Northwest Sneaker Expo

The sneakerhead subculture experienced a boom in the 80s, thanks in large part to the status they were given via the hip-hop movement. From full sets of a single shoe to limited editions and one-off customs, the phenomenon of a sneaker expo display is multifaceted, combining elements of hip-hop music, art and fashion. And in addition to the collector competitions and freestyle rap battles hosted by town legend Vitamin D, this showcase also includes performances from local fashion-forward emcees like State of the Artist, Logics, Eighty4 Fly, Spaceman and Wizdom—plus a kick-ass headliner, Palmdale, Calif.’s Pac Div. The trio is chock-full of fiery energy, and with lines like “clothes copper, flow dropper/Kicks like a dojo, peep the low Pradas,” it seems they’ll fit in to the night’s mood just fine. NICK FELDMAN

Thu., Oct. 28, 10 p.m., 2010