Skip and I have a great Date Night surprise for you in the New Year. But for now, check out the preview on Skip’s blog Alex Grant. And a special thank you to Fred, Steve, Emily, and Penfield!
Monthly Archives: December 2010
Linekin Bay Woodworkers
Joseph Anthony Jose is an artisan of yachts, fine cabinetry, and handcrafted furniture. He’s also the father of my boyfriend, so I’ve been lucky to see his work first hand (and inherit a piece or two). Their old sea captain’s home in Boothbay, ME is filled with glistening exotic wood and rosewood in the forms of custom kitchen cabinetry, a dining room table, picture frames, a bed frame – all like pieces of art. Furniture and cabinetry are simply not made with this much care and expertise anymore. Maybe that’s because there are few and far between woodworkers like Joseph whose known woodworking for most of his life. His career began as early as high school summers spent at a piano factory in the Bronx during the early 70′s. Shortly after he began working for Paul E. Luke Yacht Builders in East Boothbay, building 30′ to 65′ yachts designed by Sparkman & Stevens and Ole Nelson. He later joined Hodgdon Boat Builders where Joseph quickly became acknowledged as an expert boat builder and excellent woodworker. While working for renowned furniture maker Anthony Giagetti in the 80′s, Joseph refined his woodworking experience crafting high end furniture in art deco styles with exotic woods. Joseph’s career continued to grow as he acted as manager at Knickerbocker Wood Works, working with architects and homeowners for high end custom woodworking projects from a curved stair case to a carved door. For the past two decades, Joseph has run his own shop, Linekin Bay Woodworkers. His custom woodworking encompasses everything from custom yacht interiors, to custom furniture and cabinetry of every kind, to whitehalls, and even to something as simple and beautiful as a wooden spoon (made for his son and me for Christmas). By remaining a small business, Linekin Bay Woodworkers brings the amount of focus, knowledge, technique, and personal care that is uncommon this day and age. If you see one of Joseph’s pieces in person, it speaks for itself. It will become a part of your home and life as a functioning piece of art. Click here to see more of his impressive portfolio and one of his recent projects of renovating the interior an old school bus into an overnight camper.
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Happy Holidays!
My ideal ride is a Toyota Land Cruiser filled with Christmas trees.
Happy holidays everyone and enjoy the fresh pow today if you’re in the North East!
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Date Night with Alex Grant: A Christmas Story
You can’t have A Christmas Story without involving the glowing leg lamp. Of course there’s the Red Rider, but that’s too easy and we’ve all seen it before. Too easily forgotten is the holiday turmoil of Ralphie’s old man and what he really wanted for Christmas that year (to some, the leg lamp may be considered just as dangerous as a bb gun). So I decided to put together a look for men (young and old) to channel their old man’s classic getup. You can’t go wrong with some woolens and a cardi. When the neighbors dogs are causing a ruckus and you have to throw on your goloshes overshoes to tromp through the snow and yell indiscernible curses at them, you’ll know that you look good – and that you won the major award. You may want to keep a secret stash of glue somewhere once you bring the lamp into the house though. I can’t guarantee that your lady friend won’t pull a sly one like Ralphie’s mom did. Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy the weekend with friends and family and don’t forget to download Gabe’s playlist here!
Bonobos Tie, Orvis Cashmere Sweater (shown with Orvis wrinkle-free button front shirt), Woolrich Washable Malone Wool Pants, LaCrosse Galoshes, The Leg Lamp,
Date Night with Alex Grant: A Christmas Story
As promised we have a special Date Night Christmas edition this week, complete with a killer soundtrack from our good friend Gabe. First off, we’d like to wish you all a very blessed and happy Holiday with family and friends. We’d also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for our readers and those of you who come back every weekend to check out our Date Night posts. Enjoy your Christmas eve, watch A Christmas Story, and take some style nods from Ralphie has Skip had done here with this great winter look. And don’t forget to download Gabe’s winter playlist that you can jam to while baking, decorating the tree, or downing some more eggnog.
Orvis Jacket, Filson Leather Mittens, Orvis Cords, Barbour Scarf
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Christmas Fruitcake with Apothecary Fox
And we’re back with another amazing holiday recipe from my good friend Sarah of Apothecary Fox. What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a delicious fruitcake! It’s a very traditional Christmas desert, especially for us Vermonters. You really can’t beat the perfect combination of chunky fruits with sweat and fancy frosting (by the way, I’ve never seen a fruitcake as well dressed as Sarah’s!). Click here for Sarah’s delectable recipe. Be sure to click through the link on her recipe to the New England holiday story Favor Johnson which tells the tale of how fruitcake is used by the town to show goodwill and gratitude. Happy baking to all, and to all a good fruitcake meal!
