Winter Wonderland

Well, we finally saw our first significant snowfall in our time up here in New England. Later this week, we are supposed to see our first single-digit temperatures. I'm starting to miss those warm Texas winters. Ha! But it is quite beautiful!!

 



My Top 5 Sneaker Releases/Pickups of 2012

As 2012 comes to a close, it seems that everywhere you look, there is a "Top Something..." list coming out. This year I decided to join in the fun and countdown MY Top 5 Sneaker Releases of 2012. Naturally, I also added all of these kicks to my collection. So without further adieu, I give you my Top 5 Kicks of 2012!!

 

1. Jordan 4 White/Cement Retro

 For me, this shoe is a no-brainer for the top prize. Originally released in 1989 and not retroed since 1999, this shoe might have been the catalyst for my love of sneakers. Back when I was in the 8th grade, this was one of, if not the hottest shoe around. It had such a unique look that I had not seen in a sneaker in my lifetime. Of course the Mars Blackmon/Nike advertising campaign also influenced me to desire this shoe. Sadly, I could not convince my parents to get these for me due to their $100 price tag and the fact that they had already sprung for some expensive kicks for me that year. (see #2) Twenty three years later I finally get to wear them.

2. Nike Air Trainer 1 Chlorophyll

Aaaaah, the 80's were such a good time for sports and kicks!! When it came time for me to select what sneakers I would rock for my 8th grade year (I generally got one pair of sneakers for the whole year) I decided I wanted a multi-functional shoe. The Air Trainer 1 was being billed as an all-purpose shoe that one could play just about any sport in. It also didn't hurt that one of my favorite athletes, Bo Jackson, was the spokesman for this shoe. Fans of cross-trainers everywhere owe a debt of gratitude to the AT1 because without it's success, we may still have to buy sport-specific shoes. I wore that shoe almost every single day of that school year and cherished them until they could not be worn anymore. Now, twenty-three years later, the AT1 and I are reunited and let's hope I can make this pair last longer than one school year.

3. Air Max 90 "I Am the Rules"

The Air Max 90 is by-far, one of the most classic sneakers ever built. It is so light and comfortable and has been released in just about every colorway one can imagine. Suffice to say, there isn't an outfit you own that I can't match up with some version of the Air Max 90. But this colorway might be the most unique I have ever seen: and the best! The I Am the Rules campaign was a collaborative effort by Foot Locker and athletes around the world, known for taking risks and blazing their own trail. The idea was to create a shoe that defied conventional thinking; a sort of think outside of the box mentality. This AM90 was originally released in Europe only in limited amounts and quickly sold-out. I read where some folks in the US paid as much as $300 for a pair. Luckily, Foot Locker finally brought the shoes stateside in 2012. It reminded me of the Nerf color schemes seen last year on the KD, Lebron and Kobe Nikes, with it's neon lime green, infrared Swoosh and purple accents set on a canvas of gray mesh, white leather and black suede. A great everyday shoe that grabs the eye, when I saw these at retail, I just had to have them.

4. Nike Force 180 Emerald

As you may have started to notice, nostalgia is a big part of my sneaker collecting. The #4 shoe on our list is no different. Back in 1992, David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs was one of the biggest stars in the NBA and one of my favorite players, which is surprising considering my hatred for the Spurs nowadays. Thanks, once again, to Nike's brilliant advertising brain trust, the Mister Robinson's Neighborhood commercials helped to push sales of his shoe to kids everywhere. I had this pair that year and wreaked havoc (at least I thought I did) on the playground. A simple yet sturdy pair of hoops kicks, the original actually featured a pump built in to the ankle padding. Twenty years later Nike has retroed this shoe, sans the pump, in all its original glory. The paint speckled mid-sole and its emerald touches give this shoe a classic look and let's us hoop-lovers, take a stroll down memory lane.

5. Nike Zoom Kobe VII Shark

The 5th and final selection on our list is the only current shoe to garner attention from me this year. The 2012 Kobe was one of his best performance shoes in a few years and I knew I had to give the Mamba some love. If I still played with regularity, I would no doubt have rocked these on the court. But I was drawn to this pair for its appearance. Using a treasure blue gradient over black and white highlights. We also see a slight water print over the upper that hammers home the shark motif. A very comfortable shoe that served as a great summer shoe.

