Big ups to my man TJ Xenos for putting me onto this!

Up here in the northeast, we got hit with a fair amount of snow this past weekend, so folks may be staying in more often than they would. If you have some time this holiday, and you haven’t seen one or more of these movies, then check them out this year. So in no particular order, here are my top ten holiday movies of all time:

A Christmas Story – This one is easily in the top ten. Most people love this movie, so definitely check it out if you haven’t seen it. Told from the perspective of a young kid named Ralphie, this film is perfect in so many ways.

Die Hard and Die Hard 2 – I’m gonna group these two together although they could probably make it into the top ten individually. ‘Cause if you’re gonna watch one then you might as well watch the other. Not only are these films set during the holidays, but in my opinion, they’re some of the best action films ever made.

Elf - Probably the best holiday movie made in more recent years. This is, love him or hate him, Will Ferrell at his best. So many hilarious parts in this movie.

Home Alone – All of the other Home Alone movies suck, but the first one was and is a classic. Macaulay Cuklin before things went weird, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern and John Candy. Hilarious.

It’s a Wonderful Life – What should I say about this one. Probably one of the most loved holiday movies ever.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – I’m not as big a fan as most when it comes to the National Lampoon Vacation movies, but this one was so disastrous and funny  that is certainly in the top ten.

The Muppets Christmas Carol – I just like this movie. It may be corny, but I like it.

Miracle on 34th Street – Another classic. There isn’t much to say about this film. Easy to put it in the top ten.

Scrooged – Another hilarious holiday movie. Bill Murray is great in this modern day twist on A Christmas Carol, so check it out.

A Christmas Carol (1951) – This is a great, classic film. Alastair Sim’s performance as Scrooge, is brilliant. There are colorized versions of this film, but see it in black and white if you can, the way that it was meant to be seen.

Thanks Dusty!!

Gift from our friends at Nike SB. Merry Xmas!

Take a look at the trailer for Peter Jackson’s (Lord of the Rings, King Kong) new film. Adapted from the book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones stars Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Rachel Weisz. The Lovely Bones is now playing in select theatres, releasing nationwide on January 15th and looks to be another great film from Jackson.

A lot of good sneakers were released this year. It was hard to choose, but these are my top ten (in no particular order):

Air Jordan 3 True Blue - Really easy explination on this one. The Jordan 3 is probably my favorite sneaker of all time. The True Blue is one of my favorite colorways of the model. It’s a classic, plain and simple.

Air Jordan 1 Black and Shadow Grey – This one is easy too. This shoe in this colorway had never been retrod until 2009. And how can you not like black and grey? Seems like, at least up here in Boston, this sneaker was overlooked because I still see it on some shelves, which to me is crazy. The quality of the leather on both the black upper and the grey toe/heel make me wish Jordan Brand would make more shoes like this.

New Balance 1300 x ALife Rivington Club – This year especially, I’ve been a sucker for quality when it comes to materials. Not only were the colorways sick on this collaboration, but the suede is great and the mesh on the shoe is perfect. It’s a great example of how keeping it simple and clean is usually a successful combination.

Adidas ZX8000 Beckham and Bond Collaboration – Blue… Suede… Shoes. With some mesh.

New Balance 875 and 1500 x Concepts – The Freedom Trail pack was another quality release from New Balance in 2009. The 1500 is a classic model, but the brand new 875 is the stand out of the pack. Called a trail boot by New Balance, it combines the comfort of a sneaker and the structure and general look of a boot. The materials top this one off too. The butter soft leather, pig skin on the interior, make these some of the more comfortable sneakers that I’ve picked up in a long time.

Nike Air Max 1 and Air Maxim 1 – I’m gonna cheat a bit on this one. I know that the Air Max and Air Maxim are technically two different sneakers. And I know there were many colorways of both that were released in 2009. It’s been the year of the Air Max 1. Not only were the OG colorways of the model retroed, but we also saw many great collaborations including those from Patta and the Air Max 1 in the Live Strong release. Also this year, Nike introduced the Air Maxim 1. As they did with the Air Max 90 Currents last year, Nike seems to be ‘upgrading’ their classic models with more modern materials. I’m a huge fan of the Currents and I’m a huge fan of the Maxims. Lightweight and comfortable, while still retaining the silhouette of the classic sneaker it’s based on. Easy to put these in the top ten.

Nike Terminator Hybrid - As I said earlier this year, I really hadn’t heard much about this shoe before it released. But there it was one day and I was an instant fan. Although there were a couple colorways of the shoe that I didn’t buy, the olive/newspaper colorway is crazy.