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The Christmas List by Brad of CWAC
Brad, the founder and editor of the great site Commerce with a Conscience, has kindly shared with us his Christmas list for this year. He’s easily the best pro out there at finding socially responsible brands that offer clothing and accessories that you’ll look good in (and not like a heap of hemp). Not only is Brad one of the sharpest dressers I know, he probably sleeps better at night than all of us knowing that he does his share for the environment. Take a nod from his Christmas list and add some or all of his suggestions to your own for a more green and happy holiday!
Epaulet Buttondown Oxford Shirt
If you don’t own any Epaulet shirts, you’re missing out. The fabrics are great, the construction is top notch, and the fit is spot-freaking-on. Their new Blue oxford is made in the USA from a beefy Japanese Pima cotton oxford cloth, and finished with natural trocas shell buttons. Every well-rounded wardrobe needs at least one blue oxford, and this is one of the best out there.
The Ivy Crew Sweaters from New York’s Left Field are made from kitten-soft Canadian Merino wool in one of the last remaining sweater factories in Queens, NY. Cut slim, but still heavy enough to keep you warm, the sweaters feature a classic wide – or “Ivy” – crew neck and raglan shoulder detail, giving it a great old-timey feel (think a 1940s university sweater, but without the big school letter on the chest).
The Gustav chinos from Denmark’s Knowledge Cotton Apparel are responsibly made in the EU from low-impact dye treated organic cotton, and feature a slim cut, and medium-low rise. They also boast one of the best pant colorways I’ve seen this season.
Warby Parker for Steven Alan Fillmore Glasses
For the uninitiated, Warby Parker combines good looks and good deeds. Their all-crystal Fillmore glasses (part of the Steven Alan capsule collection), are crafted from plant-derived acetate, and offer great classic style, but with a Steven Alan twist. And, for every pair purchased, a second pair is donated to a child in need.
Geier Pile-Lined Deerskin Suede Gloves
The Pile-Lined Deerskin Suede Gloves from Geier are painstakingly handcrafted in Centralia, WA from vegetable-tanned deerskin. Lined with synthetic poly pile, they’re as warm as they are handsome, and will keep your hands toasty for many winters to come.
Thorogood 6 Inch Moc Toe Boots
The Thorogood 6 Inch Moc Toes from Wisconsin’s venerable Weinbrenner Shoe Co. are one of the best bang-for-your-buck boot options around. Expertly crafted in an employee-owned, ISO 900 certified facility, the boots are made from vegetable-tanned American leather, and feature a US-made non-slip / non-skid Vibram wedge sole, weatherproof Goodyear storm welt and a fiberglass shank for added stability and support.
There are only three things you need to know about the Bulky Knit Hats from Oregon’s Columbiaknit. 1) They’re 100% cotton. 2) They’re made in the USA. And 3) They cost less than $5 apiece. And there you have it.
I usually don’t like messenger-style bags, but leave it to the good folks at Archival Clothing to change that. 22 oz, eco-friendly waxed cotton twill body, British mil-grade webbing straps, Horween chromexcel closure and accents, and cut and sewn in an employee-owned factory in Springfield, OR – this is one you’ll be passing down to the grandkids.
Gifts Galore and Cupcakes
International Playground with a view of one of the Symmetry Scarves
guests enjoying the delicious raw and vegan cupcakes
Brevity (left) and Laura Lombardi (right)
a great hat and some great jewelry
I was able to attend the opening reception for Gifts Galore and Cupcakes this Friday night and admire beautiful jewelry and accessories, eat delicious vegan cupcakes, sip champagne, and chat with some great people. The holiday event is curated by Jessica of The Shiny Squirrel and hosted by the very cool shop International Playground. I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to meet Jessica and chat with some of her friends. She did a fabulous job putting together the event and the shop is the perfect local for it. It’s the last day of the event, so if you are in the area, be sure to swing by 13 Stanton Street (open 12-8pm) to get some Christmas shopping done thanks to the talented artisans involved including Digby & Iona, Elizabeth Knight, Symmetry Goods, Thief and Bandit, and Ursa Major.
Date Night Christmas Special Preview
Hello our loving readers! Date Night is on a field trip to New York City this weekend so will not be posting. In the meantime enjoy the reblog of Skip‘s Charlie Brown look from last weekend and get excited for next week’s Date Night Christmas Special!
Gifts Galore & Cupcakes
The very cool Jessica of the Shiny Squirrel is presenting an awesome Holiday event this weekend at International Playground on Stanton St. in NYC. There’s an amazing lineup of artisans who will be present and selling their wares. Don’t miss it! I’ll be at the reception so hope to see you all there!
AK Vintage
I’m in love with the leather and vintage metal jewelry collections from AK Vintage. Designer Anna Korte founded AK Vintage in 2002 out of Portland, OR. She is inspired by a sustainable solutions and all of her pieces are handmade in Portland from recycled, vintage or locally made or found materials. I’m in love with the supple recycled leather and how it juxtaposes with the vintage metal findings. Whether the pieces are decidedly organic with feather shapes or geometric with triangles and squares, each one is a beautiful representation of nature. Besides her natural surroundings, Korte uses poetry and illustration as motivation for each of her collections, giving them names such as Walt Whitman and Khalil Gibran. Above are some pictures of only a few of my favorite pieces.
