April 2013
1 post
6 tags
Part Deux
The gentleman figure has been co-opted by profit-seeking entities (clothing companies, magazines, even blogs like this one) and divorced from his essential telos, that is, to act as a moral and mannered human being (as opposed, necessarily, to an immoral and ill-mannered one), regardless of status, creed, code, or color.
Applying the adjective “common” to the loaded concept of gentility, or...
March 2013
1 post
3 tags
A Gentleman's Agreement
Let’s get out of bed in the morning and (in addition to whatever else we do: pray, reach for a cigarette, get back into bed) begin with a thought experiment.
If this is too difficult amidst the thick fog of early morning delirium, a simple visualization will do.
Imagine, good sir, that you are ten years into a life sentence. You’ve had the misfortune of finding yourself in solitary confinement....
August 2012
3 posts
An Honest and Unresearched Obit
Gore Vidal died this week.
In America (and perhaps everywhere) we sing the praises of dead people we are told are important, whether we personally have any conception of the deceased’s significance, or not…or whether we liked them or not.
With this in mind, rather than refer to Wikipedia, or the author’s obituary in the New York Times, I’d like to delve into the particular significance of Mr....
Breaking Nonsense
If you haven’t had the time to check TMZ today, let me fill you in on the earth shattering occurrences of mind-boggling significance you missed.
“Janet Jackson Did Not Slap or Abuse Paris Jackson”
“Kerri Walsh: I’m Playing With Pinkeye”
“Cuba Gooding Jr….No More Arrest Warrant, Says Rep”
Not only are the aforementioned headlines significant, it’s difficult to imagine what life was like before...
July 2012
5 posts
8 tags
Reflections By A Shoe Shine Guy
As I’ve previously alluded to, I worked in the locker room of a country club for a few years.
In addition to having to watch overweight middle-aged and elderly men strut about in various stages of undress, I was responsible for shining both the dress shoes and golf shoes of the membership.
Most men at the club didn’t particularly care if their shoes were recently shined. This...
The Sillines and Sublimity of Using The Right Fork
Start from the outside and work your way in. So says the conventional wisdom on which utensil to use.
In the Victorian house every room had a purpose. The same understanding applies to silverware: each course—and further, every dish—has a particular utensil assigned to it, whether this be the oyster fork or the salad knife…
This is all rather silly, though. Isn’t it?
At...
7 tags
Hogan the Gentleman
In the pantheon of the golfing greats, amongst Nicklaus, Palmer, Snead, Nelson, Jones and Hagen, Ben Hogan occupies a truly unique place.
Perhaps, this is because of his apparent mastery of the golf swing and the assumption that had he not nearly died in a vicious car crash (which resulted in awful circulation in his legs, near blindness in one eye, and extreme pain throughout most of his body for...
June 2012
3 posts
9 tags
Concerning Mr. Depp's Closet
When I was younger, (more) stupid, generally inebriated and drawn more toward the fringe than the center, I had an appreciation for the stylistic decisions (I dare say fashion) of one Johnny Depp. I suppose I was intrigued by the bohemian/ pirate overtones coupled with grunge staples, the touch of Old Hollywood and zootsuitery and the way all of the previous stood in opposition to the trendy...
May 2012
5 posts
A Gentleman's Agreement: Keep Holy The Sabbath
Far from arguing from a Jewish/ Judeo-Christian perspective, CBG advocates keeping holy the Sabbath as a means of weekly refocusing on what is of value in a man’s life. Perhaps, this includes God, but it’s just as well if it’s golf or gardening. It’s important to take a day, no matter what, to recalibrate, shirk work and reassess.
I am not the greatest advocate of carrots...
6 tags
The Unwelcome Return: Summer Skankery
I am neither so adept that I can easily search for and find the article I am trying to remember, nor so astute in the powers of recollection as to recall the its author or even the source, but the essential thrust of the piece was that menswear since 2000 has been a regurgitation of the styles of past eras and that there is no “future” for menswear, only reimaginings of the past,...
9 tags
The Unreturned Email
Allowing for the vagaries of the spam filter, the legitimate email which goes unanswered is truly an onerous thing. Simply put, every email which is not a blatant and shameless instance of advertising ought to be responded to. Further, such emails ought to be responded to within a day.
What possible excuse is there for doing otherwise? When one writes to a large organization, one should expect a...
10 tags
4 Eco-Friendly Neckties by Cameron Bruns of Boston...
Dress to impress and show your superior sense of morality at the same time by choosing neckties that are both environmentally sustainable, and support those in need. Here are four options to pull it off:[[MORE]]
1. Figs – Figs makes quality ties, bowties, and scarves from high-end materials and is also a “threads-for-threads” company. Like Tom’s shoes and other one-for-one businesses, Figs...
5 tags
Belated Thoughts on Bubba
If the essence of winning major championships in golf is hitting the right shot at the right moment, then Bubba Watson’s sterling effort at the Masters typified that essence.
Weekend golfers marveled at Watson’s ability to draw the ball 40 yards. While this, in itself, is a notable talent, it is one that most Tour players possess. What is truly spectacular is the ability to hit a 40...
April 2012
5 posts
7 tags
Beware The Face You Make
Full disclosure: I am given to the occasional sourpuss or look of stark disgust/ disapproval. It’s not one of my more noble qualities, to be sure. When I see a particularly grotesque display of sluttery or pathetic male comportment, I feel my face transforming as though I’ve just bit into a lemon.
As I said, not one of my more noble qualities.
I don’t delude myself into...
Belt Basics
From a certain perspective, the belt is an aberration. Animal hide tied about the waist to hold one’s pants up as a poor substitute for a good pair of braces, some say. Further, one’s trousers will never hang the right way, so long as they are belted and not suspended.
There’s another contingent who, largely wrongly, eschews the belt all together and all occasions to wear...
6 tags
On Not Having Children
“So, when are you guys going to start trying to have kids?”
The ink hadn’t even dried on our marriage license when my wife and I were pelted with the question from all manner of friends, family and acquaintances.
It’s not that I have anything against the continuation of our fair species, or that my ego wouldn’t be massaged by producing a spawn, but my wife and I...
Happy Birthday.
Well, it’s another year older for yours truly.
Common tropes upon the arrival of a birthday include despair and moderate delight at being able to imbibe freely. The arrival of a day of forced recollection yields ludicrous proclamations of change similar to those made at the beginning of the year. Indeed, the only real difference is that said declarations of, say, actually doing something...
8 tags
Why Wear A Tie?
Why wear a tie? Clearly, as a society we are trending towards the elimination of the necktie. After all, the President of our fair country has often appeared on television wearing a jacket and dress shirt, sans tie (as has his predecessor).
The President, and prominent politicians in general are at the tail end of changes in dress, as well. To be sure, the necktie is unnecessary; It’s a...
March 2012
6 posts
6 tags
Keep The Top Button Undone
A man ought to leave the top button undone, whether on his polo or a button down, unless he is wearing a tie, obviously.
Buttoning the top button conveys the sort of uptight douchery that anyone aspiring towards any brand of sprezzatura ought to eschew. Commonly, when the top button is fastened, a wooden stick is often to be found in the anus. Indeed, when the top button is buttoned, a man...
6 tags
CBG Conversation: Boston's Official Public...
Alex Goldfeld, who is rightfully referred to as Boston’s Official Public Historian was kind enough to answer a couple questions for me. I am an advocate of knowing the history of the place where you reside, bringing the study of history out of the ivory tower and am keenly interested in the history of Boston in general. Mr. Goldfeld’s responses were uniquely illuminating. You’re...
4 tags
Thoughts on a Cleanse
Conceptually, the idea of a cleanse is very appealing: There are bad things in my body that I need to get rid of so that I can both feel and function better…(and I can always feel and function better, surely).
It’s an inviting premise for sitting down at the banquet of self-improvement: ridding one’s self of impurities and the eternal bogeyman of toxins. Regardless of the...
7 tags
Men & Mobsters
The criminal/ outlaw figure occupies a unique place in the (stereotypical) male psyche. As children, most boys play with toys (G.I. Joes, in my time) and pit clearly demarcated “good guys” and “bad guys” against one another.
Certainly, the data is lacking on the number of boys who engage in the rich transgression of “letting the bad guys win,” however, it does happen. For my part, I remember a...
5 tags
CBG Conversation: The Merchant Fox
CBG had the pleasure of running a few questions by Ms. Decca Lang of the fine British luxury goods maker, the Merchant Fox.
I’ll skip the introduction and get right to the interview.
Stereotypically, woman love accessories and generally know how to accessorize… and men don’t—do you find any truth in this platitude?
We try to offer to beautiful accessories for both men and women. Men...
The Worst Gent-eration →
I don’t often agree with this website/ this writer, but in this case, I do
February 2012
2 posts
L'Amour de la Distraction
Bemoaning our present state of/ love for/ need of distraction is picking low-hanging fruit. Indeed, I’ve done it before on this site.
Technology, by definition is a tool which (theoretically) simplifies life. I don’t necessarily oppose this definition. The problem isn’t the devices. In short, it’s the way we use them…and the way technology has adapted to our love of...
8 tags
Tombstone Blues
My mother’s eye of Horus tattooed, mullet and bow-tie sporting boyfriend loaned me a few books before he fell off a mountain (nearly died), attempted suicide (nearly died) and then got kicked out. The books smelled like bad incense (as though there is a good kind), pot and failed ambition to make it as a jazz drummer.
Of course, I never read any of the books, but I vaguely remember thumbing...
January 2012
7 posts
6 tags
Stupid
Is it really that hard not to act like a fool?
I don’t consider myself to be the most intelligent/ conscientious/ perceptive/ observant/ generally attuned or aware. Surely, I am the fool myself, often enough—when I drive the shopping cart into a display or spill coffee down my shirt for the second time in one day—however, when I do these things, I know I am the fool.
I fear...
