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How to Survive and Enjoy Burning Man 2019

Posted on August 16, 2019

Easily one of The Surplus Store’s favorite times of the year is upon us once again — Burning Man 2019. In the past, we talked to you about the festival’s history and various past themes, along with apparel essentials to best prepare you for this year’s bizarre festival located in Black Rock City, Nevada. But this year, we want to help you survive Burning Man 2019. Yes, survive. As much of a fun and surreal experience it can be, it is a physically and mentally exhausting sensory overload, filled with challenging art installations and of course, sand—and lots of it. With Burning Man 2019 just two weeks away, peep these tips to ensure you survive your first ever encounter with the mythical Burning Man festival. Hydration This one is a given and yet...

LA Pride Weekend 2019 Prep and What to Know

Posted on June 7, 2019

We here at The Surplus Store hope everyone is enjoying Pride Week 2019 because we are! This year, the LGBTQ+ community bands together once again to be seen, be heard, and continue changing American culture. This year’s pride festivities, which are certain to draw hundreds of thousands, will be capped off by a day of celebration, love, and recognition through food, music, parades and other festivities. With the exciting and fun-filled events on the horizon, here are some tips and tools to make this LA Pride Weekend memorable. Events to Attend From June 8th to June 9th, along San Vicente Blvd. between Melrose Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd., several Grammy-award winning LGBTQ+ and allied performers, including Ashanti and Meghan Trainor, will take center stage for a music festival under the motto of...

3 Men’s Hats to Up Your Spring Wardrobe

Posted on May 21, 2019

As we make our way through spring, we notice things start to change -- the environment gets its green back, homes get cleaned out and fresh veggies grace seasonal menus everywhere. One of the more noticeable changes is packing away winter clothes in exchange for spring fashions and accessories. Men’s hats, in particular, are coming back in a very big way and are finding homes as regular accessories for everyday men. With these hat styles, timeless and reminiscent of decades past, men’s fashion continues to make a push toward modernization. Here are three men’s hats you need to know about today: Dad Hats What goes around comes around – ain’t it the truth. The cap you swore never to like after dad made it look super geeky is now a go-to for casual-wear...

The Coachella 2019 Checklist: Getting Prepped for the Festival

Posted on March 21, 2019

Springtime in SoCal means one thing – flocks on flocks of dancers, ravers and music lovers alike are headed to Coachella Valley for Coachella 2019. This year’s talent lineup includes megastars like headliners Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala, as well as up-and-comers like SOFI TUKKER, CloZee and Hurray for the Riff Raff, among dozens of others, making for an action-packed festival. As usual, festival-goers can expect to rough it out in the Coachella Valley in the sun, heat and dealing with all sorts of bathroom situations. To help prepare for this, The Surplus Store has compiled our Top 5 Things to Bring to Coachella 2019. 1. The Backpack Situation – you’re hopping around Coachella and meeting tons of people. You go to shake somebody’s hand and keep having to tuck your water...

The Survival Supplies You Need to Start the New Year

Posted on January 8, 2019

With the New Year comes new ambitions, and with your upcoming adventures, it’s a good time to invest in some survival supplies. Hiking, camping, excursions to new places – these all involve you being exposed to the elements for a given amount of time. In doing any of the previous options, it’s good to have the supplies you need to keep you safe, nourished and ready for anything nature may throw your way. Here are a few essential survival supplies to have on hand going into the rest of 2019! Something to Start a Fire Utilizing a fire for warmth and food is something that humans have been doing for a LONG time, so proper tools for starting one safely are essential for survival situations. You have a few options when starting...

Creative Halloween Costumes

Posted on October 22, 2018

The best Halloween costume ideas are creative ones. Anyone can order a costume online – but how about going as an '80s movie heartthrob? How about dressing up as a character from a cult classic or going as a character that is immediately recognizable but that no one would think to do? That’s where gold is at. Go with creative Halloween costumes, not boring ones, and if you are running low on ideas, we’ve got your back. Here are some creative Halloween costumes, all of which you can make at The Surplus Store. '80s Movies Love the 80s? Love cheesy bromance? Look no further than Top Gun. This costume works on a lot of levels, not least of which is that everyone loves Top Gun. If you want to go with a more...

Burning Man Art: A Movement of Themes

Posted on August 14, 2018

The iconic event known as Burning Man started off with a small population of 35 just individuals when founders Larry Harvey and Jerry James burned a human effigy on a San Francisco beach, the first example of Burning Man Art. From here the festival grew rapidly, but the spirit of artistic expression never wavered even as the masses flocked to each new festival. Each year the Man, well… burned, and each year the audience steadily grew. With each new person came new ideas and ways of expression that eventually turned the effigy burning into a full-on phenomenon. Burning Man would make its way to Nevada’s Pershing County and develop into a community of artists and free thinkers that uphold an inclusive philosophy. Every year the weeklong festival erects Black Rock City...

Blue Coats to Modern Military Uniforms: A History of U.S. Military Attire

Posted on June 13, 2018

Modern military uniforms are the result of centuries of refinement, the apex of function and efficiency – and it all started with a blue coat and white overalls. Changes to the United States military uniform have been gradual but the goal has always been the same: keep our boys safe, keep them stocked, and keep America strong. The influences are numerous, even down to the materials, but the results have proven iconic. So let us take you through eras of American history and see the evolution of our modern military uniforms from humble beginnings. The American Revolution to the War of 1812 Considering the circumstances around the American Revolution, it’s no surprise that the Continental Army uniforms were nearly identical to those of the British. The main distinguishing factor of the standardized...

Coachella Survival Guide 2018

Posted on April 9, 2018

In case you haven't heard, Coachella is coming! Of course, you've heard. Arguably the most well-renowned music and arts festival kicks off in just a few days on April 13th! Festival-goers, music fanatics and all-around fun people are gearing up for an exciting time in sunny Indio, California. With a lineup of top acts from a variety of genres, talented artists, beautiful weather and your closest crew of friends, this festival is sure to be the highlight of your year! Making it a successful, exciting and safe experience requires some planning and preparation, though, and we've got you covered in that aspect. Prepare for the Coachella Valley Sun Any event that takes place outdoors in California will likely feature heavy dosages of sun rays. Coachella is no exception, and that's okay! It's...

Camping Paradise: Big Sur

Posted on February 21, 2018

There are few places more beautiful than California’s own Big Sur. With beaches and campgrounds, Big Sur has just about everything you’d need to enjoy a weekend outdoors. Are you into eating unique foods, hiking, swimming, lounging on the beach or just relaxing and having a peaceful time reading a book under the stars? A camping trip at Big Sur will help you achieve all of those things. Preparation is key, however, and we’ve got your Big Sur Camp Guide right here! Save Your Money – Go Authentic! Big Sur is one of the most popular destinations for anybody looking for a beautiful, relaxing and exciting adventure (which is just about everyone). Lodging, as you can imagine, is quite expensive in such a highly demanded destination. There are cabins for rent, but...