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Nor’easter Knits
I love when you serendipitously meet someone who is incredibly cool and talented and it makes you realize how small this world really is. That is how I met Alex of Nor’easter Knits. Alex reached out to me upon bumping into my blog (easily enough as N’East Style and Nor’easter Knits have a thing or two in common). I was thrilled when he introduced me to his new brand of beautiful knitwear. The brand is nautically inspired by favorite cork board images of authentic New England fishermen which were culled from vintage bookstores (you can find these on the website). Each piece is made by a knitter in Maine and the wool is sourced locally whenever possible. For the winter of 2010, Nor’easter Knits offers two unisex styles that are truly versatile for the cold New England months. The Snood Hood, an alpaca/merino wool blend that is spun in Maine, and the Turtleneck Cowl, made of pure superfine merino wool. I have had the Snood for a few weeks now and can honestly say I’ve worn it every other day. It offers the warmth of a massive wool scarf without the itch and extra bulk. And the packaging that Alex has designed enhance the knits so much more than the typical bags or boxes. You’ll receive your lovingly knit Snood or Cowl in a brown paper coffee bag with the beautiful Nor’easter Knits logo which is inspired by Zephyrs, personifications of the wind that appeared on early maps. With the excellent craftmanship and beautiful presentation, these knit pieces are the perfect present to a loved one . . . or to yourself.
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Date Night with Alex Grant: A Charlie Brown Christmas
For part two of Date Night with Skip for Charlie Brown’s Christmas I put together a look for Linus. As we all know, Linus is quite a young fellow at heart so I matured his look a bit with some items a grown man would value during the cold winter months. And the security blanky has been upgraded to a beautiful wool throw from Swans Island up in Maine – perfect to wrap around the shoulders of your loved one when it gets chilly out.
L.L. Bean Signature Field Coat, Orvis Supercords, Swans Island Blanket, Waffle Knit Hat, Clarks Desert Boots
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Date Night with Alex Grant: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Skip was inspired while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas today with his adorable children – and it shows with this great outfit. I absolutely love the brick red Penfield jacket with the dark rinse denim, blucher mocs, and stormy kromer hat. The perfect winter look for a young boy or an older man.
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Whispering Pines
Whispering Pines ‘Things for the Cabin’ is a great online source for rustic wares, for you and for your home. Their selection is the perfect blend of old cabin favorites like fir balsam incense and handmade deerskin bags from the trading post. They also curate two great blogs, Explore the Cabin and the Wedding Blog to round out your shopping experience with some inspiration and good reading. A family run business since 1988, this great American catalog store relies on the family and friends who contributed to the company – a business model I’m always happy to support. And around the holidays, there are plenty of great present ideas for the men and women. All the above are on my Christmas list!
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The Rustic Holiday Table
I’m not really one for the typical red, green, and santa & co. when it comes to holiday decorating tactics. I’ve always preferred decorations like little wooden bearded figurines from Germany and vintage glass ornaments. They make your hearth a little more rustic and cozy. The ladies of New Brahmin made my ideal holiday table setting, featured on Dig Boston. Sourcing local stores like J.E.M and Hudson, they created the perfect blend of holiday spirit and winter woodsman. I’m going to try my best to replicate this for our little table at home. But the real problem is restraining myself . . . I may end up with an entire apartment looking like a rustic holiday wonderland.
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South End Holiday Night Out
If you are a fellow Boston South Ender like me, don’t miss this fantastic holiday event that’s happening in our backyards tonight from 4-8pm! Click here for more information about what businesses are participating.
The Two Finger Ring
I’ve been looking for a little more rock and roll in my wardrobe and what better way to introduce it smoothly than a sleek two finger ring. I’ve had my eye on the Surface to Air brushed aluminum one at Uncle Pete’s Shop on Charles Street. Last week I tried it on and instantly felt a little more ballsy. With the added confidence, I plucked up and tried on the gun silhouette two finger ring. Although the latter would prove to be more handy in a tight spot down a dark alley, the lightweight aluminum one is just what I need. It’s now officially on the Christmas list.
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Stamp of Camaraderie at Uncle Pete’s Shop
Great turn out for the Stamp of Camaraderie event at Uncle Pete’s Shop
Stamp of Camaraderie t-shirts
The man of the hour, Max
The scene
This past Friday, Uncle Pete’s Shop on Charles St. hosted the launch of Maxime Hilaire’s new clothing line, Stamp of Camaraderie. Max, a Boston blogger and artist, introduced his exciting new endeavor with a perfectly edited line of t-shirts for men and women and canvas totes. The event had a great turn out and I look forward to seeing what’s next from this creative gent and his Stamp of Camaraderie.
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