Tag / dia: beacon

by Beau H.

Getting Out of Town: A Winter Weekend Trip Upstate

Dressed in rugged, adventure-ready style — featuring my Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket, Taylor Stitch Chore Pants and a Taylor Stitch flannel shirt, plus my WP Standard Natural Leather Belt and my trusty Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Chrono.

As I checked my calendar recently, I realized with a shock that, well, it was, well, nearly Christmas! Fall and winter have been flying by here in NYC, filled with #menswear and plenty of fun Style Guide content — and road trips galore! From a fall trip to Portland to a weekend in Nashville to a quick trip to Boston, I’ve been fortunate to be able to get out of town and hit the road. But there was one area I hadn’t yet been able to squeeze in a quick trip this season — upstate New York! I visited the lovely town of Hudson last November on a perfectly crisp fall weekend, and my travels also took me up to the quaint town of Beacon in February 2016 — but this past weekend was a great chance to once again break out my favorite style essentials and head to the famed Dia: Beacon art museum (among other pursuits). Come along for the ride with me! Oh, and if you follow me on Instagram and already caught details of this trip … stick around, won’t you?

The winter fun began in earnest on Friday, with a #menswear ensemble made for essential, casual style for a day at the office. In this case, that meant throwing on a new Fruit of The Loom EverSoft Long-Sleeve Crew T-Shirt in a seasonally-friendly shade of red. It layered up nicely with an easygoing Original Penguin shawl collar cardigan for a bit of casual polish, while my Taylor Stitch Slim Chinos in British Khaki proved well-fitting and easygoing-yet-stylish. Again, Taylor Stitch is just a brand that checks plenty of boxes in terms of rugged, casual style — and it wouldn’t be the last time I brought out Taylor Stitch menswear this weekend, either. When matched up with stylish leather sneakers — the CLAE Bradley Mid, specifically — the combo proved comfortable for the office and suitable for grabbing a pint at Brooklyn’s Sycamore after work. I also threw on my reliable Huckberry Explorer’s Cap, and I reached for the V76 by Vaughn Daily Balance Facial Moisturizer to keep my skin in prime shape. Make no mistake, men’s grooming essentials are critical during the winter season, especially when dealing with breezy, chilly weather. Luckily, my daily grooming routine helped me finish the week strong — and with a nice day at work in the books, I was looking forward to the weekend ahead.

Layered up to explore Beacon and kick back with a coffee at Bank Square Coffeehouse. My accessories included a Banana Republic plaid scarf and a Club Monaco knit cap, plus my trusty Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Chrono. My Hood Rubber Co. Wayland Boots were perfect for stomping through the snow, too!

What did the weekend have in store? It kicked off nice and early Saturday morning with a few crucial cups of coffee, followed by a lovely train ride upstate to Beacon! As I said, I had visited the town on a February weekend last year, and came away with nothing but fond memories of the tranquil, enjoyable atmosphere and beautiful upstate views. Stop number one, of course, had to be  a cup of coffee (well, the mocha latte) at the charming Bank Square Coffeehouse. That got me ready to explore Dia: Beacon, the world-class art museum featuring work from the likes of Dan Flavin, Donald Judd and plenty more. Based in a former Nabisco factory, this well-lit, beautifully designed museum is packed with large-scale activations, smaller exhibits and some seriously contemplative works of art. If ever you’re looking to get away from NYC — or perhaps add a day trip when you swing through the Big Apple — I can’t recommend this lovely museum enough. Of course, I knew I had to dress in rugged winter style essentials to navigate the town and the museum accordingly.

I started things off the right way by reaching for the extremely well-made, durably crafted Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket, a classic men’s trucker jacket made with great attention to detail and a tailored fit. For durable, effective style on my bottom half, I threw on a  pair of Taylor Stitch Chore Pants, crafted from cotton canvas and featuring double-knee reinforced construction. They worked more than handsomely alongside my adventure-ready Wayland Boots from Hood Rubber Company.  Featuring a handsome blend of rubberized and full-grain leather, the Wayland Boots provided a mix of casual and functional style, what with waxed cotton laces and a fit that echoes the look of your favorite chukka boots. A rugged Timex watch was my go-to casual watch pick for the day — I can’t emphasize enough how reliable the Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Chrono happens to be. Of course, stylish men’s socks from Anonymousism were also a reliable accessory.  On the everyday carry front, my essentials were close at hand, thanks to the WP Standard Large Messenger Bag. I’m telling you, that bag about as good as it gets when it comes to an everyday bag.  And my LSTN Sound Co. Headphones from the Bespoke Post Vibes Box also came along on this quick trip, allowing me to plug into my favorite tunes.