Honorable Mention: Jordan XI Playoffs

No list this year can be complete without including this sexy beast on it. Following in the footsteps of the over-hyped Concord of last December, the XI Playoffs or Bred was one of the most sought after shoes of 2012. Thanks to new measures put in place by sneaker retailers, we did not see as much chaos as we did surrounding the Concord release. This shoe has been and always will be one of my favorite shoes of all time. I have always been in love with a black/red/white colorway and this shoe just takes that love to new heights. Adding patent leather to its already ground-breaking technology, the XI is to many sneakerheads, The Holy Grail. The only reason it doesn't make my Top 5 is because I actually already owned a pair of the 2001 release. I only added this pair because my pair was 11 years old and is starting to look like it. I used to ball in mine and the wear and tear on the shoe is quite visible. I added these so that I can wear them casually and still have them looking fresh. What can I say, you can never have too many 11's!! 

Well there you have it, my Top 5 favorite shoes of 2012. It's hard to believe that this year is almost over and that we are already looking to the upcoming releases of 2013 which will see a return of the original Air Jordan 1, the shoe that started all this madness and the Air Jordan 5 Grape; the only Jordan I ever owned as a kid, and many others. Time to start saving our pennies!!

I'm In A New York State of Mind....so Get Off of My Cloud

When we booked this trip, the intention was just to get back to NYC and spend a weekend just taking in the holiday feel of the city. Honestly, who hasn't wanted to see the "City That Never Sleeps' bathed in Christmas lights? Well, that intention quickly changed when I scored tickets to the Rolling Stones 50 & Counting concert in Brooklyn. I just knew this was going to be epic!!

 

We will get to the concert in a bit, but first I had another obligation to tend to. I would be lying if I didn't admit that the trip began on a slightly somber note. December 8 is a date that has significant meaning to Beatles fans everywhere as it is the day that John Lennon was gunned down outside of his NYC apartment. I knew that I had to pay my respects since I would be there on that date. So we headed to the Central Park memorial for him; Strawberry Fields. As we walked up 72nd Street I was I began to reflect on Lennon's music and the effect it has had on me over the years. It has brought me so much joy, it has helped to heal at down times in my life, but most of all it has served as a soundtrack of sorts for my life. I couldn't help to stand there at the gate of the Dakota, and stare. I had been there before and felt sad when I looked into that infamous entryway where one of the most heinous crimes took place. But today, the same sad feelings I felt those other times were magnified. It just never has seemed fair; not to me, not to music fans around the world, not to Sean and Yoko. It shouldn't have ended that way.

After that, it was on to Strawberry Fields where a crowd of about 200 people were gathered. It was very cool to be there on this day. There were musicians there along with lots of singers, all huddled around the mosaic tile that has served as an unofficial graveside for Lennon since 1985. It was a sight to be seen and felt; 200 or so total strangers brought together by one man's music, singing his tunes in unison, and celebrating his life that ended 32 years ago to the day.

A fan holds a commemorative magazine with the Dakota in the background

Of course, no Lennon sing-a-long is complete without a look-a-like!!

After about half an hour, it was time to go. I was glad that I had made the pilgrimage to Central Park for this day. I had always wanted to do it, in some ways to personally say goodbye. Yeah, I know I never knew him or met him or even lived through much of life. But I think that speaks volumes to how much he has influenced so many people around the world. Wherever you are John, thanks for all you gave us.

 

What can be said about the Rolling Stones that hasn't been said already? Classic, timeless, ageless, iconic. It's all been done. Well, once again I can vouch that all these titles still hold true. After spending a small fortune to sit in the upper section, I was on cloud 9 at the prospect of getting to see the Stones on their 50th Anniversary Tour. I struggled to even call it a tour seeing as how their were only 5 shows and basically only two cities were on the itinerary; London and the NYC area. With only three shows being held in the US, it added a level of exclusivity to this evening, which helped to soften the sticker-shock to Laura. The Stones ripped through a blistering set of their most classic tunes; Get Off of My Cloud, The Last Time, Start Me Up, Brown Sugar, Satisfaction and Jumping Jack Flash. This being my 5th Stones concert I was excited to hear for the first time, gems like Before They Make Me Run, Paint It Black, You Can't Always Get What You Want (with a full choir), and Midnight Rambler. 

Mary J. Blige duets with Mick on Gimme Shelter

Tumbling Dice

Final Bow

Once again the Stones delivered an energetic 2 1/12 hour set that left even Laura speechless. She was never too happy about the amount we spent on the tickets but did proclaim that it was worth every penny. I hope this wasn't the last time I get to see the Stones live. But if it was, I don't think I could have scripted a better live finale.

 

After spending almost the entire day in bed, Sunday, Laura and I made the most of a few more hours in the city before heading home.

 

Rockefeller Center

 

Laura at Macy's

 

9/11 Memorial

 

Wall Street

 

 Federal Hall

 

After introducing Laura to the magic that is Shake Shack in NYC, we HAD to stop in New Haven, CT to enjoy this deliciousness just one more time before we got home. A great trip needs a great ending!!