Happiness is Expensive

uhhhhhhhh. I'm going to win the olympics. Wittlake rules.

2011-10-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

Scotty Wittlake Olympics from BuoLoco on Vimeo.

Holden Logs... I want one

2011-09-23T14:30:00.001-07:00

THE MAKING OF HOLDEN LOG ROUNDS from HOLDEN OUTERWEAR on Vimeo.

More of this

2011-09-02T08:08:00.001-07:00

Rapha+cycling=Holden+snowboarding

2011-08-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

My Hero

2011-08-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

Wild Style

2010-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Travis Parker, is, happy. He makes, me, smile. He snowboards, like a, deviant. He has, wild, style.

Best method in the game

2010-03-03T18:57:00.000-08:00

Before I learned, well, anything about snowboarding I knew a Method Air was basically the barometer which all snowboard style was judged against. Such a simple grab to the untrained eye, yet to make anything that simple look amazing is why I still think a Grasser is my favorite trick of all time. Oh, by the way Zac fucking rips.

When snowboarding was fun and all I did

2010-03-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

These are mostly the guys who created Holden, the best snowboard company, period. And MFM, the first dude to shred to chan chan, has the best style possibly of all time. love it, love hate it.

120 Second Saturday With Devun Walsh

2010-03-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

An introduction to one of my all-time heros of snowboarding. This will also be the beginning of my week of snow. I will be on the slopes this weekend for the first time in over two years. Holar back son.

Slam poetry is dead, but buddy makes me believe, in DAN

2010-02-26T08:44:00.000-08:00

If you hear this on shrooms, basking in the nothingness of the forest, while Dan plays with the shadow of your dog, and tree faces are speaking, moving, you will see a dozen doves fly out of the eyes of the one you love.

I promise.

My graph-ting looks better than steven carey and his dots

2010-02-25T12:41:00.001-08:00

What a gold medal is made of

2010-02-25T08:00:00.001-08:00

2010-02-23T13:46:00.000-08:00

Inside of people

2010-02-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the camera captures less of what's on the outside of someone and more of their self, their true self shines through and there is no doubt about that moment. Case in point.

Perfect service

2010-02-20T15:45:00.000-08:00

My first shot

2010-02-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

I wasn't supposed to be a creative. Honestly, I have no idea what I was supposed to do with my life, but I can safely say that everything in my body, for as long as I can remember, pulled me to mountainous landscapes covered in white stuff. This explains two things; porn, and my absolute love for snowboarding.

During a short trip to Park City, UT with my boss at the time, Scott Walker, I made my first photo. Now this isn't to say that I hadn't previously taken photos, it's just that none of them made me feel anything. But the second I saw everything come together in the photo of scott standing on the precipice of one of The Canyons gnarliest bowls, the muted light, and understanding what angle I had to get into in order to get that shot, well, things changed for me. I went from wanting photos of myself snowboarding to wanting to get shots for other riders.

Well, that dream was dashed by a little thing called college, responsibility, a magazine, and other things that make life more fulfilling down the road, but simply don't make sense at the time. But here I am, an accomplished NYC amateur photographer who sometimes gets paid to use his camera. And all because my boss took me on a trip to Utah and refused to take his hands out of his gloves.

Chase Vs. Belushi

2010-02-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Chevy Chase/Caddy Shack/Very Funny Clip! - The most popular videos are here

Belushi Vs Chase

2010-02-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

When funny was funny, and my dad had a fro

2010-02-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

I came across this photo of Belushi and Chase in their prime a few days ago and it made me smile. This candid backstage SNL photo was taken long before I saw Mr. Chase make an entire crowd at UCB feel uncomfortably numb. I wish, as we all do that Belushi would have lived much longer, but now that I see Chevy making a fool out of himself on Community, and tarnish his legend by making weird jokes about sex with dead children while he sweated through his fat-man pants, maybe I don't. While Belushi gave us a few years of classic comedy that set the bar for years and generations to come, Chase can only hope that younger generations decide to feast on early SNL and Caddyshack rather than his late-life awkwardness he is now so willing to throw in our collective faces. But damn, he was a rather dashing man back then.

So right on so many levels

2010-02-13T16:06:00.001-08:00

Holiday

2010-02-05T09:09:00.001-08:00

Week to week we wish for a respite. Between the last holiday and the next it becomes necessary to find a way to celebrate the little achievements. It can be a success such as getting to work on time for consecutive days, or as large as a promotion, but we feel that every payday should be celebrated.

Thus, Steven and I have begun to dub every other friday, "Our Favorite Holiday."

This can also have an adverse reaction to those around you. While I party at Doc Holiday's it becomes painfully obvious that people are not amused by our carefree attitude and whiskey sapping ways. We own pool tables and order tall cans. I've been dubbed, on two separate occasions, "Trouble."