And the even better news? Beacon really did prove a fun, lovely town for a quick visit. I made time to grab some excellent pints at the renowned Draught Industries, a rustic, rugged gastropub with a killer craft beer selection, including picks from Hill Farmstead and Midwest favorite Founders Brewing. The great thing about Beacon is its quaint, quiet atmosphere — more than agreeable for enjoying the day and strolling around town. My quick trip to Beacon gave me just enough opportunity to get out of the city, clear my head and enjoy the fresh air with my favorite winter style essentials in tow. I even made some time to take in a few more of the sights and sounds of this lovely town with an overnight AirBNB stay. My centrally located apartment near Main Street was the perfect base to explore. The stops? The Vault was a must-visit for an excellent burger and delicious corn-and-parmesan fritters. I also enjoyed a nightcap at The Roundhouse, a beautiful, rustic-yet-modern hotel and restaurant that’s drawn acclaim around Beacon and beyond. Perfect for an Old-Fashioned, right?

A classically rugged, warm winter get-up, perfect for exploring Beacon in style. My Flint and Tinder Moleskin Shirt Jacket proved essential and quite warm!

To close out the weekend, Sunday called for even more Beacon exploration, starting with a pair of amazing donuts at Glazed Over, topped with chocolate chips, caramel glaze and vanilla drizzle — yes, please! I explore more on foot checking out the restored Roundhouse Hotel — it was even prettier in the day than at night. The afternoon took me down to the Towne Crier Cafe, a renowned regional hangout featuring live music and a mix of American and Middle Eastern staples — it was a cozy spot for a pleasant afternoon. I packed up my Saddleback Leather Rounded Leather Duffel, and I layered up with the well-made Flint and Tinder Moleskin Shirt Jacket in a pleasing shade of green. It proved perfect for throwing on over my Abercrombie and Fitch Cotton Herringbone Shirt, a nicely textured shirt with plenty of classic styling potential. And for venturing around Beacon and stopping at Bank Square Coffeehouse again, another Flint and Tinder essential served me well. Yes indeed, the Flint and Tinder All-American Jeans, made with stretch selvage and an inky blue indigo finish, were comfortable for travel and exploration. To get around with durability and rugged style in mind, my CAT Footwear Chronicle Boots had me well-equipped for the occasion, too. And my classic-as-always Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Watch kept me on time and in style.

It was a pleasure to be able to get out of the city, especially around the holiday season. It’s worth remembering that getting out and exploring is as easy as picking a place and picking a date, then going after it. I’m going to do my to keep that in mind for me amidst the hustle and bustle of NYC, and if the urge should strike you to travel upstate, I can’t recommend Beacon enough! I’m also glad I was able to take on the weekend with my favorite winter menswear along for the ride.

Oh, and if ever you find yourself in Brooklyn or in Beacon and want tips on what to do, give me a shout!

Thanks for reading!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Early Holiday Gift Ideas, A New Timepiece and Craft Beer

Hey there, my friends — let’s raise a glass to the weekend, yes? It’s been a jam-packed week in NYC, from a media event at my day job at NYC’s Coyne PR to some excellent rock shows on the side, including a long-awaited retun from my pals in the West Coast-based indie rock band Mainland. They played the legendary Mercury Lounge on Wednesday night as part of a sold-out tour alongside fellow rockers The Wrecks — talk about a great night of guitar-driven jams. And for what it’s worth, the latest Mainland release, the anthemic “I Found God,” is an excellent, high-voltage song packed with power and a poignant, moving music video to go along with it. A heck of a way to spend a Wednesday night, certainly! This weekend promises more fun, too — I’m heading upstate for a quick day trip to the lovely town of Beacon, home to the world-class Dia: Beacon art museum. It’ll be a nice getaway after a busy week, and I’m bringing my favorite fall style essentials with me, of course. For full coverage, be sure to check out my Instagram. What’s on the docket this weekend for you? On the style front, I’d say you should prep to dress for your next tailgate in style if you’re heading out to a ballgame. Taking things just a bit more casually? We’ve also got you set when it comes to weekend style essentials. Again, I hope you enjoy the weekend — and I hope it’s filled with great coffee, great brunch and great beer!

