In exactly one month from today, I will be opening my Los Angeles Johnny Cupcakes shoppe at 7959 Melrose Avenue. I'm flying out to California this Sunday and I will be living in a fun hotel for one whole month while I pass out flyers and make sure all the finishing details in the shoppe are installed correctly and up to par. I didn't want to couch surf because I feel like I'm intruding sometimes. I also slack on my e-mail and blog posts when I'm living with and constantly hanging out with my California friends. I can't wait to live in this hotel though - I'm going to feel like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone 2. I better pack my TalkBoy!
Above you will find a small portion of people who are flying out to the grand opening and camping out night(s) beforehand. Customers/campers from Boston, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Arizona, New Hampshire, all over California and more. See you at my LA grand opening on Saturday August 2nd - or perhaps you'll catch me personally passing out flyers beforehand, like I did back in the day for hardcore shows. California, here I come!
xxx
- Johnny Cupcakes
Your rollerblading waitress.
Jul 2, 2008
Meet Kelley. She's been my neighbor my entire life. She's also one of my little sisters best friends. Growing up being the prankster that I was, I used to terrorize both Kelley + my sister. Now all grown up, she attends college and has been using her business knowledge + organizational skills to help my mom out with all that headachey stuff that most business owners have nightmares about; taxes, book keeping, trademarking + registering, etc. etc..
In addition to being all businessy, Kelley is jam packed with laughter, gangster music + rollerblading skills. Above is a photo of her zipping around the Johnny Cupcakes headquarters to fill your online orders - sorta like waitress's in the 1950's filling customers food orders at the local diner. Over the years, my sister and I have diagnosed her with a tinch of randomness. That's Kelley goofing around on the online shop repping the Batcakes + Jokester shirts. Hi Kellllllll!
Kelley's dad Bill sold me a talking Freddy Kruegger doll for a couple bucks at a yard sale he was having. Bill is an amazing cook and respectable/knowledgeable DJ. I have many memories growing up listening to Bill blast Faith No More, Milli Vanilli + KISS from across the street. Speaking of KISS - during a game of Truth Or Dare(in 5th or 6th grade) in my parents basement on their pool table, I had my first french kiss with both Kelley's sister Kristen and her friend Amanda James. I now have that historical pool table in my home.
Also, speaking of Milli Vanilli - has anyone ever seen that episode of the Mario Brothers cartoon that had Milli Vanilli in it? I thought I dreamed it up because it's the most insane combination of classic characters, esp on a cartoon! Everyone thinks I'm crazy and my friends don't believe me. Well guess what friends? I found it on YouTube!! Check it out;
- Johnny Cupcakes
Long lost cousins.
Jul 1, 2008
My long lost Portuguese cousins visited over the weekend! After shopping at my hometown shop and devouring my moms Kale Soup - we played skeeball at my house. Next time we'll have to battle it out in some Mario All Stars or California Games for NES. I wish the weather wasn't so crappe' when they were here. Come back again this Fall!
It felt like working in the North Pole yesterday! So many orders from all around the world, scooping up all the new Johnny Cupcakes baked goods. Customers from everywhere in the U.S. - as well as the die hard online foreigners from Finland, Japan, Australia, Canada, U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and more...
My friends, my mom and myself were here getting heaps of hernias from all the box lifting throughout the day...
...Does anybody know if outie belly buttons still exist?
- Johnny Cupcakes
Summer shirts - available NOW!
Jun 26, 2008
.....And LOTS more! Most items are available in both mens + womens styles. Bon Appetite'!
- Johnny Cupcakes
Cloudy McStormerson.
Jun 25, 2008
While working at the JC headquarters, we all heard this powerful wind. The sunny day was rapidly being engulfed by these thick dark clouds. All the sudden we were in a thunder + lightning storm. Thank god it wasn't a tornado!
