Oo-err!
With the 1st issue of 3D World still getting thrown around at SBM HQ more than the TV guide, we couldn’t say no to rocking out some shots for their locals commentary section. First up is Private Property, a Brisbane electro house DJ duo. Check them out as well as the cover article on the Chemical Brothers in this weeks edition, issue #1024.
Available from all the usual street press outlets, it’s FREE!
Zuri shoot #2 – Adam Swain
Zuri shoot #3 – Chantal
Zuri shoot #4 – Dot.AY
Steve Aoki, Joachim Garraud, Crookers, Laidback Luke, Felix da Housecat, Mark Schulz and Gareth Emery headline a one of our very few winter festivals for a day of electro, trance, fidget and house.
Winter Sound System Brisbane photos here
Grace and Tom +1 9/5/10
Grace and Tom have had enough of people so they have decided to make their own! 😉
Our first baby bump shoot and it was an absolute delight!
Best wishes to the family to be, we’re looking forward to meeting the little one in about a month (:
Inokashira Park, Kichijoji, Tokyo
Kichijoji is not really a major stop on the usual Tokyo itinerary, well unless of course you’re a sneaker nut, as its home to the famed K-Skit store 😉 otherwise, its a rather small (comparatively) “suburb” lying on the Chuo Line off the JR Yamanote line (change at Shinjuku station). Make sure you catch the right train though, “Rapid” (express) services skip the smaller stops, Kichijoji being one of them. Check the sign on the platform, it shows the stops the train will make. If you’re still not sure you are on the right one after you’ve boarded, just check the in-train route map displaying the stops.
Getting off at Kichijoji station is a far cry from the bustle of Shibuya, which also matches the slightly more laid back feel of the suburb. Its CBD area is quite a bit smaller, but in saying that it still measurable to Brisbane’s own CBD, complete with pedestrian mall. However one thing Brisbane is missing, is a lake surrounded by cherry blossoms!
Inokashira Park, Kichijoji, Tokyo
Inokashira Park is a couple hundred metres walk from the station and is completed with numerous walking paths, foot bridges, temple and my personal favourite, water craft for hire in the form of paddle boats and row boats. 600Y gets you 30min of water time in a paddler (less for a row boat, those of you above 170cm might want to consider the row boat as the paddlers cater more for children and the fibreglass seats aren’t particularly well contoured), which is more than enough time to leisurely work your way round the northern half of the lake and to take in the surroundings re: paddle beneath the blossoms trees arching into the water. Try and get there before 10am, as the lake can quickly get cluttered with traffic making it difficult to dodge those trying to grasp the concept of oars and inertia.
The park itself seems quite popular with the locals for picnickers and artists alike, even more so during Sakura season. It also has a small zoo, museum and temple if you can pull yourself away from the blankets of blossoms.
Heading back up one of the main thoroughfares, after 11am, many of the little shops, cafes and street vendors will start to open. There is also a Starbucks for those missing a “taste of home” and a couple sneaker shops with prices up to 1-2000Y cheaper for similar items in the more built up areas. But save your Yen because we’re heading to K-Skit. A block from the main street and about two from the station it is tucked away in a smaller lane on the 3rd floor but there’s a large sign on the footpath, clearly visible if you’re coming from the station side.
The store is wall to wall, floor to ceiling of sneakers all neatly shrink wrapped and focuses mostly on pre-owned Nikes. Condition ranges from beaters and models that are so old they’re literally falling apart to owned but never worn and brand new. Variety is almost endless, it’s a certainty that you will see a colourway or model that you’ve never seen before. The shelves are sorted by brand/model with a high concentration on Air Force series, Dunks and Jordans. Shoes with multiple tags show the sizes available and their cost. Popular sizes (sz 9-11) on the rarer models are usually more.
