Custom Light Up Shoes and 1 of a Kind Hand Painted Customized Sneakers

Finishing up my trip to San Fran in these last photos. Not too many details to share so enjoy the visuals.

Courtyard at the Museum of Modern Art

Friday night dinner, spicy.

Car wreck after Friday night Dinner.

Learn how to drive people.

I must learn to take photos of the food. It would have been execeptionally nice to see the large fried crab and seafood we ate at the R & G Lounge on Saturday.

After a long week in the hustle and bustle of the city we were able to visit the California counrtyside. Starting at Muir Woods where we spent our Sunday morning.

At Muir Woods: the bottom and roots of the fallen Kent Tree named after U.S. Congressman William Kent. The tree, Kent's favorite, leaned toward the valley for over 100 years when if finally fell in 2003.

Muir Beach

The afternoon on Sunday we went wine tasting in Sonoma Valley. This was a great experience almost too much information too fast. Definitely not the last time I'll ever go though. I need to step my fine wine game up.

Kinda what one of my future houses will look like. This was one of the wineries we stopped at Ledson Winery and Vineyards about 16,000 sq. ft.

Ledson's vineyard.

Final conclusion: After visiting California for the second time this year I still believe and wish I would be able to live there someday for at least a portion of my life. At the worst visit much more often.

The adventure the four of us embarked on this day was nothing like we'd expected. I hope that was a good attention getting intro sentence, because I really do not know what we had expected. The plan was to go to the Golden Gate Bridge. We eventually made our way out to rent some bicycles to bike across the bridge from Blazing Saddles. This was a great choice of entertainment that I would recommend to anyone that is in the least bit of living shape....say you can wake up and walk around all day without needing to go to the hospital...you should survive. The next day I did kinda feel it in my quads but that's a feeling of accomplishment. After crossing the bridge I had to turn right back around and forego the rest of the ride to Sausalito and the ferry ride back with my three comrades. The reason being one of my most important things to do on the trip.

After returning my bicycle I met up with Peter from MYX TV around 5p.m. Despite an unwanted wait in traffic we eventually made it to the MYX headquarters at ABS CBNI Global around 6:30. The reason for this meet up was to do an interview about custom shoes for a future television show about sneaker culture. I will say it was and will be an honor to even be mentioned with some of the other names that will be appearing on the show. Check back around October for more info.

After Peter found out I had not eaten lunch or anything much all day he insisted on taking me somewhere to eat before he took me back to the hotel. I tried to insist that I was fine and he need not to buy my dinner but I'm glad he did not waiver. We ended up at a little Hawaiian BBQ place that I'll have a hard time trying to find something simliar here back home, but will have to. I had a BBQ plate with a few different meats: chicken, steak, and ribs. But Peter had what could be one of my new favorites, Loco Moco: broiled hamburger patty, topped with two eggs over easy and gravy.....OMG..... I'll probably have to start making my own since no place around here could even imagine creating such a delectable meal. As you know by now I'm a poor photographer and did not take photos of the food....I'm just gonna start taking snaps of every meal so it becomes a habit. BIG thanks to Peter for the interview, ride, and dinner. Definitely something that not just anyone visiting SF could plan which made the trip even greater.

The night ended with a little Italian meal at Uncle Vito's Pizzadelli and a few drinks at another hotel listening to some live jazz and a couple funny stories from the bartender that became jokes the rest of the trip. And way too expensive Crown and Cokes.

One of many Golden Gate photos.....I'll put them all up here at the conclusion.

EF on the bridge.

Unfortunately these kinda signs are necessary.

ABS CBN front desk.

This was the desk of Jesse Hernandez a vinyl toy designer and overall dope artist. Jesse is the art director and host for a couple shows apart of ABS CBN programming. One of which is Vinyl Addiction. The high quality of this show makes me even more excited about how good the sneaker show will be. Check out all his work through his freelance site: Immortal Studios. We only spent a minute being introduced by Peter, exchanging business cards, showing off my shoes but when I said I was from Kansas City he asked if I knew fellow vinyl toy designer, artist, and friend MAD. I could only say I knew of him but I recognized the same camaraderie that I have with other sneaker customizers. That was cool.

The hot seat the interview took place sans a few sneakers that'll be in the background.

Up next: well after day 3 comes 4, duh. Anyone else even use the word "duh" anymore?

A slightly later but still early rise for this Tuesday in California was to make the first ferry ride out to Alcatraz Island. Long story short if you ever make it out be sure to go to an early tour and listen to the free audio tour. I found some great inspiration on the visit of the island and penitentiary. Later in the afternoon my friends and I met with Jon of Fully Laced. Jon took us to a few shops and a great little Mexican restaurant. Next we found our way to the Union Square shopping district for a little window shopping at places like Louis Vuitton, Ed Hardy, Christian Audigier, NikeTown, John Varvatos, Lacoste, and a bunch of others. Sadly I was a few too many blocks away from theHundreds store on Post St. and out of time by 7 p.m. when they closed.

