Monthly Archives: March 2010

I had lunch with Mike Shinoda at this bomb Indian spot in the Valley.  I love me some chicken tikka masala and a side of raita.  We were talking about how we came up on Indian food, for me, I think it was going with my friend Zach to Hare Krishna temples as a teenager during our hardcore/vegetarian years.  Then we got to talking about music and so on and so forth.  His band Linkin Park is working on some really great things this year, they’re a smart collective and like I was telling Mike, somewhat anomalous for a rock band.  They seemingly get along just fine, bang out albums cover to cover with hit singles, and are passionate about the journey.  It’s a great life.

Sarah Morrison is awesome, let’s just leave it at that. I always have a good time with her.  You can imagine how much fun she is judging by her Twitter alone.  And that’s Natalia Brutalia nursing the diet coke.

And there’s Natalia again.  This was at my place over the weekend, and she’s with Billy Roper.

by bobbyhundreds

It’s been 2 years since The Hundreds San Francisco first opened its doors, but everytime Ben and I step foot in the shop, we’re still blown away at how awesome it is.  We’ve traveled around the world to study all kinds of retail boutiques, and nothing comes close to this .. but hey,.. maybe we’re biased?!  Designed by Tylerspencer, the themes borrow from as far as Pirates of the Caribbean to Goonies to Peter Pan to the catacombs.  You can read the entire story of how the shop came together HERE.

If you’re in the Bay Area, Northern California, make it a point to check out The Hundreds SF, it’s a completely different vibe but the soul stays the same. Or I should say, souls.

585 Post St. in Union Square.  Corner of Post and Taylor:

by bobbyhundreds

Our last stop in San Francisco is Benny Gold‘s new studio and future retail front in the Mission.  Levi greets Ben and I at the door.

Benny and his wife Hiromi are diving headfirst into his namesake brand and label.  He’s slowing down on outside client work and she quit her full-time job to provide the backbone of the business.  It’s inspiring to see these two putting all their eggs in one basket, and going for it.  It’s where The Hundreds was at years ago, but in some ways Benny is already far ahead of us now.  We all take different paths to reach our perceived goal, there’s not necessarily a right or wrong way to be successful at this.

Afterwards, Benny took us around his local neighborhood, the Mission District.  I love this pocket of San Francisco, it’s authentically and unmistakably SF.  Nowhere else in the world like it or its inhabitants.

I gotta come back for this torta.

Another great facet of SF life are all the legendary skateboarding spots… emblazoned in my memory thanks to decades of skate media coverage in the City.  The EMB, Pier 7, and if you follow skateboarding, this should look familiar.  Skateboarders are the only people who get genuinely excited about everyday urban architecture like ledges, handrails, and curbs.  So awesome.

by bobbyhundreds

We were walking down the hill in San Francisco behind these two. They were clearly excited about something. Plus, they had baskets of lollipops, so I asked ‘em what they were doing, what all the fuss was about. These 2 girls are chasing a dream, and actually realizing it before your very eyes. The one on the right quit her job the day before and her rent’s due in a matter of days, but she believes so strongly in their project that she’s all smiles and no worries.  They didn’t have a business card because they’re a “green” company but they’re called WISHPOP and local SF shops are expressing interest.  Good for them. You go girls.

by bobbyhundreds

If you make a right out of The Hundreds San Francisco, and walk deeper into Union Square, you’ll eventually make it to Black Scale.  Situated on the 2nd floor and dressed with their iconic flags on the exterior, Black Scale carries a few outside brands, but mainly concentrate on their own apparel line.  Tees and New Eras and jewelry, fleece and headwear, and cut/sew.  BS has got all bases covered.

In the back is the office and studio, where all the black magic happens.  Uncle Al:

Chopping it up, literally and figuratively, with Alfred. There’s a sneak peek on the wall of some of the things he’s been working with Mega on.

by bobbyhundreds

Tony, Ben and I are up in San Francisco.  We just recently celebrated the 2-year anniversary of The Hundreds SF.. doesn’t seem that long ago but so much has happened in the interim.  For one, there’s a legitimate community of retail shops now conglomerated in the vicinity.  And you know it all started with Huf on Sutter:

Huf stocks Nike SB, skate hardgoods and select streetwear, but their main focus is their inhouse apparel and footwear brand, HUF.  Mackie’s up here from Huf LA now, and that’s John who’s been here for a minute.

This morning, we were rounding the corner from Dottie’s and bumped into John, owner of Jack’s.  Funny because we had just stopped into his newest location right up the street from us on Post.

Jack’s carries a diverse selection of apparel, from Nudie denim to Marc Jacobs, Obey to Cheap Monday.

If that’s not enough, pop your head in just to say hi to Lindsay and Tina.  Well worth it.

Another recent addition to Post St. is the INVS shop, which stocks their own inhouse t-shirts and some other local brands.  That’s Charlie.

If you head the other way down Post and into Union Square, you’ll find Harputs Union on Geary.  They’re about to move right next door, but regardless, I wanted to tell you a bit about what they do here. Obviously related to the original Harputs sneaker shop on Fillmore, Harputs Union stocks Y-3, Comme des Garcons, and local favorites Tellason and Martha Davis.

But their main gig is constructing their own inhouse range, where you custom-make your own pieces using available fabrics.  It’s all done right upstairs.

Rachel runs the show. I like her glasses, they’re vintage Playboy frames that were picked up somewhere on the other side of the world and are now being sold in her shop.  San Francisco’s looking up, more than ever.  More coverage coming your way…

by bobbyhundreds

Today two new matte versions of the Phoenix sunglasses, from the The Hundreds Spring 2010 Eyeware collection, drop at THLA and THSF. These classic California Culture-inspired shades feature 100% hand made acetate frames, 5 barrel metal hinges, glossy laser etched tonal logos on the left side, and they’re made in Italy. They come in black matte and purple matte – the purple ones feature CR-39 flash mirrored gold lenses.

Angels Flight re-opens!  You remember when we were here back in the Fall, well the historic cable train cars are once again rolling up and down Bunker Hill in downtown Los Angeles.  It’s a quarter each way and lasts a couple minutes tops, but it’s a slice of L.A. history. Enjoy the ride.

by bobbyhundreds