Digging The Past

A sampling of vintage urban artifacts, Past Objects provides a glimpse into the past through historical relics unearthed from the landfills, construction sites, privies, and cisterns of New York City.

Whether it’s antique liquor bottles and opium vials or elaborately carved pipes, porcelain dolls, and obsolete tools, amateur archeologist Scott Jordan has been digging for the past since the 1960s. Featuring photography by J.K. Putnam, Jordan’s book is a window into the daily life of early American city-dwellers, as well as a guidebook for modern metropolitan diggers in search of buried treasure.

“Automobile head lamp (circa 1900) from a Queens landfill” 

“Hardwood pulley wheels (circa 1760s-80s) from sailing ships docked in lower Manhattan, found at Old Slip and Front Street, Manhattan” 

Telling the tales of  NYC's past through 

recovery and restoration.

via Flavorwire

Small Efforts Big Gestures

When colleagues and friends go to the trouble to entertain this holiday season, take care to show them you are grateful for their efforts. Arrive with a small gift in hand and dress for the occasion. Whatever that dress might be, it did the trick if your hostess greets you with a "don't you look good" gleam in her eye.
Think of it as saying thank you with your dress.

Couldn't agree more. 

via A Suitable Wardrobe

It's All In Your Head

AKG

Having recently reconnected with 

our collection of LPs,

I cannot emphasize enough, the importance

 and pleasure of a good pair of 

headphones. 

Beats By Dr Dre

Eskuche

Of course, a sound proof booth wouldn't hurt.

Pursuing Passions

Based in an Oakland warehouse studio, ROY Denim's a one-man operation run by a metal fabricator named Albert (JK, it's Roy), who's applied his obsessive attention to detail and process into crafting stylish, ultra-comfortable jeans, made-to-order to your exact specifications using heritage machinery that guarantees tip-top construction, like the Bay Bridge,

 if it were replaced by something with tip-top construction. 

He only rocks one silhouette: a classic-fit, narrow-legged number made from 14oz American shrink-to-fit cone denim (chosen for both looks and comfort), with five basic pockets, subtle gold stitching, and solid copper washers n' "burr" rivets, which have nothing to do with ice, so Gucci Mane need not apply. To cop a pair, follow Roy's ridiculously clear self-sizing guide, which'll show you how to correctly measure your waist (using a tailor's measuring tape, your body, and an old pair of jeans you love), and inseam (using a yardstick and the same jeans); he'll also school you on exactly what kind of post-wear stretch and post-wash shrinkage to expect in each area, because there's nothing 

more embarrassing than ankle shrinkage. 

Roy also can personalize your jeans for a small fee using a turn-of-the-century chainstitching machine.

Roy Denim 

On The Cuff

As men, we don't really have alot of

accessory options- and that isn't 

necessarily a bad thing.

Enter the cufflink, a category

with limitless options.

Classic or novelty, you can never have too many,

Kind of like women and shoes.

via NM 

Intoxicating Read

Neat or On The Rocks?

We have been drinking as long as we have been human, and for better or worse, alcohol has shaped our civilization. 

Drink investigates the history of this Jekyll and Hyde of fluids, tracing mankind’s love/hate relationship with alcohol from ancient Egypt to the present day. Along the way it scrutinizes the drinking habits of presidents, prophets, and barbarian hordes, and features drinkers as diverse as Homer, Ernest Hemingway, William Shakespeare, Al Capone, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. 

The book provides a history of the world’s most famous drinks—and the world’s most famous drinkers. Enthusiasts of craft brews and fine wines will discover the origins of their favorite tipples. Packed with trivia and colorful characters, Drink amounts to a sloshed history of the world.

Make it a double?

David Bowie Rare and Unseen

A documentary cobbled together from interview clips and archival footage finds the legendary rocker and master of reinvention David Bowie meditating on his life and music.