Weaving through the narrow aisles you will see sections for other brands like Adidas, Reebok and Timberland along with glass cases for the antique sneakers and the super rares. Staff are friendly and are happy to let you try shoes on, there’s just no where to sit while you do it! I picked up a pair of 2007 Nike Air Force 1 Baltimore 410 “Is Mr. shoe in?” limited editions for only 9000Y (~$100US). Not bad when you consider Footlocker AU hocks current garden varieties for $120-160AU!
It’s a good idea to hit up their website a couple weeks before you arrive to get an idea of what’s in stock. New stock and their “price down” section is updated daily with complete transparency of condition eg. “cracks in upper”, “yellowing of midsole” along with clear detailed photos of the tell tale wear areas such as the sole and inside heal, nothing like the sneaker forums or ebay where “worn about 3 times” really means “worn about 3 years”.
If you’re big on vintage clothing there are several shops in the surrounding block, like Ragtag. Otherwise you can venture north under the train line to LA Avenue. Kind of like the baby brother of K-Skit but with a bit of clothing and a few accessories like G-Shock watches. Of course I couldn’t let a 1995 Guassman in mint condition and original box go begging for only 4500Y 😉
Another block north and you’ll find a 2 level Nike store, an Adidas store, a bunch of little restaurants, cafes, tea houses and burger bars along with the aforementioned mall which houses another Yodobashi Camera store.
Shinjuku
Another big station in another very built up area. The highlights here are camera stores, Yodobashi, Bic, Map, all with in a couple blocks of the station or in the station itself and a few large department stores with the focus towards young women (especially the stores inside the station). The main reason why we stopped here is for the Tokyo Metro buildings, about 600m west of the station towards Shinjuku central park. Two towers with a free observation deck on the 45th floor and opened till 11pm most nights (check the daily times on their site, certain days each month, one building is closed while the other is open), unfortunately on the day we were there, visibility was very poor, down to a few hundred meters at times. It looked like a mixture of low cloud, fog, haze and the usual smog, so it was scratched from the itinerary, still comes recommended as one of the best and cheapest views of Tokyo.
South east of these buildings is Shinjuku Gyoen, a much larger park with feature gardens, recreational paths and water features, another ideal place for Hanami (blossom viewing).
Also while in Shinjuku, look south once you’ve cleared the sky scrapers and you will see the Docomo building, one of Tokyo’s tallest buildings.
Tokyo part #1 – Ueno for a day
Tokyo part #2 – Getting round Tokyo, Ueno Sakura at night
Tokyo part #3 – Harajuku
Tokyo part #4 – Shibuya
Tokyo part #6 – Akihabara
Tokyo part #7 – Odaiba and Leaving Tokyo
Photo Gallery Here
We had so much fun with Timeoff magazine last week, we just had to do it again! This time our photos are featured on the cover of the Zebra music section and the lead story for those guerrilla party throwers KANA. With the looming government threat to night life as we know it, its definitely an insightful read.
Grab your free copy from hundreds of retailers and outlets around Brisbane and check out the exclusive photos in the Zebra music news section.
If you cant get to a store, dont sweat it, its also available online @ Time Off Mag – Zebra.
Want more? Check out the rest of the pix from the event
This week we’ve collab’d with the rockin cats over at Timeoff magazine to bring you coverage from Orbital @ Family and Future Music Festival @ Doomben.
Grab your free copy from hundreds of retailers and outlets around Brisbane and check out the exclusive photos in the “Members only” section!
If you cant get to a store, never fear, its also available online @ Time Off Mag – Zebra.
Want more? Check out the rest of the pix!
Oribital photo gallery here
Future music festival photo gallery here
Whoa! what a messy (of the dirty kind!) day that was! Contender for worse festival weather since Good Vibes 2009 but just as fun all the same.
Complete gallery coming soon.
Complete Southern hospitality with support from New Orleans Bingo show and refreshments by Southern Comfort
Urbanwear photoshoot 30/01/10
Sample shots from Urbanwear promotional material shoot. Images for superimposing on flyers and online use.
Don Juan heads up an Aussie day eve special for the latin lovers
