1134 NYC x Thunderdog – MIRF West Coast Drop

Thunderdog Studios will drop 1134 NYC’s MIRF on the west coast in a two-city spread: LA on Wednesday, July 9th (7-10 PM) @ Rogue Status & SF on Thursday, July 10th (10-2 AM) @ Icon Ultra Lounge.  Both release events will feature live performances by hip-hop trio Team Facelift and are sponsored by Vapors Mag.

Created by MINT and SERF, the  MIRF (9”) is the first wall-mounted graffiti tag vinyl collectible.  It comes in a slick white & silver foil  slide-out package  complete with flocked tray and Tdog emblazoned wall-mounting hardware.  It’s available in four colorways – East Coast (Black Matte and White Matte) & West Coast (Black Glossy and White Glossy).  Each edition is limited to 200 pieces.  We’re guessing that this drop is for the Glossy editions only, but we’ll confirm shortly.

Rogue Status
1720 Main Street
Venice, CA

Icon Ultra Lounge
1192 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA

Tristan Eaton in Zurich for Re-Hab opening

A few days ago we blogged about the Re-Hab pop-up store opening.  Now, a day before the opening here are pics of Tristan Eaton starting work on the indoor wall murals for the store -- as the police look on.  Enjoy.  Re-Hab is the first opportunity to buy the newest Thunderdog vinyl merch -- Thundermutt 3.5 featuring Filth and 1134 NYC’s MIRF graffiti wall vinyl. More pics after the jump.

Re-Hab: Pop-Up Shop    
Langstrasse 93, 8004 Zurich    
Switzerland

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Thunderdog Studios @ Re-Hab Opening in Zurich

Tristan Eaton of Thunderdog Studios will be rocking a live art installation for the opening of the RE-HAB lifestyle pop-up store in Zurich presumably during the private opening preview which goes down on July 1st (6 to 9 PM).  This top-flight event will feature some of the top lifestyle brands around --  10 DEEP, Ricky Powell, RECON, and Subware. It’s also  first opportunity to buy the newest Thunderdog vinyl merch -- Thundermutt 3.5 featuring Filth and 1134 NYC’s MIRF graffiti wall vinyl .  

Re-Hab: Pop-Up Shop
Langstrasse 93, 8004 Zurich
Switzerland

Book Release: Unfiltered – The Complete Ralph Bakshi

Ralph Bakshi -- writer, director, producer and artist has put his stamp on animation with a large number of projects including Fritz the Cat, the animated Lord of the Rings, Cool World and more.  If you've  been looking for the definitive tome on all things Bakshi, look no more. Meltdown is throwing the official book  release party  for Unfiltered – The Complete Ralph Bakshi on Saturday, June 14th (7-11 PM).  Co-authored by Jon Gibson  and Chris McDonnell over a three-year period, the 280 page volume features art (pre-production work, rough sketches and more from Ralph’s private archives), insight on the animation pioneer, and a forward by Quentin Tarantino.   Ralph Bakshi and both authors will be present at the event for your signing pleasure.

Meltdown   
7522 Sunset Blvd   
Los Angeles CA 90046   
323.851.7223

Seen: Upper Playground LA Opening

Bringing a positive upbeat vibe to an area that sorely needs it, Upper Playground, Mister Cartoon and Estevan Oriol opened three new adjacent  retail spaces  at Sixth and Los Angeles in Skid Row yesterday (5.31).  With the Giant Fatima head greeting you as you enter, you know this is not 'just' another lifestyle store.  Upper Playground's digs are   fairly large encompassing a dedicated space for their Fifty24LA gallery as well as ample  nicely appointed display space for their ever-increasing lifestyle line anchored by Tees + Caps and filled out with pillows, pint glasses, and of course vinyl toys. The store is quite nice -- black walls  accented by new original art from Upper Playground stalwarts including Sam Flores and Jeremy Fish. The front window features a strong paper installation by Armsrock depicting the plight and courage of the forgotten less fortunate. 

The gallery featured new original pieces from artists whose careers have blossomed along with their shows at Upper Playground's various galleries (SF, PDX). There's some great work from Alex Pardee, David Choe, David Ellis, Doze Green, Ron English, San, Slick, Usugrow  and more. 

So if you're looking for cool Tees and want to go pick 'em out yourself in person -- be sure to check out Upper Playground LA.  Click through for a jam-packed gallery of store shots + the gallery art. 

Upper Playground LA
125 E. 6th Street (between S. Main St. and S. Los Angeles St.)
Los Angeles, California

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JamFactory's Droplet Launch - Pics and Video

Crazy Label officially launched Gavin Strange's (JamFactory)  Droplets 2.5" mini figures  with  the Jam and Custard custom show  @ Go Go Plastic! on May 2nd. Talk about organized -- toy launch + group show featuring custom versions.   Didn't it make it?  No worries, here are pics and a  video of the opening. Also see the Droplet Launch set on Flickr.  The initial advanced shipment of 128 Droplets  has come and gone.  it's easy to see why -- the bright colors, cute shape + the great articulated tentacles.The full release is right around the corner, this June.  Click through for more pics.