  • It’s never too early to start shopping around for the best men’s holiday gifts — right? Right? Luckily, our pals at Huckberry have darn near everything you need for a great stocking stuffer (and beyond). Some initial favorites of mine? Ursa Major’s Essential Face Wipes, the cool and cozy Acorn Astronaut Slippers, Fulton & Roark Shave Cream, and of course, the Be Home Copper Bar Set. Fear not, though — we’ll cover plenty of holiday gift suggestions and Black Friday deals in the week ahead.
  • If you’re on the hunt for a new timepiece — which you certainly should be — your search might just be ending … well, today. Martenero lovingly crafts durable, striking timepieces with heritage quality and a modern edge. The Kerrison, the brand’s latest effort is A) Assembled in New York and B) Made with some seriously cool design touches. We’re talking a crisp, simple and stylish everyday watch. It’s available for pre-funding on Kickstarter now and if I were you … I’d hop over to that page and hand over some money.
  • While we’re talking all things Kickstarter, how about upgrading your everyday carry? Maybe with something as simple as the Minimal Mechanical Pencil? From Modern Fuel, this excellently designed mechanical pencil is simple enough to be essential — in short, it’s a pencil you’ll want to pre-fund now … before you find yourself using it all the time, everyday. Plege $340 or more and get the Collector’s Set, featuring one of each pencil. Tell me that’s not a great deal, ehh?
  • Now, aside from menswear writing and live music, I’ve got another passion — that of excellent craft beer. It’s easy to find so many great spots serving up richly crafted beer in NYC, but October (a recently launched beer and music-centric publication) delves into a cool question: What if you only had two taps at your restaurant or bar? What would you serve? The examples seen in this feature are pretty neat, to say the least.

That’s going to do it for this week’s Friday Read — enjoy a nice weekend, shop a few of my fall men’s style essentials, and see you tomorrow for the Style Pick of the Week. Cheers!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Mr. Porter, Dia: Beacon and New Music from Mainland

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here. 

Here we sit on the doorstep of another start to a winter weekend — maybe you’re feeling a bit tired of chilly weather at this point? I certainly am — as a heads-up, tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week will aim to get you thinking ahead in a good way. It was a nice and slightly less hectic week around these parts, so that’s positive — still waiting on spring though! I’m particularly excited about some recent writing work I’ve been able to do with GearMoose (an excellent site in its own right), so that’s kept me busy outside of my day job, too.

Now if you do get the chance to step away from your busy days, I’d highly recommend a trip to the lovely small town of Beacon, NY — I took the time to get away for a bit last weekend and check out the sights and sounds of a relaxing (and on this weekend, very chilly) locale. It’s home to the world-class Dia: Beacon art museum, and some tremendous spots for craft beer and gourmet food — namely, The Hop and Draught Industries, both surefire winners. It was great to rest and recharge a bit. If you’re looking to do the same just an hour outside of NYC, that’s where I’d recommend you go. And that brings us back to the start of this weekend — before we get things going, sit back with some freshly-tapped #menswear news.

  • Have you ever shopped at Mr. Porter? Or is it a bit out of your price range? I find myself looking at a few items from time to time on the site — and with that, Mr. Porter is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its launch via GQ. The product mix certainly leans more continental, but it’s still worth a look if you know what you want.
  • Question No. 2: Are you a watch fan like yours truly? If so, Esquire dug up the best watches from SIHH (the international timepiece extravaganza), here for your viewing pleasure.
  • Question No. 3: On a non-style related note, are you looking to dig into some new music? Might I suggest Brooklyn indie rockers Mainland — they’re a heck of a band, they just wrapped a tour with Marianas Trench, and their music is catchy and relatable; get to that link for more details on their latest single.

Need more links to shop through? Start here.

    • Stock up on the best men’s grooming products for winter with my choice picks from this week’s post — they’ll have you beating the chill in no time.
    • The Style Guide (AKA yours truly) is all about excellent style essentials — that’s the focus of my new GearMoose series, in fact. Read more about Mott & Bow raw denim at that link.


Join the Hunt Club - Enjoy FREE Shipping, Cashback + more at Frank & Oak! Try it now for 90 days, risk free!