How I Met Your Mother

This season coming up, I am really looking forward to. It premiers September 24th. This season is the second to last, purportedly. And it is going to be tying up some loose ends and themes in the show, as well as offering more direct clues as to who “The Mother” is.

 

The premise of the show is the main Character Ted Mosby’s (played by Josh Radnor) recountManhattan of events that led up to meeting his children’s mother. The show is narrated by an older Mosby (voiced by Bob Sagat) to his adolescent children. How I Met Your Mother premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.

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The Martini

Shaken, not stirred.

Every man worth his salt knows this line and who to attribute it to. In honor of his upcoming movie I thought we should talk about Bond’s drink of choice, the Martini (as you may already know I have a fascination with all things Bond).

The Martini is traditionally a gin cocktail flavored with vermouth, and occasionally garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Since its inception, the Martini has become one of the most commonly known mixed beverages. If you prefer cocktail onion instead of an olive in your Martini, you would order a Gibson. Others skip the gin all together and opt for vodka instead, thus creating the Vodka Martini. The Martini has been called”the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet “and “the elixir of quietude”. Winston Churchill was said to whisper the word ‘Vermouth’ to a freshly poured glass of gin. Dorothy Parker expressed her opinion: “I like to have a martini/two at the very most. /Three, I’m under the table. /Four, I’m under my host”.

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Turkish Coffee

It seems that it wont be long and the weather will be getting cooler. it makes me think of one of my favorite drinks. Of course it doesnt have to be cool outside to drink turkish coffee, but it helps.Turkish coffee is a style of serving coffee. This style is found the world over, but has it origins in  in the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, and the Balkans.
 
Turkish coffee is famed for the manner in which it is prepared. It is made using an ibrik, or a small coffee pot. Sugar and cardamom are added during the brewing process, not after, so there is no need for a serving spoon or stir stick. Cream or milk is never added to Turkish coffee, and the amount of sugar is optional. It is always served in a demitasse cup. When I was at a coffee house in Greektown Chicago I had a server offer to read my fortune. Apparently it is told by the pattern of the coffee grinds on the plate after you turn the cup upside down.  All it told me was that I was out of coffee. Continue reading

Red Bull Air Racing

Air_Race_Istanbul_2006Summer is starting to wind down, but I am not giving up on it quite yet. One “summer” event that I would love to take in live would be the Red Bull Air Race.

Gate

Swell driving shoes-The original Car Shoe

Car Shoe Classic driving shoeCars with nice leather and heated steering wheels may have eliminated the need for driving gloves for the modern driver, but driving shoes certainly still have a place. I haven’t put much thought into driving shoes until recently, even though I have always been aware of them. Now, I’ve found a great driving shoe that you all need to check out.

Not my car…..unfortunately

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Frederick Douglass on Being Swell

Frederick Douglass portraitFrederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. He had a lot to say about the world around him, as well as the people occupying it. Drastic changes were happening in society and culture in his day which helped to thrust him into the role of a great leader. After escaping from slavery, he became a driving force of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and anti-slavery writing. I am going to share with you some of Frederick Douglass’ wit and wisdom on being a man and ultimately being swell. Continue reading

The Proper Care and Feeding of your Summer Style

After writing on mens swim wear, I decided to continue the trend of helping men look swell in summer wear. When it is warm us guys want to be comfortable, and we sometimes have limited options depending on the occasion, so here is a guide to help – The care and feeding of your summer style.

Shorts:

There arent many items in a man’s wardrobe that elicit as much debate as shorts do.I am going to give you some help on wearing them. Shorts are a modern addition to a man’s wardrobe and thus are still finding acceptance.  Although common everywhere in North America, they are not common in many other parts of the world,even where its hot.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries there were many English words for shortened men’s pants. “Knickerbockers” were baggy pants that gathered below the knee, shorter, tighter-fitting trousers that ended at the knee were “knee pants”, and “short pants” sometimes meant knee-pants and sometimes meant shorter garments still. Outside of swimming trunks or boxer shorts most varieties were considered clothing for boys, both unofficially and as part of many school uniforms. Grown men didn’t start wearing shorts beyond a few extremely hot climates around the globe until after World War II.  Soldiers stationed in the tropics were issued short trousers both for comfort and to ration cloth, and this caught on when they came home. Continue reading

Alabama 3

This name may not be familiar to you, but you would recognise their music as soon as you watch the opening credit of She Sopranos. Their song  “Exile on Coldharbor Lane” plays as Tony soprano drives through New Jersey. It’s a great song, and its the title track of their debut album, and they have plenty of other great songs chambered in their sonic pistols. Alabama 3 are not from Alabama, or even the States. They’re from Brixton, London, and there’s a few more than three of them. 

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Omega Seamaster- Bond Skyfall edition

As this year trudges on, I am looking forward to the blockbusters that are coming out in the latter part of the year, specifically the 23rd release of a James Bond film called Skyfall. I am a Bond fan, and I like Daniel Craig in the role, you can be sure I will be seeing this one right away.
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