10/28/09

Link Roundup - October 28

I consider myself pretty entrepreneurial, and I have always wanted to run my own business. This article is an exploration of that subject, extolling the benefits and drawbacks of being your own boss. The pros are the freedom to do what interests you, passion for your business, and the pride for being responsible for a hopefully successful business while the cons are that it is actually a lot of work that can be lonely, and being solely responsible for the dull details. (mailing textbooks in this case) At least consider the idea, you may just find yourself with the best job ever! (manvsdebt)

Alden, one of the last few American shoemakers. The region south of Boston in Massachusetts used to be one of the most heavily concentrated with clothing and shoe manufacturers a century ago. Alden is located in Middleborough, MA, 30 minutes south of my parents home, in a very similar town. Epaulet of Brooklyn has a forthcoming collaboration with Alden on a Brixton boot and was able to make a very professional video and photo gallery of their visit to the factory. (epauletshop)

A favorite blogger of mine, Foster, who interned at Rogue's Gallery helped create a mural for Alex Carleton, also originally of Rogue's Gallery. The "inspiration wall" was for the LL Bean Signature, which has already had and will continue to have play here, event that happened a few weeks ago in NYC. Foster gathered a number of images relating to LL Bean and he posted some to his blog for those of us who couldn't make it (weren't invited) to enjoy. (a restless transplant)

The financial crisis of the past 18 months is no secret, and as a close follower of the finance world, this article hit home for me. Although it comes from a fairly technical site, maybe my favorite on the web, anyone who is interested in the fate of America should read it. Comparing the classic "bust out" scene of the local restaurant in Scorsese's Godfellas to the swindle that AIG and the Private Equity firms have given the taxpayer is pretty much on point. (zero hedge)

Great set of fall images. I have a deep respect for James' eye for quality and details. I admit that I have a bit of a thing for image posts and blogs, but this one is seriously top notch. (secret forts)

Trad done right




vintage trad is tough to pull off, but this guy does Brooks Brothers, J.Press and Barbour right.
- via Mister Mort

10/27/09

Pocket Notebooks


The Simple Dollar is by far one of my favorite blogs, highly recommended. I have been subscribed for over a year, and I constantly find myself agreeing with owner Trent Hamm on many issues, although the topics we write on are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. I follow the financial market extensively, and The Simple Dollar is not part of that, Trent writes on productivity and personal finance, and is indisputably a frontrunner in that genre of blogging.


Today he wrote about something especially close to home, pocket notebooks. You can read all you want about "Getting Things Done," but you do not have to follow that system to make significant productivity headway through using a little notebook. As a college student, it's something I could not function without. Organizing projects, taking down assignments, capturing my random thoughts, to-do lists, blog post ideas, gift ideas, contact information and the list goes on. At the end of the day I sync this with my Google Calendar/iCal/Address Book, which automatically syncs with each other and my Blackberry, meaning I always have my notes.


I use the iconic Moleskine notebooks and cahiers primarily, as they satisfy my quality requirements and are fairly easy to find. I definitely explore other brands; Field Notes, Clairefontaine, Rhodia, and other off-brands, I have also developed a penchant for fountain pens and other fine writing instruments. A surprisingly expensive hobby!

Another notebook I am looking forward to checking out is from Postalco, previously I had only heard of it's goodness, but now available at a rapdily becoming favorite shopping destination J.Crew.



Look for me to compare Moleskine and Field Notes cahiers in the future, if there's any interest, or I get bored of writing about clothing!

Pickup: Gap Chambray




I picked up this grey Gap chambray which is a bit basic but still solid while shopping at the mall with wifey this weekend. There are a few little details that I like, such as the utlity strap at the neck and a locker hook underneath the collar. I definitely like chambray shirts, they are on heavy rotation in my wardrobe, but I lacked a grey one, so this piece filled a hole affordably at $44.50. Couldn't find it online, but should still be available in-store, also available in blue if the grey doesn't tickle your fancy.

Coincidently, as I was catching up on my RSS reader, fellow Debonair contributor and curator of Sartorially Inclined, L.A.S., spoke on Bargain Cool at Gap and Jake Davis, another big fan of chambrays, spoke on a different Gap offering this summer.

10/19/09

Busy

Busy week; 2 exams, 3 interviews (Travelers Insurance, Fidelity Investments and AT&T) this week, so I am incredibly busy. Last semester of undergrad...

I will be back soon

10/17/09

Pumpkin Beer Tasting @ Nikki's Liquors Providence

October 15th, me and my buddy Tom traveled down to the best Liquor Store in Providence, RI for a Pumpkin Spice Beer tasting hosted by Nikki's Liquors. This place rocks, and I totally endorse them, the beer guy Mike is amazing, always helpful and happy to talk about beer. He helped to put on Beervana a few weeks ago, which was spectacular. Nikki's offers a "Mix a Six" deal in which you get 10% off the price of the beers when you buy a six pack, great for craft beer lovers like myself who just can't decide on one beer to drink for the night.

