The only video I took at Inazuma Festival in Tokyo this past weekend.

I met Stebs a while back through a variety of friends who kept mentioning his love for BMX, bikes, and video. I got to know Stebs a bit from working with him in the studio at Fringe, but I do not think I really understood how much he really cared about his craft or BMX in general until I watch his latest video.

He filmed it solo. He rode it solo. You can learn a great deal about someone who takes the initiative to try things their way. I love this film. More from Fringe soon…

I’ve always been a fan of newsprint periodicals and this week I received two.

NEWWWORK #4 is a stunning presentation. As I mentioned on Selectism, it reminds me of opening the Sunday NYT in terms of size. Inside of a thick stock cover are sub sections of the issue which open into big broadsheet newsprint.

FILE Magazine is a London based magazine that is really a supplement to the DVD which is delivered with each issue. A solid mix of content, video presentation, with Brigitte Bardot on the cover.

Kistune in Paris sent over a copy of their latest mix comp along with NY based ME Magazine #17 which they guest curated. Three of my favorites in the French house sound are self-interviewed including DJ Falcon and Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter.

I love magazines.

This trip to Las Vegas is easily the first I have enjoyed in some time. With our focus on the apparel industry and giving our reader looks into forthcoming fashions at lightning speed, Vegas has always been a bit of tensile city  - blogging and getting the story (with images) online in a timely manner puts a strain on the scene.

But being in Vegas for INTERBIKE has been a completely different experience. For one thing, I enjoy the pool for more than 30 minutes and second, I learned a great deal about the cycling industry - new people, new faces, new products - all without the concern getting my story in on time.

Yet, here I sit in the Bellagio typing up a quick look at a solid evening last night with BMX rider, Nigel Sylvester.

Coinciding with INTERBIKE, Gatorade and Nigel brought together myself, Maestro Knows, the gentleman from Defgrip, Frank151, and others to premiere a four episode document of Nigel’s “Because I Grind” BMX Demo Tour which took the Highsnob Columnist and other BMX’ers across Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, and Oceanside to do onsite demos which bring back the spirit of the classic demo tours of years past. On top of that, The Alchemist, got involved in scoring an exclusive soundtrack for the show.

Seeing as the  ”Because I Grind” show drops October 12th, I do not want to give away too much. Just expect some good stuff for your viewing pleasure. We’ll be sure to link to it over on Highsnobiety soon.

Thanks to our hosts Amy, Lauren, Kenny, and Nigel for making it difficult to leave hungry from NOBU. Here’s some views from the evening.

Kenny and our host.

We ate a lot of this. Note yellowtail. I prefer it as sashimi but who am I to complain.

Defrgrip your face.

I dont know who this is.

“Two bags of ice, three chickens, and Kanye walk into a hotel…”

I put this photo up so you could admire the large bellied gentleman on the right acting like he hasn’t seen grown men hug. God bless.

I forgot to mention above that after NOBU we headed over to the House of Blues for the NORA Cup Awards - like the Grammies for BMX folk. Nigel escorts us in.

Seriously, BMX dudes rock hard. Louder and rowdier than any crew I have hung with in a while.

Kenny is awed while Maestro smiles with glee…

… as we rock out to a metal band. This is Vegas people.

Actually no, this is Vegas. Girls x Metal x Beer. I love it.

Later!

I’m back in Vegas and this time its all about cycling. INTERBIKE, the largest tradeshow for the cycling world is happening today through the end of the week. I’ll be reporting live from the show on HS, Selectism, and Twitter, so stick around for some good shit.

Tonight, we have a cyclocross race to attend. More on that shortly…

For the first time in a long time, I am heading to NYC without a laptop. It is pure leisure weekend in the Big Apple for me. I’m bringing a sack of clothes, a phone, and earplugs.

Music is possibly the most important thing in my life outside of my friends and family. I still get excited to hear new music and I tend to spend too much money on headphones.

And I am incredibly excited about this weekend.

As the stars align, NYC is being graced this weekend by some of the biggest names in the dubstep scene. The guys I hold close in Boston are very much on the same page as me about what may transpire over the course of two nights listening to the loudest, newest, and clearly, most banging sound on the planet today. I’ve been excited for a month in regards to this weekend.

I want to invite everyone in NYC reading this to join me for what will be two events like no other.

