 that sits in the back lane waiting for some TLC.

Old school buses...

...museums on wheels!

Boba Fett!

Met a heavily armed dude named Trevor. Armed with Nikons anyway!

Met a lady named Helga.

Met a dude named Roger. I obviously needed to ask to take a shot of "the bars".

Relax...anywhere! Awesome!

Not an hour later...a sure sign we were out of town. Yes, we have plenty of deer in the city, but you get the point.

You don't see THIS in the city, if at all!

A parking lot FULL of cars and only the red Volkswagen was the fish fly magnet!

A few days later, caught this dragon fly doing some push ups! No, not really.

Now we return you to your regularly scheduled program...

Angela in B&W

One of the perks of living life without a cell phone and still owning a film camera or two or three, is that not everything is so instant. Sometimes that's a good thing. I think I shot Angela way back in January of this year. A few days ago I processed the film. That's waiting about 7 months to see how the shots turned out! Crazy concept to some? Maybe.

Angela

They grow up so fast.

The saying goes: "they grow up so fast". Looking back at the last ten years, I'd have to agree. Below is a photo of Number One Son (right) with a couple of his buddies (the grom crew) during the last week of him being nine years old.

When nine year old Jari ups the anti...

...the other nine year old steps up to the plate and accepts the non verbal challenge. The long standing goal to ollie the Komenda Skatepark seven stair set before turning ten years old...check!

Now at ten... time to soar to new heights!

That's that!

Piling rocks!

According to good ol' Wikipedia: "Cairn is a man-made pile (or stack) of stones. It comes from the Scottish Gaelic: càrn (plural càirn). Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas. They vary in size from small stone markers to entire artificial hills, and in complexity from loose, conical rock piles to delicately balanced sculptures and elaborate feats of megalithic engineering. Cairns may be painted or otherwise decorated, e.g. for increased visibility or for religious reasons.

In modern times, cairns are often erected as landmarks, a use they have had since ancient times. Since prehistory, they have also been built as sepulchral monuments, or used for defensive, hunting, ceremonial, astronomical and other purposes."

Well this cairn or pile of rocks must fall in to the "other purposes" category...

Grady Kuly! Ollie king!

This is L.A., not Winnipeg

If you're in to bands like The Freeze, The F.U.'s and Gang Green, you're more than likely familiar with the 1982 various artist compilation entitled "The is Boston not L.A.". If that is the case, you'd probably be more appreciative and understanding when we make posts like "This is Winnipeg, Not L.A.". Well, keeping with the same theme, I'm thrilled that the B&W film is finally processed and all the other photos taken during our stay on the west coast were ready for uploading so we can bring you "This is L.A., not Winnipeg!"

Our reason for being in California in the first place was to drop off Number One Son at Element Skate Camp. We chose to stay in Venice Beach, prior to, during and after the time he was in said camp. I'd like to think we took in Venice Beach with eyes wide open...

...Open to the fact that Venice is west side culture, a vibrant place to be since the 50's and 60's, runs deep with history and social diversity and once you show up, you may never want to leave!

Owned, rented or borrowed, the boardwalk between Venice Beach and Santa Monica is full of people riding bikes from sunrise...

...to sunset and beyond.

Skateboards? If you can't already imagine California/West Coast culture to be like this... Regardless of size, shape, gender, race, skill level or social standing, nearly everyone embraces the skateboard as a mode of transportation, just like Ciara...

As you could expect when on the west coast, it's not all bikes, scooters, Segways and skateboards. You'll no doubt pass a head turning car on more than one occasion.

As one would expect in a community pioneered by artists; there would be art for sale...

...as well as not for sale.

Most of it by the artists themselves; while some of it had a bit more of a commercial feel like the offerings at Titanic.

Not to discredit how truly amazing these pieces of art truly were.

Large like Optimus Prime (above) or small like these wonderful creations on the sidewalk display!

Yes, we're in California...

...If sunglasses won't help solve all of your glaucoma issues, maybe you need to seek out a stronger prescription? Just keep in mind that 10-20 years from now, it could be YOU being one of the many people hanging out on the boardwalk with your very own cardboard "need money for weed" signs!

If street vendors on the boardwalk aren't your thing, but you still have bankroll burning a hole in your pocket... Maybe you're better off heading for the shops of Abbot Kinney or down to Santa Monica where we found this very expensive, but most impressive Dr. Martens store.

If you stick around Santa Monica until dark, you'll be able to catch the nightlife of the infamous Santa Monica Pier.

Where we also caught a little solo parkour action.

All of this running around is bound to make you hungry, so it's time for food! Late night in Santa Monica? We found vegan offerings like this pizza at Rosti Tuscan Kitchen.

Not bad, but not nearly as great as the vegan, organic and macrobiotic offerings at Seed in Venice Beach like these cooler ranch tacos...

...or this delicious seitan sirloin burger

If I was going to make a suggestion of a place that you MUST try when in Santa Monica (or Hollywood)...Swingers!

Not all vegan, but vegan friendly enough for the vegan "thumbs up" legend on their menu.

Number one reason we'd suggest this place? Pancakes! Anytime! Obviously!

Nachos!

Be warned, if you order this burger, you'll have to dig the grainy texture...quinoa? Just sayin'

Cobb salad.

Hardcore Soy Shake

Green eyed lady!

It goes without saying... ass, cash or grass! Nobody eats for free.

Swing and Destroy! Thrasher Magazine approved? Maybe not. Maybe the editors eat at Swingers?

Before lunch or after lunch, it doesn't matter... get to the Venice Beach Skatepark! Clinton is a big dude (big in a "goes to the gym and works out" good way). That's why it is so much more impressive to see him pull inverts like this one! Awesome, chill dude too!

Redbull may flow Steve Martinez some drinks and some of his gear (I am guessing at this), but clearly he doesn't need the Redbull as he already has his own wings!

All jokes aside, he kills it at this park!

I had no doubt in my mind that we'd randomly bump in to a few of the pirates from a skate tour I was on with some of the boys from Venice Beach a couple of years ago and Mightye was no exception!

Mightye!

Number One Son getting in on the action after his return from camp...

Board slide.

Over the hip!

Venice Beach Skatepark, you will be missed!

Exercising patience while we skate...

I think ALL skate parks should have a ready accessible body of water to swim in post skate session! Although there is a beach right at the park, we swung back down to Santa Monica...

Ocean!

Beach!

Now that we got that out of our system, we returned to Venice Beach. As seen on T.V. (AMC) and earlier in the week for us, we returned once again to the Venice Beach Freak Show!

Marcus "The Creature".

???

Lots to see inside the museum.

Jessa, the bearded lady!

Asia Ray!

Morgue!

The amazing, courageous, courteous and wonderful Billy Owen!

Meanwhile... breaking out the film camera for some B&W of the Venice Beach locals back at the skate park...

Peck!

Autumn!

Diana!

Randy!

Not so local, Mary (from South Central L.A.).

Z-Flex, Globe, Arbor, Dusters or Penny boards... All a staple on the boardwalk.

Chris came to visit with us from Vegas!

Shooting the shooter.

At dusk...

Strike a pose!

Thank you Los Angeles!

Looking for a place to stay while in Venice Beach? Look no further! We stayed HERE and we'd refer any of our friends and family to do the same! That's that!