Fall is here now and we have already had some chilly rains falling. It is good for me because I only surf, and work, in the summer.  Nowadays I can spend more quality time reading books, and going to parties. Recently, Japanese illustrator Yusuke Hanai opened his solo exhibition, FLAKE, at the Surf Indian in Pacific Beach, CA.    The opening night of FLAKE, was incredible. The Mattson 2 played their new tunes to an excited audience. There were quite a few people at the exhibition and I immediately recognized several faces like Tyler Warren, Josh...  read more >>>

Matt Costa is cool, He’s groovy and he is on one of the coolest groovy labels out there, Brushfire Records. Matt burst onto the mainstream scene with his album Songs We Sing (2006) and songs like “Sunshine” and “These Arms”. He has done several songs with Jack Johnson for surf films and soundtracks and I really enjoyed “Mr. Pitiful” from Unfamiliar Faces (2008). Now I am fortunate enough to have a couple acquaintances at Brushfire Records so I received this special invite to see Matt play songs from his forthcoming album Mobile Chateau. I was so s...  read more >>>

I would wager that you could poll surfer’s young and old, surfers deeply in the know and they would confirm my sense that the California Surf Museum was graced by the single most amazing gathering of the Women of surfing ever assembled.Linda Benson, Jenifer Smith, Julie Cox, Keala Kennelly, Kathy “Gidget” Zuckerman, Donna Matson, Courtney Conologue, Maya Gabeira, Eve Fletcher, Indy Callaway, Jane Schmauss, Lisa Anderson, Kassia Meador, Cori Schumacher, Prue Jefferies, Jeanette Schumacher-Prince, Dessa Kirk, Cher Pendarvis, Frieda Zamba and so many others. Sure we m...  read more >>>

The last Saturday morning was not really cheering at all, especially for surfers living in the North San Diego County. It became a typical, June Gloomy early morning that I checked surf online and exhaled a deep sigh for quite a bit on-shore condition. If it was not the morning of June 16th 2010, I would definitely go back to sleep. But it was another hazy morning, of a fun event. Yes, Patagonia Cardiff held a Surfboard Swap Meet on the last Saturday. So under the gray dense sky, we drove down to the shop with a great hope: sell some boards we do not ride anymore and get some new-...  read more >>>

I had heard many things about Sacred Craft mostly excited fun soundings but some bitter crunchy things, especially as it has grown. I myself, not having been, took stock in who I was hearing what from and made a catalog and a determination that of course I must attend this gathering in person to assess a true sense for myself of what this tribal meeting to honor the heart of our passion was all about. It, Sacred Craft started small and down home then grew quite fast it seem. I tried and tried and had the worst luck getting myself to the right place at the time and still hadn’t be...  read more >>>

This is the magazine that introduced me, that lead me, that informed me. The pages I stared at enraptured over hours and hours anytime I could get my hands on one or pull together the cash to buy one for myself. The legendary SURFER Magazine was being celebrated and the surf community showed up to lift a glass and talk story. One of the beautiful things about the California Surf Festival is how personal and open the feel is. Members and festival goers are able to enjoy and evening of VIP treatment in the museum with some of the best local food and drink while being feet even inches aw...  read more >>>

On March 13th the scene was hot for people gathering at the Pacific Beach Surf Shop.  Actually, that night was cold enough to make me want to stay home with a few cups of coffee. But, oh god, somehow I drove my car that night to see some of my old buddies, have some laughs, free drinks and food among the crowd.   Okay, it was my first time visiting the famous PB Surf Shop, and I was surprised how clean and neat they’ve kept the store. Smiling, friendly shop assistants were giving free food and drink, so I greedily grabbed cokes and chips and rushed up to the front row to ...  read more >>>

Epic Japanese surf magazine, NALU Comes to Oceanside One of the most beautiful surf magazines in the world, at least of the one’s that I am aware of is NALU. I can only comment on photos and layout because I don’t read Japanese but I know I really dig the mag, I’ll guess it’s probably something like the Surfer’s Journal of Japan. So I guess my point is, this very prestigious surf magazine from Japan, NALU, came to Oceanside to do a story on the “mini” long board craze. Enlisting the services of local expert from Chigasaki, Shige Koike, the cr...  read more >>>

Epic is a great word to describe what I saw and heard. The other day I took a late drive up to the City of Angels to take in the much anticipated premiere film from Taylor Steele’s young protégé Kai Neville. The stylish and smiling young artist from Australia has been under Taylor’s tutelage and has apparently created the film that will change the tide much like Taylors first films did many years ago. Taylor continues to break new ground in his cinematic works but for Kai’s digital canvas we are looking into the minds of the future of surfing style and filmmak...  read more >>>

Mitch Abshere has added 'shop owner' to his list of fabulous accomplishments. The man is a well respected surfer, designer, film maker and now shop owner.Surfings hip artist crew and the new biker scene showed up for Mitch’s grand opening of his new shop “Captain Helm” in South Oceanside. There was sushi and drink to be had as well as tattoo’s in the cool venue. The shop carries some of the hippest new independent lines like KookBox, INSIGHT, Loser Machine and of course Captain Fin Co. You can also find some killer deals on vintage and thrift store used items ...  read more >>>

