Freehand, a new hostel brand, has opened its first location in Miami at the former Indian Creek Hotel. The concept is a partnership between the Sydel Group, the developer behind the Ace New York & Palm Springs properties and Yucaipa Companies. Created for a new generation of urban travelers, Freehand will incorporate innovative design, a local food and beverage experience, and a comfortable community atmosphere, all offered at an affordable price.
The interior design was done by Roman & Williams, who have done killer work for the Ace among other.
Sydel and Yucaipa have plans to open at least ten more locations within the next few years.
Flipping through the new issue of Monocle I came across an article about the newly opened Oyster Inn on Waiheke Island in New Zealand. Similar to Ruschmeyer’s in Montauk, the owners put thought into every element. I love places like this.
Inspired by the old world utilitarian ideal of making something that is “built to last,” Izola and Aesthetic Movement have curated a collection of whimsical objects with a masculine sense of antiquity.
Made with great care and attention to detail, this series of functional every day staples is designed to be the perfect gifts for men. The products include flasks, soaps, candles, laundry bags, bamboo toothbrushes, handkerchiefs, shoe brushes, shower rings, ceramics and shower curtains.
The Scottish are drinkers….but beer? Not so much, they’re known for the hard stuff.
since 2003, Edinburgh, Scotland based Innis & Gunn has been brewing oaked beers matured in Bourbon barrels. Discovered by accident when the founders, who originally set out to produce a Scotch whiskey with ale flavors, realized the previously discarded beer used to soak the barrels was like nothing they tasted before. The company has since expanded into a full range of beers.
Innis & Gunn received some criticism when they produced a beer with 18.2% alcohol volume, they responded by producing a line of beers with up to 55% alcohol volume…nice work lads.
Technically Fall has been here for a few weeks, but it hasn’t felt like it in NYC until this evening. The cardigan came out, which means fall cocktails are officially appropriate.
Recipe:
1.5 oz. Bourbon
.5 oz. maple syrup
.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
shake with ice in cocktail shaker.
Serve in cocktail glass
Unhappy with the available options, Taylor Huber and Brooks Reitz set out to create the perfect tonic, and thus, the perfect Gin & Tonic. Handcrafted in South Carolina (and named after the founders grandfather) Jack Rudy uses ingredients like lemongrass, orange peel and quinine. Add to your next cocktail for a proper kick.
Started in 2009 by brother and sister Tyler and Kari Morris, Morris Kitchen is a hand crafted syrup company based in Brooklyn, NY. Their signature and original product, Ginger Syrup, makes a damn fine Dark & Stormy. The brand has since extended into a range of syrup offerings perfect for cooking and cocktails such as Lemon, Apple Cider and Rhubarb.
They hit the mark on every aspect…I see them expanding into other categories very soon.
Developed in 1858 by Landis Mason as a food preservation device, The original Mason Jar was a marvel of home economics. It allowed people to easily preserve food and see what they stored thanks to the transparent manganese-bleached glass, which wasn’t common at the time.
Today, the Mason Jar is still being used for food storage, but they’re also being re-purposed in every way possible from a cocktail glass to a picture frame. Not only do they look cool, but they sell for about $2 a pop.
A g&t or Dark & Stormy will always do the trick, but summer is a great time to pull out some classic liqueurs and introduce a few less-played, and very refreshing, staples into your drink rotation.
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.
