Publication Example

SPRING 16 | PHOTO: ZACHARY SNELLENBERGER

ISSUE 001

LIFESTYLE CULTURE ART

elsewhere

elsewhere

E L S E W H E R E

ZACHARY

SNELLENBERGER

ISSUE ONE | SPRING '16

elsewhere There is a bar down the street where we’ve spent countless nights drinking well whiskey and cheap beer. The booths are filled with broken hearted rambling and bullshit romance. The city streets are damp, the air is heavy and the night is still young. In poorly lit bathrooms on the west side of town shitty music lifts white dreams into the noses of the reckless ones. At sketchy parties off Wealthy bottles are shattered in driveways and basements.

The girls are on the prowl and the guys are already too far gone, their minds are elsewhere. Then the dawn breaks and the regret fills every coffee mug of those it cut deep. The sadness of the nights lead to day trips, warm sun, backpack beers, sandy cigarettes, good friends and 12 hour headaches that make you wish you were elsewhere. This is for all of the ears deafened at shitty rock shows, drunken bloody noses, empty bottles of cheap wine, bruised knuckles and expensive bar tabs, stitched thumbs and holy beer cans, cheap gin and girls we don’t have a chance with.

This is for the nights that ruin weekends, the ones that make the best stories have the worst endings, the ones that make us want to skip town, and this is for the people who barely survived them with us. This is who we are. This is what we do. These are our stories. This is for us. This is Elsewhere.

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ZACHARY

SNELLENBERGER

ISSUE ONE | SPRING '16

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lifestyle 01-01: Drinking: A drunken narrative 01-02: Girls: Beauty and bitterness

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art 02-01: Music: An interview with hi-ker 02-02: Photography: Jonah Reenders

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culture 03-01: Grand Rapids: A narrative 03-02: Local: Skateboarding culture

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Drinking Girls

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01-01: Drinking: A drunken narrative 01-02: Girls: Beauty and bitterness

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JONAH

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DRINKING

FOOLISH YOUTH

We’re smart about where and when we drink, and the types of people we surround ourselves with. We always make some poor friend be the DD, or we all chip in to pay for the cab to get our asses home at the end of the night. These may sound like crazy stories to some, but we’ve been taught well and other than getting kicked out of bars and having terrible hangovers, we make sure we don’t get into dangerous situations. I trust my own judgment, and my friends, to make the right decisions. Approach this with a grain of salt.

The day I turned twenty-one my blood turned to beer and my weekends turned into a drunken blur.

From Thursday night to Sunday afternoon my days were filled with Budweiser, great friends, awful hangovers, shitty food, good times and a shit ton of regret.

Here are most of the drunken stories, both good and bad, that our mothers will never approve of.

When I turned twenty-one in January of 2015, most of my friends were still twenty. We turned to house parties and day drinking and had a fucking blast. Being in Grand Rapids, we drank like the beer snobs and young business professionals that fill “Beer City USA”. Little did we know we were wasting our money on bullshit IPA’s and hard cider that tasted like romantic comedies and high-class suburban barbeque's. Once the “try everything expensive because it’s all about taste” phase passed, the drinking really began. We forgot the nonsense and blurred our eyes with PBR and bottom shelf tequila. There were

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freshman parties to be crashed and friends to be made.

At the time I was in a relationship with the girl that later was the main reason I needed a drink. At these parties a swig from a flask or a can of cheap beer is all you needed to make a new friend. The more we drank, the more we needed to get drunk. This is where it started, these are the nights that will be told years from now, while we grin with pride about the fools we once were.

Two bottles of Dirty Bastard, half of a pint of gin, half a bottle of wine, two whiskey pickle-back shots, and two cans of Black Label later we found ourselves on the roof of a building downtown listening to The Life of Pablo and throwing snow at random people six stories down.These are the nights that we need. It’s always the next morning that ruins your weekend, the savage snapchats with girls whose names will never come from ours mouths again, and texts to our exes that make us drink again the next night.

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drunk by 10pm and the night was a goddamn riot.

