We’re very glad to announce the addition of a new contributor to Man’s Fine Life, a gent who goes by the handle Punto Verde. Like tomvox1, he’s yet another Brooklyn hepcat (they’re downright ubiquitous these days… like herpes, only more charming) and PV is also an artist, music lover and all around bon vivant. We’re looking forward to his take on fashion, tunes, vintage contraptions and whatever else catches his fancy. The more the merrier and it’s always good to have another well-rounded gentleman aboard. So let’s raise a stein to Punto Verde!
What we’re listening to today–All the Way From Memphis by Mott the Hoople
Here’s a little bon Mott to spice up the afternoon, straight from live video back in the 70s:
Sometimes you just gotta go glam, man. So put on that velvet blazer and pick up your six-string razor.
And BTW, I wonder who taught who how to sing like that: did Bowie teach Mott or did Mott teach Bowie? Hmmm… the eternal riddles of Rock ‘n Roll.
Download the classic studio version at iTunes or Amazon.
High Blood Pressure: Still a silent killer
You may be working out five times a week and running triathlons on the side but every time you go for your physical, your BP is stubbornly high. Nothing crazy just 140/90, what they call “high normal” or “borderline high.” You argue with your doctor that because you are such a fine physical specimen there’s no need to worry about a number and you’ll try to get it down by reducing sodium intake and drinking more water. But, assuming you’re not testing it at home, another year goes by and the next checkup your numbers haven’t budged: still borderline high.
For a lot of guys in their 30s this may sound familiar, as this is when mild but persitent hypertension can start to kick in. But now’s the time to get your number down and if it takes a little medication, so be it. Because even if you feel terrific, your mild hypertension is damaging the inner workings of your body and putting you at long term risk of heart disease, stroke, eye problems and, yup, impotence. Continue reading
What we’re listening to today–These Days by Paul Westerberg
Believe it or not this is a great, twangy, semi-burnt out cover of a Jackson Browne song by the former Replacements frontman (and pardon the Hallmark/Latter Day Saints-type “video”).
Sums it up, though, don’t it?
Download it on iTunes or Amazon.
What we’re drinking this summer–Grüner Veltliner (and plenty of it)
Summer may be winding down but there are still plenty of BBQs, camping trips and picnics to be had. So if you’re getting a bit tired of beer (I know, for some it might be heresy to even suggest that) but are having a hard time finding a wine to pair with the unique flavors of cookouts and cold potato salad, we’ve got the grape for you. It’s a white primarily Austrian varietal called Grüner Veltliner and its tart-sweet green apple notes make it ideal for sticky sweet barbecue, jerk chicken, grilled pork and even hot dogs.
Austrian Grüner from Paul Direder
Less sweet and leaner that most Rieslings or Gewürztraminers (which I’m also a big fan of during the warm months) and with a distinctly new-wine nose, the green-gold Grüner should be served nice & cold and can be sipped on its own as an aparatif or served throughout the evening from a smoked fish starter to the cherry pie for dessert. Not only that but most are inexpensive at under $15 and they usually come in liter bottles for a little extra bang for the buck. In short, it’s a perfect summer wine and we like it so much we’re probably going to keep drinking it in the Fall…and then on vacation somewhere warm…and next Spring…
We get the very tasty Paul D. in Brooklyn at the outstanding South Williamsburg wine shop, D.O.C. But ask your local wine store if they stock it or another Grüner. If they don’t, they really should–you can’t beat it with a stick!
What we’re listening to today– Kathy’s Song by Simon & Garfunkel
Not the happiest song, I know, but it’s pouring down rain here, summer is winding down and there is melancholy in the air.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q60YKfPKdjQ
A lyric like this sums it up, I reckon:
And as I watch the drops of rain
Weave their weary paths and die
I know that I am like the rain
There but for the grace of you go I.
A lotta laughs it’s not but sometimes you gotta go with the day and not fight the vibe. We all need somebody sometimes to pick up our slack. We all need a “Kathy” in our lives to get through some days. This one’s for my “Kathy.”
Download it at iTunes or Amazon, natch.
