I hit Boston this weekend with some friends. Prior to this trip, the majority of my time in the Boston area had been spent in Cambridge (with the occasional trip to Newbury Street). Cambridge is a great town on it’s own, but it was nice to dig deep into Boston and really get a taste of the city.
If you’re looking for good Seafood in Boston (and why wouldn’t you be?), look no further than Neptune Oyster. Located in Boston’s North End, this quaint spot hits the mark on every detail. The lobster roll came highly recommended (for good reason). I went hot with butter.
Bobby’s from Boston is probably the best vintage store I’ve ever been to. Amazing men’s clothing and accessories from all eras…and at can’t miss prices. I need to plan another trip and dedicate it entirely to this store.
Craft cocktail bars continue to be the hot trend in drinking culture. Drink is Boston’s best offering. No menu, just tell the bartender what you’re looking for and they’ll craft something specific to your wants and desires. It was a hot day, but I whisky…they worked based off those two points and served me what was probably the best cocktail I’ve ever had.
The bar snacks are pretty killer too.
Ball & Buck is a new shop on high-end Newbury St. It’s a refreshing and relevant break from the designer and chain stores prominent of the block. Stacked high with Bill’s Khakis, Gitman shirting and other brands of that ilk, Ball & Buck only stocks brands that are made in America.
They also operate a one chair barber shop in the back.
Apparently Vince isn’t an ultra-premium tequila guy after all. Adrian Grenier, of Entourage fame, recently co-founded a new beer brand called Churchkey, named after the retro can opener required to open the flat-top cans. Before the invention and acceptance of the pull-tab, this is how all cans were opened. An opener is included with all six-packs of Churchkey.
It looks like PBR just lost the hipster beer award.
Started by a Southern couple, who recently relocated to Boston, Old Try strives to make things that connect people to places. Currently, those things are letterpress posters.
“Since the time it was introduced in the seventeenth century, the modern suit has been about two things: power and sex. If you doubt us, try this simple experiment. Some evening, go to a nice hotel bar where you don’t know anyone, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. The jeans don’t even have to have holes in them, and the t-shirt can be clean. Now, return to the same bar the next evening wearing a nice suit. Take note of the difference in reaction from the bartender and of the other patrons in the bar. Remember them.”- Esquire Style Handbook
If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite brand logo would look like if it were designed by a hipster…you must be a very curious person. You’re also not alone, check out Hipster Branding, a blog that showcases popular corporate logos and applies the simplified/retro, “Hipster”, design philosophy currently trending.
This highly anticipated fifth season of Mad Men is just ten days away. Enjoy the teaser below before Don and the gang return in full (and very dapper) force.
In many cases, it’s very easy and inexpensive to make an aesthetic upgrade. In addition to serving as great water bottles for the dinner table, these air tight bottles look much better on your bar for storing mixers like soda, tonic and juice. Pick them up on the cheap at Crate & Barrel.
The release of Monocle’s March issue also marks the company’s 5th birthday. Check out this video which recaps all brand happenings from print to retail.
It’s safe to say that I’ll still be an avid reader when they celebrate their 50th year.
As the warmer months near (sort of) I find myself starting to plan weekend trips to escape the concrete jungle. I recently stumbled upon a hotel group called King & Grove, which operates two (i hesitate to say “boutique”) hotels in Montauk, Ruschmeyer’s and the Surf Lodge…As well as one in Miami, Tide’s South Beach. With projects currently underway in Brooklyn and Manhattan, they might just be the coolest lodging operation going.
Vintage style barbershops have been popping up at a rapid pace over the past few year. One of the originators of this trend was Rudy’s, which started in the early 1990s during the “grunge” days in Seattle.
Check out this video which documents the story of their humble beginnings.
