Look

Rendez-Vous Au..... Café de Flore

Debut en 1887

Il incarne un style de vie qui fait du sens.

Il ya une certaine ambiance que je ne peux pas expliquer. C'est peut-etre l'historie qui se cache derriere les miroirs.  

Ms Digestif

What's in your pocket ?

The goal of a survival kit is simplicity with maximum effectiveness while combining only the necessities in a light weight form. A survival kit merely as an example in that every gentlemen should be equipped with a couple items to assist him to thrive in any situation, with in reason, that life may snowball at him. By no means does anyone want to see one walking around with pockets jiggling with change and bulging with every little necessity one needs. I suppose the world needs these people but don't be one of them.
Above are the few things I never leave my apartment without. The items in the picture should not be foreign to most but it is how one does it and the detail put into them.

1. iPhone 3G - A clean, simple look, reliable with no sliding keyboards or moving parts.

2. Lodis - A thin, smaller wallet that will not take up to much space and perfectly nest one's credit cards, i.d., and misc. cash.

3. Jack Black - If you want to use them correctly get this lip balm.

4. Parker - A vintage pen I like to carry around. Never trust a phone or a Bic pen with teeth marks for taking down a number. Resort to a durable pen and a cocktail napkin if handy. It is old fashioned, classic and reliable.

5. Hotel Chantelle - Matches of the last lounge I visited.

6. Struhrling - A Swiss watch should be on every gentlemens' wrist. Spare us from the digital calculator watches.

7. Apartment Keys - No park benches please.

Warning: These items are tailored to urban living. Not recommended for a rural survival kit.

Style into Formality

If one does not, one should.

Café Habana

.....a multitude of small delights constitutes happiness. 

~Charles Baudelaire

The Importance of Being Clean

The apartment in which one lives is a direct reflection of one's self.

The perfect truth is keep it clean. For a gentlemen it comes with the territory.  A mediocre apartment can have it's appeal amplified if kept neat with a simple, yet suave decor. Never be the one to apologize to someone for an unkempt apartment before they step in. It is equivalent to purchasing one's deli meats at 7Eleven. I digress. The person will probably say, 'That is okay, I don't mind' and they will never return again. Now does one want to be just okay ? Or, would one rather be great and have a place that fetches compliments ? Remember not everyone can afford a place on the 30th floor of some sky rise with central air, a doorman, a rooftop deck and a view of Central Park. However, one can make the best of what one has.

Vermuth

Before a meal, after work or during the witching hour, one should broaden their scope to the pleasures of Carpano Antica. This Italian sweet vermouth is worlds apart from the environs of Martini & Rossi. Try yourself an apéritif. 

Correct Enjoyment
3 oz - Carpano Antica Formula
Orange Twist
One Ice Cube

And Alfred Hitchcock used to inform the bartender to just waived his gin shaker over the bottle of vermouth.....if he only had known.

Second Glance

What can arouse more excitement than a scarf and Champagne ? This subtle approach displays an onwards style and sophistication than one is not born with but carefully adopts. One sees a man walking down a lamp post lit street, smoking the oxygen, carrying a bottle of Champagne with his scarf ruffling in the piercing air and the external curiosity begins. Where is he going ? What are his intentions ? Could I ever find myself at the same place as him ?  And before there is any resolution he is gone.

Ms Apéritif

Adult Carousel

Abraço

If things have become stale and one craves a buzz try this drip. The focus is quality. No free Wi-Fi, no lounging because there are no chairs, in fact the employee work space is larger than the customer standing room. It is not a divulgance that this East Village cafe vibrates on coffee beans and pastries. Between the zaftig, rich espressos and the olive oil cakes there is not much one needs after this. Just whisper Abraçoooooo.......

Les Armes

                           1.Velvet Slipper                             3. Combat Boot

                                   2. Brogue                                      4. Deer Skin Chelsea

                                                                                               

Mode of Transport

Preferred is the scooter.  A man that has does not have to rely on others for transportation shows independence, appeal, and stability. Alone, he comes and goes as he pleases.  A scooter is not a loud, bulky Harley-Davidson with a million moving parts and it is certainly not a crotch rocket in which you have to hold a yoga position to drive.  A scooter belongs to the city.  It is refined, yet amusing, humble and terribly convenient.  Owning a scooter is quite nice but accenting it to one's lifestyle is something completely different.  Now, it is not just about the scooter but even more about the cowboy riding it.  Does one use the scooter only in summer to pick up groceries while wearing cargo shorts and flip flops or does one accent it is with a slicked back hair, a fitted suit and sunglasses with a femme fatale on the back ? I bid for the latter. It may sound like a movie but it is not.  What do you think I did all summer ?

