I try to avoid the Slap Message board like the bloody plague, but you can't help but notice the influence it has over the skateboard community... First source for news (or gossip most times), a cesspool of hating on everything under the sun, a reminder that their are is in fact another coast besides the east (who knew?), but most times it serves as a window to gaze into the dark soul of skateboarding.

Well the boys on the board have started a petition to get ol Jimmy a piece of the the big ol pie in the sky. It's awesome to see support for guys like Jimmy who happens to be one of the best dudes on AND off a skateboard. Unfortunately I don't have an account on the message board nor do I think these things are decided that way but like always I have 2 thumbs way up for you Jimbo.

By the way have you seen this video people are talking about "This Time Tomorrow"!?!?!

Congrats Mate!

Exit Philadelphia Presents "Deck Heads 3" A Group Art Show on Skateboard Decks.

This year we decided to go all out for our annual skateboard art show. We managed to get over 80 of the most talented artist around to contribute to this years show and also recruited help from 3 of Philadelphia's favorite galleries Amberella, Jinxed, and Jolie Laide for a special collaborative project. This will be a night to remember. Never before has Philly been able to pack this much art, skateboarding, and Philly Love into 4 walls!

Hope to See you there!

For List of Artist's Showing at "Deck Heads 3"

(more...)

Sometimes it's hard not to feel like the skateboarding industry hasn't given up on the Philadelphia Area. Thinking back to the days when everyone who was somebody was calling this city home, but when push came to shove most bailed as quick as they could get a Chinatown bus ticket out of this place. But it will never be the "SOMEBODYs" that make a scene strong, it's the "NOBODYs". The Nine to Fivers working full time jobs, and still managing to start a company, open a shop, build a park, film a video, or simply JUST SKATE. Not for some companies paycheck but for the love of Skateboarding.

This year alone we have seen so much amazing shit go down, and Chris Mulhern's "This Time Tomorrow" and Phil Gushue's "Spot On" will undoubtedly show a city alive and pushing. Followed up by another one from our longtime friend Sean McGinnes "The Watched" will surely join the ranks as a local powerhouse. Check out the trailer and his brand new site with updates, interviews, and other video details.

Keep Pushing Philadelphia.

This winter the 5boro crew hopped in the van and hit the road for two months to film for their new full length video. Every dude packed one backpack and a grip of boards and piled in... Then PILED OUT on couches across the country. 5boro is a huge part of the Exit family and we are hyped on this new short film! If 5boro is ever in your town make sure to open your doors and show them the love... Just make sure they don't leave anything suspect behind!

• "Now I Remember" is available @Exit. Feat. photos from Jerry Hsu, Todd Jordan, Spanky, Neckface, and fwd by Gonz http://tinyurl.com/y54vu7h #
• The NEW @BennyGold Spring/Summer line is available @Exitskateshop today! http://tinyurl.com/y7eup2g #
• Cruised to viatnam with gush on a "paint it black" cruiser and ran into andy from "paint it black" twit worthy? #
• The crew is at the voyage warehouse right now http://twitpic.com/1gy3si #
• @Homebase610 Working the shop all day feel free to swing through we can talk in reply to Homebase610 #
• @gargladdy ha gotta love the small companies. Yes bills house in reply to gargladdy #
• Watching "this time tomorrow" right now and still stunned by pat heid footage wtf #
• @homebase twitting @hushgush @exitskateshop http://twitpic.com/1h59vn #
• Guess who DID buy the weed shoes http://twitpic.com/1h5e46 #
• @altamontapparel present "Skate Rock" @Exitskateshop May2nd in Philly! With "The Goat" and "Bad Shit" http://tinyurl.com/zazs81 #
• @joshfriedberg no problem josh! Hope you enjoy it! in reply to joshfriedberg #
• Need shoes for spring? Today Buy 1 pair get the second HALF OFF! Today Only! #
• The people responsible for this deserve to be noogied hard and long http://twitpic.com/1i59m5 #
• @familiask8shop Thanks alot Steve! Glad you enjoyed it! Talk to you this week! in reply to familiask8shop #
• Shepard Fairey in Fishtown and SHREDDING a mini ramp! http://exitphiladelphia.com/post/papashep/ #

So for the first time in a longggg time Rocket Cat Cafe in Fishtown wasn't pack with the usual dirty, powerbook packing, vegan muffin snacking bohemians... They were instead on the the streets with none other then Papa Shep aka Shepard Fairey as he put up new works on the side of the local cafe.

