Celebs, Charity & Cheer: October 13 Event, “Boondock Saints Bike Reveal Benefitting Los Angeles Regional Foodbank/Feeding America”,
Hosted by “The Boondock Saints” Writer/Director, Troy Duffy
– Melrose Avenue’s “Freak Chic Tattoo” and “Tuff Sissy & Co.” Welcomed Guests at Festive “Boondock Saints” Fan Meet & Greet, and LA Speed Shop
Custom-Built “Boondock Saints”-Themed Motorcycle Reveal –
Link to more photos:
http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====528773
October 20, 2011 – Los Angeles, CA – On Thursday, October 13, 2011, “The Boondock Saints” (www.boondocksaints.com) Writer/Director, Troy Duffy, hosted a bevy of the movies’ fans, friends, cast and crew, as he celebrated the reveal of his brand new, “LA Speed Shop” (www.laspeedshop.com) custom-built “Boondock-Saints”-themed motorcycle. The event, officially named “Boondock Saints Bike Reveal Benefitting Los Angeles Regional Foodbank/Feeding America”, was held at Mat Joseph’s Melrose Avenue art venue “Tuff Sissy & Co.” (www.tuffsissy.com) and his neighboring “Freak Chic Tattoo” (www.freakchictattoo.com), and benefited said local charity (www.lafoodbank.org).
“Boondock Saints” cast and crew in attendance – other than Mr. Duffy – included actress Julie Benz, actors Clifton Collins Jr., Daniel DeSanto, David Della Rocco, and Brian Mahoney, as well as additional celebs who came out to support both Mr. Duffy and the cause, actors Jack Rubio, Jonathan Schaech, Paul Alessi, Sam Macaroni, and actress Amie Barsky.
Fans of The Boondock Saints franchise had been following LA Speed Shop’s progress on-line, as owner Chris Richardson and his crew constructed Mr. Duffy’s bike. The event served as the official reveal of the completed machine. Event guests mixed and mingled, eagerly awaiting the actual bike reveal. At the conclusion of a brief announcement by Mr. Duffy, Chris Richardson pulled the cover off of the custom machine, spurring a flurry of flash photography.
The event also featured a Boondock Saints movie memorabilia auction and raffle, a portion of the proceeds of which benefitted Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. The auction included items such as an official “Boondock Saints II” movie prop painting, signed by Mr. Duffy and a number of attending cast members; clothing and accessories from the movies’ wardrobe department, actually worn on-set; and other signed memorabilia.
Inked Magazine (www.inkedmag.com) served as media partner of the October 13 event, where guests enjoyed a hosted bar courtesy of Sailor Jerry Rum (www.sailorjerry.com/the-rum), as well as the hospitality of Sailor Jerry’s fully-outfitted Airstream trailer, which was parked in front of the venue. DJ Ten Foot Rabbit (www.facebook.com/pages/Ten-Foot-Rabbit/129917050417665) entertained the crowd with intricate sound maneuvers like bits of the movies’ dialogue overlapping and intertwined in the evening’s playlist.
O.N.E. Coconut Water (www.onedrinks.com) was also on-site, as well as Magnolia Bakery cupcakes (www.magnoliabakery.com), and delightfully devoured hors d’oeuvres from soon-to-open Marcona (www.marconarestaurant.com), scheduled to open late-October, directly across Melrose Avenue from Tuff Sissy & Co./Freak Chic Tattoo. Marcona’s menu for the evening included sample bites of their Spiced Spanish Tuna, Gyros Espana, and Burlington Red Onion sandwiches, as well as their Ossi de Morti (almond cookies), Cowboy Oatmeal Cookies, and Spiced Marconas (signature bar nut mix).
For more information about the October 13 “Boondock Saints” charity event or to receive photos, please call Anna Ferguson at 1.877.327.2656, or email info@stilettomarketing.com.
About “The Boondock Saints” Franchise
Boondock Saints, LLC is the official marketing, promotion and communication arm for all things “Boondock.” The company creates and produces special events for the growing community of Boondock Saints fans worldwide, manages media inquiries and requests for personal appearances and operates two websites, www.boondocksaints.com and www.boondockstore.com, to provide the public with a dynamic, interactive forum for discussion and user-generated content, along with instant access to updated information about the films (“The Boondock Saints” and “The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day”), related music, merchandise and a variety of other creative developments in progress. Follow The Boondock Saints on Facebook: www.facebook.com/boondocksaintsfans.
About “Tuff Sissy & Co.”
New Melrose Avenue art venue, Tuff Sissy & Co., was created by neighboring Freak Chic Tattoo owner, Mat Joseph, and is meant to serve as a gallery and artist’s lair – a place for local tattoo artists and other artists to showcase their work, as well as mingle and share. Joseph’s motivation for the venue was to revive the Melrose art community and support both the local art movement as well as other community businesses, both old and new.
About Mat Joseph / “Freak Chic Tattoo”
Mat Joseph’s pioneering spirit has kept him on the forefront of the piercing, tattoo and art worlds. Joseph started piercing in 1987, and first entered the Melrose community in 1992, when he became the first piercer on the street. In 1994, Joseph opened his own piercing operation, “House of Freaks”, on the upper floor of the building that sits on the northwest corner of Melrose and Fuller Avenues.
House of Freaks dominated the Los Angeles piercing scene for 14 years, before shuttering in the fall of 2008 when, in pursuit of expansion, growth and reinvention, Joseph joined forces with local tattoo artist partners to open Freak Chic Tattoo, thus providing both tattoo and piercing services to his already loyal customer base.
Freak Chic Tattoo filled a void in the Melrose Avenue tattoo realm by providing a higher-end, upscale – yet comfortable – tattoo shop environment for more discerning clients. The classy space has a ‘30s deco, lounge-y vibe, featuring dark wood fixtures and Joseph’s carefully-curated decor elements, also mirrored in Tuff Sissy & Co.’s design. This year, Joseph plans to add two private VIP tattoo/piercing stations in completely separate rooms, within steps of Freak Chic’s private, back entrance.
Joseph and his award-winning tattoo artists and piercers have fan bases that run the gamut from TV soap stars (such as one of the Days of our Lives cast); to NBA players; to celebrity wives; to musicians (e.g., Phillip “Fish” Fisher, drummer for Fishbone, and singer and record producer, Arnold McCuller). Joseph’s talented staff and/or their work has been featured in numerous media outlets including Tattoo:Savage Magazine, International Tattoo Art Magazine, Skin Art Magazine, Tattoo Flash, and Inked Magazine.
About “LA Speed Shop”
LA Speed Shop specializes in vintage choppers and bobbers with a bare-bones style. Every bike that owner Chris Richardson builds, reflects his out-of-the-box thinking and amazing attention to detail. Richardson has earned the respect of his customers and peers as a “quality guy” who does quality work. Having his bikes featured on the covers of Easyriders, American Cycle, Street Chopper, Iron Works, Iron Horse, Dice, Cycle Source, Kustom and Powerglide, and after earning countless awards at motorcycle shows, Richardson is recognized as a leading innovative builder in the industry.