Some girl who apparently took too many drugs just about chewed through her lip because she was rolling too hard, best friends professed fake love for each other, we hit on girls who were dressed like animals and Wes Anderson characters, holes were punched in walls and all the fresh packs of cigarettes never stood a chance that night. Shit. I can’t even tell you what happened that next morning. Most likely we talked of regrets and good stories while drowning ourselves in coffee and acting like we went utterly embarrassed and on the verge of depression. That was one of the best weekends; we were surrounded by all of our closest friends.

Just last weekend we went to some glitter party.

I found a beer bong within the first five minutes and our nights went to total shit.We drank so much beer and most of us threw up less than an hour after we arrived. My friend chipped his tooth opening a beer, hit his face and got a nose bleed, then threw up about nine times. We played beer pong and stood by the bonfire. People climbed to the roof and those kids that no one invited tried to start a fight like always.

Our DD somehow managed to drag us all back to his car without leaving anyone behind. We got back covered in glitter and ate nachos while we tried to (and failed) drink more beer. I wish I could say this wasn’t a common thing but I’m also glad as hell that it is.

One of my favorite drinking stories was a twenty-second birthday spent barhopping. It’s one of the best stories because it wasn’t happening to me, but I was there to experience it. We had the time of our lives and spent way too much money on expensive drinks. Drinks that we kept having to chug due to different circumstances. We started off the night at the Meanwhile and had whiskey gingers and Black Labels, it was warm and all of our friends were out.

We decided to head down town and it turned into a total shit show. First we went to Stella’s for Moscow mules and shots of whiskey, then Pyramid Scheme for Jager bombs and PBR. The birthday boy took one sip of his shot and knew it was all over. I went to the bathroom to check on him. He was throwing up into a urinal. I got him some water, he smashed the glass and then we snagged another friend to go

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Most nights it starts with a casual beer or a trip to the Meanwhile for a $3 pitcher of PBR or some other insanely cheap special. Other nights it starts with a thumb gun and a shot, a night where you would rather be blind drunk with one of your best friends in a place that is full of total shit and fake people. If you have never shot-gunned a beer, I suggest you do. It will fill you with adrenaline, it will cover your shoes with foam, and it will definitely result in a few good laughs and some spilled beer. People think shot-gunning beer is all about getting drunk, if I’m being honest it is, but most of the time it sets the mood for a great fucking night.

This past Halloween we drank ourselves silly.

One of the first times I ever got full blown black-out drunk, I was wearing Jesus sandals and a bucket hat with light wash denim and a 35mm film camera

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strapped to my neck the whole night. I woke up the next morning in bed with a bowl of untouched ramen noodles, not a drop spilled, my Jesus sandals on the rug next to my bed, and still wearing my jacket with my hands in my pockets like I was heading to the damn morgue. No doubt one of the worst hangovers of my life. I ate some breakfast, took a walk, and somehow by 8pm that night I was already taking shots and chugging wine. Little did I know that the hangover I had that day was just a precursor to what would come the next morning. We drank mulled wine, champagne, Tecate, gin, and random swigs of poison throughout the night. The girl who had my heart for almost two years showed up at our house party with a piece of scum that was her new boy, I took shots and tried not to throw up into our drier while dressed as a burglar. Most of us were blackout

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keep him company while he smoked. Before long, his shirt and coat were in a pile on the ground and he was walking down the middle of the street with his jeans at his ankles. Everything off but his boxers.

By far one of the funniest things I’ve seen in my life.

We got bounced real quick. I grabbed him and we headed back to Stella’s while everyone else finished their drinks at the Scheme.We chugged our nine-dollar mules and took off.We were at the top of a parking garage, yelling shit and looking for trouble. Though I was still aware of what was going on, so I saw the ramp security coming and decided we should bail pretty quick. We met up with the rest of the crew, and started the hunt for food.We went to some lame ass sports bar and got the most expensive chicken strips and bread sticks I have ever seen on a menu.

We got kicked out for trying to steal the “please seat yourself sign” before our food came, so I hung back and waited for the overpriced appetizers. Before long we were laying in a parking lot, the five of us going to town on this food while waiting for the cab.Then I walked home, and the night was done.

