Recently, you met Justin from Black Sheep Postal Service. Great dude. Awesome taste in music. Owns bees.

Well, we chatted about moms a bit after our talk and decided to put together a special offer for the woman who birthed you, took care of you, fed you, put up with your crap for years and years, drove you to hockey practice, slaved over a stove preparing meals, made sure you looked good before leaving the house, and basically just had your best interest in mind all the time… I mean, that’s the majority, anyway. I could be way off.

Regardless, here’s the rub:

From now until Monday, May 6 2013, The Momentum has teamed up with Black Sheep Postal Service to make sure you treat mom right this year with a simple I Love You.

The first 50 people to use the promo code “MOMentum” at checkout will get a free Mothers Day card sent to the mom of their choice. But it’s only the first 50, so act fast. These are gonna come in a special gold colorway, for this limited offer only.

Go to www.blacksheeppostal.com and click on Send a Card and enter the discount code MOMentum for a FREE hand-written note to mom.

Order a card, make mom feel loved, and do your good deed as her child. And if there isn’t the traditional mom in your life, there might be a mom figure. And she’d appreciate this too.

Again, just go to BSPS, click Send a Card, enter your note and occasion and promo code MOMentum, and you’re good to go.

Cheers,

WGP

It was a gray and dreary Saturday morning when I made my way to Downtown Los Angeles. It didn’t take too long to get their from Mid-City, but when the weather wants you to stay inside, everything takes an extra 15 mental minutes.

But heading to DTLA was well worth it. I had been invited by Ellen, owner of Hedley & Bennett the week prior at Northern grade to come check out the offices and sample sale.

Upon arrival, I was the only one in the room towering ten floors above LA, aside from her crew. People trickled in as I walked around taking pictures. Being greeted with a mimosa was a nice touch, as was the ability to see this bustling operation. Though I only stayed for an hour or so, I found enough time to get a photo with Ellen, watch the crew try to position the office dog for a picture, almost help hang a curtain, and learn a lot more than I thought I would about a company that has the strength and originality to be huge.

This is the story of Hedley & Bennett as told by founder and all-around motivated and smart person, Ellen Bennett.

I’m gonna wager she’s thinking about aprons and the business. Or I could be way off and she’s really contemplating which Fast and Furious movie is the best in the franchise. (The answer is the first… and fourth.)

Basic Info:

Name: Ellen Bennett

Your Company: Hedley & Bennett

Where you livin: Highland Park/Downtown

Some background on the inspiration:

What inspired me to start making aprons was the terrible uniforms and aprons I was made to wear in the professional kitchen. The nicer uniforms were usually just for the chef so I thought why not make something awesome and practical that anyone, chef or line cook alike can wear and enjoy and use in a professional kitchen, not just beautiful and untouchable. My whole line is quite touchable in fact and can be put through the ringer just like the line cooks that wear them.

I was inspired by all the chefs I’ve worked with. How creative and hardworking they are yet they had to wear these plain aprons and uniforms that couldn’t reflect their personal style or individuality.Our newest spring line is very Southern Bell. Colorful, light, simple. We wanted to do something sweet and fun, lots of flower prints and beautiful pastel linens for the southern ladies in all of us.

That yellow. Those stripes. Aces.

What sets Hedley & Bennett apart:

Our fabrics are really unique. We use japanese and american selvage denim, italian chambray, linen, and selvage canvas. I hand choose every fabric and design it based specifically on what chefs and cooks in a kitchen actually need as opposed to some distant idea from someone who has no clue what the hell is actually useful in a kitchen. When I first started this I would wear my prototypes in the restaurant I worked at just to try out if they were really up to snuff or not. Also, everything is made in house here in Los Angeles so I am there making sure all of our production is right and meanwhile guiding the whole process. I run my company almost like a kitchen, nothing leaves until I see it and approve the product.

Come up and see em sometime

Positive feedback:

After meeting and talking aprons with Alton Brown at my office for the first time, he emailed me afterwards and said, “I’m sure you get this all the time but… you’re awesome.”

That was quite a statement coming from him because we think he is SO awesome.

Brand Nubian

The Elevator Pitch:

Beautiful, badass custom aprons made by a chef for a chef.