Urban Jet Ski

Reckless: utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action;without caution; careless (usually fol. by of ): to be recklessof danger. 

Driving the scooter in Chicago's desolate 'Loop' at 4 a.m. with a mellow buzz can be rather transcendent. Now, if one can manage a beauty on the back to assist with leaning into the turns well, all the merrier.

Refinement at 3 a.m.

I had the honor and pleasure of consuming many wines the evening prior. The notables Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1999 and the Bouchard Aine & Fils Les Bonnes Mares 1957 but I am being unfair.

Purview

What Happened ?

When the Lower East Side was the place to be, when we were allowed to still smoke in bars, when no one knew the lyrics, when independent rock had a focused sound, when The Strokes debuted, 'Is this It', when the myspace band page ceased to exist, before the big label, before the fame, before Carlos D's departure, and everything else.

Titans

During the 1969 filming of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'. A film about two non-heroic legends and a woman. 

Often one can read in GQ, AskMen, etc a reappearing question. 'What makes a man ?' Although the answer to this question is impossible due to various opinions by the sheer population of men on this planet. My definition is in this picture.

ILEGAL MEZCAL

The chairs were small, wooden, slung back.

We stretched out our legs. She tilted

her head back as

she drank.

I leaned forward and kissed her neck.

I did not expect the sharp

taste of earth,

salt, and

gold.

Unknown by most, consumed by few and
viewed by the ill-informed as 'that worm Tequila' is an injustice. 

I first tasted Ilegal at Mayahuel in the East Village. This is a handcrafted, artisanal mezcal grown and made in tradition. Ilegal got its name because it was smuggled into Antigua, Guatemala from Oaxaca, Mexico by John Rexer to be poured at his cafe, Café No Sé.  Ilegal was also blocked from the United States market due to its absurd name....  In order to appease TTB regulations, 'Mezcal Joven, Mezcal Repasado, or Mezcal Anejo ' is printed largely on the label as the pseudo name but sure enough our beloved Ilegal appears underneath in smaller print, 'Produced for Ilegal Mezcal'. 

  

* Lot 001 Joven 

So Cold, So Sweet, So Fair

Billie Holiday called him 'Pops.' King Oliver called him 'Dipper Mouth.' The British called him 'Satchmo.'

If this number does not shake the core of your being. Well then I do not know what will.

New York Fashion Week 2010 ~ Yigal Azrouël

Spring 2011 Runway Show 

No schooling or formal training, with talent alone, Yigal Azrouël coasted into the New York Fashion World in 1998. Columnists seem to referred to Yigal's style with phrases such as, chic with modern freshness, inventive draping and not a designer to follow the trends. Yigal is soft spoken and a modest individual with always a confident posture about him. He is man that doesn't need to say much for one to understand. Yigal knows his collections are good and if there were a phrase to supersede 'trendsetter' that is the type of person that needs to put on Yigal. I am going to call that type of person an 'avant-gardist with modern freshness.'  

It is a Beautiful Thing

Revealing to All

The perverbial male skirt lift is looking into his refrigerator.  It could be nice, it could be a surprise or it could be repulsive.  But like everything, one needs his necessities.  Obviously, you have the two types of extremes when it comes to filling one's refrigerator.  The 'White Collar' refrigerator consists of lunch meats, Healthy Choice, hot dogs, eggs, milk, condiments, salted/ unsalted butter, Pilsbury Doughboy biscuits and some frozen pizzas in the freezer.  The other extreme is the 'Condiments' refrigerator, which is self explanatory.

The necessities being the Krug and the espresso container in this particular example.  A conclusion may be drawn that this particular person does not spend much time in his apartment and treats the city in which he lives in like his own backyard.  The chilled Champagne displays class and shows preparation for the later hours.


One never knows when a subway will pass underneath a street vent and rush out hot air that turns a lady's lovely Spring dress into a broken umbrella....revealing to all.....so be prepared to impress.

Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

Échelle des Crus currently deems 17 sites in Champagne Grand Cru worthy.  The Karl Lagerfeld of these sites is Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.  Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is the most southern Grand Cru of  Champagne and located in the department of the Cote des Blancs, which holds in it's nest 4 other Grand Crus; Chouilly, Cramant, Avize and Oger. Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is 100% chardonnay fruit that grows on slopes of chalk, limestone and fossilized sea shells.  Of the three grapes allowed in Champagne chardonnay is known for its precision, freshness and ageablity.  For example, when a Champagne bottle is labelled 'Blanc de Blancs' you can be assured this is only produced from chardonnay. Now, with this fresh information do not abuse it by asking the next sommelier at a restaurant "Do you have any Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne?' You will embarrass yourself, not impress your date, the sommelier will give you an odd look and hit you with a question beyond your knowledge or take advantage of your wallet. The reason being, is that wines exclusively made from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger are rare, single vineyard and have a vintage stamped on the label. If you want a ballpark figure, some bottles will cost you as much as a fully loaded Citroen C4 or just check The French Laundry's winelist for Salon.

