Chainsaw Magazine

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.