Now this shouldn't come as a surprise, but when you add in the fact that on both of these occasions I haven't said a damn thing, you begin to wonder if it's just the holiday that causes people to react in such a venomous way.

Five hours from now I will be making decisions that will undoubtedly have some effect on those around me. But here's the thing, you knew it was Holiday.

Rolling to Scripps

2010-01-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

Andy, Tim, Poyner, Jeff, and I had something of a ritual when Summer rolled around. The parking situation sucked, half the time it was overcast as shit, and Andy got like 48 tickets in one month, but Scripps fucking ruled. The second I started listening to Tool this morning a smell of stale Corona and salt water permeated my senses. I was struck by an overwhelming sense of euphoria.

Scripps, during high tide, still to this day is my favorite place to skimboard in the entire world. On the north side of the pier you were miles away from the hustle and bustle of the la jolla shores tourism attack, and you could pretty much get away with anything for the most part. Shit, what didn't we do there?

Naked seemed to be a theme, drunk and sunburnt also got its fair share of face time. I watched Poyner's cousin break every bone in his ankle seconds after seeing the Pacific for the first time, on the first day he arrived from Middle Town, USA, and ended up spending his entire trip getting surgery after surgery to repair an ankle that we all told him was probably just sprained. We stopped at C JR.'s on the way home, while he puked from pain.

I've seen people arrested, almost drown, and on many occasions we were scared by summer jellies. But nothing conjures up memories of such youthful enthusiasm as those days spent recklessly abusing our Southern Californian birth rights. What a great thing to remember when it's 10 degrees out, and you haven't seen the pacific in a year. Oh yeah, Brooklyn Decker holding a camera.

I was in the market for a new calendar

2010-01-26T07:01:00.000-08:00

In my pursuit to find a calendar for the new year, one that would be both tasteful and entertaining, also office appropriate, I came across something that really caught my eye. I mean, we've all looked up and down those isles at bookstores where they sell calendars half way through the year for five bucks a pop: the kitty ones, sport ones, random place in the world that probably shouldn't have calendars. All these years spent looking for the right calendar, and I've finally found it; BUT I CANT OWN IT!

Not only is the 2010 Pirelli Tire Calendar a testament to the great craftsmenship of some of the worlds finest tires(albeit there are no tires in any of the shots as far as I can tell), but they are also shot by Mr. Over exposed, shadowy portrait himself, Terry Richardson. When you throw Terry into the mix you can expect that things will take a bit of a turn, whether it's for all out grotesque eroticism, or what he does here, simply make women sexy (exhibits 1-4 above). I still have no idea if I love him or completely hate him, but, I guess it doesnt matter because he's Terry Richardson.

I've got to say, as a heterosexual male photographer, I truly believe this to be the single greatest gig of all time. They obviously give their photogs a bunch of creative leeway, and well, they did this year in Brazil, sooooo, that's not bad either.

So now I have a new goal to add to the list that was started more than a year and a half ago. I will shoot the Pirelli Calendar. Just wanted to share, with all my non-readers, a few photos that will never grace my work walls, but have provided me with the drive to someday want to take pictures of beautiful women in exotic locations. Thanks Pirelli.

Me and T.O.

2010-01-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

Belly Laughter Up 68% In Kobane, Stanton Household

2010-01-05T13:58:00.000-08:00

Steven and I are like water and oil. Like a combination that is perfect at everything. Like a house band made up of superheroes and Bjork.

We are laughing a lot more, and it feels good, like a warm bath, drawn to the perfect height by your best friend.

The Steven Project

2010-01-02T22:01:00.000-08:00

New York is rejecting Steven Carey. First it was the sickness, then a horrible case of hives, then his metro card said no.

I think he'll be okay. This is the first of what will be a constant update of the reality of his life, in my house, in NYC.

this is activation

2009-12-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

stop telling me that I'm not active enough Blog, it isn't like I just sit around all weekend drinking and reading Cormac McCarthy. I would do more if it weren't for my bad knees and this rash. I try, I fucking do, I can't help my love of couch.

oh, you mean like inactive because I haven't made a post in a while. Hmmmmmm. Okay. Well, you've got me there.

"2048 east third street"

2009-10-27T20:05:00.001-07:00

I cried at work

2009-10-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

good conversations like these are hard to find right now.

Ryan Kobane

there he is

Ryan Kobane

there's the big winner

vinnyg7307

who's the big winner

vinnyg7307

mikey's the big winner

Ryan Kobane

vinny's the big winner

vinnyg7307

you're the big winner

vinnyg7307

where you going tonight?

vinnyg7307

paris? buenos aires?

vinnyg7307

tell me, where are you going tonight? you're a star.

