Elements of Travel

I've read countless times how when folks traveled via airplane in yesteryear, they always did so in style. Men in suits, hats, and proper shoes. Ladies sporting their best threads. You get the picture.

We know this element of civility and class barely exists today. No need to get hung up on that unfortunate point.

When I think of how to capture that simple elegance again today, a travel bag like this comes to mind: The Floto Venezia Leather Duffel, made in Italy.

11" x 10" x 21"
Italian Polished Calf-Skin Leather
Double Stitched Seams
Thick Khaki Stitching
Reinforced Handles
Detachable Shoulder Strap
Brass Hardware
100% Cotton/Denim Lining
Floor-to-floor Zipper for Easy Packing

Packing just became a whole lot more enjoyable.
Happy trails.

Fall Brings...

We all know about the loads of fine goodies from our design friends for the season. The question is, what are you gonna do once you put on your new green chambray and slim fit khakis?

Just in time for Fall, a treat is delivered from an old patriot friend in Boston. It's a taste of Germany, via Boston, but it tasted so damn good in New Jersey last night.



A semi-thick malty taste, without being overbearing. Carmel colored. A hint of spice at the end, but not the bitter after-taste that some lagers can bring.

There were probably 5 different labels offering a Oktoberfest when I went looking. A bit confused, I went for my old faithful, Sam. Very glad I did.

Here's hoping that your fall comes in just as spicy.

Take Amazon

A heads up to all the style-heads out there:

The much sought after Take Ivy is now being offered by Amazon for the nice price of $14.97.

Even nicer if you have Amazon Prime, which ships it 2-day for free.

Jump on it. Looks like J. Crew's inventory is already depleted.

Phone Geek

If someone would have asked me 5 years ago what I'd blog about, if I ever did blog, without a doubt my answer would have been cell phones.

From 96-2005 I was the ultimate cell phone geek. I literally used to change my phone every 2-3 months. I was on HowardForums.com non stop. Friends of friends of friends would call me for buying advice. Somehow, I knew every model on every carrier, every plan, and every coverage map. For many years I had both a NYNEX, make that Bell Atlantic, make that Verizon line , AND a VoiceStream, make that T-Mobile line cuz I couldn't make up my mind which I liked better.

My phone loving days waned when I picked up my first Blackberry. Finally, I had found a device that satisfied me in every way (get your head outta the gutter!). I did go back and forth between T-Mo and Verizon twice, but I stayed with the Blackberry. Till today.

I had been totally out of the loop with the smart phone craze outside of Blackberry devices. Even last year when a family member picked up the first Moto Droid, I was mildly interested.

Then over the past year my antennae went up, little by little. I finally had to go back and check out what all the fuss was about. I wasn't used to the position I was in...behind the times with technology and not sure where to even find the ON/OFF button. I eventually got my chops back and I became obsessed with the Google Droid devices. The HTC Droid Incredible and Motorola Droid X were the first to wow me. I'm not a iPhone dude so I really wasn't ready for the supreme capabilities.

I decided wait it out a bit and go with the Moto DROID 2 since I need the physical slide out keyboard as my security blanket. Been playing with it for the past 4 hours. Managed to toally tune out two kids screaming while watching Sponge Bob and a wife madly vacuuming.

My wife predicted I'd find something wrong with this and return it in a few days. Let's see.

For now, it's a fun new toy.

Can you feel it?

Been a long time. Gotta lotta random stuff in my head.

Summer is yawning. Getting ready to say Goodbye. Fall is in the air...Can you feel it? The extreme heat is flying south for the winter I think. I hope.

Spent a nice week at the beach last week and have to say that after 7 days in the sun (okay 6, 1 was rainy), I love my Randolph Engineering Aviators to death. The clarity and color on these babies are incredible. If you're in the market for some real-deal, high quality shades you gotta give RE a look.

And now for a nice trip down memory lane...In the 80s, when I was teen, my family spent many a summer in Lavallette, NJ. Used to be a bakery there on Rte 35 called Kay's. I have great memories of my father returning with his morning coffee and the best FRESH jelly donuts and crumb buns. Well, 25 years later the bakery is still there (no longer Kay's, but now named Colonial) and the donuts and pastries are even better than I remember. If you're down near Lavallette, do yourself a guilty favor and pick up a dozen jelly donuts. Trust me, you'll eat 5 before you realize all the powdered sugar all over your shirt.

On a sad note, where are you Helen Folasade Adu? I expected a tour to follow the CD this year, but I guess you're keeping us waiting yet again.

Did ya see the J. Crew chambray shirt in green yet? Excuse me, I meant, DARK FERN. Found one today in real life. It's even better than the red. That's right, I just said it.
It's gonna look superb with khakis this fall.


What I'm waiting for and saving my pennies for now: J. Crew x British Millerain Woodland Jacket. Killer. 2-3 weeks says my source.

Why I keep making Mickey Drexler's pockets fat: This is how you do customer service the right way: Hello J Crew, my Alden long wings that I bought 2 months ago are just beginning to have some stitching come loose. I'm concerned.

J Crew: We're quality obsessed. Bring them to a store. Exchange them for a new pair. No questions asked.

DONE.

My son, 4 years old, got his new sneakers for school this week. They light up when he runs. He loves them, but we told him he can't wear them till school starts. So every night he goes and gets the box under his bed to check on them. Then he kisses them both goodnight. My wife thought that was so strange. As you can guess, I never handle my Aldens in front of her.

Think I'll stop now. It's 1:07am on a Wednesday night. And if I'm not up at this hour with a drink in my hand I think its time to hit the sack.

First lemme check my Indy boots under the bed...

Some Levi's News

I took a stroll over to the Levi's shop on 14th St last night. My God, the piles and piles of skinny jeans that greet you when you walk in. Can that trend go away already?

Anyway, front and center there was a nice section of made in the USA goods from a Levi's/Filson collaboration.

Some beautiful tote bags, weekend bags and shirts. Couldn't get any pix, but you can READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE

I got to talking with a SA about what else Levi's may have in store for made in the USA goods. He told me that their new Made & Crafted line is all USA-based. They're actually opening a stand alone store for M&C on 14th St and 10th Ave in NYC very soon.

I wasn't all that impressed with that line on first glance but maybe it'll be worth another look.