When I Say On The Rocks, I Mean It!!!

Like a real man, I 'm not really into mixed fruity drinks. I want to drink stuff that'll put hair on my chest! Stuff like whiskey! But I hate warm alcohol. I like my hair promoting beverages to be on the chilly side. Now normally, I would just throw a couple ice cubes in a glass, pour my whiskey, and sip away like a proper Gent. But now there is no more need to have watered down whiskey. Thanks to the On The Rocks Whiskey Stones, I can make my drink cold without it getting watered down.

These are hand carved soapstone cubes made right here in the USA. The best part is, they are easy to use, just pop them in the freezer until you are ready to use them. Then just drop a couple in a glass and top with whatever your favorite spirit is. Come on, what's more manly than drinking whiskey with actual rocks in it?

So now when your buds say "On the rocks!", you'll be able to impress them with these babies!

Pick up a set of these on amazon

Style Your Home....

Many guys go through bachelorhood with old frat house furniture that smells like it should have been burned long ago. You bring a date over and they either think a) "Get me out of here" , b) "When I move in this will change." or c) "He is never getting lucky!"

So why not start to figure out your own sense of decorating style so your dates won't be scared. There are lots of things you can do to you pad to make it look nice and still keep a masculine feel. One obvious cure is to buy new furniture. Now normally I am all about the diy, dumpster diving, salvage way of decorating. But let's face it, not everyone has that in them. Luckily for a lot of you out there, there are places you can buy stylish handmade furniture.

One such place is Lunar Lounge Design. And the piece that grabbed my attention right away is their Mid Century Love Seat and Ottoman. It's the kind of love seat that shows you're willing to take a risk and yet still has classic design elements. Gents, this is the kind of love seat that will make your date want to sit and cuddle!

So search around and start thinking about what you want your apartment to say. Hopefully, it'll get your date to say "Can I spend the night?"

Check out this piece and many more at Lunar Lounge Design.

Mr. Hare, Where Have You Been???

It's no big surprise that I love shoes. And personally I have always felt that men's shoe design was an area that needed a renaissance. The same old brown or black shoes get boring. We dudes want to look good too. Well finally our Shoe Renaissance has arrived!!!

There is a hot British designer that is making the men's shoes the world has been waiting for. Let me introduce you to Mr. Hare. This visionary designer is taking us in to the future, while utilizing the classic feel of the past. Two of my favorites in his collection are Mr. Orwell and Mr. Fitzgerald. These are shoes that can be worn to almost any place a Gent wants to be noticed! And best of all, these shoes are made to last you for years!

You will be able to buy these shoes at oki-ni

Red Shirt Star Trek Cologne???

I know many of you must be thinking this is a gag. I know I did when I first heard about it. But believe it or not, this is the real deal. Available at ThinkGeek in a 100ml bottle for only $30, it's worth trying out. The tag line alone makes me want to buy it: Smell like the future, because tomorrow may never come.

The company describes the scent as -

Bright, clean and direct with top notes of green mandarin, bergamot and a hint of lavender (your hope), finishing with base notes of leather and grey musk (your smoldering shoes after you've been vaporized).

Now if that is what the future smells like, I'm all in.

Buy it now at ThinkGeek

Item Of The Day!!!

This is the start of something brand new on this blog. From now on I will be posting one item a day that I have found and you may want.

The pick of today is a great belt buckle. Now I'm not really a gun guy, but this buckle is so rad I had to share it with you all. It's called 300 Winchester Magnum Nickle Silver Tip. A really straight forward name for a buckle that is definitely not shy! You can pick up this one, or many other buckles, at Bad Ass Belt Buckles right on etsy.

Personally I love the silver tips. Not sure they'll help you stand a chance against that neighborhood werewolf, but you'll get noticed by your peeps!

The World's First Portable Espresso Machine

We all know that the average adult lives on way too much caffeine. Well now it has been made even easier for you to get your fix! That's because the clever people at mypressi have come up with the world's first portable espresso machine. That's right, I said PORTABLE!!! This is perfect for when you don't have time for those coffee runs.

This sexy gadget, named the Twist, weighs about a pound and is just under a foot long. You can just throw it in your bag with some ground coffee or espresso pods and you are ready for your weekend get away.

You can pre-order it now for $129. And since most of you probably spend more than that on coffee in a week, this is a bargain!

Pre-order at mypressi

What is the future of chocolate???

We all know about the regular chocolate bars we grew up with. The kit-kat, Snickers, Milky Way and of course the classic Hershey's Bar that we all knew and loved. Well with the world ever changing in terms of cultural melding and the never ending growth of technology, what happens to our old friend chocolate? Well like all of us, chocolate didn't want to get left behind. I have scoured the Internet and found some fantastic melt-in-your-mouth chocolate treats that prove chocolate is not going anywhere. In fact, at some points it may even be ahead of it's time.

Now of course there are still the classic milk, dark and white chocolate bars out on the market, and I believe, like a good black suit, they will never go out of style. But here are some exciting new ways to enjoy our old friend.