Ryan Kobane

I'm going to a model party

vinnyg7307

na uh

Ryan Kobane

yep

Ryan Kobane

I'm big out here now

vinnyg7307

hand models?

Ryan Kobane

model airplanes

Ryan Kobane

we get together and make models

vinnyg7307

because i hear hand models are fucking crazy

vinnyg7307

oh that too

vinnyg7307

best hand jobs

vinnyg7307

what are you going to be for halloween?

Ryan Kobane

ed norton in Fight Club and les is going as HBC in a bridesmaid's dress

vinnyg7307

nice

vinnyg7307

here's my costume

vinnyg7307

http://allstates1031.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/aa_twain_subj_e.jpg

vinnyg7307

you better do some situps

Ryan Kobane

hahahaha

Ryan Kobane

vince, that's just a naked picture of darren

vinnyg7307

yes

vinnyg7307

pretty much

vinnyg7307

i just need to grow a mustache

vinnyg7307

which aint happenin anytime soon

Ryan Kobane

what are you up to for all saints hallows night?

vinnyg7307

well

vinnyg7307

darren and i have made a compact

vinnyg7307

since we're both new in town

vinnyg7307

we're inviting ourselves to a party

vinnyg7307

the best one we can find

Ryan Kobane

you aren't new enough for that

Ryan Kobane

sorry

vinnyg7307

i will be

vinnyg7307

ill be in sacramento

vinnyg7307

which is new

vinnyg7307

fuck you

vinnyg7307

so maybe im just inviting myself to a party

vinnyg7307

haha

vinnyg7307

because i wasn't invited

Ryan Kobane

and... I'm no math major, but you don't make "compacts" with other men

Ryan Kobane

I think you make a pact with someone

Ryan Kobane

but like I said, no math major

vinnyg7307

thats what i said

vinnyg7307

a pact

vinnyg7307

haha

Ryan Kobane

"arren and i have made a compact"

vinnyg7307

who's arren?

Ryan Kobane

ohhh, yeah, that was a totally different convo with another guy, vinnyg7308

vinnyg7307

must have been

vinnyg7307

mark twain is a pretentious costume

vinnyg7307

but i dont care

vinnyg7307

it could be col. sander

vinnyg7307

so i should tell you

vinnyg7307

i'm been a vegetarian for two weeks

vinnyg7307

ive decided im only going to eat meat i kill with my own hands

vinnyg7307

so that means i have to go shoot a turkey if i want some bird on thanksgiving

vinnyg7307

or raise one, then kill it

vinnyg7307

with my own hands

vinnyg7307

i really didn't think this through

Ryan Kobane

I think you should just start to eat people

Ryan Kobane

easy to find, and they are easy to kill

vinnyg7307

super easy to kill

vinnyg7307

all those people on the sideawalks

vinnyg7307

i could eat for weeks

3:16 PM

Ryan Kobane

at least a day

Ryan Kobane

I don't think yo ucould eat an entire human in a day

vinnyg7307

probably not

Ryan Kobane

what woulod be your first bite?

vinnyg7307

ass

Ryan Kobane

really?

Ryan Kobane

why

Ryan Kobane

explain yourself

vinnyg7307

fatty

Ryan Kobane

gross

vinnyg7307

but also muscles

Ryan Kobane

I've already put lots of thought into this

vinnyg7307

i can tell

Ryan Kobane

tongue

Ryan Kobane

people eat that shit already

vinnyg7307

yeah

vinnyg7307

that's lame

Ryan Kobane

then the brain

vinnyg7307

i think the calve could be nice

Ryan Kobane

I'd go to the brain really quick

vinnyg7307

you can just carry it around

vinnyg7307

munch on it freely

Ryan Kobane

like a turkey leg

Ryan Kobane

I like it

vinnyg7307

precisely

Ryan Kobane

mobile

Ryan Kobane

human on the go

vinnyg7307

i really hope this isn't the last conversation we have

vinnyg7307

Ryan Kobane

I hope it is

Ryan Kobane

it would be perfect

vinnyg7307

it would perfectly enacpsulate our relationship

Ryan Kobane

summed up in a single word, "thoughtprovoking"

vinnyg7307

yes

Ryan Kobane

wanna make a compact?

vinnyg7307

yes

vinnyg7307

a shot concise statement

vinnyg7307

you mean?

vinnyg7307

short*

Ryan Kobane

whoever dies first, the other one gets a bite out of the other.

vinnyg7307

yea

vinnyg7307

im cool with that

vinnyg7307

just a big munch

vinnyg7307

thats it

Ryan Kobane

you better hope you don't go before me

vinnyg7307

i want an open casket

Ryan Kobane

I'm taking a bite out of your cheek so people have to deal with that

vinnyg7307

the cheek is tender

vinnyg7307

so tender

vinnyg7307

little lime juie

vinnyg7307

juice

Ryan Kobane

I'd give you a kiss first though and caress your face and say, "good night sweet prince."

vinnyg7307

lolled

Ryan Kobane

this would be at the funeral btw

Ryan Kobane

like I go up first

vinnyg7307

you turn around

vinnyg7307

"dont worry, we made a compact."