We arrived at a stop on Mason St. to take a ride on the famous San Francisco Cable Cars. The novice photographer that I am, I took no good photos of the cars themselves. The four of us ended up having a few beers at a small deli. There we met a guy named Ramon WAY into blue grass music and another guy on business from Spain for a company name Aries, who we had a great conversation with about renewable energy and whatnot.

The rest of the night had us visit an great pizza joint called Golden Boy Pizza. I was a traditionalist and had pepperoni while my friends went crazy and tried the clam and garlic. Eventually we ran into a bar and listed to a live band by the name of Still Time, who were kinda folk alternative rock. Who we thought were saying they are from St. Louis and we're like yeah, cool Missouri. I found they are from SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. The bar had a great small atmosphere I just love.

Finally trying to get on the public trans our buddy lost his pass so the four of us split into two. I decided we would get off a couple blocks early and experience more of the SF nightlife with a little walk to the hotel. Stopping to check out a few street artists along the way I finally made it to theHundreds SF store. Took a couple photos and called it a night as we made it to the hotel.

This cell is crazy no bed or nothing.

Looking out on the courtyard.

Time capsule from 1973 to be opened 100 years later on May 3, 2073. I'd love to both open and fill up one of these some day.

Real cool storefront signage right here. I remember us looking for it and I could see it 3 blocks away.

Finally made it to theHundreds SF. Actually pretty glad I got a few photos with the sign glowing.

I had completely forgot about how they had a color changing floor accent installed at the door. Obviously I'm a huge fan of that. Unfortunately I took horrible photos with my horrible camera, so next time if you wish to have a better documentation feel free to make a donation via PayPal to the "Get Evolved Footwear a Better Camera Fund" over there in the right column. Ha. But seriously I need a new camera.

Up next: Day 3 or 4 with at least one Golden Gate Bridge photo or like 45.

I made it back safely from San Francisco. Great week. Monday the 13th started off early waking up at about 4 a.m. and finally arriving in California around noon. Our need for food lead us to Pho Tan Hoa for some Viet-Chinese cuisine. Aftwards we bussed our way to Haight Street where I was able to visit a few shops like TRUE, FTC skateshop, and numerous second hand vintage stores. A short walk around a park and we were off to check out the Giants take on the Florida Marlins. The most memorable part of the day had to be a G's fan alongside us in the bleachers yelling "What's the matter with Ross!?!"........ and everyone else, myself included, responding with "HE'S A BUM" to Marlins outfielder Cody Ross. 

Cool ceiling inside the elevator of an Adidas shop on Haight St.

This is the closest we ever got to the famous "7 Sisters" or "Painted Ladies" victorian homes seen in the "Full House" intro. Not as famous but still has cool looking.

This is only the 2nd MLB ballpark I've ever been to. The Giant's AT&T Park inside walkways and out of park views really blow my K.C. Royals Kauffman stadium away. But the G's have nothing on our video board.

Up next: Day two- prison, pizza, and theHundreds.

Usually I do not make posts like this but I'm in the process of more updates to this so called blog to improve my readership and overall "online cred". So what's good in San Francisco? Why do I ask? Well because I'll be making a 1 week visit out there to the Golden State. I already have at least a couple great opportunities that will take place. But I'm still open to any suggestions.

So feel free to comment or email( evolvedfootwear@comcast.net) any tips or ideas for visiting SF. Otherwise check back in a few weeks to see how the trip went!

If you live in New York and have nothing to do this Friday the 27th......you can check out our kicks in person at: "EXPOSED": BHM Fashion show @ Roone Aldridge Auditorium of Columbia University. Aside from EF other designers, brands, and performers include: MERCURA EYEWEAR, Nippy Lavern, Kenneth Olin, Qristyl Frazier, Onyx Dance Troupe, and H.A.V.I.C. Squared Entertainment.

Tickets: $10

Directions: Take 1 train to Broadway & 116th and walk to lerner hall on 115th

For more info check out: "EXPOSED": BHM FASHION SHOW 2009 at Columbia University

Or if you are not in NY, check back here in the next week for photos of all the shoes I customized.

Evolved Footwear is looking for a few good feet to help represent the brand. The plan is to build more than what some call a "street" team, EF is looking for a Global Team. Here are the criteria:

1. Do you live in a large city: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Fransisco, etc. Not just United States either......live in another country? Even better!

2. Do you wear sneakers, a lot, often, and most always?

3. Are you a talker?  You are open to talking to people about your shoes

4. Do you interact with new people everyday?

5. Do you go to college: Aside from studying you also get out as much as possible

6. Do you have Connections? (If you do, you should not need to have a description of what EF is looking for, just tell us what connections, and we will determine if in fact you do)

7. Are you active online? Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, your own blog or website, whatever!

This is not a definite list of what we are looking for, more of a guideline. So if you answered yes to at least a few of those questions we would like to hear from you. Email your answers to all those questions and tell us why it would be a good decision to choose you? We will then get back to you to discuss the plans of Evolved Footwear's Global Team.

evolvedfootwear@comcast.net