New York: Excellent Winter Restaurant Choices

I wanted to write a little about some key restaurants that I took refuge in over the holidays. New York has so many options, however there are some that continue to blow my mind when it comes to food atmosphere and quality.

Commerce

This is simply a west village Gem. Situated on the delightful Commerce Street you step back into the Art Deco period. Caution: it gets very crowded and the service is not perfect, however you simply can’t go wrong with the food. Any occasion, with you mother, boyfriend or girlfriend, or just hanging out, Commerce is the perfect spot! Try the Devil Eggs, Avocado Toast and the Truffle Chicken!

Piora

Formal, inviting and one step away from a Michelin star, this is a high-end restaurant and must be tried. Piora is a tiny spot in a town house on Hudson Street.

The food, presentation and staff are excellent. The menu is limited, however the dishes are always in top form. Try the monkey bread whilst you are looking at the menu and finish with a banana rum at the end of the night. I will leave the rest to you and you will not be disappointed.

 Beechers

Alert for all cheese lovers loving in New York: this is a hidden spot with great drinks and as much cheese as you can consume, hidden in the basement of the cheese shop on the corner of 20^th street and Broadway.

A dark and vibrant atmosphere with the occasional hum of a passing subway, this is the perfect date spot. Beware there menu is limited and not a good option for non cheese lovers.

Spotlight: The Perfect Day Bag for the Dapper Man

I’ve noticed many men seem to be afraid of sporting a more fashionable bag during the day. You may have a great outfit, but the minute you throw a ratty Jansport bag over your shoulder, it’s basically null and void. I wanted to feature a company that puts a lot of thought and time into the construction of their bags. Coach makes an incredible line of men’s bags and this season it’s featuring the Bleecker Day Tote!

The Bleecker Day Tote can fit everything from a laptop to a weekends worth of essentials. Hand crafted in 3 unique styles, here are some details on this summers must have bag.

• Leather
• Inside zippered and snap pockets
• Interior collar slip pocket for cell phone
• Custom-clasp closure, fabric lining
• Handles with 4 3/4″ drop
• Detachable strap for shoulder or crossbody wear
• 15 3/4″ (L) x 16 1/4″ (H) x 6″

 

– Jamie

Summer Style Spotlight: Shorts

It’s finally time to let your legs breathe now that we are heading into much warmer spring and summer weather. A lot of men have trouble deciding on the appropriate style and length of shorts that works best for them. This style spotlight will give a few tips on how to make your decision a little easier.

• DO not be afraid of shorts that hit above the knee
• DON’T wear capris. They look bad on almost everyone.
• DO embrace bold prints and floral patterns
• DON’T wear baggy cargo shorts. You aren’t in high school anymore, gentlemen.
• DO dress up the shorts with a nice shirt and blazer.
• DON’T be scared to wear bright colors! When paired well, it can look awesome.
• DO get pants tailored into shorts. I get bored with denim and pants come summer and take them to get tailored. It’s like getting a brand new piece!

 

Jamie

Disney’s Newsies on Broadway: The Original American Dappers

Released as “The News Boys” in the UK, Disney released the movie musical The Newsies in 1992. Flash forward to 2011, Disney Theatrical Productions decided to do a limited run of Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey before officially opening at Broadways Nederlander Theatre in March of 2012. The success of Newsies: The Musical blew away everyones expectations with ticket sales going through the roof and thus resulted in an open ended run as of today.

Now some may wonder, what’s so fashionable about a bunch of rag tag rascals pushing newspapers in 1899? The boys of newsies inspired a dapper sense of fashion with spotlighting accessories and attention to detail! Everything from vests, hats, light scarves, suspenders and cuffing of pants, the boys of Newsies have influenced street style all over the world.

This look is very simple to achieve with trips Top Man, H&M, Zara, Banana Republic and Aldo. You don’t need to break the bank for the entire ensemble. I’d say the shoes, vests and suspenders are where the focus should be and follow it up with some nice button-ups, socks and classic news boy cap.

Want to be inspired in person? You can get tickets to see Disney’s Newsies: The Musical by clicking here.

Currently running at Broadways Nederlander Theatre

Jamie

A Spring Prints Review

After many months of being wrapped up in layer upon layer of winter clothing, we are finally ready to embrace the bold and much needed fashions of spring. American fashion trends tend to stay with what is classic and does not venture drastically from the year prior. This spring brings us tropical prints and rich but muted color while neon’s and pastels have taken a back seat.

We are seeing floral prints in a new way this season and it’s strong without being over the top. A way you can embrace this trend is a layering a floral printed dress shirt underneath a fitted blazer or even a printed necktie. You don’t always need something overly distracting to make a fashion statement.

There are some colors I will say surprised me a bit when they hit the runway last winter. Shades of turquoise, orange and yellow were featured in many collections and they were not offensive to the eye as one would assume. When paired the right way, orange can be a great accent to any wardrobe. If you are ever hesitant, try starting with accessories.

For those of you who are open to change and like to experiment with new trends, go out and purchase a pair of printed trousers. Hawaiian prints and tropical themes are big this spring and it is my personal favorite way to welcome the warmer weather.

– Jamie

Which Pair of Winter Gloves Should You Buy, and Why?

Your hands are your touchstone to the world, hence it is vital that you care for them accordingly.  I have previously referred to the impact one makes when removing their sunglasses to speak with someone.  Removing your glove to offer a hand shake makes a profound impact.  Shaking hands happens in everyday life many times and I feel confident in saying that less than 10% of gentlemen remove their glove for a personal contact (try it and see the impact).

In New York we had our first taste of snow recently, hence it isn’t unreasonable to start thinking about how we are going to mask our hands from the inclement weather this season. A fine pair of leather gloves are a great investment to make if you are the sort of man who is fastidious enough to keep track of them, yet many men might not want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on an accessory they are likely to lose. Here are several options for the winter to keep your hands warm, and your wallet content.

Cashmere lined black leather by Gucci $475

Stitch-detailed leather gloves by Ben Sherman- $65

Simon Carter contrast gloves-$136

Leather touchscreen gloves for use with mobile devices- $59

Perforated Leather driving gloves by Aspinal of London- $169

I personally need to replace my gloves on an annual basis as one of each pair I own ends up on the seat of a cab or in some random club!  I would always suggest having two pairs, black and brown as the two colors will allow you to mix your gloves with almost any attire.  I would always recommend the less expensive options giving my retention rate!

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