Denim retail heavyweight, Self Edge, has recently opened their latest outpost in Los Angeles. On my brief visit, I picked up the latest Volume of INVENTORY Magazine featuring Beams Creative Director, Kenichi Kusano. Congrats to Johan and Kiya with the new shop!

Released on Tuesday, sold out by Thursday. The dude from San Diego’s Art Fag Recordings definitely knows how to curate a catalog that keeps their followers on their toes. Their latest installment comes from Dunes, a band they describe as “Cocteau Punk”. For those that didn’t get a chance to pick it up the first time, a repress is planned within the near future.

Some insightful lessons from Wieden+Kennedy’s Executive Creative Director, John C Jay. Although focused from a design perspective, I feel that these lessons would apply just as well for anyone working within the creative industry. Via AIGA.

1: Be authentic. The most powerful asset you have is your individuality, what makes you unique. It’s time to stop listening to others on what you should do.  2: Work harder than anyone else and you will always benefit from the effort.  3: Get off the computer and connect with real people and culture. Life is visceral.  4: Constantly improve your craft. Make things with your hands. Innovation in thinking is not enough.  5: Travel as much as you can. It is a humbling and inspiring experience to learn just how much you don’t know.  6: Being original is still king, especially in this tech-driven, group-grope world.  7: Try not to work for stupid people or you’ll soon become one of them. 8: Instinct and intuition are all-powerful. Learn to trust them.  9: The Golden Rule actually works. Do good.  10: If all else fails, No. 2 is the greatest competitive advantage of any career.

A few weeks ago, my favorite brewery opened a pub just a few doors down from their preexisting tasting room. Named after its town of residency, Alpine Beer Company manages to attract a healthy mix of local folk and beer advocates on their hop-seeking pilgrimages. Staying pretty conservative, I ordered a plate of their nachos topped with steak, chicken and bbq sauce. Pretty boring, I know… but I was there for the beer anyway and most of the real estate in my stomach was reserved for Exponential Hoppiness.

Do you remember where you were when this song came out?

On a recent trip to New York, my friend Dom (Sea & Bee) took a minor detour and swung by the KAWS exhibition at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Being the awesome friend that he is, he brought me back a museum pamphlet from the show. This is the first solo museum exhibition by the New Jersey-born artist and will continue on until January 2nd, 2011.

Below, is a photo that I took at the KAWS x Undefeated Billboard Project opening in 2004. I remember him staying well beyond the reception’s hours to sign and sketch for all of the attendees. Kind of a bummer that I didn’t have him sign anything while I was there.

Last Saturday, my friends from Yeller Studio held the reigns at Subtext Gallery in a group show featuring works by Christina Liu, Clarke Forrest, Michael Tussey, Tyler Cristobal and Richard Parubrub. Themed, When We Sleep, the show was a visual culmination of work inspired by the unconscious glimpses of the artists. It was all a dream!

I made the way up to Los Angeles on Friday night to check out Best Coast at the Sounds of Summer Concert Series presented by 722 Figueroa. Reaching capacity far before starting their set, there were plenty of hopeful show-goers left at the door. Get there early folks! Without my camera in hand, these were the only shots that I was able to take with my iPhone.

Thankyou to 722 Figueroa Showroom for the invite. I had a great time. Further bills of the Sounds of Summer Concert Series will include Neon Indian and The Drums. Save the dates.