ATL Essentials: Mid Summer Edition

 Summer is in full swing, and has it been a hot one here in the northeastern United States.  I have been loving getting out there and enjoying summer as best as possible.  I decided to put together a short list of the things that I can't live without during the summer, and a short write up on each of them. 

Loafers, no socks.  This is my footwear of choice, although I occasionally go for sneakers or more formal options, loafers are the summer stand-by.  They go great with both pants and shorts and sockless is the only way to go.  I prefer the full strapped loafers, but penny loafers, driving shoes and many other variations work as well.

Seltzer.  I used to be a big soda drinker, pre paleo, but now I get my carbonation fix from seltzer water.  Zero calories, ice cold, and refreshing on a warm day.  Many people prefer the imported Pelligrino, but I really like Poland Springs, especially the lime and mandarin orange flavors.

Vineyard Vines neckwear.  Bright colors, summery motifs, these are my favorite summer ties.

Patagonia Standup shorts.  I am a pretty big Patagonia fan in general, and the stand up shorts are possibly my favorite item.  They are designed for climbing, with the big pockets, but I think they look great and the fabric is incredibly thick.

Leatherman Ltd Motif Belts.  Leatherman makes affordable belts and are a product of Connecticut!  I prefer the nautical, sport, or fishing patterns, these are great summer belts.

Tennis.  I have recently picked up playing the sport, as a result of my wife taking classes.  We both have improved dramatically, and it is really a great competitive past time for us now.

Fresh produce.  Summers in New England are the best time for us to get fresh produce.  Grocery stores, farm stands, and farmers markets are the places to pick it up.  I love tomatos and really prefer the locally grown heirloom varieties, so I make sure to get my fill while available!

Duffle Bag.  Duffle bags are essential for a weekend getaway to Cape Cod, Maine, the Hamptons, Narragansett or any of the other great summer getaway locations near by.  Luckily Red Clay Soul, a blog I really like, written by a guy out of Charleston, gave a great rundown on duffle bags recently, and I urge you to check it out!

Check out other ATL Essentials posts.

Holiday Shopping List

This list is by no means exhaustive, and is certainly not going to be the best of the blogosphere, but I hope the readers of this blog will enjoy and potentially utilize this. Anyone who receives one of these gifts is going to be mighty happy. Also, feel free to send this link to your clueless grandmother or significant other...


1.) J.Press - Shaggy Dog Sweater - $165 - A J.Press classic made of Shetland wool, exclusively for Press. I buy my Shetlands here or at Andover Shop but the key decision making factor for me recommending the J.Press variety is the color! Bright colors are a huge part of trad, why wear forest green when you can wear kelly? Navy when this particular shade of blue can be had?


2) Filson - 222 Medium Duffle Bag - $280 - An awesome bag that has been discussed consistently in the blog world, and for good reason. Fine construction, good aesthetics, and amazing utility make this one of the best duffle bags money can buy. Perfect for the hunt or the weekend trip with the in-laws. Tan color, naturally.

3) Apple - Magic Mouse - $69 - Apparently simple, but remarkably sophisticated, courtesy of multi-touch sensor enabled mouse. Watch the video to be convinced quickly.


4) Ommegang Brewery - 10th Anniversary Gift Pack - $23.99 - Satisfy any beer lover with this set from Cooperstown, NY based Ommegang Brewery. Consisting of three 750 ml bottles of their favorites: Hennepin, Three Philosophers and Chocolate Indulgence. Also included is a logo glass, this might seem expensive for beer, but I consider this a bargain.



5) LL Bean - 8" Bean Boots w/ Goretex and Thinsulate - $134 - "Keeping Feet Dry for 95 Years" is no small feat for a pair of boots. Freeport, Maine based LL Bean's signature product, discussed everywhere, but a favorite of mine is by my fellow blogger L.A.S. of Sartorially Inclined. These are one of the most stylish yet utilitarian gifts you can give, unisex and useful. Personally, I have had a pair of these since I was a child, couldn't make it through Boston slushfest (November - March) without them.



6) Field Notes - Colors Subscription of Notebooks - $129 - As a huge fan of Field Notes and pocket notebooks in general, this is an AWESOME gift. I have always wanted to pull the trigger on the colors subscription, which if you read the image above gives you 24 pocket notebooks over the course of the year, 6 of 4 different shades. While I admit that's a fairly high price, these notebooks are the business! Cool details, great quality and always by my side. Moleskine is a viable alternative, also ATL recommended!


7) Supreme - Suede Front Sweater - $179 - The only word to describe this sweater/jacket is RAD. I love the vintage styling, and although it is a small percentage acrlyic, which I usually avoid on principal, I want this sweater so bad. As of now, only available in store, but I assume it will become available before 12/25 on their online shop. Supreme usually puts out one or two dark horse pieces per season, and this is definitely one of them. If you have an art collector on your Christmas list, instead grab him a Damien Hirst x Supreme dot deck, available Monday (11-23)!



8) Clarks Originals - Wallabee Weaver Moccasin - ~$120 - Available across the pond only for now, this revival of a classic Padmore & Barnes design has been making me salivate for months now. I have the original, which I also got from a fellow in London, and although they are getting old, they are still one of my favorite shoes. I may rationalize myself into buying the brown as I already own the sand. Either way, this item of footwear is a sture thing: stylish, comfortable, and timeless.

9) Freestyle Games - DJ Hero Bundle - $98 - Everyone has heard of Guitar Hero, but the newest offering DJ Hero allows the "Disk Jockey" to mix two tracks together from a massive pool of R&B, Hip Hop, Techno and so forth. Samples and effects can be added in via the unique and proprietary controls that mimic a realistic mixer and fader. Check out the video for a demo!


10) Gold Futures - currently a bargain at $1150/oz- according to Ambrose Evans-Pritchard who says Gold could easily reach $6300, which is the equivalent value that it reached in the 1970s when similar economic conditions spooked central governments into the precious metal. With the Federal Reserve and US Government destroying the dollar's value and likely sparking inflation in the near future, gold is going to continue going up. This gift will be appreciated more than any a few years down the road much more than a savings bond, which will probably lose value for your children or grandchildren by the time they cash it.