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" We've bummed too many cigarettes and asked for too many shots, we've kissed too many people and we've missed too many opportunities "

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We've gotten kicked out of bars for smuggling in beer, we've brown bagged it on rooftops and dangling over rivers, we've done body shots and thumb-guns and beer bongs, we've bummed too many cigarettes and asked for too many shots, we've kissed too many people and we've missed too many opportunities.We've had our lives saved by bloody mary's and breakfast food, we've spent Sundays on couches with movies, and we've skipped classes because we couldn't get out of bed on a Tuesday morning. We've had the time of our lives, and we sure as hell don't regret a single night of it.

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"HE 26

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JEEN

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“We hopped in the uber with flasks in our pockets and beer in the trunk. We stopped at Alexandra’s for a beer and then we all headed to the warehouse for a party. When we got there we met up with Lizz’s crew and the night began. The girls were drinking for free, so we had them get us a couple of beers. We passed around our flasks, surrounded by people we didn't know in a warehouse that was filled with a skate park. We went out for a cigarette about an hour after arriving, just as Kaylie and her friends got there. It wasn’t even midnight when I looked over and realized he was blackout drunk; the drunkest I had ever seen him. The night went on and he sipped on a couple beers but nothing too serious. Around 1:30am we heard that someone had a gun and peaced the fuck out real quick. We headed to a different party where most people were going.

When we got there, from what I saw, he just hit on some girls and failed at trying to use his phone.

We ubered home around 4am. I guess he came too around 5am at home and alone, with his head in the toilet. After that the next thing he remembers is waking up in the morning. Turns out he was roofied that night... And holy shit if that wasn't the most graceful roofie trip I have ever seen. ”

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Girls keep us grounded and prevent most of us from turning into total assholes. Maybe we're just lucky. The girls that we've crossed paths with are the kind of girls you never knew existed, until you did. We admire and adore them. They make everything better, until they make it worse.

They drive us wild and look incredible while doing it. From best friends to lovers and the girl at the party you wish you would have talked to, they’re always there to mess with your head or make you a better person.

I can't quite recall the first time that I took a step back at my life and realized that we were surrounded by some of the prettiest, most interesting, and talented girls I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Perhaps it was the move from a small beach town, to one of the biggest cities in Michigan. At some point, the girls vastly changed.

The first year I lived in Grand Rapids I barely met anyone. My roommate and I went to different

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schools and neither of us really had made friends yet.

Little did I know that I would soon meet the most important person in my life. When I first met her there was a lot of unspoken tension and interest.

Months went by and then we were dating and madly in love. That all ended after about a year and a half, since then it's been total shit. We both fucked with each others heads, but she's the prettiest girl I've ever met so it took no time for the guys to start going after her. So she fucked with my head way more.

That was my first serious relationship, so my outlook on girls and relationships was completely different after that. Turns out my friends and I are total idiots when it comes to getting girls.We always

seem to get too drunk.Then we end up doing stupid shit. Recently there was this girl I was super into, the first that I was actually interested in since I became single. I fucked that up pretty nicely by sending some super embarrassing drunk texts and trying too hard.

Although apparently sometimes drunken rambling and desperation is charming, because we've done shit that was utterly idiotic and they've been okay with it. We'll never understand.

Some girls always seem to get dramatic drunk and thats never fun. One second you guys are hitting it off and everything is fine, and the next you accidentally kiss them with a mouthful of pizza and they act like the world is ending. Others ruin everyones night, tangled up in their own relationship drama and bringing down the entire bar because of it. I'll never understand a girls attraction to a total asshole.

I don't see how a narcissistic low life college dropout that lives with his parents and has never really tried to be successful a day in his life is worth any time at all. The girls I know can be surprisingly terrible sometimes. We'll never understand.

If we're being honest though, girls are incredible. I adore all of my friends that are girls. I can't even get the right words out to explain what I mean. So I won't try. Here are some pictures of the girls I'm talking about. Look at them, and just know that their personalities are unlike anything you can imagine.