Photo by: Chris Sembot

I hear a lot of opinions when it comes to Fairey and his work, some good some bad, but The man and his mission are both undeniably the truth. It's near impossible to walk any city streets with out staring into the eyes of at least one Andre the Giant, and with over 1 million (and counting) "obey" pieces around the world this mans work has made a permanent home in most peoples skulls. Not to mention him doing a little work for some dudes political campaign not to long ago. So it really does leave me confused when the "patron saints of hip" at the end of the bar, or outside their U of Arts dorms cry "Sell Out"... This was never for YOU to hold, to horde, to call your own. If a man racks up a kinko's bill in the 6 digit range chances are the public WILL be forced to notice...

Fairey has done so much work for Skateboarding over the years it's impossible not to respect the mans body of work... But how about his mach 10 mini ramp front smiths??? John Freeborn and Ben Woodward (cough DECK HEADS 3 cough) put together a video in 94-95 for their small company "GoodandEvil" and there's tons of great footage of Shepard and friends at his old studio in Rhode Island killing his mini ramp. Worth a Watch! Also go see "Exit through the Gift Shop" pretty damn entertaining.

Altamont presents
Skate Rock
At Exit Skateshop

Sunday May 2nd at 5:00pm

Featuring Bad Shit and The Goat
with the Altamont skateboard team

Plus special guests:
Emanuel Guzman, roadie (Bad Shit)
James Hardy, roadie (Bad Shit)
Chris Cole, roadie (The Goat)
and Chet Childress, roadie (The Goat)

Altamont has gotten together with Bad Shit, The Goat, Thrasher, The Skateboard Mag, Nixon and the Altamont skate team plus special guests for a musical meltdown tour on the East Coast. Will Phelper vomit on Atiba? Baca vs. Theotis in the battle of the roadies? Will anybody remember to bring their skateboards?

This is a FREE show! Doors Open at 5pm so you better be lined up by NOON or you will not get through the doors! This is your only chance to hang out with Andrew Reynolds, Tony T., Spanky, Phelps, Atiba, Sammy Baca, Theotis, Chris Cole, Chet Childress, Emanuel Guzman, James Hardy, and the rest of the Altamont crew. All at Exit Skateshop in Philly! Special Guests, prizes, and giveaways all night long!

With over 80+ Artist slated for this years "Deck Heads" group artshow. We were lucky enough to work with 3 of our favorite Philadelphia Galleries on a special Collaborative Wall featuring works from some of their favorite artist.

Here is the first with Links to the Gallery and some of the artists work as well.

1. Amberella Gallery & Boutique

If I had a dime for every time someone  accused Exit of being an "absolute sausage fest" I don't think I would ever have to sell skateboards again to survive. So when time came to work with another gallery on this show it was a no brainer... Call the Queen of Pink Amber Lynn Thompson!

Amberella Gallery located in the Piazza of Northern Liberties has been a breath of fresh air ever since the doors first open. Ignoring the boring white walled wine and cheese approach for a bubble gum pink cotton candy explosion of art and style. You might have been pulled in by your girlfriend holding her hand, and left holding a original piece of artwork but you leave a lifetime fan and a small piece of Amberella's master plan of painting the city in "fairy dust, cotton candy and glittering jewels"

Check out Amberella's Artist List!

Adam Wallacavage

Katherine Allan

Kris Chau

Eugene Ewing

Dave Fox

Stephanie Kao

Amber Lynn

Mark McQuilling

Bill Sands

J.L. Schnabel

Heather Jo Wingate

Exit just received the new Benny Gold Spring/Summer Shipment. Benny has been hard at work producing some pretty solid pieces, and if you have been following his site you would know our homie just opened up his first Retail Store in SF. Keep up the good work man!