Gig Report

We Love Our Creek!

December 19, 2008

Not to brag, but we’re going to.

We literally live right on a creek, which often gets trashed and shows signs of urban polluting. We set off a year ago to try and clean up the waters of Mission Creek and all that it touches – banks, estuaries and beaches.

Our hard work has not only taken hundreds of pounds of trash out of the creek and the beach where it flows into the Pacific, but it got us a really cool award from the city! Remember when you won a ribbon or trophy in elementary school? Well, it felt like that at the city hall yesterday where a couple of us Toadettes went to accept an award for volunteering and being stoked to do it.

It was really nice to get the pat on the back, but more importantly, to know that our efforts are seen by other businesses and individuals in the area and may serve as motivation to get out, roll up sleeves and have a great time getting dirty!

It was also a pleasure to meet the commissioners and those involved with the committees that are charged with public stewardship of our lands and waters.

Yay us!

A Thanksgiving Tale

December 3, 2008

Last week, a day before Thanksgiving, it started to rain here in Santa Barbara. People pulled on boots, zipped up coats, wrapped themselves in scarves and unfurled umbrellas to march outside to enjoy the weather. We’ve had a particularly dry spring and summer this year which made us reach towards the falling drops, feeling the cool water hit the palms of our hands and the sides of our cheeks with a certain thankfulness that only Mother Nature can command.

Ironically, the same lack of rain that made us praise the precipitation, is the same thing that helped spark the Tea Fires of November 14th, 2008 to epic proportions, destroying hundreds of homes in the area. The devastation is palpable in a small community like Santa Barbara. There were many homes up in the Tea Fire area that where not huge mansions – many of the communities up in the hills are small, single family homes in neighborhoods where kids play. Rich or middle class, the effect of losing a home is the same, irreplaceable photos go up in smoke along with long held memories.

Through last week and this week the Toads opened the doors here at our office to all those who were affected by the fire so they could come in and pick out new clothes. A constant stream of people has been coming through the office to get started on a new wardrobe. It’s a small thing, but in times of need, the basics become glaringly essential.

The interesting part about all this is that the people that have lost everything really have given us, the Toads, so much in the last couple of weeks. They have shown us true gratitude and thanks, along with a healthy reminder of what is really important in this life. It’s truly amazing the good vibe that giving has brought to us. It really doesn’t take much.

As we sat in our weekly meeting reviewing sales numbers and upcoming calendar events of the business, a man who had lost his home quietly picked out some items. As he was about to turn to leave, he politely said, “I don’t mean to interrupt the meeting, but simply wanted to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.” With tears in his eyes he put is right hand to his heart and said thank you again. We all stopped and looked at him, at each other, and were just thankful for the thanks and all that we truly do have.

To date, we’ve given away about 2500 items to about 150+.

Link up here to read up on and see the power of community.

The Daily Sound

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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