sartorial choices

Timeless or contemporary?  That’s a wardrobe decision often overlooked when a fellow lays out his suit and tie combination on the bed. There isn't a right and wrong answer; my point is that it makes sense to consider what exactly is you are trying to accomplish with your outfit. Sounds lame? Yes, absolutely. But if you care remotely about the way your suit looks, it's an easy way to dress yourself. Both are sophisticated but there’s a clear distinction between choosing a clean-cut classic look (with a modern twist) or going with what’s "in the now". I’m coming to a place with my suit and tie outfitting which begins with that simple question. And what really is the look of the moment? Without picking up the most recent Esquire, let me share my thoughts. I recently explained to a good friend that multi-patterned ensembles have become the look of the day. Three to four patterns are totally acceptable if executed properly (and that doesn't even include your socks). Your shirt, your tie, your pocket square (and suit) can all work cohesively with unique colors and patterns . And again, without breaking out copies of gentlemen's magazines, it feels like we are cycling through the seventies right now - and I hope it lingers for a little while longer. This is a complete 180 from just a dozen years ago when a combined monochrome shirt and tie were considered best (see: Philbin, Regis during his Who Wants to Be a Millionaire era). Even with a timeless look, you are most likely to tap into some seventies sensibilities right now. (There's a good chance you'll be pairing your crisp white shirt with a checked tie). But I repeat, one is not better than the other. Just make sure you choose. You are the captain of your fate!  For our dear friends’ Tom and Jenn’s wedding? I elected to dress up a polka-dotted cotton tie from Ernest Alexander and built a dizzying pattern ensemble with a striped Hugo Boss shirt. The complete outfit transformed the tie from hipster malaise into a bold and dramatic look. And just so I didn’t blue myself too much, I elected to go with a standout plaid pocket square.  More thoughts on pocket squares some other time. Thanks for stopping by.

tokyo 2012 photo bomb

This couldn’t be more tardy. I’m finally sharing some photos of the Tokyo leg of our Korea/Japan trip from October 2012. And I’ve actually written about some of it already – photos from Korea, the sushi meal of a lifetime and this um, unfortunate little accident on the way to the airport. Emmelle walking through a Tokyo subway station Elevated view of the Harajuku station More Harajuku madness. Shoulder to chest contact is perfectly normal here Sake tribute at Yoyogi Park Tuna at Tsukiji Fish Market Udon. It can be delicious. But not in mainland USA Cocoon Tower in Shinjuku I rarely post pictures of us together on this blog. This is not one of those times. This is to share the refreshing Suntory Malt's beer that was my go-to adult beverage during our Tokyo stay

royal caribbean cruise to the um, caribbean

Seven day family trip with port destinations in:

• Labadee, Haiti
• Falmouth, Jamaica
• Cozumel, Mexico

More thoughts to come on this one.

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photos from seattle

Some photos to accompany the Seattle video posted a few weeks ago. Enjoying the Seattle skyline from Elliott Bay Shipping ports intrigue me. Especially after finishing the second season of The Wire not too long ago. Salmon for sale at the famed Pike Place Market Emmelle enjoying a Dungeness crab-filled brunch. Blue trees in downtown Seattle. I'm not going to bother researching why. Thanks for stopping by!

seattle weekend

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day five of ten on the east coast

day four of ten on the east coast

After pounding a few beers with co-workers near Penn Station, I took the Acela train down to Union Station in Washington D.C. to connect with my fave cousin, Eddie Money Thursday evening. Among the few places that we hit during the night, the highlight was a whisky bar called Jack Rose where I spotted the Ardbeg Galileo. This single malt recently took top honors at the recent World Whiskies Awards. Considering that the previous year’s winner was Yamazaki 25, this bottle must be pouring something fierce at a meager 12 year age expression. The two ounce pour was reasonably priced considering its recent achievement, so we had to get our hands on it. Side note: Our server did not know anything about this whisky. I imagine a groundswell of new demand once word spreads about this coronation. Ultimately, I'm trying to say that our purchase was a great one. How was it? Good – recognizable Ardbeg peat, citrus, mild sweetness, and most importantly, incredibly balanced. The other highlight? Stumbling back to Eddie Money’s house to sip on a hard-to-find sour mash bourbon called Black Maple Hill. BMH has been building a cult following in recent years, which makes it difficult to find a bottle for a reasonable price. Money seems to be able to get it relatively easily on the east coast. How was it? It was good, sour. It would be a great everyday sipper to have on the whisky shelf. Of the ten part series currently being documented, chapter four begins a three day debacle of drunken debauchery. Thanks for stopping by!

