Kobe’s New 'Lower Merion' Kicks: Gray and Red with a Bulldog ‘Ace’

A couple of blogs that pay an unhealthy amount of attention to athletic footwear have nonetheless brought to our attention the fact that Kobe Bryant, former Lower Merion High School hoops phenom and current NBA all-star, is coming out with a new shoe, called the “Nike Zoom Kobe VI”—also known as “the Lower Merion.”

“Featuring a grey polyurethane synthetic upper, the shoe is accented by team red hits on the Swooshes, Shozoku, heel signature and Aces school logo,” Solecolelctor.com tells us (you can see images of the shoe at the link).

Apologies to Aces’ fans, to whom this may not be news—evidently, the release of a new Nike model featuring LMHS colors “has become an annual tradition,” NiceKicks.com informs us.

In fact, about the sneakers last September, the month we launched (this editor came aboard in April). Back then, it was the Zoom Kobe V that was about to hit the shelves. Members of the Lower Merion High School basketball team "each get two pairs of the sneaks each season," Patch reporter Tom Sunnergren wrote. The L.M. School District even gets a cut of sales.

Meanwhile, the guys at the blog Arrognt (sic) Empire are a little indignant on behalf of LMHS kids: “What were originally thought to be only available to the students at Lower Merion, we find out today that they actually will be available to the public.”

Poppi’s Pizza in Wynnewood Gets Best ‘By the Slice’ Award

With “crispy pies and slices coming hot from the oven at this three-year-old shop,” Poppi’s Pizza in the Wynnewood Shopping Center made Philadelphia Magazine’s list of best pizza in the region.

“Whether you choose the Rustica (with grilled chicken, tomatoes, arugula, Gorgonzola and mozzarella), go all-veg with the Ortolana (fresh spinach, artichokes, olives, feta and tomatoes), or just stick with the plain cheese slice, you’ll immediately notice that all the ingredients here are of higher quality than anyone else’s in the area—a fact that directly correlates to the prices.”

In addition to warning that Poppi’s is a touch expensive, the publication also advised readers to “skip the chintzy salads and underwhelming chicken wings.”

Sometimes those Philly Mag “Best Of” blessings can be a bit mixed.