Here's to the girls that break our hearts and then make us whole again. Here's to the girls that are best friends and make us better people. Here's to the girls that go for the douche bags, you deserve better and we'll never understand.

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W e ' l l _ n e v e r _ u n d e r s t a n d .

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were both blind drunk we can talk about it

"A relit cigarette never tastes the same and that’s all I’ll preach on rekindling old flames.”

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"This spot was supposed to be filled with a quote from her point of view, about the same topic.

Since this issue started we've had somewhat of a falling out.

She needs space.

Here's to her, and hoping that she's always happy."

"She has been my best friend for about 4 years.

We used to date, and it was perfect. We both know it. The timing was fucked though so now we're just friends and we argue more than anyone should. We both mean well. We don't see each other as much as we should though, she doesn't have time for me anymore and that's alright, but I miss her. She means more to me than anyone ever has, and ever will. She's oblivious to some things these days.

She's already pushed me away so much, but she doesn't realize that she still is.

I doubt she knows how much her actions effect me, but as long as she's happy I don't give a damn how she treats meone day to be honest.

I knowpreferably she whenloves me."

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I talked to your girlfriend today.

I didn’t realize how pretty she was until I looked at her in the eyes.

I didn’t realize how lovely she sounded until she smiled wide and laughed. I can see why you like her and it reminds me of why I wasn’t good enough.

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02-01: Music: An interview with hi-ker 02-02: Photography: Jonah Reenders

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KOHL SPRADER SPENCER GORDON CHRIS RYAN

I first met Kohl a few years back when we worked together. At the time, hi-ker was just getting started.The guys had an apartment downtown and it was where we would spend our nights hanging out. I've been lucky enough to watch them grow and change as a band and it's been rad. From house shows and breweries, to opening for bands like Temples and Sylvan Esso. I went to those shows and holy shit, hi-ker knows how to perform. These guys have been on the rise ever since they got together. I asked the guys some questions about the band and what they have planned for the future. They're probably too humble to say it, they've been killing it and they will keep doing so.

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Where did you guys all meet?

How did you book that show?

SG: We all met while going to school together.

CR: I met Spencer in middle school and Kohl in high school.

KS: We played in a band together starting in Junior year of high school at Rockford and have been playing together ever since!

When did you start playing music, was there anything before hi-ker?

SG: I’ve had an interest in playing since I was really little. My parents were both great with fostering my interest.There was a lot of growth, musically and just as friends, that happened between us leading up to hi-ker.

CR: All of our friends were pretty musical in high school, so we spent a lot of time playing together. There are a lot of good memories of just hanging out in the summer and jamming late at night, that was a pretty special time.

KS:Yeah I have personally been playing piano since like 2nd grade and my first band was with these guys.

You released an EP in 2014(?), it’s my understanding that you’ve been working on an LP, how has that been going for you guys?

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CR: I think it’s been about 2 years now? Not sure exactly… but Kohl was the one who came up with the name, he’s kind of the master word smith.

KS:Yeah, I had a little cluster of potential names and hi-ker was our favorite! It's inspired a lot by our Viktor, Audun, and Gabe hiking the Appalachian trail right around the time that we formed the band.

How would you guys describe your sound?

CR: I guess it’s sort of hard to say… it’s easier to say where we are coming from.

SG: I would say it’s relatively diverse because between the three of us there is a variety of influences.

KS: Yeah, it's definitely a culmination of a lot of influences, from experimental electronic to hip-hop!

influence on you as a musician or the band as a whole.

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We are working on getting it pressed to vinyl and getting a release date set. It’s been a lot of fun! I’ve learned a lot about a lot of things KS:Yeah, it was a great experience for us recording this fulllength. In all of our projects/bands, this is our first where we’ve recorded more than just an EP.

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What are the main differences between this album and the self titled EP?

CR: Aphex Twin, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, Animal Collective, Tame Impala. One song that was pretty big for me was “4” by Aphex Twin from the Richard D James Album, I think that’s the first Aphex Twin song that I really clicked with, it sort of opened a door to a different way of looking at music for me.

