Wicked Sands ~ Tarzana

12:01 AM PDT on April 20, 2009

Wicked Sands Glass Gallery & Smoker's Paradise ~ 18541 Ventura Blvd. Tarzana, CA 91356

I've lived through many decades and only recently developed an obsession with the art of glass. Like many of our graffiti-bent bredren out there, the colors seen in the glass arts these days redefine reds, oranges, blues, and really color itself as I swear I saw new ones standing out at Wicked Sands, the Tarzana museum that has dedicated itself to beautiful blown art.

Speaking of blown, Wicked Sands absolutely blew my motherfuckin' mind. I have never seen a store like it in my life. Smoke shop, head shop...none of these come close to doing justice to the glass wonderland this place houses. The front of the store looks like any old shop, with incense cones and hookahs, until you examine the case on your right and discover pieces by some of the world's most famous creators of artistic hand-blown smoking pieces. The much beloved chicken shish-kebab pipe, seen in High Times and the book Smoked Vol. 1, sits in front of you, along with mind-boggling pipes of various exterrestrial forms and exquisite craftmanship.

Wicked Sands is the first to play host to this piece above, the largest Sling-tini slide now traveling around the country.

Cluck-cluck!

This top shelf holds an unparalleled set with an unbelievably gorgeous pipe, jar, bubbler, bong, and two other state-of-the-art bong type devices that we can't quite identify of impeccable, hand-blown craft by Wicked Sands artists at their SFV studio. The top tier of luxury for any collector looking to own the best glass available. Buying this set would be a great and comprehensive start to a sterling glass collection.

The store has a private collection of course, assembled from some of the most cutting-edge glass artists of today, including that killer Banjo motorcycle centerpiece, one of many by the other-worldly blower.

And these smooth black and white pipes sporting Audrey Hepburn, Kurt Cobain, and Iggy Pop...or is that Mickey Dolenz?

The pieces up front are just the tip of the iceberg. Heading through the swinging doors, I guarantee your jaw will drop. Hundreds of bubblers, chubblers, steamrollers, bongs, bowls, and one-hitters glitter from the shelves. Everything looks beautiful upon a first big-picture glance. A closer inspection reveals endless detail, innovation, and quality. One could please their eyes for hours on the discoveries and rarities lining these shelves.

Wicked Sands' own line of waterpipes include the most gorgeous pieces I've ever seen available that also include today's best innovations, such as their newly-introduced line of bongs that sport multiple chambers and multiple tree-percs, to further perforate, cool, and smoothe hot smoke in your rips. I highly suggest investing in a bong with as many tree percs as you can afford.

To say it again, I have never seen a glass store as cool and comprehensive as Wicked Sands. It is a true asset to Los Angeles and a must-visit, even for non-smokers, to appreciate, and buy a one-of-a-kind, gorgeous piece of glass art for themselves.

So don't just sit there and melt into the couch today! Go to Wicked Sands and enjoy your April 20th by seeing how inspiring this great day's honoree can really be.