Urban Exploring: Adam Padilla (Episode 7)
THE SYNOPSIS
In our 7th episode of the season, Iquan takes a solo trip to NYC to visit long time design friend Adam Padilla at the Brand Fire Agency HQ. During the time, Adam gave Iquan a tour of the studio and they discussed life, family, design and holding yourself accountable for making time to do the things that makes you happy. The two also had a drawing session, ordered food via Seamless and just caught up.
THE DISCOVERIES
ADAM PADILLA
President & Chief Creative Officer of BRAND FIRE Creative in NYC is a giant ball of creative genius. Adam has pretty much touched greatness in everything between the worlds of Graphic Design and Fine Art. Adam has a in depth portfolio and resume to back those words up including the Creative Director position for Nets Basketball. To learn more about Adam and his work follow him on Instagram here.
BRAND FIRE
creates brand names, logos, messaging, packaging, point-of-sale, website and collateral to give their clients a competitive advantage. brandfire.com
SEAMLESS APP
Order food delivery from your favorite local restaurants from your mobile phone. Download
NATURAL WORKS
A NYC based restaurant offering up delicious food without all of the crap. Bare ingredients with no artificial preservatives and unhealthily fats.
Next time your in the city, check them out. Visit
THE MUSIC
Urban Exploring: Boston pt2 (Episode 6)
THE SYNOPSIS
Iquan, Aaron, Steve and Guru… Grab a true American belly up breakfast, explore the Essex Salt Marsh as well as downtown Boston. The crew paid visits to Bodega and Johnny cupcakes and then wind down in the Boston Seaport District.
Watch and Subscribe
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheArtoholiks
THE MUSIC
THE DISCOVERIES
BODEGA
Founded in 2006, Bodega has been a refuge and tool for the clandestine group of artists behind … Visit the shop. Bodega 6 Clearway Street Boston, MA 02115 shop.bdgastore.com/
JOHNNY CUPCAKES
A food themed clothing brand created by Johnny and now managed by his family started with their first shop in the downtown Boston area and now can be found in major cities across the country. kitchen.johnnycupcakes.com/story/
17 STATE STREET CAFE
A traditional cafe/diner located on the main shopping strip in Newbury Massachusetts. Known for their amazing breakfast dishes and specialty french toast. Yum! www.17statestreetcafe.com/about/
ESSEX SALT MARSH
In Massachusetts, the North Shore’s Great Marsh is the largest continuous stretch of Salt Marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Great Marsh includes over 20,000 acres of marsh, barrier beach, tidal river, estuary, mudflat, and upland islands extending across the Massachusetts North Shore from Gloucester to Salisbury. In recognition of these extraordinary resources, a portion of this area was designated by the state in 1979 as the Parker River/Essex Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern. http://www.greatmarsh.org/
Following The DJ: Nick Wiz
"HOW PERFECT. I'M JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS NOW."
THE RESEARCH
I read a tweet today from a hip-hop music producer I follow named J-Zone that said “Cool shit about being a crazy late bloomer with so many things is being hyped about shit everyone around you gave up on already.”
This quote stood out to me because I can relate to it. I too feel the same way about discovering music that I love well after its release date. There are so many records that have come out over the years that I’ve slept on or never even knew existed.
When so much music gets released every week, how can you possibly stay on top of everything anyway? When I fall in love with music that hits me, I can listen to it on repeat for months, sometimes years. I’m still listening to Nas’s “Illmatic” debut.
This brings me to Nick Wiz, an underground hip-hop producer born in NYC and raised in Teaneck, NJ, whose appeal lends itself to fans of raw, uncut, jazz-laced, bass driven, mid-tempo, 90’s hip-hop. If you dig the sounds of DJ Premier or Buckwild, you can definitely get down with Nick Wiz.
Nick Wiz first made an impact on the 90’s hip-hop scene with his beat contributions to Ecko Unlimited’s “Underground Airplay” cassette series, which are now highly collectible. He is also considered to be an integral part of the early Lyricist Lounge movement. His most notable work can be found on the Cella Dwellas 1996 debut album “Realms n’ Reality” on Loud Records.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I first heard a Nick Wiz beat on the Rawkus Records mixtape Soundbombing 1 back in 1998, on one of my personal favorites, Shabaam Sahdeeq’s “Arabian Nights”. His unique choice in samples, low-end filters, hard hitting SP-1200 drums and dense bass lines can also be heard on records by Mad Skillz, Chubb Rock, Chino XL and Rakim.
