Photo: Jody Morris
Lincoln Ueda flies in front of Tony Hawk

Despite grey skies and rain, a sold-out crowd of 1,000 guests attended the 7th annual Tony Hawk: SHRED Presents Stand Up For Skateparks signature benefit in Beverly Hills. Celebrities, athletes, fans and friends of the Tony Hawk Foundation returned to Green Acres Estate, the home of Ron Burkle, for what is considered to be one of the most unique and exciting family events in the Los Angeles area. The event raised $750,000 to further its mission of assisting low-income communities in the effort to build free, quality, public skateparks.

Photo: Jody Morris
Chuck threw shakas

Celebrities including Tony Hawk, Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Johnny Knoxville, Chuck Liddell, Leeza Gibbons, Arsenio Hall, Ben Harper, Patrick Dempsey, BMX legend Mat Hoffman and legendary skaters Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain, and Mike Vallely enjoyed the interactive booths while waiting for the stage and vert ramp to be dried by crews. The show went on and the expansive estate was transformed into a veritable action-sports festival highlighted by a special performance by Jane's Addiction and a private Vert Demo with Hawk and some of the best skaters and BMX athletes in the sport. Fundraising efforts included a live and silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind items: a Hawkized DUB edition GT 5.0 Mustang from Galpin Auto Sports, a Roland Sands designed Harley Davidson, and a role as a playable character in Tony Hawk's next Activision video game, among others.

Photo: Jody Morris
Perry Farrel & Jane's Addiction performed
Special pledge drives for specific skatepark projects have become an annual occurrence at Stand Up For Skateparks events, and have assisted communities including Compton and the Watts district of Los Angeles. This year's drive benefits the McBride Skatepark project in Long Beach, California. Local skaters from the neighborhood that have played an integral role in the project joined Tony Hawk onstage to pump up the crowd and generate $41,500 in pledges.


The crowd cheered as philanthropist Charles Annenberg joined Hawk onstage to deliver the exciting news of a special gift of $275,000 from Explore.org, through the Annenberg Foundation, to complete the Watts Skatepark - a project whose fundraising was launched at Stand Up For Skateparks exactly a year ago.

Photo: Miki Vuckovich
Tony and Co. signed autographs for the kids

The Tony Hawk: SHRED Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit was made possible through the support of Activision, Ex Drinks, Mondrian Los Angeles, Dynacraft, Quiksilver Foundation, and T-Mobile USA. To learn more about the benefit, or for information about Tony Hawk: SHRED Presents Stand Up For Skateparks at the Wynn Las Vegas on Saturday, November 6, log on to www.standupforskateparks.org.

Photo: Miki Vuckovich
...And the kids were stoked

Individuals wishing to support the Long Beach McBride Skatepark project can still contribute. Text the word RIDE to 90999 via your mobile phone to donate $10 to the Tony Hawk Foundation. Through October 30, 2010, all text donations will directly support the McBride Skatepark project in Long Beach, California. When prompted please reply with YES to confirm your gift. Full terms at mGive.com/a

Photo: Markisa
Markisa Co-Founders Paul Rodriguez, Nigel Alexander
and Jason WakuzawaMarkisa is an up-and-coming lifestyle brand that is all about marrying style with function. Founded in 2008 by 3 like-minded individuals (one being pro skateboarder Paul Rodriguez), Markisa began producing only wallets. "Why wallets?" you might ask. Well they wanted to create something that is a part of our everyday life.

Fast forward to 2010 and Markisa is now also creating belts, bags t's and more. They have a dedicated team and a knack for creating only the finest products. Nigel Alexander, one of Markisa's co-founders, was pumped to get plugged into Street Beat. Here are his answers...enjoy!

- Danny Spyra

Photo: Markisa
Markisa - Achieving excellence 24/7, 365 days a
year!

BNQT - MARKISA WAS STARTED BY YOURSELF, PAUL RODRIGUEZ AND JASON WAKUZAWA. WHEN / HOW DID YOU GUYS DECIDE TO CREATE A PREMIUM ACCESSORIES BRAND?

