UNIONMADE | San Francisco Style Americana
Let me first say it is good that new shops are opening. There was a point in this whole economic mess that no new brands were launching and no new stores were opening, it was depressing. Now, while just getting a new store is good, getting a new store like UNIONMADE is great. The men’s shop which was founded by Pennsylvania native Todd Barket, opened this past weekend on Sanchez Street in San Francisco and is an exercise in excellence. Barket spent 18 years at GAP working in various capacities including visual merchandising and marketing, and the man clearly understands retail. I think the worst part about this place is that it is so far away from me.
American Percussion | Zildjian Cymbals
The Zildjian company is the oldest family owned business in the United States, tracing its origin back to Turkey in the year 1623. The company was established in America in Quincy, Mass. in 1929 by Aram Zildjian who perfected the art of cymbal manufacturing. Now after many years of making some of the finest cymbals in the world, company is coming up on its 400th birthday. The 14th generation of the Zildjian continue to operate the famous percussion supplier at their headquarters and factory in Norwell, Massachusetts.
As you will learn below, Zildjian invented most of the modern day drum kit cymbals like the hi-hat, crash, splash and ride cymbals, and famously supplied drummers like Jazz legends Gene Krupa, Max Roach and Buddy Rich. Zildjian was also used by the immensely talented and crazy technical drummer Neil Peart of Rush for most of his career.
North Carolina Delights | Cheerwine
Speaking of regional delicacies, meet Cheerwine. The super bubbly cherry soda from Salisbury, North Carolina is the perfect companion for a hot summer day or a trip the your favorite BBQ spot. In fact, Manhattanites rejoice, Cheerwine is available at Brother Jimmy’s and I’m sure a few other locations throughout the city. The delicious soft drink lays a serious ass whoopin’ on Cherry Coke, and I don’t even ever drink Pepsi products so whatever they make that is cherry flavored probably isn’t as good as Cheerwine either.
The Goodness That is Biscuitville
A Biscuitville near Greensboro, North Carolina.
The thing that makes homogenization work is that it makes people comfortable; you can go to Starbucks in Chicago or Dubai and it will basically be the same thing. While this can be soulless and depressing, it can also come in handy. A hungover breakfast in Tokyo for instance (#eggmcmuffintime). But I also love to discover the regional spots that have yet to fully conquer the landscape. In Ohio this manifests itself in the form of Bob Evans. This past weekend I was in North Carolina and couldn’t miss the always delicious and still privately held regional chain Biscuitville. To me, Biscuitville is the Southern breakfast equivalent of the West coast burger mecca In-N-Out. The biscuit making began in 1966 as a way for founder Maurice Jennings (who owned a Pizza chain called — wait for it — Pizzaville) to do a breakfast business. In 1975 the first full time biscuit operation opened in Danville, Virginia and Biscuitville was born. The rest is history.
Wants & Desires | J.W. Hulme Company
Not as omnipresent as Filson bags but just as authentic, J.W. Hulme has been making high quality leather and canvas in Minnesota for over 100 years. Te company is probably best known for selling its waspy wares to outdoorsy outfitter Orvis in the late 80s and 90s. Eventually, the relationship with Orvis came to an end, but J.W. Hulme continues to supply nice looking and well made goods in their unique style. It goes without saying that the goods don’t come cheap and that there are companies out there making similar products, but with J.W. Hulme you are paying for high end materials and fabrication. These bags require more of an investment up-front, but I have to think they will literally last a lifetime. If I were you I would start breaking one in now, your son will thank you.
American Heritage Leather Duffle
A Look Inside Alden
The Brooklyn shop Epaulet recently took a trip up to Middleborough, Mass. to visit the factory of the venerable American shoemaker Alden to finalize the details on the shop’s new special edition Brixton boot. In addition to coming back with a great looking pair of boots, Epaulet owner Mike Kuhle and filmmaker Tom Eaton put together an interesting look at the Alden operation including the video below and a nice photo gallery. American boots and a factory tour? Sounds like a perfect Thursday to me.
The Vintage Oxford Archive
A museum of vintage oxford shirts? You’d be hard pressed to put together something more appealing to me. With the launch of the new GANT Rugger shop-in-shop on the upper level of its Fifth Avenue flagship, GANT has assembled an exhibition of assorted vintage shirts from its archive. The classic woven shirts — are all co-labeled shirts from mens stores throughout the U.S. Awesome old places like the Yale Co-Op in New Haven and the Klothes Kloset in Spokane, Washington. Basically, everywhere I wish I could have shopped.
The exhibit and the new GANT Rugger shop are launching this coming Thursday (October 22nd) with a cocktail party at the company’s Flagship in New York. ACL readers are invited to stop by to check out the classic shirts, peruse the new GANT Rugger goods and mingle with like minded preppy connoisseurs.
Kahn Fine Antiques of Chatham, Mass.
If I am out-and-about and I see the an antique store, nine times out of ten I will just keep on driving. Generally, it is the same type of old lady vibe with little of interest to a man like myself. That said, if you ever find yourself in Chatham, Cape Cod make a point to visit Kahn Fine Antiques. The shop — which specializes in nautical items and Americana — is one of my favorite things in one of my favorite places. Growing up I spent a lot of summers on the Cape and I remember even at a young age being obsessed with New England whaling history and accoutrement. Kahn’s has an amazing selection and knowledge of the arena, so much in fact that the antiques certainly carry a price. Even so, it is always nice to escape into the 1800s (1600s?) with a visit to their shop. In a pinch you can just peruse the goods like the items pictured here in via the store’s website. Some of my favorites below.
Antique Ship-in-a-Bottle Circa 1900.
An American 13 Star Yacht Ensign Made by Annin & Co., New York, circa 1865-1870
A fine Cased Pair of Over and Under Boxlock Percussion Pistols by John Blisset, London, c. 1840
Disneyland Kodachrome c.1956
I went to Disneyland long before my family ever made it to Florida’s Disneyworld. In fact, for some reason I have more memories of going to Knotts Berry Farm as a kid than either of the massive Disney parks. No matter where you went as a kid, nothing is better than going to a theme park. My friend Sean sent me these beautiful 16mm Kodachrome home movies shot at Disneyland soon after the opening in 1956 and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to share them here. It is amazing to see the clarity and the color of the footage — a cinematic quality that disappeared into the 1970s and 1980s. Take a moment and escape into the good clean fun of Disney in the 1950s.