The hour-long film is mostly comprised of two long, hard-to-find interviews: The first, conducted via satellite by the British talk-show host Russell Hardy, shows Bowie at the height of his mid-’70s drug-abuse nightmare, twitching awkwardly and saying things like “I don’t talk to anybody.” But it’s the other conversation, filmed during his late-’90sEarthling period that is truly illuminating. A candid, funny 50-something Bowie discusses everything from the bad behavior evidenced in the earlier interview to the time he spent with Iggy Pop in Berlin to his particular musical obsessions (Harry Partch, Kraut rock).

For more on the documentary as Bowie Links

visit Flavorwire

Velvet Underground

The velvet blazer- chic is, as chic does.

Not so long ago, the velvet jacket was actually something of a cult item; wearing one made you feel part of a small club who understood its louche appeal.

Yes, in some circles, it may have fallen a bit from grace,

thanks to the like of D- listers

such as Hasselhoff, Rourke and Caruso.

Then, suddenly this spring, signs of recovery: a beautiful dark blue number on the Gucci runway; a whole shoot dedicated to the look in British GQ...

For some of us, of course, it has always been a fall /winter

staple, navy, burgundy, black.

White shirt, ascot, cashmere scarf- always welcome company.

 Now, once again it has returned to it's rightful place-

as the perfect go to-

dinner, party or red carpet must have-...for all.

Collars Up

via Start With Typwriters

Collars always up...enough said.

Modern Masters

Tony Curanaj

Painting in oil like a true master, Tony Curanaj makes works that feel so real that, from a glance, you might second-guess yourself. Yes, that is all paint. Working with contemporary subject matter, the New York-based painter has been steadily gaining momentum — most recently he was commissioned by George Lucas to paint a portrait of a Tusken Raider for his book, Star Wars Art: Visions. Never one to take the easy way out, Curanaj paints strictly from life, and individual works can take months to create. On view at Joshua Liner Gallery's booth at Scope are five of his recent works. One of which the artist brought down himself, just to ensure that he had enough time to make it perfect.
via Esquire

The Motor Club

Typical day?

We'll leave that to the eyes of the beholder.

A Man's Man

"I live for myself and answer to nobody"

-Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen personified the “anti-hero” in Hollywood at a time when the emerging counterculture in America was challenging the very definition of what a true “hero” is.  Maybe a better way to look at it is– heroism is an act.  To live an idealistic, heroic life without fault is ultimately impossible.  We all struggle with aligning our beliefs and goals in life with what is truly right.  The fact is there are grey areas that we have to be honest about.  We saw the good and bad in McQueen, and loved him anyway– in fact, we loved him for it.  He was honest about who he was.

He showed his his true grit when pursuing his passions 

for motorcycles and race cars....

but the guy had a natural style with clothing 

that was class, through and through.

Great piece on the man,

highlighting the style, the toys, the icon

over at  The Selvedge Yard

The Law of Success

The Vagabonds: From left to right: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Warren G. Harding, Harvey Firestone

When success guru Napoleon Hill interviewed Andrew Carnegie, inquiring as to the secret of his success, Carnegie replied that it could be traced to the “sum total of the minds” of his business associates–his managers, accountants, chemists and so on. He called this combined brain power a “master mind,” and attributed to it the power of his success.

Hill came to believe that a “Master Mind” was not only the key to Carnegie’s success, but the secret to the success of all great men, the “very foundation stone of all outstanding personal achievements.”

Two brains are better than one and iron sharpens iron. When we gather together with others to throw around ideas, discuss and debate, and receive both criticism and inspiration, we grow and develop as men and foster new ideas while refining our old ones. The choice of one’s associates also influences us in subtle ways; hang around those who are ambitious and going places and you find yourself striving to do likewise; spend time with the pessimistic and lazy and you’ll soon sink to their level. Gathering in Master Mind groups for the express purpose of mutual improvement can take us farther than we could ever have gone alone.

via The Art of Manliness