Nigel - Jason Wakuzawa came up to Paul & I back in 2008 with the idea of creating a wallet/accessory brand. We all noticed that there weren't any brands out there doing this so we decided it was a good idea. From there, we all did some resourcing & it took about 2 years to get everything in place.

Photo: Markisa
Clean, simple, sick Markisa beanies

BNQT - HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME MARKISA ?

Nigel - We brainstormed names for months but one day we decided that maybe incorporating all of our names somehow would be cool & original. We ended up using all of our middle names put together. Starting with Paul's middle name "MAR"tin, Nigel's "KI"dar & Jason's "SA"kae. Put all those together and you get MAR-KI-SA.

Photo: Markisa
Inside of the Milli 2 wallet

BNQT - MARKISA IS COMING ON STRONG WITH ITS FALL / HOLIDAY COLLECTION. CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THIS LINE OF PRODUCTS FOR US?

Nigel - Yeah the new line consists of an all black perforated Milli line. We added some new style zip wallets with coin pouches for the international peeps, our classic Milli bi-fold, a velcro style wallet for the kids, a few new belts, backpacks & bags for your traveling needs, 3 fresh color beanies to keep your dome warm & a simple carabineer key chain.

Photo: Markisa
The Milli 2 wallet bleeds style

BNQT - THE MILLI 2 WALLET LOOKS INSANE; IT SEEMS LIKE A WALLET EVERY MAN COULD USE. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH IT?

Nigel - Jason designed a wallet that would be custom for Markisa. We wanted to keep the wallet slim & stylish with hints of materials we like. For sure the best classic wallet we've made.

Photo: Markisa
The Milli Travel bag on the left and the Milli
School bag on the right

BNQT - AESTHETICALLY, THE MILLI PACKS LOOK REALLY SICK ALSO. WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE TRAVEL PACK FROM THE SCHOOL PACK?

Nigel - The Milli Travel & School packs are almost the same. The Travel has more pockets & slots. Also comes with a Macbook laptop holder. The School Pack is basically your simple book bag with one main compartment for your books & a smaller one for your pens & pencils.

Photo: Markisa
The Milli Duffel bag...don't leave for a trip
without it.

BNQT - IS THE MILLI DUFFEL BAG THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL PARTNER FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY? CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT?

Nigel - The new Milli Duffel is perfect for that weekend getaway. The bag isn't too big or too small & also has a separate compartment for your shoes so you don't get your clothes dirty.

Photo: Markisa
OG Markisa script tee

BNQT - MARKISA ALSO MAKES SOME CLEAN TEES. WHICH DESIGN FROM FALL / HOLIDAY 2010 ARE YOU MOST STOKED ON?

Nigel - I personally am hyped on our simple baseball script tee. Simple & OG.

Check out Markisa's video below - "The Port" - showcasing the company's vision, products and future.

Go to BNQT.com for more videos.

Street Beat Archive:

Josh Sherman & JJ Thomas with YEA.NICE

Matt Biolos and Ryan Divel with ...LOST

Chris Gougeon with DROP MFG

Elizabeth Miller with Flat Fitty

Anna Sherwood with Quiksilver Women

Jeff Kelley with Sanuk

Bob Carlson with Arbor Collective

PJ Connell with Reef

Whitney Morris with O'Neill Girls

Erik Paulsen with TAVIK

Joe Babcock with Gravis

Mike Quilliam with Atwater

Chris Friel with SABRE

Ryan Hagy with Metal Mulisha

Dustin & Dylan Odbert with ambsn

Chad LaBass with Freestyle

Joey Jorgensen with Analog

Kelly Magrath with DC

Frank Delgadillo with COMUNE

Derek Boucher with Vestal

Steve Van Doren with Vans

John Harbin with West Wetsuits

Ryan Rush with ECO'Neill

Nicole Hanriot with TAVIK Swimwear

Matt Gleason with Liquid Force

Eric Mehlberg with Kustom

Mike Murphy with Fyasko

Ian Foulke with ISIS

Jonathan Paskowitz with Lightning Bolt

Matt Harkins with SPY OPTIC

Chris Brunstetter with Goldcoast Longboards

Damon George with ERGO

Charlie Setzler with Rusty

Photo: Vans
The House of Vans opened to a monstrous crowd in
Brooklyn, NY

Vans opened its new, state-of-the-art event space, the House of Vans, this past Saturday night with 900 of their closest friends in Brooklyn's Greenpoint neighborhood in an evening filled with food & drink and highlighted by surprise performances by Mos Def and Public Enemy. The House of Vans is a 25,000 square foot renovated warehouse featuring an indoor concrete bowl & outdoor street course, a permanent stage for concerts and enough space to pretty much do anything their imaginations allow. The House of Vans will serve as Vans East Coast hub, with two full-time employees to start.
Photo: Vans
Of course the House of Vans has an indoor bowl &
outdoor skate plaza - Omar Hassan fs grind.

Festivities began Saturday night with the opening of the bowl & outdoor street course. Nearly all of the Vans skate team was on hand including Tony Alva, Steve Caballero, John Cardiel, Geoff Rowley, Jeff Grosso, Tony Trujillo, Dustin Dollin, Omar Hassan, Anthony Van Engelen, Johnny Layton, Gilbert Crockett, Andrew Allen and Curren Caples. Other Vans team riders in attendance included Joel Tudor, Zac Marben, Ryan Guettler, Robbie Morales, Chase Hawk and Dakota Roche. Built by California Skateparks, the design of the bowl & skate park was led by Lance Mountain and Brian Pino.
Photo: Vans
Public Enemy (Chuck D & Flava Flav) performed for
the audience

John Cardiel and Tony Alva led off the music for the evening with DJ sets as artist Mike Giant began creating a custom piece on the back wall by the bowl. Gilbere Forte followed up with a rap-infused set as the crowd began to grow in anticipation of an appearance by Public Enemy. Mos Def then quietly took to the stage and quickly stole everyone s attention in a surprise performance. Chuck D, Flava Flav and the Public Enemy crew then turned up the energy another notch in the highlight of the evening. The Blackouts, Atiba and Ako Jefferson, then eased everyone into the night with a reggae-infused mix.

**Check out video highlights from the House of Vans opening below**

House of Vans Venue Highlights:
- 25,000 square feet; 15,000 indoors and 10,000 sq. ft outdoor enclosed patio and skate plaza
- Raised indoor flowing concrete bowl with numerous contours, shapes, banks & transitions
- Outdoor skate plaza with steps and railings
- Permanent, removable professional stage, lighting and sound system
- Performer "green room"
- Installed custom art by Mike Giant
- Will serve as Vans East Coast marketing headquarters with two full time employees at launch
- Home to Vans East Coast touring RV

Photo: CLIF BAR
CLIF BAR's seasonal flavors: iced gingerbread,
spiced pumpkin pie and cranberry orange nut breadCLIF BAR's popular seasonal flavors have returned with an added benefit this year: The holiday spirit of giving back.

The flavor trio tastes like home-baked holiday treats and yet still has CLIF's athlete-crafted blend of carbohydrates, protein and fiber for sustained energy. The flavors -- Cranberry Orange Nut Bread, Iced Gingerbread and Spiced Pumpkin Pie -- are made with organic and all-natural ingredients. They are available nationwide now through the holiday season while supplies last for only $1.39.

New this year to the seasonal flavor campaign, CLIF BAR will donate 1 percent of net sales to Winter Wildlands Alliance, the first and only national organization that works on behalf of skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, winter hikers and other outdoor adventurers to address national issues that impact our winter wildlands.

"Once again this year we received a lot of phone calls and emails asking when our holiday-inspired flavors would be available. Well, the wait is over," said Carly Lutz, Clif brand director. "And this year we're proud to support Winter Wildlands Alliance in its preservation efforts a cause anyone who enjoys outdoor winter adventures can get behind."

The three limited-edition bars join 15 year-round CLIF BAR flavors, all made with whole ingredients you can see and taste, such as oats, fruit and nuts. CLIF BARs also serve as a good source of protein and fiber, which help the body digest carbohydrates slowly to deliver sustained energy. In addition, CLIF BARs are free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives.