diversions for the old fashioned modern american

A large sample of the American workforce may not realize that summer is upon us full swing. Their workloads do not reflect the change in seasons and for an unfortunate many of us, summer doesn't include kicking back poolside nor does it offer time for regular weekends in the Hamptons or at beach houses in Malibu. To take our minds off it all and the fact that we're either unemployed or overworked (from doing several peoples jobs after mass layoffs), some well-intentioned individuals in NY have come together to organize RECESS.

Recess was created to provide a lifestyle alternative to the otherwise rudimentary and banal activities of our day. RECESS will put on an ongoing series of sports activities starting with the first three planned in the next couple months. Activities such as Badminton (6/20), Table Tennis (8/22), Bocce Ball (9/26). However, for the time being only the New York dwellers will have the priviledge of partaking. I guess you could fly there though? Here's hoping for some expansion of this simple yet highly relevant event-tion.


Click here if want to have Recess!
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flamboyance is his cologne: flukey stokes

While Chicago is primarily famous for gangsters like Al Capone and John Dillinger, it was a man named Flukey Stokes who by the 1980's, came to sit on the throne of the Chicago crime kingdom, running an estimated $50 million heroin business with his son, Willie the Wimp. Flukey was reknowned for his excess and flashiness, but this did nothing to make him any less of a killer. He was accused of more than 30 murders during his reign. All the high times and expensive goods that a profitable drug business could provide were had by Flukey and his son including extravagant mansions, fancy cars, and of course, women. There's a documentary's worth of stories on Flukey and I'm thinking that's probably why they made one about him. It is entitled, "The Flukey Stokes Story" and was produced by As Is, one of the premier urban documentary makers. Perhaps the most well told story about Flukey is pictorialized in the photo below. Yep. That's his son Willie the Wimp, buried in a Cadillac coffin that Flukey had custom made so he'd stay flossed in the afterlife. Nuff said.


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Decipherin' with Mr. Sanborn

James Sanborn is the Washington D.C based artist/ sculptor who was commissioned to design a piece of art that could represent the history and ideals of the CIA and to adorn the front of it's headquarters. In 1990 he unveiled "Kryptos," a 4 part encryption that the CIA's best took 7 years to crack. Oh but they couldn't crack the whole megillah. The solution to the 4th section has evaded the world's best cryptanalysts to this day. I wonder if the CIA brass look upon the edifice with pride or embarrassment. I'm inclined to believe the latter since Sanborn himself believes they tried to kill the project during it's construction. Would also fit nicely into the notion of "the power of secrecy," a theme recurrent in Sanborn's projects.


More Sanborn works
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march to: harlem "witch greens"

Video directed by Daniel Hill

More Harlem
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you've got that glow: berry gordy's the last dragon (1985)

I remember watching this movie on Saturdays when I was like 5 years old and thinking I was the luckiest boy in the world. However, let me preface any further commentary by saying: THIS MOVIE IS NOT GOOD. Rather, I feel it's important to be aware of it's existence if only as a indicator of how different the theatrical landscape is today. Yes, if you read that statement right, this thing was released in theaters! 1,000 screens. It actually made some noise at the box office. sh*ts crazy. Compound that with the fact that it was produced by Berry Gordy just to be able to synch his latest tracks to a some film product. Still, we stand awe and amazement that something like this once had a chance to light up the silver screen. Also, I just double checked Wikipedia's claim of a remake in the works with Samuel L. as "Sho-nuff the Shogun of Harlem." Apparently it's real. Guess that line about change in the theatrical landscape wasn't very well founded (hands in my pockets, kicking dirt as i walk slowly into obscurity)

This trailer is insane. Watch it with someone you love while taking the poisoned growth. Have a nice weekend.


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reservations kindly required: secret service los angeles

The downtown boutique is open by appt. only. This outpost carries finely crafted goods and wears. They'll probably pour you a glass of bourbon and inquire about your life's trade. They may just hand you the bottle.

Secret Service. LA
1855 Industrial St.
No. 107
Los Angeles 90021
213.402.1531









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tom hirt: relic with a cause

All great westerns have a common denominator. Stellar headwear. Val Kilmer in Tombstone? Sick hat. Sam Elliott, Conagher? Sick hat. Actually, now that I think about it, Sam wears the exact same hat in every movie he does (see Tombstone, Conagher, Golden Compass?)

Mr. Tom Hirt, hat maker to the stars, is the man behind all those wonderfully hand-crafted brims we see on screen. However, Tom considers himself part of a dying breed with an estimated 50 hatmakers left in the U.S. that he holds as masters of the trade. Which is why, according to his site, he plans to start teaching a hat making course sometime this year to pass along this undervalued craft to generations who never knew they needed to learn it. It's also why we've posted about Tom here.

Oh, I forgot to mention. If you're looking to reach Tom, whether for a nice beaver felt Dakota or just to catch up on his hustle, Tom says, and I really quote "I don't check my email very often. And I'm probably out riding, roping, or dancing with the ladies, so if you want to reach me, why don't you just give me a call."

Bad...Ass.

Get at Tom
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woolrich woolen mills

A rediscovery of traditional quality american manufacturing. Woolrich celebrates its heritage as an a textile icon with a new project that pays homage to it's roots, constructing american workwear. Essentially, these are hand-me-down that will look as good 30 years from now as it does off the rack..."garments with purpose". I says, any article of clothing that can serve as a topic of conversation for grandpa and I is worth owning.




Click here for more info.
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