As it is important to be well versed in Champagne, it is equally important to pronounce it correctly.
Lou - Men-Knee - Sir - Oh-Jay

Viper's Dream

It is not even an opinion but a fact that Django Reinhardt is the greatest guitarist. His improvisions, sheer talent, dedication and his casual way of life, enough to drive most people mad, made him a prodigy.

Janurary, 23 1910, Jean-Baptiste Reinhardt later given the pet name 'Django' was born. A Manouche Gipsy traveling around Beligum, Northern France and dipping into Germany when times saw fit.  His mother a gypsy entertainer and his father a musical intrusment repairman.  At the age of 12, Django was given a banjo-guitar.  No formal training, Django just had countless idle hours to listen to other musicians, pick at the six-stringed instrument and create his own sound.  Django's reputation grew in Paris, especially around the Red Light District, as a teenage and he recorded his first couple albums with an accordianist Jean Vaisaade. In 1928, Django returned to his caravan and wife after a night of playing.  He thought he heard something later that night in the caravan and used a candle to luminate the room.  He dropped the candle and it instantly caught fire to the confections of flowers in the caravan.  Django saved his pregnant wife but the personal injuries substained caused him to spend time in the hospital.  The doctors wanted to amputate his leg, Django refused so his cousins quickly removed him from the hospital.  Django kept his leg but the tragedy to be was his left hand, the fret board hand.  The pinky and ring finger were burned, scared and paralyzed....

Django returned but this time with a guitar and playing for cafes in the streets of Montmartre with his newly adapted 2 fingers and thumb technique. The rest you can read in a Django biography.

Le Marais

The new trend in Paris is walking in Hermes shoes for 25 miles then tossing them to the street. An urban way of catch and release.

France the Target

France is always the target in the wine world.  Most prominent wine regions try to emulate France in their wine-making techniques in an attempt to knock them off the horse or beat them at their own game. There have been tasting contests in the past, most notable 'The Judgement of Paris' wine tasting in 1972. I do believe that outside wine regions have made up ground on the French but when all is said and done, Napa Valley's Schramsberg Tete de Cuvee 'J.Schram' will never reach the height and precision of Krug's entry level 'Grande Cuvee' mv.

Definition: Champagne, is a wine that must be made up of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.  These varietals can be but do not have to be blended. It must come from the Champagne region of France and anyone that thinks sparkling wine is interchangeable with Champagne has committed blasphemy.
Champagne est ni Cava, ni Prossecco, ni Cremant, ni Franciacorta ni Vin Mousseaux (Sparkling Wine) et etc.  It is worlds apart from any other sparkling wine if you are a person that places an emphasis on the details. It is not difficult to decipher the quality and harmony of Champagne when one tastes it side by side to other sparkling wines. Once one has discovered Champagne there is no need to look back.  Find the desolate corner in your refrigerator and occupy it with wine that is compressed to 6 atmospheres. Be reminded that the cost of wine is not always synonymous of quality.

Thierry Fluteau Blancs de Noirs Brut nv - $29
Bruno Paillard Preimer Cuvee Brut nv - $44
*Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs 'Grand Cru' Brut nv - $45
Ayala Brut Majeur nv - $49
Aubry Premier Cru Brut nv - $49
Jean Lallement Brut Reserve nv - $59
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut nv - $60
Gosset Grand Brut Rose nv - $65
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose nv - $70
Krug Grande Cuvee Brut mv -  $100

It is a challenge to stop after ten suggestions but do not feel limited to these. There is plenty of fine Champagne.

Bespoke

A man of the town, Mr. Aaron Vogel. Talked about by many but seen by a few.  This is a bespoken man. The British term bespoke use to apply only to men that wore properly tailored acquired attire. This would involve a blank canvas approach, with measurements, multiple fittings and original designs by the tailor or client. Now, the word has been abused and placed into industries such as car, furniture, electronics, you name it.  But so that you know where bespoke originates is what will ease me at night.

Mr. Aaron Vogel is not just what meets the eyes.  Fortitude is behind the martini and beneath the suit. He draws the attention of many but only attracts a few.

