Gig Report

Scream Scram 2008

November 3, 2008

Ahhh, Halloween, depending on your age, it can mean anything from eating way too much candy or over indulging in drinks at a party. Either way, everyone (well unless you are a party pooper) loves to dress up and have a great time. It’s the one holiday that allows all ages to get goofy - and in the case of the Scream Scram, do the right thing while having a gas (yeah, I said gas).

Every year we sponsor an event called the Scream Scram, in Denver Colorado. Not only is it a great event that is fun for all ages, but the proceeds benefit two worthy causes. Fifty percent of the proceeds go to the local Colorado Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Society. One in every 625 Coloradoans has multiple sclerosis. This event allows companies, families, individuals and more to attend a healthy and creative Halloween event. The other 50% goes to the Seam McCauley Hope Foundation. At the age of 10½ months, Sean McCauley was diagnosed with a very large and very malignant Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid brain tumor. This type of tumor carries only a two percent survival rate. As the eight-year anniversary of his diagnosis approaches, Sean’s Hope offers help to families in their fight against pediatric cancer through education, comfort and research programs. Now that’s something worth racing around in your Hulk Hogan costume for!

This year, more that 1,000 folks showed up to walk or run the Scream Scram 5K in Washington Park. Even the little ones had a good time tearing around in bumblebee and transformer costumes in the 100M Spooky Sneak against explorer Eric Larsen.

As if dressing up and laughing and getting some exercise wasn’t enough, the event generated over $8,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Sean’s Hope. Trick AND Treat!

Here are some images to convince those of you that live in the Denver area to show up next year and partake in the Halloween fun.

A Restorative Feeling

October 1, 2008

“Plants is good. Me liked to use shovel on dirt. I is did learn lots.” Ellen (a.k.a. the ferocious hole digger and quick witted charmer of Horny Toad)

You’ve probably passed them on your way to work. These days they are disguised by concrete banks and drainage ditches. They are diverted and neglected. They are choked with trash and pollution. They are a dying breed in their natural state. They are creeks.

Every year here in Santa Barbara the Creeks Division of our fine city puts on a week long event featuring education, cleanups and restoration of our local creeks. The Horny Toad office happens to be perched directly on the banks of one of the main creeks here in Santa Barbara, so we take it very personally when we see trash floating by.

This past week we were able to do something really special to help restore the banks of the very creek that runs by our building. The office shut down and we carpooled over to a site along Mission Creek that the city is trying to restore to its natural riparian state. The Toads, along with our friends from Simple Shoes, descended upon the banks and went to town ripping out non-native plant species and picking up trash – talk about a cathartic activity! Buh-bye stress.

Once the banks were cleaned up, our friend George from the Creeks Division set out hundreds of native plant species ranging from white and black sage to oak trees that will hopefully live to be 400 years old! It was tough going on the rocky banks, but us Toads persevered and planted nearly all the plants with tender care to their roots. One Toadette, Katina, had this to say about the planting extravaganza, “The idea that an oak tree can live up to 300 to 400 years is unreal to me. It was a pretty spectacular feeling to have planted an oak tree that will hopefully live that long with my good friends.”

Gordon our leader and teammate commented on the good vibes, “It was so terrific to see our team out there making a difference in the community. It is amazing how little it takes to have a positive impact and how good the results can feel.” Our watersheds are just as much a part of our community as any citizen, if not more. They are precious and few and we need to treat them as such. Tami, another creek warrior put it perfectly, “We do not plant for ourselves but to help protect and heal the earth. In the process, I have found that playing in the dirt is fun!”

Get involved in your local community, it feels great and you never know when you might get some free pizza out of the deal.

Parker House and Theory at Freeport

October 8, 2008

Parker House and Theory is going to be playing live at the Horny Toad store in Freeport, Maine. The the day time set starts at 2 p.m. and, as if that wasn't enough of the good times, they will keep the party going down at The Big Easy at 9 p.m. Need another great reason to come check it out? We will be having in-store giveaways!

Check their music out at www.parkerhouseandtheory.com.

Telluride Mountainfilm at UCSB

September 30, 2008

Ventura Hillsides Music Festival 2008

September, 13, 2008

2008 Ventura Hillsides Music Festival
Saturday, September 13, 1–5pm
Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura, CA

Buy tickets today!

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is a land trust operating in the City of Ventura for the purpose of acquiring open space through gift, sale, or other lawful means. The organization was founded in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by concerned citizens dedicated to working with property owners, public agencies and the community to encourage preservation and restoration of the landmark Two Trees and surrounding hillsides.

One of the “lawful” means of raising money is having one great party – The Ventura Hillsides Music Festival! It’s a great time and it’s for a great cause. Music will be flowin’ by Little Feat, Taj Mahal, Mason Jennings, Todd Hannigan & the Heavy 29's and Rey Fresco. Kate, a Toadette who lives in Ventura and helps to organize the event has this to say about the concert:

I live in Ventura, 20 short miles door-to-door from my house on the beach to Toad Headquarters. My husband is a native Venturan. Ventura is one of those special places that sneaks up on you. Its geography is incredible – which is one reason why everyone is interested in getting their hands on it for development. It has served as sacred ground for the Chumash, an agricultural wonderland, a world famous surf town with breaks to satiate all board lengths, an oil town and a stopover on the 101 freeway. Most recently, its verdant hillsides have seen a boom of development – not the good kind.

