Merry Kicksmas

Okay, so it's not even Black Friday, but we all know that in this consumerized (I love making words up) age, the Holidays come earlier every year, even if they fall on the same day. That said, it's time for the cornucopia of commercials, deals, fliers and other regalia that remind us to go shopping and screw our credit scores even more. Even with the ills of the holiday season, there are some memorable spots showing up. This particular one is by the good people at Foot Locker. The Christmas season brings a host of new sneaker releases for our feet mouths to water at. We might not always be able to come up with the means to purchase them, so resorting to other methods is always a fresh thing. The 'Reindeer Hostage Plan' is something that I damn sure wish I'd thought of, especially when I got a look at Santa's face at the end. Check out the commercial and start hatching your own plots for Christmas domination...

Nike Air Max 1 Premium (Crepe/Sail)

Fall is always such a weird time for footwear. The changing weather makes keeping your heaters clean a challenge that only the most dedicated of sneakerheads can fathom. While some turn to boots, loafers, mocs and the like, I prefer to stay with some sneakers. Clean colors and simple designs are the name of the game with this Air Max 1 Premium slated to drop this holiday. The sail colorway has a very light gray tint to it, with the upper made of premium leather with canvas accents, and topped off with a horse hair swoosh. The soles take after a traditional fall chukka with a crepe sole that provides a different look from the regular soles on Air Max 1's. The result is a sneaker that can brave the elements of the colder months as well as be a fresh look when Spring comes back around. Check out some closer pictures and be on the lookout for these when they drop come Christmas...

Nike Air Force 1 - Borough Pack & Block Party

From top to bottom: The Bronx (*shots lick off*), Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island & Brooklyn

If there ever was an iconic sneaker in the culture of New York City, it's the Nike Air Force 1. Uptowns, as we call them were one of the first kicks to have a cult following (aside from Shelltoes), and that's before Nelly made the world go ape shit for them with his track 'Air Force Ones'. Overexposure aside, it seems only right that the Air Force 1 get some colorways specifically about New York. That's why Nike and DJ Clark Kent combined their forces to create the Borough Pack. The pack gives a different style for every borough in the fair city of New York, each with a fabric and tumbled leather upper to mimic a varsity jacket, and gum bottoms for the old school sneakerhead in us all.

The best part about this release is that Nike is also sponsoring a block party at their 21 Mercer Street location in New York to commemorate the release, as well as the World Basketball Festival going on. All boroughs are invited as an initiative to bring New Yorkers together under one banner. I love what Nike's doing here. They're making every effort to appeal to people, and it's a great look for sneakerheads, basketball fans and everyone else in between. The block party is tomorrow, July 31, starting at 6. To top it off, DJ Clark Kent, along with DJ King Solomon and Miss Banks will be hosting the party. This might very well be the spot to be at in NYC tomorrow. Hopefully you can make it. Check out some flicks of the 'Borough Pack' as well as a flyer for Nike's All-Borough Block Party...

The Sneakerhead Sixth Sense

Peeped this over at HB... I never say this, but PAUSE

There are certain ways that one can tell if you're a sneakerhead. There's the traditional crab-walk that we use to avoid creasing and rubbed-down soles. There's the ability to spot fakes from a mile away. There's even the sort of 'Spidey-sense' when you know you're sneakers are in danger of being scuffed, so you avoid large crowds and rainy days. Foot Locker has come up with their own demarcation of a sneaker enthusiast, although it's a bit more risque than most. In this new 'Spank' commercial, the guy turns his addiction into a fetish, getting spanked with kicks and identifying them perfectly. I know I'm an enthusiast, but maybe the commercial is taking it a bit far... What do the rest of you sneakerheads think???