Wyatt’s Barber Shop
3401 E. 7th Street Austin, Texas
By
Nate Brooks
I grew up in Florida getting 6 dollar hair cuts from retired New Yorkers who drifted down to the “gunshine” state to die slowly under a brutal, humid sun. They made you look like a goddamn German U-boat captain from the 1940s, high and tight and ready to drown in the Atlantic, but for six bucks, the price couldn’t be beat. In the last twenty-plus years of feverishly roaming this collapsing American wasteland, I’ve scoured the map high and low for either a good haircut or a cheap one, and after thousands of miles of bad decisions, I hold this single, jagged truth to be self-evident: good haircuts aren’t cheap, and cheap haircuts aren’t good.
Which brings us to Wyatt’s Barber Shop, tucked into the neon-soaked, fast-gentrifying veins of Austin, Texas, East Side—a high-voltage haven that hits you like a shot of cheap rye and a sudden blast of raw, unadulterated noise. It’s the classic, Americana barbershop of yesteryear slammed directly into a head-on collision with an atmosphere like tattoo parlor or record store. Founded back in 2017 by Wyatt, a man who built the place on the holy trinity of razor-sharp precision, zero-bullshit hospitality, and pure rock ‘n’ roll grit, the shop quickly cemented itself as a neighborhood sanctuary for purists, weirdos, and anyone who gives a damn about their head.
To call barbers like Woody a mere “artisan” might be accurate, but it’s still a goddamn diservice—Wyatt’s doesn’t just employ barbers, they deploy some kind of terrifying, lab-born hybrid of a fine artist and a lethal, highly skilled craftsman. These men are absolute zealots of the trade, operating with the intense, maniacal focus of Lester Bangs ripping through a 3,000-word review of Metal Machine Music at three in the morning. I don’t know about you, but I sure as hell don’t want a soulless trim from Supercuts, just like I don’t want a tragic, modern-day tattoo from one of those pathetic “wand” guns ever so prevalent today. I want a proper straight-razor shave scraping across my nape; I want to hear the thick hairs crunch violently between the heavy blades of stainless steel shears the exact same way I want to be tattooed by the buzzing, rhythmic violent punch of a real coil machine.
I don’t need a soft, hand-holding therapy session with my barber. I wanna talk about pussy, and I wanna scream about how Sleep totally sucks now because Matt Pike left. I want to step out into the Texas heat looking like a king, smelling like fine aftershave, fully realizing that for the last half hour I didn’t have a single goddamn problem or responsibility in this doomed world. And then—and only then—I wanna go straight home, throw my cap onto the table, and watch my girl slide right off her chair because her vagina is officially under a flash flood warning. So I get my hair cut at Wyatt’s.
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Lowbar COFFEE
When I heard one of my long time buds opened a coffee shop in Gainesville, FL near my brother’s place, I had to go get my morning fix. Located on the corner of NW 5th Ave & NW 10th street resides the rad “Lowbar Coffee” (an idea based on the owner Ryan Barlow’s last name) also sharing the space with “Bushel & Peck Bakery”. It’s a charming little spot tucked away from the main roads and bustling university streets. Offering a variety of Coffee, Matcha & Hot chocolate as well as delicious pastries, bagel dogs and cookies, they have your morning/ afternoon appetite covered from 8 am – 3 pm. They also have a small selection of skate goods for those who love to roll on our favorite useless wooden toy. The iced americano I had was delicious and just the right amount of kick to get my day off to a proper start. If you’re unfamiliar with Ryan Barlow’s skating, do yourself a favor and look up any of his parts. Like his skating the coffee and vibe of his establishment is stylish, smooth and not too much. If you’re a caffiend like myself and find yourself in Gainesville, do yourself a favor and support a sick small business with mad flavor, a ripping AC unit and friendly staff. Cheers to Ryan and crew for being kind; to many more years of success and rollin steady. – BRANDON BRISTOL
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BROOKLYN PROJECTS
On the corner of Melrose Ave & Vista street located in West Hollywood, CA lies a rad little skate shop called Brooklyn Projects. I like to check out different shops wherever I’m at to get a sense of the local scene and support small businesses. In a time of online shopping overload and mass produced mall madness it’s great to see brick & mortar stores still around providing that sense of community, offering quality goods from pro brands and their own shop exclusive releases. I walked in the other day to see what they had and was helped by a friendly dude named Keegan. He grabbed the shirt & hat I was asking for (a sick Kreator “Pleasure To Kill” style shop graphic) and threw in some tight shop stickers. I came back earlier today cause I heard I might be able to check out the mini-ramp they have in back and take some photos. I was greeted by Keegan again and another nice employee named Daniel. I was able to skate the ramp for a bit in the blazing LA sun before a crew was showing up to use the space for photos. This spot has a nice selection of hard goods, clothing, shoes, hats & accessories for anyone in need. The collection of boards hanging on the top wall and the Keenan Milton board memorial are definitely worth checking out when you stop in. Thanks to everyone at BP for ruling, being so helpful and keeping skateboarding fun. Support your local skate shop and check out others when you’re in a new town. Skateboarding don’t owe you shit, but you definitely owe skateboarding. – Brandon Bristol
Founded by the eclectic Dom DeLuca, Brooklyn Projects emerged as a cornerstone of Los Angeles skate and streetwear culture. Before establishing the renowned shop on Melrose Avenue, DeLuca grew up in Brooklyn, New York, immersing himself in the local skate and music scenes. After transitioning to Los Angeles, he brought a distinct East Coast aesthetic to the West Coast, creating a unique retail destination that bridged high-end streetwear with core skateboarding. Over the years, Brooklyn Projects has gained notoriety for its exclusive sneaker collaborations and influential apparel designs, cementing its status as a global hub for sneakerheads and skate enthusiasts alike.
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Bancroft Middle School
By Brandon Bristol
I saw that this famous schoolyard was nearby where I’m staying in West Hollywood and at the very least I wanted to go check out the 9 stair rail. Most recently Antwuan Dixon ended his “FTP” part with a Nollie Heel Crooked Grind down the heavily seasoned rail. This spot has been skated for over 25 years by the likes of Arto Saari – Nollie Noseslide, Mark Appleyard – Nollie Frontside Noseslide, Rick McCrank – Switch Frontside 5-0, Jamie Foy – Fakie Ollie to Switch Frontside Bluntslide, Zach Allen – Fullcab Frontside Boardslide, just to name a few hammers. This schoolyard also offers small stairs, metal benches with a prop up grate option, a flat gap with drop over a bench and a pretty insane roof gap over stairs to flat. I had a good time warming up there and being a skate tourist. This is definitely a spot that would benefit with a filmer and or photographer if you plan to get down; unless you’re one of these kids that get buck for the love on insta, then set up a tripod and make history. That’s why skateboarding will always be the best, no fucking rules. Right now is a good a time as any to get out there and do something sick. For yourself, for the love, for your dead homies, go get some. If you don’t someone else will. – Brandon Bristol
Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle School, located at 929 North Las Palmas Avenue in the Hollywood Media District just southeast of West Hollywood, is a historic institution deeply intertwined with the cultural and structural development of Los Angeles. The school officially opened its doors on July 1, 1929, as Bancroft Junior High School, serving a rapidly expanding population during the golden age of cinema. It was named in honor of Hubert Howe Bancroft, a monumental nineteenth-century pioneer historian and publisher famous for assembling a massive 39-volume history of the Pacific Coast and western North America, a research collection that ultimately became the foundation for UC Berkeley’s world-renowned Bancroft Library. Early aerial photography from the year of its opening reveals the campus as a prominent, multi-wing anchor in a booming residential and studio neighborhood.
The campus reflects classic early-twentieth-century Southern California school design principles, utilizing sprawling multi-story concrete wings and large windows engineered to maximize natural daylight and cross-ventilation. While many neighboring commercial structures of that era were built in the iconic Streamline Moderne or Art Deco styles, Bancroft has remained a stable institutional anchor. Over its nearly century-long history, the physical plant has undergone various modernizations—including vital structural retrofits, the implementation of air conditioning, and technology integration—while carefully preserving its historic perimeter footprint. Additionally, the campus grounds are well-known locally for integrated community and student garden spaces, which have been historically maintained by neighborhood volunteers to bring a pocket of vibrant horticulture into a dense, industrial-leaning urban district.
Because of its literal proximity to major film, television, and recording studios like Paramount and Sunset Las Palmas, Bancroft has a unique social history as an educational hub for the children of industry professionals and child actors. This environment fostered an exceptionally prestigious roster of former students who went on to shape American entertainment and culture. Notable alumni include Hollywood icons like Judy Garland, Francis Ford Coppola, Jon Voight, and Jason Robards Jr., musical talents such as Herb Alpert, Jermaine Jackson, and Brandy, as well as actresses Kathleen Hughes and Mila Kunis, the latter of whom attended the school just before her breakout role on That ’70s Show. The student body has historically reflected the vibrant, creative, and shifting demographic pulse of the surrounding Hollywood community.
Chainsaw Magazine 