Ryan Kobane

with a lobster bib on

vinnyg7307

you wear a lobster bib to the funeral

Ryan Kobane

yeah

Ryan Kobane

a small dipping bowl of drawn butter

vinnyg7307

oh man

vinnyg7307

im laughing

vinnyg7307

its embrassing

vinnyg7307

embrassing

vinnyg7307

to brass something

vinnyg7307

is to embrass

vinnyg7307

im going to embrass my balls

vinnyg7307

i gotta go

vinnyg7307

now

vinnyg7307

i have test

vinnyg7307

for my jap studies class

vinnyg7307

first thing i learned

vinnyg7307

its not okay to call them japs

vinnyg7307

learned that the hard way

vinnyg7307 has gone offline.

Here is Where I am

2009-08-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

I feel

I have to share,

with some brevity,

that I am happy

here.

I feel

entirely

who

I am

here.

Quietly into the night

2009-07-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Pictures from a weekend at the lake

Day 2 of photographers I love

2009-06-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

A few years back I came upon Ryan McGinley.

I liked the nakedness and the black eyes, the raw sexuality and unshaveness of his photos. I even tried to talk a few of you into doing a naked photo shoot with me out in the desert... which wouldn't have been weird, I swear. I like many of you have noticed how cool Sigur Ros' most recent album cover is, yeah, that's Mr. McGinley. Oh, and if you watch Gossip Girl, closely, which I may or may not do on occasion, he has found his way into a permanent slot on the wall of the Van Der Woodse's penthouse, just check for yourself. Also, the man has received basically every award a young photographer can, including a solo show at the Whitney Museum at the age of 26... redic.

Anyway, Mr. McGinley is my second addition to this list and a photographer that I know we will be hearing more from in the years to come. I hope some of you enjoy this stuff, and I know most of you are photographers just like me, so I'd love to hear what you guys think of the work I'm posting and what you like or dislike about it.

I usually don't do this

2009-06-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

For some reason or another I have neglected to look for inspiration lately in regards to my photography. Actually, I have neglected to look for inspiration ever since I started with my camera. I often look at my photography and believe that it doesn't reflect anyone else's, but I know that's not true. I've wasted far too much time pursuing something I love without having a foundation for my knowledge.

So today I was dreaming about a Hasselblad. I was dreaming of film. I was looking at modest mouse photographs and I came across the one above. And I said, "I love the way that looks." And instead of dismissing it for a nice photo of my favorite band, I searched the photographer out. His name is Chris Anthony, and well, he is truly amazing.

For the next week I plan on finding ten photographers that I respect and would love to learn from their techniques and finally, feel inspired.

Take a look at his project entitled Venice. I was completely floored.

The greatest thing that's ever come out of me playing golf

2009-06-25T05:59:00.001-07:00

For all the balls I've hit, and countless hours I've spent trying to have a swing that can hold up under pressure I finally had a reason to use it. Long Story short, I hit a ball really far, won a competition, and got to donate $5,000 to a charity of my choice, which ended up being Surfrider Foundation.

That's all for now, just thought that was something pretty rad to share.

you all knew what would happen; my birthday

2009-06-23T20:41:00.001-07:00

It's taken me since friday to truly deal with what took place last friday night. If you weren't there, which none of you were, I expect that you have some ideas as to the calamity which probably ensued. If you're a really good friend of mine, which most of you are, if I told you that I invited all seven people I knew in the city and yet twenty five people showed up to my party you wouldn't be surprised. Also, if you're a really good friend you'd probably not be surprised by the fact that during one of my numerous "dark times" during the night I was standing on the ledge of a balcony on the sixth floor during a party that we crashed, walking around having a grand ol' time; we were quickly escorted out of said party. And you see where the night went, use your imagination. The greatest thing about it is that I was actually drinking water all night, and around 2 AM I sobered up and gained my wings.

Four men stood in a kitchen ranting. Two men left.

Conor and I discussed Cormac Mccarthy and saw the blue, cloud-filtered sunrise from inside our apartment while music played at a hush.

I smoked my last cigarette and staggered to bed where Les had been asleep, peacefully, since 1 am.

I had a fantastic sleep. The skies wept all day,

"There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."

Or so he thought.

