Solid Color, Silk Pocket Squares
Gentlemen, Fall is nearly here. That means Fall weddings, Fall formal events, and any other excuse to get out and put on your suit coat now that the days are getting cooler again. And in this man's humble opinion, there is no better way to dress up a suit coat than with a neatly-folded, solid-colored pocket square. I suggest silk for formal,…
Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler Pocket Knife
An item that belongs on the keychain of every man in the world and in the purse of every woman. There are all sorts of small pocket knives out there, but this tried, true, and simple Victorinox Rambler is, in this author's humble opinion, the best of the best. It has the size benefit of the classic but with a few additional…
Acme Made’s The Clutch Designer MacBook Laptop Bag
Speaking of messenger bags, this brown, designer-coated canvas bag from Acme Made continues to catch my eye. I haven't seen one in person but I've heard from a few who have and they like it.
Build Your Own Timbuk2 Bag
Timbuk2 arguably makes the best messenger bags in the world. I have one and I love it. And what more could you ask than to have your bag built to order? You can get exactly the size you want, in exactly the fabric you want, with exactly the color combination you want. And you can rest assured that when you receive this…
Tivoli Audio’s Model Three Clock Radio
A repeating theme here promises to be products which find the blend between vintage and modern. And this jaw-dropping clock radio from Tivoli Audio is no exception. Tivoli Audio is renown for their fine products which balance form and function in a way that many product designers only dream of. This Model Three just may make getting up in the morning a…
Banana Republic’s Shawn Sunglasses (Seriously)
Though I much prefer the look of the TOMS Classic 301, how could I not list these aviators from Banana Republic?
Machinarium for iPad 2
Ever since that weekend in the 5th grade when I binged on Super Mario Brothers I have spent very little time playing video games. But thoughtful, and artistic puzzle games like Machinarium have always caught my eye. I played through Machinarium when it first came out for Mac a while ago — it has a wonderful soundtrack, the artwork is beautiful, and…
Byword – Writing App for Mac
When you work on a 23-inch monitor a good full-screen writing app can be hard to find. Apps that look good in full-screen mode on a 13- or 15-inch screen don’t necessarily scale well to 23 inches. Byword, however, scales quite well. It looks great regardless of if I’m writing on my laptop display or my cinema displays. And the dark color…
Seiko 5 Men’s SNK809 Automatic Watch
The day you start wearing an automatic watch is akin to the day you start shaving with a classic safety razor. Automatic watches are self-winding and need no battery (the movement of your arm throughout the day is what keeps them going). And they are normally quite expensive. However, this classy watch from Seiko is currently on a fire sale over at…
The Best Way to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh: The Airscape Coffee Vault Canister
We know that you know that the best way to keep your roasted coffee beans fresh is to store them in an airtight container that doesn't see any sunlight. Most coffee aficionados find the nearest jar with an airtight lid and call it good. But after you've closed that jar what about all the air that is still inside it? That's where…
The Social Network Soundtrack
So long as we're talking about music today, here's another recommended album: The Social Network soundtrack. I spend most of my working day writing at my desk. And writing is, for me, a mostly quiet endeavor. Too much noise or distraction and I can't concentrate. But there are times when I really do need some background music and for those moments soundtracks…
“Torches” by Foster the People
Oddly enough this album was recommended to me by the record store employee in this Rdio promo video. And the truth is I really do like the new Foster the People album. Maybe you will, too. (Torches is also available in CD, vynil, and MP3 versions on Amazon.)
Waxed Canvas Apron
They say people who work with their mind like to unwind by working with their hands. When I'm not writing I enjoy woodworking. I built my own desk (the very one I am typing this parenthetical sentence on), and my next project will be a storage trunk slash coffee table for our den. When doing fine woodworking a hearty and comfortable apron…
Restoration Hardware’s Industrial Desk Accessories
In some offices you simply cannot get by without a stapler, pencil sharpener, or tape dispenser nearby. And if these are the tools that you need, why use something ugly? Good design inspires. But never should style get in the way of usability. These desk accessories from Restoration Hardware have both.
Artisan Leather MacBook Sleeves
Let's be honest. There's something irresistible about the juxtaposing intersection of vintage and modern.
Art & Copy
Advertising is not a dirty word my friends. And this fun and entertaining (as well as award-winning) documentary is all about the power and importance of the creative professional. Designers and writers and photographers and editors are all vital contributors to a good marketing campaigns, and this film is all about them. If you have even the slightest interest in the creative…
Power Grid Board Game
The best way to describe Power Grid is to say it's like an amalgamation of The Settlers of Catan and Ticket To Ride. Power Grid is a strategy game that requires time and attention. It's like Settlers because you build cities and collect resources. It's like Ticket to Ride because you connect those cities across a map and you have to think…
Acme Made Skinny Sleeve for MacBook Air
I carry my 13-inch MacBook Air in an old Timbuk 2 bag. The kind of bag that came around before dedicated laptop messenger bags were popular. And so I needed a good sleeve to keep the Air protected. There are many sleeves out there, but I like this Acme Made one because it's padded and reinforced. And the top of the sleeve…
Extra-Short USB Cable for iPod, iPhone, and iPad
That super-long cable is ideal for certain times, and then this super-short cable is ideal for other times. Such as traveling. Also, this little guy wins the award for cutest white cable ever.
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Reading Natalie’s book is a lot like sitting in on a question and answer time where people ask all the right questions and she gives all the right answers. You don’t have to read the book front to back. The chapters are short and fast and can be read completely out of order because each one is its own nugget of advice…