Ever since I’ve been going to Austin, I’ve made it a point to stop by Roadhouse Relics and see the amazing neons, carnival signs and stitched canvas sideshow banners. The The Avett Brothers also did a photo shoot in front of the place last year at SXSW.

A long defunct Venture super-store now servers as Gateway Classic Cars in Fairmont City. This place is an indoor car lot and antique mall, and is well worth the drive despite the fact that it sits across the highway from a landfill and is surrounded by a post-industrial wasteland.

I came across this video of Kimura, founder of “Zero Style,”motorcycles. His design ethos is simple, basic and artistic. Check out the video.

Orba Squara, is the stage name for New York singer Mitch Davis. He has recorded two full-length albums, Sunshyness and  ”The Trouble With Flying.” Davis uses many unexpected instruments on the album including mandolin, glockenspiel, accordion, sitar, violin, harmonica, toy pianos, xylophone and ukulele. In support of Orba Squara‘s “The Trouble With Flying” Davis took a 10-day road trip across the country and documented the experience with a fantastic, scrolling photo/design/audio diary. Here are a few screen shots.

We had an amazing experience at INK-N-IRON, the world famous, three-day tattoo, car and culture festival that takes place on the grounds of the historic Queen Mary. What really stands out about the festival is the richness of the entire experience. There are over one-hundred vendors selling an amazing array of merchandise including vintage apparel, Ts, hot rod inspired art work, pin-up clothing and pin stripe sculpture. The are multiple car shows going on at the same time, hot rods and rat rods dominate the outdoor area and there is a showcase of customs inside the convention area. A world-class tattoo convention is housed aboard the Queen Mary.  Tattoo artists fly in from around the world giving people a unique opportunity to get inked by the best in the business. Music takes place all day on two separate stages and talent included 20+ acts including, Merle Haggard, Rev. Horton Heat, X, Stiff Little Fingers, and Bronx. The festival also includes cabaret, art shows, and an beautifully produced pin-up pageant on the main stage.

Got to spend some quality time with the family and some of NHRA’s top contenders including Antron Brown, John Force, Morgan Lucas and Ashley Force Hood in the pits at Gateway International over the weekend. All the drivers were excited to get their new TRIM SS TEES.

Ashley Force's Car

Ashley and I

Morgan Lucan, Charlie Smith

John Force

John Force Staging

Antron Brown, Charlie Smith

Some cool builds from WRENCHMONKEES.