________BACK IN THE SFC SUCKAS

Well my dear friends-I am back in the city for the 2nd time in a month. Chillin' in Tahoe at the moment but headed back tomorrow. Got to see my sweetie Leon again and we will be reunited in 3 months. It will go by quickly. I have most def decided to move back to Cali because it totally kicks ass here. Ya'll know I do not get too personal here, but for all my peeps I love, life is good and I send you lotsa pounds, hugs, kisses. All that. Until I have time to write more, keep it real and love life.

XOXO,
Nic aka La Slam

SHOPPING IN SAN FRANCISCO

Cans galore at the First Amendment Gallery

This is the first segment in my San Francisco journal. As ya’ll know I went to Cali for 10 days and it was awesome, and filled with lots of adventure and drama. Writing about the entire trip is probably going to take me a good month or so but I thought a great place to start would be with the SHOPPING. First off, let me just say, I live in Maine and I can NEVER get this cool crap here. I always have to order it online which is a major pain in my ass. The stores I am reviewing here are the ultra cool, you’re a loser if you don’t go there, stores.
Pic above: GOOD TIMES AT FRJTZ

LOYAL ARMY LIFESTYLES
1728 Haight St., SF, CA 094117
925.221.6200www.loyalarmy.com
When I went to this store I had only seen their stuff online and adored it right away. Their prints are super cute. I bought a purse called Roller Boogie, with 80’s style roller skates all over it. I also bought an adorable zip up hoodie for my son called boombox. You can figure that pattern out yourself. The best part of this shop, besides the super cuteness, is the reasonable prices and helpful staff.

FTC with locations in Sacramento and Tokyo
1632 Haight St., SF, CA 94117
415.626.0663

http://www.ftcsf.com/#
FTC is so super old skool. The owner, Ken, told me they’ve been around for 20 years (if my memory serves me correctly). They use to be located off of Van Ness but now reside on the Haight. FTC helped many pro skaters along the way such as Mike Carroll and Javontae Turner. The shop is filled with all the skate decks one could want and all the gear to complete your board.

*On a side note: FTC is putting together a compilation CD called TD Camp “Face to Face”. The album is due out in stores April 21st and will feat. artists such as Snoop Dogg, Q-Bert, Bored Stiff and many more. Check out http://www.hellarecords.com/Home.html for more details.

MISSION SKATEBOARDS3045 24th St.
415.647.7888

http://www.missionsk8boards.com/Not quite FTC when it comes to skate shops. Mission Skateboards is more of a hole in the wall Mom and Pop type skate shop. I loved it there because they had the sickest old skool Pumas. I got a pair of red and black high-tops that I can’t wait to rock once the snow melts. I can’t get them dirty, ya know?

AARDVARK'S1501 Haight St.
415.621.3141
More locations in Hollywood, Venice, Pasadena, and Canoga Park
I have been shopping at this store since I was 14; that was the Venice Beach location though. The SF shop has just as many vintage and second hand assortments to choose from. I left with an amazing flamenco style dress with a petticoat and everything, for a sweet $20 bucks, can’t beat it.


FIRST AMENDMENT GALLERY1000 Howard St., SF, CA 94103
415.861.5089http://1amsf.com/contact/
It is a beautiful day when an art gallery is able to feature nothing but the work of amazing graffiti artists. As a retired graffiti artist myself I can truly appreciate the commitment it takes to take on such a venture. Much of the art on display could also be found on the streets of SF. The gallery also features an array of markers, cans, caps, and apparel. I must also mention the friend that I made there, Lily Black. Lily gave me a copy of his unpublished manuscript and you can find more information on his works at www.papercastlepress.com

Alright people, I was going to do a bunch more shops but I am getting tired of all this writing. I will mention one more spot for awesome breakfast/brunch. You must hit up FRJTZ on 590 Valencia Street. My posse and I had brunch there and it was so fun. The ambiance was killer and the $28.00 Mimosa Kits (bottle of champagne with OJ) hit the spot.

REST IN PEACE ASHLEY

It is with great sadness that I write this post. I recently learned of the murder of my friend Ashley Yamauchi. The news came as a complete shock to me. Ashley was my age and has an 8-yr. old son. I am not going to get into all of the gory details of her death because I do not think she would want us to remember her that way. I will say that Ashley was the biggest sweetheart ever. Back in the day when I was a youngin' in SF I use to run with Ashley and her crew the "Slashettes". She was the first one to introduce me to No Doubt. I loved Ashley so much that when she started dating my ex I was totally happy for him because she was so sweet. Now that's rare. Anyway, I will leave it at that and my memories of a beautiful girl.

