Johnny Cupcakes

I just updated the Events section on my website. And to kick off the summer – I’m releasing 20 or so, fresh out of the oven, new t-shirt designs in my Boston, Newbury Street shop on Saturday June 21st at 3pm. There will be 2 in store exclusives that you can only get in Boston. One of the in store exclusive shirts is going to be numbered up to 100. Once that one design is gone, it will be gone forever. First come, first serve. Aside from the 2 in store exclusives, all of the other t-shirts will be available online within a few days to a week afterwards. And just like all my other shirts, once they’re gone, they’re gone. I’m trying to get into the habit of switching stuff up more often, or at least seasonally – but we’ll see how that goes. I just have a lot of wacky shirt ideas that I really want to release. I do plan on having a lot more numbered / limited edition items as time moves on.
Boy oh boy… The long awaited west coast Johnny Cupcakes shoppe. It’s going to be an unforgettable shopping experience. In addition to the the unveiling of my Johnny Cupcakes shoppe, there will be a heap of in store exclusives and limited/numbered shirts. I know nearly a dozen kids who plan on flying out from the east coast, to camp out for the grand opening – as well as a handful of road trippers from different spots in the U.S.. I’m also flying my friends and family out for this special day.
I just flew into California yesterday. I highly recommend you getting suitcases with wheels on them. I just did for the first time and I feel like a new man. No more broken back, hot flashes, and red shoulders that look like a lion gave me hickeys due to the straps on my heavy heavy bags.

While working on the shoppe yesterday, a couple locals spotted me out front and we talked for a little while. Really cool, down to earth kids who are just as excited as I am about the opening. I guess they plan on being first in line too? Anyways, thanks for the gummy bears + nice conversations guys!

I’ll be here for a week, working on building this memorable experience for all of you. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. Let the countdown begin! Be sure to re-post these online event fliers. And don’t forget to mark your physical calendars, phone calendars, myspace calendars and facebook calendars. See you at both events!

PS: What else is in store for the future? Who knows…I have new ideas every 5 minutes. I’m just having fun bringing my wacky imagination to real life from the shirts, packaging, hidden treasures, to the shopping experience. This new store isn’t affecting who I am at all. I’m still the same Johnny who keeps his shirts out of chain stores + malls. Who doesn’t sleep at normal hours due to the constant brain storming + trying my hardest to reply to all my emails(e-mail me again if I haven’t responded to you). The same Johnny that shows up at my releases and hangs out with my customers friends. I wouldn’t be here without you! If there is anything you would like to see or wouldn’t like to see, let me know and I will take it into consideration. I do plan on re-vamping the Boston store sometime this fall. I also have some interesting plans for my die hard customers, stoop crew soldiers, etc.. I will let the first ‘X’ amount of people in line, in on some secrets at the Boston release on June 21st, as well as at the grand opening in LA on August 2nd.

Whoa.
Whats up Doc?
Coach Belichick relaxing with the family.
Happy early Fathers Day dad!
Thanks a ton Jamie! My dad and I had an amazing time.
Go Celtics!
We won! Almost at the finals… hang in there!
What a great game.
Donnie Wahlberg reppin Boston. Working on a new movie too. His non acting brother, Paul, is an amazing chef in my town – at Bridgeman’s. Mark Wahlberg is working on the sequal to The Italian Job. It’s titled, “The Brazilian Job”. Should be jam packed with action. Let’s just hope people don’t go in thinking it’s some booty waxin’ movie because of the title.
Look mom – I’m on TV!

So last week I posted a blog about this random customer who wears Johnny Cupcakes shirts to every other Celtics game. He’s always on television because of his amazing courtside seats. Well, the day I posted said blog, he called my office up to compliment me on my story, business morals + brand. Him and his wife are both customers of mine and pop into the shop all the time. During the random telephone call, he told me that if I ever wanted to go to a game with him, or if he was ever out of town – he’d hook it up with courtside Celtics tickets. This very very kind gentlemen hooked it up indeed.