10 tags
Q & A Adam Penn of Veggie Planet & Veggie Galaxy
One of the many, many reasons my bride and I moved to the fine city of Boston was the vegetarian dining options. We don’t make it over to Cambridge as much as we’d like to, but discovering places like Mr. Penn’s restaurants leave us with no excuse for not crossing the Charles with greater frequency.
Can you tell me a little bit about the history of the business and what your...
4 tags
A Stellar Q & A with Duncan Quinn
Duncan Quinn is the name in bespoke American goods, as well as superior quality ready to wear offerings.
I am a great admirer of the brand, the products and Mr. Quinn himself.
If you aren’t familiar (and you should be) have a look at the website (one of the best landing pages on the net) before proceeding to the questions, below.
First, I’ve read the “about” section on...
SBS Q&A
I’ve heard great things about Social Boston Sports. However, I have had some traumatic experiences in flag football leagues, so I reached out to the business looking to answer the basic question: “Can adult sports leagues really be that much fun?”
It seems the answer is yes.
From what I’ve read on Yelp and what I’ve been told personally, joining an SBS league is fun in the way indoor...
Q & A: Author Bernhard Roetzel
Bernhard Roetzel’s book Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion is a true classic of “Gentleman’s Lit.”
I was delighted when he agreed to do a brief Q & A.
As you speak German, primarily, I’m curious as to the translation of “gentleman” in your language. Can you translate it and tell me a little about the implications of the word/ concept in German?
In the German...
The Misery & Majesty of P90X
CBG is a veteran of two miserable cycles of P90X.
I was deeply suspicious of the program upon viewing the six-pack, spandex and before-and-after photo silliness of the infomercials. However, when my beloved and I decided we didn’t want to re-up our membership at the most exclusive fitness club in town (the YMCA), I signed on to 90 days of misery with Mr. Horton.
I considered myself to be...
A Day in Pompeii
I was lucky enough to visit A Day in Pompeii, currently on display at the Museum of Science through February 12.
Really, there are two exhibits; the frescos, statues and other artifacts, and the plaster body casts of the citizens of Pompeii. Additionally, there are multiple video features to view. All of the previous are spectacular in individual ways.
School children know the story of Pompeii:...
December 2011
35 posts
Q & A With The Author of Eden on the Charles, Dr....
Doctor Michael J. Rawson, who teaches History at Brooklyn College, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.
His fine book, Eden on the Charles, a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in history,is described as “a richly textured cultural and social history of the development of nineteenth-century Boston [that] provides a new environmental perspective on the creation of America’s first...
Guest Post: Mr. Francis Bown
Mr. Francis Bown of Bown’s Bespoke has generously allowed me to republish this interesting piece.
I think I must have been born with an interest in good clothes, for I have no recollection of a time when sartorial matters did not fascinate me. I like order, discipline, ‘correctness’ and fine workmanship. All these come together in a beautiful bespoke suit or a pair of bespoke shoes.
I spent...
Q & A With @BostonTweet
With more than 44,000 followers, @BostonTweet is one of the most popular Twitter handles in Boston.
I am delighted to present this Q & A with man behind the more than 17,000 tweets.
I regard @BostonTweet as the finest single source of “things to do of value in the city,” on Twitter and the “Boston Tweet Story,” as it were, is a compelling one.
For those who don’t...
Q & A With Angela Sawyer of Weirdo Records
I am so blown away by Angela’s responses that I set them before you without comment.
Ok, I will say this: absolutely brilliant stuff: brilliant business, brilliant woman.
The first thing I have to ask about is the obvious, how can you be running a successful and immensely popular record store in 2011?
First off, by specializing. Let me put it this way. Most people think they like music,...
Q & A With Mr. Zachary Weiss of Tucker Blair
Tucker Blair is, in my mind, the only destination for needlepoint belts.
CBG both admires and respects their lean business model and their belts set the standard for the necessary irreverence of a needlepoint belt (consider the Beer Goggles belt, here) and superior craftsmanship.
Highlights from a Q & A with Zachary Weiss from the company, below.
Please, tell me a little bit about the Tucker...
Confessions of a Recovering Scrooge
“Humbug” - Scrooge
When I was a child, I was showered with Christmas gifts. There was always plenty beneath my tree. My stocking was eternally stuffed to overflowing.
I think I loved Christmas for three or four years after “The Secret” was revealed. I refrain from publishing “The Secret” here for my readers under the age of 8 who are still unaware of the actual mechanics of how one’s...
CBG Conversation: The Wisdom of Peter Post
Peter Post doesn’t like the term “gentleman.” The Director of the Emily Post Institute feels that word connotes a measure of insincerity. Mr. Post avoids using it with clients and in his writing, as it conjures up images of courtly behavior, performance and falsity.
At least, this is what I assume when he balks at my mention of the word. I tell him I concur with him, to a point,...
The 10 Commandments of Riding the T
CBG wrote the piece a couple months ago, but it deserved republication.
As the following commandments are still being violated by unrepentant sinners on a daily basis , I’m going to (re) codify them into (divine) law.
1. Thou shalt ALWAYS offer thy seat to the elderly and the handicapped.
2. Thou shalt move all the way to the back of the T when entering through the front doors.
3. That...
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