Posts Tagged ‘ shopping ’

48 hours in new orleans

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we tried our best to do a 48 hours in new orleans this past weekend.  actually, it was more like 36 hours in new orleans.  we left early on saturday morning and flew home late on sunday.  we fit in as much as we could.  i’ll do my best to keep this semi-bulleted as there is a lot of information to unload.

our goal was to use the hotel tonight app to book our hotel room at the last minute.   the premise behind the app is great.  you can only book 7 days out, so your hope is that the prices come down the day of and you can find a deal.  i ended up finding a deal earlier in the week at the catahoula boutique hotel for $69.  the pictures looked fine and the reviews were decent, so i booked.  more on that in a second.

the airport ride was 20 minutes to the hotel and a flat rate of $33 via uber.  that’s pretty pricey for 11 miles if you ask me.  we got the skinny on the rate from our driver on sunday.  the airport is in kenner and they charge an $8 tax on uber to pick up and drop off at the airport which explains why it’s so damn expensive.  lyft isn’t even allowed to go there.  crazy.   Continue reading

48 hours in nashville

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full disclosure: i’ve lived in nashville my whole life, so this 48 hours is not necessarily how i would do a weekend in nashville, but i’m happy with it.  maybe there will be a part 2 in the future.  i like that idea.

we had a guest in town this past weekend and we did our best to cover as much ground as humanly possible in 2 days.  many drinks were consumed and many ubers were taken.  i’m still tired…and full.

somewhere over the last 4 years nashville became the “it”city which means every single person in the entire world wants to be here on the weekends.  it’s insane.  the airport on friday afternoons looks like a la guardia or lax except it’s full of bachelorette parties and bros in flat brimmed hats looking to get absolutely obliterated on broadway.  honestly, if i didn’t live here and visited for a weekend, i wouldn’t want to leave.  it’s an amazing city.   Continue reading

48 hours in charleston

what do you do when you have 48 hours in charleston?  you eat and you drink.

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we made the most of charleston this past weekend – as you can see above.  i’m honestly glad to be home with as much money as we spent eating and drinking.  my body and wallet both needed the rest.

if you plan on making a weekend trip to charleston sometime soon, this is a nice little rundown on some places you should try.  i love lists, so i will do my best not to go into any sort of great details regarding the above restaurants.

first and foremost, stay downtown on king or meeting street.  we stayed at the king charles inn which is an incredible location, but our room was old, small, and stinky.  (i think it used to be a smoking room.)  i wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.  the grand bohemian was next store.  if you have the cash, stay there.

quick note on shopping…shopping in charleston is not great except for one exception: indigo & cotton.  that place was a very pleasant surprise.  it’s a couple of blocks from king st and carries gitman bros vintage, engineered garments and several other hard to find menswear staples.  the dude working there couldn’t have been any nicer as well.  i also really enjoyed a candle store called candlefish which needs to be in nashville.  (yeah i fucks with candles.)

here’s where you should and shouldn’t eat:  Continue reading

patagonia pullover

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hello, is it me you’re looking for?  i’m sure no one has been missing me.  it’s been 6 months since i wrote something.  SIX MONTHS!!!  where the hell have i been?  honestly, i couldn’t tell you or maybe i could and you wouldn’t care.  i can see it in your eyes.  i can see it in your smile (sorry that’s some more lionel for you).  either way i’m alive.  i’d like to start writing on the reg, but you know how that goes.

in august, i went to alaska for two weeks.  it was amazing and if you follow me on instagram (user name: coopersamuels), there are a bunch of pics from the trip.  one thing i (re)discovered in alaska was how bomb patagonia is as a brand.  i bought a nano puff hoody and haven’t taken it off since (that’s a lie).  anyway…they are an amazing brand and there’s a reason i was obsessed with them in high school and college.

one thing that should be on your list this holiday season is an ugly-as-f**k snap-t fleece pullover.  i just bought the one above.  how amazing is it?  i’m not saying you should order the same one, but look at it.  it’s incredible.  you need it.  i need it.  everyone needs it.  you can get your very own here.  don’t be afraid of the u.a.f. snap-t fleece.  there are more ugly options on the website if this one doesn’t suit your fancy.

the schott 626

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happy new year!  i hope you’re having a great start to 2014.  it feels like it’s been years since i’ve posted anything.  i traveled for much of november and december.  i’m home for awhile now, so expect the posts to come fast and furious (or not depending on my laziness / extremely active social calendar.  ps that last bit is a joke).

one of my travel destinations in december was nyc for a day and half.  i had one goal in mind while in the big city: visit schott and buy a leather jacket.  mission accomplished.  i made the pilgrimage from the ace hotel (who’s hip now) to schott as soon as i got my bearings.  i went into this mission thinking i was going to get a 613 like the ramones used to wear, but they didn’t have my size.  it’s a good thing too because the salesman grabbed a 626 and told me to try it on.  i did.  it felt like home.  i asked if they had a black one and he said they wouldn’t be available until late february.  f**k.  i didn’t want to wait, but i also didn’t want a brown leather jacket, so i did what any smart shopper would do in late 2013: i took a “selfie” and sent it to the lady friend.  she insisted i get the brown, because “black is not really me” and “brown is unexpected.”  damn she smart.

the big difference between the 613 and the 626 is the weight of the leather.  the 626 is much lighter meaning you can actually put your arms down from first wear on.  the only other difference my untrained eyes could see was that the 626 has a snap down collar.  i’m a 36-38 jacket size depending on the brand and went with a medium.  it fits like a glove as you can see below in the dreaded “selfie” i did not want to post.

if you’re in nyc and in need of a badass jacket, go see the good people at schott on elizabeth street.  they were the nicest sales team i encountered while on my trip.  if you happen to catch this post, thank you for taking such good care of me.  i will definitely be back.

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black friday: j. crew

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this is the only other sale i’ll mention today (i hate shopping, remember?).  j. crew is offering 30% off in stores and online plus free shipping on orders of $150+.  i should be shopping for others, but i was in dire need of some new casual shirts.  here are a few items i’ve had my eye on this winter:

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“chili powder” flannel shirt

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cashmere watch cap (not as itchy as straight wool, son)

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slim fit sweatpants (trendy i know, but comfortable as hell)

ledbury pop-up shop in nashville this friday & saturday

Ledbury Pop-Up Shop Invite

gather ’round for i have news!  (that’s a waiting for guffman reference if you’re hip like me.)  ledbury will be in nashville this thursday and friday february 22nd & 23rd hosting a pop-up shop at the peter nappi studio.  ledbury makes the greatest shirts on earth.  period.  if you didn’t catch them on msnbc’s morning joe a couple of weeks ago, you can do so here.  i love the story behind the company.  the guys from belle meade bourbon will also be there pouring some of their fine bourbon for you old enough to take a swig.  please drop by if you can.  the address is listed above.  hope to see you there.

mind made up

it’s taken me two months to make a decision on which red wing boots i want to buy for the fall and i’ve decided to go with the original 875s.  why the hell not?  they’re what i’ve wanted all along.  i like the 877 irish setter remakes from j. crew (that i bought last year and sold on ebay) but they’re $325.  these are priced at $179 so if they don’t fit then i haven’t made too big of a mistake.  fingers crossed these work out.  i need some good boots.