I’m going to take my dad tonight, for an early fathers day gift. Originally I was going to pretend that I needed to take my dad into Boston to fix something in the Newbury Street shop, but I doubt he would of missed the game on television. So…I had to give up on the whole surprise aspect. Anyways, keep an eye out for us tonight! I’ll be wearing a black cupcake and crossbones shirt + a Batman mask. Yes, a Batman mask. Take photos of your television screen if you see me!

Thanks again Jamie, this is going to be a great memory. And a very intense game to say the least. If the Celtics and the Lakers end up playing each other, I’m going to pee my pants.

These two lovely friends popped into my shop over the weekend. We chatted for a solid 2 hours about all sorts of stuff. Chris and Elisabeth are both straight edge, full of life, hard working, humble individuals who are happily married. Not only do they give me faith that happy couples actually DO exist – but more importantly, that you CAN juggle your business and your love life if you meet the right person. Something that I’ve been not so positive about in the past. It’s just that finding that balance is a bit tough. I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, thanks guys!

Chris started and runs the most respectful hardcore record label that is out there now, and that probably ever will be. Unlike other labels, Chris does this mostly for fun. He cares more about his bands being happy + successful rather than squeezing every dime out them. He’s able to run business this non traditional way due to his other fun empire, Sully’s Brand. Chris is the man behind ‘YANKEES SUCK!’ t-shirts. Seriously, he invented and owns the trademark for ‘YANKEES SUCK!’ as well other brilliant t-shirt designs. It helped fund his record label Bridge Nine Records and now the label funds itself, while Sully’s Brand has become it’s own empire.

It’s always refreshing to see these two. I’m looking forward to our summer plans + adventures together, as well as watching each others lives / hobbies / business’s evolve + grow.

XXX

One of my best friends recently graduated from Mass Art. Elan and I have had quite some adventures growing up. Building deadly skateboard sleds to surf down the steep streets of our town, dressing up like ninja’s to ambush the towns haunted house, taking down phone numbers off of phone booths where scary older kids would hang out + prank calling said phone booths all night while over dosing on Hornstra’s chocolate milk, cruising on many sketchy town buses to go shopping at Marshalls + Building 19, playing relivio/capture the flag, slacking off at the charter school, collecting stickers, tying drum sets and other various items to our friend PJ when he fell asleep, skiing/sledding in New Hampshire, camping + cooking hot dogs with (his) bare hands, having house parties and throwing huge/awful homemade pizza’s together, riding bmx bikes, dropping lots of money at the arcades to try and win/collect these pewter soldier figures from the prize-claw machines, being young teenagers and getting into buying clothes in Boston, twisting his windshield wiper spray nozzles so we could drive around squirting people, filling up said nozzles with vinegar, demolishing his car by driving it through a construction site, hanging out with wacky girls from the Charter School, getting chased by the cops for playing tag at the forts after dark, going to local shows at the Sea Note, NY to LA to Vegas trip with no sleep, the Martha’s Vineyard wave extravaganza, the sail boat tragedy, and much much more.

Elan has had some the greatest ideas I’ve heard and I’m positive he’s going to do big things. He has an amazing family + girlfriend in which whom he’s going to India with tomorrow. Plenty of adventures and memories to come. Love you buddy!
Elan and his two brothers, Cole + Kyle. Very creative kids, great musicians + funny personalities. I’m sure their musical persistence and passion will pay off soon.
Woah – look at this vintage Johnny Cupcakes shirt that Cole is reppin. He’s an o.g. jc supporter.
Elan’s intelligent dad Victor + awesome sister Noria. Victor is an Architect and resides in Miami. I can totally see where Elan picks up some of his manor isms + creativity from. It made me very happy that his dad and his step dad get along as if they were high school buddies. It’s not often to see families as close, comfy + happy as Elans family.