day three of ten on the east coast

In short, an extremely long (yet successful) day, highlighted by a worthwhile dinner. The day started in the office, prepping and rehearsing for an afternoon pitch. The prospective client is about an hour west in New Jersey and the meeting went smoothly - no material hiccups to speak of. On the way back to the city, I hopped on another call for the west coast and remained in our office past 8pm before heading out to dinner. It was a long day for sure, but it’s easier to stomach these things when (1) you’re on the road, and (2) you've completed a successful meeting. A co-worker was thoughtful enough to make a dinner reservation at Ma Peche, one of the restaurants in the David Chang Momofuku portfolio. Dinner was terrific, no material complaints, but I was a little confused about the overall vision or direction of the food (I actually don't even know what I mean by that). Nevertheless, David Chang remains my hero, and I was pleased to check off another one of his restaurants on my “must-eat” list. I was happiest when his famous pork buns came to our table - a sure indication that we were dining within the walls of the Momofuku empire. The absolute best thing we ate, and a dish that had me banging my fist on the table in pleasant astonishment, was a foie gras with sarsaparilla, malt and brioche. What a delight. One other thing. Manhattan is obviously expensive, and sometimes, laughably so. Among several prices in the ridiculous zone, Ma Peche pours a Yamazaki 18 for $50. I was drinking this same thing at a hotel bar for half the cost earlier in the week. I really need to get my hands on a few of these bottles before it starts to retail for over $200. It’s going to happen. Thanks for stopping by!

day two of ten on the east coast

So night one actually ended with a trip to the hotel bar and a dram of Yamazaki 18 – a single malt that I’m currently seeking for my home collection (and is getting exceedingly difficult to find). I thought the $25 pour at a hotel bar of all places was a fantastic price. Day two consisted of some heavy planning and rehearsal for a new business pitch for the following day. As such, I wasn’t interested in getting into any sort of trouble, so I sadly ended my evening early by grabbing some (not-so-great) takeout Japanese food and eating in my hotel room. It’s one of the more pathetic things that you can do – eating by your lonesome in your tiny room. I tried really hard to get some rest but this proves more and more difficult. As I get incrementally older, I find jet lag getting more severe. These are small things that I notice about how my body is starting to breakdown. And I don’t mean that dramatically, just simply that there are subtle physical changes taking place if I pay close enough attention. All pretty exciting stuff, right? Life and times of GreensandBrowns on the road. More importantly, let’s talk airline miles! I think I’ll be adding another NYC trip to this list very soon:

day one of ten on the east coast

I’m writing from 30,000 feet, en route to JFK. This flight commences a work trip that spans 10 days; two New York trips on back-to-back weeks that I have elected to turn into one with a personal trip to Washington D.C. sandwiched in between. I've traveled this itinerary before, but it wasn't nearly as long as this current one. In fact, this is the longest work related trip that I've ever taken, and becomes the longest amount of time that Emmelle and I have spent apart (hold your tears). I rarely write about my work travel, but this is a unique one simply for its length. I'll try to capture a daily synopsis. I already know that my posts will be somewhat lacking; I'm not traveling with a camera and I already know that I'll be too tired/inebriated for any substantive documentation. But that's ok, let's see if I can commit to this. Today, there’s no need to wait until the end of the day for a summary. My flight will arrive around midnight, I’ll get into my hotel room around 1:30 and I’m hoping to get a handful of hours of sleep. Spoiler alert: not likely. I'll think really seriously about leaving my hotel room and finding some fast food, only to come to my senses and let myself go a little hungry (this actually summarizes about 75% of my work travel experiences in total). See you tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!