THE DISCOVERY
Recently I discovered two full-length albums of nothing but Nick Wiz instrumentals from that same era and I couldn’t be more hyped.
The first one was actually released in 1997 on a compilation series called “Hydra Beats Vol. 12” while the other one was just released a couple of weeks ago, simply called “Unreleased 90’s Hip Hop Instrumentals.”
Through my constant journey as a DJ, searching for that 90’s sound I’ve come to love, it’s always a challenge finding a certain flavor that I can listen to on repeat for lengths of time. It might be dated but it takes me to a place that satisfies my ears and soul.
Some highlight tracks from the two albums include “Mind Crusher”, “Starlite”, “Four Elements”, “Hermano”, “Hey Man”, “Xylophone” and “Ride Out”. Check out these dope tracks yourself and help support underground hip-hop by purchasing Nick Wiz’s music on Bandcamp.
THE SOURCE
BANDCAMP Nick Wiz Unreleased 90's Hip Hop Instrumentals
YOUTUBE Mind Crusher
ARABIAN NIGHTS Watch It
STARLITE Watch It
WORDS by LAYTON W. // CREATIVE by IQUAN W. (another Ike & Laytonic collaboration 2013+)
Urban Exploring: Open Crates + Sweet Chick (Special Edition)
THE SYNOPSIS
In this Lost Episode of Urban Exploring, Guru and Ike share clips about the success and growth of Open Crates in the earlier part of 2014. The duo also spent a day in Williamsburg Brooklyn at CMJ to catch up with drummer Layton Weedeman of Courtesy Tier as he performed with his friends Isle Of Rhodes. Lastly, they grabbed grub from Sweet Chick, a soulful Chicken and Waffle restaurant also located in Williamsburg Brooklyn.
THE DISCOVERIES
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OPEN CRATES
Open Crates curates music, breaks records and builds culture for progressive vinyl heads. We vibe on all genres of heavy percussive music.
Check them out monthly in Jersey City for Open Dig, click the flyer for more details.
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SWEET CHICK
Sweet Chick's philosophy is simple: Great Food, a Cool Vibe, and interesting Cocktails at a great price.
Along with some of the best fried chicken and waffles in New York City, we're serving what we like to call American cuisine with a Southern accent: Rustic but Modern American comfort food and twists on classic dishes and cocktails, plus home-baked desserts that will make you feel like a kid again. The dining room, on the bustling corner of North 8th and Bedford Ave, is as cozy and inviting (and locally-sourced) as our food. Check them out on Yelp
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CMJ
CMJ connects music fans and music industry professionals with the best in new music through interactive media and live events. CMJ also produces a legendary Music Marathon, the largest and longest-running music industry event of its kind, in addition to live events across the US. LEARN MORE[/one_half]
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ISLE OF RHODES
Isle of Rhodes is the moniker for Rob Farren's hard hitting indie rock project. Known for interweaving dynamic stylings and virtuosic abilities, while fashioning rock with an ensemble flair, Isle of Rhodes, draws upon on blues, funk, and classical elements, with influences ranging from Gershwin, Beethoven, Radiohead, The Beatles, Arcade Fire, to Roy Orbison. LEARN MORE[/one_half_last]
LAYTON WEEDEMAN
Layton Weedeman is a drummer and DJ from Moorestown, NJ who graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Music from the Berklee College of Music in 2004. He moved to Brooklyn, New York soon after with his alt-rock-indie band Courtesy Tier. As a drummer, he’s been featured on records by local artists Jessi Robertson, Isle of Rhodes and Man Made West. With Courtesy Tier, Layton has toured the US, played showcases for CMJ in New York City as well as SXSW in Austin, TX and has been named one of the top artists in New York’s indie rock scene by the Deli Magazine three years in a row. As a DJ, he goes by the alias DJ Laytonic and exclusively spins vinyl records highlighting hip-hop instrumentals from the 90’s. His mixes include music by A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Premier, J Dilla, Buckwild and Pete Rock. For more on Layton Click Here
THE MUSIC
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PAT VAN DYKE - Frequency
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PAT VAN DYKE - Swindle
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DJ CENTER -
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HäZEL - Badoowap
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LAYTONIC - Until You Were Gone
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BIG JACK - Live @ OC
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Happy Hour with Akintola Hanif of HYCIDE magazine
[one_half]OVERVIEW
Our Happy Hour series took a back seat to our other monthly segments or did it really? Maybe we were busy shadowing a very special creative… Maybe we had to attend all of his events in the past year… Maybe we had to kick it with him in his studio… Maybe we roamed the streets of Newark in search of his subjects… Maybe for an entire year we gathered a ton of footage of Akintola Hanif and learned what it takes to create a subculture and art journal called HYCIDE magazine… Maybe we had to do all of this just to piece together a two minute story about a photojournalist and filmmaker that goes against the grain to tell stories of the feared, neglected and misunderstood. Maybe we should change the title from “Happy Hour with Akintola Hanif of HYCIDE” to “HYCIDE Year with Akintola Hanif”. In this two minute journey, Akintola takes us with him and allows us to really get to know not only what he does but why he does it. Enjoy!
