This traffic stopping barrier in an alley in downtown Chicago can be raised and lowered. When raised, it’s almost got more of a wall jam or pole jam angle than than a launch ramp. Still, it’s got potential. It would be funny if they had to put skate stoppers on a car stopper.

There’s a giant skateboarder outside of the Body Expanded exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago. MSIC is one of a few museums in the world to have a permanent display from the creators of Body Worlds. I did not enter the exhibit to see if there was more skateboarding action. What was I thinking? I don’t know. The MSIC is so big, we didn’t get to everything in one day.

Does anyone remember this guy from way back in the beginning of the Oregon Skatepark boom? So far back, in fact, that this is a scan of a photograph taken with actual film. I think we only had Newberg (where this was taken,) Ausmville, Lincoln City, and Waldport when this was taken. Of course, Burnside, and the first version of Pier Park. Maybe Brookings too. Was his name Chris? He took an old airport shuttle van and tried to make a go of operating a skatepark tour shuttle service. I don’t think it worked out.

I was never a fan of these, but you sure did see a lot of them. The Madrid Flypaper version of Vans hi-tops have been re-released. As recently as 2014, an original pair of Madrid Flypaper Vans in a different color way sold for $2200!

Are you in the mood for some 70’s funk and a lot of vert skating? What about a guy in a hotdog costume on a miniramp? Check out Dan Bourqui’s Highland Showdown edit.

Jeff Longo rescued a newborn baby flying squirrel. The only reason you’re looking at on Skate and Annoy is because he eventually took a picture of it standing on a fingerboard.

[Source: Laughing Squid.]

This is the print campaign associated with the 1994 TV commercial and toy prize giveaway uncovered in the Mega-Nesquik post from last year. This one was found on Ebay Italy by “Cool Steve.”

Aside from being a living skateboard legend, Tom “Wally” Inouye is one hell of a chef. You don’t have to live in the area to taste his work, you can pick up some Wally’s Pepper Sauce. More hot sauce and a bonus reprint of Tom Inouye’s Who’s Hot! feature from the June 1977 issue of Skateboarder Magazine.

Ay, Caramba is a red rye India Pale Ale brewed by Holy Roller in Tallinn, Estonia. Nicolas Bouvy sent this picture but declined to review it since he’s predisposed to dislike IPA’s. Me too, actually. Here in Oregon, if you go to the grocery store to buy any beer that isn’t Bud or Pabst, you’ll find a selection of about 20 IPA’s and only a handful of less hoppy choices. And yet, I still manage to cultivate a healthy beer gut. Which came first, the label or the beer name? Ay, Caramba is surely a tip of the hat to Bart Simpson, and all the labels show a heavy Jim Phillips inspiration.

I stumbled upon this skatepark while visiting Chicago recently. These things (new skateparks) happen when you move away from a city for 15 years or so. This street plaza-style park is much more interesting than this panorama photo may lead you to believe. I’m standing on top of a wall that is maybe 10 feet tall. Under my feet and out of view for the most part, are the assorted transitions and banks that butt up against the wall. The panorama makes everything seem more spread out than the reality, but it is a pretty expansive park. There was not much going on there during my accidental visit, but it looks fun.