Is it a fad? Now we see a lot of art-worked surfboards in every medium, DVD, books, posters, and our local beaches. They call themselves "Artists," having fun with spraying his/her boards. That is great. But, it is also pretty rare to see such an "art-board" pleasing to my eyes. Sometimes I feel this is like so-called "Surf Music." Most of them are very similar to one another, no-uniqueness. It is just because, maybe, I am not a person who seeks the very latest information. I do not read any surf-style magazines and do not check MTV. Oh well, art may be more li...  read more >>>

  Just a heads up about some coming stories to check back for. I recently spent a few days driving up the California coast as I’ll do a lot to bring you more great information and stories about the people and places that make up California to us. On this trip my focus was on three spots and whatever happened in between. I targeted a night at Leo Carrillo State Park camp ground just north of Malibu to kick things off. There are some great little waves in the area and it’s a beautiful spot to camp. I then moved out for a connection in Ventura with the always wonderful ...  read more >>>

Legends, locals and city officials gathered to celebrate the opening of the new California Surf Museum location. “Wow!” was often heard as people walked in the door to get their nametags and join the party. Party goers enjoyed Amazing food was provided by the Cohen’s “333” restaurant in Oceanside across from the pier and donated beverages from Beach House Winery, Papyrus winery and Primo Beer from Billabong. Names like Ho, Fletcher, Tico, Hynson, Ekstrom, Poppler, Grannis, Keck and more were in attendance. City officials Mayor Jim Wood, Councilmen Rocky Ch...  read more >>>

Persue pronounced (per sway) is somewhat of an anomaly among his peers. His design resume pre-dates almost any example of street aesthetics being paired with skateboarding. His earliest designs and art were essentially the catalyst that created modern day youth culture as we know it. Much of his work is in plain sight and yet his name is practically never attached to it. When he first entered the industry Adobe software was still brand-new and practically unheard of to the general public. Graffiti artists were not considered artists and they were certainly not considered designers. ...  read more >>>

It was a crisp winter night in L.A.; well crisp in a California kinda of way. I’m sure some of the hosts at tonight’s event would laugh and tell me what crisp truly means where they come from. The hosts tonight, a group of friends from Philadelphia, some who transplanted to L.A., some of the Delphi, are actually just in town for the their event to support bringing their solid brand of brotherly love to the frenzy that is the area known as Melrose. Melrose as a street has much to offer on many different blocks as it stretches across the middle of L.A. from West Hollywood to deep...  read more >>>

Nothing beats good community and says southern California like a warm and sunny backyard BBQ in the middle of November. Uncle Mike (Mike Walter) launched his new label 21-13 with a gathering in his back yard in Oceanside. Sweet music was on tap, The Gose Brothers and OMAR along with a special appearance by Ray Barbee. A sampling of the new line was on hand and Uncle Mike served up fresh grilled hot dog’s with a special seasoning and endless free MONSTER and sodas.   Not to mention Birthday cake. it was Uncle Mike’s Birthday as well. What a guy, It’s His B...  read more >>>

The First Annual California Surf Festival is set to break waves on the shores of Oceanside this November. Highlighting this inaugural Festival will be a special anniversary celebration of Bruce Brown and his 50 years in Filmmaking. Brown’s rich history as an action sports and surf filmmaker includes such hits as Slippery When Wet, On Any Sunday and the iconic Endless Summer. The First Annual California Surf Festival will take place in Oceanside at the Crest Theater, located at 102 Freeman Street, Oceanside, CA, on November 7th, 8th and 9th. The three-day Festival will featur...  read more >>>

First I have to admit of course that anyone who really knows me would be able to tell you that I’m a clothes horse or obsessed with clothing and cool styles. I’m not sure what the proper phrase is, I’ll ask around so we’ll use “Clothes Horse” for now. I was a new romantic then a goth punk back in the early 80’s and always obsessed with music and fashion related to music. Back in 2004 I discovered a small independent brand out of Australia that was trying to get its toe into the United States and the California skate and surf lifestyle scene. ...  read more >>>

From Indo by Lou Niles/photos II It seems the most common surf stories tell of exotic far off destinations, scary situations, score of a lifetime, the big hold down and run ins with corrupt local authorities, I was fortunate enough to enjoy a trip that had nearly all of these “qualities” with an extra special bonus quality shining over the top of it all. I’ve been to indo two times with SurfAid International The 2nd trip we spent on a boat. There to see first hand what was going on in various villages, traveling by boat allowed us to meet at all times, day or n...  read more >>>

    This is exactly the kind of non-surf, surf film I love to spend my evening watching. I went to the warm confines of the historic La Paloma theatre for this event; wrapped into everything was the commotion and excitement of it being a Big Red Productions and of course being Big Red they had chosen a non-profit to help that night on top of everything. Titled a story of War, Peace and Surfing, The story is excellent and the filming, being Homcy, is a stellar cinematic cruise through d...  read more >>>

The Billabong Girls Posse are excited about their prize Todd Hanigan performs Wolfgang Bloch and Tyler Warren discuss their craft one of the auction packages One of the coolest joints on the So Cal coast is The Surf Gallery, known for it’s...  read more >>>

The Glue Network, TOMS Shoes, Evocal, Flexfit and Jedidiah live art installation collaboration that was assembled over three days at ASR (Action Sports Retailers) Trade Expo moves to Swiv tackle Gallery to be auctioned and create more awareness. The Object of the Art installation is to inspire people to “GIVE LOVE BACK!” The campaign is to benefit FRIENDS OF TOMS (a registered 501c3 non-profit), and help to raise awareness for those around the world who have a dire need for shoes. For every pair purchased, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. ...  read more >>>