Fashion is intimidating; its runways overrun with rail-thin waifs flaunting sunglasses the color and size of a pomelo and outrageously oversized collars hewn from some combination of beaver pelts and tablecloths which threaten to swallow the wearer whole. Ensemble after impractical ensemble, the question is begged: Who would actually wear that; that outfit which would be out of place at even the most lavish of galas? In most of the especially outlandish cases, the short answer is that no one would. Despite the admirable efforts of Project Runway to enlighten the unwashed masses, much of high fashion remains a purely artistic and aesthetic endeavor, as impractical as a John Cage composition or Jackson Pollock painting, though potentially as powerful.
But while the rarefied world of fashion may be inapplicable to everyday life, style is ambient. For better or worse, you've got to wear clothes. And while we often fancy the romantic notion that one aught live wholly free of concern for what others might think, a more thorough examination shows this to be rather rude behavior. We care what others think just as we hope that others might value our own thoughts and opinions and, like it or not, our outfits inevitably reflect certain inward aspects of ourselves. Call it shallow if you must, but there's a lot to be said for looking good. The every-day fashinistas of The Sartorialist and the smartly-dressed celebrities of Nerd Boyfriend strike a comfortable balance between the aspirational and the attainable. While the former blog tempers the often elaborate ensembles of its subjects with the simple fact that they are found not on the catwalk but on the sidewalk: quite literally the People Who Actually Wear That. On the other hand, the latter web log captures the timelessly keen styles of various classy and well-known men, from Albert Einstein to Jack Kerouac to Conan O'Brien. It also thoughtfully provides links to purchase comparable ensembles, ostensibly to aid in the process of dressing a real-life boyfriend as such.
We are adventure types, so we're very picky about our boots. Danner stands among the most coveted bootmakers in the world, especially due to their dedication for bringing worn Danner boots back to life. In an era where new is always better, Danner's recrafting philosophy has gained our respect. With impeccable standards in materials, craftsmanship and durability, they understand that a pair of boots should last a lifetime, so in addition to crafting new boots, they also repair old ones. Their revamped website offers a unique glimpse into their world with a series of short videos touring the factory, its craftsman and its boots. In their words, "We are craftsmen. We pay attention to details. We understand there may be similar ways to craft a boot but there are not similar standards. And, true to the Danner name, we pride ourselves in crafting the highest standards." To see this dedication first-hand, take a minute to watch this video from their website.
If you're anything like us, every meal you eat is a lavish feast, a celebration of all the finest things in life, boasting an abundance of bold flavors and fresh ingredients. A meal in which all food groups are dutifully represented and a tableful of good friends are close at hand. Well, most of our meals are like this. Quite a few, at the very least. But I suppose there are those rare moments when it's just you. And you're pretty hungry. And no one's gonna see you pour that can of chili into that pack of Fritos and proceed to eat it straight from the bag. Or see you pull a chair up to the fridge and start picking away at various Tupperwared leftovers and takeout containers, supplemented by the odd olive or pickled pepper. Then again, this peckish moment of peace might well be an opportunity to enjoy a little me time; a chance to indulge in a meal as thoroughly luxurious as the aforementioned feast, sans the tableside compatriots.
These very sundry acts of solitary sustenance are the subject of Deborah Madison and Patrick McFarland's "What We Eat When We Eat Alone." It's a refreshing take on cookbookery, exploring a cuisine every bit as practical as a tome like The Big Fat Duck Cookbook's is aspirational, while treating its titular meal with enough deference to make for a rewarding read rather than a mere novelty. At times it feels like a grown-up version of the Typical College Freshman's Guide to Feeding Themselves, with the cans of black olives replaced by tapenades, the english muffins swapped for levain bread, and aged gruyere standing in for pre-shredded cheddar. The recipes themselves are certainly appealing, but the real draw is the insight into the solo noshing habits of various food pros; the chance to see, as though through a hidden camera or two-way mirror, just what these chefs prepare when the goal is to impress none but themselves. What We Eat is a charming and intimate meditation on the meal that typically receives the least amount of reflection, but can often prove to be the most revealing.
There is something about the winter months that stir up summer travel wish lists. The tinkering of itineraries usually begins on those cold days when visions of summertime dance in our heads. While in destination-discovering mode, we'd like to give a nod to America's backcountry - which in some cases is easier to access than you may think. Leave the noisy, communal, drive-in campground scenes behind (oh, the stories!). Come summertime, we often opt to go backcountry, where the only sounds you may be competing with are roaring rivers and curious wildlife. By forgoing a few creature comforts, you can practically have the whole park to yourself. Our first stop is Wyoming's Teton Crest Trail in the heart of Grand Teton National Park. This trek is not for the faint of heart, but its unbelievable landscape is worth the sweat. Pick any thread of this 39-mile trail, and follow meadow after meadow with the stunning spires of the Tetons overhead. The Teton Range is unique; its jagged peaks appear to have been dropped from the sky onto a vista of meadows as far as the eye can see. This trail is definitely a summer expedition, as the winter can get fierce. Aside from the multitude of wildflowers and alpine lakes, you may spot a bison, moose or even a bear or two. Ansel Adams was also in awe of the Tetons and the meandering Snake River; featured in this photo by Adams taken in 1942. Find more information about Backcountry Passes from the National Park Service.