Unique to local shoppers in LA:

I still work at providence two days a week just for the love I have to cooking and because that is where this whole concept evolved. Because of that I think our company has a big advantage as we don’t lose sight of why we started this in the first place!

Another cool thing is we are super accessible. You can always come into our office in DTLA. If you’re not welcomed by a pug at the door, it’ll be of me running by with a bag of aprons or our production manager bringing in rolls of fabric. We are real people hustling in the world and doing our part to make the kitchen a bit more fashionable but still mega practical.

We aren’t this big corporate company, we are a bunch of girls and cooks and we so thoroughly enjoy doing our job, we will get you really excited about wearing aprons, I swear.

Lots of Ands. No ifs or buts. See what I did there?

The best way for our shoppers to use /consume/experience H&B: 

Our aprons are in lots of restaurants in LA and other cities so to see em in action, they can always peek into Baco Mercat or Son of a Gun, Terroni, or Pedaler’s Fork and catch a glimpse of the aprons being put to work. Or just get one and wear it, then you’ll understand why these aprons are bad ass.

Rolls and rolls and rolls of fabric.

—-

While Hedley & Bennet’s aprons worn already by plenty of people here in LA and elsewhere, I have to admit, my favorite spotting has been the fine purveyors of the roasted beans at Paper or Plastik in Mid-City. Best coffee shop in LA, IMHO.

Them purdy aprons all in a row.

Find Hedley & Bennet Here:

WebSite
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Had to include this. I was thinking it would be cool to highlight how they write business notes on a window. It turns out it just looks like I’m taking pictures of that dude’s hind-side. … Whatever.

Cheers,

WGP

The Black Sheep Skate Team.

I crazily under-dressed myself for the Internet and went over to the Northern Grade pop up here in Los Angeles, donning a Topman T and a pair of cheap jeans. And I might have been cynical walking through the doors. But I will admit: It was a hell of a good time, and I met a lot of really swell folks.

One of said swell people was Justin Kerr, founder and craftsman behind Black Sheep Postal Service. The bright colors of his postcards caught my eye and drew me to his table, but it was the conversation that followed that got me interested and eventually led to a sale for him. Anyone can make a postcard. Well, not everyone. But it takes the added bonus of the postcard being pre-stamped that really rules and sets Black Sheep apart. No more needing to remember stamps or hoping HR doesn’t catch on that you’re using the office stamp machine to send personal notes. And that’s good.

I chatted with Justin about his project and life and future and music and drinking habits. Very interesting guy.

So, meet Justin.

The Momentum: First off: Can you tell me where you are from and a little bit about yourself.

Justin Kerr: My name is Justin Kerr. I’m from Newport Beach, California, I’ve lived in Edinburgh, Tokyo, and now San Francisco. I’ve published 11 books, ridden my bicycle across the United States, toured the country in a rock band (The Blacks – see video here http://jdkjdk.com/2010/07/18/the-blacks-san-francisco-values-tour-video-1-of-3/). Most recently, before starting Black Sheep Postal Service I was Global Vice President of Levis Womens – responsible for every pair of women’s jeans sold anywhere in the world.

TM: What was the inspiration behind actually creating something? Have you always been crafty and into just making something when you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for somewhere?

JK: My inspiration for making things comes directly from Ian MacKaye and the band Minor Threat by way of Michael Azerrod’s “Our Band Could be your life.” I read that book when I was 22, just graduated from college, and the punk ethos of DIY (do it yourself) that Minor Threat embodied so completely, inspired me and changed my life for ever. (editor’s note: I know few people who have read this book. But every single person who has walked away inspired. Myself included.) Growing up my Dad always told us why we couldn’t do something – not tall enough to play basketball – we don’t know a publisher so don’t bother writing – etc… This book and that chapter on Minor Threat told me that you can just do it yourself, you don’t need anyone else to make it happen and from that day forward I have never worn a t-shirt that I didn’t screen print myself.

TM: Tell me something interesting that has happened to you in 2013.

JK: Well, good and bad, I nearly had a mental breakdown. But on the other hand, I have started my own BSPS skate team, so it just about evens out so far, 100 days into 2013.

TM: You’re making custom cards that are pretty rad. We spoke some at Northern Grade about the process but if you wouldn’t mind reiterating how this venture came about, that’d be aces.

JK: I have been sending postcards with my original art to friends and family for years now, I’ve probably sent over 1000 cards to people – and I think I can count on 2 hands the number of cards I’ve received in return. I used to do postcard battles with other artists, I used to sell subscriptions to postcard bombings – such as 25 Days of Winter where I would get people to pay me $25 and then I’d send them a piece of original art in the mail for 25 days in a row. It was a creative outlet that didn’t need to be money-making since I had a very good job with Old Navy and later Levis. From there, enough was enough and I struck out on my own not knowing what was next, but when I looked in the mirror and thought about what made me happy, it was screenprinting, sending postcards, and sending and receiving stuff in the mail.

TM: Where do you source your paper from?

JK: I walk down the block to Blick Art Supplies and buy uncut large sheets of Matte board. I hand cut everything myself

TM: How long have you been at this and where does the inspiration come from?

JK: Black Sheep Postal Service started in January. The original inspiration was my 90 year old Nana who saved all the postcards I sent her over the past year and when I visited her and saw them all on the wall I realized how much it meant to her to hear from me, and I thought – Gosh, there must be other lonely old people who want to hear from their kids and grandkids – maybe I can help fill a void, build a bridge between people’s good intentions and bad follow through…

TM: What has been the biggest challenge in starting this venture?

JK: Read my interview here: http://www.blacksheeppostal.com/blogs/news/7259412-justin-interviews-justin (editor’s note: read the whole thing.)

TM: Have any success stories yet?

JK: Every card that goes out is a mini-success story. I’m stoked to be helping people send real mail and I truly feel lucky to be a part of a process and project that I know is bringing a smile to people’s faces when they receive the cards. That feels good.

TM: What do you see the future of this being?

JK: The future – We’re sending 1000s of postcards everyday to people all around the world – each delivering a hello, a thank you, and of course a smile on the receiving end.

TM: What’s next? You going to branch into more products? Want to be carried in retail outlets?

JK: I’m still debating wholesale, but after this weekend at NothernGrade and the positive reaction to being able to buy cards with the stamps already included, I think there is a market for BSPS cards everywhere. People want the convenience, and not having stamps on the stationary is a hurdle to actually mailing stuff, so i think we’re on to something by curating awesome USPS first class forever stamps already on the cards. If anyone wants to carry us, give me a shout!

TM: Who’s your favorite band right now?

JK: The Drums or The Dum Dum Girls

TM: What are you drinking?

JK: Large Early Gray Tea with milk – every morning.

—

Justin isn’t a one-trick pony, though. Navigate your way over to www.jdkjdk.com for some of his other projects.

Also, he has bees. http://beesomebody.wordpress.com. That’s just cool.

Check out Black Sheep Postal Service.

And stay tuned for a nice Mother’s Day giveaway. Gonna be fun. And thank you, Justin for chatting with me and The Momentum crowd.

Cheers,

WGP

This week includes some old(er) pop-punk, new(er) indie rock and psyche stuff, and some rock n roll that has been inspiring me to work harder, be faster, and keep on keepin on. Hope it might do the same for you.

Listen to these songs. They will shake your bones and abscond your thrones.

Without further ado…

The Bouncing Souls – Lean On Sheena

Being Punk is cute, right?

Turbonegro – Shake Your Shit Machine

Image: Turbonegro.com

Fall Out Boy – The Phoenix

Source: Billboard.com

Against Me! – Spanish Moss

Photo: encyclopedia.com

Against All Authority – Chelsea Baby

The Black Angels – Indigo Meadow

Photo: KEXP

Alkaline Trio – I Wanna Be A Warhol

Sleigh Bells – End of the Line

Photo: Last.FM

Star Fucking Hipsters – 3000 Miles Away

Photo: Last.FM

Radical Face – Black Eyes

Photo: Last.FM

Cults – Rave On

Image: NME

That’ll do it for this week. Check it out next week.

Cheers,

WGP

Did a little Everyday Carry on the Instant of Grams lately, and people seemed to like it. Well, I guess about 20 people did, but that’s cool. I liked it, and that’s sorta all that matters. I didn’t start The Momentum to make friends… except I ended up making a lot, which has been the best. So, I thought about my life since moving to LA and how I’ve simplified my living since being on the golden coast.
What follows is a little roundup of what I rarely leave the house without on a daily basis. Hope you dig. 