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JLed Pyro Smash -- Sold OUT

SOLD OUT.  Fin.  Here's the last few shots -- Smash closeup cameos ;-) 'Night.

JLed Pyro Smash - More signing pics

Just cause I can... Enjoying the live blogging... Oh, just in case.... It's Munky King on Melrose.

Munky King
7308 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.938.0091

JLed -- It's On

He's signing... Online sales have come and gone ... 3 minutes?  in a flash.

JLed - Pyro Smash Launch -- NOW

Munky King is about to open the doors... Joe Ledbetter's Pyro Smash Launch is in 8 minutes.  Here are some pics of the line...

Kidrobot NYC Reopening (5.1.08)

Kidrobot NY has relocated a few doors down into what is reportedly an awesome new 2-level location.  To celebrate Kidrobot's throwing a grand opening party today,  Thursday, May 1st from 6 to 8 PM.  Festivities include the release and signing for East3's Mugsy Spraycan figure and custom 20" Munnys and Dunnys from several artists including Andrew Bell, MAD and Nakanari.   MAD's 20" Skin Deep Munny  (above) is sweet -- nice and clean, the  intricate lettering and tats  really pushes it over the top.  Click through for additional shots of it and Nakanari's 20" Spiki Dunny. if you can't make it to the opening party, log on to kidrobot.com for a live video stream.

Kidrobot NY
118 Prince Street
New York, NY

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MG2 Mexico Release @ Munky King (4.3.08)

Marka27 will release the new MG2 Mexico (200 pcs) @ Munky King Melrose on Thursday, April 3rd 2008 (7-11 PM).   Come out for the new figure and stay for the art.  Marka's been working 'round the clock on original paintings, custom toys, and prints.  Plus, special guest artist Jesse Hernandez will thrown down as well.

MG2 Mexico follows up on the success of  MG1 Brazil with an all-new head sculpt and of course has a working speaker.  MG2 is even bigger at 17" (versus 15" for MG1) and has been improved with an external AC adapter port for extended play without batteries.  Despite the bigger size and improvements, MG2 Mexico will retail for $120, the same price as the regular MG1 Brazil editions.

The event will be packed with the new MG2 figure,  art, MK exclusive print, and goodie bags / giveaways. If  you're in SoCal, come celebrate the launch of the new minigod and meet Marka27 and Jesse Hernandez on 4.3.08. Peep the flier for all the details.

Munky King
7308 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.938.0091

Buff Monster + Sket One Release / Signings (2.17.07)

Lazy Sundays?  Not if you live in NYC.  Tomorrow (2.17.07), MINDstyle and Kaching Brands will host Buff Monster and Sket One for two simultaneous releases @ the Showroom NYC (7-11 PM).  So what's dropping?  MINDstyle will drop the a white and pink 8" Buff Monster figure.  Kaching Brands will drop the Cookies n' Cream edition of the brand new Ripple figure (300 pieces).  This edition features black flock and 6 sets of eyes (magnetic) [5 printed designs + one blank DIY]. Finally, MINDstyle will also drop their Bloody Valentine Horselington (100 pcs) by EWOK 5MH .

The Showroom NYC
117 2nd Avenue (& 7th Street), 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003

Toy Release X3 @ The Showroom NYC (2.17.07)

Toy Release X3.  Buff Monster , EWOK 5MH, and Sket One.  It goes down on February 17th, 2008 (7-11 PM) @ The Showroom NYC.   On to the toys...  MINDstyle is dropping an 8" white+pink Buff Monster figure (100 pieces) and the Bloody Valentine Horselington by EWOK 5MH.   At the same time, Sket One will release and sign his Cookies n' Cream  Ripple (black w/white accents), limited to 300 pieces, from Kaching Brands.  This triple event during Toy Fair is not to be missed.  Check it out. 

The Showroom NYC
117 2nd Avenue (& 7th Street), 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003

Seen - Vivisect Playset Release

After much anticipation STRANGEco released the Vivisect Playset blind-box minifigure series based on the annual art show curated by Luke Chueh and Gallery 1988.  The set officially dropped this past Saturday night (1.26.08) @ Gallery 1988 LA to a strong crowd eager to pick up the figures.  A serious downpour didn't discourage collectors who queued up for a rare change to get signatures and sketches from all seven series artists - Amanda Visell, Anthony Ausgang, Greg 'Craola' Simkins, Joe Ledbetter, Luke Chueh, Peter Gronquist and Thomas Han.   In a rare appearance, Thomas rocked the unabomber look -- black hoodie, oversized shades, and a fake mustache. 

While collectors clearly just enjoyed opening box after box, the chases were the real prize.  These include the two Luke Chueh variants (chomping teeth, three eyes), the pink/silver/white rare Craola, a silver Gronquist and more.  The gallery was pretty much filled from 5:30 through 9 PM with collectors loading up on some very sweet sketches (Amanda even broke out the brush), a few custom munnys (regular, mini and mega) and of course signed figures.   While things went slowly, it was orderly with collectors going from artist to artist down the long signing table.

If you missed the event, we have the next best thing -- pics and more pics, click through to check 'em.