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Outside of Street Photography… What other styles of photography do you enjoy?
Sometimes, when it’s not work and I have creative freedom I enjoy studio photography, I also enjoy paid event photography when it’s a interesting event.
What other photographers inspire you?
You know there are many that come to mind, some of whose names I don’t even know, but the main ones that've directly inspired me are Gordon Parks, Jamel Shabazz, Zun Lee and NemaEtebar.
If you could do an issue on another US city outside of Newark and Brooklyn which would it be?
Most likely It would be the inner cities of California and I’d focus heavily on the gangs and homeless there.
Please share with us how you get your mind right when selecting and editing your images?
Usually I just sit alone and listen to music, preferably atmospheric. Music with no words allows me to zone out and focus better; but then sometimes I listen to hard (rap) shit too.
If you had the opportunity to shoot ANYONE who would it be?
Maybe the vitiligo model Winnie Harlow or this one really interesting dressing Muslim pimp around here that runs a crack hotel.
Name one thing Akintola love outside of ART and PHOTOGRAPHY... something silly.
I can’t really think of anything that I love that’s silly, I take love very seriously and am not easily influenced. Outside of art and photography (before art and photography) my greatest love is for my son.
Why are you passionate about subculture?
I’m really passionate about subculture because I have an extreme interest in telling stories untold and understanding things and people that are often misunderstood. I also tend to really identify with people who have made choices that society deems unacceptable, because I too have made similar choices (at different times in my life) and exist to the left of the status quo.
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Why should others know more about subculture?
I just personally feel that’s it's always good to understand the world around you and all of its nuances. All inclusive understanding can also dismantle fear, create empathy, and inspire love, which is my mission as man and artist.
How do you feel photography shifts the world?
I’m not sure photography shifts the world, however I do know that images shifts people's perception and often times photography is used to project negative images and assumptions about who people are. Photography can also be used to cover up the intentions and true identity of the conniving and untruthful, like politicians etc...When we don’t know people first hand the images we see develop our perceptions of them. This can be a good and/or bad thing.
If a corporate brand wanted to sponsor and 100% back you and Hycide, which company would be the best to do so?
I can't really think of any corporate brands, but maybe Puma or Red Bull (if those are even considered corporate brands) just because I see them doing things with the arts community. However, I think HYCIDE sponsorship would have to come from private donors or a major arts organization like the Andy Warhol or Dodge foundation.
Lastly, in getting to know Akintola…How long should this video really be?
To really get to know me, you’d have to follow me throughout the years and experiences that have made me who I am, and that would take a lifetime or at least a couple hours of edited footage.
What advice can you give an up and coming street photographer?
I would encourage them to develop relationships with people as opposed to just going out on the streets randomly, but there has to be a mixture of both. Acting on impulse and patience are equally important in street photography, you have to approach people without fear and with genuine intentions for them to really open up to you. It's also really good to revisit the same places and people so that you can really catch the intimate moments (after forming bonds) that take place in the street and in their lives.
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Written / Edited - Iquan Worthington & Akintola Hanif
Video - Directed, Shot & Edited - Iquan Worthington
Video Music: Da P dabeatX - DopeDopeDope
HYCIDE magazine: Hycide
Urban Exploring: Bongo Boy + Mikey's Burgers (Special Edition)
THE SYNOPSIS
In this Special Edition of Urban Exploring… Iquan and Guru dig through files shot earlier this year and came across YouTube star Bongo Boy. From the LES to Midtown the duo spent an afternoon learning how young Matthew got his start. Lastly, The Artoholiks were blessed with the opportunity to create their own burger at Mikey's in the Lower Eastside.