WE LOVE YOU ASHLEY!!

GOIN' BACK TO CALI

Hello my peeps. I am so excited because I actually have something to write about. The SLAM is goin’ back to Cali!!! I love talking about myself in the 3rd person, it’s so narcissistic. OMG!! I think I even spelled that right!! I rule. Anyway, in two days I will be on a plane to my loving home of San Francisco. The first couple of days I will be staying with my friend Ant, a.k.a. Big Poppa. He is my partner in crime, so it should be a blast. I will also have the honor of skating with the fabulous Bay Area Derby Girls (B.A.D.). I hung out with them at RollerCon and they were not only BAD but RAD. I haven’t skated in months due to my hip injury but I got a cortisone shot from the doc, so hopefully I won’t get my ass kicked too bad. The most exciting part of my trip will most definitely be seeing my sweetie Cole. I can’t wait to tell you all about my adventures. Stay tuned…..

XOXO,
SLAM

__________EMB4EVER_______

Once upon a time in a land far away there lived a posse of skaters known as EMBARKO's Most Blunted. This ragtag group of skaters lived to skate at the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Being very territorial it was never a good idea for outsiders to skate at EMB unless they had mad skills. These outsiders were referred to as "T-Dogs" and usually had their skateboard stolen from them and were immediately chased from EMB screaming.

I was prompted to write this ode to EMB after getting back talking to my sweetie Frisco Cole, who is currently serving time in San Luis Obispo. Cole pretty much introduced me to this crazy group and they played a role in my life for a long time. From Lil Geez, who will always have my heart, to James Kelch and his crazy self. All the boys (and girls) of the EMB era have stayed with me over the years. We all seem to have kids now and live tamer lives but will always be family.

PEACE AND LOVE,

The SLAM a.k.a. Nic

REST IN PEACE SWEET KOBE

My cat, my friend, my solace, my Kobe is dead. How I wish that things had been so different for you. I remember the day I brought you home in a box and you were scratching and clawing your way out. I was alone. I had just lost my baby and broke up with my boyfriend. You were there for me. When I cried you licked my face. When I was depressed you sat on my lap and purred. You were my best friend. Then you ran away for 2 weeks and the animal control made me get you fixed. You never really were the same after that. You were always Kobe but not quite the same spunk. Then as the years went by you developed asthma and I did everything I could for you. The shots, the medicines, the inhalers; all temporary relief. You suffered but you still gave all your love to everyone you met. Every cat hater that met you loved you right away. Something about you. Your loyalty. When Nevan was born you sat under his swing and kept guard. You also sat under him when he was eating, hoping for some scraps. LOL!! You loved food like nobodies business. You fat fluff ball. Well, Nevan came along and he had his own health issues and suddenly you took back seat. I couldn't afford to take you both to the doctor. I didn't know what to do. I felt horrible. I really hope you know that. I feel horrible. You suffered more. Nothing could ease your pain. I know you are better now. I brushed you today; before Gideon buries you. It felt good. I kept thinking that I heard you purring. My imagination. I thought you might snap out of it. But you were stiff and dead. I just want you to know that you were such a fucking awesome cat!!!! I really love you and always will. Nothing can replace you KOBE.

Love forever,

Your Mom

TIMES ARE A CHANGIN'

Hello Friends,

I am sorry that I have not written in so long, but I just didn't know how to tell ya'll that I quit derby. It was a very difficult choice for me to make. Everyone says that when it happens to them and it sounds so cliche, so here's another one for ya, I have an empty spot in my heart. I really feel lost without derby, but it had to be done. Ya know when you're at that point in your life and you have this HUGE commitment and you just can't do it anymore? Well, that was me, and here I am. I have not put my skates on in about a month and they are very sad and upset with me. I am sad too. The goal is to move on from here to the next faze in my life, which is already here. I don't have too much to say about it right now. Most of my good friends already know the dealio- so I see no reason to share it with the cyberworld. Let's just say for now it's all good. Someday I will put my skates back on and skate with passion (as Olive always says). Bye MRD. Bye Roller Derby. I hope we will meet again.

XOXO,

SLAM