KS: For me I’d add in Oneohtrix Point Never, he's a contemporary experimental electronic musician and a lot of how he writes has influenced me! Talking heads are a great influence as well, with how they wrote their songs and how they came together to write things.

SG: In conjunction with what Kohl and Chris said, my playing is influenced pretty heavily by a lot of hip-hop and electronic production (De La Soul, Aphex Twin, Shabazz Palaces, FlyLo, Squarepusher, Dre etc.) And not to be corny, but I’d say one of my biggest inspirations is working with Chris and Kohl. I feel like we all constantly push each other to work harder.

Who influences/inspires you? Name one song that had a huge

SG: Great! I guess you could say we are on the home stretch?

Still a lot to be done before release I suppose, but much of the grinding on our part has been done.

CR:The recording, mixing, and mastering is actually all done!

How long has hi-ker been together, where did the name come from?

CR: My favorite show was when we played at the Pyramid Scheme with Temples and Fever The Ghost. Both of those bands were super nice people, and they have awesome music.

I think we just got an email saying there was an opening spot available, and if we wanted to play the show? Don’t really remember at the moment..

KS:Yes.That and the Sylvan Esso show at Calvin were probably our biggest for us.

SG: Yeah, those two were our biggest shows I’d say. It was great to meet people who have successfully made music their career and find out that they are nice/humble.

CR: I don’t really think about how much being in Grand Rapids affects our music… I guess no matter what, my environment will impart some feeling on the music…

I think if you know where to look, the scene can be really supportive… we’ve been really lucky to have meet some awesome people who are very willing to help us out.

KS:Yes, I'd say Grand Rapids hasn't had too much of an effect sonically for us but we have met some really great people!

SG:Yeah, I don’t think that living here has had any specific effect on our sound. I don’t think Grand Rapids is that extreme of an environment haha. Like Kohl and Chris said, I think their are parts of the scene as a whole that have been very kind/supportive of us.We have gotten close with some really great folks!

SG: I’d say the biggest difference is just generally in the way it sounds. Kohl and Chris put a ton of time into the LP and I think it came out sounding more crisp and defined.

CR: I think the new album is more clear… a bit more polished… The sound is closer to what I hear in my head when thinking about recording the songs.

KS:Yes, for sure! Writing-wise we went in some different directions as well.We used some similar percussive and bass sounds throughout the album to tie the individual songs together, more. It was nice to have more material to work with (more than the EP) to really form a work that sounds cohesive.

Do you guys prefer to play house shows or venues?

Do you guys have any shows coming up? Any this summer?

CR: The only place we have played a house show was the Powder Room, which is no more (as far as I know), and we were very spoiled. The sound system was pretty top notch.

That place didn’t even seem like a house show really, but it was in a house… so i guess that counts? Haha Mostly I think it depends on the crowd and if people are having a good time. Its a lot more fun to play for people who look like they are enjoying themselves SG:Yeah, I’d say for the most part the venue is secondary. I’m very happy playing to people who are having a good time.

What’s your biggest or favorite show that you’ve played to date?

SG: Yeah, most of the shows haven’t been announced yet but I’m sure we will be very busy this summer!

KS: Yeah, we’ve just started booking a couple of shows, most are yet to be announced but hopefully a few around town! We know we will be having one at some point at Long Road Distillery!

What’s your favorite beer?

SG: All Day IPA CR: Goose Island BCBS KS: Probably “No Rules” by Perrin!

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Listen:

Sick Kid - The Babies

Cat Black - Ty Segall

Lost My Mind - Froth Life's a Beach - Kurt Vile

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Baby Blue - King Krule

Agoraphobia - Deerhunter

Mold Baby - The So So Glos

Dreaming - Mac Demarco

It'll All Work Out - Blake Mills

Gay Human Bones - Harlem

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Get Lost - L.A. Witch

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impeccable, and trust me when I say they speak

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for themselves. We ran with the same crew while growing up and his artistic skill have been on the rise for years. I recently worked with him to produce a 112 page photo book about his three month trip out west, titled The Wandering Project. He has also done work with some big names like Poler, Chaco, Stance, and many more.