THE DISCOVERIES
MATTHEW COHEN B.K.A. BONGO BOY
At the age of 13 Matt decided that he wanted to ditch the slow and boring New Jersey suburb life and pursue his curiosity for Music and Fashion. Since then, Matt has produced over 200 video interviews under his nickname “Bongo Boy”. Interviewing big name brands and artists such as Johnny Cupcakes, Benny Gold, Flo Rida and French Montana just to name a few... Today, Matt and his production team are producing music videos and working on a top secret video series. For more info on Matt aka Bongo Boy check him out here
MIKEY'S BURGERS
We’ve eaten at this spot a number of times while hanging around in the LES. Mikey’s is one of those spots that you find yourself in after walking the strip and just needing something to eat. Surprisingly, this hole in the wall serves up one of the best burgers in the area and the Lower Eastside community loves their cheese fries. We tried the shakes and loved them, we ate the fries and loved them, long story short… We don’t have anything bad to say about this Burger joint, especially since they have The Artoholik burger on the menu! Learn more about Mikey’shere
THE ARTOHOLIK BURGER
The Artoholik burger consist of American cheese, corned-beef, caramelized onions and mustard topped on a Turkey burger in between warm toasted buns.
Get yours at 134 Ludlow St. New York, NY 10002
MODERN AMUSEMENT
Shout out to our peeps at Modern Amusement for the hooking us up with the fresh threads in this episode. Shop now at PACSUN.com
THE MUSIC
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J-Louis - THAT DUDE JAY ( J-LOUIS x JBIRD )
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Digable Planets - Jettin'
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lAlexGl - Harco Pront – Trust
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PHOTOS
A Conversation Piece
Last weekend we told football to watch us as we connected with local luxury bag brand Yetu Urithi to shoot their Fall/Winter lookbook. It was simple, we meet at a house, packed the car with the goods, went to a near by park in Verona, NJ, waited about an hour or two for models and then we began flicking away. The goal was to capture the models in the mist of fake picnic with their bags. But we are way too creative for that, we decided to tell a story through photos about certain actions and moods can evoke a CONVERSATION. Stay tuned for the lookbook and see what we came up with and enjoy these behind the scenes photos until then... PEACE!
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In My Shoes ft. Jamiyl Peters
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[one_half_last]These are my second pair of Magnani dress shoes. MAGNANNI is a third generation family-owned company that has been producing fine Men’s shoes for more nearly 60 years. This specific pair is called “Montego Cognac”. I bought them a year and a half ago at Nordstrom’s in Pentagon City Mall in Arlington, VA. I absolutely love the contour, feel and class of this shoe. It makes every time I put them on special. I was definitely excited when I purchased them because they made me feel like a new man with great purpose.
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They look great with almost anything a gentleman chooses to lace himself in. This specific pair I have, have traveled all over the United States with me: Austin, TX, New York City, Newark, New Jersey, Portsmouth, ME, Washington, D.C. and New Haven, CT.
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[one_third]In our nation’s capitol of Washington, D.C. they stood out. Most men on Capitol Hill choose comfort over distinctive and exquisite precision when it comes to shoes. The halls of Congress are sturdy, battle tested and unforgiving on even the most veteran of political legs, but my MAGNANIS have yet to fail me.
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[one_half_last]Checking the time before my next meeting and making sure the gear is right. It’s always an honor to know that you represent your hometown and district well: with knowledge, class, patience and an open-mind. There are few who choose to up the ante. Most men stick to the classic and current Cole Hahn (with the Nike Air Sole) with the wing-tipped front. At every point a man should dare to step outside of the lines and choose to be different, seeing the world from their own view and more over their own shoes.
In the tail end of 2012, I decided to create my own fashion blog via Tumblr titled PremiumP. It's pretty much a personal diary of the fashionable things, people and places that I like. Whenever you create anything you should have a purpose, so I asked myself what's my purpose for this blog? My answer... I'm aspiring to inspire.
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Big events call for effort and class and I try to play with the best of them on days like this and still try not to out do the Groom. Lol!
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I believe that life should be approached the same way: with a careful eye for detail and approached with a slight tilt on the vision and direction that we are all to march. Dare to give each day a little something different.
Urban Exploring: Agenda New York / Las Vegas 2014 (Episode 9)
THE SYNOPSIS
In the season finale of Urban Exploring season 1, Iquan & Guru discover the Agenda Trade Show in New York City. By building connections with brand reps, getting the latest drops from the major brands and getting inspired by the new kids on the block, the duo loved the experience so much that they decided to send Iquan out to Vegas. While in Vegas, Iquan connects with a few friends including a very special person. Enjoy!
