Upton’s Bacon Seitan

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Kerry Weber

Upton's Natural's Vegan Bacon SeitanUpton’s Bacon Seitan is finally hitting stores! Vegan-English Breakfast just got a whole lot tastier! If you have had ever had a pizza, taco, or other dishes made with Upton’s Naturals Seitan then you know this is the finest stuff around! They have been making faux bacon for restaurants all over the country and their pre-packed wraps (here in Chicago) for a few years. Now its available in pre-sliced packages, we got ahold of some and fried it up for some English Breakfast, Vegan-style. Thats, rashers (also known as bacon for the Yanks!), Heinz' baked beans(English breakfast staple), fried tomato/mushrooms, and english muffins with a health dose of vegan-butter and nutritional yeast.They have been making faux bacon for restaurants all over the country and their pre-packed wraps (here in Chicago) for a few years. Now its available in pre-sliced packages, we got ahold of some and fried it up for some English Breakfast, vegan-style. Thats rashers (also known as bacon for the Yanks!), Heinz’ baked beans (English breakfast staple), fried tomato, fried mushrooms, and english muffins with a health dose of vegan-butter and nutritional yeast.Upton's Natural's Vegan Bacon SeitanSince Upton’s was nice enough to get us two boxes, we decided to make some burgers. Not just any burgers, but Bacon-Mushroom-Melt Burgers!  We started with a bacon weave to make things that much more awesome! Mouth watering Vegan Bacon by UptonsThe Bacon Seitan looks and tastes amazing! Its not too salty like some of the other vegan-bacons out there. The flavor isn’t over powering its subtle but definitely bacon and distinguishable when paired with other faux-meats. If you want it chewy, sauté it just a bit or not at all. Its ready to eat out of the package and would go great in a potato salad or dressing as-is. If crisp is your thing, crank up the heat. It singes beautifully and has a nice crunch.Vegan Bacon Mushroom Melt BurgerThe burgers are nothing more then one tube of Litelife “Just like Ground,” smashed into two patties and pan friend in an un-healthy amount of canola oil. When they brown on both sides, toss a slice of vegan cheese, followed by a bacon weave, and some sautéd mushrooms! Top it with a second slice of vegan cheese and its ready to serve. Vegan Bacon Mushroom Melt Burger Uptons Bacon SeitanSeriously simple Skate Snack made 150% more awesome with Upton’s Bacon Seitan! Five percent of all proceeds from the Bacon Seitan go to support the rescued pigs at Farm Sanctuary!

Take a look at who carries it locally here, or head over to Vegan Essentials(should have it available any day now). Big thanks to Dan and Nicole at Upton’s, Tyler Howell for photos, and Abigail our new semi-regular food contributor.

Posted in Skate Snacks | 2 Comments

Baker Has a Deathwish – Jim Greco

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Kerry Weber


The Deathwish Video is premiering all over the country next weekend (The Empty Bottle in Chicago at 6pm) Jim Greco’s part from Baker has a Deathwish is amazing if not for some of the tricks, then for the sheer balls out antics. Five years later and we just don’t get the same kind of hassle from security guards and do-gooder neb-noses. Enjoy and Go check out BakerBoys for all the premier dates.

Posted in Video | 1 Comment

Fallen Reverb

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Kerry Weber

Fallen Reverb vegan Skateboard shoes synthetic-nubuck synthetic-leather The Reverb is a new high top skateboard shoe from Fallen. Its a bit of a departure from the present Fallen lineup considering that for many seasons their shoes have been coming seriously low on the ankle. Good news if you love the fantastic board feel and flex of Fallen but want that extra ankle protection! Good news for the vegan skateboarder, (thats probably you) the upper is synthetic-nubuck in the heavy skate-wear areas and very breathable mesh in the heavy stank foot areas!

Nice padding around the tongue and collar. The back of the collar is notched out for skate comfort and reduced ankle chafe that often comes with high tops . Fallen vulcanized soles are blood red and have some amazing grip and flex for some of the best board feel in the skate game. Deep treads for some extra long skate life.

Note: (Only the Black and Blood Red is Vegan.)

Zappos sizes 5-14 (no 10.5-11) $74.99

CCS sizes 8-12 $74.99

Fallen sizes 5,6,6.5,7,14 $74.99

Posted in Shoes | 2 Comments

Matt Soria at Sip Cafe

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Kerry Weber

Skater and Artist Matt Soria is the featured artist at local Sip Cafe at 1223 W. Grand Ave here in Chicago this month! If you missed his hand printed zines at Chicago Zine Fest  then this is a good chance to check out his stuff and get a cup of coffee. Soria has been developing his style somewhere between screen-print pop art, classic illustration, and low-brow skateboarder scum art. Beautiful stuff.  Matt also has some rad ideas he sent us about re-purposing broken skate decks, check em out!

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Peggy Oki, “Working to Save the World’s Rarest Dolphin”

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Kerry Weber
Peggy Oki Jack Johnson Maui's Dolphin Lets Face It

Folk singer Jack Johnson with Peggy Oki for the Lets Face It campaign.