John Lennon’s words ring true: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” After a year of prepping for life on the Inca Trail, we faced a very hard decision. As you might have heard, the area of Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru received heavy rains in late January and early February. While neither Machu Picchu nor the Inca Trail itself were affected, the railroad running from Cusco to Machu Picchu was washed out in half a dozen places. This means there is no transport to or from Machu Picchu. The railroad is being repaired, but the tentative April completion date put our April 17-25th tour date in jeopardy. We knew we had to make the call (and quick!), so we went straight to our Pathfinder Brain Trust: Pathfinder Margie Tosch, guest Chef Rodelio Aglibot, and Allan Wright of Zephyr Adventures. Late Wednesday night, we came to a decision.
In keeping with our Firestone Wines spirit of adventure, our Pathfinder and guest Chef will completely change their plans, instead traveling to Italy to undertake a self-guided, eight-day hiking tour of Tuscany, also organized by our partner Zephyr Adventures. That’s right, we said “self-guided,” meaning this journey is about to get interesting, and certainly open to its own series of discoveries. Pathfinder Margie Tosch will be blogging daily about life on the Terra di Siena, while chef Rodelio Aglibot will be preparing delicious Italian meals paired with Firestone wines for the group along the way. Better yet, you can join the crew on this trek! To read up on all the amazing trip details, or to reserve your spot on the trip, head straight to Zephyr Adventures.
Our sincere thanks to Margie and Rodelio for their sense of adventure and readiness to pick up and change routes!
The thing about the montage is, you've gotta have a great song to back it up. Rocky had Gonna Fly Now (the given name of Rocky's iconic theme song). Karate Kid had Joe Esposito's classic You're The Best Around. Footloose had Footloose. But, when it came time for us to cut together a montage of our Pathfinder finalists' epic ascent to glory and greatness, Kenny Loggins just wouldn't return our calls. Same deal with Esposito. So we did the next best thing. We called out to a couple of really great young bands who haven't yet had a huge inspirational movie's success go to their heads.
Providing the soundtrack to Kim and Chana's epic adventures was San Francisco's Roy G. Biv and the Mnemonic Devices. Originally a two piece consisting of Dan Paggi and Ben Lang, the group has recently solidified its status as a quartet and is now taking to the Bay Area stage like Rocky Balboa took to those stairs. Their debut album, "The Blue Orange," is a roots-rockin' collection of catchy ruminations on the simple joys and workaday struggles of ordinary life, from punching the time-clock to hanging out with the cat, hitting the open road to being left all alone. The songwriting manages the impressive feat of fusing such unassailable touchstones as The Kingston Trio, The Band, and Simon and Garfunkel with contemporary artists like The Magnetic Fields and Built to Spill, while maintaining a unique voice that never descends into mere pastiche. It's a truly fantastic record front to back, full of soaring multi-part harmonies, infectious melodies, and enough ooohs and ahhhs to fill a 60s surf record. Give a listen to a few of our favorites, but keep this moment in mind two days from now when you just can't figure out what that song is that's still stuck in your head...
Download "Lucy" Eureka at Dawn (From The Blue Orange)
The backbeat to Tim, Scott, Margie and Rodelio's
journey came courtesy of The Amblers, an up-and-coming band formed by four veterans of Chico, CA's vibrant music scene. As catchy and approachable as their songs are, the band seems to take a certain pleasure in playing a game of cat and mouse with anyone unwise enough to try to classify their sound. They lay the bait with a sweet and twangy alt-country undercurrent that runs throughout. It's just enough of a through line to let you get comfortable; to think you've got them all figured out. But then, between whiskey-soaked breaths, they unveil a dense wall of fuzz, a fleeting wisp of jazz guitar or abrupt tempo change, before launching into an icy a cappella anthem or barn-burnin' hootenanny. Next thing you know, you're floating along with a twilight take on the Beach Boys' summer surf sound before the harmonicas break out and you're back home in Whiskeytown. Luckily, The Amblers are as much a joy to listen to as they are impossible to peg, with rock-solid songwriting chops and an abundance of juicy, "haven't I heard this before?" hooks. You haven't. They're really just that good. They recently logged some hours in San Francisco's venerable Tiny Telephone studios and have plans to release their newest album, "Pattern Parts," in mid-April. To learn more, check out thesehere articles from Chico's local press and give a listen to these splendid jams.
Download "Not as Good, But Easier" What a Joy (advance mix from the upcoming Pattern Parts)
So Long (From The Ottoman Empire)
P.S. We never actually called Kenny Loggins or Joe Esposito. That was a complete fabrication. Sorry.
Probably best known as Bret and Jemaine's best mate Dave from HBO's The Flight of the Concords, Arj Barker is a Bay Area comedian who recently released his new album and Comedy Central special LYAO.
He displays a hilariously impressive range of humorstyles, from the standard observational humor about global warming and pirates, to a bit of delightful absurdity in which a merry band of vaguely British toiletries garner assored censures and commendations. There's a joke for everyone who's ever sent a text to a friend suggesting that they dine together at a fine pervazedum, and of course it wouldn't be a true comedy album without a good old-fashioned font joke.
At times he threatens to moralize, taking a hard line on hot-button issues. He boldly sets aside the humor, if only for a moment. His stern tone assures you; this is no laughing matter. It is, of course, a laughing matter, and he deftly acheives a few sublime moments where the suspense of enduring his faux-soapboxing while awaiting the inevitable tension-relieving punchline is every bit as funny as the joke itself.
Other times, he makes no pretense of sincerity, as when he again ascends the soapbox to declare his controversial stand against water. Admittedly, it's a joke that works much better in person or on video, as watching him pace back and forth, berating the hapless bottle of water that rests innocently on the stool in the middle of the stage is half the fun, but it's nonetheless satisfying to hear someone finally take on agua once and for all.
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