suburbanxcore

So far the heal has been great, actually. It was only outline and shading (and Grez is very light-handed), so it wasn't blasted too badly. It's actually sped up my interest in getting the second one done.

Yeah, he's killer. I can't wait until it's done. Not until July, which feels like a fucking eternity to finish. Once it's done I think I'm immediately going to book to have him do my other knee in the fall. There is usually decent street parking, particularly a few blocks north, just kinda above Market. But if you're patient you should be able to find something within a few blocks, particularly during the day (lots of bars so it's hectic as fuck at night). If not there are lots and garages around. As for food, here are a few of my favorites in the area. Tons of good spots, though. - Right next door, The Khyber does good Southern style type fare. I don't drink, but I believe their beer and booze selection is solid as well. - Eulogy is a Belgian beer bar nearby that does awesome mussels/frites, burgers, etc. They have like 300+ beers available as well. - Amada is fancier but has dope tapas. - Han Dynasty is killlller Szechuan right around the corner.

Gus is awesome. His flash has changed a lot over the years, and I think where he's at now really fits right in your wheelhouse. That shop is great. I have a million friends who have gotten tattooed there. Let me know when your appointment is and I'll try and swing by or we can grab some food/drinks. Tons of great places near there. I really wanna check out Ron's shop.

Me too!

I've never gotten anything removed either and don't have anything I want to get rid of, but I can say that I have at least three friends that have gone to Mike and Go! and have great things to say about it/him.

How's your collection been comin along? Without you instagram for a minute I was missing pictures of delicious food and your tat-progress!

Dude, we all know you'll have an appointment booked by the end of the day tomorrow.

You know, as I said in the knee thread, it's surprisingly fine. I expected it to be way more painful and way more swollen. I ran 8 miles the next day! Haha. I won't post any pictures until it's colored and healed, but as is usual with Grez, it rules and I love it. Haha. #fanboy

I hated my elbows.

I got my knee started on Thursday and he got through the ouline and the shading. I actually didn't think it was as bad as I'd expected. I took the next day off from work because I wasn't going to be able to walk or get through track practice easily (plus, you know, it was a Friday so why not?). As it turned out, it wasn't as bad as I expected. I actually went for a short run on Friday, then full on eight and ten milers the next two days. I'm not sure if it'll be this easy when he hits the whole thing with color, but we'll see!

Shit, half my day is spent talking about tatfantasies. Ha. But I totally get it. I've got another sitting with Grez to finish up my knee in July. May try and book in for the fall to do the other knee.

I had my first sitting on my knee with Grez the other night. We ended up sorta running out of time because he had to leave right when the shop closed and it took a while for him to draw a lot of things on when we started. But he got done the outline and shading and it looks fuckin killer. The real highlight of the trip was after we wrapped up though. He had told me last year that he was going to show me his tattoos from Hardy, Higgs, and Conn (his three favorites). So Thursday night he showed me tattoos he has from all three of them. Then he asked me if I wanted to see the art he keeps at the shop (aside from all the insane shit he has on the wall). He showed me a shitload of originals from all three of them, from flash sheets to commissions to sketchbook pages. He also showed me a bunch of originals from Sailor Jerry, Mike Malone, Timothy Hoyer, Tim Lehi, and a ton of others. It was absolutely bonkers.

@Graeme I'm at that point, too. Of course, I say that and I'm getting my knee done tonight. So that may change things.

A little drama-y this season, but overall I think it's been of higher quality for the most part. Not great and I still wouldn't want to get tattooed by most of these guys, but aside from a few clowns early, there havn't been tooooo many absolute trainwreck tattoos. For some reason this show is always a guilty pleasure of mine, regardless of how dumb it can be. One season I'd actually like to set up a fantasy league. Haha. A friend of mine does one for Top Chef and it's pretty fun and interesting. I think it could be cool to do one for Ink Master.

@Gingerninja Yeah, I've got plenty! Haha. He'll be doing one of my knees. I actually have to get a picture of the space today and send it up. I have a few ideas that I'm going to bounce off of him and see what he wants to run with.

Grez is the man, hands down. His tattooing is top notch, and he's an even better dude. Can't wait to get up there in a week and a half.

This is sort of how I look at it. Additionally, like @bongsau said, if you go back and repeat, you may get a "rounded down" rate. Of course, you may not and that's something you have to be prepared for. If you're happy with the tattoo and enjoy it, then I wouldn't lose sleep over it. It may seem like a lot now, but $200 is nothing compared to loving a tattoo forever.

Just saw this (two years later). At least when viewing them along with seventh graders who fall in love with them for the first time, I'd say they hold up just like that pair of jeans or a great tattoo. The shine and newness is gone, but you appreciate them in new and different ways. But also, I'm glad this thread got bumped. Recently I saw a tattoo on instagram of a fully blacked out arm with the tag being something about how it's more than a design, it's a statement or something. I wish I could remember exactly. Almost like there was a movement behind it, and it seemed like something that this artist was really pushing. Anyone care to elaborate for someone who is clearly ignorant on the subject?

I'm still poking around and whatnot, but it's nice and sleek without overdoing it. Well done.

The amount of jealousy I feel over four monmon cats is approaching a level that I don't even wanna get into thinking about....

Goddamnit. I've been kicking around a bunch of ideas for my knee in three weeks and was finally starting to narrow it down. I'd had an idea for an octopus with the tentacles filling gaps (soooo many jokes) in a different spot, but now I'm wondering about knees. Hmmm. Thanks, Brian.

Just realized I'm very likely going on vacation the next week, so I don't think I'm getting tattooed if I want to go swimming and hit the beach. If I don't leave early for my trip I'm still going to go up for one day, though.

Haha. I used to always joke about this, too. I would say to get my stomach done I'd either have to lose about 20-25 pounds or put on about 100. Either way, I'll still do eventually. I was really close to pulling the trigger and starting it at Pagoda City, then realized I probably won't be able to attend this year. - - - Updated - - - Haha. I used to always joke about this, too. I would say to get my stomach done I'd either have to lose about 20-25 pounds or put on about 100. Either way, I'll still do eventually. I was really close to pulling the trigger and starting it at Pagoda City, then realized I probably won't be able to attend this year.

I have a few of them, but can't remember which ones. The Grez interview rules, as does the one where Seth Ciferri tells some great Higgs stories. I keep meaning to grab the new one.

I'm obviously biased because I have a huge one from him, but I think Grez at King's Avenue has some of the sickest eagles goin. And being in NEPA, you're not far from NYC. He doesn't have his own instagram, but searching #grez on IG will show you plenty. I'm also very partial to Steve Byrne's and Aaron Coleman's.