My best boy Aaron and myself took a little New York City vacation about a month and a half ago. Aaron got some work done at one of the coolest shops in the country, Smith Street Tattoo (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn). Aaron is an ink junky and tattoo connoisseur so he was more than ecstatic to get a couple pieces done by the OG’s of the biz. I can’t wait to get back out there and get some work done myself!

Smith Street artist…

-Bert Krak

-Steve Boltz

-Dan Santoro (seen in photo)

-Eli Quinters

Growing up I loathed the fact I was living in rural Wisconsin. Too many simpletons, I thought. Too many squares. Where was the culture? I felt no one in sleepy west-central Wisconsin had any goals or aspirations. They simply wanted to stay there and do what they had been doing for years, “nothing”. 

I later discovered the culture, the integrity, the vigor, the inspiration and the overall “right stuff” were right under my nose! These people aren’t squares or uninspired, they’re living the life! Working for everything they have, loving the land they live on and building an amazing community. And most notably all the beer and cheese you could ever ask for. It’s easy to see what draws people to our humble corner of the country. 

All of this hometown spirit has had me on a bit of a hunt this past week. I wanted to incorporate my love for style with the products made by the men and women from my backyard! The item on every style savvy young adult’s christmas list this year is definitely boots. Thick and chunky for the gentlemen, tall and chic for the ladies. Everyone wants them and I found a few great, strictly midwestern companies that having been hand-crafting boots since the days of Paul Bunyan and his logging buddies. 

Unfortunately these companies are more geared towards men’s boots but I found a fairly new company based out of Virginia crafting some of the ILLEST boots I’ve seen in a while. Ladies you’ll have to sure to check out the last company listed.

• Weinbrenner Shoe - Meril, WI

(Thorogood and Hellfire Boots)

Check out the American Heritage Collection -
www.weinbrennerusa.com

• Chippewa Boots - Originally from Chippewa Falls, WI. Now being produced mostly in MIssouri.  
  - Check out the Arroyos/Packer Series.
  Men’s-
   
  Women’s -
  
  
  
  
  
• Red Wing - Red Wing, MN
  -Red Wing is easily the most recognizable name in the list. 
  -Be sure to check out their Japanese site. Red Wing makes a whole line just for the Japanese market. There are some really cool items on that site. (Tip from - A CONTINUOUS LEAN blog.)
  US site - www.redwingshoes.com
  Japanese site- http://www.redwingshoe.co.jp/
  
  
  
  
  Sorry ladies… slim pickin’s at Red Wing for the Females.
  
  
  
  
• Rider Boot Co. - Based out of Virginia, Manufactured in Italy.
  - www.riderboot.com
  -I stumbled across this brand and thought it too amazing to not share with you guys. Now Rider Boot isn’t manufactured in the mid-west or even the United States but the company is based out of Virginia. If you happen receive a generous amount of xmas cash I suggest you pick yourself up a pair of these bad boys. The craftsmanship and design in these boots are really something special.
  Men’s - 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ladies -
  
  
  
   

I did an impromptu shoot with my little sister Hannah. She’s turns 14 in a few weeks; I can’t believe it. I wish she was ugly so I didn’t have to deal with the boyfriends that are sure to come! haha

It’s time….To start inspiring people. Let your colors show. We are the artists and the visionaries. We are the destiny, we are the forthcoming, we are the eminent, we are the future and we are beautiful. 

This weeks DOTW award goes to: The Obion County, TN Fire Chief & Mr. Glenn Beck 

The story goes as follows. A family in rural Tennessee lost their house this week because they had forgot to pay their $75 “rural fire coverage fee”. This is a fee Obion County has in place for residents that live outside of the city limits. Fire fighters came to the burning house after the Cranik family had called 911 but refused to extinguish the flames because the family hadn’t paid there $75 fee. Consequently the family had to watch their house turn into ashes. After the news was made public, Mr. Glenn Beck, a seasoned asshole, stated on his FOXnews show that the family “got what they deserved”.

Wow. 

Watch the story here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39516346/ns/us_news-life/

This is a new segment I’m starting highlighting the people that make me say: “That guy is a douche!”

This week’s DOTW award goes to: Andrew Shirvell.

Andrew is an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Michigan. He has waged an internet campaign against a homosexual student assembly president at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. (Shirvell is a UofM Ann Arbor Alumnus)  This grown man has been drawing swastikas on a college students picture! What a douche.

Here’s the story:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/09/28/michigan.justice.blog/index.html?iref=allsearch

For the gentlemen:

Guys, none of us like wrinkles in our shirts and the thought of extensive ironing is enough to make us cry. Well Benny Fresh is here to help. This is a tip I thought everyone knew. After talking with some friends I realized not many guys are aware of it! So here you go!

Before you jump in the shower hang your shirt up on the bathroom door! The steam from the shower will be enough to take out most of your wrinkles! Not all of your wrinkles will disappear but it will take a 15 minute ironing job down to a quick once over on your shirt!

Here’s a quick example I did this morning on a J Crew plaid. 

Before:

After Shower:

After 30 Second Ironing:

Now you’ll be looking fresh and wrinkle free!

Also: If you shirt isn’t severely wrinkled, you might not have to even touch an iron!

Hey guys, It’s happens to be that time of year again… The PERFECT time to get your senior pictures done! And who better to take them then Benny Fresh!?

Here’s where I’ll be for the next month.

Email me at YOBENNYFRESH@GMAIL.COM to set up a shoot in your city.

September 28th - Charlotte, NC

September 29th - Cincinnati, OH

September 30th - Indianapolis, IN

October 1st - Saint Louis, MO

October 2nd - Chicago, IL

October 3rd - Cleveland, OH

October 4th - Lansing, MI

October 6th - Philadelphia, PA

October 7th - Manchester, NH

October 11th - Boston, MA

October 12th - New York, NY

October 13th - Asbury Park, NJ

October 15th - Toronto, ON

October 16th - Detriot, MI

October 17th - Milwaukee, WI

October 19th - December Available anyhwere MN, WI

Shoots I’ve done while on the road:

I feel like anybody who is against the building of an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero isn’t contesting that they’re being intolerant, rather they’re arguing (however spuriously) that they’re being justifiably intolerant. It reminds me of another specious debate, “is waterboarding…

Here are a few pictures from my favorite senior shoots this summer. Everyone I got to shoot was awesome and unique in their own way. They made it so fun for me. Thanks again to the lovely ladies I shot on this past tour.

Keep in mind kiddies the next couple months are the perfect time for senior portraits:)

hit me up at YOBENNYFRESH@GMAIL.COM