So this is how we’re starting it off…

Tonight (Fri): Mary Ann Hobbs and Pinch for Dubwar at LOVE Niteclub

This lovely woman helped elevate the genre through her radio show as well as a comp that pushed the sounds to the masses. In the USA, it’s getting there through the ability to download her BBC 1 programs via bootleg MP3s or direct from the BBC Radio 1 Player. I, like many, have spent hours listening to Ms. Hobbs drop the best new records out there.

Pinch as well with rip into the deep side of the dub. For the deeper side of the sound and is the night to hit for the dub purists.

On the other end of the spectrum is Saturday night at Le Poisson Rouge with Skream and Benga - easily the two biggest name DJing at the moment.

For me, it is a special treat to see them both together on the same stage. Below some select moments of madness from these gentleman. The have dropped some of the hardest in your face dubplates one could imagine. Hearing those tracks on downloaded MP3 mixes has been great but they clearly will not compare to hearing them in person on a massive PA. MP3’s simply cannot give you the sound of the big club. Both of these gents still roll with vinyl dubplates on top of their CDs. We want the vinyl. We hope to get it.

I should add that Saturday night is also part of Trouble & Bass 3 Year Anniversary, so congrats to them for making it this far. Well done. Keep pushing it.

I expect nothing but full on head bangers on Saturday night.

This is NYC. We are not fucking around. See you there.

Akron OH is the least likely of places to launch a new basketball sneaker unless you went to St. Vincent / St. Mary’s. Like many of these trips, the expectation is to get crammed with messaging from the brand side about new product. In the case of the new Lebron VII, Nike focused on people and community of Akron, OH who helped shaped the guy into arguably the best basketball player in the NBA today.

The Ed Davis Community Center was host to a small number of media outlets from across the US, South America, and Europe. There is nothing outstanding about the Ed Davis Center. The center, for lack of a better term, is plain. Situated on a back road in a suburban corner of the city, it serves a strong role in Akron’s youth community. Basketball’s role is one that has been elevated since Lebron and the “Fab 5″ made their trek to success after winning the National Title in 2003 but the real story is the community.

Make no mistake about it - there was no grand change of beauty made to Akron. What we all saw was the Akron of today, where people live, work, play, and continue to do their thing. There was no shiny wrapper put on the city. We experienced it for what it is - a living breathing view into the people of the Akron - who are not that different from you nor I.

Below is a look from my camera at the weekend. I’ll be writing more for Highsnobiety later in the week as will Beau on his Selectism Column. Many thanks of course to Lebron James (who ran my ass on the court with no mercy), Deme, Keywan, Simon, Dean, and whole crew at Nike for hosting, as well as the cities of Akron and Cleveland.

I left my laptop bag at home, so I resorted to a Marriot Hotel laundro baggie to carry the book.

Part of the Lebron history buildout. This quote stuck with me.

Stole this photo op from Simon. Nice call.

Moving onto the main event…

Allen doing what he does best, while Karen works a toy.

You have to imagine that the room is an indoor basketball court, ok?

Lebron takes questions from the US press. No holds bar really. Everything from his new contract, Dunkgate, the Lebron VII…

Then shit got crazy….

We walked into STVM’s and were immediately sent into the locker room.

It was about to get serious.

Coach Dru (who coached Lebron during travel ball and highschool) enters the lockroom, gives us a pep talk and tells us to get on the court. Now, seeing as most cameras were not allowed on the court, I will leave you with these…

Shout out to Matthias. Jay Z. loves you.

Look for a full write-up on Highsnobiety shortly….

Pure evil.

Our workspace is in Berlin Mitte, hidden a bit on a back walkway. I hate the chairs but what ya gonna do?

I’m stationed in the Highsnobiety Berlin office for a few weeks. Since moving the operation full time to Berlin, a great deal of things have changed for the team as well as our business. David has up and moved from Geneva for the opportunity to connect with some of the best creative minds Europe has to offer. I am pumped to be here for a few weeks with him.

The main reason for coming to Berlin outside of the local office was Bread & Butter Berlin. The show returned to it’s Berlin roots by taking over the Tempelhof Airpot location in west Berlin. The airpot layout was so expansive that one could walk miles back and forth from one end to the other. To help ease this pain, the show outfitted buses, private golf carts, and free bikes which you could pick up and run with. Well done.

Some of my favorite views below…

Greg and Ease running the goldsprints in the new HS New Era Umpire Caps we gace out during BBB.

Goodbye BBB. See you in January.

Sidenote: Henrik lives and rides here. He told me he’d help me find a bike after Barcelona next week. I’m holding him to it!