This was another busy weekend, but filled with some good times. LA got some welcome visitors from SF and Baltimore, coming down and across for VTN in Pasadena and for some Toypunks filming. Here's a visual document of what was happening over the weekend: Toypunks in LA: Chris adlibs with a lighting stand much to Justin's amusement. The VTN crew head down the increasingly trendy Fairfax Avenue to check out one hip store after another. Una (sp?), Isaac, Justin, Josh and Chris casually pose for a magazine spread entitled "deathtrip toykids hellbent on casuality" which sets out to examine the link between vinyl collecting and urban gentrification. but by teh time we get our Damiano's pizza there's only two stores left open, one of which is indie comic and book store Family: after raging hard on Fairfax, and me picking up my sneaker consignment sale check form Airflight Club, some TV event where two blokes hit teh crap out of each other is next on the agenda followed by a "sixer" or 10 in Pasadena. Despite all this raging, when we get to VTN on Sunday morning, the S7 crew are all set up, and there is a line of 300 or so (mainly Western) toy nutters already there: a line which Pete and me would have been at the back of, if not for Kirkland "saving" us a spot deliriously near the front! Once inside, things get SUPER crowded thanks to Western toy frenzy, but of course we head straight to S7 to grab our freakin' FrankenGhosts...and VERY nice they are too. Isaac looks exceptionally chipper...as always...in his red RFSO shirt. Justin rocks the Shockerwear like a true pro (for a list of where to buy these fine items, see the index on page 50): As the madness, and people pushing strollers (!!!) subsides, Scott joins us and LASK assembles (minus Rick), and grants temporary membership to Toybot...who has since been lynched for letting us in the line. LASK would have defended him, but we were too busy getting Frankenghosts...sorry dude.... Man, turns out there are a few good things in addition to FG's, so despite a spending moritorium for me, I get that fullsize silver Drag from Flopdoodle...which Tim suddenly marks down to a very decent $110 - all 4 of them disappear in seconds! As a way of thanking him, we FORCE him to become honorary LASK. See how happy he looks: A quick stroll around teh place reveals that some altrusitic dude is selling Yellow Jled Mr Bunnys for a bargain $875 each...yes folks, $875! I see Long Gone John eyeing one, and tell him not to succumb...turns out he wasn't anyway...also turns out LGJ is a nice friendly guy. One really cool thing is that Amanda Visell and Andrew Brandou are in attendance, and it seems no one really cares, so that means its a cinch to say hi and get a sketch without being a pain in teh ass. Andrew is one of my favorite painters, and a real nice guy, so its awesome to tell him that and chat. I missed the CHG show (damn), but Pete tells me it is stunning! Here's Andrew: and Here's Amanda: Not shown but honorable mentions go to: Sarah, Joemm, Adam Wizeguy, Richard Wheaty Wheat, Keith Skullstar, Henry Jordan23, Dove and the omnipresent Jack VinylPulse. Gotta give VTN a hand for the goodie bag too...it wasn't half bad...some nasty toys in there (for us Jp vinyl elitists anyway), but some good mags and some new key chains can't be bad! Have to say, this weekend kind of ruled. Hangin with fellow enthusiasts and good friends in the real world is, for me anyway, the real payoff from everything we invest in this online world known as Skullbrain.org. ...errrr.... righteous!
Yeah good pics. I really wanted to stay and finally introduce myself but the girlfriend was in tow and she was pissed enough just to be there haha. Next time!