It’s no lie that in recent past I’ve focused less on menswear stuffs and more on what really makes life kinda pretty much alright to live and love. While a ton of what makes life better is less physical possessions, there are some things that if I didn’t own, I would be sort of lost without.

 This about sums it up aside from a few things, which we’ll just have to touch on later… (See how leaving it open really leads to more blog posts and stuff? Rad.)

Let’s start up in the top left and work around, okay? Shouldn’t be too hard to follow along.

• Topo Designs Sling Bag: This bag goes everywhere with me. It’s got the single strap, enough room for a laptop or iPad or both, some Moleskines, some magazines, pens, a pocket comb, gum, and other essentials for the day. Plus, you can stash a few tall boys in there no problem should you feel like an afternoon beer in a park is feelin right.
• Magazines: You never know if the place you are gonna perch for a hot minute has wifi or not, and I don’t have a fancy 3G iPad. That said, I always come correct with a Thrasher Mag for the good writing, awesome pictures, and plethora of colorful ads… not to mention the nostalgia. But for a more interesting read, I bring something like an LA Mag. I mean, gotta learn about this city and all.
• TOMS: Give me allllllllllll the shit you want. I do not care. I like TOMS. I think they’re a cool company with a good mission and a nice product. Plus, I look good in them and they stick nicely to a Penny deck. They slip on easy, slip off easy. It’s like a boatshoe but good for pushing around. And if you’ve ever read this site, you’ll know I get a geek on for a boatshoe. There’s a refurb Sperry post en route…
• iPhone: It’s a 4. Not a 4S. But it gets the job done when I need to find a place with AC, a good cup of coffee, or a stiff drink. Plus it helps to take massive amounts of pictures of our dog.
• Bic Lighter: Who knows when I will come across an impromptu Slaughter concert in the park or need to singe off a thread?
• Headphones: This is one of those standard Apple sets you can snag from the fruit-named store. Mainly, I use headphones for those smoother skates up Pico or La Brea when I want to not hear every fucking asshole honking at red lights and would rather hear the smooth jams of Laura Jane Grace and company (Against Me!). It’s usually White Crosses. It’s a stellar record*.
• Pens: I pretty much only use Copic pens. I was turned onto them a few years back. I’ve never been a ballpoint snob, but they do write better than a lot of other pens on the market. Also, who leaves anywhere ever without a Sharpie? If you know, you know. If not… Whatever.
• Pocket Comb: ACE!!!!!!!! ROCK N ROLL!!!!!! (AKA Don’t be caught with your pants down.)
• iPad: For places with free Wi-Fi and good coffee or cold beer, the iPad is lighter than the MacBook Pro. So it’s slightly better for longer carries. Still, the iPad is no match for the productivity of the laptop. It’s just nice to have and to kill time with.
• Knockaround Sunglasses: Sunglasses for me are reminiscent of the Mitch joke about how he bought a $10 pen because he kept losing pens and was sick of not caring. My situation is the other way around. I kept buying expensive sunnies and breaking them. So having about 4 pairs of Knockarounds on hand are a good idea.
• Timex for JCrew Watch: I was given this awhile back from a friend of mine that used to work at J.Crew. It’s been trusty and with me for years now and hopefully for years to come. The saying is, “Everyone is late in LA.” And it’s true. And I am too. But I always know how late I am. Orange strap for increased visibility and safety when I’m jogging at night.
• Kershaw: One my best friends in the entire universe gave me this knife before we all went to a Halloween party one night. “Every dude carries a knife,” he said. I don’t disagree with that sentiment. So it’s been on my person since. And sometimes, in LA, it has come in handy… Mainly for cutting apple slices when I’m out and about. Still, it’s there. And it can cut through leather.
• FormFunctionForm Spore Fob: It’s good to have a tool on you at all times. Most opt for a Leatherman, which is a mighty fine instrument, indeed. Seeing as how I left mine in Denver like an idiot, I have this to tide me over. It’s got a lighter on it, too, should my Bic need a backup.
• Penny Skateboard: Since Christmas, I have been maybe the hugest cheerleader of Penny and this board. It’s smooth, fast, easy to carry when the puddles pop up, a conversation starter, tough as nails, and the perfect mode of conveyance when you’re new to a city and want to see it all. I ride this thing for a minimum of 7 miles on the daily. Only been hit, like, twice. So that’s somethin.

