Leland Ware
Freelance writer and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. 48blocks.com
More by Leland Ware
The Art of Portraiture :: A Conversation with Photographer Phil Knott
11.20.18 — Catching up with legendary British photographer Phil Knott on the art of portraiture. He's shot the likes of JAY Z, Amy Winehouse, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, RZA,...read more
How Donny Damron Founded Pharmacy Boardshop When He Was Only 19 Years Old
11.07.18 — Pharmacy Boardshop is now a thriving multi-store skate shop operation. Here's how a young kid with big dreams named Donny Damron started it all at the age of 19 while...read more
Servin' Slices :: Meet Scarr Pimentel of Scarr's Pizza, New York City's Best
08.28.18 — “If you’ve got $3-4 in your pocket, you can afford to come in here & eat. And you’re eating really good, because I use the best ingredients in the world.”...read more
A Conversation with Jamie Thomas on His New Podcast Series 'Thrill of It All'
08.08.18 — "I think that we grow the most when we really push ourselves and struggle." We caught up with Jamie Thomas—a guy who's truly seen it all—to discuss his new inspirational...read more
Make Noise :: An Interview with Ian Michna, the Man Behind Jenkem Magazine
04.17.17 — An interview with Ian Michna on how his DIY project Jenkem became an exponentially growing media brand & leading voice of irreverence in skateboarding.read more
Forever Young :: Spencer Fujimoto Isn't Letting Age Stop His Grind
02.07.17 — To celebrate his 40th birthday, Spencer Fujimoto filmed a skate part riding in rare Jordans from his expansive sneaker collection. read more
Scene Building :: The adidas Showcase Goes Global
02.01.17 — "Skateboarding has a long history of producing heroes who end up changing the conversation around art, music, fashion, and style." adidas's group art show The Showcase celebrates the creativity of...read more
Through the Viewfinder :: Andrea DoSouto
12.08.16 — Our latest edition of "Through the Viewfinder" focuses its lens on Spain-born photographer Andrea DoSouto, whose upbringing in skate culture has led to a distinct aesthetic.read more
Against the Grain :: How Jim Gray and Acme Changed Skateboarding Forever
09.22.16 — "We were out to prove that you could have a solid company without pros riding for you—and it wasn't all based on whose name was on your product." We document...read more
Through the Viewfinder :: Behind Patrick O'Dell's 12 Favorite Photos
08.02.16 — "Epicly Later'd" creator and photographer Patrick O'Dell shares some of his favorite skate photos that he's personally shot over the years and the surprising stories behind them.read more
Behind the Rise of Epicly Later'd :: A Conversation with Patrick O’Dell
07.21.16 — "I wanted to elevate it and take it THAT seriously like we were talking about an art or a sport." Patrick O'Dell on creating Vice's celebrated skateboarding docuseries, Epicly Later'd.read more
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi :: An Interview with Mega of Black Scale
06.20.16 — "I think some brands lost [themselves] by getting too used to the money... They forgot about the integrity of why we became brands." Mega on the story of Black Scale,...read more
Through the Viewfinder: Travis Jensen Shares the Stories Behind His 10 Favorite Shots
04.11.16 — For this inaugural edition of "Through the Viewfinder," we take a look at some iconic street photographs taken by Travis Jensen, featuring SF's yet-to-be gentrified Excelsior District, a riot, and...read more
TOP 5 :: Hamilton Harris Shares an Insider's Perspective on the Cult Film 'Kids'
03.28.16 — After our in-depth conversation with Hamilton Harris about the Kids documentary that he’s working on—20 years after starring in it himself—we followed up to get an insider's perspective on what...read more
20 Years after His Role in 'Kids,' Hamilton Harris Is Making a Documentary on It
02.29.16 — Hamilton Harris is a native New Yorker cast as himself in the cult-classic Kids. 20 years later, he's spearheading the production of a documentary about the community surrounding the iconic...read more
19-Year-Old Artist TriHumph or Tragedy Debuts in NYC Tomorrow
02.25.16 — TriHumph or Tragedy is a 19-year-old artist that will be debuting his work at the adidas Originals Showcase at SoHo arts, located at 76 Wooster Street in New York City.read more
RB Umali Recounts Life As a Filmer in the '90s NYC Skate Scene
01.20.16 — "The level of skating has gone up, while our attention span and the longevity of a video project has gone down." A history lesson on an East Coast scene that...read more
Rise of the Independent Skate Brand :: Josh Stewart of Theories of Atlantis
01.07.16 — How Josh Stewart's initial distribution efforts for his critically-acclaimed "Static" video series escalated into Theories of Atlantis, a company that now distributes core skate brands like Polar and Traffic.read more
2015's Defining Moments in Skateboarding
12.17.15 — "If there was one constant theme in skateboarding this year, it was change." Mike Cheq recaps skateboarding's biggest happenings in 2015. read more
The Journey is the Destination :: An Interview with Tommy Guerrero
11.09.15 — "Skating was all about non-conformity. It taught me everything I know really." Skate legend Tommy Guerrero reflects on the '80s SF skate scene, his music, and what drives his need...read more
The Road Less Traveled :: Chef Chad Minton on Launching a Lifestyle Brand for Cooks
10.22.15 — From skating for H-Street skateboards, to hitchhiking to Alaska, to becoming a dishwasher, line cook, and now-Michelin star chef with his own lifestyle brand True Cooks, Chad Minton has had...read more
GOOD AS GOLD :: From Skateboarding to Jewelry Making—Spencer Fujimoto
09.14.15 — Spencer Fujimoto is a skateboarder turned entrepreneur who took the road less traveled, picked up a craft he learned in high school, and applied it to the culture he thrived...read more
Clean & Casual: Jimmy Gorecki is the Guy That Made Sweatpants Cool Again
07.30.15 — Pharrell, Dev, Zeke and Luther, Gourmet, Street League, fatherhood and Jimmy Sweatpants ... Jimmy Gorecki has an impressive resume, to say the least.read more
Lifestyle Brand Paterson League Pays Homage to New Jersey, Skate, & Tennis
07.21.15 — Paterson League is a uniquely skateboarding and tennis-influenced brand whose founder German Nieves worked behind the scenes of 10 Deep and J. Crew before quitting to work on his brand...read more
Little Fish, Big Pond :: James Kelch & Mike York on the DIY Skate Company Movement
07.13.15 — Over the past couple of years, the landscape of the skateboard industry has been changing. Small independent brands run by skaters with pedigrees have emerged, giving larger, more established companies...read more