He has a good following on most social media sites and his work has been featured on multiple blogs and websites. Jonah’s approach to landscape photography is unlike most, and his lifestyle portraits will make you jealous of the life he lives. I interviewed Jonah about his life and work, here is what he had to say.

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Where did you grow up?

I was born on Lake Michigan, in Grand Haven and am still growing up on Lake Superior, in Marquette.

What do you enjoy shooting the most?

Friends in the outdoors, wildlife, people with real emotions, the redwoods.

How were you first introduced to photography?

I first got into photography through skateboarding, starting out as a videographer. Through that I picked up a still image camera and found out I enjoyed it more.When I was about 17 I started spending a lot of time in the woods and going on hikes. I liked the way I could bring a camera around and use it as a medium to show aspects of the world that hold my interest.

Can you send one of your favorite images you’ve ever taken?

This is just the first one that came into my head, it was a really good day. (See below)

Do you remember when your photos started being something more than just a hobby?

I don’t know if it has felt more than a hobby yet. I’m still in school studying environmental science and currently use photography as an outlet for expression.

I have been able to use photography as a means of a sort of income, but the work I have done has still felt like a hobby rather than work.

Any other interests outside photography?

The camera always comes second to the natural world.

I will almost always have it with me, but my true passion is in trees, wildlife, rivers, and preserving the beauty of nature.

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What is your favorite photography accomplishment to date?

Publishing my first photography book,The Wandering Project, with help from my good friend and very talented designer Madison Bracken.

What inspires you?

A lot of my inspiration comes from authors and musicians: Hermann Hesse, Edward Abbey, Kerouac, Trevor Powers, Kristian Matsson. Aside from that, the different types of people and landscapes that surround me at different times in my life are what seem to most influence my work.

Check out jonahreenders.com to see some more amazing photographs and head over to blurb to snag yourself a copy of The Wandering Project.

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03-01: Grand Rapids: A narrative 03-02: Local: Skateboarding culture

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When I first moved to Grand Rapids, there was no way in hell I could have guessed that it would shape me and my life so much. I've been here four years, and since then everyone I know, and myself, have all become completely different people. When I started school at Kendall College of Art & Design I was this socially awkward very shy photo major who had no clue what the hell he was doing. Now I'm a graphic designer with more good friends than I ever thought possible, and being socially awkward just isn't really a thing anymore.

The first house I moved into was by far the best place I've ever lived. It was in this neighborhood just Heritage Hill called The Woods. It was the perfect location and we utilized it fully. In the winter, there isn't shit to do but get parking tickets and have your car mirrors ripped off. But in the summer, there's so much to do and so many people always having a good time. Bonfires are always the best. A bonfire in the

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city is so much more satisfying and desirable. Likely because it's illegal and it makes us feel like we aren't all packed into small expensive houses with shitty yards and no driveways. Plus everyone knows drinking at a house is always cheaper than going to the bar.The cops almost always get called though, having a bunch of people outside getting drunk at night is never a very quiet event. But I guess we do it anyways.

The parties in Grand Rapids can be both insane and lame as hell. Depending on where the house is, you can party until 4am with a DJ, or you'll get the cops called before midnight. Fortunately the cops are always pretty cool, not always, but for the most part.

I don't know many people that have gotten ticketed, but I know one that got arrested. On my friends birthday she got arrested about 15 min. after she turned 21. For the most part apartment parties are the safest bet. Being eight stories above the street in a building full of students isn't very risky.

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Grand Rapids has a lot of really cool places if you know where to look. One of the best things about GR is the coffee. We used to spend all of our money and all of our free time trying all of the different local shops. There are a couple local roasters that are doing some really progressive and innovative brewing that push the local shops to do the same.