THE DISCOVERIES
AGENDA TRADE SHOW
Agenda is the most diverse and creative lifestyle fashion trade show in the world. Since 2003, Agenda has emerged as the premier destination for brands and retailers to converge. Agenda is where passion becomes profit and the business of creativity is conducted in a truly authentic environment. Buyers, brands, investors, distributors, and media hail from around the globe, gathering at Agenda to build partnerships, participate in the community, and grow their businesses. For more info click here
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IN-N-OUT BURGER
In-N-Out Burgers, Inc. is a regional chain of fast food restaurants with locations in the American Southwest. It was founded in 1948 by Harry Snyder and his wife Esther, upon establishing the first In-N-Out burger in Baldwin Park, California. The chain is currently headquartered in Irvine. In-N-Out Burger has slowly expanded outside Southern California into the rest of the state as well as into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Texas. As the chain has expanded, it has opened several distribution centers in addition to its original Baldwin Park location. The new facilities, located in Lathrop, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Draper, Utah; and Dallas, Texas, will provide for potential future expansion into other parts of the country.
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DAL TORO RESTAURANT
Dal Toro Las Vegas is an exciting multilevel restaurant, car gallery and events center located on the lower level of The Palazzo Hotel. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Dal Toro features a menu of authentic Italian cuisine. The chef's signature dishes, as well as traditional Italian favorites, incorporate natural, artisanal ingredients that make dining at Dal Toro a truly memorable experience.
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ROCAWEAR BLAK
Rocawear BLAK is a new streetwear collection aimed at the fashion-minded young male consumer and debuted at AGENDA LAS VEGAS last week. The collection will be available at major department and specialty stores this Holiday season.
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WILLIAM PAINTER
Polarized Titanium Sunglasses - Anodized Black Titanium Arms, High End CR-39 Polarized Lenses, Double-Barrel Nickel/Silver Hinges, Built in Bottle Opener
and Comes with Hard Case and Cloth. williampainter.com
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FLY SUPPLY
Fly Supply Clothing is a feel-good brand that provides the consumer with quality products, inspires confidence, encourages freedom of speech and fosters creativity. Express your sense of style with Fly Supply Clothing and remember, "Being fly is a way of life". Flysupply.com
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RASTACLAT
For Daniel Kasidi Nyaggah, it all started when he was in High School. As a 17 year old, he made his first bracelet when he was waiting for a ride from a friend to go skateboarding, and the rest was history. Here we are today, a growing company with a message of Spreading Positive Vibrations®, encouraging everyone around us to contribute to one another and follow their dreams. The skate community and the sneaker community were among the first two groups to really adopt and embrace the Rastaclat® brand from the beginning. From there, our products have become a staple in the action sports, urban and streetwear sectors. We are a LIFE brand, so our products are made to be a symbol, a constant reminder of how our differences keep us intertwined. Learn more about Rastaclat
BRAND BLACK
Brandblack, is the Sports brand of the 21st century, focused on image and performance. Brandblack’s mantra, is look good winning. Our mission is to fuse the aesthetic sensibility of high fashion with the most advanced technology in the industry, to provide today’s athletes with the most innovative products in the world.
Brandblack is dedicated to the individual, to personal style, both on and off the field of play. Our athlete is a style icon, we believe in a different way to fly”. LEARN MORE HERE
THE MUSIC
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Lakim - Mountain High
Haan808 - Caldera
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Savon - Tokyo Pt. 2 (Feat. Sango)
Toro Y Moi - High Living
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PHOTOS
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AGENDA x MAGIC Vegas
We had the opportunity to head out to Las Vegas and attend the fashion trade shows including Liberty, Agenda Capsule, Magic, MVMNT, Project and Pool. After checking out all of the exhibitors, we handpicked those who spoke to our Artoholik DNA, check them out here.
We kicked it, networked, shoot footage and most of all enjoyed all the fresh discoveries. From denim to foot wear we met brands like Bush Smarts, a hiking accessories brand from Brooklyn that WOW'ed us with nicely branded simple everyday items.
We learned about a lot from the people behind these brands, some creating their brands based on their everyday lifestyle while others woke up and felt the need to create a brand of their own.
We spotted unique booths, cool props and interesting representatives...
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Enjoy more still visuals below, recap videos soon to come. Peace & ELI!
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