There will be more of these in the future. And yeah I know the concept is old. I had never done one and wanted to. So, thanks for checking it out.

WGP

* Spanish Moss is by far my favorite jam on White Crosses. Give it a listen. It’s great.

On the surface, the Ben Stiller vehicle known simply as Heavyweights, is a tale of one overweight loser kid that just wants to “hang out” all Summer long and eat Ding-Dongs (though Ding-Dongs are not so directly mentioned). But his parents would rather him have a productive Summer: one where he might lose a little weight, make some new friends, be a better person, and basically anything and everything that comes along with going to Summer camp. But, booooooooooo. Parents are lame, man!!! Summer is about sleeping in and doin nothing until you move up a size in your pants and finally beat the last boss in Mega Man (do kids still play that? Mega Man ruled…).

Well, seeing as how our “hero,” the fat and affable, Gerry, is a damn minor, he doesn’t get to lazily waste away this particular Summer, and his parents make the choice to send him to camp… fat camp… adorably called, “Camp Hope.”

Now here’s where I really start taking issue with this situation.

Okay… So… Gerry’s parents have this nice dude over to show him a flick about Camp Hope and all the cool things about it. Go karts are highlighted, and what kid wouldn’t want to ride go karts?? (Though, I see no way in which go karts would promote weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. I mean, they do all the work…) Gerry, being the moldable oaf he is, agrees that this looks rad. Then, UH OH, he figures out it’s a fat camp. Cue the breakdown! But since he don’t got the dough to shell out NOT to go, he goes. And I have to believe it isnt cheap. I mean, they have GO KARTS for crying out loud. Shit’s expensive.

I’m getting sidetracked. I just wanted to set up the scene.

Gerry goes to fat camp. Gerry’s parents are thrilled. Gerry meets Pat. Pat is an extremely overweight dude who has apparently been at Camp Hope for a good long while. Repeat: Pat is an extremely overweight dude who has apparently been at Camp Hope for a good long while. How is this not a red flag to ANYONE? “Fuckin A. The counselor is a manbeast. I want a refund before my kid gets on the bus.” I mean, that’s maybe what I would say.

And Gerry’s off to fat camp. Camp Hope. Hopefully he loses some weight. … Everything is roses when he shows up. All his bunkmates have secret stashes of candies and deli meats and other sordid goodies that “aren’t allowed.” (Side note: where in the hell did these kids get the money for all this shit without their parents knowledge? “Mom. Dad. I need like $20″ “For what, junior?” “Ummm. I just gotta run to the Kwik E Mart for…. batteries… and tape. For camp.” Weird.) So now, you have all these kids in bunks, all willfully wasting the good money their folks shelled out for them to maybe tone up a bit, and we’re, as the viewer supposed to go, “YEAH! Good for you!” Well, call me a financial conservative, but it pissed me off.

Like I said, everything is roses. The Blob is active. The go karts are killin it. the recreation is recreational. Then, it all comes to a halt: The original owners have gone bankrupt. (I wonder fucking why.) Enter: Tony Perkis, played immaculately by the wondrous, Ben Stiller. Tony has one mission. Tony’s mission is to sell his personal brand of weight loss techniques. And, as a marketing person myself, I thought it quite genius to purchase a failing fat camp and turn it into the best infomercial ever. Tony Perkis is a genius.

Tony starts actually producing results. Of course those lil rapscallions try to thwart his efforts by sneaking junk food (kind of successfully, but we’re supposed to cheer for that crap) and complaining to parents, but Tony is pretty much livin the dream he dreamt. They go on rad hikes. They do cool calisthenics. They eat better. What’s the problem?

Oh the problem is these kids don’t want to change. I mean, when you were 14, did you want to change? Shit no. You thought your Soundgarden CD would be as relevant then as it is now. Black Hole Sun sucked. Deal with it.

Alright, so basically, the kids revolt in this orgy of mischief, vandalism, trespassing and essential waste of money. Tony Perkis is seized in a bloodless coup and reprimanded into an electrified chicken coop under the watchful eye of the token British fat kid. THE CAMP HAS BEEN SAVED.

