What a damn weekend!
Skateboarding, tattoos, new and old friends.
Last weekend, Atlanta renamed Fourth Ward Skatepark to Thomas Taylor Memorial Skatepark.
Thomas Taylor opened Stratosphere Skateshop in 1986.
His impact on skateboarding in the south is unlike no other. The city of Atlanta approached Thomas when they decided to add the park to the belt line.
Right down to its physical terrain, Thomas Taylor helped mold Atlanta skateboarding and it’s only fitting the park take his name.
In addition to renaming the park, the city of Atlanta now recognizes May 3rd as Thomas Taylor Day.
Atlanta and the skateboarding community as a whole were lucky to have him.
My wife, Julie, rode up with me and the first meal was an easy choice for us.
IYKYK.
The first two nights, we stayed together in an airbnb in Little 5 Points. Our trips then went separate ways, while still meeting up throughout the weekend.
While in town for the memorial, thanks to help from my friend Nick P, I tattooed in L5P at Southern Star Tattoo.
Eric Thrice runs the show over there and has a solid team of guys and gals holding it down.
Matty Runks gave me the lay of the land and showed me around the shop. He also was kind enough to set me up in his station the first day.
Christy Martin holds down the counter and makes sure everything is in order while you’re tattooing. She also is the proud owner of coolest set of knuckle tattoos ever. Check out her Jewelry page as well where she’s cooking up handmade shit that lasts as long as a tattoo.
Mathew Scott works in the front station of the shop and is who gave Christy her awesome pup knuckle tat.
Thursday was straight to work with Diesel. He got a Bottom Feeders tattoo for sure.
After that, I tattooed a fellow Carolinian who has one hell of an Instagram handle. Steven Waldecker, AKA Tonyhawk_birdbath, got one I’ve been waiting to do. Glad I slid this line drawing in my book last minute.
That night we went to Fellini’s Pizza to grab a slice. Thanks for doubling our order Brendon.
Friday I opened up the shop with and tattooed next to Buddy Lucas. Buddy was doing some great tattoos all weekend long. We were sharing some music recommendations and hope to keep it up.
My first appointment of the day was with Andrew Daigle. Daigle got my take on a classic with a bit more of his own dog’s personality.
Next up was possibly the “tattoo of the trip”. A bit of Florida and Georgia all in one with this peach eating gator for Zeke.
Zeke and his family made the trip from Jacksonville Florida for the weekend. His son is quite the little artist as well. He is 6 years old and drew this while waiting for his dad to finish getting tattooed.
All of Indy’s designs are now available to be tattooed by yours truly here in Ybor city.
Of course I thought I was completely prepared but ended up bumming some pigment off of artist Claire Whaling.
Thanks for the ink and letting me set up in your station Sunday Claire.
The last one of the day was a jackalope for D Shep. Couldn’t be happier with how this one came out.
That night and the rest of the trip, I stayed with Nick P and his lady, Hannah.
Saturday morning Nick got us up early and we met up with everyone at Stratosphere Skateshop to help load up for the event.
As early as we were, tons of people were already at the park ready for the day.
The place was swarming with old friends. This shirt! Good seeing you Mic.
Stiv, Trey, and Adam.
Watching Grant skate the park was definitely one of the highlights of the whole weekend. I was too “in the moment” to put a cellphone in between my face and the skating.
Here’s Thrasher’s coverage of the day.
One more quick Fellini’s hit to end the night.
Sunday started off great. Can’t thank you all enough for trusting me to tattoo you!
Gary Fuckn Stewart!
Zeke Logan and Skylar Clark picked a couple out the ol’ line book.
Zeke named her Tequila Shelia
Skylar named him Gillie Nelson.
These two fellas are also part of a band in Atlanta called Red Henry and the House of Bamboo. Check out the demo!
The last tattoo of the trip was for Spencer Ames. We did the lines and black of a rooster in dunks to memorialize his friend, Angel. It was good catching up with you, Spencer.
Looking forward to finishing this one next trip.
After my last tattoo, I swung by the Bridge Life premiere just as it was letting out. Bummed I missed the premiere but got a chance to say goodbye to most of the people I wanted to.