à souhait

Rouge Basier can be spotted in her vintage 1954 London Fog trench coat, with lined black stockings, red lipstick and writing in her journal at La Belle Hortense si, vous etes chanceux.  She is Parisian and a woman for watchful Princes.  She brings the style, beauty and class, which makes every man suck in their gut and run a comb through their hair. Intimidating, yes. Socially awkward, no. But only a few have the talent to keep up with this one.

The Fitted Man

Fashion fades. Style is eternal. 

Yves Saint Laurent

The reasons are many, why most American men are dying to shed off their suits, like molted snake skin, after a days work.  Reluctantly, this entry is not for them. It is for the men that care. The men that draw comfort from style.  By no means should one follow this as instruction but more as a personal take. $300 with a bit of give is what you need.  Assembled is a classic black suit, nothing special but special when done right.

Top Man & Zara

$100 ~ 'Top Man' Skinny or Slim Two-Button Jacket

$  40 ~ 'Top Man' Skinny or Slim Dress Trousers *Do not go ultra skinny.

$  99 ~ 'Zara' Classic Ankle Boot * A gentlemen should not walk like a duck nor dress like a witch so please avoid shoes that have squared or extremely pointed toe-boxes.  

$  29 ~ 'Zara' dress shirts are typically $59.50 but Zara usually has sales to turn over inventory. Look for the slim cut shirts in colors of white, light blue, pink and black. If you can find these shirts with black buttons, stock up.

$  16 ~ 'Top Man' Black Slim Tie * I don't want to hide behind a fat tie. Aaron Vogel

= $284

Final Touches 

`With the money left over get the suit taken in or hemmed at a tailor if need be.

`If one's watch matches the color of the belt buckle...well that is just a beautiful thing.

`Henriot, 'Cuvee des Enchanteleurs' 1996.

Fate and Reflections

As I usually feel most home in Nolita.  I found myself vagabonding the scenic Greenwich village to keep it fresh. One block comes to mind. A sleepy one with a nonchalant attitude lined with brownstones and beneath it, the youthfully mature Hotel Griffou. It is frightfully old fashioned in it's decorative manner, dimly lit, elegant women bartenders dressed in black and les garcons tied and vested. One does lose sense of time past the two door entrance submerged under the pavement, which depletes any chance of natural light. The theme of multiply dining rooms brings curiosity as Serge Gainsbourg, The Greenhorns and Francoise Hardy rotate through the playlist.  I can not say the pint-sized crowd had much style or swagger but it was an hour too early for most sensible people to be drinking a Hendrick's martini alone. This place is bait for like-minded Dandys and Lappels so Griffou your cocktail and keep a watchful eye for people whose clothes match their moxie.

Le Samouraï

IL N'Y A PAS DE PLUS PROFONDE 

SOLITUDE QUE 

CELLE DE SAMOURAI SI

CE N'EST CELLE D'UN

TIGRE DANS LA JUNGLE....

PEUT-ETRE....

                                            LE BUSHIDO 

                                                         (LE LIVRE DES SAMOURAI)

         This film displays the precision and perfection of an assassin named Jef Costello.  It opens it's curtains to an original proverb and a bird chirping in a lifeless apartment with a lonesome, stoic Costello smoking. The hatted and trenched Costello paces his way through every situation unfazed as though he has overcome the fear of death. There are two women, Jane Lagrange and Valerie. These women protect Costello through what seems to be a pointless commitment, to answer their own questions of curiosity and romance.  The imagery is cold, the police relentless, and the piano driven jazz charming.  Castello displays an apathetic demeanor that spirals to a fate of guile.  Le Samouraï proves sparse amounts of dialogue can whisper volumes when non-verbal cues take over.  This is a film for every gentlemans' repertoire and will lead to a personal self evaluation.  One should appreciate Le Samouraï for it's austere and old fashioned nature reminiscent of a young Burgundy. 

Un film Français de Jean-Pierre Melville. 1967

Half the Toro

     A gentleman must know his cigars for the right reasons. No one wants to hear some highbrow wax poetically for 10 minutes in a social gathering about wrappers, fillers and binders. However, that being the said, one should be aware of the smoke rings he blowith while sipping on a mezcal old-fashioned.

     The question is posed. What is it about a cigar accompanying this beautiful woman ? Does one really want to know, or make up an answer for their personal amusement ? If you did want an answer, you will be denied that satisfaction. An afternoon on the beach was not going to turn into 10 Questions with Charles Lappel on the topic of 'Women Smoking Cigars.' The only thing that came to mind when she pulled the Toro out of her tin cigar holder was to make sure my matches were handy. 

Coming soon...