The beers were:
Brooklyn Brewery Post Road Pumpkin Ale
Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale
Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout
Saranac Pumpkin Ale
Sea Dog Pumpkin Ale
Shipyard Pumpkinhead
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale
South Hampton Pumpkin Ale
Southern Tier Pumking
Thirsty Dog Pumpkin Ale
Wolaver's Will Stevens' Pumpkin Ale

We tasted them all, about a shot of each. I was afraid that they would all be too similar and thus we would not be able to distinguish which we liked best. However, that was not the case at all, each beer had a unique taste and style, although they were under the common theme of pumpkin. For example Sea Dog and Shipyard Pumpkinhead were a lighter, sweeter flavor that we liked, while Wolaver's and Smuttynose had a stronger taste. Southern Tier and Shipyard's Smash Pumpkin were Imperial Pumpkin Ale's, both roughly 9% ABV, and Southern Tier's Pumpking was by far our favorite, both of us. The smell was amazing, smelled like nice pumpkin pie and the taste was out of this world. I would have bought a bottle, except for the price tag; $8.99 for a bomber. My other favorite was the Dogfish Head Punk'n Ale, which I had had before. I ended up picking up a "Mix a Six" with 2 DFH Punk'ns, 1 Saranac, 1 Shipyard, Southern Tier Harvest Ale, and 1 Victory Festbier. Certainly a good night. There will be a post in a couple weeks with a recap of all of the Harvest/Pumpkin Spice/Octoberfest beers I have had this month.


Me back at home enjoying some of the stash I grabbed...


Some beers on deck to taste...


These were the beers we drank, 7 on the top, 5 on the bottom (DFH and Southern Tier were missing)


The owner Mike, with a Shipyard Pumpkinhead shirt and Kara who was pouring for everyone

10/14/09

Link Roundup

A video look at the blogger behind Secret Forts, James Wilson. A soft-spoken, interesting cat who makes his home in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I enjoy his blog and it was cool to see the man behind it in moving pictures. (acontinuouslean)

I am from New England, grew up on the South Shore of Boston, and cranberry bogs are something so common to me. The author took a trip from Boston down to Carver, the town next to Plymouth (Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower replica etc) to see a bog being harvested. Great pictures of the bog and of the food the writer made with the cranberries she was gifted. (La Tartine Gourmande)

Hamilton's 1883 shirts look amazing and there was plenty of coverage at the usual suspects, because Hamilton set up a group of "Tastemakers" to sample the shirts and for an exclusive photo shoot. These well-heeled bloggers included Mister Mort's Mordechai Rubenstein, Hollister Hovey, All Plaid Out's Max Wastler, Michael Williams of A Continuous Lean and previously discussed James Wilson from Secret Forts.

I am super excited about the LL Bean Signature line designed by Rogue's Gallery founder Alex Carleton. There will be 100 pieces for both males and females, and I will have to restrain myself from buying a large percentage of these. (valetmag)

10/11/09

Help me decide


Need to add a few more jackets to my wardrobe for this coming Fall/Winter, please help me decide, or if you have any other recommendations, feel free to submit them in the comments!
Supreme - Timberline Jacket


Cresecent Down Works - 60/40 army green montagna parka

DQM x Crescent Down Works - 60/40 Montagne Parka

10/10/09

10/8/09

Pickup: J.Crew Sherpa Jacket

























J.Crew Sherpa Jacket
sweatshirt material on the outside
fleece material on the inside
strap collar on shawl collar
chest pocket
similar to a cardigan

Also, many may disagree, and I would certainly rather have the latter...
I think this looks similar to a Woolrich Woolen Mills Maine Guide Jacket









10/7/09

Rebel Radio #6 - The Acid Test


Rebel Radio Presents: The Acid Test
via Sufu's Kiefer

Tracklist
1. Felix Da Housecat - Jack U (JFK feat. Diddy Edit)
2. Sidney Samson - Riverside (Afrojack Remix)
3. Electrixx - Tetris
4. Udachi & Jubilee - Paypur (Original Mix)
5. Herve - Who Da Champ - Original Mix
6. Hostage - Murder Rocket
7. Trumpdisco - 1971
8. Boys Noize - Jeffer (Para One remix)
9. Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Death Suite
10. Mike Mind - Acid Machine
11. Zombie Nation - Mystery Meat Affair (Shadow Dancer Remix)
12. Noob & Brodinski - Peanuts Club (Renaissance Man Ph 7 Remix)
13. Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West & Common - Make Her Say (Nadastrom 88 Dub)
14. Chuckie - Let The Bass Kick (Joachim Garraud Remix)
15. Acid Girls - Lightworks - Harvard Bass Remix
16. MayBB - Touring In NY (Short Tour Edit)
17. Rusko - Cockney Thug (Caspa Remix)

download

Today's Inspiration: Monochrome