If you recognize the word “patchouli” it may conjure up visions of Grateful Dead concerts, hacky sack-playing hippies, drum circles, or perhaps a line from Al Stewart’s song, “The Year of the Cat.” This essential oil, derived from a perennial herb native to Southeast Asia, was embraced by 1960s counter-culture—whether for its reputed aphrodisiac qualities...
With a generation of “selfies” and social media implosion, some may believe that the art of chivalry may be on the verge of extinction as we become increasingly obsessed with our own placement in the world. Is pulling out a chair, holding a door or offering your seat to a senior when riding public transportation...
“Made in America” is a tagline that can inspire patriotism or shouts of global exclusion. After talking to Brad Schmidt, Chief Everything Officer—his term—for New York-based retailer Cadet, I came up with a more unique label that I think will only induce sentimental sighs of everything we love about New York—“Made in Brooklyn.” One of...
Once upon a time, back when horses and wagons roamed the Earth and the telephone was a twinkle in Alexander Graham Bell’s eye, tea towels were found in every Victorian English lady’s kitchen. Typically made from absorbent, finely woven soft linen, tea towels were ideal for drying china, glassware and delicate serving pieces without fear...
Whether you’re expressing your individuality or simply practicing good hygiene, there’s one thing most men can agree on—personal grooming never goes out of style. When it was my turn to begin shaving, it took years of enduring nicks and crooked sideburns to develop a signature regimen. Although I earned a badge of honor in razor...
Walking the streets of Hudson, it might seem strange that this river town 100 miles away from the open ocean is graced with the images of so many whales. You’ll see them on hotel and street signs, shop windows, banners, even on the city seal. But Hudson owes its name—and really it’s very existence—to the...
Some people collect spoons. Others collect license plates or snow globes to remind them of their travels. I have always favored items that get me to a destination versus what I can procure once I get there. My growing luggage collection includes my mother’s “World Traveler” that has seen me from Toronto to New Orleans...
At some point, a newfangled gadget in the kitchen becomes a hindrance. Maybe it’s a city thing, where in a small apartment, every inch of storage is at a premium. But it’s also a chef thing. I realized that the basic tools I rely on as a professional cook are, well, basic. There’s very little...
Whenever a serendipitous whiff of cedar wood floats in my direction, I’m instantly taken down memory lane to a place I’ve loved ever since childhood—my family cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains. From our favorite colognes and perfumes to trusted grooming products and soaps we use every day—aromas can play a powerful role in one’s...
“You can’t fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.” –William S. Burroughs, The Western Lands It’s not every day that a large company producing a widely-used good will choose quality over cost. But that’s exactly what Faribault Woolen Mill does, and it’s thanks to them that the American wool industry maintains...
When I first started my radio show “Spice: The Final Frontier” I was planning to focus on interesting historical facts about herbs and spices along with some tips on how to cook with them. As I continued researching what I thought of as strictly culinary herbs and spices, I found that a long history of...
The people behind the Brooklyn Roasting Company and the products they make may typify the Ralph Waldo Emerson axiom, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Called the “Hardest Working Cup” by Off Track Planet in its highlights of New York’s 10 Best Cafés in 2013, Brooklyn Roasting (BRC) is an ongoing journey that began with a...