What we’re listening to today–No Rollin’ Blues by Jimmy Witherspoon
Ain’t nothin’ on a Sunday like some Blues. And ain’t a lot of blues as good as that sung by Kansas City shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. This 1959 version of his evergreen “No Rollin’ Blues” shows all of his trademarks to a T: suave and powerful delivery, sexual innuendos galore, fun loving call-and-response rapport with his sidemen and uprorious reactions by his obviously appreciative audience.
Blessed with an epically long career, he began as a big band singer with Jay McShann in the late 1940s and was still at the peak of his powers (despite a battle with throat cancer) on 1988s Rockin’ LA. In between, the ‘Spoon was responsible for minting all-time standards like and “T’ Ain’t Nobody’s Business”, “Better Love Next Time (Pts. 1 & 2)” and “Have You Ever Loved a Woman”. In short, Jimmy Witherspoon was a colossus of post-WWII popular music and a Blues singing legend. Let’s toast him with some sweet corn whiskey!
You can download the sweet singing ‘Spoon on iTunes and Amazon.
Gorgeous Lady of the Week- Olivia Wilde
Not only does 29-year-old actress Olivia Wilde possess the sexiest cat eyes in Hollywood and a killer smile, but the native New Yorker is damn funny as well. Just check out The Incredible Burt Wonderstone to watch Olivia easily holding her own with the likes of Steve Carell & Steve Buscemi.
While this accomplished actress really broke through with big budget high concept wannabe blockbusters like Tron: Legacy and Cowboys & Aliens, one can easily see her moving towards more substantial work. This lovely lady has the complete package: brains, beauty and a winning personality. If she keeps working hard at her craft and doesn’t coast on her looks alone, we foresee her as one of the best in the game one day soon.
Unfortunately for us other fellows, Ms. Wilde is currently engaged to funny man Jason Sedeikis. Which proves that sometimes you can get pretty far with the ladies if you can make them laugh. Now where do I sign up for that improv class at UCB again?
Olivia’s Wikipedia page is here and her IMDb profile is here.
Looks like a good time–Monterey Festival
Here’s a fine article in the New York Times on the auto-related festivities at Monterey and Pebble Beach this year. I have never been–I missed out when my in-laws moved away from the area before I could attend–but I hear good things. And really, since some of these events do not require big money tickets, how can you beat the history…and the cars?
Alfa-Romeo 8C (pic sourced from autoworldnotes.blogspot.com)
Some excerpts:
Monterey’s Festival, Rich in Tradition
Genesis, in this instance, was a small sports-car meeting, advertised as “European road races,” that took place on a 1.8-mile makeshift circuit in the Del Monte Forest, admission $1. More or less as an afterthought, a car show, given the French title of concours d’élégance to maintain the European theme, attracted 32 entries, most of them new models owned by Forest residents, was added. Admission was free.
A college dropout from Santa Monica with ambitions to be a racing driver won the main event in a Jaguar XK120, despite an uncooperative clutch. In later years he would win at Pebble again and also win the concours’ Best of Show award with a 1931 Pierce-Arrow that he and his brother had restored. The erstwhile student was Phil Hill, who would ascend to the title of World Driving Champion in 1961.
Most of the action happens during the third week of this month, with the climax being the 63rd Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance, which can lay claim to being the world’s most important, on Sunday, Aug. 18. Over the years, activity has spread from the Del Monte Forest to 16 locations in the Monterey area, including Carmel’s main thoroughfare, Ocean Avenue, where more than 200 cars are expected at the seventh annual Concours on the Avenue on Aug. 13.
Shall we pack our bags?
A (very) general hierarchy for vintage watches
Here are some very general guidelines on how to rank and compare vintage watches in a physical sense. Obviously, make and model have the most to do with the overall equation in terms of value but these physical characteristics can still give a collector a basic idea of the overall intrinsic value of a given wristwatch when compared against like examples.
- Case Type: A case with screwed back is generally more desirable than one with a snap/pressure fit back due to increased water resistance. Any given multi-piece case is usually preferable to a front loading “monocoque” one-piece case, a style which was popular in the early 1970s but is now out of fashion. A 3-piece case with back, midcase and separate bezel is generally considered superior to a 2-piece case with integrated/formed non-separate bezel. Continue reading