1) Single Malt Scotch Bar - This adult take on the traditional chocolate bar is being made by a company that really knows their chocolate, Bon Bon Bar. They promote the bar by saying "This candy bar is bold enough for Scotch lovers and smooth enough for all chocolate lovers." Scotch and chocolate seem so right together I don't know why these weren't out years ago.
2) Dagoba Lavender - I know what you're thinking. Lavender? Really? But trust me you will not be disappointed! I have always been a big fan of Dagoba Organic Chocolate and they did not let me down on this one. This is the kind of bar that you'll want to enjoy while you sit and relax after a long stressful day. Pop a piece into your mouth and feel like chocolate heaven is melting into you.
3) Hibiscus Flower Chocolate Bar - This flowery bar is being hand made and sold by Black Flower on etsy. The description given to the bar is short and right to the point, "70% dark chocolate blended with organic dried hibiscus flowers. Dark and fruity."
4) Gnosis Pomegranate Acai Bar - This is a great and healthy bar that packed full of anti-oxidants. To top it off, it's vegan! That's right, it really is raw, organic, handmade and guilt-free. The healthier take on our old friend is being sold on etsy by Gnosis Chocolate.
5) Dagoba Xocolatl Hot Chocolate - OK I know it's not a chocolate bar, but sometimes you just want to drink your chocolate! Dagoba Organic Chocolate has resurrected the ancient drink of the Aztecs with this recipe. It is definitely not like the hot chocolate my mom used to make for me. This orgasmic drink is a blend of chocolate, chilies and cinnamon. Now I know chilies don't sound like a fun treat to everyone, but Dagoba has really mastered the perfect way to marry the sweetness of chocolate with a slight kick from the chilies.
6) Le Whif - Chocolate has just been propelled into a future where it no longer needs to be eaten. Now it can be inhaled! That's right, INHALED!!! This futuristic take on chocolate can be purchased at Le Labo Shop. And as if the idea of being able to breath chocolate wasn't enough, it is also ZERO calories. I think that might be healthier than the air I breath for free in Los Angeles! You will also be able to buy these babies in 4 flavors, - mint chocolate, raspberry chocolate, mango chocolate, and plain chocolate.

Now of course I couldn't write about all the different kinds of chocolate bars that are on the market now. A whole book could be written on all of them. But feel free to go searching on your own and report back on new and exciting flavors. I know Vosges makes bacon chocolate bars and lots of other exotic flavors. So go out and show chocolate that no matter what he changes into, he'll always have a place in our hearts!

What Could Men Wear To A Gallery Opening???

I get asked this question all the time. Usually by my female friends that want to dress up their men or by my single guy friends that aren't used to going to places like gallery openings or trendy restaurant openings. So I have made a couple selections of pieces that I feel would make a man stand out in a great way. Of course season, time of day and specific event will always play a role in dictating your outfit, but there are a few key rules that will almost always apply. And those rules are:
1) Black is classic! It's always in style and is a safe bet when you're not sure.
2) Don't be afraid of color! It could be a bright tie or one daring option is bright shoes. Men do it all the time in Europe. Solid dark or muted colors for the outfit and then BAM!- bright orange shoes.
3) Wear clothes that fit you! Too many times do I see men wearing clothes that do not fit. Too big or too small is just not good gents. Our bodies come in all different shapes and sizes and not everything we buy will fit perfectly. Don't be scared of your friendly neighborhood tailor. There was a time when men would take all their clothes to a tailor and this is a tradition that needs to be resurrected.
4) Jewelry! Don't be scared to show some bling bro! There are tons of great choices out there for men now. They can be found in many retail jewelry stores now as well as indie places like etsy.com Figure out what metal looks good on you and don't be afraid to experiment with different materials like fiber, glass, wood or rubber.
5) Hats! Somewhere along the way, men wearing hats became less fashionable. Well that time is over. Dudes should not be scared to wear hats. Now I'm not talking about your grubby Mets cap. I mean real hats. The kind you can tip to someone when you say hi. Or a really nice beanie can be pulled off if done right.
6) Scarves are not just for the winter! Women have known for generations that a good scarf can transform any outfit. Well dudes are finally catching on to this. There are tons of scarves on the market for men now that are meant more as a fashion accessory than a utilitarian object to keep your neck warm. Look around for these. I have found great ones in our local Little India but many major retail stores and indie online shops are also carrying them now.
7) Shoes are in! I remember when you would go into any men's department store and all the shoes looked the same. They were black or brown and just a few variations on the same style. Well now the world has woken up and we men have options! Granted the women still have more options, but we are catching up. So go in to the stores and look around. And TRY THEM ON!!! Nothing is worse than spending a whole night in shoes that are uncomfortable.
8) Scent is key! Luckily there are tons of cologne options for men now. I recommend setting aside an afternoon and going with a friend that can be honest with you. Smell as much as you can and remember to ask for the coffee beans to clear each scent out from your nose before moving on to the next. I also recommend getting more than one scent. It's always nice to have variety and different occasions could call for very different scents. You could also have your own custom scent mixed. A lot of times it's cheaper than the commercial stuff and it's your own signature scent so you will always stand out. Check out your local holistic shops and see if anyone does custom blends.
9) Be fashion forward! There are so many great men's wear designers out there that aren't getting the media attention they deserve. If there is some new concept out there and it speaks to you, don't be afraid to go for it. Every trend started with one person wearing it. Maybe you could be a new trend setter.
10) Be you! Don't try to be Usher or Brad Pitt. Let people see who you are, reflected in your style. If you're a little more rock, then gear your outfit that way. There is nothing wrong with injecting personality into clothing. Just remember not to overdue it.

Here are just a few samples of things guys could wear. Explore dudes! And don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're not sure what looks good on you, ask for opinions.

1) Ray Vincente Eclectic
2) Necklush
3) Joseph Cuevas
4) Eve Shan
5) FORZIERI
6) Lotus Jewelry Studio
7) Wendelart
8) FORZIERI