Dan is a friend of mine

2009-06-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

dan gave me a gift today

"here is my bit of birthday praise for you:

ryan, you have brought inestimable adventure and excitement into the world simply by existing. That's pretty rad, I think. I feel very, very lucky that I get to know you because you really do wear Fun like its a cologne or something. The joy and enthusiasm you have for life is infectious and sometimes when I get bummed out I think "how would kobane react to this situation?" and it almost always shows me a better way to look at something. Either that or i start drinking scotch."

My birthday concert

2009-06-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

on wed night I was treated to a private concert in the Village. This concert was hosted by a few bands from brooklyn called POW WOW!, Browns, and Dinosaur Feathers. check out the rad photos from onor and I's night on the town.

I INVITE YOU

2009-06-16T18:12:00.001-07:00

The Decemberists at Radio City Music Hall

2009-06-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

So a long long time ago, around two summers I'd say, leslie and I were both lucky enough to share one of the greatest concert-going experiences of both of our lives with a bunch of friends at the Hollywood bowl. In my opinion it was perfect. The Decemberists, wine and cheese gallor, I'm pretty sure I smoked some reefer, and well, the stories were all past onto you guys that weren't able to join us, and I'm sure you were all happy for your friends and not in the least bit jealous.

Skip to a week ago, and while the hollywood bowl would be substituted for another, lesser-known venue called Radio City Music Hall, it was pretty much the same awe-inspiring journey through yesteryear. There was a little addition though that I'd be remise if I left out. A little pixie by the name of Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond graced the stage for almost the entire set, including a spot-on rendition of Heart's Crazy on You and few other standout vocal moments.

on a separate but equal note, I absolutely had to post this video of a bunch of happy white people making movements to sound. I'm not hating, I swear, it just had to be captured.

suNdY

2009-06-14T22:18:00.001-07:00

it was beautiful today.

A walk in the park

2009-06-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

Interesting how a single photo can sum up exactly how I want to feel right now.

here

2009-06-06T23:03:00.001-07:00

it's 2:04 AM and all I can think of is San Diego.

YEAH COOL SUSHI!

2009-06-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

For my first time making sushi I certainly looked the part. And by looking the part I mean I looked like a thirteen-year-old with a sharp knife.

Climbing buildings, seeing music

2009-06-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

On the rooftop of a midtown west apartment, in a hole created purely by absence, pete and I sat admiring the city while smoking a cigar, describing what we felt in the only way heterosexual males can, in absolute silence.

We both admitted to things bordering on sappy, turning the moment into something I guess.

This time spent on a rooftop was tarnished solely by our lovely girlfriends asking/slurring for us to follow them back into the apartment, who then respectively fell asleep and or began fighting with us for no apparent reason.

I love our nights in the city, but rarely do I get to enjoy the city in such a solitary way. I enjoyed all of it.

I've been told that I shouldn't post unedited photos

2009-05-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

yeah, so I guess publishing photos that are untouched is not okay. I'll post shit later from the shoot.

one of my favorite things ever... by Steven

2009-05-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Upon arrival in Puerto Rico.

We traded in some frequent flyer miles and headed to Puerto Rico for the day, immediately started drinking limitless Tom Collins's, stretched out on a nudist-black sand beach for a time listening to the constant cast and retrieval of pebbles in the waves, then retreated to a game of darts with Governor Fortuno at his hill-top estate. We were fed peeled grapes by concubines, and fanned by eunuchs. That was tiresome and boring so we set sail in a 55-foot sailboat rented from a grizzled man (one leg and as many teeth) to the tune of Ryan's loafers, which he hadn't been wearing since we de-boarded the plane anyway. Thusly we set out, three men, with two bottles of Grey Goose, one bucket of oysters, and one can of beluga caviar, to the lesser Isla Vieques 8 miles off-shore in search of the legendary Bioluminescent Bay. Upon our arrival the water fulminated into a dalliance light all around us, a glowing gossamer gown in the wind of our presence. And this is how we fell asleep, rocked gently by the cool Atlantic, under a cloudless, moonless night sky, shucking and shooting our oysters, disturbing the ice in our vodkas, staring at the tip of our mast and beyond the tip of our mast, thinking of much but saying little as thin blades of cigar smoke drifted slowly upward toward infinity.

Check number 4

2009-05-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

The week I came out here I made a list of things that I wanted to achieve in my first year of living here. Tomorrow I will check off number four on that list, and it's a big one. I'm shooting my first cover, and the entire shoot has been pretty much left up to me to come up with the concept from start to finish. I couldn't be happier, more nervous, or anxious to prove to myself that photography isn't just a hobby of mine, but will someday be my sole career and something I can be proud of each and everyday. I'll obviously be posting shots come tomorrow night, and while I know that I'm pretty much writing this for myself, I can't help but hope that some of you out there are rooting for me to rock this shit, you know who you are.