I used to always want to be in a tornado growing up. I think it was from seeing the Tasmanian Devil zoom around on Saturday morning cartoons, while I happily pounded my face with Eggo mini's and Ecto Cooler Hi-C. As I grew older, I saw that movie Twister. Ever since, I have nightmares all the time about tornadoes. In almost all of these tornado nightmares, I somehow seem to manage tying bricks/cinder blocks to my feet. And when the tornadoes are near, it only lifts me off the ground a little bit. So I'm just jumping around like an astronaut having an okay time. I feel like I'm wearing Nickelodeon Moon Boots, or that big green boot that you get in Super Mario Brothers 3.
When my parents street was flooded during my childhood, I would always take out my boogie board and float down the street through the dark brown water. I'm surprised I'm still alive and healthy.
- Johnny Cupcakes
Warehouse antics.
Jun 24, 2008
I remember being younger and tying rope through my red wagon, and having my friends pull my on their bike(s). Now all grown up, it's only fair to step things up a notch.
The other day, daredevil Lucas and I made it through level one. Except Lucas gained high obstacle points, no concussion, and a beat-up board. Perhaps we'll quit while we're ahead...or try level 2 next time around!
Sorry about your board Lucas!
- Johnny Cupcakes
Around the block.
Jun 23, 2008
The line on Saturday wrapped around the entire block. It was outstanding! And the confused look on every pedestrians face was priceless. Especially the people who HATE the fact that I don't sell real cupcakes - and for them to see my customers leaving with free tasty cupcakes definitely made their brains erupt. We sold out of ALL of the LTD firecracker t-shirts, with the exception of a couple random girl sizes in which we found towards the end of the night. We'll lock up those few in the Johnny Cupcakes vault and release them at a later time on ebay. The other in store exclusive shirt did really well. And all you Johnny Cupcakers who missed out, you will see some of the other newer designs online this week. I'm not going to promise a day, but it's looking like this Wednesday afternoon.
I'd like to thank all of my die hard customers - especially the ones who camped out(Stoop Crew gents, Stoop Crew ladies, JCK, familiar faces + new comers). The tremendous amount of people who traveled from other states to be at the release. Fiji water + Sweet cupcakes for the nourishment. Kashmir for being easy going/excited during my events(as always). Keara of Oak + the people at Luna for putting up with the line. Tom for getting us all the goodies in time. Dave Green for the photos. And most of all, my team of amazing friends/employees. It wouldn't of been a success with out all of your help. Thank you/love you.
- Johnny Cupcakes
The line grows days before release.
Jun 20, 2008
More and more die hard Johnny Cupcakers join the army of camping out night(s) before the release...
- Johnny Cupcakes
BOOM!
Jun 20, 2008
Classic, Americana, Independence Day feel. Perfect for any Johnny Cupcakes' collector, 4th of July fanatic, BBQ slayer, or wiffle ball champ.
Each of these limited edition t-shirts and custom packaging are individually numbered. Only 100 of these will ever be made. That means there is only about 10 shirts available per size, in both guys and girls.
Only available in Boston, and they are being unveiled at the Johnny Cupcakes in store summer release tomorrow, along with some other treats.
- Johnny Cupcakes
Zink magazine feature.
Jun 20, 2008
The lovely Rachel Kramer Bussel composed a well written article on my brand and myself. Pick up the latest copy of Zink magazine to check it out!
Also - Rachel and her pals have an amazing, creative, fun blog which revolves around anything cupcake related. Exploring her blog makes you stop and look around to appreciate the little things in life. Take a peek if you get a sec. - It definitely puts a huge smile on my face!
There are a handful of people that are already camping out in front of my Boston shop tonight (Thursday) - for the release of the new shirts (and in store exclusives) which drop this Saturday at 3pm at 279 Newbury Street. I guess more are coming later on tonight too. Damnnn! It's little things like this that make me super excited to keep creating new Johnny Cupcakes' recipes.
It looks like the Stoop Crew is not messing around... This is a prime lesson of people liking what nobody else has. These die hard customers want to get their hands on some t-shirts that will never ever be made again. Only 100 of this in store exclusive design, only available in Boston - then they will be gone forever (insert Sandlot movie clip here.) Not only that, they enjoy a fun, memorable, experience + atmosphere, plus everyone seems to meet tons of new friends at my events.