Not only is Noria smart, funny, beautiful and chock-full of style, but when it comes to playing ping-pong she’s a force to be reckoned with. Noria happily resides in New York and is a fashion editor for Lucky Magazine. Although we didn’t get to play ping-pong this weekend, I will be training for our next match!
And who is the mastermind behind this small slice of heaven? The same person who is behind a lot of the wonderful pastries at my past events…
Meet Elans mom Joan. She’s the conductor over at Rebbecca’s Cafe. She is also the conductor of Elan and the family. I have to thank her not only for the yummy pastries, but for being so lenient, open minded and cool when raising Elan and the other troops. I wouldn’t of had all those fun memories if Elan was locked inside watching PBS and studying IMP(math) while growing up. Thank you Joan, for helping contribute to the happiness and great childhood memories in which somehow helped mold me into the creative madman I am today!
This is Elans step dad, Karl. He’s always in good spirits… I don’t think I have ever seen him not smiling? He’s a great musician and appreciates anything from Miles Davis to Dillinger Escape Plan. Definitely adds fuel to Cole and Kyle’s music bonfire, as well as the on going creativity in their household.
Pre-food comas.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a friend of their family, Ed Kane. Massive entrepreneur, down to earth guy. The man behind 70 percent of my food intake. He’s the creator of Cafe Tosca in Hingham, amongst many other establishments… The Estate, Tosca, Stars, Waterworks, and now the brand new asian kitchen, lounge and nightclub, Shrine – a part of MGM / Foxwoods in Connecticut.
I just met photographer Steve Edson. Another great person, friend of Elan’s family and entrepreneur. Look him up if you get a sec, he’s got some great work!
woof.
This is a gift that Lindsey made for Elan. She’s a cute girl who just graduated from Mass Art too. Now that she has more time, she’s going to be sculpting more toys and what not. I’m excited to see her progress!

Outside of my headquarters, there’s a smart, sneaky turkey that peeks in our windows from time to time. I tried my hardest to take some photos of him… never in my life have I seen a bird run so fast. It really reminded me of the roadrunner. Diving in and out of bushes and around vehicles – it made for great mental + physical exercise for him and I. Right before I was able to take the perfect photo, he soars into the sky. Am I the only person who thought big turkeys couldn’t fly?

On a side note; I convinced some of my team that farmers give their turkeys chewing gum to strengthen their neck muscles, in which makes them more valuable. They believed me for a solid half a minute.

Ingrid is a funny, intelligent friend who just graduated from college here in Boston. Before moving back to Hong Kong to continue work with Louie Vuitton, we had an excellent dinner in harvard square at Upstairs on the Square – courtesy of her dad, George. I thought he was going to be this scary business man with no sense of humor. He ended up being one of the coolest, most interesting people. Funny and intelligent just like his daughter. Ingrid’s father and I chatted non-stop for a few solid hours, mostly about branding. We also shared our starting out stories with each other. George didn’t go to school for fashion or art, and still ended up in the heart of the apparel business. He worked with Ralph Lauren’s Polo – and  also with Rugby when they were starting out. I guess the visuals that Rugby was going for, was ‘Harry Potter goes to America.’ I thought that was a dead on description. He has worked with the development of many other brands, from Disney to Ed Hardy and lots more.

Ingrid later on told me that she couldn’t remember when the last time she saw her father so happy. I hope you guy’s made it back to Hong Kong safely! And I’m excited to start working with Mr. Chen on new, different products and recipes to add to my kitchen arsenal!

Recently my friends and I started playing basketball. It’s very fun and a nice change/addition to being glued to the recent intense Celtics games/playoffs. 21, h.o.r.s.e., 2 on 2 etc.. I don’t think I’ve ever been as thirsty in my life as I was the other day. We go back to my house, grille food and then watch Celtics on the television. It’s a nice spring/summer routine that I’m looking forward too. And being all thirsty, sticky and out of breath kinda makes us feel a part of the NBA playoffs.
Speaking of -  one of our favorite customers has been sitting court side at some of the past few home games and has been reppin his Johnny Cupcakes’ shirts hard. Thanks a ton!

Go Celtics!