Memorial day. Some kind of green.

2009-05-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today Ryan sat under a tree (see tree)

He watched children play in a fountain (see fountain)

He allowed his mind to relax under the warm summer sun(see sun)

While he relaxed he wrote something.

some kind of green

fresh mint, birch, and martini olives.

Soiled and polarized,

filtered, shaded, and overlapping.

Braille skin and creased kaki.

He then rose, a new and rejuvenated man, happy to be alive and almost fully recovered from his hangover.

Midtown, Rome, Munich, Long Beach

2009-05-20T20:28:00.001-07:00

IMG_1918wwww, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

I walked from 37th all the way up to 57th today with my camera dangling from my hand just pressing the shutter when I saw something that caught my eye. Other than the bullshit crowds and everything else horrible that comes with midtown manhattan I found this great photo when I got back to the place. I think it's honest, and could absolutely be anywhere in the world, and I like that.

Genuine smiles

2009-05-19T18:45:00.001-07:00

IMG_4065, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

funny how two of my favorite nights on my super lame trip back to cali came at Dan's house, wait, no it's not. I love these guys, positive auras creating even more positive vibes. 4/20, pretty cool night.

no need for a tittle

2009-05-19T18:42:00.001-07:00

IMG_4146, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

or a caption for that matter, you're saying it in your head aren't you?

Hmmmmmmm...okay

2009-05-19T18:40:00.001-07:00

IMG_4113, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

les took this photo on one of our many drunken nights with Pete and Sarah. My favorite part of this photo is Pete in the background, a look that says, "I'm not sure I should be okay with this?"

Sunday at the place

2009-05-17T20:33:00.001-07:00

IMG_4445, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

she got the flowers and she liked them.

Celebrity impressions

2009-05-17T12:30:00.001-07:00

IMG_1789, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

This photo of Leslie Stanton in the East Village on a Saturday night in Spring was later used as the explanation to another photo (not pictured) of her passed out with a pint of Guinness resting on her head at our favorite bar Bua.

the innocence of children

2009-05-17T12:21:00.001-07:00

IMG_1819, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

while demonstrators squirmed and pushed against their rubber walled enclosure, children in Tompkins Square Park gave little mind to the protest against communism. Instead they tried, as a group to figure out how they could help the trapped women. Awwww.

A day at the beach

2009-05-17T11:25:00.001-07:00

IMG_1850, originally uploaded by Ryan Kobane.

looks like the city, feels like the winter, but all of these people make it look like a day at the beach... something is very wrong here. And if being wrong feels this good, I don't want to be right.

Who's life am I living?

2008-10-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

If someone would have told me that I would be working as a designer for a magazine six months ago I would have assumed you were making fun of me. It's funny how many things I can say that to though. Realistically there are times out here when I can't even come to grips with the life I now live.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happier than I've ever been in my life, but I just can't understand how, after two months in New York, I could have a viable career, a new home, and a completely new perspective on life. I just didn't think this could happen so quickly.

More so than anything I feel incredibly lucky. I'll try not to dwell on the fact that I live in the epicenter of financial doom, but to have a job right now that pays the bills is something I simply can't take for granted. With all that boring shaz out of the way, let's talk sex, booze, and the Upper East Side.

I knew it wouldn't be long before we made some friends out here, but the fact that I'm somehow surrounded by people with dark senses of humor, a skewed code of ethics, and hockey fans is simply rediculous. While Les was working at Ellie Tahari she met a girl named Sarah. Sarah is rad. And her boyfriend Peter is equally rad. Long story short, they're from Vermont, hippie, smoker, hockey players who live on the Upper East Side. Leslie goes shopping with Sarah, and I smoke cigars with Pete... oh yeah, and we all share the love for herbs and drinks... I've come to realize that Vermont is just the East Coast Santa Cruz.

It's getting cold here, and I love it. I've never lived through the seasons, and I think I saw fall come and go within a week. The trees in the park next to our hours turned golden and were barren within a week. Gus loves chasing blowing leaves. I love watching him do this.

A life without the people you absolutely consider your family is actually starting to take an effect on me, which is strange, I didn't think it ever would. I miss being weirded out by odd movements that Steven makes, Darren being a downer, Vince making me laugh, Kathy being a Ho-Fish, and simply being around the people that I care about, but this is growing up?

I can't sleep here, and it's because my mind won't stop racing. Everyday I realize something different about my life, and I love it. But I'm tired.

Weekends are for people who have jobs, they no longer hold the same meaning.