Oh shit. I almost forgot about the kids from Camp MVP. So…. wow… sorry. There’s this camp across the lake that Camp Hope sits on, and it’s full of athletes there for a Summer of fitness and raditude, called Camp MVP. Their lead counselor is David Bowe. (He was Bob in UHF. Awesome.) Camp MVP smokes these Camp Hope kids in all these inter-camp sports. It’s hilarious. Camp MVP rules. And Camp MVP is aspirational, though they’re made out to look like the jerks.

Tony’s seized. The kids go on a food bender, putting whipped cream on their pizzas and whatever else, and all is right in the magical land of crap.

Then comes parent’s weekend. Time for a propaganda film to make this dude, who was honestly just trying to make a few fatties lose a couple pounds, look like Hitler. (I am in NO way comparing anything to anything here. Just be cool.) Mission accomplished. The parents side with the kids and their perversion on the truth, while dear old Uncle Tony is left to rot like some sort of psychopath.

If this doesn’t really sum it up for you, go and rent the movie. It’s probably free on Netflix at this point. Take an hour and a half and watch it, not from a stupid viewer standpoint, but from someone who cares where their money goes. Tony had a dream to whip the world into better shape. Gerry’s parents want the best for him,and the best for him is not being a fat stump living on their couch.

Random Stanley Spadowski / UHF picture for David Bowe sake.

I walk away from this flick, which is now 18 years old, with the same feelings I had when I saw it 10 years ago: Tony was just trying to be a good businessman, and these idiot kids messed it up with lies. Poor old Uncle Tony.

/Rant.

Welcome to The Momentum.

WGP

Anyone can do art.

Well, that is to say, anyone can slap ink on paper and call it art. But it takes something special and usually something pretty simple to really get someone excited about something. The “someone” in this case is me. I sometimes feel like Jennifer Aniston in the Break-Up when she’s trying to convince that super-stud why something is art. I don’t see the point in paying mega bucks for something my yet-to-be-born child could make with his/her dinner and a highchair. (Enter opinions coming at me telling me all about how I am wrong…)

This said, I came across the prints of a small company from the spirit island of Coronado, just outside of San Diego, CA, called Orange and Park.

From their About page:

Orange & Park combines a bit of clever typography, a tad of love for geography, and a whole bunch of screen printing to create unique products inspired by these special places.

The project’s namesake can be found in the heart of Coronado, California, hometown of Orange & Park’s creators David Klinker and John McCauley. It’s there you’ll find the town’s main thoroughfare, Orange Avenue, crossing a small side street called Park Place.

Basically, a couple of kids decided to combine their passion of a whole lot of different things and offer up these rad prints of places from all over the world. I was lucky enough to be introduced to them by my girlfriend when she took me around the island and let me pop into Emerald City, Coronado’s best surf shop, IMHO. We bought the above print. It’s been a more-than-welcome addition to the home, sitting on a wall next to the Quiver print from Mollusk.

(Editor’s note: When I moved to California, I basically submerged myself into every aspect of the west coast lifestyle I could, if you haven’t noticed.)

Here are a few of my other favorite prints from Orange and Park. All of these are available on their site for a mere $24-$30. That’s not much for something as good looking as these. Plus you’ll have it forever.

The last print is my new fave. If you follow these dudes on the Instant Grams at @OrangeandPark, they are doing a new hashtag project at #VivaBaja.  Just rad beach scenes from Baja California. Check it out next time you’re on. You’ll dig.

As an added bonus: Since, in this whole community of bloggers, we all dig on stationery and hand-written everythings, O&P has a sweet collection of that too.

(All images used are from the Orange and Park website.)

That’s all for now. It looks as though, too, we might be moving to San Diego. That’s good news for my tan and Penny commuting. Plus, there just might be a brick and mortar in the near future… Just sayin.

Shop Orange and Park.

Keep on keepin on….

WGP

Topo never ceases to amaze me with their offerings. Starting from humble beginnings and wanting to merely pay homage to the classic lines of a decent backpack, the company is now a powerhouse in the outdoor industry. I couldn’t be prouder of Mark and Jedd. And yet again, they deliver a classic item done right.

The crocheted beanie.

I heard it was an old wive’s tale that all your heat escapes through the top of your head. Regardless of if that is true or not, you should cop one of these beanies ($38) because they look awesome, are made well from a wool and acrylic blend, and hand-crocheted in Colorado.

Cheers,

WGP