New Balance 1500 x Solebox - Yes Frank, white people do love New Balance. But if one were able to seperate themselves from their deep seeded caucasian urges, one would have to say that New Balance did good things in 2009. Their collaborations with ARC, Concepts, Undefeated, and many others were some of the best collaborations of the year. The Solebox 1500s are no exception. The colorways are great, the materials are top quality, and I’m a sucker for mesh, so there you go.

Nike Air Max 90 Live Strong – Besides the Infrareds that released in limited quantities (especially here in Boston), I think that this is the best Max 90 colorway released since the white, vivid blue and black colorway dropped in 2007. Air Max 90, mesh and 3M. Done deal.

Puma x Undefeated Mid – Classic shoe, simple colorways with good detail and great leather, make this one of my favorites of the year. I don’t really know what to say besides that.

Take minks off!
Take things off!
Take chains off!
Take rings off!
Bracelets is yapped, Fame came off!!!
(ANTE UP!) Ayething off!!!!!

M.O.P. IS MY SHIT!!!!

And Ernie and Bert handled their biz!!

Big ups to TJ Xenos for putting me onto this gem. This should be the theme song to Frank’s “Stuff white people like” book.

2009 was a great year for sneaker collectors. We saw some much needed new styles as well as some creative spins on some of our favorite classics.

Jordan XI Space Jam – Jordan Brand has done a lot wrong this year, but they hit the nail on the head with this shoe. Hopefully they put this shoe to rest after this release and dont whore it out like they did the Air Jordan I.

Jordan III True Blue – Another shoe that I hope Jordan Brand marks as “Off Limits”. Not wanting to see this shoe again, is like breaking up with a girl that you know you are no good for. As bad as she may be, you know keeping her around will be bad for her. That’s the way Jordan Brand should look at this shoe. They can not make it any better than it already is, and anything they try to do will only take away from what it was.

Nike Foamposite Eggplant – A perfect way to introduce one of my favorite ball shoes of all time. It looks like the Copper Foamposite is going to be a solid follow up for 2010.

Nike Air Yeezy -Kanye West teamed up with Nike to create one of the most anticipated shoes in recent memory. Kanye being spotted in this shoe before an official release date  was announced had sneaker blogs buzzing in anticipation. This is one shoe that released in multiple colors and had all three colors sell through equally fast. Hate it or love it, it is rare you see success like that from any shoe now a days.

Nike Air Max 2009 – Nike hits another home run with its 2009 edition of its Air Max collection. Function meets style…. Again.

New Balance x Concepts Freedom Trail 1500 and 875 – Using the inspiration in our own backyard, the Concepts Crew dropped another gem on the sneaker world. The Butcher on the design with Deon Point, The Butcher, and I on the marketing behind the project how can it not be a smash?

Nike Air Force One x Clot – Bong!

Nike Air Lebron 7 – This is the shoe that will mark the transition from Jordan to James.

Adidas ZX 8000 for David Beckham – James Bond and Greg Lucci teamed up with Adidas to design the Beckham line this year. The whole line was fire! These two shoes shown are my two favorites. I wish I bought triples.

Nike SB x Concepts Blue Lobster – Probably the most elaborate marketing campaign for any sneaker ever. From all of the hype leading up to the shoe via www.bluelobsterdanger.wordpress.com to the 5 day line that turned Harvard Sq. into an urban campground this shoe had th whole world tuned in. Some people might think its a bit cocky to pic a shoe from our shop as the hottest shoe of the year. To those people I say “Fuck you!”. If you dont belive in everything you are putting out, I say you are in the wrong business. I am not afraid one bit to say I think what we did from start to finish on this project was bigger and better than what anyone else brought to the table in 2009. Fact. You dont have to like it, but you do have to deal with it. Concepts is here to stay.

Also there was one more shoe that was pretty hot in 2009. It’s one that most people are not too familiar with.

Nike SB Yellow Lobster for Concepts – Because of the amount of work that Concepts did with the Blue Lobster Nike gifted a limited amount of Yellow Lobsters to the Concepts Staff as well as it’s SB Reps, and Eric Koston. Hands down the hardest shoe to get your hands on this year, and probably one of the rarest SB’s you will ever see. This is my hottest shoe of the year because of what it stands for and the blood, sweat, and tears it represents. Big ups to BLC Oregon Chapter President, Darren O’Brien, for making this happen!

Sadat X shouts out Kinda Dusty’s own E The Real in his latest episode of “True Wine Connoisseurs”! Check it out!