The good times are killing me. I'm New York fat. Good night.

something is wrong with those photos... fix it when I can

2008-09-17T15:20:00.001-07:00

...two weeks later

2008-09-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

less talking, more updating:

1) found an amazing job as the Assistant Art Director and staff photographer for The Green Magazine- Golf Beyond the Links.

2) Conor and Les are finally here, and couldn't be happier with the place I found.

3) Shot Fashion Week, photos above are from the Carlos Campos show and after party.

4) I hate IKEA

5) I hate moving companies

6) I miss LB

7) learning so much at this job it's almost overwhelming, something like a crash course in becoming a designer overnight.

8) been to many parties, drank lots, had head pains.

9) We live around the corner from what the NY TIMES dubbed "the best burger in NYC," I should be very fat come Winter.

10) I'm still at work posting this, I've been here too long.

11) I haven't had cable for what seems like months, I need updates.

12) nearly broke...

12b) I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

ps. I'll be updating this daily once I get internet at the casa. thanks for checking up. I'm off to my bosses house to have a Iron Chef cookoff with his boyfriend... IRON CHEF MAC&CHEESE....

I seriously miss all of you, I just wanted to reiterate that point.

Your mom's a mailman!

2008-08-31T00:11:00.001-07:00

Sooooo that was interesting.

My last few days have been somewhat of a whirlwind of activity, mostly of the fun kind, especially since I found us a place, for sure this time, that allows dogs. I get the keys tomorrow, and I'll be uploading photos and writing in my completely empty apartment.

But to keep yall up to date as far as what's crackin out here, I went to my very first gay bar last night. The funny thing about the night though was that I felt kinda dissed... ok, hear me out. I asked Nafees what I should do in the case of a guy hitting on me, to which he pointed out one of his strait girlfriends and said that she could be my wife for the night. Perfect I thought, but I guess I no one was feeling it last night because I didn't get a single look my way... Anyway, I got a little/a lot inebriated and had an absolute blast in Brooklyn.

Today I recovered, much in the same fashion I used to on the west coast, subway, Gatorade, and some sleep. I also found a new guilty pleasure. Gossip Girl is a more evil version of the OC, so it's pretty damn good.

oh, I was asked a bunch of times if I have a card, to which I had to reply with a sad "no", so here's what I did one night instead of posting. let me know what you think, I think I'm going to scratch the whole thing and make it way more simple. but I just wanted to have something to show for the night or two I've missed recently.

I'm tired, and this city won't let me sleep. good night.

My NYC moment.

2008-08-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

If I had to find a moment in this day that would fully define how I feel at this moment, it would be somewhere between Bowery and 7th. It was at this moment that I realize this city wasn't involved in giving out fairy tail dreams without a fight.

See, not that I feel like I've really done very much out here to this point, but finding a place to live that was super rad in a little less than a day was somewhat of a fantasy/daydream that actually came true. So I've been floating around this city, getting lost, taking the subway, watching people, and really just enjoying myself for the last two days. That was probably a miscue on my part. Because today kicked me in the balls and ran away like a little bitter child. This would also become what my friend Nafees would come to call my "NYC moment."

(side note. If you don't know, I'm staying with a super awesome guy named Nafees. He just happens to be gay, and has bought me Tai food today, and was my lawyer during my NYC moment because he just graduated form law school, and he calls himself my gay fairy godmother.... we went furniture shopping today... he's rad.)

So,
After the furniture shopping extravaganza and a few minutes sending out resumes, Nafees and I walked over to the NYU and Greenwich area on our way over to my brokers office to sign the lease and finalize our happy dwelling and iron everything in stone. I'm not gonna lie, I wish I had gone to NYU, not because of the people, but because I can't imagine how amazing it would have been to go to college in this city. I love CSULB with all my heart, and don't any of you think I would rather have not had you in my life, but come on people, it's NEW YORK CITY, as a college student. I digress.

Leases for NYC places are absolutely insane. I'm talking like nine pages, sign like forty times, back and front shit, it's like nothing I've ever seen. As Nafees looked over it and we got to the last page something caught my eye; NO ANIMALS OF ANY KIND!!!

"Um, excuse me, um, I specifically asked if dogs were allowed in this place and *%*#@ said absolutely." (i'll leave her name out of it because it's not important).

Forty-five minutes later, about twenty phone calls later, and I get this...

"The landlord just said no dogs of any kind are allowed,"

WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Dan hadn't recently given me a meditation book for my sudden lapses into complete ferocity you all may have heard about me on the news tonight for burning down an entire building full of Iranian apartment brokers. This may not be such a problem, but in less than a week from now I have a girlfriend, dog, and best friend that were depending on me finding a place, which I thought I had done, and now I'm back to square one. Haha that rhymed.