So, as developers threatened to tackle one of the last stretches of hillsides along the south coast, we organized. I was a founding member of Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) along with my sister-in-law and a handful of other die-hards, we produce this music festival each year. This is our 6th, and like wine, they get better and more fun every year. The festival is a wonderful reflection of how engaged and committed the community is. What’s more, it’s fun in the sun, dancing to great music all to raise money that goes entirely towards land preservation.

I proudly say that Horny Toad is a sponsor of this event – how could we not participate in our community? If you live within striking distance of Ventura, please come join us for a great afternoon in a beautiful park that is the gateway to the hillsides we are protecting. Dig it dadio!

Keeping it Cool

August 25, 2008

If you have ever lived and played in an area where snow covers the mountains most of the year, you can appreciate the subtle shifts in what may seem to be an unchanging landscape. Snow is one of the most dynamic materials on earth, and unless you look super close, the differences won’t be revealed to you.

A group of scientist and other field researchers in Colorado have started a non-profit organization called Center for Snow & Avalanche Studies (CSAS) to do the up-close work of analyzing snow systems and the effect they have on the human/environmental relationship. Not only does all this information aide in research but all data that’s collected at their stations is shared with Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) to present near-real-time weather data that helps the backcountry forecasters do their work of helping keep the public safe from avalanches.

Aside from providing awesome information for the backcountry enthusiast they also are conducting vital research about snow and the effects that global warming is having on it. We all have seen the glaciers in the world receding, but the less obvious effects of global warming hit close to home.

Along with several of our dealers (some farther a field), Horny Toad has been contributing to their efforts of research.

Buffalo Peak Outfitters - Jackson, MS

Champaign Surplus - Campaign, IL

Northern Lights Trading Company - Bozeman, MT

Pine Needle Mountaineering - Durango, CO

River Sports Outfitters - Knoxville, TN

Summit Canyon Mountaineering - Glenwood Springs, CO

Ute Mountaineer - Aspen, CO

Wild River Outfitters - Virginia Beach, VA

Wilson's Eastside Sports - Bishop, CA

Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2008

July 21, 2008

Ahhhh Bluegrass – a time of year we Toads love. It means we get to pack up the van and head out to Telluride, our birthplace, and get our festival on!

As usual, we had a total blast – yes, even setting up our little mobile store was fun. Telluride Bluegrass is just one of those special festivals where the vibe is relaxed and fun, and no one, literally no one, disrupts that peace. Everyone is having a great time no matter where you look. It’s always a recharge for us!

You should come check it out next year. It’s worth the flight or drive to be held in the arms of a beautiful canyon with the sunlight warming your shoulders and the music lovin’ on your eardrums. And, while you are there, come and visit us at the Horny Toad.

Green Card Party

July 3, 2008

Our main financial dude, a native of Nepal, finally got his green card! It was a long journey for him, so we thought we’d surprise him with a little in-office green card party complete with green clothes, green food and … lest we forget, green beer!

More behind-the-curtain of the Toad antics will be posted soon. We actually have a fourth of July crazy day at the beach planned. Stay tuned folks.

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1st Thursday July - Surfrider

June 27, 2008

July’s First Thursday was one of the best turnouts ever! We came together with Wend Magazine and Kona Brewing to raise money for Surfrider Foundation.

Wend Magazine is local magazine that exists to provide a forum in which the convergence of sport, style and creativity blend in a seamless fashion. Wend is an amalgamation of visual, mental and physical inspiration, built to emanate the style and identity of the ever-growing population of the urban-minded adventurer.
    
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide.

We featured six different regional surf artists that will be on display the whole month of July. Half the proceeds from the art and all the donations from the beer went to Surfrider Foundation. We had over 300 people filtering in and out checking out some great art and supporting our Mother Ocean.

Everyone got to enjoy a mixture of great music by DJ Keys and DJ B-Lo and flowing spirits by Kona Brewing.
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First Thursday for June

June, 5, 2008

Our June First Thursday was smashing. The party was in collaboration with 55 DSL and BPM magazine. 55 DSL is a brand we carry in our store and they’re based out New York. They wanted to have a couple west coast parties this summer to get more people aware of their brand, so where else better to have it then their #1 carrier in Oregon, Lizard Lounge. We held a raffle in the store to win five limited edition t-shirts from 55 DSL for a little added bonus. People dig the bonus.

BPM Magazine also sponsored the event. BPM is a magazine incorporates fresh coverage on progressive music, DJ culture, consumer technology, fashion, art, and nightlife. Check it out! If you are a fan of Flight of the Conchords, they had a great little bit on them in the latest issue.

Our featured DJ’s were Beyonda, one of Portland’s most popular DJ’s and Stretch Armstrong, a very popular DJ out of New York. BPM Magazine flew him in from NYC to DJ at our party. Both sets were amazing!

Out featured artist for the month is Chris Haberman, a local celebrity in the art industry. He’s a working writer, painter and musician native to the Portland area. He has shown artwork around town for the last 5 years. His art is very urban and focuses on Portland’s culture. It was a hit at the party, his fan base is incredible and there were tons that showed up.

Drinks provided by Widmer Brewing and Cork Wine Shop. Always a good time with good beer and wine around!

If you happened to have missed this event, we have a lot more to come, every month as a matter of fact. If you want to know more about our events you can sign up on our email list in the “nuts n’ bolts” page and we will keep you in the loop on all events.

Thanks again to all of our sponsors and see you all at the next party!

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