“For eight consecutive years since learning of their dwindling numbers, my association has been working in the community of Raglan, New Zealand, as a volunteer group organizing art action activities at Maui’s Dolphin Day. Environmental groups from across the country gather each year to raise awareness to the plight of the Maui’s, a subspecies of the also critically endangered Hector’s dolphin. ” (…read the rest)

Above in an excerpt from Peggy Oki’s op-ed in the Santa Barbara Independent with an update on her work to save the remaining 55 Maui’s. Last year we interviewed original Zephyr Skateboards team member Peggy Oki. We talked in depth about her work to save the endangered Hectors and Maui’s dolphins, her switch to veganism and a bit about skateboarding too!  One of Oki’s efforts to save the Maui’s Dolphin is the “Lets Face It” campaign. Instead of a simple written petition the campaign puts a face to those who want to see the endangered species survive.  Find out more on the campaign and contribute a photo to help save the Muai’s on the LFI site.

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Emerica Memphis

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Kerry Weber

Emerica Memphis Vegan Skateboard ShoeEmerica Memphis may be a slip-on but the sole is all about the skateboard! The cotton twill upper holds snug to your feet by elastic band, just like the Laced! The heel and lightly padded collar ride a little higher with a slight scoop, which makes sure the ball of the foot isn’t flapping out of the shoe either. The tongue is thin just like you want on a slip on.

The key feature on the Memphis that makes it a skateboard shoe and not just another casual lifestyle dud, is the vulcanized soles! Lots of grip with Emerica’s new triangle tread pattern and a high-impact midsole have a great board. No laces to worry about make me happy because I tie shoes slower then a 6 year old.

Emerica size 6-14 (no 13) $48.99

Posted in Shoes | 1 Comment

Nogales, Mexico

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Kerry Weber


Sean Conley takes us on another urban adventure. This time to the border town of Nogales Mexico. The vibrant colors and soundtrack (provided by a local radio broadcast) make me want to hop a train or jump into the back of an old pickup truck with nothing but my skateboard and maybe a change of socks.

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Supra Amigo

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Kerry Weber

Supra Amigo Canvas Vegan Skateboard shoeSupra Amigo is the team skate shoe. Rarely available in a vegan colorway, this season it appears in one style we know well, all black canvas upper! The toe cap is one solid piece attached with some box stitching (thats where they X the stitching) around where that ollie patch may go. Padding in the tongue and collar light for some free moving feet. All this attached to a Vulcanized gum sole. Supra is even using a water based glue for some eco (and inadvertently animal) bonus points!

Supra size 7-12 $60.00

Zumiez size 7-13 $59.95

Posted in Shoes | 1 Comment

Skateistan: 100 Top NGOs

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Kerry Weber

I was listening to a story this morning on the radio about Maria Toorpakai, a young women in Pakistan who had a talent for the game Squash. She showed so much interest in the sport that her parents allowed her to pose as a boy to participate at a local club. When she was no longer able to hide her gender, she left Pakistan for Canada. A touching story with a happy ending. 

Skateistan, Afghanistan’s first and only skateboard school is no stranger to awards and accolades.  Recently they were ranked amongst a short list off the top 100 Non-Governmental Organizations. As one could expect the list is filled with many groups working on big important issues. The impact that Skateistan can achieve may on the surface seem minimal, though as most of us who have had skateboarding in our lives know, it has saved some of us from an otherwise mundane existence.

Skateistan Mazar-e-SharifSkateistan has focused its efforts on making a societal change. IOU Ramps just finished up work on a new facility in Mazar-e-Sharif in the north of Afghanistan. This spreads the reach of an organization that looks at the role of women and the youth population wholly different then much of the NGO world. Rather then simply make a place where children will get an education and move on, they have created a facility that allows youth to re-contextuallize their lives in their country. The mundane and fatalism they are born into has a chance to shed, by an unlikely toy on four wheels.

The double standards that envelop girls and sports in the region, somehow skipped over the skateboard. So while the Pakistani Squash player Maria Toorpakai may not have had a choice but to leave her country; the young women and girls of Skateistan are staying, working towards a new Afghanistan.

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Lakai Manchester

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Kerry Weber

Lakai Manchester Vegan skateboard shoesFresh for Spring, Lakai Manchester are available in Three Vegan colorways! Purple, Lemon Yellow and Navy. Seems like all fashion bases are covered for those Spring-time family gathering you’ll ditch to go skate.

Lakai Manchester Vegan skateboard shoes

All Canvas upper with a solid toecap and discreet stitching, this shoe is slim but perfectly suited for ripping!  The heal is nice and stiff, which makes the shoe stay firmly on your foot.

Lakai Manchester Vegan skateboard shoesJust enough padding on the tongue and collar to make the shoe feel snug. Sweet white Lakai logo made of polyurethane. The herringbone tread on the vulcanized soles give a great board feel and long lasting wear.

Lakai

Purple size 5-14 $61.00

Navy size 5-14 $61.00

Lemon size 5-14 $61.00

Posted in Shoes | 3 Comments