Before I came here, I had no clue what the hell a pour over coffee was, and I sure as hell had never heard the words chemex or aeropress. About a block from Kendall there's a coffee roaster called Madcap, it's definition pretentious coffee shop, but the product they put out is incredible quality. Due to this, almost all of the local coffee shops are brewing Madcap. If it's not Madcap, it's Rowster. I personally prefer Rowster, likely because I rarely come across it anywhere other than their shop, so it's a nice change of pace. If you come to GR, you'll likely have some of the best coffee of your life, and will be constantly over caffeinated.

Once we realized that college was expensive, we got jobs and our spending increased greatly. My friends and I go out to eat as much as we allow. At some point we started to discover all of the great food

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and there was no going back. There are countless farm to table restaurants, lots of vegan and health forward options, lots of middle-of-the-road cheap places, and a few hidden gems that I probably couldn't live without. There's been an increase in high-quality, high-priced, but incredible farm to table restaurants in Grand Rapids.You can get everything from handmade pasta and wood fired pizza with truffle oil, to duck nachos and the most intense salads you've ever seen. The middle of the road places are the ones we don't go to enough. These are the places where you can get the best fish and chips you've ever had, sushi that is amazing but you have no clue what you just ate, and mac and cheese that costs more than an entire pizza.The 'hidden' gems are where I will gladly spend the money I don't have. I haven't done much traveling, but I know that Grand Rapids has some of the best tacos in the mid-west. From traditional barbacoa and asada to the rarely seen lengua and cactus tacos that you didn't even know existed. These are from Taqueria San Jose, and if you haven't been, you should.

You can get four tacos and a drink for about ten bucks and you will be set for the rest of the day.

Most of us turned 21 about two years after we

moved here. Grand Rapids is Beer City USA, so for the first couple months, all of our money was poured into snifters of expensive beer and the pricey food that accompanied it. It's a little rough being a college student in Grand Rapids. Every bar is filled with expensive craft beer, which leaves no room for our shitty cheap beer. A $10, 9 oz. pour of a stout aged in bourbon barrels under the city for the past year is good, but who the hell casually drinks that all night?

I have yet to find a good local bar that has Budweiser or some banquet on tap.Therefore we settle for $1.25 cans of Black Label and hunt for specials at local breweries most of the time.

Going to KCAD has definitely shaped my taste, knowledge, and appreciation of art. Not only is Kendall a large influence in the artist communtiy, but Grand Rapids as a whole has a large art culture. If you look you can likely find a couple of art events every weekend. Almost every local business or school has had some sort of involvement in an art based event. Then of course, there is ArtPrize. All of the students and local artists have become somewhat fed up with the event. Regardless, it's a great event for the city and brings lots of new art and culture to GR.

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The youth culture in Grand Rapids has always been heavily influenced by and based around skateboarding. Photographer, skateboarder, and Premier team member Blake Jablonski is a friend and fellow student. Recently the Premier guys have been rolling with the same crew as my friends and I. After getting to know Blake I came to find out he is a photographer. And a pretty damn good one at that. Blake's photographs give a great look into the lifestyle and culture that surrounds skateboarding.

Premier, a local skate shop, has become a growing name in the skate and sneaker game. The shop that opened in 2001 has been going strong lately, putting out some insane skateboarders and some incredible design collaborations. The shop recently expanded their storefront to allow for more product, and they also have a large online following. Premier is staffed by a bunch of local skaters, from running the register to designing limited edition releases, it’s all run by skateboarders.The team and the shop get involved in the local art and culture scene frequently. Working with local artists, businesses, and non-profits their presence doesn’t go unnoticed in Grand Rapids.

There’s no way in hell you’ll get out of Grand Rapids without seeing one of their stickers on a light post or stop sign. Premier is definitely worth a visit, and head over to thepremierstore.com to check out the killer videos that the team puts out.

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In the past year there has been more shit happen in my life than all of the other years combined. A year ago I had no clue what I would do with my life. Some of the worst things I have ever had to deal with, or go through have happened to me in the last 365 days. But most of the best have also happened.

The stories told here in Elsewhere are some of the best times I've ever had in my life. If there is one thing that I have learned, it's that the devil won't last 'til dawn.

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“THE DEVIL WON’T LAST ‘TIL DAWN”

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