Skip to an hour later when said broker is all roses and smiles trying to make up for her mistake showing me a three bedroom in the East Village. We leave the place; I need a drink. Now get this, I've been out here for like four days now, and I haven't had a single drink, I'm saving all the cash I can, but this moment needed a beer, and it just so happened that directly connected to the place she just showed me was a sports bar called Standings. I walk in with my head down asking for beer and what do I see but a Michigan University flag hanging directly above the main TV in the corner.

See, a guy like me can pretty much bullshit his way into anything, but when people talk sports I don't sugar coat things. If you're a bartender in NYC and you're wearing a Redsox hat, I'm going to talk shit, and you better believe I'm going to tell you I'm a huge Angels fan, and that's why people buy me beers.

Two hours pass, I've made a bar full of friends who are welcoming back to the bar if I move into the place right above, and I'm a wee bit buzzed. I walk home, I smoke a cig, and realize; It is what it is, and this city isn't going to hand me my life on a silver platter, this isn't going to be easy, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

This was my NYC moment.

Looking up, not down

2008-08-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today I noticed that a lot of people in this city don't like to make eye contact. It's beginning to make sense though I guess, seeing as though the second you make eye contact with someone you have to acknowledge their presence, meaning you have to either, A; move out of their way, B; smile back, or C; listen to the bum yell at you/ask for "change."

So to assimilate into this culture of sunglasses and headphones I decided to do both, with a little variation I call the "star gazer." If it looks like someone is either going to ask me to sign a petition, or anything that would come close to interpersonal communication of any kind, I look strait up into the sky. I mean what says, "don't ask me shit!" better than some guy with Ray Bans, Boss headphones, and eyes that are preoccupied with visions of clouds and assailant pigeons?

I say this only in jest... well kind of, but today, as I walked and got lost all over the city I realized that one of this towns most endearing qualities is it's height. In orange county/LA everything seems to be less than two stories high, leaving every one's eyes roaming at, well, eye level. So as I peered upward from brownstone to brownstone so went my camera. I actually only shot about thirty frames today, mainly because I was so caught up in the pure magnitude of everything that I forgot that I had my camera.

Just to keep everyone updated here are a few other things that happened today: WE GOT OUR FUCKING PLACE (more info to come soon with pictures and such). I ran into a photographer for Reuters; literally ran into him, and then we had coffee and I'm sending him some of my work and he said he would seriously consider talking to his bosses if my work is up to par. Went to Parsons photography department/exhibit where I was super impressed with some work, and completely blown away by others; I guess I'm going to have to work my ass off out here to make my name as a photog. And finally, I learned that if you know where you are in relation to 5th ave. at all times, it's pretty difficult to get lost in the jungle.

Oh yeah, while I do miss the shit out of everyone I've left behind, the forewarned "home sickness" has not yet kicked in. I feel like a little kid who's been running around the house for hours on a massive sugar high and hasn't realized his parents have left to go get drunk at the neighbors house. So I think once I have a job out here, and I'm not running around at mach 10 all day, you all will be receiving drunk dials with me on the other end sobbing and asking how the paper is.

How getting shat on made me smile.

2008-08-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

In retrospect I probably (definitely) didn't think this whole move thing out completely, or rationally for that matter. With that said, I couldn't be happier with how this city has embraced me; albeit harsh at times, the past few days have been nothing but smiles.

As I put my signature on my first apartment application today, and walked into Washington Square Park to smoke a cigarette and try to force out some creativity on the steps of NYU, I had my first, actual, NYC moment of clarity.

With pen in hand, headphones echoing Reasonable Doubt into my ears, and a little sense of skewed accomplishment, the city said hello... in the form of pigeon shit.

As it hit my head and then promptly splashed onto my jeans I couldn't help but laugh. I sat and enjoyed the feeling of complete humility for a good thirty-or-so seconds before I checked the damage left atop my dome. I expected a goopy mess of gray mush mixed with two-day-unwashed hair, but to my surprise there was nothing to be found. "Impossible," I thought to myself, I felt it hit my head first. To my amazement the small shit had hit exactly where the top of my headphones rested, and somehow was hard enough so that with a small piece of paper I was able to scoop the rest of it off my jeans, and that was that. It was almost as if it didn't even happen, the bird was gone by the time I looked up to see my assailant, and nothing was above me but a bright blue sky, and a lady smiling back at me who undoubtedly witnessed the entire thing.

When I got back to my temporary dwelling my kind host told me that getting shit on by a bird is good luck and that I should really be thankful. I'm not sure what it meant, but at the end of the day I can honestly say that it was exactly what needed to happen. I also learned a great lesson; Don't sit on a row of benches directly under a power line in a park, especially when everyone else sitting opposite of you looks like they know something you don't.